June-July 2003Our "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.
ABA convention field trips comb area; Fern Ridge bounty; Breeding discoveries, questions
Our avian breeding season started out sunny and hot—with near 100 degree temperatures the first week of June—and has continued warm and dry throughout the season. The American Birding Association (ABA) held their annual convention in Eugene the first week of June. Several hundred avid birders flocking the area turned up some interesting birds. The marshes around the southeastern edge of Fern Ridge Reservoir continue to attract unusual breeding species for western Oregon. These same marshes also have the potential to attract large numbers of migrant shorebirds if water levels are adequate during their migration periods.
Waterbirds & Seabirds
Pacific Loon (2) July 5; Sea Lion Caves; AC
Western Grebe (30) July 5; Heceta Head; RL
Clark’s Grebe (3) July 5; Heceta Head; RL
Northern Fulmar July 13; North Jetty; DP
Great Egret June 7; Meadowlark Prairie; ABA
Great Egret (2) July 6; Fern Ridge Reservoir; SG
American White Pelican (23) July 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JSn
Waterfowl
Brant June 5; Siltcoos River mouth; ABA
Blue-winged Teal (20) June 17; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DI
Northern Pintail (2) June 17; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DI
Green-winged Teal (3) June 17; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DI
Redhead July 16; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM et al.
Ring-necked Duck (3) June 17; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DI
Harlequin Duck (24+) June 26; Bob Creek; RZ
Long-tailed Duck July 5; South Jetty; AC
Raptors
White-tailed Kite July 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DG
White-tailed Kite (juv.) July 22; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DD,DA
Red-shouldered Hawk June 26; Willow Creek; CQ
Red-Shouldered Hawk July 6; W. 11th Ave. & Terry St.; SG
Peregrine Falcon June–July; Fern Ridge Reservoir; m.ob.
Peregrine Falcon June 17; Creswell area; AC
Shorebirds, Terns & Gulls
Black-bellied Plover July 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JSn
Semipalmated Plover June 5; Siltcoos River mouth; ABA
Semipalmated Plover July 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JSn
Black-necked Stilt June 21; Fern Ridge Reservoir; BH
Greater Yellowlegs (4) July 2; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DD
Greater Yellowlegs (30) July 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JSn
Lesser Yellowlegs July 16; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
Solitary Sandpiper July 18; Gold Lake; HH,DF
Whimbrel July 5; South Jetty; AC
Whimbrel July 16; Fern Ridge Reservoir; LM
Western Sandpiper June 25; North Jetty; DP
Least Sandpiper (4-5) July 2; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DD
Pectoral Sandpiper June 5; Fern Ridge Reservoir; ABA
Long-billed Dowitcher June; Fern Ridge Reservoir; m.ob.
Wilson’s Snipe June 8; Fern Ridge Reservoir; ABA
Wilson’s Snipe July 18; Gold Lake; HH,DF
Caspian Tern June 24; Fern Ridge Reservoir; NS
Caspian Tern (3) July 10; Fern Ridge Reservoir; EC
Caspian Tern (5) July 13;Fern Ridge Reservoir; JSn
Forster’s Tern (3) June 7; Fern Ridge Reservoir; ABA
Black Tern June 18; Fern Ridge Reservoir; SM
Heermann’s Gull (50) July 8; North Jetty; DP
Pigeon Guillemot (20) July 9; Siuslaw River; B&ZS
Rhinoceros Auklet (20) July 9; Siuslaw River; B&ZS
Tufted Puffin June 5; Sea Lion Caves; ABA
Tufted Puffin June 15; Heceta Head; DP
Horned Puffin (3) June 5; Sea Lion Caves; ABA
Nightjars
Common Nighthawk July 13; SW Eugene; SG
Swifts & Woodpeckers
Black Swifts June–July; Salt Creek Falls; m.ob.
Black Swift (2) June 15; Heceta Head; DP
Three-toed Woodpecker June 24; Waldo Lake; PS
Black-backed Woodpecker June 24; Waldo Lake; PS
Pileated Woodpecker June 28; Spencer Butte; EC
Flycatchers
Olive-sided Flycatcher July 18; Gold Lake; HH,DF
Western Kingbird (2) July 22; Danebo Avenue; DD
Vireos, Swallows & Wrens
Horned Lark July 11; Greenhill & Meadowview Rds.; AMc
Red-eyed Vireo June 17; Elijah Bristow SP; SM,DP
Bank Swallow June 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; DI
Bank Swallow July 6; Fern Ridge Reservoir; SG
Rock Wren June 11; Hills Creek dam; NS
Thrushes & Warblers
Mountain Bluebird June 24; Waldo Lake; PS
Wrentit June 8; Fall Creek; BC
Wrentit July 23; Hills Creek Dam; NS
Northern Mockingbird June 24; Fern Ridge Reservoir; NS
American Pipit June 5; Siltcoos; ABA
Nashville Warbler June 18; LCC; LM
Ovenbird June 10; Cape Mountain Rd.; KH
American Redstart June 27; Creswell; SN
Yellow-breasted Chat June 8; Fall Creek; BC
Yellow-breasted Chat June 11; Hills Creek Dam; NS
Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Buntings, etc.
Vesper Sparrow (10) July 11; Mt. Pisgah (S. side); DD
Dark-eyed Junco June 1;0 N. Santa Clara; MRu
Rose-breasted Grosbeak June 23; Alton Baker Park area; PS
Lazuli Bunting (25-30) July 11; Mt. Pisgah (S. side); DD
Tricolored Blackbird July 13; Fern Ridge Reservoir; JSn
Red Crossbill June 5; Creswell area; HL
Abbreviations:
LCC Lane Community College, m.ob. many observers, Meadowlark Prairie West Eugene Wetlands at Greenhill Rd. and Royal Ave., North Jetty North Jetty of the Siuslaw River, South Jetty South Jetty of the Siuslaw River.
Thank you, contributors!
ABA American Birding Association field trips, DA Dennis Arendt, EC Ellen Canter, BC Barbara Combs, AC Alan Contreras, DD Don DeWitt, DF Daniel Farrar, SG Steve Gordon, DG Dale Greenlee, HH Hendrick Herlyn, KH Ken Hollinga, BH Bill Hunter, DI Dave Irons, RL Roy Lowe, HL Hydie Lown, SM Sylvia Maulding, AMc Arch McCallum, LM Larry McQueen, TM Tom Mickel, SN Sally Nelson, DP Diane Pettey, CQ Charlie Quinn, MRu Mark Rudolph, PS Paul Sherrell, B&ZS Bill & Zanah Stotz, NS Noah Strycker, JSn John Sullivan, RZ Roerta Zais.