Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Clark County, and specifically Shillapoo Lake west of Vancouver, had a strong case of Patagonia Picnic Table effect this week. It all started with a Black Tern flying over the lake last Thursday. Visiting birders then found American Golden-Plover, Wilson’s Phalarope, and a very rare spring STILT SANDPIPER for a pretty fantastic four. 

Washington Coutny also got in on the tern action with a Forster’s Tern reported from Fernhill Wetlands where it joined the continuing Clark’s Grebe. An Eastern Kingbird was seen was at Tualatin River NWR, but appeared to be a one-day wonder.

In Portland, a Rock Wren photographed at Mt. Tabor also broke some hearts by never being refound despite the searching of many local birders.  Black Swifts were similarly flighty, but were reported from several locations across the region. 

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK have been reported from multiple private feeders (as usual) this week, in Clackamas and Washington counties. 

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@portlandaudubon.org, and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The prevailing wisdom about bird migration this year in the PNW is that persistent cold temps and precip kept birds south until later than usual, and now those birds, faced with warm weather and favorable winds, are skipping right over top of us instead of stopping in. Which is to say that migration this year has seemed slow overall, even as Cornell’s BirdCast modeling tells us that they are indeed at least coming through Oregon airspace.

Of course, interesting birds are still coming through. Lewis’s Woodpeckers have been the surprise of the week, with birds showing up at Mt. Tabor, Broadmoor, and Powell Butte. This year has seen mass movement of the species because of the near total failure of acorn crops in most of Washington and Oregon, leading to an irruption of them in parts of California. Possibly related, last fall saw an unusual number of reports for a normally rare species in the area.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Scattered thunderstorms interspersed with beautiful sunny days brought a bit of a lull to Spring migration around Portland this week, but birders were still treated to some exciting rarities.

The shocking find of the week was a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on Mt. Tabor on Wednesday morning. In typical rare-warbler fashion, this bird was only seen for a few minutes by two keen-eyed observers, leaving the rest of us hopelessly trying to refind this first county record of a bird not normally seen West of Colorado.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Ongoing mild weather combined with some breezy days made this past week a standout, as neotropical migrants flooded through the region. Particularly notable were the numbers of normally more Central and Eastern Oregon migrants that strayed West of the Cascades and graced Portland birders with some fun local rarities.

A Calliope Hummingbird on Rocky Butte Park was the latest of these tiny hummingbirds to appear in the Portland area during a banner year for this species. A Lewis’s Woodpecker on Sauvie Island and a Gray Flycatcher at the Sandy River Delta represented two rare but regular migrants West of the Cascades.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The winter weather has mercifully ended, and with the warmer spring temps, northbound bird migration has exploded over the last few days, filling parks and neighborhoods with the expected migrant warblers and flycatchers. 

Standout migrants this week include the Black-necked Stilt found in Scappoose, and a Gray Flycatcher found at a private farm in Molalla. Hot on the heels of the Mt. Tabor Calliope Hummingbird that remained into the week, another was spotted at Fernhill Wetlands on the 23rd.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The well-below-average temps and persistent rainfall seem to have kept spring at bay, and, in an enduring mystery of just how they know, has kept spring migration delayed as well. But the trickle seems to have finally started, with warblers (Nashville, Hermit, and Black-throated Gray), flycatchers (Hammond’s, Dusky, and Gray), and Vireos (Cassin’s) finally being noted across the valley and northern Oregon. 

The most welcome migrant of the week was likely the Calliope Hummingbird found on Mt. Tabor during a Portland Audubon Spring Birdsong Walk there on Wednesday, where it remained into Thursday, being seen by many. Another was seen at a feeder outside of Woodburn. On Powell Butte, the Mountain Bluebird show continued into the week, with nearly 20 birds observed over the weekend. A Red-naped Sapsucker at Powell Butte was much less cooperative, being seen for only two hours, which seems to be the standard for these migratory woodpeckers. A Brewer’s Sparrow was reported at press time, but has not been refound or confirmed.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A SLATY-BACKED GULL at Hayden Island was the top-line bird this week, with a crisp breeding adult found loafing on a roof. Unfortunately the bird was not refound, and it is not clear if it was the same bird being seen recently in Clark County. 

