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14 May Cruise Ship Results May 11th -- MURPHY'S PETRELS etc. [David Irons ] 14 May Chipping Sparrows in Gales Creek (Washington Co) [Stefan Schlick ] 13 May Harney County Report ["Wayne & Patty Bowers" ] 13 May Re: Tanagers - no [Pat Waldron ] 13 May Dark-morph Swainsons hawk near Lebanon May 13 [Steve Seibel ] 13 May ECBC Crook County Field Trip ["Charles R. Gates" ] 13 May PHOTOS: Red-billed Tropicbird [Mike Patterson ] 13 May PHOTOS: Red-billed Tropicbird [Mike Patterson ] 13 May tropicbird [Harry Nehls ] 14 May WESTERN KINGBIRDS, Oaks Bottom [] 13 May Re: Wasco & Sherman county birding ["Darrel Faxon" ] 13 May Western Tanager in NE Salem ["Madeline Rae, DVM" ] 13 May Tropicbird [Harry Nehls ] 13 May Black Phoebe ["Tom Escue" ] 13 May April Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 4/30 ["Range Bayer" ] 13 May Re: Subject: eagle nest failure [Brandon Green ] 13 May Re: What bird is this? ["Dennis P. Vroman" ] 13 May not bird-related but good news [Ann Chamberlain ] 13 May What bird is this? ["Paul E. Bloch" ] 13 May Vaux's Swifts at Eugene roost May 10? ["Barbara Combs" ] 13 May Long-billed Curlews -- Portland Airport [David Helzer ] 13 May Dusky Flycatcher - Mt. Tabor, Portland. [Jeff Gilligan ] 13 May Re: No tanagers here ["pamela johnston" ] 13 May Re: 20 Lazuli Buntings, 8 Lark Sparrows ["Douglas Kirkpatrick" ] 13 May Migrant warblers in Deschutes county (DRW) ["Jim Moodie" ] 13 May Migrant warblers in Deschutes county (DRW) ["Jim Moodie" ] 13 May No tanagers here [Mike Patterson ] 13 May Wasco & Sherman county birding ["Paul T. Sullivan" ] 13 May 20 Lazuli Buntings, 8 Lark Sparrows ["Paul T. Sullivan" ] 13 May Re: Tanagers et al [Tim Rodenkirk ] 13 May Re: Tanagers et al ["Darrel Faxon" ] 13 May Re: Tanagers - no ["Dennis P. Vroman" ] 13 May New Quiz [Chris Warren ] 13 May Tanagers - no ["Judy Meredith" ] 13 May Avocets [Sylvia Maulding ] 13 May Evening grosbeaks [Ann Chamberlain ] 13 May Re: Unsual Tanagers ["Michael Gellerman" ] 13 May Tanagers et al [Grant Canterbury ] 12 May The Tanagers [Maria Michalczyk ] 12 May Ash-throated Fly ["Jim & Vikki Hein" ] 12 May Re: Several Thousand Vaux's Swifts at Chapman School [Dan Gleason ] 12 May Several Thousand Vaux's Swifts at Chapman School [shawn birder ] 12 May digest? ["Suzanne Staples" ] 12 May Re: This week's quiz bird ["Russ Namitz" ] 12 May Black Phoebe in Spfld. [Mike ] 12 May This week's quiz bird [Mike Patterson ] 12 May Spotted Sandpiper NE Salem [Margaret Stephens ] 12 May Wandering Tattler in Cannon Beach ["Lisa Sheffield" ] 12 May Jefferson county Yellow-breasted Chat [Kimdel Owen ] 12 May JoCo birds today ["Dennis P. Vroman" ] 11 May Tanagers, Evening and Black-headed Grossbeaks in Monmouth ["kolwicz AT minetfiber.com" ] 12 May Mt. Tabor: Townsend's Solitaire, Calliope HB, & Swainson's Thrush flock [Bill Clemons ] Subject: Cruise Ship Results May 11th -- MURPHY'S PETRELS etc. From: David Irons <llsdirons AT msn.com> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 08:15:30 +0000 Greetings All, Over the most recent weekend, Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt, Sheran Wright and I sailed from San Francisco to Vancouver B.C. aboard the Coral Princess. We birded Oregon waters from 7:34AM until nearly 8:00PM on Sunday 11 May. Although the total number of birds seen was on the low side, the quality was quite good. The morning started off quickly with a LAYSAN ALBATROSS (the only one seen) making an appearance shortly after we crossed into Curry Co. waters. As was the case on the Spring 2007 cruise, LEACH'S STORM-PETREL was the most abundant species seen, though this year's high numbers were concentrated in Tillamook and Clatsop Counties, whereas they were more concentrated of off the southern Oregon coast in 2007. The highlight of the trip was the six MURPHY'S PETRELS encountered. We had the first two Murphy's about 14 minutes apart (just before 9:00AM) in Curry Co. Shortly after Noon we had our third Murphy's off Douglas Co. The last three Murphy's were all seen in Lane Co between 1:00-1:15PM. Jeff and Owen both observed a distant dark-rumped storm-petrel (Black/Ashy type) while we were off Lane Co, but they were unable to determine the species. Here is the list of species we observed in Oregon waters. On Thursday I will post a more complete rundown of species and the numbers of each for the benefit of NAMC compilers for each of the counties we passed through. Aleutian Cackling Goose Greater Scaup Laysan Albatross Black-footed Albatross Northern Fulmar Sooty Shearwater Pink-footed Shearwater MURPHY'S PETREL Leach's Storm-Petrel Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel dark-rumped Storm-Petrel species Red Phalarope Long-tailed Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger California Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Herring Gull Sabine's Gull Arctic Tern Common Murre Rhinoceros Auklet Tufted Puffin Dave Irons Eugene, OR _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mobile_052008 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Chipping Sparrows in Gales Creek (Washington Co) From: Stefan Schlick <greenfant AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 03:09:17 -0400 A little excursion after work last night (05/13) found me in downtown Gales Creek. One Chipping Sparrow was right off the main drag across from the church. At least 2 more birds (one singing) were near 52730 Old Wilson River Rd. Other birds in the area include many Purple Finches, both grosbeaks, both goldfinches, 8 Band-tailed Pigeon and a silent Western Wood-Pewee. Stefan Schlick Hillsboro, OR _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mobile_052008 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Harney County Report From: "Wayne & Patty Bowers" <dustdevil AT centurytel.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:49:35 -0700 I sent this message earlier in the week, but have been wrestling a little with the new system so it didn't go through to the OBOL listserve. I did add one additional day to the report as a result. Hope it makes it through this time. -------------------------------------------- Hello from Harney County: We returned home to a merry-go-round of fun and exciting bird sightings over the past couple weeks. Besides the usual birds (such as Northern Flicker, California Quail, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Common Raven, Mourning Dove, Mountain Chickadee, Turkey Vulture, American Robin, Mountain Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Great-horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk) here's what's been happening around our place (listed in order of observation on any given day): 4/28 (warm, about 70* F, first lizards out enjoying the warm sun) Golden-crowned Sparrow Unidentified Hummingbird White-crowned Sparrow (numerous, but nearly gone as of today) Northern Flicker (male intergrade with red nape and red malar stripe, red-shafted feathers) 4/29 (cold, breezy, about 45* F) Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Orange-crowned Warbler Common Poorwill Lesser Goldfinch (2 birds) 4/30 (cold, windy) Chipping Sparrow Sharp-shinned Hawk 5/3 American Goldfinch Yellow Warbler Mystery Hummingbird (remained for three days, probably a hybrid -pictures to follow soon) 5/4 (incredible day, bird movement almost constant) Brewer's Sparrow Red-breasted Nuthatch Rock Wren Tree Swallow Rough-winged Swallow Lazuli Bunting Vesper Sparrow American Kestrel Rufous Hummingbird (multiple birds - mature adult males, first year males, females) 5/5 (the show continues) Black-headed Grosbeak Green-tailed Towhee Bushtit Bullock's Oriole House Wren (3 birds over a couple days - usually see one if we are lucky) Western Kingbird Pine Siskin Black-chinned Hummingbird (multiple birds - males and females) Franklin's Gull 5/6 Yellow Warbler Warbling Vireo Nashville Warbler 5/7 Ferruginous Hawk 5/8 Calliope Hummingbird 5/10 Western Tanager 5/11 Gray Flycatcher Yellow-rumped Warbler Swainson's Hawk 5/12 Chipping Sparrows (large group flying and feeding through the bunchgrass outside the yard and bathing enmass in the pond) Townsend's Warbler Ruby-Crowned Kinglet Winter Wren 5/13 Western Tanagers (lots) Chipping Sparrows (still lots) Some species may have arrived earlier than our notation, but we weren't here to see them. The leaves and blossoms on the deciduous trees and shrubs are BARELY peeking out from their buds, but if the warmer temperatures predicted toward the latter part of the week come to pass, we may get spring yet. We've been recording our bird sightings at this location for nearly 15 years. One especially interesting thing about the sightings this past week is the