Snow Geese and Black-bellied Plovers In Linn Co 1/18/17

Hi All,

I thought I’d bird from the car today (in light of the weather forecast) so headed over to Linn County.  Two days ago, 1/16/17, Hendrick Herlyn reported a large flock of 66 Snow Geese taking off from Finley NWR at day break, with one Ross’ in the mix.  Later in the day Jim and Karen Fairchild reported what they figured was the same flock to the east in Linn Co, some 15 miles or so to the east, along with many swans along American Road, near Halsey. 

I was coming south from Peoria and could see the swan flock in the distance, and when I got adjacent to them along American Rd, they were still quite far off to the north, so with he help of google maps found Creek Road just to the north of them.  When I got near them, I could see some Snow and White-fronts in the mix, but counting the geese was a challenge because of the size and number of the swans.  After checking swan after swan and finding a couple trumpeters, I waited around between rain squalls, and the geese finally separated themselves from the swans, and then I could more easily count 19 White-fronts and 76 Snow Geese, but no Ross’ Goose.  Of the snows there were 42 imm, grayish birds.  I also figured there were some 300 swans, which were coming and going, mostly to/from the south.  By the time I left there were maybe half as many swans.  

Just around the corner to the north, near the junction of Creek and Harmony Rds, was a field with a large puddle in it, and I could see a number of shorebirds which I assumed were Killdeer, but when I stopped to view them I could see Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin.  I decided I needed a better look so drove past them, turned around, and returned so I could look out the driver window without getting wet.  They were spread out quite a bit and rather flighty.   In looking them over I kept seeing more and more plovers, so figured I had better start counting, and came up with 170.  I am confident there were no less, and probably a few more as it was a fast count.  Right after I was done they all took off, flew around in a large circle three times.  By then I was somewhat ready to take a motion pic, so that is in included here.  They all ended up flying to the NE and landed within sight. There were about 500 Dunlin I'd say.  In the movie pic the plover are in the front part of the flock and are the ones seen first, and last. Here is the video:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132744272@N07/32274494721/in/dateposted-public/

I have two questions.  The first is, is this possibly the largest flock of snow geese seen/reported in the Willamette Valley?

The second is like it regarding the plovers.  Have there ever been any reports of this large of a wintering flock of Black-bellied Plovers in the Willamette Valley?   There was a flock of around 120, as I recall, a few miles north of here last winter.  Now that I think about it, I suspect down at Fern Ridge Reservoir large flocks may winter.  Thanks for the feedback.

Tundra Swans and White-fronted Geese

Tundra Swans and Snow Geese

Wide angle view of the swans and geese

A bedraggled Rough-legged Hawk

More Feeder Activity

A hummer in the way of the lense

Looks like she should be in a petting zoo

At least one junco was not put off by her, eating off the feeder

Leusitic Junco

Goldeneye Pics

While this Goldeneye has a completely orange bill, it should be a Barrow's.  However, the head shape in the first 2 appears more toward Common.  Even the 3 pic tends that way.  The angle on the 4th is not from the side so it may not be a good one to judge head shape. 

Feeder Birds

Hi All,

The new year has come, and most of us are as busy as usual.  Here in Western Oregon we have been hampered by snow, and I have not gotten in as much birding as I’d like.  It seems that when I finally have some time off from work is when it snows.  We had not been feeding the birds for a few years now as seed prices got so high.  But when I understood I’d be stuck inside because of the snow, I bought some bird-seed to keep me from getting too bored.   Plus, we often need to remember to bring in our hummer feeders at night or else they might be frozen come morning.

The pics here are of birds that have been coming to eat our seed since the start of the new year.  It does not take them long to figure out where the good eating is, and when birds see other birds gathering in once place, they come to check it out and so find where the food is.

California Scrub Jay

 This species can empty out our feeder in no time!  With their bill they sweep what seed they don't want off the feeder onto the ground, and, of course, eat the what they prefer.

Northern Flicker (female)

 We have both a male and female flicker which come to our suet.  They are so pretty.

Stellar's Jay

 The Stellar's Jays tend to stay on the ground, eating seed which was swept off the feeder by their cousin, the California Scrub Jays

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate Colored Form)

 Juncos are very common in winter here in Oregon, but these dark "Slate-Colored" ones are from the east and rather sparse.

Eurasian Collared Dove

 The Eurasian Collared Dove is a new comer to Oregon, only arriving about 15 years ago or so.  Now they are encountered all over the place.

Fox Sparrow

 This Fox Sparrow usually prefers to be under the cover of thick bushes, but with food hard to come by, he gets brave enough to join the others below our feeder.

Varied Thrush (Male) with a dark-eye Junco in the forground

The Varied Thrushes are now being seen in the valley, the snow forcing them down from the Coast Range and Cascade Mts.  This is a male, and quite skiddish in the open below our feeder.  Every time I went to take his pic, he'd spook and fly off.  Finally he stayed put long enough for me to snap a few pics.  Quite pretty, don't you think?

Another Interesting Hummer

Now that we are all warmed up on trying to ID hummers, here is another one to spend some time on this snowy, cold weekend.  Looks like another day for a hot drink by the fireplace, or, heater.  I suspect it may be straight forward for most of you, so I won’t tell what time of the year it was, only that it is at my house in the Willamette Valley.