volume 34 number 1 spring 2008 - oregon birding association · russ namitz - coos bay (2010)...

Volume 34 Number 1 Spring 2008 2007 Oregon Listing Results

Jamie Simmons 1 1? 2007

A New County Year List Record for Oregon David S. Irons 12

Field Notes: Fall 2007 Statewide Season Report David S. Irons 28

Confessions of an Oregon Birder, or, Why I've Given up Twitching to Watch Blackbirds...

Steve Dowlan 37

Photo Essay: Cabin Lake Bird Blind, September

Steve Dowlan 40

Center pull-out section: Membership Directory Corrections i OBRC Official Checklist of Oregon Birds i i i OFO Membership Application x OFO Bookcase Order Form xi

Oregon Birds The journal of Oregon field ornithology

P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, Oregon 97440 www. oregonbirds. org

Oregon Birds is a publication of Oregon Field Ornithologists (OFO), an Oregon not-for-profit corporation. Membership in OFO includes a subscription to Oregon Birds ISSN 0890-2313

Editor: Jeff Harding (541)451-2613 39127 Griggs Drive, Lebanon, OR, 97355

[email protected]

Associate Editor: Don DeWitt

Board of Editors: Alan Contreras, Dave Irons, Mike Patterson, Steve Dowlan

Officers and Board of Directors: President:

Dan Gleason - Eugene (2009) [email protected] Treasurer:

Dave Tracy - Bend ( 2009) [email protected] Secretary:

Dan Heyerly - Eugene ( 2009) [email protected] Directors:

Shawneen Finnegan - Portland (2010) [email protected] Russ Namitz - Coos Bay (2010) [email protected] David Smith - Portland (2009) [email protected] Jeff Harding - Lebanon ( 2009) [email protected]

Committees. Archivist:

Barb Combs, [email protected] (541) 689-6660 Membership:

Anne Heyerly, [email protected] (541) 485-0880 OFO Bookcase:

John Ruitta, [email protected] OFO Family Weekends:

Joel Geier, [email protected] Judy Meredith, [email protected]

Oregon Bird Records Committee: Secretary - Harry B. Nehls, 2736 S.E. 20th Ave., Portland, Oregon 97202 [email protected]

This issue of Oregon Birds was composed by Steve Dowlan.

Cover: Buff-breasted Sandpiper at South Jetty, Siuslaw River, Florence, Lane County, 1 September 2007. Photo /Mark Nikas

Oregon Birds is looking for material in these categories:

Articles deal with identification, d i s t r i b u t i o n , e c o l o g y , management, conservation, taxonomy, behavior, biology, and historical aspects of ornithology and birding in Oregon. Articles cite references (if any) at the end of the article. Names and addresses of authors typically appear at the beginning of the article.

Short Notes are shorter contributions that deal with the same subjects as articles. Short Notes typically cite no references, or at most a few in parentheses in the text. Names and address of authors appear at the end of the Short Note.

Bird Finding Guides "where to find a in Oregon" (for some of the rarer birds) and "where to find birds in the area" (for some of the better spots).

Reviews for published material on Oregon birds or of interest to Oregon birders.

Photographs of birds, especially photos taken recently in Oregon. Digitalfiles or color slide duplicates are preferred. Please label all photos with photographer's name and address, bird identification, date and location of photo. Photos will be returned i f requested.

The Deadline for the next issue of Oregon Birds, OB 34(2) Summer 2008, is 31 November 2008.

Please send material directly to the Editor, Jeff Harding, [email protected]

Printed on Recycled Paper

2007 Oregon Listing Results Jamie Simmons, [email protected]

Notable Oregon listing milestones of 2007:

• John F. Gatchet and Dan Heyerly surpassed 400 for their Oregon life lists.

Russ Namitz had an Oregon year total that ties for second place in the Top Ten Oregon Year Lists category. Also notable is that Don Schrouder's Oregon year total would have been a new number 10 in that list i f not for Russ' parallel efforts.

• In county life lists, Craig Corder (Gilliam) and Jamie Simmons (Benton), previously co-leaders with others, emerged as new solo leaders.

Dave Irons smashed the 7-year-old Lane County year record, Kevin Spencer broke his own 11-year-old year record in Klamath County, W. Douglas Robinson smashed his Benton County year record, and Carol Karlen broke her Yamhill County year record. The latter 2 broke records they had set in 2006. Notable too is that Diane Pettey also broke the previous Lane County year record.

• Left out of the 2006 notable milestones: In 2006 Dean Hale became the first to reach 300 in Deschutes County.

Thank you to all who submitted their listing numbers! It has been a pleasure serving as listing coordinator for the past 9 years. At this time I need to step down and pass the torch on to someone else.

Totals marked with an asterisk (*) are previously submitted totals; no updated total was received this year. Only totals of 400 or more for the Oregon life list are carried through without an updated list. County totals are carried through from year to year only i f they are still leading. Names marked with {%) symbol honor deceased birders.

Western Scrub-Jay and Steller s Jay, 21 September 2007, John Day, Grant Co. Photo / C. & M. O 'Leary

Oregon Birds 34(1): 1, Spring 2008

Oregon State List (300) 476* JeffGilligan 455 Owen Schmidt 449 Sheran Wright 445 Gerard Lillie 444* TomCrabtree 435 Paul Sullivan 435 Tim Janzen 435* Alan Contreras 431 Dave Irons 431 * Jim Johnson 426* Richard Smith 425 Craig Miller 424 Hendrik Herlyn 423* David C. Bailey 420 Paul Sherrell 419* Jim Carlson 418* Tim Shelmerdine 417 TimRodenkirk 416 Diane Pettey 416* WaltYungen 414* Donna Lusthoff 413* RickKrabbe 412 Steve Kornfeld 411 Tom Love 411* Skip Russell 409* TomMickel 408 Sylvia Maulding 408* Barbara Combs 406* Linda Weiland 405 Dan Heyerly 405 John F. Gatchet 405 Marshall Beretta 405* AlanMcGie 403 David Copeland

401 BillTice 401 GregGillson 401 * Steve Summers 401* Gerald B. Smith 401* JackCorbett 399 Mike Patterson 398 Craig Corder 397 Mike Denny 395 Don Schrouder 395 Richard C. Hoyer 395 Steve Dowlan 394 Mark Nikas 394 Dean Hale 394 Joe Evanich ($) 392 Anne Heyerly 392 Chuck Gates 390 Bob Stites 388 Roger Robb 387 Ulo Kiigemagi 387 Ho ward Horvath 387 Jan Krabbe ($) 386 David W.Smith 386 RonMaertz 385 Jamie Simmons 377 John Sullivan 377 Judy Corder 376 Tom Snetsinger 375 Carol Karlen 375 Jeff Harding 375 Martha Sawyer (J) 374 Noah Strycker 374 John Fitchen 372 Karl Fairchild 371 Vjera Thompson

371 Clarice Watson (J) 370 Paula Vanderheul 369 Joe Fontaine 366 Don DeWitt 364 Russ Namitz 364 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 363 Elsie Eltzroth 360 Marcia F. Cutler 357 Eva Schultz 357 Laura Johnson 355 Marion Corder (J) 346 Jim Rogers 346 Kimdel Owen 345 Jan Knott 345 Diantha Knott 342 Rick Maulding 339 Rich Armstrong 339 Nanette Armstrong 337 Wayne Weber 337 John Rakestraw 332 Mike Wihler 330 Aaron Skirvin 322 Frank Mayer 320 John Kemper 318 Henry Horvat 318 Elmer Specht (J) 318 Fred Parker ($) 309 James Davis 307 Larry Hammond


Oregon Year List (250) 355 Russ Namitz 309 Margaret LaFaive 279 Mike Patterson 340 Don Schrouder 304 Carol Karlen 277 Karl Fairchild 334 Tim Rodenkirk 299 Eric Henze 275 Craig Miller 331 Paul Sherrell 298 Chuck Gates 275 Craig Miller

328 Dave Irons 296 Noah Strycker 268 Aaron Skirvin 320 Roger Robb 292 Bob Stites 267 Dean Hale 317 314

Sylvia Maulding Paul Sullivan

290 288

Rich Armstrong Ulo Kiigemagi 256 Henry Horvat

310 John Sullivan 288 Nanette Armstrong 253 Kimdel Owen

Top Ten Oregon Year Lists

363 Tim Rodenkirk (2002) 346 Walt Yungen (2002) 355 Russ Namitz (2007) 345 Skip Russell (1992) 355 Phillip Pickering (1986) 345 Donna Lusthoff (1987) 351 Tim Janzen (1996) 344 Jeff Gilligan (1981) 348 Tim Rodenkirk (2000) 342 Tim Rodenkirk (2001)

2007 Oregon County Lists Baker 215 Nanette Armstrong 103 Craig Miller 231* Ann Ward 215 Rich Armstrong 221 Craig Corder 208 Karl Fairchild Clackamas 206 Paul Sullivan 196 Roy Gerig 245* Elmer Specht (J) 173 Mike Denny 195 David Copeland 242 Tim Janzen 145 Judy Corder 192 Mark Nikas 202 Steve Dowlan 127 David Copeland 182 Bill Tice 200 Paul Sullivan 113 Jamie Simmons 179 Carol Karlen 184 David Copeland 112 Wayne Weber 179 Greg Gillson 157 Tom Love 111 Carol Karlen 178 Paul Sullivan 128 John F. Gatchet 105 Roger Robb 178 Dave Irons 120 Dave Irons 104 John F. Gatchet 176 Roger Robb 120 Jeff Harding 102 Craig Miller 174 Sylvia Maulding 116 Carol Karlen Craig Miller

171 John Sullivan 106 Craig Corder Benton 165 Jeff Harding 104 Roger Robb 244 Jamie Simmons 162 Craig Corder 104 Greg Gillson 242 Hendrik Herlyn 146 Paul Sherrell 100 Judy Corder 229 Joe Fontaine 146 Steve Dowlan 228 Jan Krabbe (J) 145 Mike Patterson Clatsop 227 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 145 Dan Heyerly 332 Mike Patterson 226 Tom Snetsinger 138 Judy Corder 296 Steve Warner 224 Marcia F. Cutler 128 Eva Schultz 282 Todd Thornton (£) 223 Paula Vanderheul 116 John F. Gatchet 243 Dave Irons 222 Elsie Eltzroth 115 Vjera Thompson 240 Paul Sullivan 219 Richard C. Hoyer 114 Wayne Weber 220 Greg Gillson 216 Noah Strycker 110 Tom Love 216 David Copeland 216 Ulo Kiigemagi 110 Don Berg 215 John F. Gatchet

Oregon Birds 34(1):3, Spring 2008

203 Tom Love 193 Jan Krabbe (%) 192 Henry Horvat 192 Mike Denny 182 Wayne Weber 190 Steve Dowlan 171 Craig Corder 185 Joe Fontaine 153 Hendrik Herlyn 182 Carol Karlen 151 Carol Karlen 176 Craig Miller 149 Ulo Kiigemagi 175 Mark Nikas 140 Craig Miller 174 John Sullivan 135 Sylvia Maulding 169 Mike Patterson 129 Paul Sherrell 165 Chuck Gates 129 Jeff Harding 164 Jamie Simmons 128 Mike Denny 164 Karl Fairchild 114 Judy Corder 154 Craig Corder 109 Roger Robb 149 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 107 Jan Krabbe (J) 148 Elsie Eltzroth 106 Dan Heyerly 146 Bil l Tice 102 Tom Snetsinger 146 Jeff Harding 101 Elsie Eltzroth 146 John F. Gatchet 101 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 144 Vjera Thompson Elzy Eltzroth (J)

144 Judy Corder Columbia 141 Wayne Weber 214* Phillip Pickering 139 Eva Schultz 181 Henry Horvat 136 Marcia F. Cutler 177 Paul Sullivan 135 Tom Love 161 David Copeland 113 John Kemper 144 Greg Gillson 110 Tom Snetsinger 140 Dave Irons 107 Kimdel Owen 132 Tom Love 117 Craig Corder Crook 116 Wayne Weber 273 Chuck Gates 114 John F. Gatchet 248 Craig Miller 111 Ulo Kiigemagi 229 Kimdel Owen 111 Carol Karlen 213 Paul Sullivan 105 Mike Patterson 202 Dean Hale 103 Roger Robb 167 Carol Karlen Roger Robb

150 David Copeland Coos 146 John F. Gatchet 331 Tim Rodenkirk 142 Eva Schultz 282 Russ Namitz 142 Roger Robb 263 Paul Sullivan 135 Ulo Kiigemagi 262 Mike Wihler 134 Dave Irons 251 Dave Irons 134 Craig Corder 236 Hendrik Herlyn 124 Hendrik Herlyn 231 David W. Smith 122 Wayne Weber 229 Jim Rogers 119 Jamie Simmons 229 Ulo Kiigemagi 118 Greg Gillson 226 David Copeland 117 Judy Corder 223 Dan Heyerly 114 Jan Krabbe (J) 218 Roger Robb 113 Paul Sherrell 211 Sylvia Maulding 109 Marcia F. Cutler 208 Ron Maertz 108 Joe Fontaine 206 Paul Sherrell 104 Henry Horvat 203 Anne Heyerly 102 Jeff Harding 202 Greg Gillson 100 Tom Love 195 Noah Strycker


Curry 330 Jim Rogers 272 Tim Rodenkirk 231 Lois Miller 229 Paul Sullivan 214 Dave Irons 178 Russ Namitz 178 Ulo Kiigemagi 174 Dan Heyerly 168 Joe Fontaine 165 Roger Robb 165 Anne Heyerly 162 David Copeland 161 Mike Denny 151 Greg Gillson 145 Jamie Simmons 141 Jan Krabbe (%) 138 Hendrik Herlyn 133 Jeff Harding 126 Craig Corder 125 Carol Karlen 124 Noah Strycker 123 Wayne Weber 122 Ron Maertz 121 John F. Gatchet 118 Paul Sherrell 117 Mark Nikas 115 Craig Miller 113 Sylvia Maulding 103 Judy Corder

Deschutes 305 Dean Hale 297 Howard Horvath 294 Craig Miller 281 Kimdel Owen 262 Chuck Gates 241 Paul Sullivan 227 David W Smith 204 Ulo Kiigemagi 200 Greg Gillson 196 Carol Karlen 194 Roger Robb 194 Tom Love 187 Hendrik Herlyn 183 Paul Sherrell 179 Bill Tice 176 Sylvia Maulding 173 Jan Krabbe ($) 171 Eva Schultz 171 David Copeland 166 Dave Irons 165 John F. Gatchet 164 Steve Dowlan 154 Dan Heyerly

149 Ron Maertz 147 Joe Fontaine 146 Craig Corder 145 John Sullivan 142 Mike Denny 141 Jamie Simmons 139 Wayne Weber 138 Jeff Harding 138 Marion Corder (J) 134 Marcia F. Cutler 127 Judy Corder 123 Anne Heyerly 120 Noah Strycker 118 Russ Namitz 116 Elsie Eltzroth 116 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 115 Mike Patterson 106 Henry Horvat 101 Tom Snetsinger

Douglas 308 Ron Maertz 292 Martha Sawyer ($) 246 Dave Irons 238 Fred Parker ($) 224 Paul Sullivan 172 Paul Sherrell 171 John F. Gatchet 164 Ulo Kiigemagi 155 David Copeland 153 Roger Robb 152 Russ Namitz 152 Steve Dowlan 144 Eva Schultz 141 Sylvia Maulding 140 Wayne Weber 136 Anne Heyerly 135 Craig Miller 132 Mike Patterson 132 Jeff Harding 129 Hendrik Herlyn 124 Tom Snetsinger 120 Greg Gillson 118 Bill Tice 118 Mike Denny 117 Noah Strycker 117 Jamie Simmons 104 Carol Karlen 101 Craig Corder

Gilliam 205 Craig Corder 204 Judy Corder 195 Roy Gerig 184 Paul Sullivan

151 Marion Corder (J) 140 David Copeland 110 Carol Karlen 110 John F. Gatchet 108 Roger Robb 104 Jeff Harding

Grant 212 Paul Sullivan 194 Mike Denny 145 Jan Krabbe (%) 141 Craig Corder 134 Craig Miller 134 Ulo Kiigemagi 128 Roy Gerig 128 David Copeland 124 Jamie Simmons 124 Paul Sherrell 123 Greg Gillson 117 Hendrik Herlyn 116 Roger Robb 116 Judy Corder 112 Wayne Weber 112 John F. Gatchet 111 Tom Love 106 Kimdel Owen

Harnev 308* JeffGilligan 280 Craig Miller 278 Larry Hammond 270 Mike Denny 267 Paul Sullivan 260 Dave Irons 260 Hendrik Herlyn 254 Tim Rodenkirk 244 Noah Strycker 244 Ulo Kiigemagi 240 Steve Dowlan 237 Craig Corder 233 Dean Hale 232 Carol Karlen 231 Greg Gillson 229 Judy Corder 228 Mark Nikas 226 Richard C. Hoyer 223 David W Smith 220 Vjera Thompson 220 David Copeland 216 Paul Sherrell 215 Chuck Gates 214 Tom Love 214 Henry Horvat 214 Dan Heyerly 213 John F. Gatchet

