November 7, 1996 to January 5, 1997
by Colin Dillingham

Fred Bowen reported a yellow-billed loon at the mouth of the Rogue River on Nov. 14 but efforts to relocate this bird failed. One canvasback Nov. 19 at the Rogue Mouth was the only one reported this fall (CD). Three oldsquaw at the mouth of the Rogue River on Dec. 1 were unusual (CD/AD) as was one at the Port Orford Harbor found during the Christmas Bird Count (DM/JB). The rarest bird of the season was a broad-winged hawk located by DM at Azalea Park on Dec. 17, but could not be confirmed by any other observers. Broad-winged hawks have only been located in Oregon six times prior, all during migration. This is not only a first record for Curry County, but the first winter record for the west coast north of southern California. A rare wintering osprey was found Dec. 27, the day before the Christmas Bird Count, and stayed to be counted the next day (Horst and Alice Pfand and others). Two white-tailed kites were seen Christmas Eve at Jerry's Flat (CD). Two soras were reported on Dec. 28, one at the Garrison Lake boat ramp by Lyn Topits and Barbara Griffin, the second at the outlet of Floras Lake by JR. A large flock of 30 black-legged kittiwakes were found Nov. 28 by CD at the mouth of the Chetco. DM/JB spied one ancient murrelet from Rocky Point on Dec. 28.

Three mountain chickadees were reported in the lowlands, one at Christy Loring's feeder in Brookings on Dec. 2, a second during the Port Orford Christmas Bird Count at a feeder in Port Orford (Barbara Griffin and Lyn Topits), and the last at Fred Hummel's yard in Brookings on Jan. 3. Three white-breasted nuthatch were found: one visiting the Pfand's feeder in Port Orford stayed from Oct. 3 to late November; a second was at Oak Flat on Nov. 25(CD); and the third was 3 miles up the Bear Camp road from Agness on Dec.17 (CD). Two Northern Shrikes graced the county, one on Dec. 24 at Jerry's Flat (CD), the second was found during the Port Orford Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 28 (TJW/TW).

TJW/TW found a palm warbler Dec. 28 during the Port Orford Christmas Bird Count. CD located 24 Lincoln's sparrows scattered about Jerry's Flat on Dec. 24. Although this is a large number for this species, Jerry's Flat provides ample habitat and normally supports a wonderful wintering population of Lincoln's sparrows. A swamp sparrow was also at Jerry's Flat by the old log pond on Dec. 24 (CD). An immature Harris' sparrow first visited Al Affonso's bird feeders on Dec. 6, and was still present on January 5. A great find of a pair of snow buntings found at the Chetco River Mouth by Jim Furlong on Nov. 7 were reported too late to be confirmed by any other observers. A rare lowland Cassin's finch made a 5 minute visit to the Dillingham's bird bath in Brookings on Nov. 11 (CD/AD). Two lesser goldfinch were found feeding among Cosmos seed heads in Brookings by Phil and Marsha Hicks. Five evening grosbeaks visited a feeder in Brookings on Jan. 4 (FH).

Observers are as follows: Colin Dillingham(CD), John Bischoff(JB), Don Munson(DM), Angie Dillingham(AD), Jim Rogers (JR), Terry Wahl (TJW), Tooze WahI (TW), Fred Hummel (FH).