Bird Notes - Winter, 2007
by Jim Rogers

These notes include some sightings I missed on the previous report. Thanks to Tim Rodenkirk for provid­ing me with his records. Way back on Dec. 2 - Tooze Wahl spotted 5 Snow Geese on the family ranch on Elk River. Don Munson found a Palm Warbler at the Port of Brookings. He also noted 2 or 3 Turkey Vultures at the Port - probably birds wintering in northern California.

Two Eurasian Collared Doves were observed by Sheila Chambers all winter in the Brookings area. I'm not sure when they first showed up, but it seems that the predicted influx of these introduced birds is begin­ning.

Dec. 4 - Don Munson saw 1 or 2 Say's Phoebes at McVay S.P. near Brookings.

Dec. 6 - Two female Long-tailed Ducks were spotted by Diane Cavaness at the mouth of the Chetco River. They've been there all winter.

Dec. 13-16 - A Northern Mockingbird was observed by Terry Wahl on the Elk River ranch.

Dec. 17-Jan. 17+ - A Burrowing Owl was located by Terry Wahl on the family Elk River ranch and an­other on their Langlois Mountain ranch.

Dec. 19 - Several Barn Swallows were spotted by Tim Rodenkirk in the Floras Lake area. They were still there for the P.O. CBC on Dec. 30.

Dec. 30 - Port Orford Christmas Bird Count - A Red­head duck was found by Lois Miller & Ann Vileisis on Garrison Lake, a Glaucous Gull was seen near the mouth of Elk River by Jim Rogers, a Say's Phoebe was observed on the Wahl Elk River ranch by Terry Wahl & Dave Ledig.

Dec. 31 - A Glaucous Gull was found at the mouth of the Winchuck by Don Munson.

Jan. 7 - A Turkey Vulture was seen by Terry Wahl over the Elk River ranch. Al Collinet in Brookings found a Bullock's Oriole.

Jan. 13 - Don Munson observed a Turkey Vulture at Harbor and seven Ruddy Ducks at the Rogue estuary.

Feb. 6 - An Emperor Goose was found by Denny Neibuhr at Harris Beach S.P.

Feb. 7 - A Gyrfalcon was seen by Jim Rogers patrol­ling the Floras Lake area.

Feb. 16 - A Ruddy Turnstone and a Rock Sandpiper were found at the mouth of the Chetco by Don Munson.

Feb. 17 - A Common Redpoll showed up at Buzz Stewart's feeder!! To my knowledge there is no previ­ous record of this arctic species in Curry County. They sometimes winter in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. A single Glaucous Gull was found by Don Munson at Pistol River, as well as a Eurasian Wigeon, and he observed a Clark's Grebe at McVay S.P. Don also noted the first Rufous Hummingbird of the season at his house up the Chetco.

Mar. 3 - Don Munson noted the first Allen's Hum­mingbird of the season at his home.

Mar. 18 - Mr. Munson found a dead Horned Puffin on the beach at Harbor. On the same day Russ Namitz found a live female Mountain bluebird along the Flo­ras Lake road for about the half-dozenth sighting of this beautiful bird in Curry Co.

Mar. 23 - An American Tree Sparrow showed up at Lois Miller's place where it was beautifully photo­graphed.

Phone or fax me at 541-332-2555 or write to 95187 Elk River Rd., Port Orford OR 97465.