[birding] Luckiamute SNA riparian birds, high water, no REVIs

[Joel Geier]

Hi all,

This morning I attempted to do a second round of riparian bird surveys
at Luckiamute State Natural Area, but had to skip two points in the
north unit (Luckiamute Landing tract) due to flood currents over the
trail near the Willamette River. 

That was after wading through nearly waist-deep water along the field
road, where the Luckiamute River had backed up into swales that are
usually dry this time of year. When I got just about to where the
gallery-forest trail reaches the first side trail that cuts over to the
river, I saw a brisk current moving along where the trail should be, and
I said, "No mas."

In the gallery forest I heard a few BROWN CREEPERS, CEDAR WAXWINGS
(recently arrived), HAIRY WOODPECKERS, and one BAND-TAILED PIGEON, along
with plenty of the usual riparian species: SWAINSON'S THRUSH,
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, WARBLING VIREO, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, BEWICK'S
WREN, etc. 

At one point I was treated to the song of two Swainson's Thrushes
singing from perches within 50-75 ft, which was amazing because you can
hear more of the complexity of their fluting tones at that range.

I again didn't hear any Red-eyed Vireos, which occur at this site in
some and possibly most years. Possibly there are some farther back in
the cottonwoods, but you'd need to swim or paddle to reach them today! 

I heard three or four WILLOW FLYCATCHERS along the field road on my way
out, plus one nonvocal bird that was flycatching from low perches right
behind the sign at the parking area.

The south unit of LSNA (Vanderpool Tract) had more of the same, plus a
couple of HUTTON'S VIREOS and a singing WILSON'S WARBLER. The water was
again waist-deep in two spots along the trail (nice patches of WAPATO
there) but I was able to get all the way to the back pond where
FORK-TOOTHED OOKOW is blooming now. A couple of WESTERN POND-TURTLES
were basking on a log near the one spot where you can peek at the pond
through some oaks, without disturbing them or going into their nesting
areas.

I also checked out one of the new greenway parcels north of LSNA, which
had a couple of WESTERN TANAGERS and a good concentration of
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, in addition to some of the species mentioned
above.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis