Recent Bird and Nature Reports by Don Boucher
For extensive bird reports state-wide in Oregon follow this link to
Oregon Birders On-Line: http://www.cyber-dyne.com/~lb/obol.html
Sunday. Went on a hike with the Sierra Club on Marys Peak. Four thrush species were singing, it was magical!
Varied Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Blue Grouse
Vaux's Swift
Hammond's Flycatchcer
Barn Swallow
Steller's Jay
Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Hutton's Vireo
Hermit Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Pine Siskin
Oregon Junco
Some wildflower's that I observed:
Star-flowered False Solomon's Seal - Smilacina stellata
Smith's Fairybells - Disporum smithii
Fawn Lily - Erythronium oregonum
Yellow Fawn Lily - Erythronium grandiflorum
Oregon Iris - Iris tenax
Western Coralroot - Corallorizha maculata
Candyflower - Claytonia sibirica
Chickweed species - Cerastium arvense (?)
Three-leaved Anemone - Anemone deltoidea
Menzie's Larkspur - Delphinium manziesii
Violet species - Viola langsdorfii (?)
Yellow Wood Violet - Viola glabella
Spring Gold - Lomatium utriculatum
Spreading Phlox - Phlox difusa
Paintbrush - Castilleja miniata
Vanilla Leaf - Achlys triphylla
Bleeding Heart - Dicentra formosa
Wood Sorrel - Oxallis oregana
Wild Ginger - Asarum caudatum
Starflower - Trientalis latifola
Sheep Sorrel - Rumex acetosella
I was camping in Okanogan County, WA for the week of 5/27 - 6/2/99. I was on private land and did a bird survey for the land owners:
Areas Covered: Scanlon & Poison Lakes vicinity
a: abundant, sure to be seen
c: common, should be seen in suitable habitat
u: uncommon, might be seen in suitable habitat
o: occasional, just one or sightings
*: nesting
Pied-billed Grebe - c, open water, larger ponds
Mallard - c*, open water, grassy shores
Common Goldeneye - u, open water
Ring-necked Duck - open water
Turkey Vulture: u, seen soaring
Sharp-shinned Hawk: u, forest and shrub
Northern Harrier: u, seen soaring low
Red-tailed Hawk: c*, soaring and on perches
Ruffed Grouse: u, forest understorey
Sora: u, cattail marshes
American Coot: c*, open water and marshes
Killdeer: c*, shores and flat, open areas
Spotted Sandpiper: n*, shores
Mourning Dove: u, forest and field edges
Great Horned Owl: c, forest and wetland trees
Common Poorwill: n*, open slopes
Common Nighthawk: c, flying at night and early morning
Calliope Hummingbird: c*, forest and adjacent clearings
Red-naped Sapsucker (a.k.a. Yellow-bellied S.): c*, forest
Northern Flicker (a.k.a. Red-shafted): u, forest
Eastern Kingbird: c, forest and wetland shrub
Dusky Flycatcher: c*, forest and forest edges
Western Wood Pewee: n*, forest and forest edges
Olive-sided Flycatcher: c, forest edges and shrub
Violet-green Swallow: c, seen over water
Steller's Jay: u, conifer forest
Raven: c, variable habitat
Mountain Chickadee: n*, forest
Red-breasted Nuthatch: n*, forest
White-breasted Nuthatch: c, forest
House Wren: n*, forest and wetland shrub
American Robin: n*, variable habitat
Townsend's Solitaire: c, forest near water
Mountain Bluebird: u, forest edges and open areas
Hermit Warbler: u, forest
Yellow Warbler: c, forest edges and wetland shrub
Western Meadowlark: c, open areas
Red-winged Blackbird: c*, cattail marshes
Brown-headed Cowbird: c*, forest edges
Western Tanager: c, forest and forest edges
Evening Grosbeak: u, variable habitat
Cassin's Finch: n, forest
Spotted Towhee: n*, forest understorey and shrub
Vesper Sparrow: c*, open areas
Chipping Sparrow: n*, forest and shrub
Cassin's Vireo (a.k.a. Solitary Vireo): u, forest and forest edges
Wood Duck: cavity nesters
Common Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Golden Eagle: undesturbed canyons
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
American Bittern: in large marshes
Virginia Rail: often found near Soras
Barred Owl: listen for "who cooks for you"
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher: near water, perched
Williamson's Sapsucker
Say's Pheobe; open areas, slopes
Lazuli Bunting: open areas, shrub
Red Crossbill: unpredictable flocks, likes pines
N. Corvallis
I did some more birding in my neighborhood, including the Timberhill area just across Walnut Bv from (North of) CH2M Hill, which is where I saw the Chat. Wow, what a morning, and great birds too. May I digress?…………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, now I got that over with, here are the observations:
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
LAZULA BUNTING
Black-headed Grosbeak
Western Tanager
Scrub Jay
Steller's Jay
Yellow Warbler
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Bewick's Wren
Warbling Vireo
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Western Wood Pewee
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Killdeer
Vaux's Swift
Red-tailed Hawk
Mallard
N. Corvallis:
A soon as I walked out the door this morning I heard a SWAINSON'S THRUSH singing. This of course means Summer's on the way, no turning back now.
Also I spotted a few LAZULI BUNTINGS north of Timberhill Athletic Club. If you want a sure bet on Lazuli sightings go there. But GO THERE THIS SUMMER, as there will be streets, cul-de-sacs and new, oversized houses there within a year or so. Maybe they'll even name one of the streets after the displaced buntings. The general area is between Walnut Blvd and Chip Ross Park in N. Corvallis.
Also:
Chipping Sparrow
Evening Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak (one juvenile too!)
Wilson's Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Anna's Hummingbird
Purple Finch
When I returned from a hike today, I was greeted by a singing PURPLE FINCH and HUTTON'S VIREO.
I went hiking with the Mary's Peak Chapter of the Sierra Club. We went to Opal Creek and there wasn't any notable bird activity (Winter Wren, Robin, Kinglets, Vaux's Swift, Red-br. Sapsucker). This is an incredible place, the water in the deep pools of the creek are emerald and so clear you can see the bottom of any pool.
This morning 5/15, I surveyed Jackson-Frazier Wetlands in Corvallis, Benton County.
Here are some highlights:
Red-winged Blackbird (numerous)
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler (common)
Common Yellowthroat
Orange-crowned Warbler
Lincoln's Sparrow
Evening Grosbeak (passing over)
Black-headed Grosbeak
Marsh Wren (many)
Bushtit
Virginia Rail
Ring-necked Pheasant
I visited my Grandma in Yakima, WA this weekend. At Toppensih NWR (in the valley East of Mt Adams) I saw WESTERN KINGBIRDS, many WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, CINNAMON TEAL (common). Also in Yakima (a residential area) I saw a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT.
I was at Walnut Park in Corvallis this evening and I heard what sounded like a Great Horned owl screeching amongst some tall D. Firs. I'll check for owl pellets in the day, possibly a nest (?).
Also, I found another "glow worm", actually several, as I reported on 4/24 (see below). This time I took a specimen and a sketch follows. I don't have a decent insect guide but it sure looks like a beetle larva. Is this related to the Eastern firefly?
Most likely a beetle larvae in the family Phengodidae