According to the weather folks, May was one of the coldest and wettest on record. Unsettled conditions made it difficult to time visitations to migrant spots. We also missed a week of bird banding because of the weather.
In spite of all that, we found some interesting stuff.
BROWN PELICANS returned to the north coast just about on time. Troy Guy managed to get radios on three SOOTY SHEARWATERS which are now being tracked up and down the coast. It also looks like we may have a small breeding colony of GREAT EGRETS on the lower Columbia near Svensen Island, though we have yet to officially confirm it.
SORA continue to be conspicuous at the Astoria Mitigation Bank. The BLACK OYSTERCATCHER survey turned up at least 25 birds with one pair on eggs. There are plenty of TUFTED PUFFINS on Haystack Rock. COMMON MURRES still seem to be heavily impacted by BALD EAGLE predation.
The Brownsmead BARN OWLS managed to fledge at least 3 three owlets. BARRED OWLS have been reported from 3 locations. PILEATED WOODPECKERS are unusually easy to find this season. A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was seen on Saddle Mt.
Non-type-3 RED CROSSBILLS have been reported up and down the coast this year. Our best guess is that they are type-4. Three GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES were found late in the month on Saddle Mt. We will be checking for evidence of breeding in June.
In butterfly news, a steady influx of PAINTED LADIES has been evident all month. MOSS'S ELFIN and probable ACMON BLUES were seen on Saddle Mt. The blues are presumed to be Acmon based primarily on range, but the taxonomy is tricky enough that further data collection will be necessary.
Posted by mbalame at June 1, 2005 3:46 PM