BOGS NEWS: WEEKLY BIRD WALKS CONTINUE THIS WINTER

Due to expected noisy remodeling of the Campbell Center, it has been decided that we will not schedule speakers during Fall or Winter Quarters. This might continue through Spring as well. That is yet to be seen.
No registration fees will be collected during these two or three quarters

We've decided to go birding EVERY WEEK this Fall and Winter. Steve and Priscilla will lead the bird walks, along with anyone else who wishes to contribute to BOGS in that way.

Because the Campbell Center parking lot will have constuction equipment and workers using it, we have decided that for the birding trips we will meet before 9am at the PLAYGROUND PARKING LOT on Cheshire Rd
To get there: Drive north on High Street BEYOND the Campbell Center. The road makes a 90 degree curve to the left and changes name to CHESHIRE AVE. Drive less than 1/2 mile and you see on your right, a large parking lot which services a children's playground. We will meet in that parking lot before 9am each week.
Doris will email announcements each week to let us know what our birding destination will be - when that has been decided before-hand

FALL TERM POTLUCK

POTLUCK Dec. 5. Doris wrote the following letter to the membership (edited slightly for the website version):
"We have missed the opportunity to socialize together this Fall since we decided to not try to schedule speakers during the proposed construction at the Center. This Thursday will give us a good chance to renew friendships and get connected again.

If you plan to attend the potluck (beginning at about 11 a.m.), please let us know so we can set up enough tables and chairs!
WRITE TO: priscilla@blog.priscillanhk.com

For the potluck, please bring your own place setting, cup, utensils and a dish to share.
We hope to see you at 10 on Thursday.

Non-members welcome. An opportunity to meet and get acquainted with members.

Meet in the main meeting room in the Celeste Campbell Center at 1st and High streets.

Before the Potluck, (10am - 11am) we have a special treat with Steve Barron presenting some information on how he established a solar panel on his garage roof to keep his new hybrid Suburu charged and ready to go and cut drastically both his gasoline and EWEB usage. We invite all to come to hear this. This is a good opportunity to tell your family and friends during the holidays about some details of this important new, clean technology.

For those not interested in staying for the potluck, feel free to leave after the talk and before the potluck begins.

Come with your questions to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to reduce our individual carbon footprint from someone who has used this technology, and who is not a salesperson!
Doris"

UPCOMING RAPTOR RUN

RAPTOR RUN: I am scheduling this for Dec 12 with Dec 19 as a backup date in case of a very poor weather expectation for the 12th. Watch this site and Dori's Tues Dec 10 email for the final word on this.
9am-2pm or 3pm
This will be a "birding-by-car" type trip up into Linn County, where we will drive the back roads of the grass seed farms and enjoy the numerous Hawks and Eagles which spend their winters there.
When we find interesting birds we will set up spotting scopes and spend some time enjoying the birds.
The trip will run from 9am until 2 or 3pm, with a lunch break in Albany.

Rough-legged Hawks, Short-eared Owls and Northern Shrikes have been showing up especially in Benton county, (mostly around Finley NWR) and to some extent at and north of Fern Ridge Reservoir. The numbers of raptors observed so far in Linn County continue to slowly increase. Actually not many birders have been filing checklists from that area, so there may be more raptors up there than are seen currently in eBird.org. (as of Nov 29). Several of us will do one or two scouting trips before Dec 10 to assess the situation and finalize the route.

We WILL have lunch in Albany.
A set amount of time - perhaps 1hr 20minutes - will be alloted for folks to get lunch, after while we will re-group and head back out to the fields for more raptor hunting.
Send comments or restaurant suggestions to me at: EMAIL: priscilla@blog.priscillanhk.com
NOTE: Novak's Hungarian Restaurant is still closed for repairs after a fire last Spring.
Several places I have found online include some vegetarian options:
Casetta Di Pasta
Brick & Mortar
Possibly Sweet Red Bistro (European)
Also, Sizzler has an "all-you-can-eat" salad bar.

PREPARATION for RAPTOR RUN

I have an online Raptor Tutorial which features primarily species we are likely to encounter during the Winter in the southern Willamette Valley. People who used it last year were very pleased with it, so take some time going through it and your raptor identification skills will give you more satisfaction in December.
This TUTORIAL can be found at: CLICK HERE

WINTER RAPTOR ARRIVALS:
Winter Raptor and Migrant Arrivals. (updated Nov 29, 2019)
CLICK HERE
A frequently updated table showing arrivals of wintering Raptors and other Winter Migrants of Interest, listed by date; and including some field notes and photos. Keep track of what's showing up in Lane and Linn counties as we move into the Winter Birding Season! I try to update this page about twice a week, so check back often to see what's arriving in our area!

VIDEOS:>
VIDEOS WEB PAGE: Otters, Swans, Geese, Ducks, Swifts ...
CLICK HERE
Most recent videos, Nov 21: River Otters playing at Hileman County Park; Nov 14, River Otter preening on log and River Otter chomping and chomping on a fish at Delta Ponds; videos from Nov 7 Finley trip: Rough-legged Hawk hovering; Tundra Swans at McFadden Marsh at Finley; 2500 Cackling Geese winding and circling down to land in McFadden Marsh.