The Gray Catbird in Washington County continues to be seen in West Haven, but, being a Catbird, continues to be skulky and difficult to find. 

Chipping Sparrows seem to be having an early spring, with multiple birds seen in Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Mostly the same cast of characters this week. The hard-to-find Gray Catbird found a number of weeks ago in Washington County resurfaced in the same Cedar Mill neighborhood, reportedly coming to a feeder for at least a week. A Western Tanager at Recuerdo Park in Washington County was the latest in a remarkable winter for the species in the area. 

The American Tree Sparrow on Rentenaar Road continues, as do the Yellow-headed and Tricolored Blackbirds at Rivergate. Still lots of Townsend’s Solitaires in the area, as well as a number of long-staying Harris’s Sparrows. 

Barn Swallows, American White Pelicans, and Osprey all continue to be reported across the region.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@portlandaudubon.org, and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The Rare Bird Report has been on a little bit of a winter break for the last few weeks, but it seems like the rare birds have been as well. Most of the birds reported this week are continuing birds and very early migrants (which might have led us to believe Spring was imminent, had it not been for the record-setting double digit snowfall). 

A Say’s Phoebe at Whitaker Ponds has been the fan favorite hint of Spring so far, with the bird continuing for many days between the ponds. While this is not typical habitat for the species, it is likely the only place nearby with enough flying insects to sustain the unfashionably early migrant.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A HARRIS’S SPARROW was found coming to a feeder near Woodburn, where it represents one of a very small number of Clackamas County records. The individual in North Portland also continued into its 11th week. Many thanks to the homeowner there for providing good habitat, good food, and welcome updates to the birding community. 

Most of our other “megas” this winter have also continued into the week, including the SE Portland SUMMER TANAGER, the Kelly Point Park Brandt’s Cormorants, Rusty, Tricolored, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds at the Purina Plant near Kelly Point, the Northern Mockingbird on Pleasant Valley Road, and an American Tree Sparrow at Vancouver Lowlands that is presumably the same bird that has been seen recently at Shilappo Lake a few miles away. Or… is it?

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

It’s been another week of birders mostly enjoying the lingering “megas” (ie very rare birds) rather than finding new rarities. The top find was a Gray Catbird in a neighborhood near Cedar Mill, found by a very astute birder out for a jog. The bird has been stubbornly difficult to relocate (as is not surprising for such a skulky species), but has been seen by at least a few intrepid chasers. It appears to be a first county for Washington County. 

A Hermit Warbler in a backyard in North Portland was a very unusual winter record for the region. Nearby, a Western Tanager was found at the Children’s Arboretum, and while we’ve lost track of the number of individual birds in the region this winter, we feel comfortable with the assertion that it is an unprecedented winter for the species, and are reminded that this past spring was broadly noted as a banner year for the (usually) neotropical migrant.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

It’s almost entirely last week’s news this week, but with the incredible high quality of rarities, who can complain? The SE Portland Summer Tanager, North Portland Rusty Blackbird (and accompanying Tricolored and Yellow-headed Blackbirds) and nearby Brandt’s Cormorant, as well as the Arbor Lodge Harris’s Sparrow and Columbia River Tufted Duck all continue, in what is the most exceptional lineup of Multnomah County rarities in recent memory.

In Washington County, birders visiting Hagg Lake in search of the continuing Red Phalaropes were treated to a one-day wonder Long-tailed Duck. The other new bird for the week was lone Red-breasted Merganser spotted near the Sandy River Delta. In Columbia County, an Osprey was very late – or very early.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The new year is off to a hot start! After last week’s bounty of impressive rarities, this week started off with a SUMMER TANAGER found visiting a second story apartment ledge feeder in SE Portland, reported by the homeowner, much to the delight of the 100 or so birders that have gone to see the very out of place bird, one of only a handful of records for the region. Not to be outdone, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was found mixed in with the blackbird flock at the Purina plant near Kelly Point Park, a flock we have mentioned in this space several times over the last few years, as the shear number of birds in the flock often seems to hide a rarity or two. At least two Yellow-headed Blackbirds were also found in the same flock.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The Portland CBC was held on December 31, and, as expected, the nearly 300 counters across the city turned up a number of interesting finds. A Cassin’s Vireo at Alberta Park was the bird that won its observer the coveted Eagle Eye award, as this species is exceptionally rare in winter anywhere in Oregon. The other major excitement of the day was when a birder found a Brandt’s Cormorant near Broughton Beach, and further searching along the river seemed to indicate there were up to four individuals between the I5 bridge and the I205 bridge. This is only the second record for the county, for a species that is notorious for almost never straying away from the coast (and indeed, has only been documented doing so five times previously, including the prior Portland record).

