[birding] Late Chat, arriving G-c Sparrows and need help on Polk NAMC Sunday!

[Joel Geier]

Hi All,

Lots of bird activity in the backyard this morning! 

SPOTTED TOWHEE numbers went up dramatically overnight, with a flock of
about 8 today. Mixed in with them were OREGON JUNCOS (including a
juvenile that is just about fully in winter plumage now, but still a few
funny spots), and about 5 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS.

While watching them, I saw a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT fly out of the
brushline. September 18 is getting late for them, although there is one
old Willamette Valley record from September 30, 1940 (per /Birds of
Oregon: A General Reference/) and I've found lingering chats in E.E.
Wilson as late as September 21. Today's bird headed back to the brushy
slope where we had Chats nesting this summer, so it might have been
there all along.

I COULD USE SOME HELP in Polk County on Sunday (September 20), for the
North American Migration Count (NAMC). Several of our regulars will be
out of the area this weekend, and so far the only volunteers are me and
Heidi, our border collie/Aussie shepherd mix, who will spend most of her
time sniffing out voles and scratching late-summer fleas. Maybe I can
get one of our kids to help, but with school & homework season in full
gear now, maybe not.

So ... it would be really helpful if someone could cover Baskett Slough,
especially for shorebirds. That would let me stick to the southern part
of the county and pick up a bit of the Coast range. But if you'd rather
bird closer to Corvallis, I'd be happy to hand off Luckiamute State
Natural Area, etc. Any help is good help.

Thanks!
Joel

P.S. for more info on NAMC, including the Benton, Linn, Marion, Yamhill
and Lane Co. counts, see:
http://www.oregonbirds.org/2009_migration_count.html

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis