[birding] Rufous hummingbird returns, still no nighthawks

[Joel Geier]

Hi all,

Since I brought up the apparent early disappearance of RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRDS from our yard as a topic, thought I should report that
they've returned. Or at least, one apparent juvenile has been visiting
our front yard one or two times per day, since around July 6th. After I
refreshed the feeder, I've gotten more frequent looks, though it still
seems to prefer our flower garden to the feeder.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS continue to sound off around our yard (one
prompted me to write this note, actually, after I heard it calling from
an unusual direction, along our "riparian" south fence line where the
tiger lilies and Oregon geraniums are still blooming in the shade of
non-native cherry trees that are now past prime). The more usual places
for us to hear them are across the highway in E.E. Wilson, or on the
brushy slopes of Tampico Ridge/Poison Oak Hill just west of our yard.
WILLOW FLYCATCHERS have quieted down in the latter location but are
still around, while LAZULI BUNTINGS continue to sing in the mornings.

I still haven't seen or heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK this year, apart from
one near Crabtree Lake in the early stops of the Santiam Breeding Bird
Survey. The ones that Randy & Pam Comeleo reported over Dunn State
Forest a week or two ago haven't made it over to our place, though it's
just 3 miles or so. Last evening I even went out and weeded the garden
for about an hour at dusk, hoping to hear one, but no such luck. 

I also haven't found any nighthawks in three checks of their traditional
nesting spot in the post-military, post-industrial, partly paved and
scotch-broom-infested wasteland between E.E. Wilson and the PRC (not to
be confused with "People's Republic of China," this is the landfill
company's yard-waste grinding and composting facility along Camp Adair
Road; the initials used to stand for "Processing and Recovery Center,"
but now it's been redubbed something more hip-sounding, like "Pacific
Recycling Center").

Nor have I found nighthawks on several early-morning visits to
Luckiamute State Natural Area. Perhaps high water levels on the river
into late June prevented them from nesting on gravel bars this year, so
maybe they're only in the mountains this year.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis