- RBA
* Oregon
* Portland
January 31, 1996
* ORPO96.0131


- Birds mentioned


Red-throated Loon
Great Egret
Snow Goose (Blue)
Emperor Goose
Northern Shoveler
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Gyrfalcon
Red Phalarope
SLATY-BACKED GULL
VERMILION FLYCATCHER
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Western Bluebird
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris' Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
White-winged Crossbill


- transcript


hotline: Portland, Oregon, Audubon RBA (weekly) date: January 31, 1996.
number: (503) 292-0661
to report: Harry Nehls (503) 233-3976 <hnehls at teleport.com>
compiler: Harry Nehls
coverage: entire state, concentrating on NW Oregon.


Hello, this is Portland Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert. This recording
was made Wednesday January 31. If you have anything to add call Harry Nehls
at 233-3976.

The Ridgefield Refuge VERMILION FLYCATCHER was seen up to January 28. TREE,
VIOLET-GREEN, and BARN SWALLOWS were in the River S Unit of the Refuge up
to that time. A swallow was at the Forest Grove Ponds January 28, and
othere were at Baskett Slough Refuge and at Fern Ridge Reservoir. A cold
front moved over the state during the day January 29 bringing a prolonged
period of below freezing temperatures. What it does to these birds remains
to be seen.

An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL was reported from the Pellet Plant Meadow near
the Sauvie Island Bridge during the morning of January 29.

A flock of 30 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood
January 26. Up to 20 others were in the same area.

The Clatsop County GYRFALCON was seen again along Clatsop Beach a mile or
two north of the Sunset Beach access January 28. The bird reported from the
Corvallis Airport area could not be relocated during the week.

Good numbers of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS continue to be seen on Sauvie
Island. On January 29 an immature HARRIS' SPARROW was in the hedges along
Reeder Road near the county line on the east side of the Island. That day a
female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was with many COMMON MERGANSERS on Multnomah
Channel near the county line on the west side of the Island.

On January 26 a SWAMP SPARROW was along Reeder Road at milepost 5. A blue
phased SNOW GOOSE has recently been report in the SNOW GOOSE flock on the
east side of Sauvie Island. This sighting needs verification.

A flock of eight WESTERN BLUEBIRDS was at Lacamas Lake near Camas,
Washington January 30. Others were noted several days earlier farther to
the east.

The EMPEROR GOOSE continues to be seen near Gresham but it is now exploring
new nearby areas. On January 28, one was on the Gresham Golf Course in
midtown Gresham.

The RED-THROATED LOON seen in late December on the lagoon near Clackamette
Park in Oregon City was seen again there January 28.

GREAT EGRETS continue to be seen in many areas. A group of 19 was off
Spring Hill Road in North Albany January 25.

Two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found among a flock of over 800 HORNED LARKS
near Paisley in south central Oregon January 24. A lingering RED PHALAROPE
and several thousand SHOVELERS were at Lake Abert that day.

Tuesday February 6 is Birders Night at Portland Audubon. Meet in Audubon
House at 7:30 PM for the latest birding news.

Thats it for this week.


- end transcript

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