BIRD NOTES

by Jim Rogers
Jim Rogers has been birding and compiling bird count records in Curry County for over 30 years. He regularly shares his observations with KAS members in the Bird Notes column of the Storm Petrel.

Late Fall 2009/Early Winter 2010

Many thanks to Tim Rodenkirk for providing us with these records!

Aug. 8 – Horned Puffin - Harris Beach State Park – Mark Stevens

Aug. 10 – Long-billed Curlew – Wahl Ranch (Elk River estuary) – Terry Wahl

Aug. 21 – Lark Sparrow – Wahl Ranch (almost a regular on the ranch) – Terry Wahl

Aug. 21 – Purple Martins – Staging on Knute Anderson’s ranch north of Cape Blanco

Aug. 22 – Baird’s Sandpiper – Floras Lake – Tim Rodenkirk, Lois Miller, Knute, etc.

Aug. 27 – Buff-breasted Sandpiper – Floras Lake – Tim, Knute, Lois, etc.

Aug. 31 – White-winged Dove – Port Orford – Lois, Knute

Sept. 23 – Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – Rick McKenzie Ranch – Dave Pitkin (2nd Curry)

Sept. 25 – Tropical Kingbird – Cape Blanco (regular in this area in Sept.) - Lois, Knute

Oct. 6 – Lapland Longspur – Floras Lake – Tim, Knute, Lois

Oct. 8 – Pectoral Sandpiper – Rick McKenzie's Ranch - Knute

Oct. 11 – Northern Mockingbird – Pistol River – Tim Rodenkirk

Oct. 11 – Say’s Phoebe – Sixes estuary – Lois & Knute

Oct. 16 – Black-legged Kittiwake – Gold Beach – Alan Contreras

Oct. 19 – Clay-colored Sparrow – Brookings area – Don Munson

Oct. 24 – Clay-colored Sparrow – Langlois – Knute

Oct. 24 – Pacific Golden-plover – Floras Lake area – Tim Rodenkirk

Nov. (early) – Harris’ Sparrow – Wahl Ranch – Terry Wahl

Nov. (early) – Say’s Phoebe – Wahl Ranch (over-wintering) – Terry Wahl

Nov. 4 – Gyrfalcon – near Langlois – Knute

Nov. 8 – Gyrfalcon – Pistol River – Neil Holcomb

Nov. 9 – Chestnut-collared Longspur – Wahl Ranch – Terry Wahl

Nov. 14 – Rough-legged Hawk – Gold Beach – Gary & Diane Cavaness, Don Munson

Nov. 15 – Gyrfalcon – Brookings area – Don Munson

Various dates – Gyrfalcon – New River – Rick McKenzie

Nov. 15 – American Golden-plover – Floras Lake area – Lois, Knute

Nov. 17 – Say’s Phoebe – Rick McKenzie Ranch (over-wintering) Lois & Knute

Nov. 19 – Long-billed Curlew – up the Winchuck – Don Munson

Nov. 22 – Ross’ Goose – New River – Tim R., Lois, Knute

Nov. 23 – Turkey vulture – Pistol River – Neil Holcomb

Nov. 27 – Long-billed Curlew – Brookings harbor – John Sullivan, Laura Johnson

Nov. 29 – Glaucous Gull – Gold Beach – John Sullivan, Laura Johnson

Dec. 27 – Port Orford Christmas Bird Count. The weather was decent in the morning but degenerated to typical Port Orford winter weather with hard rain driven by winds gusting over 70. Bird numbers were low and the species count of 128 was a bit below average, but the discovery of two Trumpeter Swans by Tim Rodenkirk in the Floras Lake area (very rare in Curry Co.) made it all worthwhile!