Northwest Field Notes, Annotated / 1981-1990
1983
Autumn Migration, 1982
NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN- INTERMOUNTAIN REGION
/Thomas H. Rogers
Warm, dry weather in August continued well into October in southern interior British Columbia, extreme northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. Then conditions turned cold and wet in most localities. Some areas had early freezeups and snow cover in October. November was in general cold with snow in more northerly localities. No clear pattern of weather effects on migration was evident. Weydemeyer remarked that most departure dates at Fortine were early but that most winter visitors had not arrived. The latter was generally true for the "northern finches". Good food supplies supposedly were keeping them farther north or in the mountains. The waterfowl migration at Metcalf N.W.R., Stevensville, Mont., was described as 2-3 weeks late. That area apparently had a relatively warm and dry autumn.
LOONS AND GREBES-- An Arctic Loon on the Columbia R., n. of Richland, Wash., Aug. 28 was Woodley's first ever for Benton County. A Yellow-billed Loon on Little Shuswap L. Chase. B.C., Oct. 26-28 was a real rarity (RH, MCo, JGr). A Red-necked Grebe on Hatfield L., near Bend, Ore., Oct. 9 was Deschutes County's first (TC). Malheur N.W.R., Burns, Ore., hosted the largest number of Eared Grebes with a peak of 1435, and of W. Grebes, peaking at 1490, both in August.
PELICANS AND CORMORANTS -- An aerial survey of Potholes Res., Moses L., Wash., Sept. 29, found 252 White Pelicans, that area's highest ever (RF). Carry Res., Boardman. Ore. had 20 (RJK). Only about 25 pairs of Double-crested Cormorants nested successfully at Malheur, fledging their young from tree nests. Lake Helena had 200 for the highest number ever there (GH). One bird was on the Kootenai R., just below Libby Dam Oct. 2-3 (CW). Singles were at Tranquille, B.C., Aug. 14-17 and at Kamloops, B.C., Oct. 14 (RH).
HERONS THROUGH IBISES -- The Portneuf R., near Pocatello, Ida., had a Green Heron Sept. 9 (DT, CHT, TF). A well- observed Little Blue Heron at Malheur Sept. 8 furnished Oregon's first record (DF, GF). The only Cattle Egret reports were of single birds near Stevensville, Mont., in October (fide CP); near Boise, Ida., Aug. 16 (MRC), and near Pocatello Oct. 7 (ST). Malheur Basin counted a new high of 1935 Great Egrets on an aerial survey. Snowy Egrets there peaked at 175 and Black-crowned Night Herons at 1115. White-faced Ibises reached 2500 there, the highest ever.
WATERFOWL -- Whistling Swan numbers were very low in n. Idaho and at Metcalf N.W.R., but were good elsewhere. Peak numbers were: Malheur,9550; Red Rock Lakes N.W.R., Lima, Mont., 720; Ennis-Harrison, Mont., 500; Turnbull N.W.R., Cheney, Wash., 320, and Columbia N.W.R., Othello, Wash., 150. The Trum-
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peter Swan population for Centennial Valley and Red Rock Lakes was 220-250. Refuge cygnet production there totalled only four, the poorest ever. Turnbull had 3-5 birds. Unexpected sightings for the species were of one at Hatfield L. (TC), one at Columbia Ref. (JRR) and an adult and two juveniles on Cascade Res., Valley Co., Ida., (MRC). Top counts for Canada Geese were: Malheur, 10,625; Columbia N.W.R., 10,000; n. Idaho, 8853; Park L., Grant Co., Wash., "several thousand" along with 27 Cackling Geese (JA); Minidoka N.W.R., Rupert, Ida., 4000; Kootenai N.W.R., Bonners Ferry, Ida., 4000 (high), and Turnbull, 1755. White-fronted Geese built up to 2000 at Malheur and Snow Goose numbers there reached 4025. Ross' Geese peaked at 500 at Malheur, which is on the species' major migration route. A single Ross' Goose again appeared at Lewiston, Ida. (RN). The November U.S.F.W.S. aerial waterfowl survey, excluding coot, of the n. Columbia Basin, Wash., showed a total 14% down from the 6-year average but the count over the s. Columbia Basin was up by 83%. Swan and goose totals on the survey were down in both n. and s. but overall totals for ducks, mostly Mallards, were decidedly up The peak for waterfowl, excluding coot, at Malheur was over 145,000, well above average, with Mallards, Green-winged Teal and Com. Mergansers the major gainers. The n. Idaho Fish and Game aerial survey counted much higher than normal numbers for nearly every waterfowl species, Mallards totaling over 21,000 and Am. Wigeon over 28,000. At Kootenai N.W.R., however, ducks, mostly Mallards, peaked at only 14,000, the lowest in 5 years, and waterfowl numbers at Minidoka were down considerably. Waterfowl at Carty Res, built up to nearly 160,000; Mallard was the dominant species. In the rarity department a Greater Scaup was sighted on the Pend Oreille R., w. of Sandpoint, Ida. (BM) and Malheur had three (MA). The Helena area had a pair of Bufflehead and a female Hooded Merganser (GH). Hatfield L. had an Oldsquaw (TC); two were on McNary Dam Res., Umatilla Co., Ore. (MC), and two females were on Willow L., Spokane Co. (WH, JA). Four White-winged Scoters appeared at Hatfield L., Nov. 11-20 as did a female Surf Scoter Oct. 23 and an imm. male Surf Scorer Nov. 6-16 for the first county records (TC). Malheur had a male White-winged and a male Surf Scorer Nov. 6 (MA). The Pend Oreille R had a surprising 15 White-wingeds Nov. 10. Ahunterbaggedoneat Kootenai N.W.R., and one was found dead near Hoodoo Cr., n.w. of Spirit L., Ida. (SGS). Sightings of single Surf Scoters were made at Three Forks, Mont., Oct. 23 and Nov. 2 (DS, RW, JM, VM) and one was at Okanagan Landing, B.C., Aug. 6 (TH). The Lewiston, Ida.–Clarkston, Wash. area had 3 sightings of single birds (RN). Two late flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers passed through Sparwood, B.C., Nov. 3-4 (DFF).
