Mon, 14 Mar 2011 -- Reporting a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH here in Littleriver. Not so much because it is super rare, but because it my favorite bird. Seen on a neighbors birdfeeder. I'm hoping to lure it (them) over to my feeder so I can tame them. If there are black oil sunflower seeds (maybe) they will come. -- Rick Harris
Mon, 14 Mar 2011, 12:20 pm. -- Mel Smith just called to report that AL [the LAYSAN ALBATROSS] is back in his usual spot on the north side of Arena Cove. I hadn't had any sightings of Al since Friday's tsunamis so I was glad to hear he was still here. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Mon, 14 Mar 2011 -- I finally got a look at the elusive Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant SWAMP SPARROW this morning. The bird was foraging near the sludge pond dredge, then flew west and perched for a moment before dropping into the reeds. -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 13 Mar 2011 -- Sunday morning brought a visitor or returning OSPREY to the Noyo River. We saw it from Dolphin Isle and while paddling up near the A and W Haul Rd. bridge. Good day, -- Jeff Laxier
Sat, 12 Mar 2011 -- Birded from Navarro River to Point Arena with out-of-town friends. Several COMMON GOLDENEYE were the most interesting birds in the Navarro River just north of the bridge; one male did a partial display (turned his head back, but did not get up and dance). Two PEREGRINE FALCON circled high overhead, above Navarro Ridge; they were significantly different in size, possibly a male-female pair. Down the coast we were unable to find any Ferruginous Hawks, Tundra Swans, Red Crossbills, or Laysan Albatross. (Our friends had fun anyway.) We did hear a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Cheers, -- Tim on Middle Ridge, Albion
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 -- This morning at Tule Lake (take Tule Lake Rd off Hiway 29) there was a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, 3 HOODED MERGANSERS and a first cycle THAYER'S GULL. A little later I found a calling male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE at the Noble Mobile Home Park in Upper Lake off of Highway 20 . The bird was next to the pond, which is at the south end of the park. -- Jerry White
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 -- Heard my season's first ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER singing today at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 -- Just now I saw an OSPREY fly by the bluff at Ocean Meadows. Earlier this morning, 4 VIOLET-GREEN and 1 TREE SWALLOW were over the descent to Seaside Beach, Hwy 1, at the north end of Ocean Meadows. PINE SISKINS are still calling in the yard adjacent to ours. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 -- Greetings Mendobirders- The wintering SWAMP SPARROW continues at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. I saw it twice early this morning in the area of the sludge dredge, both going to and returning from the oxidation ponds. Otherwise, the usual birds continue out there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to say that a basic-plumaged LONG-TAILED DUCK and 2 female WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were in the cove by the Laguna Point parking lot in MacKerricher SP this afternoon. This area is accessed from Hwy 1 (north of Fort Bragg) by turning west on Mill Creek Drive and driving past Lake Cleone to the end of the road. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 -- Near west end of Middle Ridge, Albion - A PEREGRINE FALCON (possibly same bird as yesterday) hunted some Passerines off to the west. -- Tim
Wed, 09 Mar 2011 -- Near west end of Middle Ridge, Albion - A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over us, headed east. -- Tim
Wed, 09 Mar 2011, 10:30 am -- Rick and I stopped by Arena Cove to pay our respects to Al [the LAYSAN ALBATROSS] and there he was in his usual spot. A young fellow on a birding odyssey from Ohio was thrilled to add this bird to his life list. He had already spotted a GLAUCOUS GULL. While we were talking a noisy flock of 3 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS flew by, further making his morning. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 -- near west end of Middle Ridge, Albion - Two OSPREYS circled each other for a while, calling almost continuously. A very dark Buteo, undoubtedly a Red-Tailed hawk, flew past them heading north; and eventually the Ospreys also headed north. -- Tim
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 -- Today I checked on the COMMON MOORHENS at the College Pond. I saw three and a SORA. At the lower pond there were two pair of WOOD DUCKS. This was at 3:30 pm. -- Dave Bengsten
Sat, 05 Mar 2011 -- I came over the Boonville Rd today at 4:30. There were three LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at the telephone poles 119 and 120 and one on the north side of the road in the trees, just west of MM 9.60. I had looked for them just before 1 pm and they were not there on the way over. -- Dave Bengsten
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 -- Grace Steurer advised me that she stopped at Arena Cove and saw AL (or Alice) present there [4 Mar] ~2 PM. I stopped at 5 PM and the [LAYSAN ALBATROSS] was in its usual location just beyond the pier in the water near the submerged rocks. Good Birding, -- Richard Kuehn
Thu, 03 Mar 2011 -- Toby called this afternoon to report a coastally rare CALIFORNIA TOWHEE at Van Damme State Park that she found this morning. The location was around the first restrooms that are on the left after you enter the park and go pass the front of the visitor center. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Thu, 03 Mar 2011 -- A fiery, adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD and three male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS were at Rose Memorial Park this afternoon in Fort Bragg. I could only stay for 30 minutes, but in that time the Banksia trees drew quite a bit of activity. Four TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS came in, the first I've seen there in several visits. PINE SISKINS zinnnng'd in the pines near the RR tracks. Alas, no orioles visited during my brief stay. The last time I saw the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was Feb 23rd. Has anyone seen any orioles or sapsuckers recently at this cemetery -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 03 Mar 2011 - UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center - 1 LEWIS'S WOODPECKER showed up again, assumed the same bird, after an absence since January 25th. A mature BALD EAGLE was scavenging on a sheep carcass last Sunday 2/27. A SAY'S PHOEBE appeared in the tree (calling) above my office at dusk last evening. WOOD DUCKS are commonly seen the small willow/tule edged pond along University Road. Keep in mind that "winter period" ended on 2/28 and we are now into the 2011 Spring Period. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 02 Mar 2010 -- Just confirmed the first female ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD at one of the feeders. Yesterday there were four orange males at different places around the yard (presumably all Allen's, but I only saw the green backs on two of them). Also noted one GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS with black and gold head. Forgot to report a few days ago, I saw two RED-TAILED HAWKS copulating on a power pole. Spring is definitely in the air! Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Wed, 02 Mar 2011 -- As I was the individual who?d posted that I?d not seen ?AL? on either March 2/3 after reading an inquiry on CALBIRDS, I do want everyone to know that the 3 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS continue near the Point Arena Lighthouse cabins. They were walking about feeding on insects with a Killdeer on the eastern side of the buildings when I stopped there Wednesday, March 2nd. Good Birding, -- Richard Kuehn
Tue, 01 Mar 2011 -- On Burris Lane today I was surprised to find three BALD EAGLES scavanging what appeared to be a lamb carcass. Two of the eagles were subadults and the third was a full adult. Ravens and vultures were also hanging around another carcass which appeared to be a coyote! -- George Chaniot
Mon, 28 Feb 2011 -- Today I confirmed what I have been suspecting for some time : there are at least _four_ WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS coming to my feeders here in Potter Valley. Today I had three tan-stripes in view at once, and I got to compare fine points of their plumage. There is also a white-stripe, and I suspect that there may be more than one of them. I used to think of White-throated Sparrows as being irregular and rare here; now I think of them as regular and fairly common. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 28 Feb 2011 -- I walked a good part of Ten Mile beach from Ward Ave, Cleone, today. I could NOT find any SNOWY PLOVERS, even though Becky Bowen saw 32 SNPLs just two weeks ago (13 Feb). With the hail storms, freezing temps and the Coast Guard riding ATVs on the beach to investigate a grounded boat, the Snowies must have gone into hiding.
I did see some birds on my hike: 3 BLACK SCOTERS, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, a HORNED GREBE, a PEREGRINE FALCON, 5 WILLETS, 4 SANDERLNGS, a MARSH WREN, a few BLACK TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS, a couple of SAVANNAH SPARROWS and BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, a RED-THROATED LOON and assorted gulls. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 27 Feb 2011 -- Reports of a RED CROSSBILL erratic irruption for the second year here in inland Little River. I have yet to see any but must take it on faith. Report from Richard Hubacek who I saw heading out with his camera. -- Rick Harris
Tue, 22 Feb 2011 -- I saw 10 GREEN-WINGED TEALS on the north shore, west of the bridge, on Ten Mile River at 2:00 Tuesday afternoon. -- Erica Fielder
Tue, 22 Feb 2011 -- I would rate my gull identification skills as mediocre at best, but if you want to see a sub-adult GLAUCOUS GULL, it is pretty obvious at McKerricker parking lot. Good spotting by Toby. I completely mis-identificed the bird when I first saw it a couple of days back as a weird glaucous-winged gull as it seems to be mixed in with all the glaucous-winged gulls out there at the moment.
Anyway, if you feel a need to stare at gulls for a minute or two, the glaucous gull is hanging along the shore at the Laguna Point parking lot. Look for the really BIG gull. Even I could pick it out. Thanks Toby.
Also seen: single juvinile male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER that is also hard to miss and has been hanging around McKerricker. -- Rick
Tue, 22 Feb 2011 -- Today at Virgin Creek Beach I found a seemingly distressed BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE resting on the rocks about halfway between the creek and the north end of the beach. It allowed me to get within 10 feet of it. A picture has been uploaded [to Mendobirds]. When I got back to my truck there was a note from Toby saying that she had just seen a Black-legged Kittiwake resting in the gull flock at the Laguna Point parking lot. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 22 Feb 2011 -- A single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was just downstream of the public boat launch ramp on the south-side of the Noyo yesterday at ~2:30pm. Also seen: Western Grebe, Great Egret, Bufflehead, Great Blue Heron and Pied-billed Grebe. -- Matt Coleman
Mon, 21 Feb 2010 -- This morning saw the arrival of the first ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD of the year to our front yard, which he immediately claimed and began driving away all the other hummingbirds. Cheers, -- Tim on Middle Ridge, Albion
Sun, 20 Feb 2011 -- BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKE : South of Laguna point boardwalk at McKerricher SP around 1 pm - resting amongst a group of Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants - my husband, David Flaim, spotted this bird. We digiscoped some photos through the iPhone and watched for about 15 minutes before the bird flew west. Beautiful bird :) -- Sarah Wagner - Fort Bragg
Sun, 20 Feb 2011 -- On Sunday the 20th, Doug Weidemann and I conducted our monthly gull survey around the lake. The gulls were boring (not a good year). At Lakeside County Park we saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER but could not find the SWAMP SPARROW and gave up after a half-hour search. Near Lower Lake we failed to find the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER during a half-hour search in the morning but in the afternoon we saw it after a 15-minute search, and after hearing it call four times. It worked its way along trees along the bank of the little stream, including the tree with the "No Trespassing" sign. The juvenile SNOW GOOSE is still hanging out in the field along Butts Canyon Road about 2 miles south of Highway 29, in the field just south of the church-like barn. I see it most mornings when I drive by. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 20 Feb 2011 -- A 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL flew above the houses across the street as I watched from my living room window. I could clearly see the bill was quite pink, but I couldn't quite see a black tip. This bird's plumage matched what Erica Fielder described to me about the GLGU she found north of Pudding Creek on the 18th.
(We decided that her bird was a classic, 1st year bird, as is the one now resting with a large gull flock west of Ten Mile River bridge). I just arrived home from going to the bridge with my scope to get a better look. The plumage is all white with just a very, light dusting of dark cream (or, very light brown). The bill is a very clean pink and has a crisp, black tip. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 19 Feb 2011 -- Fellow birders, I observed a lone adult BALD EAGLE soaring over Highway 101 and Walker Road intersection this afternoon at about 2:15 PM. It was being harassed by a couple of Ravens that looked small compared to the eagle. Best regards, -- Mike Curry
Sat, 19 Feb 2011 -- I saw a GLAUCOUS GULL, perhaps the same one Toby saw, that appears to be a second year gull, on the Haul Road along the MacKerricker State Park Headlands, in the shelter of the peachy-colored motel just north of Pudding Creek Parking Lot. It was with a small flock of mixed gulls. -- Erica Fielder
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 -- Was watching the resident western gull couple today at the Mendocino Headlands when a PEREGRINE FALCON war broke out. All the gulls dived for cover and became invisible. I then watched as two peregrines proceeded to go at each other right in front of me. Things happened fast and furious as they dived at each other stooping and dodging at incredible speeds. The one getting stooped on would invert at the last moment and try to grab the antagonist's talons. At one point they actually grappled for a second or two. Much vocalization which was quite loud and "harsh". Sibley's "rehk rehk rehk..." doesn't really do it justice.
One of the two was definitely the dark morph juvenile I've been watching for a couple of months. A.k.a "Gull Killer" who has claimed Bird Rock as home. I'm wondering though if this wasn't more than just a territorial thing but might have be the way peregrines flirt in the Spring. Wouldn't it be nice if it was a mating dance and there might be some nesting near Bird Rock? I don't know enough about peregrines to say, but if this is the way they court, I wouldn't want to go on that date. -- Rick Harris
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 -- Toby Tobkin reported a GLAUCOUS GULL in the gull flock near the parking area for Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park. She noted that it is likely a second winter bird, but may be first winter. -- for Toby Tobkin, Charlene McAllister
Mon, 14 Feb 2011 -- We seem to be having a lot of VARIED THRUSHES right now over here on the coast (irruption?). At least in my neck of the woods. Along with these varied thrushes is an increase in SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS that seem to be preying on them heavily. Report from up the road reports the sharpies chase nothing else. Makes me think where were the sharpies when all the American robins were here? I think maybe the varied thrushes are easier to catch. -- Rick Harris
Mon, 14 Feb 2011 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I was able to get out to the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant late this morning, after the rain, for some birding. Of local interest were the continuing SWAMP SPARROW and a ROSS'S GOOSE. The sparrow was on the north edge of the sludge pond in the area where the sludge dredge, the SS Noyd, is usually moored between water ski runs. The goose was with about 25 Canada Geese on the north pond. Later I watched them all fly south along the river. Both Steve and Ken told me that they had first seen the goose early this morning. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 13 Feb 2011 -- I rolled in on Sunday, mid-day, and several people were staked out watching the [LAYSAN ALBATROSS]. After savoring the scope views, and some quick attempts at telephoto photography, I decided to put my kayak in the water and see about a closer look. He was mostly napping, so I stopped short about 30 meters away, but in a direction where he might see me. He perked right up and swam over, occasionally nibbling on my fingers or the knots on my kayak rigging. I had asked what folks' thoughts were on feeding the bird, and all agreed it was no different than chumming out on the open water. So, once we were comfy with each other, I offered him up some sardines packed in soybean oil. He dove in like he knew the routine, but instantly spat out the unpalatable fish, and spent a few seconds rinsing his tongue with vigorous swishing through the water. A good lesson to any that would feed him sardines - steer clear of the soybean oil!!! -- Will Richardson, Tahoe
Sun, 13 Feb 2011 -- This afternoon Angie Meroshnekoff watched a GOLDEN EAGLE resting in the redwood tree in her backyard at White Dog Ranch. After the crows harassed him for a while, he flew off. -- C. De La Cruz
Sat, 12 Feb 2011 -- The Peregrine Audubon field trip to the south Mendocino coast found a few of the continuing rarities : 3 LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on and near power poles 119 and 120 on the Ukiah-Boonville Road, 3 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS on the lawns near the Point Arena lighthouse, 2 SANDHILL CRANES seen from the bluff at the mouth of the Garcia River, at least 32 TUNDRA SWANS at Brushy Creek seen from Bristol Lane. The famous albatross did not appear during our two visits to Arena Cove, but it was reported yesterday, Feb 11. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 -- This morning there was a BALD EAGLE, the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and a COMMON MOORHEN which was in the slough on the west side of Lakeside County Park. On the drive out on Park Drive, Brad and Kathy Barnwell were parked on the side of the road and had found 2 GOLDEN EAGLES flying over. -- Jerry White
Thu, 10 Feb 2011 -- On this wonderful sunny winter day I walked from Ward Ave to Fen Creek. I counted 31 SNOWY PLOVERS along the way. Most (27) were near the "Snowy Plover Protection Area". 3 were near Fen Creek. They out-numbered the Sanderlings 2 to 1. There were at least two banded Snowys, the new "Pink Lady" and a "RED Lady". While at Fen Creek a TREE SWALLOW flew over going North. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 -- This afternoon there was a male TUFTED DUCK at Borax Lake. Other birds of general interest earlier today were a PACIFIC WREN and a HOUSE WREN found near Reclamation Road, an adult WESTERN GULL and a COMMON LOON at Nice, and an adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Lucerne. -- Jerry White
Mon, 07 Feb 2011 -- A SNOW GOOSE appears to shuttling back and forth between Napa and Lake Counties with a flock of CANADA GEESE. I saw it at Pope Valley (Napa Co.) on 27, 28 and 31 January. Myron Widmer saw it at Detert Reservoir (Lake Co.) on 29 January and I saw it this morning along Butts Canyon Rd. about 2 miles south of Hwy 29 at Middletown (Lake Co.).
On 31 January, Doug Weidemann found a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Detert Reservoir, along Butts Canyon Road south of Middletown. It was my first at the reservoir. I haven't stopped to search for it since.
On 29 January, Doug and I searched in vain for the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER near Lower Lake for 45 minutes. On the roof of Wal Mart we saw a 1st-basic GLAUCOUS X HERRING GULL, probably the same bird present since November. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 05 Feb 2011 -- Yesterday, there was a male STELLER'S JAY in my bird feeder. I've seen all kinds of scrub jays around here, but never a stellar jay until yesterday. It was in my backyard on Ford Street at 8:30 am Saturday 2/5. Before I could get the camera out, it flew away. -- Lois O'Rourke
Sat, 05 Feb 2011 -- I saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on pole 119 as I was on my way to Boonville today -- George Chaniot
Sat, 05 Feb 2011 -- Today's boat trip [at Lake Sonoma]: Common Mergansers. American Pipit, Acorn Woodpeckers, Double-crested Cormorants, Black Phoebe, Bald Eagles (a pair - and a first time opportunity to photograph them, will post soon!) -- Lisa Walker
Sat, 05 Feb 2011 -- We saw about 20 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS here at the beach where the fresh water enters the ocean. They were bathing and feeding along side the gulls. This was at about 3 yesterday. We will look for the Dipper today. -- Tiffany Erickson, Windsor
Fri, 04 Feb 2011 -- Was out watching the resident PEREGRINE FALCON (aka Gull Killer) at Bird Rock on the Mendocino Headlands yesterday. The best show however were the RAVENS playing in the windy updrafts. Always entertaining, but saw a new trick I have never seen before. One raven would hold a fairly large stick in its feet and do a perfect flight stall in the air. It was an aeronatical thing only a raven could understand. Then another one would come in and fly upside down and take the stick in one perfectly timed motion. It is that time of year when the ravens seem to get especially frisky around here and I recommend stopping by if you like to watch birds fly.
Also saw a big raft of COMMON MURRES of over two hundred northest of the rock when I stopped counting. Then there was the small raft of brownish/white diving sea birds that I couldn't identify. About 12 of them in tight to the rocks and just off the murre raft. I tried to get a good look and was driven back by ferocious winds and tearing eyes. Not scoters. Tantalzing. -- Rick Harris
Fri, 04 Feb 2011 -- Yesterday in Ft Bragg there were at least 3 orioles; all BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. My best guess is there were 2 females and 1 immature male. Also I had a brief one time look at a juvenile YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. -- Jerry White
Fri, 04 Feb 2011 -- I found an AMERICAN DIPPER today at Van Damme State Park a little after noon. It was behind the first restrooms to the left as you enter the park. Just to the right of the restrooms there is a path to the river. I saw it from the bridge looking west. It was interesting to have the whole park to myself. No campers, no hikers, no park employees, and no park host. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 04 Feb 2011 -- We went to Clear Lake SP today and the there were some early VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. I saw them two weeks ago in the Sacramento Valley, so I was not too surprised to see them here.
There was a CALIFORNIA THRASHER on Finley East Rd (east side) just north of the intersection with Big Valley Rd. It was singing on top of a white trailer in the Lake County Corporation Yard (Kelseyville Dist). The trailer was near the fence and had a tanker trailer and a boat next to it. It was there at 10:40 am and still there at 1:45 pm singing away. Occasionally it popped down into the vegetation along the fence. I am just used to seeing CA Thrashers at higher elevations in chaparral, so I was surprised. Can anyone tell me if CA Thrashers are commonly found down that low around Kelseyville? -- Dave Bengston
Thu, 03 Feb 2011 -- I also checked the LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS today and found one sitting on each of the poles. I located a third Lewis's along with an Acorn Woodpecker on a power pole way up the hill above mm 9.00 about a half mile to the west.-- George Chaniot
Thu, 03 Feb 2011 -- The 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were flying between telephone poles 119 and 120 on Boonville Rd (Hwy 253) around 10:30-am. I came from the west, where the mile markers ascend from 0.00 at Hwy 128. The poles are just west of mm 9.60. Turnouts are on both sides of the road at various intervals. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 30 Jan 2011 -- At 5:10 p.m. we found one of the LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS described by Jack Booth and Dave Bengston on telephone pole #120 on the Boonville Road (253). It flew from the top of the pole to a live oak just east of the pole then across the road to the NE on to the trunk of a larger oak. See Dave's directions for the particular location. -- Roger Foote
Sun, 30 Jan 2011 -- I went up to see the LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS on Hwy 253 (Boonville Rd) that Jack Booth reported. I found two of them. They were on telephone poles #s 119 and 120 on the south side of the road. There is a pullout on the north side of the road between the two poles. If you were coming from the west, there is a pullout on the south side of the road, but you can only see one pole from there. They were up there at 10:30 and again at 12:00 pm when I checked, one on each pole. At the east end of the top, MM 10.0 there were 2 juvenile GOLDEN EAGLES flying over the hill to the south. -- Dave Bengston
Sun, 30 Jan 2011 -- Jack Booth just called me to say he saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on the the Boonville Road (Hwy 253). The bird was about 400 yards past the McGrath place on the road bank. This is going east to west, after you get up on top, you will see a house with a gate off to the right, go about 400 yards past the gate. -- Dave Bengston for Jack Booth
Sun, 30 Jan 2011 -- This morning the EVENING GROSBEAKSs showed up at 8:50. The Sharpie showed up at 9! It's a desert out there. Yesterday the E Grosbeaks showed up at 9:20, 12:57, 1:10 and 2:45, 10 mins, 1 min, 5 mins and 10 mins. -- Dave Bengston
Sat, 29 Jan 2011 -- Millie and I decided to try our luck today for Al the LAYSAN ALBATROSS. When we arrived around 11:15am, Al was sitting (as if waiting for us) about 100 yards from the end of the fishing pier. He posed for a few minutes of photos and tucked his bill for some shuteye.
Millie and I slipped into the coffee shop for a break and to examine photos. When we came back out, Al was still nodding off, but five Black Oystercatchers were making so much noise that he couldn't get back to sleep. I snapped a few more pics of Al. Just before noon, we left him trying to get back into restful solace.
Before we left the cove, a PEREGRINE FALCON zipped overhead from the north rim of the cove and quickly disappeared over the south rim; a PACIFIC LOON popped up not far from the end of pier; and a BELTED KINGFISHER called from the creek. Leaving Point Arena, we had a flyby by a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE just before crossing Garcia River. Good birding, -- Craig Cummings, Napa, CA
Sat, 29 Jan 2011 -- Hello all, Charlene and I joined Karen Havlena and later Rich Hubacek in searching for the orioles at Rose Memorial Park in Fort Bragg this afternoon. I photographed three individuals, one an imm. Male, one a female, and one that could be the mystery bird. I have uploaded the three photos to the folder marked Orioles at Fort Bragg (look on the third age of albums in the Photos folder). The first picture is the imm. Male. The second picture shows the female from the back, but if you look at the right side of the image, there is a bright orange bird behind the branches. The best shot I have of that bright orange bird is the third photo. In another image (not posted) one can see that the wing bars on this bird are both white. I'm sure this will generate more discussion! -- Ron LeValley
Sat, 29 Jan 2011 -- This morning at 9:20 - 9:30, two Evening Grosbeaks came to feed at my platform feeder. I think that they are immature males. They are all yellow, including the head, which is just starting to turn darker. There is no yellow supercillium. There is not as much white on the secondaries as in any of the pictures in Sibley (juv, female or male). They do not look exactly like any of the pictures in National Geographic either.
Yesterday I saw one Grosbeak in my neighbor's forest two yards away. Because of the lighting and distance, I think, it looked like a 1st year Blue Grosbeak. The lighting made it look rufous all over. I got a scope and a camera, but never got a shot, so I was planning on sitting out there all day today to see if I could see it. I'm really glad that they showed up at the feeder and made it easy. Christy got a couple of nice photos if anyone wants me to send them one.
We will continue to monitor and post if they continue at the feeders. I have friends in WA that have Evening Grosbeaks at their feeders all winter long, so I'm hoping they stick around. -- Dave Bengsten
Wed, 26 Jan 2011 -- This morning on Save Our Shorebirds survey at 8:35 a.m., David Wolf spotted a pair of Peregrine Falcons at Glass Beach on the sea stack covered with vegetation just west of the main beach. It's fairly common to see a PEFA on the beach bluffs in winter just after first light. We've never seen two together out there before. I have a very distant shot that we'll put up as soon as I can figure out how to do it. -- Becky
Mon, 24 Jan 2011 -- A month or so ago I reported a NORTHERN HARIER attacking American Coots at Lake Cleone. At first I thought that the juvinile female hawk was possibly considering the coots as prey animals with persistent stoops, grasping motions with talons etc. Further observations show that this hawk just likes chasing coots around for the fun of it. Call it Harrier harassment for entertainment. Yesterday I saw an espeically sneaky attack that came from nowhere and even had me wanting to dive for cover. The coot's surprise was total and very satisfying in its explosiveness. Obviously this hawk has energy to expend in playful (malicious?) behavior which goes against the rule that birds don't expend precious energy on play. -- Rick Harris
Sun, 23 Jan 2011 -- For two weeks I have been trying to be sure of a NASHVILLE WARBLER that has briefly come into the few shrubs in our yard several times. Finally, I heard a soft, bright chip and was able to see the entire bird. I had suspected her to be a Nashville, given the relatively "high" number of this species in Mendocino County this winter. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Sun, 23 Jan 2011 -- This morning saw the following birds in our Ft. Bragg backyard (4 feeders/3 birdbaths) in 1-1/2 hours. 2 Mourning doves, Eurasian Collared dove, 1 Ruby crowned kinglet, 1 Black phoebe, 2 Chestnut shouldered Chickadees, 6 Robins, 1 Scrub Jay, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos, 2 Starlings, Brewer's blackbirds, 3 House Finches, 2 Evening Grosbeaks, 15 Pine siskins (first time seen in 2011), 15 Amer Goldfinches, 3 White Crowned Sparrows -- Henri Bensussen
Sat, 23 Jan 2011 -- Hi All, a pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS in our backyard this afternoon, for about 15 minutes, up in the poplar and then down in the apple tree. Male bright yellow on belly, sides, and supercilium, pale bill, white secondaries making a big white chevron against a black back seen from the rear. The female with more wing pattern and duller overall. -- Henri Bensussen
Wed, 19 Jan 2011 -- Tue, 18 Jan 2011 -- Chuck Vaughn, Jerry White and myself birded Rose Memorial Park in Fort Bragg, and we found three BULLOCK'S ORIOLES frequenting the Banksia trees, tall cypress and smaller pines in the cemetery. (cemetery is at N Franklin and the Skunk RR tracks, in Fort Bragg) Our looks were generally of the birds flying from tree to tree, and quick looks of the birds in the interior of the trees. One was a female and two were immature males (one was a 2nd year bird). There is the possibility of a 2nd female, but we only saw three birds together at one time.
The low angle of the early morning, bright sun gave a more orange glow to one male's plumage in particular. But, as the sun moved higher in the sky, the males looked just plain yellow, where yellow should be. Also, it took time but we finally saw that both males had black markings on the chin and throat, with the older male having a longer, narrow black mark and an obvious black eyeline. The younger male had a hint of an eyeline and a small black mark on the chin only. Chuck questioned why the birds hid in the foliage of all the trees, rather than want to be out on the sunny ends of the branches. Two of these birds are most likely the same imm. male and female seen by David Jensen on 26 December, 2010, but they were so difficult to get good, solid looks at, could the third bird have been there, as well?
Later on, Chuck spotted two adult THAYER'S GULLS on the beach at the mouth of the Navarro River, south of Little River. -- Karen Havlena, Chuck Vaughn and Jerry White
Mon, 1 Nov 2010 -- This morning, an ad. male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD flew south with a small group of blackbirds west of our house. I could not find them in the neighborhood, so they must have continued south over MacKerricher SP. An ad. male HARLEQUIN DUCK was at the usual long, low rock at the north end of Virgin Creek beach this afternoon. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 31 Oct 2010 -- Lots of larids again today. Yesterday I saw many groups of Heermann's fly past the Botanical Gardens in For Bragg. Many Surf Scoters and Common Loons also. This afternoon I saw BONAPARTE'S GULLS fly over downtown Fort Bragg. Lots of California Gulls hanging out on the athletic fields of the Middle School (North Harold Street) during the end of a soccer tournament ala Hitchcock in Bodega. The times they are a'changin, but not really. This has happened this time every year for the past 1,000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000 (?) years. I'm getting nostalgic. -- Dave Jensen
Sun, 31 Oct 2010 -- We had our "first" WHITE-THROATED SPARROW arrive this afternoon in the front yard at Ocean Meadows/Ten Mile. This is the 3rd Fall arrival for Mendocino County this season, I think. The "parade of gulls" from yesterday was over and done with today. Rich Trissel reported over 1,000 gulls at the Garcia R. flats, etc. I had over 2,000+ yesterday - maybe more. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 31 Oct 2010 -- Between Pt. Arena and Manchester This morning at 11a and again at 1p there was a WHITE-FACED IBIS in the fields north of the Garcia River and East of Highway 1. It was more closely observed from the north section of Windy Hollow Road. Also, I think I found where all the previously mentioned gulls were heading. Between Point Arena and Manchester there were well over 1,000 gulls on just about every field or wet spot. Near Stoneboro Road there are also HUGE flocks of blackbirds. I searched for a Yellow-headed with no luck. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 31 Oct 2010 -- Chuck Vaughn, Geoff Heinecken, and I found a wayward SURF SCOTER on the middle pond of the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant today. Geoff and I spotted a female REDHEAD with the RING-NECKED DUCKS on the pond at Gielow Lane and Old River Road. She looked suspiciously like the one that's at the UWTP for the last few weeks, where she wasn't seen this morning. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 30 Oct 2010 -- Glimpsed a gull cruising fast over central Ukiah Saturday as I drove Gobbi between Safeway and the food coop; my gull i.d. skills aren't good but any gull is unusual for me here. -- Janet Rosen
Sat, 30 Oct 2010 -- We also observed large numbers of gulls moving SE in the Albion area in the afternoon. Small groups went over us, about a mile inland on Middle Ridge, and joined others farther east to form a large wheeling flock (I guessed around 200) over Salmon Creek, then moved off to the SE over Navarro Ridge. By that time they must have been several miles from the beach. -- Tim Bray
Sat, 30 Oct 2010 -- Gulls flew south all day long in singles and small groups. We had to leave before I could post about this earlier (as Richard did, too). I just kept watching them fly and couldn't stop. Not only did they fly along the shoreline, but they flew east along the the wooded hillsides, anywhere from very high to literally two feet above the road. The highest flyers were above Wages Creek and Westport. I drove to the north coast, to see if there were any (other) good birds about. Along Hwy 1, the extremely low-flying gulls were young WESTERNS. I did see a few GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and HEERMANN'S, but the vast majority were CALIFORNIA GULLS.
Not much was happening with other birds. Several PINE SISKINS were at
Wages Creek. A PEREGRINE FALCON and a MERLIN flew south near Branscomb Rd and Hwy 1. A SAY'S PHOEBE was in my neighborhood. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 30 Oct 2010 -- There must have been some breakdown in the air currents today. I've been birding the Little River Airport for over three years and have lived at the Woods for five years and have never seen a gull at either location. Today, I first saw a single CALIFORNIA GULL fly over the airport and then another. Towards the end of my birding I saw 30 to 40 fly over the east end of the runway. While walking the dog at the Woods a few more came over. And later another large flock flew over. All were heading in a south south/east direction. Three DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, rare at the airport also were moving in the same direction. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 30 Oct 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning I watched a juvenile male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER feeding in the ornamental trees around the office area at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. The bird was very active, moving from tree to tree, and I eventually lost it on the west side of the new office building. I thought that this storm may have blown in some new birds, but except for more of the same ducks, there wasn't anything new at all. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 29 Oct 2010 -- I saw another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, this time on Bald Hill Rd, off Pudding Creek Rd, north of Fort Bragg. The bird was just north of what I believe is the headwaters of Virgin Creek. If driving from Pudding Creek Rd on Bald Hill Rd, there have been some small alders cut down, then one crosses the creek (very smal at this point), and comes out into the open pasture area. The sparrow was alone, not with the small flocks of crowned sparrows or American Goldfinches. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 28 Oct 2010 -- I had an out-of-place ROCK WREN on our property 1 mile west of Hopland. In accordance with the species' name, it was pleasantly perched and "bobbing" atop a 4-foot tall rock fairly near Feliz Creek. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 23 Oct 2010 -- Two other birds of interest on Saturday were a Canvasback at 10 Mile River and a Bonaparte's Gull at Lake Cleone. -- Jerry White
Sat, 23 Oct 2010 -- Jerry White called to report a HORNED LARK near the monument at the Mendocino Headlands (that would be the south-west section). The time was around 2:00 PM today. He said he saw it several times. -- Richard Hubacek for Jerry White
Sat, 23 Oct 2010 -- This morning at 9 am, there were 7 HOODED MERGANSERS at Beckstoffer's Pond and a MERLIN sitting across the street in a conifer. There was also one Ring-necked Duck. In the Gielow Ln pond there were 40 Ring-necked Ducks at 8:45.-- Dave Bengston
Wed, 20 Oct 2010 -- Mid-afternoon, I did an SOS survey of Virgin Creek beach. MEW GULLS were first of season birds for me today. A handsome, male HARLEQUIN DUCK was on the long, low rock at the north end of the main beach. A MERLIN zoomed about. Probably the same PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER seen by Charlene and Becky was still around. Other shorebirds included DUNLIN, WILLET, Long and Short-billed DOWITCHERS, SANDERLINGS, BLACK TURNSTONES, BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SURFBIRDS and KILLDEER were spread out along the beach. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW and a WHITE-TAILED KITE were on the bluffs. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 19 Oct 2010 -- This morning I heard a GREATER ROADRUNNER calling on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. The sound was coming from the vineyard to the north of the knoll at the end of the lane. On September 26 I also thought that I heard one at the same location. I have been back six times since that date, spent some time listening, and played a recording, but today is the first time I have heard it again. The first time was at 08:15 and today it was at 11:00. I have yet to see the bird. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 18 Oct 2010 -- [This] morning there was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW near the west end of the road to Navarro Beach. At Mendocino Bay there was an adult nonbreeding plumaged PIGEON GUILLEMOT. -- Jerry White
Mon, 18 Oct 2010 -- [Today] I saw a WESTERN TANAGER eating figs out of my fig tree. This is the 3rd time I have seen one in the fig tree in about the last 2 weeks. I think it may be the same bird hanging around. It is kind of shy and elusive. Other things of note: I had 55 PINE SISKINS (record for my yard) at my feeders yesterday and a flock of about 20 Wild Turkeys that has been here for about three days. -- Dave Bengston
Mon, 18 Oct 2010 -- "Toby" Tobkin called to report that she scoped 11 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES heading south today. She was at the Laguna Point parking lot at MacKerricher State Park. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
15-16 Oct 2010 -- [This] weekend two tagged TURKEY VULTURES were reported to me. Helen Menasian reported TUVU # 68 from Redwood Valley near the RVOEP (10/15) and Monte LaDelle reported (10/16) that TUVU #79 has been hanging around their home just east of "Old Hopland" along Hwy 175. It has also been reported to me that another is in the Robinson Creek drainage but the number is unknown at this time. These are all TUVU's with large round white patagial (on the wing) tags with large black numbers on them. The numbers are fairly easy to read with binoculars either in flight or perched. These are all birds that were tagged at the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center in the late summer of 2008 as part of a state-wide study on heavy metals in avian scavengers (TUVUs, ravens, and golden eagles). Keep in mind that recent TUVU patagial tagging has taken place on the Yurok Tribe lands near Orick, but these tags are yellow in color. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 16 Oct 2010 -- Miner Hole Road. This morning at about 11:30a there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS in the same general area that Jerry reported from 2 days ago. There was also a PALM WARBLER on the north side of the Garcia River. 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen upriver from the Pectorals. An uncommon (for the coast) BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was also seen in the willows near the end of Miner Hole Road. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 16 Oct 2010 -- I visited the Mendocino College Pond today from 10:45 to 11:10. There were four COMMON MOORHENS. One of them is an adult still in very bright breeding plumage. A second one is a juvenile. A third one is an adult in non-breeding plumage. The fourth I did not get a good look at the head, but I did see the tail and white on the flanks. They were very vocal and did not notice me for about 15 minutes at which time they went into the reeds. I returned an hour later and only saw the breeding-plumage adult still being very vocal. Yes, there were a total of 4! Other birds included a GREEN HERON, seen both times and a GREAT EGRET. -- Dave Bengsten
Fri, 15 Oct 2010 -- Today I saw a number of migrant geese around the Ten Mile R. bridge. There were 2 (ALEUTIAN) CACKLING GEESE, 12(MINIMA) CACKLING GEESE, and 14 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Also present were several ducks, but the light was very bright on the water, so the specie remainded a mystery. A few DOWITCHERs fed on the south shore. -- Karen Havlena
Wed-Fri, 13-15 Oct 2010 -- There is a vagrant, hybrid N. FLICKER in the Ocean Meadows/Ten Mile Area. This female Flicker has mostly Yellow-shafted characteristics, but she has a small, red diamond-shaped spot on the nape and dijon mustard under-shafts and feathers. These vagrant hybrids hail from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana or N Dakota, etc. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 15 Oct 2010 -- Hi all, I saw and photographed a WESTERN TANAGER along the "Enchanted Trail" that goes to Virgin Creek Beach on Friday around noon. This trail is usually worth checking. It is north of the Three Rivers school north of Fort Bragg and is identified by a pullout on the west side of the road with a pile of gravel and a small State Park Sign. If you are walking to Virgin Creek, this is a good trail to take. Cheers, -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 15 Oct 2010 -- While birding on the coast today I had at least 4 large groups of geese flying south. Blow-ups of pictures I took showed that at least two of the groups were CACKLING GEESE with many showing the white neck-rings of the "Aleutian" type. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 13 Oct 2010 -- [This] morning there were 2 PALM WARBLERS on the north side of the Garcia River (access by a trail at the end of Miner Hole Road). There was also a Lesser Yellowlegs and a Pectoral Sandpiper downstream from there. Then later while on Stoneboro Road about 4/10ths of a mile from Highway 1 (at the pond on the south side of the road) another Palm Warbler flew in and landed on a fence post. Right after seeing the warbler I refound the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW reported earlier from this location. At the end of the day I met Karen Havlena and we birded the boardwalk at Lake Cleone. We had another Palm Warbler, this one was a very yellowish "eastern" bird. Today at Chadbourne Gulch there was a White-throated Sparrow. -- Jerry White
Wed, 13 Oct 2010 -- I received an email from Matt Coleman (Mendocino Land Trust) that included a picture of a SORA taken at a flooded marsh area along Navarro Beach Rd yesterday evening at 5:30 PM. I decided to check it out this afternoon. While playing the Sora call I could hear Virginia Rails (at least 8) calling. I could see them coming up almost to the road peeking out at me and swimming across a small section of water. It was the best look at Virginia Rails I've ever had. After some time I saw the Sora actually fly across the road and land in some heavy bushes. It flew back some ten minutes later. It was a good rail experience for me. The location was between the nice looking house and the Navarro Inn mostly on the north side of the road. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 13 Oct 2010 -- This morning Karen called to report a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in the lone pine by the brick pillar in her front yard on Ocean Meadows Circle which is on the east (inner) side of the circle across from some construction project. This is a new yardbird for her. -- Richard Hubacek for Karen
Sun, 10 Oct 2010 -- Late this afternoon (about 5:00) a flock of 60-75 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE arrived in Fort Bragg and appeared to land at the former mill site. These birds had abandoned the typical V formation and were flying in a loosely disorganized mass. Earlier in the afternoon I saw three immature members feeding and resting on the athletic field at the Fort Bragg Middle School on north Harold Street. -- Dave Jensen
Sun, 10 Oct 2010 -- Late this afternoon a southward bound flock of 120 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over the west side of Hopland in typical "V" formation. I am not sure if it always holds true or not, but I always sense that the fall "storm window" opens soon after the arrival of these migrating White-fronts. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 09 Oct 2010 -- "Toby" Tobkin called to report that she scoped at least 50 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS from the Laguna Point parking lot this morning. She said that that many from land was a first for her. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Sat, 09 Oct 2010 -- There was a Cackling Goose, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, and 3 Short-billed Dowitchers at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds. I spoke with Chuck Vaughn yesterday and he too saw most of these same birds plus he said the REDHEAD is still there. Also there were 2 Hooded Mergansers on the Beckstoffer Pond. -- Jerry White
Fri, 08 Oct 2010 -- [This] morning I saw 2 of the EVENING GROSBEAKS along the boardwalk just to the west of where Richard and Karen saw theirs. They were mixed in with a large flock of Cedar Waxwings. At Virgin Creek Beach I saw my first Dunlin of the Fall. At the Botanical Gardens there was a very late OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. -- Jerry White
Fri, 08 Oct 2010 -- "Toby" Tobkin called this morning to report a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER seen when walking her dog. The location was the open field next to the College of the Redwoods. The bird was in some bushes in that field. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are rare on the coast. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Fri, 08 Oct 2010 -- This morning at about 11:30a, Rich Kuehn, Pat Kirkpatrick, and I observed a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Stoneboro Road about a half-mile west of Highway 1. On Hunter's Lagoon at the end of Barnegat (off Stoneboro) there were 4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL and one WOOD DUCK. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Thu, 07 Oct 2010 -- At around noon today I found a flock of 5 to 7 EVENING GROSBEAKS. They were located in a dead tree along the broadwalk where it turns south. There is a sign on a tree with a big "6" on it. It is a tree ID information sign.I had walked pass the area and then heard them call. The flock seemed to move off to the east, possibly across. Highway One. Karen Havlena called at around 4:30PM to let me know that she had just found a female Evening Grosbeak west of the original location near the trail down from the visitor center. I had a talk with Jerry White a few days ago and he said to watch out for them because they were being reported both North and South of Mendocino County. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 06 Oct 2010 -- Good Evening Birders: Today I visited Burris Lane in Potter Valley. Near the east end of the road at the pond overlook, there was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. It was on a fence post directly across from the wide out where you park. It was the fence post just west of the bush. When I finally got out of the truck, it flew across the road to the south side and went into an oak tree just south of the closest power pole. It stayed there for awhile and then flew down to the large oak (still on the south side of the road) closest to the end of the road. It flew back and forth between those two trees. This was from about 1:15 to 1:40 pm on Wednesday. The bird appeared to be about half way in between an adult and a juvenile. Either that or it was molting. Some of the other birds included: Say's Phoebe, Lark Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Western bluebirds, Amer Wigeon, etc. -- Dave Bengsten
Tue, 05 Oct 2010 -- Gualala River. This morning at about 8a, Rich Kuehn and I observed a juvenile WHITE-THROATED SPARROW with a mixed sparrow flock in the field northwest of of the Gualala River bridge over Highway 1. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel and Rich Kuehn
Mon, 04 Oct 2010 -- While it didn't help his totals for his big year, Jerry White called to say that he found a flock of RED CROSSBILLS at the Casper Cemetery and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at Russian Gulch State Park Beach area today. On another note "Toby" and I looked for the BOBOLINK this morning and failed to find it. A very clear night sky last night may have allowed it to move on. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 04 Oct 2010 -- Greetings Fellow Birders, I just spotted a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER off Shafer Ranch Road (off Walker Road) south of Willits. Please let me know if you need more detail as to exact location. Best regards, Mike Curry, 916-214-8623, Willits
Sun, 03 Oct 2010 -- At 6 pm this Sunday I was distracted from my chores by the song of a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. The bird sounded off for 2 or three minutes and I was not able to locate and observe it by eye. Being a former east coast birder I am confident of the identification. Good Birding -- Michael Guinan, Caspar
Sun, 03 Oct 2010 -- This morning at 10:14AM I refound the BOBOLINK at the same location as yesterday. When it flew off to the east with it's "binking" flight call I thought that was the end of it. But Jerry White just called at 12:45PM and said it was back at the original location. The bird seems to like the tall grassy area just west of the taxiway. When disturbed it flies to some bushes bordering the grassy area generally in the southwest direction. I have seen it fly out of the area 2 times but it has come back. The best way of getting to the area would be to park to the right of the "terminal" and walk thru the gaps in the fence or the gate if opened. Walk out to the taxiway and head west. When the taxiway ends you will find the grassy area. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 -- In talking to "Toby" Tobkin this afternoon, she reported finding 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Virgin Creek late this morning. This is the 6th straight day that a Pectoral Sandpiper has been found at Virgin Creek. Pectoral Sandpiper had been hard to find this year until now. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 -- This afternoon at around 2:00PM I found a BOBOLINK at the Little River Airport. The location wasn't to far from where the Sage Thrasher was. I flushed the bird from the grassy area just above above the depression which is west of the taxiway. The bird landed in a bush where it stayed for awhile then was seeming chased off by a Savannah Sparrow. It flew to the north over a drainage/marsh area where I losted it. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 30 Sep 2010 -- "Toby" Tobkin left a message saying that the PECTORAL SANDPIPER is still at Virgin Creek for the 4th day. She also had a POMARINE JAEGER that flew in close to shore at Ward Ave. She said that she could see all the markings. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby Tobkin
Thu, 30 Sep 2010 -- At about 11:00 AM this morning, Steve Stump, Nikki White, and I saw the female REDHEAD found earlier by Chuck at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds(on the middle pond with a small flock of Ring-necked Ducks). That bird represents #300 for me for the year in Mendocino County. Also of interest for the Treatment Ponds was an adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL that flew in while we were watching the duck. -- Jerry White
Wed, 29 Sep 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I had an adult male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD visiting our feeders this evening between 5:15 and 6:45. It gets later sooner now, so I don't know if he is still around. It is pretty hot. Except for an irruption of PINE SISKINS (also noted by Virginia and Andy not far south of us on the Russian River), not much else is new with yard birds. -- Chuck and Barbara Vaughn
Wed, 29 Sep 2010 -- Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were on the sandy shore, just west of Ten Mile R. bridge about 4:15 this afternoon. There certainly have been quite a few AMAV this fall, both on the coast and inland in Mendocino County. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 29 Sep 2010 -- This morning at about 10:30a, Rich Kuehn and I found a BLACKPOLL WARBLER on Miner Hole road (between Pt. Arena and Manchester) about 0.5 mile in from Highway 1. Other interesting birds were 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and at least 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Hunter's Lagoon at the end of Barnegat Road (which is off Stoneboro Road just south of Manchester). A NASHVILLE WARBLER and a CASSIN'S VIREO in the willows along the north shore of the Gualala River just west of Highway 1 were nice to see here in the south coast. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel and Rich Kuehn
Tue 28 Sep 2010 -- Dorothy Tobkin just now called that a PECTORAL SANDPIPER is at Virgin Creek beach in MacKerricher SP. The bird was on the main beach, although apparently much of the sand has been washed out by the rough surf. The bird was also seen Monday [27 Sep] by Jerry White, said Toby. -- Karen Havlena, For Jerry White and Dorothy Tobkin
Sun, 26 Sep 2010 -- [Today] Doug and Erika Weidemann and I censused waterbirds around the perimeter of Clear Lake from a motorboat. Unfortunately we didn't see anything unusual, but we were pleased to find that more than 30 nests of Aechmophorus grebes were still active, many nearly a mile from shore. Our best birds were at Borax Lake, where we saw two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, a BLACK-NECKED STILT and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Surprisingly we didn't see any peeps. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 -- There was a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER on Monday morning at Usal. -- Jerry White
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 -- Walked around Lake Cleone this morning. As I was on the dirt path on the southeast of the lake I came upon an explosion of birds; several Marsh Wrens, 30+ Cedar Waxwings, 7 Winter Wrens, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Steller's Jays, Mourning Doves, 4 Spotted Towhees, 3 Wrentits, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, and Song Sparrows all within 5 minutes! other birds id'd this morning, Acorn and Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Western Scrub-Jay, Common Ravens, Mallards, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 3 Double-crested Cormorants, 3 American Coots, 1 Killdeer, 1 Black Phoebe and of course Brewer's Blackbirds. -- Fred Andrews
Sat, 25 Sep 2010 -- The male HARLEQUIN DUCK that has been at Dolphin Isle on the Noyo River returned on Saturday. We noticed his absence around the 15th of August. His colorful breeding plummage is just starting to come in. If you stop by Dolphin Isle to see him, keep an eye out for our BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. The colony is very active around dusk but a couple of birds including a juvenile are often visible during the day in the fir trees across from the old launch ramp. We had a lot of green heron activity on the Noyo River this summer. We were seeing several birds up the river regularly as well as one in the "magic corner" across from the old launch ramp. Best of days birding, -- Cate Hawthorn
Wed, 22 Sep 2010 -- At Usal Camp, five AMERICAN AVOCETS were watched by Chuck Vaughn, George Chaniot and myself, floating/swimming just beyond the small, breaking waves at Usal Camp beach. None of us could remember seeing Am Avocets actually out on the water. They maintained this behavior for about 30 minutes, before flying from side to side of Usal cove.
We stopped at Wages Creek, just north of Westport on Hwy 1, where we saw two AMERICAN DIPPERS, one adult and one immature. George commented that the adult was chasing the young bird over the creek, perhaps hoping that the immature would venture out on its own.
Later on Wednesday, I spotted a pale PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER on a large, flat rock near the north end of Ward Ave, Cleone. Also, in the adjacent surf, Chuck located a HARLEQUIN DUCK.
At Laguna Point, MacKerricher SP, there was a enduring feeding frenzy of gulls that included: POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS, SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and SABINE'S GULLS. It was definitely a high point of the day's birding. -- Karen Havlena, Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Tue, 21 Sep 2010 -- Here at the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center, yesterday two staff employees independently observed a Golden Eagle (common residents at HREC) on the ground adjacent to a large Bald-faced Hornet's paper nest that had been dislodged from 20 feet above in a madrone tree. The independent sightings meant that the eagle was flushed from the site once and returned shortly after to the dislodged nest thus showing active interest in the nest. I checked the nest out this morning intending to look it over closely to see if there was evidence that the eagle may have dislodged it from the tree. However, the nest still had active hornets exiting the nest, and I was not about to stick around very close (I have never been stung by one but I here that Bald-faced Hornets pack quite a "wallops" with their stings and are fairly aggressive when their nest is disturbed). The approx. 14 inch diameter nest was pretty much intact on the ground and did not appear to be torn apart. It looks like about a 4" by 12" long portion of it is still hanging in the tree. At this point I am assuming that the eagle dislodged it from the tree, as I have never before seen a nest dislodged by any sort of animal . the nests are usually adhered quite well to a cluster of small branches. However, that is only an assumption. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 20 Sep 2010 - It was just reported to me by one of UC-HREC's staff that a GREATER ROADRUNNER was observed in chaparral habitat at the top elevation of the UC- Hopland Research and Extension Center. I am going to check the area right now. For those that know the Center and might be interested in pursuing this bird it was at the top of the Orchard Pasture, east of the Orchard Rain gage, on the upper 4WD road just ENE of the "cow palace" structure. You can make arrangements through me (or possibly Chuck Vaughn). Good Birding! -- Bob Keiffer 707-744-1424 ext 112.
Sun, 19 Sep 2010 -- [Today] I drove around Clear Lake with Doug Weidemann. At Borax Lake we saw two early male EURASIAN WIGEONS, a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Near the north end of Clear Lake we saw an early pair of REDHEADS far from shore, perhaps a kilometer southeast of the bridge at Rodman Slough, while out in a canoe checking up on some late-nesting grebes that are still incubating eggs.
Back on September 3 I saw two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 19 Sep 2010 -- Hi all, Below is the ebird report for yesterdays pelagic sponsored by Mendocino Coast Audubon aboard the "Telstar." Leaders were Bob Keiffer, John Sterling, and myself, Rob Fowler. Thanks to all the participants for a great time! Location: Offshore pelagic (MEN Co.) Observation date: 9/19/10 Notes: Mendocino Coast Audubon fall pelagic trip. Seas were calm so we headed southwest towards Navarro Canyon. We went to 21 miles offshore to where the water temperature shot up to 59 degrees and many albacore were present here but few birds. Heavy drizzle to rain in the morning to partly cloudy sunny skies in the afternoon. Overall a nice trip, especially for the jaegers.
Other animals: Northern Fur Seal-3, Dall's Porpoise-16 (1 melanistic individual seen), Pacific White-sided Dolphin- 10, Northern Right-whale Dolphin-5, Ocean Sunfish-10, Blue Shark-5. Number of species: 22
Brant (Black) 55 2 flocks seen migrating over open ocean, Black-footed Albatross 15, Northern Fulmar 10, Pink-footed Shearwater 55, Flesh-footed Shearwater 1, Buller's Shearwater 12, Sooty Shearwater 20, Ashy Storm-Petrel 1 Seen by few observers, Pelagic Cormorant 1, Red-necked Phalarope 12, Red Phalarope 63 Most seen on the return trip, Sabine's Gull 94 Many were flying south on the return trip., Western Gull 60, California Gull 30, Common Tern 7, Arctic Tern 3, Common/Arctic Tern 4, South Polar Skua 9 Good number for the day!, Pomarine Jaeger 8, Parasitic Jaeger 20, Long-tailed Jaeger 70 By far the most common jaeger today with most ages seen and some groups sitting on the water, jaeger sp. 25, Common Murre 8, Rhinoceros Auklet 110. Thanks, -- Rob Fowler
Sat, 18 Sep 2010 -- Chuck Vaughn and Jerry White also saw an AMERICAN DIPPER west of the Wages Creek bridge (N Westport) this morning. They said that the Dipper was eating a large larva. This location is a mile north of Westport on Hwy 1. -- Karen Havlena for CE Vaughn and JR White
Sat, 18 Sep 2010 -- Jerry White and Chuck Vaughn ask me to post a NORTHERN WATERTHUSH when I post the Sage Thrasher. I forgot!! They found the bird at Usal in the creek south of the coastal campground. -- Richard Hubacek for Chuck and Jerry
Sat, 18 Sep 2010 -- This morning I found a SAGE THRASHER at the Little River Airport at the west end. A large group of birders failed to refind the bird this afternoon. If you want to try, locate the airport. Park to the right of the terminal. Walk out to the taxiway and head west. Once the taxiway ends there is a grassy area and then a large depression. The bird was last seen in the west end of the depression. Sage Thrashers like to hide on the ground but do come up to see what's happening from time to time. Will post a picture later. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 17 Sep 2010 -- Caspar- Jerry White found a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at the Caspar pond this afternoon at 4:45p. He added that the bird flew off with the blackbird flock. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel for Jerry White
Fri, 17 Sep 2010 -- A little after noon today there was a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the north entrance to Virgin Creek. It was with a small Chickadee flock. There were two AMERICAN WIGEON (first of season for me) in the creek east of the bridge. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 16 Sep 2010 -- This morning at 10:30 AM I was surprised to see a large swift banking in front of my vehicle at eye level here at the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center. My knee-jerk reaction of slamming on the brakes and fumbling for my binoculars revealed two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS flying 30 to 100 feet high over chaparral habitat with a western aspect. The elevation was 1770'. Strangely, the one bird seemed to be heading north, however, as they dropped in elevation they were back-dropped by hills and vegetation and I lost track of them after about 30 seconds. I have seen fall-migrating Black Swifts here in years past at similar elevation, but there was no mistaking the white flanks and light underparts on these birds despite the brief view. I believe this the first record of White-throated Swift for the UC-HREC. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 15 Sep 2010 -- Just before dawn on Wednesday morning at Usal a SPOTTED OWL called several times, and then just before sunrise there was a calling Northern Pygmy-Owl. -- Jerry White
Wed, 15 Sept 2010 -- Jim Havlena and I also birded Usal this AM, where we talked with Jerry White and Chuck Vaughn. I spotted a LONG-BILLED CURLEW flying over the beach, that Jerry said was a 1st for Usal. We also saw SAY'S PHOEBE, (2) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, and 4 WARBLING VIREOS. There were many other Western migrants: Townsend's, Yellow, Wilson's, and Orange-crowned Warblers, plus Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and Hutton's Vireos. We could not find the particular flock inwhich the others saw the rare warblers. However, I will be there again tomorrow at the appointed time to look again. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 15 Sep 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Jerry White and I birded the Usal Beach campground this morning. It was very quiet early, but at 930 we found a large mixed flock in the area of the pay station which we followed for about 45 minutes. Among these birds we found a TENNESSEE WARBLER, 2 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. The road into the campground from Hwy 1 has been recently graded and access is much better than it has been for the past several years. -- Chuck Vaughn and Jerry White
Tue, 14 Sept 2010 -- A RED-NECKED GREBE was with the Scoter flock off the north end of the Haul Rd at Ward Ave, Cleone, this morning. Along the still backed-up Ten Mile River, I saw 7 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and heard several others! There are also some in my neighborhood. A MERLIN swooped past the front yard today.
After my Ten Mile beach hike, I walked the Skunk RR tracks above Pudding Creek, near Rose Mem'l Cemetery. There was not much action there, but I did have a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, 3 WESTERN TANAGERS, YELLOW WARBLERS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, many VIRGINIA RAILS, PYGMY NUTHATCHES, and CEDAR WAXWINGS. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 14 Sep 2010 -- A Black-headed Grosbeak was in our bird feeder this afternoon, also flocks of American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, chickadees, plus a (probably) Downy Woodpecker on the trunk of the apple tree. -- Henri Bensussen, Fort Bragg
Tue, 14 Sep 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Jerry White saw a female INDIGO BUNTING at about 10 am today. The bird was off of Rd 500B/Brewery Gulch Dr just south of Mendocino, and about 50 yards west of Hwy 1. It was in a large mixed flock, composed largely of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Yellow Warblers. -- Jerry White
Mon, 13 Sept 2010 -- Today, I saw an adult female MacGILLIVRAY's WARBLER at Chadbourne Gulch, on the east side of Hwy 1, between Ten Mile R. and Westport. It was overcast all day, so I didn't go out until after 1-pm. Other birds present at Chadbourne were several YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS, 2 HUTTON'S VIREOS, a BROWN CREEPER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, and other common resident birds. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 11 Sep 2010 -- A friend who lives on the Ukiah end of the Boonville Rd asked me today: right near dusk all of a sudden a flock of birds will appear winging directly west at high speed. He says they are cowbird-sized, make no vocalizations, but he hears wingbeats. He does not think they are blackbirds or robins. This occurs only in the fall and has just started anew. Any ideas?-- Janet Rosen
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 -- There was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Usal on Tuesday September 7th. On that same day at Virgin Creek Beach Chuck Vaughn and I had a Long-billed Curlew. On Wednesday September 8th there was a Willow Flycatcher at Howard Creek. Chuck and I also had a flycatcher on September 7th at the Westport Headlands which was probably this species. On the 8th at Glass Beach there was a female Bullock's Oriole and 2 singing Fox Sparrow's. Later that same day there was a very bright Cassin's Vireo at the Botanical Gardens. -- Jerry White
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 -- A female/immature ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen briefly yesterday in bright sunlight by Jerry White and Chuck Vaughn, but they did not get really satisfactory looks at the bright yellow and lime green bird with a short tail, short, slightly decurved bill, and two wide, white wing bars.
This morning the coast was blanketed in dense fog. As I was driving north on Hwy 1, I saw Jerry's car at the Vista Point at mm 74.09. He was close by and had just encountered a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. The important news was that he saw the ORCHARD ORIOLE again in the drippy fog. The bird was wet, so the colors did not show as well. I'm sure glad he told me that fact! When I arrived at the Westport park, I saw the bedraggled oriole just at the top of a stand of berry bushes. The short, lime green tail and the wing bars were correct. I could also see the bill shape and the fact that it was not long and more narrow, like a Hooded Oriole. The face and body feathers were indeed wet, so I did not get good color on the bird. Both Jerry and I agreed that this bird was not a Hooded Oriole since it wasn't elongated enough, the tail was definitely short, the two, well-marked white wing bars, and the bill all point to Orchard. Jerry was much happier with this second look at the bird and is comfortable with the call. Also, even though for several years there has been a few Hooded's that summered in Westport, I have not noticed them for a couple of years.
The Westport Headlands Park is on the west side of Hwy 1, across from the Westport Hotel. The bird has now been seen almost everywhere in the small park in the tall shrubs. -- For Jerry White, Karen Havlena
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 -- A DUSKY FLYCATCHER was in a neighbor's garage in Ocean Meadows. The neighbor did not know a bird was temporarily "trapped" when I saw it as I went to take something into Fort Bragg for her. I had a broom to try to get it to leave and was able to get under the bird and got good looks at the lower mandible, narrow with a diffused, darkish tip (not like Gray). The head was nicely rounded and the eyes had narrow, whitish eye rings. I had to leave, but the bird got out of the garage on its own a little later. Dusky Flycatchers are not often seen on the immediate coast, except occasionally during early fall migration. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 06 Sep 2010 -- An unplanned bird outing came into being today when Jerry White, Rich and Nancy Trissel and myself all found ourselves at Miner Hole Rd this morning. The best bird of the day was a coastally rare BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER first spotted by Nancy Trissel. YELLOW and TOWNSEND WARBLERS were found but the consensus of the group was that it's still early for Fall migration. Jerry and I explored the Alder Creek area and the best bird was a BLUE-WINGED TEAL that flew in. Jerry reported that the AMERICAN AVOCET was still at the Ukiah Waste Treatment Plant as of this morning. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 06 Sep 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Jerry White reports that the AMERICAN AVOCET continued at the UWTP oxidation ponds this morning. It was there yesterday morning as well, and there was also a juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the edge of the north pond then. Jerry could not refind it today. An adult COMMON MOORHEN was seen by Dan Maxwell and myself at HREC on Sept 3. It is not a stretch to believe that this is the bird which first wintered there in 2006-07, which would make this its fifth consecutive winter there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to say that a juv. COMMON MOORHEN is at the east side of Ten Mile River bridge as of 9:15-am. She saw the bird about a 1/4 mile east of the bridge along the Haul Rd remnants. If one walks on the old Haul Rd, there is a spring that causes a marshy, wet area on the road surface. Just west of this area, one can look out over the marshy area. This is where the juv. COMO was seen. No Amer Coots have been around here recently. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 -- The AMERICAN AVOCET was still at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. It was seen on the sludge lagoon, flying around the percolation ponds, and swimming on the south pond. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 05 Sep 2010 -- Not sure how common these are around the Ukiah Valley, but I've been watching a pair of RINGED TURTLE-DOVES that come to my sunflower seed feeder. They're also watering at the bird bath. This is out by Lake Mendocino Dam near the end of Redemeyer Road. -- konagregg
Sat, 04 Sep 2010 -- About noon today a PECTORAL SANDPIPER along with a single WESTERN SANDPIPER flew past the Red Post Vineyard Pond in Potter Valley - the Pectoral making it's characteristic call note. They made a low pass but didn't land. I guess I was just there at the right moment. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 -- On my Ten Mile beach survey this am, a MERLIN flew past me at about 12-ft above the beach. I believe this is a FOS, at least it is for me. Earlier in the morning, Jim Havlena saw a SNOWY PLOVER on Seaside beach. I'm sure it was forced to move to another spot a short while later, because of the dogs people bring to this beach. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 I made a trip to Usal. Did not turn up any hoped for early vagrants but there were some other birds(and weather) of interest. There was a Northern Mockingbird in very worn plumage. For the last several years I have been keeping a list of all of the birds recorded at Usal; and on this day I found 4 new birds for that list including a Northern Pintail, a Snowy Egret, a juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron, and a female Lazuli Bunting. As for the weather, at around 10:30 AM a very strong warm easterly wind kicked up and the temperature soared to 79 degrees (the warmest I have ever recorded out there) and then within about 50 minutes or so it dropped back down to 67 degrees. -- Jerry White
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 -- This afternoon at Ward Avenue, I spotted at least 6 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS flying north at an altitude of about 50 feet. There were at least three birds behind the lead 6. The noise was a racket. I figure I spent at least three minutes cursing and carrying on because I couldn't get my camera up and focused, plus another two minutes to fumble with my phone. According to the phone read-out, I called Karen Havlena at 3:08 p.m. and told her the birds were headed her way (Ten Mile River--approximatley 5 miles north). Karen later confirmed 7 LBCU and 4 MAGO at Ten Mile River (they flew north again shortly after that). After several calls back and forth, Karen and I decided to trust George Chaniot's superior mathematical abilities. Taking into account distance, speed, wind, and whatever else intelligence requires, he figured the birds were traveling at approximately 7.5 mph--thus satisfying our never-ending mission to find out how and how fast shorebirds get from point A to point B. -- Becky Bowen
[I would like to add my comments to Becky Bowen's account of the Long-billed Curlews and Marbled Godwits that flew north from Ward Ave to Ten Mile River for a short rest. I stood for 30+ minutes on the bluff above the mouth of Ten Mile River. As I was about to give up, while walking up to Ocean Meadows Circle, I heard, "Cur - lew? Cur - lew?" At first, I could not see the birds, but I looked up and there were the curlews and godwits, flying in small circles like swallows. They were at least 50+ feet up. I called Becky that it had been about 1/2 hour since she called me. Hurrying home, I took the scope and drove south to the Ten Mile R. bridge. There were 7 L-B CURLEWS and 4 MARBLED GODWITS. They only rested on the shore for approx. 35-40 minutes. Then, one or two of the curlews started calling loudly and repeatedly. The group took off and flew NORTH, once again. George thought they were searching, unsuccessfully, for a suitable feeding area. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 -- Steve Stump reports an AMERICAN AVOCET on the south pond of the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. -- Cheryl Watson
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 -- On the morning of Tuesday August 31st while driving on Mountain View Road there were 2 SOOTY GROUSE; 1 about 1/4 mile or so east of milemarker 9.25 and another about 1/4 mile west of that same milemarker. A total of 16 MOUNTAIN QUAIL were seen on the trip over. Later that day there was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on Virgin Creek Beach. -- Jerry White
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called that she saw an adult LARK SPARROW in the field adjacent to Caspar Pond (east of Hwy 1 along Fern Creek Rd). Unfortunately, the bird flew away at the time. Also, Toby saw approx. 5-7 LESSER GOLDFINCH in the same area. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 -- Last mid-July it came to the attention of some local birders that a GRAY CATBIRD had been observed and photographed for about a week from June 26 - July 8, 2010. The observation and photos were by the landowners who are located in the Robinson Creek/Boonville Road area. An unsuccessful attempt was made, with permission by the landowners, by several local birders to relocate the bird on July 15th. Apparently the bird was not seen after July 8th. -- Bob Keifer
Sat, 28 Aug 2010 -- 6:15 p.m. Adult male CHUKAR was on the vineyard road north of the creek, between Sanford Ranch Rd and the private vineyard irrigation pond, on the south side of Sanford Ranch Road, just east of junction with Knob Hill Road. This is private land complete with no trespassing signs, but the nearby neighbors walk here frequently and I am unaware of any confrontations with the land owner so long as the grapes and pears are undisturbed. -- Cherie Foster
Sat, 28 Aug 2010 -- On the trail around Lake Cleone, August 28, 2010, 1;35 P.M. to 3:30, Cloudy skies, slight breeze. : Mallards, Brewer's blackbirds, 1 Osprey, 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Pied-billed grebe, Barn and Violet-green swallows, 3 Turkey vultures, 3 Common ravens, 1 marsh wren (heard), Western gulls, 1 Heerman's gull among the Western gulls on the lake (1st winter, brown, pale bill), 1 song sparrow, 1 male downy woodpecker, 40+ Cedar waxwings perched at top of dead pines near pumphouse, Chestnut-backed chickadees, 1 Western scrub jay, 1 male Wilson's warbler, 1 mourning dove, possibly 4 Band-tailed pigeons, Steller's Jays, 2 Vaux's swifts, 1 male Anna's hummingbird (heard others), and 1 Double-crested cormorant flying overhead. -- Fred Andrews
Tue, 24 Aug 2010 -- On Monday the 23rd there were 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS amongst a large flock of Surf Scoters at Ward Avenue. On Tuesday the 24th at the Garcia River estuary there were 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons and 4 ELEGANT TERNS. A Peregrine Falcon (I saw a total of 4 during the 2 days) kept chasing off the shorebirds, but 2 MARBLED GODWITS did land briefly. There was some evidence of land bird migration with a Townsend's Warbler on Miner Hole Road and Warbling Vireos, a Cassin's Vireo, and a Yellow Warbler at Windy Hollow. -- Jerry White
Wed, 25 Aug 2010 -- I was awakened at 03:30 this morning by what sounded like a group of geese calling in the moonlight. I went out on the deck to listen and instead I heard a LONG-EARED OWL calling about 150 yards away. It called four times in 15 minutes, or about once every five minutes. This was my third encounter here in 31 years. I never did figure out the goose thing - maybe a very distant group of coyotes yapping. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 -- Garcia River and Manchester Beach : This morning, Rich Kuehn and I birded the beach from the end of Stonboro to the mouth of the Garcia River. There were good numbers of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, SANDERLINGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, along with a few LEAST SANDPIPERS, a WHIMBREL, and 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. In the lagoon at the mouth of the river there were 15 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, 3 WILLETS, KILLDEER, about a dozen BLACK TURNSTONES flew over, and 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Feels like migration has finally started in earnest ... Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 -- Clear skies, no wind. 13 AMERICAN AVOCETS flying over the lake and out to the ocean. Chestnut-backed Chickadees, House Finches, Steller's Jays, Anna's Hummingbirds (male and female), Song Sparrows, Wrentit, Mallards, Osprey, 4 Pied-billed Grebes, male Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Western Gulls, Brewer's Blackbirds, male and female American Goldfinch, Marsh Wrens, Great Blue Heron, immature Double-crested Cormorant, Mourning Doves, Common Ravens, Bushtits, Acorn Woodpeckers (males and females). -- Fred Andrews
Mon,23 Aug 2010 -- Last week while driving to Ukiah my wife spotted a tagged TURKEY VULTURE along Hwy 101 near the "Strawberry Stand" on the south side of Burke Hill. Unfortunately we did not have time to turn around to read the number on the patagial wing tag. This is one of the TUVU's banded by UC Davis researchers a couple years back, many of which were tagged at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. If anyway happens to see one of these birds, please try to read the number on the tag and either post the sighting or contact me directly. Thanks . and good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 -- Angela Liebenberg just saw 8 AMERICAN AVOCETS on Ten Mile beach, north of the Ward Ave ramp and the SNOWY PLOVERs fence. The birds were together north of the SNPL hangout, but south of Fen Creek mouth, which is the wide, dry opening south of Inglenook Creek. Just guessing, but it may be 1 1/2 miles walk north of the Ward Ave ramp. Angela said that 3 of the Amer Avocets were still in partial breeding plumage. -- For Angela Liebenberg, Karen Havlena
Sun, 22 Aug 2010 -- Garcia River mouth, Point Arena. This morning at 11:30 there were 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS with a large flock of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SANDERLINGS at the mouth of the Garcia River. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Fri-Sat, 20-21 Aug 2010 -- Toby Tobkin has noticed early ducks arriving with the N Shoveler at Caspar Pond (Sat) and a N Pintail at Hare Creek on Friday. Also, the Greater White-fronted Goose at the UWTP last week (CEV) seemed to be early. Maybe it summered in a somewhat local spot and is just now getting the urge to move on. Jim just arrived home from Minnesota, where he noted a lack of ducks for mid-August. He did see a pair of Eastern Kingbirds in West Minnesota three days ago (and they are supposed to be regular, early migrants). It is a different type of year.