number of hummingbirds has been MANY times greater than what we've seen in May in years past. Not only have the numbers been greater, the hummers are here more than a week (on average) earlier than what we normally see. In the past a single bird might show up now and then from mid to late May, stay a few moments to refuel, then zoom on. This year, multiple birds of different species have been here at the same time and a few individual birds have stayed for several days. The number of black-headed grosbeaks is increasing and they are staying around for longer periods as are the orioles. The tanagers have just arrived. It is a pretty magical sight to see three orioles, a male black-headed grosbeak, and a male western tanager feeding on the oranges in a single snag on our front deck. We've also seen or heard Canada geese, sandhill cranes, and unidentified gulls flying over or calling from nearby fields. We just confirmed a new nesting species for the property, as last night I found the raven nest we suspected was present. It is within a few yards of last year's Swainson's Hawk and Long-eared Owl nests. The sparrows seem to coordinate their bath time in the pond. More than once I've observed a small flock of chipping sparrows, several vespers, and a couple Brewer's sparrows all bathing at the same time. The water droplets really fly when there are a dozen or more birds engaged in bathing. The lark sparrows are conspicuously absent from these activities this year, although we have seen and heard a couple individuals. And, it's always a great way to start the day with several Brewer's sparrows buzzing away outside the fence on their new territories with a few Vespers chiming in and the western meadowlark singing solo, sometimes with his wolf whistle call. At night, the tree frogs add their voices to the chorus. It's no wonder we love where we live and the amenities spring migration brings. Happy Birding Wayne & Patty _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Tanagers - no From: Pat Waldron <puma AT smt-net.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:14:05 -0700 On May 13, 2008, at 11:44 AM, Pat Waldron wrote: > Dear Folks, > > I have had no WESTERN TANAGERS at my elevation, 900+ feet in the > foot hills of the Cascades. It has been cold, windy, and wet, and I > have to agree with others that the cold weather is a factor. They > do nest here in the summer. > > Even the PURPLE MARTINS and SWALLOWS are not hanging around. They > come to check on their nest boxes, do a little singing, and then > depart. > > Pat Waldron > East of Scio > > > > On May 13, 2008, at 10:58 AM, Dennis P. Vroman wrote: > >> My take on the Tanagers this spring is they were hanging around >> the valley >> lowlands, thus the large numbers. The weather in the mountains >> (even the >> upper foothills surrounding the Rogue Valley) were pretty cold and >> wet for >> "normal." The cold theory might apply to eastern Oregon as well. >> When they >> arrived, they had to eat somewhere where insects were out and >> about - mainly >> in the valley lowlands. >> >> Dennis >> >> >>> Hi all >>> Someone supposed that the tanagers chose the west side for >>> migration this year and that is why you have so many in your >>> neighborhoods etc. I second that. It has been cold, snowy here >>> in Central Oregon. >>> >>> Personally, I have had NONE in my yard yet, NONE despite >>> being out all day on Deschutes NAMC on Saturday and NONE >>> despite being out 7 hours on Jefferson NAMC on Sunday. >>> Perhaps you have all the birds concentrated there instead of >>> spread throughout the state? >>> >>> Some answers may lie in NAMC numbers which may come out >>> soon. The numbers could eventually be compared with NAMC >>> statewide numbers of past years. Checking on Jim Moodie's >>> 2007 data of yard bird appearances in Central Oregon, they were >>> here the 4th week of April last year in my yard. >>> Enjoy those tanagers! >>> Judy Meredith >>> jmeredit AT bendnet.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> obol mailing list >> obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org >> http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Dark-morph Swainsons hawk near Lebanon May 13 From: Steve Seibel <steves AT aeroexperiments.org> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 22:37:49 -0700 Hi all, on Tuesday May 13 I was walking on Peterson Butte about 4 miles SW of Lebanon, and a dark-morph Swainsons hawk was in view for about 5 minutes, it was soaring around with about 4 Turkey Vultures and they were meandering around in various directions as they worked the updrafts. I presume that the Swainsons hawk was probably just passing through the area.... Steve Seibel, Corvallis _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: ECBC Crook County Field Trip From: "Charles R. Gates" <cgates AT webformixair.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 22:08:12 -0700 This Sunday, the ECBC is sponsoring a free guided field trip to Crook County. I'll be leading the trip with Steve Dougill and others. I would like to know who is planning on attending so we don't leave anyone behind. We will meet at the Powell Butte Elementary School at 7:00AM. If you are coming from Bend, let me know and I'll try to arrange carpooling. Everyone is welcome and we should have a very "hot" day. Chuck Gates ECBC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1430 - Release Date: 5/13/2008 7:31 AM _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: PHOTOS: Red-billed Tropicbird From: Mike Patterson <celata AT pacifier.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 22:04:56 -0800 These were taken off the coast of Florence, Oregon this morning by Larry Hawley. http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/rbtb20080513.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR celata AT pacifier.com When bad photos happen to good birds http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: PHOTOS: Red-billed Tropicbird From: Mike Patterson <celata AT pacifier.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:58:41 -0800 http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/temp/rbtb20080513.html -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR celata AT pacifier.com When bad photos happen to good birds http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: tropicbird From: Harry Nehls <hnehls AT teleport.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:14:15 -0700 Obolers, Received the photos of the tropicbird. It was the more expected Red-billed Tropicbird. Excellent photos. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: WESTERN KINGBIRDS, Oaks Bottom From: erikknight05 AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 04:12:27 +0000 OBOL, Around noon today I found a pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDS in the South Fill area of Oaks Bottom in SE Portland. Full report can be found on birdnotes. I can now add myself to the growing list of people who have Calliope Hummingbird coming to their feeders. Have a male that's been hanging around since the weekend. -- Erik Knight Portland, Oregon_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Wasco & Sherman county birding From: "Darrel Faxon" <5hats AT peak.org> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:13:43 -0700 Paul, Except Condon. It never seems to have much of anything..although I did see my only Gilliam County Merlin there..and my county Eurasian Collared Doves.. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul T. Sullivan" To: "obol" Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:40 PM Subject: [obol] Wasco & Sherman county birding > OBOL: > > On our way home from Wheeler county yesterday, Carol & I traveled through > Fossil, Antelope, Shaniko, Kent, Grass Valley, and Moro. > > In Fossil we found 3+ EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, our first in Wheeler > county. > > In Wasco county, just south of Shaniko we found brilliant MOUNTAIN > BLUEBIRDS > along Hwy 218. We stopped at a willow swale just a mile south of Shaniko > and found a bonanza of birds: CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, > MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, & MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, > AM. > GOLDFINCHES, etc. > > In Sherman county south of Kent, we found SWAINSON'S HAWK. At Twin Lakes, > south of Grass Valley we found YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, REDHEADS, RUDDY > DUCKS, etc. In the oasis of Grass Valley we found multiple EURASIAN > COLLARED-DOVES, HERMIT THRUSHES, HOUSE WREN, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. In > the oasis of Moro we found SCRUB JAY, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, TOWNSEND'S > SOLITAIRE, many GRAY FLYCATCHERS, a cooperative NASHVILLE WARBLER, and a > family of LARK SPARROWS. > > These small towns with their trees are magnets for birds just like the > Malheur headquarters is. Instead of a sea of sage, there is a sea of > wheat > fields. The oases offer the only trees for miles. > > Good birding, everyone, > > Paul T. Sullivan > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Western Tanager in NE Salem From: "Madeline Rae, DVM" <Amazonvet AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:50:28 -0700 Had a pair of Western Tanagers in our yard in NE Salem this evening, May 13, 2008, about 7:30 PM. Location is about one block west of Waldo Middle School. This is a first time yard bird for us. It fits with what others are seeing in the Willamette Valley. Madeline Rae _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Tropicbird From: Harry Nehls <hnehls AT teleport.