HAWKS -- A "major" movement of Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks was noted at Bend Sept. 6-8 (TC). A Red-shouldered Hawk stayed near Klamath Falls, Ore., Aug. 14-Sept. 19 (SS). ABroad- winged Hawk was migrating with other hawks over Little Camas Res, n.e. of Mountain Home, Ida. Oct. 1 (MRC). The Bald Eagle gathering at lower McDonald Cr., Glacier N.P., Mont., had a high of only 309, the low number attributed to a drastic decline in spawning Kokanee salmon (Hungry Horse News). An average of 23 Bald Eagles/week was observed in the Libby area in November (CW). At Red Rock Lakes the species peaked at ten adults and 15 immatures (TMcE). Fifty active Osprey nests in Lincoln County, Mont., produced 68 fledglings (CW). The Region had an unusual number of Gyrfalcon sightings, five or six. One was a white-phase bird as was the possible sixth sighting.
CRANES THROUGH COOT –
Sandhills there peaked at 2300. Greater Sandhills reached their peak at Malheur Nov. 7 with over 2500. A few of the subspecies canadensis appeared with the larger tabida birds at Harrison and Wilsall, Mont. (PDS, RW, JM, TL). The nine summering Sandhills at Ladd Marsh, LaGrande, Ore., raised two young (RR). American Coot at Malheur peaked at 44,750 and Washington's aerial count of the Columbia Basin came up with over 39,000, a definite increase, in mid-October North Idaho's aerial survey found over 28,000, an above-average number, and the species peaked at Turnbull at over 30,000.
SHOREBIRDS -- Up to six Semipalmated Plovers appeared at Reardan, Wash. (JA). Singles were noted at Hatfield L. (TC) and in the Salmon, Ida. area for Roberts' first there. The species also appeared in the Moses Lake area (RF et al.). One near Fortine furnished only the fourteenth fall record in 60 years (WW). Richland, Wash., had up to six Am. Golden Plovers (REW) and Pablo N.W.R, Lake Co., Mont., nine (RW). The only other sightings, all of singles, were at Cold Springs N.W.R., Hermiston, Ore. (CC); near Klamath Falls (SS) and s. of Revelstoke, B.C. (JW). Black-bellied Plovers reached an impressive 25 at Cold Springs (SM, SW) and seven were seen at Summer Lake, Ore. (MA). A meager sprinkling of the species appeared in the s. Okanagan, Idaho, Montana and Washington. A Wandering Tattler at Wenas Res., s.w. of Ellensburg Sept. 35 was e. Washington's first ever (EH, DW et al.; ZB). A Red Knot near Midland, Ore., Sept. 26 furnished the first fall record for the Klamath Basin (SS). A minutely described Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Swan L. Vernon Sept. 12 was apparently interior British Columbia's first (MCo, HM, JGr, PMcA) and one photographed w. of Othello Sept. 26 was e. Washington's fourth (EM, JLe). Evidence indicates that Pectoral Sandpipers' fall migration w. of the Continental Divide follows a path through Yoho N.P., and Radium Hot Springs, B.C , down into n. Idaho, turns W through Reardan to the Grand Coulee, Washington, thence S to the Yakima R. delta and on to Malheur N.W.R., then SW to Summer L., and the Klamath Basin. This fall the Yakima delta had a peak of 40 and Cold Springs N.W.R., 16. The birds were noted on about 15 days mid-September-mid-October at Malheur in numbers up to 16 and up to 94 were at Midland in the Klamath Sept. 26. Localities outside this path reported very few or none this fall and in previous years. East of the Divide Harrison L. in Montana had 300, a high number. Two Short-billed Dowitchers were heard at Cold Springs (CMC) and two at the Yakima delta (REW) At Miller I., Klamath Falls, one-five were present (SS). The only sightings of Stilt Sandpipers were of three at Pablo N.W.R. (RW) and singles s. of Davenport and at Reardan, Wash. (JA) and near Rich- land, Wash. (Y.A.S.). Dunlins were scarce at the Yakima delta but 30 were sighted near Umatilla (CMC, NB). One showed up at Harrison, where the species is very rare (PDS, JM) and one