In non-count news, a female TUFTED DUCK has been spotted several times amidst a large raft of Scaup on the Columbia River (and, sadly, just outside the count circle). Similarly, a Yellow-headed Blackbird was found just outside the circle at the Purina plant near Kelly Point Park. And speaking of blackbirds, two Rusty Blackbirds were found at Fernhill Wetlands and Beal Wetlands, continuing the trend of this species being nearly annual in Washington County while nearly totally absent from the other Portland counties. 

Staying in Washington County, Hagg Lake hosted two Red Phalaropes, while a Say’s Phoebe were found in two different western Washington County locales, and the Northern Mockingbird on Pleasant Valley Road was added to a few birders’ year lists.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The Sauvie Island CBC was held on Monday, giving local birders a rare chance to access sections of the refuge that are typically off-limits to non-hunters in winter, and the efforts rewarded with a single Brant, as well as a Lesser Yellowlegs, which, while rare in winter, seem to have an affinity for Columbia County and nearby Clark County, which together account for nearly all regional winter records. Birders on the other side of the river also found a Bewick’s Tundra Swan, a threatened Eurasian subspecies of Tundra Swan formally considered a separate species, and quite rare in the lower 48. 

A Sora was photographed on the Fairview-Gresham trail for the third winter in a row. And the Harris’s Sparrow continues to visit two different yards in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood. 

 Acorn Woodpeckers continue to be reported from across the region. Other continuing birds include Townsend’s Solitaires at several locations, and the Pleasant Valley Road Northern Mockingbird.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A quiet week overall in the Portland area. Black-throated Gray Warbler and Western Tanager were two very out-of-season birds reported from Oaks Bottom, and a Common Yellowthroat was reported from the Columbia Slough. These birds seem to be more and more common in winter. A Say’s Phoebe was reported near Verboort in Washington County, where they also seem to increasingly be an annual bird in winter.

Acorn Woodpeckers continue to be reported from across the region. Other continuing birds include Townsend’s Solitaires at several locations, and the Pleasant Valley Road Northern Mockingbird.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A Brown Pelican was the star of the week, first showing up on theWillamette in West Linn (where it was only a second county record, the first coming earlier last year), and then on the Hawthorne Bridge the next day, where it loafed with gulls for several hours, to the delight of many birders, as Brown Pelicans this far inland often seem to be flybys. 

The Columbia river also hosted a few rare birds this week, including a Red-breasted Merganser along Marine Drive and an Eared Grebe at Hayden Island.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The biggest surprise of the week was a Burrowing Owl that showed up at a loading dock in Clackamas County, and seemed to hang out for at least a week. 

There were some nice sparrow surprises as well, including a Harris’s Sparrow at a private feeder in North Portland, an American Tree Sparrow at “the Dog Bowl,” a park in the Overlook neighborhood, and a very late Chipping Sparrow, which, while less rare, are generally only seen spring and fall migration. 

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A rather mundane week after last week’s double-header at Bonneville Dam, although the Black-legged Kittiwake did last until the 18th before apparently departing. Townsend’s Solitaires continue to be seen around the region, including one at Koll Center Wetlands in Washington County, and another at Harbor View Park in Multnomah County. 

While Sandhill Cranes are a common sight this time of year in the Columbia River valley, they are much less common in Washington County, where one or two have been hanging around Jackson Bottom Wetlands this week. A White-winged Scoter was found at the mouth of the Sandy River. 