I talked with Becky about her 82 Caspian Terns flying south along Ten Mile beach. I saw at least half of them from my living room window. In just a few minutes Friday afternoon, I saw about 45 CATEs flying by heading south towards Becky. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 21 Aug 2010 -- This morning there was a SEMPALMATED SANDPIPER on the sludge lagoon at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It was with three juvenile Western Sandpipers and tended to keep out of sight in the vegetation. On the north percolation pond there was a fly-by SEMIPALMATED PLOVER seen and heard well. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 21 Aug 2010 -- Today at Caspar Creek, Toby Tobkin observed a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. At Caspar Pond off Highway 1, she spotted a NORTHERN SHOVELLER. -- Becky Bowen for Toby Tobkin
Fri, 20 Aug 2010 -- Toady I birded along (actually _in_) the Eel River at Benmore Creek below Scott Dam in Lake County. I had a flock of 11 PURPLE MARTINS circling above the site, an AMERICAN DIPPER flying downstream, and an adult BALD EAGLE overhead. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 20 Aug 2010 -- On an SOS survey [today] at Ten Mile Beach (between 1-3 p.m.), I saw 82 CASPIAN TERNS flying in small groups, hunting in surf, and gathering in a large group near Ward Avenue. Conditions were sunny to foggy and stiff wind. There were more that I didn't count. They were all flying south and I could hear them flying by when I was shooting pictures. -- Becky Bowen
Thu, 19 Aug 2010 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called to say that a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at Hare Creek mouth, just south of the intersection of Hwy 1 and Hwy 20, at the south edge of Fort Bragg. There were also other Western and Least Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Plover or two around. The current access is from the south side of the Hare Ck bridge. Turn west on Cypress and veer right again. Look for a fence with a break. The trail is narrow and wet, due to a seep or spring. Use extreme caution navigating this trail. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Wed, 18 Aug 2010 -- Meandering along the Caspar Frontage Road (turn left at the end of the main street - you can't miss it!) Wednesday early afternoon, found a WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on a power line above the grassy field along the north side of the road. Sharing the wire were apparent juvenal Western Bluebirds in various stages of disheveled molts. They were having great luck getting grubs and larvae from the field below them. -- Jessica Morton
Tue, 17 Aug 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I birded the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. I could not refind the 3 White-faced Ibis that Steve Stump reported yesterday. However, I did find a juv SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on the S edge of the N pond. It was with about 15 Least Sandpipers, foraging along the thin exposure of mud there. That is presently the only mud out there! There were also 5 NORTHERN SHOVELERS and 1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, all first of fall birds for me. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 16 Aug 2010 -- Kelly Austin reports a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW singing in Redwood Valley. This is a very early arrival date!
Mon, 16 Aug 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Steve Stump reports that there were 3 WHITE-FACED IBIS at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant oxidation ponds at 1 pm today (5 minutes ago). The birds were on the dike bordering the south edge of the middle oxidation pond. They were with the Mallards and Double-crested Cormorants beyond the sprinklers. -- Chuck Vaughn for Steve Stump
Sun, 15 Aug 2010 -- Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken report three WILSON'S PHALAROPES at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant.
Sun, 15 Aug 2010 -- On Sunday the 15th, Doug and I canoed to the large grebe colony at Anderson Marsh. We saw an AMERICAN BITTERN and two COMMON MOORHENS at the south end of the island at the south end of Clear Lake. At the grebe colony we saw four adult (two male, two female) with four downy young RUDDY DUCKS, providing one of the few breeding records for the county. In the afternoon we canoed to the large colony of nesting grebes on floating mats of algae at the north end of the lake, near the mouth of Rodman Slough. A juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was standing alone on a thick mat of algae a few hundred yards from shore, allowing us to approach amazingly close. We also scoped Borax Lake from the road, spotting a single DOWITCHER (species unidentified) and a bunch of peeps, but nothing else unusual.
If you're wondering why we're spending so much time out on the lake, it's because we're contracted by the Redbud Audubon Society to study nesting Aechmophorus grebes. While studying the grebe colonies we encountered a few oddities that may interest some of you. A PIED-BILLED GREBE chick was alone and appeared to be abandoned in a nest within the midst of the Aechmorphorus grebe colony at Rodman's Slough on Friday the 13th, and on Sunday the 15th we noticed two smaller eggs among three much larger eggs in a nest in the Anderson Marsh colony. We suspect the eggs were dumped by PIED-BILLED GREBES and the chick was abandoned after it had hatched.
Finally, we have a bizarre ornithological mystery to contemplate: on Sunday the 15th, we found a dead juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL beside an Aechmophorus grebe nest with 11 entire, unbroken eggs at the edge of the colony on floating algal mats at the north end of the lake. We wondered how the 11 eggs got to the nest, whether a gull could carry them without breaking them, and whether the gull had been fatally speared from beneath by grebes defending their nests. Any thoughts? -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 15 Aug 2010 -- Hi all, Some of you have heard, but I thought I would let others know. [On the 15ty] we had a possible RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at our feeder in Little River. Some of the pictures look pretty interesting, but I was not able to see or photograph the primaries of the suspect bird. Peter Pyle reviewed the photos last night and is not entirely convinced. I am attempting to see the bird and photograph it again today, but have not been successful in seeing the bird. It is not helping that our deck is being power washed at the moment. They'll be done in a couple of hours and then I will spend some time trying to get another look. If it shows up again, I'll let you all know. -- Ron LeValley
Sat, 14 Aug 2010 -- While crossing the Ten Mile R. bridge today, I spotted a large group of gulls and terns on the sandy, south shore west of the bridge. With my scope I counted (3 times) a total of 44 CASPIAN TERNS, and over 60 CALIFORNIA GULLS. That is the largest group of Caspian Terns I have seen in Mendocino County. That is probably not a record number of CATEs for MEN, but it's more than I usually see on Ten Mile (river and beach). I checked carefully, but there were only the two species present in the group. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 13 Aug 2010 -- On Friday the 13th, Doug Weidemann and I joined Brad and Kathy Barnwell at Lakeport and we canoed (Doug and I) or kayaked (Brad and Kathy) on Clear Lake south to Corinthian Bay. At Manning Creek we found a juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE swimming out on the lake. At Rumsey Slough we found two LEAST BITTERNS and a female NORTHERN SHOVELER. We also encountered 19 scattered nests of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, mostly at Rumsey Slough. In the afternoon Doug and I saw another LEAST BITTERN--our third for the day--at Rodman Slough.
Tue, 10 Aug 2010 -- On Tuesday the 10th, Doug Weidemann and I explored Long Tule Point along the west shore of Clear Lake by canoe. Although we didn't find any grebe nests, we saw a LEAST BITTERN, a juvenile WILLET (found by Doug) in an unusual habitat--standing at the edge of the reeds--and a MARBLED GODWIT (found by Doug) flying overhead.
At Borax Lake we were joined by Nick Shepherd and saw six WILSON'S PHALAROPES, two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and two LESSER YELLOWLEGS. We couldn't relocate the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER but didn't have much time to look at the peeps, because a gentleman who owned the land politely asked us to leave so we couldn't sue him if we got injured. It was the first time in dozens of visits that I had ever been asked to leave, so be aware that it might happen to you if you hike out to the shore of the lake. Luckily Nick found a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER in the morning and showed me some excellent photos that he had taken. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 09 Aug 2010 -- Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg has good birding right now--in spite of a large sea lion carcass that has been on the beach for about a week. Today after 1 p.m. (at the north end of the beach), we spotted another PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER, and a large number of Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, a Spotted Sandpiper, Marbled Godwits, Surfbirds and 21 Least Sandpipers as well as other shorebirds. Don't be discouraged by fog or the carcass. -- Becky Bowen
Sun, 08 Aug 2010 -- New weekend hours for the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant are 7AM to 10AM.
Chuck and Barbara Vaughn, Matt Brady, Geoff Heinecken, and I saw a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE resting with a flock of CANADA GEESE on the bank of the north pond this morning. -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 08 Aug 2010 -- Purple Martins have been seen consistently along University Road east of Hopland throughout this summer period (June, July) and into early August. PUMA have been at this location in late summers/fall in prior years, but this year we have confirmed at least two active nests. I saw one another power pole has a probable nest confirmed by the female dive-bombing me. We actually suspect possible second-nesting (this season) in the one cavity. There have been as many as 10 birds confirmed at one time. It is great to have this species nesting in the inland part of the county with the only other past inland nestings that I know of were at 1) a power pole on the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center, and 2) near the Eel River Bridge near Van Arsdale Dam. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 08 Aug 2010 -- Dear Birders, Today I counted 15, and possibly 17, PURPLE MARTINS on the telephone wire and on a lowland fir snag next to my house. They obviously had success raising young in the cavities built into the new Ten Mile Bridge for martins and bats. This is great news since I counted only 6 birds last year. -- Erica Fielder
Fri, 06 Aug 2010 -- On Friday the [6th], Doug Weidemann and I joined the Barnwells to check up on two large nesting colonies of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES at Rodman Slough--one a few hundred yards north of the bridge in the slough, the other on floating mats of algae on the lake several hundred yards south of the mouth of Rodman Slough. Karen Barnwell pointed out to us a LEAST BITTERN about 100 yards north of the bridge at Rodman Slough.
Later in the day Doug and I birded Borax Lake where we saw 17 CINNAMON TEAL (one with a slightly shorter bill and more contrasting face may have been a BLUE-WINGED, but we weren't convinced), one SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, seven WILSON'S PHALAROPES and 11 hungry AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS.
Doug and I found another large colony of nesting grebes in Anderson Marsh. Between Redbud Park and Anderson Marsh we saw two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in a novel habitat--standing on floating mats of algae in the middle of the lake! Four CASPIAN TERNS were flying around the area. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 05 Aug 2010 -- There was a single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER with a few WESTERN SANDPIPERs south of Fen Ck mouth and north of the (9) SNOWY PLOVERS fenced area. Today was surely different from Tuesday, having less species diversity. Tuesday's birds included RUDDY TURNSTONES and BLACK TURNSTONES, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER and WILLET, but none of them were around here this morning.
A WANDERING TATTLER and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER were on the rocky (north) side of Ten Mile river mouth. SANDERLINGs are looking quite beautiful in half-molt between breeding and basic plumage, showing silver, black and white on their backs and wings. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 04 Aug 2010 --[This] evening Doug Weidemann and I saw one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, two juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, nine WILSON'S PHALAROPES and an adult BALD EAGLE at Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 -- A molting PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER has been at Virgin Creek beach for a week (since 28 Jul), but somehow it never got reported to this listserv. The bird was found by Sal Salerno of Stanislaus County. The bird has been seen and photographed by several local birders. Toby Tobkin called to tell me that it is still here. Now, it will probably leave tonight..... For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Sun, 01 Aug 2010 -- Sad to say I found a dead Rhinoceros Auklet on Caspar beach. Aug 1 Is any one, or a group, taking records of coastal moralities? -- Gunn --[As I recall there used to be a group recording coastal moralities, but they were able to discover so few that they abandoned the endeavor within a few weeks. It was found that moralities tend to be a bit higher here on the north coast than in southern California, but this was finally and reluctantly attributed simply to climatic variations. Skinny-dipping here in our tidal pools, for example, tends to be both quite cold and uncomfortably abrasive, and thus is seldom practiced. It is certainly something that many birders will want to be on the look-out for - coastal morality, that is. -- Vishnu]
Sat, 31 Jul 2010 -- 31 July 2010 - Greg Giusti reports getting a very close and good look at a LEAST BITTERN on Quercus Point while bass fishing. He said that he was able to get very close to it before it descended back into the tules. Good Birding. -- Posted for Greg by Bob Keiffer.
Thu, 29 Jul 2010 -- 29 July 2010 - While collecting native grass seeds for a researcher in one of the ungrazed units of the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center I happened across a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW nest with about 1-week old nestlings. I discovered the nest by seeing one of the adults leave the nest. Even though nesting has been confirmed in the past by several observers watching adults feed fledged young, this is only the second actual nest ever documented in Mendocino County. The first was also at UC-HREC last year, but at a much lower elevation.
The nest is in an area dominated by blue oaks with broken canopy and mainly a grass understory of native bunch grasses and exotic annual grasses. Within 10 feet in any direction the understory is 100% coverage mainly dominated by annual grasses, but where the nest actually occurs is within a small area of maybe 20% ground cover, and that is comprised of spsarse native bunch grass clumps. The nest is tucked under the edge of one of those clumps. Aspect is WSW (hot exposure) and slope is about 35% and elevation 2100'. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue 27 Jul 2010 -- Hello all. I, too, visited the USTP today, though between 11:10 and 12:20. I did NOT see the Ibis, which is unfortunate, as it would still be a Mendocino County bird for me. However, I did note seven (7) Least Sandpipers, one (1) Western Sandpiper, one (1) Spotted Sandpiper, one (1) Long-billed Dowitcher, one (1) Lesser Yellowlegs and one (1) BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. All were along the edge of the north pond, and all were, as far as I could tell, adults still mostly in alternate plumage. Also of note were three (3) Green Herons, one (1) Yellow-breasted Chat (still singing) and one (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher calling along the Russian River. -- Matt Brady, Potter Valley
Tue, 27 Jul 2010 -- A WHITE-FACED IBIS was found this morning at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds by Paul Hawks. The bird was still there this afternoon at the "entrance pond ". There was also a Golden Eagle seen flying high over the ponds. This morning there were 4 Least Sandpipers, a Long-billed Dowitcher and the continuing Lesser Yellowlegs. -- Jerry and Nikki White
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 -- Birded at Borax Lake today in Lake Co. The lake is a short distance north of the town of Clearlake. During two visits to Borax Lake today I saw 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, KILLDEER and about 50 LEAST SANDPIPERS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. These birds were all at the south end of the lake on the peninsula that goes north into the lake. -- John Luther, Oakland
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 -- Sal Salerno, Stanislaus Audubon, and wife Barbara joined the Save Our Shorebirds survey late this morning at Virgin Creek Beach just north of Fort Bragg. We saw six RUDDY TURNSTONES and large numbers of SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES as well as WESTERN SANDPIPERS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SANFERLINGS, BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and a few HEERMANN's GULLS. It's a good time to be out there. -- Becky Bowen
Sun, 25 Jul 2010 -- Gualala River to Alder Creek : Rich Kuehn and I did an informal shorebird survey starting at the Gualala River and working our way as far north as Alder Creek. We had a single GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Cook's Beach which is accessed off road 526 across from St. Orre's restaurant. At several pulloffs along Highway 1 we saw WANDERING TATTLERS (a surprising total of at least 10 for the day), BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and BLACK TURNSTONES. At Hearn Gulch Beach we had a single RUDDY TURNSTONE. At Alder Creek beach there were many KILLDEERS, a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a small flock of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and what must have been a small group of SANDERLINGS in alternate plumage that, due to their relative apparent size and bright red coloration, had us initially thinking Red Knot (not). Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 25 Jul 2010 -- Today, on the way back from Santa Rosa, I stopped at Comminsky Station Road to check for the INDIGO BUNTING. Being Sunday, there were a lot of people along the river, but the bunting was there just to the south of the cable across the river. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Jul 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I met Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning for some birding around the oxidation ponds. There were some birds of local interest. An adult m NORTHERN PINTAIL, already in mostly basic plumage, was on the north pond. The 4 GREATER SCAUP (2 m, 2 f), which have spent the summer out there, were still present. An adult f RUDDY DUCK was leading 6 downy young around the middle pond. Cheryl and I have seen them previously on July 18. This is the only place they are known to breed in Mendocino County, and this is the fifth consecutive year they have bred successfully there. There were 16 SNOWY EGRETS around the edges of the middle and north ponds. This is the largest number we remember seeing inland. They were accompanied by a juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, another locally rare bird in the summer. Finally, there was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the edge of the north pond with the usual assortment of peeps. The only shorebird habitat out there presently is along the edge of the north pond. I think that they have given up on their efforts to drain the south pond, so mud is at a premium. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 -- [Today] there were two BLACK-NECKED STILTS at Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 -- Today at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a female RUDDY DUCK with six very small downies in the middle pond. This is one of the few breeding records of this species in Mendocino County. On the north pond there was a handful of LEAST SANDPIPERS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS -- George Chaniot
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 -- On Tuesday the 20th, Doug Weidemann and I found an adult male WILSON'S PHALAROPE, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and a PHAINOPEPLA at Borax Lake. On Friday the 16th, two female-type CINNAMON TEAL were at Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 -- Two ELEGANT TERNS were on the beach north of Inglenook Creek mouth with a small flock of gulls. They were agitated by the incoming tide and flew in low circles, landing and circling. After a few minutes, the terns flew north into the light fog. Perhaps they will be in Humboldt Co tomorrow.
Six unbanded SNOWY PLOVERS were just north of the symbolic fenced area. This is about 200 yards north of the Ward Ave ramp, Cleone. One RUDDY TURNSTONE was nearby. Three CASPIAN TERNS flew south near this spot. About 2-miles north at Inglenook Crk mouth, I saw two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. They were so tame, I had a difficult time getting them to call. (Actually, one was definitely a Long-billed, while the other could have been a Short-billed -- it never called and was molting)..
Interestingly, this morning had only 11 WHIMBREL during my entire 4+ mile walk on Ten Mile beach. On Tuesday, I saw 47 Whimbrels!! Chuck and Barbara Vaughn came over from Ukiah to look for some of the above-mentioned shorebirds. I told them I thought Tuesday's WHIM count was in the high '20's, but it really was 47. What a difference in only 2 days. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 -- If you're looking for Ruddy Turnstones, now is the time to see them in MacKerricher State Park. For the last week, our surveyors have seen from 3-5 at Virgin Creek Beach (north end of beach) and 3-4 on the beach and on off-shore rocks near the Ward Avenue ramp at Ten Mile Beach. Very colorful. Very beautiful. Also good numbers of Black Turnstones and Surfbirds. -- Becky Bowen
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 -- I was told by Becky Bowen that Monday (7/19), she saw my 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES near Ward Ave, and just a few minutes later, she saw 5 at Virgin Creek beach. That is only two, well-covered beaches in a short period of time, to have eight RUTUs. Wonder how many RUTUs are actually at other coves and small beaches along the coast? -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 -- Three RUDDY TURNSTONES and the continuing three SNOWY PLOVERS were on Ten Mile beach this morning. The RUTU's ranged up and down the beach, getting pushed around by joggers and walkers. The birds were generally with Black Turnstones, Sanderlings, Whimbrels and Western Sandpipers, and they were seen from close to Ward Ave up about a 1.5 miles north. I added Willet, Spotted Sandpiper and both species of Turnstone to my list for this summer survey season. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 16 Jul 2010 -- Hello all. The COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD that has been frequenting Cherie Foster's house in Talmage (Mendocino County, for the county birders) showed well today, despite the heat of the afternoon. To get directions or updates to Cherie's house, give her a call at (707) 462-3339. She's very friendly, and completely accommodating. She also said that she's been having some HOODED ORIOLES coming around the feeders, though I did not see them. -- Matt Brady
Wed, 15 Jul 2010 -- This morning I had two VESPER SPARROWS along the north fence of the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. They were first on the ground along the road, flew to the fence, and then disappeared into the weeds beyond the fence. George Chaniot
Wed, 15 Jul 2010 -- Shorebirds are sporadically visiting Borax Lake in Lake County, which has excellent habitat--unlike Clear Lake, which has high water levels. On Thursday the 8th I photographed a partially-molted adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER as it circled the lake a couple of times. Unfortunately I did not see it land. I also flushed a CINNAMON or BLUE-WINGED TEAL. On Friday the 9th, Doug Weidemann and I tallied 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 110 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 15 LEAST SANDPIPERS. However, yesterday the 13th we saw only about a dozen distant peeps. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 13 Jul 2010 -- This morning, I saw my first SNOWY PLOVER of the season standing right by a pole holding the symbolic fence north of Ward Ave on Ten Mile beach. Shorebird numbers have increased quite a bit since last week. (Last Thursday, 7/8, Jim saw a MARBLED GODWIT at Inglenook Ck, but it has moved on). Other birds that I had: 2 Peregrine Falcons, 27 Whimbrels, 12 Sanderlings, 79 Western Sandpipers, 7 Least Sandpipers, 1 Caspian Tern, 5 Killdeer (3 were chicks), 3 Ospreys, 53 Heermann's Gulls, 24 Western Gulls, and 18 California Gulls.
The Snowy Plovers should build well into the teens and twenties in August and September. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 11 Jul 2010 -- "Toby" Tobkin and I went to Russian Gulch to try for the BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (a Mendocino first record) seen on the 2 previous days. We got there fairly early but still found Chuck Vaughn coming down the trail from his brief but successful viewing as we were going up. I heard the warbler even before we got to the correct spot (see previous postings). We caught up with Ruth Rudesill a Sonoma County birder who also heard it. The bird then went silent for sometime. Jim and Karen Havlena joined the group and with the sun coming out the warbler started singing again and all the group finally got fair looks at the bird. We all left a little after 11:00 AM. The warbler was always high in the trees so take a neck pillow with you if you're going to try it. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 10 Jul 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Ruth Rudesill of Sonoma County reports that the male INDIGO BUNTING continued along Comminsky Station Road [today] (July 10). Ruth also saw a female INDIGO BUNTING in the same area. -- Chuck Vaughn for Ruth Rudesill
Sat, 10 Jul 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Jerry and Nikki White refound the adult male BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER in Russian Gulch SP between 3:30 and 3:45 this afternoon. This is the same bird found yesterday at 1:30 pm by Matt Victoria as reported on Mendobirds earlier today. Jerry and Nikki suggest that the total walk in is closer to 1.5 to 1.75 miles and takes about 45 minutes leisurely walking. The bird was found at the first bridge above the fork in the trail, and is much easier heard than seen. -- Chuck Vaughn for Jerry and Nikki White
Sat, 10 Jul 2010 -- Win Bowen took a photo of a RIG-NECKED PHEASANT that wandered into a Caspar neighborhood on the coast about 1 p.m. this afternoon. -- Becky Bowen
Fri, 09 Jul 2010 -- Covelo, M1, Spruce Grove : Jim and Karen Havlena and I headed up to the mountains via Covelo and had a very successful outing. We met at Willits at 7a and drove to Covelo stopping along the way at the favorite bridge of the WHITE-THROATED SWIFT near Dos Rios on 162. The first swift was seen within a couple minutes and at least 2 birds were present. We then headed up towards the mountains stopping along the way to check for CANYON WREN along the middle fork of the EEL River near the Eel River Campground. And, just as Jerry reported, we heard a single bird calling to the north across the river from the end of the trail. It took about 15 minutes to finally hear the bird.
Our first stop on the way up M1 was prompted by a small bird flitting across the road. It ended up being unidentifiable but we did find a DUSKY FLYCATCHER right next to the road. We continued on up and again stopped for a flying bird that ended up being the first of several WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS. Also, on our way up we saw and heard at least 2 GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES.
At Spruce Grove Campground we finally saw and heard MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES which were unusually scarce on the way up. Around the campground area we saw 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES, a CASSIN'S FINCH, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and 2 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS were common and active at the campground.
On our way down we were stoked to have a young (first or second year probably) Black Bear directly in front of us in the middle of the road. Evidently Jerry doesn't have exclusivity on bear adventures and, unlike Jerry, we were not intimidated as we neared the bear. OK, we were in a car. Whatever. -- Good Birding, Rich Trissel
Fri, 09 Jul 2010 -- South of Hopland : The INDIGO BUNTING was still at his favorite spot at 6:45p.m. Good Birding, Rich Trissel
Fri, 09 Jul 2010 -- Talmage : I saw the COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD yesterday evening at the Foster's at 5:45p.m. Good Birding, Rich Trissel
Thu, 08 Jul 2010 -- This evening I heard a RING-NECKED PHEASANT crowing in a field along West Road in Potter Valley. Later, Pat and Jack Brown, who were working in the same field, told me they had seen it. They said it was the first one they had seen there in "a hundred years." -- George Chaniot
Tue, 06 Kul 2010 -- A visiting birder from Santa Barbara, Matt Victoria, called me to report he had a singing BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Russian Gorge State Park (between Ft Bragg and Mendocino) [today] at 1:30. Directions: Park at the Fern Canyon trail head. Walk towards the waterfall till you come to a fork after 1.3 miles. At the fork, take the short loop trail (left). The bird was singing at the very next bridge. -- Hugh Ranson, Santa Barbara
Tue, 06 Jul 2010 -- I saw the COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD this morning at the Foster's home in the Talmage area. There was also an adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD and one of their resident HOODED ORIOLES. -- Jerry White
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 -- Today,at about 8 a.m. I found an adult male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD sitting on our clothesline. He has spent the day here. I am hoping this is the same bird that spent 2 months here last summer and that he will stay around this year. Anyone wishing to see a Costa's in Mendocino county may call to see if he has stayed around. -- Cherie Foster 462-3339 / cherstuff@hotmail.com / Talmage area.
Sat/Sun, 3 and 4 July 2010 -- Yesterday and today, an adult BALD EAGLE is east of the bridge at Ten Mile River. It is perching low on snags in the river. I saw it both yesterday (sorry) and today. Dorothy Tobkin came up and saw it today, as well. She said she could see it clutching "arrows in its talons" and I said it was wearing a red, white and blue scarf ......... Happy 4th !!
Also, there are two CEDAR WAXWINGS west of the bridge near the large sign about the dunes and Inglenook Fen. They were first seen Monday, 28 JUNE and Tues, 29 June by both Becky Bowen and myself. Odd spot. -- Karen Havlena, Dorothy Tobkin, and Becky Bowen
Sun, 04 Jul 2010 -- Hi All, Just returned from a wonderful 9 days in Canadian Rockies with grandson and family so today (July 4) was my first chance to look for blue (I know today I should have been looking for red, white and blue) in Mendo. The bird did not disappoint me. It took me about 15 minutes, but at 8:35 AM I finally found the male INDIGO BUNTING near the end of Comminsky Station Road off highway 101 as reported by others. It was on the west side of the dirt road in the large willow just north of the cable that crosses the river. This is the closest point in Mendocino Co from my home - nice find by Dan Nelson! -- John Luther, Oakland
Sat, 03 Jul 2010 -- I went up to The Shoals (off the large vista point south of Westport on Highway One) and noticed, for the first time (for me) Cliff Swallows actually nesting on the cliffs above the water and behind and below the sandstone 'sentry' rock. The nests face south and are sheltered from the winds by the sheer overhang above. They seemed to be thriving. I wonder if this is part of the colony that was displaced at the Ten Mile Bridge to the south? Anyone know? -- Lisa Walker
Sat, 03 Jul 2101 -- Finally got up to Mendocino Co. today to see the INDIGO BUNTING at the end of Comminsky Station Rd. just north of the Sonoma-Mendocino Co. border. He did not fail me. I saw him in the large live oak on the east side of the road. Also there were 4 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS.
andnbsp Then, following the excellent directions on birding the Mendocino National Forest put up by the Peregrine Audubon Society of Ukiah, I birded along Etsel Ridge and M1. Even though it got fairly warm, and I didn't get up there until 10:00, I had a great time. At Grizzly Flat, new for me were the RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. FOX SPARROWs were singing the entire day, and WESTERN TANAGERS were everywhere. At Mp 17.2, there was the first of many MOUNTAIN CHICKADEEs and a NASHVILLE WARBLER. I found the first GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Mp 18.4 and a calling DUSKY FLYCATCHER at Mp 24.5. 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS were at Mp 25.9 and Spruce Grove had a pair of WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS and 1 calling and 2 silent, but probable, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. A male PILEATED WOODPECKER flew down the road into Spruce Grove in front of my car.
andnbsp I had to turn back after Spruce Grove as I had a long drive home. On the way back out, I stopped to try and find a bird I had seen fly across the road. A Red-breasted Nuthatch set up quite a racket and a male GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET came in to see what all the fuss was about. The last bird was a male MOUNTAIN QUAIL that darted from the road as I drove by. [Forgot to mention the 5 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS that were flying over Round Valley as I was coming down the hill toward the Eel River.] -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Fri, 02 Jul 2010 -- I was at Spruce Grove from before dusk till after 11:00 PM Thursday but had no luck there. Then while owling on M1 between Spruce Grove and M61 I had a calling FLAMMULATED OWL at 12:15 AM this morning. -- Jerry White
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 -- This morning I met up with Jerry White to do some mountain birding. We met at the intersection of M1 and M61 and immediately found a TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE. We found at least 4 of these birds with the others being near Hull Mtn. At Spruce Grove (my first visit there)at least 3 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS were briefly seen but well heard. There were numerous WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS at this location as well as other places along our route. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES (we saw or heard 8-10)were numerous with the first being around the wet meadow at the entrance to Spruce Grove. DUSKY FLYCATCHERS (we had at least 3) were first found at Windy Gap. CASSIN'S FINCH were the hardest to locate. We finally heard one or two near Hull Mtn. Other birds of interest was a OSPREY flying over "Brushy Point" and at least one but likely two MACGILLVAY'S WARBLERS at "Windy Gap". Jerry said that he had never seen these birds at these locations. He also said to mention that we saw 2 RED-BRESTED SAPSUCKERS because he knew someone who didn't have them on their Mendo List. For how to get to these places see the Peregrine Audubon Society Website under "Birding Hot Spots" Mendocino National Forest.
M1 from it's intersection with M61 to Hull Mtn is open but rough going in spots. You can get to the top of Hull Mtn with 4 wheel drive. Thanks to Chuck and George (they cleared some down trees) you can get to Spruce Grove.
As a side note--the light in the radio in my truck has not worked for years. I could never see which channel the radio was on. After a day on M1 and other local roads up there, when I went to turn it on, the light worked. I do have a few more rattles.
Jerry said numerous times that the birds weren't singing like they were just 6 days ago. I left him still searching for a Black-chinned Sparrow. He was going to do an over nighter at Spruce Grove to listen for a Flammulated Owl. He will have to report on that effort. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 1 Jul 2010 -- This morning I seized a window of opportunity and went to look for the INDIGO BUNTING on Comminsky Station Road. I found it at 07:35 after about a half-hour of searching. Today it was in the fennel next to the cable across the river. There was also a family of four BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS in the area, and an adult BALD EAGLE flew up the Russian River while I was there -- George Chaniot
Tue, 29 Jun 2010 -- Chuck Vaughn, Karen Havlena, and myself found the previously posted INDIGO BUNTING this morning at approx. 10:00AM. It's location was on the road about 60 to 70 yards from the parking lot. There was a small turnout and a river transfer bucket just next to the area. The Bunting was mostly above the road in the Oaks and Poison Oak. I've posted one picture. It looks to be still molting. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 28 Jun 2010 -- Geoff and Cheryl Heineken, Roger Foote and I went down to see the INDIGO BUNTING as posted by Jerry White and first seen by Dan Nelson. We looked for about an hour before finally finding it just where it was supposed to be. WOW! Beautiful male! It was on the south facing slope between the end of the road parking lot and the Russian River. It was flying back and forth over the trail by the large slideout. We first saw it at 8:35 pm and watched it for about 10 minutes as we were slowly losing light.
Other birds included: 3 Double-crested Cormorants, 6 W Scrub Jays, 7 Common Ravens, 8 N Rough Winged Swallows, 200 Cliff Swallows, 3 Turkey Vultures, 1 Black Phoebe, 5 Goldfinch Spp., 2 Song Sparrows, 3 Common Mergansers, 3 Mallards, 1 Oak Titmouse, and 1 CA Quail. -- Dave Bengston
Mon, 28 Jun 2010 -- Last night Dan Nelson posted to the N.Calif.Birdbox a report of an INDIGO BUNTING in Mendocino County. He first heard it on June 15 and saw it on a later date. This morning Jerry White found the bird
again, and it is apparently on territory and likely to stick around.
The location is just off Route 101 in southern Mendocino County about 2-3 miles north of the Sonoma border. Take the Comminsky Station Road exit, turn west and head south parallel to the freeway and the Russian River. The road ends shortly at a circular parking lot near a current monitoring station. The Indigo Bunting has been frequenting the dry south-facing hillside between the parking lot and the river. -- George Chaniot for Jerry White
Tue, 22 Jun 2010 -- This probably displays my ignorance, but what I just discovered on Caspar Beach goes a long way toward explaining the success of CANADA GEESE. All spring, I have been checking on the progress of two pairs of Canada geese, who have been co-habiting a quiet stretch of Caspar Creek, just below Pt.Cabrillo Drive. One pair produced 4 goslings, the other pair two. Some weeks ago the 4 were reduced to 3, but now all 5 are looking very much like adult geese. So 9 adult "looking" Canada geese continue to share the creek, nearly always in two family groups and can be found on the creek just west of Highway 1. The last couple of days none of them was in evidence, possibly for the first time all spring. Today I noticed they were back, but with two brand new fluffy yellow goslings. They seem to be the offspring of the pair that successfully raised 3 others this spring. I must say, I didn't know they could do that! Is this common? -- Susan Tubbesing
Fri, 18 Jun 2010 -- A birder from Pennsylvania reported a colony of 25 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the Covelo waste water plant
Thu, 17 Jun 2010 -- At 11:30AM today there were two first year BONAPARTE'S GULLS on Virgin Creek Beach. They are listed as rare during the summer. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 15 Jun 2010 -- A male HARLEQUIN DUCK has been hanging around the south side of the Noyo Bridge since last Thursday. He is often with a surf scoter. Here is a link to a photo. This is a different bird from the harlequin drake that lives back up the Noyo River near Dolphin Isle Marina. Happy Birding, -- Cate Hawthorn
Mon, 14 Jun 2010 -- Today I travelled up to the high mountains of Mendocino County entering from Lake County on roads M6 and M61. I was stopped by snow drifts on M61 about 1 mile or so from Bald Mt and road M1. From there I walked to M1 and then south to Spruce Grove. M1, besides a number of snow drifts, also had several trees down across the road. There were also trees down on the Spruce Grove entrance road.
Birds of interest seen and or heard on the trip were; Dusky Flycatchers, Green-tailed Towhees, White-headed Woodpeckers, and heard only on the walk in and the walk out was Northern Goshawk. Some other birds were Hermit Warblers, Fox Sparrows, Mt. Chickadees and Townsend's Solitaires.
Just after arriving at Spruce Grove (hoping to find Hammond's Flycatcher) I heard some loud noises from the forest on the far side of the meadow. Not long after a bear walked out onto the meadow heading in my general direction. I decided the flycatcher hunt would have to wait for another day. -- Jerry White
Sat, 12 Jun 2010 --This morning at around 10:39AM while birding the West end of the Little River Airport, I heard a bird singing that I knew wasn't local. It took me awhile to find it, but when I did, it turned out to be a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER doing it's nuthatch thing. It's location was on the outer south side of the first pond west of the airport. I followed it by sound towards the East end of the pond and then lost it. A summer first for Mendocino County?? -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 09 Jun 2010 -- I heard COMMON NIGHTHAWK calling starting at about 8:40 PM from Road K, Albion Ridge. The abandoned trailer and any possible occupants must have been removed that day. Thanks to a call from Chuck Vaughn I saw the FORSTER'S TERN sitting on a levee at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds on Wednesday. On Thursday while watching the ocean from the Mendocino Headlands (very strong NW winds) at least 8 Heerman's Gulls flew by. Also there were 2 late migrating Brant. Other birds were a Northern Mockingbird at the Botanical Gardens on Tuesday and a Red-breasted Sapsucker at Chadbourne Gulch on Wednesday. -- Jerry White
Wed, 09 Jun 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This has been the week for terns...there was an adult FORSTER'S TERN at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. It was on the levee that goes directly east as you approach the oxidation ponds from the office area. It flew over the ponds several times and always returned to that spot. Other birds of local interest were 3 continuing GREATER SCAUP and single WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 07 Jun 2010 -- Heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK calling from 8:41 to 8:54PM tonight while on K Road in Albion. K Road is 3.2 miles up Albion Ridge Road. It's on the right and marked by a "K" on a telephone pole. I parked just a short distance after turning on to K Road. Just far enough away from the abandoned trailer where a known "crazy" man lives. Just kidding!!! -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 06 Jun 2010 -- Floyd Hayes just called to report an adult male BLUE-WINGED TEAL (second summer record for Lake County) in the pond at the corner of Stokes Avenue and Lakeshore Blvd. This location is behind (south of) the Sentry Market on Highway 20. Access to Stokes Ave is from the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. I also had another report (unconfirmed), of 2 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES at this same location about 2 weeks ago. -- Jerry White
The male BLUE-WINGED TEAL was with a male CINNAMON TEAL. Shortly afterward I saw an AMERICAN AVOCET in a wet field on the north side of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in the patch of trees near the south end of Reclamation Road (east of the abandoned machinery). There are now thousands of Aechmophorus grebes on the lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 06 Jun 2010 -- Late this morning, Jim noticed an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at the back of our yard in Ocean Meadows, north of Ten Mile R. I followed it around a couple of adjacent yards, getting very good looks at it.
KHv spoke with Richard Hubacek about his ATFL from Big River, Mendocino, two days ago. Apparently, most spring migrants look about the same, somewhat dull all over, including blaw wing bars. She tried to call "Prruuttt" to it, and it perked up, but never returned a call.
So, I agree with Richard that coastal MEN has had quite a few WEKI and now 3 ATFL. Perhaps this is due to the rains and more insects than the last 3 years here on the coast. (Not to mention more active birders on the MEN coast). -- Jim and Karen Havlena
Thu, 15 Apr 2010 -- Finally got my Mendocino HOODED ORIOLE today. It was on Washo Dr., between Mohawk Dr. and Yaqui Dr. I saw one male but it was calling to another in the same area. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 14 Apr 2010 -- Steve Stump found five BONAPARTE'S GULLS in the middle pond of the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. Three were in breeding plumage and two were on their way. By the time I arrived around 10AM only one gull remained. -- Cheryl Watson
Tue, 13 Apr 2010 -- A huge flock of BRANT Geese were at Virgin Creek today, both at the mouth of the creek as well as on some of the shoal rocks, grazing on the sea moss (among other things). Present with them were Black Oystercatchers, Surfbirds, and turning-to-breeding plumage Black Turnstones. -- Lisa Walker
Mon, 12 Apr 2010 -- Our feeders are currently graced by an aggressive group of Rufous hummers. Anyone who wishes a really good look at some stunning gold/orange gorgets is welcome to call and come by to enjoy them with us. There are at least 3 outstanding adult males with almost no green coloration anywhere. Call Cherie at 462-3339. -- Cherie Foster
Sat, 10 Apr 2010 -- I searched Virgin Creek Beach [this] morning with no luck. Somewhat later at 10 Mile Beach north of Ward Avenue I found the LONG-BILLED CURLEW with a flock of Whimbrels. This is very likely the same bird found the day before by Richard Hubacek. -- Jerry White
Fri, 09 Apr 2010 -- Early this afternoon I found a LONG-BILLED CURLEW at Virgin Creek. It was with about 13 WHIMBRELS and 1 MARBLED GODWIT. There was also a flock of SANDERLINGS and 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. There were lots of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at both Lake Cleone and Pudding Creek. I will post a couple of pictures of the CURLEW later. One will answer the question of how A CURLEW takes a drink of water. It's not easy. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 05 Apr 2010 -- Observed one individual by eye only Monday 5:30 on wire north of 10 Mile Bridge 1/4 mile or less down Camp 2 Rd. Can't say Northern Shrike or Loggerhead Shrike. Remembered a bird of interest was previously posted near that location. -- Gunn
Sun, 04 Apr 2010 -- First confirmation of a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, with a solid orange back, at one of my feeders today. Cheers, Tim Bray
Sat, 03 Apr 2010 -- A breeding-plumage male HOODED ORIOLE briefly visited our yard in Albion this afternoon. Wish he'd stayed long enough for the camera! Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Sat, 03 Apr 2010 -- Late today I was sitting in a parking lot talking to a friend on my phone when I noticed a VARIED THRUSH on the car next to mine. It was hopping from the top of the right mirror to the edge of the door, looking at itself in the mirror and then jumping back up on the mirror again. It did this for quite a long time. Then it switched to the left mirror. I've seen cats do this with mirrors. Is this common with birds? -- Karin Wandrei
Sat, 03 April 2010 -- This afternoon, the female LONG-TAILED DUCK was still with the male Surf Scoter and Buffleheads west of the Ten Mile River bridge. It is sunny with very little breeze currently, so hurry..... Tomorrow, we should be having winds up to 28+ mph and some rain. Park on the north side of the bridge along Hwy 1, and look from the pedestrian walkway. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 02 Apr 2010 -- Dave Bengston reports seeing a male HOODED ORIOLE in his Ukiah yard today.
Fri, 02 Apr 2010 -- On Mountain House Road there was a flock of HOODED MERGANSERS on a farm pond that is visible from the road. This is about 2.9 miles from Hopland. I first found these birds on March 15th. Also seen (or heard) were CHIPPING SPARROWS and a LARK SPARROW.
Between Hopland and Ukiah on Hwy 101 a flock of blackbirds included a number of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS.
At the Ukiah Treatment Ponds the most interesting birds seen were a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a VAUX'S SWIFTt. The Vaux's Swift was with hundreds of swallows which included all 5 of the common species. The largest majority of these swallows were Northern Rough-winged Swallows, with good numbers of Tree Swallows. Other birds of general interest; Common Yellowthroats, Chipping Sparrows,and a Greater Yellowlegs. There were also 40-50 Yellow-rumped Warblers in the riparian corridor on the Russian River. -- Jerry White
Thu, 01 Apr 2010 -- This afternoon there was one COMMON MOORHEN at the 'rail pond' at the Mendocino College campus in Ukiah. -- George Chaniot and Joanne Haller
Thu, 01 Apr 2010 -- It looks like our favorite Laysan Albatross has left the water off the Point Arena Pier. I have had no sightings of Al since Mel Smith saw him the morning of 3/23/10. That is the same date he left last year, I believe. -- Jeanne Jackson
Tue, 30 Mar 2010 -- The female LONG-TAILED DUCK is still on the west side of Ten Mile R. bridge. There were storms all around when I went to look for the LTDU. I cajoled an approaching hail storm to stay back until I saw Ms Duck, and I safely made it into the garage at home!
While in Fort Bragg, I quickly walked down the Skunk RR tracks and played a tape of SORA. Jerry White had heard one last Saturday. I'm not sure where he had it, but it answered the call fairly close to the Rose Mem'l cemetery. That is such a nice, quiet spot, as long as the train isn't rattling by. Jerry thoroughly checked for the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and had NO luck. I believe that Richard Hubacek is the last person to see it on 4 March. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 30 Mar 2010 -- Jerry White told me that this would be an escaped bird and not countable but interesting to see nevertheless. It was reported to me by Paul and Sue Bleuss, and they initially thought it was a Mountain Quail. This morning they called to say that, no, it was a CHUKAR. I went to their yard to check, and it, indeed, was unmistakably a Chukar. I believe it is a female. Although the black border on the throat is very pronounced,I do not believe it extends far enough to be a male. Sue said the bird has been hanging out with a covey of Quail for over a week.
If anybody is interested in checking it out for the fun of it, the Bleuss residence is at 13529 Prather Road in the Adams Springs area off Hwy 175 between Loch Lomond and Cobb. If you are heading South on Hwy 175 you would turn left at the road that intersects Hwy 175 just below the steep grade past Loch Lomond. That is Adams Springs Road, but there is no visible sign. You proceed .2 of a mile turn R on Costello and then R on Prather Road.
If you are coming from the Middletown North on Hwy 175 you would turn R on Adams Springs Road. Here there is a prominent green highway seen that indicates Adams Springs. (Adams Springs road is a loop road that interesects Hwy 175 twice.) Continue for .3 mi, turn L on Costello and L on Prather Road.
I suggest parking in the area of 13355 Prather or just beyond that at Prather Court and walk up the hill to 13529. I located the Chukar with the covey of Quail in the manzanita undergrowth opposite the Bleuss residence. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Sun, 28 Mar 2010 -- I did a bird walk Mar. 28 with staff at Navarro Winery near Philo, including some areas not generally available to the public, Notables were:
- Merlin - one pale bird foraging over the vineyards near the upper pond - the used area is possibly visible from the tasting room porch.
- Black-throated Gray Warbler - apparently an early migrant on east side of lower pond
- Chipping Sparrow - perched in wisteria arbor next to tasting room
Also,two pairs of Eurasian Collared Doves were courting in the area, the first I've seen here. A nice Allen's Hummingbird male was working the flowers around the parking area. Other standard species : Western Bluebirds, Ring-necked Ducks, Cooper's Hawk, Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers singing. Violet-green swallows seen, but no Barn Swallows or Cliff Swallows have arrived.
Also, I had 5 Brant at the Mendocino Headlands on 3/28, and saw the beginnings of the collection of Common Murres there yesterday evening, so evening use of the site described earlier by Ron LeValley appears to be continuing. -- Dan Airola, Sacramento
Sun, 28 Mar 2010 -- Today I headed out to coastal S. Mendocino county on a family trip trying to cram in as much birding as possible @ various stops along the way. The highlight was seeing (250+) BRANT migrating north in six groups from Point Arena Lighthouse, Schooner Gulch beach and Gualala River Mouth in the afternoon. There were (150+) scoter sp. observed migrating with the Brant as well, but only once were they close enough to ID to species and I saw only Surfs.
A male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was preening in the shallows of the reef north of Schooner Gulch around 3:30 p.m. After about a half hour it took of and headed North. A female COMMON MERGANSER was near the bridge where HWY 1 crosses the Garcia River.
A flock of roosting (125+) SANDERLINGS on the rocks north of the Pt. Arena Lighthouse also had a single DUNLIN starting to grow in some black belly feathers and a WESTERN SANDPIPER. I looked through several dozen Black Turnstones south of the lighthouse and on the reef near Schooner Gulch but besides a few SURFBIRDS at the first spot and several BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at both I didn't locate anything else of the rocky shorebird variety. (can anyone help this out-of-towner with directions to Virgin Creek Beach?)
A couple of other sightings of local interest were seeing a PILEATED WOODPECKER flying out in the open over Mountain View Rd about a 1/3 mile before it runs into HWY 1, well away from any sizable stands of trees and a MERLIN perched in a snag on Stoneboro Rd. that was a life bird for my brother and his girlfriend.
ORANGE-cROWNED WARBLERS were singing at just about every stop along the 120+ mile route through Mendocino county. In fact by the time we hit Gualala both my companions were calling out "orange-crown" and neither is a serious birder.
We also did a quick check of the waters off Pt. Arena fishing pier for the Laysan Albatross but it seems that "Al" has taken off for the breeding grounds. Oh well, just the excuse I need to trek back up here in the future :) Good birding, -- Dominik Mosur, San Francisco
Fri, 26 Mar 2010 -- Your directions were right on the mark for Virgin Creek Beach, where Friday morning, March 26, in the hour after high tide on the rocks just north of the beach there was a flock of 60 or so Black Turnstones (as reported earlier) and the ROCK SANDPIPER. As the tide dropped a bit, the birds worked their way northwards from one rock grouping to another. The Rock Sandpiper had some rufous on his back, the beginnings of a transition to breeding plumage? Just south of Laguna Point was another large flock of Black Turnstones, this time accompanied by a dozen or so Surfbirds. The rocks north of Mill Creek Drive had only Black Turnstones, although a sprinkling of Black Oystercatchers were at all the spots. -- Art Robinson, Oakland
Sat, 27 Mar 2010 -- I thought it might be interesting to see how the COMMON MOORHEN at Lake Cleone has aged in just over 3 months. I've downloaded a recent picture of the Moorhen I just took yesterday into my Common Moorhen album in the Photos section of this site. The other picture was taken on December 24, 2009. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 26 Mar 2010 -- I witnessed a phenomenal event this evening. As I was driving home from Fort Bragg I detoured slightly to watch the sunset over the Mendocino Headlands. I pulled off near the offshore rocks were we counted the cormorants last year. There were a few hundred murres flying around the island. I took some photos and then watched the sunset and then the amazing thing happened. A least a thousands of murres were wheeling about the rocks and landing at the site of last year's cormorant nests. I took some more photos in late evening sunlight and then switched to video. I'll have to share that with you some day when I can! When looking at the video, I noticed that there was a Peregrine eating something on the rock behind the murres! It was probably a murre (or hopefully a pigeon!). Cool sight at a cool site. -- Ron LeValley
Thu, 25 Mar 2010 -- Becky Bowen saw a female LONG-TAILED DUCK on the west side of Ten Mile R. and asked me to look at it. This morning, Fri, 3/26, I went down to the bridge, and yes there was the LTDU. Becky saw it fly in with a Surf Scoter, but she was alone this morning. Construction makes for difficult parking. It is best to park on the north side of the bridge and walk out on the pedestrian walkway. Look west to the bend in the river. You will need a spotting scope. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 25 Mar 2010 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to report that there is one ROCK SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek beach. It was seen at the north end of the main beach where the rocks begin. The ROSA was with other lingering shorebirds like Blk-bellied Plovers and Whimbrels. -- For Toby Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Thu, 25 Mar 2010 -- I know that a few OSPREY will stay thru the Winter but it appears that the bulk of them are arriving back from their journey South. Had three flying and calling over my house at the Woods in Little River this morning. Had another on the Noyo today and one on the Navarro yesterday. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 23 Mar 2010 -- [Today] I birded the two mountain roads M3 and Mendocino Pass Road. On M1 about .5 miles from the Eel River Station (thanks to George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn for information on this location) there is a pullout/parking area and a trail down to the Eel River. As I got close to the river I heard a CANYON WREN calling from the north side of the Eel. I had tried this same location on March 10th (in the snow) and was not successful. On that date I did see 2 Rock Wrens (and a Bewick's Wren) on those same rock cliffs. Later on March 23rd, about 8 miles up M3 I had a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.
Other birds of general interest on the day were; 2 Townsends Solitaires on M1 and 2 more on Mendocino Pass Rd. A Cassin's Finch on M1. A small flock of Mt. Chickadees on each of the roads. Two Red-breasted Sapsuckers and 2 Pine Siskins at snow line on Mendocino Pass Road. -- Jerry White
Tue, 22 Mar 2010 -- 3/23/10 9:00 am Mel Smith checked at the Point Arena Cove and found Al, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, peacefully floating on the water. He's still here. -- Jeanne Jackson
Tue, 22 Mar 2010 -- ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS have been terrorizing my place since mid-February. There was a big increase in numbers about 2 weeks ago. It's hardly safe to go outside right now. Saturday one tried to drink from my shirt (red patches in the plaid), then tried the (red fabric) wallet my wife was holding, then tried the (orange) AWD letters on the side of my van. Last Wednesday (March 17) there were TREE SWALLOWS at MCBG, and the Sunday before that (March 14) we saw VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS (ID by Toby) during the Van Damme birdwalk. Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Mon, 21 Mar 2010 -- I have had no sighting of Al since Tuesday, March 16th. Several birders looked long and hard yesterday, Sunday March 21, but there was no sign of our beloved Albatross. -- Jeanne Jackson
Sun, 21 Mar 2010 -- [Today] at the east end of Hunter's Lagoon in Manchester State Park I found (heard only) an AMERICAN BITTERN. It was first heard from the end of Barnegat Dr. To confirm I walked further east from that location. Later on the walk out to the Garcia River overlook, I came upon the 3 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS. On the beach at the Garcia River there was a flock of 9 "Black" Brant with the gull flock. Other birds of interest were first of the year arrivals (for me) Allen's Hummingbird and Barn Swallow. -- Jerry White
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 -- This afternoon there was a group of at least 93 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in the blackberry patch by the 10707 mailbox on East Road in Potter Valley. They have nested at this site for the last two years. Males outnumbered females 7:1, and they were chorusing and displaying with their noisy caterwauling. There was no nest-building activity today. On the 17th I checked this spot and did not see a single Tricolored. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 -- At the Crofoot Ranch along Hwy 101 north of Hopland there were 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 5 CACKLING GEESE (Aleutians), and 1 female HOODED MERGANSER. At the Talmage Beckstoffer Pond there was 1 GREATER WHTE-FRONTED GOOSE. At the Gielow Lane Pond, south of Talmage along Old River Road, there were 2 female HOODED MERGANSERS, 4 COMMON MERGANSERS, 4 BUFFLEHEAD, 4 RING-NECKED DUCKS. At Oak Manor neighborhood, there were still at least 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS in the redwood roost trees on Yosemite/Washo. I sure there were more there but I hesitate to stop and gawk with binocs since it is in an urban subdivision. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 20 Mar 2010 -- While my Anna's numbers have increased a little, along with feeder use, I have been seeing quite a few ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS here in SE Potter. These are not earliest records, but it is the first time I can remember the Selasphorus guys' outnumbering the Anna's. -- Jim Armstrong
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 -- This evening there was a GREEN HERON and a SORA at the 'rail pond' at Mendocino College. This is probably the earliest spring record on record - given the proviso that they are sometimes present on this same pond all winter. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 16 Mar 2010 -- This morning I was able to easily find the COMMON MOORHEN that has wintered at Lake Cleone. It was the only bird except for one coot visible at the West end of the lake. Note that the parking lot is still closed. Best to park at the visitor center. Also found 3 "singing" ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. The first I've heard this year. Also had 2 WOOD DUCKS which I haven't seen there in some time.
At Virgin Creek Beach (Rocks, there's not much beach left)I was able to find a ROCK SANDPIPER amongst a large flock of BLACK TURNSTONES (60+). Also had 2 (male and female)HARLEQUIN DUCKS which I haven't seen much this winter. In fact I finally found 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS which have been absent there since the storms. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 -- Monday 3/15/10 - I'm happy to report that Al, the Laysan Albatross, is still in the waters of Point Arena Cove late this afternoon. After reading Bob's query I asked Mel Smith to take a look and he called to let us know Al's still "in town." -- Jeanne Jackson
Tue, 15 Mar 2010 -- I saw my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD of the season today in Brooktrails near Willits. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 12 Mar 2010 -- Ralph Paulin reports that two GREAT BLUE HERON nests are being built in a pine tree on his property in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 12 Mar 2010 -- Our yard on Sanford Ranch Road has been visited twice recently by a female MERLIN. On 2-25-10 she came swooping in briefly and sat on the fence post outside the dining room window, very near the bird feeders. Today she arrived at the same spot just as the sun was breaking through for a few moments. She luxuriated in the warming rays, spreading her wings, fanning her tail and looking directly in the window at me from time to time. I stepped out onto the porch to take a photo and she just calmly watched me and looked around the yard in hopes of a meal. It sure was quiet outside, where only a few minutes earlier there had been more than 20 birds (mourning doves, quail, white-crown, golden crown and house sparrows, titmice, CA towhees, goldfinches, house finches and juncos) on the feeders and porch. Even the intrepid hummingbirds vanished. -- Cherie Foster-
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 -- Hello birders. I made a quick stop by the pond just north of the cemetery along West Road in Potter Valley. I was pleased to see 23 HOODED MERGANSERS (6 males and 17 females), as well as single pairs of CANADA GOOSE, RING-NECKED DUCK, MALLARD and AMERICAN WIGEON, as well as three pairs of BUFFLEHEADS. This is the same pond that hosted two male Eurasian Wigeons earlier this year. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 - For over 40 years I have kept an eye on a GREAT BLUE HERON
nesting colony that is located near the Old river Road near Hopland. As a youngster, from around 1968 to 1974 I spent time watching this colony, even collecting egg shell fragments from the ground after the chicks hatched. During that era I recall numerous nests, definitely in excess of 40 or 50 nests atop the high Cottonwood trees. The Valley Oaks Ranch, which at the time was owned by Fred Haas, is the location of this colony, and is now owned by Browns Foreman Corp./Fetzer Winery. I knew Fred Haas personally, and Mr. Haas and I had a verbal agreement that the colony was important and was to be protected. After the Fetzer family purchased the Valley Oaks Ranch, I again, using the Peregrine Audubon Chapter as a platform, brought the nesting colony to the attention of John Fetzer and Paul Dolan. Under their direction, they agreed to protect the colony, and the Peregrine Audubon gave them a "Conservation Recognition Award". This important riparian grove is still undisturbed and protected by the current managers of the Browns Foreman Corp-Valley Oaks/Fetzer Winery.
In that early 1960s/1970s era I sadly visited the colony one time after poachers had illegally shot numerous adults from the nests with shotguns and the ground was littered with carcasses.
Over the years I have witnessed this nesting colony diminish in size, gradually dropping to fewer than 15 nests in recent years. What I saw today is even more shocking. I could find ZERO nests in the tall cottonwoods of the traditional riparian grove . a first to my knowledge. I did find two nests very near the Old River Road in a tall Calif. Valley oak tree, and
another three nests that I could see at a distance to the east of the winery itself . again atop oak trees. Possible there are a few more that I could not see.
I cannot even guess as to why this change has taken place. I do know, that for some reason, the resident population of Great Blue Herons in the Sanel Valley has plummeted over the last 40 years. I speculate that it might have something to do with the change of waterflow and timing of waterflow in the Russian River but I cannot say for certain. there may be other factors like changes in ag land practices, changes in fish populations, a drop in open pasture land (where they feed for rodents, etc.). I do NOT think it has anything directly to do with the Brown-Foreman/Fetzer vineyards operation . as they are doing a great job of not disturbing this pristine riparian grove. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 -- I spent about an hour plus in the morning looking for and listening for Sooty Grouse in the vicinity of the second cattle guard on Low Gap Road with no success. Then on the drive back down towards Ukiah there was a male SOOTY GROUSE on the road. It immediately took flight and disappeared into the forest below. This was about 2.6 miles west of the intersection of Low Gap and Pine Ridge Road and about 0.5 miles west of milepost 16.97.
At the Ukiah Treatment Ponds there were 6 to 8 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS; the first ones I had seen this year. -- Jerry White
Sun, 07 Mar 2010 -- John Luther, Nikki White and I tried this morning for the Swamp Sparrow at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds with no success. The best birds we found were CLIFF SWALLOWS, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and a WILSON'S SNIPE. -- Jerry White
Sat, 06 Mar 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning at 8:45 I saw a SWAMP SPARROW at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. The bird was in the thick vegetation along the cyclone fence which borders the south levee from the (former) pear orchard to the south. The bird was half way down the levee, easterly, towards the Russian River. It was in the company of Lincoln's and Song Sparrows. Other birds of local interest out there were 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and at least 3 CLIFF SWALLOWS, the first I have seen this spring. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 -- Today [at Ocean Meadows] there was a vagrant FOX SPARROW that had characteristics of both the Eastern RED and the Canadian SLATE-COLORED races. It was NOT just a P.i. zaboria.
If you look in your Sibley guide, he shows an intergrade between Red and Slate that hybridizes in the Canadian Rockies. The spotting on the white breast and belly was really RED!!! The auriclulars had a wash of red over gray/brown. The mantle was very smooth gray, as was the crown and nape. There was some reddish on the wings, the rump and dorsal side of the tail. The bill showed very little difference between the upper and lower mandible, DULL, not yellow/pink.
I sent two awful pics to Bob Keiffer. It was very cloudy, and I had to take the photos from my "low-e" tinted windows. Neither Jim nor I saw it this afternoon. I'll look again in the morning. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 -- And this morning an OSPREY landed on a tree at my place in Anchor Bay. It was wonderful hearing its calls. -- Jeanne Jackson
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 -- I was able to hang around the Rose Memorial Cemetary (Fort Bragg) this morning for about an hour. Easily found the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in the Banksia(sp.) Trees as previously reported. Also found a male RUFUS HUMMINGBIRD and an EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE gathering nesting material. The Eurasian Collared Dove is listed as not observed nesting in Mendocino. It's almost certain that they do. Let's find a nesting pair and fill in that box in the checklist. Bob let us know if that's been done. -- Richard Hubacek [They nest in the fan palm on Cromwell Drive (off Eastside Calpella Road) just north of Ukiah. It is really obvious they nest all over Ukiah and Redwood Valley. -- Jack Booth]
Wed, 03 Mar 2010 -- Chris Skyhawk just sent me his sighting of a BALD EAGLE on Wednesday, March 3rd. He wrote, "I saw one over the hills here in Albion. We were going to town around 11 AM and about to drop down the hill towards the highway when I saw a very large group of vultures, about 30-35 or so, flying together in a large spiral. I noticed one bird that did not quite have the typical shape of a vulture. With binoculars I could clearly see its eagle body with the white head. The eagle suddenly pulled away from the vultures and headed south toward Salmon Creek."-- Jeanne Jackson
Wed, 03 Mar 2010 -- There were 2 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES this morning at about 9:30 on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road at the Rodman Slough Bridge. -- Jerry White
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 -- I'm noticing the same thing here, at least they're not using the feeders. I am seeing some taking advantage of the cotton I hung out in the garden last year and never removed. I even put out more. Up on the ridges, the manzanita is blooming like gangbusters, maybe they're there. Things are different this year... I have a growing flock of Purple Finches, and already 3 Band-tailed Pigeons. -- Becky Stenberg, GlenBlair
Mon, 01 Mar 2010 -- I have not seen any hummingbirds here in southeastern Potter Valley for weeks and I haven't filled my feeders in even longer. Anyone else noticing this? Any ideas as to why? -- Jim Armstrong
Wed, 24 Feb 2010 -- I found the BURROWING OWL at Virgin Creek this afternoon. This owl was found by "Toby" on November 24, 2009. The owl was not in it's usual location as reported back then. It was approx. 6 or 7 yds to the North. Better viewed on the North side of the bridge. I saw it from near the "Wildlife Refuge" sign North of the bridge. Is this a Burrowing Owl invasion? -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 24 Feb 2010 -- The BURROWING OWL I semi-reported last week continues on the mill property behind Glass Beach's Site #2, in the same location, near a low shrub on the property beyond the fenceline looking east from the south trail past the pipe. -- Lisa Walker
Mon, 22 Feb 2010 -- This morning and this afternoon, the bright male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continues in the banksias at the Rose Cemetery at the east end of Spruce St. in Fort Bragg. Also seen this morning was a female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Early this morning there were no white geese with the goose flock at the old Masonite Plant in Ukiah. There were, however, 3 CACKLING GEESE and 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. The pond at the corner of Hwy 1 and Fern Creek Rd. in Caspar had 2 ROSS'S GEESE and another GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Did not find any egrets in the Garcia River Bottom, but a FERRUGINOUS HAWK swooping low over the bluffs on the south side was a nice consolation prize. Lastly, the 3 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS continue in the vicinity of the guesthouses at the Pt. Arena Lighthouse. Two of them are actually golden! Stunning. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Sat, 20 Feb 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- [Today] 8 Peregrine Audubon members travelled to the South Coast for a day of birding. We started at Arena Cove...alas no "Al". We did see some nice birds in the cove, however, including BRANT, PEREGRINE FALCON, RHINOCEROS AUKLET, and 25+ BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES swirling just beyond the buoy. We walked out to the Garcia River mouth and among several hundred gulls found 2 GLAUCOUS GULL: a first-cycle bird, and a second cycle individual molting in contrasting pale gray back feathers. Three PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS continued at the Lighthouse grounds. Scoping the Brush Creek area from Bristol Road, we saw 51 TUNDRA SWANS, 3 more BRANT, 7 CACKLING GEESE, 3 CINNAMON TEAL, and 2 TREE SWALLOWS. On the bluffs above Alder Creek we had long looks at a very accommodating FERRUGINOUS HAWK. We meandered north up Hwy 1 ending the day at the mouth of the Navarro River.
For a more coherent account of the trip, and a complete checklist, check out George Chaniot's field trip report at peregrineaudubon.org. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 20 Feb 2010 -- On the Peregrine Audubon field trip to the south Mendocino coast today, we found the three continuing PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS on the lawns near the Point Arena lighthouse. At one point they were on the edge of the bluff by the parking area just outside the entrance booth gate. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 19 Feb 2010 -- At the Crofoot Ranch (painted white fence east of Hwy 101 about 4 miles north of Hopland) were 97 Canada Geese, 4 Cackling Geese (Aleutians), and a new arrival of an adult Greater White-fronted Goose. This last goose has very heavy black "speckling" (more like horizontal blotchy bars) on the breast. To those that don't know, hunters commonly refer to this species as "Speckle Bellies". Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 18 Feb 2010 -- On Thursday February 18th the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at Rose Memorial Park in Ft. Bragg. -- Jerry White
Thu, 18 Feb 2010 -- This evening I took a look at the flock of geese in the field by the old Masonite property in Ukiah and saw the following : Canada Geese, 71; ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE, 2; GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 1; SNOW GOOSE, 1. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 17 Feb 2010 -- On Wednesday February 17th I saw a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL on the beach at the Garcia River outlet. There were 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS (continuing birds) not far from the entrance gate on the Pt Arena Lighthouse property. -- Jerry White
Tue, 16 Feb 2010 -- On Tuesday February 16th I made an owl trip to Montgomery Woods and Orr Springs Road. At Montgomery Woods as it got dark a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL called for about 2 minutes. A little later 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS called from a distant location. Then at 6:20 PM a nearby BARRED OWL started calling and continued for a couple of minutes. I made several stops on Orr Springs Road and at one of the first stops heard another Saw-whet Owl. At around 7:40 PM at my last stop there was a calling LONG-EARED OWL. This bird was still giving its low soft hoot call 5 minutes later as I left. -- Jerry White
Mon, 15 Feb 2010 -- Having postponed going up to see the LAYSAN ALBATROSS for many years, Janet and I saw him on the afternoon for Feb 15. When we arrived, the barista at the coffee shop told us that she hadn't seen him in four days. Having driven from Milpitas, I was going to look anyway. "Al" was on the north side of the fishing pier about 40 yards out. I thought I'd let people know for those keeping track of arrival/departure dates. I let "Miss Barista" know also. -- Randy and Janet Little, Milpitas, CA
Sun, 14 Feb 2010 -- Todd Easterla and Lisa Jorgensen found a 1st cycle "VEGA" race HERRING GULL at Virgin Creek mouth. They also saw the BURROWING OWL in the logs NE of the bridge crossing the Haul Rd over Virgin Ck. Todd will post photos of the "Vega" Gull to the calgulls listserv in a couple of days.
They also viewed the continuing YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Rose Mem'l Park at N Franklin and Spruce, Fort Bragg. Further north, they saw an ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE and the 7-9 GTR WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Westport STP. Just a short way east on Branscomb Rd, Todd and Lisa found a WILSON'S WARBLER in a large, mixed flock on De Haven Creek. -- For Todd Easterla, K Havlena
Sat, 13 Feb 2010 -- [This] evening there was another BURROWING OWL in the old mill property field directly behind Glass Beach's Site #2. I wasn't able to get a shot (too far away) but the swiveling head and yellow eyes were visible even at that distance (around 50 years). The bird would hunch down in an attempt to hide once in a while. I am wondering if its the same bird that was spotted near the Pudding Creek Trestle in recent weeks? -- Lisa Walker
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 -- There was an adult BALD EAGLE that came to feed on a deer carcass in Willits today. It made it's appearance about 1:20pm along with a mob of Ravens and 8-12 T.Vs. The carcass was fresh this AM so I would expect them to be hangin around for the next couple of days. One can likely catch a look 2-300yrds north of (across a flooded field) from the "Skate Park" on East Commercial St. approx. 1 mile east of Hwy-101, past the movie theater and the Public Library. The immediate location of the dead deer is on private City owned property but one can park in the parking lot at the new Ball Fields near the skate park and walk north through the gate along the Rail Road tracks (Roots of Motive Power). There were also 9 Cinnamon Teal, several Bufflehead, Ring-Necked Ducks, Wood Ducks and two Hooded Merganser Males in the flooded field between the skate park and the tree line the Eagle came to rest in. -- Bruce G., Laytonville/Dos Rios
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 -- The wintering FERRUGINOUS HAWK is still across Hwy 1 from mm 70.32. About 5 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS are still coming to feed in the yard here in Ocean Meadows. Today, I took a walk along Ten Mile River along the road with the small, low bridge near where the two forks converge. I saw 4 GTR WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, but the Snow Goose has apparently left the area. I suspect that the SNGO reported by Toby Tobkin is the same bird originally found a few days earlier by Erica Fielder, closer to the river mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 10 Feb 2010 -- I drove to the snow line on Mendocino Pass Road at dawn and birded back down. There was 1 CASSIN'S FINCH, 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES, and 2 calling NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS. About a mile west of the Eel River Station on Hwy 162 there were 3 RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS. For the 2 days there were 4 GOLDEN EAGLES and on the 10th a BALD EAGLE at the east end of Round Valley.
In the afternoon I drove up road M1 that goes northwest at the intersection at Eel River Station. This is a paved road and I was able to drive about 7 miles before the snow line. On the way up I saw 2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL. At the snow line there were 2 more TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (doing a "mew" call),
and a single MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. -- Jerry White
Tue, 09 Feb 2010 -- While walking the train tracks under the Dos Rios bridge I saw 2 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. On Dobie Lane in Round Valley there was a PRAIRIE FALCON. There was a total of 7 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS on the day; 6 of those were along Dobie Lane. -- Jerry White
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 -- I found 2 HEERMANN'S GULLS in "breeding" plumage on Van Damme Beach. There have been a number of Heermann's Gulls seen this winter. Maybe the same conditions keeping the Brown Pelican's here this winter are keeping the gulls here.-- Rich Hubacek
Sun, 07 Feb 2009 -- The YELLOW-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was found again at 10:40 this morning at Rose Memorial Park in Fort Bragg. Chuck and Barbara Vaughn, Geoff Heinecken, Cheryl Watson and I saw the bird in the Banksia tree where John Luther had seen it yesterday. As you enter the cemetery, go to the central drive that leads to the cemetery office. You will come to a pair of Banksias on the right with many fresh wells that are tended by a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Look east down a connecting drive to the first Banksia on the right (south) of that road, which is located directly behind a sign that states "Non Endowment Care."