was at Boise for one of very few records there (MRC). Sightings of single Semipalmated Sandpipers were obtained at Miller I., for the second Klamath County record (SS); at Prineville, Ore. (TC); at Boise (MRC), and on 2 dates at Reardan (JA). At Fortine it was surprising to have only one sighting of four birds (WW). Malheur had two Marbled Godwits and Summer L., three (RJK). The species was reported from the Eureka-Fortine, Mont. area for apparently the latilong's first record (CW). One was sighted along the Snake R., s.e. of Mountain Home (KBP) and Pablo N.W.R. had one-two (RW). Sanderlings, rare in the Region, were noted at Pablo (up to 15--RW); at Chewelah, Wash., one Sept. 29 (first latilong record) (JN), and one at Harrison L. (PDS, RW). A Red Phalarope at the mouth of the Umatilla R. was n.e. Oregon's first (CMC, NB).
JAEGERS THROUGH TERNS -- The only jaeger was a Parasitic at Penticton, B.C., Sept. 30 (HM). Two imm. Glaucous Gulls were at Little Shuswap L., Oct. 27-28 (RH) and a first year Glaucous-winged appeared at Nicola L., near Merritt, B.C., Aug. 6 (MD). Six Herring Gulls were at Cascade Res., a new locality (MRC) and four were at the Boise R. (AHL). One at L. Helena was highly unusual (WHo) A first year Thayer's Gull was photographed at Bend Nov. 26-28 for the county's first record (TC). An ad. Mew Gull showed up for the third year at Upper Klamath L. (SS) and one was at the Yakima delta for Woodley's fourth record there. The Portneuf R. mouth had 200+ Franklin's Gulls (DT) and one at Cold Springs furnished the first record there (CMC, NB). Tumalo Res. had 21 Bonaparte's Gulls and Reardan had up to 48, the highest ever. A major storm the night of Sept. 11 was followed by the appearance of a Sabine's Gull, the county's first, at Tumalo Res., along with 14 Forster's, eight Common and one Arctic Tern (TC). Two Caspian Terns, rare at Reardan, overflew there Aug. 11 (JA).
PIGEONS AND OWLS -- Two Band-tailed Pigeons appeared near Sparwood Aug. 23 for the only report (DFF). Boise had a Black-billed Cuckoo Aug. 14 (MRC). A Barn Owl near Colville, Wash.,
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Aug. 2, made the first record, (DJD) and one was at a new locality, Ginkgo S.P., Vantage, Wash., Oct. 3 (DK, BBN, THR). A road-killed Barn Owl was found near Libby (CW). For the second consecutive year one was roosting in the Davenport cemetery (JA). A Screech Owl, unusual in the Helena area, was hit by a car Oct. 29 (GH). A Flammulated Owl was banded at Pocatello (JJ) and Malheur had one Sept. 26. An injured Barred Owl was picked up near Walla Walla Nov. 21 (SM et al.) and one was seen s. of Libby in late October (CW). A new locality for the species was the Creston, B.C. valley, where at least three birds were heard Sept. 14 (DFF, JL, MW). A Great Gray Owl was sighted up Pipe Cr., n. of Libby (CW) and one was at Lumby, B.C. (Oct. 25-Nov. 8 (ML). Single birds were seen at 2 localities near Sikanni ChiefR., 150 min. of Ft. St. John, B.C., Aug. 1 (JQ). The only Boreal Owl reported was one in the Bull R. area, Lincoln Co., Mont. (CW). A Saw-whet Owl was sighted on Kamiak Butte, Whitman Co., Wash. (WHe et al.).
HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH WRENS -- Penticton had a male Anna's Hummingbird Oct. 4 (PH) and one visited a Vernon feeder Nov. 1-4 (JQ). One was reported for s.w. Idaho Oct. 20 (AHL). One hummer at Clarkston Nov. 1 was likely this species (LL). A "Red-breasted" Sapsucker was photographed at Malheur Sept. 25 for the first record there (JG, OS, RS). Two Blue Jays visited a Vernon feeder Oct. 31+ (JQ, m.ob.) and one was along the Kootenai R., n. of Libby in late September (CW). One was at Richland Nov. 14-24 (DH, REW). In Idaho one was at Hagerman State Wildlife Ref., Hagerman Nov. 4 (JR) and one frequented feeders at Rupert Oct. 12+ (WHS). A Bewick's Wren was seen and heard near Kamiah, Ida. Oct. 20+ (MMcK).