212 Bil l Tice 211 Jan Krabbe ($) 209 John Sullivan 209 Jamie Simmons 205 Anne Heyerly 203 Roy Gerig 199 Jeff Harding 197 Sylvia Maulding 189 Ron Maertz 189 Marcia F. Cutler 181 Mike Patterson 181 Karl Fairchild 180 Wayne Weber 179 Joe Fontaine 178 Eva Schultz 175 Roger Robb 173 Elsie Eltzroth 173 Elzy Eltzroth ($) 165 Kimdel Owen 148 Russ Namitz 129 Tom Snetsinger

Hood River 221* David Anderson 177 Paul Sullivan 153 David Copeland 128 Tom Love 122 Carol Karlen 121 Dave Irons 116 Craig Corder 111 John F. Gatchet 110 Wayne Weber 107 Roger Robb 103 Ulo Kiigemagi 102 Jeff Harding 101 Ron Maertz

Jackson 303* Marjorie Moore 252 John Kemper 226 Don Schrouder 221 Paul Sherrell 201 Paul Sullivan 173 David Copeland 161 Roger Robb 157 Carol Karlen 156 Ulo Kiigemagi 149 Jan Krabbe (J) 149 Joe Fontaine 135 Tom Love 132 Sylvia Maulding 126 Wayne Weber 125 Dave Irons 119 Elsie Eltzroth 119 Elzy Eltzroth (J)


114 Craig Corder 187 Craig Miller 112 John F. Gatchet 181 Hendrik Herlyn 110 Steve Dowlan 176 Eva Schultz 102 Jeff Harding 172 Steve Warner 100 Judy Corder 168 Greg Gillson Judy Corder

166 Craig Corder Jefferson 165 Marcia F. Cutler 247* Lewis Rems 164 Carol Karlen 232 Craig Miller 161 Noah Strycker 220 Chuck Gates 161 Sylvia Maulding 214 Paul Sullivan 161 Jeff Harding 212 Kimdel Owen 160 Anne Heyerly 177 Roy Gerig 158 John Kemper 169 David Copeland 158 Marion Corder (%) 161 Dean Hale 145 Wayne Weber 139 Steve Dowlan 145 John F. Gatchet 134 Dave Irons 139 Mike Patterson 130 Roger Robb 138 Joe Fontaine 127 Tom Love 130 Kimdel Owen 119 Bil l Tice 130 Russ Namitz 119 Jeff Harding 128 Jamie Simmons 115 Greg Gillson 128 Tom Love 115 John F. Gatchet 122 Mark Nikas 105 Carol Karlen 117 Bil l Tice 104 Wayne Weber 105 Judy Corder 104 Craig Corder Craig Corder

Lake Josephine 284 Craig Miller 231 Dennis Vroman 250 Roy Gerig 177 Paul Sullivan 243 Kevin Spencer 149 Joe Fontaine 240 Paul Sullivan 134 Carol Karlen 220 Howard Horvath 118 Craig Miller 216 Dean Hale 115 David Copeland 213 David Copeland 114 Greg Gillson 207 Dave Irons 111 Wayne Weber 203 Hendrik Herlyn 110 Roger Robb 199 Tim Rodenkirk 109 Jamie Simmons 198 Paul Sherrell 108 Sylvia Maulding 194 Ulo Kiigemagi 105 John F. Gatchet 187 John Sullivan 101 Jeff Harding 187 Greg Gillson Jeff Harding

183 Carol Karlen Klamath 179 Henry Horvat 299 Kevin Spencer 177 Mike Denny 262 Frank Mayer 174 Dan Heyerly 247 Paul Sullivan 172 Tom Love 235 Paul Sherrell 169 Marcia F. Cutler 219 Don Schrouder 168 Bil l Tice 219 Dave Irons 165 Eva Schultz 218 Ulo Kiigemagi 165 Kimdel Owen 214 Roger Robb 159 Sylvia Maulding 212 David Copeland 157 Craig Corder 209 Ron Maertz 156 Chuck Gates 189 Mike Denny 156 Judy Corder 188 Jan Krabbe ($) 154 Noah Strycker


153 Ron Maertz 152 Joe Fontaine 151 Roger Robb 150 Jan Krabbe (J) 144 Jamie Simmons 144 Steve Dowlan 139 Jeff Harding 136 Anne Heyerly 134 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 131 Vjera Thompson 121 Tom Snetsinger 121 Mark Nikas 121 John F. Gatchet 119 Wayne Weber

Lane 350 Paul Sherrell 329 Don DeWitt 326 Don Schrouder 326 Sylvia Maulding 321 Dan Heyerly 319 Dave Irons 318 Mark Nikas 316 Roger Robb 306 Clarice Watson ($) 304 Anne Heyerly 300 John Sullivan 299 Noah Strycker 298 Vjera Thompson 295 Hendrik Herlyn 279 Eva Schultz 261 Paul Sullivan 260 David W. Smith 255 Mike Patterson 252 Jan Krabbe ($) 248 Tim Rodenkirk 248 Ulo Kiigemagi 241 Tom Snetsinger 233 Joe Fontaine 220 Marcia F. Cutler 217 Craig Miller 208 David Copeland 206 Ron Maertz 198 Jamie Simmons 198 Russ Namitz 196 Carol Karlen 193 Greg Gillson 183 Karl Fairchild 182 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 182 Elsie Eltzroth 179 Steve Dowlan 174 Wayne Weber 169 Jeff Harding 160 Tom Love 147 John F. Gatchet

140 Mike Denny 134 Craig Corder 119 Rich Armstrong 114 Nanette Armstrong 100 Don Berg

Lincoln 263* Rick Krabbe 258 Paul Sullivan 258 Jamie Simmons 257 Greg Gillson 252 Jan Krabbe (J) 244 Bil l Tice 244 Dave Irons 244 Hendrik Herlyn 242 David Copeland 238 Roy Gerig 238 Steve Dowlan 227 Ulo Kiigemagi 224 Tom Snetsinger 212 Richard C. Hoyer 211 David W. Smith 205 Marcia F. Cutler 203 Roger Robb 203 Joe Fontaine 202 Tom Love 202 Carol Karlen 201 Sylvia Maulding 198 Jeff Harding 196 Craig Miller 195 John Sullivan 195 Mark Nikas 193 Mike Denny 188 Dean Hale 186 John F. Gatchet 184 Russ Namitz 184 Elsie Eltzroth 184 Elzy Eltzroth ($) 182 Eva Schultz 181 Noah Strycker 173 Craig Corder 154 Paul Sherrell 150 Karl Fairchild 146 Mike Patterson 142 Rich Armstrong 131 Don Berg 130 Wayne Weber 130 Anne Heyerly 129 Nanette Armstrong 126 Quinton Nice 124 Ron Maertz 123 Judy Corder 102 Vjera Thompson

Linn 245 Mark Nikas 244 Jeff Harding 244 Roy Gerig 224 Tom Snetsinger 208 Greg Gillson 203 Jamie Simmons 200 David Copeland 198 Dave Irons 197 Marcia F. Cutler 194 Paul Sullivan 188 Hendrik Herlyn 185 Ulo Kiigemagi 184 Sylvia Maulding 183 Richard C. Hoyer 176 Roger Robb 176 Steve Dowlan 171 Jan Krabbe ($) 166 Joe Fontaine 165 Dan Heyerly 161 Carol Karlen 155 Craig Corder 151 Paul Sherrell 150 Steve Warner 149 Elzy Eltzroth (f.) 147 Bill Tice 145 Judy Corder 143 Elsie Eltzroth 138 Tom Love 131 John F. Gatchet 127 Noah Strycker 117 Anne Heyerly 115 Rich Armstrong 113 Don Berg 109 Nanette Armstrong 102 Wayne Weber 100 Mike Patterson

Malheur 237 John F. Gatchet 216 Craig Corder 214 Paul Sullivan 206 Marion Corder (J) 191 Mike Denny 163 David W. Smith 134 David Copeland 133 Hendrik Herlyn 129 Jamie Simmons 123 Judy Corder 122 Paul Sherrell 120 Ulo Kiigemagi 116 Roger Robb 116 Carol Karlen 115 Wayne Weber 115 Craig Miller

Marion 268* John Lundsten 267 Steve Dowlan 254 David Copeland 236 Roy Gerig 226 Paul Sullivan 215 Bill Tice 182 Carol Karlen 179 Jeff Harding 174 Don Berg 151 Sylvia Maulding 151 Ulo Kiigemagi 148 Roger Robb 147 Greg Gillson 145 Tom Love 145 Marcia F. Cutler 141 Jamie Simmons 136 Hendrik Herlyn 136 John F. Gatchet 136 Joe Fontaine 133 Dave Irons 117 Wayne Weber 117 Mike Patterson 113 Craig Corder 107 Tom Snetsinger 103 Judy Corder 101 Paul Sherrell

Morrow 240 Craig Corder 223 Judy Corder 219 Marion Corder (J) 212 Paul Sullivan 201 Jamie Simmons 185 Mike Denny 135 David Copeland 132 Wayne Weber 131 John F. Gatchet 107 Roger Robb

Multnomah 286* JeffGilligan 268 John Fitchen 253 Bob Stites 250 Tom Love 241 Andy Frank 223 David W Smith 222 Dave Irons 219 Paul Sullivan 185 John F. Gatchet 166 Greg Gillson 163 David Copeland 154 Mike Patterson 152 Carol Karlen 145 Craig Turner


143 Craig Corder 127 Wayne Weber 126 Ulo Kiigemagi 109 Mike Denny 107 Hendrik Herlyn 107 Judy Corder 106 Marion Corder (J) 102 Sylvia Maulding 101 Roger Robb 101 Jeff Harding 100 Henry Horvat

Polk 279 Bil l Tice 275 Roy Gerig 222 Steve Dowlan 221 David Copeland 209 Carol Karlen 207 Paul Sullivan 191 Don Berg 178 Marcia F. Cutler 169 Tom Snetsinger 165 Tom Love 163 Quinton Nice 160 Joe Fontaine 157 Sylvia Maulding 155 Hendrik Herlyn 151 Roger Robb 150 Richard C. Hoyer 147 Jamie Simmons 146 Dave Irons 137 Greg Gillson 136 John Sullivan 135 Ulo Kiigemagi 131 Jan Krabbe (J) 131 Jeff Harding 124 John F. Gatchet 118 Wayne Weber 115 Karl Fairchild 108 Rich Armstrong 107 Dan Heyerly 103 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 101 Judy Corder 101 Craig Corder

Sherman 209* David C. Bailey 201 Roy Gerig 190 Paul Sullivan 167 Craig Miller 145 David Copeland 140 Craig Corder 135 Mike Denny 125 Judy Corder 112 Dave Irons

111 John F. Gatchet 103 Roger Robb

Tillamook 305* JeffGilligan 279 Dave Irons 247 Jan Krabbe (J) 245 Paul Sullivan 232 Carol Karlen 229 Tom Love 229 Greg Gillson 227 Roy Gerig 226 David Copeland 223 Mike Patterson 217 Bil l Tice 211 David W Smith 208 Steve Dowlan 204 John F. Gatchet 192 Craig Corder 191 Craig Miller 191 Ulo Kiigemagi 188 Hendrik Herlyn 164 Jeff Harding 158 Elzy Eltzroth (J) 158 Elsie Eltzroth 153 Wayne Weber 153 Judy Corder 149 Steve Warner 148 Mike Denny 147 Roger Robb 146 Marion Corder (J) 139 Quinton Nice 138 Mark Nikas 137 Henry Horvat 136 Jamie Simmons 129 Dan Heyerly 127 Marcia F. Cutler 124 Tom Snetsinger 124 Paul Sherrell 115 Russ Namitz 112 Eva Schultz 111 Don Berg 110 Anne Heyerly 100 Joe Fontaine

Umatilla 282 Craig Corder 274 Aaron Skirvin 271 Judy Corder 268 Mike Denny 257 Marion Corder (J) 233 Paul Sullivan 166 Jan Krabbe ($) 162 Jamie Simmons 146 John F. Gatchet

141 Dave Irons 137 Marcia F. Cutler 134 David Copeland 123 Wayne Weber 114 Carol Karlen 107 Hendrik Herlyn 104 Roger Robb 101 Ulo Kiigemagi 100 Jeff Harding

Union 257* Trent Bray 220 Paul Sullivan 207 Craig Corder 169 Judy Corder 168 Paul Sherrell 164 Marion Corder (J) 162 Mike Denny 155 Ulo Kiigemagi 154 David Copeland 153 Jan Krabbe ($) 143 Carol Karlen 134 Hendrik Herlyn 131 Wayne Weber 130 Tom Love 127 John F. Gatchet 123 Roger Robb 118 Jamie Simmons 109 Elzy Eltzroth ($) 109 Elsie Eltzroth 103 Dave Irons 102 Joe Fontaine 101 Russ Namitz

Wallowa 288* Frank Conley (J) 237 Paul Sullivan 213 Craig Corder 212 Judy Corder 181 David W Smith 173 Mike Denny 157 David Copeland 153 Marion Corder ({) 147 Jamie Simmons 129 Roger Robb 126 Joe Fontaine 125 Wayne Weber 123 Hendrik Herlyn 119 Noah Strycker 116 Paul Sherrell 116 Craig Miller 110 Ron Maertz 105 John F. Gatchet


Wasco 195 Dave Irons 255* Donna Lusthoff 187 Carol Karlen 219 David Copeland 171 David Copeland 216 Craig Corder 136 Craig Corder 207 Marion Corder (J) 131 Mike Denny 200 Paul Sullivan 114 Bill Tice 169 Roy Gerig 111 Roger Robb 139 Judy Corder 110 Wayne Weber 134 John F. Gatchet 107 Don Berg 118 Tom Love 106 Jeff Harding 109 Mike Denny 106 Marcia F. Cutler 106 Wayne Weber 102 Russ Namitz 106 Roger Robb 102 Ulo Kiigemagi 106 Craig Miller 101 Mike Patterson 102 Jeff Harding 102 Greg Gillson Wheeler Greg Gillson

216* Donna Lusthoff Washington 213 Paul Sullivan 237 Greg Gillson 202 Judy Corder 223 John F. Gatchet 202 Craig Corder 220 Paul Sullivan 183 Craig Miller 212 Tom Love 169 David Copeland 211 David W. Smith 145 Carol Karlen

108 John F. Gatchet 103 Wayne Weber 100 Roger Robb

Yamhill 225 Tom Love 223 Carol Karlen 199 David Copeland 194 Paul Sullivan 194 Quinton Nice 194 Roy Gerig 186 Bill Tice 166 John F. Gatchet 159 Dave Irons 134 Greg Gillson 109 Roger Robb 107 Don Berg 105 Jamie Simmons 103 Jeff Harding 101 Craig Corder 101 Judy Corder

White Pelican, 24 August 2007, The Narrows, Harney County. Photo/S. Dowlan


2007 County Year Lists Baker 207 Ron Maertz 209 John Sullivan Benton Gilliam Lincoln 240 W. Douglas Robinson Grant Linn 189 Rich Armstrong Harney Malheur 179 Nanette Armstrong 191 Larry Hammond Marion 151 Paula Vanderheul 159 Craig Miller Morrow Clackamas 152 Roger Robb Multnomah Clatsop Hood River 210 Andy Frank 235 Mike Patterson Jackson 187 BobStites 222 Steve Warner Jefferson 174 JohnFitchen Columbia 183 Craig Miller Polk Coos 176 Kimdel Owen 181 Roy Gerig 269 Tim Rodenkirk Josephine Sherman 260 Russ Namitz Klamath Tillamook Crook 240 Kevin Spencer 151 Paul Sullivan 227 Chuck Gates Lake Umatilla 156 Kimdel Owen 190 Craig Miller 240 Aaron Skirvin 155 Craig Miller 180 Roy Gerig Union Curry 155 John Sullivan Wallowa Deschutes Lane Wasco 220 Howard Horvath 289 Dave Irons Washington 203 Kimdel Owen 276 Diane Pettey 181 Greg Gillson 201 Craig Miller 270 Sylvia Maulding Wheeler 200 Dean Hale 264 Paul Sherrell Yamhill Douglas 262 Roger Robb 176 Carol Karlen


All-time County Year List RecordsLists Baker 204 Craig Corder (1988) Benton 240 W. Douglas Robinson (2007) Clackamas 209 Tim Janzen (1995) Clatsop 252 Todd Thornton (J) (2001) Columbia 196 Phillip Pickering (1988) Coos 272 Tim Rodenkirk (2000) Crook 234 Chuck Gates (2006) Currv 269 Don Munson (1999) Deschutes 240 Jim Moodie (2003) Douglas 247 Martha Sawyer (J) (1983) Gilliam 183 Crais Corder & Judy Stevens(1994) Grant 185 Paul Sullivan (1988)

Harnev 237 Phillip Pickering (1986) Hood River 170 David Anderson (1989) Jackson 243 Norm Barrett (2002 & 2006) Jefferson 209 Lewis Rems (1992) Josephine 195 Dennis Vroman (2003) Klamath 240 Kevin Spencer (2007) Lake 241 Steve Summers (1991) Lane 289 Dave Irons (2007) Lincoln 241 Phillip Pickering (1986) Linn 206 Mark Nikas (2002) Malheur 224 John Gatchet (1995) Marion 220 John Lundsten (1995) Morrow 224 Craig Corder (1990)

Multnomah 225 Iain Tomlinson (2002) Polk 210 Roy Gerig (2002) Sherman 181 Phillip Pickering (1989)/ Lewis Rems (1997) Tillamook 234 Phillip Pickering (1985) Umatilla 242 Crais Corder & Judy Stevens(1992) Union 224 Trent Bray (2003) Wallowa 224 Frank & Sue Conley (2003) Wasco 211 Donna Lusthoff (1992) Washington 191 Greg Gillson (2004) Wheeler 196 Craig Corder & Judy Stevens(1996) Yamhill 176 Carol Karlen (2007)


A New County Year List Record for Oregon David S. Irons, 2125 Hayes St. Eugene, Oregon [email protected]

Disappointment as a Motivator

There is perhaps no motivator greater than the near miss. In 2006 I saw 271 species of birds in Lane County, Oregon. This tally fell a mere two species short of tying Don DeWitt's year list standard for that county, which headed the list of such records for all Oregon counties. I started late in 2006, not embarking on a conscious year-listing effort until mid-March. That effort was also hindered by my failure to venture offshore, where I could have counted on adding several easy pelagic species. I also deprived myself of a couple of easy stakeouts during January and February. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing that I fell short of the record in 2006, as it served to inspire an all-out assault in 2007. Had I tied or broken the record by one or two species, I would likely have been DONE.

