113th CBC Washington/Oregon Regional Summary

By Mike Patterson

The 113^th count period began with a winter storm that made for a challenging first weekend.  Steady, wind driven rain and lower than average temperatures caused some counts to under perform, while other did surprisingly well for the conditions.  The remainder of the count period was colder than average with snow east of the Cascades, but most counts managed well.   

For a second year, we saw an invasion of Snowy Owls.  As was the case last season, the majority of reports came from Western Washington, 22 in all.  Grays Harbor, WA found nine on count day to lead the region.  Only the Columbia Estuary, OR reported Snowy Owls this season in Oregon.  Two live birds were found at the South Jetty of the Columbia River and a dead one was recovered from Youngs Bay on count day.  Up to six were seen during other winter counting efforts at the South Jetty.

Winter finch numbers were also higher again this season.  Common Redpolls were reported on multiple counts throughout the region.  Hoary Redpolls reported at Cle Elum, WA are currently under review with the Washington Bird Records Committee.  An unusual west-side Pine Grosbeak was reported for count week from Port Angeles, WA.  Other winter irruptive species noted this season included out of range Mountain Chickadees and Bohemian Waxwings.

The most interesting report for the season was a dead Magnolia Warbler found by the cat of a feeder-watcher for Coos Bay, OR.  I am taking the compiler's word that bird was still breathing when recovered.  I would have been inclined to call it a count week bird if it had been found cold.  Photo documentation of the warbler's corpse was provided, so the identity was unquestionable, only its relative expiration date was controversial. 

Out of place Brown Pelicans were reported at both Seattle and Tacoma.  Coastal Brown Pelican Reports were average.  A Slaty-backed Gull was found at Tacoma, WA with photos, though I had to do an internet search to find them.  An out of season Caspian Tern was reported from Lyle, WA.  A Mountain Plover was photographed at Coquille Valley, OR and was reported off and on for the rest of the winter season.  Two over-wintering Red Knots were reported at Coos Bay, OR.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker seem to have become annual in the winter with a single bird continuing for the fourth year at Airlie, OR and two birds reported from Coquille Valley, OR.  Two Hammond's Flycatchers were reported, with photos from Roseburg-Sutherland, OR.  A Tropical Kingbird lingered into the count season at Sequim-Dungeness, WA.  A well documented Rusty Blackbird was found at Ashland, OR.

It was a better than average year for over-wintering Neotropical species.  Black-throated Gray Warblers were reported at Eugene, OR and Portland, OR.  A Wilson's Warbler was seen at Florence, OR.  Several counts reported both Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak with accompanying documentation.

It was another year with many counts reporting more than 100 species. Twenty of 39 participating counts in Washington and 19 of 40 in Oregon were above 100 species.  Coos Bay, OR was, as usual, ahead of the pack with 168 species.  Coquille Valley tallied 155.  In Washington, Sequim-Dungeness reported 143 followed by Everett at 132.  East of the Cascades, Lyle, WA posted 118 followed by Tri-City, WA at 109, Hood River, OR at 106 and Klamath Falls at 105.

A few compilers continue to enter Winter Wren rather than Pacific Wren and I even found a Common Snipe entry which I changed.  I've given up on trying to sort out the counts which continue to report "small-form Canada Goose".  I presume they mean Cackling Geese in the majority of cases.  Compilers are requested to please provide context to the editor for their continued use of "small-form Canada Goose".

For the most part, documentation was good, especially regarding very uncommon species.  A Sedge Wren, reported from Airlie, OR, failed to pass muster with the Oregon Bird Records Committee and was removed.  I also removed a House Wren that was reported without details and a Muscovy Duck, because it was a Muscovy Duck.  I downgraded a Rufous Hummingbird to Selasphorus sp., because details were insufficient to eliminate other species in that genus, and several out of range Gyrfalcons that did not satisfactorily eliminate Peregrine Falcon.  Thank you to all compilers who continue the challenging and often uncomfortable task of getting observers to properly document their claimed sightings.