June 15, 2018

When you are about to start your weekend with a very deserving happy hour, but you find out a Common Loon has been spotted at the “local” sewage ponds, you trade beers for birds and you hit the road.

I have not seen a Common Loon since I lived in Ontario, Canada, so I was pretty excited to see this old friend. Common Loons are not typically this far south right now, so this was a rare chance for me to see one and add it to my 2018 Oregon list.

Common Loons are gorgeous. I was counting on the bird to be easy to find considering the ponds are pretty empty (bird life) at this time of the year. The eBird posts also mentioned that the loon was in the south pond.

Much like my Pacific Golden-Plover luck, I saw the loon almost immediately. We should have brought some beer with us, though I’m sure the City of Philomath frowns upon people partying at their sewage ponds.

And … the Common Loon is BIRD #200!!

One species, bird #200. This is how it’s going to be for the rest of the year. One new bird here, two new bird there. Any pelagic tours I take will yield a small handful, but this big year has formally shifted to deliberation and strategy.

Common Loon; Philomath Sewage Ponds; June 15, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Common Loon; Philomath Sewage Ponds; June 15, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Philomath Sewage Ponds; June 15, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

June 8–10, 2018 (2 of 2)

Read Part 1 first!

All species mentioned are new 2018 Oregon bird species.

June 10, 2018: Idelwild Campground; Malheur National Forest

White-headed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Dusky Flycatcher

Wood Thrush (me); Idelwild Campground; Malheur National Forest; June 10, 2018; photograph by Clint Burfitt.

June 10, 2018: Sagehen Rest Area; Harvey County, Oregon

Ash-throated Flycatcher
Mountain Bluebird
Brewer’s Sparrow

Sagehen Rest Area; Sagehen Nature Trail; 18 miles west of Burns, Oregon; June 10, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Cassin’s Finch; Sagehen Rest Area Area; Sagehen Nature Trail; 18 miles west of Burns, Oregon; June 10, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Mountain Bluebird; Sagehen Rest Area; Sagehen Nature Trail; 18 miles west of Burns, Oregon; June 10, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Ash-throated Flycatcher!!!; Sagehen Rest Area; Sagehen Nature Trail; 18 miles west of Burns, Oregon; June 10, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Sagehen Rest Area; Sagehen Nature Trail; 18 miles west of Burns, Oregon; June 10, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Brewer’s Sparrow; Sagehen Rest Area; Sagehen Nature Trail; 18 miles west of Burns, Oregon; June 10, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

New Birds for 2018: 14
2018 Year-to-Date Talley: 199!!!

June 8–10, 2018 (1 of 2)

This past weekend’s trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harvey County, Oregon, was nothing short of windy and cold, but it was rich in bird species. Having spent the week prior out in Salt Lake where it was 90 degrees every day, we had not anticipated (nor had we packed for) cold temperatures.

I am 1 species away from 200. I still have a ways to go, but 200 seems like a bit of a milestone. I’m hell bent on getting one more species tomorrow to reach 200. Seriously.

Here’s a recap of this past weekend. All species in bold are new 2018 Oregon bird species.

June 8, 2018; Crystal Crane Hot Springs; Crane, Oregon

Common Nighthawk (zipping around “peenting” as we got out of the car)
Willet (hanging on the shore of the north pond and calling to another Willet)

Common Nighthawks; Crystal Crane Hot Springs; Crane, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Brewer’s Blackbird (female); Crystal Crane Hot Springs; Crane, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Willet; Crystal Crane Hot Springs; Crane, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Yellow-headed Blackbird; Crystal Crane Hot Springs; Crane, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

June 9, 2018; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Black Tern
Forester’s Tern
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
White-faced Ibis (so many!)
Trumpeter Swan (flew in right before we left; ting!)
Burrowing Owl

White-faced Ibis (sadly my “best” shot even though they were E V E R Y W H E R E); Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harvey County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Bullock’s Oriole; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harney County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Tree Swallow; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harney County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Black Tern; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harney County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Trumpeter Swan; Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harney County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Near Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harney County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Burrowing Owl; Near Malheur National Wildlife Refuge; Harney County, Oregon; June 8, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

–> GO TO PART TWO !

May 22, 2018

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge

May 22, 2018: Post-work and post-gym, I set off in a sweaty, hot mess to Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge to find a Pacific Golden-Plover that was reported on eBird the day before. I pulled up to what local birders call “the narrows,” parked, got out of my car with my bins, and looked up at a random spot in Cackler Marsh right at the Pacific Golden-Plover (#184). Beyond this luck, the weather was beautiful and cool and was the perfect respite after warming up considerably from earlier activities. The sun was also near setting, and it was incredibly quiet except for the calls of the birds, specifically the flying Black-Necked Stilts. I also saw a second new bird—Wilson’s Phalarope (#185). The water was too low, so there was no spinning involved.

I keep thinking back to this evening and this particulate spot. I always enjoyed Baskett Slough, but there was something incredibly comforting and clarifying about being there that evening. This may sound hyperbolic, but there was no other place I should have been at that moment. I’m not sure I can replicate that evening, and I think I’m ok with that.

Pacific Golden-Plover (female in breeding plumage); Baskett Slough National Wildlife Area; May 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Wilson’s Phalarope; Baskett Slough National Wildlife Area; May 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Black-necked Stilt; Baskett Slough National Wildlife Area; May 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

New Birds for 2018: 2
2018 Year-to-Date Talley: 185