Well Begun is Half Done

I was determined to get this attempt off to a fast start. I set several short-term goals with species totals that I needed to reach by various dates. My first target was to hit 150 species by the end of January. Some I talked to thought that this was an ambitious total. However, I was confident that there would be lingering rarities from the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season, and that other good birds would be turned up during the predictable flurry of January birding activity. Lane County is home to several birders who strive for a good year list each and every year. These folks are usually out

early and often in January, and I knew I could piggy-back on their efforts.

My first foray of the year was on January 3. The weather was absolutely horrible that morning as I met up with the "Wednesday Morning Group." The group, mostly retirees who can go birding anytime, found no urgent need to get soaking wet and, collectively, they decided to bag it. I had other plans, so I drove south of Eugene to Camas Swale and Cre-swell where I hoped to relocate a Red-naped Sapsucker,which had been making sporadic appearances around Bob Fish's yard. Cresting the summit of Dillard Road,

I was greeted by a wonderful sun break in the neighboring valley. Partially flooded, Camas Swale hosted an assortment of dabbling ducks, geese, Tundra Swans, and a few raptors. The Creswell sewage ponds yielded an Eared Grebe, a species I did not find in the county until September during the previous year. As heavy rains resumed, I drove east to Dexter Reservoir where I ticked off several expected species of diving ducks.

Two days later I birded the south end of Fern Ridge Reservoir. Among that day's highlights were a Brant, always a nice find inland, and three Lesser Yellowlegs embedded among a group of 50

Greater Yellowlegs. While running one of my Schwan's delivery routes on January 6,1 ran into birder/customer David Brown who shocked me with the news of a possible Summer Tanager, which had briefly visited two feeders in the small community of Alvadore. Dave confirmed the tanager, and I got excited about the prospect of the year's first real rarity. My girlfriend Jennie Brown and I staked out the feeder at Jim Jacobson's home in on the afternoon of 7 January. We dipped on the tanager, which proved quite elusive over the next several days. It only made occasional visits to the Jacobson's feeder. I continued racking up common

species, quickly moving toward the century mark. On 11 January I enjoyed one of the year's many highlights as I watched a Rough-legged Hawk, a Short-eared Owl, and Northern Harrier cutting lazy circles in brilliant sunlight along Washburn Lane west of Junction City. The owl and the Rough-leg pushed my total to 91 species.

On 13 January I took another shot at the Creswell Red-naped Sap-sucker. Before leaving home that morning, an Anna's Hummingbird (#99) made a brief stop at the small Pyracantha in our yard. As I arrived at Bob Fish's home, my cell phone rang. It was David Brown reporting that the Summer Tanager was now coming to

Lane County is home to several birders who strive for a good year list each and every year.


the Jacobson's feeder every few minutes. I made a distracted and cursory search for the sapsucker, all the while mindful of the bigger tick just 20 miles up the road. After whiffing again on the sap-sucker-a bird I ultimately missed for the year-I hastily drove to Alvadore. Joining David Brown in the kitchen of Jim and Gloria Jacobson's home, I waited only a few moments before the tanager appeared. One hundred down, 174 to go.

I made my first of more than 20 trips to the coast on 15 January, adding 27 county year birds. This would be my last day with double-digit additions. The following day, the long-staying Falcated Duck, which had disappeared in December, turned up at a small pond inside the "Gainsborough" over-55 community in north Eugene. On January 17 I joined the Wednesday Morning Group and we met up with Ray Holmberg, a Gainsborough resident. He led us to where the Falcated was hanging out, quite content to collect handouts with the local duck flock. I had viewed this bird many times over the previous three winters, but never at such close range.

Mid-January produced more good fortune. I found a female Cassin's Finch, which is less than annual in the Willamette Valley, among a flock of Purple Finches along the Amazon Canal just east of Fern Ridge on 18 January. On the 19th I added a Black Phoebe northwest of Junction City and the next day I relocated a Cinnamon Teal that John Gatchet had turned up on Kirk Pond. Hardly a rarity on the grand scale, but a nice find inland, I culled an unexpected Red-breasted Merganser out of a swarm of 700+ Common Mergansers rafted at the Fern Ridge dam on the 25th.

*

Cuss in s Finch, one of 289 species from Dave Irons 'Lane County Big Year. Photo S. Dowlan

Late in the day on the 25th I got a call from Diane Pettey; her beloved "Dylan Dawg" was likely on his last legs. Early on, Diane decided to join me in the big year quest. Visits to her home were always enlivened by Dylan, a mighty (or at least he thought so) Cairn Terrier. Dylan died on the 26th, leaving Diane and her husband Mike with a huge hole in hearts, and a much quieter home.

Thinking a day of birding might provide a good distraction for grieving Diane, I went to Florence on 29 January. Our sea-watches produced several nice additions, including Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, plus Rhinoceros Auk-let. We also found two Glaucous Gulls at the Siltcoos outlet, and a surprising Horned Lark fed along the outer beach. The bird of the day was a Short-tailed Shearwater that circled around a crab boat working a few hundred yards beyond the breakers. The shearwater, my last addition of January, was number 150.. .right on target. This fast start allowed me to relax during February, preserving energy and the good graces of my family.

Waiting for Spring Migration

The next 40 days were generally uneventful. I cleaned up a few common birds, then reached 161 by finding a Say's Phoebe along Royal Ave. on 4 March. Two weeks later my oldest daughter, Lucy and Jennie and I arose early and drove to Oakridge, 45 miles east of Eugene. No fewer than seven tooting Northern Pygmy-Owls highlighted our circuit of Larison Rock Rd., and hoped-for Mountain Quail and Sooty Grouse also made themselves heard at multiple stops. Finally, we enjoyed a singing Townsend's Solitaire, before celebrating with a fabulous breakfast at the "Trailhead Cafe." Oakridge is decidedly restaurant-challenged, thus we had resigned ourselves to returning to Eugene for breakfast. Leaving town, I spotted the Trail-head, which looked interesting, so we opted to give it shot. I had a delicious Greek scramble and the coffee was great.

On 25 March I commenced a series of morning visits to Eugene's Skinner Butte, the county's best migrant trap. On most mornings during April and May one can expect to encounter several birders combing the slopes of the butte for northbound migrants. On this early date, most trees barely showed signs of leafing out and, as I expected, it was quiet. Paul Sherrell, Barry McKenzie and I passed the time laughing and sharing stories of more exciting times. We raised our bins just often enough to detect the season's first Orange-crowned Warbler, which attracted our attention by chipping away in the hedge right next to where we stood. It was more of a case of it finding us than us finding it.

The end of March left me anxiously awaiting the explosion


of neotropical passerines and northbound shorebirds that would occur over the next 45 days. My count stood at 174, exactly 100 species away from a record-break-ing total. Surely the next 100 would not come so easily. Among close birding friends, I had wishfully suggested that I might hit 200 by the end of March. Clearly that was a pipe dream. In an effort to avoid burnout, I had consciously maintained a relaxed pace on the heels of a rather frenetic January. My enthusiasm was rekindled as April approached. Thankfully, I didn't have any gross misses to date, having dipped on only the Lorane Highway Brown Thrasher and three Ross's Geese, which appeared briefly in west Eugene during the first week of January.

April started slow aside from the expected influx of Orange-crowned Warblers, which seemed be singing everywhere around Eugene. On 8 April Don Schrouder awoke the locals from our early spring doldrums with his discovery of a male Tufted Duck at Fern Ridge. Surely a returnee, this male was at the exact same spot where one had appeared the previous spring. Don was doing a Big Year for the entire state, and this would be one of many birds we would "trade" during the course of 2007. I re-found this bird readily, and also picked up my first American White Pelican, Common Yellow-throat, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

On 16 April I made my third trip to the coast. Diane Pettey and I started pre-dawn in an effort to pick up a couple of owl species each of us still needed. We managed to call up both Barred and N. Saw-whet owls along Cape Mountain Road north of Florence. We celebrated our success at the Drift Inn in Yachats. Diane had her lifer smoked salmon omelet,

definitely a recommended treat. Working south towards Florence we did a couple sea-watches. Tufted Puffin (#191) was the only addition.

After the wet, cool, and gray of a Pacific Northwest winter, one might think birders anxiously embrace the clear sunny days of spring. However, pleasant weather spells D-E-A-D when it comes to migrant passerines. April 20 was just such a day at Skinner's Butte. I turned up a couple Orange-crowned and a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, and that was it. To stem the boredom, I departed for Royal Avenue, where I once again enjoyed the Tufted Duck. In addition to a couple alternate-plumaged Black-bellied Plovers, I was rewarded with a Long-billed Curlew. Curlews have been an

nual at Fern Ridge during spring over the past decade. When I returned home, a very crisp "white-striped" White-throated Sparrow was attending our feeder, yielding my latest date for a wintering bird in the Willamette Valley.

Finally... Migrants!

Thankfully, a cold, wet frontal system pushed into the Willamette Valley the following day. I was unable to go to Skinner Butte, but Barry McKenzie and Mai-treya were on hand to witness the predictable fallout. They counted more than 200 Orange-crowned, hundreds of Yellow-rumped warblers, along with lots of sparrows. That day our yard hosted a flock of 18 White-crowned Sparrows, which included several "Gambel's" White-crowneds. A surprising Lincoln's Sparrow

popped up along the back fence, a first for the yard. Following up on the fallout, I was out the door and up on the Butte first thing on 22 April. Though overall numbers were down from the day before, I enjoyed a fast-moving feeding flock that included at least 75 Orange-crowned, 100+ (mostly auduboni) Yellow-rumped, 12 Nashville, 10+ Black-throated Gray, and 6-8 Townsend's warblers. A couple of Cassin's Vireos, at least five Hammond's Flycatchers and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher bolstered my county year list.

I spent the following morning along the coast with Diane. We found a Black Phoebe way up the North Fork of the Siuslaw, and picked up our year Northern Rough-winged Swallow circling over a nearby pasture. A sea-

watch at the South Jetty produced a Sooty Shearwater (#200). After dropping off Diane, I detoured to the cove at the base of the North Jetty before heading home. A single Short-billed Dowitcher closed out that day's new birds. A pre-work visit to Skinner Butte on 26 April yielded both Warbling Vireo and Western Tanager. On 28 April Sylvia Maulding called to report that Paul Sherrell had just found a flock of 30 White-faced Ibis near the south end of Fern Ridge. I grabbed my bins as I headed out the door on my way to my son Stuart's soccer game, which was at nearby Churchill High School. After dropping Stuart off, I sprinted out West 11th towards Fern Ridge. The ibis were conveniently circling over the Fisher Unit check station as I approached from the east. A quick tick and a U-turn and I was on

/ had wishfully suggested that I might hit 200 by the end of March. Clearly that was a pipe dream.


my way back to the game. Jennie and I returned to the Fisher Unit that evening. Walking the dikes, we heard several Soras, plus and we saw two Blue-winged Teal, 24 Black-necked Stilts, about 60 alternate-plumaged Long-billed Dowitchers, and a single Wilson's Phalarope. We had stunning views of a Eurasian Green-winged Teal, not a countable species, but a fun find.

Weather reports, which forecast strong northwesterly winds along the outer coast, inspired a trip to Florence on April 29. Similar conditions on April 30, 2006 produced a fantastic inshore flight of shorebirds that included dozens of Red Knots, a species that is not detected every year in the county. Upon reaching the coast, onshore winds were clocking about 20+mph out of the northwest. A steady stream of shorebirds flocks were resting, feeding, and migrating low along the outer beaches. Thousands of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, and Dunlin dominated this flight. We also counted about 150 Short-billed Dowitchers, but were disappointed to find no Red Knots among them. Larger shore-birds also made a good showing; 40 Black-bellied Plovers, 20 Whimbrel and 5 Marbled Godwits were loosely gathered along the tideline about a mile south of the South Jetty. Offshore flights were equally impressive; flocks totaling 450 Bonaparte's Gulls and 185 Brant passed northward. On my way to work the next morning I came across a Solitary Sandpiper along Greenhill Rd., and I heard a Black-headed Grosbeak in Elmira that afternoon. April ended with my list at 214.

May started fast. Don DeWitt, whose mark I was trying to eclipse, called me late in the day on 30 April and invited me over

to see a Calliope Hummingbird, which had been attending his feeder all that day. At about 7:30AM on 1 May I arrived at Don's hillside abode, nestled in Eugene's southeast hills. As the rest of his family was just starting their day, Don poured me a welcome cup of coffee, shade-grown organic of course, and we sat down to await the arrival of the hummer. It wasn't long before the male Calliope was enhancing an already magnificent view by putting on an aerial show just outside the bank of windows along the west side of Don's house.

Only in birding does one find this sort of assistance from a "competitor." Throughout the year we exchanged occasional e-mails and phone conversations as he monitored my progress and offered encouragement. While sipping coffee and watching hummers

that morning, Don told me that he had revisited his old Big Year calendar, on which he had written in each new species on the day he added it. I was taken aback to learn that on June 1st his total had been 215 species, a total I had just equaled with the Calliope Hummer. . .on the first day of May. My goal was to reach 240 by the first of June.

I departed the comfort of Don's home for Skinner Butte, and there I picked up my first Lazuli Bunting. A massive flock of 250+ passerines was moving about the

crown of the butte. It contained no fewer than 20 Cassin's Vireos, 15-20 Warbling Vireos, about 15 Black-throated Gray, 25 Yellow-rumped, 100+Orange-crowned, and a couple of Nashville warblers. I heard my first Swainson's Thrush and had five Black-headed Grosbeaks.

Three days later Diane came into town for a marsh bird blitz at Fern Ridge. We started the day at Skinner Butte, where a Dusky Flycatcher had been found two days earlier. As we walked down into the lower meadow the distinctive "whit" call of the Dusky emanated from below. Upon arriving in the open grassy area, we easily located the flycatcher and got great looks. We encountered several flocks along the loop trail that circles the top of the Butte. These contained about 30 Wilson's Warblers, 75+ Orange-

crowneds, 15 Warbling Vireos and a few Nashvilles and Black-throated Grays. Our year Olive-sided Flycatcher was actively feeding from a dead snag on the north side of the loop. After scouring the butte, we moved on to Fern Ridge where we cleaned up the wetland species Diane needed. Two distant Black Terns far out over the marsh added a year bird for both of us. On the return trip to my house, I suggested a side trip up Hawkins Lane to look for a Lazuli Bunting for Diane. While striking out on the bunting, a couple distant "whit" calls

Two distant Black Terns far out over the marsh added a year bird for both of us.


caught our attention. Realizing it was about two weeks early for Willow Flycatchers, I suggested that this must be another Dusky. Incredibly, we uncovered three more Dusky Flycatchers. Though Dusky Flycatchers nest at higher elevations on the west slope of the Cascades, they are generally rare in the lowlands and low elevation slopes of Lane County. Amazingly, on this day Daniel Farrar found a Dusky at Hills Creek Dam and Tom Mickel found singles in Eugene's Alton Baker Park and at Mt. Baldy in Springfield, accounting for a total of seven seen around Eugene and in the nearby foothills on 4 May.