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:49:32 -0700 Obolers, Just received a call that a White-tailed Tropicbird was photographed today about 25 miles west of Florence. Harry Nehls Portland, Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Black Phoebe From: "Tom Escue" <tom-escue AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 16:45:55 -0700 The BLACK PHOEBE is still at the old pond outlet near Booth-Kelly in Springfield this afternoon. There are probably two of them. Also seen there was a KILLDEER, a KESTREL and MOURNING DOVE. Tom Escue Springfield_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: April Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 4/30 From: "Range Bayer" <rbayer AT orednet.org> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 16:38:03 -0700 (PDT) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIRD FIELD NOTES from the April 2008 Sandpiper 29(4) for Observations Received Through 4/30 by Range Bayer The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group. There are too many sightings to report them all. Only those considered particularly noteworthy are included here. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with Range (rbayer AT orednet.org; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent (all lower case letters). Many Lincoln Co. sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/). Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, COQUILLE POINT: southeast corner of Sally's Bend at about mile 3.5 along north Yaquina Bay Road, ECKMAN LAKE: lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, THIEL CREEK: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, THORNTON CREEK: about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty. WATERFOWL CP reported our first GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flock of about 250 migrating north over Newport's Safeway on 4/14 at about 10 AM. At 8:25 PM that evening a flock of 100-150 flew east over the HMSC (RB), so not all were going the same direction. A sign of the spring movement of BRANT was a sighting along the coast at Yaquina Head on 3/1 (BLM). At Yaquina Head, WH saw a flock of 120 migrating north about 200 yards off shore on 4/15 and a string of 9 flying north about 50 yards offshore on 4/16. The peak count this month at Yaquina Bay was 269 on 4/4 (RB); JL found 230 on 4/3. YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page). WH reported the first flock (45) of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE flying north over Yaquina Head on 4/15. Many continued to migrate, with about 800 flying over PP's Lincoln City home on 4/18. The first brood of MALLARD ducklings (10) appeared at Eckman Lake on 4/16 (RL), and a pair of WOOD DUCKS was there on 4/1 (JWe). Yaquina Head has been a good place for HARLEQUIN DUCKS, with reports during 4 days in March (BLM). 3 males & 3 females were also at Seal Rocks on 3/22 (JSi & others). JSi & others saw a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER with a nasal tag on 3/22 at the YBSJ. Finding a marked bird is exciting because there is the possibility of finding out where it has come from, which can be quite a long ways from here. JSi has so far been unsuccessful in trying to find who marked it. Our only LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Yaquina Head on 4/11 (A&CH, ES). On 4/16, BLl watched a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS swimming together with their heads submerged near Idaho Flats. Watching the behavior of birds can often be rewarding--and surprising! LOONS-GREEN HERON Loon migration was underway by 4/15, when WH estimated 20/min flying north past Yaquina Head. PP's seawatches in April at Boiler Bay revealed thousands of PACIFIC LOONS, hundreds of RED-THROATED LOONS, and lesser numbers of COMMON LOONS flying north. The peak counts were during PP & WH's 8-9:45 AM seawatch on 4/19, when they estimated 8,000+ Pacifics (varying from 50-300/minute), 600+ Red-throateds, and 200+ Commons; and during PP's 6:45-8:30 AM seawatch on 4/29, when he noted 9,000+ Pacifics, 400+ Red-throateds, and 40+ Commons. WH found a rare CLARK'S GREBE on the water at Boiler Bay on 4/26. JSi & others saw 5 EARED GREBES near the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay on 3/22. While sailing, PR appreciated an Eared Grebe in breeding plumage in the channel near the LNG tank on 4/6, and RN spotted 2 in breeding plumage near the HMSC on 4/13. A rare MANX SHEARWATER was discerned about 3/4 mile off Boiler Bay during PP's 4/30 seawatch. The 103 NORTHERN FULMARS found along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in March (B&SLo, L&VO) is the most in a month during January-March since BLo's surveys began in 1978. Most were not freshly dead, and 16% were light color-phase, which is less than the percentage of light fulmars late last year. The previous highs were 36 (March 1998) and 35 (January 2004). BROWN PELICAN sightings increased dramatically during April along the open coast, with reports during 12 days (FR; BB; KB; BLo; PP; WH; A&CH, ES). The peak counts were 45 at Yaquina Head on 4/19 (WH) and 73 at Boiler Bay on 4/30 (PP). They are often rare inside of bays until about June, and HS had our only in-bay report, with one circling inside Yaquina Bay on 4/6. Prior to the 1982/1983 El Nino, pelicans were rare prior to May and uncommon in May and June (SemiL). GREAT EGRETS overwintered at Beaver Creek, but JL found the first (a singleton) at Yaquina Bay on 4/1. Numbers increased to TW's peak count of 6 at Idaho Flats on 4/25, and at least 3 of these were in full breeding plumage. 2-5 were regularly seen at Yaquina Bay in April (SS; TW; JL; RB). Our first spring GREEN HERON was in the west log pond between the HMSC and Oregon Coast Aquarium on 4/7 (JL). 2 were in downtown Eddyville on 4/18 (CP). RAPTORS OSPREY arrived at their Eckman Lake nest on 3/18 (RL), at their Embarcadero nest on 3/26 (HS), and at the Waldport High School football field by 4/1 (BHu). At the football field, there were at least 3 Osprey using the 2 nests atop light poles on 4/2 (BHa). Another 2 were sitting on a nesting snag on the north side of the entry way from HWY 101 to South Beach State Park on 4/30 (KS). On 3/31 about 2 miles north of Siletz, JCo saw a brown duck (perhaps a nesting Mallard?) fly in two large circles and twice dive-bomb a hovering WHITE-TAILED KITE. The duck appeared to have hit the kite once. Kites may be nesting near the HMSC as JWa watched one carrying nesting material there on 4/14. Several BALD EAGLES were noted. CN appreciatively spotted an immature in a snag along the beach while driving to Waldport on 4/12. When she returned a few minutes later it was in the freshwater outlet. She stopped at a turnout and let a couple share the experience with her binocs. Mystery! The evening of 4/30 at the YBSJ, BM saw a coyote take 2 nests of 2 eggs each in the grass within 50 yards of the South Jetty road; no birds were around. The eggs were white and about chicken-sized. The nests were about 50 yards from each other. It is possible that these were NORTHERN HARRIER eggs based on color, size, ground-nesting, and location. BM noted a harrier in the same vicinity about 2 weeks previously, and "two years ago or so, I saw a harrier running a coyote out of the grassy valley between the dunes west of tonight's spot. The only harrier nest I've been lucky enough to see up close was in pretty deep grass at Finley Wildlife Refuge south of Corvallis---definitely deeper grass than where I saw the coyote take eggs this evening." Gabrielson and Jewett (1940. Birds of Oregon) write that harriers normally have 4-6 eggs, and that eggs were collected in Klamath County on May 1. So these clutches may not have been completed. In Gabrielson and