BirdChick blog

While researching Scott Weidensaul, who wrote Living on the Wind, I found a connection to Sharon Stiteler's blog, BirdChick, and wanted to share. I like her site not just because she had excellent videos of a nighthawk, Wood Thrush (see below), and Hermit Thrush, but because she posts about many of the critters in her upper Mississippi (Minnesota) home. Take a look!

Class of 2011 Total Species Count

The total number of species identified (seen/heard by someone in the class) from Fall 2010 to Summer 2011 is 232 species! According to my Oregon Field Ornithologists checklist the total species recorded in Oregon is 520, but that includes pelagics and some rarities. If anyone hears about a Wood Thrush in Oregon please let me know because I'll drop everything to chase that bird!

Here's the list. :)

Greater White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons.

Snow Goose. Chen caerulescens.

Brant. Branta bernicla.

Cackling Goose. Branta hutchinsii

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis.

Trumpeter Swan. Cygnus buccinator.

Tundra Swan. Cygnus columbianus.

[Domestic Mute Swan]

Wood Duck. Aix sponsa.

Gadwall. Anas strepera.

Eurasian Wigeon. Anas penelope.

American Wigeon. Anas americana.

Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.

Cinnamon Teal. Anas cyanoptera.

Northern Shoveler. Anas clypeata.

Northern Pintail. Anas acuta.

Green-winged Teal. Anas crecca.

Canvasback. Aythya valisineria.

Redhead. Aythya americana.

Ring-necked Duck. Aythya collaris.

Greater Scaup. Aythya marila.

Lesser Scaup. Aythya affinis.

Harlequin Duck. Histrionicus histrionicus.

Surf Scoter. Melanitta perspicillata.

White-winged Scoter. Melanitta fusca.

Long-tailed Duck. Clangula hyemalis.

Bufflehead. Bucephala albeola.

Common Goldeneye. Bucephala clangula.

Barrow's Goldeneye. Bucephala islandica.

Hooded Merganser. Lophodytes cucullatus.

Common Merganser. Mergus merganser.

Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator.

Ruddy Duck. Oxyura jamaicensis.

California Quail. Callipepla californica

Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus.

Greater Sage-Grouse. Centrocercus urophasianus.

Red-throated Loon. Gavia stellata.

Pacific Loon. Gavia pacifica.

Common Loon. Gavia immer.

Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps.

Horned Grebe. Podiceps auritus.

Red-necked Grebe. Podiceps grisegena.

Eared Grebe. Podiceps nigricollis.

Western Grebe. Aechmophorus occidentalis.

Sooty Shearwater. Puffinus griseus.

Brandt's Cormorant. Phalacrocorax penicillatus.

Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus.

Pelagic Cormorant. Phalacrocorax pelagicus.

American White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos.

Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis.

American Bittern. Botaurus lentiginosus.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

Great Egret. Ardea alba.

Black-crowned Night-Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax.

Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura.

Osprey. Pandion haliaetus.

White-tailed Kite. Elanus leucurus.

Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.

Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter striatus.

Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperii.

Red-shouldered Hawk. Buteo lineatus.

Swainson's Hawk. Buteo swainsoni.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.

Ferruginous Hawk. Buteo regalis.

Rough-legged Hawk. Buteo lagopus.

Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetos.

American Kestrel. Falco sparverius.

Merlin. Falco columbarius.

Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus.

Prairie Falcon. Falco mexicanus.

Sora. Porzana carolina.

American Coot. Fulica americana.

Sandhill Crane. Grus canadensis.

Black-bellied Plover. Pluvialis squatarola.

Snowy Plover. Charadrius alexandrinus.

Semipalmated Plover. Charadrius semipalmatus.

Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.

Black Oystercatcher. Haematopus bachmani.

Black-necked Stilt. Himantopus mexicanus.

American Avocet. Recurvirostra americana.

Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularius.

Wandering Tattler. Tringa incana.

Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca.

Willet. Tringa semipalmata.

Lesser Yellowlegs. Tringa flavipes.

Whimbrel. Numenius phaeopus.

Long-billed Curlew. Numenius americanus.

Marbled Godwit. Limosa fedoa.

Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres.

Black Turnstone. Arenaria melanocephala.

Surfbird. Aphriza virgata.

Sanderling. Calidris alba.

Western Sandpiper. Calidris mauri.

Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla.

Dunlin. Calidris alpina.

Short-billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus griseus.

Long-billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus scolopaceus.

Wilson’s Snipe. Gallinago delicata.

Wilson's Phalarope. Phalaropus tricolor.

Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus lobatus.

Bonaparte’s Gull. Chroicocephalus Philadelphia.

Heermann’s Gull. Larus heermanni.

Mew Gull. Larus canus.

Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis.

Western Gull. Larus occidentalis.

California Gull. Larus californicus.

Herring Gull. Larus argentatus.

Thayer’s Gull. Larus thayeri

Glaucous-winged Gull. Larus glaucescens.

Caspian Tern. Hydroprogne caspia.

Forster's Tern. Sterna forsteri.

Common Murre. Uria aalge.

Pigeon Guillemot. Cepphus columba.

Marbled Murrelet. Brachyramphus marmoratus.

Cassin's Auklet. Ptychoramphus aleuticus.

Rhinoceros Auklet. Cerorhinca monocerata.

Rock Pigeon. Columba livia.

Band-tailed Pigeon. Patagioenas fasciata.

Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto

Mourning Dove. Zenaida macroura.

Barn Owl. Tyto alba.

Great Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus.

Northern Pygmy-Owl. Glaucidium gnoma.

Barred Owl. Strix varia.

Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus.

Vaux's Swift. Chaetura vauxi.

Anna's Hummingbird. Calypte anna.

Rufous Hummingbird. Selasphorus rufus.

Belted Kingfisher. Megaceryle alcyon.

Acorn Woodpecker. Melanerpes formicivorus.

Red-naped Sapsucker. Sphyrapicus nuchalis.

Red-breasted Sapsucker. Sphyrapicus ruber.

Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens.

Hairy Woodpecker. Picoides villosus.

American Three-toed Woodpecker. Picoides dorsalis.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus.

Pileated Woodpecker. Dryocopus pileatus.

Olive-sided Flycatcher. Contopus cooperi.

Western Wood-Pewee. Contopus sordidulus.

Willow Flycatcher. Empidonax traillii.

Hammond's Flycatcher. Empidonax hammondii.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Empidonax difficilis.

Black Phoebe. Sayornis nigricans.

Western Kingbird. Tyrannus verticalis.

Eastern Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus.

Loggerhead Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus.

Hutton's Vireo. Vireo huttoni.

Warbling Vireo. Vireo gilvus.

Gray Jay. Perisoreus canadensis.

Pinyon Jay. Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus.

Steller's Jay. Cyanocitta stelleri.

Western Scrub-Jay. Aphelocoma californica.

Clark's Nutcracker. Nucifraga columbiana.

Black-billed Magpie. Pica hudsonia.

American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Common Raven. Corvus corax.

Horned Lark. Eremophila alpestris.

Purple Martin. Progne subis.

Tree Swallow. Tachycineta bicolor.

Violet-green Swallow. Tachycineta thalassina.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis.

Bank Swallow. Riparia riparia.

Cliff Swallow. Petrochelidon pyrrhonota.

Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica.

Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus.

Mountain Chickadee. Poecile gambeli.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Poecile rufescens.

Bushtit. Psaltriparus minimus.

Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis.

Pygmy Nuthatch. Sitta pygmaea.

Brown Creeper. Certhia americana.

Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii.

House Wren. Troglodytes aedon.

Pacific Wren. Troglodytes pacificus.

Marsh Wren. Cistothorus palustris.