A cold front on 5 May produced another spectacular fallout at Skinner Butte. Among the hundreds of warblers near the summit, I heard a persistently singing Hermit Warbler and re-found a Yellow Warbler seen earlier by Tom and Allison Mickel. About 25 Western Tanagers and multiple small flocks of migrant Golden-crowned Sparrows were conspicuous along the loop trail. On 7 May I walked about 5-6 miles traversing several trails around the south side of Mt. Pisgah. Lazuli Buntings littered the lower slopes. I heard no fewer than 40 singing male buntings and saw multiple small groups of Chipping Sparrows. A lone MacGillivray's Warbler and a House Wren were the only additions of the day. I scoured the small patches of Narrow-leafed Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) in hopes of turning up a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, but luck was not with me. I was now at 225 species for the year.

Big Day Season

Minutes from leaving town on 11 May for a weekend in Klamath Falls to do a Klamath Co. Big Day with Kevin Spencer,

Dave Haupt, and Frank Mayer, I checked my e-mail one last time, and learned that Tom Mickel had just reported three American Avocets at Royal Avenue. Initially tempted to blow them off, I opted to make a mad dash instead. And maddeningly, they were nowhere to be found.

It was a relief to bird somewhere other than Lane for the second time all year. In addition to exploring new landscapes, I amassed about 20 new Klamath County birds, adding this to the roster of Oregon counties in which I've seen at least 200 species. Following a moderately successful Big Day Saturday, I spent the night at Kevin's home in Klamath Falls. I arose early the next morning so I would have plenty of time to hit some spots in the Lane Co. Cascades on the way back. It was fast approaching 2 June, the date when Tim Janzen, John Sullivan, Noah Strycker and I would be doing a statewide Big Day, so I was eager to start scouting that section of the route.

Roads near the Cascade crest were still snowed in so I continued down slope into Lane County. About 10 miles east of Oakridge I finally found an open road, so I turned north on Eagle Creek Rd. off Hwy 58. Having never traveled this road, I was immediately enthralled by the range of habitats I found. Two grown-over clearcuts about 4-5 miles up were occupied by calling Townsend's Solitaires, Dusky Flycatchers and Fox Sparrows. While listening to a Northern Pygmy-Owl call away, a Northern Goshawk went gliding over, the only one I saw all year.

During some additional Big Day scouting on May 18,1 found several singing Yellow-breasted Chats near the west end of Bolton Hil l Rd. three miles west of Ve-

neta. Walking the dikes at Fern Ridge later that day I relocated two of the three American Avocets Tom Mickel had found a week earlier. I added a Willow Flycatcher at Skinner Butte the next day, and I also soaked in amazing scope views of two eaglets in the Bald Eagle nest on the north side of the Butte, the first such local nesting.

May 20 dawned cold and drizzly, so I opted to spend the day updating my North American Birds (NAB) database for the spring season. About mid-afternoon I began getting a little cabin fever. Trying to concoct a reason to go birding, it occurred to me that the dense overcast, drizzly conditions, and date were tailor-made for finding low-flying Black Swifts around large lakes. To Fern Ridge I went. Upon arriving at Royal Avenue, I found the skies dotted with thousands of swallows and small flocks of Vaux's Swifts. I enjoyed this spectacle for about 45 minutes, all the while scanning the horizon for the Black Swifts. Several dozen Purple Martins were among all the swallows. On several occasions, their size and gliding flight induced a second look. I had nearly given up when I noticed what appeared to largish swift cruising towards me. As it passed overhead I looked up to see the distinctive shape of a Black Swift. Soon, two more joined in, pushing my year list to 236.

May 23, 2007 is a day I won't soon forget. I check-marked two Lane County life birds, using borrowed optics to see one and no optics in viewing the second. I was running my Schwan's home delivery route in the Alvadore when Don Schrouder called. The Wednesday Morning Group (gotta love these guys!) had just found a Franklin's Gull at Royal Avenue.


Initially, I hung up thinking that I would blast out there before work the next morning. Two minutes later I was back on the phone with Don. I told him I could be there in about 10 minutes, and asked i f they might still be there, since I had no bins with me. He said they weren't ready to leave and that they would happily loan me some bins or a scope. I arrived, locked my truck, and ran out to the platform. Don and the gang were nowhere to be seen, so I called him again. They had continued walking south and they were about 10 minutes away. I stood there on the platform for what seemed an eternity watching 3-4 distant and unidentifiable small gulls circling over a distant pond. The group finally returned and I borrowed Don's scope. The first gull I got on was the Franklin's. I thanked them for calling me and went back to work.

Several hours later, and back on my Alvadore route, I was cruising along Alvadore Rd. when I noticed an oddly shaped dove sitting on a phone wire. It appeared very pale and seemed to have a square tail. I pulled off the road and walked back down the road until I was directly under the bird. Even without bins there was no doubt it was a Eurasian Collared-Dove, the 3rd Lane Co. record. While updating my list that evening, I was surprised to find Pigeon Guillemot, a species I had seen several times already, unmarked on my checklist. These three additions lifted me to 239, just one short of my June 1 target. Surely I would hit my mark while scouting the Lane County sections of our Big Day route with Tim Janzen over the next two days.

On Thursday the 24th we spent the entire day along the coast and in the Coast Range, adding exactly zero county year birds. Tim

spent the night at my house in Eugene and Friday we arose early to cover the Hwy 58 area from Pleasant Hil l to Gold Lake. On Thursday, a co-worker of Daniel Farrar's had seen and heard a singing Rock Wren at Fall Creek Dam east of Lowell. It was a little out of our way, but Tim, being the good sport, humored me by de-touring off our route to look for it. We walked part of the way out the dam and easily heard distant notes of the singing wren. Okay Dave, back to scouting.

Dave added Rock Wren to his Lane County Big Year at Fall Creek Dam on May 24. Photo S. Dowlan

A Big Year Vacation

It was now Memorial Day Weekend. On Saturday Tim and I continued scouting our Big Day route all the way to Summer Lake, where Jennie and my eldest daughter Lucy planned to meet us that night. We would then head to Malheur to round out the holiday weekend. The Rock Wren would be the last addition before 1 June, leaving me spot-on my goal of 240. My confidence about breaking the record now soared, as I had built up a 25 species cushion in relation to Don DeWitt's record pace. Knowing that the summer months would be slow, I set a short-term goal of adding ten new

species each month June through August.

Like the Klamath trip earlier, escaping Lane County for Memorial Weekend was like a vacation. Most of the state's birders traditionally descend upon Malheur during Memorial Day weekend, thus I had few worries about a real good bird being discovered while I was out of Lane County. Within an hour of arriving at Malheur Headquarters on Sunday, I found what I thought to be a "new" Scissor-tailed Flycatcher flying around by the display pond. Doug Schonewald had actually found this bird several days earlier. Though it had been seen intermittently over multiple days, no one had bothered to write it down on the list of unusual sightings. I have long searched for this species in Oregon (just ask my kids) and, excited by my "discovery," I yelled across the lawn to Jennie who was napping on the stone wall, "SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER!"

Almost instantly it seemed a dozen other birders were at my side, including two young boys who appeared to be twin brothers of about ten or eleven years of age. Christopher and Adrian Hinkle immediately began to pepper me with questions about what I saw and where it was. The scene reminded me of a quip by Sports Illustrated writer Kenny Moore as he recounted watching the late Olympic distance runner Steve Prefontaine run in his first national championship meet. Only a high-schooler, Prefontaine, who would later run for the University of Oregon, finished fourth behind three veteran runners in the 5000 meters at the National A A U Championships in 1969. Moore, who also ran for Oregon, described the veterans turning around at the finish to see "the


I encountered during the Big Year.

On 19 July Daniel Farrar found a juvenile Brewer's Sparrow along the center dike south of Royal Avenue. This marked the second consecutive year Brewer's had been at this site. On the 20th I found no fewer than three juvenile Brewer's (258), including two that were still tailless. Shorebird numbers were impressive, with at least 600 Long-billed Dowitch-ers and 200 Greater Yellowlegs present. There was but one Lesser Yellowlegs, which were scarce throughout the southbound migration. The ponds also hosted a pair of Black-necked Stilts with two half-grown juveniles, 4-5 Black-bellied Plovers, and two juvenile Wilson's Phalaropes.

During a 27 July birthday trip to Florence with my younger daughter Lilly I closed out my July additions with a Wandering Tattler (259) on the South Jetty at Florence. I added 12 species during July, nearly getting back in line with my 10 species per month goal for June, July, and August. On 29 July I found three apparent Taverner's Cackling Geese at Fern Ridge. Despite their winter abundance, Cackling Geese rarely over-summer in the Willamette Valley.

August got off to a slow start aside from the continuing presence of many Brewer's Sparrows at Fern Ridge. On 2 August I found seven at four different sites in the Fisher Unit. I saw my first juvenile Western Sandpipers of the season, and also picked out a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper that day. Jennie's mom Laramie and her partner A l were out from Florida in early August and we spent the weekend of Aug. 5-6 at Florence. Other than the expected steady northbound stream of Brown Pelicans and Heermann's

Gulls, birding was a non-factor.

David Fix and Jude Power visited from Humboldt County, California, August 10-13, determined to help me add birds to my list. We met and camped the first night at Odell Lake, just east of the Lane county line. The next day we broke camp and Lilly, David, Jude and I hiked to the top of Fuji Mountain above the south end of Waldo Lake. The panorama from the 7144' summit is spectacular, more than justifying the moderately easy 1.5-mile hike from the trailhead. We snacked, took pictures, found a pink grasshopper with baby-blue legs, and had a couple Clark's Nutcrackers near the summit. A fine day indeed, especially for Fix who perpetually tries to get me to walk uphill with him.

The next morning, David, Jude and I went to Fern Ridge in hopes of digging up an odd shorebird or two. After a species-addition drought of nearly two weeks I added three county year birds this day. Shortly after suggesting it was prime time for a Stilt Sandpiper, I found a molting adult (260) among a flock of dowitch-ers. A short time later Jude put the scope on an odd-looking bird and suggested it was an adult Reeve (261), which it was. David, feeling a little left out of the party, eventually scrounged up a juvenile Baird's Sandpiper (262). David and Jude marveled at the continuing presence of Brewer's Sparrows, and also enjoyed the immature White-faced Ibis that had been hanging around for several days. The three of us went back out to Royal Avenue the next morning before they headed for home. We relocated some of the birds seen the previous day, but produced no further magic.

I led a Lane County Audubon

field trip to Fern Ridge on 19 August. The focus of the trip was shorebirds, and we were not disappointed. The Marbled Godwit I found while scouting the day before was still about, and we enjoyed great studies of juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers. Everyone relished the beauty of a near fully alternate-plumaged Black-bellied Plover. Southbound passerines were now conspicuous about the local neighborhood. On the 19th we had a Willow Flycatcher and a W. Wood-Pewee in the yard, and up to seven hatch-year Black-headed Grosbeaks visited our feeders.

On 22 August I found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper (263), just 10 to go — and another Solitary Sandpiper at Royal Avenue. The last of many August visitors, Steve Heinl, joined me for a morning at Royal Avenue on 24 August. Steve grew up in Eugene and, once upon a time, held the county year list record at a then-impressive 257 species. On this day Steve, who is now a state fisheries biologist in Ketchikan, Alaska, added American White Pelican to his long-dormant Lane Co. list. We pondered the plethora of species, now commonplace, which would have been jaw-droppers back in the 1980's when he set his record. The shorebird numbers were paltry, but this day the focus was on old friends reconnecting and talking about our kids.

August 26: come hell or high water, I am not going birding today. Wait, is that the phone I hear?

"Hi , Roger. -You just had 30 Elegant Terns on the north jetty? I ' l l see you in about an hour and fifteen minutes," I heard myself tell him.

Needless to say, 90 minutes later


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Oregon Bird Records Committee Official Checklist Of Oregon Birds

May 2008 LEGEND: * A review species: At least one record verified by photograph, specimen, or video or sound recording^ 24 species). ** A review species: Sight records only, no verification (19 species). E Extirpated No modern records—California Condor and Sharp-tailed Grouse; Northern Bobwhite-no established population. I Introduced species with established populations (8 species). _ 512 total species -

Order ANSERIFORMES Family Anatidae Subfamily Dendrocygninae

* Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis * Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor

Subfamily Anserinae Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Emperor Goose Chen canagica Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Ross's Goose Chen rossii Brant Branta bernicla Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Canada Goose Branta canadensis Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus

* Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus

Subfamily Anatinae Wood Duck Aixsponsa Gadwall Anas strepera

* Falcated Duck Anas falcate Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope American Wigeon Anas americana

* American Black Duck Anas rubripes Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Pintail Anas acuta

* Garganey Anas querquedula * Baikal Teal Anas formosa

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Canvasback Aythya valisineria Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Greater Scaup Aythya marila Lesser Scaup Aythya a/finis

* Steller's Eider Polvsticta stelleri

* King Eider Somateria spectabilis Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca Black Scoter Melanitta nigra Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica

* Smew Mergellus albelhis Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Common Merganser Mergus merganser Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis.

Order GALLIFORMES Family Phasianidae Subfamily Phasianinae

I Chukar Alectoris chukar I Gray Partridge Perdix perdix I Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Subfamily Tetraoninae Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus Sooty Grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus

*E Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus

Subfamily Meleagridinae I Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Family Odontophoridae Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus California Quail Callipepla californica

IE Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus

Order GAVIIFORMES Family Gaviidae

Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata * Arctic Loon Gavia arctica

Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica Common Loon Gavia immer Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii

Order PODICIPEDIFORMES Family Podicipedidae

Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert i i i

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii

Order PROCELLARIIFORMES Family Diomedeidae

* Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes

* Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus

Family Procellariidae Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

* Murphy's Petrel Pterodroma ultima Mottled Petrel Pterodroma inexpectata

** Juan Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa * Cook's Petrel Pterodroma cookii ** Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas

Pink-footed Shearwater Pujfinus creatopus Flesh-footed Shearwater Pujfinus carneipes

* Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus Buller's Shearwater Puffinus bulled Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris

* Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus ** Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas

Family Hydrobatidae ** Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma furcata Leach's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa

* Black Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma melania

Order PELECANIFORMES Family Sulidae

* Masked Booby Sula dactylatra * Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii ** Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

Family Pelecanidae American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Family Phalacrocoracidae Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Family Fregatidae * Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

Order CICONIIFORMES Family Ardeidae

American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Egret Ardea alba Snowy Egret Egretta thula

* Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea * Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Green Heron Butorides virescens

Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert iv

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Family Threskiornithidae Subfamily Threskiornithinae

* White Ibis Eudocimus albus * Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi

Family Cathartidae Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

*E California Condor Gymnogyps californianus

Order FALCONIFORMES Family Accipitridae Subfamily Pandionina

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Subfamily Accepitrinae White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus

* Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Family Falconidae Subfamily Caracarinae

* Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway

Subfamily Falconinae American Kestrel Falco sparverius Merlin Falco columbarius Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus

Order GRUIFORMES Family Rallidae

Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis Virginia Rail Rallus limicola Sora Porzana Carolina

* Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus American Coot Fulica americana

Family Gruidae Subfamily Gruinae

Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis

Order CHARADRIIFORMES Family Charadriidae Subfamily Charadriinae

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva

* Lesser Sand-Plover Charadrius mongolus Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

* Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus

** Piping Plover Charadrius melodus Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

* Mountain Plover Charadrius montanus * Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus

Family Haematopodidae Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani

Family Recurvirostridae Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus American Avocet Recurvirostra americana

Family Scolopacidae Subfamily Scolopacinae

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus

* Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Willet Tringa semipalmata Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

* Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus

* Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica * Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala Surfbird Aphriza virgata

* Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Red Knot Calidris canutus Sanderling Calidris alba Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri

* Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis * Little Stint Calidris minuta * Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla * White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Rock Sandpiper Calidris ptilocnemis Dunlin Calidris alpina

* Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus BufF-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis Ruff Philomachus pugnax Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus

* Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata

Subfamily Phalaropodinae Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

Family Laridae Subfamily Larinae

* Laughing Gull Larus atricilla

Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan * Little Gull Larus minutus * Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Bonaparte's Gull Larus Philadelphia Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni Mew Gull Larus canus Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri

* Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides ** Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus * Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus

Western Gull Larus occidentalis Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Sabine's Gull Xema sabini Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

* Red-legged Kittiwake Rissa brevirostris * Ross's Gull Rhodostethia rosea

Subfamily Sterainae * Least Tern Sternula antillarum

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Black Tern Chlidonias niger Common Tern Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri Elegant Tern Sterna elegans

Subfamily Stercorariinae South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus

Family Alcidae Common Murre Uria aalge

* Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

* Long-billed Murrelet Brachyramphus perdix Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

* Xantus's Murrelet Synthliboramphus hypoleucus Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

* Parakeet Auklet Aethia psittacula Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

Order COLUMBIFORMES Family Columbidae

I Rock Pigeon Columba livia Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto

* White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

* Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina

Order CUCULIFORMES Family Cuculidae Subfamily Coccyzinae

* Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus

Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert v

Order STRIGIFORMES Family Tytonidae

Barn Owl Tyto alba

Family Strigidae Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus Western Screech-Owl Megascops kennicottii Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Snowy Owl Bubo scandiaca

* Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis Barred Owl Strix varia Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa Long-eared Owl Asio otus Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus

