[birding] Eurasian Wigeon, Silverton, Marion County

[Carl & Christine Schneiders]

Hi birders,

I took a bike ride to some local hot spots today.  There was a GREEN HERON 
at the Oregon Garden along with the normal stuff.  This is the the third 
winter this Green Heron has spent at the Oregon Garden.  There were 2 
GADWALLS with 30+ AMERICAN COOTS on Webb Lake.  At Quarry Rd. ponds there 
were about 500 AMERICAN WIGEONS  with 1 EURASIAN WIGEON possibly 2, 15 
CACKLING GEESE, 4 COMMON MERGANSERS and 1 LESSER SCAUP.  I rushed back home 
hoping that the Eurasian Wigeon would still be there when I came back with 
my sister.  My wonderful mom drove us out and my sister also got to see it. 
It was a lifer for both of us and a motorless birding species for me.  There 
also were 3 CANVASBACKS and 30 CANADA GEESE.  This is by far the largest 
number wigeons I have ever seen, it least doubles my previous high count and 
it is about 350 higher than the Silverton CBC high count.
Matthew Schneider
Silverton, Oregon