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT BOGS

ONLINE TUTORIALS

CLICK HERE FOR: Winter Raptors: A Mini-Tutorial by Priscilla Sokolowski Meant for those not very familiar with Hawks and other raptors found in the Southern Willamette Valley from November to March, and who want some helpful "look-for-this" kinds of details. This tutorial includes the most common Winter-only species. It does not include some of the year-round hawks such as Cooper's, Sharp-shinned or Red-shouldered Hawks; nor does it include Owls. Some who have worked through this tutorial have found it very helpful and easy to use. Check it out before our Raptor Runs this Winter!

ACCESSING eBird Data to Find Birds An online version of a Presentation made for BOGS by Priscilla Sokolowski on June 20, 2019 A tutorial consisting of many screenshots of the various pages of the eBird.org website, illustrating how to do various kinds of searches to find where birds are being seen; where to go looking for particular species (anywhere in the world); what is being seen recently (anywhere you want to know about); and more ...

How to REGISTER an account at eBird.org and submit your birding checklists! An online annotated tutorial made for BOGS by Priscilla Sokolowski

MOST RECENT SLIDESHOWS AND TRIP REPORTS ADDED TO WEBSITE:
(both BOGS and non-BOGS)
Most recent additions are nearer to top; ie; not in chronological order

Three November Birding Trip SLIDESHOWS Nov 7 (Finley); Nov 14 (Delta Ponds); Nov 21 (Hileman County Park); Swan (Don Laufer); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Priscilla Sokolowski); Red-breasted Sapsucker (Priscilla Sokolowski)

Five OCTOBER BOGS bird walk slide shows Oct 3; 10; 17; 24; 31, 2019 Western Bluebirds, (Don Laufer); Green Island Ferry remnants, (Priscilla Sokolowski); Fox Sparrow, (Don Laufer); Anna's Hummingbird, (Greg Hyde); Townsend's Warbler, (Don Laufer)

Four SEPTEMBER BOGS bird walk slide shows Sept 5, 12, 19, 26, 2019 Yellow Warbler (Don Laufer); Western Tanager (Steve Barron); Flower (Don Laufer); Chorus Frog (Priscilla Sokolowski)

Five AUGUST BOGS bird walk slide shows August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2019 Western Kingbird; Greater Yellowlegs; California Quail; Western Wood Pewee; Black-headed Grosbeak - photos by Priscilla and Don

Green Heron eating Lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) July 2, 2019; 9am Lamprey Larvae - photo by Priscilla Sokolowski

Summer Annual Birding at Finley Wildlife Refuge July 25, 2019 Acorn Woodpecker Photo by Priscilla

BOGS Summer Birding Whilamut Area (east Alton Baker) July 18, 2019 American Goldfinch Photo by Don Laufer

Rasor Park and Riverbend Trails July 4 & July 11, 2019 Lesser Goldfinch photo by Don Laufer

Summer Birding: Fern Ridge Reservoir - Royal Ave June 27, 2019 Western Bluebird photo by Don Laufer

BOG 32nd St. Millrace First SUMMER BIRD WALK June 13, 2019 Green Heron photo by Priscilla_

Delta Ponds along River - led by Steve Barron May 30, 2019 Osprey photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Mt. Pisgah Arboretum May 23, 2019 Very young Robin photo by Priscilla

Birds of Eugene area; Swallow Pond; Fisher Unit & Skinner Butte May 4-7, 2019 Raven with stolen egg Photo by Priscilla

BOBS Fern Ridge Royal, led by Floyd Weitzel May 9, 2019 Marsh Wren Singing photo by Priscilla

BOGS Dorris Ranch w/ arborist Alby Thoumsin May 2, 2019 Heritage Big Leaf Maple Tree

Fisher Unit, Perkins Peninsula, Warren Slough, Fern Ridge Royal Spring Migration, April 27 & 28, 2019 Red-winged Blackbird & Yellow-headed Blackbird - photos by Priscilla

BOGS Golden Gardens Bird Walk led by Donna Albino April 25, 2019 Warbling Vireo photo by Priscilla

Skinner Butte Warbler Migration April 15 and April 19, 2019 Cassin's Vireo photo by Priscilla

BOGS Checkermallow (Meadowlark Prairie) April 11, 2019 Barn Swallow photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Skinner Butte, Mar. 28, 2019 Red-breasted Nuthatch photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Finley Wildlife Refuge, Mar. 14, 2019 Western Bluebird photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Alton Baker Park Feb. 14, 2019 Great Blue Heron on nest photo by Don Laufer

Raptor Run #2 Jan. 31, 2019 Sub-adult Bald Eagle, 3rd year, 2nd basic plumage_

BOGS Heron Park along millrace Jan. 24, 2019 Red-winged Blackbird Photo by Priscilla