Order CAPRIMULGIFORMES Family Caprimulgidae Subfamily Chordeilinae

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Subfamily Caprimulginae

Common Poorwill Phalaenoptilus nuttallii _ **Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus

Order APODIFORMES Family Apodidae Subfamily Cypseloidinae

Black Swift Cypseloides niger

Subfamily Chaeturinae Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi

Subfamily Apodinae White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis

Family Trochilidae Subfamily Trochilinae

* Broad-billed Hummingbird Cynanthus latirostris * Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Costa's Hummingbird Calypte costae Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin

Order CORACIIFORMES Family Alcedinidae Subfamily Cerylinae

Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

Order PICIFORMES Family Picidae Subfamily Picinae

Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis ** Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus

* Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius Red-naped Sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert vi

Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber * Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus White-headed Woodpecker Picoides albolarvatus American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

Order PASSERIFORMES Family Tyrannidae Subfamily Fluvicolinae

Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus

* Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens * Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum

Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis Cordilleran Flycatcher Empidonax occidentalis Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans

* Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya

* Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus

Subfamily Tyranninae * Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer

Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus

* Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus

* Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannusforficatus

Family Laniidae Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor

Family Vireonidae ** Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii * Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons * Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus

Cassin's Vireo Vireo cassinii ** Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius

Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus

* Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Family Corvidae Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis

_ Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Common Raven Corvus corax

Family Alaudidae Homed Lark Eremophila alpestris

Family Hirundinidae Subfamily Hirundininae

Purple Martin Progne subis Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina No. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Family Paridae Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens Oak Titmouse Baeolophus inornatus Juniper Titmouse Baeolophus ridgwayi

Family Aegithalidae Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus

Family Sittidae Subfamily Sittinae

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea

Family Certhiidae Subfamily Certhiinae

Brown Creeper Certhia americana

Family Troglodytidae Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii House Wren Troglodytes aedon Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

* Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris

Family Cinclidae American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus

Family Regulidae Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

Family Sylviidae Subfamily Polioptilinae

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Family Turdidae * Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi Veery Catharus fuscescens

* Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

* Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina American Robin Turdus migratorius Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius

Family Timaliidae Wrentit Chamaeafasciata

Family Mimidae Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus

* Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum ** Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre * California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum

Family Sturnidae I European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Family Motacillidae ** Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis * White Wagtail Montacilla alba * Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

American Pipit Anthus rubescens _ * Sprague's Pipit Anthus spragueii

Family Bombycillidae Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Family Ptilogonatidae * Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens

Family Parulidae * Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus * Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera

Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla

* Virginia's Warbler Vermivora virginiae * Lucy's Warbler Vermivora luciae

Northern Parula Parula americana Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica

* Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia * Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina

Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens

* Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis

* Blackburnian Warbler Dendroicafusca * Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica ** Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus * Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor

Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum * Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata _ Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla * Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea ** Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis

* Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla * Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus ** Mourning Warbler Oporornis Philadelphia

MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei

Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert vii

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas * Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina

Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla * Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis ** Painted Redstart Myioborus pictus

Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens

Family Thraupidae * Summer Tanager Piranga rubra * Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea

Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana

Family Emberizidae Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus

** Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus California Towhee Pipilo crissalis American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri

* Black-chinned Sparrow Spizella atrogidaris Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli

* Lark Bunting Calamospiza melanocorys Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum

* Le Conte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis. Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querula White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

* McCown's Longspur Calcarius mccownii Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus

* Smith's Longspur Calcarius pictus * Chestnut-collared Longspur Calcarius ornatus * Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis * McKay's Bunting Plectrophenax hyperboreus

Family Cardinalidae Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus

* Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena

* Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea * Painted Bunting Passerina ciris * Dickcissel Spiza americana

Family Icteridae Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Tricolored Blackbird Agelaius tricolor Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

* Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert viii

Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus * Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula

Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

* Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius * Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus * Streak-backed Oriole Icterus pustulatus

Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii * Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula * Scott's Oriole Icterus parisorum

Family Fringillidae Subfamily Fringillinae

* Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

Subfamily Carduelinae Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis Black Rosy-Finch Leucosticte atrata Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus Cassin's Finch Carpodacus cassinii House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea

** Hoary Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria

* Lawrence's Goldfinch Carduelis lawrencei American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertimxs

Family Passeridae I House Sparrow Passer domesticus

2008 Official Checklist of Oregon Birds Oregon Field Ornithologists Oregon Bird Records Committee Harry Nehls, Secretary

Select Subspecies for review The Oregon Bird Records Committee would like to review all records of the 'review species' - those marked with asterisks (* or **) above. In addition, we would like to see records of select subspecies that may become full species in the future. The OBRC is now asking for details on sightings of the following subspecies. The reports wi l l be handled and voted the same as a rare species, but wi l l not be added to the Oregon State List until such time that they become full species.

Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii Eurasian Teal Anas crecca crecca Siberian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus variegatus Kamchatka Gull Larus canus kamtschatschensis Vega Gull Larus argentatus vegae Yellow Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea Timberline Sparrow Spizella breweri taverneri Eastern (Red) Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca ssp. White-winged Junco Junco hyemalis aikeni Gray-headed Junco Junco hyemalis caniceps

Reporting Rare Birds in Oregon Oregon Bird Records Committee (OBRC)

The OBRC needs your report of any review species observed in Oregon. Review species are indicated in the official state checklist by an asterisk (*) or double asterisk (**).

To report a review species, please e-mail the information listed below to: [email protected] Note: OBRC encourages submission of supporting evidence in the form of photos or recordings (see item 6 below). I f you wish to submit these or other evidence not suited to e-mail (e.g. field notes, sketches), please mail to:

Harry Nehls, OBRC 2736 SE 20th Portland, OR 97202

This form is intended as a convenience and a guideline. It may be used flexibly and need not be used at all.

1. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

Postal address: E-mail address: Telephone (voice):

2. BIRD IDENTIFICATION. Write in the name of the species you have identified and information on numbers, sex, plumage, and age.

3. DATE(S). Month, day, and year. I f there are multiple observations, each date.

4. LOCATION. Be specific; describe habitat.

5. DETAILS. Include only what was actually observed, not what should have been seen or heard. Stress field marks: bill, eye, wings, tail, legs, shape, proportions, "jizz", etc. Include behavior: feeding, resting, flying, interactions with other species, etc. Describe voice—song, calls, or notes—if heard.

Describe your reasons for your identification: your familiarity with the species, field guides used, similar species that were eliminated, references that were consulted, etc.

Describe the circumstances of the observation: light conditions, positions of the sun, distance to the bird, duration of observation, equipment used, time of day, time of tide, etc.

Add the names (and address and phone numbers i f known) of other observers who may have identified the bird.

6. PHOTOS, RECORDINGS. State whether photos were taken or video or sound recordings were made. OBRC wil l duplicate and return original slides and tapes promptly. Donations of slide duplicates (OBRC prefers a double set) and copies of recordings may be considered a tax-deductible expense!

Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert ix

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Membership in OFO brings you: Oregon Birds--OFO's«j||urnal with news and briefs, status and identification of Oregon's birds and bird-finding guides to Oregon's better birding spots and rarer species. Proceedings of the Oregon Bird Records Committee-Stay current on the rare birds of Oregon. Annual meetings-Participate in OFO's birding meetings, held at some of Oregon's top birding spots. Publications—As a service to the community, OFO publishes and distributes occasional books and pamphlets of interest to ornithologists and birders. Such publications maynot be available without your support.

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Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert x

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Oregon Birds 33:4 Insert xi

Eleanor Pugh's Natural Sounds Cassettes and CDs (Recorded, edited and produced by Eleanor A. Pugh)

More information about these titles can be seen at our web site, www.oregonbirds.org.

CDs now available: 72-80 minutes $18.00 + shipping and handling •Learn to Identify Birds by Ear -Western (71 species) •Learn to Identify Birds by Ear - Eastern (72 species) •Western Warblers (77 minutes - 20 species) •Backyard Birds (33 species) •Woodland Birds of the Deciduous Woods (61 species) •Forest Birds of the Deciduous Woods (60 species) •Songs in the Night: Owls, Nightjars, and Others (22 species) •Birds of Western Washington, 1 & 2 (142 species) •Coast to Crest (60 species) •Springsong (41 species)

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I stood atop the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River with Roger Robb and Diane Pettey watching a swirling feeding flock of about 30 Elegant Terns (264). This trip paid further dividends when a dark morph Parasitic Jaeger (265) came in off the ocean and began harassing the terns. August ultimately produced only six new species, but nearly all were rarities.

September birding started with a dash to Bandon to see the White-winged Dove that spent several

days in Terrie Loomis' yard. Diane went with me and got amazing photos, and we each picked up a state bird. We also had a Eurasian Collared-Dove in Terrrie's neighborhood. Upon returning to Florence, I had a pristine adult Parasitic Jaeger cruise southbound past the end of the jetties. The next day I happened upon a Pectoral Sandpiper (266) at Fern Ridge, and on 10 September I found a juvenile Sabine's Gull (267) while scoping from the Fern Ridge Dam.

Over the past couple years Daniel Farrar and I have conducted annual surveys of the Aechmor-phus grebes on Fern Ridge. On 13 September we did our final cruise, as Daniel would soon be

coming to the end of his employment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Though grebe numbers were down from previous counts, it was a memorable finale, as we found an immature Franklin's Gull (11th county record) on the docks at the Tri-Pass Ski Club and then relocated and photographed the juvenile Sabine's Gull way out in the middle of the reservoir.

There's No Missing the Boat This Year

As mentioned above, my 2006

effort was land bound. This year I took every precaution to cover my bases. Early in the year I contacted Greg Gillson and asked i f he might consider adding a Lane County trip to his roster of fall voyages. He kindly obliged and, furthermore, offered discounts to Lane County birders who signed up early. This trip was scheduled for 22 September. Additionally, I signed up for a repositioning cruise aboard the Diamond Princess sailing from Vancouver B.C. to Los Angeles 15-19 September. This cruise featured a full daylight cycle in Oregon waters, including a precious hour and a half off Lane County. We crossed the Columbia River mouth shortly before dawn and enjoyed several hours of intense pelagic birding

before crossing into Lane in late morning. As though someone flipped a switch at the county line, bird activity went from steady to near non-existent off Lane, but I still managed to add five new county year birds, pushing me to the cusp of tying Don DeWitt's record. We left Lane waters and continued on down the Oregon coast that afternoon. We had another full day of sea-birding off California on 18 September. In California waters I picked up my life Laysan Albatross, plus Black and Ashy storm-petrels.

September 21 dawned clear and sunny, so I took full advantage of a day off to once again wander about the mountains. I opted to look for migrant raptors and dispersing woodpeckers along the Old McKenzie Highway (Hwy 242) just west of Lane County's eastern border. I added no new birds, and the hoped-for raptor flight failed to materialize. I did see lots of Mountain Chickadees and a Clark's Nutcracker. On the way home I received another in the long list of helpful phone calls that benefited my effort. It was John Sullivan, who had just found a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Fern Ridge. I stopped by home to round up my scope and then headed for Royal Avenue. After trudging nearly a half-mile across

Chomping at the rail (no that s not chumming

at the rail), I spotted a distant Black-footed

Albatross within seconds of crossing the

county line. Number 274,1 had my record.


the mudflat north of Royal, I relocated the sandpiper for number 273. I had tied the record.

September 22 started early as Lilly, primed for her first pelagic trip, and I were out of bed and on the road by 4:30 in order to be on the dock at Newport by 7:00AM. Upon crossing the Yaquina Bay bar on a boat laden with 30 other sea-birders, we charted a course directly for Heceta Banks in Lane County. It took nearly three hours to reach Lane waters. Chomping at the rail (no that's not chumming at the rail), I spotted a distant Black-footed Albatross within seconds of crossing the county line. Number 274,1 had my record. Several people on the boat knew of my mission, and they offered hearty congratulations. Over the remainder of this trip I added Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Cassin's Auklet, and Tom Snetsinger pointed out a Red Phalarope just before we departed Lane, extending the record to 277.

Bucking the wind and the long ocean swells, the return trip seemed to take an eternity, especially for my daughter who had been enduring mal de mer since about an hour into the trip. She was tough as nails, sitting curled up along the side of the boat for hours. Showing the resiliency of youth, she emerged from her station with a wide grin just a few hundred yards after crossing the bar and returning to the placid waters of Yaquina Bay. As we disembarked, she actually thanked me for bringing her along, and then asked where we were going to get something to eat! Talk about a quick recovery. Diane Pettey, Lilly and I had a wonderful dinner on the Newport waterfront celebrating the success of the day. I had broken the record and still had three months to add to it.

The Stretch Drive

Two days later, I was on my way out to Fern Ridge to meet Diane and others who were still in search of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Some days it's just good to be lucky, and on this day I was; as

I sped along at 50 miles per hour, I noticed a Lewis's Woodpecker (#278) flying over Fisher Road. I rang up Diane, who was already at the Royal Avenue parking area. We scoured the area where I had last seen the woodpecker disappear into a stand of oaks, but it was not a lucky day for Diane. Lewis's Woodpeckers were extremely scarce in the county all year, and this was the only one I would see, and Diane ultimately missed it entirely.

It would be several days before I would further augment my tally, and this time my mother got into the act. She leads a weekly bird walk for several casual birders who are fellow members of Eugene's Unitarian Universalist Church congregation. On 2 Oct she noticed the familiar form of a tail-wagging warbler that she knew well from her days in Indiana. The next morning I once again joined forces with the Wednesday Morning Group, and we relocated mom's Palm Warbler at Perkins Peninsula County Park on the south end of Fern Ridge Reservoir. It took about 15 minutes of searching before we finally spotted the bird high up in a Douglas-fir with a flock of other warblers, chickadees, and kinglets. Thanks, Mom.

Over the weekend of 7-8 Oct David Fix, Jude Power, Diane Pettey and I pounded the outer coast for vagrant passerines. We had planned this effort well in advance, with Diane and I having scouted out several sites that appeared to have potential for draw

ing in vagrant warblers and the like. Unfortunately, it was quite cool, and a steady series of squall lines kept passerine activity low. We managed to find a late Pacific-slope Flycatcher and roughly 20 Townsend's Warblers embedded in the many passerine flocks we pished up. Ironically, the best birding of what was intended to be a passerine-focused day came during early morning sea-watches. We observed about 4000 shearwaters from various points north of Florence, about 800 of which were Pink-footed Shearwaters. Pink-footeds are not often seen from land, thus seeing 800 in a day from land was stunning. The only addition of the weekend came late Saturday afternoon, when I saw a lone adult Pomarine Jaeger (#280) glide south past the Siuslaw River mouth.

After hammering the outer coast for vagrant passerines all weekend, it was quite a shock to finally have one show up only a few miles from home on 10 October. Once again I was working in A l -vadore when I got yet another call from my favorite group of retired birders. The Wednesday Morning Group had ferreted out a Northern Waterthrush that skulked about the small pond next to the observation platform at Royal Ave. I took another unscheduled "break" from work and maintained my string of successful chases involving birds discovered by the Wednesday Morning Group. The waterthrush was #281, and this time I used my own binoculars. Did I happen to mention that you should hook up with these guys i f you are doing a Lane County Big Year?

On 14 Oct I returned to the coast, this time in hopes of relocating one of the two Tropical Kingbirds seen the day before by Diane Pettey and Alan Contreras. We


found neither bird, resulting in one of the few reported rarities that I could never track down. It is a rare fall when three Tropical Kingbirds turn up in Lane County, and I missed them all. After dipping on the kingbirds, Diane and I decided to check the ongoing flight of shearwaters. Exceptional numbers of Pink-footed Shearwaters had remained near shore over several days and we saw several hundred more on this day. While watching a mixed flock of Soot-ies and Pink-footeds, I noticed a smaller, fast-flying, white-bellied shearwater pass through the flock. I got Diane onto the bird, which we quickly deduced to be a Manx Shearwater (#282). It was all dark above, white below, and flew with rapid wingbeats and a "zig-zag-ging" style. We watched the bird at a distance of about 500 yards for 30 seconds or so before it disappeared into a trough. I gleefully accepted this as a consolation for missing the kingbirds. The inshore shearwater flights continued to at least 19 Oct, when Diane and I saw another 500 Pink-footeds and at least 10 Bullers shearwaters from coastal vantage points.

Alas, the point of diminishing returns had arrived, and it would be two weeks before I procured another county year bird. On 28 Oct I was checking grasslands for odd sparrows, pipits, and longspurs. While watching a large circling flock that included both American Pipits and Horned Larks, I began noticing unfamiliar high-pitched call notes coming out of the flock. Once I focused on the calls, it became apparent that they were the "keedle keedle" calls of a Chestnut-collared Longspur (#283). Eventually, I discerned the smaller and shorter-tailed shapes of at least two longspurs within the flock. Two days later Bil l and Zanah Stotz found two Snow Buntings at Muriel O. Ponsler

Wayside north of Florence. On 31 Oct Diane and I had to walk nearly a mile of beach before re-finding the buntings (#284).

