[birding] E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area: Duck, peeps & vireos

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

On a walk around E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area this morning, I finally found
a few "peeps" (one WESTERN SANDPIPER and two LEAST SANDPIPERS), which
have been scarce this summer due to continuing high water levels on the
Canal Pond due to a stuck water-control structure that will hopefully be
repaired after this season.

While trying to get a better angle on the peeps, I flushed a RUDDY DUCK
out of one corner of the pond. It was in a weird, confusing plumage and
certainly not something that I expected to see around here in summer. A
family of GREEN HERONS (2 adults and 3 juveniles) were conspicuous
around the pond.

I optimistically went looking for a RED-EYED VIREO in the cottonwoods in
the NE part of the wildlife area where one was found a couple of summers
ago. Much to my surprise, I found one singing and was able to track it
down to within about 50 feet a couple of times, though I never got much
of a view.

A GREAT EGRET (or maybe two?) in the NE corner also seemed to be a
recent arrival.

Overall it was a very nice morning to be out birding. I also heard
CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS singing, so now I'm going to try Randy's
"beverage in hand" method to see if I can detect a Hutton's for a
four-vireo day.

The full list is attached below.

Happy birding,
Joel

This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net

Date: August 13, 2009
Location: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton County, Oregon

Low temperature: 55 degrees fahrenheit High temperature: 68 degrees fahrenheit
Wind direction: SW
Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 1-5 km/h
Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 80%
Precipitation: none

Morning walk around north half of E.E. Wilson. Birds very active
after two days with occasional showers. Butterflies included Tiger
Swallowtail and Lorquin's Admiral.

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Canada Goose                       25
Wood Duck                           2
Mallard                             4
Cinnamon Teal                       3
Ruddy Duck                          1 
     Female or one in some sort of weird transition plumage flushed
     from edge of canal pond into open water, but did not fly.
     Distinct dark cap, grungy rusty barred look on sides.
Pied-billed Grebe                   8
Great Blue Heron                    3
Great Egret                         1 
     Killdeer Corner pond. May have been two as one was seen flying
     into the same spot later while the one was out of view.
Green Heron                         5
Turkey Vulture                      4
Red-tailed Hawk                     3
Killdeer                            6
Western Sandpiper                   1 
     Juvenile with Least Sandpipers on Canal Pond.
Least Sandpiper                     2
Band-tailed Pigeon                  6 
     Perched on dead tree next to NW corner marsh.
Mourning Dove                      12
Downy Woodpecker                    2
Northern Flicker                    4
Belted Kingfisher                   2
Western Wood-Pewee                 20
Willow Flycatcher                   1
Pacific-slope Flycatcher            2 
     Seen low in understory of cottonwood/hawthorn groves in NE part
     of wildlife area.
Cassin's Vireo                      1 
     Sang briefly in response to Red-eyed Vireo.
Warbling Vireo                      1 
     Heard singing about 1/3 mile NE of Angling Pond.
Red-eyed Vireo                      1 
     Singing in cottonwoods along NE side of wildlife area. Heard
     giving full song repeatedly at close range, hurried in
     comparison to Cassin's Vireo song. Seen several times from a
     distance of 50+ ft while moving between trees. 
Western Scrub-Jay                   2
American Crow                       1
Violet-green Swallow              150 
    Flocks foraging over fields and marshes (which are now dried up).
Barn Swallow                       50
Black-capped Chickadee             20
Bushtit                            20 
    Single flock.
Brown Creeper                       1
Bewick's Wren                      10
Marsh Wren                          1
Swainson's Thrush 
    Notably very few vocalizing now, but still around.
American Robin                     10
Wrentit                             6
European Starling                  10
Cedar Waxwing                      15
Yellow Warbler                      1
Black-throated Gray Warbler         2
Common Yellowthroat                40 
   Many juveniles now starting to gain adult markings.
Wilson's Warbler                    2 
   Separate locations.
Yellow-breasted Chat                2 
   No longer singing, but heard giving "mew" call from a few
   thickets.
Western Tanager                     2
Spotted Towhee                     20
Song Sparrow                       15
Dark-eyed Junco                     4
Black-headed Grosbeak               4 
    Numbers seem to be dwindling.
Lazuli Bunting                      3 
    Numbers also seem to be dwindling.
Brown-headed Cowbird                2
Purple Finch                       20 
    Flocks forming.
House Finch                        10
American Goldfinch                 30 
    Flocks forming.

Total number of species seen: 54