[birding] Coffin Butte today

[Joel Geier]

Hi all,

I haven't seen any reports from Coffin Butte for a while, so thought I'd
post this list. It was sort of a stinky day on the butte, due to a drift
of air coming off the landfill to the SW. Wildflowers were blooming in
abundance but seemed lower in diversity than some past years. Perhaps
last December's hard freeze impacted some of the fawn lilies etc. that
grow in the relatively thin, stony soils atop the butte.

As for birds, the normal nesting-season assemblage seems to be present
now. I saw two male LAZULI BUNTINGS singing on territory (one in the
first quarry area along the trail, and one around the second quarry area
a bit higher up). In each case I heard a female bunting giving chip
notes near the singing male, but I didn't see the female.

A pair of WILSON'S WARBLERS working though the madrones in the second
quarry area seemed a little out of place for the season. Maybe it's just
a matter of paying more attention, but I seem to be encountering more
Wilson's Warblers at low elevations than usual, since mid-May.

GREAT HORNED OWLS must be tending fledged young now, as I flushed a
couple of adults from very low perches while I was walking through the
main part of E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, on my way to Coffin Butte.

Happy birding,
Joel

-------- Forwarded Message --------
This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net

Date: June 1, 2010
Location: Coffin Butte Tract, E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County, Oregon

Menzie's larkspur and cat's ear (Tolmie's mariposa-lily) were
blooming in abundance, with still a few iris and buttercups too.

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Turkey Vulture                      2
Mourning Dove                       1
Western Wood-Pewee                  4
Hutton's Vireo                      1
Western Scrub-Jay                   2
Violet-green Swallow                5
Black-capped Chickadee              4
Brown Creeper                       2
Bewick's Wren                       1
Swainson's Thrush                   1
Cedar Waxwing                       3
Orange-crowned Warbler              3
Black-throated Gray Warbler         2
Common Yellowthroat                 2
Wilson's Warbler                    2
Yellow-breasted Chat                1
Western Tanager                     1
Spotted Towhee                      3
Song Sparrow                        2
Dark-eyed Junco                     4
Black-headed Grosbeak               2
Lazuli Bunting                      4

Total number of species seen: 22