[birding] local bird questions

[Joel Geier]

Hi Rich & all,

To add to Lisa's comments, you could try some of the weedy Xmas tree
farms along Bellfountain etc. for Vesper Sparrows, or the field on the
north side of Bald Hill where Randy & Pam Comeleo reported one singing
earlier. Soap Creek Beef Ranch has some but access is difficult. I think
Michael Dossett mentioned one that was singing from his neighbor's brush
pile along Military Rd. earlier this month. They aren't supposed to sing
in migration so those birds should still be around, despite lack of
recent detections.

It does highlight the conservation situation for these birds, that you
have to look hard to find them in Benton County. The endemic subspecies
that nests in the Willamette Valley (Oregon Vesper Sparrow) is in
trouble throughout its range. The former nesting population at
Luckiamute State Natural Area (just over the line into Polk Co.) has
practically disappeared due to tree plantings etc.

About American Bitterns, they only show up occasionally in the marshes
in the north end of E.E. Wilson, not in most years. I've been listening
but haven't heard one this year. So Jackson Frazier and McFadden are
better bets. Outside of Benton Co.'s narrow confines, Morgan Lake at
Baskett Slough NWR is usually a good place.

Bald Hill, as Lisa recommends, usually has a few Cassin's Vireos on the
east side of the hill -- try listening along the paved trail that runs
south from the barn. I haven't been up Coffin Butte recently but there
are usually a couple of pairs up there every spring (watch out for those
Blue-headed Vireos which are thick in some years ;).

Happy birding,
Joel

On Wed, 2010-05-26 at 10:55 -0700, Lisa Millbank wrote:
> Hi Rich and all,
> The Purple Martin we saw on the birding class field trip was just
> flying around with other swallows, near the blind on the Homer
> Campbell Trail.  The martin had the grayish collar that younger ones
> have.  It would be great if there was another one and they decided to
> nest, but we only saw the one.
> We heard an American Bittern recently at
> Jackson-Frazier Wetland.  Cheadle Marsh, the southwest parts of Cabell
> Marsh, the northern marshes at E.E. Wilson have been good spots in the
> past for bitterns.
> For Cassin's Vireo take a walk up Bald Hill, Mulkey Creek, Peavy
> Arboretum, or Mill Hill.  This year at least one has been singing his
> burry little song in tall Douglas-firs at Avery Park.
>  
> Lisa
> www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
>  
>         ----- Original Message ----- 
>         From: rich armstrong 
>         To: corvbird 
>         Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 9:20 AM
>         Subject: [birding] local bird questions
>         
>         
>         1. has anyone seen VESPER SPARROWS on fitton green?
>         2. or is there any other reliable place in benton county for
>         them?
>         3. i saw report of PURPLE MARTIN at cabell. are they using the
>         nest boxes molly put up? 
>         4. has anyone checked the location off tampico rd where they
>         nested last year?
>         5. is there any other reasonable place in benton to look for
>         AMERICAN BITTERN besides mcfaddin marsh?
>         6. i think i can find tristen CASSIN'S VIREO, but if you know
>         a good benton county spot i am interested.
>         Rich Armstrong
>         541-753-1978
>         
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