BIRD NOTES – Late Fall – Early Winter 2008-09

By Jim Rogers

Oct. 20 – Dave Irons and Diane Pettey came down from the north country and saw lots of birds including a Swamp Sparrow along the Ophir Road ¾ mile north of Nesika Beach and a White-throated Sparrow near the Wedderburn Sewage Ponds. On the same day, Terry Wahl found two Tropical Kingbirds and two Say’s Phoebes on the family ranch on the lower Elk River.

Oct. 27 – Terry Wahl had three Tropical Kingbirds and three Clay-colored Sparrows on the Elk River ranch. Terry also reported a Rough-legged Hawk near Denmark. An occasional Rough-leg will spend the winter on the coastal lowlands on the Oregon Coast. Most have a white head and are easy to spot while some are quite dark.

Oct. 31 – Terry Wahl found two Sharp-tailed Sandpipers north of Floras Lake – the first record for Curry County. This is one of the many thrills for birders – seeing an Asian species that migrated down the wrong coast.

Nov. 10 – Don Munson found a Clay-colored Sparrow on Oceanview Drive south of Harbor.

Nov. 16 – Tim Rodenkirk made the trek from Coos Bay to southern Curry Co. and found a Northern Mockingbird in Gold Beach across from Jots and a Say’s Phoebe at the entrance to McVay State Park Wayside. He was also thrilled to see 66 Eurasian-collared Doves (47 on Oceanview and 19 in a neighborhood north of the Chetco).

Nov. 20 – Don Munson reported that in a huge flock of California and Mew gulls by Sporthaven on the Chetco harbor were 15 Black-legged Kittiwakes and a Red Phalarope . Both these species are usually well out on the ocean, but are sometimes seen on land during winter storms. Occasionally, scores of Red Phalaropes blow into Port Orford in the early winter. Don also noted a late Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird in his yard up the Chetco.

Dec. 5 - Don Munson found a late remaining Tropical Kingbird and a lone Lapland Longspur at McVay State Wayside.

Dec. 7 – Don found a Glaucous Gull and hundreds of Brown Pelicans at the mouth of the Chetco.

Dec. 26 – Sheila Chambers was visited by a Rose-breasted grosbeak. We occasionally get one of these in Curry County, but mostly during the summer. Terry Wahl was in Gold Beach and reported the Northern Mockingbird was still in the Wedderburn area.

Dec. 27 - The Port Orford Christmas Bird Count, or what some wags are calling, “the event at Port Orford” took place on a day that saw three inches of rain driven by 40 mph winds gusting to 60. The birds were hunkered down and the birders were constantly wiping lenses in an effort to see the blurry ducks. Windblown sand made finding shorebirds difficult, and the raging surf that roiled to the horizon caused the near-shore species to move out past the breakers. Nevertheless we found 112 species – far fewer than the 140+ species we sometimes find during better weather, but respectable given the conditions. It’s not that the crew of intrepid birders were the least bit challenged by the inclement weather, but the brush birds and raptors were nowhere to be seen. One of the more interesting finds was 15,000 European Starlings, our previous high being 6,000. There were loads of robins and killdeers, but nothing approaching an accurate census of the birds was possible.

I’d be glad to e-mail you, dear reader, the results of the count…(chlaparl@wildblue.net).

Dec. 31 – Don Munson wrapped up the year by determining that the Glaucous Gull and Palm Warbler were still in port as was the Say’s Phoebe at McVay park. And, Don found a Swamp Sparrow at the new Crissey Field State Park Visitor Center. He reported seeing several Common Murres and Pelagic Cormorants in breeding plumage, as well as Red-tailed Hawk pairs and Red-shouldered Hawk pairs.

Jan. 13- 2009 started slow, but then Dave Pitkin spotted a strange warbler bathing in the lid of an oil bucket in the back of a pickup by the three blue silos on Floras Lake Road. It turned out to be a Yellow-throated Warbler, another first for Curry County. I think there have been a few records from Malheur of this common bird of the Southeastern U.S. The bird was flycatching from the bands that hold the silo together.

And that’s it. Please let me know of any unusual birds you see (chlaparl@wildblue.net). Thanks!