February 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.
Cranes, kittiwakes, a lonely tattler, others
With spring in the air, spring migration can’t be far behind. So, dust off those binoculars and go check out your favorite “patch” to see what this spring brings and be sure to let us know what you find. Or if you’re just getting started at birding, join an LCAS Bird Walk and find out more about the birds that inhabit Lane County.
Waterbirds & Seabirds
Eared Grebe Feb. 8+; Florence area; m.ob.
Yellow-billed Loon Feb. 2; Florence old town; DH,AE
American Bittern Feb. 9; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JC
Great Egret February; East of Mt. Pisgah; DD
Snowy Egret (2) Jan. 18; Eugene Airport; fide DW
Vultures
Turkey Vulture (13) Feb. 1; Nielson Road; PS
Turkey Vulture Feb. 26; SW Eugene hills; MS
Turkey Vulture Feb. 27; Florence; B&ZS
Waterfowl
Greater White-fronted Goose February; Fern Ridge Res. area; m.ob.
Ross’s Goose (2) February; Nielson & Cantrell Rds.; m.ob.
Tundra Swan (867) Feb. 15; Meadowview Road; JS
Long-tailed Duck Feb. 10; Siuslaw River mouth; DP
Raptors
Osprey February; Alton Baker Park; m.ob.
Osprey (2) Feb. 27; Skinner Butte; PS
Red-shouldered Hawk Feb. 15; 8 mi. east of Florence; MN
Golden Eagle Feb. 1; Nielson Road; DD
Grouse, Rails & Shorebirds
Sandhill Crane (40) Feb. 18; East Springfield; SMc
Sandhill Crane Feb. 22; River Road area; MM
Greater Yellowlegs (36) Feb. 24; Amazon Flats; SMc
Wandering Tattler Feb. 11; N. Jetty, Siuslaw River; DS fide MN
Gulls & Alcids
Glaucous Gull February; Florence area; m.ob.
Black-legged Kittiwake February; Siuslaw River mouth; m.ob.
Doves, Pigeons & Owls
Band-tailed Pigeon Feb. 21; Creswell area; HL
Short-eared Owl (2) Feb. 1; End of Royal Avenue; NB
Passerines
Rufous Hummingbird Feb. 10; Florence; DP
Rufous Hummingbird Feb. 18; South Eugene hills; PV
Lewis’s Woodpecker February; Royal Avenue; m.ob.
Northern Shrike February; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Western Scrub-jay February; Florence; B&ZS
Horned Lark Feb. 4; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Horned Lark Feb. 21; Eugene Airport; DF
Tree & Violet-green Swallows end of Feb.; Eugene/Springfield; m.ob.
Townsend’s Solitaire Feb. 5; Greenhill Road; DF
Townsend’s Solitaire Feb. 18; Emerald St.; GW
Northern Mockingbird Feb. 18; SW Eugene; DM
Palm Warbler Feb. 2; Florence old town; DH,AE
MacGillivray’s Warbler Feb. 21; Owosso Bike Bridge; LG
Yellow-breasted Chat Jan. 28; Florence; fide DP
Fox Sparrow (red form) Feb. 27; Skinner Butte; DI
White-throated Sparrow (2) Feb. 16; Perkins Pennisula, FRR; DF
White-throated Sparrow (3) Feb. 24; Stewart Pond area; NB,BN,PB
Abbreviations:
FRR Fern Ridge Reservoir, m.ob. many observers.
Thank you, contributors!
NB Neil Bjorkland, PB Peg Boulay, JC John Cooney, DD Don DeWitt, AE Anne Esche, DF Daniel Farrar, LG Linda Gilbert, DH Dan Heyerly, DI Dave Irons, HL Hydie Lown, MM Marcia Maffei, DM Dick McCutcheon, SMc Steve McDonald, BN Bruce Newhouse, MN Mark Nikas, DP Diane Pettey, PS Paul Sherrell, DS Dave Smith, MS Maeve Sowles, B&ZS Bill & Zanah Stotz, JS John Sullivan, GW Grace Ward, DW Davey Wendt.