[birding] Solitary Sandpipers, Nashville Warblers, Dusky Flycatcher at EE Wilson

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

Just back from a loop around the southern 2/3 of E.E. Wilson Wildlife
Area. Most notable were 8 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS on the same pond that had
5 last week, then two NASHVILLE WARBLERS (male & female) with a mixed
warbler flock just north of the anglers' parking lot, and finally just
now, a pretty-darn-sure DUSKY FLYCATCHER just south of the skeet range.

To get to the spot where I found the Nashville Warblers, start from the
angler's parking lot and walk north on the path from the check station.
When you reach a T, go right (east) instead of left toward the angling
pond. The warblers were out in the flooded woods about 50-75 yards past
the signs marking the boundary of the hunting area.

For the Dusky Flycatcher, start at the skeet range on the south side of
Camp Adair Rd. and go south along the paved road to the 5th power-line
pole, then look in the willow thickets on the right (west) side of the
road. 

The flycatcher was hanging out with a flock of WILSON'S WARBLERS and a
pair of PURPLE FINCHES, and foraging mainly at mid-height inside the
willow thicket (5-10 ft above ground). Gray-olive back, pronounced eye-
ring, dingy olive & yellowish vest below, distinct whitish-buffy
wingbars, bill mostly dark underneath and longer than typical for
Hammond's. Primary extension looked intermediate, tail looked longish.
When I gave a few screech-owl trills to lure the bird out of the middle
of the thicket, it gave several dry "whit" calls which sounded just
right for Dusky. The habitat structure here looks a lot like streamside
nesting habitat for Duskies in the Ochocos, even some false hellebore in
the ditch. At one point the flycatcher flew out & down to the road
surface to snag an insect off the ground.

Generally a pretty nice day out there, threatening to rain the whole
time but just a few fine drops. About 20 LEAST SANDPIPERS were hanging
out with the Solitaries. A small pond west of headquarters had four
Semipalmated Plover-sized KILLDEER youngsters (fully fledged and
foraging mostly independent of their presumed parents nearby), which got
me going for a minute especially since I've seen Semipalmated Plovers on
this pond in years past.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis