September 2001Our "Field Notes" documents significant bird sightings in Lane County for historical and educational purposes. Reports are welcome, and significant sightings will appear, space permitted.
To report a sighting, contact Tom and Allison Mickel, 485-7112 or tamickel (at) rio.com.
This month’s sightings include a few very rare species not seen in Lane County more than a few times--Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Phainopepla, and Black-and-White Warbler. Migration is always an exciting time as birds move from summer to winter quarters, with some getting lost in the process.
Waterbirds
Eared Grebe (2) Sept. 21; SJSR; P&SS, TM
American White Pelican Sept…; FRR; m.ob.
Brown Pelican Sept…; Florence area; m.ob.
Snowy Egret Sept. 16; North Fork; AC, HH
White-fronted Goose Sept. 30; Florence area; AC, DF, SS, LB
Raptors
Osprey (2) Sept. 1; Gold Lake; HH, DF
Ferruginous Hawk Sept. 3; Eugene airport; AJ, MN
Merlin Sept…; Lane County; m.ob.
Peregrine Falcon Sept…; FRR & Florence area; m.ob.
Prairie Falcon Sept. 10; FRR; DI
Rails & Shorebirds
Virginia Rail Sept. 20; Fisher Butte; NM
Black-bellied Plover (80) Sept. 26; Deflation plain; DD
American Golden-plover (2) Sept. 3; Deflation plain; J&JCa
Pacific Golden-plover Sept. 15; Florence area; B&ZS
American Avocet (3) Sept. 22; Crab dock; TM, P&SS
Whimbrel Sept. 16; FRR; DD, KL
Marbled Godwit Sept…; Florence area; m.ob.
Ruddy Turnstone Sept. 22; SJSR; TM, P&SS
Red Knot (3) Sept. 9; Crab dock; JCa, A&TM
Semipalmated Sandpiper (3) Sept…; FRR & Florence area; m.ob.
Red-necked Stint (2) Sept. 3; Siltcoos; J&JCa
Red-necked Stint Sept. 6; Siltcoos; DPe
Baird’s Sandpiper Sept…; FRR & Florence area; m.ob.
Pectoral Sandpiper (25+) Sept. 5; FRR; m.ob.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Sept. 4; FRR; DF
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Sept. 9; Baker Beach; LR
Red-necked Phalarope Sept. 3; FRR; DI
Red Phalarope Sept. 7; Crab dock; DD, RF
Gulls, Terns, & Alcids
Franklin’s Gull Sept. 16; FRR; RR
Sabine’s Gull (immature) Sept. 8; FRR; NB
Sabine’s Gull (immature) Sept. 19; FRR; DD, PS
Forster’s Tern Sept…; FRR; m.ob.
Swifts & Hummingbirds
Vaux’s Swift (12,000+) Sept. 21; Agate Hall, U of O; DH, AE
Vaux’s Swift (12-15,000) Sept. 24, 26; Agate Hall, U of O; BN, A&TM
Rufous Hummingbird Sept. 7; Island Park; VA
Passerines
Lewis’ Woodpecker (4) Sept. 1-28; Eugene area; DD
Lewis’ Woodpecker Sept. 1; Gold Lake; HH, DF
Williamson’s Sapsucker Sept. 3; Gold Lake; A&TM
Three-toed Woodpecker Sept. 1; N. Waldo Lake area; HH, DF
Three-toed Woodpecker (4) Sept. 3; N. Waldo Lake area; A&TM
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher Sept. 12; LCC; LM
Ash-throated Flycatcher Sept. 22; Delta Ponds; JCo
Cassin’s Vireo Sept. 7; Skinner Butte; A&TM
Warbling Vireo Sept. 23; Creswell area; SN
Horned Lark Sept. 7; SJSR; DD, RF
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Sept. 22; Creswell area; SN
Tree Swallow Sept. 28; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Violet-green Swallow (~2000) Sept. 9; Mapleton; JCa, A&TM
Violet-green Swallow (~200) Sept. 25-26; Alton Baker Park; VA
Violet-green Swallow Sept. 28; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Barn Swallow Sept. 28; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Townsend’s Solitaire Sept. 20; E. Eugene; LM
American Pipit (80-100) Sept. 16; FRR; DD, KL
Phainopepla Aug. 30; S. Eugene; CD
Yellow Warbler (2) Sept. 12; LCC; LM
Yellow Warbler (12) Sept. 15; Skinner Butte; TM
Yellow Warbler Sept. 16; Deflation plain; AC, HH
Yellow Warbler Sept. 23; Creswell area; SN
Black-throated Gray Warbler Sept. 23; Creswell area; SN, D&HL
Black-and-White Warbler Sept. 6; Island Park; VA
Common Yellowthroat (2) Sept. 3; Gold Lake; A&TM
Common Yellowthroat Sept. 25; Alton Baker Park; VA
Yellow-breasted Chat (2) Sept. 12; LCC; LM
Western Tanager Sept. 23; Creswell area; D&HL
Brewer’s Sparrow Sept. 2; Alton Baker Park; DW
Fox Sparrow (gray-headed race) Sept. 1; Gold Lake; HH, DF
Golden-crowned Sparrow Sept. 15; Skinner Butte; TM
Lapland Longspur Sept. 17; Crab dock; PS, DD
Abbreviations:
FRR Fern Ridge Reservoir, Crab dock Crab dock at the south jetty of the Siuslaw River, Deflation plain Deflation plain at the south jetty of the Siuslaw River, North Fork Estuary at the confluence of the North Fork and main stem of the Siuslaw River, LCC Lane Community College, m.ob. many observers, NJSR North Jetty of the Siuslaw River, SJSR South Jetty of the Siuslaw River, Siltcoos Siltcoos River mouth, Sept... Throughout September.
Thank you, contributors!
VA Vjera Arnold, NB Neil Bjorkland, LB Luke Block, J&JCa Jim & Judy Carlson, AC Alan Contaras, JCo John Cooney, DD Don DeWitt, CD Curt Downs, AE Anne Esche, DF Daniel Farrar, RF Reid Freeman, HH Henrick Herlyn, DH Dan Heyerly, DI Dave Irons, AJ Al Jaramillo, KL Kit Larsen, D&HL Don & Hydie Lown, NM Nancy McKechnie, LM Larry McQueen, A&TM Allison & Tom Mickel, MN Mark Nikas, DPe Diane Pettey, LR Lisa Renan, RR Roger Robb, SN Sally Nelson, PS Paul Sherrell, SS Shawn Steinberg, P&SS Priscilla & Steve Summers, DW Davey Wendt.