Early November provided some interesting birding and another trip to the coast, yet no new addi-

/ visited this spot the

following day and found

three adult and two im

mature Trumpeters

(#289), a long overdue

"county lifer "for me.

tions. Finally, on 16 Nov I discovered two Ross's Geese (#285) amidst a flock of minima and taverneri Cackling Geese north of the Eugene Airport. A week later Mike Patterson, visiting for Thanksgiving, came upon an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker just east of the gate at Royal Avenue. As it was Thanksgiving weekend, I was fortunate and thankful to get a quick call on this bird. I was on the scene within 20 minutes of hearing about the bird, and found that it was still in the small grove of apple trees where Mike had discovered it. Daniel

Farrar and I both saw the bird just before it flew about a quarter mile down the road, where it disappeared, never to be seen again. Minutes later two other carloads of birders arrived, only to be disappointed. After seeing the sap-sucker (#286), I decided to check for Swamp Sparrows in the marsh on the west side of Perkins Peninsula. I heard a couple of distant calls that sounded right for this species, so I tromped out into the mostly dry marsh, where I garnered great views of one Swamp Sparrow (#287).

I spent the following day birding with David Fix and Jude Power, who were on their way back to Areata after spending Thanksgiving in Portland with David's dad. We cruised the country roads north of the airport and west of Junction City hoping to cross paths with the Prairie Falcon that had been reported several times over the course of the fall. I had already invested many hours and miles looking for this bird and I was beginning to wonder i f I would ever track it down. We were scoping the open country along Washburn Lane just north of Cox Butte Rd. when I panned onto an odd-looking raptor perched on an irrigation line. I zoomed in on the bird, confirming that it was indeed my long-sought Prairie Falcon (#288). Previously extinguished hopes of hitting 290 had been revived by a flurry of three additions in two days.

Days passed one after another with nearly a month elapsing before I finally hit #289. On 18 December Sylvia Maulding, Paul Sherrell, and Don Schrouder checked out a small flock of swans that Dave Jones had been watching along Milliron Rd. south of Junction City. Sylvia called me convinced that the birds were indeed Trumpeter Swans, as sus-


pected by Jones. I visited this spot the following day and found three adult and two immature Trumpeters (#289), a long overdue "county lifer" for me.

These Trumpeter Swans would prove to be my last new county year bird of 2007.1 did two CBCs (Florence and Eugene) in the final two weeks of the year. Incredibly, neither count turned up a single species that I had not already seen during the year. The final tally (289 species) surpasses the previous single county year list record for Oregon by 16 species and was four more than my original goal.

I count myself fortunate to live in one of perhaps four counties where one might attempt to top this record. The obvious ace in the hole for Lane County is Fern Ridge Reservoir. It is located close to Eugene and it receives nearly daily coverage by dozens of extremely capable birders. Anyone doing a big year in this county is sure to benefit from the efforts of many others.

Like Lane, Douglas County extends from the outer coast to the summit of the Cascade Range. It offers better montane birding in the Cascades than Lane, but is similarly challenged with respect to its mostly inaccessible estuary. Douglas also lacks expansive inland wetlands and grasslands where one can expect to find an array of waterfowl and raptors.

Coos and Curry counties on the south coast might hold potential for a similar big year effort, as both counties get some open country and montane species that are absent from other coastal counties to the north. Curry County offers excellent inland habitats in the Siskiyou Mountains, but is somewhat lacking in terms of shorebird habitats and there are no regularly scheduled pelagic trips run out of that county's ports.

Coos County is home to Oregon's two best estuaries for shorebirds, and at least one short pelagic trip is run out of Charleston every year. This county's potential is also enhanced by the regular coverage it gets from a few strong local birders and lots of visiting talent, especially during shorebird season.

As pointed out many times during the course of this account, the assistance of others is critical to success of a Big Year. I did not keep an exact count, but I saw many species that were initially found by others. Birding with others is also imperative i f you expect to sustain your motivation and to continue to find joy during a yearlong grind. Everyone I've ever talked to who has done a serious Big Year swears they wil l never do it again. In my own case, I don't envision doing another Big Year on any level.

I f not for the continuous support and encouragement of family,

birding friends, and many others, this effort would have been far more grueling than it was. I was able to spend time birding with nearly everyone whom I hold dear: family, lifelong friends, mentors, and those whose company always raises my spirits. Diane Pettey was a tireless companion all year long and she, too, topped the old record, getting her 274th species (Common Goldeneye at Dexter Reservoir) on the last day of the year. She was a guest in my home and I in hers on many occasions. I received constant encouragement from David Fix, and I thoroughly enjoyed six full days of birding with him and Jude Power, even though they live in California. Additionally, I enjoyed and greatly appreciated support from John Fitchen. John and I met just once face to face, but during his Multnomah County big year I corresponded with him quite a bit, encouraging his efforts. He returned the favor, sending me numerous emails during the year checking on my progress and encouraging me to "go for it ." Simple acts, but this encouragement was always welcomed and often needed. Finally, I enjoyed the love and support of my girlfriend and my kids, who chose to find humor as opposed to exasperation when faced with the prospect of yet another day marked by me being off chasing some ultimately meaningless check mark. Year listing is a foolish game, and I thank them for encouraging me to play it all-out.


I endeavored to keep track of all the fine folks whose company I shared while birding Lane County during 2007. That list of those I can recall appears below. Thank you all for helping make it a very memorable year. Special thanks to David Fix, who first introduced me to the concept of a year list in 1977, and for reviewing this account and making many suggestions that helped improve it.

Rick Ahrens Dan Heyerly Jack Anderson Steve Heinl Dennis Arendt Diane Horgan

Rich Armstrong Bill Hunter Nanette Armstrong Gloria Jacobson

Ann Bartley Jim Jacobson Cynthia Bassett Tim Janzen

Bob Bender Laura Johnson David Brown Lillian Irons

Jennifer Brown Lucy Irons Becky Carlson Stuart Irons

Jim Carlson Kit Larsen Les Colburn Maitreya

Alan Contreras Jim Maloney Lydia Cruz Charlene Maloney Don DeWitt Sylvia Maulding

Daniel Farrar Barry McKenzie Fred Ferguson Larry McQueen

Bob Fish Judy Meredith David Fix Allison Mickel

Jeff Gilligan Tom Mickel Greg Gillson Steve Mlodinow George Grier Russ Namitz

Troy Guy Bruce Newhouse Ed Hansen Mark Nikas

Judie Hansen Margie Paris Randy Henderson Dael Parsons

Anne Heyerly Matt Peterson

Diane Pettey Jude Power A l Prigge

Holly Reinhard Roger Robb

W. Douglas Robinson Owen Schmidt Don Schrouder Lisa Sheffield

Tim Shelmerdine Paul Sherrell Tom Shreve Mary Shreve

Randy Sinnott David Smith

Christina Snetsinger Tom Snetsinger John Sullivan

Bob Stites Bil l Stotz

Zanah Stotz Noah Strycker Iain Tomlinson Gordon Wallace Dave Westerfield

Jay Withgott Sheran Wright


Oregon Birds and North American Birds have synchronized reporting areas, periods, and deadlines. Field reports for Oregon are due to the OB Regional Editor and NAB Regional Editor at the same time.

Season Spring Summer Fall Winter

North American Birds Regional Editor

All of Oregon David Irons 2125 Hayes St Eugene, OR 97405 (541) 686-4560 llsdirons (S)msn. com

Months March-May June-July August-November December-February

North American Birds Sub-Regional Editors

Western Oregon Harry Nehls 2376 SE 20th Portland, OR 97202 503-233-3976 [email protected]

To Editor 10 June 10 August 10 December 10 March

Rogue Valley Dennis Vroman 269 Shetland Dr. Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-479-4619 [email protected]

OFO members bird all over the state, and often find birds that are of interest to local birders. OFO supports publication of local field notes and encourages OFO members to contact local newsletter publishers or field notes editors whenever birding in or near the Oregon locations listed below. If you would like to add a local newsletter or revise any of the information below, please contact the Editor, Oregon Birds, 39127 Griggs Drive, Lebanon, OR, 97355 or [email protected]

Bend Eagle Eye Central Oregon Audubon Society P.O. Box 565 Bend, OR 97709 Inactive (send field notes to OB)

Coos Bay The Tattler Cape Arago Audubon Society P.O. Box 381 North Bend, OR 97459 Russ Namitz namitzr@hotmai 1. com (541) 266-8714

Corvallis The Chat Audubon Society of Corvallis PO Box 148 Corvallis. OR 97339 W. Douglas Robinson 104 Nash Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 541 737 9501 Douglas.robinson@ oregonstatc.edu

Eugene The Quail Lane County Audubon Society P.O. Box 5086 Eugene, OR 97405 Allison Mickel 541-485-7112

Grants Pass The Siskin Siskiyou Audubon Society P.O. Box 2223 Grants Pass, OR 97528 Karen Phillips [email protected]

Hood River-The Dalles The Garryana Rag Columbia Gorge Audubon Society P.O. Box 64 White Salmon, WA 98672 Stuart Johnston [email protected] 509-493-3363

John Day The Upland Sandpiper Grant County Bird Club P.O. Box 111 Canyon City, OR 97820 Tom Winters [email protected] 541-542-2006 (h) 541-620-0667 (w)

Klamath Falls The Grebe Klamath Basin Audubon Society P.O.Box 354 Klamath Falls, OR 97601 Ken Johnston 541-883-7671

L a Grande The Rav-on Grande Ronde Bird Club P.O. Box 29 LaGrande, OR 97850 Joyce Coate [email protected] (541)963-9404

Newport The Sandpiper Yaquina Birders & Naturalists P.O. Box 1467 Newport, OR 97365 Range Bayer [email protected] (541) 265-2965

Pendleton Pendleton Bird Club Kakya Taymut http://www.pendlctonbirders.org/ Dave Herr, Field Note Coordinator [email protected]

Portland Audubon Warbler Audubon Society of Portland 5151 NW Cornell Road Portland, OR 97210 Harry Nehls [email protected] 503-233-3976

Port Orford The Storm Petrel Kalmiopsis Audubon Society P.O. Box 1265 Port Orford, OR 97465

Salem The Kestrel Salem Audubon Society 189 Liberty St. NE 209A Salem, OR 97301 David Buchanan [email protected]

Roseburg Wing-Tips Umpqua Valley Audubon Society P.O. Box 381 Roseburg, OR 97470

•Sir


Field Notes Regional Editors

^^TXor t l and North i Metro Coast

North r TeTntrar

South Coast >

f Rogue Urn ,: ,.„„ ,

North Coast Wink Gross 4665 NW Seblar Terrace Portland, OR 97210 winkg@hevanet. c om

South Coast Tim Rodenkirk 611 North 12th Street Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-269-4696 garbledmodwit@yahoo. com

Portland Metro Erik Knight 4549 N.E. 39th Portland, OR 97211 503-232-0848 ErikKnightO 5 @c omcast. net

Willamette Basin Mark Nikas 28193 Oak View Ave. Eugene, OR 97402 541-607-6715 [email protected]

Rogue-Umpqua Dennis Vroman 269 Shetland Dr. Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-479-4619 [email protected] Norman Barrett [email protected]

Northeast Trent Bray 1102 Washington Ave, La Grande, OR 97850, [email protected]

South coast region extends east to Mapleton and Scottsburg

North Central Chuck Gates 14265 S. Antelope Drive Powell Butte, OR 97753 541-923-1320 [email protected]

South Central Kevin Spencer 858 Rosemont Court Klamath Falls, OR 97603 541 884-5739 [email protected] 12. ca.us

Southeast Noah Strycker 35995 E. Wills Road Creswell, OR 97426 541-895-3123 [email protected]

Oregon Birds 34(1 ):27, Spring 2008

Field Notes: Fall 2007 Statewide Season Report DavidS. Irons, 2125 Hayes St. Eugene, Oregon [email protected]

Abbreviations: Baskett Slough (Baskett Slough N. W.R., Marion), Finley (William L . Finley N. W.R., Benton), Fern Ridge (Fern Ridge Reservoir, Lane), Malheur (Malheur N. W.R., Harney), N.S. C.B. (North Spit Coos Bay). Eastside and westside refer to east and west of the Cascade crest.

Events of the Season

Exceptional Flight of Light Morph Northern Fulmars

Inshore flights of Northern Fulmars were spectacular from mid-Oct. through the end of the season. Daily counts from coastal headlands frequently topped 500 birds during this period, and passages of 2000+ were observed from Boiler Bay S.P. and Spanish Head, Lincoln 19 Oct, 10 Nov, and 19 Nov (Phil Pickering). More importantly, these flights provided new insights into the timing and distribution of light and dark morph fulmars in our waters. Over the first month, "dark" and "double dark" morph birds - those showing dark underparts — dominated these flights. Typically, less than 20% of the fulmars observed mid-Oct-10 Nov showed white underparts. These observations support statements in both Birds of Oregon (2003) and Birds of Washington (2005), which suggest that 80-90% of the fulmars off our shores are dark morph birds from the Aleutian breeding colonies. However, beginning about mid-Nov white-bellied birds became very prevalent and often predominated within these nearshore flights. Pickering noted that at least 50-65% of the birds he observed (four different days) after 12 Nov. were white below. Similarly, at least 75% of the 400 fulmars seen at Florence 12 Nov (Dave Irons, Diane Pettey) were either "light" or "double

light" as described by Harrison (1983). In early December, fulmar numbers dropped off to just a few per day, but nearly all were white-bellied (Phil Pickering). Additonally, a six-hour seawatch from Cape Meares during the Tillamook Bay CBC 15 Dec produced 27 light morph fulmars and just one dark morph (Phil Pickering pers. comm.). The conventional wisdom regarding the predominance of dark morph birds in our waters may be skewed by data from fall pelagic trips, which are generally run Aug-Oct — before winter storm cycles commence. The late November observations from this year do not appear to be a one-year anomaly according to Pickering who relates that in several years he has noticed increases of white-bellied fulmars after mid-November.

Record Showing of Buff-breasted Sandpipers

Buff-breasted Sandpipers set records up and down the West Coast with 123 reported between Mexican and Canadian borders (Irons and Fix 2008). No fewer than 28 graced western Oregon 17 August-22 September; this is roughly four-fold the norm and a record fall tally for the state. From 18 August-3 September 7 to 11 Buff-breasteds were seen sporadically on the North Spit of Coos Bay. This site produces the season's high count most years and often hosts small flocks. It is a certainty that more than 11 total birds visited this locale since the high count assumes no turnover

of individuals during this 15-day span. Tim Rodenkirk believes that the eight birds present on 23 Aug may have all been different from the seven reported on N.S.C.B. 18 Aug since none were detected on multiple days between these two counts. Eight additional Buff-breasteds were detected from four other coastal sites 18 August-17 September. A l l three inland birds came from Fern Ridge, which had its first ever Buff-breasted in 2006; two were there 22 Aug-2 Sep (Dave Irons et al.) and another present 19-22 Sep. (Alan Contreras) was Lane's latest ever.

Westside Brewer's Sparrows

After confirmed and suspected nesting at multiple southern Willamette Valley locations during the summer season, Brewer's Sparrows were detected at an unprecedented number of westside sites during August. Adults and streaked juveniles were seen repeatedly at Fern Ridge, where up to seven hatch-year birds and occasional adults were regularly encountered in a small sector w. of Fisher Butte 2-24 Aug (Dave Irons, Daniel Farrar, m.ob.). Elsewhere in Lane, singles were at Coburg 2 Aug (Roger Robb), Eugene 3 Aug (Mark Rudolph), and Creswell 5 Aug (Hydie Lown). Similarly, six Brewer's, including several juveniles, were observed in lowland sections of Benton 23 Jul-10 Sep (W.Douglas Robinson). Two Brewer's Sparrows at the summit of Mary's Peak, Benton on 15 Aug (W.


Douglas Robinson) were far from potential breeding habitat. Farther to the north, a singleton at Fernhill Wetlands 12 Aug (Stefan Schlick) and a group of three at Canby, Clackamas (Al Ahlgrim) were not associated with reports of local summering birds. Two Brewer's were along the outer coast; one was at N.S.C.B. 14 Aug (Tim Rodenkirk), and another was at Brookings 7 Oct (Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt).