Jewett's time, there were a total of only 2 coastal harrier records, so they have become more common since. The first Lincoln County record was in 1970 (SemiL), though they may have been present earlier. They now regularly overwinter. BM happened to be in the right location to see a sequence of behavior that we often do not! In past years, MERLINS were most apt to be reported in April (SemiL). This year does not appear to be the exception. We had no records in January and one record each in February and March. This month we had 4 records of singletons, including at Road's End in north Lincoln City on 4/11 (ME), the HMSC on 4/13 (RN), and Yachats on 4/21 (SaL). On 4/18, RL writes: "On my way to work, I was driving down US Hwy 101 in South Beach, and I saw a Merlin bolt out in front of me. I caught up to it as it flew along side the Highway just above eye level. It stayed even with me as I was driving. The Merlin flew along effortlessly and maintained speed even though it dodged trees, boats on trailers, parked trucks, etc!" PEREGRINE FALCONS were recorded during 7 days in March at Yaquina Head (BLM). Others included 1 in the Waldport area on 4/4 (SaL) and 1 at Boiler Bay on 4/29 (PP). SHOREBIRDS Our first BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and DUNLIN in breeding plumage were reported on 4/7 at Idaho Flats (JL). RN found 100+ DOWITCHERS at Alsea Bay on 4/13 and a flock of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS also flew over calling. The most BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were 6 on rocks by 68th Street north of Yaquina Head on 4/5 (FR). "Peeps" (small shorebirds) are on the move! On 4/19, PP & WH saw 500 DUNLIN and 1,600 other small shorebirds passing Boiler Bay. But their movement was sporadic, as PP did not see any passing during his 7:15-8:45 AM seawatch at Boiler Bay on 4/22. The evening of 4/27, over 500 (including DUNLIN) were busy refueling at Idaho Flats (RB), and on PP's 4/29 seawatch at Boiler Bay during 6:45-8:30 AM, he estimated 7,000+ WESTERN SANDPIPERS in "many small, apparently pure flocks." There were many April sightings of WHIMBRELS along the ocean beach or in Yaquina Bay, with high counts of 18 near Seal Rocks on 4/22 (KB) and 17 at Sally's Bend on 4/27 (CA). They are also often seen in upland, short- grass habitats. On 4/19, WH spotted 1 at the Agate Beach Golf Course (near Yaquina Head), and, on 4/20, PP watched 9 on the lawn at Boiler Bay State Park. MARBLED GODWITS other than those in the photo included 2-6 that stopped on the rock shelf northwest of Yaquina Bay Bridge on 4/3 & 25 (JL; RB). PP found our first RUDDY TURNSTONE since last May at Boiler Bay on 4/20. [Image Not Included: Jill Grover's mid-April photo of 2 Marbled Godwits wading along the ocean shore at Bayshore Beach north of Waldport.] During PP's 6:30-8 AM seawatch at Boiler Bay on 4/30, he noted 6,000+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPES--the first of the season and perhaps the harbinger of a major migration this spring. GULLS-HUMMINGBIRDS A single BONAPARTE'S GULL was at Idaho Flats on 4/3 & 4/16 (JL)--they should be increasing in abundance. A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Newport Bayfront on 3/31 (JN) and at Idaho Flats on 4/3 (JL). Our only report of Common or Arctic Terns were a flock of 20+ COMMON TERNS at Boiler Bay on 4/19 (WH & GG). There were many reports of Caspian Terns along the coast or in bays, with the high count of 55 flying north at Boiler Bay on 4/26 (WH). PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were using a hole in the cliff at Pacific Shores, south of South Beach on 4/5 (LO). 1 ANCIENT MURRELET and 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET were washed ashore along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in March (B&SLo, L&VO). No live Ancients were reported, but 3-60+ Rhinoceros Auklets and 1-6 MARBLED MURRELETS were recorded alive during 5 Boiler Bay seawatches on 4/19 (PP & WH) and 4/20-29 (PP). During these watches, PP saw 1-2 TUFTED PUFFINS on 4/22, 24, & 29. We had our first records of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES during May/June 2006. In 2007, we had a smattering of sightings in May and one record in August. Our only record since then was on 4/29, when WH detected one flying past the entrance to South Beach State Park. 4 MOURNING DOVES resided through mid-April at L&JM's Coquille Point home east of Sally's Bend. Another was near the south end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 4/26 (SS). BAND-TAILED PIGEONS appeared to have arrived en masse on about 4/11 (BB; EH), with reports of 15 or more in Yachats on 4/11 (BB), near Coquille Point in mid-April (L&JM), and in Newport on 4/27 (SS & TD). A BARRED OWL hooting at LO's north Beaver Creek home on 4/27 was our only report. L&JM also noted more hummers at their Coquille Point home, with RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS together until 4/11. An Anna's lingered near the USFWS building at the HMSC on 4/15 (JL). HYBRID WOODPECKERS [Image Not Included: Darrel Faxon's cropped photo of a sapsucker near his Thornton Creek home on April 12. His photo is at the Bird Guide site (http://thebirdguide.com/temp_images/RecentPhotos/RecentBirdPhotos.htm). Darrel notes that there was not a consensus about its identity, and it appears to have been a Red-naped Sapsucker with some Yellow-bellied Sapsucker characteristics. Nevertheless, as Darrel comments, "it was a beautiful bird."] [Image Not Included: Howard Shippey's photos of a male hybrid Red-shafted X Yello-shafted Northern Flicker near the Newport Bayfront in mid-March. It is identifiable as a hybrid because it has the red crescent on the back of its neck like a yellow-shafted, but it has the red malar stripe (moustache), reddish undertail feathers, and grayish side of the face like a red-shafted. It was last seen there on 4/30.] SPRING ARRIVALS-WARBLER Arrivals include: WILSON'S WARBLER at DG's Toledo home on 3/30, PURPLE MARTIN in South Beach on 4/11 (EH), EVENING GROSBEAK at Yachats on 4/11 (BB) and Toledo on 4/13 (CP), BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at L&JM's Coquille Point home on 4/17, CASSIN'S VIREO at EH's South Beach home on 4/24, BLACK- HEADED GROSBEAK at BB's Yachats home on 4/24, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT during the 4/26 YBNFT to Cape Perpetua's Giant Spruce Trail, and WARBLING VIREO and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at EH's South Beach home on 4/27. On 4/12, a BLACK PHOEBE was found in Yachats just north of Overleaf Lodge's housing development where the 804 trail crosses a stream that has been dammed by beavers (A&CH, ES). SaL looked a few days later and did not find the phoebe but did see Wood Ducks in the beaver pond. Black Phoebes are uncommon here, with only 2 records since 1997 (FN), including one in December 2004 while WH was steelhead fishing on the Siletz River downstream of Morgan Landing, and the second on 6/2/2007, while RL was halibut fishing 15-16 miles west of Newport (FN). An underreported BROWN CREEPER was near LO's north Beaver Creek home in mid-April. DF found a flock of 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS in Newport on 4/8. These may be spring nomads rather than spring migrants, since they usually do not arrive and remain until mid-May (SemiL). During 1973-1992, we had a smattering of Cedar Waxwing records during January-April in 9 of 20 years (SemiL). April was often wintry, with lots of ice and hail. On 4/20, DF wrote that he had "two inches of snow at Thornton Creek this morning, and a flock of bright breeding-plumaged Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are moving through the white blanket in the trees. What a sight!" SPARROWS-GOLDFINCHES The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW along the HMSC Nature Trail lingered until at least 3/29 (ME). Different subspecies of SAVANNAH SPARROWS move through, especially right along the coast strip. On 4/19 at the YBSJ, WH admired "a bright 'Alaska' " Savannah Sparrow. BLo had our only report of a Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO--one was in the driveway at his Thiel Creek home on 4/17. JSh discovered a pair of LAPLAND LONGSPURS in breeding plumage along the boulders of the YBSJ near the biggest parking area by the "Gull Puddle" the morning of 4/28. She quickly reported it, so JB was able to see them that afternoon. They were also seen there on 4/29 & 30, often in the company of 1-2 Savannah Sparrows (JL; WH; BOl; CP). Since 2000, we only have had one record by 1-2 observers each fall in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2007 (FN). They have occurred in spring before, since we had 7 years of records in April or May prior to 1993 (SemiL), but this was an exceptional chance in recent years for many people to see them---and to see them in spring breeding plumage! On 4/9, LO had a female GROSBEAK at his north Beaver Creek feeders, but it flew away before he determined if it was a Black-headed or Rose- breasted. That would be unseasonally early for a Black-headed, but we have had Rose-breasteds uncommonly in early spring. On 4/30, a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK showed up at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport at their home-made peanut log. JC notes that "the birds sure love it"; see her recipe along with a link about NOT using hydrogenated peanut butter at http://www.birdsamore.com/recipes/peanutbuttercake.htm 3-5 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS lingered at the HMSC on 3/22 (JSi & others) and 4/7 (JL). LESSER GOLDFINCHES remained at L&JM's Coquille Point home until 4/9. