January 2002Our "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.
Lots of "legs" and a smorgasbord of geese
It’s once again the time of year to start thinking about spring migration, as you can see by reading the following sightings. By the time you read this, Rufous Hummingbirds should be at area feeders. In fact, we’re already getting reports in from the coast up to Waldport! So find that feeder, give it a good cleaning and fill it. Then sit back and watch the miracle of migration begin again.
Waterbirds & Seabirds
Red-necked Grebe Jan 27; Dexter Reservoir; C&MM
Great Blue Heron Jan 3; Alton Baker Park; VA
Great Egret (19) Jan 19; Highway 99; fide BC
Green Heron Jan 27; Alton Baker Park; DD,KL
Vultures
Turkey Vultures January; Fern Ridge Res. area; m.ob.
Waterfowl
Snow Goose (8) Jan 1; Greenhill Road; A&TM
Snow Goose (4) Jan 3; Meadowview Road; DF
Ross’s Goose January; Fern Ridge Res. area; m.ob.
Emperor Goose (3) Jan 4; Mouth of Siuslaw River; B&ZS
Brant Jan 1; KR Nielson Road; SM
Trumpeter Swan Jan 9; London area; DH
Wood Duck (25+) Jan 17; Delta Ponds; PS
Eurasian Wigeon (5 reports) January; Eugene area; m.ob.
Cinnamon Teal (male) Jan 5; Fern Ridge Reservoir; TM
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) Jan 3; Creswell area; PS
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) Jan 16; North Fork, Siuslaw R.; PS
Redhead (2) Jan 5; Dexter Reservoir; TM
Common Goldeneye (13) Jan 12; Dexter Reservoir; VA,HR
Raptors
Osprey Jan 23; Alton Baker; VA
Merlin Jan 2; Santa Clara area; MRu
Peregrine Falcon (4 reports) January; throughout county; m.ob.
Prairie Falcon Jan 4; Cantrell Road; DF
Prairie Falcon Jan 6; Dillard; DD
Prairie Falcon Jan 27; Creswell area; C&MM
Grouse, Rails & Shorebirds
Snowy Plover (8) Jan 18; Heceta Beach; DL,KC
Greater Yellowlegs (45) Jan 4; Amazon Flats; AR
Greater Yellowlegs (30) Jan 8; Amazon Flats; HH
Lesser Yellowlegs (1) Jan 8; Amazon Flats; HH
Gulls & Alcids
Bonaparte’s Gull Jan 27; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS,LJ
Glaucous Gull Jan 13; Florence; MAS
Doves, Pigeons & Owls
Band-tailed Pigeon Jan 30; SE Eugene; DD
Northern Pygmy-owl Jan 18; Spencer Butte; BN
Passerines
Lewis’s Woodpecker January; Royal Ave, FRR; m.ob.
Northern Shrike Jan 24; Mt. Pisgah Arboretum; DD
Tree Swallow (4) Jan 8; Washburn Lane; AP,BH
Barn Swallow Jan 15; Amazon Flats; DB
Barn Swallow (5) Jan 17; Delta Ponds; PS
Mountain Chickadee Jan 19; Skinner Butte; JL,fide DH
Northern Mockingbird Jan 6; West Eugene; AE,DH
Orange-crowned Warbler Jan 3; Island Park; PS
Orange-crowned Warbler Jan 10; Santa Clara area; MRu
Orange-crowned Warbler Jan 27; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS,LJ
Nashville Warbler Jan 24; Santa Clara area; MRu
Townsend’s Warbler (11) Jan 29; Santa Clara area; MRu
Hermit X Townsend’s Warbler Jan 8; SW Eugene; DI
Hermit Warbler Jan 13; SW Eugene; NB
Hermit Warbler Jan 15; Eugene; DI
Yellow-breasted Chat January; Florence; fide DP
Swamp Sparrow Jan 5; North Fork, Suislaw R.; B&ZS
White-throated Sparrow (32) January; Lane County; DI
Brown-headed Cowbird (2) Jan 6; Dillard Road; DD
Abbreviations:
FRR Fern Ridge Reservoir, m.ob. many observers, Amazon Flats Greenhill and Royal Avenue area.
Thank you, contributors!
VA Vjera Arnold, NB Neil Bjorkland, DB Dave Brown, KC Kathy Castelein, BC Barbara Combs, DD Don DeWitt, AE Anne Esche, DF Daniel Farrar, HH Hendick Herlyn, DH Dan Heyerly, BH Bill Hunter, DI Dave Irons, LJ Laura Johnson, KL Kit Larsen, DL Dave Lauten, JL Jeff Long, SM Sylvia Maulding, A&TM Allison & Tom Mickel, C&MM Craig & Marilyn Miller, BN Bruce Newhouse, DP Diane Pettey, AP Al Prigge, AR Alan Reid, HR Holly Reinhard, MRu Mark Rudolph, PS Paul Sherrell, MAS Mary Anne Sohlstorm, B&ZS Bill & Zanah Stotz, JS John Sullivan.