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The Patagonia Picnic Table was in full effect this week, as a Black-legged Kittiwake was reported at Bonneville Dam on Friday, and, on Monday, a birder searching for that bird found a Snow Bunting in the parking lot. The Kittiwake, a juvenile, continues as of press time, while the Snow Bunting was not refound on subsequent days. Another Snow Bunting was seen the day before at Rooster Rock, and was also a one day wonder. 

A Brant was a nice find at Fernhill Wetlands, where the Long-tailed Duck continued into the week, even as questions about its health arose, amid the many cacklers who have sadly perished from what is presumed to be Aspergillosis. The Columbia River has continued to host uncommon water birds including White-winged Scoter, Pacific Loon, and Red-breasted Merganser.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Hagg Lake continues to bring in interesting birds, including a Heerman’s Gull that was a one-day-wonder (as they usually are inland) and Red-throated Loon. A Long-tailed Duck at Fernhill Wetlands rounded out a nice week for Washington County. 

A Lesser Black-backed Gull was found on the south waterfront of the WIllamette this week, and by its plumage, was determined to be a different individual than the one seen downstream a few weeks ago. This marks the third sighting of this species in Multnomah County in the last two years, after never having one reported before, and reflects a wider trend of this species increasing occurrence across Oregon.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

We may have seven weeks of astronomical Fall to go, but to birds and birders, winter is here. Wintering sea ducks are starting to filter in, with Surf, White-winged, and Black Scoter all being reported this week from the Columbia River (mostly between Hayden Island and Broughton Beach) as well as Common and Pacific Loons, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and Red-necked Grebe, which was also found up at Timothy Lake this week, along with a White-winged Scoter. A Red-throated Loon was reported from Hagg Lake in Washington County, where they are generally much harder to find than in neighboring counties. 

A Brown Pelican was reported flying down the Columbia in East Portland, continuing a string of recent sightings of this typically very-hard-to-find-inland species. On the same day, a few folks saw it from Vancouver as well.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

One of Harry Nehls’ most prescient catchphrases was something along the lines of “There’s rare birds out there, just no one’s findin’ ‘em,” the idea being that rare birds are more a function of people searching for them than them just turning up somewhere. So will the current streak of amazing rarities prove to be a blip, or a sign of the surge in birding that Portland, along with much of the country, is experiencing? 

Time will tell, but this week’s data point was the amazing discovery of a BROWN BOOBY that seemed to have made a temporary home out of the anchor chain from a tanker on the Columbia River, spotted by a birder at Kelly Point Park. This was a Multnomah County first record, as well as Oregon’s most inland record for this ocean-going species more typically found offshore of Southern California and Baja. Several dozen birders were able to see the bird, albeit at a great distance, before the ship pulled anchor the next day and moved back downriver towards the ocean, and the bird was not refound.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Migration has slowed, but continues to bring in some late season migrants and wintering birds, including everyone’s favorite group of birds: Gulls! A Lesser Black-backed Gull found at Hagg Lake was a county first record. These birds were quite rare in the state until only a few years ago, but seem to be rapidly increasing. Exhibit B of this trend is that two days later, another (or the same?) Lesser Black-backed showed up at Harbor View Park along the Willamette – only the second record for Multnomah County, and at the exact same place as the first record showed up last year, in October. This bird unfortunately didn’t hang around long, but a Heerman’s Gull was found in its place, an exceedingly hard bird to find inland. That bird also didn’t stick around long, but the pattern continued, as a Northern Shrike was found in its stead at the same location. Long known as an honorary raptor, this bird is now apparently also an honorary gull.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Hot on the heels of last week’s Northern Waterthrush, a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR was found in the short grass on the beach at Rooster Rock, for the first record of the species in the county since 2005. Many observers were able to view the bird, helpfully staying over the weekend, before disappearing as of Monday morning. 

Less cooperative was an apparent TROPICAL KINGBIRD that was photographed at Hayden Island. This would be a first county record, but the bird was photographed on private property, and not refound. On the topic of migrant flycatchers, a Say’s Phoebe was photographed at Wapato Lake, the NWR in western Washington County. 