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES arrived and brightened many areas, with 20+ at BOu's Newport home on 4/22. OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Judy Butts, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), Joel Colvin (JCo), Todd Dunkirk, Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#thornton_creek), Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Bill Hanshumaker (BHa), Adrian & Christopher Hinkle, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Bettye Hunt (BHu), Janet Lamberson, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Barry McPherson, Russ Namitz, Cheryl Norton, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), John Notis, Bob Olson (BOl), Oregon Birders On Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Bette Ouderkirk (BOu), Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Fran Recht, Paul Reed, Em Scattaregia, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive AT OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Howard Shippey, Joline Shroyer (JSh), Jamie Simmons (JSi), Keith Stratton, Stacy Strickland, Jessica Waddell (JWa), Tom Wainwright, Jean Weakland (JWe), Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by SaL & BB). _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Subject: eagle nest failure From: Brandon Green <bjgreen34 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:55:34 -0700 (PDT) Assuming we're talking about the same nest here, I was saddened to hear (and see) this as well earlier today. Out of curiosity, I checked back in just a few minutes ago and saw that an eagle is sitting in the nest once again... http://www.fs.fed.us/outdoors/naturewatch/eaglecam.html -Brandon ----- Message: 35 Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 10:36:35 -0700 From: "Tom Escue" Subject: [obol] eagle nest failure To: Message-ID: <003c01c8b456$b9e2e120$0302a8c0 AT yourf78bf48ce2> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" For those interested: The eagle nest at Odell Lake which I was watching with the USDA NatureWatch cam is now vacant. The single egg is still seen in the picture. The eagles apparently left the nest sometime early Sunday. Don Virgovic of USDA (dvirgovic AT fs.fed.us) sent me an e-mail confirming the above. Maybe the nest was problematical due to wind and frequent snow covering it. I also rarely saw both male and female eagles at the nest. It seems a mystery to me. Any thoughts on the nest failure? Tom Escue Springfield _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: What bird is this? From: "Dennis P. Vroman" <dpvroman AT budget.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:25:27 -0700 Paul, I'm thinking your identification is correct, female Bullock's Oriole (formally Northern Oriole - lumped with Baltimore). Dennis >I hiked the Rogue River wild and scenic trail this weekend. We stayed > at Paradise Lodge and this bird flew into a window. I guess I think > it was a female Northern Oriole. It flew off, apparently OK, a moment > after I took these photos. > > Can you offer opinions about the identity of this bird? > > > > Paul Bloch > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: not bird-related but good news From: Ann Chamberlain <mazoerr AT netscape.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:19:05 -0700 Either two or three years ago (I can't eremember when, but I think two years), someone ran over a western pond turtle at the foot of our driveway. I picked it up because it was still alive and placed it across the road on the bank of the stream. I never thought the turtle would survive, but figured I'd give it a shot. Well, this morning, the turtle with the cracked shell was once again at the foot of the driveway! We moved it up to the pond and hope maybe it will stay put! I am amazed that this poor thing survived. Fascinating stuff. Our pond turtle count is now nine including "Cracked". Ann outside Myrtle Creek _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: What bird is this? From: "Paul E. Bloch" <paul AT mahonia.us> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:59:15 -0700 I hiked the Rogue River wild and scenic trail this weekend. We stayed at Paradise Lodge and this bird flew into a window. I guess I think it was a female Northern Oriole. It flew off, apparently OK, a moment after I took these photos. Can you offer opinions about the identity of this bird? Paul Bloch _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Vaux's Swifts at Eugene roost May 10? From: "Barbara Combs" <bcombs232 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:52:35 -0700 Did anyone count the Vaux's Swifts entering the big chimney on the U of O Campus Saturday evening May 10? -- Barbara Combs obie '70 Eugene OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Long-billed Curlews -- Portland Airport From: David Helzer <davehelzer AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:09 -0700 OBOL- today mid-morning there were 3 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS resting in a field at PDX. They were south of the fire station off Marine Drive. also at least 3 WESTERN KINGBIRDS still at the airport. Dave Helzer Portland, Oregon _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Dusky Flycatcher - Mt. Tabor, Portland. From: Jeff Gilligan <jeffgill AT teleport.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:32:56 -0700 As I walked down my front stairs today I noticed Western Tanagers, a Black-headed Grosbeak, two Warbling Vireos, and a Yellow Warbler before I reached the sidewalk. I therefore made a mid-morning trip to Mt. Tabor. There were many migrants there - including a DUSKY FLYCATCHER off the upper loop. Jeff Gilligan, Portland. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: No tanagers here From: "pamela johnston" <pamelaj AT spiritone.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:17:03 -0700 Like Mike and Darrel to the west, I have not seen remarkable numbers of Tanagers on the east side of the Coast Range, either. The most exciting moment was seeing 2 males in Yamhill on Saturday. It would be fun to map out the places where numbers over, say, 15 have appeared. Black-headed Grosbeaks have been all over my place, however. Yesterday and today I have counted 10 at a time without going outdoors to try for more. Pamela Johnston, outside McMinnville ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Patterson" To: "Obol" Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:36 PM Subject: [obol] No tanagers here Funny, my yard's full of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS (7 at last count). I saw (maybe) four tanagers over the weekend, but it's been mostly grosbeaks... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR celata AT pacifier.com When bad photos happen to good birds http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: 20 Lazuli Buntings, 8 Lark Sparrows From: "Douglas Kirkpatrick" <kirkpat AT charter.