I watched the BULLOCK'S ORIOLE feeding on the Banksia flowers yesterday, but did not see it this morning. -- Dave Jensen
Sat, 06 Feb 2020 -- Saw at least 8 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in the blackbird flock at Albion Inn. Talked to Toby and she has seen few of these birds this winter. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 -- Today, Feb 6, the adult male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continued in Fort Bragg at the Rose Memorial Park at the east end of Spruce St as reported by
others. A nice Mendo bird for me. I heard and then saw it at about 11AM. It was first in the Banksia tree just behind the Non Endowment Care sign, then flew to the Banksia tree just north of there and then flew north into the eucalyptus grove. I later returned with Tobi and we saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, but did not refind the YB Sapsucker.
At Virgin Creek up stream from the haul road bridge Tobi and I saw a BURROWING OWL at the left edge of all the dead wood. Tobi had seen one earlier at another spot so there are at two in the area. -- John Luther, Oakland
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 -- Toby Tobkin called to say that the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was still at Rose Memorial Park in Ft. Bragg as of [today]. -- Jerry White
Wed, 03 Feb 2010 -- On Wednesday February 3rd; there were 2 GOLDEN EAGLES at the end of Burris Lane. On Marina Drive at the north end of Lake Mendocino at midday there was a bat flying and hunting which I watched for at least 2 minutes. My guess is it was a California Myotis? But I understand even bat experts have a difficult time identifying these mammals in flight. At the treatment ponds in Ukiah there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. At Montgomery Woods there were at least 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS. A Northern Saw-whet Owl started calling at sunset and there was still one calling when I walked out of the Groves at 7:15 PM. -- Jerry White
Wed, 03 Feb 2010 -- I saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER today at about 11 am and watched it for about 2 minutes until it flew; a county bird for me. It was in the large pine about 60' due south of the "Non Endowment Care" sign. The bottle -brush trees mentioned are called Banksia according to the cemetery groundskeeper, and they are popular with hummingbirds and other passerines. Yesterday, I saw a Yellow-breasted Sapsucker in one of the Banksias to the west of the mentioned sign. -- Art Morley
Tue, 02 Feb 2010 -- Hello all. Today my parents and I drove over to the coast, to look for some of the recently reported birds. At Lake Cleone, the adult male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER continues, though we could not find the Common Moorhen. Off Laguna Point were two Red-necked Grebes. Although there was a sizable flock of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones at the Point, the ROCK SANDPIPER was not amongst them; we didn't find it until about 3:00 (two hours after high tide) on the rocks just north of Virgin Creek Beach. Also at Virgin Creek were two Sanderlings.
At Rose Memorial Park, at the end of Spruce Street in Fort Bragg we easily refound the adult male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in one of the weird, yellow flowered Bottlebrush-like trees. It seemed like most of the trees had Sapsucker wells in them, but we first saw the bird in one of the two shorter trees at the north end of the cemetery that flank a large headstone that reads 'Jordan'. He also frequented several of the pines. He was quite flighty, and I only managed to get some distant record shots, but I think I surprised him when I first found him. Also of note at the cemetery were an Orange-crowned Warbler and an SY male Bullock's Oriole, probably the same one found by Jerry White a few weeks ago. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Mon, 01 Feb 2010 -- I spoke with Toby Tobkin by phone .... and she found the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER [today] in the same area as described in the previous emails. -- Jerry White
Sun, 31 Jan 2010 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to say that she saw 1 SNOW GOOSE, 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and 1 minima CACKLING GOOSE inland where two forks of the Ten Mile River come together near a small bridge. There are fields to the east and southeast where the mentioned geese were feeding with some Canada Geese. This is generally considered a private road, but there are many residents on this road, and no logging is presently being conducted. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Sun Jan 31, 2010 -- A picture of the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER has been posted. [ Mendobirds members can view it here. ] The bird was last seen in the trees mentioned by Karen next to a sign that stated, "NON-ENDOWMENT SECTION". -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 31 Jan 2010 -- Jerry White phoned to tell me that he had found an adult male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Rose Memorial Park, Spruce and N Franklin in Fort Bragg. When I arrived, Jerry noted that the bird was very flighty and not attached to a particular tree. We refound it on the north-central part of the cemetery in one of several exotic trees with strange looking flowers that look like teasles. It flew for a while to the tall eucalypus grove above Pudding Creek. We could not see it in those trees, but it finally flew back to the exotic trees. Richard Hubacek arrived and got some photos of it. The bird is very clean in its markings and much lighter overall than a Red-naped or Red-breasted. This bird called a few times with a medium-loud, whiny mew. Thanks, Jerry! MEN County birds for both Richard and me! -- For Jerry White, Karen Havlena
Sat, 29 Jan 2010 -- Today, at the Crofoot Ranch (east side of Highway 101 with white fence) between Hopland and Ukiah there were 94 Canada Geese (moffitti), 13 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE (leucopareia) and 1 RIDGWAY'S CACKLING GOOSE (minima). On the dug pond nearest Highway 101 were at least 2 HOODED MERGANSERS. The immature and mature Snow Geese from a couple weeks ago were not to be found. The wet pasture field had a minimum of 1000 American Robins on it. At least 3 CANVASBACKS are still on the Old River Road pond south of Talmage at the intersection with Gielow Lane. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 30 Jan 2010 -- While birding at the botanical garden today, two groups of CACKLING GEESE flew by heading south. The first group had over 400 geese in it (I counted them in the picture I took). The second group had approx. 120. This happened just after 12 noon. From the pictures, many of the geese had ALEUTIAN type white neck-rings. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 29 Jan 2010 -- Dorothy Tobkin called in to say that after the high tide at Laguna Point, she saw one ROCK SANDPIPER. Back down the road at Lake Cleone, she saw the COMMON MOORHEN and a male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on the lake, both toward the west end. These birding spots are in MacKerricher SP. Drive west from Hwy 1 on Mill Creek Dr. -- For Toby Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Thu, 28 Jan 2010 -- At about 11 AM I saw the continuing CATTLE EGRET in the Garcia River bottoms. It was in a flock of at least 72 Great Egrets on the east side of highway 1 south of the bridge. At 1 PM the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was snoozing on the water northwest of the pier at Pt Arena. -- John Luther, Oakland
Tue, 26 Jan 2010 -- Birders, I counted 74 GREAT EGRETS and 1 CATTLE EGRET (a Mendo Co. bird for me) in the Garcia River bottoms first thing on 1/26/10. -- John Hunter, Arcata
Tue, 26 Jan 2010 -- This afternoon, Nancy and I did a quick survey of Point Arena with the following highlights: CATTLE EGRET on the east side of Highway 1 in Garcia Flats area. EURASIAN WIGEON (male), GADWALL (apparently uncommon on the coast), CACKLING GEESE (20+), GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (4) on the west side of Highway 1 in Garcia Flats adjacent to Miner Hole Road. These birds were most easily observed with a scope from the lighthouse road. There was a nice assortment of waterfowl in these flocks including: Scaup, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Merganser and Bufflehead. BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (3) off the lighthouse road. Al (LAYSAN ALBATROSS) was at his regular haunt north of the pier at 5p. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Thu, 21 Jan 2010 -- Today at the white-fenced Crowfoot Ranch along Highway 101 between Ukiah and Hopland there were two SNOW GOOSE, one immature and one mature, mixed in with the approximately 100 Canada Geese. Also present were mallards, about 20 American Wigeon and about 20 Hooded Mergansers. Over by Talmage, at the Beckstoffer Talmage Pond, there was a rooster RING-NECKED PHEASANT on the north side of the Beckstoffer Road ...just across from the NW corner of the pond. This is a small area of green grass and scattered live oak trees and the rooster pheasant was seen both in the morning and afternoon. This appears to be a "wild" bird (not recently released from captivity) because of its scittish behavior and extremely long tail and crisp plumage. Look for it feeding in the green grass which is about as tall as the bird. Northern Shovelers, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks were on the pond. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 21 Jan 2010 -- The Eurasian Wigeon which was on the Christmas Star Vineyard pond in Potter Valley was not seen today or yesterday. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 19 Jan 2010 -- Hello birders. Inspired by the Red Phalarope I saw this morning, I ventured out between rainshowers, to see what I could find. At the north end of Lake Mendocino, I saw one adult THAYER'S GULL, as well as 35 or so California and Ring-billed Gulls. There were quite a few coots and Mallards there, as well as about 60 American Crows, foraging on the lake shore. I also had very distant views of a Duck that could have been a Tufted Duck, but I'm not even sure it was an Aythya! It was quite white-sided and dark-backed/headed, though.
At Lake Mendocino Dam, there were fewer birds overall, but there was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in amongst the domestics, and in the Gull flock (which was larger than the flock at the north end), I noticed one adult MEW GULL and three BONAPARTE'S GULLS. The only non-domestic duck here was an adult American Wigeon.
At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, I ran into Chuck Vaughn, and together we saw a ROSS'S GOOSE that had a silver USFWS band on the left leg and an ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE with a flock of 26 Canada Geese. On the southern, flooded pond, in amongst 80+ American Green-winged Teal was one male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL, whose horizontal white stripe was pretty obvious. There was also one bird that could have been an intergrade.
On the Beckstoffer Vineyard Pond, off River Road in Talmage, were 14 CANVASBACKS, as well as several Lesser Scaup, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks, etc. At Gielow Lane Pond was one more Canvasback. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Tue, 19 Jan 2010 -- Hello all. With the massive rainstorm of the past day or so, the field across the street from my house on East Rd in Potter Valley has become flooded. Yesterday I noticed a few Mallards and a large flock of Canada Geese foraging around it, so I decided to keep my eye on it. This morning, I checked it again, and found more Mallards, as well as four new yard birds: an AMERICAN WIGEON, several WOOD DUCKS, a RING-NECKED DUCK, and, best of all, a RED PHALAROPE, swimming around in circles! This was a complete surprise for me; it was my first Sandpiper for the yard. Has anyone else seen one in inland Mendocino County due to this storm? Are there any other Potter Valley records? Has anyone checked out Lake Mendocino today? Also, the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER continues at the corner of East Road and Burris Lane. -- Matt Brady
Mon, 18 Jan 2010 -- Hi All, In Tom Stienstra's column in the SF Chronicle yesterday it was reported that Brown Pelicans have been seen migrating NORTH. The speculation is the herring that drew the Sea Lions to Oregon is luring the Brown Pelicans too. Interesting. -- Jeanne Jackson
Sun, 17 Jan 2010 -- Today I went to Ft. Bragg to see my son, so I stopped a few places to bird. There were no species of note except maybe a WILSON'S SNIPE at Caspar Pond. What struck me were the sheer numbers of BROWN PELICAN. I saw 13 at Lake Cleone, 85 at Mendocino Headlands and 159 on the beach at Van Damme SP. In addition, the flock at Mendocino was about as large as the one at Van Damme, but it was way out on the rocks. When I counted the ones at Van Damme, I was amazed at how many there were because they were packed so close together. Are other people noticing these numbers also? Is this a new trend or is this normal for this time of year? -- Dave Bengsten
Sun, 17 Jan 2010 -- The male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER was working on a Gray Pine on Perini Road across from the intersection with the road to Snow's Lake mid-morning. There was a SNOW GOOSE at Austin Park in Clearlake. The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at Lakeside Park this afternoon.
Also, because of a computer problem, I was not able to post a EURASIAN WIGEON found January 7th on a pond visible from the pullout at 1830 Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. Today there were no wigeon there at all. -- Jerry White
Fri, 15 Jan 2010 -- There must have been a SNOW GOOSE episode today. I spotted 8 SNOW GEESE from the Garcia River Mouth overlook. They were with a large flock of Canada Geese (40 plus) in the middle section of Garcia Flats west of highway 1. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 15 Jan 2010 -- This afternoon I visited the Ukiah Water Treatment Plant. There was one adult SNOW GOOSE with 24 Canada Geese. They were at the northwest corner, outside the fenced in pond area over near the grapes. Other spp. included: American Wigeon 7, Mallard 48, Northern Shoveler 6, Northern Pintail 1, Green-winged Teal 32, Ring-necked Duck 10, Bufflehead 13, Ruddy Duck 124, Turkey Vulture 2, White-tailed Kite 2, Red-shouldered Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Coot 97, Killdeer 6, black Phoebe 3, Common raven 9, Marsh Wren 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Song Sparrow 3, Red-winged Blackbird 72, Lesser Goldfinch 9 -- Dave Bengsten
Fri, 15 Jan 2010 -- Hi All, I spotted a SNOW GOOSE from my window on the Ten Mile estuary on the east side of the bridge. I called Karen Havlena, who went to the bridge with her scope to find that it might be the larger, or greater snow goose. She described the large bill and long grin. -- Erica Fielder
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 -- On Thursday January 14, we saw a male HARLEQUIN DUCK on the main fork of the Eel River about a 1/2 mile above the confluence of the main and middle fork. There may have been 3 others, but we didn't get a clear look at them. We have been regularly seeing BALD EAGLES including a second year bird along this stretch of the river. On Thursday, the second year bird flew low over us and landed on a rock along the river's edge just across from us. Here's a link to a photo of the bird. Click here. Happy birding, -- Cate Hawthorne
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 -- The EURASIAN WIGEON was still there ( 9:30 - 10:45 am) at the Christmas Star Pond, north of the Potter Valley Cemetery on West Road. I went too early and had to wait for the fog to burn off a little before I could see, so avoid the early morning fog if you go. Other birds seen included: American Wigeon 51, Mallard 2, Ring-necked Duck 7, Bufflehead 14, Common Merganser 2, Ruddy Duck 2, California Quail 45 - just south of the pond, Double-crested Cormorant 3, Belted Kingfisher 1, Northern Flicker 2, Black Phoebe 1, Western Scrub-Jay 1, Common Raven 2, White-crowned Sparrow 3, Golden-crowned Sparrow 2, Red-winged Blackbird 6, Brewer's Blackbird 2 -- Dave Bengsten
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 -- John Lamey, a visiting birder from Ontario, reports seeing the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Arena Cove yesterday in the afternoon. He also saw a ROCK SANDPIPER at Laguna Point. Today we also saw the continuing EURASIAN WIGEON at the Christmas Star Vineyard pond north of the cemetery on West(side) Road in Potter Valley. Then we found a distant LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in oaks north of the end of Burris Lane. An OSPREY was circling near the pond on Burris. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 --[Today] Doug Weidemann and I did our monthly gull survey around Clear Lake. The numbers of most waterbirds (RUDDY DUCK is an exception) are disappointingly low this winter. Our best bird was an immature SNOW GOOSE alone on the beach at Austin Park in Clearlake, which was found by Nick Shepherd on Saturday the 10th. We also saw a lone female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in a flock of scaup from the large turnout on the east side of the lake opposite Clear Lake State Park, between Lucerne and Paradise Cove. We spent 15-20 minutes searching unsuccessfully for the Hammond's Flycatcher at Lucerne, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Kelseyville and the Williamson's Sapsucker at Lower Lake. The weather wasn't very cooperative. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 -- Now that I have all the final tallies in hand, the CBC [19 Dec 2009 ?] results for the Clear Lake have improved considerably. We ended up with a dozen more species than tallied on our preliminary count ~ 143 in all ~ down some from last year's count of 146 and below the high total of 153 in 2007 but still respectable. The number of participants also increased to 57, up from last year's 40 and the previous 10-years' average of 30.
The species that racked up the highest number of individuals was Ruddy Duck with 13,183 counted, former high count was 5,686 in 1991 and a previous 10-year average of 1,776. Sadly to say, although Ruddys are doing fine, the count for water birds in general is considerably down i. e. Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants and American White Pelicans.
The runner-up in highest number of individuals and the only other species to break the 1,000 barrier was the American Robin with a total of 4,633 individuals. They are abundant in our vineyards. The former high count for this species was 7,443 in 1975 and a previous 10-year average of 1,307. A big thanks to all our hard-workiing participants. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 -- Fellow/Fella Searchers, Here are some snaps, unfortunately not from Mendocino, but offer up good views of a flying and resting specimen. A first cycle KUMLEIN'S ICELAND GULL today (1-12-10) at a private location: ICGU2b Flying, view from above ICGU4b. At Rest, at favorite feeding ground. gabagacanicus americanus. Never, ever leave home without good glass.-- Gunn
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 -- Both the EURASIAN WIGEON and the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER continue today at the same locations in Potter Valley described by Jerry yesterday. At the intersection of Burris Lane and East(side) Road look for a utility pole on the west side of the intersection. The Lewis's Woodpecker favors the top of this pole and the large trees to the NE of the intersection. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 -- I drove up Hwy 1 for a while, where 11 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were along side the road at the Westport wastewater treatment plant. The FERRUGINOUS HAWK was flying over the pasture across Hwy 1 from Ocean Meadows. I scoped for alcids without luck from the usual creek mouth turnouts. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 -- There was a EURASIAN WIGEON at the pond that is just north of the cemetery on West Road [today]. There is no convenient place to park to view this pond. George Chaniot suggests parking at the cemetery and then walking to the pond. Also the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was seen again near the intersection of East Road and Burris Lane. George also saw both of these birds about an hour or so after the initial sightings. At least one AMERICAN DIPPER was on the river at the bridge.
Scoping the north end of Lake Mendocino I found a MEW GULL, 4 HOODED MERGANSERS, and another male EURASIAN WIGEON.
Later in the afternoon the LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were found at the Hopland Field Station, thanks to Bob Keiffer. -- Jerry White
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 -- I was able to relocate 7 of the LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES this morning at 2700' elevation on the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 -- I should have sent this out a week ago but it is still happening.Over the past four plus weeks large numbers (25,000+) of robins have been roosting in the trees north of Lake Mendocino Drive along the West Fork Russian River. During the last 17 days or so large numbers of starlings have joined them. They start to show up from the south around 4:30 PM. The robin numbers have dwindled to maybe 1,000 to 2,000. During the same period I have seen a PEREGRINE FALCON numerous times and two at the same time occasionally. The peregrine numbers have gone up to a minimum of five in view at one time last night 1/11, seen by Dave Bengston, myself, and three others. I saw at least three peregrines tonight. Tonight it lasted about 25-30 minutes. We have seen peregrine pairs are doing aerial food (starling) exchanges several times during the last several days. A merlin or two came by one evening a week ago.
Best place to watch is from the bridge on Lake Mendocino Drive over the river. Good parking on west side of bridge. It's a great show (maybe an understatement, first row seat at National Geographic Special). --Jack Booth
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 -- Just a couple of observations from today's 10th anniversary celebration at the Point Arena Gateway to the California Coastal National Monument: Many BROWN PELICANS - adults and immatures - all along the coast; few HEERMANN'SGULLS staying with them; first year GLAUCOUS GULL at the mouth of the Garcia River; three PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS still present and very visible at Arena Point - in front of the three motel units at the lighthouse, less than 15 feet south of the road to the visitors' station; a true albino ROCK PGEON in the BLM public access area between the LORAN station and Lighthouse Road; a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in that same area; a realization of what a treasure the Point Arena/Stornetta BLM property is for anyone who takes the time to wander there. -- Dave Jensen
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 -- Rich Trissel, Jim and I tested a few Fort Bragg areas. The BURROWING OWL is still at the NE side of the Haul Rd bridge over Virgin Creek. A spotting scope is useful here. We saw a CACKLING GOOSE flying with a few Canada Geese over Bald Hill Rd. Take Pudding Creek Rd east a couple of miles, then turn north after the big S-curve. We tried our luck at Lake Cleone. MacKerricher SP, but could not find the Common Moorhen. Later, we drove out to Laguna Point. Rich and Jim also marched out to Laguna Point, but it was low tide, so no Rock Sandpiper could be found ....... After Lake Cleone, Rich, Jim and I continued to Ward Ave, Cleone. Even in the low tide and rough waves, we were able to see one male BLACK SCOTER in the surf.-- Karen Havlena
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 -- Today Dave Woodward confirmed the continuing LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES on the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. There was also a probable PHAINOPEPLA observed in early afternoon. I tried to confirm this sighting but was about 3 hours later and could not refind the bird. However, based upon the description; black bird with obvious white wing patches in flight, in chaparral where there are now lots and lots of toyon berries and mistletoe berries, I think that it probably was one. I will try to keep an eye on the area next week. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Wed Jan 6, 2010 -- As far as I can remember, there have been no postings concerning BLACK SCOTERS this winter. I found 2 males at Ward Ave. this morning. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 -- Hi Birders. Today I was joined by Lauren Harter, on her way up to Washington, for some birding around Potter Valley and a bit in the Ukiah Valley. Highlights were mostly things of local interest. Along Burris Lane, we had one LEWIS'S WOODPECKER near the barn, just after the road goes up a small hill. It kept flying back and forth between a lone oak in the vineyard to the north of the road and the oaks right along the road. We had some ducks at the pond at the end of Burris Lane, but nothing of much note.
At Van Arsedale Dam we did not find the long-staying Greater White-fronted Goose, but we did find two COMMON GOLDENEYES (both males), three HOODED MERGANSERS (all females), an adult BALD EAGLE, and two AMERICAN DIPPERS. The dippers were in the rocks just below the dam, while the ducks were in the lake behind the dam and the Eagle was in a large snag above the dam.
We then followed the county road to the Lake County line, but it was pretty quiet, so we decided to head back down into the valley. Two RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were at different locations along Gibson Lane. At the Potter Valley Rodeo Grounds in the northwestern part of the valley we had about 25 AMERICAN PIPITS and large numbers of corvids (75+ Crows, 15 Ravens, some Scrub-Jays). At the pond along west road, just north of the Potter Valley Cemetery, was perhaps the most unusual bird of the day, a SNOWY EGRET. As I understand it, winter records for this species are sparse in Mendocino County. The cemetery itself was rather quiet.
We checked the Potter Valley Road bridge for Dippers, but we couldn't find any and the north end of Lake Mendocino was pretty quiet, so we moved on to check some of the ponds south of Talmage. The Beckstoffer Pond had a good diversity of ducks, including 8 HOODED MERGANSERS and our first GADWALS and NORTHERN SHOVELERS of the day. The pond at Gielow Lane was comparatively unducky, but it did have four continuing CANVASBACKS. That's it for now, -- Matt Brady
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 -- I refound the LAWERENCE'S GOLDFINCHES that Chuck found yesterday at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. There were at least 12 of them, maybe 14, mixed with three Lesser's. They are at the top elevations of the Center and not open to public access. If you desire to look for these for a life bird or year list then you will need to contact me directly at 707-744-1424 ext 112 or email. I will try to check on them every couple of days and post if they persist. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 -- Good Evening: This evening about 5:40 I heard an owl in the oak in front of my house. I went to find it and did. It was a SCREECH-OWL doing a trilling call. I had my camera and a flashlight, but the light wasn't good enough, so I went inside to get another light and my wife, who has a better camera. When I returned, the owl flew away in a circle and landed on the other side (east) of the house. At the same time, I saw something fly in from the southwest and land in the top of my redwood tree. It was a Great Horned Owl. The WS Owl made one more call, this time the ping-pong call, and then was quiet. The GHO, which never made a noise, flew away to the southeast. I was outside for about an hour more, but the WS Owl never vocalized again. Note: Last week I heard two owls making a commotion and I saw them fly away, but I could not ID them, so I had been waiting. Also, of note, I have two WS Owl nest boxes up, and a general purpose owl box. -- Dave Bengsten
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I saw at least 8 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES in the chaparral at the top of the Hopland RandE Center this morning. They were with 100+ Lesser Goldfinches and all were eating chamise seeds. This is only the 3rd winter we have had them in the county, having been previously reported in the winters of 1988-89 and 2004-05. The COMMON MOORHEN continues on the ponds just above the office area. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to say that the BURROWING OWL is still in the same location east of the Haul Rd bridge over Virgin Creek in MacKerricher State Park, Fort Bragg. There is a large parking area by Hwy 1 at the north edge of Fort Bragg. Take the wide path west to the Haul Rd, turn north and walk downhill to just above the bridge. Look for the large logs on the NE side of the creek. The owl is usually to the right of a large root sticking up in a pronged formation. -- For Toby Tobkin , Karen Havlena
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 -- Hi Birders. A couple of days ago George Chaniot mentioned that he had seen a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at the corner of East Rd. and Burris Lane, in southern Potter Valley [ Dec 30, 2009 - GEC]. This morning, I spotted the birds in some oaks just north of the intersection. It was moving around a lot, but seemed to stay in the same general area. I'll keep an eye out for it, and if it sticks around, post again soon. No sign of the large Canada Goose flock or the Cackling Geese associated with it since the 1st. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Tue, 05 Jan 2010 -- We have been enjoying the presence of AMERICAN DIPPERS recently on our fresh water kayak adventures. On New Year's Eve, we saw 2 on the Noyo about 4.5 miles up river. The one was near the second Skunk Train bridge and another just below the South Fork Confluence. On Sunday, we watched one on the Eel River about 2.5 miles downriver from Outlet Creek at the top of the rapid where there once was a road crossing the river. I posted a couple of photos on our blog. Best of days, -- Cate
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 -- I found 4 NORTHERN PINTAILS (2 male/2 female) this afternoon waiting out high tide at the bend in the river at the Dolphin RV Park and Marina. Last seen they were moving towards the main harbor. Beautiful birds in full breeding plumage. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 04 Jan 2009 -- Point Arena and Manchester. At 9:15a, on the road out to the lighthouse, there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. At 9:30a, at the mouth of the Garcia River, as viewed from the bluff trail north of the lighthouse, there were 6 BRANT with the large gull flock. Not that rare, but missed on the CBC. Still in count week ... At 10:00a, the 3 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS were still on the lawn across from the small house closest to the lighthouse. A seasonally rare BARN SWALLOW flew over the small houses while I was there. At 10:15a, the single CATTLE EGRET continued in the Garcia Flats on the east side of Highway 1 south of the Garcia River Bridge. At 10:20a there was a female EURASIAN WIGEON in the small seasonal pond on the east side of Highway 1 across from the dairy (just north of the Garcia River Bridge). I looked for the Burrowing Owl at Davis Pond with no luck. There were at least 40 TUNDRA SWANS at their favorite spot north of Stoneboro and the single SNOW GOOSE is still with them. A beautiful maleWOOD DUCK has joined the female on the Bower Park pond in Gualala. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 -- On Sunday the 3rd I joined Don Roberson and Rita Caratello for some birding in Lake County. We spent over an hour searching for the WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER at Perini Road in the morning and another half-hour or so in the afternoon. I managed to see the male briefly at about 10:20 am, a few hundred feet up the road and about 100 feet above the road from where it was first found, but it vanished--moving uphill--by the time the Robersons joined me. They spent another 1.5 hours searching for it without success on Monday the 4th. Don saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUKER to the west of the junction. I suspect the Williamson's Sapsucker is now foraging on trees higher up the hill instead of foraging on trees along the road. Good luck to anybody searching for it!
The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville was much more cooperative on Sunday. Its dull facial pattern looks quite similar to last year's bird, which we all thought was a juvenile, but it seems quite unlikely that two different juveniles would favor the same tree in consecutive years. Don suggested that it may have been a dull adult rather than a juvenile last year--and I suspect he's right! I posted my photos from last year here. We also saw a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Lakeside County Park.
Also on Sunday the 3rd the Robersons saw YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES at High Valley and heard two or three LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES flying over. On Monday the 4th they found a "RIDGWAY'S" CACKLING GOOSE at Detert Reservoir.
Finally, the "screw-legged gull": at Austin Park on Sunday the 3rd, I photographed an adult HERRING GULL with what I think is a screw (maybe something else?) impaled in its right leg:
Photo here. Go figure! -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 -- The timing somehow never worked for me to join the annual field trip to the Covelo area. Last Sunday Stu and I really needed a little road trip so I printed out the directions from the Peregrine website. It was wonderful! There indeed was a PEREGRINE FALCON on the sandstone cliffs; we heard it before seeing it, and we stood for 10 minutes watching it preen on a small outcropping. Dobie Lane in Covelo is indeed impassable - the creek was running deep, wide, and fast - but along the drive there we saw many raptors (the usual suspects), some meadowlark, and scores of LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS. I had never seen woodpeckers flycatching but clearly that's what they were doing, which made it so easy to just sit and watch them. We parked about 100 feet back from the creek and walked over to stand along the bank for quite a while, enjoying the sounds and sight of a large variety of birds. A highly recommended trip. -- Janet Rosen
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 -- After several attempts to refind Todd's ICELAND GULL, I stopped at Ron LeValley's gallery in Fort Bragg. Ron was in Van Damme SP on Sunday morning (NO binoculars). There were, in his estimation, 2,000 to 3,000 gulls in Van Damme cove (too bad; the bird could have been with this group). The important part is the TIME that Ron saw the large concentration of gulls. He said that the time range was approx. 0900 to 1015. After that, the most I saw was about 90 gulls. So, an attempt during this timeframe is worth the effort. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports finding an adult winter-plumage BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE roosting with the flock of gulls at Laguna Point (MacKerricher State Park) this afternoon about 1:15 pm. Also, with the Surfbirds on the rocks, was a ROCK SANDPIPER. -- trudy jensen for Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 -- [Today] I and several other people saw a banded, adult WESTERN GULL on the beach at Van Damme State Park. Chuck Vaughn and I read the band number, 2406 01341, through telescopes at close range. It also has a black color-band on the left leg above the numbered aluminum band.
As I was writing a report to the Bird Banding Lab, I realized that this is the same number that I reported on January 8, 2006, and Demian Ebert reported in March 1996 at the same location. I believe Matthew Matthiessen photographed the same bird sitting on the Vam Damme entrance sign on the east side of the road some time in 2006.
I have a previous report from the BBL indicating this gull was banded as a juvenile too young to fly on June 24, 1989 "near Farallon Islands CA". This bird is now in its 21st winter and may have been inhabiting this same location even longer than a famous albatross has been visiting Arena Cove.
Keep your eyes open. How long can we keep sighting this gull? It's fairly easy to pick up on it with its black color-band. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 -- It was quite foggy along the south coast of Mendocino County between Elk and the Point Arena lighthouse. The total species seen on count day this year was 137. Highlights included (3) CATTLE EGRET, CINNAMON TEAL, REDHEAD, (2) ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, (3) PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, and (2) SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS. During the "count week," three days prior to and following the actual count day, three additional species were seen by Rich Trissel. They were: (6) BRANT, EURASIAN WIGEON, and BARN SWALLOW. The number of TUNDRA SWANS dropped considerably from previous years' totals. The estimate of the wintering population this year is only about 40-45 individuals. Thanks again to the area leaders: Chris Bing, Dave Jensen, Bob Keiffer, Art Morley, Rich Kuehn, Connie Schimbor and Diane Hichwa. Thanks also to Todd Easterla, who roamed around the count area and provided a few species not found by others during the day. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 -- Todd Easterla found and photographed a probable immature Iceland Gull at Van Damme State Park beach during the morning. Several local birders tried to refind the bird during the rest of the day without luck. This species is considered a "review species" by the WFO California Bird Records Committee, and any sighting of this birds should be well documented with notes, photos, multiple observers, etc.
I personally saw photographs taken by Todd and the bird is almost snow white in color, primaries of transluscent white and extremely long (well beyond the tail when at rest), the bill is two-tone, and the head has the rounded "petitte" look like that of a Thayers Gull. The gull was rather tame and allowed fairly close approach by Todd for photos ....however, on the contrary to such "close-approach" behavior, many of us were quite frustrated by other non-birder tourists constantly spooking the flock of gulls at the Van Damme beach.
If you are lucky enough to refind this bird try to get ahold of other local birders ASAP. I know that some birders were trying to refind the bird today (Sunday) but I have not heard of any success. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer.
Fri, 01 Jan 2010 -- Happy new year, birders. Today I noticed a flock of Canada Geese in the field across the street from my house in southern Potter Valley. In amongst the 50 or so large Canada Geese were 9 smaller ones. 6 of the 9 were obviously Ridgway's Cackling Geese (B.h.minima), while the other three were slightly larger, with slightly longer bills. Two were a little lighter breasted, while the third was quite dark on the breast. I'm not sure which subspecies of the Canada Goose complex (including both Cackling Goose and Canada Goose proper) these three might be, but I suspect that they were either Lesser Canada Geese (B.c.parvipes) or Taverner's Cackling Goose (B.h.taverneri).
I am pretty unfamiliar with these two taxa, and small White-cheeked Geese are notoriously difficult to identify, but I did find this website to be helpful, especially the 'Descriptive Comparisons' section down at the bottom. David Sibley has a nice summary of identification criteria on his website, too, though it doesn't seem to have any photos or illustrations: here. I took a lot of photos, but unfortunately the geese are rather far away and the conditions are suboptimal (dark and overcast, and the birds had their heads down a lot), so I'm not sure how useful the photos are. Maybe tomorrow they'll be a bit more cooperative.
Good birding in the new year, -- Matt Brady
Sun, 27 Dec 2009 -- I just returned from NYC to a phone message that 3 SOOTY GROUSE were sighted on Hoberg Loop Trail in Boggs State Forest by Duane Harper of Cobb on December 27. I am aware this is old news but thought birders should know that there is now a possibility of sighting Grouse should they be birding the Forest.
Hoberg Loop Trail is in the northwest corner of the forest and is accessed from Entrance Road off Hwy 175 1/2 mile mile north of the main entrance to the Forest if your heading North and 500 yards south of Emerford Road intresection with Hwy 175 at the end of Adams Springs Golf Course if you're heading South on 175. The Entrance Road sign is not visible if you are heading North but it takes off East right across from the old Hoberg's Resort which is now the Maharishi Vedic School.
The Hoberg Loop trailhead is about 500 yards up Entrance Road where it deadends at (appropriately) Grouse Road. 100 yards up the trail it forks to make the Loop and you take the right fork. Another short distance and the trail takes a sharp switchback where Mac's Trail takes off to the right. Make the sharp switchback to the left and continue until the next sharp switchback which is to the right. At the turn you will see a leafless Dogwood tree. It is just beyond this where Duane saw the Grouse about 30 feet up in a Douglas Fir. He has been in the area a couple of times since and I birded the trail yesterday with no Grouse sightings. It is approximately 1/4 mile from the trailhead to the sighting locale.
Duane said towards the end of last summer he thought he heard Grouse calling on the Creek Trail but was skeptical since there has been no recent history of Grouse in the area. Hopefully, we will have more encounters in the future. Bountiful Birding to you in 2010! -- Darlene Hecomovich
Tue, 29 Dec 2009 -- Gualala Rivermouth : A single juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was in the large gull flock at the mouth of the Gualala river this morning at 10a. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Tue, 29 Dec 2009 -- There has been a consistent mix of geese using the CroFoot Ranch pasture (white fenced area, east side Hwy 101) between Hopland and Ukiah ever since the CBC day. Yesterday there were still 110 CANADA GEESE (Great Basin) , 8 CACKLING GEESE (I believe to be Aleutian's but I have not had my scope along to check them out), and 1 immature SNOW GOOSE. If you ever check this area out please view the mistletoe-ladened cottonwood trees for the possibility of phainopepla (has not happened yet, but I keep looking).
Chuck Vaughn mentioned that 8 CANVASBACK have been using the River Road ponds south of Talmage .that is the Beckstoffer Pond and the Montanos' Pond near Gielow Lane (spelling?). There have also been up to 24 HOODED MERGANSERS continuing to use these same ponds. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer.
Mon, 28 Dec 2009 -- Garcia Flats, Point Arena / Manchester. The 2 CATTLE EGRETS on the east side of 1 in the Garcia Flats were still present at 3:30p on the 28th. -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 27 Dec 2009 -- Bill Doyle and I enjoyed a birding holiday in the Mendo neck of the woods. According to the 2005 Mendocino County Checklist, our birds of note were:
Ross' Geese (2) - Dec 27 - Fern Creek Pond directly across Hwy 1 from Caspar
Harlequin Duck (M and F) - Dec 25 - Virgin Creek Beach
Common Moorhen - Dec 26 - Lake Cleone (but most fun was to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk go after a Pileated Woodpecker here)
Rock Sandpiper - Dec 25 - Virgin Creek Beach
Red Phalaropes - Dec 25 - Cabrillo Pt Lighthouse
Thayer's Gull - Dec 26 - Ward Avenue
Black-legged Kittiwake - Dec 26 - Ward Ave
Also, while walking the Van Damme upper campground Dec 24 not seeing Gray Jay, we had two birds we think were Lewis' Woodpeckers. We could not get a great view of these birds, which flew east, but our combined opinion of what we did see points to Lewis's. -- Helen Kochenderfer, Santa Rosa
Mon Dec 28, 2009 -- I heard a SORA this afternoon at Point Cabrillo, south of the lighthouse. It was in a small marshy area where a small creek(?) exits to the ocean. This is just north of the old wooden fence boundary. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 28 Dec 2009 -- The WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER continues on Perini Road near Lower Lake. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 28 Dec 2009 -- On 24 December it took me 20 minutes to find the male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER along Perini Road. It is a shy and quiet bird, adept at moving out of sight behind a tree, and is easiest to find by listening to its tapping. It foraged on Gray or Digger Pines (mostly) and Ponderosa Pines along Perini Road on both sides of the junction of the unnamed road. Once it flew over the junction to one of two pines out in the middle of the vineyard, but it didn't stay there for long.
I have not seen the 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL since 19 December. Grebe, merganser and gull numbers are disappointingly low in the Clearlake branch of the lake, perhaps indicative of mass mortality of shad during the cold spell earlier this month.
At Borax Lake there is a male GREEN-WINGED TEAL that looks intermediate between the "American" and "Eurasian" subspecies--and I suspect it is the latter. It is still molting and currently appears to have an indistinct horizontal white line and no vertical white line. It may be the same individual found on last year's Christmas Bird County (20 December 2008) by Jerry White, which lacked either a vertical or horizontal white stripe at the time and later molted into the "Eurasian" male that I photographed on 25 January 2009. I first saw it on 19 December when only two other Green-winged Teal (both females) were present and I saw it again on 24 December when 35 Green-winged Teal were present, but I did not see it among 10 Green-winged Teal on 27 December. The teal appear to be moving in and out of the lake.
On 27 December a partially amelanistic BUFFLEHEAD was present on Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 27 Dec 2009 -- I counted 2 CATTLE EGRETS among the 25+ Great Egrets on Garcia Flats east of Highway 1 and South of the bridge. Also found 33 of the TUNDRA SWANS reported earlier. Had at least 4 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS on the trip. Also watched a PEREGRINE FALCON take a bath in the Garcia River near the mouth while another looked on. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 27 Dec 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found a PALM WARBLER today at the upper campground of Van Damme State Park. She reports it was near the (unoccupied) camp host's site. On the beach, near the mouth of Little River, was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (and a couple of Canada geese). -- Trudy Jensen for Dorothy Tobkin
Sun, 27 Dec 2009 -- Sunday morning. This morning I found a male WESTERN TANAGER feeding with the sparrows and towhees in my yard, which is six blocks east of Highway One at the north end of Fort Bragg. This is a new bird for my yard list, and it comes at an unexpected time. -- Dave Jensen
Fri, 25 Dec 2009 -- During a post-prandial perambulation, we saw four GRAY JAYS cruising the neighborhood about 2.25 miles down Middle Ridge Road in Albion. We had a flock of them here several years ago, stealing kibble from the dog. They don't seem to stay around for long. -- Tim Bray
Fri, 25 Dec 2009 -- Point Arena / Manchester : Nancy and I birded Hunter's Lagoon and adjacent areas and were pleased to see about 40 TUNDRA SWANS. They were best viewed from the end of Barnegat overlooking the lagoon. In the flock of Canada Geese near the swans there was a single SNOW GOOSE. Also, loads of raptors. Nothing unusual but good numbers of the usual suspects. Merry Christmas and Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Thu Dec 24, 2009 -- This morning I ran into Toby on the boardwalk to Laguna Point at MacKerricher SP. She mentioned that she had seen the COMMON MOORHEN at Lake Cleone. She also saw the BURROWING OWL yesterday in the same spot at Virgin Creek. I walked around the lake and found the MOORHEN. It wasn't at the far east end of the lake where I had seen it before. It was in the little cove west of the east end. Looking from the parking area you can see two houses. It was in the cove under the right house. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I arrived at the Williamson's Sapsucker spot on Perini Road in Lake County as described in earlier messages. It was about 10:05 am, and we first walked north along Perini Road past the "three Gray Pines" and the "forked Black Oak Tree". Chuck thought he had heard tapping but could not tell due to the wind in the pines and the honking geese on Snow's Lake. We did find 2 Pygmy Nuthatches, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and an Oak Titmouse, along with robins flying overhead. I then ventured south past the junction when Chuck found the male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER back to the north of the junction/parking area. It was working on a set of sap holes in a young Gray Pine, about 25 feet off the ground, which put the bird about 15 feet above our eye level from the road. So, this young pine, maybe 10" diameter, is about half the distance from the original "three Gray Pines which are 90 feet south of the large forked black oak with adjacent no trespassing sign" and the road junction. There are lots of sapping holes present and the bird was working on new ones. He has a habit of skirting around to the back side (east side) of the tree trunk until he feels comfortable again. With the morning light he could be viewed with good light from the road that leads to Snow's Lake, thus looking back west towards Perini Road. We viewed and photographed the bird from about 10:15 to 10:45 and the bird was still there when we left. We did NOT find the female. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
19 December 2009 -- The Peregrine Audubon Society again hosted and organized the Ukiah CBC on Saturday December 19th. The weather for the day was quite nice with some fog in the morning in places, but clear skies for most of the day. Owling parties found temperatures mild compared to most years. This year we successfully topped our all time high of 130 species on count day (from last year when Matthew Matthiessen spot-lighted a Cackling Goose after the compilation dinner to exceed a tie-breaker of 129 species). So, this year, despite no super-rarities being found, the day's effort culminated with a tally of 131 species. Roger Foote's beginner group had at least 20 participants who all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We had 55 folks at the compilation dinner, and even more participants than that for the count day (we have not added up the participant number yet).
Highlights include an immature SNOW GOOSE mixed in with the local Canada Geese, a CANVASBACK, WOOD DUCKS, HOODED MERGANSERS, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, 5 species of grebes, a PRAIRIE FALCON (not seen in the last ten years on the count), PEREGRINE FALCONS, and BALD EAGLES and GOLDEN EAGLES. A GREEN HERON was found (rare in winter), and the high count of 38 for BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS was counted as birds left their daytime roost in the Oak Manor neighborhood. Numerous EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were counted showing the dramatic increase in the expansion of this rather new exotic species to the county (last year was the first year that this species was seen on this count).
A couple MEW GULLS were mixed in with the usual winter gulls at Lake Mendocino. The sleep-deprived "Owlers" came up with 5 species of owls. One Orange-crowned Warbler was found .a species normally long-gone during the winter months. A grosbeak sp., probably a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was also a good find. One lone male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD and a couple BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD helped with the species count.
All-in-all, a very good day was had by all. As the CBC coordinators Cheryl Watson and I, along with the Peregrine Audubon Society board, wish to thank all the participants, the Area Leaders, the given-permission landowners, and the Ukiah Daily Journal for their support with this year's CBC. Happy Holidays. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 19 Dec 2009 -- This morning at about 7:30a, on our way to Ukiah for the CBC, my wife and I saw a CATTLE EGRET perched atop a barn off Highway 253 0.25 miles from the junction of 253 and 128. The bird flew from the top of the barn down to the adjacent field. We drove back by this location on our way back home at about 4:30p and the bird was apparently not present. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 19 Dec 2009 -- Hey Birders, This morning I ..... made my way up highway 29 into Lake County. I went about a mile northwest of Lower Lake on highway 29 to Seigler Canyon Rd. A short distance up Seigler Canyon Rd I encountered Perini Rd. After about 3 miles on Perini I saw Snows Lake on my left and an unnamed road going off to my left just after the lake as reported by others. I looked in the Gray Pines described by others without seeing or hearing a sapsucker, but when back at the junction of Perini and the unnamed road I heard tapping (bill not toe) and quickly found the male Williamson's Sapsucker in a Gray Pine along Perini just south of the junction. This was at 10:05 AM. Feeling good about this beautiful male I decided to go to Wal Mart (not to shop of course) to look for gulls. The Wal Mart is along highway 53 in Clearlake. I climbed the hill at the back side of the parking lot and looked at the roof of Wal Mart. 500 plus gulls greeted my eyes and I soon saw a big beautiful white one that was a first year Glaucous Gull. I assume that this is the same bird reported by Floyd Hayes on Dec 11. This was at about 10:30. About 15 minutes later it took off towards the landfill. Others gulls were continuously going towards and coming from the landfill to the roof. It was a pleasant drive home. -- John Luther, Oakland
Fri, 18 Dec 2009 -- This morning at about 9 am, there was a beautiful male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER along Perini Rd. near Snow Lake south of Lower Lake. I found the group of three gray pines as reported yesterday by Darlene Hecomovich on Mendobirds. I heard soft tapping, but not in those trees. I walked on the road below Perini Rd. so the sun was behind me and looked up the slope. The male Williamson's was drilling a row of new holes in a gray pine about half-way between the group of three pines and the intersection of the unnamed road and Perini Rd. I continued south on Perini and came on an area of toyon that was crowded with American Robins and HERMIT THRUSHES. A COOPER'S HAWK bombed through, but wasn't really serious. Found 2 PYGMY NUTHATCHES on Adams Springs Rd. Finally drove up into the Boggs Mountain Area hoping for a Hairy Woodpecker. It was very quiet, so I had to settle for a male PILEATED WOODPECKER. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 -- Today Jeannette Knight and I were doing a dry run for our CBC route on Saturday and discovered a female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER around 12:30 pm at some holes in a Gray Pine on Perini Road (accessed from Seigler Canyon Road) above Snows Lake.Snows Lake is approximately 2.5 miles from the juncture of Seigler Canyon Road and Perini Road. I believe this is only the second or third record for Lake County.
In case anyone is interested in pursuing the Sapsucker,the bird was in the southernmost tree of a set of three Gray Pines n the east side of the road and 90 feet south of a No Trespassing Sign (that doesn't apply to using the road but is a warning not to trespass off the road)and 300 feet north of an unnamed road that takes off from Perini Road and goes between Perini Road and Snows Lake.There is a large forked Black Oak near the No Trespassing sign and a large Ponderosa Pine just south of the set of three Gray Pines. Complicated, no? We're hoping it will still be there on Saturday for the Clear Lake CBC. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Mon, 14 Dec 2009-- Walked around Lake Cleone 12/14/09. I saw a strange looking bird on the south side of the lake, on the water in the a sheltered cove. To me it resembled a common moorhen. But that makes no sense. Saw a River Otter in water on north side of lake, near boardwalk. Marsh Wren, American Coots, Common Ravens, Double-crested Cormorants, 1 femle Northern Shoveler on west side of lake, Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, Steller's Jays, Turkey Vultures, Yellow-rumped Warblers myrtle population, 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Robins, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, 1 female Varied Thrush from the dirt path on south side of lake, 6 male and 6 female Ring-necked Ducks on the west side of the lake. -- Fred Andrews
Sun, 13 Dec 2009 -- I saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER and two male PHAINOPEPLAS at Anderson Marsh. The woodpecker was at the ranch house, one Phainopepla was before the boardwalk and the other was after. Five TREE SWALLOWS were flying over the south end of the lake (why do they consistently disappear during fall and suddenly reappear in December or January?), seen from the docks at Redbud Park, and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was hanging out with domesticated geese to the north of the docks. Nine lingering LEAST SANDPIPERS and 26 SCAUP (they're finally arriving, hopefully to be joined soon by a Tufted Duck!) were at Borax Lake. The odd adult RING-BILLED GULLS, one with dark eyes and the other with a gray right leg, were both present at Redbud Park. Photos of the two odd gulls are posted here and here. I also posted a photo of last winter's Eurasian Green-winged Teal here. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 13 Dec 2009 -- Barbara Dolan and I birded around the north end of Lake Mendocino this morning. We did not find the Tufted Duck today. There were only about 60 scaups scattered around the north end of the lake. On the mud near the north ramp we saw 8 Long-billed Dowitchers, 1 Dunlin, a dozen Least Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, and a Wilson's Snipe. Also sitting on the mud was a Bonaparte's Gull. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 14 Dec 2009 -- A PEREGRINE FALCON made a mistake in targeting and got caught between some blackberries and the fence near the barn on White Dog Ranch. He was carefully extracted and released unharmed. Last week saw several BUSHTITS in the front yard there, and a flock of about 20 GREAT EGRETS in a tree; they often fish in the irrigated pasture there.-- C. De La Cruz
Sat, 12 Dec 2009 -- I covered the north shore of Lake Mendocino this morning in the drizzle, but I did not find the Tufted Duck. There were seven DOWITCHERS near Oak Grove Parking Lot. I've got to go out on the mud soon and try to identify them. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 -- This morning the male TUFTED DUCK continued on Lake Mendocino. The scaup flock was scattered over the bay to the west of the north boat ramp and I had to scope through a couple of times to find my quarry. He was hanging out with 2 pairs of LESSER SCAUP fairly close to the shore. He has a quite extensive tuft, especially when he is resting with his head turned on his back. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 -- I went out to Lake Mendocino to look for the tufted duck to no avail today. After I walked out to the mudflat I returned to the parking lot and was about to leave when a bird flew past me. I could not believe it at first, even though it is my totem bird. It was a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. I watched it from 4:38 pm until 5:01 pm. It was trying to find a place to roost under the eaves of the restroom and occasionally flying up into the louvers. It appeared to be healthy the way it was flying. I was not smoking or drinking anything either. Other birds I saw included: Starlings 9, House Finch 4, Mallards 65, Coots 33, Greater Scaup 8, Killdeer 9, Green-winged Teal 15, Bufflehead 3, Great Egret 1, Nuttall's Woodpecker 2, Acorn Woodpecker 3, Flicker 1, Gull sp. 41 -- Dave Bengsten
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 -- Doug Weidemann and I birded around Clear Lake today. Our best bird was a 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at WalMart (my 11th gull species on the roof!) and also at the landfill in Clearlake. It's a pure white bird, very easy to spot among the 1000 or so gulls. We also saw a 2nd-cycle "white-winged" gull with pale eyes and brown-tinged wingtips, intermediate in size between a California Gull and Herring Gull, that looks like a chunky Iceland Gull or a petite hybrid of Glaucous X Herring or Glaucous-winged X Herring or Glaucous X Glaucous-winged--we gave up on it!
At Lucerne Harbor we found a "different" Empidonax flyatcher and Jerry White joined us to help identify it. We concluded it was a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER. It was in the clump of willows just south of the docks.
At Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville we tallied 19 CACKLING GEESE.
On 5 December, Nick Shepherd saw four BARROW'S GOLDENEYES at Pirate's Cove in Clearlake Park, but I was unable to find them the following day or today. But I did see a pair of PHAINOPEPLAS there on 6 December.
Also on 6 December I got some cool photos of an adult RING-BILLED GULL with brown eyes and another adult RING-BILLED GULL with a gray right leg and greenish-yellow left leg, both at Redbud Park. We saw the latter again today. One of these days I'll post some photos... -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 10 Dec 2009 -- This afternoon Karen Havlena, Steve Grams, and I refound the male TUFTED DUCK near the north boat ramp at Lake Mendocino, It was best seen by walking out onto the exposed mud to where the inlet stream
flows into the lake. It was associating with Greater Scaup, Buffleheads, and American Coots - mostly in the stream. We got some excellent looks through the scope with good light at close range. Good photo opportunity. There were also four dowitchers, some Least Sandpipers, a Wilson's Snipe, and a possible female Blue-winged Teal.
I went down to the dipper location at milepost 37.08 on Route 20, and there was fresh dipper sign on the rocks, but I saw no dipper. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 10 Dec 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders. At 10 this morning I saw a male TUFTED DUCK in basic plumage at the north end of Lake Mendocino. The bird was feeding with Greater Scaup, Mallards, and Green-winged Teal in the calmer areas along the edges of the inlet. It was easily visible within 50-75 yards to the SSE of the cement boat launch. It was not on the lake during the 15 minutes I watched it. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 -- I was at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens today from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM today and spent about 45 minutes in the area where the Williamson's Sapsucker was reported last sunday. There was a very people-friendly PILEATED WOODPECKER but no Sapsucker. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 07 Dec 2009 -- Six ANCIENT MURRELETS and two MARBLED MURRELETS were seen from the middle platform along the Laguna Point boardwalk by Dorothty Tobkin. Additionally, Toby had a "six grebe day" between Laguna Point and Lk Cleone. The ROCK SANDPIPER was not seen today. Toby also saw the BURROWING OWL in the logs east of the Haul Road bridge over Virgin Creek. These birds were seen in MacKerricher SP west of Hwy 1 north of Fort Bragg. --- (for) Dorothy Tobkin.
Richard Hubacek, Trudy Jensen, Jim Griswold and I looked for the Williamson's Sapsucker with no luck again today. A female WISA was seen Saturday at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens along the southern boundary of the property west of the vegetable garden about 150-200 yards. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 06 Dec 2009 -- HI All, I just received a report from Chris Skyhawk who is from the Albion area. He and his family were out for a walk at the Navarro River Beach on Sunday 12/6. Chris wrote, "I ran into nature photographer Jon Klein who said he had a report that a BALD EAGLE had been seen several times hunting in the estuary. The person who told him even had a picture of it eating a Coot on the north bank." It does sound like a reliable sighting. People sometimes confuse an Osprey with a Bald Eagle. But, as we all know, an Osprey does not eat Coots! -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Sun, 06 Dec 2009 - Several local birders searched for the Williamson's Sapsucker along the south side of the Mendocino Botanical Gardens all Sunday morning. This was the bird found by Dave Jensen and others on Saturday. The "search group" did NOT find the bird, but two fresh sapping well sites were discovered in the low isolated pines between the south path (at the large open grassy area were the MCBGardens has evetn tents occasionally) and the boundary fence. One sap well is about 7 feet from the ground, and the other is about 10 feet from the ground. These sapping well sites are consistent with Dave's description of the bird staying low to the ground and moving from tree to tree. The sap well holes were small, maybe 3/16 inch in diameter and round, and I think they are unlike Red-breasted Sapsucker sap wells which tend to be larger and sometimes "squared" in shape ...so my gut feeling is that this bird made them (although I am not personally familair with Williamson's Sapsucker behavior).
With the sapping wells being found, I think it is likely that the bird will return to the site. It probably has a series of sap-well sites that it visits ...and some of those are probably on the private property to the south (do not cross the fence onto private property). We are hoping that birders will continue to keep a sharp eye out for this female Williamson's Sapsucker at this site.
The only prior Williamson's Sapsucker record for the county was a specimen collected near Albion in the early 1900's. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer.
Sat, 05 Dec 2009 -- At 11:30 today (Saturday) a group of 4 observers spotted an adult female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg. The bird was found adjacent to the path along the southern boundary of the park, just southeast of the open grassy area where tents are erected for musical events (about 150 yards west of the vegetable gardens). After about five minutes of viewing, the bird flew south. Other highlights of the morning's walk included several hundred PACIFIC LOONS flying far offshore, all three coastal falcon species(Peregrine, Merlin and Kestrel), and a very cooperative NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL that surprisingly escaped the notice of nearby sparrows. -- Dave Jensen
Fri, Dec 04, 2009--Went out to Navarro Point early this afternoon to look for raptors. When I got out to the point I noticed a continuous stream of PACIFIC LOONS passing south some distance out over the ocean. This was my first experience with the Pacific Loon migration. I estimated 650 (very conservative) passing in the short time I was there. It was very impressive!
My question is--is this late in the season for this to happen? A posting today on the NWCALBIRD site notes that 1000 PACIFIC LOONS in 27 minutes were observed. Most of the research I've read (and in talking to Toby) seems to support that this is a late migration. I'm prepared to hear comments that I'm wrong.
Had at least 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS and 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES (one being a juvenile) in my raptor search. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 04 Dec 2009 -- Jim and I saw the female LONG-TAILED DUCK, now on the west side of Ten Mile bridge feeding alone this morning. She can be very difficult to see, diving and staying underwater for long periods. This is the first time either of us has seen this bird since she was first noticed on 22 November by Toby Tobkin. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Fri, 04 Dec 2009 -- The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at Lakeside County Park this morning. Other birds of interest at the park were; COMMON LOON, CACKLING GOOSE, HOODED MERGANSERS, and MERLIN. On the way back to Kelseyville there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Big Valley Road. -- Jerry White
Thu, 03 Dec 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin called that there was one ROCK SANDPIPER at Laguna Pt, MacKerricher SP, that was seen at high tide from the far, point viewing platform. The ROSA liked being near SURFBIRDs. Laguna Point is reached by driving north of Fort Bragg on Hwy 1 to Mill Creek Dr and turning west to the last parking lot. -- For Toby Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Mon, 30 Nov 2009 -- Beckstoffer Pond--Tindall Ranch Rd., Mendocino County.
Start time: 11:30 AM Area covered: 1.0 acre(s), Duration: 0 hour(s) 45 minute(s)
12 American Wigeon, 16 Mallard, 42 Ring-necked Duck, 3 Greater Scaup, 19 Hooded Merganser, 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 14 American Coot, 3 Rock Pigeon, 1 Acorn Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flicker, 1 Black Phoebe, 2 Western Scrub-Jay, 4 American Crow, 40 American Robin, 1 Northern Mockingbird, 400 European Starling, 3 Red-winged Blackbird, 2 Brewer's Blackbird, 2 House Finch. -- Dave Bengsten
Sun, 29 Nov 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders. We birded down the south Mendo coast today, more or less repeating the route taken by the Audubon trip a couple weeks ago. Not quite as successful as that trip; fewer eyes and no experts! We did see several Ferruginous Hawks in the fields south of Elk again, but no RLHA, Peregrines or Merlins. Male and female Harriers in two places (the Kinney Lane picnic area, and the field north of Miner Hole). One very brief glimpse of a possible Osprey at Elk. White-tailed Kites in three places: the Garcia River field, the horse-pasture in Albion, and my backyard on Middle Ridge :). Red-tailed Hawks everywhere.
The mouth of the Navarro River was particularly active, with a large mixed flock of ducks: mostly Buffleheads, about a dozen Common Goldeneyes, and four female Surf Scoters. A lone Red-Breasted Merganser off in the distance. Also a lone Phalarope was very actively flying from place to place, never settling on the water for long, and never giving me a very good view; from the wing pattern I favor Red-Necked, but couldn't be certain. Five Brown Pelicans flew into the river, settled briefly, then flew back out to sea.
We ended up at Point Arena where we finally, definitively saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, Al, in the place everybody always says he hangs out (NW of the pier). To celebrate we had coffee and dessert at the Chowder House, where we were entertained by a California Gull stealing the bun off a tourist's hamburger, swallowing it, flying over to a nearby roof, horking it back up and then chasing it down the roof.
No particularly unusual birds, but it was a gorgeous day with lots of bird activity. Plenty of good looks at some beautiful birds - one of the FEHA soared slowly past us at close range, thrilling our guest from the Bay area. Tomorrow we are going to try for the Burrowing Owl, Redheads, and maybe
the LTDU. Anybody know if we can find Harlequin Ducks at Dolphin Isle? Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Sun, 29 Nov 2009 -- I was coming back from birding the UWSTP with Chuck Vaughn, Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken when I spotted the honkers off the freeway. I got off and went around. The CANADA GEESE were on the west side of Airport Blvd. at the south end right where it goes from two way to one way. I parked on the far side of the road and was pleasantly surprised by the juvenile SNOW GOOSE. -- Dave Bengsten
Sun, 29 Nov 2009 -- The continuing LONG-TAILED DUCK was reported again on Sunday by Toby Tobkin, east of the Ten Mile River bridge. She also saw many Pacific Loons streaming by Laguna Pt and the 2 REDHEADS at Lk Cleone, MacKerricher SP. A NORTHERN FULMAR also passed close to the point viewing platform.
At the Ten Mile area, I still have the continuing FERRUGINOUS HAWK at about 70.32 mm on Hwy 1, north of the Ten Mile R. bridge. I went to the river to look for the LTDU (not seen), but I did see 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (E. Fielder's?) and an OSPREY, all on the east side of the bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 28 Nov 2009 -- The two SURF SCOTERS were seen today at Library Park, Lakeport. -- Jerry and Nikki White
Sat, 28 Nov 2009 -- The BURROWING OWL is still at Virgin Creek, MacKerricher SP, Fort Bragg. This morning, the wind was gusting at least 35 mph or more. I saw Dan Airola from Sacramento. He had missed the owl yesterday afternoon, so we walked down to the Haul Road and the small bridge over Virgin Creek to try again. Dan thought it is more wind today than Friday.
The BUOW was standing in exactly the same spot where Jim and I saw it on Wednesday. One can see the entire bird by standing just south of the bridge. Look across to the east where there are quite a few large logs on the north shore, below the large, new brown house. Look for three large roots sticking up in the center of the logs. The owl stands about 5 or 6 ft to the right toward the creek. (If you stand on the north side, you can only see the head). For clarification, there is only one Burrowing Owl at this location. I'm sure that Toby, Jim, Dan and I all saw the same bird.
Park in the large parking area on Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, a little south of Kemgas and Matson Building Materials. Walk out the obvious path to the Haul Rd and go north to the small bridge. To repeat, the best view is seen from above the south side of the bridge, and morning is probably the best time. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 -- I found and photographed a presumed adult GLAUCOUS X HERRING GULL on a dock at the south end of Golf Avenue in Clearlake. I was unable to relocate it the following morning. A photograph accompanied with a description is posted here: On both days there was another odd-looking adult resembling a Herring Gull but with dark gray rather than black wingtips; I suspect it was a hybrid HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, which is much more common. -- Floyd Hayes
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 -- I thought some might be interested in a report on "Al," the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Point Arena Cove in Mendocino County. Kimya Lambert and I saw him fly in around 3:30 pm on Friday, 11/27/09. Both legs appeared to be working well (photos from the winter of 06/07 showed an apparent broken leg). Photos here -- Cris Connard
Thu, 26 Nov 2009 -- Our feeder was graced by the presence of a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW today, Thanksgiving Day '09. This is earlier in the year than he usually visits us. We have many Juncos each year and there has always been one SLATE-COLORED JUNCO among them. It is back again this year. Just one with all the other little dark eyed Juncos.
The dominant hummingbird right now appears to be the male Anna's with the deformed beak and tumor on his right shoulder that we observed last summer. -- Cherie Foster, 1810 Sanford Ranch Road, 462-3339
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 -- Karen Havlena saw a BURROWING OWL this morning at Virgin Creek where Toby saw one yesterday. -- For Karen Havlena, Art Morley
Tue, 24 Nov 2009 -- I took my laptop to Lake Pennyroyal [today], hoping to get some writing done. It was hard going, what with all the birds clamoring for my attention. I sat in one place for about 1.5 hrs. Western Bluebirds, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and at least one Yellow-rumped Warbler were all eating mistletoe berries. Of note for this location were 4 Green-winged Teal, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, and 1 Hooded Merganser. It's been years since I've seen any Pileated Woodpeckers at the lake. -- Kate Marienchild
Tue, 24 Nov 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin just called that a BURROWING OWL was on the east side of the Haul Rd bridge over Virgin Creek at 11:30-am. When at the short bridge or just north of it, look east on the north side of creek. The owl was on some logs below the new, brown house.
Park at the large, dirt pullout on Hwy 1, south of Kemgas and Matson's Building Materials, Fort Bragg. Walk out the obvious path to the Haul Rd, then north down to the bridge and creek. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Sun Nov 22, 2009 --The surprise of the Peregrine Audubon outing to Covelo today were the very late appearance of at least 6 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS spotted By David Jensen at the bridge just after the Dos Rios turnoff on Highway 162. A full report on the trip will be posted on their website in the near future. click here -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 22 Nov 2009 -- Toby Tobkin saw a female LONG-TAILED DUCK today at about 11:30. At that time it was with Surf Scoters about .25 miles east of the Tenmile bridge. -- Art Morley for Toby Tobkin
Sat, 21 Nov 2009 -- I pished up a somewhat late COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Lk Cleone, MacKerricher SP this morning. It was just south of the restrooms by the lake parking lot where the Mallards are hanging out. It appeared to be a young male with a hint of a mask and very bright yellow throat, breast and undertail. An adult SNOW GOOSE was with the large flock of Canada Geese on Bald Hill Rd, about 1 1/2 miles east on Pudding Creek Rd from Hwy 1 in Fort Bragg. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 -- The sun came out briefly so I went up to Casper Pond. The immature Ross's Goose was not there apparently feeling unwanted. I did take some pictures of the remaining goose. One of the pictures, showing the head has been uploaded. It still looks (to me) like the Ross's x Lesser Snow Goose hybrid shown in Sibley's "Guide to Birds". Note also the indented (curved) feather line at bridge of bill is curved like Snow Geese not straight like a Ross's. Of course the goose could have been grinning at me for stepping in goose poop. -- Richard Hubacek
Thur, 19 Nov 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin called that an immature ROSS'S GOOSE was at Caspar Pond today. She stated that "miraculously" the adult "Ross's" Goose has lost its partial/semi-grin patch, and now it looks exactly like the newly arrived immature Ross's. I saw both birds together late this afternoon. The immature bird is clearly a Ross's. (I have boldly written this before)....The immature has a grayish bill and grayish legs/feet and some light gray smudginess on various parts of the basically, white plumage, with black tips to the primaries. Where the mandibles come together on the bill, there may be a thin blackish line, but not a serated, grin patch. The adult now looks the same - it does not appear to have a serated, grin patch, but there is a thin black line. ALL of the other proportions are identical.
Also, please note: The adult bird nipped at the immature several times, even though the young bird wanted to stay by the adult's side. Toby also noticed this behavior -- territorial? Adult Ross's can have a partial/slight/minimal grin patch, according to several books. Go Ross's!!! Caspar Pond is at the junction of Hwy 1 and Fern Creek Rd, just north of the Caspar Creek bridge. -- For Dorothy (Toby) Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin called that the ROCK SANDPIPER was on the 2nd large rock at the sandy beach, north end of Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. This is at the west end of Elm St. Take the right fork to the sandy beach.
After receiving a call from Chuck, I zoomed over to Lake Mendocino to see the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at the south end near Coyote Dam. The pelican had moved slightly to a small peninsula directly east of the lower parking area at the dam. Luckily, the bird was standing when I arrived about 1:40-pm. Then, it settled down and tucked its bill. I placed some phone calls after that, and it was still in sleeping mode when I left. Hopefully, it will spend the night! -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 -- Mendocino County November 18th. Left Sonoma State College a little after one PM and arrived at Lake Mendocino (exit eastbound on Lake Mendocino Drive north of Ukiah) and parked in the large parking lot next to the dam at the southern end of the lake. There, sitting out on the mudflat on a little peninsula sleeping, was the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, a surprisingly hard bird to see in this county. Not taking any chances, I waited about 20minutes until it lifted it's head. Yep, still alive. Headed home. -- Jim Lomax
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- There was a single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at Lake Mendocino at 11:30 this morning. The bird was on the exposed mud on the NE corner of the dam just below the parking lot. It should be easy to see; it towers over the coots and miscreated waterfowl out there like the Pillsbury Doughboy. I did not see it there Sunday when I was picking through the gulls. Hopefully it will hang around a while. Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 -- Tom Reid, from Point Arena, reports that the Point Arena Harbor master Assistant watched "AL", the famous Laysan Albatross, fly into Point Arena Cove at 9:00 AM this morning. The bird settled into resting just beyond the pier. This will be the 17th consecutive (known) "winter season" that the bird has returned to use the cove as safe haven for resting. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue Nov 17, 2009 -- While birding Lake Cleone on Monday at approx. 11:30 AM I found a RED-TAILED HAWK in a tree on the north side of the lake near the "pump-house". Upon reviewing the pictures I noticed a single silver band on the right leg. The bird appeared to be an western intermediate (per Sibley) adult. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 -- I also saw, possibly a different, though presumably the same MARBLED GODWIT as reported earlier by Floyd Hayes. The Marbled Godwit was seen, while kayaking on Sunday afternoon, 11/15, at around 4 pm in Rodman Slough, foraging on the mudflats about 400 meters from the bridge on the slough side. No other unusual birds were seen yesterday but, in the lake itself, just beyond the slough, the incredible proliferation of hundreds and hundreds of BONAPARTE'S GULLS flying, swimming and foraging - both skimming and diving - on the now shallow, glass-smooth lake was stunning. -- Vishnu
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 -- This morning at 07:55 the two SURF SCOTERS were still present off Library Park in Lakeport. One was only about 20 feet from shore off the boat ramp by the TNT Restaurant, and the other was about 60 feet out. They were underwater most of the time, and as I was watching them, they worked their way south around Willow Point and out of view. I missed them yesterday at about the same time.
Next I went on the Lakeside County Park to look for a Red-breasted Sapsucker which would be my 200th Lake County year bird, but instead I found a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in the small eucalypt by the backstop of Ball Field A. It is probably not a stretch to imagine that this is the same bird that spent last winter in the same tree. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 15 Nov 2009 -- I birded with Doug Weidemann around Clear Lake yesterday. In addition to the SURF SCOTERS in Lakeport we saw one other bird of interest, a MARBLED GODWIT at the mouth (lake side) of Rodman's Slough. Amazingly it was foraging (or at least trying to forage) on a few patches of mud, none more than a foot across, jutting above the water near a small patch of reeds several hundred feet from shore. I doubt it stayed there for long. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 15 Nov 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Late this afternoon a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in adult plumage made several visits to the feeders in our yard. It is probably not a stretch to imagine that this is the same bird that we saw very intermittently in February and March last year. -- Chuck and Barbara Vaughn
Sun, 15 Nov 2009 -- The two SURF SCOTERS were close to shore between the main pier [in Library Park in Lakeport] and the TNT Restaurant around 10:30 this morning. They were still present when I went back around 1:00 pm or so. -- Jerry White
Sat, 14 Nov 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I watched 2 Scoters with our binoculars at about 1 pm today (Nov 14) off of Library Park in Lakeport. I am quite confident that they were juvenile SURF SCOTERS, but am hoping somebody can get out there with a scope to confirm this. -- Thanks, Chuck
Wed, 11 Nov 2009 -- Geoff and I refound the CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR today at 1PM in the same general location it was seen previously, southeast of the monument on the Mendocino headlands. It's a skulker. -- Cheryl Watson
Tue, 10 Nov 2009 -- Karen Havlena and I found the CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR reported by Toby at approx. 3:45PM. It wasn't easy. We found it in the long grass field just south/east of the monument by walking thru it. It flew to about 50-60 feet south of the monument and we lost it when it jumped off the bluff into the grassy area just below the bluff. Got some pictures and if they're any good will post. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 10 Nov 2009 -- Per a message on my answering machine, Toby found a single 1st winter CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR at 11:00AM today. It was located at the south/west section of the headlands, just south of the monument. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Mon, 09 Nov 2009 -- This morning an adult (returning?) FERRUGINOUS HAWK was on a cypress across Hwy 1 from Ocean Meadows north of the Ten Mile R. There has been a FEHA covering that area every winter since we moved here in 2005.
