Most of the big news about January centers around the weather and how it affected birds. Record rains, flooding and a storm series that included several systems with winds over 40mph made for an interesting month. Storms in late-December and early-January blew in hundreds of RED PHALAROPES which persisted in puddles and waterways through Jan 10 then disappeared completely.
Storms also took a toll on WESTERN GREBES and CASSIN'S AUKLETS which were the most frequently encountered dead species found on beach counts. NORTHERN FULMAR numbers were surprisingly low.
SNOWY OWL numbers at the South Jetty of the Columbia peaked at five and are now steady at three. Pellet analysis shows a steady diet of BLACK RATS and small ducks (probably BUFFLEHEAD) though they certainly took advantage of the phalarope spike. The storm-driven tides moved a lot of the owls favorite loafing spots around. This coupled with very heavy rains probably had an effect of the persistence of pellets as my ability to find any diminshed quite a bit by the end of January.
In other bird news, the male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continues at Bucky's feeder. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen regularly on the Necanicum River in Seaside. An adult GLAUCOUS GULL has also been seen regular on the gull flats there (along with a strkingly similar looking Glaucous x Glaucous-winged Gull with dark eyes).
Posted by mbalame at February 4, 2006 4:42 PM