American Dipper. Cinclus mexicanus.

Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Regulus calendula.

Wrentit. Chamaea fasciata.

Western Bluebird. Sialia mexicana.

Mountain Bluebird. Sialia currucoides.

Townsend's Solitaire. Myadestes townsendi.

Swainson's Thrush. Catharus ustulatus.

Hermit Thrush. Catharus guttatus.

American Robin. Turdus migratorius.

Varied Thrush. Ixoreus naevius.

Sage Thrasher. Oreoscoptes montanus.

European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.

American Pipit. Anthus rubescens.

Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.

Orange-crowned Warbler. Oreothlypis celata.

Yellow Warbler. Dendroica petechia.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. Dendroica coronata.

Black-throated Gray Warbler. Dendroica nigrescens.

Townsend's Warbler. Dendroica townsendi.

Hermit Warbler. Dendroica occidentalis.

MacGillivray's Warbler. Oporornis tolmiei.

Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas.

Wilson's Warbler. Wilsonia pusilla.

Yellow-breasted Chat. Icteria virens.

Spotted Towhee. Pipilo maculatus.

Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina.

Vesper Sparrow. Pooecetes gramineus.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

Lincoln's Sparrow. Melospiza lincolnii.

White-throated Sparrow. Zonotrichia albicollis.

Harris's Sparrow. Zonotrichia querula.

White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Golden-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia atricapilla.

Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis.

Western Tanager. Piranga ludoviciana.

Black-headed Grosbeak. Pheucticus melanocephalus.

Lazuli Bunting. Passerina amoena.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus.

Western Meadowlark. Sturnella neglecta.

Yellow-headed Blackbird. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.

Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

Brown-headed Cowbird. Molothrus ater.

Bullock’s Oriole. Icterus bullockii

Purple Finch. Carpodacus purpureus.

Cassin's Finch. Carpodacus cassinii.

House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.

Red Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra.

Pine Siskin. Spinus pinus.

Lesser Goldfinch. Spinus psaltria.

American Goldfinch. Spinus tristis.

Evening Grosbeak. Coccothraustes vespertinus.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.

Class Schedule: Fall 2011 to Summer 2012

Fall 2011

September 7, 14, 21, 24, 27
October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15
Overnight field trip September 9, 10, 11

Winter 2012

January 4, 7, 11, 18, 21
February 8, 11, 22, 29
March 11
Overnight field trip January 13, 14, 15 Coastal Olympic Peninsula

Spring 2012

March 14, 17, 21, 28, 31
April 4, 7, 18, 21
May 16, 23
Overnight field trip May 18, 19, 20 John Day

Summer 2012

July 18, 21, 25, 28
August 1, 4, 8, 15, 18, 22
Overnight field trip August 24, 25, 26 Coastal Washington and Oceanshores

Fee per quarter is $495 and 20 hours of volunteering at Portland Audubon
On-line registration now available

For more information or to register contact Dan van den Broek at 971-222-6105 or dvandenbroek@audubonportland.org

2011 August 19-21 - Gray's Harbor, WA

I counted 81 birds on our trip to Gray's Harbor. Please edit the list if we missed any species.

Cackling Goose. Branta hutchinsii

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis.

Wood Duck. Aix sponsa.

Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.

Surf Scoter. Melanitta perspicillata.

Hooded Merganser. Lophodytes cucullatus.

Red-throated Loon. Gavia stellata.

Common Loon. Gavia immer.

Sooty Shearwater. Puffinus griseus.

Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus.

Pelagic Cormorant. Phalacrocorax pelagicus.

Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura.

Osprey. Pandion haliaetus.

Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.

Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus.

Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperii.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.

Black-bellied Plover. Pluvialis squatarola.

Snowy Plover. Charadrius alexandrinus.

Semipalmated Plover. Charadrius semipalmatus.

Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.

Wandering Tattler. Tringa incana.

Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca.

Willet. Tringa semipalmata.