At Lake Cleone, there was a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER out on the middle of the lake. The 2 REDHEADs were visible, also. The heavy surf and high tides broke down more of the Haul Rd barrier between the cove and Lake Cleone. A lot of sand had been bulldozed off the road to Laguna Point, and kelp was strewn over the parking lot at the lake. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 08 Nov 2009 -- Two SWAMP SPARROWS were found below the Ten Mile River bridges. An adult was seen by Dorothy Tobkin and an immature was spotted by Karen Havlena near the adult. Richard Hubacek was able to see one of the birds. -- Karen A Havlena
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called late Tuesday that she saw the COMMON MOORHEN on the east side of Lake Cleone again. Toby originally found the bird on 13 September. She also saw the 2 REDHEADS again, as well. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 -- This morning before 10 a.m. on a shorebird survey, a volunteer spotted what we believe is a TROPICAL KINGBIRD in the lone tree on the trail just east of the main beach at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. The bird had a typical Kingbird shape, gray head and BRIGHT yellow underparts. It was in the top of the tree and flew south--so our look was brief. We talked with Karen Havlena and Toby Tobkin, and we think it was probably a Tropical Kingbird. Just a note--the tourists have left and the birds and insects are back at the beach. -- Becky Bowen
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin just called having spotted one ROCK SANDPIPER at Glass Beach, MacKerricher SP in Fort Bragg. The bird was roosting with Black Turnstones and Surfbirds on the 2nd largest rock to the left of the sandy beach. Take the right fork from the main pathway at the west end of Elm St, Fort Bragg. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 -- I saw a pair of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in the estuary east of the [Ten Mile River] bridge. The BUFFLEHEADS returned for the winter 6 or so days ago. -- Erica Fielder
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 -- The two REDHEADS and one CANVASBACK were still at Lake Cleone, MacKerricher SP, this morning. I arrived too early for a good view of the lake, with the sun too low and mist rising from the water, so I walked out to Laguna Point. Since Rock Sandpipers have been seen both to the north and south of us, I looked carefully but I could not find a ROSA (yet). With the sun a little higher shortly after 08:30, I easily saw the Redheads and the Canvasback on the west side of the lake. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 -- This morning at about 8:30 AM there was a CATTLE EGRET at the Kelsey Creek Outlet. The bird flew off about 5 minutes later heading west along the shoreline. Brad Barnwell went out looking for the bird about an hour later but it had not returned. This is the 4th record for Lake County and the 1st for the outlet and Clear Lake State Park. Another bird new for the park list was the PACIFIC LOON found by George Chaniot et al. on Saturday. -- Jerry White
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 -- This afternoon I found 2 REDHEADS at Lake Cleone (approx 3:30). Initially they were at the north side of the Lake approx. 40 yards east of the boat ramp. Moved out to the middle when they saw me coming along the board-walk to get a better look. I also momentarily had 2 CANVASBACKS earlier but they flew off north (not my fault). -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 01 Nov 2009 -- Steve and I went to Lake Co this morning to try for the Franklin's Gull on the Walmart roof in Clearlake. Had no luck with that but the rest of the day was successful. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew over while we were looking for the gull. Met Floyd Hayes who had seen the Franklin's the day before. He gave us lots of help locating the places we wanted to visit but were sure where they were.
Went to Hidden Valley Lake WTP which is south on the 29 to Grange Rd and east until it turns south. Floyd told us there would be a gate at the end of the road and it was okay to go inside the gate and up the hill for good views of the WTP. We added HOODED MERGANSERS and one female LESSER SCAUP. Looked for Burrowing Owl but had no luck.
Then further south on the Hwy 29 to Butts Canyon Rd for the drive to Detert Res. It was low and not too much on it except more Hooded Mergansers and the usual ducks. Then back on Butts Canyon to Middletown and up Hwy 175. At Cobb Mountain we got a STELLER's JAY. Further along we stopped at Boggs Mountain State Park and added PYGMY NUTHATCH, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and HERMIT WARBLER.
Continuting to follow Hwy 175 to Kelseyville, stopped at Clearlake State Park and finally found the trail out Kelseyville Creek. A flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over the trees just after we arrived. Then out at the mouth of the creek sat a HEERMANN'S GULL among the many DC Cormorants and American White Pelicans. VIRGINIA RAILS AND SORA began calling and we saw those.
The sun was going down quickly and we headed to Borax Lake to look for AMERICAN PIPITS, which we saw and Eurasian Wigeon, which we didn't. Lots of shovelers and other wigeon. Continued on to Clearlake Oaks Launching Facility on Island Dr. where Floyd told us there was a COMMON MOORHEN. Check, got that one. Then checked the lake and got a COMMON LOON. Back-tracked a little to High Valley Rd to look for Lewis' Woodpecker. Missed that but got our other goal which was the YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE. It was a gorgeous, warm day in Lake Co. -- Diane and Steve Rose, Grass Valley
Sat, 31 Oct 2009 -- Floyd Hayes just called. He has found a FRANKLIN'S GULL on the roof of Wal-Mart in Clearlake. He estimates there are a 1000 gulls there at this time. This is the 3rd county record. Photos here. -- Jerry White for Floyd Hayes
Sat, 31 Oct 2009 -- Most of the reported HOODED MERGANSERS have been in the inland area. I had 5 this morning on a small pond just west of the Little River Airport. One breeding plumage male and 4 females. Will post a couple of pictures shortly. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 -- Just for the record, I have a WHITE-THROATED SPAROW in my hedgerow this morning, 10/29 in GlenBlair. His markings are bright and bold. I'd like to think it's the little fellow who spent last winter here, hoping he'll stay. -- Becky Stenberg, GlenBlair
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 -- There appear to be 2 colonies of BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS on the lower portion of the Noyo River. I have been watching them for 3 years now from a kayak and from shore. The one colony is in the "magic corner" of the Noyo River by the former launch ramp of Dolphin Isle Marina. The other is across the river from the main mooring basin.
Lately some of the BCNH's have been active in the mid to late afternoon, but typically they become active around dusk. Morning birders may catch glimses of the BCNH's before they tuck into the fir trees for the day. During the day, we consistently see them in their roosts from kayaks in the river.
I suspect that they are nesting on the Noyo and have a couple of ideas where their nests are but have not seen an actual nest. Here is a link Click here.
to a photo that a visitor took of a juvenile during one of our sunset bird paddles this summer. Best of days, -- Cate Hawthorne
Wed, 28 Oct 2009, 2:05pm -- Hello - The SOOTY GROUSE is still here but has moved out of the redwood and is walking across the property towards the thick brush. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Wed, 28 Oct 2009, 1:45pm -- Hello - A juvenile SOOTY GROUSE ran into one of our living room windows and then flew into a redwood across our driveway. This happened about 40 minutes ago (1:05pm). The bird is still perched in the redwood. If anyone is interested in VERY good looks of Sooty Grouse please feel free to call me at 884-9973. I'll post an update again shortly and I'll post some photos. -- Rich Trissel, Gualala (Fish Rock Road)
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 -- Spent 2 hours on Burris Lane this morning looking and listening for a Phainopepla. Did not find it. Did however, see 4 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS to the north of Burris Lane while scanning treetops. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 -- I observed 2 juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS on the Noyo River at around 2:30 PM today. The location was the Dolphin RV Park and Marina which is as far as you can drive up the Noyo off the Highway 20 entrance. David Jensen told me about the BCNH roost at this location last month. BCNHs are listed as rare in Mendocino County with no nesting records. David thinks that he may have seen juveniles at that location this last summer. He is going to talk to the owner of the kayak company located at the marina to see if she has pictures and dates of juvenile BCNHs from earlier in the year. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 25 Oct 2009 -- At 12:12 p.m. today Paul Hawks found a male PHAINOPEPLA on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It was in some small oaks along the lane about 100 feet west of mailbox 12000. This is in the level section along
the vineyard and beyond the first barn. He saw it fly off to the north to an oak in the vineyard and return to the same tree along the road.
I ran in to Paul shortly afterwards and went back to look for it. I refound it easily at about 12:35 in the same tree. It was making the characteristic, upward-inflected call note repeatedly, which led me right to it. While I was watching, it flew south across the lower pasture and into the oaks along the creek, where I lost it. I looked again about 1:30 p.m. and scoped the trees to the south to no avail. Perhaps someone with better hearing could pick it up at that distance.
Matthew Matthiessen, Karen Havlena, and I searched the area from about 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., and we could not find the bird again. There were, however, about six LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS flying among the oaks to the south. We also saw and adult BALD EAGLE, and at least three immature GOLDEN EAGLES. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 24 Oct 2009 -- Hi Birders. This evening, I rode my bike up to the pond at the end of Burris Lane, in Potter Valley (Mendocino County). I found it to be rather more birdy than the past few times I have been up there. The clear highlight was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, frequenting some oaks at the top of the hill overlooking the pond. On the pond were 32 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 American Wigeon and 8 Mallards, but only 4 Coots and no Pied-billed Grebes, at least that I saw. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Thu, 22 Oct 2009 - Two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were seen along the LAK/MEN just to the southeast fo the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center. These birds are not really chasable by the public, however, I wanted to give
a "heads-up" to everyone to keep an eye out in this species' regular haunts such as Covelo/Round Valley and the Old River Road between Talmage and Hopland. Last winter of 2008/2009 there was only one single LEWO reported in the county, and that was the one on the King Ranch on the Old River Road. Perhaps there will be a better winter showing for the species in MEN county for 2009/2010.
Another unusual sighting that I had was watching 7 American Crows fly from Sanel Valley up and over the Mayacmas Mountains (at about 2800' elevation)
into LAK County heading towards Clear Lake. Even though our local crow flocks are primarily resident, I wonder how much genetic interchange takes place from immigation/emigration between the main valleys and populations? -- Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Thu, 22 Oct 2009 -- This morning at about 09:30 I saw a juvenile COMMON MOORHEN on the east end of the south pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It was associating with coots and staying mostly hidden in the emergent vegetation. This species seem to be becoming more abundant in recent years in Mendocino County. This year I believe I have seen about seven individuals in four different locations. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 -- An adult female HORNED LARK has been a "road bird" for the last two days at the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center. I got a glimpse of the bird yesterday as it flew off but was unable to identify it to species then .however from vocalizations I knew it was "pipit-like". This morning it was (assumed same bird) back at the exact same spot and I was able to get a good binoc-look at it. Horned Larks are rather rare in the interior of the county with best chances at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Even on the coast, fall migration produces singles or small flocks which usually do not stick around for long and luck has to be on your side to see the species. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer.
Sun, 18 Oct 2009 -- Howdy, Seabirders, The full trip report for Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip from Fort Bragg on October 18, 2009 is at: Sherawater Journeys
Highlights included a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, over 1000 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, and two ANCIENT MURRELETS (new county bird for me). Lots of krill near shore, with 2 BLUE and 2 HUMPBACK WHALES feeding along with all of the Cassin's Auklets. -- Debra Shearwater
Sun, 18 Oct 2009 -- Point Arena / Manchester, Hello - This morning at about 8:30a my wife, Nancy, and I saw a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on North Windy Hollow Road about 50 meters from the end of the road. I have uploaded a few pictures -- sorry about the quality. We then went to Barnegat Road off Stonboro Road and saw a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in the large blackbird flock that was working the dairy which borders the north side of the lake (reached from trail off the north end of Barnegat). Several TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were also in the flock. Also seen from that same spot were 27 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Good Birding -- Rich (and Nancy) Trissel
Sat, 17 Oct 2009 -- Hi all, This morning out on the Little River Headlands was a small Empidonax that I am calling a LEAST FLYCATCHER. I apologize for not getting the word out early, but I had computer user malfunction, and this bird was in a neighbor's yard in a place that can't be viewed without upsetting people so I couldn't have had people come to see it anyway.
I realize that this might be a first county record. I am uploading some pictures to the Mendobirds Photo section. here
and
here It was not close so they are not the best photos, but I think they are identifiable.
It was a small flycatcher, very white below, with a large head, bright white eye ring, bold white wing bars and only the slightest hint of yellow on the abdomen. It was flycatching, and sitting for extended periods when it would occasionally flick its tail up a tiny little bit. It did not dip the tail down like a Gray, nor did it actively flick its tail like a Western. Never did I see it flick it's wings. The bill was somewhat broad - broader than a Dusky/Hammonds, but not as broad as a Western. The bill was dark brown above and mostly pinkish-pale below with a hint of dark along the middle of the lower mandible. I have a video clip of it sitting as well.
It only stayed around for about 30 minutes and then when I checked later it was not there. It wasn't in a place that normally holds birds, I was actually surprised it stayed as long as it did. Hope one shows up someplace that others can see it! -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 16 Oct 2009 -- Late this morning I saw Toby's CLAY-COLORED SPARROW by Lk. Cleone's outflow pond in the berry bushes below the Haul Rd, MacKerricher SP. I did the weekly SOS survey on Ten Mile beach earlier in the morning, having the most SNOWY PLOVERs I have seen this year totaling 27. All of the SNPLs are about 1/2 mile north of the ramp north of Ward Ave, Cleone. The ONLY other shorebird I had on the entire 4 1/4 mile walk was one Killdeer. This afternoon in the front yard, Jim called out that the YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD had returned to the front yard. She was missing since the rain storm. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 15 Oct 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called that she saw a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Lake Cleone in MacKerricher SP late morning. The specific location is on the south side of the outflow pond on the west side of the road going out to Laguna Point. A lot of berry bushes and lush grasses are just below the Haul Rd, where a Black Phoebe inhabits the area. -- For Dorothy Tobkin (Karen Havlena)
Wed, 14 Oct 2009 - I apologize for the "cryptic" message about the SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS yesterday, and I am sure that it raised a few questions. This particular bird was observed off of Half Moon Bay on October 11th. A photo of the bird can bee seen on the Western Field Ornithologist website http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/gallery
The bird, even though not apparent in the photograph, was banded and wearing a satellite transmitter. Further checking by observers located one of the researchers involved with the banding project, and a map was provided showing that when the bird was spotted it was on its way north along the Northern California Coast. On October 12th , based upon the satellite tracking map, it was probably in Mendocino County waters, but directly west (latitude-wise) from Northern Sonoma County (bird locations on the ocean are measured to the nearest land point which for much of that area is Point
Arena).
Most interesting to me, however, is the satellite tracking map covers the whereabouts from October 3 to Oct 12, 2009. Prior to the sighting the bird DOWN (southward) along the Mendocino Coast, and it looks like it was VERY close to shore along the Ten-Mile Beach to Fort Bragg section of our coastline. After it came down our coast it headed pretty far out to sea, and then came back towards near-shore around the Monterey area .and then headed north again (this is when the SFBBO Pelagic trip came across the bird last Sunday). I do NOT know if this STAL satellite-tracking info is available on any
particular website. -- Good birding! Bob Keiffer
Mon, 12 Oct 2009 -- A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and about 50 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDs have joined the neighborhood blackbird flock, and all have been feeding in the front yard this morning. I looked at Lisa Walker's photos, and while there are similarities, her bird at Lake Cleone was much darker and the feather edges (where wing patches would be and the tips of the primaries) were whiter. So, I believe that this bird is different from the Lake Cleone bird. It was too bad that she didn't get to photo the Fort Bragg YHBLs that came to feeder in town. The flock here is way too skittish for me to attempt a pic. It seems that there have been about 4 YHBLs in the Fort Bragg area in the last 2 weeks. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 08 OCT 2009 - We looked for the Orchard Oriole at Laguna Point, without success, but instead found a lone PECTORAL SANDPIPER foraging among the wrack on the beach in the horseshoe cove. -- Tim on Middle Ridge, Albion
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 -- Hi all, I took a brief walk at Virgin Creek Beach this evening and found one PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER on the north end of the beach. It mostly stayed up in the wrack line except when the Coast Guard Helicopter spooked it and then it went to the rocks briefly before returning to the lode of flies... -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 -- At MacKerricher State Park, on my way out passing Lake Cleone and just north of the turn into the parking area, was a smallish flock of Brewer's Blackbirds. Perched among them, I caught sight of a flash of yellow and backed up to take a closer look. Sure enough, what appeared to be either a juvenile or an adult female YELLOW-EADED BLACKBIRD was among the flock. When I stopped the engine to capture more shots (will upload my other shots later), she or he flew across the road and landed on a piece of wood bordering the rise before the beach, just north west of where she had been. -- Lisa Walker
Tue, 06 Oct 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Jerry White found a first-winter BLUE GROSBEAK at Usal Beach Campground at around 10 this morning. He watched it for about 30 seconds. It was in the open grassy meadow between the campground and the beach. Jerry reports that he could not refind the bird in 20-30 minutes of searching. Of local interest were 2 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS flying over the campground. -- Chuck Vaughn for Jerry White
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 -- At about 4:00 PM today, I saw 100+ CACKLING GEESE fly south over Cabrillo Point. They were Aleutian "type" based on a very blurry picture. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 -- The ORCHARD ORIOLE is still vacationing at MacKerricher SP, along the south bluff of Laguna Point. I just got back from seeing her at 12:45-pm. Pishing brought her out from the berry brambles twice in the span of five minutes. She was in the lush, horseshoe-shaped cove just west of the pine tree growing at the base of the bluff. The bird was first discovered 1 October by John Sterling. From the Laguna Point parking lot, walk out the dirt trail in the SE corner of the lot. Taking the right fork is shorter to the south bluff trail. Several large clumps of blackberries and wax myrtles line the face of the bluff. Walking out the short, dirt spurs off the main the OROR. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 -- For the record, here are a few highlights from the last several weeks: On Sunday, 4 October, two male EURASIAN WIGEONS (one immature, one adult) were at Borax Lake.
On Sunday, 27 September, Nick Shepherd and I saw 31 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED flying over Anderson Marsh and later we saw 31 (surely the same flock) at Borax Lake. We also saw a MERLIN at Austin Park and seven RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Borax Lake.
On Sunday, 20 September, Doug Weidemann and I saw a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at the mouth of Kelsey Creek. We canoed out to the Aechmophorus grebe colony south of Rodman Slough but all nests had been abandoned--hopefully because the chicks had hatched out and departed (we saw several small ones accompanying adults). At Borax Lake we saw 19 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
On Sunday, 13 September, my wife Marta and I canoed out to the Aechmophorus Grebe colony south of Rodman Slough. We also bumped into Brad Barnwell and his wife, who had kayaked to the colony and were returning. We saw about 50 active nests, mostly WESTERN GREBES but also at least three pairs of CLARK'S GREBES. We could see eggs in about 20 nests, with up to five eggs present. I managed to dig up some published reports of winter breeding in nearby areas to the south in Nevada (eggs incubated as late as 19 December; Colonial Waterbirds 20:95-97, 1997) and San Diego County, California (downy chick on 25 February; Condor 69:209, 1967), but nothing that late north of San Francisco. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 -- An adult GOLDEN EAGLE soared over Chadbourne Gulch heading south, high above the coastline early this afternoon. It was being chased by a Red-tailed Hawk. The size difference was easily seen, with the Red Tail appearing to be quite a bit smaller than the eagle. The eagle kept moving, while the RTHA kept circling just north of the gulch. Chadbourne Gulch was deadly quiet, as has been the case recently. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 -- Last night's full Harvest (or Hunter's, if you prefer) moon drew me out into the fall chill for an activity I haven't done for several years. This autumn full moon coincides with the beginnings of southward bird migration and a surprising number of them can be seen in transit across it. The low, early moon is great in Potter Valley because the pass to the south east into Lake County is a popular route. Bundle up and get comfortable with binoculars (some kind of support helps) or a spotting scope, experimenting with zoom and focus settings. I saw nine silhouettes in about ten minutes and plan another try tonight. -- Jim Armstrong
Sat, 03 Oct 2009 -- Late this afternoon, the imm female ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen by Barbara Dolan and Cheryl Watson, while Matthew Matthiessen photographed her late Friday afternoon. This bird is definitely following an afternoon pattern. [ Just a quick addition to Karen's information. I found the bird there at 12 noon, so it at least appeared that early on Thursday. -- John Sterling] Look SSE of the far platform at Laguna Point in the blackberry and wax myrtle brambles. There are several clumps of brambles about a football field's length to look off the dirt path along the bluff. The past few days, she has appeared at 2:00, 4:45, 5:00,and as late as 6:15-pm. Apparently, the NW winds are keeping the bird in the brambles, protected by the bluffs. From the Laguna Pt parking lot, take a dirt trail at the SE corner of the lot. At the fork, go right. This will take you to one of the reliable blackberry spots. -- For Cheryl Watson, Barbara Dolan, and Matthew Matthiessen, -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 02 Oct 2009 -- 2:40-pm -- I just saw the imm female ORCHARD ORIOLE at the same place as yesterday. She is an afternoon bird to be sure! Please read the directions below. Tip #3: Park on the upper row of spaces at the Laguna Point parking lot and walk out a dirt trail at the SE corner of the lot. Take the right fork after a short distance. This will take you directly to the south bluff trail and the brambles. The wind has died down a little and it has warmed up a bit. The bird was very active, so it may move around again to the SE clumps of blackberries. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 02 Oct 2009 -- A 45-minute search of the south bluff of Laguna Point this morning didn't turn up any orioles. It was fairly windy and quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers were in the blackberry brambles, where I didn't notice them yesterday afternoon.
If you try your luck with the ORCHARD ORIOLE, the entire length of clumps of wax myrtles and blackberries is a little longer than a football field, if drawing a straight line. The large clump where John Sterling refound the OROR at about 2:00-pm yesterday was the second closest bramble to the actual point. Then, a couple of hours later, she had moved SE to the brambles by a smallish pine growing down at the base of the bluff.
Tip: Walk out every short spur trail that goes towards the ocean from the main dirt trail along the south bluff. The pine is not very visible from the main trail. Tip #2: A Black Phoebe hangs out by the clump where John and I saw the oriole. Good luck and good birding, -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 01 Oct 2009 --After about an hour of searching for the ORCHARD ORIOLE, I was about to give up when it popped it head up and I was able to get a good look at it. Pishing did not seem to help for me. If you are going to chase it, take the trail from Laguna Point observation platform and follow it south along the bluff. When you find a pine tree (thank-you Toby) coming up on the ocean side you are in the right area. I followed the trail until it dipped (formed a canyon on both sides) climbed up the embankment just pass the dip, looked north and the bird was in a section with ferns,just west of the berry and myrtle bushes. This section is where the pines close in on the ocean bluff. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 01 Oct 2009 -- Luckily, John Sterling was still at MacKerricher SP near Laguna Point, so I got to see the ORCHARD ORIOLE with his help. She is an imm female and was feeding on blackberries in the spot where Matthew had a Palm Warbler last year. If you are standing at the actual point platform, walk SSE on the dirt path at the top of the bluff. Look for wax myrtle and blackberry bushes hanging off the bluff. There was a Black Phoebe and some sparrows around. The birds responded well to loud pishing.
I was sorry that the several people who looked for the imm SANDHILL CRANE could not refind it, but it really blended in with the sand dunes. I first saw it and photographed it just west of the Ten Mile R. bridges. It could be anywhere in that area, or Bob Keiffer thinks it could go to Sand Lake, west of Inglenook (difficult to get to). I will try to put a photo on either this listserv or on Peregrine Audubon's photo gallery.
Speaking of Peregrines, I watched a PEFA chase a Black-bellied Plover out over the ocean, but I didn't see if the plover became brunch for the falcon. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 01 Oct 2009 -- I just received a phone call from John Sterling in Mendocino Co. Today he found an ORCHARD ORIOLE in MacKerricher State Park. Walk out the boardwalk to Laguna Point. The oriole was in the short pines just south of the point. -- John Luther, home in Oakland
Thu, 01 Oct 2009 -- After a combined effort of searching for at least an hour and a half, Rich and I came up empty-winged. There were several tracks in the dunes indicating that Canada Geese were there, Common Raven tracks, a few Killdeer and maybe California Quail tracks, and some tracks that *might* have indicated a Sandhill Crane (I really should have taken shots of them, especially after seeing the photos at the links below):
http://dirttime.ws/Notebook/Heron.htm
http://dirttime.ws/Photos/IM000206.jpg
It compares herons of various species with Sandhill Crane. And I saw tracks that very closely resembled Sandhill Crane in the dunes. Ah, well. Another time, perhaps. -- Lisa Walker
Thu, 01 Oct 2009 -- For the second morning (9:30) this week Halle and I saw a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS at the end of the pavement on Burris Lane. -- Mike And Halle Brady
Thu, 01 Oct 2009 -- Karen Havlena just called to report a juv. SANDHILL CRANE at Ten Mile Beach. She said that it was on the west side of the bridge in the dunes south of the willows and road but maybe heading down towards the water. -- Richard Hubacek for Karen
Wed, 30 Sep 2009 --[Today] (9/30) at about 11:30 a.m. I saw a female PILEATED WOODPECKER near the boarwalk along Lake Cleone. -- Fred Andrews
Wed, 30 Sep 2009 -- [This] afternoon I saw a lone AMERICAN WIGEON just east of the north boat ramp with some Mallards. On Friday the 25th I saw the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE fly over the inlet at @ 12:30. One lone juvenile separated from the flock and landed in the channel near the portable rest room. It was still there yesterday with some Canada Geese. As a side note; I saw my first AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER of the season in Pomo C in the eucalyptus trees yesterday the 30th. -- Steve Grams
Wed, 30 Sep 2009 -- "Toby" Tobkin called to say that she again found the HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Virgin Creek Beach this morning. She also saw a single (and much rarer-these days) SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at the end of Virgin Creek. -- Richard Hubacek for "Toby"
Tue, 29 Sep 2009 --There is still a HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Virgin Creek as of this morning at approx. 9:15 AM. It was north of the creek at the point where the rocks and bluff first cut into the beach. It was feeding in some kelp and is very tame. The COMMON MOORHEN is still at Lake Cleone. It was located in the extreme east end of the lake. It was near a group of coots and is best seen from the south side of the lake. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 27 Sep 2009 at 10:30 a.m. -- 75+ GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying south. Three more at 11 a.m. Seen from Ten Mile Beach where 24 Western SNOWY PLOVERS observed. -- Becky, Caspar
Sun Sep.27 2009 -- Yesterday (Sunday) on top of the 1st ridge east of Laytonville very near the "L" I saw 6 BLACK SWIFTs pass over heading South. I was loading firewood, not "really" birdwatching. at 9:40am I happen to look sky-ward and saw a single BS. It was 30-40 yards above me. I tracked it with-out optics until loosing it in the distance below the horizon. It didn't flap it's wings once in maybe 300 yards. It seemed so relaxed compared to the nervous little VAUX's. I scrambled for my Binos to take a "birdwatching break". At 10:05 I saw 5 more pass over-head at the same distance and in the same flight path. I continued to watch until 10:50 with no others sighted. Other notables; A singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER and two BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERs. Remember to have fun! -- Bruce Gullett, Laytonville/Dos Rios
Sat, 26 Sep 2009 -- Late morning, Matthew Matthiessen found a PHILADELPHIA VIREO on Miner Hole Rd. (Sorry for the late notice, but cellphone coverage is bleak in coastal areas). The bird was 100 meters EAST of the cattle guard on Miner Hole Rd, in a flock of Warbling Vireos, kinglets and chickadees. -- For Matthew Matthiessen (Karen Havlena)
Sat, 26 Sep 2009 -- At Pt Arena Cove this afternoon, I spotted a CLARK'S GREBE off the pier. . .thought folks would like to know :) -- Lisa Walker
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 -- About 6:00 PM there was a high-flying flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE heading ESE over Hopland. There were about 60+ birds in the V-formation. I heard a high-flying flock on Thursday also but could never spot them ...maybe the same group that Chuck Vaughn reported. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to discuss the change-over of birds at Virgin Creek beach today. Instead of finding the Hudsonian Godwit, she saw 12 DUNLIN and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. I did NOT see either of those two species yesterday, when I did see the HUGO. It was much cooler on the coast today, We still had fog coming and going all day long, but the temperature was definitely cooler. I went to Lk Cleone late morning in hopes of hearing or seeing the Summer Tanager but had no luck. I saw Matthew's Honda, but did NOT see him or his birding pals, either. Perhaps a few passerines (like R. Hubacek's Palm Warbler) are finally on the way here. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This seems to be the fall for COMMON MOORHENS in Mendocino County. There was a juvenile on the north oxidation pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. There was also a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the middle pond, just the second inland record in the last 6 years according to the Mendobirds inland fall arrival database that George maintains (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/database). Four PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were on the sludge pond. Other birds of local interest were single male RING-NECKED DUCK and GREATER SCAUP, the first I have seen this fall. Yesterday evening 35 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew ESE over my house. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 24 Sep 2009 -- One male and one female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at a feeder in a backyard in Fort Bragg. E mail me privately for details. -- Lisa Walker
Thu, 24 Sep 2009 -- At 10:15 this morning, I refound the HUDSONIAN GODWIT on Virgin Creek beach in Fort Bragg. The HUGO was with a Black-bellied Plover just north of the spot where the bluff first juts out toward the ocean. There were 3 Marbled Godwits a little south of the actual creek mouth, but they were at least 150 meters south of the HUGO. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 23 Sep 2009 -- I found a PALM WARBLER at Point Cabrillo this morning a little after 10:00. It was located on the unpaved lighthouse trail at a point where the trail marker indicates a split in the trail. -- Richard Hubacek, Little River
Wed, 23 Sep 2009 -- Between Point Arena and Manchester, Hello - This morning at 10:45 there was a WHITE-FACED IBIS in the field to the right as you drive in Windy Hollow Road from Highway 1. The bird was in the closest wet area to the road. At 11:00 there was a juv. light phase FERRUGINOUS HAwk hovering over the field that is across highway 1 from the entrance to Miner Hole Road. The VERY slow passerine fall migration continues. Nothing to report after spending a couple hours at the end of Miner Hole Road and Windy Hollow. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 20 Sep 2009 -- Hi all,
Below are the species and numbers encountered on this past Sundays pelagic trip out of Fort Bragg, sponsored by the Mendocino Audubon Society. The top highlight was having 4 Orcas swim with the boat, sometimes not even 5-10 ft away!
Location: Noyo Harbor
Notes: Mendocino Audubon-sponsored pelagic trip aboard the SEA HAWK.
Number of species: 9
Common Loon - Gavia immer 1,
Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus 14,
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius 2,
Black Turnstone - Arenaria melanocephala 15,
Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus 1,
Pigeon Guillemot - Cepphus columba 2 both juveniles at the mouth of the harbor.,
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1,
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans 1,
Brewer's Blackbird - Euphagus cyanocephalus 10
Location: Fort Bragg Pelagic
Notes: Mendocino Audubon-sponsored pelagic trip aboard the SEA HAWK. Sea Temp was 52-54 F. Swells from the NW 8-9 ft, winds from N @ ~ 10-15 knots.
Marine Mammals: Humpback Whale- 1-2, Orca-4, Dall's Porpoise-10, Northern Right Whale Dolphin-3, California Sea Lion-8
Number of species: 26
Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata 1,
Common Loon - Gavia immer 1,
Black-footed Albatross - Phoebastria nigripes 10,
Northern Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis 8,
Pink-footed Shearwater - Puffinus creatopus 95,
Buller's Shearwater - Puffinus bulleri 3,
Sooty Shearwater - Puffinus griseus 54,
Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis 2,
Brandt's Cormorant - Phalacrocorax penicillatus 1,
Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus 4,
Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri 4,
Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus 4,
Red Phalarope - Phalaropus fulicarius 13,
Heermann's Gull - Larus heermanni 1,
Western Gull - Larus occidentalis 60,
California Gull - Larus californicus 130,
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 17,
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo 6,
Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea 1,
South Polar Skua - Stercorarius maccormicki 1,
Pomarine Jaeger - Stercorarius pomarinus 14,
Parasitic Jaeger - Stercorarius parasiticus 10,
Long-tailed Jaeger - Stercorarius longicaudus 1,
jaeger sp. - Stercorarius sp. 6,
Common Murre - Uria aalge 40,
Cassin's Auklet - Ptychoramphus aleuticus 35,
Rhinoceros Auklet - Cerorhinca monocerata 9
It was really nice to see the juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Virgin Creek beach after the trip, also!!! -- Rob Fowler, Arcata, CA
Sun, 20 Sep 2009 -- Just returned from Virgin Creek myself. Spotted a HUDSONIAN GODWIT with other Marbled Godwits (there were at least four MG's). Also spotted a lone SNOWY PLOVER, same end of the beach. -- Lisa Walker
Sun, 20 Sep 2009 -- A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at Virgin Creek (just north of Fort Bragg) today. At 10:30 this morning Toby Tobkin saw the bird at the north end of the beach in the company of 3 Marbled Godwits. At 12:15 Cheryl Watson saw the bird in that same area with 2 Marbled Godwits. -- Dave Jensen for Toby and Cheryl
Fri, 18 Sep 2009 -- Thanks to Rich Trissel and Jerry White's discovery last Sunday, I enjoyed stellar views of an adult AMERICAN BITTERN at Hunter's Lagoon south of Manchester this afternoon (4:45 - 5 PM) as it was slowly feeding completely in the open on the north central shore in front of the tall reeds. From Highway 1, I had driven west on Stoneboro, right on Bristol Road and parked in the cul-de-sac on Coventry Lane before walking out to scan the water. Pied-billed Grebes, a Great Blue Heron and a female Northern Harrier were also present. For the birds, -- Richard Kuehn
Wed, 16 Sep 2009 -- Mid- to late afternoon, I stopped by Lk Cleone and found the adult male SUMMER TANAGER near its usual spot just off the break in the boardwalk on the north shore of the lake. The bird was calling, and he flew from the junction of the boardwalk and the trail uphill to the north to the west a short way. He perched near the boardwalk in the partially dead pines. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 -- "Toby", Carolyn Kinet, and I did some north coast birding today. The morning was too nice so our expectations for eastern vagrants were not high. Our expectations were met. We did see some good birds. At Chadbourne Gulch we had a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, at least 3 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, and 2 CASSIN'S VIREOS. There were many of the normal mig 2 rants also. The eastern trail has been cleaned-up somewhat. It looks like the trashy area at the entrance has been bull-dozed. We had a LARK SPARROW at the Westport STP and 2 MARBLED MURRELETS at the Vista Point north of Westport-Union Landing State Beach. We stopped at Lake Cleone but could not find the Common Moorhen or the Summer Tanager, but we didn't spent much time looking. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 -- Chuck Vaughn, Karen Havlena, and I saw some interesting birds at Usal Creek campground this morning: an early RED_BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and a late HOUSE WREN, and a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. Bird activity was generally low. At Juan Creek we scoped a MARBLED MURRELET offshore. This species used to be found quite regularly here but has not been found much in the last year following the fires. I am glad to announce its return. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 -- Had to work today which consisted of helping take some seniors to Lake Cleone for a picnic lunch. With only my binoculars I was able to see the Common Moorhen that Toby found yesterday. It is now in the little peninsula that comes out into the west end of the lake. I thought it was very dark and might be an adult. If true there might be 2 of them present. All the seniors that wanted to see it enjoyed the view. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 13 Sep 2009 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin found a COMMON MOORHEN at Lake Cleone. It was deep in the east end, but could be scoped from the parking lot. It appeared to be a juvenile rather than a winter adult. -- for Toby, George Chaniot
Sun, 13 Sep 2009-- South Manchester , Hello - This morning at about 10:30a Jerry White and I saw an AMERICAN BITTERN at Hunter's Lagoon (Highway 1, west on Stoneboro then right on Barnegat Dr. to the end, then walk north on a trail to waters edge). The bird was on the north edge of the lagoon in the reeds just east of where 2 white boats are sitting in the mud. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 13 Sep 2009 -- The 'bee's' are actually yellow-jackets. You are correct about their habit of wandering in and out of their ground-based hive when the sun warms it. That was how I was able to find the Tanager. It's amazing to me how many people have come by to see him and still he remains. He is sooo beautiful and I count myself fortunate to have even seen him and witnessed the same feeding behavior you described. -- Feather Forestwalker
Sun, 13 Sep 2009 -- Last weekend, I met a couple from Oakland who were enjoying the SUMMER TANAGER in its clearing habitat. They told me it's feeding on bees living in or near the clearing; you may know that bees become active only when the sun shines on their hive/nest. The Tanager bashed a bee in its beak against a tree limb, before removing the sting and then eating the bee. This could explain why I never saw the bird after work (three tries!), but did at mid-day, when the bees had warmed up enough to become part of the food chain again. -- Good birding!-- Jessica Morton
Sat, 12 Sep 2009 -- This afternoon, Sat. Sept. 12, the male SUMMER TANAGER was still at Lake Cleone. Take the boardwalk on the north side of the lake from the parking lot. About 20 feet before the boardwalk becomes asphalt, a large blackberry bush reaches over the trail. At 3:00 this afternoon, the bird was feeding in this bush. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Wed, 09 Sep 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I saw a BLACK SWIFT this morning on the Valley View Trail on north Cow Mountain. The bird was foraging over the chaparral at the ridge crest separating the watersheds of the south and north forks of Mill Creek. After watching Vaux's Swifts around Ukiah all summer, this bird seemed so relatively large and its flight so languid that at first glance I thought it was a distant Merlin! My main interest was in the chaparral birds so I didn't proceed all the way up the north Mill Creek canyon, and there was not a lot of activity anywhere. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 --There were 120 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and 4 RED PHALAROPES at Glass Beach yesterday swimming just a few feet off-shore. They were there around 12:30 PM. When I approached the beach you could heard them calling. I found one "Red" is the flock and Toby who arrived after me found two more. One of the "Reds" was seen out of the water walking the beach with other shorebirds. The birds seemed to be attracted to the flies on the kelp. We found another "Red" south of the beach with another "small" flock of Red-necked. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 07 Sep 2009 -- Here are some photos of the male SUMMER TANAGER that has been hanging around Lake Cleone in MacKerricher State Park, taken [today] about mid-day (on our third attempt to see the bird). Thanks to Richard Hubacek for his help in finding it. http://www.pbase.com/gtepke/summer_tanager_0909
I had inadvertently bumped the aperture dial on my camera (to f/14!) and didn't notice until after the bird disappeared, so the photos didn't come out very well. I posted them mainly because I haven't seen any discussion of the subspecies of this bird. Based on the lack of contrast between the color of the head and neck vs. the upper back, and the relatively short bill, it looks like the eastern subspecies (Piranga rubra rubra), rather than the western form (P. r. cooperi) that breeds in southern California. Compare to this presumed cooperi from Arizona: http://www.pbase.com/gtepke/image/117097184
I read somewhere that most of the Summer Tanagers that are found along the California coast in fall and winter, and that are identified to subspecies, are rubra. Comments/corrections are welcome.
Other than this bird, the most noteworthy birds we saw during our holiday weekend in the Mendocino area were a WILLOW FLYCATCHER in a wash
above the western part of the beach in Van Damme SP on 9/6, and a large (~100) flock of VAUX'S SWIFTS at Lake Cleone on 9/5 that were simultaneously hitting the surface of the water to drink. A spectacular sight. Good birding,
Glen Tepke, Oakland
Tue, 07 Sept 2009 -- I normally do not post observations of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES anymore since they became well established in the county several years ago but this morning as I drove down my driveway to Feliz Creek Road west of Hopland there was a flock of about 30 birds on our dirt road. To me this shows that there is still mass movement of this species especially during the fall of the year. There has been one pair of the doves all summer below our place, and a few pair around the Hopland area, but this large flock has appeared from nowhere is probably moving somewhere (north or south?) . Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 07 Sep 2009 -- Despite excellent shorebird habitat at Borax Lake, Kelsey Creek and along the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, few shorebirds were present this past weekend. I saw two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Borax Lake on 5 September, when a PEREGRINE FALCON managed to catch one of the few shorebirds there, and yesterday (7 September) I saw a PECTORAL SANDPIPER in a flooded field along the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.
Yesterday at the mouth of Rodman's Slough I was stunned to count 230 distant but obvious nests of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, visible in open water several hundred yards from the shore. Most of the nests had an adult on it and some adults seemed to be adding material to the nests. Among an estimated 500 adults present I was only able to pick out one swimming chick among them, so most of the nests must have eggs or small chicks. I'm surprised they're nesting so late in the year--it's September! Has anybody seen them nesting so late in the year? -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 07 Sep 2009 -- This morning at about 9:30 I found a TENNESSEE WARBLER (2nd county record) at Rodman Slough Park. The bird was on the trail that parallels the lake, just before the sign : Park Ends Private Property. Dave Woodward came out and we searched for about 2 more hours but did not refind the bird. --Jerry White
Sun, 06 Sep 2009 -- This afternoon I went to Rodman Slough Park on Clear Lake for an hour. Along the trail that parallels the lake to the south I found a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and out on the lake there were four FORSTER'S TERNS. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 05 Sep 2009 -- There was an early SAY'S PHOEBE this morning (11:30) near the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. The bird was hawking in the open field near the headlands south of the Gardens' property, in the area where the Loggerhead Shrike was found earlier this summer. Stan Harris' earliest fall date for this species is September 6 (two Humboldt County sightings). -- Dave Jensen
Sat, 05 Sep 2009 -- "Toby" Tobkin called me to report 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Casper Pond an unusual location. Casper Pond is just east of Highway 1 at Fern Creek Rd. in Casper. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Fri, 04 Sep 2009 -- [This] afternoon, 9/4, at Lake Cleone, both SUMMER TANAGERS were present at the same location described by previous observers, the small clearing on the north side of the lake where the trail changes from boardwalk to asphalt. The tanagers came in together at 1:20 p.m. Both of them were still feeding when we left about 20 minutes later. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 04 Sep 2009 -- While birding the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens today I ran into Geoff Heinecken and Cheryl Watson on Fern Canyon Trail. While discussing the birds of the day, Western Tanagers and Warbling Vireos, I noticed an Adult Male AMERICAN REDSTART high in the trees. It started calling and came down so close our bino's could not focus. It was in the same location near the west end of the canyon. Time was 12:15 PM. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 03 Sep 2009 -- Today at 2:30 I watched the SUMMER TANAGER for about 5 minutes. It was perching and flying out from the dead pines along the 100' section of asphalt where there is a gap in the boardwalk. -- Art Morley
Wed, 02 Sep 2009 -- At the Westport Headlands there was a WESTERN KINGBIRD and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. At a pullout just south of Westport there were 2 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS. At Bruehl Point there was a LARK SPARROW. I saw the single HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Virgin Creek Beach around noon. -- Jerry White
Wed, 02 Sep 2009 -- Greetings Birders, Today, my daughter and I were accompanied by the entertaining and informative Dave Bengston for a long day of birding parts of the north coast of Mendocino County. First stop was Glass Beach (just north of Ft. Bragg) at about 7am, where we looked for the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. No luck, except the usual suspects.
At Virgin Beach we met Oliver (Ollie) Kolkmann, also of Willits, who mentioned that he spotted a HUDSONIAN GODWIT with a few MARBLED GODWITS, but that just a few minutes before we arrived, a PEREGRINE FALCON(?)(well, some sort of agressive bird) flew over and scattered the host of gulls and the godwits. We continued north along the beach and came across Dorothy Tobkin (Toby) who was waving frantically at us from a distance until we understood to look out over the waves at three birds flying south. They turned out to be one SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, one WHIMBREL, and one immature HUDSONIAN GODWIT. The trio landed about a hundred yards south of us, so we meandered (by that I mean we sprinted) over to about twenty yards away to get good looks and pictures (this was at 10:30am, sunny, and on a sandy beach) of a very co-operative bird.
Dorothy also mentioned that she had seen the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER yesterday after seeing our previous post.
From there, we went further north to Ward Avenue beach and saw the usual suspects until we noticed a couple of birds harassing the BROWN PELICAN and gulls about a hundred yards out. They turned out to be a dark morph and a light morph pair of immature POMARINE JAEGERS operating close to shore.
From there, we went to Lake Cleone and almost immediately refound the male SUMMER TANAGER at the first forks in the trail on the north side of the lake. There were numerous PYGMY NUTHATCHES.
We moved on to the beach to the west of the lake, where (north of the wooden steps to the beach at the parking lot) we spotted a possible first winter YELLOW-BILLED LOON. It was too far out to get a positive ID, but the bottom mandible was definitely curved upward, and the bill was large, yellow, and pale. It may still be there for someone else to take a look on Thursday.
Actually, don't tell Dave, but we were in a hurry to go because we had worn Dave out. Best regards and good birding, -- Mike and Alexandria Curry, Willits, CA
Wed, 02 Sep 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing one HUDSONIAN GODWIT this morning at Virgin Creek Beach. Yesterday there was a report of a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Glass Beach. -- George Chaniot for Toby
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 -- Due to the helpfulness of other MendoBirders ever since Karen Havlena's original post about Dorothy (Toby) Tobkin's discovery of 4 Hudsonian Godwits at Glass Beach August 26th, [today's] College of the Redwood's _Birds of the North Coast_ course presented me with a unique opportunity: I helped find a Life Bird for everyone in the class, including Prof. Greg Grantham and myself. Greg had been informed by someone yesterday that a HUDSONIAN GODWIT had been seen on 10 Mile Beach, north of the Ward Ave parking, earlier in the day; so this is where he took us for our field outing in the afternoon. We had walked to the end of the haul road and down onto the beach where we were looking at many of the usual suspects: Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones and Black Oystercatchers when a medium sized shorebird with a long bill, flashing black underwing coverts edged with white, flew past and landed on some nearby mussel beds.
Having studied the field marks, I immediately scoped the bird and confirmed its ID before sharing my scope with others. Luckily the bird probed and fed for a long time, allowing everyone to get crippling views! The bird we observed was a juvenile with a very distinct white supercillium, beautifully patterned wings, plain belly and black tail.
To all the MendoBirders who 've kept readers of this ListServ informed about this particular species, I'd like to shout out a THANK YOU on behalf of the students in the Biology 16 class. I'm hoping many of them will soon join our ranks. Be well and GREAT Birding, -- Richard Kuehn
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 -- Bill Doyle and I saw three HUDSONIAN GODWITS at 9 this morning at the north end of Virgin Creek Beach, MacKerricher State Park, first on the sand and around 9:30, flying north over the rocks at the end of the Beach. Thanks to Bob Keiffer for telling us exactly where he last saw them. There was also a juvenile RED KNOT on the rocks with a couple SURFBIRDS in the same area. -- Helen Kochenderfer, Santa Rosa
Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:30 - 09:15 AM PDT -- The two HUDSONIAN GODWITS found by Matthew Matthiessen yesterday were still present at the far north end of Virgin Creek Beach, MacKerricher State Park, just north of Fort Bragg. I heard that another probable bird was on Ten Mile Beach just north of Ward Avenue at 10:00 AM this morning. I personally believe that these are NOT the same individuals as found last week at Glass Beach. HUGOs are showing up along the coast of California recently, and seem to be part of an unprecedented migration wave coming down the Pacific Coast.
This species is considered a "Review Species" by the California Bird Records Committee, and up until the printing of the Rare Birds of California, published in 2007 by the Western Field Ornithologists, only 21 records of Hudsonian Godwit had been accepted by the CBRC. So, the message is: please don't take these Mendocino County sightings lightly, despite the fact that we probably have had at least 6, maybe 7, individuals within the last week seen by many observers. Please document your sightings as best possible with notes, photographs, sketches, etc. - the more the better. Submit your documentation directly to WBO-CRBC or through me. rjkeiffer@ucdavis.edu -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 31 Aug 2009 -- Today Becky Bowen sent me an email that she spotted a HUDSONIAN GODWIT with a Marbled Godwit on Ten Mile Beach. It was located North of Ward Ave. near the Snowy Plover fencing. This is probably the same bird reported yesterday by Paul Hawk which means it spent the night. The time was 10:00 AM when spotted. She also had 17 SNOWY PLOVERS. -- Richard Hubacek for Becky Bowen
Mon, 31 Aug 2009 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 30 Aug 2009 -- While birding at Lake Cleone in the early afternoon, a young couple from the Bay Area told me they had seen a HUDSONIAN GODWIT at 10-mile beach north of Ward Ave. It was with a Marbled Godwit. In the late afternoon, I found the pair north of the roped-off Snowy Plover nesting area. It was great to see the two species side by side, and they allowed me to get within 35 or 40 feet. Both Godwits were actively probing the sand about 10 -15 feet from the high-water line. I watched them for about half an hour. They stayed in the same area, slowly working their way northward.
No sign of the Summer Tanager at Lake Cleone. State park personnel were cutting trees nearby and the noise of the power equipment probably kept a number of birds away. -- Paul Hawks
Sun Aug 30, 2009 -- Just some more information on the HUDSONIAN GODWITS. Matthew was kind enough to give me a call and stayed with the birds until I got there. When I first saw them they were at the far south end of Virgin Creek Beach and could be seen from the bluff overlooking the beach. They then flew north and were refound near the end of the Virgin Creek Beach. A Century 21 sign could be seen from the beach. Keeping a respectful distance and advising people and dogs to avoid them, Jerry White was able to see them. Matthew and I left at about 1:30 PM and Jerry stayed until Barbara Dolan and Geoff Heinecken arrived. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 30 Aug 2009 -- Matthew Matthiessen called to say that he has (re)located two HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Virgin Creek Beach, MacKerricher State Park. They have been on the sandy beach from about 150 m north of the creek mouth to just south of the creek. He found them about 10:45 and they have been present at least an hour and a quarter. -- George Chaniot for Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 29 Aug 2009 -- Greetings Birders, My daughter and I were birding Glass Beach last night (Saturday, Aug. 29) at the immediate small beaches north of Glass Beach up to about even with the last beach house to the east. We spotted what we believe to be a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER alone in one of the little coves with a sandy beach. We got good looks for about 15 or 20 seconds before it flew around a rock to the north. It has a dark top of head, buffy yellow breast that turns to white at the vent. No spots (or very light) on the sides of the breast. The back had a black and tan with whitish trim patchwork pattern. We did not hear it call. The bill is short, straight, and like the eye, dark. The legs are yellow. It ran from one pile of seaweed to another apparently searching for food, but it did not climb on top of the piles. We were looking from the bluff above, and when it flew, I did not notice any white pattern, but we only had a couple of seconds to look before it disappeared around a rock. It seemed shy of us. It was beginning to get dark after that, but we went searching for it and refound it, but could not get any pictures that are clear. It is not very noticeable from the bluffs above until it moves. Good luck refinding it! Best regards, Mike and Alexandria Curry, Willits, CA
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 -- I saw the SUMMER TANAGER adult male this afternoon in the spot where the yellowjackets are today and made some attempts at photos. He made his appearance around 1:43 PM. No sign of the immature, either. -- Feather
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 -- In all the commotion with the Hudsonian Godwits yesterday I didn't get a chance to post that the SUMMER TANAGER (full adult) was still at Lake Cleone. I saw it at 12 noon. It was foraging further up the trail in the pines but did return to the clearing. No sign of the second Tanager reported several days ago. Also had a PEREGRINE FALCON pass over the west end of the lake going north. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 -- This morning on Burris Lane in Potter Valley there was a lot of sparrow activity. It felt like a fall morning. There were concentrations of about 30 Lark Sparrows, 40 Chipping Sparrows, several Savannah Sparrows, and 100 mixed swallows. Near, but not exactly with, the Chipping Sparrows was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. The best area was along the fence lines by the Bald Eagle Vineyard beyond the barn with pigeons. The Clay-colored Sparrow was on the ground by the roadside, and on the fence, and then it flew off to the north into the vineyard. The shank of the morning was from about 7:30 to 8:30 after which the birds seemed to move into the vineyard. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 26 Aug 2009 -- I posted nine shots from today [of the HUDSONIAN GODWITS] at Glass Beach, on the [Mendobirds] site. I was able to get within at least three feet, towards the end, so there are some good closeups. Unfortunately, the only really good opportunity to get a shot of wing linings was when a rogue wave came up over the seaweed mounds and the birds flew off, over my head without my being able to get a shot. They circled briefly, then flew north over the cliffs towards Pudding Creek. I never saw them land again. -- Feather Forestwalker
Wed, 26 Aug 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin found 4 HUDSONIAN GODWITS at Glass Beach at the west end of Elm St, Fort Bragg. From the parking area, walk west and take the right fork to the sandy beach. There was a MARBLED GODWIT with the HUGO's on a kelp bed. -- For Dorothy (Toby) Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Tue, 25 Aug 2009 -- This morning I spotted a juv. PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER about 1 1/2 miles north of Ward Ave. There were at least 6 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS further north along the beach, with 4 together. Other birds of interest included a RUDDY TURNSTONE, 13 SNOWY PLOVERS, 3 MARBLED GODWITS and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. The dowitcher was so tame that I walked within six feet of it. Ten Mile beach is the north extension of MacKerricher SP and is located from Ward Ave, Cleone, up to the Ten Mile River. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 24 Aug 2009 -- There was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park late this afternoon. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 24 Aug 2009 -- Brad and Kathy Barnwell while kayaking recently, had a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the exposed mudflats at Rodman Slough along the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road. They then found a BLACK-NECKED STILT on some newly exposed mudflats between Rodman Slough and Nice. These add to a growing list of shorebirds found in Lake County this fall season. -- Jerry White
Mon, 24 Aug 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- There was a female INDIGO BUNTING on and below the fence between to the south pond and adjacent pear orchard at about 9am today. The bird was feeding with House Finches and Savannah Sparrows, alternating between the fence and ground below the Himalaya berries. I was able to view the bird at length, but the group eventually disappeared into the orchard. Other birds out there were the continuing BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on the N pond, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on the sludge pond, and a male PURPLE MARTIN. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 23 Aug 2009 -- [Sunday] morning I checked out Borax Lake. There was an impressive flock of about 125 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 75 LEAST SANDPIPERS, but they were very skittish and I was unable to pick out anything different among them (definitely no larger species). There were also 19 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 23 Aug 2009 -- Today fourteen birders went out from Fort Bragg on the Seahawk on an impromptu pelagic trip to compensate for recent cancellations. It was a moderately rough day, but there were birds to be seen all the five hours. We went out 8-9 miles, and water temperatures were between 51 and 52?F all day.
The low point of the day was followed by the high point: at about 8 miles out a possible petrel was called out. It flew parallel to the port side, and we got looks at it against the sun flying ahead of the boat. No one was very confident of the ID. "Oh, @#$%!," I thought with a sinking feeling. "Finally a Pterodroma in Mendocino waters and no ID." About 15 minutes later it came to light that Dave Nelson, not feeling too well on the stern, had looked up and bagged several photos of the bird which showed it to be a DARK-RUMPED PETREL, probably Hawaiian. (lat/long: N 39.55567, W 123.96586) Which all goes to show that it is still possible to take a random bird photo and come up with a lifer!
A complete list with estimates: Common Loon 1, Black-footed Albatross 57, Northern Fulmar 125, Dark-rumped Petrel 1, Pink-footed Shearwater 30, Sooty Shearwater 30, Ashy Storm-Petrel 2, Brown Pelican 3, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Pelagic Cormorant 13, Red-necked Phalarope 100, Pomarine Jaeger 2, Parasitic Jaeger 1 , Heerman's Gull 6, California Gull 40, Western Gull 20, Sabine's Gull 11, Common Murre 15, Pigeon Guillemot 9, Cassin's Auklet 10, Rhinoceros Auklet 20, Osprey 1 out as far as N 39.48006, W 123.88100, Wandering Tatler 1 Noyo Harbor, Spotted Sandpiper 1 Noyo Harbor, Great Blue Heron 1 Noyo Harbor, Great Egret 2 on kelp, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Northern Fur Seal?, Harbor Seal
Sun, 23 Aug 2009 -- Barbara Dolan, Vishnu, and I were surprised to find two SUMMER TANAGERS at Lake Cleone this morning just before 11AM. As Fred Andrews posted earlier both birds were male, one adult and one first year bird. The younger bird was mostly red, with olive-yellow nape, underparts, and flanks. The adult was seen singing softly as well.
At Virgin Creek beach Barbara found a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER just north of the creek. We followed the bird north to the first rocky area, where we spotted a fresh juvenile RED KNOT in a flock of dowitchers. Thanks to Karen Havlena and David Jensen for their expert help in IDing the knot. -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 23 Aug 2009 -- Today I was with a group of about 20 birders. We saw 2 male SUMMER TANAGERS in a Tan Oak tree along the Lake Cleone Boardwalk trail, MacKerricher State Park. This was at about 11:00 a.m. They were seen adajecent to the asphalt service road. Walk east along the boardwalk from the Lake Cleone parking lot. At the service road, the two tanagers were in the tan oaks to the left (west side of service road. -- Fred Andrews
Sat, 22 Aug 2009 -- In Lake County today I saw two CASPIAN TERNS on the beach at Austin Park, Clearlake. At Borax Lake there was one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER among the other peeps and 8 phalaropes sp. lost in the heat distortion. After being flushed several times by a kestrel, the Baird's ended up on the north shore by itself. In High Valley I was not able to locate a Yellow-billed Magpie - this is the fourth time this year that I have dipped on this species. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 22 Augt2009 -- I met Matthew Matthiessen at Lake Cleone, MacKerricher SP, this morning. After a while of looking, Matthew heard the male SUMMER TANAGER call. The bird called frequently, finally making him easy to locate. He was in his favorite area eating both choke cherries and insects. Matthew got lots of pics of this new MEN bird for him. It was the first time I heard him calling.
The best place to look is on the north side of the lake. From the parking lot, start looking along the boardwalk from the second place where the boardwalk widens (looks like a bench should be there, but isn't). The bird has been seen from there east to where there is a break in the boardwalk. Take the asphalt path north (slightly uphill) about 20-25 yards. On your left will be a small, open area about 20x25 ft. This is the most reliable place. MacKerricher SP is west of Hwy 1 north of Fort Bragg about 4 miles. Turn west on Mill Creek Dr. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 20 Aug 2009 -- Thursday evening a WESTERN WOOD PEWEE showed up in our yard (first time) and spent most of its time feeding a STARLING chick. -- Henri Bensussen
Fri, 21 Aug 2009 -- I just received a call (5:25PM) from a neighbor, Raj Naidu, that he observed the SUMMER TANAGER today from 2:45 to 3:30 PM. He had gone to look for it yesterday when I told him about the bird and didn't see it. He tried again today and found it. He reported that it was in the same location as Monday when found. Check the Monday report for that location. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 19 Aug 2009 -- At Kelsey Creek outlet early this evening there was a MARBLED GODWIT and a flock of 10 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. -- Jerry White
Wed, 19 Aug 2009 -- Hi Birders. This afternoon I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. A juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER started in with the Leasts in the southwest corner of the southern pond, but then flew to the marshy western-most sludge pond, where it continued when I left, an hour later. This is a rather long-billed bird, and is differant than the very short-billed bird I saw last week. Two juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were on both the north and south ponds; the bird on the latter flushed up with a group of Least Sandpipers, then receded back into the thick plant growth. Single juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were also on both the north pond and south pond. Other Peeps included 10 Western Sandpipers on the north pond, and about 100 Least Sandpipers, mostly concentrated in the weeds of the south pond. There were at least 50 Killdeer, mostly on the dry flats of the north pond. Three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were at the east end of the flooded central pond. Also on the central pond were four BLUE-WINGED TEAL, while a single GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a single NORTHERN PINTAIL were with the Mallards on the southern pond. Passerine migrants included ~15 YELLOW WARBLERS, and ~10 SAVANNAH SPARROWS. A VIRGINIA RAIL called briefly from the weeds in the southern pond.
Overall, Peep numbers seemed higher than last week, when I visited last, but most of them were Leasts, and most of those were hiding in the weedy, flooded south pond. The north pond now has two small puddles, one at each end of the pond. The one at the east end is actively being pumped down, but most of the peeps were on the west end.
A brief stop by the pond at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley yielded very few birds; it was quite hot and breezy there this evening. I guess that's about it. -- Matt Brady
Wed, 19 Aug 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Early this morning there was an adult COMMON MOORHEN on the southern-most of the 2 ponds that are located near the UC Hopland Center office area. It is not a stretch to imagine that this is the same individual which has wintered here the past 3 years. Prior to 2006, there had been exactly 2 sightings in more than 50 years of observations. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 18 Aug 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- After all the wonderful birds reported this weekend, I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant oxidation ponds this morning with great expectations. The reality was not equal to my desires. The best bird out there was an early PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Other birds new this fall (for me) were 1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, and 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS at HREC. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 17 Aug 2009 -- Jim and I met Richard Hubacek on the north boardwalk at Lake Cleone, on the coast at MacKerricher SP about 1-pm. We (fairly) quickly found the SUMMER TANAGER on the north boardwalk. This bird is molting, but is close to full adult plumage. (The lower belly has a central patch of yellow, and the tail feathers are splayed out, as if new). Otherwise, the bird is all red. We did NOT find an AM REDSTART (This could be the same bird announced by both Fred Andrews and Jerry White). Barbara Dolan and Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken and Dorothy Tobkin arrived to look for the tanager when we had to leave. Fall vagrant chasing is off to an early start! -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 17 Aug 2009 -- I've uploaded 2 pictures of the SUMMER TANAGER. I heard it call and not knowing what it was went looking for it. The location of the bird where I first saw it (and the last time) is on the north side of Lake Cleone. Take the boardwalk from the parking lot. The boardwalk ends temporarily at some asphalt. Just where the boardwalk starts-up again there is a trail to the left. Go up the trail for about 15-20 yards and there is a small clearing on the left. The Tanager was flycatching in that small clearing. It was also seen from the boardwalk west of the trail. Thank you to the unknown young lady who let me use her cell-phone to call Karen. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 17 Aug 2009 -- Richard Hubacek found an adult male SUMMER TANAGER at Lake Cleone (MacKerricher SP) at approx. 12:30 pm. The bird was just up the dirt trail to the campground/visitor center (north side of lake). This is where the boardwalk is separated by an area of asphalt. I believe there is a pump house nearby. -- Karen Havlena (For Richard Hubacek)
Sun, 16 Aug 2009 -- At about 11:30 am today, I saw what I thought was an AMERICAN REDSTART on the boardwalk at Lake Cleone. This was on the east side of the lake, near where Mill Creek goes under the boardwalk, on the east side of the boardwalk. The bird was in mid canopy of some red alder trees. I did not get a photo. I do not have confirmation from other birders. -- Fred Andrews
Sat, 15 Aug 2009 -- There was an adult male AMERICAN REDSTART [at Lake Cleone] early evening on Saturday August 15th about 30 yards past the end of the boardwalk. -- Jerry White
Sat, 15 Aug 2009 -- For the past few weeks my husband and I have been marveling at and truly enjoying the little male COSTA'S HMMINGBIRD that visits our feeders many times a day. Yesterday I casually asked Matthew Matthiesen how common these are in this area and learned, much to my chagrin, that we have been sitting on an exciting little secret! Matt came over and saw our little friend both last night and this morning, and confirmed his identity. I am trying to recall when we first saw him and know that it has been since July 20th and perhaps a few days before that. I watch for him each morning, starting at first light, and am always thrilled to find him still here.
We have seen a Costa's in our yard in late August, for about 2 weeks each time, the two previous summers as well. It will be interesting to see if he tries to winter over with our Annas or starts a new Costa's trend and has actually been moving between Ukiah and warmer winter climes.
If someone does not have this bird on their list and wishes to try to catch a glimpse, they may call us at 707-462-3339 to find a mutual time to drop by. His pattern seems to be to stop in once an hour or hour and a half. He is able to ignore all the fuss around him and really chow down for a spell then stays away for up to 2 hours. His longest visits seem to be between 6:15 and 7:00 a.m. and just before dark. Unfortunately, that means he is here when the light for photos is truly awful on our deck! We are also blessed this week with a couple dozen Rufous Hummingbirds passing through, which seems to have become this groups twice a year routine. The Hooded Orioles that visited the feeder all summer have not been seen now for just over a week. -- Cherie Foster
Fri, 14 Aug 2009 -- Today at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were five RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on the middle pond. There was also a female RUDDY DUCK with two downy chicks - one of the few breeding records for Mendocino Co. Although there was extensive mud on the north pond, there were only a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS, Least Sandpipers, and one GREATER YELLOWLEGS. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 12 Aug 2009 -- Early this morning Nick Shepherd and I saw the adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in 3/4 alternate plumage at Borax Lake. I suspect it is the same individual seen at Kelsey Creek a few days earlier. Despite searching thoroughly among the usual peeps we did not see George's SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER--which was either somewhere else on the lake or came in after we left (several peeps appeared to arrive while we were there). We also saw 7 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
At Kelsey Creek we saw a juvenile SORA, which is not listed as present for summer according to Jerry's checklist. We wondered whether it hatched locally or arrived recently from elsewhere. Few shorebirds were present. Nick left after we birded Kelsey Creek.
At Rodman's Slough I saw my first WILLOW FLYCATCHER of the season.
At Reclamation Road I climbed the abandoned red machine and scanned several thousand starlings (mostly), blackbirds and crows for a half hour. After spotting several long-tailed false alarms (several kestrels and a mockingbird) I was about ready to give up when I finally saw a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE on a wire well west of the road, where it perched with crows rather than the blackbirds, and then it flew far to the south. Whew!
At Nice I saw a juvenile RING-BILLED GULL, my earliest date for a juvenile in the county.
On Friday the 7th I saw 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 9 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Borax Lake, plus the usual peeps. -- Floyd Hayes
Wed, 12 Aug 2009 -- At Borax Lake in Lake County this afternoon there was a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and, among 40 Leasts and Westerns, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. At Kelsey Creek there was only a few Leasts and Westerns. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- I was on Tenmile Beach today from about 1:40 to 3:30 and did not find the Franklin's Gull. I went south to Inglenook Creek. I did not search the river edges which is a possibility. -- Art Morley
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- I've downloaded a picture of the FRANKLIN GULL that Karen Havlena found this morning just north of Inglenook Creek. [see Mendobirds photo section] The Gull was last seen flying north. Due to fog I couldn't see how far it flew. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- This morning there were three GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES at the Reclamation Rd. wild rice fields east of Upper Lake. The fields are private property, but the grackles were visible from the public road along the east side. To get to the location take the eastern end of Reclamation Rd. to the rice fields and turn left (south). Drive down to the end of the road where there are two sets of double aluminum gates. There are utility poles and wires crossing the rice fields near that location. The grackles were landed on the utility wires near the third pole mixed with crows and blackbirds including a few TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. All of the birds were flying back and forth between the wires and the rice fields which were all recently harvested. A spotting scope would be useful. -- Dave Woodward
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- Hi Birders. This afternoon Maggie MacPherson and I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, to look for some Shorebirds. In the North Pond, we were able to refind the SOLITARY SANDPIPER, as well as a juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. I'm not sure if the SemiSand was a continuing bird or a new bird, but singles (of unspecified age) were reported on the 5th of August and 9th of August, so it could be the same bird. I was able to snap some good photos of the Solitary Sandpiper, and some tolerable photos of the Semipalmated Sandpiper, which I will hopefully be able to upload soon.
Other birds included quite a few LEAST SANDPIPERS, lesser numbers of WESTERN SANDPIPERS (all juvs, as far as I could tell), two GREATER YELLOWLEGS, one SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and a juvenile SNOWY EGRET. One brood of six or so baby RUDDY DUCKS was nice to see. Two or three YELLOW WARBLERS in the oak trees along the western side of the ponds were migrants, I suppose. I guess that's it. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- At least 5 PURPLE MARTINS are along University Road on the west end of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. They have been hanging out in the large diameter, but short, power pole on the south side of the road adjacent to the "Ski Pond" property. They have been there for a while, but I was able to get a good count on them this morning. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- At 9-am, I found an adult FRANKLIN'S GULL on Ten Mile beach, 1/4 mile north of Inglenook Ck mouth. Mid-morning, Richard Hubacek called to tell Jim that he saw the gull and took a couple of photos. The bird flew north towards Ten Mile River mouth.
I quickly completed my SOS survey, which included a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, fos MARBLED GODWIT, and eleven SNOWY PLOVERS, so I could drive over to Ukiah.
At 12:30-pm, I saw the SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the Ukiah STP. It was still in the SW corner of the north pond. It is in fresh plumage, a cool brown with light tan speckling on the edges of the almost all wing feathers. It has been many years since I have seen a SOSA, and this one is lovely.