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

No doubt about it – the Northern Waterthrush at Whitaker Ponds is a star. First detected on Friday of last week underneath the pedestrian bridge, the bird has remained until press time, with dozens of birders treated to point blank views. Many were also treated to views of an Acorn Woodpecker, which seem to be having quite the year, with individuals being reported across the Portland region, after many years of being a tough bird to find in Multnomah County. And for good measure, a less-obliging Swamp Sparrow was seen in between the ponds, rounding out a very unique trio. 

A pair of Black-necked Stilts have been seen regularly at Smith &Bybee for the last week. Another has been at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Sabine’s Gull and Common Tern have been harder to find this year, with a few of each turning up on the same day at Broughton Beach last week.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Acorn Woodpeckers seem to be the flavor of the week. After one was found cruising through Whitaker Ponds on Tuesday, another was briefly seen at Mt. Tabor on Wednesday. As executed for such a habitat-specific bird, neither stuck around. 

The annual Smith & Bybee Snowy Egret has returned (or finally been found), for what is at least the 9th year out of the last 10. 

Sturgeon Lake on Sauvie Island is starting to see large accumulations of shorebirds as the water levels come down, and is still holding a couple rare birds. Franklin’s Gull and American Avocet are still being seen, with the latter taking a spin down to Multnomah County for a few lucky birders.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

An AMERICAN REDSTART was found at Sandy River Delta on Wednesday. While it is the season for songbirds migrating south, this sighting was notable as one of only a small handful of records for the county (despite the fact that these birds likely breed within 100 miles), and because the sighting was almost at the exact spot (the Confluence blind) where one was reported singing last summer. So far, efforts to refind the bird have been unsuccessful. The same birder (some folks have all the fun) found a Lewis’s Woodpecker at Kelly Point Park on Tuesday. The bird was similarly not refound. 

Washington County has seen some early birds this week, including a Sabine’s Gull (which are always rare in the county, but especially in August) at Henry Hagg, and an Eared Grebe at Tualatin River NWR, where a Yellow-headed Blackbird was also spotted.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Migration is ramping up, with songbirds and others joining shorebirds in the ranks of southbound birds. An Eastern Kingbird was found at Commonwealth Lake but was not refound on subsequent days. Similarly, a Lewis’s Woodpecker reported at Powell Butte was a one-day wonder. 

On the shorebird front, the Black-necked Stilt at Smith & Bybee continued into the week, and Whimbrel were heard flying over Tualatin River NWR, marking their second appearance this year, after an absence of five years from the county.

Western Kingbirds continue to be enjoyed near Company Lake.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A mostly quiet week across the region, with a Black-necked Stilt turning up near the boat launch at Smith & Bybee, not far from where one showed up two years ago in late August, and an intriguing report of a juvenile Brown Pelican in the Columbia near the Sandy River Delta. 

The Grasshopper Sparrows continued this week at Penstemon Prairie, where birders also found a Nashville Warbler. A Nashville was also reported in Clark County, suggesting that some movement may be underway for the species, and other songbirds. 

Western Kingbirds continue to be enjoyed near Company Lake.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Shorebirds have begun moving into the region in earnest, with Tualatin River NWR once again hosting the top-line birds. A Marbled Godwit was found on the 16th, and chasers then found the bird was briefly joined by five Whimbrel. All six birds were gone the next day. In Portland, a Semipalmated Sandpiper was seen at Broughton, and in Clark County, Pectoral Sandpipers are being seen at Ridgefield, a Wilson’s Phalarope turned up at Shillapoo Lake, suspiciously soon after one disappeared from Ridgefield, where it had been for months. 

Timberline lodge in Clackamas County has had a good run of birds, including the somewhat expected Gray-crowned Rosyfinch, and the much less expected Sagebrush Sparrow.

 

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Most of the excitement this week was in Washington County, where a breeding-plumaged male RUFF was found at Tualatin River NWR on July 1, seen by many, and not seen again in subsequent days (although a pair of Pectoral Sandpipers were seen there the next day). A few days later, a birder discovered a Grasshopper Sparrow defending territory near Fernhill Wetlands. The bird has remained, and subsequent visitors found a second bird singing, indicating a very rare breeding population of the species for the northern Willamette Valley.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A very quiet week across the region, with two intriguing exceptions: A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was reported flying across highway 30 near Rocky Point Road, and a male ORCHARD ORIOLE was reported in the SW hills of Portland. Unfortunately neither was photographed, or refound. 