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:55:52 -0700 Paul, that day sounds absolutely wonderful. Are you a frustrated chef??? You didn't mention anything about mixing the batter or baking under the sun. (Maybe the 40-63 degree temps weren't quite perfect?) Bring your recipe for fine birding down to Jackson county and I'd be honored to be your sous chef! ;-) Doug Kirkpatrick Medford -----Original Message----- From: obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org [mailto:obol-bounces AT oregonbirdwatch.org] On Behalf Of Paul T. Sullivan Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:21 PM To: obol Subject: [obol] 20 Lazuli Buntings, 8 Lark Sparrows OBOL: Carol Karlen & I did the Wheeler county North American Migration County on Sunday, May 11. The weather was 50% clouds and temperatures from 40-63. A stiff breeze came up mod-morning and lasted the rest of the day. Imagine a fence row near Tickenham with 20 LAZULI BUNTINGS flitting from grass to fence and into the air. Toss in a bright LARK SPARROW, with painted hills behind. Later imagine a fence with 8 LARK SPARROWS in a row. Imagine a field with 90 RAVENS and 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS. Toss in a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, adult BALD EAGLE, and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES. Add a cooperative NASHVILLE WARBLER, a calling Y-0b. CHAT, and 2 BARN OWLS peeking out of a cliff. Sprinkle around 53 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 29 PRONGHORNS, 68 MOURNING DOVES, and 34 WESTERN KINGBIRDS (both these latter species down from last year.) Set this in canyon and rimrock scenery, with Ponderosa pine and juniper and sage. Start the day with 11 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at Clarno and end with 200 VAUX'S SWIFTS circling over Spray. End the day with GREAT HORNED OWLS hooting outside your room. We tallied 93 species. We didn't see the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in Fossil until the next morning. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Migrant warblers in Deschutes county (DRW) From: "Jim Moodie" <jmoodie AT cocc.edu> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:54:52 -0700 On Sunday we had our first ever Spring HERMIT WARBLER (male) come to our water feature along with a male BUTTERBUTT. The contrast of yellow, black and gray was spectacular. We also had our FOY WILSON'S WARBLERS foraging in the willows and currant bushes. Yesterday we added a FOY MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (female), which came to our water feature. A male LAZULI BUNTING is still hanging around (five days and counting) and visiting a tube feeder. Our place is ~5miles SW of Bend in Deschutes River Woods. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Migrant warblers in Deschutes county (DRW) From: "Jim Moodie" <jmoodie AT cocc.edu> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:54:52 -0700 On Sunday we had our first ever Spring HERMIT WARBLER (male) come to our water feature along with a male BUTTERBUTT. The contrast of yellow, black and gray was spectacular. We also had our FOY WILSON'S WARBLERS foraging in the willows and currant bushes. Yesterday we added a FOY MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (female), which came to our water feature. A male LAZULI BUNTING is still hanging around (five days and counting) and visiting a tube feeder. Our place is ~5miles SW of Bend in Deschutes River Woods. Cheers, Jim Dr. James Moodie Science Department Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR 97701 541-383-7282 _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL AT lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request AT lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. Subject: No tanagers here From: Mike Patterson <celata AT pacifier.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:36:34 -0800 Funny, my yard's full of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS (7 at last count). I saw (maybe) four tanagers over the weekend, but it's been mostly grosbeaks... -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR celata AT pacifier.com When bad photos happen to good birds http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Wasco & Sherman county birding From: "Paul T. Sullivan" <ptsulliv AT spiritone.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 12:40:53 -0700 OBOL: On our way home from Wheeler county yesterday, Carol & I traveled through Fossil, Antelope, Shaniko, Kent, Grass Valley, and Moro. In Fossil we found 3+ EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, our first in Wheeler county. In Wasco county, just south of Shaniko we found brilliant MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS along Hwy 218. We stopped at a willow swale just a mile south of Shaniko and found a bonanza of birds: CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, & MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, AM. GOLDFINCHES, etc. In Sherman county south of Kent, we found SWAINSON'S HAWK. At Twin Lakes, south of Grass Valley we found YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, REDHEADS, RUDDY DUCKS, etc. In the oasis of Grass Valley we found multiple EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, HERMIT THRUSHES, HOUSE WREN, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. In the oasis of Moro we found SCRUB JAY, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, many GRAY FLYCATCHERS, a cooperative NASHVILLE WARBLER, and a family of LARK SPARROWS. These small towns with their trees are magnets for birds just like the Malheur headquarters is. Instead of a sea of sage, there is a sea of wheat fields. The oases offer the only trees for miles. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: 20 Lazuli Buntings, 8 Lark Sparrows From: "Paul T. Sullivan" <ptsulliv AT spiritone.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 12:21:20 -0700 OBOL: Carol Karlen & I did the Wheeler county North American Migration County on Sunday, May 11. The weather was 50% clouds and temperatures from 40-63. A stiff breeze came up mod-morning and lasted the rest of the day. Imagine a fence row near Tickenham with 20 LAZULI BUNTINGS flitting from grass to fence and into the air. Toss in a bright LARK SPARROW, with painted hills behind. Later imagine a fence with 8 LARK SPARROWS in a row. Imagine a field with 90 RAVENS and 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS. Toss in a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, adult BALD EAGLE, and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES. Add a cooperative NASHVILLE WARBLER, a calling Y-0b. CHAT, and 2 BARN OWLS peeking out of a cliff. Sprinkle around 53 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 29 PRONGHORNS, 68 MOURNING DOVES, and 34 WESTERN KINGBIRDS (both these latter species down from last year.) Set this in canyon and rimrock scenery, with Ponderosa pine and juniper and sage. Start the day with 11 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at Clarno and end with 200 VAUX'S SWIFTS circling over Spray. End the day with GREAT HORNED OWLS hooting outside your room. We tallied 93 species. We didn't see the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in Fossil until the next morning. Good birding, everyone, Paul T. Sullivan _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Tanagers et al From: Tim Rodenkirk <garbledmodwit AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:55:48 -0700 (PDT) This phenomenon sounds like it's limited to the Willamette Valley- pretty cool to be able to track where they are and where they aren't through OBOL though. Tim R In Coos Bay where there are just a few tanagers around- nothing out of the ordinary. On the other hand, the Evening Grosbeaks are here in way greater than normal numbers... --- Darrel Faxon <5hats AT peak.org> wrote: > Obolites, > Interesting to me, these reports of swarms of > tanagers. In spite of being outside every day, I > have seen nothing like this in the Co9ast Range at > all. > > Darrel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Grant Canterbury > To: obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 9:31 AM > Subject: [obol] Tanagers et al > > > This has definitely been one of the most > impressive spring migration seasons I can remember > here in Portland. I started seeing the tanagers > come through May 5, with about a half dozen of them > in a single tree. I stopped on the sidewalk and > watched them for several minutes, drawing curious > looks from passersby which changed to interested > excitement when I pointed out the brilliant birds > dripping off the tree. That was the most Western > Tanagers I had ever seen in one place, but proved to > be only a warmup act. The last few days there have > been swarms of them; this morning I probably heard > and saw twenty to thirty in the course of walking > three blocks to the bus stop, one tree having five > of them visible at once on a single dead branch. > Two or three weeks ago there were Yellow-rumped > Warblers seemingly in every tree, by dozens and > hundreds. The past week has brought large numbers > of Wilson's Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and > Warbling Vireos. I too have been wondering whether > the cooler weather this year is causing the bird > movement to back up and/or redirect to the lower > altitudes with the mountains having more extensive > areas of snowpack than usual. > > - Grant Canterbury > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol > _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Tanagers et al From: "Darrel Faxon" <5hats AT peak.org> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:27:56 -0700 Obolites, Interesting to me, these reports of swarms of tanagers. In spite of being outside every day, I have seen nothing like this in the Co9ast Range at all. Darrel ----- Original Message ----- From: Grant Canterbury To: obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 9:31 AM Subject: [obol] Tanagers et al This has definitely been one of the most impressive spring migration seasons I can remember here in Portland. I started seeing the tanagers come through May 5, with about a half dozen of them in a single tree. I stopped on the sidewalk and watched them for several minutes, drawing curious looks from passersby which changed to interested excitement when I pointed out the brilliant birds dripping off the tree. That was the most Western Tanagers I had ever seen in one place, but proved to be only a warmup act. The last few days there have been swarms of them; this morning I probably heard and saw twenty to thirty in the course of walking three blocks to the bus stop, one tree having five of them visible at once on a single dead branch. Two or three weeks ago there were Yellow-rumped Warblers seemingly in every tree, by dozens and hundreds. The past week has brought large numbers of Wilson's Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Warbling Vireos. I too have been wondering whether the cooler weather this year is causing the bird movement to back up and/or redirect to the lower altitudes with the mountains having more extensive areas of snowpack than usual. - Grant Canterbury ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Tanagers - no From: "Dennis P. Vroman" <dpvroman AT budget.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:58:58 -0700 My take on the Tanagers this spring is they were hanging around the valley lowlands, thus the large numbers. The weather in the mountains (even the upper foothills surrounding the Rogue Valley) were pretty cold and wet for "normal." The cold theory might apply to eastern Oregon as well. When they arrived, they had to eat somewhere where insects were out and about - mainly in the valley lowlands. Dennis > Hi all > Someone supposed that the tanagers chose the west side for > migration this year and that is why you have so many in your > neighborhoods etc. I second that. It has been cold, snowy here > in Central Oregon. > > Personally, I have had NONE in my yard yet, NONE despite > being out all day on Deschutes NAMC on Saturday and NONE > despite being out 7 hours on Jefferson NAMC on Sunday. > Perhaps you have all the birds concentrated there instead of > spread throughout the state? > > Some answers may lie in NAMC numbers which may come out > soon. The numbers could eventually be compared with NAMC > statewide numbers of past years. Checking on Jim Moodie's > 2007 data of yard bird appearances in Central Oregon, they were > here the 4th week of April last year in my yard. > Enjoy those tanagers! > Judy Meredith > jmeredit AT bendnet.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: New Quiz From: Chris Warren <warrech AT earlham.edu> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:45:57 -0700 For those interested, my new quiz is up. http://tinyurl.com/45vt4v Good Luck! Chris Warren Portland, OR _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Tanagers - no From: "Judy Meredith" <jmeredit AT bendnet.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:59:48 -0700 Hi all Someone supposed that the tanagers chose the west side for migration this year and that is why you have so many in your neighborhoods etc. I second that. It has been cold, snowy here in Central Oregon. Personally, I have had NONE in my yard yet, NONE despite being out all day on Deschutes NAMC on Saturday and NONE despite being out 7 hours on Jefferson NAMC on Sunday. Perhaps you have all the birds concentrated there instead of spread throughout the state? Some answers may lie in NAMC numbers which may come out soon. The numbers could eventually be compared with NAMC statewide numbers of past years. Checking on Jim Moodie's 2007 data of yard bird appearances in Central Oregon, they were here the 4th week of April last year in my yard. Enjoy those tanagers! Judy Meredith jmeredit AT bendnet.com _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Avocets From: Sylvia Maulding <sylviam AT clearwire.net> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:55:26 -0700 Tuesday, 9:45AM Meadowlark Prairie off of Greenhill Rd. Eugene Sylvia and Paul Sherrell are seeing two Am. Avocets and a pair of Phalaropes. Rick -- Sylvia Maulding Springfield, OR sylviam AT clearwire.net _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Evening grosbeaks From: Ann Chamberlain <mazoerr AT netscape.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:51:14 -0700 Saw a pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS on the feeder early this morning - first and only ones I have seen in 2008. The mystery bird of yesterday has not returned. Ann outside Myrtle Creek _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Unsual Tanagers From: "Michael Gellerman" <msgellerman AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:43:38 -0700 This is less a story of Tanagers than Sapsuckers. We were at Tualitin River Wildlife Refuge on Monday and Leslie spotted a Tanager, it was one of the "bird of the day" moments because it was freezing cold and windy and like most Oregonians we were looking for real Spring. A few seconds later a Red-breasted Sapsucker flew into the same tree, no mistaken identity on this one, there was red to spare on the breast. So at this point we sat down and watched, there was plenty else to hold our interest, but everytime the Tanager flew, the Sapsucker followed to the same tree. This went on for a long time. Now I know there are plenty of explanations for this, I have spent 25+ years working on birds in the field, but at that moment I just thought it was Spring, and who knows if a Sapsucker cannot be attrached to a brilliant Tanager? A few minutes after to we started walking again we ran into another birder and briefly exchanged notes, he noticed the Sapsucker chasing the Tanager as well, so either there are plenty of springtime romantics out there or you just have to accept the unusual. It was a strange day, we also watched American Goldfinches foraging in the mud below the visitor's center - they hardly look like sandpipers. The only other unexpected thing we saw, although it was a rich and fascinating hike, was a pair of Pacific Slope Flycatchers very active and amorous. In the relatively short time I have lived west of the Cascades, I have sort of blocked flycatchers out of mind, but it was nice to see them for a change. Mike Gellerman Porland, OR_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Tanagers et al From: Grant Canterbury <grantandstacy AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 09:31:20 -0700 This has definitely been one of the most impressive spring migration seasons I can remember here in Portland. I started seeing the tanagers come through May 5, with about a half dozen of them in a single tree. I stopped on the sidewalk and watched them for several minutes, drawing curious looks from passersby which changed to interested excitement when I pointed out the brilliant birds dripping off the tree. That was the most Western Tanagers I had ever seen in one place, but proved to be only a warmup act. The last few days there have been swarms of them; this morning I probably heard and saw twenty to thirty in the course of walking three blocks to the bus stop, one tree having five of them visible at once on a single dead branch. Two or three weeks ago there were Yellow-rumped Warblers seemingly in every tree, by dozens and hundreds. The past week has brought large numbers of Wilson's Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Warbling Vireos. I too have been wondering whether the cooler weather this year is causing the bird movement to back up and/or redirect to the lower altitudes with the mountains having more extensive areas of snowpack than usual. - Grant Canterbury _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: The Tanagers From: Maria Michalczyk <mariam AT easystreet.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 22:08:29 -0700 We saw about 5 W.Tanagers in our yard in South Salem on Sunday. My first time of ever seeing them...after wanting to see them for at least 15 years. Maria Lance L'Chien (Bark strong) Inu Shun Cow (Snowball dog) _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Ash-throated Fly From: "Jim & Vikki Hein" <heinjv AT dcwisp.