Now, I am going to scope the north end of Ten Mile beach, to see if I can relocate the Franklin's Gull. Jim said he might walk down to Inglenook Ck tomorrow morning. If it can be refound, I will post again. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I met George Chaniot at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. We found a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the north pond. It seemed attached to the western corner of the pond. George saw a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER on the south pond which we could not refind. There were at least 4 Greater Yellowlegs and moderate numbers of Western and Least Sandpipers. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 -- There was a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in breeding plumage and a WILLET at the outlet of Kelsey Creek this afternoon. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 -- Was sitting in the yard yesterday and saw a bird that my wife and son both identified as a SAY'S PHOEBE according to multiple books. I'm 4 miles east from Mendocino village. -- Jeffrey Osier-Mixon
Sun, 09 Aug 2009 -- I think I saw two VAUX'S SWIFTS flying at dusk above Redwood Valley (Black Bart Trail) this evening. I also saw a SANDERLING at Lake Mendocino last Sunday, August 2. Sorry for the late report. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 09 Aug 2009 -- Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens :The male AMERICAN REDSTART was still near the intersection of the Fern Canyon Trail and the North Trail at 1:45p this afternoon. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 08 Aug 2009 --- This morning there was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, and a heard-only LEAST BITTERN. -- Jerry White
Sat, 08 Aug 2009 --- Geoff and I found a WHITE-FACED IBIS on the south pond of the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. The bird spooked easily but stayed in the plant, flying back and forth between the muddy north and south ponds. We also spotted a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on the north pond, possibly the same bird seen last Wednesday. And lots of LEAST SANDPIPERS on the sludge pond. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 07 Aug 2009 -- I saw my first WILLOW FLYCATCHER of the season on the Eel River near Fish Creek. This is about halfway between Hearst and the Highway 162 bridge at Outlet Creek. The river valey is wider here with extensive gravel deposits with small willows growing in the gravel. The bird was making foraging sallies from a small rock in the middle of the (very low) flow. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 07 Aug 2009 -- Hi all, This morning I scoped the ocean from Little River Headlands for a while. It was very calm. I did see what I was pretty sure was a COOK"S PETREL. At watching it as it flew by, I became convinced that I was looking at a Pterodroma instead of a shearwater, because of the bouncy flight. I am familiar with Manx Shearwaters and their close to the water flight, and even though there was no wind, this bird was still bouncy. At one point I thought I saw a hint of a 'W' pattern on the back as it banked. It was too far away to get anything really convincing, but this weekend might be a good time to scope the ocean.. Not much else was about, I saw one RHINOCEROS AUKLET, only one juvenal COMMON MURRE (with its dad) and a few PIGEON GUILLEMOTS already started on their way north. Oh, and a BLUE WHALE..thanks for sending it north Richard.. -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I ran into Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken this morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. We found a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on the north pond which is presently being drained. There 50-75 peeps between the sludge pond (primarily LEAST SANDPIPERS) and the north oxidation pond (primarily WESTERN SANDPIPERS). Of local interest were 9 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 3 SNOWY EGRETS on the north pond. As with last August, it is feast of famine with the habitat out there, and these conditions are unlikely to last long. All of the water is being drained into the very weedy south pond where visibility is a problem. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 -- Today at Borax Lake there was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. Also at the Kelsey Creek outlet there were 2 LEAST BITTERNS. I heard 1 bird call and saw another one in flight. -- Jerry White
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 -- Today I was doing steelhead surveys in the Main Stem Eel River where Tomki Creek comes in about 2.5 mi downstream from Van Arsdale Dam. I saw and heard a PURPLE MARTIN coming down to the river to drink on the wing. It's the first time I've seen them in the upper Eel since they quit nesting under the Pioneer Bridge some years ago. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 -- Birds of local interest this afternoon at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park included 5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and one GREATER YELLOWLEGS. The number of Least and Western Sandpipers increased to about 40. - Dave Woodward
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 -- Hi all, We went to look for the Wilson's Phalarope at Virgin Creek Beach reported by Trudy Jensen today. We were not successful with that bird, but there was an adult BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek Beach this afternoon. There were also three LESSER YELLOWLEGS and six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and about 10 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERSs among the Western and Least Sandpipers and Killdeer. -- Ron LeValley and Charlene McAllister
Sun, 02 Aug 2009 -- This morning there was one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. I also saw a fly-by adult BALD EAGLE. The SANDERLING was still present on Friday afternoon, but I didn't see it today. -- Dave Woodward
Sat, 01 Aug 2009 -- Around noon today at Borax Lake I saw a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and similar numbers of WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS as last weekend, but no phalaropes or anything else noteworthy. Floyd Hayes
Sat, 01 Aug 2009 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a WILSON'S PHALAROPE and four LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on the north pond. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 -- We have another first summer record for Lake County (in addition to the juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper found by Floyd Hayes at Borax Lake). Dave Woodward on Monday July 27th, found a SANDERLING at Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park. I saw the bird on Wednesday. This is the first record outside of the Fall period (when they are extremely rare in the county). Also on Wednesday I counted 20 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Borax Lake.
Most years in July in Lake County there is very little shorebird habitat exposed. But because of the low lake levels this year there is extensive available and viewable habitat at Borax Lake and at the Kelsey Creek outlet (waterproof boots needed here to cross over to what is for now an island). These are the two best locations for sandpipers usually, but other spots that might turn up something are Lake Pillsbury, Detert Reservoir, Indian Valley Reservoir or other exposed shoreline locations around Clear Lake. -- Jerry White
Thu, 30 Jul 2009 -- One of the RUDDY TURNSTONES remained on Ten Mile beach about 3/4 mile north of Ward Ave when I did my SOS survey Thursday morning. By the new fenced area about 1/2 mile north of Ward Ave, I saw 6 SNOWY PLOVERS. Two of them were banded. The bands were totally different styles, which may indicate that those two birds were banded at separate locations. Two additional SNPLs were way up the beach, north of Inglenook Creek mouth halfway to Ten Mile River mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 29 Jul 2009 --I was able to refind the AMERICAN REDSTART at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. It's location was on the West end of Fern Canyon Trail about 30 yds from the end. The same spot that the Audubon Walk found it on the 15th. I found it at 12:30 PM and again at 2:30 PM. I heard it sing only once but it did call several time. It's call is still the loudest and sharpest of all the calls in the area. It's been there now for at least 19 days. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 28 Jul 2009 -- Three RUDDY TURNSTONES and four SNOWY PLOVERS were on Ten Mile beach this morning, as seen by Jim Havlena. Jim did my SOS survey for me today. The RUTUs were about 3/4 mile north of Ward Ave. and the SNPLs were only about 1/2 mile north of Ward Ave. This area is part of MacKerricher SP and is west of Cleone and Hwy 1 and north four miles to the Ten Mile River. -- For Jim Havlena, Karen Havlena
Mon, 27 Jul 2009 -- At 7:30 this morning at Borax Lake I found 60 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS, 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 28 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 1 WILLET. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 26 Jul 2009 -- Floyd Hayes just called with a number of shorebirds seen in the Clearlake area: At Borax Lake he saw the following expected species 35 Western Sandpipers, 15 Least Sandpipers, and 5 Long-billed Dowitchers. In addition he recorded 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 13 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and the first summer record for the county, a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. At Austin Resort he had a flock of 16 WILLETS flyover. That is easily a new high count for the county. -- Jerry White for Floyd Hayes
Sat, 25 Jul 2009 -- To all; I looked and listened for the male AMERICAN REDSTART in the area Richard writes about for 3 hours on 7-25-09. Up and down "FERN" and "CANYON " to Dahlias , etc. Unfortunately, I did not have a sighting of the bird. But I left at 1:30PM . I did find the WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE nest with the babes being fed; I also saw 3 groups of BROWN CREEPERS IN 3 different areas around, one group with 5 birds. Also WILSONS WARBLER begging to a parent and receiving a niblet. A beautiful place to bird, nice weather. Barbara Dolan
Thu, 23 Jul 2009 -- I found the AMERICAN REDSTART at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens again at approx. 4:00 PM. It's location had changed. It was near the East end of Fern Canyon Trail which connects to the SOUTH Trail. It sang infrequently and I did not hear it call. I have not seen a female and there were no signs of nesting although I had a brief moment of hope because it was in a tree with alot of begging chicks. It turned out to be a Western Wood-Pewee nest. It has a bedraggled look (new picture downloaded) which according to The Birds of North America Online is probably due to molting. This bird has been in this general location for at least 13 days. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 19 July 2009 -- George and Janet Chaniot and I went to Fort Bragg's Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, arriving about 9:10-am just before Toby Tobkin showed up. We all walked along the North Trail, passing through the right-side gate. Watching for alders and listening, we soon heard the male AMERICAN REDSTART. A little pishing brought him out, below the canopy of the alders. We all got many excellent looks, while the bird sang and sang. He began to range around his presumed territory.
Our other goal was to search for the female AMRE, reported on this listserv by Chuck Vaughn two days ago. We kept track of the male as he moved in and around Fern Canyon by the creek and up the south rim near the dahlia garden. The four of us looked carefully for 50 minutes. Toby continued the search for a while longer, when George, Jan and I had to leave at 10:30. She called me at noon. No female AMRE could be located, unfortunately.
Both Toby and myself agreed to try to monitor that area of the botanical gardens during the week for the female and any evidence of breeding activity. -- Karen A Havlena
Sun, 19 Jul 2009 -- This morning at Virgin Creek beach there was a RUDDY TURNSTONE, 4 WHIMBRELS, and about 60 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 17 Jul 2009 -- RUDDY TURNSTONE and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS spotted at MacKerricher - full breeding plumage, but starting to change out. See photos at the group site :) -- Feather Forrestwalker
Fri, 17 Jul 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara Dolan, Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heinecken and I made a very quick trip to the coast this morning to look for the recently reported American Redstart and Red Knot. We met Toby Tobkin at the Botanical Gardens and did find a Redstart near the north trail, but not the singing male. We found a Yellowstart, with visibly worn flight feathers, in that same area. Hmmm...adult female (?)...adult male...breeding??? Our trip to Virgin Creek beach for the Red Knot was for naught; there was not a Knot at that spot. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 17 Jul 2009 -- As of 12:15PM the AMERICAN REDSART was still calling and singing in the same location (see previous postings) at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Toby and her dog were at the spot and she said that it had come so close that her binoculars would not focus. The bird was seen by me both hign in the trees and down near the creek. I have uploaded 2 pictures to the site. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 16 Jul 2009 -- Two non-breeding, adult POMARINE JAEGERS flew out of the fog bank that lay immediately offshore from Ten Mile beach this morning. It was quite foggy at the north end of Ten Mile beach as I began my SOS shorebird survey. Still north of Inglenook Creek mouth, a pocket of sunshine opened up, with the thick fog bank just a few yards out in the breaking waves. The jaegers flew about 15-20 ft above me moving south over the wet sand. Realizing their navigation error, the pair swung around and headed back into the fog and out to sea. Even though it was a brief encounter of less than a minute, they were close providing excellent looks including bulbous, central retrices that were a little over an inch longer than the median and outer retrices and wide, white patches at the base of the primaries.
Other shorebirds included a molting RED KNOT. After discussing the plumage and the fact that the Ten Mile bird had a stiff, right leg creating a hobbling gait when it tried to run, Toby Tobkin and myself agreed that her REKN on the 14th at Virgin Creek beach was a different bird (brighter with no limp). -- Karen A Havlena
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 -- Yesterday evening (7/15) there was a juvenile cowbird (looked like an overgrown sparrow) being fed by a very small gray bird (sorry, don't know what kind) in our backyard. The little bird was dashing back and forth trying to keep the cowbird fed, then they moved on--just here for a few minutes. -- Henri Bensussen Fort Bragg/Harold St.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 -- Hi All, Since I had an 11 AM meeting in Petaluma today I decided to bird Lake Co at dawn and then hustle back to Petaluma. After all Petaluma is about half way there from Oakland. So out of the house by 4:30 and 7 AM found me at Rodman Slough just west of the bridge, but could not find the black bird that I hoped for. I went to plan B which was to park east of the bridge by the green gate at 1830 Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road following George Chaniot's and Jim Lomax's nice directions. I scanned all of the marsh areas, fields and trees seeing lots of black birds such as Crows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Starlings, BH Cowbirds, DC Cormorants, but not the one I was hoping for. Then, at 7:30, a much longer tailed black bird flew from the northeast (perhaps from about where Jim saw it on July 3 on his "death march" in 104 degree temperature) to near where I was standing. I finally had great views of a nice male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. Thank goodness I did not have to go to plan C , D, etc. Since it was only 7:30 there was no need to rush back to Petaluma. I just enjoyed the Rodman Slough area. I parked east of the bridge and watched the White Pelicans, Green Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, DC Cormorants, etc. Just as I was about to leave I noticed a long-tailed black bird in a dead tree straight north across the slough on the east bank. Yup, it was a (the same?) Great-tailed Grackle. A nice morning and when I left at 9 AM it was only 77 degrees. -- John Luther, Oakland
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 -- During the Mendocino Coast Audubon walk this morning (approx. 11:00 AM),Trudy Jensen spotted an Adult Male "Singing" AMERICAN REDSTART. All observers on the walk got good views. It's location was in the West section of the Gardens along the north path about 30 Yards (just a guess!) from the very obvious pump-house. It was moving above the creek to the south. If you look at a map of the Gardens it was located in the West section of the "Red Alders and Riparian Vegetation". Other birds of note were a calling GREATER YELLOWLEGS flying over and about 8 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (also found by Trudy) an apparent first for the Gardens. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 13 Jul 2009(approx.) -- Peter Pyle reported to me (with a photo) an adult male HARLEQUIN DUCK at the end of South Harbor Drive (off Hwy 20) near the Dolphin Isle Marina, This is a public campground/RV park along the Noyo River near Fort Bragg. This is about 1 mile from the mouth of the river. The duck was in the northern of the two dock channels (the one against the cliffs) when he saw it. So , I believe this to be the first Mendocino County record that hasnot been directly along the coastal shore (or nearby in Noyo harbor). Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer [17 July 2009 - Thanks to those who let me know that the drake Harlequin Duck has been around the Noyo Harbor and upper marina for up to 2 years.]
Fri, 10 Jul 2009 -- Perhaps I missed it in the archives, but I don't see that this bird has been previously reported. While on a brief family trip through the area, we stopped by the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg. There I heard and saw a singing, adult male AMERICAN REDSTART in the riparian vegetation in what I guess is called "Fern Canyon". The bird was audible and visible from the "North Trail" west of the property's bottleneck; I also heard it from the "Dahlia Garden" (see the garden's map at http://www.gardenbythesea.org/_ccLib/image/pages/PDF-19.pdf. It was good to be back in the region. I wish I could get there more often... Cheers, Gjon Hazard, Encinitas, San Diego County, CA
Tue, 14 Jul 2009 -- This morning, while doing a Save Our Shorebirds survey, Toby Tobkin found a RED KNOT in a group of 24 Surfbirds. She reports it was molting out of breeding plumage but still had a lot of red on it. It was the same size as the Surfbirds. The group was on the first set of rocks at the north end of the beach. -- Toby Tobkin by Trudy Jensen - ps - Jim and i went to the beach about 12:30 and were not able to find the Red Knot - just 8 Surfbirds, 1 Black Turnstone, a dozen Whimbrels, and a dozen Black Oystercatchers. the waves were washing over a lot of the rocks, so the flock could easily have moved on... Trudy Jensen
Tue, 14 Jul 2009 -- To those interested; The bird was seen 7-10-09 6:30AM. The bird was seen 7-11-09 at 6:20AM and 6:40AM on the Gazebo feeder. Next time seen on same weekend day of 7-11-09 by Karen Havlena, visiting about 3:30PM . On 7-13-09 it was seen at 7:35AM. The bird was not seen on 7-14-Yet. - Barbara Dolan
Sat-Sun, 11-12 July 2009 -- A group of eight of us also birded the high country of the Mendocino National Forest a day behind Matthew Matthiessen and Karen Havlena. On Saturday we followed M1 from the Eel River Ranger Station to Spruce Grove. We spent the night at Spruce Grove, and Sunday morning we continued south on M1 as far as Monkey Rock. Then we backtracked and took M61 and M6 down to Lake Pillsbury and out.
On the way in along the Covelo Road, we stopped at the Dos Rios Bridge and got glimpses of both WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and VAUX'S SWIFTS. At the sandstone bluffs there were two PEREGRINE FALCONS.
One of the most noticeable things of this trip was abundance of CASSIN'S FINCHES. We saw them and heard them singing at numerous locations between Charcoal Ridge and Monkey Rock. With over a decade of visiting this area in summer, I don't think I've ever seen this many. On May 31st this year Chuck Vaughn and I did not see or hear one. We also saw quite a few WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS from Grizzly Flat to the extreme corner of Lake County near where M61 meets M6. DUSKY/HAMMOND'S Flycatchers were evident, and we saw a singing TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE along M1 near Charcoal Ridge and saw another juvenile at Spruce Grove. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES were numerous, and we saw several HERMIT WARBLERS at Spruce Grove.
At Spruce Grove we found the main camping area occupied (a first for me!), so we drove to another very nice site about 200 yards further to the east. At about 9:30 p.m. a FLAMMULATED OWL began calling to the west in the direction of the spongy meadow, and later in the evening another began calling to the east - keeping some of the party from falling asleep!
At Spruce Grove we hit several fantastic mixed flocks of about ten species - one flock seemed to be mobbing something unseen, and the other was pished up. Juveniles of almost every species were found wherever we went.
About 80 species for the whole loop from Ukiah to Ukiah. -- George Chaniot, with Janet Chaniot, Chuck Vaughn, Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heinecken, Roger Foote, Barbara Dolan, and Dave Bengsten
Sun, 12 July 2009 -- 10:38am This morning I watched a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK hunting what appeared to be a family of Oregon Juncos. They were all in a White Oak growing in our yard, here on Dos Rios east of Laytonville. The tree is about 45' tall with many 2'-3' clumps of mistletoe growing in it through-out the canopy. 5 or 6 Juncos were using the "balls" of mistletoe for refuge as the Sharpie would literally crawl in one side and out the other chasing the the OJs from one clump to another. What I found odd was at the same time, there were several Red-Breasted Nuthatches, with at least 3 obvious Juveniles foraging on the main trunk and limbs of the same oak tree. Seemingly unnoticed and never pursued by the predator. After about 5-6 mins the SSH over took a young Junco as it tried to fly 8 or 10' between clumps! I headed east to check-out the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at the Dos-Rios/Hwy 162 bridge as well. Great "fly-byes" Thanks Karen! I don't really have a "Favorite" Bird. But if one develops... The WTS is certainly "in the running". Remember to have Fun! -- Bruce Gullett. Laytonville
Fri-Sat, 10-11 July 2009 -- Matthew Matthiessen and I went on a short camping trip to eastern mountains of MEN County, mainly along route M1 and down Hull Mtn Rd after MEN County birds for me and year birds for both of us.
We started the trip at Dos Rios, where 5 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTs could be seen at once flying below the Hwy 162 bridge, but several more than that number could be heard. We walked the railroad tracks to listen for Canyon Wren, but had no luck with it. (Dragonflies and damselflies were another goal at which we had great success on the Eel River and elsewhere).
Spruce Grove: The most exciting birds of the the trip were 2 FLAMMULATED OWLs that began calling at 9:25 pm, before Matthew had his CD and speaker ready to go. One of the owls was directly above us at the top of a tree, so whatever direction one turned, it seemed that the bird was calling from a different spot. At our campsite in Spruce Grove, 3 CASSIN'S FINCH provided good looks. A HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER also visited the camp.
Sat, 11 July 2009 -- Driving south on M1, we stopped to see NASHVILLE WARBLER, DUSKY FLYCATCHER and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, but missed out on Townsend's Solitaire. The unlikely Black-chinned Sparrow was not to be ours. Mountain Chickadees, warbers: Black-throated Gray, Hermit, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned, plus Lincoln's and Fox Sparrows, as well as many Red-breasted Nuthatches abounded. -- Karen Havlena and Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 10 Jul 2009 -- To all; ROSE=BREASTED GROSBEAK - First seen at my feeder at 7:20PM 7-9-09. Black head and neck extending to the low back and rump which has a generous contrasting generous white area. The edges of this band of white are slightly flecked with black. The tail is all black. Light large bill and contrasting to the black face. Rose red bib which extends with a point into the white chest and abdomen. White patch areas on the black wings. Have not been able to see the underwing yet. Feeding again this morning 7-10-09 on gazebo feeder and saucer feeders-taking the area away from the BLACK HEADED GROSBEAK family which consists of a large number of members with many plumage states(including possibility of the07 and 08 CBC bird). New yard bird . -- Barbara Dolan
Wed, 08 Jul 2009 -- After being excused from jury duty yesterday, I birded around the lake. At the mouth of Rodman Slough I walked out onto the rocks and, about 5 minutes later, a LEAST BITTERN flushed from reeds only about 12 feet from the farthest rock and flew about 75 feet before disappearing into the reeds. I searched the area between Rodman Slough and Robinson Lake for the Great-tailed Grackle for more than 45 minutes before giving up.
Shorebirds are moving through and I'm predicting a stellar migration this fall for Lake County. A flock of 13 LESSER YELLOWLEGS flew over Robinson Lake (water too high for shorebirds). At Borax Lake, where shorebird conditions are ideal (lowest water I've seen since moving here 5 years ago), about 80 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 20 LEAST SANDPIPERS were on the small pools on the former island (now connected to land and accessible by foot). -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 07 July 2009 -- 5:00 - 6:00 PM - There were 4 VAUX'S SWIFTS foraging over the Russian River channel on both sides of the Talmage bridge. I am guessing that they are a family group as there was a difference in wing molt on the birds .possibly adults versus immatures. The birds foraged for the entire hour that I was there .always passing over the bridge . never under the bridge. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 --'s up, Dogs? I went to bed intending on going east, but when the alarm went off at three I changed my mind and chose Plan B and got up at five. Actually Plan B was tomorrow's Plan A but 3 AM is hard these days. Getting old. So off to Lake County to look for George Chaniot's rediscovered bird reported yesterday.
Arrived at Rodman Slough about 1000 hrs and found the green gate at 1830 Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road east of the slough. I parked and as George said, scoped north and northwest from the gate. I found the snags in the direction of the pump house as he described, but they were to hell and gone from where I was. I could barely see a Common Crow sitting on the snags with the heat waves. After 15 minutes and deciding I wasn't going to have George's luck with one appearing in the small window between the green trees to the snags, I looked for a better way. I checked my google map which I had made at home, then headed northeast to Hwy 20. Ruby took me northwest on Hwy 20 to Reclamation Road where we went west. We followed Reclamation Road around to the north and then continued as it curved west again to another gate. Here Reclamation turns north again and the dirt road behind the gate is Edmand's Boulevard (not marked). A couple of years ago, the Prof and I talked to a person there and he told us it would be alright to walk beyond the gate, which has space to go around, and bird. I have no idea who that man was but he was now my source of permission. I walked west on Edmand's Boulevard and turned south which headed me back towards the bridge area even though I knew I could not reach that area. The walk is a mile and a half and it was 104. A truck came by with three men and I braced myself but they asked what bird I was looking for, were very friendly, offered me a ride for the rest of the way (declined), and wished me luck. Felt much better.
The walk south is on Whalen Way (also not marked) and I walked to the south end and turned east on MacKie Road (again not marked). Basically, I walked around the irrigated fields of the Reclamation Area. Once I got to Mackie, I went east about 1-2 tenths of a mile and walked up on the dike. This abuts a finger of the slough which extends east from Rodman Slough. The snags were now 400 yards away and much easier to see. However, during the hour I was there, feeling sick and close to vomiting in the heat (Who forgot the damn water!), the bird was a no-show. By noon, I had to go back hoping I would make it without dropping dead. As I walked back on Mackie, I came upon another pumphouse which I had passed going the other way. I could see that I could walk up on the dike unmolested by weeds, sticker bushes, needles, ticks, etc., unlike the other two places I tried, so I walked up on the dike again. This put me at the entrance of where the finger flows into Rodman Slough. I sat down on a rock to rest and stop the nausea. As I was peering down into the water, I suddenly saw a reflection fly from east to west going by right in front of me and I looked up to get 'Welcome back to the GOP's most qualified candidate, one term mayor, and part term governor from the largest state that knows how to pick 'em, UU in Drag, Maverick Sarah Louise Heath "I can see those commies from my yard" Palin' looks at the beautiful blue black adult male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. Yes! The grackle flew down another fifty feet and perched in the only tree growing on the levee south of the pump house area. I watched it for ten minutes before I left with it still there. The euphoria got me almost back to Ruby before I got sick. Felt better in the air conditioning on the way home.
Thank you George, for finding and reporting it. -- Jim Lomax
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Cheryl Watson, Barbara Dolan and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. Although there is little shorebird habitat, with the exception of the sludge pond, birds are beginning to turn over out there. Most notable today were 2 (m,f) BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a very early SNOWY EGRET, and 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. There were about 6 each of WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. Yesterday, Cheryl and Barbara saw a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. Steve Stump, a very observant plant employee, reported that a WHITE-FACED IBIS was present on Wednesday. It was not refound yesterday or today. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 -- This morning I went to Rodman Slough for my third try for GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, and I succeeded. I set up my scope at the green gate to the east of the bridge at number 1830 and scoped the rice fields and trees to the north. It took about 15 minutes before I saw one sitting in the top of a dead tree to the NW - in line with the pumphouse. The scope was really necessary to pull this one in from public access on dry land. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 28 Jun 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Cheryl Watson, Barbara and I saw 3 adult female WILSON'S PHALAROPES this morning on the sludge pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Sure wish they would start draining some ponds so we could get some mud. There wasn't anything else really noteworthy out there on this hot day! -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 27 Jun 2009 -- This past Saturday 6/26 we were walking along the Eel River in Mendo county just over the hill from Potter Valley when we saw a beautiful yellow bird with a red head. Looked it up in our book and it sounds like a WESTERN TANAGER. -- Stan, Santa Rosa
Fri, 26 Jun 2009 -- Today Linda Angerer and I conducted the Hullville BBS which runs from up on Hull Mtn. in ex. se. Mendocino Co., I believe, south past the west side of Lake Pillsbury in n. Lake County. The route passes through some outstanding chaparral of a kind that does not occur in Humboldt County, mostly because it's loaded with chamise.
A highlight was a singing Bell's [Sage] Sparrow, a form regarding as worthy of individual treatment by Beadle and Rising in their sparrows book. This bird was at a site I did not mark but which was one of the flagged BBS stations. It's a few miles northward of Lake Pillsbury and, while a straightforward drive, takes a long time to get to on the mostly unpaved M1 forest road. If anyone is interested in trying to hear and see this sparrow, which I viewed from the main road, let me know and I can put you in touch with Linda for directions.
We also encountered numerous Blue-gray Gnatcatchers as well as other chaparral birds, including Oak Titmouse. I had California Thrasher at a BBS stop here a couple years ago but not this time. We heard a Poor-will at our camp high on the south shoulder of Hull Mountain the evening of the 25th. From the looks of the habitat, it would seem likely they're scattered throughout that stretch of country. -- David Fix, Bayside, HUM, Calif
Fri, 26 Jun 2009 -- This morning I birded the 'old logging road' along the Eel River from Pioneer Crossing Bridge to beyond Bucknell Creek and into Lake county a ways. I saw several WILSON'S WARBLERS in this area which I don't often see at this time of year. I also saw Orange-crowned Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and eight Yellow-breasted Chats for a total of six warbler species. There was a lot of dipper sign at the riffle just below Trout Creek and the county line riffle just above Bucknell Creek - but no dippers today. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 25 Jun 2009 -- Not sure if this is unusual but it struck me as so... a pair of OAK TITMICE in the courtyard by the tasting room at Handley Cellars in Philo on Thursday 6/25, midday. I don't recall having seen them in the valley. -- Taylor Ellis
Sun, 21 Jun 2009 -- Today I went to the ponds where the COMMON MOORHEN young were seen. I saw one breeding adult foraging across from me. On arrival I flushed the GREEN HERON. Other birds included; SONG SPARROW, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, ,CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, SPOTTED TOWHEE, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BLACK PHOEBE-ONE LOOKING LIKE A FRESH YOUNG BIRD. Surrounding area birds included; ACORN WOODPECKER, TREE SWALLOWS hawking; NUTTALS WOODPECKER; LESSER GOLDFINCHES.
I missed the floating island-it was not moving . No rattlesnake though I was alert due to Karen's report.
At the Bottle brush up by the utility road North of the walk-in to the pond, there were numerous ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, and a beautiful SELAPHORUS MALE that repeatedly tried to enter and feed ,but was being harassed and chased away. Back and out the gate at that North pond there were WESTERN BLUEBIRDS; MOURNING DOVES; CANADA GEESE WITH young, and a lone WESTERN GREBE. 7 COMMON RAVENS came down to drink. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 21 Jun 2009 -- I had not checked my e-mail for a week (vacationing in Yosemite) when I briefly stopped by Rodman Slough yesterday at 10:00 am, so I was unaware of George Chaniot's sighting of a Least Bittern last week. A couple of minutes after clambering up on the rocks I was pleased to see the LEAST BITTERN flush from reeds about 30 feet away, fly about 20 feet farther into the reeds, and disappear. This morning I learned that Doug Weidemann and his father searched for it at noon yesterday--but they were less fortunate. I also searched fruitlessly for a grackle at Rodman Slough.
A CASPIAN TERN was on the beach at Austin Park in Clearlake. At the small park east of Park Street in Lakeport I counted 67 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON nests, up from the 34 nests that Doug and I tallied on May 17. Clear Lake now has large numbers of courting WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, but I could not find any fledglings among them. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 18 June 2009 -- George Chaniot and I met at Mendocino College to look for the two juvenile COMMON MOORHENS at the "rail pond" on the campus of Mendocino College in Ukiah. George confirmed these birds as the first breeding record of COMO in Mendocino County this past Sunday, 14 June. We also were interested in trying to refind a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON that George saw on Sunday.
We had to wait a while to finally see the two young COMO's emerge from the cattails on the east side of the larger pond that is closest to the buildings. They are growing quickly! One of the parents was near the north side of the pond.
There were a few other VERY interesting sightings while we were there. One was the traveling clump of cattails that George mentioned in his previous post on 6/14. There was no breeze at all, but this clump of living cattails, about 4 ft in diameter, moved back and forth over a 8-10 yard area! There must be an animal (maybe the beaver I saw another time) propelling the cattails around the pond - a very puzzling sight to see. Also, we watched dragonflies and snake(s). CAUTION>>>> a WESTERN RATTLESNAKE was by the path at the south side of the pond. It was still cool, so the snake moved slowly across the path and into a low area of gray, granite-type rocks. These rocks are easy to see, so take care in that specific area.
After George had to leave, I stayed on to continue looking for the BCNH. It was not to be found! On the east side of the smaller pond to the south, I got great looks at a slow moving, 4 ft Gopher Snake. I got fairly close to the adult COMO on the north side of the "rail" pond.
Park at the east end of the main parking lot and walk south to the ponds, which are just west of where the entrance road turns north. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 -- I drove over to Rodman Slough on Clear Lake this morning mainly to look for the Great-tailed Grackles reported recently - no luck. I walked south from the bridge and out to the rocks near the picnic table. There were at least 10 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in the reeds to the south. After about ten minutes a LEAST BITTERN appeared in the same reeds, then flew by close and landed about 50 feet away. It was about as good a view as you can get. There was a female GADWALL in the rice field at 'Robinson Lake' , and there were at least four CINNAMON TEAL flying over the rice fields along Reclamation Road - both species listed as extremely rare in summer on the Lake County list. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 -- Our kayaking business is at Dolphin Isle on the Noyo, and we have been watching this HARLEQUIN DUCK over the past 2 years. He is one of the first migratories to appear early in the fall and one of the last to leave in the late spring. We see him almost daily including last night. Lately he has been fraternizing with the mallard drakes. In the winter, he tends to congregate with the buffleheads. He has a very squeaky - "rubber ducky" like voice and a personality of his own. We are glad that you noticed him. He is such a handsome bird. Best of days, -- Cate Hawthorne
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 -- Two days ago another, smaller snake came and ate all the babies. One adult House Wren mobbed it over and over, and a couple of Anna's Hummingbirds also hovered around the scene. The fact that only one adult wren was mobbing the snake makes me think something happened to the other parent as well as the babies.
This morning I opened the nest box, looking for jumping spiders or their egg sacs, and I found the snake still there. At the moment it's torpid and sort of upside down, so I'm not sure of the i.d.
The reason I was looking for jumping spiders is that House Wrens (mostly males) collect jumping spider egg sacs and attach them to the walls of the nest cavity, and the sticks that make up the nest. When the spiderlings hatch they go around gobbling up mites. (At least that's been observed in nests of captive House Wrens). I was trying to figure out what kind of jumping spiders they collect. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 14 Jun 2009 -- Geoff and I saw two ROCK WRENs on the south end of the Lake Mendocino dam this morning. The first was in the lake side rocks side not far from the tower and the second near the rest room. As we headed back, the first wren flew across the dam and south in the direction of the second. A pair maybe? -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 14 Jun 2009 -- I went back to the Mendocino College pond this morning to check on the COMMON MOORHENS, and I quickly found an adult clambering around in the _top_ of the cattails pecking at the newly emerging 'flowers'. It carried something yellow in its bill deep into the cattails. A few minutes later I saw a largish juvenile with a lot of clinging down emerge from the cattails at the east end of the pond. About 15 minutes later I saw two juveniles at the same time. I heard a lot of rail sounds which I have never heard before coming from their vicinity. This is, I believe, the first confirmed nesting in Mendocino County. Oddly, there is a floating island of cattails in the pond which must have drifted 40 feet while I was there. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 -- A single Male Harlequin on the Noyo River June 12, 2009 about 10 AM and again at 5PM. -- Bud Bernard
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 -- Hi All, The WHITE-FACED IBIS continued at the Ukiah sewage plant today (June 12). At 8:30 this morning it was along the southern edge of the second large pond as you look from south to north (southern most pond is almost dry). It was very well hidden in the vegetation at the edge of the pond. Most of the time it was not visible or only its head would stick up above the vegetation. -- John Luther, Oakland
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 -- This evening at sunset I was walking along West Road in Potter Valley south of the cemetery when a nighthawk flew over low heading toward the western hills. It was silent, but I got a good enough look at the position of the white bar and the pointedness of the wings to be sure that it was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK. It's the first of this species that I've seen in Potter Valley since 10 Jun 1984. [not seen the next three evenings] -- George Chaniot
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 -- This morning I did some productive birding along the Lake Pillsbury road, 240B, between Potter Valley and Soda Creek, concentrating on the Lake County side of the line. My goal for the day was to search the grassy area west of Soda Creek for Grasshopper Sparrow, since on May 31 Chuck Vaughn and I found several at a similar area on the Covelo Road. As it was a weekday morning, there was very little traffic until about 10:00, and I had the place almost to myself.
Just about 1/4 mile into Lake County I found a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, a pair of HERMIT WARBLERS, and a HOUSE WREN. The female Hermit Warbler was carrying food. At about mile 36.3 I heard a booming SOOTY GROUSE near where I heard one several years ago. Isn't this late in the season?
I spent about an hour at the grassy hillside. It is located at about mile 32.5 and is called "The Slides" on the Mendocino National Forest map. It also shows as an open area on the DeLorme map p.75, A 4.5. I picked up on a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW before I finished my first thermos of coffee. It appeared briefly on a fence wire on the north side of the road then flew across the road and down the slope a way. Over the next half hour I got two more views downslope. One could be seen singing, and the other seemed to have some food in its craw. These were in the area between the two "Slide Area" signs and near the pi-shaped gate posts at 27282. In the same area there were at least four LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, 3m 1f, visiting some water in a seep along the road and feeding in the weedy grasses upslope - some of which were bloomed-out fiddlenecks. I also had several close passes by GOLDEN EAGLES and one BALD EAGLE flying upcanyon high overhead. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I stopped in at the USTP this afternoon for a quick walk around the ponds. There was a WHITE-FACED IBIS feeding on the edge of the middle pond. It flew to the sludge pond as I approached, and it was still there when I left. About the only other bird of any interest out there is a continuing and very worn BUFFLEHEAD female. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 08 Jun 2009 -- I just wanted to let you know that there has been a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visiting my bird feeder on Ford Street in Ukiah. I saw him visit off and on yesterday (Sunday, June 7) in the early morning and again in the afternoon. -- Lois O'Rourke
Sun, 07 Jun 2009 -- We saw at least 3 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES up the right branch of Rodman Slough near Lakeport on Sunday, 6/7 around noon. -- Mark Bailey
Fri, 05 Jun 2009 -- RED CROSSBILLS are now coming to our feeders in Little River. I've seen at least 2 juveniles. They are very trusting. I've posted two close-up pictures in my Red Crossbill album in the photo section. -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 03 Jun 2009 -- UC Hopland Research andExtension Center - this morning Greg Giusti, Shane Feirer, and I discovered a Rufous-crowned Sparrow nest with 4 unmarked whitish-blue (maybe white as it was hard to tell in the shadows) eggs in it. It was in Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii) habitat with a grass understory of rattlesnake grass, ripgut, dogtail, etc. The site was very well shaded and is on a west aspect old cut on the upper side of a very old dozed-fire trail with the nest tucked into a small pocket on the partially grassed road-cut. The nest is grassed-lined with tightly woven grass, with an overhang which protected the upperside of the bird and nest. The female returned to the nest to brood shortly after being flushed. I believe that this may be Mendocino County's first documented nest - although nesting has been confirmed in the past by observers witnessing adults feeding fledged young. Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Mon, 01 Jun 2009 -- Having some time to kill at Mendocino College this afternoon, I went to the "Rail Pond" to take a look. I was surprised to find a COMMON MOORHEN. I have not seen them there since late March. As I was watching the bird at the east end of the pond, I heard another calling from the cattails on the south side. I presume that these are the same two birds that wintered here. During the 50 minutes that I watched the pond I had a moorhen in view less than 10% of the time. I heard them call about 10 times.
Having two birds in the right habitat at the right time of year is the lowest level evidence of possible nesting. This bears further observation since I don't believe there is a Mendocino breeding record to date. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 31 May 2009 -- Invasion of the Exotics: Eight EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in our Ft. Bragg yard today. They came in with a group of starlings and a pair of house sparrows, plus a pair of mourning doves. -- Henri Bensussen
Sat, 30 May 2009 -- Marisela de Santa Anna reported that on Saturday, 5/30/09, during a bike ride along Reynolds Hwy. in Little Lake Valley, she saw for the first time there, a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES. The exact location was not mentioned. She wondered if Lawrence's Goldfinches had ever been reported from Little Lake Valley or the Willits area before. I don't recall ever hearing of that either. Does anyone know? -- Vishnu
Fri, 29 May 2009 -- Late this afternooon I found a single ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER on the south side of Juan Creek, just east of Highway One. Juan Creek is on Highway One north of Westport, just before the road turns inland. I also saw several PURPLE MARTINS at that location. -- Dave Jensen
Fri, 29 May 2009 -- No Ash-throated Flycatcher was seen during the scheduled bird survey this morning at Pt. Cabrillo. If still there it could have a larger feeding territory than where I saw it. However, there was a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH recorded on the survey, which is also unusual for the coast, and there are no oaks on the Pt. Cabrillo Preserve. The WBNU was seen in the south-east corner of the Preserve in mixed pine and riparian vegetation. -- Art Morley
Thu, 28 May 2009 -- Today at about 3:30 I saw an ASH-THROATED FLYCACHER at Point Cabrillo. It was about 100 yds north of the houses in an area surrounded by wax myrtle and spreading Cypress. It was about 50 feet from breeding bird survey station #12. We will watch for it on the survey tomorrow morning. It could be nesting. -- Art Morely
Thu, 28 May 2009 -- Thursday morning - today I observed a male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH gather salt at the traditional spot from years past along University Road here at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The "traditional spot" is a black-plastic salt feeder for sheep that is on the SE side of the road near a wooden pasture sign that says "Vassar Corner". There are multiple Lesser Goldfinches and House Finches that come in for the salt also. The salt feeders have a large black plastic rain shield over the top of the tubs. Viewers are welcome to stop at the "parking area" near the sign ..watch for the goldfinches at the salt feeder close by (25 feet), or the salt feeder behind the gate (75 feet), or atop the many fences, or bathing at the bird bath near the tank overflow to the SE. Listen for the high "bell-like tinkle" sound of the Lawrence's. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 27 May 2009 -- Hi - A few interesting things. This year I'm seeing a lot more nesting birds, unfortunetly the european sparrows are chasing the new birdbird couple out of the boxes. Some ravens were nesting atop a tall pine tree in our yard(about 3 stories up) on monday morning I found 3 young raven heads , neatly detached and about 3 feet from their intact bodies on the ground below the nest, it appears they were just about to fledge, still with a few pin feathers..they were just dispatched and kicked out there were no signs of them being eaten,etc. I beleive this attack happened at night. I don't hear any more sounds , nor do I see the parents who were regulars here.
I saw 2 young Pileated Woodpeckers that appear to have just left the nest. And , It wasn't the Pileated Woodpeckers in our dead pine tree as I suspected as I see a female and male on our property often, because yesterday I saw a female flicker enter a hole in it.
There are a number of other nesting birds that have returned to the same nests for several years now. Usually we have a number of Pheobes here, but for some reason they are all absent for a few weeks now.( really strange as we usually have so many)
Today I saw some sort of raptor type bird Ive never seen in this are area before, it had long ,narrow wings, and was very light colored,top and undersides with white/grey with some black perhaps, but it definetly was not a kite or the usual hawks around here. I wasnt able to grab my binocs before it flew off. It wasnt making any sounds. Curious if anyone has any ideas on that. -- Lynne- Road D redwood valley
Tue, 26 May 2009 - Tuesday - Two Grasshopper Sparrows were seen at the traditional site on the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. 1 was a singing male. We are certain that nesting is occurring (as it has in prior years). This site in NOT open to the public .but limited viewing can be arranged. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 25 May 2009 -- Larry Siemens spotted a TUFTED PUFFIN near Goat Rock, Mendocino Headlands SP on Memorial Day. The group he was with birded there early in the weekend, but did not see the TUPU until Monday. -From Hwy 1 near Mendocino village, take Lansing St intersection (north side of Mendocino), and turn west on Heeser St and park at the NW parking area. Goat Rock is the large, grass-covered rock that would be the most due north. Scope the water in this area. A pair bred here last year, so this could be one of the same adults. -- Kaen Havlena [For Larry Siemens]
Mon, 25 May 2009 -- Today, I helped Bob Keiffer run his Breeding Bird Survey on Branscomb Rd, from Laytonville to Hwy 1. Our most surprising bird was a NASHVILLE WARBLER found by Bob west of Branscomb. Quite a few HERMIT, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, WILSON'S and
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were at many stops. One of the WILSON'S stumped us for a couple of minutes until we could actually see it, because its song was so rapid - a Wilson's on speed. We also had PURPLE MARTINS and a GREEN HERON near the western end of the route.
Jim joined us for the rest of the day. We tried for Marbled Murrelets at Juan Creek without success. (There have not been any MAMU there
for months). Then, we traveled back east on Branscomb Rd, then north on Wilderness Lodge Rd to the Angelo Coast Range Reserve, where we met Peter Steel. We found two to three old NORTHERN GOSHAWK nests, but no NOGOs.
Continuing east, we drove Dos Rios Rd its12 miles from Laytonville to the Hwy 162 bridge. There we saw 3+ WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. We then walked the old railroad tracks between Dos Rios and the Eel River to listen for Canyon Wren but had no luck with it. So, back to Laytonville we went to end our fun day. -- Karen Havlena (Bob Keiffer and Jim Havlena, too)
Sun, 24 May 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I met Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning for some birding. There wasn't a lot of activity, but we did see a couple of nice birds. There were 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS which were quite active, visiting any spot with shallow water. On the north pond we saw a pair (m,f) of BLUE-WINGED TEAL among the mallards. They had moved to the middle pond by the time we left. It was nice to hear the SWAINSON'S THRUSHES singing along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 18 May 2009 -- The last few days have brought the most magnificent display of BROWN PELICANS my wife and I have seen since moving to Albion in 2005. Notwithstanding "duplicates" in my observations, my estimate is based on counting formations which varied from one or two individuals up to 52 in one group - usually in groups of 20-30. I estimate that on Sunday afternoon, May 17, groups totaling 300-500 Brown Pelicans the shoreline of Salmon Creek cove and then headed north. Today, we are also seeing a consistent series of fly-bys and then they head north. BTW - would someone educate me and let me know what the correct term is for a "group" of pelicans? My Googled results include pod, squadron, flock, scoop... Thank you! -- Howard Guyer
Sun, 17 May 2009 -- Location: Offshore Waters (Mendocino Co.). Notes: Pelagic Trip out of Fort Bragg (with Mendocino Coast Audubon Society) Other Species seen: 3 Humpback Whales, 10 California Sea Lions, 2 Harbor Seals, 1 Gray Whale, 6 Pacific White-sided Dolphin, and 5 Harbor Porpoise
Number of species: 38
Brant (Black) 45, Surf Scoter 12, Pacific Loon 825, Common Loon 20, Western Grebe 34, Black-footed Albatross 200, Northern Fulmar 16, Pink-footed Shearwater 170, Sooty Shearwater 325, Ashy Storm-Petrel 2, storm-petrel sp. 1, Brown Pelican 98, Brandt's Cormorant 27, Pelagic Cormorant 38, White-faced Ibis 16, Osprey 2, Black-bellied Plover 1, Red-necked Phalarope 177, Red Phalarope 1, Sabine's Gull 125, Bonaparte's Gull 60, Heermann's Gull 2, Western Gull 255, California Gull 181, Glaucous-winged Gull 15, Common Tern 7, Elegant Tern 2, Pomarine Jaeger 2, Parasitic Jaeger 2, Common Murre 425, Pigeon Guillemot 17, Rhinoceros Auklet 16, Mourning Dove 1, Purple Martin 3, Cliff Swallow 2, European Starling 2, Song Sparrow 2, White-crowned Sparrow 2 -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 17 May 2009 -- Today Barbara Dolan, Bruce Gove, Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heinecken, and I birded along the Eel River near Potter Valley from the Pioneer Crossing Bridge to Trout Creek. We saw many of the species seen on 9 May including 7 warbler species. Several MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, at least one HERMIT WARBLER, and several YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 14 May 2009 -- Inspired by MasterBirder Steve Glover's report, I got up to Hopland about 0730 hrs. Over the last few years I have looked for this goldfinch either here or on Burris Lane in Potter Valley and every year I have missed it. Today was no exception. None around the Hopland Research area.
I drove back into Ukiah to the Water Treatment Plant, signed in, and hiked out to the ponds. It's hampered and a little sign tells you which way to go due to over a years worth of construction. I walked over to the western most pond, set by itself, and checked the shoreline. Immediately got "sharing a hot tub with Alexandra Cymboliak Zuck" looks at a beautiful SOLITARY SANDPIPER. A very nice surprise. Nothing else of note, unless you like to look at Mallards in the other ponds, two of which had too much water for shorebirds, and the other, the southeastern most one, was almost dry. A couple of puddles had six Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, and a Semipalmated Plover. (Alexandra? You remember her. Probably you knew her as Sandra Dee. Google it if your that young.)
Headed north then, to mm 103. I needed the swifts Steve and Frances saw. All roads in this county were designed by the health industry, namely, the pharmaceutical companies. People who drive these roads use a lot of hydrochlorothiazide pills. To keep their blood pressure down. Anyway, by mid-day, I arrived to find...no swifts. Only Violet- green, Cliff, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. I climbed the hill for a better view again wasting my time.
Then I drove out Hwy 162, to Dos Rios, to look for reported-over-the- years Canyon Wrens. Couldn't find any, but, while checking the rocks in the canyon below the bridge by Dos Rios, there was a WHITE- THROATED SWIFT flying around with the swallows. Felt a little better.
In planning the day, I was going to go out to Fort Bragg as well, but there just isn't enough time. It's 103 miles to mile marker 103 when you enter the county and it takes forever. So now I figured I'd check Burris Lane on my way home. Upon arrival at 1715 hrs, I drove to the east end and sat there. No goldfinches in sight. I called Steve. He told me to look around the Fiddleneck across from the pullout at the top of the rise just before the end of the road. I parked at the pullout and walked to the fence on the north side, which is uphill, and once at the fence, I had to look downhill on the other side finally finding the Fiddleneck buried in the grasses. While I was looking, I suddenly had "we don't have to drive it, we can park it out in back, and have a wild party in my Pink Cadillac... Pink Cadillac" looks at a gorgeous male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. AT LAST! It was sweeter than finding a 500 dollar bill, sweeter than keeping my right arm, sweeter than sharing a hot tub with Alexandra... Well...not that sweet. -- Jim Lomax
Wed, 13 May 2009 -- At 11:30 AM, I heard and observed 12 RED CROSSBILLS flying from the Pygmy Forest over Little River Airport Rd. to the "Wood's" Senior Park. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 10 May 2009 -- In Mendocino County we noticed a flock of swifts over the Eel River at the bridge near mile 103. We backtracked to a pullout on the southbound side just before the bridge (quite possibly not legal). Amongst a flock of VAUX'S SWIFTS were at least 3 and probably more WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS, a county bird for both of us. Finally, at about 5:30 we saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES in the amsinckia just before the end of Burris Lane. Good birding! -- Steve Glover, Dublin and Francis Oliver, Lodi
Sun, 10 May 2009 -- At least 3 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were at the end of Burris Lane this afternoon from about 3:30-4:30. They tend to disappear deep into the patch of fiddlenecks and may still be present when not seen. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 10 May 2009 -- Neither Red Knot nor Ruddy Turnstone could be found at Virgin Creek beach late morning. Four LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, sixteen DUNLIN, four Semi-palmated Plovers, several Western Sands, and numerous Whimbrels were about. At Ten Mile river mouth, there were three LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and two Spotted Sandpipers. On Ocean Meadows Cir, our tan stripe WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is still with us. Its molt appears to be complete, so it may not hang around much longer. May 10th should be a pretty late date for MEN. (Humboldt Co. has records to very, late May, etc). -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Sat, 09 May 2009 -- The Peregrine Audubon field trip to Potter Valley and the Eel River took place Saturday. Among the more interesting finds were a displaying YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT near the old bridge on Potter Valley Road, an AMERICAN DIPPER at the rapids at milepost 0.97 on Potter Valley Road, multiple MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS and HERMIT WARBLERS along the Eel River between Pioneer Crossing Bridge and Trout Creek Campground, and at least 6 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at the end of Burris Lane (seen in mid-afternoon, but not in mid-morning). A full list can be seen at the Peregrine website -- George Chaniot
Fri, 08 May 2009 -- Early afternoon, I saw a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD west of Hwy 1, Inglenook, near mm 66.50, just south of Little Valley Rd. Late morning, I had seen a mystery bird there, so I went back to see if it was around. (The bird, reminiscent of a female Phainopepla, flew in a flight pattern characteristic of PHAI towards Inglenook Fen). The YHBL also flew towards Inglenook Fen, sort of inticed by a few Brewer's Blackbirds). Barn Swallows were also flying about the area. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 08 May 2009 -- This evening from 6:45-7:05 the LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were back at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley as described in the last post. This time there were two females and one male on the fence and in the orange fiddlenecks. When they land in the fiddlenecks, they disappear from sight and could be overlooked. A male was singing on the fence only about 25 feet from my car window; I don't think I have ever heard the song as well. It's a sweet, complex warble with some mimicry thrown in. I hope we can find them on tomorrow's field trip. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 08 May 2009 -- Late morning, Toby Tobkin, myself, and Dave Jensen saw an undeniably different RED KNOT at Virgin Creek beach, north on the main beach but a little south of the first bluff. Two RUDDY TURNSTONES were nearby. One LONG-BILLED CURLEW was a short distance north of the REKN with several Whimbrels. This REKN was just coming into breeding plumage. The throat, upper breast and the sides had light orange, splotchy coloring, unlike George's description of yesterday's very brightly colored knot. At Laguna Point, there were two BONAPARTE'S GULLS found by D A Jensen. Caspian Terns and Red-necked Phalaropes are on the move, as well along the coast. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 07 May 2009 -- Chuck Vaughn and I birded along the coast this afternoon working on our year lists. The most interesting finds were a RED KNOT in high breeding plumage, two LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, and a RUDDY TURNSTONE - all among other migrants at Vir gin Creek Beach in the late afternoon. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 06 May 2009 -- Hi Birders. I had a few unusual migrants at my parent's place in Potter Valley (Mendocino County) today. Perhaps of most interest (to me) was an adult male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD that tried to share the single Hummingbird feeder with about a dozen Anna's and at least three Rufous Hummingbirds. Also quite interesting was a pair of PURPLE MARTINS that buzzed by while I happened to be out on the deck. The PUMAs were new for me for the inland portions of the County (and my yard, of course). Actually, today was quite a good day for migrant Swallows in general, with a dozen or so Cliff Swallows, two Northern Rough-winged Swallows and several Violet-green Swallows during the same twenty or so minutes that I noticed the Martins in. In the Raptor department, I was excited to see a pair of BALD EAGLES soaring high over the valley, headed in the general direction of the pond at the end of Burris Lane. I've seen them from the property several times during winters past, but these were the first Bald Eagles I have seen during the breeding season in Potter Valley. Also interesting were a dozen or so Turkey Vultures that suddenly appeared low over our house; judging by their sudden appearance and disappearance, I suspect that they were migrants.
At the end of Burris Lane at about 5:30 this afternoon, I did not see any Lawrence's Goldfinches, but most of the expected migrants were in (Western Kingbird, Lark Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, etc), and I saw another 50 or so Cliff Swallows and a half dozen or so Violet-green Swallows moving past. Also nice to see was a close adult Golden Eagle.
Finally, this evening in Ukiah I noted 250 or more VAUX'S SWIFTS crusing fairly low over the County Courthouse. -- Matt Brady
Tue, 05 May 2009 -- At 8:30ish CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at our feeder with the evening frenzy of Anna's and a male and female Rufous. It was so miniature compared to the Anna's. -- Kelly Austin
Tue, 05 May 2009 -- We have had an adult male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK coming to feed both at our yard and the south yard (with feeders) in Ocean Meadows Circle, 1/2 mi north of Ten Mile River for three days. Also, the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is still coming to the seed as of today, 5 May. Alas, I have NOT seen any of the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS for at least one + week. As I recall, the TRBL's left briefly from the pond across Hwy 1 last year, so hopefully they will return shortly to our area. --Karen Havlena
Tue, 05 May 2009 -- This evening at 6:30 I saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES along the road above the pond on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. There is a patch of orange fiddlenecks beyond the fence on the north side of the road which they were visiting along with some Lesser Goldfinches. They also landed on the fence. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 05 May 2009 -- This morning we briefly had a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in the front yard. -- Tim Bray, Middle Ridge, Albion
Mon, 04 May 2009 -- I first saw EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Mendocino County July 24, 2004 Mendobirds message 963 at which time I posed the question "How long before they appear in my yard?" Well, the answer is four years, nine months, and ten days. A pair landed on the fence outside my study window and eyed the feeding area for a while before going to the ground and feeding. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 03 May 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I got out this morning to the USTP in between these May rains. We met Geoff and Cheryl and Barbara Dolan. There had certainly been a turnover in shorebirds since last Wednesday. The big surprise was a group of at least 200 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, in various stages of alternate plumage, on the N pond. I do not recall ever seeing that many birds inland before. My personal previous high count inland was 33 birds at USTP in April, 1995. Other birds of local interest were 15 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 15 DUNLIN, and a single LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. The Avocets and the Wilson's Phalarope were not to be seen, however the latter could easily have been invisible in the mass of Red-necked Phalaropes. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 02 May 2009 -- Hi All, Today a flock of over 100 BROWN PELICANS was seen by Cheryl Faconti flying over Gualala Point Island headed north. They were followed by several smaller flocks. As she put it, "So magnificent!" -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Sat, 02 May 2009 -- S Dora in Oak knoll area of Ukiah: We have had a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES doing major courting behavior for over a week, and our first BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK of the spring showed up at the feeder this morning. -- Janet Rosen
Sat, 02 May 2009 -- I checked for the AMERICAN DIPPER again today and saw one fly by in the same area. The recent rains have erased from the rocks most of the sign which was apparent yesterday. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 01 May 2009 -- I watched five EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES here in Laytonville valley this evening at 6:15 pm feeding in a horse pasture with 8-10 California Quail and a small flock of Brewer's Blackbirds. I was able to watch them for about 10 minutes before they were "spooked" along with the quail and blackbirds by some one coming out of a house to tend the horses. The location was/is 44700 Tolen Ave. Access is west at the Laytonville Auto Parts store, across from the Cheveron station in Downtown Laytonville. Take the second left just past a large two story building. Then, it's the second house on the right. Yesterday 4/30 I saw what I thought was a Collared-Dove fly over hwy 101 approx. 4 miles south of Laytonville at the Shamrock Ranch. (Where the Elk hang out on the east side of the hwy) But was unable to make a good ID. -- Bruce Gullett
Fri, 01 May 2009 -- Today I found an AMERICAN DIPPER, perhaps two, at the 'quarry' area along Potter Valley Road at about milepost 0.97. There is quite a bit of fresh dipper sign downstream as far as the parking area at milepost 0.75. I saw a dipper carrying food upstream from the rapids, and I suspect that there is a nest in that vicinity. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 01 May 2009 -- I have been marking the calendar each day for some time to write that we still have a tan-stripe WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW coming to our front yard to feed near the driveway on Ocean Meadows Circle, north of the Ten Mile R. bridge. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Fri, 01 May 2009 -- A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was heard by Toby Tobkin at the Botanical Gardens this morning. The Chat was along the south boundary fence by the large "Events" lawn area. The Gardens are west of Hwy 1, about 1/2 mile south of Hwy 20 and Hwy 1. There is a fee to enter if one is not a member. Of note, Toby said theYBCH is a new addition to the MC Bot. Garden's Bird Checklist. -- (for) Dorothy Tobkin.
Fri, 01 May 2009 -- I went back to USTP again today. There was a turnover in the shorebirds: 1 SEMIPALMATED SANFPIPER, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 39 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 DUNLIN in beeding plumage, 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in breeding plumage, and 2 WILSON'S SNIPES. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 30 Apr 2009 -- I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning to look for the Wilson's Phalarope seen yesterday, but I did not find it. Other shorebirds present were 6 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 8 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 2 WILSON'S SNIPES. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were singing strong from the riparian. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 29 Apr 2009 -- Rich Hubacek found a WILSON'S PHALAROPE on the north pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant late this morning. The bird is between distinctive plumages. When we snuck up to get a better look it flew across the pond, revealing a Wilson's white rump and unmarked wings. -- Cheryl Watson
Mon, 22 Apr 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirder- This morning I saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES feeding on fiddleneck above the office area at HREC. Maybe this year these irruptive birds will stick around to breed here again. We didn't see a single individual here in 2008. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 26 Apr 2009 -- I had a BARRED OWL of the darker variety tonight about 7:30 PM at my neighbor's property. I went back to get my family to show them and it had moved on. It may be resident there, as the property consists of 11 acres of fairly mature woods. If anyone wishes to try their luck with me tomorrow evening, I'll be happy to accompany them. Please give me a call or email me if so. I have my neighbor's permission as long as people are with me. Good birding. -- Mike Curry (707) 456-1032
Sat, 25 Apr 2009 -- A pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES visited our backyard Thursday, in Ft. Bragg. -- Henrietta Bensussen
Fri, 24 Apr 2009 -- Today I visited Timber Lake at approx. 5080 ft. elev. on the southern slope of Snow Mtn in northern Lake County. The lake would better be described as a small tule pond. There were at least 4 male and 5 female Red-winged Blackbirds in the tules around the lake. Bryan McIntosh confirmed nesting by Red-winged Blackbirds at Timber Lake in 1994. I did not observe any behaviors to confirm nesting, but their continued presence suggests the possibility that they are long-term breeders at the lake. Earlier this month on 4/5/09 I visited a small lake that has no official name at the low (west) end of the slides in the Blue Slides area near Snow Mtn. It is ringed by Ponderosa Pines, Douglas-Firs and live oaks and is in the drainage from the the southern slope of Snow Mtn. at approx. 3500 ft. elev. There were two male Wood Ducks and also one male and two female Mallards on the lake at that time.--Dave Woodward
Thu, 23 Apr 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I met Dave Bengston and Cheryl Watson at the USTP oxidation ponds this morning. Things were pretty much as Karen described from yesterday except that there were 5 AMERICAN AVOCETS, and 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. The real surprise was a pair of MUTE SWANS on the north pond. Floating languidly among their smaller cousins, they appeared so huge and elegant. For a brief moment we thought we heard strains of "Dance of the Swans" echoing through the sludge digestors...NOT!--Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 22 Apr 2009 -- On 4/8/09 an imm. male HOODED ORIOLE visited our feeders in southwest Lakeport and stayed until 4/11. This evening 4/22/09 there were two imm. male Hooded Orioles at our feeders, both visiting together on several occasions. I suspect both of the orioles we saw today are new to the location. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 22 April 2009 -- This AM I birded the USTP in Ukiah. I had an early arrival of YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT along the Russian River at the east boundary of the water treatment plant. I pished twice and the bird popped out of the willows to perch on the barbed wire just a few yards away. Two AMERICAN AVOCET were at the most north pond. Interesting behavior: For no apparent reason, other than possibly territorial, one of the Avocets stretched out its neck parallel to the ground, called and chased a female Mallard a few yards. The duck
flapped out into the water. (George Chaniot told me that several years ago, that a pair of Avocets had a nest, with eggs, at USTP that failed only because of rising water levels).
Other birds at USTP were: 1 m. LESSER SCAUP; a pair of GREATER SCAUP; 2 pair CINNAMON TEAL; 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 WILSON'S SNIPE, Lst +Western Sandpipers;Yellow, Wilson's and Org-crowned Warblers, and other
waterfowl (NSHO, RNDU, RUDU, CAGO).
At Lake Mendocino, I watched a ROCK WREN sing near the parking lot by the Coyote Dam. It sang a variety of phrases! There was a HOODED ORIOLE on Cromwell Dr. I also checked the palms on Empire Dr but didn't see any HOOR. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 18 April 2009 -- With the weather warming there was lots of human activity on the lake ...skiers, kayakers, fishermen, etc. by late morning. However, I was able to spot a mature and immature BALD EAGLE on the east side, along with a single BONAPARTE'S GULL. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 -- Hello - This morning I had 6 swallow species (well, 5 + martin) while standing in one spot (for less than 20 minutes) on the bridge over the Gualala River. There were at least 10 PURPLE MARTINS present. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Fri, 17 April 2009 -- This morning at both Noyo R. and Ten Mile R. bridges, a few pair of PURPLE MARTIN just arrived early this morning. I looked briefly for the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at the MC Botanical Gardens but did not see it. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were five AMERICAN AVOCETS on the south pond. The water is falling in all ponds. The middle pond is mostly puddled mud now, and the is mud appearing in the north and south ponds as well. This should pull down some passing shorebirds. This morning there were 11 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 5 WILSON'S SNIPES. A group of 6 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS (2m, 4f) flew over the sludge pond, landed in a nearby tree for a few minutes, and then flew off far to the SE. This species has been increasing in Mendocino Co. in the last five years. I am trying to keep track of this, and I would appreciate any observations. Lake Mendocino had very few birds on it today, but the following were of interest: 6 BONAPARTE'S GULLS between the mesa and the boat-in campground, a COMMON LOON in the same area, a ROCK WREN singing on Coyote Dam, and a 2nd year BALD EAGLE near Deer Camp. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 -- My wife and I have spotted what we believe to be an EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE pair roosting in a red wood tree in south Ukiah. We have never seen this bird before in this area. They have been around for a couple of weeks. Sibley's says not in this area. Are they common to this area??? Thanks -- Bill Leair
Thu, 16 Apr 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Late this afternoon Barbara showed me a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD which visited our feeders twice during a 30-minute watch. I will let you know if it sticks around. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 15 Apr 2009 -- This morning, the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was seen by Toby Tobkin and 3 other birders. It perched on a couple of windswept pine "trees" (and on a driftwood log along the bluff) and made hunting forays. The wind has abated a bit and perhaps it was fueling up for its departure. -- Trudy Jensen
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 -- Heavy winds brought some rare visitors to Big River on Tuesday: at least 25 CASPIAN TERNS were observed just upstream from the Haul Road Gate while a few others were observed as far upstream as 1.67 miles. Also observed were a small flock (12-14) of dark geese, likely BRANT. Last Friday morning, a pair of GREATER YELLOWLEGS shared the flat across from the boat launch ramp with 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS. -- Matt Coleman
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 -- Taking a tip from Jim Lomax, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/countybirders/message/4160, I went back to Riviera West Drive on the side of Mount Konocti, parked at the end of Mountain Crest Drive, and made my way uphill to the Mount Konocti cliffs. This is serious, blind, bushwhacking, and it took about a half hour to go about a quarter mile up the steep slope. I spent about another forty minutes working west along the base of the cliffs, and finally heard, but never saw, a CANYON WREN. It was about 50 yards beyond the pink flagging. No White-throated Swifts today.
On the drive back along Soda Bay Road I saw a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES near Stone Road, and at Lakeside Park I independently discovered the SNOW GOOSE and ROSS'S GOOSE that I see Floyd Hayes reported
yesterday. -- George Chaniot
[ The Snow Goose and Ross's Goose that frequented the Esplanade and C St. area in Lakeport were found in late November by Jamie Scott. They occasionally joined a flock of park ducks and domesticated geese that are fed by a property owner nearby. Canada Geese, as many as nine Cackling Geese and one Greater-white-fronted Goose also joined the group on occasion. On one date (Dec. 5, 2008), there were two Snow Geese and the one Ross's Goose present at the same time. One Snow Goose and the Ross's Goose were frequently seen through January, but their visits to the C St. domesticated flock became less frequent. We began to see them fly by in a flock of Canada Geese. They were generally flying either along the west shore of Clear Lake or in a direction toward or away from the City of Lakeport sewer treatment lake at the end of Linda Lane (SW of Lakeport). That area is used by Canada Geese for grazing. On Jan. 20 and 21, 2009, I saw the flock of Canada Geese, the Snow Goose and Ross's Goose fly in front of my house (they are yard birds now) heading toward the sewer treatment lake area. The geese continued to frequent the Esplanade area on occasion into March. As far as I know they have not been seen in the area since. I have not seen the geese at Lakeside Park, but it seems likely they are the same geese that frequented the west shore of Clear Lake earlier in the year. -- Dave Woodward]
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 -- We've had flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS passing through this past week, in our back yard in Fort Bragg. Lots of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and some PINE SISKINS too. -- Henrietta Bensussen
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 -- Flocks of CASPIAN TERNS, about a dozen at a time, are flying north over the west end of Middle Ridge in Albion this afternoon/evening. Also, yesterday we had a bright male WILSON'S WARBLER, first one I've seen on this property. Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Sun, 12 Apr 2009 -- Today I birded around Clear Lake with Don and Doug Weidemann. We tallied several late winter birds, including a 1st-cycle THAYER'S GULL and four HORNED GREBES at Clearlake, two more HORNED GREBES at Clearlake Park, a 1st-cycle WESTERN GULL at Nice, and a SNOW GOOSE and a ROSS'S GOOSE at Lakeside County Park. We also saw four male and two female CINNAMON TEAL at Robinson Lake. At Corinthian Bay (just west of Lakeside County Park) we counted 57 active GREAT BLUE HERON nests, which can be viewed from St. Francis Drive and Elizabeth Drive. At Nice we were entertained by a EUROPEAN STARLING pilfering nesting material from an active OSPREY nest. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 12 Apr 2009 -- As I was coming across Hwy 20 I saw a flock of around a dozen WHITE PELICANS circling.I don't know what this area is called, it's between Upper Lake and Blue Lakes, the NW corner of Clearlake where it is flooded at high water and diked fields at low water. -- Becky Stenberg
Sun, 12 Apr 2009 -- Easter Sunday - in late afternoon I came across a flock of about 100 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS and was surprised to get my binocs on an apparent leucistic Band-tail. The entire bird was about the cream color of a Eurasian Collared-Dove ..but it was definitely a wild Band-tailed Pigeon. That was here as the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center ..but these pigeons will be moving on ( to where?) very soon ..so keep an eye out. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 12 Apr, 2009 -- While in search of the Blue-winged Teals reported by David Jensen yesterday I found myself out on the Garcia River overlook by the lighthouse. Just north of the river's mouth were approx. 200 BRANT resting(?)on shore. It might be a local stop because another 16 flew in while I was watching.
The BLUE-WINGED TEAL and CINNAMON TEALs were still in the pond where David found them as of noon today. In a conversation with Karen Havlena, she said that the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was still at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens as of today. See past postings for information on location. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 -- Bob -- Note the BRANT resting near Gualala. Also, I have tried for Purple Martins at several local bridges in the last two days - NO luck. We have a pair of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS that returned today across the street today (they breed on the face of the bluff). In our yard, we still have our Tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and about four TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS (I have informed George). -- Karen A Havlena
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 -- Highlights of this morning's Mendo Coast Audubon Society field trip at The Sea Ranch included many alternate plumage COMMON LOONS and PACIFIC LOONS flying north; many BRANT resting close to shore; a few CASPIAN TERN flying north; singing WILSON'S WARBLERS, ORAMGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS; many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, several BARN SWALLOWS and a few TREE SWALLOWS (no Cliffs).
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 -- This afternoon at the Stornetta Ranch on Highway One, north of Point Arena: on the small pond (flooded area) east of the highway just north of the Garcia River, there were 5 male and 2 female CINNAMON TEAL as well as a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Oh ya- and a couple of Mallards. -- Dave Jensen
Fri, 10 Apr 2009 -- The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was still present despite 4 deer and 12 ravens in the yard, plus a brisk wind blowing. It was at the top of a scrubby, shore pine next to the boundary fence. I managed to get quite close, standing next to a thorny shrub. The shrike began to give its buzzy, short call 8+ times. It was silent for a minute, then it gave a one-note call, metallic and clear like a Cal Towhee. After 6 to 8 of the one-note call, it waited about 30 seconds, then began a two-note "song." The quality was similar to the one-note call, but with two notes together followed by a short pause. (I have heard the buzzy call many times but not the song). [Note: The reason one must look for the shrike from the botanical gardens is that small neighborhood has a locked gate to a private road, thus preventing entrance. The gardens has a small entrance fee if you are not a member. It is located on the west side of Hwy 1 in S Fort Bragg, south of Hwy 20.] -- Karen A Havlena
Fri,10 Apr 2009 -- At the MC Botanical Gardens and at Ten Mile R. bridge area, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and WILSON'S WARBLERS, plus PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS. Lingering winter birds include VARIED THRUSH and many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.-- Karen Havlena
Thu, 09 Apr 2009 -- This morning in the drizzle the two BLACK-NECKED STILTS and one AMERICAN AVOCET continued at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant on the mud that is appearing in the middle pond. Also present were a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and three CINNAMON TEALS. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 09 Apr 2009 -- The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE perched atop the chimney of the light, grayish beige house adjacent to the SW corner of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens today around noon. The rain showers don't seem to bother it. There is a fee to enter the gardens if you are not a member. The location is on the west side of Hwy 1, south of Hwy 20's end at 1 in southern Fort Bragg. They open at 9-am. -- Karen A Havlena
Wed, 08 Apr 2009 -- TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS are back in numbers at the location on East Road in Potter Valley where the bred last year. Today there was a minimum of 240 birds in the blackberry hedge on the south side of the pond at mailbox 10707 East Road, and nest-building is underway. There are also tricolors present near the two other locations where they have nested in Potter, but I have not been able to determine their status yet. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 08 Apr 2009 -- 6pm Laughlin Way and Lees Rd., Redwood Valley, male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK We've never seen one this early. It joined the abundant spring variety of backyard birds including RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, HOODED ORIOLES and BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. -- Kelly Austin
Wed, 08 Apr 2009 -- A first spring male HOODED ORIOLE visited my oriole and hummingbird feeders in southwest Lakeport at noon today and was still present after 4pm today. It joined at least five Bullock's Orioles that have been using the feeders the past few days. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 08 Apr 2009 - 12:30 PM - Chuck Vaughn and I quickly birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant at noon. On the exposed mudflat in the middle pod there were the continuing two BLACK-NECKED STILTS and one AMERICAN AVOCET. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS visited the mudflat but was chased off by one of the stilts. At least four CINNAMON TEAL and a GREEN-WINGED TEAL were among the numerous BUFFLEHEAD, RUDDY DUCKS, MALLARDS, RING-NECKED DUCKS and NORTHERN SHOVELERS. Apparently there should be more exposed mudflats in the near future which may provide good stopover habitat for migrating shorebirds. A singing WILSON'S WARBLER was along the south fence line ditch as you walk along the west pond. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 07 Apr 2009 -- After being dismissed from jury duty I decided to bird the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant before it rained. There were two BLACK-NECKED STILTS in the middle pond where some mud islands have appeared. Time was approx. 10:55 AM and they were still there when I left after it started raining. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 07 Apr 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin said that the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was still at the Mendo Coast Botanical Gardens this Tuesday morning. We are currently having a rain shower this afternoon, but there is NO wind, so maybe the shrike will find lots of insects to eat and stay a few days longer. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 05 Apr 2009 -- On Sunday the 5th I canoed with Doug Weidemann at Anderson Marsh. We found a number of active nests including 19 GREAT BLUE HERON, 1 GREAT EGRET, 1 OSPREY and 1 RED-TAILED HAWK. The heron rookery was near some homes and, after some exploration by car, we found out that most of the heron nests could be conveniently observed from Harbor Lane at the south end of Clearlake, from where we also saw a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. The Osprey nest is in front of the Mormon Church at the end of Lakeview Way. We saw very few grebes; Doug has the data so I'm not sure of exact numbers but I think we saw four WESTERN GREBES and two CLARK'S GREBES in an area where there was a major colony several years ago. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 06 Apr 2009 -- I kayaked in the area west of the Lake County Park on the south side of Clear Lake. (along the lake shore between the county park and the Indian casino). Birds of note (to me) were a COMMON MOORHEN and very, very many vociferously singing MARSH WRENS. The one Marsh Wren I had long careful looks at had a prominent blue horizontal stripe across his upper breast. The stripe appeared to be about 1/4 wide and was a grayish blue on an otherwise cream white throat above and breast below. Sorry, no photo. I've never seen or heard of this before. Does anyone know whether this was an anomaly or a regular breeding feature?