BOGS Delta Ponds along bike path Jan 10, 2019_ Downy Woodpecker Photo by Priscilla

BOGS Meadowlark Prairie (Checkermallow) TRIP REPORT, Nov 8, 2018 Nov. 8, 2018_ Rough-legged Hawk photo by Priscilla

BOGS Meadowlark Prairie (Checkermallow) SLIDESHOW, Date: Nov 8, 2018 Belted Kingfisher photo by Don Laufer

Kirk Pond - led by Floyd Weitzel_ Oct 25, 2018 Great Egret photo by Don Laufer

Clearwater Landing_ Oct 11, 2018 Spotted Towhee photo by Don Laufer

Fern Ridge (Royal) Sept 27, 2018 American Pipit photo by Priscilla

BOGS first Fall bird walk. Delta Ponds along the river Sept 13, 2018 Osprey

ROAD SCHOLAR TRIP TO MAINE: "A Birder's Dream; Birding Down East Maine" Aug 19-24, 2018 This first page is a slideshow to Monday's Machias Seal Island (10 miles out to Sea) where Atlantic Puffins were very approachable Jody took some fantastic photographs there! There are also links to the rest of our trip for Tues-Thurs. but you can access that page separately (see below). Atlantic Puffin photo by Jody Fairchild

ROAD SCHOLAR TRIP TO MAINE: "A Birder's Dream; Birding Down East Maine" - PART 2 Aug 19-24, 2018 This webpage has everything else after the Puffin Boat trip we did on Monday. It ends with another boat trip out to Head Harbor Passage where tides range 16 feet and whales and gulls congregate to feed on shrimp and krill caught up in massive currents and upwelling waters. Minke Whale

ANNUAL SLIDESHOW, Best Photos, Sept 2017 to Sept 2018 Ruby-crowned Kinglet photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Alton Baker Park, Aug 30, 2018 MINK!-photo by Priscilla

BOGS Zumwalt County Park Aug 2, 2018 Western Grebe with babies riding on her back photo by Priscilla

BOGS Fern Ridge Royal July 26, 2018 Juvenile Robin photo by Priscilla

Riverbend Hospital Trails July 12, 2018 Baby Robin calling for food photo by Priscilla

Kirk Park (below Fern Ridge dam) July 5, 2018 Violet Green Swallow - photo by Don Laufer River Otter photo by Priscilla

East Alton Baker Park (Whilamut Natural Area) June 28, 2018 Brown Creeper - photo by Priscilla

Mt Pisgah Arboretum - First Summer 2018 Bird Walk. The action was HOT!! June 14, 2018 Male Bullock's Oriole feeding young. Photo by Don Laufer

LAKEVIEW 3-day Birding Trip May 22-24, 2018 (TWO PHOTO SETS!! One by Priscilla and one by Don Laufer) Black-crowned Night Heron, photo by Priscilla

BOGS Perkins Peninsula May 10, 2018 Acorn Wooddpecker - photo by Priscilla

BOGS Golden Gardens; trip report and photos by Don Laufer April 26, 2018 Killdeer; photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Skinner Butte April 12, 2018 Black-throated Gray Warbler. Photo by Don Laufer

BOGS Walterville Reservoir Mar. 29, 2018 Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Photo by Don Laufer

Red Foxes Slideshow! March 15, 2018 Red Fox

TRIP REPORT: BOGS Delta Ponds along river Mar. 8, 2018 Anna's Hummingbird

MAP: Steve's Hand Drawn Map Route of Raptor Run we drove Jan 25, 2018 Thumbnail view of Map

BOGS Heron Park bird walk Feb 8, 2018 Mallard and Bufflehead

Don Laufer: Ruff Park Fox Sparrow & Pileated Woodpecker Jan 19, 2018 Slideshow ================================= VIDEOS: Fox Sparrow & Pileated Woodpecker Fox Sparrow scratching for grubs Pileated Woodpecker Slow-Motion

Jennifer, Janet, LaRue and I visited D-Hill Owls Feb 9, 2018 Short-eared Owl

Don Laufer's Short-eared Owls at Diamond Hill_ Feb 5, 2018 Short-eared Owl

Exploring locations for Short-eared Owls and revisiting Diamond Hill Wetlands Feb 3, 2018 Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owls at Diamond Hill Jan 27, 2018 Short-eared Owl

Raptors: Belts and Diamond Hill area roads, Jan 26, 2018 Red-tailed Hawk ================================= VIDEO: Dunlin Flock in flight VIDEO: Second video Dunlin Flock in flight

BOGS Raptor Run, Jan 25, 2018 American Bald Eagle Steve's hand drawn Raptor Run Route Map, (coming ...)

Raptor Route Drive-Check with Steve Jan 16, 2018 Juvenile Tundra Swan

Raptor Route Research Trip Jan 16, 2018 Short-eared Owl Raptor Run Computer Drawn Maps

BOGS Finley Refuge Jan 11, 2018 American Kestrel