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 21:53:36 -0700 Obol, Western Tanagers must have all flown by Douglas County. I have seen very few here. We did today have a pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERs checking out a tree hole that they have nested in for several years. Our WILD TURKEY hen is still on her nest. The grass has grown up around the nest so you can only see her by looking from directly above. Jim Hein _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: Several Thousand Vaux's Swifts at Chapman School From: Dan Gleason <dan-gleason AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 21:49:22 -0700 Large numbers of swifts are also currently using the large chimney at Agate Hall on the University of Oregon campus. If you happen to be near the Eugene area around dusk, come take in the sight. It's very impressive if you haven't seen this before. Dan Gleason ------------- Dan Gleason dan-gleason AT comcast.net 541 345-0450 On May 12, 2008, at 8:54 PM, shawn birder wrote: > Hi OBOLers, > > Tonight an impressive funnel of VAUX'S SWIFTS entered the chimney. > They starting going in at about 8:15pm and lasting a long time as > many new swifts arrived. The public doesn't know about the spring > swifts so there has been no one around. No crowds like in the fall. > > Shawn Schmelzer > Portland > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > Try it now. > _______________________________________________ > obol mailing list > obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org > http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Several Thousand Vaux's Swifts at Chapman School From: shawn birder <shawnbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 20:54:35 -0700 (PDT) _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: digest? From: "Suzanne Staples" <stapless AT centurytel.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 19:13:35 -0700 Would you kindly let me know how to 'digest' my messages from OBOL into one daily mailing? Thanks much. Suzanne _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Re: This week's quiz bird From: "Russ Namitz" <namitzr AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 17:38:37 -0700 Because I LOVE these quizzes.... :) This bird has a couple of common names like the RHODOXANTHIN REDHEAD or LUDOVICIANA'S THRAUPID. Sometimes it is even known as the EASTERN PACIFIC LIGHT-BROWN AGER or OCCIDENTAL PIRANGA. Good stuff. Bird on, Russ Namitz Coos Bay _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Black Phoebe in Spfld. From: Mike <xcabtaco AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 17:21:55 -0700 I was down by the pond behind the old Booth-Kelly mill (South 'B' & 5th) and there was a BLACK PHOEBE lingering around the dam. I saw it first back in mid-April but could not verify at that time. In April I saw two but today there was only one. There is a wooden bridge near the dam and the bird would disappear into the structure then come out moments later. I am thinking there is a nest in there but I could not see it. (w/pics.) I also had several WESTERN TANAGERS(finally) and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH (I think) in my yard today. BH. GROSBEAKS are also plentiful and the WILSON'S WARBLERS are regular visitors lately. Now, when do I get to see a Kingbird? hmmmmmmm.......... Mike Higgins_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: This week's quiz bird From: Mike Patterson <celata AT pacifier.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 17:20:23 -0800 Because we know how much you all love quizes.... http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/ -- Mike Patterson Astoria, OR celata AT pacifier.com When bad photos happen to good birds http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/03/photo20080313.html _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Spotted Sandpiper NE Salem From: Margaret Stephens <mlstep AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 16:48:08 -0700 A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was poking around a large mud puddle at the State Fairgounds in Salem this afternoon. _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Wandering Tattler in Cannon Beach From: "Lisa Sheffield" <sheffield.lisa AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:47:15 -0700 There has been a single, adult, breeding-plumage Wandering Tattler in the intertidal at Haystack Rock today. Also the first bit of migrating Whimbrel. Tufted Puffins have been very active and easy to see all week._______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Jefferson county Yellow-breasted Chat From: Kimdel Owen <kimdelo AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:40:58 -0700 (PDT) I did the eastern part of Jefferson county for NAMC yesterday. I saw 100 species in 11 hours. The best bird was a Yellow-breasted Chat seen at Ashwood. While I was getting ready to leave for the count Suday morning a got a new yard bird. I heard a Sandhill Crane call a couple of times. "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home in the fastness of the rocky crag. There he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it afar off." Kimdel Owen Redmond, OR ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ _______________________________________________ COBOL mailing list COBOL AT lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/cobol To unsubscribe, send a message to: COBOL-request AT lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. Subject: JoCo birds today From: "Dennis P. Vroman" <dpvroman AT budget.net> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:24:50 -0700 Today (05-12-08) at our place (just east of Merlin I-5 exit) the following were seen: 1 GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (got a good look and it's a Gambel's). Seems pretty late for them to still be here; once captured and banded one of this race at a later May date, but not in the valley). female MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER several male WILSON'S WARBLERS 1 YELLOW WARBLER pair of HOUSE WRENS attempting to stuff sticks into a nest box. We have not had them attempt to nest here for some time. They were not doing well trying to get the sticks into the nest box opening for most of them had stems at nearly a right-angle to the main stick...were working hard, however. Violet-green Swallows were hanging around the same box too. Dennis (north of Grants Pass)_______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Tanagers, Evening and Black-headed Grossbeaks in Monmouth From: "kolwicz AT minetfiber.com" <kolwicz@minetfiber.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 14:36:37 -0700 The Tanagers have been around for more than a week, the Evening Grossbeaks were found here when we got back from Malheur Friday. Also seen for the first time in this backyard, earlier in the season: Nashville, Townsend's, Yellow and Orange-crowned warblers. A request from these renewed casual birders: my wife and I would like to be able to make weekly outings to Valley and other nearby birding spots, but we're not at all familiar with the possibilities. We know the NWRs and have been on a couple of Salem Audubon trips, but don't know the less obvious spots. Any help will be appreciated. As soon as I get around to it, we'll be joining Salem Audubon. Thanks, Frank _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol Subject: Mt. Tabor: Townsend's Solitaire, Calliope HB, & Swainson's Thrush flock From: Bill Clemons <willclemons AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 14:36:30 -0700 (PDT) I birded for a few hours this morning on Mt. Tabor in SE Portland near 60th and Division. The previously reported TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD are still being seen at the top. Several birders saw them from the NE part of the top loop road. A wonderful addition was small loose flock of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES seen from the same spot. More than once I was treated to side-by-side comparisons of both SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSHES in the same binocular view from about 30 feet or so. WESTERN TANAGERS were also seen, though the largest group I saw at once was eight individuals. Spring is Indeed Sweet! Bill Clemons SW of Portland in Mtn Park Willclemons AT Yahoo dot com Birding: The best excuse for getting outdoors And avoiding chores ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ _______________________________________________ obol mailing list obol AT oregonbirdwatch.org http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol