Subject: [Tweeters] Arctic Loon (& probable Northern Mockingbird) Today
Date: Jan 3 21:18:52 2008
From: Tyler Davis - fishingowl at gmail.com


Tweets -

The ARCTIC LOON was cooperating fully this afternoon at Blind Slough in
Brownsmead, OR, between 12h30 and 14h30. If you can't find the bird from
the Barendse Road bridge, definitely give Pentilla Road a walk - I couldn't
locate it initially, but some Tilamook birders (who happened to get
fantastic video of the bird) directed me about a quarter mile west of the
bridge on Pentilla. Apparently they found the bird earlier in the morning
east of the bridge and had difficulty identifying it due to the conditions
(lots of rain/wind/waves), at which point they decided to try again later.
Their second attempt found the bird far to the west of bridge, headed back
towards the bridge. By the time I arrived, conditions were ideal and it
must have finally given up trying to be difficult because we really couldn't
have asked for better views of this textbook bird. Also in the slough were
dozens of WESTERN GREBES, a lone HORNED GREBE, PIED-BILLED GREBE,
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, AMERICAN COOTS, BUFFLEHEAD, and a couple
RED-THROATED LOONS for comparison.

The flooded fields around the slough, particularly on the north side, had
thousands of ducks and some shorebirds. Heard some yellowlegs (both species
had been seen previously by the other birders), and saw of swirling flock of
presumably Dunlin (also seen by the other birders). The bulk of the
waterfowl were NORTHERN PINTAIL, but also GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN
WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GADWALL, MALLARD, and a lone male EURASIAN
WIGEON. Had some entertainment watching several NORTHERN HARRIERS harass
the ducks.

Also of note was a probable NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD no more than a quarter mile
north of the Barendse Bridge (on Barendse Road). I heard what sounded to me
like a NOMO and caused me to take a brief upward peak out my windshield,
only to see the silhouette of what appeared to be a NOMO, but couldn't
relocate the bird seconds later after pulling over and hopping out of the
car. 20 minutes later, in the pouring rain, I gave up. To be more exact
about it's location, heading north on Barendse Road after the bridge, it was
in a tall tree (about 2/3 of the way up) just south of the second house on
the left (address 3996, I believe).

A long trip from Seattle, but well worth it and very rewarding!

Good birding!

Tyler Davis
Mercer Island, WA