- RBA
* Oregon
* Portland
* December 12, 1996
* ORPO9612.12

- birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
Common Loon
YELLOW-BILLED LOON
Great Egret
Cattle Egret
EMPEROR GOOSE
KING EIDER
Oldsquaw
White-tailed Kite
Prairie Falcon
jaeger (prob. Pomarine)
Black-legged Kittiwake
Marbled Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Say's Phoebe
BLUE JAY
American Pipit
TENNESSEE WARBLER
Harris' Sparrow
Tricolored Blackbird
COMMON GRACKLE

- transcript

hotline: Portland, Oregon, Audubon RBA (weekly) date: December 12, 1996
number: (503) 292-0661
to report: Harry Nehls (503) 233-3976 <hnehls at teleport.com>
compiler: Harry Nehls
coverage: entire state

Hello, this is Portland Audubon Society's Rare Bird Report. This recording
was made Thursday December 12. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls
at 233-3976.

A female KING EIDER was observed December 8 in Yaquina Bay. The next day a
YELLOW-BILLED LOON was in the same area. Both birds are regularly found
just west of the bridge, and might be found on either side of the channel.
Two OLDSQUAWS are also in that area.

The TENNESSEE WARBLER continues to be seen near the intersection of 19th
and Grant Streets in Corvallis. It mvoes around quite bit and is hard to
find at times, but it is an active bird that attracts attention.

A COMMON GRACKLE was found December 7 among a large mixed flock of
blackbirds just east of Tumalo. To reach the area turn west off Highway 97
at Deschutes Junction onto the Tumalo/Deschutes Highway. Continue past the
next stop light, then begin looking for the blackbird flocks. Several
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS are also in this flock.

The BLUE JAY is now a regular visitor to Arden Hagen's feeders in Vacouver,
Washington. If interested in seeing this bird contact Arden at (360)
892-8872.

A SNOWY OWL was found December 6 near the South Jetty of the Siuslaw River.
Stop at the third parking lot after the jetty road turns north, then walk
the dike.

A number of ANCIENT MURRELETS, MARBLED MURRELETS, and BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES have been seen off Boiler Bay during the week. On December 8 a
jaeger, probably a POMARINE, was seen there chasing gulls far offshore.

One of the Bayocean Peninsula SNOWY OWLS has been seen lately, and the
OLDSQUAW continues to be seen on Meares Lake. A conspicuous NORTHERN SHRIKE
is also in the area.

The very light SNOWY OWL is still being seen at the shorebird flats near
the South Jetty of the Columbia River.

An injured BARRED OWL was picked up December 11 near 176th. and Burnside in
east Portland. There have been reports of others in Portland's West Hills.
The EMPEROR GOOSE continues to be seen at Lewis and Clark State Park on the
Sandy River just south of I84.

The SAY'S PHOEBE and WHITE-TAILED KITE continue to be seen around Baskett
Slough NWR. On December 6 a PRAIRIE FALCON and over 100 AMERICAN PIPITS
were in the area. The Salem Airport SNOWY OWL is still regularly seen but
the Tangent bird apparently moved on. A COMMON LOON was at the E.E. Wilson
Wildlife Area December 11.

A CATTLE EGRET was found December 9 in Alvadore northwest of Eugene. Follow
the signs to Decker Nursery. Drive past Deckers on 8th Street and turn
right onto Starlite Lane. The bird can be found along Starlite among a
flock of sheep.

The Fern Ridge Dam SNOW BUNTING has not been seen since November 26. There
are still good numbers of GREAT EGRETS at the north end of Fern Ridge
Reservoir. On December 6, at the south end of Fern Ridge Reservoir, a
HARRIS' SPARROW was found along Greenhill Road just north of Highway 126
where the tracks cross the roadway.

Another HARRIS' SPARROW is coming to a feeder north of Medford. A PACIFIC
LOON was at the Kirtland Road Sewage Ponds December 10.

On December 9 a SNOWY OWL was observed about 3/4 of mile west of the
mountain locator turnout along Highway 206 between Wasco and Condon.

Thats it for this week.

- end transcript

Harry Nehls, Portland, Or.
hnehls at teleport.com (503) 233-3976