On the documented side, however, a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron was photographed at Koll Center Wetlands near Beaverton, confirming successful breeding for another year from this well-known local pair. 

Statewide, it’s been a good year for NORTHERN PARULA, with a singing male found in Klamath County,  while the long-lingering male at Sitka Sedge continues this week as well.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Just like that, summer is here, with the solstice behind us, birds settling in to their nesting, and (finally) some warmth and sun. Rare bird reports continue to slow, but a very intriguing report came from Whitaker Ponds this week in the form of a singing Northern Waterthrush that was recorded, but never seen, and never heard again. 

The most debated bird of the week came from Force Lake where a, well, cormorant of some sort has been unwarily fishing and basking in the sun. The bird has raised eyebrows because of its interesting looking bill, and face, prompting speculation that it could be a juvenile Neotropic Cormorant (which would be a state first record), while others have suggested a Neotropic x Double-crested hybrid (which are known to occur, especially as Neotropics expand their range), or possibly just a weird looking young Double-crested. The jury is still out, and hopefully the bird will stick around long enough to answer some questions.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

With the majority of spring migration behind us, rare bird reports are slowing to a trickle. Ash-throated Flycatchers are one of the later migrants, and, true to form, one was found on Tuesday in Clackamas. Columbia County hosted both a Swainson’s Hawk at CZ trail and a very late Rough-legged Hawk in Clatskanie this week. On Sauvie Island, a birder found a late Brewer’s Sparrow at the Oak Island Boat Launch. 

Steigerwald NWR reopened last month in Clark County, and has been hosting a few fun birds this week, including a Great-tailed Grackle and an Eastern Kingbird (the latter also being reported from Sandy River Delta this week). Both Red-necked and Wilson’s Phalaropes were reported from Ridgefield.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

An interesting feature of rare birds – one that prompts much pondering – is that rarities often turn up at multiple locales in the same season. Two such species this year are White-faced Ibis and Forster’s Tern, both of which have shown up in unusually high numbers in the Willamette Valley this spring. Locally, Ibis have been spotted at Fernhill Wetlands, Sauvie Island (Columbia County), and Steigerwald this week, while Forster’s Terns have been reported at Broughton Beach and Vancouver Lake. Interestingly enough, the Forster’s at Vancouver Lake was seen in the same area as a Black Tern, mirroring a similar occurrence at nearly the same time last year at nearby Smith & Bybee.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The Rare Bird Alert has been on a bit of a hiatus, with lots of spring birding trips, and modern day inconveniences, to distract us from the rare birds of late, but we are back with a doozy! A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found flycatching along Marine Drive towards the east end of PDX, keeping close company with one of its more closely related cousins, a Western Kingbird. Birders from across the region poured in to see the flashy pink and white bird that had thoughtfully chosen a sunny Sunday to visit. Reported until late in the evening, the bird was gone by the next morning, and did not return. This is the second time one has been seen in the county, with the last coming 30 years ago almost to the day, in nearby Troutdale. It is the 21st record for the state, with most records along the coast, in spring.

Even if the flycatcher got all of the attention, it was a good week for other migrating birds as well, with a Lark Sparrow found near Zenger Farms, and an even more unexpected Vesper Sparrow photographed at the Sandy River Delta. Two Sabine’s Gulls were a rare spring find at Oak Island, where an eye-popping 63 Whimbrel were also found, and Bonaparte’s Gulls have been reported on and off at Broughton Beach. A Common Nighthawk was uncommonly early, flying over North Portland on the 25th. 

Clackamas County hosted not one but two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS this last week, including a male at a feeder along the Clackamas River, and a much-harder-to-identify female along Newell Creek Canyon. Another male was seen coming to a feeder in Cedar Mill three days earlier, marking an exceptional week for this normally very rare visitor.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

The last week has seen lots of bad weather, and not a lot of birds (or, at least, as many as expected for mid-April). At times, in between squalls, birders have reported huge numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers and other songbirds, but overall, spring migration seems to be slow and sporadic as northbound songbirds dodge rain clouds. 