THRUSHES THROUGH WAXWINGS -- The bluebird trail along the old highway between Ellensburg and Yakima fledged eight Mountain Chickadees, 156 House Wrens, 72 W. Bluebirds and 54 Mountain Bluebirds (Y.A.S.). A movement of Mountain Bluebirds at Red Rock Lakes numbered 100-200 a day in mid-October (TMcE). Bohemian Waxwings were late, scarce or absent, except at Bozeman, which had flocks totaling 8000 by mid-November, and s.e. British Columbia, where flocks of up to 200-300 appeared at Fernie.
WARBLERS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS -- A Black-and-white Warbler visited Rupert Sept. 20 (WHS) and a Black-and-white and a Townsend's were banded at Pocatello (JJ). Creston had four Tennessee Warblers (DFF, JL, MW) and one was at a Yakima feeder Aug. 29 (JMA). A Tennessee was sighted at Greeny L., e. ofLac la Hache, B.C., Aug. 7 and a Nashville was found there the next day (MD). A Magnolia Warbler was reported on Horse Ridge e. of Bend Sept. 10 (VT). A well-described Black-throated Blue Warbler was at Boise Sept. 25 for apparently the third state record (MRC) and a male was sighted at Malheur Oct. 10 (TMo). A Black-throated Green Warbler studied at length near Harrison Oct. 23 was only Montana's sixth (PDS, RW, JM, VM). An imm. Chestnut-sided Warbler was photographed at Fields, Ore., Sept. 24-25 and a Pine Warbler, apparently e. Oregon's first, was identified there Sept. 24 (JG, OS, RS). A Canada Warbler mist-netted at Malheur Sept. 26 and a Mourning Warbler carefully identified there the same day were apparently the first ever for e. Oregon, perhaps the state (RS, JG, OS). A N. Waterthrush near Malheur Sept. 22 furnished a rare sighting (MA). A warbler movement of mixed species of some 660 birds moved through Red Rock Lakes Oct. 13 (TMcE). Summer Lake, Ore., had 24 Tricolored Blackbirds Sept. 4 (RJK). A full-plumaged male Com. Grackle near Haines, Ore., Sept. 20-22 was the state's third (JE, RFe).
FINCHES -- A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was banded at Malheur Sept. 22. Evening Grosbeaks were almost completely absent from reports. A large, mixed flock of Cassin's and Purple finches, Pine Siskins, Am. Goldfinches and Red Crossbills was observed in the Blue Mts., near Tollgate, Ore., Aug. 17. These species, except Red Crossbills, were scarce or absent at most other reporting localities. A large flock of Pine Siskins did show up at Yakima. Purple Finches were "definitely confirmed" in many high country (4000ft.+) locations from Canada to the Clark Fork R., in Lincoln County, Mont. No photographs or specimens have been obtained, however (CW). House Finches were reported up Pipe Cr., near Libby (CW). "Huge flocks" of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches were found at elevations of 4000 ft and up in Lincoln County, Mont., during November (CW). Black Rosy Finches were sighted at 12,500ft on Granite Peak w. of Red Lodge, Mont., Aug 15 (DS) White-winged Crossbill was one of the most common fringillids in the N. Fork of the Flathead R., w of Glacier N.P., Mont. (DFi). A flock of 12 was sighted e. of Sparwood for the only other report (DFF).
SPARROWS -- A nondescript imm. bird near Livingston,Mont. eventually matured enough to be identified as a Sage Sparrow Photographed many times, it furnished the fourth well-documented state record. The observation site was very close to where Saunders reported the species as abundant in 1909 (AS, EHa, PDS). A Dark- eyed (Slate-colored) Junco was sighted at Mountain Home Nov 27 (KBP). Sightings in s. Idaho are scant. A very few Harris' Sparrows were reported; the same was true for Golden-crowned Sparrows Chase, B.C., had six White-throated Sparrows (CH) and one was near Vernon (PMcA). Hillcrest had one (DFF) and 2 sightings were in the Helena area, where the species is very rare (PMcK, GH). One was found in the Bridger Mts., n. of Bozeman (PDS, JM, TL) and at least three stayed at Kamiah Nov. 11+ (WMMcK). About 20 Lapland Longspurs were at Penticton Oct. 15 (SC) and 20+ were using reclaimed mine dumps at 7000 ft in the Sparwood area Sept. 15-17 (DFF). One at Fortine was a rarity, for the species has been found there in only 10 of the last 60 years (WW). A flock of 100+ Snow Buntings was at the Sparwood mine dumps Sept. 16.