October 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.
October was a mild month with little rain to ease the drought. The gentle weather encouraged some Neotropical migrants to linger longer than usual and some wintering species to arrive later than usual, as can be seen by the reports below. As always, enjoy your birding and report your sightings!
Waterbirds & Seabirds
Red-necked Grebe (2) Oct. 20; South Jetty; B&ZS
Western Grebe Oct. 29; Alton Baker Park; VA
Clark’s Grebe Oct. 23; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
American White Pelican Oct. 3; FRR; DD
Great Egret Oct. 10, 30; Island Park; VA
Green Heron Oct. 13; Mt. Pisgah; RF
Black-footed Albatross Oct. 6; Heceta Banks; PS
Vultures
Turkey Vulture (300) Oct. 3; South Eugene; GP
Turkey Vulture (5) Oct. 5; FRR; DA
Waterfowl
Snow Goose (4) Oct. 19; Northwest Eugene; DA
Canvasback Oct. 12; Walterville Lake; PS
Black Scoter Oct. 28; Ocean House; DI
Raptors
Osprey Oct. 31; Kirk Pond; DA
White-tailed Kite (2) Oct. 5; Royal Avenue @ FRR; DA
Accipiter species Oct. 11; Agate Hall, UO ; DD
Red-shouldered Hawk Oct. 13; Willow Creek; CQ
Rough-legged Hawk Oct. 8; Deflation plain; B&ZS
Peregrine Falcon Oct. 14, 16; FRR; MP,DI
Rails & Shorebirds
Sandhill Crane (about 500) Oct. 20; Camp Creek; KR
Sandhill Crane (25) Oct. 22; Mt. Pisgah; BN
Black-bellied Plover (62) Sep. 27; South Jetty; B&ZS
Snowy Plover (33) Oct. 7; Siltcoos River mouth; AC
Lesser Yellowlegs (6) Oct. 6; FRR; JH
Pectoral Sandpiper (13) Sep. 30; Deflation plain; B&ZS
Dunlin Oct. 11; Crab dock; B&ZS
Red-necked Phalarope Oct. 6; FRR; JH
Red Phalarope Oct. 23; North Jetty; DP
Tubenoses, Gulls, & Alcids
South Polar Skua Oct. 6; Heceta Banks; PS
Bonaparte’s Gull Oct. 29; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
Bonaparte’s Gull Oct. 30; LCC; RF,DD
Mew Gull Oct. 7; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
Herring Gull Oct. 23; South Jetty; B&ZS
Black-legged Kittiwake (2) Oct. 7; Siuslaw River mouth; AC
Pigeon Guillemot (10) Oct. 28; Ocean House; DI
Marbled Murrelet (2) Oct. 28; Ocean House; DI
Owls
Northern Saw-whet Owl Sep. 24, Oct. 15; Sutton Lake; B&ZS
Swifts & Hummingbirds
Chimney Swift (possible) Oct. 7; Siltcoos River mouth; AC
Vaux’s Swift (1000s) Oct. 4; Agate Hall, UO; MP
Vaux’s Swift (200-300) Oct. 11; Agate Hall, UO; DD
Vaux’s Swift Oct. 13; Southeast Eugene; RF
Rufous Hummingbird Oct. 6; East Springfield; KJ
Passerines
Northern Shrike Oct. 28; Deflation plain; AC
Blue Jay Oct. 18; McKenzie Bridge; L&TB
Horned Lark Oct. 8; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Horned Lark (2) Oct. 26; FRR; DI
Tree Swallow Oct. 8; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Violet-green Swallow Oct. 8; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Townsend’s Solitaire Oct. 17; LCC; LM
Wrentit Oct. 17; LCC; LM
Cedar Waxwing Oct. 11; Mt. Pisgah; BN
Black-throated Gray Warbler Oct. 7; Southeast Eugene; A&TM
Common Yellowthroat Oct. 7; Deflation plain; AC
Vesper Sparrow Oct. 8; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Fox Sparrow Oct. 3; Mt. Pisgah; LM
White-throated Sparrow Oct. 15; Southeast Eugene; LM
Western Meadowlark Oct. 8; Alton Baker Park; VA
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, LCC Lane Community College, NJSR North Jetty of the Siuslaw River, SJSR South Jetty of the Siuslaw River, OBRC Oregon Bird Records Committee.
Thank you, contributors!
DA Dennis Arendt, VA Vjera Arnold, L&TB Larry & Terry Brown, AC Alan Contreras, DD Don DeWitt, RF Reid Freeman, JH Jeff Harding. DI Dave Irons, KJ Ken Jones, LM Larry McQueen, A&TM Allison & Tom Mickel, BN Bruce Newhouse, MP Margie Paris, DP Diane Pettey, GP Gene Pierson, CQ Charlie Quinn, KR Ken Rogers, PS Paul Sherrell, B&ZS Bill & Zanah Stotz.