A Hermit Warbler at Mt. Tabor was one of the early standouts, among the more expected Nashville Warblers and many reports of Hammond’s Flycatcher. At least one Dusky Flycatcher was reported, in Marys Woods, and another may have been seen at Dharma Rain Zen Center. An early Warbling Vireo was reported at the Children’s Arboretum.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Migrants continue to stream into the area, with early reports of Nashville Warbler at Mt. Tabor (perhaps its earliest date there) and Hammond’s Flycatcher at Canemah Bluff, Cooper Mountain, and Oaks Bottom, Townsend’s Solitaire at a number of locations, and scads of Chipping Sparrows in parks and backyards across the city. 

For shorebirds, a Solitary Sandpiper at TRNWR was exceptionally early, and was joined by the continuing Black-necked Stilts. A Red-necked Phalarope was photographed at Ridgefield earlier in the week.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Early birds are the name of the game this week, with Vaux’s Swift making its earliest-ever spring debut per eBird, seen at multiple locations around Portland for the last week. Purple Martins are the latest swallow recorded in the area, leaving Bank as the only swallow not reported thus far in the region. 

There are also some hangers-on this week, with TUFTED DUCK being reported from both the Washington and Oregon side of the river. Red-breasted Merganser and Bonaparte’s Gull were also reported along the river this week.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Spring migration continues to slowly take shape. A Pacific Golden-Plover was a surprising find along Honeyman Road in Warren, found by a birder searching for the continuing Loggerhead Shrike. And Lesser Yellowlegs were reported from TRNWR. 

Otherwise its been mostly leftovers this week. Glaucous Gulls were reported from both Columbia and Multnomah Counties (where one was joined by a Bonaparte’s Gull at Columbia Point), and Barn Swallows continue to pop up around the region. Clackamas County hosted two of the worlds most attractive duck species this week, with a Harlequin Duck reported outside of Rhododendron and the continuing Mandarin Duck at  Mary S. Young park. 

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Continuing the theme of timeliness from last week, a Mountain Bluebird was found on Powell Butte on March 15th, nearly the exact date it is typically found in that spot each year. 

Much less expected this time of year was the Loggerhead Shrike found just north of Scappoose in Columbia County, where these typically mid-Spring migrants are quite rare. Another early bird was a Western Tanager visiting a yard in Southeast Portland.

A Brant showed up at Commonwealth Lake in Cedar Hills, hanging around for a few days to the delight of many birders.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Right on schedule, a number of the expected early migrants are moving through the region. Say’s Phoebes and Osprey have been reported in multiple locations, as well as Western Bluebird, Barn Swallow, and a Townsend’s Solitaire at Oaks Bottom. 

A “Common” Green-winged Teal (the Eurasian subspecies) was seen at Vanport wetlands this week, and a Red-breasted Merganser was reported from Clackamette Cove.

Most of our other notables were reruns, including the Tricolored and Yellow-headed Blackbirds from the Purina Plant in the Rivergate Industrial Area of North Portland. The GLAUCOUS GULL from the Hawthorne Bridge also continued into the week, but most gulls have now moved on from the area, with the arrival of the smelt run in the Columbia River.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

Our false springs may have falsely convinced some birders that spring birding had arrived, and it also seems to have convinced a few early migrants, including several reports of “earliest-ever” Rufous Hummingbirds at feeders, and Violet-green Swallows joining the more expected Tree Swallows over wetlands and waterways.

A Western Tanager female was photographed coming to a feeder in the Pearl, where it has been for several days. This comes after a bird spent several weeks in the St. Johns area last winter.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

TUFTED DUCKS are a rare but expected wintering duck in the region, as generally at least one or more is found somewhere along the Columbia River each year. Unfortunately they are generally mixed in with a raft of hundreds to thousands of Greater and Lesser Scaup, often far from shore, making detection difficult. That all changed this week when a presumed young male was found at Columbia Point near a small inlet, where it remained for five days, being seen by many. On Thursday, an Eared Grebe was seen in the same area. 

Early spring migrants are on their way, among them several reports of Rufous Hummingbird (a well-known early migrant) and Violet-green Swallows, along with the more expected early Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows. 

