BIRD NOTES – Summer 2008

by Jim Rogers

Several sightings of Northern Mockingbirds were reported – Gary Maschmeyer sent a photo of one he saw in Brookings May 13, Jim Benson noted one singing in Brookings May 23, Don Munson observed one singing on Memory Lane May 24, and Lois Miller sent a photo of one she found out on Cape Blanco July 1. Usually a mockingbird can be found somewhere in Curry Co. during the winter and spring, but I don’t recall of hearing of one here during the breeding season. I wonder if global warming will lead to their breeding in Curry (or if they already are).

On May 30 Don Munson and Ken Goldwater observed an apparent nesting Western Meadowlark near the Ludlum House on the Winchuck. Although there’s a smattering of records of WEMEs nesting in coastal counties, I believe this would be a first for Curry Co. They normally nest in the open grasslands in the Rogue and Willamette valleys.

On June 16 Don Munson noted the first returning Heermann’s Gulls as well as an Ash-throated Flycatcher on a fence along Oceanview Drive.

The Munsons were visited by a Barn Owl at their home on the South Bank Chetco on June 24.

July 17-20, the Munsons observed Evening Grosbeaks feeding young at their home.

On July 18 Don Munson observed 200-300 Western Grebes off the mouth of the Chetco. This is exceedingly odd as WEGRs nest in mountain marshes and in eastern Oregon (e.g. Malheur NWR) and normally don’t return to the coast to spend the winter until September and October. You can find an occasional individual in Curry Co. during the summer, but a flock of them is strictly a winter phenomenon. I hope it’s not a harbinger of “The Big One.”

Ann Vileisis reported that her Violet-green Swallows left July 21 – just in time for the new roof to be put on.

My neighbor, Sharyn Becker, noted that a Common Nighthawk has been spending the summer at her house. It’s been years since we’ve had one in this neighborhood. We’re at about 150-200 feet elevation and 3 ½ miles from the ocean and we usually only see CONIs above 1000 or 1500 feet and well inland. Don Munson reported a low-elevation CONI June 6 up the South Bank Chetco about 8 miles from Brookings. Sharyn also mentioned that on the evening of July 24 she heard a Barred Owl calling and, while trying to pinpoint its location, she heard the KEER-KEER call of Marbled Murrelets returning to the ocean probably after an evening feeding visit to their nest. (Carrie and I see them in the morning when we sleep outside coming out of the Grassy Knob Wilderness). The next morning around 6 a.m. we saw a Bald Eagle gliding from the Wilderness and Sharyn heard it call on its way down the river.

On July 21 Al Geiser noted that, for the first time in 18 years, there is an occupied Osprey nest on Garrison Lake. There are currently 3 young about to fledge. One day a Bald Eagle chased one of the ospreys for a fish it was carrying; the other osprey flew to assist its mate and successfully drove off the eagle. On another occasion he saw one of the ospreys drive a Great-blue heron down to the surface of the lake – the first time Al had seen a floating heron. A Peregrine Falcon has been working the lake. Were it not for the Endangered Species Act the Osprey, Eagle and Peregrine would, in all probability, be extinct.

Don Munson observed a couple of Elegant Terns in Brookings around July 22. The first finding of this Southern Californian in Oregon was in 1983. They’re being found more regularly now, another sign of global warming. These terns look a lot like Caspian Terns but they’re somewhat smaller, their bill is slimmer and a bit down-curved, and their black cap has a shaggy crest.

Don noticed that, for the first time, flickers nested in the lowlands of S. Curry this year. As far as he knows they’ve always moved up into the hills and mountains to do their thing. This phenomenon was probably due to the cool, wet spring this year. Lois found many Lazuli Buntings this summer.