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Interesting birds reported from Washington County, Oregon. New updates are added to the top of the page, thus the year tends to run backwards from top to bottom. The status of birds given is only for Washington County, unless specified otherwise.
The idea for this page copies that of Don Roberson for Monterey County, California (for example, http://montereybay.com/creagrus/MTY_2004.html). Text below by Greg Gillson. Photos on this page are copyrighted by the photographers and may not be used elsewhere without their direct permission (but you already knew that, didn't you?). Please contact me, Greg Gillson, for instructions on emailing photos for inclusion on this page. Thank you. | ||||
March 2008: Mike Marsh and Stephan Schlick spotted an immature Northern Goshawk at Hagg Lake on March 21. A Northern Goshawk was north of Manning about 2 miles on Green Mt. Rd. March 29 (Greg Gillson) (see February report). A migrant Say's Phoebe was in Beaverton on March 19 (Dennis Manzer). This is the 8th known record for the county. Most records are in February and March. Just in case any one wonders, the Eurasian Collared Doves remain in Verboort. Greg Gillson saw one 1/4 mile north of town on March 29. Last December (2007) was the first time they were recorded on the local Forest Grove CBC. They became residents some time about August 2006. They remain unreported elsewhere in the county, except occasionally nearby at Banks (perhaps the same individuals?). The first-cycle Glaucous Gull remained at Fernhill Wetlands. Blake Matheson photographed it March 1. Leslie Meserve reported it March 16 and Scott Carpenter got photos the same day. There were 2 Glaucous Gulls there on March 8, where Stephan Schlick photographed this second, smaller-billed bird! This makes at least 2, and possibly 3, first-cycle Glaucous Gulls this winter (see January and February reports).
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February 2008: A dark first-year Glaucous Gull, very similar to the bird at Fernhill Wetlands was seen February 1 at Banks, about 8 miles to the north, by Lars Norgren. The Fernhill Wetlands bird seems to always be there, so Lars' bird may be a different one. Blake Matheson spotted the Fernhill Glaucous Gull on February 29. A rare Prairie Falcon was near North Plains on February 2 (Lars Norgren) and February 3 (David Smith). There are 10 previous records of this species in the county, including 2 sightings of perhaps this same individual this past December from quite nearby. Stefan Schlick spotted the continuing Red-shouldered Hawk at Fernhill Wetlands on February 9. Lars Norgren spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk north of Banks on February 12, a new location for this species. An adult Golden Eagle was over North Plains on February 13 (Lars Norgren). This may perhaps be the same bird reported January (see December 2007 and January 2008 reports). An adult Northern Shrike was spotted in a tree farm high above Dairy Creek on 17 February by Greg Gillson. This is an occasional species, not seen every winter. A Trumpeter Swan was at Fernhill Wetlands on February 29 where Blake Matheson saw and heard it. This is getting late for this rare annual winter visitor (See January reports). Common Goldeneyes are rare annual visitors that tend to migrate through, rather than winter locally. Leslie Meserve spotted two males at Fernhill Wetlands on February 3. A first-year male Goldeneye (sp.) was in Hillsboro from February 20 to at least March 16 (Blake Matheson, Scott Carpenter, and Mike Marsh photos). The head was shaped as the much rarer Barrow's, but the bill seemed properly large for Common. It disappeared before molting into any recognizable species. Hybrids are known. While 100-300 Sandhill Cranes winter only 10 miles away on Sauvie Island, and the Island is a major stop over point during spring and fall migration, the migration corridor usuall misses Washington County. No cranes were reported in 2007. However, this spring several flocks crossed Washington County air space. On February 17 a flock of Sandhill Cranes over-flew Hillsboro, delighting Don Moore. On February 24 a flock was over Beaverton, where Stephan Schlick and David Smith spotted them separately as they flew noisily overhead. A rare resdient, a Northern Goshawk was spotted by Lars Norgren at Manning on February 28. [See March reports.]
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January 2008:
Max Smith spotted a pale gull near West Union on January 11 that was either a 2nd-year Glaucous Gull or a hybrid. There are 10 previous county records of Glaucous Gull, and one documented Glaucous x Herring ("Nelson's") Gull. Glaucous x Glaucous-winged is another known hybrid, not yet recorded in the county. On January 26 Blake Matheson identified a first-year Glaucous at Fernhill Wetlands. Lars Norgren spotted it there January 31 (but see February report). The Ross's Goose discovered in late December was not seen again until January 4 when Lars Norgren spotted it on a small wooded pond at Hayward. This is the 3rd county record of this rare species. Rare, but annual, 2 adult Trumpeter Swans were spotted January 10 at Banks (Lars Norgren). Greg Gillson heard one or two flying over Hillsboro with Tundra Swans on January 20. Blake Matheson spotted 3 Trumpeter Swans at Jackson Bottom at Hillsboro on January 26. These could all be one family group. A rare fall and winter visitor, a Red-shouldered Hawk was at Tualatin River NWR on January 12, where it was spotted by Anette Hildebrand. A juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk has been hiding at Fernhill Wetlands since last August. It was seen again January 31 by Blake Matheson. A 1st winter Bonaparte's Gull was at Fernhill Wetlands on January 26 (Blake Matheson). This species is rare, but annual, within the county, though usually seen in migration and not mid-winter. Blake Matheson spotted a rare lowland Northern Goshawk at Fernhill Wetlands on January 26. This species is rare, but regular in the Coast Range (Hagg Lake, Hayward, Timber, Scoffield). Breeding is suspected, but not proved.
Tom Wnuk took a photo of a mystery bird at Banks on January 23 that turned out to be a fairly rare lowland Townsend's Solitaire. A very few of these breed annually in the Coast Range. Some are noted in spring migration in the lowlands, and some in winter, but always rare. A White-tailed Kite was between North Plains and Hillsboro on January 31. Jon Plissner reported this rare winter visitor, which has been nearly annual since the second county sighting in 1997. There are well over 10 county sightings now. John Gatchet spotted an adult Golden Eagle west of Banks on January 4. There are now at least 10 sightings for the county. Mike Gellerman reported a male Costa's Hummingbird from Beaverton in mid January. There are about a half dozen reports of this species for the county. Photos of this species are always desired, as Anna's Hummingbirds or hybrids can appear very similar. Even photos can be controversial.
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