I had gone out to check on the status of the Western Grebe/Clark's Grebe population and in 4 hours I saw not a one. (I did hear one in the distance behind me, at one point.) Has anyone seen Grebe flocks in other parts of Clear Lake recently?
I bring this up because it is my understanding that the last successful breeding season there was in the spring of 2006. There was no real breeding population the past 2 years and in 2007, at least, it was attributed to a fish die-off. Any related information would be appreciated. -- Vishnu
Mon, 06 Apr 2009 -- VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS appeared this morning, checking out potential nesting sites in the snag. Probable BARN SWALLOWS have been heard inside a nest in the eaves of the house for over a week, but I have yet to see them flying around - odd! Four OSPREYS in a group circled over us this afternoon. Later, a single Osprey joined some Turkey Vultures circling around, before heading north. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER began drumming on metal signs and the ground wire on a power pole - probably the same bird who did that last year? Another surge in hummingbird numbers over the past two days; apparently the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS are continuing to arrive.
Forgot to post a notice at the time, but about two weeks ago a couple of probable CASPIAN TERNS went by on their way north. Haven't seen the flocks that usually go over us this time of year. Cheers, -- Tim Bray, Middle Ridge, Albion
Mon, 06 Apr 2009 -- The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, originally found Sat, 4/4, is still immediately adjacent to the SW boundry of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Walk out toward the south bluffs, and after getting out into the open grassy area, look just beyond the fence to the large, open yard with a light ashy-gray house. The shrike likes to perch atop the house, on the fence, the wellhouse and the scrubby, shore pines. (Toby Tobkin called me this morning after seeing it). -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 05 Apr 2009 --The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE found by David Jensen was refound today by Karen Havlena and Toby Tobkin this morning. I saw it at noon today. It perched in two locations while I was there. The tip of the roof of the most Western house and a green shrub that formed a sort of triangle up near the fence. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 04 Apr 2009 -- Just after sunset my wife and I saw a NIGHTHAWK sp flying over our property off Fish Rock Rd. on Gualala Ridge. A new bird for our property and a Mendo county bird to boot -- nice. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 04 Apr 2009 -- While birding at the Little River Airport today about 11:30 AM., A flicker flew out of a drainage ditch to a tree very close to me. I noted the bird had yellow tail feathers, a black malar and a red nape crescent. Before I could get my camera out it flew off. Not having much experience with YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER I did not note the face and throat coloring. Did not see any red in the under-wing feathers but also didn't see any yellow due to angle of flight. The bird was in the North-west section of the airport. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 04 Apr 2009 -- A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen on the southern boundary of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens approx. 100 yards from the ocean bluffs this morning. Although this bird is fairly common at times inland, this is the first LOSH I have seen on the coast since I returned in 2001. -- Dave Jensen
Wed, 01 Apr 2009 -- I've had a flock of PINE SISKINS around our house (in the hills above Ukiah)for the last couple of weeks, giving the resident flock of Lesser Goldfinches a lot of competition at the feeders. -- Maureen O'Hagen
Tue, 31 Mar 2009 -- Hi all, The past couple of weeks has bought a few interesting birds around.
14-15 March 2009 CALIFORNIA TOWHEE 1 singing on the Little River Headlands
17 and 31 March 2009 CALIFORNIA TOWHEE the same or another bird at the entrance to Van Damme Beach State Park
28 March 2009 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE One flying around Big River about a 1/4 mile upstream with a group of 25 or so Canada Geese
31 March 2009 WILSON'S WARBLER about 10 singing along Little River at Van Damme State Park. -- Ron LeValley
Sat, 28 Mar 2009 -- Saturday between 4 and 5 pm a male HOODED ORIOLE was at our oriole feeder here in Redwood Valley (Laughlin Way and Lees Rd.). The Hooded and Bullock's Orioles visit every year so it was a welcomed sight to see one return again. -- Kelly Austin
Sat, 28 March 2009 -- Three CASPIAN TERNS were at the surfline by the mouth of Ten Mile River in the early morning. Also, in the river slightly upstream, there was a lone, nice-looking male GREATER SCAUP. (Since he was alone, he probably isn't very nice at all)! In the afternoon, a large V of about 115 "Aleutian" CACKLING GEESE flew north over the neighborhood. Their calls are certainly different than large, Canada Geese. Three or four "minima" Cackling Geese were in the flock.Our imm WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is still coming to our seed. Also, there are 2 or 3 maleTRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS here, as well. At least one female blackbird appeared to be a little smaller and darker and was with one of the males (guessing female TRBL). -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 29 Mar 2009 -- Hi All, Mel Smith was at the Point Arena Pier this Monday the 23rd when he saw Al, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, swim over to a surfer and then vocalizing. Al then lifted off at 5:26 pm, flying west. As of yesterday, Saturday the 29th, there have been no sightings of him/her. Good flying to our special visitor. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Sat, 28 Mar 2009 -- Today I was counting at my house for Project Feederwatch. I saw a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, the first this year. He did not stick around and I think he was just passing through. I also saw a PURPLE FINCH with the eye disease, which I reported to Cornell. This is the only purple finch I have ever seen with the eye disease. I also saw two WRENTITS in my yard. I have lived here for 20 years and never seen any here. I live in oak woodland in an urban area and not chaparral. -- Dave Bengston
Fri, 27 Mar 2009 -- North of Ward Avenue on the beach well above high tide line, several SNOWY PLOVERS were seen with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, which were just getting their breeding plumage. I have posted four photos of the Snowy Plovers (A LIFE LIST BIRD FOR ME) at the YahooGroups MendoBirds site. -- Feather Forestwalker
Fri, 27 Mar 2009 -- The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was still near the Fairbanks Lane/Hwy 162/Poonkinney Road junctions as reported yesterday by Charles. I saw no other raptors in Round Valley other than Red-tailed Hawks and Am. Kestrels. A HOUSE WREN (my first for the year) was singing near the Eel River Ranger camp area ....no Canyon Wrens could be found. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 26 Mar 2009 -- Joanne Haller and I found a SNOW GOOSE and an ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE on the north shore of Lake Pilsbury at the Oak Flats Campground. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 26 Mar 2009 -- I believe this is a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - looks like light juv. click here for photos Saw it here in Round Valley, hanging around the intersection of Fairbanks Rd and hwy 162, several times today. -- Charles Nummelin
Tue, 24 Mar 2009 -- Joanne Haller and I visited the Mendocino College ponds this afternoon and saw the two continuing COMMON MOORHENS. Both have bright red bills now and chartreuse legs.
In Potter Valley we could not find the Burrowing Owl on Burris Lane. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 24 Mar 2009 -- Geoff Heinecken saw and heard a male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in our south of Talmage yard this afternoon. Spring marches on. -- Cheryl Watson
23 March 2009 - Large numbers of hummingbirds are once again congregating at my feeders. Numbers have been increasing all month, and seem to have taken a big jump last week. Among the new arrivals are a few RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. Cheers, --Tim on Middle Ridge, Albion
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 -- I have received word that "AL" the Point Arena Cove wintering LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at the cove... and has been for several days of the last week. The bird will assuredly be leaving soon for until, hopefully, next winter. Good Birding.-- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 -- There is a pair of OSPREY checking out an osprey nest on Old River Rd. south of Talmage. Going south on Old River Rd, look for mile post 8.80. Go three tenths of a mile further south. On the right hand side of the road in a tall snag there is an osprey nest that was used last year. The pair has been there since the middle of last week if not before. I saw one osprey perched above the nest shortly after 5pm today 3/23. -- Janet King
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 -- My neighbor photographed a leucistic AMERICAN ROBIN in your area, and e-mailed the photo to me yesterday, asking for an ID. I have posted the photo in the photo area of Mendobirds in an album called Leucistic Amercan Robin. The photo was taken on March 2, 2009, 2:07 PM. Location: Mendocino County, 19870 Ridgeway Highway, Potter Valley, CA. That is about 6 miles outside Potter Valley. Or it is about 28 miles Northeast of Ukiah, out in the country on a dead-end road. I am curious to know whether anyone else on this list has seen it. Thanks! -- Dotty Calabrese, Mountain View, CA [ About that same time a bus driver for Potter Valley Schools reported a white robin in about that same area. I went by once without seeing it. -- George Chaniot]
Sun, 22 Mar 2009 -- Today is the second time a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW has visited my feeding stations. A male, seems to be traveling alone. I only see him when it is snowing. Fortunately, I am able to view him just outside my slider, about five feet away, a rare pleasure. -- buteosr,Willits
Sun, 22 Mar 2009 -- On Highway 175 within 1/4 mile off Hwy 101 near Hopland I observed Turkey Vulture # 92. About 30 TUVUs were tagged last August and September here at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center as part of a state-wide research project. All of the captured birds were fitted with large, round white "patagial" tags with bold black numbers stencilled onto them. These numbers are fairly easy to read "top and bottom" so the tag numbers are visible when the bird is perched or in flight (dorsal or ventral view). Please keep an eye out for such tagged birds as many of these may be returning from the wintering grounds in Central and South America. Any sightings provide valuable data to the researchers ... especially helping them figure out if specific birds are resident or migratory. By posting the sightings on Mendobirds one will get the information to the researchers (via myself). Thanks and Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 22 MAr 2009 -- There's a stunning male HOODED ORIOLE in our back yard, drinking nectar from one of our "oriole" feeders. The earliest arrival to our yard that I have noted in the handful of years I've been keeping track. Good birding, -- David Smith-Ferri
Sat, 21 Mar 2009 -- Alist of birds seen on the Peregrine Audubon trail work day on the Scorpion Trail at Mill Creek County Park and be seen at http://www.peregrineaudubon.org/20090321.html
Thu, 19 Mar 2009 -- To all; March Month Yardbird sightings for the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK that has stayed around from '08 and maybe same bird as '07 include 3/1, 1/8, 1/13, 3/15, and 3/19/09.
DARK-EYED JUNCOS have decreased in numbers. Still around are two SONG SPARROWS (probably visitors from Standley Creek, AND one WHITE-THOATED SPARROW. The pair of NUTTALS WOODPECKERS that fledged two young-male and female-last year are often at the suet. -- Barbara Dolan
Wed, 18 Mar 2009 -- Well, shiver me timbers! After 3 days of no show, making us SURE he/she had flown the coop, who showed up in full color today but our favorite fryer, Al the LAYSAN ALBATROSS... in one of his usual spots due north off end of the pier... Peace, -- Tom Reid
Wed, 18 Mar 2009 -- Mendocino Co. Started a very long day at Mendocino College in Ukiah a little after dawn. In the pond to the left of the entrance road, I finally saw a SORA. Also in the pond were 16 HOODED MERGANSERS, 2 WOOD DUCKS and 1 COMMON MOORHEN - a very dramatic assemblage. 1 ROCK WREN was sunning itself on a rock just inside the cyclone fence at the dam at Lake Mendocino. Backtracked a bit to the Crofoot property on Hwy 101 between Hopland and Ukiah. 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was still associating with the Canada Geese. In Potter Valley, it took a bit of waiting for the BURROWING OWL to emerge from its burrow as seen from the end of Burris Lane.
Lake Co. With help from Brad Barnwell, walked out toward the mouth of Kelsey Creek at Clear Lake State Park. No luck with the Swamp Sparrow, it didn't help that a boatload of fisherman was parked at the creek mouth. Did see lots of MARSH WRENS and 1 FOX SPARROW. 2 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were twinkling with swallows over the cliffs on Mt. Konocti. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Mon, 16 Mar 2009 -- The LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on Kingfarm between Talmage and Hopland on the Old River Road was again on it's favorite telephone pole at 6:00PM. This is near mm 7.54 ...the sharp turn with a gate and cattle corrals on the north side of the road. The "favorite" telephone pole is the third pole from the road to the north ...the one very near and almost behind a deciduous oak tree. If one walks west along Old River Road from the mentioned sharp turn, then one can look "back" and see the telephone pole without branches in the way. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 15 Mar 2009 -- The past two months have been a bit lackluster for gulls at Clearlake, so Doug Weidemann and I were surprised to tally 8.5 species on Sunday, including a 1st-cycle "NELSON'S" (GLAUCOUS X HERRING) GULL and an adult MEW GULL at Ray's Market (adjacent to Wal-Mart), and a 2nd-cycle WESTERN GULL at Austin Park. Among the several THAYER'S GULLS at Ray's Market was a pale-winged 1st-cycle gull resembling an Iceland Gull, but at this time of the year it was more likely a bleached Thayer's Gull. Although we birded around the lake the only noteworthy bird we saw was a COMMON MOORHEN found by Doug at the county park at Clearlake Oaks. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 12 Mar 2009 -- After an absence of 3 - 4 days (we thought he'd flown the coop for the year) Al , the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was waiting for everyone this morning... he was close by the pier earlier, then re-located to a spot so far off the pier binocs were required for positive ID. I managed to get a picture of him using a combination of lens, extender, and crop factor adding up tp 800mm and he was still just a dot; I don't know yet if the pics are going to be usable, but proof that he was still here as of today. - Tom Reid
Wed, 11 Mar 2009 -- Today I went to Lake County to look for a couple of nemesis birds. I found my way to the slopes of Mount Konocti at the Riviera West development. I drove up Riviera West Drive, took a right on Mountain Crest Drive, and followed it to the end. Here I had a view of the cliffs above and only had to wait about five minutes until several WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS appeared among the Violet-green Swallows. I also found a PEREGRINE FALCON sitting at the top of the closest cliff of columnar basalt.
Next I went to Clear Lake State Park and walked to the mouth of Kelsey Creek. The trail is now flooded where it goes through the reeds, but I was able to make it through with dry feet by stepping on the mats of tules instead of the trail. The mud is covered with water now, but I got a little further out on the matted vegetation and set up my scope. To my surprise I picked up the SWAMP SPARROW almost immediately. It was in the furthest clump of reeds as reported months ago. I probably would not have seen it were it not making flycatching sallies out over the water. Two Song Sparrows were doing the same thing. I probably saw 25 out-and-back flights.
I checked Adobe Creek Reservoir, Highland Springs Road, and Lyons Creek for signs of Tricolored Blackbirds, but there were none yet. I also did not find the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Lakeside Park today.
Back in Potter Valley, Mendocino Co. the BURROWING OWL was visible again. I've seen it four-for-four times since I found it on the 7th. From the top of the knoll at the end of Burris Lane point your scope to the SE and look for a rocky outcrop on a grassy hillside. The burrow is directly in front of the rocks. The owl may be sitting totally in the open or partly hidden a depression. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 -- Mendo birders: To add to Bob Keiffer's note from earlier today, on Monday March 9 I saw or heard the following: At the Crofoot Ranch, a single "ALEUTIAN" CACKLING GOOSE, in addition to the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE that Bob reported On Old River Road, the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on his (this bright bird MUST be a male) favored power pole near mp 7.54 On the large pond at Mendocino College, two COMMON MOORHENS, one SORA, and one VIRGINIA RAIL. Plus two NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, and about three VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Three skittish WOOD DUCKS took off when I appeared; it took a closer approach to flush (didn't mean to!) the last of 11 HOODED MERGANSERS present when I arrived.
At least one BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON roosted in its favored redwood (look for the whitewash) behind 240 Washo Drive in east Ukiah
Near mp 17.62 (or is it 17.63??) on Low Gap Road, a SOOTY GROUSE called near dawn.
In the various vineyard ponds, I saw no Common Goldeneyes or Canvasbacks, and in a brief stop near sunset, I did not see "Al" in Arena Cove. Bummer.
Thanks to everyone who previously reported one or more of these interesting birds. -- Dave Quady, Berkeley, California
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 -- The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE that has spent the winter period at the Crofoot Ranch along Hwy 101 north of Hopland is still there. All of the 80+ Canada Geese are still present there but all scattered about the field mostly in pairs. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 08 March 2009 -- This afternoon the BURROWING OWL was still present where George Chaniot described it yesterday. For about five minutes it was totally out in the open, near a squirrel burrow just downhill from the rockpile by 25 feet or so. Then it walked into a depression and all I could see was the head. When I drove back by about an hour later it was again totally out in the open (5:00PM). You need a scope to really see this bird.
A SAY'S PHOEBE was on the fence to the NE of the gate at the end of Burris Lane. About 100 American Pipits were seen about a mile beyond the gate (private property) but I could not find any other species mixed in like longspurs or red-throated pipits. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 08 March 2009 -- This morning was very windy, but having a little time, I saw a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL and a COMMON GOLDENEYE at the mouth of Ten Mile R. A possible hybrid GLAUCOUS x HERRING GULL was also there. It looked much like a hybrid seen in San Luis Obispo County by Brad Schram at Pt. Piedras Blancas on 5 March. This bird had a smudgy, bi-colored bill, and primaries that were partly white with creamy centers. A 1st cycle Glaucous-winged Gull looked a little larger with an all dark bill. The beaches from Ten Mile R. south to Glass Beach in Fort Bragg are all within MacKerricher SP. -- Karen A. Havlena
Sat, 07 March 2009 -- Three LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen off the north end of Ward Ave, Cleone on Saturday, by Toby Tobkin and Karen Havlena, within 15 minutes of each other, but we did not see each other. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 -- From 3:30-4:00 this afternoon there was a BURROWING OWL enjoying the sunshine at the mouth of its burrow at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. I have seen one at this same burrow system over a period of years but with no consistency. The burrow is to the SE of the top of the knoll and can best be seen with a scope. Look for a distant grassy hillside with an outcrop of rocks. In front of the rocks are several burrows with a lot of ground squirrel activity. The owl was sitting in the open near one of the burrows. After 4:00 it scrunched down in the mouth of the burrow and was harder to recognize. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 28 Feb 2009 -- Both of the Common Moorhens, the adult and the first year bird, are still at the Mendocino College pond on the south side of the Science Building. Park in the campus parking lot and walk back to the pond. The moorhens were on the north east sid eof the pond ...but were a little scittish as I did not spot the immature bird until the very last bit of searching. 3 Coots are also in the pond. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 28 Feb 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heinecken, and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant oxidation plant this morning. There were a few birds out there of local interest. We saw 2 BALD EAGLES (adult and imm) which are probably the same pair that have been seen along the river all winter from Hopland to Lake Mendocino. There was a DUNLIN mixed in with the Wilson's Snipe, Least Sandpiper, and Killdeer on the north pond. A BONAPARTE'S GULL landed briefly on the middle pond. Lots of TREE SWALLOWS are now active along the river and we spotted a single VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and a very early CLIFF SWALLOW mixed in. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 27 Feb 2009 -- I got out to the lake between rains today. The water level has gone up to an elevation of 721.2' from a low of 711.4' on the 10th, but the water is turbid and there is a fair amount of floating debris. Bird numbers are down except for widgeon, scaup, and gulls. TREE SWALLOWS were cruising about everywhere, and I saw one VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.
There was a group of gulls on the mud near the south ramp with birds streaming to and from Ukiah. Among the California and Ring-billed Gulls was a first winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and a 1st winter bird which I take to be a THAYER'S GULL but on the very pale side. [ smaller than Glaucous-winged, larger than California, bill relatively small, bill all black, wing coverts neatly speckled, secondaries slightly darker than coverts in flight, primaries cafe au lait and finely edged with light color.] Others may want to take a look at this bird -- George Chaniot
Thu, 26 Feb 2009 -- This afternoon at 4:45 the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER made an appearance at the King Ranch corral on Old River Road, where it has been seen for weeks. It flew from the trees north of the corral to the top of one of the power poles close to the corral. After about 15 seconds it headed up the hill to the east and landed in one of the oak trees a hundred and fifty or so yards away, and for awhile seemed to be digging grubs or some kind of food out of the branches. The pink on the breast was brilliant. -- Paul Hawks
Tue, 24 Feb 2009 -- Went up to Ukiah and finally saw the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on Old River Rd. south of Talmadge. He was perched on top of the pole that is almost hidden by an oak tree. What a beauty! He is in high color, with the darkest bright rose front that I have ever seen on a Lewis's. At Lake Mendocino, there were too many people and dogs for the Rock Wren, and there were no interesting gulls, ducks or geese on the lake, but I did manage to add WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH to my county list. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos [from Countybirders]
Mon, 23 Feb 2009 -- This morning a black-backed LESSER GOLDFINCH has been coming to my thistle feeder in Potter Valley. Its upperparts are quite black from crown to tail. Seen from above, the center of the back is a little duskier with faint striping and traces of olive. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 22 Feb 2009 -- The off-shore pelagic birding trip for today was cancelled a couple days ago due to rough seas and bad weather forecasts. Unfortunately these forecasts did not hold true ....and the trip would have been very doable with the SE winds laying down the NW swells quite well. A few white caps began to show at about 2:00 PM but were short-lasting as by four is was quite mild again. J.Foxx, M.Curry, K.Havlena,and I did venture out on the Trek II with two other whale watchers between 10 and noon. The water temp was at 50 degrees F. and we only went out about as far as the second buoy and headed south a very short distance. One pod of 4 to 5 Gray Whales were observed spouting fairly near ....but no close views of the whales themselves were observed. Gulls followed the boat as we chummed with popcorn the entire trip. Here's what we saw: Common Goldeneye 1 (in harbor); Bufflehead (in harbor) 4-5; Red-throated Loon 2; Red-necked Grebe 1; Northern Fulmar 1-3; Brandt's Cormorants 8-12; Pelagic Cormorants 12-15; Mew Gull 1; California Gull 4; Thayer's Gull 1; Western Gull 80; Glaucous-winged Gull 10; Western x G-winged Gull 1; Black-legged Kittiwake 40; Common Murre 10; Rhinoceros Auklet 20-25; Sea Lions (Calif?) 15
Upon return to shore Foxx,Curry, and Keiffer went to MacKerricker S.P. at the end of Ward Avenue where we saw: Long-tailed Duck 1m,1f; Harlequin Duck 5; Black Scoter 10-12; Surf Scoter 8; Red-necked Grebe 2
Laguna Point Parking Lot and Laguna Pt.: Thayer's Gull 3+; Western Gull many; Glaucous-winged Gull many; Western x G.w-gull 1; Whimbrel 2
Virgin Creek Beach: Harlequin Duck 2m; mixed gulls with 3 Mew Gulls.
At Todd Point/Pomo parking area on south side of Noyo:Glaucous Gull 2 first winter birds ...one quite "whiter" than the other. Good Birding -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 21 Feb 2009 -- Saturday noon - I saw the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER again atop the telephone pole by the oak tree on the Kingfarm Ranch on Old River Road south of Talmage. This is WNW of the cattle chutes by about 100 yards or so. Refer to earlier posts for the mile marker. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 -- Went up to Mendocino County to look for that gull but first stopped at Becky Stenberg's house where she had reported a bird so far eluding me for the county. She lives 6-7 miles east of Fort Bragg and I arrived about 8:40 AM to watch her yard. About 15 minutes later, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS came through the bushes out of an old orchard next to her property along with Fox Sparrows, Juncos, Steller's Jays, Towhees, etc. Then I headed for the town of Mendocino.
I went to Mendocino Headlands State Park just on the west edge of town where the reported gull was seen a couple of days before. I drove all the way to the south end to the last parking lot and "hung around". No great white gull. Few Westerns. So I left and came back later. Still no great white gull.
By 1 PM, I drove south on Hwy 1 just past Mendocino and crossed the bridge over Big River. I could see a hundred gulls on the beach and pulled over about a mile past the bridge where there was access to the bluff overlooking the river mouth and beach. After a few minutes, there it was!. The great white gull. Almost pure white with white primarys and tail. Beautiful.
But there was one little problem. It was not a Glaucous Gull. Rats. The bill was all black. So I, in my uneducated, mediocre birding ability, with no expertise, labeled it a Glaucous X Glaucous-winged Gull. I missed the reported Glaucous Gull. Oh well, still a good looking bird. -- Jim Lomax [from CountyBirders]
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 -- For the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK; THE times seen include : 2-13-09 9:30AM about 5 minutes. The bill is looking very light. Throat feathering is improved but still has considerable missing feathers on the collar or nape area. Feeding well for about 5 min and pushing off HOFIs. Then 2-14-09 8:30AM 3 minute stay; then 2-15-09 8:30 to 8:30AM . Head feathers are very scruffy, tertials looking more brownish, Tail feathering looks sparse. I think if the same bird, it looked similarly at this time last year.
Other species: 2-17-09 After the storm seemed to be passing, 7:30AM I could hear VARIED THRUSH call from Standley Creek.
2-18-09; 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW ; 4 PURPLE FINCH; 1 CALLING PILEATED WOODPECKER; 2 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHIKADEES. Good birding. -- B Dolan.
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 -- There was a single ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE associating (but not too close) with 4 of the local Canada Geese on the Mendocino Headland bluffs just south of the North-west parking area. Time was approx. 11:15 AM. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 -- Today I birded the Mendocino Coastline starting at Juan Creek. The Surf was very high but the ocean seemed rather calm with no whitecaps ...just very spreadout swells that really built up as they approached shore. At Juan Creek I had 4 - 5 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES beyond the breakers ... they were with a feeding group of gulls, grebes, cormorants, and murres. Ward Avenue had 1 BLACK SCOTER and 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK. Lake Cleone/Laguna Point access was closed in the morning but was open this afternoon. Many mixed gulls at the beach, including Thayer's adults, and 1 adult Brown Pelican on the beach with the gulls. 6 Whimbrels with Surfbirds and B.Turnstones were on the rocks north of the Laguna Point platform (no Rock Sandpipers). There were a bunch of mixed gulls at Virgin Creek beach, including Mew Gulls, but nothing of rarity stood out. A SAY's PHOEBE was along the north end of the beach. Just north of the beach on the rocks were clumped oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, Surfbirds, and 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS. At Todd's Point I refound the 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL. Also, there was at least 1 very nice adult THAYER's GULL and immatures... they seem to be more common than I remember ...or maybe I am just getting better at recognizing them. At Caspar Pond (Fern Road) I refound the ROSS's x SNOW GOOSE. This bird is very small, the right size for a Ross's ...but it has too much of a black "grin-patch" to be pure and it surely has Snow Goose genetics mixed in. I think this is a 2nd winter bird due to the mature white plumage, some black flecking on the upper head, and the smooth base of the mandible. At Van Damme SP Beach there were many mixed gulls, including another immature GLAUCOUS GULL. A couple with two dogs chased away all the gulls before I could really get a good look at them. About 20 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were getting ready for roost in a fir tree between Hwy 1 and the Navarro River. I mention this ...not that it is unusual ...(as it is a regular hang-out for them along the Navarro) but to make folks aware that Mendocino County still has NO DOCUMENTED NESTING for this species. I am sure that they nest along our coast, especially near the Navarro ...but nobody has documented this as of yet as I recall. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 -- Karen Havelena and I tried to find the possible Slaty-backed Gull in downtown Fort Bragg, which was reported by Jerry White yesterday, but missed the morning popcorn handout outside the theater. Weather conditions were improved this morning (occasional heavy showers but little wind) and there were few gulls to be found in the downtown area. The first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was at the northwest corner of Todd's Point again today.
At Van Damme beach we found a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE resting on the beach. We were unable to locate an Iceland Gull, although there were many young Glaucous-winged Gulls. Again, the total number of Gulls was lower today. Same story at Navarro, but without the Kittiwake. Less than 75 gulls, mostly Western Gulls, Glaucous-winged, California and Mew. -- David Jensen
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 -- For about five days now I have had a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD coming to my feeders. This is the first time. I have had Red-winged Blackbirds and Brewer's for years. One interesting thing is I have watched it on occasion be very aggressive and keep all other blackbirds from even landing on the feeders. -- Dave Bengsten
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 -- I went out this afternoon and poked around Potter Valley in the car in the drizzle. The most interesting finds were TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in mixed blackbird flocks in four different locations. They totaled up to 14 males and a bunch of possible females. These are my first Potter sightings for the month of February. At the end of the last breeding season I estimated that there might be 4500 Mendo/Lake tricolors out there, but these are the first I've seen since they disappeared from the breeding colonies in early July. I also found three MERLINS all of the taiga type. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 -- Karen Havelena and I tried to find the possible Slaty-backed Gull in downtown Fort Bragg, which was reported by Jerry White yesterday, but missed the morning popcorn handout outside the theater. Weather conditions were improved this morning (occasional heavy showers but little wind) and there were few gulls to be found in the downtown area. The first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was at the northwest corner of Todd's Point again today.
At Van Damme beach we found a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE resting on the beach. We were unable to locate an Iceland Gull, although there were many young Glaucous-winged Gulls. Again, the total number of Gulls was lower today. Same story at Navarro, but without the Kittiwake. Less than 75 gulls, mostly Western Gulls, Glaucous-winged, California and Mew. -- avid Jensen
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 -- Heavy rains, strong winds and at times huge waves on the coast this weekend. Large numbers of gulls concentrated at Van Damme and at the Navarro River on Sunday. I was not able to study them in detail (at the Navarro I just had a distant look at maybe 400 or 500 birds) because of the wind and rain but there was a (maybe) Iceland Gull at Van Damme. Needed Floyd H. and or Matthew M. to get photos etc to study in more detail. Also at the theatre parking lot in Ft. Bragg around 9:30 AM or so I got a brief look at an adult gull that had some of the characteristics of a Slaty-backed Gull. This was a definte maybe as the look was very brief .
The gulls were gathered there when Nikki and I first parked in the Longs Parking lot. I spoke with the lady who was cleaning the theatre. She throws out left over popcorn for them, as she did on this day, and it attracts a pretty good number of gulls.
On Saturday and Sunday there was a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL on the bluffs at the end of Ocean View Drive near Pomo Bluffs Park. On Sunday there was another 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at the Mendocino Headlands State Park in the monument parking lot. In Mendocino on Sunday was a male Allen's Hummingbird. -- Jerry White
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 -- Two locally unusual sighting to report form my backyard today. A male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE took a quick bath in my small pond but did not stay to feed. Also, seven PURPLE FINCHES were present, up from my usual two, but one of the males had such severe pox on both feet that he appeared to be wearing lamb's wool slippers. -- Dave Jensen, near Pudding Creek in Fort Bragg
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 -- Today I saw the continuing YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in Lakeside Park near Kelseyville. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 -- There are still two of the three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS coming to my feeders in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 -- At noon today there were 4 CANVASBACKS at Mendocino Vineyard's (Beckstoffer) pond on Old River Rd. This is just south of River School and Mill Creek Rd. on the west side of the road. Also present were the usual coots, 3 mallards, 2 buffleheads, and 3 ruddy ducks. - Dave Bengston
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 -- There were 2 inches of snow and 3 RED CROSSBILLS in the parking area at Boggs Mountain State Forest off Hwy 175 in Cobb at 2 pm this afternoon. Other than that, the Forest was quiet. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 -- The reappearance of the S Dora WHITE-THROATED SPARROW lasted only one day and I'm thinking it probably represented a totally different specimen from the one that was in residence in Dec and Jan - the plumage on the longer visitor was incredibly crisp and bright, and this one was much duller. -- Janet Rosen
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 -- Hello - I observed a first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at the mouth of the Gualala River today at noon. It was in the large gull flock just below Bones restaurant. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 -- I have two WHITE-THROATED SPAROWS here, I've been sure there were two for about a month now. One is much more boldly marked than the other, I was thinking they must be male and female, but maybe one is the tan striped variety? -- Becky Stenberg
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 -- I still have a visiting WHITE-THROATED SPARROW-tan stripe morph also. I also have a very crisp and darker than usual PURPLE FINCH(male-female?) no reddish coloring. The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK visited over the 7th and 8th. It is appearing ragged with big white windows in outer tail feathers. I want to say maybe it is an older bird-scruffy cap and nape, and no feathers around the collar-gotta be cold. But it is feeding well and pushing HOFIs away to get to feed. -- Barbara Dolan
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 -- Birders and photographers have recorded river otters working cooperatively to grab, drown, and consume Western Gulls near the mouth of the Gualala One can stand on the Gualala River Trail behind the Surf Supermarket and perhaps observe it, if you 're quiet and patient. (Agree it appears to be a river otter with a Pelagic Cormorant, Ron.) Their diet is primarily fish, but they are known carnivores. There have been postings on NBB (North Bay Birds) of the river otters working together to drown and kill Brown Pelicans in Marin Co., also. Enjoy our wildlife, -- Rich Keuhn
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 -- Hi all, I posted the otter and cormorant picture taken by Peter Bogdahn and sent to me by Tom Reid in the Mendobirds folder named Otter and Cormorant. Mendobirds members click here. I think you will see that it is a river otter, still pretty interesting. Thanks Tom, for passing this along to the group. -- Ron LeValley
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 -- Hi everyone; There has been much speculation around the Arena Cove as to why Al sightings have been so sporadic this winter; he has been away seemingly about as often as he has been here... yesterday and today's events might provide a clue. There have been Sea Otter (not River Otter) sightings of late, and yesterday several people saw Al being attacked by a sea otter; he was able to fight it off... and today our Harbor Master was lucky enough to get a picture of a sea otter attacking a cormorant and ripping it to pieces... I attached a fairly graphic pic to this email, but if I remember correctly there is some reason why that won't work... if anyone wants me to send them the pic so they can post it please do so. The pics that followed in this sequence were pretty gruesome; nature in all its splendor. Also, Peter Bogdahn, the Harbor Master told us that the only other time he has seen a Sea Otter in the Cove was in the 90's when he worked on an urchin boat and the kelp beds were gigantic as they are this year. Also, there has been a family of River Otters living in the creek here for years with nary a problem; as the pic shows, the otter in question is much lighter in color than our local River Otters. Peace, -- Tom Reid
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 -- Doug Weidemann and I birded around Clear Lake on Friday the 6th. Our best birds were an immature ROSS'S GOOSE and an immature SNOW GOOSE on the baseball fields at Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville. We were short on time and didn't have much time to search for rarities, so we missed the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Swamp Sparrow.
At both Rodman Slough and the mouth of Kelsey Creek we carefully scanned flocks of 100+ TREE SWALLOWS but only found a few VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS among them. It might be a good year for early arrivals of other swallow species.
At Borax Lake we saw six male "AMERICAN" GREEN-WINGED TEAL but not the male "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal. On Sunday the 1st we saw three male "American" and also missed the male "Eurasian."
We tallied eight species of gulls on the lake but no rare species. The number of gulls at Clearlake appears to have declined by half during the past month. Nick Shepherd informs me that he last saw the ICELAND GULL on January 28. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 09 Feb 2009 -- The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW disappeared for a week (or I missed it's visits) but its been back at our feeder way down S Dora for a couple of days now. -- Janet Rosen
Sun, 08 Feb 2009 -- The lone LEWIS'S WOODPECKER continues along the Old River Road ....it was atop the telephone pole by the tree to the NW of the cattle corral. 5 CANVASBACK were on the Beckstoffer Pond and 5 more Canvasback were on the pond by Gielow Lane (spelling?). Several HOODED MERGANSERS and 20+ RING-NECKED DUCKS continue on the pond across from Fern Canyon Dr. All these sites are along the Old River Road south of Talmage. A RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW was on Low Gap Rd. about a mile west of the cattleguard. Good Birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 07 Feb 2009 -- This morning Geoff and I watched a CHIPPING SPARROW gleaning high in the eucalyptus tree at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The tree is near the beginning of the birdwatching path, not far from the northwest corner of the entrance pond. -- Cheryl Watson
Thu, 05 Feb 2009 -- Brad Barnwell saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER today at Lakeside County Park. -- Jerry White
Thu, 05 Feb 2009 -- I made a quick check of the Mendocino College 'Rail Pond' in the rain this afternoon and found the two COMMON MOORHENS reported by Barbara Dolan on Feb 1. One bird has a dusky bill and has been present since the Christmas Count [ See photo by Rudy Yakzan ], and the other is an adult with a bright red bill first reported Sunday. If these reports are repetitious, it's because moorhens have been very rare in Mendocino Co., and these two are very easy to see. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 -- Today in Lake County I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON in High Valley in the prominent dead tree near the Five Star Fish Farm. CALIFORNIA THRASHERS were singing in the chamise up High Valley Road about where the pavement ends. A lone male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER flew by as I was scoping scaup from Route 20 at about mile 25. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 -- A pair of AMERICAN DIPPERS has been seen consistently at the old bridge on Potter Valley Road since Jan 28. On Feb 1 one of the pair was collecting nesting material and carrying it up under the bridge on the far side. Today the pair was inspecting up under the near side of the bridge. This is the first sign of nesting activity at this location since a previous nest was destroyed in June 2004. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 -- First sighting of ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD of 2009 in my yard. A male has taken up residence on a prominent shrub, having driven off the Anna's formerly occupying the spot. Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Mon, 02 Feb 2009 -- 12:30 PM Monday - The HARLAN'S HAWK (Red-tailed Hawk), assumed the same as discovered by Matt Brady on the Dec. CBC, was seen just north of Burke Hill adjacent to Hwy 101. Again, this is south of Ukiah. The bird was sitting atop the Vichy Springs / Jack London billboard (viewed from the northbound lane) on the east side of Hwy 101. This is a striking bird, especially in flight as the mottled white on the back gives the bird almost appears solid white on a portion of the lower back and wings. The bird flew to a heavy cable telephone line just to the north. There was good safe viewing from the side road on the west side of Hwy 101. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 01 Feb 2009 -- Geoff Heinecken, Cheryl Watson and myself had nice looks at the single LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on Old River Road about mile marker 7.24 going south on the road and at the previously described pull out. It flew across twice from the pole near the Blue Oak across the field to work another Oak on our right up the hill. The last time I saw this species here was 3/1996 and there were 3. Toby Tobkin had come over from the Coast. So nice to see this visitor here again. Geoff had his 3rd look. On the return to Talmage, we viewed the OSPREY nest along the river . Then I stopped for the CANVASBACKS, then continued to Mendocino College ponds for the COMMON MOORHEN. There were two. One with brown bill and maybe the first resider there?, and a second bird with a bright red breeding bill. The latter bird was being dominant and chasing off the other and not allowing nearness to occur. I meandered around for about an hour. I heard VIRGINIA RAIL call as I went to leave but did not view. I had nice looks at SORA with one swimming by-behavior that was new for me to see. Gary Maddox came to photo and was able to see both also. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 01 Feb 2009 -- This morning there was a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in Clear Lake near Hwy 20 mile marker 26.44. That is at the western edge of Clear Lake Oaks. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 01 Feb 2009 -- This morning between 06:15 and 06:50 I found 2 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS, about 4 WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at several stops along Scott's Valley Road. At Rodman Slough there was a good variety of dabbling ducks in the flooded rice fields to the east including a male EURASIAN WIGEON. In the flooded fields along Route 20 at Bachelor Valley Road there was a male REDHEAD among some CANVASBACKS.-- George Chaniot
Sat, 31 Jan 2009 -- at least three NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were calling at dusk or shortly after at Montgomery Woods S.P. MOUNAIN QUAIL were also calling at dusk. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 30 Jan 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin just called that she saw 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS just off the north parking area at Ward Ave, Cleone. They were associating with SURF and BLACK SCOTERS. Ward Ave is just north of the Cleone Grocery off Hwy 1, north of Fort Bragg. -- For Toby Tobkin, KAren HAvlena
Fri, 30 Jan 2009 -- Jim and I saw the small, white goose at Caspar pond. It is definitely a ROSS'S GOOSE. It was first thought to be a "possible" hybrid, but virtually all characteristics point to Ross's. So, for any of you keeping count, it is countable. [Actually, I saw that bird and photographed it as well, and I think it is a hybrid Ross's X Snow Goose.. Bruce Deuel agrees that the grin patch and the shape of the bill are not consistent with a pure Ross's Goose and look a lot like other hybrids from this pair of species. -- Ron LeValley. To see a photo of this bird click here. ] Jim also saw the 4 BRANT at Ten Mile River mouth this morning. -- Jim and Karen Havlena
Fri, 30 Jan 2009 -- Chuck Vaughn reports seeing the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the same tree mentioned yesterday.
Thu, 29 Jan 2009 -- 11:30-12:00 Geoff Heineken and I found the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on Old RiverRoad this morning. As seen from the gate, the woodpecker first appeared flying from the group of live oaks on the left, and it landed in the bare oak just to the right of the dam where it spent at least a half hour. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 Jan 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin said that 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS are still at Ward Ave, Cleone, along with several BLACK SCOTERS on 29 Jan 2009.
Wed, 28 Jan 2009 -- To all; the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was seen the 8:00AM in my yard. This is the first sighting/and visit since 1-9-09. I figure it has been feasting on the berries around. It only stayed seconds on the feeder nearest the house. It looked less ragged and the orange very bright. I was unable to see if feathers had returned to its nape and collar . It had a previous loss of feathers in the area.
I also have a returning and/ or another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - TAN STRIPE MORPH and was surprised to see again. The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was seen coming down the tree on 1-24-09. It used to come to the suet but it appears it its feeding more outside the yard. -- Barbara Dolan
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 -- Birded a couple of places for a few hours this afternoon around Ukiah. Was too early for the Lewis's Woodpecker on Old River Rd., but I did come across a small flock of LARK SPARROWs. The CANVASBACKs were at the Beckstoffer Pond on Old River Rd. just south of Talmadge.
Drove up Low Gap Rd. mostly to see what it is like. By this time, the sun was going down behind the hills, so the bird activity was pretty slow. However, at a pullout 1.1 miles below the first cattleguard, I was trying to pish up a White-breasted Nuthatch I thought I had heard, when out popped a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. It was only about 30 feet away, and stayed out in the open for about 5 minutes. What a treat! It is amazing how fierce such a small bird can look. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 -- On January 3rd I spotted a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on the ground just north of the town of Elk. I didn't take much notice of this Ferruginous Hawk except to stop along Highway 1 to take a picture of it, but now that there appear to be several postings of sightings I am realizing this sighting may be significant. I have posted a couple pictures of the hawk as it was in the field and as it flew past me under photos of this discussion group. You can find the pictures in the folder Ferruginous Hawk. I hope you will enjoy the pictures. -- Ron Storey, Petaluma, CA
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 -- I also had a FERRUGINOUS HAWK this afternoon along Burris Lane in SE Potter Valley. It was sharing a thermal (such as it was) with a Red-tailed Hawk, but they did not seem to interact as they climbed. Flying hrough the same air space (I think) were two birds in close formation moving speedily due south but with no wing motion, i.e. sort of soaring but really moving. They looked like nothing so much as two fighter planes; they went behind a line of oaks and I could not find them again. Kind of eerie. -- Jim Armstrong
Tue, 27 Jan, 2009 -- This morning, Ron LeValley and I (independent of each other) saw the FERRUGINOUS HAWK along Hwy 1, across from Ocean Meadows Cir, mm 70.32. This hawk has been around on and off again for at least the last four winters. It must have a large range. -- Ron LeValley and Karen Havlena
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 -- Today the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was again seen along the River Road south of Talmage near mm 7.54 as described a few days ago. This time the bird was atop an oak tree and it was hawking insects and returning to the top of the tree. It is very light-breasted when well lit from the sun as it was as 3:00 PM ...I almost did not stop to look thinking it was just a robin or kestrel. The tree is just on the south side of the pond (you cannot see the water... just the face of the dam). A MERLIN was about 1/2 mile south. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 27 Jan 2009 -- This morning Jim Havlena spotted 4 BRANT on Ten Mile River near the mouth. I saw the birds about an hour later near the new and old bridges. They were headed east. -- Jim and Karen Havlena
Tue, 27 Ja 2009 -- Today I ventured way up Mid-Mountain Road east of Potter Valley with Beb Ware, and we found that you can drive clear into Mendocino National Forest without encountering any gates. It was not very birdy at this time of year, but we did find a PILEATED WOODPECKER doing loud, territorial drumming on a resonant Ponderosa, and SAY'S PHOEBE in McCleary Glade. We ended up climbing Garrett Peak and getting some very beautiful views of Clear Lake and the Eel drainage. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Jan 2009 -- Yesterday morning Dough Weidemann, Nick Shepherd and I found a male "EURASIAN" GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Borax Lake in Clearlake Park. It was associating with three male "AMERICAN" GREEN-WINGED TEAL and several females out on the obvious island near the south end of the lake. Unfortunately I left my camera at home this morning so I'll try to post some photos of it tomorrow. I counted 670 SCAUP on the lake and there were similar numbers of AMERICAN WIGEON, but unfortunately no Tufted Duck or Eurasian Wigeon among them. We were unable to find any unusual gulls in Clearlake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 24 Jan 2009 -- I did some birding around Ukiah area. From Hopland to Ukiah via the River Road I refound the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER on the King Ranch ...near mm 7.54. There is a sharp sweeping turn with a gate and a temporary metal-pipe cattle corral in rather open grassy area with brush piles on the north side of the road. A line of power poles heads directly NW across the flat area (there is a farm-pond dam face to the east) and the Lewis's flew to the top of one of these poles ... the top of which is almost obscured by a deciduous oak tree (the third pole I think). The bird also flew into the adjacent oak tree and then NE to another oak tree ...however it does not spend much time in the tops of the oaks but rather down in the interior canopy. About 16 HOODED MERGANSERS and RING-NECKED DUCKs were on the pond across from Fern Canyon Road ...also on the River Road. Several CANVASBACK were on the Beckstoffer Pond just south of Talmage. A MERLIN was in this area also ...atop a redwood tree just about 1/8 mile south of the pond ...almost across from Twining Road.
There was a ROCK WREN near the very beginning of the Coyote Dam ...just below the entrance gate barrier. Two GOLDEN EAGLES flew west to east over the dam ... one bird was missing several primary and secondary feathers on it's right wing but it seemed to fly OK. Single SNOWY EGRET and GREAT EGRET were seen along the base of the newly rip-rapped dam face. The water level in Lake Mendocino is at it's second all-time low for this date, which the 1977 drought year being the only lower year.br /> A quick look up Low Gap Road did not produce the December's Red-naped Sapsucker ...but I only looked and listened for ten minutes or so. -- Good Birding! Bob Keiffer
Sat, 24 Jan 2009 -- This morning Matthew Matthiessen and I found the 12th (my 11th) gull species of the season for Clearlake, a 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL on the first dock south of Redbud Park. While we were photographing it the 1st-cycle ICELAND GULL was briefly seen on the same dock by David Nelson, Stan Snyder and another birder whose name I can't remember, but it flew off before Matt and I got to see it. The gulls apparently decided to boycott Wal Mart--none were on the roof at their usual time. Nick Shepherd saw the ICELAND GULL twice during the past week, at Austin Park on Wednesday morning and at Redbud Park on Thursday morning (if I recall correctly). -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 24 Jan 2009 --"Toby" Tobkin called to report a small white goose that she feels is a ROSS'SxSNOW GOOSE hybrid. She found it at the Casper Pond (a.k.a. Fern Creek Pond)which is just east of Hwy 1 on Fern Creek Rd. in Casper. -- Richard Hubacek for "Toby"
Fri, 23 Jan 2009 -- Today from a Redwood Valley ridge top I watched two adult GOLDEN EAGLES dive-bomb a hatch-year Golden Eagle several times. One time the juvenile flipped over 360 degrees. I wonder if one of those birds is the one Bob Keiffer later saw that was missing some feathers.The excitement took place in the vicinity of a nest that's in the area. The adults both perched on the nest tree for a while during the half hour or so that I watched the action. I wonder if the young one was the (single) off-spring from last year's nest. The nest itself wasn't visible from my vantage point, which could have been a trick of light. I'll check it out one of these days to make sure nothing happened to it. It's a huge nest that's been used many years in succession. During the same viewing period two WHITE-TAILED KITES helped electrify the sky and a male NORTHERN HARRIER cruised s grassy hillside below me. -- Kate Marianchild
Tue, 20 Jan 2009 -- This morning I saw an immature HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK on the west side of Hwy 101 just south of the Calpella exit sitting on a billboard. This is possibly the same bird that has been seen south of Ukiah. On my return trip I saw it again on a sign on the east side of the freeway. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 -- Chuck Vaughn and I spent the day birding the Mendocino Coast. A dawn drive over Mtn. View Road did NOT turn up any Sooty Grouse ....only many VARIED THRUSH. AL, the winter resident LAYSAN ALBATROSS, was waiting for us at Point Arena Cove as a PEREGRINE FALCON watched from it's favorite ridge-bluff perch to the south. Chuck saw a RHINOCEROS AUKLET just below the pier.
A drive down Windy Hollow Road did not result in the CBC's Black and White Warbler, but we did have a fly over FERRUGINOUS HAWK. Also a large flock of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS in the riparian was comprised of all Myrtle's variety.
A visit to Stoneborro and Duxbury Lane found us a pair of RED CROSSBILL in a mixed flock ...just 100 yards west (along Stoneborro) of the first instersection fo the two roads. There were approx. 106 TUNDRA SWANS in Brush Creek and in the pasture just to the NW of Biaggi Diary barns .... no geese could be seen mixed in.
Another FERRUGINOUS HAWK was along HWY 1 north of Irish Beach. The Navarro River had 15+ COMMON GOLDENEYE.
A stop at Van Damme Beach found us with several RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, numerous HORNED GREBES, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE and about 20 MEW GULLS. The small-sized Greater White-fronted Goose that has been there could not be found. And a search of Van Damme campgrounds did not show us any Gray Jays.
A 15 minute lunch break at Road 500D only resulted in PYGMY NUTHATCHES ....neither Townsend's Warblers nor the Grace's Warbler were seen, but our time was limited.
There were 3 GADWALL on Lake CLeone. From the Laguna Point platform we saw at least 9 ANCIENT MURRELETS just beyond the kelp line to the WNW. There were BLACK TURNSTONES and a couple WHIMBREL on the rocks. A visit 200 yards south quickly found us looking at the PALM WARBLER down on the small beach with driftwood and washed up kelp.
Scoping off the old Haul Road at the end of Ward Avenue gave us 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK, several BLACK SCOTERS, 3 female HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 2 SURF SCOTERS, and 6 SURFBIRDS. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 -- I spent today in Lake County searching for three birds that had been noted in earlier posts. At about 9:00 a.m., I found the presumed ICELAND GULL on the pier at Austin Park in Clearlake. The bird was conveniently standing next to a 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, allowing for easy comparison. Comparing my mental image against the excellent photographs posted by Floyd Hayes, I am convinced I found the same bird that he initially reported.
Next I visited Lakeside County Park in search of the reported YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Though the day was beautiful and the birds abundant, the sapsucker was not cooperative. I suppose the children playing frisbee on the ball field and the maintenance guy circling the grounds with his tractor/mower might possibly have had something to do with it. A trio of WOOD DUCKS on the nearby slough were untypically non-skittish, allowing extended viewing. A large flock (perhaps 30 or more) of CANADA GEESE were floating off-shore in the lake, with perhaps as many as half a dozen CACKLING GEESE in their midst.
Undaunted by the lack of success, I headed for the mouth of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park in pursuit of the reported SWAMP SPARROW. I found the little niche in the reeds that seemed to be a smorgasbord for all kinds of ground foragers: a VIRGINIA RAIL, a SORA, a FOX SPARROW, two MARSH WRENS (staying unbelievably long periods out in the open), a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and at least half a dozen SONG SPARROWS were alternating scratching around and dashing for cover. Try as I might (and, believe me, I tried hard for over two hours) I was unable to turn any of the variously plumaged Song Sparrows into their Swamp cousin. In addition to the usual cast of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, RING-BILLED AND HERRING GULLS, COOTS, AND COMMON MERGANSERS, the lake also hosted a small flotilla of SCAUP (I took them to be GREATER, but wouldn't bet more than a few cents on it) and a female GOLDENEYE (all bets are off on which one).
Not liking the one in three success rate, I went back to Lakeside County Park, spending another fruitless half hour. I decided to make a pit stop before starting the three hour drive back home. As I came out of the restroom, the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER flew over my head and landed in a Eucalyptus tree about fifty feet away. The time was 4:45 p.m. And, yes, only one other car was in the parking area: a guy silently metal detecting the picnic area. No surprise here, but early morning or late evening appears best, especially in the areas heavily used by other recreationers. Happy Birding, -- Mike Stanley, Grass Valley
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 -- Hey all, 1/18 As Steve G mentioned I was at the Rd 500D site without any luck on the Grace's Warbler. BUT after my 4 hrs there I stopped at the area of dead trees with lots of berries and robins (just past the houses on the way in) to find a very dull HERMIT WARBLER (presumably an imm fem). I also saw a northbound 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL just off the point around 1:15 pm. I was able to see the OLDSQUAW + RED-NECKED GREBES and BLACK SCOTERs at Ward Ave and the Laguna Pt PALM WARBLER (sans any disgust inducing human behaviors!) later in the day ~ 300.1 m SE of the platform. -- Al DeMartini [from County Birders]
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 -- Hi all, Today Frances Oliver and I did a bit of a big day in Mendocino, with a great deal of help from Chuck Vaughn.
Frances and I started owling at 3:30 on Orr Springs Rd., eventually adding a couple of. One was just past the Orr Hot Springs. On Low Gap Rd., also west of Ukiah, we added Barn Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl and Long-eared Owl. The latter three were all about 1.5 miles past the turnoff for Pine Ridge Rd. A couple Great Horned Owls made it a 6 owl morning.
Next Chuck took us on a guided tour of the U.C. Hopland property where we added Sage Sparrow and Common Moorhen. The Long-eared Owl was not at the spot where it was noted as recently as yesterday.
Along East Side Rd. was a flock of 14 Hooded Mergansers and, at the spot mentioned in previous posts, a small flock of Canvasbacks.
The Black-crowned Night-Herons were in their usual Redwood Tree at the intersection of Yosemite and Washo in east Ukiah.
The Common Moorhen and Green Heron continued at the pond along the entrance to the Mendocino Community College.
We saw very few birds, of nothing of much interested, at Lake Mendocino. There was a probable adult Western Gull but I didn't see it long enough to be positive.
At the end of Ward Ave north of Ft. Bragg we saw at least 7 Red-necked Grebes, 9 Black Scoters and at least one Long-tailed Duck. There was no doubt much more but we had to hurry.
At Laguna Pt. we missed the Palm Warbler and Rock Sandpipers but the place was wall-to-wall people. Frances did pick out three Ancient Murrelets just off the point near the viewing platform.
Along with Al DeMartini we spent only about an hour looking for the Grace's Warbler and came up empty-handed.
Along Hwy One, I think just north of Manchester, there was a Ferruginous Hawk and a flock of Tricolored Blackbirds.
In Manchester itself came the highlight of the day. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak flew over the car and obligingly landed on a telephone where it graciously posed for photos for 5 minutes. The address was 19651 Hwy. 1. Look for the ridiculous looking tree that has been pruned in the shape of a hockey puck. I will post a photo tomorrow in the Mendobirds photo section.
We looked for but did not find the Eurasian Wigeon on the small pond north of the bridge over the Garcia River. The flats at the Garcia R. were pretty much devoid of birds which isn't surprising since the area appears to be dry as a bone. From Stonesboro Rd/ Barnegat Rd. south of Manchester we were able to see about 30 Tundra Swans well to the north.
I think we ended up with 125 species for the day and the weather was amazing! -- Steve Glover, Dublin, CA
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- The male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD continues in our back yard. Barbara and I saw it many times today between 11 am and 330 pm, at maybe 30 minute intervals. We were not home yesterday and most of this morning so it may have been around then as well. Since we have seen it for 6 days now, and it is certainly visiting the feeders more regularly, it may be worth a chase. We will not be home tomorrow between about 9 and 4, so come on through the gate on the E side of the driveway. There are lots of chairs you can move anywhere on the patio. We have never seen the bird visit any but the eastern-most feeder, nearest the sliding doors and the Weber kettle. -- Thanks, Chuck
Sun, 18 Jan 2009 -- Hello - I'm not sure if this is 'reportable' or not but there is a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD in the largish blackbird flock in Gualala that frequents the southern end of town along Highway 1. Sorry if this is not that interesting. I am using the "Checklist of
the Birds of Mendocino County, California" as my guide for 'rareness'.
Also, a group of 4 of us looked for the Grace's Warbler today and did
not find it after looking from 11:15 - 12:30. Al, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, was back this evening. Good Birding -- Rich Trissel
ISat, 17 Jan 2009 -- I spent several hours on Saturday afternoon diligently helping three birders find the Lesser Black-backed Gull and presumed Iceland Gull at Clearlake but neither showed up. One of the birders returned on Sunday morning and again we spent several hours searching in vain. I'm glad that Barbara Dolan and Michael Stanley scored hits on the Iceland Gull over the weekend. I haven't seen the Lesser Black-backed Gull since January 3 (has anybody else?), so perhaps it has finally departed. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 17 Jan 2009 -- Mendocino College was my first stop Saturday for COMMON MOORHEN, SORA, and GREEN HERON. Getting to watch a beaver swim about, lifting its flat tail out of the water was a treat. Matthew Matthiessen arrived and he saw the moorhen and heron, at least. We each saw 6+ CANVASBACKS at the Beckstoffer pond .6-mi south of Talmage Rd on Old River Rd.
Matthew and I met Bob Keiffer at HREC. He enthusiastically took us to see the roosting LONG-EARED OWL, where Matthew got some good photos up close. (Please contact Bob Keiffer by email at rjkeiffer@ucdavis.edu for information).
Matthew then headed for Lake County and I went to Westside Ukiah. I picked up Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch and a Bewick's Wren for my 2009 year list. Visiting with my good friend Barbara Dolan into the evening, rounded out the rest of a very, satisfying day! -- Karen A Havlena
Sat, 17 Jan 2009 -- Today I again saw the SWAMP SPARROW at the Kelsey Creek Outlet. On Clark Drive there was a PRAIRIE FALCON. In the afternoon Nikki White and I saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Lakeside Park. This bird was seen earlier by Barbara Dolan. This morning Barbara saw the ICELAND GULL at Austin Park in Clearlake around 9:00 am. -- Jerry White
Sat, 17 Jan 2009 -- Hello - This afternoon I observed 2 RED CROSSBILLS at the intersection of Duxbury and Stonboro in "Southern Manchester". There were also 2 CACKLING GEESE 300 yards (or so) upriver from the mouth of the Gualala River. This area is about 100 yards upriver from Bones restaurant. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 17 Jan 2009 -- No luck with the Grace's Warbler despite quite a few hours of searching by me and others. However, did have a great day of birding in Mendocino Co. otherwise. Started out at dawn in Ukiah at Mendocino College. Managed to see the continuing COMMON MOORHEN, female HOODED MERGANSER and 1 VIRGINIA RAIL scurrying from 1 tule clump to another. Also there was one very cold, huddled up GREEN HERON. While searching for the Grace's Warbler, I was able to add GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and HAIRY WOODPECKER to my list. A quick stop at the bridge over Pudding Creek added 4 WILSON'S SNIPE on one of the islands just upstream of the bridge. Where Ward Ave. gets close to the ocean, I had a fabulous experience. There were 2 flocks of BLACK SCOTERS - one with 7 birds, 6 males and 1 female and another flock of 3 birds, 2 males and 1 female. This about tripled the total number of Black Scoters I have ever seen. 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were with a small flock of SURF SCOTERS and 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were also there. I found the PALM WARBLER at Laguna Point on the beach beneath its bush. I would agree with Jim Lomax that it is closer to 500 yards from the observation platform. The main thing is it is the first large bush along the edge of the cliff going south - it is half bare. On the rocks at Laguna Point were the usual rocky shorebirds and 1 ROCK SANDPIPER. The cove and ocean here had 3 ANCIENT MURRELETS, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES and 1 more male HARLEQUIN DUCK. In the Lake Cleone parking lot, 3 GADWALL were resting on a half-submerged picnic table. A beautiful day at the beach. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos [from County Birders]
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 -- At least one of the UC-HREC LONG-EARED OWLS is continuing to roost in the same bushy pepperwood tree as discovered in. This is not near the University Road (county road) so arrangements would have to be made with me to see this bird. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 -- This morning from 06:20-06:25 there was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL calling at the Glen Eden Trailhead on Scotts Valley Road in Lake County. This is the sixth species of owl that I have heard at this location over the last several years. Western Screech Owl and Great Horned Owl were also vocal this morning. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I have seen a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD in our yard on 3 occasions that last 2 days. It has made VERY brief visits to our feeders. I was home and in the yard much of the day yesterday and did not see the bird until it fed once at 4:45. We have not seen it this morning. It is a very aggressive guy, running all of the other birds off before it feeds. Apparently it likes to eat alone. If it becomes a more regular visitor I will post it here. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 15 Jan 2009 -- This afternoon there were three CANVASBACKS on the Beckstoffer Pond along Old River Road just south Talmage. At least two HOODED MERGANSER on the Old River Road pond on west side of the road across from Fern Canyon Road. A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was on the south side of the Morrison Creek "Gravelly Valley" which is also on Old River Road ....this is along the straight section of road just south of the Waddington Ranch sign. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 14 Jan 2009 -- I too got a look (my 1st) at the ICELAND GULL yesterday in the early afternoon. The bird was on the 1st pier to the south of Redbud Park. With binoculars only at a fair distance it was certainly not the quality look many have had. However, all the field marks indicated Iceland Gull and what striking pale primaries! -- Jerry White
Wed, 14 Jan 2009 -- 's up, Dogs? Arrived at Russian Gulch State Park about 8:30 AM. The drive up from the Bay Area has not improved and a recuperation period has to be alloted for when one returns. For this trip, I took the torturous Hwy 128 to Hwy 1, passed the town of Mendocino, then turned west on Road 500D as advertised. After parking Ruby in the little pull out roughly 200 feet from the end, I set out on the west side of the road and walked out the peninsula. Half and hour later out near the cliffs on the south west end I thought I had a glimpse. Two and a half hours later I finally cornered the maddening little GRACE'S WARBLER in a tree with sparsely needled branches where I got very satisfying views. I left with my neck killing me.
I proceeded north on Hwy 1 to MacKerricher State Park on north side of Fort Bragg. In the park, I went out to Laguna Point and walked south along the bluffs. Reports from 100 to 250 yards southeast of the platform located at the point (I think it's closer to 500 yards) is a bramble bush on the edge of the bluff and the bird was reported to hanging around there and on the beach below. When I got near the bush to look, I found two unattractive tattooed (a male and a female) blobs of protoplasm laying on the beach exchanging bacteria with their tongues. The bird was no where in sight and I didn't blame it. I was grossed too. So I hiked south along the coast to see if I could relocate it. Roughly another 100 yards down along the bluffs, in other bushes along the slope of the bluffs, was the PALM WARBLER. A real beauty which my eyes sorely needed after the sickening shock a few minutes before.
The return trip via Hwy 20, then Hwy 101 was just as bad. My neck still isn't right. My head tilts a little to the left. -- Jim Lomax, Concord [from County Birders]
Wed, 14 Jan 2009 -- Today Chuck Vaughn, Jim and Karen Havlena, and I drove to Lake County to look for some of the recently reported rarities, particularly the probable ICELAND GULL. We arrived at Austin Park in Clearlake at about 08:00, quickly found it on our first stop, and had it under observation for over a half hour. It was sitting on a piling of the dock to the east of the park and not on the beach among the hundreds of other gulls. Once it flushed and flew off, but it returned to the dock. We had nice side-by-side comparisons with Thayer's and Glaucous-winged Gulls of the same age.
After checking out Redbud Park and Wal-Mart without finding the Lesser Black-backed Gull, we took a tip from Nick Shepherd, whom we met in Austin Park, and drove out to Sulfur Point Drive to look for a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, and we found it close to shore right beneath the large "Crestview" sign. It disappeared underneath a boathouse, and we could easily have missed it. At the same place we saw a PACIFIC LOON.
At Clear Lake State Park we looked for the Swamp Sparrow at the mouth of Kelsey Creek, but we were unable to find it. At Lakeside County Park we found the continuing female YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in an oak near the restrooms by Ball Field A, and it later visited its favored eucalypt near the backstop. The tree has many fresh wells oozing with sap. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 13 Jan 2009 -- Hey Birders, Wanted to let you all know that the GRACE'S WARBLER was still in Mendocino County today near the end of Road 500D just north of the town of Mendocino. Plenty of directions have been given to the spot. I first glimpsed the bird at about 10 AM near the west most point of the peninsula, but wanted better looks. It took almost 2 hours for me to get satisfying looks. This time the flock and Grace's was only about 100 yards from Road 500D where I parked which was about 100 yards from the end of the road. You need to find the flock and examine each bird. Good luck. -- John Luther, Oakland
Tue, 13 Jan 2009 -- Chuck Vaughn and I checked on the LONG-EARED OWLS this morning and only found one bird in the pepperwood roost tree. Why both birds were not there today I cannot explain as they seemed quite settled in yesterday as I left them. The bird today was much more skittish than yesterday and flushed as I attempted to get a good photo. I will try to monitor the tree from a distance in the future. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 -- Greetings Mendobirders- There was a bright female-type WESTERN TANAGER in our yard this afternoon, alternately feeding on apples and hawking out of the oaks. We had a very similar bird for a week last winter, with very similar behavior, and it is interesting to wonder if it might not be the same individual? -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 -- Hi Birders. this morning I headed over to the coast to check out some wintering birds. At Laguna Point, MacKerricher State Beach, I met Lisa Hug, Karen Havlena, Toby Tobkin and a few other birders. Although the Rock Sandpipers didn't show up, there was still a nice array of rocky Shorebirds, including 43 SURFBIRDS, 169 BLACK TURNSTONES, 37 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and 11 WHIMBRELS. Off the point were several ANCIENT MURRELETS, as well as five RED-NECKED GREBES. The WESTERN PALM WARBLER continues in the same spot, which is about 200 meters southeast of Laguna Point in a bramble patch.
Next I stopped by Road 500D, just north of the town of Mendocino. I met Jessica, a local birder, and after only about 10 minutes we were treated to nice views of the GRACE'S WARBLER. The looping sallies it performs are quite helpful in locating it. It hung out in the upper canopy of the pines for about five minutes before disappearing. Finding it so quickly was pure luck, as I spent another hour there waiting for it to reappear so I could take some better photos than the marginal ones I was able to manage, but it did not cooperate. I saw the Grace's Warbler this afternoon just after 1PM. So, its definitely not just a morning bird. Other birds there included a number of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in the cove.
A quick stop by the Mendocino Headlands yielded a couple THAYER'S GULLS, as did a stop at the mouth of Little River (aka Van Damme State Park). Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 -- This afternoon I discovered two roosting LONG-EARED OWLS in an isolated pepperwood tree here at the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center. I suspect they are two of the family group that many of us observed during last summer ...these two birds are not that far away. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 -- This morning, out at sewer ponds, a couple of us got a wonderful head on, then lateral, then disappearing view of a fully mature BALD EAGLE flying low above the riparian strip at the Russian River, heading north. There was also an enormous hawk, but no matter what I did, couldn't justify it as anything but the goshdarned biggest redtail I've ever seen :-) -- Janet Rosen
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 -- This morning From 8:25-9:20 I observed and took photos of the presumed ICELAND GULL on the dock at Redbud park. -- Nick Shepherd
Mon, 12 Jan 2009 -- I routinely see one or two leucistic (white) EARED GREBES at Clear Lake and Borax Lake, but yesterday we were amazed to see four different birds at Clear Lake Park, where there were no more than a few dozen Eared Grebes. One was pure white, the others were nearly pure white.
Even more intriguing was a very odd RING-BILLED GULL, an adult with a brown right iris and normal yellow left iris (orbital ring red on both sides), and a yellow right leg and a duller yellow-pink left leg. Photos are posted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/floyd_hayes -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 11 Jan 2009 -- Nick Shepherd, Doug Wiedemann and I birded around Clear Lake today. At Clearlake we failed to find the Lesser Black-backed Gull and presumed Iceland Gull in the morning, but when we returned in the afternoon we saw the ICELAND GULL on the beach and dock at Austin Park from 3:15-3:40. During the day we tallied seven WESTERN GULLS (five at Clearlake, one at Nice, one at Clear Lake State Park) and three MEW GULLS (two at Clearlake, one at Clear Lake State Park). Along Sulphur Bank Point we saw a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (found by Nick) from the turnout at Crestview. At Clearlake Oaks County Park we saw a COMMON MOORHEN (found by Doug). And as mentioned earlier by Jerry White, we saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and SWAMP SPARROW near Kelseyville. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 11 Jan 2009 -- Laguna Point at MacKerricher SP was the destination of Matthew Matthiessen, David Jensen, Jim Havlena and myself during the morning high tide. Three or four ANCIENT MURRELETS were seen by David, Matthew and me by scoping offshore. There were two OSPREY flying over the cove by the parking lot. The PALM WARBLER was seen by all of us 100 meters SE of the point platform. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was on the rocks with Surfbirds and Black Turnstones near the Palm Warbler site. Matthew and I spent a good amount of time trying to refind ROCK SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE but had no luck.
Matthew left for Rd 500D, just north of Mendocino in SW Russian Gulch SP, to try for more photos of the GRACE'S WARBLER. The unusually calm and sunny weather should continue for at least a week, so the Grace's should stay in the same location for a while. The bird has been seen west of Rd 500D at various time during the day, including 3-pm. -- Karen A Havlena
Sun, 11 Jan 2009 -- At Clear Lake State Park this morning at the outlet I found a SWAMP SPARROW. Other birds of interest at the park were a Common Loon, Winter Wren, 3 Bald Eagles (1 immature), and 2 Pileated Woodpeckers. At Lakeside County Park I met Cliff Johnson and Floyd Hayes and his crew; Nick and Doug. We saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. We observed an interaction between it and a Red-breasted Sapsucker. The Red-breasted Sapsucker lost and was chased out of the oak grove. -- Jerry White
Sun, 11 Jan 2009 -- Hello - I observed a PRAIRIE FALCON this morning at 10:45a. I was parked at
mile marker 18.1 on highway 1 (north of Point Arena and south of the Garcia River bridge). The bird was flying (soaring a lot) over the fields on the east side of the highway and was being constantly harrassed by Ravens. The black Axillaries on the bird were obvious.
I saw a single RED CROSSBILL (but heard a few others) at the intersection of Stonboro and Duxbury and Al (LAYSAN ALBATROSS) was at his normal spot. A FERRUGINOUUS HAWK was flying over Point Arena between town and the pier. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 -- After the Audubon trip, highlighted by the Bald Eagle, we stopped at Pudding Creek bridge (acting on a tip from David Jensen) where I saw at least 8 Common (WILSON'S) SNIPE. There were a number of other birds that could have been either Snipe or Dowitchers but they weren't moving around and the light was poor. Also in the water were six GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
After that we tried Laguna Point where we saw a WHIMBREL, SURFBIRDS, BLACK TURNSTONES, and BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS but no Rock Sandpipers. I could easily have missed them among the expanse of rocks exposed by the rapidly-retreating sea.
After that we tried the Caspar Cemetery but failed on Red Crossbills. Then just before sunset we found the Peregrine Falcon on her usual perch off the Mendocino Headlands.
Still seeing Brown Pelicans, three at Laguna Point and six at Mendo. Also saw the PELAGIC CORMORNTS with their white rump patches. And lots of whale-spouts.
Day count was 56 species, including three that were heard but not seen. We missed at least ten common birds, as well as five or six uncommon species that we might have seen with better planning, so a 70-species day was within reach. Maybe next time. -- Cheers, Tim Bray on Middle Ridge, Albion
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 -- Chuck Vaughn and I scoped from Laguna Point this morning during the very high tide. The most notable birds were about 15 ANCIENT MURRELETS in groups of 2-7 diving repeatedly just outside the kelp zone. Despite perfect viewing conditions, a 7.6 foot tide, and a large resting flock of turnstones and surfbirds, we were unable to find a Rock Sandpiper - reported only yesterday. There was one RUDDY TURNSTONE among the Blacks.
We refound the PALM WARBLER south of Laguna Point in the same place it was seen on Jan 1st and 3rd. About 200-250 yards south of the outer observation platform at Laguna Point is a patch of brambles on the edge of the sea bluff with wax myrtle and willow shrubs on the face of the bluff down to the beach. The small beach is covered with logs and kelp flotsam, and the Palm Warbler has be seen in the shrubs and on the logs and kelp along with pipits, White-crowned Sparrows, and a Black Phoebe. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 -- Matthew Matthiessen arrived at 2:45 pm at the Rd 500 D section of Russian Gulch SP, west of Hwy 1. I met him and Darcie, and I walked west with Matthew on the north side of the small peninsula to the pines where the GRACE'S WARBLER was seen by myself, Barbara Dolan, Jim Havlena, George Chaniot, and Chuck Vaughn several times from about 10:30 -12:30 today. Within 5 minutes, Matthew saw the Grace's and was taking photos. I saw one that was reasonably good, but Matthew was determined to get more pics. I left him to coax the bird to pose for a portrait. [ Some photos here. ] We are all glad that the bird is still here, just north of Mendocino. -- Karen A Havlena
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 -- Hello - Fritz Steurer and I observed an adult winter BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE today at 1:30p near the mouth of the Gualala River. We were immediately adjacent to (just south of) Bones restaurant and the bird was directly below us. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 -- On an Audubon field trip this morning, our group saw an adult BALD EAGLE about one mile east of the mouth of Ten Mile River, near the divergence of the north and south forks of that stream. The bird started low above the fields and then soared high to the north before it disappeared. -- Dave Jensen
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 -- Hi all, I stopped at the north side of the Noyo Harbor this morning on my way into Fort Bragg. I went to the boat launching ramp upstream from the main harbor area. There was a beautiful male HARLEQUIN DUCK swimming with the Bufflehead and I saw my first Pelagic Cormorant of the year with its white rump patches. Spring is coming! -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 09 Jan 2009 -- At approximately 11:00 AM, I saw 2 of 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point in MacKerricher SP found about 9:45 this morning by Dorothy Tobkin. I was surprised at the large number of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones that were roosting on the large, long "yellowish" rock to the north of the furthest west observation deck (at the point itself). Also, resting there was a good number of Black Oystercatchers; that group was to the west of the smaller shorebirds. It was quite nice today, sunny and calm, when compared to the cold foggy conditions a day or two ago. It should be similar on Saturday. At the parking lot, I could not find the presumed Glaucous Gull that I saw yesterday. -- Karen A Havlena
Fri, 09 Jan 2009 -- 09:30-10:45 Since there was heavy fog this morning in Potter Valley and at the north end of Lake Mendocino, I went a little further afield and birded around the Mendocino College campus. The "Rail Pond" was very pruductive: the COMMON MOORHEN discovered on the CBC is still there, as were the unseasonal GREEN HERON, a HOODED MERGANSER, and a VIRGINIA RAIL. I went to the lower pond to the south and found a SORA sneaking along the margin. (I'll leave the fourth rail to your imagination.) Surprising to me were about 15 Purple Finches deep in the cattails. I don't remember seeing them in this habitat before.
On the way back to Potter Valley I found an AMERICAN DIPPER at the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. I haven't seen them there for some time. The bird was foraging on the rocks below the bridge and also going to the bank as if looking for nesting material. I thought I could hear a hidden dipper singing above the water noise. It would be nice if they decide to nest under the bridge again. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 09 Jan 2009 -- Dorothy Tobkin just called to say that she saw 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point this morning. (Where have they been hiding)? She also said that one can drive out Mill Creek Drive to the Laguna Point parking lot with ease. Good birding! -- Karen Havlena For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin
Thu, 08 Jan 2009 -- This morning about 10:00, the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was in the small eucalyptus trees behind the northmost backstop on St. Francis at the Lakeside Park north of Kelseyville. The southmost tree is especially full of sapsucker wells. Also at the park was Mr. 16,000, John Luther, adding another bird to his amazing total. In the afternoon, the male EURASIAN WIGEON was still at Detert Reservoir on Butts Canyon Rd. Also, there was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at Mp 3.40 on Butts Canyon Rd. I missed the goose flock at Redbud Park in Clear Lake, and never did find them anywhere else. While looking for them at Anderson Marsh State Park, I saw a BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE. -- Kathy Parker
Thu, 08 Jan 2009 -- There was a possible 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL just north of the Laguna Point parking lot this morning, but all I could see was the head and bill. The bird was just over a rise in the sand,
but the bill was pink with a clean black tip, and the head was very light (but not pure white) and looked larger than the heads of Western gulls. There was also a HERRING GULL and a THAYER'S GULL there.
Out on Bald Hill Rd off Pudding Creek Rd, there were two GREATER WHITE_FRONTED GEESE and several CACKLING GEESE among the Canadas. Two of the Cackling Geese were definitely minima and one was an Aleutian. I could not tell the race of three others. -- Karen A Havlena
Thu, 08 Jan 2009 -- Nick Shepherd just showed me a bunch of photos he took of the presumed 1st-cycle ICELAND GULL, which was on the docks at Redbud Park at about 8:15 this morning. -- Floyd Hayes
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 -- Twice today, I tried for some birds along the coast in MacKerricher SP. I had NO luck in finding a Rock Sandpiper nor the Palm Warbler at Laguna Point. It became very foggy, so I could not scope offshore for any pelagic birds.
Later this afternoon, I went to Ward Ave. I did happen to have a light, hazy fog, so I did see one female LONG-TAILED DUCK and two BLACK SCOTERS. (Two LTDU's were here a few days ago). -- Karen A Havlena
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 -- Nick Shepherd saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park this morning at about 8:00 am (while dropping off his son at school). He also saw the EURASIAN WIGEON at Detert Reservoir yesterday morning. -- Floyd Hayes
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 -- 08:00-08:15 This morning I easily refound the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Lakeside Park. It was in a tree near the backstop of Ball Field A and in other trees near the restrooms and
further west along Saint Francis Drive. -- George Chaniot [ The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER that Darlene Hecomovich found on Monday (I saw it later that day) is only the 3rd county record. As George Chaniot pointed out this is an easy location to search for this bird.
The first county record (I do not have the exact years available at my office) was a bird found many year ago by Rich Stallcup on Butts Canyon Road.
The second record was a bird I found at Anderson Marsh State Park (several years later) on Cache Creek. I believe only 3 or 4 other people saw that bird.
So if this bird sticks around for awhile, it should be easier to locate than the other good birds in the area. The Lesser Black-backed Gull, the probable Iceland Gull and the Mendocino County Grace's Warbler have all been difficult to find. Jerry White ]
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 -- Nick Shepherd saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park at 8:05 am this morning. Yesterday he and Michael Stanley were unable to locate the presumed ICELAND GULL at Wal-Mart while searching from 9:15-10:00 am. I have just added a few more photos of the presumed Iceland Gull here And I added three additional photos by Myron Widmer, taken while at Wal-Mart on Saturday, here My free website is now out of space, so some photos will be deleted in the near future. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 05 Jan 2009 -- I just got a call from Darlene Hecomovich. She found a female YELLOW -BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Lakeside County Park which is northwest of Kelseyville. Take Park Drive off of Soda Bay Rd to St Francis Dr. Go to the 2nd ball field on the west side of the park. The bird was in a deciduous tree behind the backstop from 10:00 AM till 10:15 AM or so. Jerry White for Darlene Hecomovich
Sun, 04 Jan 2009 -- On Saturday the 3rd, six of us tallied 10 species of gulls and 4 species of geese by 10:15 am. We saw the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park from 7:50 to 7:55 am and the presumed 1st-cycle ICELAND GULL at Wal-Mart (what is the correct spelling? Wal-Mart according to Wikipedia, but often spelled Walmart or Wal*Mart) from 8:50 to 9:20. We also saw a 1st-cycle MEW GULL at Wal-Mart and, later in the morning, an adult at Austin Park. The immature SNOW GOOSE, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and seven CACKLING GEESE (six were "Aleutian") were on the ball fields at Redbud Park.
I returned alone in the afternoon hoping to get better photos of the Iceland Gull. I relocated the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL along the shoreline south of Redbud Park from 2:12 to 2:24 pm and the ICELAND GULL on the first dock (Bella Laguna) south of Redbud Park from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. The latter dock is visible from Redbud Park just south of the boat ramp and also from the junction of Beach Avenue and Golf Avenue. Unfortunately it is more distant than the last dock on Golf Avenue so I couldn't get any better photos.
Optimistic that I had the movements of the two gulls wired, I spent yesterday morning helping four birders (who missed Grace's Warbler the day before) find the two gulls. We worked very, very hard to find them at all the gull hangouts, but to our dismay neither showed up and we quit in the early afternoon. At Austin Park we saw a 2nd-cycle MEW GULL, three PHAINOPEPLAS and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.
The numbers of SCAUP are increasing at Borax Lake (several hundred yesterday), so if you're visiting the area, a search for a Tufted Duck (seen four consecutive winters) might be rewarding.
On Thursday the 1st I saw the male EURASIAN WIGEON at Detert Reservoir, along Butts Canyon Road south of Middletown. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 04 Jan 2009 -- These birds were at my in town Ukiah feeders today: Black-headed Grosbeak at 7:55AM, and 1:27PM . The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH came in at 11:20AM as if familiar with the feeder. The A "black-backed" Lesser Goldfinch stayed briefly at 2:30 with no other birds around. I had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW-tan morph today. The SOOTY FOX SPARROW with a missing foot has not been seen since 12-30-08 and was doing well in spite of. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 04 Jan 2009 -- Geoff Heinecken w/ Karen Havlena ID'd a PALM WARBLER just NE of the Garcia River bridge. I got the Palm in my scope, and in the excitement of seeing a very, close-up view, it got scared off as Cheryl Watson and Jim Havlena tried to get those good looks! The four of us also got to watch about 15 RED CROSSBILLS pry open pine cones on Stonboro Rd near Duxbury Rd. This area is also a short distance north of the Garcia River in "south" Manchester. At Point Arena cove, we all got saw that "Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS has returned (after a short absense) to the north side of the harbor.
On my drive home, I saw the pair of HOODED MERGANSERS at the Ledford House pond, SW of the Albion River bridge near Hwy 1.
We tried for, but missed, the BLACK and WHITE WARBLER on S Windy Hollow Rd by Hathaway Creek. Also, the two EURASIAN WIGEONS were not at the large puddle NE of the Garcia River bridge this morning. -- Karen A Havlena
Sat, 03 Jan 2009 -- Our count (CAMN) was on Saturday, Jan. 3. Report in progress. Here are some highlights: Gr. White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Tundra Swan (66). The geese and swans were seen mostly in a field near the mouth of Brush Creek, viewed from near the end of Stoneboro Rd. Eurasian Wigeon (2m.) seen on a small pond east of Hwy 1 just north of the Garcia River bridge. Clark's Grebe, Osprey, Snowy Plover (9), Eurasian Collared-Dove (many), Warbling Vireo (being considered), Gray Jay, Black-and -White Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red Crossbill. Total: approx. 137 spp. -- Art Morley
Sat, 03 Jan 2009 -- At MacKerricher State PArk: CA Brown Pelican, California, Western and Herring Gulls, White-crowned and Savannah Sparrows, PALM WARBLER, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coots, what appeared to be a female Eurasian Wigeon (in Lake Cleone - might have been American; she flew off too fast), Brewer's Blackbirds, Horned and Eared Grebes.
The Palm Warbler photo is posted at the Photos section.
I met, by accident, Chuck Vaughn, George Chaniot and Matthew Matthiessen, scoping the Palm Warbler. Thank you, gentlemen, for pointing out the bird to me. Sorry it wasn't a better shot. -- Feather Forestwalker
Sat, 03 Jan 2009 -- The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK arrived at 7:55 A.M. 1-3-09. I had not seen it since 12-28-08 at 1:30PM. Its arrival times have been between 7-8:50 AM and 1:30PM and 3:30PM. It appears to be missing feathering on its collar at the nape, but otherwise looks and behaves okay. It has been flying off toward Perkins each time it is flushed. It ate only 11 seeds and then got flushed off by noisy WSJA .
I have had an influx of House Finches of all colors-yellowish, oranges and reds on the males. Only a few females. One reddish male today surprised me with a bill that was very long and curved downgoing. I would guess the length 1 and 1/4" to 1 and 1/2 ". Does anyone know about this abnormality? It was feeding fine. -- Barbara Dolan
Fri, 02 Jan 2009 -- I was part of a group of six birders who impatiently and disdainfully sorted through many otherwise beautiful Townsend's Warblers before finally getting a clear view of the GRACE'S WARBLER on the west side of Road 500D, just north of Mendocino Village. The mixed flock of Townsend's Warblers, Pygmy Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees with a single GRWA seems to rotate through the forest about 100 yards from the end of 500D. -- Dave Jensen
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 -- Liz West and I headed over to Mendocino to bird over the New Year's Holiday. Found some great birds and met up with a few Mendo birders. On Wednesday we started out in Potter's Valley checking out all the ponds for wintering ducks and geese, and fence lines for potential wintering hawks. Highlights include a SAY'S PHOEBE, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. Nothing unusual to report for waterfowl.
From the boat ramp at Lake Mendocino we found; a SNOWY EGRET and SPOTTED SANDPIPER walking the edge of the lake, plus a number of LESSER SCAUP, AM WIGEON, and a few shovelers further out. A BALD EAGLE was sitting along the edge of the lake.
Next we headed up to Covelo and Round Valley. Lots of great potential spots along the river were checked for dippers, but unfortunately none were found. Soaring raptors included a GOLDEN EAGLE and lots of RT Hawks. In the valley we encountered another FERRUGINOUS HAWK and the juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Never did find the Prairie Falcon or Lewis' Woodpeckers.
On New Years Day, Chuck Vaughn graciously invited us on a tour of HREC (Hopland's Research and Experimental Center for UC Davis). What a great place to work and bird! We truly experienced the grand tour. Chuck started out by showing us the sag ponds where a COMMON MOORHEN (a rare treat for Mendo) has returned for another winter. Then from his office window we could see the feeding station where a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW is wintering. Next we headed up the hill looking for a few other wanted birds.
What a great day we had! The views were spectacular and the birding was great. Plus we found out the G. Kellar recorded the songs for his California Bird CD for both Rufous-crowned and Sage Sparrows on the property. Bird highlights included; RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, CAL THRASHER, SAGE SPARROWS, MERLIN, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Plus lots of the expected Oak Woodland species were seen and more flocks of BT Pigeons than I've seen in a long time.
Next we headed over to Low Gap Rd. Missed out the RN Sapsucker but had both HAIRY and PILEATED WOODPECKERS, and calling MT QUAIL.
After saying good-by to Chuck we headed over to Lake Mendocino to check for Rock Wrens. Lots of people were walking the dam, so the wrens were MIA. Next we were off to the dipper spot along Hwy 20, no dipper but we did run into George Chaniot. All and all a great way to spend the New Years! --
Frances Oliver, Lodi
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 -- There was a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS in a large pond, SW of Hay 1 and Albion Ridge Rd, adjacent to the Ledford House restaurant. We also saw an adult BALD EAGLE on Hwy 1, across the Eel River from an area between Piercy and Confusion Hill. I'm a little confused on the exact location........We saw the eagle around noon, perched on a snag above the river. Further south, I spied a tagged Turkey Vulture -- # 95 -- just opposite the Westport STP on Hwy 1. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 -- Late this afternoon, I saw the GRACE'S WARBLER on Rd. 500 D, just north of Jack Peter's Bridge. When, Jim and I arrived, there was a large flock of Townsend's Warblers, Pygmy Nuthatches, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Brown Creeper, and a few Yellow-rumped Warblers.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The call and the Grace's behavior are the BEST ways to locate the bird. The call is a soft, VERY-slightly slurred, VERY-lightly down-curved "schlip." The (possible female) behavior is very active. It stays high in the canopy of the pines, but it also "fly-catches" in an upward, almost bouncing behavior, up and down. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 -- There was a group of 5 swallows this morning at Lake Cleone. Two were clearly BARN SWALLOWS and one was probably a TREE SWALLOW. Other notable birds at Lake Cleone included an OSPREY. At Ward Avenue the female LONG-TAILED DUCK was present and BLACK SCOTERS outnumbered the Surf Scoters. -- Dave Jensen
Thu, 01 Jan 2009 -- The GRACE'S WARBLER reported yesterday was refound by several birders today is the same general area. Toby and myself met up with Jerry White and we followed the mixed flock. The Grace's Warbler is associating with Townsend's Warblers which makes it hard to differentiate unless you get good looks. It appears to be more active and has a softer chip call then the Townsend's. Two other birders, Steve Rovell and Rich Trissel, independently confirmed the sighting.Our location again was Road 500D just north of the City of Mendocino. Follow the road to the end, turn around and come back around the first curve, and park. There are several trails leading west out to a small peninsula, where we found the bird. There is speculation that the bird might have been there for sometime and could remain for the Winter. Happy New year!! -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 31 Dec, 2008 --"Toby" Tobkin called tonight to report that David Shuford found a Grace's Warbler today in the South Headlands Loop of Russian Gulch State Park. The location is at the end of Mendocino Road 500D (500D is just north of the Lansing Street entrance to Mendocino and just north of the Jack Peter's Bridge and only goes west). The warbler was "reported" to be near the end of the road in the "flock" which contained Townsend's Warblers. No information on age or sex. Happy New Year -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 -- 31 December 2008. Perhaps the final fine sighting of the year was reported this afternoon. Dave Shuford and others found a GRACE'S WARBLER in a mixed flock just north of Mendocino. Dave called Toby Tobkin to report that he had seen the bird on Road 500D, which is a short dead-end road on the west side of Highway One between Russian Gulch and Jack Peters Creek. Evidently the bird was in coastal pines along the bluffs near the end of the road. -- This message was received from Toby and posted by Dave Jensen.
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 -- This morning Nick Shepherd and I saw the presumed ICELAND GULL on the roof of Walmart from 9:30-9:50. An adult MEW GULL was on the beach at Austin Park, only my second in the county this winter. No sign of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. At Redbud Park we were surprised to see two SNOW GEESE (one immature, one adult) along with seven CACKLING GEESE (mostly Aleutians) and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in the local goose flock, which wanders widely (seen both at Redbud Park and the Clearlake Wastewater Treatment Plant during the CBC).
Speaking of CACKLING GEESE, I saw 11 (mostly Aleutians) along Hwy. 29 at Hidden Valley Lake on 28 December, but haven't seen them since. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 30 Dec 2008 -- Today is my "last day" for 2008, since Jim and I are going to Humboldt Co tomorrow morning. So, I decided to go to Covelo and give Lewis's Woodpecker one more try. On my way over Branscomb Rd, I thought that perhaps a side trip north on Wilderness Lodge Rd might be a good place to check on the way
home. I couldn't resist turning up Wilderness Lodge Rd at about 10-am, since it was sunny. I drove about 3/4 to Angelo Preserve, when I spotted a raptor at the top of a snag. It was a large, female COOPER'S HAWK, with tail and wings spread to dry off in the sun. Continuing north, near the boundry of the Angelo Preserve, another large raptor flew speedily by and landed nearby in an open redwood. It was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK !!!!!! (I had only hoped that I would see one here, really checking the area for sometime next spring). I called Jim immediately, I was so happily surprised. We plan to return in the spring to hike there and look again for N Goshawk. Not long after that, I saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near Branscomb Rd.
I did go over Dos Rios Rd to Covelo and Round Valley. The elusive Lewis's Woodpecker was still absent every place I looked. They only like George and Matthew, at least this year anyway!
In Round Valley, I did see 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, an adult BALD EAGLE, a PRAIRIE FALCON, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and several RED-TAILED HAWKS.
NORTHERN GOSHAWK was my 322 MEN County bird and 293 for my 2008 year list !!!! (Even though there were some big misses, I would not have passed Jerry White's 299 in 2005). -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 27 Dec 2008 -- I finally relocated the possible 1st-cycle Thayer's X Iceland Gull (first seen briefly at Walmart on 7 December) at Clearlake. After further scrutiny I now think it is a fair candidate for a "KUMLIEN'S" ICELAND GULL, although the CBRC will be the ultimate judge of its identity. You can judge the photos for yourself at:
www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/icelandgull2
It is hanging out with a group of 1st-cycle gulls, especially GLAUCOUS-WINGED and THAYER'S GULLS. I saw it from from 2:45-3:25 pm on Saturday and again on Sunday from 1:30-3:30 pm on a dock at the south end of Golf Ave., which is just south of Redbud Park. From the stoplight at Highway 53 and Lakeshore Boulevard, drive west toward the lake, turn left (south) at the next light onto Old State Highway 53, turn right on Ball Park Ave., and then turn left on Golf Ave. At the end of Golf Ave. there is a narrow grassy corridor with a long dock visible at the end. The gulls can be viewed from the road. A few of us were previously granted permission by the owner of the Lake Club to walk out toward the dock and Nick Shepherd is trying to obtain permission for all birders; in the meanwhile it is better not to trespass. I also saw the gull briefly today on the roof of Walmart (8:40-8:41 am) and (with Nick) at the landfill (8:55-9:00 am).
The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL hangs out with the CALIFORNIA GULLS and has become increasingly difficult to locate. In November I saw it during 4 of 5 days but this month only during 4 of 13 days. On Sunday I saw it on the beach at Austin Park from 12:27-12:50 pm; when flushed by others it flew far to the north and disappeared. I got some very close photos, one of which is posted at:
www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/lesserblack-backedgull
The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is probably easiest to see at Austin Park, where gulls have been consistently congregating at about 7:15 am. By 8:00 am most of the gulls have departed the lake for either the roof of Walmart (viewable from the hillside beside the parking lot) or the landfill (viewable from the paved road on the hill to the left; do NOT enter the landfill!), and they begin trickling back to the lake during late morning. Most sit out on the water off Redbud and Austin Parks, but many congregate on the beach and dock at Austin Park and on a few docks at Redbud Park and south of the park. The afternoon is the best time to look for the presumed ICELAND GULL at Golf Ave.
During the CBC on Saturday the 20th, three of us had good but brief looks at a presumed adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK on the forested ridge along Crestview Drive near the north tip of Sulphur Bank Point (northwest of Clearlake Park and Borax Lake). It was a very large, pale-gray, long-tailed Accipiter, but it was facing away from us and we didn't see the white eyebrow before it flew. I've been unable to relocate it three times.
This afternoon I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON along with several HOODED MERGANSERS and CANVASBACKS on Detert Reservoir (Butts Canyon Road, south of Middletown). -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 28 Dec, 2008 -- Matthew Matthiessen found a PALM WARBLER about 125 meters S/SE of the main Laguna Point platform about noon. The bird was working an area of brambles/berry bushes. Also, from the platform, Matthew had 5 ANCIENT MURRELETS and 2 MARBLED MURRELETS. At Ward Ave, he saw the 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS found a few days ago (see previous post by Roger Adamson). Earlier this morning, Matthew saw 2 male EURASIAN WIGEONS at the Garcia River flats. Also, at nearby Brush Creek, there are now 30+ TUNDRA SWANS. Take Stonboro to the end of Bristol, west of Hwy 1, north of the Garcia River. For Matthew Matthiessen (K Havlena)
Sun, 28 Dec 2008 -- Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were off of Ward Avenue (December 25-26) in Cleone, along with the usual Black Scoters and other divers. Sorry for the latte report--I had no internet and was tied up with holiday duties. -- Roger Adamson, Davis
Fri, 26 Dec 2008 -- Hi Birders. I found a juvenile HARLAN'S HAWK at Burke Hill Road. It was originally north of Highway 101, but then it flew across the freeway. I took some photos of it, three of which are here: http://flickr.com/photos/podoces/3140417706/. Harlan's Hawk is a very distinctive form of Red-tailed Hawk. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Fri, 26 Dec 2008 -- Hi Birders. My dad and I visited the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley this afternoon. Overall it seemed like there were very few birds up there, compared to my previous visits, but there were a few highlights. 35 LARK SPARROWS flocking with 25 or so WESTERN BLUEBIRDS seemed like an unusually large flock for the winter. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was soaring over the hills to the east. a YELLOW-SHAFTED NORTHERN FLICKER was my first for the location. Interesting mammals included two River Otters in the pond and eight Tule Elk, including six bulls, on the hillside. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Wed, 24 Dec 2008 -- WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, white spripe form. This bird was in my yard this morning a little after 8:00 AM. -- Barbara Dolan
Wed, 24 Dec 2008 -- Now that the CBC "Count Week" is over we are posting the results. First of all, thanks to all of our dedicated area leaders, counters, and spotters as we tallied 129 species for the Ukiah CBC Count Day of December 20th ...which is a new record high beating last year's 128 species. We left the compilation dinner tied with last year's record ... but Matthew Matthiessen, with his "never give up" approach, headed out to a likely site in his area (after the compilation dinner) and spot-lighted a sleepy CACKLING GOOSE to provide the record breaker and bring the total to 129.
We had good luck with the owl species, but poor luck with the waterfowl species... but overall many of the "iffy" species like MOUNTAIN QUAIL, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, and ROCK WREN were found. The "beginners group" led by Roger Foote had some fantastic looks at SORA, VIRGINIA RAIL, and COMMON MOORHEN.... with the addition of AMERICAN COOT all on the same pond giving them a "four rail pond"!
Highlights of the day were a GREEN HERON, COMMON MOORHEN, LONG-EARED OWL, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, two AMERICAN DIPPERS, and thirty-four BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. And although it disappeared for the big day, a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was seen by Karen Havlena on Low Gap during Count Week. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 23 Dec 2008 -- Hi all, Today, 12/23, there was a flock of at least 5 WESTERN BUEBIRDS along Highway 1 at Spring Ranch (2 miles south of Mendocino). On 12/22 there was a first year GLAUCOUS GULL on the rocks off of Little River Beach. Also, just keep us on track, the gray whales are migrating south. Happy Holidays. -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 -- While driving out of Potter Valley, I saw a large kettle of 40+ TURKEY VULTURES circling over the hills at the south end of the Valley. It seemed like a pretty large concentration of Vultures for late December. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Sat, 20 Dec 2008 -- On the Clear Lake CBC at around 8:00 AM a group of us saw the
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park in Clearlake. I was not able to attend the count dinner so do not have details of what was seen overall on the day. However, birds of local CBC interest that Guy Commeau and I saw were; Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Sage Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Common Loon, and Eurasian Collared-Dove. We also had a teal at Borax Lake the showed some of the characteristics of a "Common Teal". -- Jerry White
To follow up on Jerry White's posting, we ended up with an unoffical count of 146 species. In addition to those species noted by Jerry, we also had 1 each of the following: Northern Goshawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Merlin, Lewis' Woodpecker, and Black-throated Gray Warbler. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Sun, 21 Dec 2008 -- Just looked out my window (12:05 PM)on this first day of Winter and found 7 RED CROSSBILLS on my feeders. Two were obvious males. From Little River -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 20 Dec 2008 -- On Dec 20, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER continues to be seen on Low Gap Road in Ukiah. Head west on Low Gap Road off of North State in Ukiah. Continue on the unpaved road, until a cattle guard. Continue 1.4 miles beyond the cattle guard, there will be an oak with yellow flagging. -- Matthew Brady [from N.Calif Birdbox]
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 -- Fri, 19 Dec 2008 -- Shortly after noon today, I saw the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER on Low Gap Rd at 1.4 miles uphill from the first cattle guard. I only got a couple of brief views, but I did hear its distinctive tapping (softer and more rapid than Acorn Woodpecker). I could not tell if it is a female or male, as I did not see the chin. The white barring on the back was fairly extensive, which would go along with the thought by George Chaniot that it is probably a female.
Also, on Low Gap Rd, on two occasions at 1.2 miles uphill from the first cattle guard, there were two very pale, gray with bright, sky blue bluebirds. They were not with any other Western Bluebirds, and they stayed and hovered close to the ground in an open area. One bird in particular had NO rufous or beige/orangey color at all. That one did the most low-to-the-ground hovering. I do think that at least that one, and probably the other bird are MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRDS. Low Gap Rd. begins at N State St and runs west of Ukiah, MEN County, up into the mountains. -- Karen A. Havlena
Wed, 17 Dec 2008 -- Chuck Vaughn and I did some CBC scouting up Low Gap Road this morning and discovered a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER about 9:00. It was working some wells in the bark of a live oak on the left side of Low Gap Road 1.4 miles beyond the first cattleguard. Chuck put some yellow flagging on the tree. When we returned at 11:00, we did not see it, but hopefully it will return to the wells in this tree. [This is the 8th MEN record, 6th winter, and first since 2001.-- CEV]
Lower down on Low Gap we saw a 100% YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER male and , on the grassy hillside with fence, a pair of RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 17 Dec 2008 -- I looked outside and saw that my two feeding areas needed some seed. After I came back inside and looked out of the kitchen window, there were only two birds in sight: a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and the CALIFORNIA TOWHEE. The WTSP is half white and half tan-stripe. I have not seen the Cal Towhee for several weeks (25 October). -- Karen A. Havlena
Wed, 17 Dec 2008 -- I suspect the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is gone. I was unable to find it despite a few hours of searching each day on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. However, there are probably 1500-2000 gulls in the area and it's impossible to view all of the gulls out on the water. After being excused from jury duty on Tuesday I saw a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER at the County Park south of Lakeport and at Clearlake Park I saw a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, a pure white EARED GREBE with a gray bill, and three TREE SWALLOWS. On Friday I saw a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Anderson Marsh. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 16 Dec 2008 -- Today I took an hour for lunch and looked for the Lesser Black-backed Gull in the Clearlake area. No Luck. There were a large number of gulls at Redbud and also at the (Clearlake) Eastlake Landfill. While at the landfill I talked with the landfill supervisor who said that trespassing was an ongoing problem at their property and that in some cases the trespassers were birders (including me today, as I went to a location that I thought would be OK ). I told him I would post a reminder to birders not to enter the property. The bird, if present, can usually be picked out with a scope from the road above. However, much searching on Saturday and Sunday and my quick look today has not turned up the bird. -- Jerry White
Sun, 14 Dec 2008 -- To all; at 2:30PM my feeder was visited by a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. We are hoping it stays and / or is visible so it could be included in our CBC. I will keep the black sunflower seeds flowing. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 14 Dec 2008 -- Hello all, [the LAYSAN ALBATROSS], Al has been here most every day except yesterday, Saturday, Dec 13, even thought the ocean has been raging quite a bit... today he was bobboing about in his usual location just off the pier to the north west, ranging from 15 - 25 yards to 40 - 50 yards as the current caused him to move around quite a bit. I was a bit surprised to see Al today since the ocean was so gnarly, but perhaps he was a bit lonesome? When Hans, one of the surfers who goes out in these stormy conditions paddled out, Al made a point to get over to him to get his pat on the head; Al is a great lesson for all of us as to how loving nature's creations are... if we don't cause their demise... *sigh* -- Peace, Tom Reid
Sat, 13 Dec 2008 -- I scouted Lake Pennyroyal, in both the morning and the afternoon, also getting ready for the CBC. In the morning I found the first HOODED MERGANSERS I've ever seen there. By afternoon a flock of AMERICAN WIGEONS had flown in, with what I'm quite sure was a EURASIAN WIGEON among them. It was a long view to the end of the lake, even with my scope. I imagine it's the same one Steve Grams and I saw at Lake Mendocino last week, as there's a lot of back and forth between the two lakes. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 13 Dec 2008 -- Barbara Dolan and I birded around the south end of Lake Mendocino today doing some scouting for the CBC next Saturday. We got a ride to the spillway, birded there, and walked back across Coyote dam, which is not officially open yet.
At the spillway we found a cooperative pair of RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS on the pipe and the rockwork on the east side of the cut. There was a SAY'S PHOEBE foraging from the tops of what low weeds it could find after brush and cattails have been cleared. We could not find a Rock Wren there as usual, but on the walk back we found at least three ROCK WRENS at the very south end of Coyote Dam near the last bench (CBC Area #2). They have not been displaced by the recent activity where 50,000 tons of new rip-rap have been added to the dam. At the north end of the dam we also found a Rock Wren on the white barrier just inside the gate. This wren also went underneath the bucket of a huge piece of earthmoving equipment - not intimidated!
At the south boat ramp the SNOW GOOSE is still present, and a HERRING GULL has joined the other gulls. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 13 Dec 2008 -- Karen Havlena called to say that, after many attempts, she finally found a SOOTY GROUSE on Mountain View Road. It was near some turkeys at milepost 9.25 -- George Chaniot for Karen Havlena
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 -- This morning there was a male REDHEAD along the north shore of Lake Mendocino at Oak Grove and dozens of CACKLING GEESE among the hundreds of Canadas.
I hiked down to the Russian River from the pullout at mile marker 37.08 on Route 20 this morning and easily found an AMERICAN DIPPER. It probably could have been glimpsed from the pullout itself without making the steep climb down and out. The hike down was worth it though because there was a group of 5 WOOD DUCKS in a pool just upstream. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 -- 12/11/08 there were two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS along Butz Canyon Rd about 2 miles east of Hwy 29 at Middletown. There is a row of Eucalyptus on the north side of Butz Canyon Rd. and a cyclone fence with a sign that says "Fire Access." The woodpeckers were on the south side of the road in oaks near to the sign. -- Dave Woodward
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 -- A Tagged TURKEY VULTURE with the patagial (wing) white band with # 93 (last seen near Russian River Estate) was observed today on the south end of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. This is definitely a resident bird, whereas most of the tagged TUVUs from this summer's UC study are probably soaring the skies or jungles of Central or South America. Everyone needs to really pay attention during this spring's northward migration ...late February and Early March to watch for "returnees". Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 -- At 10:00 this morning I found five AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at the north end of Lake Mendocino. They were sitting on the edge of the mud and swimming in the water near the north boat ramp. (CBC Area#3) I may have seen them as early as 08:30 but I could not see them well enough to ID. At 10:40 they took off, circled up among the vultures, and headed off toward Clear Lake. Geoff Heinecken and Cheryl Watson arrived just in time to see them in flight before they disappeared across the ridge toward Lake County. Congratulations to Geoff on his 300th Mendocino bird!
This encounter reinforces my impression that the white pelicans which occasionally appear at Lake Mendocino are day-trippers from Clear Lake and don't hang around very long.
The SNOW GOOSE is still present among the domestic geese at the south boat ramp (CBC area#2). Two weeks ago there were six species of gulls, but they have dwindled to Ring-billed and California. I was unable to find Kate and Steve's Eurasian Wigeon, but it could still be around. There was an adult BALD EAGLE sitting in the last tree on the Miti campground spit (CBC
Area #3). -- George Chaniot
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 -- Yesterday the hit and run flock of tiny birds in the trees behind my house here in Glen Blair included an OAK TITMOUSE. This little flock always sends me running for binoculars, but they are very hard to see and id. I feel like a real klutz trying to focus on the rapidly moving small critters up in the branches in contrasty light.
Anyway, the Oak Titmouse is new to me, but it seems I can't be confusing it with anything else, I got a good look. How common are they? Also in the flock yesterday were Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Townsend's Warblers, Downy Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, before the Juncos took over. -- Becky Stenberg, Glen Blair
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 -- Located between Ukiah and Hopland along Highway 101 (east side) is the CroFoot Ranch. Look for the ranch sign along Highway 101 with a large black crow holding up a large foot painted on it ...and grass pasture usually with cattle and llamas. This has become a regular foraging and daytime use area for the now resident Canada Geese (Great Basin subspecies). It also occasionally gets other geese attracted to the flock. Currently there are about 60+ CANADA GEESE, 15-20 CACKLING GOOSE(Aleutian subspecies), and 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 -- Becky Bowen and I did a shore bird survey today at Virgin Creek Beach and a SAY'S PHOEBE was present on the beach just north of the creek. -- Charlene McAllister
Tue, 09 Dec 2008 -- I was surprised to find an immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE late morning today in a very small marsh/pond south of the light-keeper's house at Point Cabrillo. You could just see the white feathers coming in around the bill. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 08 Dec 2008 --Just to let everyone know, Al or Alice, our beautiful, faithful albatross has been in the cove every day, all day of late, in his/her favorite location just north of the pier... the last few days Al has been sharing space w/ a few pelicans who seem to have been feasting on schools of baitfish close to shore; quite a wonderful site, Al bobbing about in the background while the pelicans glide around and dive for dinner 'til full, then relax next to Al as their dinner digests... pics will follow when I get my full computer function back... Peace, -- Tom Reid
Sun, 07 Dec 2008 -- Nick Shepherd and I tallied 8 species of gulls this morning at Clearlake, including the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the roof of WalMart from 8:18-8:25. Now that it's been here at least 37 days I'm hopeful it will stick around for the CBC, maybe all winter. We also saw a 1st-cycle gull appearing intermediate between Thayer's and Iceland Gull (strongly speckled tertials, primaries concolorous with wing, faint secondary bar, didn't see tail well; not as good a candidate for Iceland Gull as the 2006 gull).
At Redbud Park we were surprised to see four species of geese in a single flock: a SNOW GOOSE, a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, five CACKLING GEESE and 16 CANADA GEESE. At Clearlake Park we saw a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. We were unable to find the RED-NECKED GREBE--my bad luck bird for the county--seen twice north of Clearlake Oaks by Jerry White. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 06 Dec 2008 -- Steve Grams and I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON among 6-8 American Wigeons this afternoon around 5 p.m. at Lake Mendocino, near the north boat ramp. We got our shoes all muddy and got great, long looks. Also several GREATER SCAUP and a few RUDDY DUCKS along with the Coots. A SNOWY EGRET was also having great success fishing in an isolated pool. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 06 Dec 2008 -- A BLACK SCOTER and a RED-NECKED GREBE were off the north end of Ward Ave in Cleone. (Earlier in the week, 8 Black Scoters were seen here by Toby Tobkin). It was another calm, crystal clear day at Laguna Point, with almost no swell on the ocean. There were two additional RED-NECKED GREBES in the cove. After scoping a few minutes from the point's observation deck, I spotted 5 small alcids at the edge of the kelp. One was a MARBLED MURRELET. The others disappeared below the surface. After 1/2 hour, I finally saw 5 small alcids again. One was a/the MARBLED MURRELET, 3 were ANCIENT MURRELETS (289 for the year), and 1 was a CASSIN'S AUKLET. -- Karen A Havlena
Sat, 06 Dec 2008 -- Floyd Hayes saw the LESSER LACK-BACKED GULL again today between about 8:15 AM and 8:45 AM, this time on the roof of Rays Market which is just to the south of Wal Mart in the City of Clearlake.
I birded for a couple of hours at Clear Lake State Park. Birds of general interest (for the upcoming CBC) were; 4 Townsend's Warblers, an Orange-crowned Warbler, a number of Golden-crowned Kinglet's, 2 Glaucous-winged Gulls at the outlet and a Common Loon seen from the swim beach. -- Jerry White
Fri, 05 Dec 2008 -- Immediately south of Willow Point in Lakeport (at the end of C Street), a single ROSS'S GOOSE and 2 SNOW GEESE flew in with 9 CACKLING GEESE and were visible from the Lake County Vector Control District office on Esplanade. Likely they could also be seen from the southern side Willow Point. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE has also been spotted here several times in the last week, but it's a very small individual--barely larger than a mallard. Dave Woodward also saw the geese today, and has seen the GWFG here as well.
There is a large flock of domestic geese and ducks, and many MALLARDS that are daily visitors (residents), and the wild geese are mixing with this flock (although the feral geese often harass their wild brethren). -- Jamie Scott
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 -- Today, I spent hours in the Covelo and Round Valley area looking for Lewis's Woodpecker and Rough- legged Hawk. I covered almost every accessible road in the valley. Finally, I found a 1st year ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on East Ln. This is in the NE corner of the valley. On Dobie Land, I could not find any clue of Lewis's Woodpecker being there. Of course, I searched all over the valley, but there were no Lewis's in sight.
Prior to my arrival in the Round Valley, I came over from the coast on Branscomb Rd and Dos Rios Rd from Laytonville. When I reached Dos Rios bridge, I stopped and looked over the sides with my binoculars. There were at least 55+ King Salmon resting just north of the confluence of the Eel River and the N Fork of the Eel River. Later on, I checked two other places, where I saw about 10+ salmon each time. My unofficial total was 55- to 75 salmon. -- Karen A Havlena
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 -- I just had a SLATE-COLORED D-e JUNCO in my yard in Potter Valley. Second time in 30 years. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 -- This morning there was an adult SNOW GOOSE at the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino feeding on dry bread among the domestic geese and "soup ducks." It was a nice view at close range if you want to study the details of the black "gums." Across the lake were a few CACKLING GEESE among the many honkers. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 -- I drove south along Hwy 1 to check on a report of a Rough-legged Hawk between Manchester, Irish Beach and Elk. I saw 3 Ferruginous Hawks and numerous Red-tailed Hawks in the area. Since Jim and I were in the same place on Nov 29 and 30, I was interested in finding the Rough-leg (which we did not see on the dates mentioned above). I concentrated on the fields north of Irish Beach, as well as north of Manchester. Unfortunately, I could NOT find a Rough-legged Hawk.
I witnessed an unusual scrape between a Ferruginous and a Red- tailed Hawk. The Ferruginous was easy to spot, because of its light colors. While I looked at it, a Red-tailed Hawk landed within 2 feet of the FEHA. The FEHA spread its wings, while the RTHA challenged it. The FEHA must have had a mouse in its talons. This fight accelerated with the FEHA "winning" the food prize.
ALSO --- Further south, I drove Stonboro to the end of Bristol (just north of the Garcia River). Five SNOW GEESE still had one ROSS'S GOOSE with them on Brush Creek. No Tundra Swans have arrived. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 02 Dec 2008 -- Toby Tobkin called to report an apparent hybrid SNOW X ROSS'S GOOSE at Lk Cleone, MacKerricher SP. I drove down to see it. It was alone when Toby saw it, but it was with an imm GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE (or quite small) Canada Goose when I arrived. The white goose looked mostly like a Ross's, but it was the same size as the other two geese, and it had a narrow black mark on the gape of its bill. -- For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin (Karen Havlena)
Mon, 01 Dec 2008 -- Beb Ware and I saw a PEREGRINE FALCON from the top of Squaw Rock today. It was sitting in a tree to the east of Highway 101, but it never came close to give us a good view. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 30 Nov 2008 -- Jim and I stayed in Point Arena last night to bird the south MEN county, concentrating on several areas, such as Mountain View Rd, Garcia River flats, Brush and Alder Creeks, and Lake Davis near Alder Creek. Two ROSS'S GEESE were with a small group of SNOW GEESE on Brush Creek. We saw no swans in the area, as yet. We also missed "Al" at Point Arena cove. We looked for Burrowing Owl at Lake Davis, but had no luck. Most of our time was spent driving and walking up and down Mountain View Rd, between mm 6.00 and 10.00, then 15 miles of Fish Rock Rd in another fruitless attempt at seeing a Sooty Grouse - boo hoo. Checking for raptors along Hwy 1, there were 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS south of Elk. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 30 Nov 2008 -- Today the Thayer's Gull was not to be seen - although I have seen it fly to the north end of the lake previously. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 28 Nov 2008 -- The 1st year THAYER'S GULL is still at the south ramp of Lake Mendocino. There were only three gull species today compared to six a week ago. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 26 Nov 2008 -- On the 26th I saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It was in the top of the oaks to the north. A resident of the area also told me she had seen one in the same area recently. I was back on the 29th and did not see one. We did not see any on the Peregrine field trip to Round Valley on the 23rd. It seems to be a low year for Lewis's although the acorn crop appears moderate. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 26 Nov 2008 -- A pair of HOODED MERGANSERS were on the large, manmade pond on Old River Rd, about a mile south of Talmage. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 25 Nov 2008 -- Several observers reported the arrival of "AL" the assumed same LAYSAN ALBATROSS that has been returning to the Point Arena Cove for the last 16 consecutive winter periods (or more). The bird returned at approximately 10:00 AM on November 22nd (thanks Tom for the sharp lookout). Ironically, I just returned from Kauai where the re-arrival of Laysan Albatross for the nesting season occurred during the week of November 10 - 15th November... about the same time that the Humpback Whales return to Kauai waters. I don't even try to guess if there is any correlation. To update your curiosity, below is a chronological list of arrival and departure dates.
For those of you for whom this information is new, the bird uses the Point Arena Cove as a resting/loafing area during normal seas. During very rough, intense storms the bird tends to disappear. I always tell folks that they have about a 50% chance of seeing the bird from the Point Arena dock on any one day during the winter period ....but one might have to keep checking every couple hours as you never know when the bird might arrive or depart. If you are travelling from out of the area specifically for this bird ...you might plan on being in the area for at least a couple days to increase your chances. And ...if the bird is sleeping with his head tucked under the wing it can be missed if it is not near any other birds or objects for size reference ( I have seen people mistake is for a Western Gull). Ask the surfers ....they usually know and look after the bird's welfare.Here is a revised list of first reported arrival dates and last reported season's dates (assumed near departure) for the subsequent years:
???? to? 28 Feb 1994 (T.Easterla and J.Booker)
30 Nov 1994 to 27 March 1995 (report of two birds in synchronized courtship? flight during the end of this period)
5 Dec 1995 to 14 March 1996
3 Dec 1996 to 26 March 1997
27 Nov 1997 to 8 Mar 1998
12 Dec 1998 to 21 Mar 1999
4 Dec 1999 to 12 Feb 2000 with a "fly by the cove" on 2 April 2000 as observed by George Chaniot (possible same bird?)
26 Nov 2000 to 26 Feb 2001
28 Nov 2001 to 24 Mar 2002
>21 Nov 2002 to 12 Mar 2003
25 Nov 2003 to 28 Feb 2004
28 Nov 2004 to 21 Feb 2005
26-30 Nov 2005 to 19 Mar 2006
25 Nov 2006 to 16 Mar 2007
7 Dec 2007 to 5 Mar 2008
22 Nov 2008 to "time will tell"
-- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 23 Nov 2008 -- The Peregrine Audubon Society had its annual field trip to Covelo and Round Valley today. The day started out with heavy ground fog in Ukiah and Willits, but along the Covelo Road we managed to find an AMERICAN DIPPER and a BALD EAGLE near Dos Rios, and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON at the sandstone cliffs. Round Valley was fogged in also when we got there and didn't begin clearing up until about 10:30. After that we began seeing things: multiple FERRUGINOUS HAWKS along Fairbanks Road and Dobie Lane, a PRAIRIE FALCON, and quite a few more raptors. A coyote in a field on Dobie Lane flushed up several birds which turned out to be two ravens and a SHORT-EARED OWL. The owl climbed above the ravens and circled in view for a full 15 minutes. At the lunch site at the Eel River Ranger Station we turned up a CANYON WREN just below the picnic tables.
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 -- Hi All, Barbara Pratt reported to me that Al was seen this morning, Saturday Nov. 23rd, off the Point Arena Pier. I've attached the picture she sent me. Good news, yes?! -- Jeanne Jackson [For photo by Barbara Pratt on Joe Morlan's Page click here ]
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 -- At approx. 10AM this morning, Saturday, November 22, Al the LAYSAN ALBATROSS glided into the Point Arena cove... Take a look at the attached pic... proof! He's yawning, perhaps tired from his long journey? -- Tom Reid,Point Arena
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 -- This afternoon at about 3:30 the THAYER'S GULL was still present near the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino with 74 California Gulls. The Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, Herring, and Glaucous-winged Gulls of recent days were not to be found at that time. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 -- The LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen Friday morning (around 8:00 am) by Nick Shepherd from Redbud Park on a dock south of the park. Also there was a ROSS'S GOOSE at the park. -- Jerry White for Nick Shepherd
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 -- Today there were 7 CACKLING GEESE, 1 SNOW GOOSE, and 1 ROSS'S GOOSE in Lakeport just south of Willow Point/ north of the Vector Control District Pier. Dave Woodward saw the snow goose and cackling geese, but the Ross's goose flew off before he arrived. We took a few marginal photos of the Ross's, and several good photos of the snow goose.
Other birds I've been seeing regularly off Esplanade in Lakeport include SCAUP (usually too far off for me to confidently distinguish Greater or Lesser), COMMON MERGANSERS (usually in flocks of 30-100), BUFFLEHEADS, and RUDDY DUCKS. There have been some extremely large feeding flocks of WHITE PELICANS visible from here over the last few weeks (some over 600 individuals). -- J.J.Scott
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 -- I took a brisk walk around the hospital and medical clinics off Cypress St in Fort Bragg sans binoculars. Hearing many yellow-rumps and robins, I walked to the edge of a property and gave a soft pish, just to make the yellow-rumps jump. Out of an old fruit tree popped a round, very short-tailed warbler with a fairly good amount of yellow from lower breast/belly up to the top of the crown. She was only 10-12 ft away in a tiny, sparse bush. "This is a good bird!" My first impression was PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, but I had only previously seen males, and she was too low in the bush for me to see the undertail coverts. After about 20 seconds, she flew into another tree in the yard. Unable to get David Jensen or Toby Tobkin on the phone, I called Jim and persuaded him to drive down with my Warblers guide, which took almost 1/2 hour. In the meantime, I refound the Prothonotary twice.
She took a bath in an old apple tree by rubbing through the wet leaves for about 3 minutes, a neat maneuver to observe. During this bath, I was able to see good field marks: long, white spots in the short tail; white undertail coverts; smooth, slate gray wings - no wing bars; greenmantle almost as green as imm Chestnut-sided; round, black eye on a plain yellow face. The yellow wash on belly, breast, face and up onto the crown gave way to greenish tips of the feathers on the back crown and nape.
After this, she flew to a Douglas-fir and sat near the trunk by some ivy. I lost her when some clinic workers came out for break, and sat right under the fir. Then, Jim arrived. Later Richard, Toby and finally Matthew came. No luck. I am so disappointed that, so far nobody else saw her. I am leaving for Fort Bragg now and will write again, if she shows up.
Location: South side of Cypress and west of River Rd. Large, open shrubs in the lot between the 4 large cypress trees and Ft Bragg Police Station. This is east of Hwy 1. -- Karen A Havlena
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 -- The first winter THAYER'S GULL is still at the south boat ramp area at Lake Mendocino. Today I walked out onto the lakebed and got scope-filling views in good light at 50 feet. It was the best opportunity I've ever had to study this plumage well. At times I had it side-by-side with 1st winter Ring-billed, California, Herring, and Glaucous-winged Gulls. It also hung out in the parking lot among other gulls, but was run off by cars from time to time. There were about 75 Calfornia Gulls, and they were returning over the dam from the direction of Ukiah. In Ukiah the only concentration of gulls I could find was in the parking lot of Carl's Jr. and on the roof of Dorsey's Body Shop next door - all adult Californias -- George Chaniot
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 -- Approximately 700 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS are roosting near the outlet of Manning Creek in the southwest corner of Clear Lake. In the mornings, they swim and fly northward along the west shore of the lake and feed in the shallows. The Threadfin Shad population in the lake is low this year, but the shallows along the west shore are loaded up with Inland Silversides and young-of-the year Sacramento Suckers. Those species could be providing food for the pelicans. The best places to see the pelicans would be by boat or at the south end of the Esplanade off of S. Main St. in Lakeport where there is a beach area. The beach is private property, but the lake is visible from the public road. Several CACKLING GEESE have been hanging around the beach on the Esplanade the past few days. In the past week there has been a PEREGRINE FALCON working the southwest shore of Clear Lake, seen by Jamie Scott, Terry Sanderson and by me on Nov. 16. -- Dave Woodward
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 -- There was a RED-NECKED GREBE east of Lucerne on Highway 20 near milepost 20.35 today. -- Jerry White
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 -- Karen Havlena just called to report a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER at the corner of River Road and Cypress Avenue in Fort Bragg. This is essentially in front of the Mendocino Coast Hospital. It was in the yard on the southwest corner of River Road and Cypress and spent some of its time bathing in the leaves of the apple tree in the yard. She thinks it is an immature female. Cypress is the third street north of the Noyo Bridge and River Road is two long blocks west of Highway 101. Good luck! -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 -- I found 2 HORNED LARKS today, walking the bluffs just north of the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse at 3:17PM. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 -- A few minutes ago, while my binocs were focused on a Red-breasted Sapsucker in my apple tree, something darted in/out of the field of vision at an angle I couldn't follow. The gestalt impression was empid (pale drab grey/olive with a pronounced pale yellow chin or bib area, definite eyering but couldn't tell if full or broken, wing bars); I know they are supposed to be away for the winter so wondered if it was an empid is there a particular species more likely to still be here before heading south? Many thanks! -- Janet Rosen
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 -- This morning there was a single CANVASBACK amid a large group of Ring-necked Ducks at the pond at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 16 Nov 2008 -- I spent about 3 hours walking very slowly along Bald Hill Road north of Fort Bragg Saturday morning and saw at least 3 Ferruginous Hawks. At one point there were two on the west side of the road, with one calling in flight, the other in a tree, while a third bird was cruising the sky on the east side of the road. Other raptors included one male and one female Northern Harrier, several Kestrels, and a Red-tailed Hawk. I found one Cackling Goose among hordes of Canada Geese, and had a brief look at a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker. Also saw Meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Savannah Sparrows (I think - couldn't figure out anything else), lots of White-crowned Sparrows, and one Marsh Wren. And one coyote. I watched it trying to catch rodents (I think) and then it lay down next to a stump under a bush.
Then I went to Glass Beach just in time to see two Harlequin Ducks before they dropped into the water and disappeared from view around the rock. The rock they were on also hosted one Black Oystercatcher, lots of Black Turnstones, a Brandt's Cormorant, and a Western Gull.
Very nice morning, except that I was sweltering in the wrong type of clothing for what seemed like 80-degree weather on Bald Hill Road. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 16 Nov 2008 -- This afternoon there was an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK along the Hearst-Willits Road east of Willits.
This morning at the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino there were six species of gulls continuing: Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, California, Thayer's, Herring, and Glaucous-winged. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heinecken, Barbara and I went to the dam parking lot at the south end of Lake Mendocino early this morning for some casual birding. We saw a good variety of gulls...well, good for Lake Mendocino, but not so good for Lake County. In the immediate area of the parking lot, among dozens of CALIFORNIA GULLS, we found single adult and first-winter HERRING GULLS, a first-winter THAYER'S GULL (seen on Nov 13 by George Chaniot), and a first-winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. Out over the lake there was an adult BONAPARTE'S GULL. An adult BALD EAGLE was unsuccessfully strafing a large group of Coots. A flock of 36 SNOW GEESE, including a dark morph bird, circled the lake briefly before leaving directly east towards Clear Lake. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -- I briefly saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the roof of Wal-Mart from 9:48-9:50 am, when about 200 gulls were present. I was unable to find it earlier in the morning when about 1000 gulls were present. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -- Mid to late afternoon, I saw two HORNED LARKS just south of the tip of Laguna Point. Both birds were fairly plain, but one of them had yellow lores, superciliums and throat. They were scared over to a large, short grass-covered "island" about 40 meters south of the point. Above the exposed rocks, about 20 MEW GULLS were hawking insects like nighthawks, and offshore many Pacific Loons and Western Grebes flew south. It was a fabulous afternoon, warm, still and crystal clear! A great day to finally get the Horned Larks for my MEN list.
In the morning at high tide, the two Rock Sandpipers could not be found, according to Toby Tobkin. They still could be there, or maybe a couple more will arrive soon. -- Karen A Havlena
Fri, 14 Nov 2008 - This afternoon, Jim and I could see 2+ BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS in the redwoods at Yosemite and Washo in Oak Manor. Park on Pomo and look into the trees. This is east of Hwy 101, south of Perkins and north of Gobbi. Then, we drove down to Talmage, and continued .6 mile down Old River Rd to the large pond with signs for Beckstoffer and Mendocino Vineyard Co. We had hoped to see returning Hooded Mergansers. But NO, the pond was almost completely drained !! RFI - If anyone sees Hooded Mergansers on other MEN County ponds or at Lake Mendocino, could you please report their location? Thanks very much. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 14 Nov 2008 -- Rain, a birder who lives up the hill from me (near Ukiah), wrote this.: "I swear I heard an Evening Grosbeak flying over today. Have you ever heard of one being around here? I sure miss them from Oregon. Rain". Can anyone answer this? -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 -- I just saw _four_ WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and one White-crowned in a brush pile on my property in Fort Bragg. White-throated Sparrows have always been solitary in my previous sightings (which amount to a grand total of two). -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 -- On Nov 13, (2) ROCK SANDPIPER were seen roosting on the rocks at high tide at the end of the last platform at Laguna Pointin MacKerricher State Park. (Dorothy Tobkin) [from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called to say that she saw a LONG-TAILED DUCK and a HARLEQUIN DUCK in the ocean just off Pudding Creek. The LTDU was far out, so she could not tell the gender, but the HADU was a male. One will need a spotting scope to bird here. Park just north of the Pudding Creek bridge in the public parking lot between the Surf and Sand and Beachcomber motels, then walk out to the bluffs.
11 Nov at Ocean Meadows, a/the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was in the yard,
and that Cooper's Hawk just won't go away. -- For Toby Tobkin and Karen A. Havlena
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 -- Today. along with 2 Chico birders, we refound and viewed from 9:00-9:30 am the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the Clearlake Landfill. The gull was still present when we left. The road to the landfill was closed because of the Veterans' Day Holiday, but we were able to achieve good viewing by taking the Quackenbush Mountain Road immediately above the landfill road. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 -- Near dusk, I drove east on Pudding Ck Rd and then north on Bald Hill Rd, hoping for Burrowing Owl in the darkening skies - still no luck. There were about 20 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and hundreds of Canada's mixed with some CACKLING GEESE (minima and Aleutian). -- Karen A. Havlena
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 -- MendoBirders - Along with Rich Stallcup and a bunch of good friends, Les and I enjoyed a rainy Saturday and a sunny Sunday morning mostly along the Mendocino Coast. We did not see Karen, Toby, nor David, but we do have a few other highlights to report. Friday, 07 November 2008 (late afternoon): 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on the beach at Little River; Saturday, 08 November 2008: 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach; Sunday, 09 November 2008: From the platform at Laguna Point we saw 1 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, 1 BULLER'S SHEARWATER, 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL, 1 ROCK SANDPIPER - we saw this little beauty around 8:30 AM in great light - it was, as usual, with the BLACK TURNSTONEs and SURFBIRDs, 48 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS ! And at the Garcia River we saw 1 FERRUGINOUS HAWK. -- Cindy Lieurance
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 -- If any of you happen to be driving south on Highway 1 into Sonoma County during the next couple of days, you may wish to swing into Bodega Bay for a few minutes and attempt to locate an immature Yellow-billed Loon, which was discovered there Saturday by Rusty Scalf. Though the bird apparently dives for extended periods of time when feeding, it has been well seen by others. -- Richard Kuehn
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 -- I have a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW here in Glen Blair also. Glad I read the digest and looked it up so I could quit being baffled by the odd-looking White-crowned Sparrow with the Song Sparrowish face! So I guess I shouldn't pay so much attention to the range maps? ;oP -- Becky Stenberg
Sun, 09 Nov 2008 -- I saw ten GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Bald Hill Rd, off Pudding Creek Rd. There were many Canada and a few CACKLING GEESE in the fields also. No Burrowing Owl nor Ferrugious Hawk, as yet here. Also Sunday 11/9 - Toby Tobkin saw a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE from Laguna Point in MacKerricher SP. No Rock Sandpipers yet. -- Karen Halvena
Sun, 09 Nov 2008 -- Haven't seen any posting on this bird today, so just to let you know the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen by a number of birders on the roof of the Walmart in Clearlake 8.30 - 9.00 am this morning (and didn't fly off while we were there - Bill Doyle and I left it to go see the Yellow-billed Loon at Spud Point, Bodega Harbor). -- Helen Kochenderfer
Sat, 08 Nov 2008 -- David Jensen found a FERRUGINOUS HAWK south of Elk along Hwy 1. We also saw many Red-tails and Kestrels, Western Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 08 Nov 2008 -- Nick Shepherd, Mike Stanley and I saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park from 7:25-7:55 this morning. Barbara Dolan joined us later and we relocated it on the roof of WalMart from 9:15-9:45. The landfill will not allow any birders to enter but the gulls can still be viewed from the road above the landfill. Nevertheless, there were only a few hundred gulls and most departed when an employee began firing at them with a paintball gun. To my dismay we could not find a Heerman's Gull. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 08 Nov 2008 -- On Nov 8, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continues in the town of Clearlake. It has been seen at Austin Park, on the roof of the Wal-Mart, and at the Clearlake Landfill off of Davis Street. (Jerry White) [from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 -- Speaking of PEREGRINE FALCONS, I got a shot of one at Virgin Creek today on the rocks I call "Frog Eye" just south of the creek itself and along the headland cliffs. . .the rock with the two 'eye holes' above and just south of where the Harbor Seals lay on the flats there. It was an adult. The photos weren't that good. If anyone wants to see. ..I will e mail them privately. . .just let me know :) -- Feather Forestwalker
Thur, 6 Nov 2008 -- Today seemed liked a good day for birding. Low pressure and cloudy skies beckoned me out to see what was about. ** North Coast- I went north to Hardy Creek and drove south to locations along Hwy 1. Hoping for good alcids, no small alcids were at the usual locations. At Westport STP, there was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD. Earlier in the week, we had a N Mockingbird in our yard at Ocean Meadows (perhaps the same bird ??). At mm 72.00, I saw about 40-50 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS near a small herd of cattle north of the large turn-outs on Hwy 1. This is the old site of Newport. There has been an imm. PEREGRINE FALCON and a COOPER'S HAWK in the Ocean Meadows neighborhood, as well, for a couple of days. ** Toby Tobkin had a MERLIN at Virgin Creek by the small bridge over the creek. Also, there were 6 SNOWY PLOVERS and 50 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. -- Karen A Havlena and Toby Tobkin
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin ventured out today and saw yet another LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Mendocino Headlands St Park by the sister city plaque. Also, Toby still has a tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a male "SLATE-COLORED" Junco coming to her feeder at her home in Fort Bragg. Jim and I saw both of these birds on Monday. -- For Toby Tobkin, KAren Havlena
Mon, 03 Nov 2008 -- I also had _three_ WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at my feeders here in Potter Valley today. This is an unusual concentration here. One was white-striped and two were tan-striped. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 -- This morning Cheryl Watson, Larry Petrie, and I observed the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park in the city of Clearlake. It was sitting at the water's edge on the beach with a group of California Gulls and Bonaparte's Gulls - a nice view at good range. We had it under observation from 11:05 to 11:35 at which time it was flushed by a boat and flew off to the east in the direction of Redbud Park.
Earlier, Cheryl and I searched from 9:00 to 11:00 starting at the landfill at the end of Davis Street. They would not let us in even if we paid, so we walked up Quackenbush Road a short way and scoped from there. Next we went to Wal-Mart where there were several hundred gulls on the roof - no luck. Thirdly we went to Redbud Park where there were many gulls on the water and on the docks. There we found two HEERMANN'S GULLS on the water among California Gulls - maybe the fourth and fifth birds for Lake County. When we arrived at Austin Park the LBBG was an easy find.
We also stopped at Borax Lake where we saw a wigeon which was probably a hybrid AMERICAN/EURASIAN WIGEON and a distant bird which appeared to be a totally albino EARED GREBE. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 -- This morning a CACKLING GOOSE joined the flock of domestic geese behind the Lake County Vector Control Office at 410 Esplanade in downtown Lakeport. The goose was found by Jamie Scott and appears to be of the Aluetian race. Last week on 10/28/08 I drove onto the Lake County side of Sanhedrin Mtn. There were two SOOTY GROUSE along the road to Tule Lake. One was standing on the road about a mile west of Tule Lake. The other flew out of the top of a Douglas-Fir just west of the lake. There were also two WILD TURKEYS at Towhead Flat, elevation 4030 ft. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 -- Nick Shepherd saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Austin Park at 8:00 am this morning. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 04 Nov 2008 -- This morning I made a brief trip to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant dodging rainshowers. There was a first-winter BONAPARTE'S GULL there, unusual for this location. Several of us saw it Sunday, 2 Nov, and it can still be seen at close range. Today it was making flycatching sallies close to the water, and an Eared Grebe was following it wherever it went. (!?) -- George Chaniot
Tue, 04 Nov 2008 -- John Luther just called and said he and John Sterling (and John's daughter) were looking at the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in Redbud Park. This is the first time it has been found at that location. As I was writing this I got another call from John Luther. All the gulls flushed including the Lesser Black-backed Gull but some of the gulls were returning so it could be back. In addition a new gull showed up. An adult HEERMANN'S GULL. That happens to be only the 4th county record. I'm waiting in anticipation for the next phone call to see what those guys can turn up. -- Jerry White
Tue, 04 Nov 2008 -- Howdy Birders, Jim Lomax just called me to let me know that the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL found over the weekend and Monday was present at 10 a.m. at the dump at the town of Clearlake (end of Davis Road). The bird has been seen at nearby Austin Park and other piers in the waterfront in the town of Clear Lake as well as on the roof of Walmart. Good luck! -- John Sterling, Woodland
Tue, 04 Nov 2008 -- I finally founds some time to post four photos of the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at my website: www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/lesserblack-backedgull Thanks to Joe Morlan for posting a photo yesterday on his website and for cleaning up the blur on a couple of photos. On Saturday we also saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON at Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 02 Nov 2008 -- I had 3 WHITE-THROATED SPAROWS today (late morning) at the Little River Airport. They were in a mixed sparrow flock of mainly Golden-crowned Sparrows. There were 2 white-striped and 1 tan-striped. The most I've ever seen at once has been one. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 02 Nov 2008 -- The possibility of this being a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL is looking even better today after seeing the bird in good light and with some additional photos being taken. But of course we hope some other birders will be able to see the bird and share their opinions with us.
The gull was first seen this morning by three of us at Austin Park in Clearlake (on Lakeshore Dr. across from the City offices and Olympic Dr) where it landed on a piling at about 6:55 AM daylight time, stayed for a few minutes and then flew south.
Maybe an hour plus later Floyd Hayes refound the bird at a known gull roost site on top of the Wal Mart Store. This is where the bird was studied and photographed. Wal Mart is in the shopping complex east of the intersection (with stop lights) of Highway 53 and Old Highway 53 at the south end of Clearlake. To view the gulls you need to climb the steep hill on the east side of the parking lot so you can view the flat roof.
As we watched many of the gulls started to fly NE probably towards the landfill mentioned yesterday which is at the end of Davis Ave. Good luck. -- Jerry White
Sun, 02 Nov 2008 -- Floyd Hayes yesterday morning found an adult gull that appears to be a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. The bird was first found at Austin Park on Lakeshore Drive in the city of Clearlake. Then, later in the morning, a group of us saw the bird at the Clearlake Landfill at the end of Davis Avenue. The bird was seen again, after the landfill closed, at Austin Park by Nick Shepherd around 4 pm. -- Jerry White
Fri, 31 Oct 2008 -- A new bird has appeared here at my seed feeder in Glen Blair. It's a little CHIPPING SPARROW, exactly matches the first year photo in the Thayer program. While the literature says it's common, I've never seen one before. It hangs out with the Juncos, and since it's so small it seems very comfortable sitting on the lip of the feeder. Also it camouflages really well in the scratched up brown grass under -- Becky Stenberg
Thurs, 30 Oct 2008 -- With storms approaching, I thought the low would make favorable conditions to look for birds. A flock of 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were grazing in a green field opposite Matson Bldg Materials on Hwy 1, just north of the parking area for Virgin Creek access.
Late this afternoon, I was still charged to keep looking for another "year bird." So, driving north from Ten Mile Rvr, aiming for Hardy Creek at mm 83.50 (and thinking of Jerry White all the way), I
stopped everywhere. I thought that the Westport STP would be a good spot for Tropical Kingbird. I did find a TROPICAL KINGBIRD -- it was at Juan Creek, below and east of the Hwy 1 bridge at mm 83.00. I would not have seen it, except for a Belted Kingfisher, saving the day!
As I was scanning the creek from the dirt road on the south side of the creek, a kingfisher calling loudly, flew from under the bridge right along the edge of the willows lining the creek. It startled the Tropical Kingbird, which flew a few feet to the west. It landed, facing directly toward me, so that I could see its bright yellow belly and the slightly, lime green sides of the breast! This was 280 for my 2008 year list.
