Oregon and Washington: Summer 2022

Ducks through Shorebirds

Scoters are exceedingly rare inland in our region during summer. Up to two White-winged Scoters were at Cassimer Bar, Okanogan Co, WA 9 Jun+ (Brad, Kevin & Dan Waggoner), while a male Black Scoter at Lake Wenatchee SP, Chelan Co, WA 27 Jul (Sam Hogenson) was the region’s first inland record. A White-winged Dove was in Brookings, Curry Co, OR 4–6 Jul (Kathie Krebser); the species is annual with records scattered widely and across all months.

Oregon’s 6th Siberian Sand-Plover along the beach at the John Dellenback Trail, Coos Co 6 Jul (Daniel Farrar) was the standout shorebird of the season. A stunning adult Ruff graced Tualatin NWR, Washington Co, OR 1 Jul (Mary Kimberly); the species is much more regular Aug–Nov. Meanwhile, there were two northbound shorebird rarities in June. A one-day-wonder Bar-tailed Godwit visited Skagit WMA, Skagit Co, WA 1 Jun (Taylor Brooks, Joel Brady-Powers), while Washington’s 12th White-rumped Sandpiper graced Soap Lake, Grant Co 18 Jun (Matt Yawney).

Several Horned Puffins popped up around Washington’s Puget Sound yet again this summer. One was off Discovery Park, King Co 21–24 Jun (Raphael Fennimore), and two lingered at Smith Island, Island Co 23 Jun+ (Cara Borre, Asta Tobiassen, Crystal Brazle) with at least one regularly displaying for the local Tufted Puffins. A Least Tern at Casey Pond, Walla Walla Co, WA 4–5 Jul (Phil Kahler, Mike & Merrylynn Denny, Bruce Toews) was the state’s eighth, while an Arctic Tern stopped at Klickitat River Mouth, Klickitat Co, WA 1 Jun (Samuel Holman).

Shearwaters through Woodpeckers

A single Manx Shearwater was observed wandering around Puget Sound, WA for much of the season, with sightings ranging from Deception Pass to Discovery Park. One individual was spotted at Deception Pass on 25 Jun, possibly a different bird, but subsequent sightings from July 12 through the end of September suggest it was likely the same individual. Only one bird was ever reported at a time. Aside from the 25 June sighting near Smith Island in the Salish Sea, all other reports—including those in the fall—were within Puget Sound. A Masked/Nazca Booby off Discovery Park, King Co, WA 20 Jul (Raphael Fennimore, Alex Meilleur & Eric Hope) was not accepted to either species due to quality of photos. Two reported in the fall were both accepted as separate Nazca Boobies. Okanogan County’s first White-faced Ibis was at Fancher Flats, Okanogan Co, WA 12 Jun (Jane Ramberg).

Washington had the region’s only three Broad-winged Hawks: two on the westside during the first week of June, and one vocalizing at Robinson Canyon, Kittitas Co 19 Jun (Adrian Lee). Scarce in summer with a few previous records, a Rough-legged Hawk lingered in Marshland, Columbia Co, OR to at least 13 Jun (Travis Brown) but likely oversummered. A rare-for-summer Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at Omak Creek, Okanogan Co, WA 12 Jun (Charlie & Linnaea Wright). A Lewis’s Woodpecker at a feeder in Sequim, Clallam Co, WA 8 Jun (Christie Lassen) joins a handful of previous summer westside records.

Flycatchers through Vireos

Washington had three westside Least Flycatchers in June, while all of Oregon (which hosts a few breedings pairs or at least one or two singing males almost every summer) didn’t have any. A Gray Flycatcher at Whitehorse Park, Snohomish Co, WA 4 Jun (Nathan Keen) was the only westside record of the summer. Mason Co had its first Black Phoebe, breeding no less, while Washington’s 18th Eastern Phoebe appeared at Calispell Lake, Pend Oreille Co 2–18 Jun (Maxine Reid). At least one Eastern Kingbird was at Hoko River SP, Clallam Co, WA 17 Jun (Vic Nelson). Tenmile Creek Estuary, Coos Co, OR had the best flycatcher of the season with a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 15 Jun (Joe Metzler).

Oregon enjoyed several rare vireo’s this summer. The state’s second White-eyed Vireo was recorded singing at Nehalem Bay SP, Tillamook Co 26 Jun (Beverly Hallberg). Also singing was Oregon’s 6th Yellow-throated Vireo at Page Springs Campground, Harney Co 9 Jun (Abby Haight). Another Yellow-throated Vireo popped up with a flock of more expected species in the pines along Military Crossing Road, Klamath Co, OR 31 Jul (Troy Hibbitts, Marla Hibbitts).

Sparrows through Grosbeaks

A singing male Harris’s Sparrow in Corkindale, Skagit Co 15 Jun (Ryan Merrill) was Washington’s third June record, and a Green-tailed Towhee at Marymoor Park, King Co 1 Jun (Kristine Anderson) provided Washington with what may be its first westside summer record. Two male Great-tailed Grackles visited Steigerwald NWR, Clark Co, WA 1–19 Jun (Jared Strawderman).

As expected in June, plenty of eastern warblers popped up across the region. The sole Ovenbird was in Mazama, Okanogan Co, WA 15 Jun (DJ Jones). Very rare in summer on the westside was a Northern Waterthrush at Portland’s Whitaker Ponds, Multnomah Co, OR 16 Jun (Nick Mrvelj). A singing male Tennessee Warbler at Toketee Lake, Douglas Co, WA 11 Jul was probably a very late migrant (Jim Hostick). Otherwise, scattered records of three Black-and-white Warblers, two Northern Parulas, and three Chestnut-sided Warblers made up for average showings.

Three Summer Tanagers in southern Oregon is on par with the new normal for a species that was once barely annual in the region. Oregon had an above-average ten Rose-breasted Grosbeaks; Washington had three. A scruffy second-year male Blue Grosbeak at Marymoor Park, King Co 19 Jun (Shamik Ghosh) was Washington’s fourth.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 4 Jun 2026.