[birding] Upper Nestucca CBC

[Joel Geier]

Hi Linda & All,

Yes, this is one of the more adventurous counts in Oregon, and I agree
that the post-count gathering is unrivaled. There's nothing like coming
back over the Bible Creek Pass to Linda Leavitt's house after this one.
You really feel like you're coming back from the wilderness to
everything that's good about civilization. But what else would you
expect from a count circle in Oregon that includes both Lake Tahoe and
Niagara Falls?

Winter Wrens are indeed one of the featured species ("Pacific Wrens,"
perhaps a new species we're told). This count also can turn in high
counts for Varied Thrush and Golden-crowned Kinglet. The count was
actually established by Larry Scofield et al. as a focused count for
Spotted Owl many years ago, but sorry to say, those are now a rarity in
the circle. We do usually see Mountain Quail, Gray Jay, American Dipper,
Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Nocturnal
owling usually turns up decent numbers of Northern Saw-whet Owl and
Western Screech-Owl.

Granted, the species diversity for this count is not nearly as high as
many counts for which the circles were chosen to maximize habitat
diversity. What you get on this count is the TOTAL COAST RANGE
EXPERIENCE!! Big-leaf maples, alder, Douglas-fir, grand fir, lots of
water, and the wild upper Nestucca River roaring through it all.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis



On Fri, 2009-10-16 at 18:24 -0700, Linda Fink wrote:
> Joel didn't mention what a fun count this is. He comes every year we're 
> not snowed out so you know it has to be good. It is, I admit, not the 
> birdiest count in the state... well, it might be the least birdy... but 
> it is the only count that takes place entirely in the coast range and I 
> would bet has the best post-count wrap-up meal of any. Linda Leavitt 
> puts on a wonderful spread, always followed by her famous chocolate 
> cake. Linda and Dave live just inside our count circle, so you can quit 
> early if you like and just count birds through their windows.
> 
> Remember, it is just as important to know where the birds are not as 
> where they are. Besides, you're guaranteed Winter Wrens.
> 
> Please give us a try this year... there is no other count scheduled for 
> the first day of the count season, Dec. 14. Contact Don Albright, our 
> trusty coordinator, for sector assignments and maps: donalbri at teleport.com
> 
> Y'all come!
> 
> Linda Fink