Waterfowl-Grebes

Flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese appeared about a month early both east and west of the Cascades. Thirty were at Summer L. W.M.A. on 27 Aug (Steve Dougill) and 80 passed over Portland 28 Aug (John Fitchen). Single "Blue" Geese were at Sauvie I . 5 Oct (Chris Warren) and 8 Nov (Jeff Gilligan, Shawneen Finnegan). Numbers of Snow Geese at Sauvie I . grew to 600 birds on 19 Nov (Harry Nehls). A flock of 35 Snows at Finley 20 Nov (Tom Snetsinger) was unusual in. the southern Willamette Valley, where

they rarely surpass single-digit numbers. Stray Ross's Geese were limited to a single at Haystack Res., Jefferson 29 Oct (Kim Owen) and two at Eugene 16 Nov (Dave Irons). Heavy movements of Cackling Geese (presumed minima) flew over Portland 3-4 Oct and 17 Oct (Shawneen Finnegan). Finley hosted 20,000 Cackling Geese on 24 Oct (W. Douglas Robinson). Single inland Brant graced Finley 25 Oct (Rich Armstrong) and Sauvie I . 8 Nov (Jeff Gilligan, Shawneen Finnegan). Two Eurasian Wigeon at Coos Bay 16 Sep (Russ Namitz), were Coos' earliest ever by two weeks. A raft of 300 Ring-necked Ducks at Rums, Sherman 25 Nov (Wayne Weber) was an unusually high count for this section of the Columbia R. A female Harlequin Duck with two half-grown ducklings along the South Fork of the Coquille R. 11 Aug, provides the first nesting record for Coos (Russ Namitz). Coastal scoter flights were decidedly unremarkable. However, Surf Scoters made an unprecedented showing inland with no fewer than 180 birds

detected 6 Oct+. The epicenter of inland reports was Hagg L.. Washington where a flock of 24 first appeared 15 Oct (Jeff Gilligan et al.). By 20 Oct this group grew to 118, the state's highest-ever inland count (Paul Sullivan, Carol Karlen et al.). Another flock of 20 Surfs at Portland 20 Nov (Chris Warren) was about a month behind the primary burst of inland reports. East of the Cascades 23 Surf Scoters were noted from nine locations, including late reports of a singleton at Hood River 24 Nov (Wayne Weber) and three at Wickiup Res., Deschutes 30 Nov (Howard Horvath). Conversely, the inland reports of other scoters were limited to a group of four White-wingeds at Hines, Harney 18 Nov+ (Steve Dowlan) and Crook's 1st Black Scoter at Prineville 19 Oct (Chuck Gates). Three Long-tailed Ducks were discovered inland. One at LaGrande 24 Oct (Trent Bray) was Union's 3rd, while two immatures at Finley 21 Nov represented just the 3rd and 4th records for heavily-birded Benton (W. Douglas Robinson, m.ob.). On 7 Nov a male Barrow's Goldeneye returned to Astoria, where it has wintered seven years running (Mike Patterson). Red-breasted Mergansers showed well east of the Cascades with six reported 10 Nov+. Singles were along the Columbia R. at McNary Dam 10 Nov (Paul Sullivan) and John Day Dam 11 Nov (Roy Gerig). In central Oregon, one Red-breasted was at Haystack Res., Jefferson 19 Nov (Craig and Marilyn Miller) and three were at Bend 24-30 Nov (Howard Horvath). The flight of 6000 Red-throated Loons at Boiler Bay 19 Nov (Phil Pickering) was the zenith of the season's passage. A Red-throated barely eastside at Odell L. 27 Oct, was just the 5th Klamath record (Russ Namitz).

Long-tailed Duck, North Jetty tidal pond, Siuslaw River, Florence, Lane County, 15 November 2007. Photo/D. Petty

Oregon Birds 34(1 ):29, Spring 2008

Inland reports of Pacific Loon totaled just six, including a group of three at John Day Dam 6 Nov (Jeff Gilligan). Peak coastal flights of Pacific Loons were about ten-fold below the norm, with no single-day counts of greater than 5000-6000 birds (Phil Pickering et al.). Four Yellow-billed Loons, all coastal, included a very early individual at Newport 16 Aug (Lars Norgren). Record numbers of Pied-billed Grebes once again amassed at Smith/ Bybee Lks. The 502 counted there on 26 Aug (Steve Nord) barely surpassed the previous Willamette Valley high of 497 (fall 2006). Eight of the 11 Rednecked Grebes appearing at inland sites 8 Sep+ were east of the Cascades (fide Harry Nehls). Two at Portland 17 Oct (Andy Frank) and three at Haystack Res. 19 Nov (Craig and Marilyn Miller) were the only reports of multiple birds. A Clark's Grebe visited Plat I Res. 11 Aug, providing a rare record for inland Douglas (Jim Hein), while another Clark's at Philomath 18 Oct (W Douglas Robinson) was about the 7th for Benton.

Tubenoses - Herons

A Great-winged Petrel reported off Coos Bay 26 Aug (Tim Rodenkirk written description) would be an Oregon 1st, pending OBRC acceptance. Unprecedented numbers of Pink-footed Shearwaters ventured near shore, where they are normally scarce. No fewer than 800 were observed from vantage points in Lane on 7 Oct (Dave Irons, Diane Pettey) and another 500 were tallied near Florence 19 Oct (Dave Irons). Elsewhere, 150 Pink-footeds passed Boiler Bay on 17 Oct (Phil Pickering). Three Flesh-footed Shearwaters appeared in Oregon waters, including one off Coos Bay

26 Aug (Tim Rodenkirk), and singletons seen from a cruise ship off Tillamook and Lincoln 17 Sep (Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt et al.). Buller's Shearwaters were generally few on pelagic trips, but several were noted from shore. At least ten were seen from land north of Florence 19 Oct (Dave Irons, Diane Pettey). On 10 Nov two were seen at Cannon Beach, Clatsop and two more passed Boiler Bay (Phil Pickering). Peak gatherings of Sooty Shearwaters included 20,000 off Del Rey Beach, Clatsop on 14 Aug (Mike Patterson), 50,000 at the Columbia R. mouth 8 Sep (Mike Patterson), and 20,000 off Boiler Bay 15 Oct (Phil Pickering). Five Manx Shearwaters, all seen from land, appeared 14 Oct-9 Nov. A well-described Black-vented Shearwater cruised off Clatsop Beach 12 Sep (Bill Shelmerdine) and another likely Black-vented was seen at Boiler Bay 6 Nov (Phil Pickering). Oregon has but four accepted records of this species. A 25 Aug pelagic out of Newport found 300 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels (Greg Gillson). Post-breeding Am. White Pelicans dispersed widely both east and west of the Cascades. A Willamette Valley record 128 amassed at Fern Ridge 15 Aug (Dennis Arendt et al), and up to 350 gathered at Wickiup Res., Deschutes late Aug-early Sep (Craig and Marilyn Miller). Most were gone by the end of September. A single White Pelican visited Seaside on the outer coast 27 Aug (Mike Marsh). Single White Pelicans at Portland 4 Nov (Andy Frank) and Bully Creek Res. near Vale, Malheur 11 Nov (David Smith), were a full month behind the normal departure date. Heavy flights of southbound Brown Pelicans were noted 13 Oct+. Boiler Bay produced several single-day counts of 500+, topped by

a tally of 1930 on 30 Oct (Phil Pickering). At period's end Brown Pelicans were still numerous along the Oregon coast, where they are becoming increasingly regular during December. As is now expected, 282 Great Egrets assembled at Smith/Bybee Lakes, Multnomah 26 Aug (Steve Nord). For the second consecutive year, an immature Snowy Egret, rare in Lane, appeared at Fern Ridge on 18 Sep (Daniel Farrar). As the Oregon breeding population of White-faced Ibis grows, reports of dispersing birds increase each fall. East of the Cascades, flocks of 12-85 ibis appeared at five sites north and west of their normal breeding range. Surprisingly, only two ibis wandered to the westside; a singleton detected at Fern Ridge 5 Aug (Randy Sinnott), remained for nearly three weeks and another graced Baskett Slough 9 Aug (Roy Gerig). Until fairly recently almost all westside ibis occurred in spring.

Raptors-Shorebirds

A late eastside Osprey lingered at Prineville until 21 Nov (Steve Dougill). Five Red-shouldered Hawks were detected in central Oregon, including four in Deschutes 11 Aug-16 Sep (Kim Boddie, Steve Shunk). One has to wonder about the provenance of the Red-shouldered captured at the Green Ridge Hawk Watch, Jefferson 30 Aug (fide Rick Gerhardt), as the breeding range of the western population barely extends north and west of this site. It is possible that some of the transient Red-shouldered Hawks east of the Cascades are of the nominate "eastern" subspecies. A Red-shouldered Hawk south of Bend on 30 Nov (Howard Horvath) was very late for the eastside. A single Broad-winged Hawk passed south over Mt. Hood 14 Oct (Richard Smith);


this species is now nearly annual during fall in Oregon. The westside's only Swainson Hawk was at Oregon City, Clackamas 12 Oct (Louis Fredd). The first southbound Rough-legged Hawks on the westside were at the Portland airport 29 Oct (Dave Helzer) and Langlois, Coos 3 Nov (Tim Rodenkirk). A Golden Eagle at Langlois 27 Oct (Troy Guy) was rare for the outer coast. There were just two Gyrfalcon reports; one was New R., Coos 23 Oct (Jim Heaney) and another was at Siletz Bay, Lincoln 29 Oct (Don Stein). Five Prairie Falcons were detected westside, all in the southern Willamette Valley. A very early bird was near Corvallis 6 Aug (Jarod Jebousek); this species is extremely rare in the Willamette Valley during the summer months.

There was notable push of Sandhill Cranes through the Willamette Valley in late-Oct, highlighted by flocks of 200 over Canby, Clackamas 23 Oct (Steve Parsons) and 290 over Silverton, Marion 25 Oct (John Thomas). Pacific Golden-Plovers outnumbered American Golden-Plovers nearly four-to-one. No fewer than 20 Pacifies visited westside locales 2 Aug-10 Oct; a singleton at Fern Ridge 13-14 Aug (Dennis Arendt, Paul Sherrel et al.) was the only inland bird. The favored N.S.C.B. hosted up to 10 Pacifies 13-19 Aug (Tim Rodenkirk). An American Golden-Plover at Prineville 6 Sep (Chuck Gates), was a Crook 1 st and the only bird of either species east of the Cascades. Five additional Americans were noted on the westside 23 Aug-28 Sep. Peak assemblages of Semipalmated Plover included 500 at Stanley Lake in Seaside 6 Aug (Mike Patterson) and 400 at N.S.C.B. 17 Aug (Tim Rodenkirk). Though there were few large

Baird's Sandpiper, Necanicum Estuary, Clatsop Co. 27 August 2007. Photo/M. Marsh.

flocks, Lesser Yellowlegs were widely reported both eastside and westside 2 Aug-9 Sep. A group of 40 Lessers at Fern Ridge 14 Aug (Roger Robb) was the high count. A singleton at Fernhill Wetlands, Washington 16-23 Oct was about two weeks tardy (Jay Withgott, Lars Norgren). Solitary Sandpipers showed poorly with a paltry seven westside 4-24 Aug. Four birds eastside 18 Aug-14 Sep. was equally underwhelming,

but included a bird found at Arrow L. (7800'), Union 22 Aug (Noah Strycker). Three Long-billed Curlew visited the Willamette Valley, where now annual; two stopped at Tualatin River N.W.R., Washington 11 Aug (Carol Karlen, Paul Sullivan) and another graced Fern Ridge 23 Aug (Kit Larsen). Though there were no reports of major flights or fallouts of Whimbrel along the coast, a flock of 12 stopped at Fern Ridge 3 Sep (Magnus Persmark); this is the 2nd largest flock ever for the Willamette Valley (15 were at Fern Ridge 2 Aug 2001). Two Hudsonian Godwits at Summer L. W.M.A. 17 Aug (Em Scatteregia, Christopher and Adrian Hinkle written description) provided the third record for this site and about the 33rd and 34th records for Oregon. Eight Marbled Godwits appeared inland, including flocks of three at

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, South Jetty, Siuslaw River, Florence, Lane Co. 1 September 2007. Photo/N. Nikas.


Sabine's Gull, 30 September 2007, Wickiup Reservoir, Deschutes County. Photos/K. Smith.

Fern Ridge 2 Sep (Roger Robb) and three at Summer L. W.M.A. 17 Sep (Karl Fairchild, Holly Reinhard). A flock of 120 at Coos Bay 20 Sep (Russ Namitz) was the high coastal tally. As usual, Red Knots offered a near no-show along the Oregon coast; up to 11 inhabited Bandon 4-9 Sep (Russ Namitz, Roger Robb) and a late bird was at Florence 10 Oct (Alan Contreras). Two Sanderlings appeared eastside with singles at Hood River 23 Aug (Stuart Johnston) and Malheur 8 Sep

(Noah Strycker). The season yielded just 12 Semipalmated Sandpipers, all westside, 2-22 Aug. Baird's Sandpipers were widespread on both sides of the Cascades 2 Aug-22 Sep, but generally in low numbers. A flock of 32 at Gutierrez Ranch, Crook 18 Aug (Chuck Gates, Steve Dougill) was the only count of more than ten birds. Pectoral Sandpipers also showed quite poorly; less than 40 total were noted from the westside and seven at Wickiup Res., Deschutes 21

Sep (Steve Dougill) was the lone report from east of the Cascades. The season's only Sharp-tailed Sandpiper inhabited Fern Ridge 21-24 Sep (John Sullivan, m.ob.). A mere nine Stilt Sandpipers were detected 9 Aug-16 Sep; there were six westside and three eastside. Nine Ruffs was a better than average seasonal showing. Fall reports involve almost exclusively juvenile birds, thus adult Reeves found at Tualatin River N. WR. 9-12 Aug (Erik Knight, m.ob.) and Fern Ridge 12-13 Aug (Jude Power, David Fix, Dave Irons) were noteworthy. Wilson's Phalaropes generally departed westside breeding sites before the start of the period. Only five were reported 2 Aug+; the latest were singletons at Baskett Slough 9 Sep (Wayne Hoffman) and Portland 15 Sep (Em Scatteregia et al). Excellent flights of Red-necked Phalaropes passed along the coast in August, peaking 16-21 Aug; up to 2400 were at N.S.C.B. 19-21 Aug (Tim Rodenkirk). An extremely rare eastside Red Phalarope graced the LaGrande, Union sewage ponds 21 Aug (Russ Namitz) and, incredibly, a second was at Krumbo Res, Harney 15 Sep (Alan Contreras ph., Daniel Farrar, Tim Rodenkirk et al.).

Jaegers-A kids

Observers on a southbound cruise ship enjoyed seven South Polar Skuas in Oregon waters on 17 Sep (Dave Irons et al.). A Parasitic Jaeger eastside at Chickahominy Res., Harney 20 Sep (Skip Russell) was the only inland jaeger report. A rare inshore Long-tailed Jaeger brightened Tierra del Mar, Tillamook 3 Sep (Wink Gross) and the 17 Sep cruise found 69 Long-taileds 40-62 miles off the Oregon coast (Dave Irons, Jay Withgott et al.). A l l three westside


Calliope Hummingbird, 22 August 2007, Malheur NWR Headquarters, Harney County. Photo/R. Robb

Franklin's Gulls were in the Willamette Valley; singles were at Oregon City 27 Aug (Louis Fredd), Smith/Bybee Lakes 5 Sep (Andy Frank) and Fern Ridge 10 Sep (Daniel Farrar, Dave Irons). Oregon's 4th Laughing Gull was photographed at Gearhart, Clatsop 26 Aug (David Bailey ph.). The same observer found what he believed to be a 2nd Laughing Gull just south at Seaside on 30 Aug (David Bailey, Mike Patterson ph.). A Glaucous Gull at Florence 30 Oct (Russ Namitz), was the lone report of the season. The influx of this species usually occurs in late December and early January. Eighteen inland Sabine's Gulls' 10-27 Sep were highlighted by groups of three at Fern Ridge 12 Sep (Daniel Farrar) and six at Agency L., Klamath 15 Sep (Kevin Spencer). The latest inland bird was hit by at car at Waterloo, Linn 9 Oct (fide W. Douglas Robinson). The 17 Sep cruise tallied 2000+ Sabine's 45-60 miles off Oregon (Dave Irons, Jay Withgott et al.). This flight was astounding, particularly during one two-hour stretch where there were never fewer than 50-100 in sight. These birds were traveling in the same direction as the ship, which made getting an accurate count quite difficult. Up to 5000 Sabine's Gulls may have been seen on this day. There was a minor incursion of Elegant Terns with sporadic reports during August. From 3-5 Aug singles and groups of 2-3 birds were observed in Clatsop and Tillamook at the mouth of Nehalem Bay, Manzanita, and Cannon Beach (Thomas Hall). Several weeks passed with no subsequent sightings and then a flock of 33 Elegants made a brief appearance at Florence 26 Aug (Roger Robb, Diane Pettey). A similar sized flock again appeared there on 3 Sep (Karl Fairchild). Common Terns were scarce along

the Oregon coast, but as has been the norm in recent years, a flock of 20 inhabited Fern Ridge 2-4 Sep (Dave Irons). At least five lingered at Fern Ridge 19 Sep (Roger Robb). An Arctic Tern inland at Philomath 16 Aug (W. Douglas Robinson) was extremely rare for the Willamette Valley and a Benton 1st. One Arctic at Florence 25 Aug (Alan Contreras ph., Tim Lee) and five more at Gearhart, Clatsop 7 Sep (Mike Patterson) were the only other inshore reports of this pelagic migrant. The lone Forster's Tern to grace the westside was at Newport 9 Sep (Carol Karlen, Paul Sullivan). FourXantus's Murrelets were out of Newport 25 Aug (Greg Gillson ph.). The 17 Sep cruise found five Xantus's; singles were off Lane and Lincoln, and three were off Curry (Jeff Gilligan, Jay Withgott et al.).