The GLAUCOUS GULL near the Hawthorne Bridge continued into the week, as did the Hagg Lake Red-throated Loon.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

After a flurry of very rare birds over the first three weeks of the year, things seem to have cooled down significantly as we enter mid-winter. Clackamas County gets top honors this week with a first-year female Wilson’s Warbler at Canby Community Park. Brant was also a flavor of the week, with a bird found in a large Cackling Goose flock on the NE side of Sauvie Island, and another reported flying over a house north of Hillsboro (#greatyardbird). 

Pacific Loon and Red-throated Loon continue to be seen in good numbers along the Columbia River (and the latter continues at Hagg Lake). Other continuing birds include the Fernhill Sandhill Cranes, Rentenaar Road Harris’s Sparrow, the Smith & Bybee boat launch Swamp Sparrow, the Pleasant Valley Road Northern Mockingbird, and American White Pelicans on Sauvie Island.

That’s most of it for this week. For reports, corrections, and tips, email Brodie Cass Talbott at bcasstalbott@audubonportland.org and for more information on any of these rarities, including locations and observers, visit ebird.org.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

A Vancouver birder, and Audubon trip leader and longtime volunteer, was stunned to find a TENNESSEE WARBLER visiting a suet feeder on Friday. The species is rare any time of year in Oregon and Washington, but particularly in winter. It appears to be possibly be overwintering, as the bird has kept a pretty tight rotation of visiting the feeders in the backyard every hour or two, much to the delight of many visitors. 

The other unexpected wintering visitor, the Williamson’s Sapsucker at Mt. Tabor, continued into the week, but has not been seen for several days as of press time. Same goes for the TUFTED DUCK near Broughton Beach. 

Sandhill Cranes, common locally in neighboring counties, were spotted flying over several locations in Washington county this week, where they are generally rare.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

On Saturday, a female Williamson’s Sapsucker was reported from Mt. Tabor, very near where the only other known Multnomah County record was found six years ago, by the upper reservoir. The bird was refound the next day nearby, but it wasn’t until the following day that another birder relocated it in what seems to be its favorite spot: a spruce in a private yard on the SW edge of the park. Williamson’s Sapsuckers are a dryside breeder (breeds east of the Cascades) and long-distance migrant, and this report represents one of only a handful in the Willamette Valley. 

Coincidentally, this bird was found only a day after an apparent Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker hybrid (appearing to be much closer to a Red-naped) was found at the Rose City Cemetery in NE Portland on Friday. On the same day, a Long-eared Owl was found near the Columbia Slough, but details were kept private to prevent unwanted disturbance to this rare Portland visitor.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

When three Common Redpolls were found on the Portland Christmas Bird Count, birders were dismayed that they couldn’t be relocated in the same stretch of the Columbia Slough near NE 92nd Avenue, despite heavy searching. And so birders have been especially delighted that the same three birds (presumed, as it is also one male and two females) have decided to set up shop at the well-traveled Whitaker Ponds, where they have been seen for the last six days and counting. Another individual was photographed at a feeder in SE Portland. And, in the vein of rare red songbirds at Whitaker Ponds, a redpoll chaser found a Red Fox Sparrow there as well. This subspecies (but possible full future species) is quite rare in the area. 

Another CBC surprise – a flock of eight Western Bluebirds – also continues to be seen near the Columbia Wastewater Plant in North Portland.

Notes on Sightings

Bold: Local rarity | CAPS: Statewide rarity

This past week saw both the Portland Christmas Bird Count and the Sauvie Island Christmas Bird Count, producing the expected level of rare birds that this type of concentrated effort generally does. 

Most notable was the MacGillivray’s Warbler found along the Columbia Slough in NE Portland, the first winter record of this neotropical migrant in Portland, and one of only a handful statewide. A shocking second-place finish, three Common Redpolls were reported along the slough just west of 92nd Avenue. For good measure, a few more were reported in North Portland on Wednesday. Another CBC surprise was the Common Yellowthroat reported in a NE industrial area, but this species is expected to become more prevalent in winter in coming years. Another was reported on Sauvie Island on the same day.