Whimbrel. Numenius phaeopus.

Marbled Godwit. Limosa fedoa.

Western Sandpiper. Calidris mauri.

Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla.

Wilson’s Snipe. Gallinago delicata.

Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus lobatus.

Heermann’s Gull. Larus heermanni.

Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis.

Western Gull. Larus occidentalis.

California Gull. Larus californicus.

Caspian Tern. Hydroprogne caspia.

Common Murre. Uria aalge.

Rock Pigeon. Columba livia.

Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto

Rufous Hummingbird. Selasphorus rufus.

Belted Kingfisher. Megaceryle alcyon.

Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus.

Western Wood-Pewee. Contopus sordidulus.

Willow Flycatcher. Empidonax traillii.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Empidonax difficilis.

Steller's Jay. Cyanocitta stelleri.

American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Purple Martin. Progne subis.

Tree Swallow. Tachycineta bicolor.

Violet-green Swallow. Tachycineta thalassina.

Cliff Swallow. Petrochelidon pyrrhonota.

Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica.

Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Poecile rufescens.

Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis.

Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii.

Marsh Wren. Cistothorus palustris.

Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa.

American Robin. Turdus migratorius.

European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.

Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.

Orange-crowned Warbler. Oreothlypis celata.

Yellow Warbler. Dendroica petechia.

Black-throated Gray Warbler. Dendroica nigrescens.

Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas.

Wilson's Warbler. Wilsonia pusilla.

Spotted Towhee. Pipilo maculatus.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus.

Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

Brown-headed Cowbird. Molothrus ater.

Purple Finch. Carpodacus purpureus.

House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.

Red Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra.

American Goldfinch. Spinus tristis.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.

Stunning bird photographs

This website has 50 stunning bird photographs for your viewing pleasure.

2011-08-06 Northern Oregon Coast (Seaside)

On this field trip I listed 62 birds. Does that match your record?

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis.
Wood Duck. Aix sponsa.
Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.
Cinnamon Teal. Anas cyanoptera.
Western Grebe. Aechmophorus occidentalis.
Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus.
Pelagic Cormorant. Phalacrocorax pelagicus.
Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis.
Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.
Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura.
Osprey. Pandion haliaetus.
Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.
American Kestrel. Falco sparverius.
Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus.
Semipalmated Plover. Charadrius semipalmatus.
Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.
Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularius.
Lesser Yellowlegs. Tringa flavipes.
Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres.
Black Turnstone. Arenaria melanocephala.
Western Sandpiper. Calidris mauri.
Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla.
Heermann’s Gull. Larus heermanni.
Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis.
Western Gull. Larus occidentalis.
California Gull. Larus californicus.
Caspian Tern. Hydroprogne caspia.
Common Murre. Uria aalge.
Rock Pigeon. Columba livia.
Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto
Vaux's Swift. Chaetura vauxi.
Belted Kingfisher. Megaceryle alcyon.
American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.
Common Raven. Corvus corax.
Purple Martin. Progne subis.
Violet-green Swallow. Tachycineta thalassina.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis.
Cliff Swallow. Petrochelidon pyrrhonota.
Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica.
Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Poecile rufescens.
Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii.
Pacific Wren. Troglodytes pacificus.
Marsh Wren. Cistothorus palustris.
Swainson's Thrush. Catharus ustulatus.
American Robin. Turdus migratorius.
European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.
Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.
Yellow Warbler. Dendroica petechia.
Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas.
Spotted Towhee. Pipilo maculatus.
Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.
Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.
White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys.
Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis.
Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.
Brown-headed Cowbird. Molothrus ater.
House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.
Red Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra.
American Goldfinch. Spinus tristis.
House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.

Interview with Greg Miller of "The Big Year"

The Z Bird Birding Blog Interview 4: Greg Miller, Hollywood superstar big year birder

A Tweeters' post today linked to this "interview with Greg Miller, one of the bigger-than-life characters in "The Big Year." Can't wait for the movie!