[birding] glaucous gull

[rich armstrong]

1. a carload of us from corvallis went to the coast this morning to hopefully see the LITTLE BLUE HERON - we got there at 10 and roger robb had it in his scope - a wonderful way to begin. and the weather all day was also wonderful!!
2. at siletz bay there is a sort of path through the forest/marsh. besides a mixed flock of both kinglets, both chickadees, etc, we had a flock of RED CROSSBILLS that we got in a scope. in the bay there were red-breasted mergansers 
3. boiler bay was slow but we did see RED-NECKED GREBE.
4. depoe bay had lots of oystercatchers and black turnstones, but no surfbirds
5. north of newport just across from 89th court i saw a group of gulls so we stopped. in the group was a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL. this is where a stream was emptying.
6. newport jetties had cooperative PACIFIC LOON with all the commons, posing harlequin duck, another red-necked grebe. we did not see rock sandpiper - probably too late as tide was low by then. we did see a red-breasted merganser "walking" on shore - mergansers walk funny! we also think we saw a STELLER'S SEA LION along with all the harbor seals.
7. behind the science center had many HORNED GREBES and 2 EARED GREBES that at 1 point were next to each other for comparison. we even saw a horned grebe take off and fly a ways! also a RED-THROATED LOON that was feeding right next to shore acting like it was snorkeling. there were 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE (females) among the 100's of buffleheads and surf scoters. there were also a flock of BRANT and 1 MARBLED GODWIT. there were a dozen black turnstones, again with no surfbirds at all.
8. and a few bald eagles and normal birds - all in all an excellent day at the oregon coast!
Rich Armstrong
541-753-1978
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