November 13, 1998 to January 15, 1999.
by Colin Dillingham

The winter freeze in late December brought large number of killdeer and varied thrushes to the populated areas of Curry County. Small songbirds, obviously freezing and starving, were very easy to observe during the freeze. Ruby-crowned kinglet numbers seemed particularly low following the freeze, which may have indicated a massive die-off caused by the cold weather.

Eared grebes are always uncommon in Curry County, so one at Floras Lake on Dec 26 was a good find (NW, TR). American bitterns were found at Floras Lake outlet on Nov 13 (CPD, KAC, DJL) and Garrison Lake throughout December (NW). An immature snow goose found at Euchre Creek Dec 29 and present through January 15 is the fifth record I know of for Curry (CPD, NW). Five oldsquaw at Port Orford boat basin was a high count for this uncommon species (TR, DJL, KAC, CPD, NW). NW found a female black scoter in the Port Orford boat basin on Dec 29.

Two rough-legged hawks have been present this winter. One is at Jerry’s Flat (CPD, ALD, MRS) and another is near Denmark at Termite Hill (NW, TR, KAC, DJL, TJW). A pair of adult peregrine falcons at the Port Orford boat basin on Jan 9 seemed to be overly friendly. Perhaps they will set up a breeding site nearby. TJW found Curry’s first winter golden-plover on the Elk River Bottoms on Dec 28. Because the species complex poses very difficult identification problems, it was not identified to species. DM found a Franklin’s gull at the Chetco mouth on Nov 30, for the fifth record in Curry. This sighting fits well in the pattern of late fall occurrences. CPD and ALD found Curry’s third yellow-bellied sapsucker at Jerry’s Flat on Dec 20-28. Good photos were obtained.

Coos County’s first eastern phoebe was found in late Dec by DJL, KAC, TR along the North Bank Rd out of Bandon at mile post 9. TJW found a late tropical kingbird on Nov 18 on the Elk River bottoms. TJW saw a barn swallow with interesting plumage. He noted a dark brown collar, which separated a light colored belly from a chestnut colored throat. The description sounds reasonable for a Hirundo rustica rustica, the Eurasian subspecies of the barn swallow. He apparently has photographs that I haven't seen yet. It will be interesting to learn more about this record.

Congratulations go out to DM who found a bushtit for his 200th species for his yardlist! DM found a rock wren at Pistol River beach on November 5. Not only was this the 7th county record, and the first winter record, but a highly unusual location for such a bird. A northern shrike is wintering at Jerry’s Flat (CPD, ALD, MRS). An exceptionally late black-throated blue warbler on Nov 27 provided Curry's second record (BS, DM). A palm warbler at Elk River bottoms on Dec 5 provided another winter record (TJW). Palm warblers have been found in 13 out of the past 25 winters in Curry. MRS and CPD found a rose-breasted grosbeak at Mark’s Brookings yard on Dec 12 for the 20th record in Curry.

Clay-colored sparrow sightings included one at Elk River bottoms Oct 15 to Dec 6 (CPD, BS, DM, TJW, TW) (or different individuals at the same location (plus or minus a mile)). DM had yet another at Harbor on Nov 19. CPD, KAC, DJL found Curry’s 6th lark sparrow at Floras Lake on Nov 13. TJW had a Harris' sparrow in Langlois on Dec 6 for the 7th record I have in Curry. CPD saw a female Bullock’s oriole on Dec 24 at Jerry’s Flat, about a week after DM had one in Harbor. These are the 3rd and 4th winter records I have.

Observers are as follows - Colin Dillingham(CPD), Angie Dillingham(ALD), Mark Stevens (MRS), Terry Wahl (TJW), Tooze Wahl (TW), Alan Barron (ADB), Dave Lauten (DL), Tim Rodenkirk (TR), Kathy Castelein (KC), Nathanial Wander (NW), Don Munson (DM), Buzz Stewart (BS).