October 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.
Warm weather fuels exciting birding
October was warmer and drier than normal except for the very end of the month when record low temperatures were set. The mild weather is reflected in the reports below, with species lingering later than normal.
The American Ornithologist Union (AOU) has made some changes to the checklist of North American birds. One Lane County bird has been affected: Common Snipe is now Wilson’s Snipe. Those of you who have been birding for awhile may remember that it was called by that name until the species was combined with the Common Snipe of Europe. The European and American species have been split again, so our snipe gets its old name back.
Waterbirds & Vultures
Pacific Loon Oct. 19; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Horned, Red-necked, Western Grebe Oct. 24; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
Red-necked Grebe Oct. 18; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Eared Grebe Oct. 24; Siuslaw; B&ZS
Western Grebe (adult w/young) Oct. 6; Delta Ponds; SMc
Great Egret (80) Oct. 18; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DD
Great Egret Oct. 30; UO; SS
Turkey Vulture (5) Oct. 21; West Eugene; VA
Waterfowl
Snow Goose (35) Oct. 7; Mt. Pisgah; DD
Tundra Swan (9) Oct. 25; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DB
Tundra Swan Oct. 31; Florence area; fide DP
Wood Duck (10) Oct. 28; Alton Baker Park; VA
Surf Scoter Oct. 15; Gold Lake; J&KL
Surf Scoter Oct. 16; Dexter Reservoir; HH
Surf Scoter Oct. 31; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Surf Scoter (~5000) Oct. 27; Florence area; AC et al.
Black Scoter Oct. 27; Ocean Haven; AC et al.
Long-tailed Duck Oct. 27; S. Jetty, Siuslaw R.; AC et al.
Raptors
Osprey Oct. 18; Kirk Pond; JS
White-tailed Kite (2) Oct. 9; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
White-tailed Kite Oct. 15; Triangle Lake; MRu
"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk Oct. 26; Lorane Highway; B&GC
Cranes & Shorebirds
Sandhill Crane (50) Oct. 24; Walterville; RJ
Snowy Plover (16) Oct. 9; Siltcoos River mouth; SMu
Marbled Godwit Oct. 5; N. Jetty, Siuslaw R.; B&ZS
Baird's Sandpiper Oct. 4; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DD
Pectoral Sandpiper Oct. 25; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Oct. 7; Fern Ridge Reservoir; PS
Ruff Oct. 23; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Wilson's Snipe Oct. 18; Island Park; VA
Gulls, Alcids & Owls
South Polar Skua Oct. 6; Pacific Ocean, 30 mi.; DA,et.al
Franklin's Gull Oct. 18; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Bonaparte's Gull (10) Oct. 18; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JS
Thayer's Gull Oct. 19; Siltcoos River mouth; AC,et.al
Black-legged Kittiwake Oct. 17; S. Jetty, Siuslaw R.; PS,SMu
Common Murre Oct. 24; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
Pigeon Guillemot Oct. 24; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
Rhinoceros Auklet Oct. 24; Siuslaw River mouth; B&ZS
Rhinoceros Auklet (17) Oct. 27; Sea Lion Caves; AC,et.al
Northern Pygmy-owl Oct. 17; Spencer Butte; NS
Passerines
Vaux's Swift (8-10,000) Oct. 9; Agate Hall; MP
Williamson's Sapsucker Oct. 6; Scott Lake; A&TM
Williamson's Sapsucker Oct. 15; Gold Lake; J&KL
Three-toed Woodpecker Oct. 27; Diamond Peak area; GF
Black-backed Woodpecker Oct. 27; Diamond Peak area; GF
Empidonax Flycatcher Oct. 1; Kirk Park; LM
"Western" Flycatcher Oct. 6; Craig Lake area; A&TM
Black Phoebe Oct. 24; S. Jetty, Siuslaw R. ; B&ZS
Northern Shrike Oct. 17; Spencer Butte; NS
Northern Shrike (2) Oct. 24; S. Jetty, Siuslaw R. ; B&ZS
Western Scrub-jay Oct. 6; Old McKenzie Pass; SS et al.
Steller's Jay (6) Oct. 10; Eugene airport; MN
Blue Jay Oct. 19; Springfield; SMu
Blue Jay Oct. 25; Coburg area; RH
Tree Swallow Oct. 1 ; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
Violet-green Swallow Oct. 15; SE Eugene; DD
Barn Swallow Oct. 1; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
House Wren Oct. 19; Baker Beach road; DA
Swainson's Thrush Oct. 5; Eugene; DI
Hermit Thrush Oct. 26; Siltcoos River mouth; B&ZS
Yellow Wagtail Oct. 17; Diamond Peak; fide AP
Cedar Waxwing October; Eugene area; m.ob.
Palm Warbler (2) Oct. 27; S. Jetty, Siuslaw R.; AC et al.
Black-throated Gray Warbler Oct. 9; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
Northern Waterthrush Oct. 19; Baker Beach road; NS et al.
Wilson's Warbler Oct. 25; SE Eugene; DHo
Swamp Sparrow Oct. 14; SE Eugene; LM
Swamp Sparrow Oct. 19; Baker Beach Rd.; DA
White-throated Sparrow Oct. 9; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
American Goldfinch (~2000) Oct. 1; Coburg Rd. area; DH
Evening Grosbeak (12) Oct. 1; Kirk Park; LM
Thank you, contributors!
DA Dennis Arendt, VA Vjera Arnold, DB Dave Brown, B&GC Brenda & George Clarke, AC Alan Contreras, DD Don DeWitt, GF Gary Fredricks, HH Hendrick Herlyn, DH Dan Heyerly, RH Richard Holland, DHo Diane Horgan, DI Dave Irons, RJ Rod Johnson, J&KL Jen & Kevin Lair, SMu Sylvia Maulding, SMc Steve McDonald, LM Larry McQueen, A&TM Allison & Tom Mickel, MN Mark Nikas, MP Margis Paris, DP Diane Pettey, AP Al Prigge, MRu Mark Rudolph, PS Paul Sherrell, SS Shawn Steinberg, B&ZS Bill & Zanah Stotz, NS Noah Strycker, JS John Sullivan.