An Ancient Murrelet at Tierra del Mar 3 Sep was about a month early (Wink Gross). The peak count of Ancients was 80 at Boiler Bay 28 Oct (Phil Pickering). For once the season's high count of Rhinoceros Auklets was not from Boiler Bay; 3000 were tallied from Lane vantage points on 19 Oct (Dave Irons, Diane Pettey).

Doves-Gnatcatchers

Eurasian Collared-Doves barely create a ripple of excitement these days, though well established local populations continue to expand. New sites were pioneered by a singleton at Keizer, Marion 9 Aug (Bill Tice) and a flock of four at Sutherlin, Douglas (Carol Karlen, Paul Sullivan). Prior to 2000 there were just five Oregon records for White-winged Dove. Since then the state has


averaged about one per fall. This season a singleton enlivened Bandon 31 Aug-5 Sep (Terrie Loomis, Roger Robb ph.) and another was seen briefly south of Burns Jet., Malheur (Karen Cottrell), providing Oregon's 11th and 12th records. A Burrowing Owl returned to its traditional wintering site near Tangent, Linn on 3 Nov (Cheryl Whelchel). A calling Boreal Owl at Sisters Mirror L. (6000') 18 Aug (Kevin Spencer), was at a new location for Deschutes. Late Common Nighthawks appeared at Portland 9 Oct (Paul Buescher) and near Lebanon, Linn 15 Oct (Rich Armstrong). Very rare for the Willamette Valley, a Common Poorwill near Bellfountain 5 Oct, was likely a 1st for Benton (W. Douglas Robinson). Up to three Black Swifts were observed going to roost at Deschutes' Tumalo Falls 5-23 Aug (Floyd Schrock et al.). This site seems likely to provide central Oregon's first documented nesting record. Equally intriguing were the 10-12 Black Swifts at Falls Creek Falls, Wallowa (Larry Schwitters fide Bob Altman). This is the first sighting of multiple birds at a suitable nesting site in northeast Oregon. A White-throated Swift passing south over Finley with Vaux's Swifts on 13 Sep (W. Douglas Robinson), was very rare for the Willamette Valley. Single Costa's Hummingbirds appeared both east and westside; one was at Tualatin River N.W.R. 17 Aug (Tom Love) and a male was among a swarm of 50+ Rufous and Anna's Hummingbirds on Portland's Mt. Tabor 24 Aug (Jeff Gilligan). On 23 Oct a female Costa's returned to a Bend feeder, where it also wintered in 2006 (Dave Tracy). Two Calliope Hummingbirds were detected west of the Cascades; one was at Portland 28 Aug (Em Scatteregia) and another visited

Astoria 29 Aug (Mike Patterson). Formerly scarce after September, October reports of lingering Rufous Hummingbirds have been on the increase in recent years. This season three Rufous Hummingbirds remained into November; one was at Eugene 1 Nov (Mark Rudolph), a female stopped at a Springfield feeder 24 Nov (Tom Escue), a male visited North Bend 27 Nov (Jim Heaney).

An immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was a one-day wonder at Fern Ridge 23 Nov (Mike Patterson written description). Single Red-naped Sapsuckers at Portland 4 Oct (Tom McNamara) and Brookings 20 Nov (Don Munson) was a typical fall showing for the westside. Though they appear annually in spring migration, transient Gray Flycatchers are rarely documented on the westside in fall. A single Gray was well-described from Portland's Mt. Tabor Park 24 Aug (Jeff Gilligan, Gerard Lillie). Though somewhat established in the southern Willamette Valley, Black Phoebes are still rare in the Portland area. Singles were at Sauvie I . 16 Sep (Sarah Pinnock) and 4 Nov (Jan Cornelius). Another was at the Portland Airport 27 Oct (Gabe NcNassar). An E. Phoebe at Malheur 15 Sep (Alan Contreras) was Oregon's 10th. West of the Cascades, nine Say's Phoebes 20 Sep+ approximated the recent seasonal norm. The eight Tropical Kingbirds that visited the Oregon coast 4-22 Oct was above average. Returning Northern Shrikes were widely reported on the westside 27 Oct-3 Nov. A Plumbeous Vireo at Mary's Peak 10 Aug (W. Douglas Robinson written description) was western Oregon's 1st. A l l prior Oregon reports and accepted records have come from the eastside. Owing to the ease of confusion with

•

Blackpoll Warbler, Fields Oasis, Harney Co., 16 September 2008. Photo/K. Fairchild

dull Cassin's Vireos, reporters of this species are encouraged to thoroughly document sightings. Despite many reports, Oregon has but two accepted records of Plumbeous Vireos. Three of Oregon's four Blue Jays were on the eastside; an early bird was at Athena, Umatilla 29 Sep (Jerry Baker), one inhabited John Day, Grant 10 Oct (Clarence O'Leary), and a singleton appeared at Redmond, Deschutes 30 Nov (Chris Gardner). The lone westside bird was southeast of Corvallis 1+ Nov (Michael Dossett). A Clark's Nutcracker wandered far from expected habitat to the virtually treeless Sodhouse Ranch at Malheur 5 Sep (Jerry Hammon). A deluge of southbound Barn Swallows once again amassed and roosted in cornfields at Grand Island near Dayton, Yamhill. This year's high count surpassed 500,000 birds on 15 Sep (Floyd Schrock). As is the case every few years, Mountain Chickadees inexplicably irrupted into the westside lowlands and the Coast Range 23 Sep+; seven birds were detected at or near the floor of the Willamette Valley during the period. Coast Range birds included up to seven at Mary's Peak 12-30 Oct (Noah Strycker, W. Douglas Robinson) and many were noted in eastern Coos 6 Nov (Tim Rodenkirk). Singles visited the Umpqua Valley at Glide 1-25 Oct (Linda Smith) and the Rogue Valley at Takilma, Josephine


3 Nov (Romain Cooper). One Mountain Chickadee at Waldport 22 Nov was the only coastal report (Jill Grover). Single Bewick's Wrens at Terrebonne, Deschutes 15 Sep (Steve Dougill), Prineville 17 Oct (Chuck Gates), and Summer Lake W.M.A. 22 Oct (Steve Kornfeld) were all in areas where this species is not a known nester and is rarely encountered as a transient. Another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was near Prineville 14 Sep (Chuck Gates), further supporting the notion that this species is expanding its range north in central Oregon. Gnatcatchers have been recorded annually in Crook since first occurring there in 2003.

Thrushes-Finches

Extremely surprising was the discovery of a pair of adult Western Bluebirds still feeding juveniles south of Tillamook on 29 Sep (John and Barbara Woodhouse); not only is this a very late breeding record, but north of Coos this species is an extremely rare local breeder in the coastal lowlands. The only out-of-range Mountain Bluebird of the season dropped in at Cascade Head, Tillamook 26 Sep (Phil Pickering). Singleton Townsend's Solitaires were unexpected migrants at Portland (Jeff Gilligan) and Salem (Al Ahlgrim) on 20 Sep. A Gray Catbird along Camp Polk Cr. north of Sisters, Deschutes 25 Aug (Kim Boddie) continues the recent trend of detections in the Oregon Cascades, where this species was essentially unknown until the past decade. Catbirds have now been detected in Deschutes every year since 1999. Four Northern Mockingbirds was sub-par for the season. Al l were on the westside, including Polk's 6th, which remained at Baskett Slough 24 Sep-period (Bill Tice).

The westside's only Bohemian Waxwing flew over Mary's Peak 31 Oct (W. Douglas Robinson). Small groups of Bohemians began appearing in northeast Oregon about mid-Oct and built to flocks of hundreds by the period's end. A group of 20 at Jordan Valley, Malheur 10 Nov (Don Coggswell, David Smith) were well south of their normal incursion range, which is typically restricted to Union and Wallowa. The season's two Tennesee Warblers were at Eugene 5 Sep (Dan Gleason written description) and Camp Sherman, Jefferson 24 Sep (Steve Dougill). Given that roughly 80% of Oregon's Northern Parulas have been spring or summer birds, two fall reports in the same year is exceptional; a female was at Bend 1 Sep (Craig Miller), and Oregon's latest ever was at Chiloquin, Klamath 4 Nov (Wes Stone ph.). Oregon's 17th Cape May Warbler enlivened Malheur 15 Sep (Alan Contreras ph., Holly Reinhard); nearly all Oregon records have come Sep-Oct. Palm Warblers were unusually scarce with just five reported 24 Sep-22 Oct. Single Palms at Fern Ridge 2 Oct (Judie Hansen) and Corvallis 23 Oct (W Douglas Robinson) were rare inland. A Hermit Warbler at Malheur 16 Sep (Alan Contreras) is much rarer there than many eastern vagrants. Despite heavy coverage, there are less than 10 records of this species in Harney. The season's only Blackpoll Warbler was found in the Fields, Harney oasis 16 Sep (Karl Fairchild, Holly Reinhard). A Black-and-White Warbler at Bend 15 Sep (Steve Dougill) was the lone report. Malheur hosted three American Redstarts 7-15 Sep (Noah Strycker, Alan Contreras). Annual in southeast Oregon, a Northern Waterthrush at Fields, 20 Sep (Tim Rodenkirk) was somewhat expected. Conversely, the Northern at Fern

Ridge 10 Oct (Larry McQueen, Dennis Arendt et al.), was a fall first for the Willamette Valley. The Kentucky Warbler that enlivened Emigrant L., Jackson 17 Sep (Barbara Massey) was the state's first fall record; the four previous records were all May-July. Two Summer Tanagers were reported; an adult male was at Coos Bay 22 Sep (Barbara Taylor) and a female was at Malheur 28 Sep (Steve Nemetz). An extremely late Western Tanager brightened Lake Billy Chinook Recreation Area, Jefferson 11 Nov (Chuck Gates). American Tree Sparrows made an exceptional westside showing 9 Oct+. Three graced Coos, which had only seven prior records; singles were at North Bend 18 Oct, N.S.C.B. 28 Oct, and Millicoma Marsh 17 Nov (Tim Rodenkirk). Elsewhere a singleton was at Seaside 9 Oct (Mike Patterson) and the only inland bird enlivened Baskett Slough 5 Nov (Glen Lindeman). Single Chipping Sparrows at Brookings 7 Oct (Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt) and Seaside 12 Oct (Mike Patterson) were on the outer coast where this species is a rare migrant. Two of Oregon's four Clay-colored Sparrows were in Curry, with one at Brookings 7 Oct (Jeff Gilligan, Owen Schmidt) and another at Pistol River 5 Nov (Don Munson). Additional Clay-coloreds included one at Bend 12 Nov (Howard Horvath), and Benton's 2nd, which was e. of Monroe 16-17 Nov (W. Douglas Robinson).

A Lark Sparrow on N.S.C.B. was the 5th for Coos (Tim Rodenkirk). An extralimital Black-throated Sparrow at Tumalo State Park 1 Sep (Curt Ringstad), was north and west of their normal range. Southbound "Sooty" Fox Sparrows arrived throughout northwest Oregon 6-11 Sep (Gerard Lillie, Mike


of time to get a brief glimpse of a "rare" (meaning lost) bird... faded. I don't mean to say that the desire to go somewhere new to see the country disappeared... I LOVE to soak-in new country... I love to go somewhere new to smell the flowers, take some landscape pictures, taste the local beer, and visit the local historical museum... but the desire to go JUST to see a bird faded-away.

There is a "confession within a confession" to be made at this point... I am not much a social birder, which means that birding (and natural history study in general) for me is, in addition to a profession, an intensely personal activity that most effectively recharges my batteries when I can do it alone. So, with no social needs to be met, this epiphany effectively took me out of the listing circuit, cut my driving miles way down, and gave me some time to reflect on what I really enjoyed about birding.

As a consequence, I felt free to revel in the ordinary again, and Brewer's Blackbirds immediately caught my attention. Males may seem to be less-than-spectacular at first glance, but upon closer inspection, reveal themselves as true tropical beauties... iridescent deep indigo and royal blue, with eyes like pearls. No flame orange, no bright yellow, no sky-blue... just subtle elegance. Blackbirds are members of a New World-native family (Icteridae) that includes some really colorful loner habitat-specialists like orioles, as well as mostly black colonial breeders like Red-winged and Tricolored Blackbirds. Brewer's Blackbirds may lack bold colors, but many related

species make that statement as well or better than any warbler or tanager can.

As a result of several seasons of field survey, which involved many miles happily spent burning fuel in 4-wheel-drive, low range directed at contributing to the Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas project, I remembered the Brewer's Blackbirds that I had seen high in the wilderness of the Trout Creek Mountains on the Nevada border, and everywhere else in the Oregon Great Basin and Ranges. But wait... this species also thrives in Walmart parking lots.. .it is observant, sharp-eyed, and

quick to snatch anything that resembles food. Brewer's Blackbirds are the coyotes of the avian world... they make the best of available resources by applying resourcefulness and determination.

So I began to actually "watch" blackbirds whenever the opportunity presented, and the opportunity presented frequently. Brewer's Blackbirds are common around Salem where I formerly lived and worked, in parking lots of retail stores everywhere. Red-winged Blackbirds are frequent in city and county parks, and Western Meadowlarks and Yellow-headed Blackbirds are always noteworthy in the Willamette Valley. Some kind of blackbird appeared almost everywhere I went in the course of "real life," and I was actually "watching birds", rather than just

noting their presence and adding their names to some list...

This all happened while I was still a "wet-sider" (a resident of the west side of the Cascade Mountains), but since then, I relocated to the east side of Oregon's "great dividing range" of culture and economic priorities. My current job requires at least 200 miles of driving to accomplish any day of field work, all within Harney County, so driving for fun on weekends became even less attractive than before. As a consequence, I have become even more determined to enjoy birds close to home.

My rural Marion County yard list included such exciting species as Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red Crossbill, Mountain Quail,

Hermit Warbler, and Hutton's Vireo... Occasionally, I would see a single pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds (I do not despise cowbirds, as some do). My new yard list in more-or-less urban Harney County developed nicely through the first year, and was raptor-heavy... Northern Goshawk, Prairie Falcon, Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk, as well as Mountain Bluebird, Western Kingbird, and Say's Phoebe.

However, by late April, 2007,1 had FIVE ICTERIDS feeding in my yard, including Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds, a pair of Bullock's Orioles, and more than 100 Yellow-headed Blackbirds at times... YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS! Laura and I always loved the sight

Blackbirds belong, without apology, to the landscape of rock and snow as well as the asphalt parking lot of town.


and sound of Yellow-headed Blackbirds... we were thrilled when the first few appeared, and now we may have over 100 at our feeders, frantically cleaning us out in a matter of hours. Some would be horrified to watch the seed disappear in a cacophony of argumentative, fluttering, iridescent black-and-yellow. We were mesmerized, staring through windows open to let in the lovely discord of the Yellow-heads.

Despite my epiphany and later experiences, I do not expect to start a blackbird-watching club, nor do I want to. I 'm happy to watch, through the windows of my home and by myself, the scrappy flocks clean-out my feeders. When I see a Brewer's Blackbird pair high on the slopes of Steens Mountain, I congratulate the bird for its determination

and success. Blackbirds belong, without apology, to the landscape of rock and snow, as well as the asphalt parking lot of town. They are like us, successful where they go, determined to make a living from what there is to be found. They ask us for nothing, but they are always willing to snatch what we leave. Maybe it is because they are so much like primal humans at times, successful generalists, we forget they are there.

Birding is not just the pursuit of a larger and longer list of species for any particular state or county. Birding is also about actually watching birds, and enjoying what they do and how they interact with their local habitat conditions. Of course, the species that are declining deserve our attention, so that we may

learn how to intervene to prevent their eventual loss... Certainly, the dollars we spend as birders in communities associated with important bird habitat areas can serve to elevate public awareness of bird conservation. However, birders burn a lot of fossil fuels in the pursuit of happiness. At what point does our special form of ecotourism tip the balance from environmental asset to environmental liability? This is a question each of us must choose to answer or ignore, and i f we choose to answer, rationalize based on individual lifestyle choices.

I 'm ready to drive less, enhance my backyard bird habitat, and walk the neighborhood... I say, celebrate the blackbird! Stay home and watch...

P h o t o s s a i j : (^ab in [_aice £>ird £>iind sp te rnbe r I 2 0 0 /

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Nowhere else in Oregon offers

birders an opportunity to observe

birds associated with ponderosa

pine and sagebrush habitats at such

close range. Left: White-breasted

Nuthatch. Below, left: White-

headed Woodpecker (female).

Below: Mountain Bluebird (male).

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Right: White-headed

Woodpecker (male). Center:

Green-tailed Towhee (adult).

Below right: Audubon's Warbler

Below left: Hairy Woodpecker

(male).

Green-tailed Towhee, 1 September 2007, Cabin Lake Guard Station, Deschutes County. Photo /S. Dowlan

Oregon Birds Oregon Field Ornithologists P.O. Box 10373 Eugene, Oregon 97440

Address Service Requested

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID EUGENE, OR

PERMIT NO 532

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Phill ip Hicks Membersh ip expi res: 33(4) 634 E Jones Creek Rd Grants Pass O R 97526-3704

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