Number 280 for my MEN County list was a Common Tern, just over a year ago on 9/2/07, thanks to Chuck Vaughn (PS- welcome home,Chuck!!). -- Karen A. Havlena
Sun, 26 Oct 2008 -- Hi Birders, we have had a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers around our place for a few days. Didn't get a good look at them until yesterday afternoon, when they settled in to eat some Winter Banana apples on the tree! They were quite vocal as they flew around. I've added a couple of photos to the "Albion Birds" folder. -- Tim on Middle Ridge, Albion
Tue, 21 Oct 2008 -- Is this an Ash-throated Flycatcher? It was much larger than any of the smaller empidonax (sp?) flycatchers, such as Pacific-Slope, etc., and seems to fit the description of the Ash-throated. click here Thanks in advance. The photo was taken Oct 20 at MacKerricher State Park. - Feather Forestwalker [consensus is that it is a late Ash-throated Flycatcher]
Tue, 21 Oct 2008 -- The darker rufous coloring in the wings caught my eye on a bird in my brush pile located in my chicken pen. Alas, a bit of "pishing" resulted in a better look at the first fall arrival (in my yard) of a nice adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at my home in Hopland. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 21 Oct 2008 -- Yesterday all three of the LAPLAND LONGSPURS were still in the same location (2:25 PM) that Karen found them on Sunday. Today I could find just one, again in the same location (1:30 PM). I've posted a picture of the remaining Longspur. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 17 Oct 2008 --While on my way home in the waning light of Friday the 17th, I was shocked to see a dark-billed swan in Detert Reseroir, along Butts Canyon Road south of Middletown. I returned on Saturday the 18th and confirmed its identity as an adult TUNDRA SWAN. A male EURASIAN WIGEON and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE were also present. I did not see the swan either yesterday morning or this morning, but the light was poor and I didn't stop to look carefully (needed to get a few kids to get to school on time). -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 19 Oct 2008 -- Yesterday and today, up to eight EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were in the front yard of 3810 Eastside Calpella Road. Viewing is permissible from the driveway. Yesterday, a ROCK WREN was on the lake side of the dam at Lake Mendocino, to the left of the trail that goes down to the peninsula that would be an island if the water were higher. -- Ken Burton, Arcata
Sun, 19 Oct 2008 -- This morning at about 9:30, at Virgin Creek Beach, there was a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER with a group of Black-bellied Plover, near the road. Seen by myself, David Jensen, Scott Huber, Garry George, and others. -- Art Morley
Sun, 19 Oct 2008 - This morning I found three LAPLAND LONGSPURS on the Mendocino Headlands in the area by the sister city plaque. Two of them were first year birds, identical in appearance. The third bird was quite buffy ochre, so I studied it carefully. While it had an narrow eye ring, just a few, very fine streaks on the sides, and a light wash of beige on breast,sides and most of the belly, and the greater coverts were not russet, other key field marks pointed to Lapland. The only other longspur possibility was Smith's, but I finally could see the second retrice of which only had the lower, out side of the feather was white. Also, the primary extension was long, with all of the white-edged primaries equidistant from each other, with no wide spacing by thethird rect. The facial pattern was identical to the other two Lapland's.I also threw out Snow Bunting, Rustic Bunting, and McCown's and Chestnut-collared Longspur. I would have thought that the greater coverts would have been more colorful (like the two HY birds), but they were smudgy. I still think that it is simply another Lapland. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 14 Oct 2008 -- At 4:30 this afternoon, 2 SORA were actively feeding near the Lake Cleone boat ramp. Along with an embarrassment of American Coots, there were also what looked like 2 pair of GADWALL at the East end of the lake, and 4 possible HORNED GREBE (I welcome corroboration and/or dispute about this call-the light was dimming!), perhaps 2 juv and 2 adult? - Jessica Morton
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 -- Toby Tobkin phoned this afternoon that a pair of GADWALL and a SORA were at Lake Cleone in MacKerricher SP, north of Fort Bragg a few miles At 5-pm, I ventured over to the lake. It was nice and calm and quiet. The Sora was in full view at the boat launch (NE side of parking lot). It was tiptoeing around the short vegetation and easy to see. The Gadwall pair was out in the middle of the lake near a group of coots. -- For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, K Havlena
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 -- Jim and I had no luck trying to find his Black-throated Blue Warbler from yesterday. Also, none of the many Townsend's Warblers were still around - only a couple of Yellow's, Hutton's Vireos, creepers, kinglets, etc, were at Chadbourne Gulch. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 -- Marisela de Santa Ana and I have both recently seen CALIFORNIA THRASHERS in places we hadn't seen them before. Both sightings were soon after the last rain. She saw one on Baechtel Creek in the Willits area and I saw one on York Creek near Parducci Winery. Has anyone else noticed unusual Thrasher activity? - Kate Marianchild
Sun, 12 Oct 2008 - An adult male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was found by Jim Havlena about 11:30 am at Chadbourne Gulch, on the EAST side of Hwy 1. The bird was with a flock working just west of the small grove of redwoods. Jim followed the flock and refound the bird two more times as the flock moved west down the creek. He last saw the bird about 12:15 pm. Chadbourne Gulch is at mile post 75.43 along Hwy 1. There is plenty of parking space on the west side of the road. This is south of Westport. -- For Jim Havlena, Karen Havlena
Sun, 12 Oct 2008 -- Andy and I saw a Black-throated Blue warbler this morning eating berries in our Honeysuckle tree (Andy took a photo). Has anyone else seen one? I read that they are rare visitors here in the fall. - Virginia MacIntosh
Wed, 9 Oct 2008 -- There were a few new developments at the lake on Wednesday. A single BONAPARTE'S GULL was flying around the south half, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and two CACKLING GEESE were among the Canada Geese on the spit by the boat-in campground, and there was a small group of GREATER SCAUP near Deer Camp. Coyote Dam was still open to the public, but it is supposed to be closed imminently. There was a ROCK WREN on the barriers right by the parking lot. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 -- At 1:55 PM I observed a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Glass Beach. It was actully on the beach ( a rare occurance according to the literature)that is located where the path curves North. I was able to see the alert posture because of a dog on the beach. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 -- Hello -First, thank you to all of those that responded so generously to my query regarding south county hot spots. I took your advice and started birding the mouth of the Gualala River and this morning it paid off. I had a PRAIRIE WARBLER first at 8:15 and then again at around 9:00. The bird was very actively foraging low in the willows adjacent to the main path about 100 yards west from Highway 1. It was easy to locate each time since it was continuously pumping its tail (as is typical of this species). I'm not sure what the area is commonly referred to but it is just north of the bridge over the Gualala River on the west side of Highway 1 and it's where the local kayak place launches their boats. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Fri, 3 Oct 2008 -- On Friday morning at Usal I was able to find a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, a Bobcat and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER before the rain chased me out. On Saturday, Oct 4, at Lake Cleone there were 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and an AMERICAN REDSTART. -- Jerry White
Sat, 04 Oct 2008 -- Steller's Jays first appeared in my backyard in southwest Ukiah about 3 years ago - one to four at a time and irregularly, mainly in the spring and have turf wars/coexist uneasily with the scrub jays and the mockingbirds. -- Janet Rosen
Thu, 02 Oct 2008-- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin phoned with her find of a VESPER SPARROW just north of Virgin Creek and east of the Haul Rd. She met me at the spot. I saw the bird east of the road just south of the east extension of MacKerricher SP out to meet Hwy 1. There is a trail from a parking area west to the Haul Rd. The best landmark for finding the trail head is Three Rivers Learning Ctr Charter School. -- For Toby Tobkin, Karen A Havlena
Tue, 30 Sep 2008 -- Tue, 30 Sep 2008 -- John Sterling and John Luther joined local birders Ron LeValley, Toby Tobkin, Art Morley, Richard Hubecek, Trudy Jensen, Jim Griswold, Jim Havlena and Karen Havlena birding at various locations today. Highlights: ***Chadbourne Gulch: John S, John L and Ron refound the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER and a NASHVILLE WBLR in the ravine, west end of the dirt road. Karen and Toby each found their own CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the east side of Hwy 1. ***Ten Mile River (south side): John L, John S and Ron saw the MAGNOLIA WARBLER found 9/29 by John Sterling. *** Usal: John S, John L and Ron saw 2 ARCTIC TERNS and 50 ELEGANT TERNS on the beach. A female AMER REDSTART was in the Usal creekbed. Also, they saw a N MOCKINGBIRD there. ***Westport STP: Jim and Karen Havlena saw 3 PALM WARBLERS and a SAY's PHOEBE on the east fence. Toby found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and a female LAZULI BUNTING near Hwy 1. ***Lk Cleone- MacKerricher SP: John S and John L refound the BLACK and WHITE WARBLER from 9/28 on the S/SE side of the boardwalk, where the repair work was recently done. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 30 Sep 2008 -- Hi All, For the first time ever ,I saw (and Heard) a STELLER'S JAY at my house on Road D in Redwood Valley. Scrub calif blue Jays have been common, but no Stellars Jay thus far! Ive been here 8 years, and never saw this common bird here before. He is calling a lot. But not getting any answer. -- Lynne Kary
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 -- John Sterling found a MAGNOLIA WARBLER on the south side of Ten Mile River this afternoon. The bird was along the old Haul Road east of the new bridge construction zone. (Take care birding in this area during the business week). He and John Luther unfortunately missed the CSWA found on Sunday. -- For John Sterling ,Karen Havlena
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 - Chuck Vaughn and I searched for the Virginia's Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler at Chadbourne Gulch this afternoon. No luck! One the east side of Hwy 1, quite a ways up the "ATV trail" we found a mixed flock of 3-4 Townsend's, 2 Yellow's, 1 Black-throated Gray, 1 Hutton Vireo, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a "Yellow"start Warbler (AMERICAN REDSTART). Also seen were a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a Red-shouldered Hawk. Interestingly, the warblers were totally silent ... but they did respond to pishing. 1 Willow Flycatcher was seen near the bottom end of riparian zone near the beach parking lot. With this storm front moving in, there is a wind out of the south which is helping to drop the migrating birds to land ....this will probably change once the rain hits. A "gray-headed" Orange-crowned Warbler was seen in the next willow draw north of Chadbourne Gulch. Various parties are birding Usal and the coast over the next two days and it will not surprise me if more notable vagrants are found. Good Birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 29 September 2008 -- Thanks to Karen for posting and notifying everyone about the birds she and I found the past few days. I had a brief glimpse of what I thought was a possible VIRGINIA'S WARBLER yesterday on the trail on the east side of Highway 1 at Chadbourne Gulch. So as Karen mentioned in her post these birds could well move up and down the creek if they stay for more than a day. On Sunday morning at about 7:25 AM a Fox ran across Highway 1 from the town of Westport to the Westport Headlands. -- Jerry White
Mon, 29 September 2008 -- Two male EURASIAN WIGEONS were among the hordes of ducks at Borax Lake on Sunday the 28th. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 -- At about 9:15 am, Jerry White found a VIRGINIA's WARBLER, and I spotted a HY female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER at Chadbourne Gulch about 9:45 to 10 am. Both birds were at the far west end of the parking area in a ravine of smallish willows that comes down from the north. The birds could move back up the regular stream (with water) during the day. Chadbourne Gulch is located on Hwy 1 south of Westport at milepost 75.43. -- Karen A Havlena and Jerry White
Sun, 28 Sep 2008 -- This morning Barbara Dolan saw an AMERICAN AVOCET at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It picked up off of the middle pond with flooded weeds and flew off to the west. It was not seen again for the next several hours. -- George Chaniot for Barbara Dolan
Sun, 28 Sep 2008-- This morning I found an imm CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and an imm female NASHVILLE WARBLER on the south side of the Ten Mile River on Hawthorne Lumber Rd. The birds were in a good-sized flock just east of the speed bump with the large piece of orange painted cement. Jim arrived a few minutes later and got to see the CSWA. -- Karen A Havlena
Sun, 28 Sep 2008 -- Jerry White found several good birds on the north coast along Hwy 1 this morning. ***Hardy Creek-- There were 2 AMER DIPPERS just a few yards from where the creek meets the ocean. ***Wages Creek-- A large flock held a BLACK and WHITE WARBLER, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. On the wooden fence by the curve in the road, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW landed right next to Jerry. ***Westport STP-- There were 2 PALM WARBLERS on the east fence and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the pond.
Correction to Usal's Green-tailed Towhee on 9/27. The bird was on
the road that goes out to the beach, but it wsa only about 30+ yards
west of the memorial at Usal Rd. -- For Jerry White, Karen Havlena
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 -- At about 2 p.m., Holly and I saw 15-20 RED CROSSBILLS flying between the cone ladened crowns of the Sitka Spruces along the path (road) to the Caspar cementery. -- Roger Foote
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 -- Jerry White phoned that he found a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Usal this morning. GTTO is rarely seen away from the mountains in MEN County. I believe that the bird was in the grassy area or hillside between the western campsites and the beach. Apologies if I did not get the location correct. We went on to talk about other places just after that. He checked other locations, such as Chadbourne Gulch without any luck. Usal camp is located north of Hwy 1, north of Rockport. Turn onto the dirt road at milepost 90.88, then drive 6 miles north to the campground. -- For Jerry White, Karen A. Havlena
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 -- Also on the birdathon Chuck Vaughn, Karen Havlena, and I found a COMMON MOORHEN on the sag ponds at the Hopland Field Station. Chuck informs me that this is the 8th fall record ever for Mendocino - the Blackpoll was the 18th. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 24 Sep 2008 -- During our Mendocino County birdathon effort, Karen Havlena and I found a BLACKPOLL WARBLER at Chadbourne Gulch north of Fort Bragg. It was about 150 yards upstream on the east side of Route 1 foraging at midlevel in the trees. It was not in the company of any other birds. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports that she found an immature female CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER this morning about 9:30 am. It was in one of three good-sized flocks of birds, near the first bathrooms in the campground area. She also noted large numbers of Warbling Vireos and about a dozen Townsend's Warblers. -- Trudy Jensen (for Toby)
Sat, 20 Sep 2008 -- BROWN THRASHER; seen as I was looking down from Highway 1 at the Hardy Creek willows. The bird came up to the top of the willows and then dove back in. Best bird of the trip. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Wesport Headlands. RED CROSSBILL, Caspar Cemetary. 20-30 birds? Making a whole lotta noise. -- Jerry White
Sat, 20 Sep 2008 -- At Borax Lake this morning Mike Stanley and I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON, a possible female BLUE-WINGED TEAL (head in water most of the time; I would like a better look) with five CINNAMON TEAL, a PEREGRINE FALCON (Mike saw one earlier in the week) and a juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER (definitely not the Ruff suggestive of Mike's photos on the 15th; Jerry White and Mike relocated it and confirmed its identity on the 16th). We also saw a white EARED GREBE with a dark black crown; earlier this summer there was a different one with a white crown (or perhaps it is the same bird which has subsequently molted black crown feathers?).
In Clearlake I saw five species of gulls including an adult WESTERN GULL and at Anderson Marsh I saw two VAUX'S SWIFTS. I also saw a lot of warblers, vireos and flycatchers (especially at Austin Park), but nothing unexpected.
The most unexpected bird of the morning was a COCKATIEL feeding with MALLARDS on the lawn at Redbud Park. -- Floyd Hayes
Fri, 19 Sep 2008 -- VESPER SPARROW, Usal, in the grasslands near the beach. New bird for Usal. SONG SPARROW, Westport Headlands, a Song Sparrow on steroids. Very large compared to our regular Song Sparrows and a very dark bird. Upperparts and head dark chocolate-brown. Underparts heavily streaked and mottled with chocolate-brown. Was probably M. m. morphna found from central Oregon to SW British Colombia (breeding range). CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, found on the east side of Highway 1 at Chadbourne Gulch. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at the same location. Same bird Karen Havlena found the day before. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, on the west side of Highway 1at Chadbourne Gulch. Immature bird. -- Jerry White
Fri, 19 Sep 2008 -- I spotted a FERRUGINOUS HAWK from the living room window on a cypress just east of Hwy 1 this afternoon. This is pretty early for FEHA. I took my scope up to Hwy 1 to get a better look at it. While at the side of the road, Jerry White drove by and stopped. He got good looks at the hawk, also. We talked about all of the latest blitz of sightings. It has been a great week and 1/2. -- Karen A Havlena
Thu, 18 Sep 2008 -- CA TOWHEE has returned our yard at Ocean Mdws Circle, Ten Mile area. After an absence of almost 2 1/2 months, "Cal" Towhee appeared at the brick post by the lone pine, at the north side of our yard this morning! I am sure that this is the same CA Towhee that visited the neighborhood for many months. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 18 Sep 2008 -- Jerry White reports from the coast that he saw a SOOTY GROUSE at 07:15 a.m. on Mountain View Road east of milepost 8.13. On Duxbury Road he saw a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in the morning - possibly the same one as before.
Wed, 17 Sep 2008 -- While performing the California Coastal National Monument Stewardship Task Force Non-breeding Seabird Survey at Gualala Point Island, George and Michele Marshall, Dean Schuler and I watched humpback whales feeding on clumps of krill and/or schools of small fish. Through our spotting scopes, we were able to see 90 - 100 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and 2 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, many COMMON MURRES, immature and adult WESTERN GULLS, BROWN PELICANSs and some unidentified Alcids feeding in the same area. Enjoy our coastal wildlife! -- Rich Kuehn
Wed, 17 Sep 2008 -- There were good numbers of western migrants including a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER along Miner Hole Road. There was also a yellow AMERICAN REDSTART. Toby and I birded Chadborne Gulch this morning and had migrants but none of the goodies reported from there yesterday. Also, I checked the Fort Bragg Cemetery over the last few days with not much to report. -- John E. Hunter
Wed, 17 Sep 2008 -- This morning, Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found an imm. LARK SPARROW at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. The bird was at the western bluffs with a couple of Savannah Sparrows.
Wed, 17 Sep 2008 -- Late afternoon, I found a RED-EYED VIREO at Chadbourne Gulch, about 3 miles south of Westport on Hwy 1. Jim and I walked along the trail east of Hwy 1, to the 3 stream crossings. The vireo was (very) loosely associated with a flock of
Wilson's, Yellows, Warbling Vireos and chickadees just before and after a small grove of Western Hemlocks. The bird was a 1st year bird, and was fairly drab, but the key ingredients were there. Jim got less-than-good looks at it. It lagged behind the flock, and I was able to study it more, while Jim moved ahead. Also at Chadbourne were an ad. female McGILLIVRAY'S WBLR,
and a HAMMOND'S and a WILLOW FLYCATCHERs.
Earlier in the day, I birded Wages Ck and Howard Ck. Only Western migrants could be found at those spots. At 10 o'clock in the morning, I could not bird the east side of Chadbourne Gulch, because a guy was drinking beer and smoking, with his pick-up backed into the entrance to the trail. He also threw a couple of empty beer bottles into the willows there. So, I went on up to Wages Creek at that point.
-- Karen A Havlena
Wed, 17 Sep 2008 -- 12:30 - 1:30 PM - Chuck Vaughn and I discovered a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on the north edge of the north pond here at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. As we and waited for Cheryl WAtson and Geoff Heinecken to show up a BLACKPOLL WARBLER ventured into the same binocular view as the waterthrush ... probably the same bird as Chuck found yesterday. Also present at the ponds were Willow Flycatcher (2), Wilson's Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warblers (4-5), Orange-crowned Warbler (1), and Yellow Warblers (2). The Northern Waterthrush was still there when we left and may hang around for a while.
As Jerry White mentioned, as long as this south wind is blowing we should all be out searching willow patches and thickets for vagrants as the conditions are holding them to the ground. Good Birding -- Bob Keiffer - 744-1424 wk
Tue, 16 Sep 2008 -- Came home from work and there was a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, foraging in my compost. Welcome to fall. -- Janet Rosen
Tue, 16 Sep 2008 -- There was a BLACKPOLL WARBLER on Reclamation Road this morning. The turnoff is between Upper Lake and Nice (off Highway 20). Go about 1 to 2 tenths of a mile to a dirt pullout. The bird was moving through the riparian area with a mixed flock. This is a somewhat overdue first record for Lake County as there are several records for nearby inland Mendocino County. -- Jerry White
Tue, 16 Sep 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Earlier this afternoon there was a first-fall BLACKPOLL WARBLER along the edge of one of the ponds near the HREC office area. This is only the second record for the Center. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 -- Because of ideal weather conditions the last four days - high overcast and light southerly winds - birding on the coast was very good. I recorded 14 species of warblers. Highlights were: MacGillvray's Warbler 9/15/08 (today) at Hardy Creek, Yellow-breasted Chat 9/15 at Chadbourne Gulch (on the east side of the highway), 3 American Redstarts
9/12 on the south side of the Garcia River 9/13 at Usal 9/15 at Hardy Creek, Chestnut-sided Warbler 9/12 on Stonboro Rd, Magnolia Warbler 9/15 (thanks to Jim Havlena) on the train tracks in Ft Bragg with a group of other birders, Canada Warbler 9/13 at Usal.
On 9/14 a goup of us were on a very successful Pelagic Trip with Ron LeValley and Rob Fowler and organized by Karen Havlena. road out to Usal he instead discovers another Canada Warbler at a much more convenient location. Congratulations. -- Jerry White
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 -- Very early yesterday morning I was unable to find a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Borax Lake but I photographed a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER with the flock of peeps on the small island.
Michael Stanley just e-mailed to me a very blurry photo of a much larger shorebird with pale legs and a short, pale bill, tentatively identified as a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. It towers above the peeps and to me it looks too large for a Pectoral Sandpiper--I think it could well be a RUFF! It would be nice if somebody could check out this bird soon... -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 -- This morning at about 8:30 Nick Shepherd and I saw a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Borax Lake in Lake County. The bird was in a flock of peeps that included about ten LEAST SANDPIPERS and about fifty WESTERN SANDPIPERS. The birds were on the extreme northwesterly end of the exposed mudflats about a third of the way up the southwesterly side of the lake. Low quality digiscoped photographs that reasonably show the bird relatively to the peeps are available on request. -- Mike Stanley
Sun, 14 Sep 2008 -- Rob Fowler found a 2nd CANADA WARBLER along the Skunk Train tracks the mid-late afternoon of 14 Sep '08. I went along with him to bird the tracks, located off Franklin and Bush Streets, east of Rose Memorial Cemetery in Fort Bragg. Rob found the immature bird at about 3:30 PM not far east from where the tracks leave the large eucalypus trees. I got great looks at this bird. -- For Rob Fowler, Karen Havlena
Sun, 14 Sep 2008 -- At 11:30 am, Jim Havlena saw a 1st-yr male MAGNOLIA WARBLER along the Skunk Train tracks in Fort Bragg. It was in a large flock that included Golden-crowned Kinglets, Townsend's, Wilson's and Yellow Warblers. The Canada Warbler was not present at this time (found at 3:30 - see other post). The Skunk Train tracks are east of the cemetery at Franklin and Bush Streets in Fort Bragg. -- Jim Havlena
Sun, 14 Sep 2008 -- Fort Bragg Pelagic; Mendocino Audubon sponsored pelagic. Leaders: Ron LeValley and Rob Fowler. Due to the calm seas Ron decided to steer the trip south to Navarro Canyon.
Other wildlife: Blue Shark-6, Orca-at least 2 individuals seen but more
probably present, of course- very distant views, Harbor Seal-1 Elephant
Seal-3. No other cetaceans seen.
Number of species: 40; Surf Scoter - 3;Red-throated Loon - 1; Pacific Loon - 3 (2);Pied-billed Grebe - 1; Western Grebe - 5; Black-footed Albatross - 20; Northern Fulmar - 6; Pink-footed Shearwater - 530; Flesh-footed Shearwater - 1; Buller's Shearwater - 45; Sooty Shearwater - 200; Short-tailed Shearwater - 2 Early. ; Brown Pelican - 20; Brandt's Cormorant - 41; Double-crested Cormorant - 4; Pelagic Cormorant - 25; Great Blue Heron - 1; Great Egret - 2; Turkey Vulture - 1; Peregrine Falcon - 1 juvenile bird approx. 8 miles offshore from the nearest point of land that took a couple of swipes at the hy male cowbird! ; Black Turnstone - 6 Noyo Harbor. ; Sanderling - 20; Red-necked Phalarope - 25; Heermann's Gull - 45; California Gull - 330; Western Gull - 130; Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) - -1; Common Tern - 2; Common/Arctic Tern - 7; Elegant Tern - 2; South Polar Skua - 3; Pomarine Jaeger - 6 (4) ; Parasitic Jaeger - 2 (4) ; Common Murre - 45; Pigeon Guillemot - 1; Cassin's Auklet - 4; Rhinoceros Auklet - 12; Belted Kingfisher - 3; warbler sp. - Parulinae sp. 1 long-tailed yellow under-sided warb. ; sp that flew away. ; Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 (approx. 8.2 miles offshore fromthe nearest point of land)--Ron LeValley
Sat, 13 Sep 2008 -- Stan Beach on Saturday, out in a boat on Konocti Bay, saw an all dark bird in flight he at first thought was a small gull. He noticed swept back wings on the bird. Another Long-tailed Jaeger? Jerry White
Sat, 13 Sep 2008 -- This morning I noticed a female AMERICAN REDSTART at Glass Beach in the lone cypress tree near the beach. Barbara Dolan found a RUDDY TURNSTONE among the many shorebirds in the huge
wrack of kelp on the beach. There were 6 Marbled Godwits, also.
Jerry White called to tell us about the CANADA WARBLER at Usal. We hopped in Barbara's truck and drove directly up to Usal. Jerry was still birding, where he also found a imm/female "Yellowstart" east of the bridge in the Usal creekbed. We spent over three hours looking, waiting and listening for the Canada. Jerry heard the call, which is somewhat like a Com Yellowthroat, but it is sharper and brighter. We heard the call, too. After Jerry left, I (Karen) finally saw the CANADA about 3 or 4 times, putting together bits and pieces of what I saw. The bird called numerous times during this drawn out search to try to get a full look at the bird. Unfortunately, Barbara did not get good looks, which we both hoped for badly. We finally had to leave for home.
At least Barbara got the Am Redstart for a MEN County bird - hooray for that. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 13 Sep 2008 -- Jerry White called from the coast to report that he found a CANADA WARBLER at Usal Creek this morning. It was in a mixed flock on the east side of the road about 0.2 miles beyond the first campground you come to. He saw it about four times.
12 Sept 2008 -- we just found out about this two-week old sighting - Evan Johnson photographed 7 to 8 American White Pelicans on Lake Mendocino, just south of the Blue Shay campground peninsula on the NE side of the lake. This is the area where they have shown up in prior years ...but I think it has been since 2003 since we have had this species in the county. I saw one at this spot in the 1990s ...also in the early fall ...which was my 300th species for the county. Anyway, I am posting this because in years past a similar flock returned to Lake Mendocino daily for about a two weeks period ....so all of you Lake Mendocino birders please check that NE shoreline of the lake for pelicans and post ASAP if you find any. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer.
Fri, 12 Sep 2008 -- Jerry White reports that he saw an AMERICAN REDSTART on the south side of the Garcia River in willows way out near the mouth. He also saw a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on Stoneboro Road near Duxbury, and he saw two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at the mouth of Caspar Creek.
Thu, 11 Sep 2008 -- Combining some volunteer driving of a CRC client to the Point Arena clinic with some birding, I spent ~30 minutes at Arena Cove this morning. There were 5 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, juveniles and adults, surface feeding in the foam near the shore on the right side of the pier. Several BLACK TURNSTONES were inspecting the bull kelp that had washed ashore recently nearby. There were also 2 WANDERING TATLERS, many juvenile and adult WESTERN GULLS, a juvenile and adult HEERMANN'S GULL and 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHER on the shore. Perched in the snag above was a watchful OSPREY. Good Birding --Richard Kuehn
Thu, 11 Sep 2008 --On Monday there was an AMERICAN PIPIT (first of the fall) at the Kelsey Creek Outlet. On Tuesday around the Lake there was a first of the fall SAY'S PHOEBE. A VAUX'S SWIFT was seen which is a rare migrant in Lake County. Also there were 15 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS seen on the day.On Wednesday evening at the outlet there was a MARBLED ODWIT, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL. -- Jerry White
Wed, 10 Sep 2008 -- For the second day in a row, hundreds of SOOTY SHEARWATERS are passing by the Little River Headlands close to shore. Among them I've picked out a few PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS and BULLER'S SHEARWATERS. -- Ron LeValley
Tue, 09 Sept 2008 --Toby Tobkin and I traveled to the Usal Beach and campground today. The best bird of the day was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH found in a small spring fed(?) pool near the beach. From the beach parking we walked up the dry creek bed around the bend where there were camping sites and benches on the north side. The small pool (you can hear the sound of water)is on the south side of the creek bed. There were plenty of other migrants in the area but they weren't of the eastern variety. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 08 Sept 2008 -- Recently researchers were trapping Turkey Vultures and Common Ravens at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. They captured 34 TUVUs and 40 CORAs. The Turkey vultures were marked with white patagial (wing) tags with black numbers- #s 63- 96. the Common Ravens were marked with metal leg bands of the number sequence #s 1687-31562 through 1687-31599. Please report to me or the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center if you sight any of these birds. I anticipate little movement with the ravens ....but The turkey Vultures will most likely be heading south for the winter ...although we do assume to have some resident birds. Thanks and good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 -- Yesterday in the morning, birds seen at the outlet by various observers were; a MARBLED GODWIT, the continuing 2 SANDERLINGS and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Early evening additonal sightings were; a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and a FORSTER'S TERN that was hanging out with 10 COMMON TERNS. -- Jerry White
Sun, 7 Sep 2008 -- Scarse on the MEN coast was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. AMERICAN DIPPER and WILLOW FLYCATCHER were the other best birds we could find this day. PGandE held a planned power outage, so Jim and I went birding at Miner Hole Rd, Windy Hollow Rd, Garcia River and Mountain View Rd. Hoping to find Sooty Grouse, we drove from Hwy 1, back and forth just after dawn, along Mountain View Rd. The Dipper was seen at the bridge over Rancheria Creek. (It was on the same rock that I got my MEN County Dipper 5 or 6 years ago). Alas, we did not see a Sooty Grouse. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was along Miner Hole Rd. (Apparently, the BGGN is only seen about once a year, or less, on the MEN coast). The Willow Flycatcher was at the Garcia R. beyond the west end of Miner Hole Rd. Otherwise, only saw the usual migrants could be located in this area. We walked the Garcia River in the Windy Hollow Rd area, but nothing out of the ordinary was seen here, either. The high pressure was just beginning to give way, with some patchy fog. So, I wish we could have done this trip in a few days from today. Oh well-- next time. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 -- I checked Borax Lake this evening. The peep flock had been persistently hanging out on the island near the south end during the past two weekends, but this time they were on the shoreline at the end of 12th Street (south end of lake). Unfortunately they scattered shortly after I arrived. About half of the flock flew to the island, but I failed to relocate the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS among them (sunlight quickly faded), although they could still be present. It appeared to be the same flock, accompanied by an adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, that had been present since the previous weekend. Strange how shorebird turnover is so high at Kelsey Creek but not at Borax Lake (with the exception of phalaropes). I also saw a HORNED GREBE (my first for Borax Lake) and at least five CINNAMON TEAL.
Incidentally, I think it's okay to walk down the dirt road to the shoreline near the island. A year or two ago I was birding there when the owner drove up to check me out. As soon as he realized I was birding he assured me it was okay; he told me there were other activities going on there that he couldn't tolerate, which is why the fence and cable were put up.
I hoped the southward-bound jaeger or some of the terns would be loitering with the CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS (I counted 155) off Austin and Redbud Parks in Clearlake, but there was nothing unusual among them. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 -- Three WHIMBRELS flew onto the island at the Kelsey Creek outlet about 3:45pm this afternoon. John Luther had the birds in view when I left about a half hour later. I believe this is the fourth record for Lake County. -- Dave Woodward
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 -- Lots of birders out and about this morning in the county. At the Kelsey Creek Outlet, BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were seen, there were the continuing 2 SANDERLINGS, and I heard a calling LEAST BITTERN. At Borax Lake Floyd Hayes found 2 (or 3) SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, seen later by George Chaniot and John Luther. Also George and John had 7 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Borax Lake.
The bird of the day; actually the best bird of the Fall (after the Cattle Egrets) ; was seen at the outlet by George Chaniot, Dave Woodward and myself. George first found a flyby Jaeger which we decided was most likely a LONG-TAILED JAEGER. This is the 4th county record. What's Next? -- Jerry White
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 -- Borax Lake, Friday, September 5, 2008, 6:30 p.m.: 15 peeps, at least five (and probably all) were SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. -- Mike Stanley, Clearlake, CA
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 -- Brad Barnwell found and photographed a LEAST BITTERN at the outlet this morning. -- Jerry White
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 -- Dave Woodward and I were at the outlet for about an hour. Still present were 2 SANDERLINGS and the two AMERICAN AVOCETS. New arrival; 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. -- Jerry White
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 -- Dave Woodward and I were at the outlet in the late afternoon, early evening yesterday. There was a group of small terns (11 at one point) roosting on the mudflats. They all appeared to be COMMON TERNS. There was an amazing 6 SANDERLNGS, a new high count for Lake County. This morning Brad Barnwell and I saw 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS. There were 2 SANDERLINGS still there and 1 MARBLED GODWIT. No terns were seen. -- Jerry White
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I went out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning and saw a juv BROWN PELICAN on the south pond. This is only the second one I remember seeing in Ukiah. The other was the injured bird on Lake Mendocino several years ago. This bird appeared fine, but it going to have to eat an awful lot of Gambusia to make a living out there! The water on the north pond has pulled back into very small puddles on the east and west ends. However, there is pretty good habitat on the middle pond presently although it is pretty weedy. I saw the usual shorebirds as well as a juv PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a WILSON'S SNIPE, and a single RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Lots of passerines are moving along the Russian River now. I counted at least 6 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and lots of warblers, including a "celata"-type ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 -- A SOLITARY SANDPIPER just visited our little backyard pond (about 20 feet across) on Middle Ridge, Albion. Bobbed his head a few hundred times, hopped around on the rocks, grabbed a few bugs, fluttered a bit, then flew off toward the southeast. -- Tim
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 -- I made a survey of Lake Mendocino this morning. There were a few migrant waterfowl beginning to return: 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 3 GADWALLS, 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 7 AMERICAN COOTS. There were four small terns flying around the north end. They were too distant for me to be certain of the species, but I am entertaining the possibility that they might not be Forster's. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 -- I was at the Kelsey Creek outlet from about 1:00 to 1:30 pm. All the birds Todd Easterla saw were still there; 2 MARBLED GODWITS, a SANDERLING, and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. I too, saw a distant flock of small terns. Also landbirds are on the move in Lake County. In the riparian woodlands Todd had a NASHVILLE WARBLER and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Yesterday at Anderson Marsh (northern section) at lunchtime I found a HERMIT WARBLER and a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. -- Jerry White
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 -- Just received a phone call from Todd Easterla who found two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS at Borax Lake, then a SANDERLING and MARBLED GODWITS at the Kelsey Creek mouth on the south shore of Clear Lake. He also saw a flock of small terns that were either Common/Arctic. He is waiting for the flock to return as he thought that some of those could have been Arctics. -- John Sterling
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 -- A smallish flock of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES has been seen feeding at bird feeders on West Street in Fort Bragg. The residents are private folk, but I witnessed several flying east and circling back west from and to that direction yesterday morning. -- Feather Forestwalker
Mon, 01 Sep 2008 -- This morning was calm on the coast after the blustery conditions yesterday. Westport Vol Fire Dept has done a great job of removing trash at Chadbourne Gulch (south of Westport), so I was able to easily walk inland on a trail from the east side of Hwy 1 (at the hairpin curve). There was a large flock of western migrants back there: 2 MacGillivray's, 1 Townsend's, 1 Yellow, 1 Orange-crowned and at least 18-20 Wilson's Warblers. Also present was a Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, and local resident birds. In the sky above an assortment of swallows flew about, accompanied by several Vaux's Swifts.
This scene was repeated at Wages Creek to a lesser extent and without the MacGillivray's and Townsend's Warblers. Vaux's Swifts were also above the Westport STP and Recycling Center, as well as Wages Creek. -- Karen A. Havlena
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 -- Floyd Hayes called to say he also found another SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Borax Lake . The two birds found on the day are the 6th and 7th record for Lake County. Floyd also saw a Red-necked Phalarope. -- Jerry White for Floyd Hayes
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 -- This morning there was a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER hanging out with single Western Sandpiper at the Kelsey Creek outlet. -- Jerry White
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 -- This morning I spied a WILLOW FLYCATCHER land in the lone pine tree at the north edge of our property on Ocean Meadows Circle, Ten Mile area. Jim got to see it, too. It is a new yard bird. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 -- Another WILLOW FLYCATCHER and a WARBLING VIREO were seen by Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, located on Hwy 1, south of Hwy 20. -- Karen A. Havlena
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 -- Sorry if this posting, which was originally sent to local nonbirding listservs, is a bit off topic, but Ronnie James faithfully serves the coastal birding community with her valuable rehab efforts and certainly deserves our support: "Woodlands Wildlife near the village of Mendocino has a young (but full size) pelican who needs a ride to the International Bird Rescue and Rehab Center in Fairfield. It's on the way to Sacramento, about 20 miles this side of Vacaville just off Hwy 80. We need to get him there sometime within the next 4-5 days, he will come in a secure pet crate, and will smell strongly of fish. He needs the back of a station wagon or medium-sized car, no pickup trucks. Email me, include your phone number: ronnie@mcn.org if you are going to Sacramento and would like a passenger. Hopefully you will be returning to this area so we can get our pet crate back. We can help a little with gas. They have a great web site: www.ibrrc.org " Dave Jensen.
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found a fresh, juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Virgin Ck beach. I also saw the same bird after her call to me. It ranged from the closed-off creek to the farthest north sandy beach. It was with a single, juv. Western and several Least Sandpipers. Also, Virgin Creek held 2 MARBLED GODWITS and a BOBCAT !
At Ten Mile beach, I had 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS at the tiny lagoon formed at Inglenook Creek mouth. Seven SNOWY PLOVERS were behind their renovated fence south of Ten Mile River Two additional MARBLED GODWITS rounded out the better birds. -- Karen A. Havlena
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 -- At Lake Mendocino there was a sizable flock, 50+, of CASPIAN TERNS. Still in breeding plumage and quite squawky when flying, the birds were on the southern end of the lake and resting on some of the new sandbars to the south of the boat launch area and just east of the dam. Also of dramatic interest. for a minute, was a PEREGRINE FALCON* in full attack mode in mid lake pursuing with several stoops and fly- overs some small bird on the water.*
My eyes said this was a Prairie Falcon as it seemed brown colored
but I didn't have binoculars with me in the boat and I was wearing brown polaroid glasses so my brain has decided to call it a Peregrine. I would be interested to hear if anyone thinks a Prairie Falcon might also perform such a pursuit of a bird resting on the water and far from shore. -- Vishnu
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 -- Ten Mile beach: I saw 5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at three far apart locations from Inglenook Creek to just north of the Ward Ave. ramp. One of the birds appeared to be an adult, with the other 4 in fresh juvenile plumage. Two of the juvs. were seen by me on Tues, 19 Aug. near Inglenook Ck. Also, I had 5 MARBLED GODWITS on the 19th near Ward Ave.
At Virgin Creek, both Wed and Thurs, 20-21 Aug, a sub-adult GREEN HERON has been feeding right out in the open by the edge of the creek, west of the Haul Rd bridge. I saw it on 8/20 and Toby Tobkin also had it on 8/21. SURFBIRDS, BLACK TURNSTONES, BLACK BELLIED PLOVERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on the beaches. Several people (except me) have seen RUDDY TURNSTONES, too. --
Karen A. Havlena
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 -- Borax Lake is low enough to have some exposed mud flats. They are visible from Sulphur Bank Drive. Yesterday there was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a flock of "peeps". On Wednesday August 13th there was at least 8 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 2 dowitchers. A scope would be very helpful at this location.
Congratulations to Dave Woodward on his discovery of Cattle Egret (and thanks for the call!). -- Jerry White
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 -- Near 10 am this morning there were three CATTLE EGRETS in the harvested rice fields on Reclamation Rd. near Upper Lake. The rice check where they were landed was nearly dry, just some isolated puddles in the harvester tracks. Also landed in the same check near the center of the fields were several Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and one White-faced Ibis. I had a five minute view of the Cattle Egrets, both landed and in flight. Jerry White was able to relocate the Cattle Egrets later and he also had views of the birds landed and in flight. He informed me that this is the third record for the species in Lake County. All three records have been in the Reclamation area east of Upper Lake.
To get to the location from downtown Upper Lake, drive east on Hwy 20 several miles to Reclamation Rd., or the next road which is Recalamation Cutoff, and turn right into the Reclamation area. Follow either road to the rice fields. The only public roads are along the eastern and northern edges of the fields. Scan the rice fields for the egrets or watch for them in flight. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 -- Hi Birders. After seeing Chuck Vaughn's report on the Ukiah Sewage Ponds yesterday, I decided to pay a visit today. I was impressed by the numbers of Shorebirds: I think there were more there today than I have ever seen there before. The continuing juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a juvenile LESSER YELLOWLEGS among six adult Greater Yellowlegs were highlites. I was also struck by the number of migrant Passerines. There were quite a few Yellow Warblers along the river, as well as a couple of Black-throated Gray Warblers, the continuing WILLOW FLYCATCHER (a new county bird for me), a Cedar Waxwing, several Lazuli Buntings, a Cassin's Vireo and a Warbling Vireo.
The best bird was one that got away: I heard what I'm pretty sure was a Red-eyed Vireo singing along the river, but I was never able to glimpse it to confirm. It sang a weaker variant of the typical "here-I-am...over-here...look-up...in-the-tree" song but that's about what I'd expect for a migrant in mid-August. It was along the river between the southern and middle ponds, next to a locked gate. I also had very distant views of a bird that may have been the American Bittern that was seen earlier this summer. I couldn't refind it to confirm, though. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Sun, 17 Aug 2008 -- Clear Lake is now at 2.75 ft. on the Rumsey scale, low enough to expose mud at the outlet of Kelsey Creek into Clear Lake. To get to the outlet park at the north end of the Visitor Center parking lot in Clear Lake State Park (day use fee required) and look for the unmarked trail leading into the willows north of the
parking lot. Follow the deer trails about 75 yards north to the tules, then turn east and look for the trail through the tules to the outlet of the creek. Watch for aerial yellowjacket nests in the willows along the way. It is not an easy walk as downed willow logs must be stepped over or ducked under at several points along the way. The island is visible with no rubber boots needed, however to see to the east or west of the island hip waders would be useful.
Near noon today there were five WILLETS and one MARBLED GODWIT on the island at the outlet. There were also a few WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, one SPOTTED SANDPIPER and one AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. I also saw four WESTERN KINGBIRDS which is unusual for this location. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 17 Aug 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant are this morning with Cheryl Watson. The north pond is being drained and there has been lots of mud exposed. There were ~100 peeps, about 3:1 LEAST to WESTERN SANDPIPERS. There were also 6-8 each of GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. There was a single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and also a single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. Along the river was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, the first I have seen this fall. It is feast or famine out there right now, and it is unlikely this will last long. The north pond is being drained and dried so they can plow it up. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 16 Aug 2008 -- Hello - At 10:30 this morning I had a WHITE-WINGED DOVE fly over. I was standing at the Farmer's Market in Gualala (held adjacent to the Community Center) and the bird flew from the ocean-side of Highway 1 towards the center of town. -- Rich Trissel
Sun, 10 Aug 2008 -- This is a report of Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip from FORT BRAGG
: A different day a different ocean! Sea conditions changed substantially between August 8th, the Lucky Eight Day of Hawaiian Petrels, to the morning of August 10th. Leaving the harbor, conditions were pretty good, and we really could not detect much change from the Lucky Eight Day. However, the marine forecast already stated that northwest winds were blowing 18 knots at the Point Arena Buoy. This made heading south out of the question. So, we headed north for most of the day, returning along the coastline, hunting for small alcids (which we did not find). Another difference between the two days, was the sea surface temperature. Throughout the day, it remained about 52F, with very little change. We did not experience those finger-like streams of warm water of the Lucky Eight Day.
Off we went to the north and NOYO CANYON. Only 4 miles out of the harbor, a LAYSAN ALBATROSS flew up the wake. Oddly enough, this four mile zone is often very productive! I'm not sure that I had even seen one shearwater for the day when this albatross flew in. In fact, overall, there are very few shearwaters off Fort Bragg. This presents quite an advantage in that we do not have to sift through thousands and thousands of shearwaters to find something unusual. The unusual birds stand out quite well. Other highlights of the day included the first of the fall season, BULLER'S SHEARWATER over the middle of Noyo Canyon; all three jaegers- POMARINE, PARASITIC, and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS; one SOUTH POLAR SKUA, and a very surprising juvenile GRAY WHALE in 30-50 feet of water along the kelp line off Usal River. The much hoped for Hawaiian Petrels, seen on the August 8th trip, were not observed. Keep in mind that all of our previous records for Hawaiian Petrels have been found near Noyo Canyon. Although we experienced some swells, our skipper handled the boat expertly, taking us on a great route which made the ride comfortable, and more importantly, made seabirding possible at all times. Thumbs up all the way around for our great boat crew and leaders!
After the LAYSAN ALBATROSS showed up, we were naturally, hoping to find a Short-tailed Albatross. It was not to be. However, a research vessel with Steve Howell on board did find a Laysan Albatross near Cordell Bank within the past couple of days. Perhaps, we shall be lucky tomorrow!! -- Debi Shearwater
Sun, 10 Aug 2008 -- Hi Birders. After a very nice day on the ocean off Ft Bragg, Mendocino County with Shearwater Journeys, I stopped by Virgin Creek Beach, just north of Ft Bragg. The most uncommon shorebird I found was an adult RED KNOT. Also present were six juvenile Least Sandpipers, one juvenile Western Sandpiper, five adult Semipalmated Plovers, one Snowy Plover, twenty six adult Black-bellied Plovers in various stages of molt, twelve Sanderlings mostly in basic plumage, four adult Whimbrels and three adult Marbled Godwits. No sign of the Semipalmated Sandpiper found there yesterday afternoon by Jerry White. I also ran into Mike and Sally Parmeter, who independently found the Knot. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Sun, 10 Aug 2008 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant Barbara Dolan, Cheryl Watson, and I saw a female RUDDY DUCK with a brood of six very tiny downies on the S. pond. This is one of the small handful of nesting records for Mendocino County. There were two other females and two males both of which were displaying. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 10 Aug 2008 -- This morning on Burris Lane, Potter Valley I saw an unusual concentration of 19 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. They were only together for a few minutes before sunup, and then they dispersed into the vineyards. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 -- On Aug 8, a pelagic trip from Fort Bragg reported three sightings of HAWAIIAN PETREL at Navarro Canyon off of Pt Arena in Mendocino. The three sighting many be of the same individual or different birds. Photographs were obtained for the first and second sightings. Also (2) XANTUS' MURRLETS were seen. -- Debi Shearwater [from N.Calif.BirdBox] For a full account of the day check the Mendobirds archives.
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 -- This afternoon just before 5 pm I made my way to the Rodman Slough area where Rob Fowler spotted the Least Bittern last Sunday that was subsequently seen by Nick Shepherd, Michael Stanley and George Chaniot. I watched from the mound of large rocks for a half hour before the LEAST BITTERN emerged from the tules across the channel pretty much just opposite the rocks. It stayed along the tule edge for 15 minutes and then melted back into the tules.
As Rob Fowler indicated, Rodman Slough is along the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff at the nortern end of Clear Lake. Take the main path from the parking area at Rodman Slough, walk south to the first picnic bench, then turn left to take the path to the water's edge. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports that 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS are north of Virgin Creek beach in MacKerricher SP. They are males in eclipse plumage. Look just offshore from the bluff that separates Virgin Creek beach from the next large beach to the north.
Also, this morning I looked for the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak that I found on Tues, 5 Aug '08, but could not refind it. It had probably just landed at that location, almost under the "old" Ten Mile bridge. The willows are fairly thick there, and as usual, I didn't have much time to look for him.
There were 7 SNOWY PLOVERS this morning on Ten Mile beach, all unbanded. Six of them were behaving themselves (actually inside their enclosure), north of Inglenook Creek mouth. The 7th was alone near Fen Creek mouth. -- Karen A. Havlena
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 -- This morning I saw an ad. male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK just west of Ten Mile River bridge in the willows. He initially perched at the edge of a large willow, then he flew to the interior. I could not get him to make another appearance right away, since I had to get going on my SOS shorebird survey.
The shorebird walk had a lot of variety, but nothing unusual was noted. No Snowy Plovers were in evidence this time. I have seen only 4 SNPL's at one time, then only one SNPL last week (the day I had the Pac Golden-
Plover). Wandering Tattler, Caspian Tern, Semi-palm Plover, Blk-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Least and Western Sandpipers, Com Merganser, Sanderlings, Brn Pelicans, Brandt's Cormorants, Surf Scoters, and Surfbird were along the way. -- Karen A. Havlena
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 -- An adult BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER still in two-thirds breeding plumage was present at the southwest corner of Borax Lake on Saturday the 2nd. The only other shorebirds present were five LEAST SANDPIPERS and the usual KILLDEER.
On Friday the 1st, two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES briefly alighted on a powerline along Honey Hill Drive in Hidden Valley Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 04 Aug 2008, 07:43-08:43 -- The shank o'the morning. I decided to move on the Least Bittern report quickly since I have missed seeing them at Kelsey Creek in the past. I walked out from the parking lot to the picnic tables, down to the rocks, and across the planks where I stationed myself to watch the tules to the south. At 08:06 I saw a LEAST BITTERN fly into the tules just about where they disappear from sight. A few minutes later a Green Heron flew the same path giving a nice comparison of size and pattern. Ten minutes later the Least Bittern flew back east across the mouth of the slough and into the tip of the tules on the east side. About ten minutes later it flew back west across the water and landed in sight for about 30 seconds. Finally about ten minutes later again it flew east into the tip of the tules. This habit of flying back and forth across the water made it a pretty easy find. The harsh E-SE light made it hard for me to resolve the age question. This would be a nice place to prowl around in a canoe. Thanks Rob and Mike.
On the return trip I stopped by Reclamation Road where there was an American Bittern (Great Bittern) sitting in the open in a damp field - making it a six-heron morning. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 -- Nick Shepherd and I followed up on Rob Fowler's report of a LEAST BITTERN at Rodman Slough. In a hour and a half of watching, starting at about 6:30 pm on Sunday, August 3, we were able to briefly view the bird three separate times, twice when it was flushed by a passing fishing boat. We endured the constant whining of an Osprey from the nest near the parking lot while we were able to watch a Green Heron working the shallows on the far side of the slough. Since neither of us was familiar with the bittern, I was somewhat concerned about distinguishing it from the similarly colored, but much larger, Green Heron. But with the heron fresh in our minds, the diminutive size and orange-brown sides made the identification relatively easy. In the slanting evening sun, the bird appeared to flash gold as it flew away from us across the water. Thanks, Rob, for posting your find and for your excellent directions. -- Mike Stanley
Sat, 02 Aug 2008 -- Hi all, On my way to the Central Valley, I stopped at Rodman Slough along the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff at the northern end of Clear Lake. My highlight was surprisingly a juvenile LEAST BITTERN seen flying from a very small patch of tules to a larger patch of tules. To get to the spot where I saw this bird take the main path from the parking area at Rodman Slough and walk south to the first picnic bench and then walk the path to the waters edge.There's a bunch of large rocks right here to scope from. I went back to my truck to get my scope, went back to the spot, and got KILLER looks at the bird as it briefly came out into the open to forage. Of course, there's no guarantee on refinding this bird! I know Least Bitterns have been reported from Clear Lake in the past (it's been quite awhile) but I don't remember hearing about them at Rodman Slough; nor have I heard of them being confirmed as breeders in the county. What does Jerry White say? -- Rob Fowler
[Congratulations to Rob Fowler on his sighting of Least Bittern at Rodman Slough. That is the 9th (official) record for the county, the 6th Fall record. There are records of other juvenile birds. I suspect breeding occurs every year? Just very difficult to detect these rather secretive birds. They at one time were probably more regular in the county as oldtime local fisherman mention seeing these "small bitterns". I found an adult bird up the (Rodman) slough along a levee exactly 20 years before Rob's sighting, on August 2nd 1988. Mendocino County awaits its first record. -- Jerry White]
Thu, 31 July 2008 -- PURPLE MARTINS continue to be present along University Rd near the
large telephone pole, as described in an earlier post by Bob Keiffer. I saw 2 individuals (females, subadults, or juveniles; not adult males) at ~12:45pm and again at 8:00pm on Thursday, July 31. They were flying over the vineyard south of the road and also hanging out on the telephone wire. This was the first time I've seen a Purple Martin. I had no idea how large they are. They dwarfed a Barn Swallow that was flying in the area. Very cool.
The LONG-EARED OWLS that have been hanging out in the canyon along University Rd since early July seem to have moved on. I have made three visits to the area since July 24 (the last time they were reported) and have not detected them.
On Thursday July 25, I visited the turnout on University Rd from 10:05 to 10:15pm. I heard no begging juveniles and saw no owls. In previous weeks, the young could pretty reliably be heard begging from the canyon at this time of night.
On Tuesday July 29, I stayed at the turnout between 8:43 and 9:25pm. I saw no owls emerge from the side canyon where they have been roosting, heard no begging juveniles, and saw no owls flying over the main canyon. I did hear some activity in the trees in the side canyon, but I also heard a screech-owl calling from that area. The sun had set by the time I arrived, but it seemed that it wasn't quite dark enough for the owls to have emerged already.
On Wednesday July 30, I visited the turnout between 8:45 and 8:55pm. exclosure plot", a grassy expanse ~100-200m away - this is where Bob Keiffer guessed they might be hunting. I was there for about 15
minutes but saw no owls.
Finally, Bob and I have discussed the possibility that the Long-eared Owl family that I found on the Hopland Reservation on June 21 may have been a different family than the one that we've been tracking on University Rd. We think it is somewhat unlikely that a family would move 1km from the reservation to the canyon on University Rd, then stay put for 3 weeks. It seems like a big move for owls that didn't venture more than a couple hundred meters from their roost while they were using the canyon. It's possible that the owls were prompted to move due to excessive disturbance during our June 21st survey. During that survey, two observers followed the juveniles for 1 to 1.5 hours in an effort to identify them, but at the time, we felt that they
didn't seem to be bothered by our presence.
After the owls were found on June 21, several visits were made to that area within the next week. Neither Bob nor myself heard any juveniles
begging during those visits, though Bob saw a possible juvenile. After the owls were discovered on University Rd on July 3, we focused all attention on the new location. Finally, on Thursday July 25th, I went back to the original location (i.e. on the reservation) between 8:20 and 9:50pm. At one point, a large bird flew out of a nearby tree, and I thought I heard it bark once as it left. Could have been a Long-eared Owl. However, I heard no begging juveniles and saw no definite owls. After I'd been there about 45 minutes, I hooted and tried to imitate the juvenile begging call, but got no response. So
now we're just left to guess whether we found 1 or 2 families. It would be good to monitor both locations next year during the breeding season. -- Emily Heaton. Healdsburg
Tue, 29 Jul 2008, 11:15 AM -- Once again I refound the female GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE and begging but fully fledged juvenile. Unfortunately this location along University Road is private property and not really viewable from the road. The birds foraged along the edge of the pond for about ten minutes and then flushed with a mixed group of blackbirds and starlings. I could not refind them afterwards. The juvenile makes a begging single note call that sounds like a loud, raspy song sparrow call note. If anyone is truly interested in seeing these birds then let me know your contact information. Then If I refind the birds I will call you and try to keep track of them until you arrive (reasonable travel distance of course). Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 29 July 2008 -- This morning I saw a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, still in partial alternate plumage. It was about 1/4 mile north of Inglenook Creek mouth with several Semi-palmated Plovers, Westerns, Leasts and Whimbrels.
SNOWY PLOVERS were at two locations: 3 north of Inglenook Creek and 2 by the small lagoon at Inglenook Creek mouth. None of them were banded. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 25 Jul 2008,1:00 PM -- Today I refound (after searching several times) the female GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE and single begging fledged young as found a few days ago off of University Road, Hopland.. They were on the same private pond as found before ...but about 100 yards away from the original sighting. If anyone really needs to chase this bird, call me to organize a search as this is private property. The weekend will probably have human activity on the pond...thus reducing the chances of finding them. Chances of seeing these birds from the University Road are poor.
Purple Martins (6+) are still hanging around the thick-diameter power pole near the end of the long straight stretch on University road ....this pole is just east of the double gray metal gate posts on the south side of the road. The birds seem to go to roost early, or are away foraging and return quickly to enter the roost cavities in the pole, as we have zero luck finding these birds in the late afternoon/early evening. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 -- [Today] for about 15 minutes I had our first EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE at the feeder here on the Little River Headlands. Cheers -- Ron LeValley
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 -- This morning was the first time for SNOWY PLOVERS on Ten Mile beach; I had three unbanded SNPL's. Yesterday, there were two, unbanded SNPL's found by Becky Bowen at Virgin Creek beach. Other shorebird species have begun their southward move, such as Surfbird, Black Turnstone, and Ruddy Turnstone.
I wanted to see Gray Jays this year, so a short trip to Van Damme SP was in order. In the upper campground, there were three GRAY JAYS (two ad. and one juv). They were near campsite 53 and the north restrooms. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 -- Chuck Vaughn found a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at The Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today on the north side of the sout pond. It appeared to be an adult female, and it is probably the first July record locally. The previous earliest record in the Mendobirds database is 24 Aug 2007.
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 -- HOODED ORIOLES have been nesting this summer in at least two locations in south Ukiah. One in a fan palm in the backyard of a home near the south end of Rose Avenue (on the west side of the street, about 3 houses from Beacon Lane). The other nest is in a fan palm in the front yard of the home on the corner of Helen and Doolan Canyon. I think that Hooded Orioles are fairly well established now in Ukiah. -- Paul Hawks
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 -- Roger Foote and I visited the LONG_EARED OWL site on University Road in hopes of photos. At 8:50 PM what appeared to be four owls began to move around the "roost pocket". A minimal amount of begging calls were heard ...no where near how they vocalized a week ago. I watched two of them perched for a short while, but by about 9:00 they were all in the air over the canyon twisting and turning and interacting with each other in the air. They have definitely become masters of the air as compared to their clumsy flying a week ago. Soon they were flying over the road and over the small chaparral pocket above the road. Occasionally they would disappear over the ridge to the NE and then reappear over the brush patch. By 9:15 they had disappeared, I suspect going over the hill to an area that has been fenced from grazing for 50+ years ...it is loaded with meadow mice. The young are definitely foraging on their own now. Roger and I each positively saw four birds at one time ...and I thought that I heard a fifth. I think they will continue to come back to the wooded draw for roosting... at least for a while more. At least two Western Screech Owls also called. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 - I was able to locate the roosting LONG_EARED OWLS along University Road this morning. However, they are extremely flighty and provided NO chance of photographs despite my attempt to be extremely quiet and stealthy in my search. I saw three birds but could not tell if they were adults or immatures. I recommend that folks do NOT pursue them at their roosts. I abandoned the effort as I did not want to spook them from the area or subject them to harassment by jays, etc. I can tell you this ..... they are still VERY near the normal large pullout that folks have been using (the one with the posted No Trespassing sign) ... and future listening and viewing from this pullout site, or from the short little grassy ridge to the west (careful, as there is an abrupt drop off) should be excellent. I suspect the evening show will again happen around the 9:00 PM range ....arrive a little earlier if you hope to view these guys in the few minutes of daylight as they just leave their roosts.
Along the entrance straight stretch of University Road, just east of the big overhanging Walnut tree, look for a very thick power pole on the right hand side (south) of the road. there were 8 Purple Martins there checking out holes and the top of the pole ....I am assuming for roosting purposes. Several of these were immatures. There is also one cavity being used by acorn woodpeckers.
NEGATIVE report for the Great-tailed Grackles, the female and begging immature, found nearby two days ago. I have not been able to relocate these birds.
Lots of birds are migrating south (assumed) right now as I see constant turnover of birds in this area.... so keep an eye out for rarities like Eastern Kingbirds, Stilt Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Bank Swallows, etc. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer.
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 -- Today there was a lot of HOODED ORIOLE activity along Leslie Street in Ukiah. They appeared to be a pair of adults and several juveniles. Most of the activity was centered around the two fan palms in the 600 block of Leslie, but they ranged wider through the neighborhood. During the heat of the day they spent most of their time in the deep shade of the lower palm leaves.
Both a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE and a RINGED TURTLE-DOVE were singing in the same neighborhood. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 21 Jul 2008, 2:30 PM - I just saw a female GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE feeding a begging fledged young near a private pond along University Road, Hopland. This is the first breeding record for Mendocino County. I was able to take a few photos to document this. Other birds seen: 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 6 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 19 Jul 2008 -- The LONG-EARED OWLS continue along University Road east of Hopland. Refer to earlier posts for directions.
My husband and I arrived at 8:45 PM. We joined Chris Dunlap, from the Sacramento area. I'm not sure how long he had been there, but he hadn't yet detected any evidence of the owls. I suggested that we go over to the northwest end of the turnout (the downhill end) to look down into a small side canyon. This is where I had seen owls several days ago at dusk (July 16 post). Looking downslope across grassland, I saw a Long-eared Owl sitting on a log at the bottom of the draw/side canyon, about 100ft away. It had orange facial disks and long ear tufts - beautiful! We were immediately joined by Vishnu and 2 others. We first thought that the owl was an adult, due to the orange facial disks. However, we could also hear the begging call of a juvenile coming from the same area. Soon, a second owl jumped onto the log (it seemed to have jumped up from behind the log). This individual also had orange facial disks and ear tufts. The owls started making freaky head movements while staring at us - moving their heads around in circles or bobbing them back and forth. It seemed that their backs were slightly fluffy, and we decided these were almost certainly juveniles. Within 5 minutes, a third owl emerged. It seemed to fly down from a nearby tree (live oak?) or perhaps from the slope on the opposite side of the draw/side canyon. It landed on the log displacing one of the other owls. At this point, the owls started becoming more active, making short flights between trees and the log. The begging calls became more frequent. Since all 3 owls were exhibiting similar behavior and looked similar, we assumed they were all juveniles.
Within 10 minutes of the initial sighting, the owls moved down into the main canyon, still begging. They spread out, with ~100m separating some individuals. From my experience (this was my third or fourth visit to this turnout), the juveniles hang out in the main canyon after darkness sets in. I have only seen them in that side canyon at dusk, and both times that I've seen them there, they were close together and fairly active. This leads me to believe that they are roosting in that side canyon, near the log.
Within an hour of our arrival, we heard something calling, moving up the canyon along the opposite ridge. (By this time, there were only 4 observers). I can't remember the call very well, but it was different enough that Vishnu was prompted to pull out his recorder. I believe the call was a low-pitched barking, with about 1 second in between barks, but I could be wrong. As Vishnu was trying to get the recorder working, I saw a medium-sized owl fly up the canyon and disappear into the trees. Within a few minutes, we could tell that it was flying back down the canyon to the opposite ridge. I believe it was vocalizing, but we didn't get a recording. A few times, I thought the calls of one of the juveniles became more excited (higher pitched and slightly faster). It was calling from the same location that the adult seemed to have gone to. My interpretation was that an adult had brought food in to one of the young. However, I think only myself and Chris noticed any excitement in the begging. Vishnu said he had heard obvious, prolonged excitement in a begging juvenile (lasting about 6 seconds or more) on a previous visit. We certainly didn't hear that.
As I recall, the adult slipped off into surrounding lands without detection after that. We stayed until 11:20 PM and were unable to detect an obvious adult again. However, we did hear low-pitched barking (kind of like `wruf' or `wruck') ~200m away on several occasions; the direction varied. We kept looking around, expecting something to fly in, but nothing ever did, and then the barking would stop for prolonged periods. We noted that the young didn't seem to respond to these far-off calls by becoming more excited. There were several screech-owls in the area. They did some barking, although the quality of the far-off barks seemed to be different. We also heard dogs barking in the distance on occasion. However, there were some barks that seemed neither to be screech-owls or dogs. So maybe a Long-eared adult, maybe not. At any rate, visits by the parents seem to be very infrequent. We were there for almost 2 1/2 hours and only saw a likely adult once.
For most of our visit, we were only able to pick out 3 distinct individuals at any one time. However, my husband and I definitely heard 4 individuals begging at one point. One up canyon, one down canyon, two in front of us - one near, one far. We heard calls coming from these different locations at least 3 times, so we were sure that we were hearing 4 juveniles (presumably juveniles, I don't think adults make that begging call), not 3 juveniles that were moving around.
The screech-owls were exciting in their own right. We heard `squirrel-barks' on several occasions, like a demented laugh, sometimes trailing into the typical bouncing ball call. No barn owl -- Emily Heaton (and Jacob Newell), Healdsburg
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 -- OK, it's my turn. I went to see the LONG-EARED OWLS this evening, arriving at 8:45 pm. Juveniles began calling at 8:59. At 9:03 a Long-eared Owl flew from the trees in the ravine on the left and landed in the trees on the western skyline. At 9:08 another flew from the same area and lit in the trees on the southern skyline. I did not see or hear any Long-eared Owls after 9:13. A BARN OWL flew over at 9:15. At least three WESTERN SCREECH OWLS were active constantly from 9:01 to 9:50 when I left. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 -- Don Rowe and I observed 3 juvenile LONG-EARED OWLS at the same location and under similar circumstances as has been previously posted. We arrived at 8:30pm, hoping to catch some evidence, or view, of where these owls are roosting. Very little success in that regard; the owls just "manifest", flitting about in the trees and chaparral in the little canyon below the road just before 9:00pm. Whence they come is still their own secret although one, and possibly two, were heard giving weak calls on the opposite side of the road for about 3 minutes prior to the appearance of any of them. Our vantage point should have allowed us to see them cross the road but we did not see that. With a strong light and patience we gained excellent views of perched Long-eared Owls until about 9:20pm when they flew south across the little canyon where, too dark to see them now, they vocalized regularly, moving about the area until we left, about 10:30pm.
During the evening 2 BARN OWLS were heard, as well as a good many WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS vocalizing in a variety of interesting ways; some in the distance and some quite close-by.
On Tuesday 7/15 I made several recordings of these juvenile owls and have posted a one minute version in the "Files" section of this MendoBirds forum. After about 20 seconds you can hear a single adult owl "bark".
The begging call tends to become very monotonous but on that same night I did hear one of the vocalizing juveniles suddenly become "more excited, as though food was being delivered", (to use Emily Heaton's description of a similar experience). Unfortunately the recorder, which had been performing flawlessly, had a cyber moment and crashed just when these new and different vocalizations occurred. -- Vishnu
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 -- The LONG-EARED OWLS continue along University Road east of were already active, begging and making short flights between trees and sometimes landing on the ground. This was happening just downslope of the large turnout described by Bob Keiffer, not more than 50m from me. Within 5 minutes there wasn't enough light to use binoculars. If you make the trip, I suggest arriving a little earlier - maybe 8:40 or 8:45. You may have to wait a few minutes before the owls wake up, but if you're lucky, you'll be able to find them while there's still plenty of light.
I stayed for 45 minutes, and only once saw a possible adult circling overhead, silent. Apparently, these juveniles have to wait quite a while between feedings, unless the adults are sneaking in and silently feeding them; but I've been around these juveniles 3 times now (for at least 45 minutes at a time) and only once heard the juveniles become more excited, as though food was being delivered. On July 3, an adult circled overhead repeatedly, barking "wruck wruck wruck wruck wruck wruck wruck, wruck". That's the only time I've heard an adult vocalizing.
There were also at least 3 screech-owls in the area, if not several more. I heard a Barn Owl on July 3, but not this time. At any rate, this canyon is a very happening place.
And in case anyone is keeping track, I first discovered begging Long-eared Owl juveniles with the help of Mike Holley (wildlife biologist with Mendocino Redwood Company) on June 21 on the Hopland Reservation, about 1km from the current hangout. We're assuming it's the same family. -- Emily Heaton
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 -- The shorebird habitat at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant ponds is not very good now, but some migrants are hugging the narrow margins under the overhanging knotweed. There was a group of 45 LEAST SANDPIPERS and among them two different birds: one bird with extensive white in the secondaries and upper wing coverts - apparently an aberrant Least Sandpiper, and a paler, dark-legged bird - possibly a Semipalmated Sandpiper. I was unable to get an identifying view.
Some odd, continuing summer birds for the ponds were a female BUFFLEHEAD, a male RING-NECKED DUCK, a WESTERN GREBE, and a CLARK'S GREBE. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 -- The LONG-EARED OWLS continue along University Road east of Hopland. Refer to earlier posts for directions. Vishnu heard and saw 3-4 owls starting at 9:00 PM. The fledged birds were still calling when I joined Vishnu at around 10:15 PM. Vishnu also heard different, barking type calls a couple of times ...possibly an adult bird. Again, the birds tend to roam up and down the wooded draw canyon ...but seem to be resident there for the time being. We think the adults forage away from this canyon and the fledged young are constantly calling in hopes of a parent returning to them with a meal. Western Screech Owls were again heard and a Barn Owl screeched as it flew over the area. Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Mon, 14 Jul 2008 -- In the evening, again around 9:00 PM the fledged juvenile LONG-EARED OWLS began their high-pitched calling from the canyon just below University Road (see earlier posts for directions). At least three birds were seen ...possibly four. I had one fly about 6 feet over my head ...but was unable to get a photo at that point. Later I was able to get a few photos of one perched in a tree ....I think George Chaniot might post the photo on the Peregrine Audubon website. Screech Owls were also calling. Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Sun, 13 Jul 2008 -- Janet Chaniot and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant just before noon. Not a very good hour, but we saw 13 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and the continuing RING-NECKED DUCK. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was singing along the Russian River riparian habitat. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 12 July 2008 - Julie Jedlicka and group saw three fledged young and one adult LONG-EARED OWLS at the same area on University Road, Hopland. Time frame about the same as before ...they become vocal (young begging calls) at around 9:00 PM. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 12 Jul 2008 -- On Jul 12, a second hand report from Craig Strong of a BROWN BOOBY which was seen from Ten Mile "Haul Road ?". (Ryan Terrill) -- [From N. Calif. BirdBox]
Sat, 12 Jul 2008 -- Neighbors directly to the south and a few lots north (South Dora, near Oak Knoll, in south Ukiah) have fan palms, and I'd seen HOODED ORIOLE here last summer. This morning a large shrub/small tree in the neighbor's yard was playing host to a beautiful male plus what appeared to be a female and a couple of fledglings. Didn't have any other fruit handy, so have put out a little wedge of watermelon. -- Janet Rosen
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 -- My last stop on the coast today, (5:45-7:00) pm) before returning to the inland heat and smoke, was at Navarro State Beach. It proved to be very interesting and very birdy. Not the Beach but along the road as you drive in. The big attraction were the Blue Gum Eucalyptus on both sides of the conspicuous old white house (which seems to be in a slow process of restoration). The trees to the east of the house are old and very tall and are part of a grove. Although many birds were foraging there in the high canopy the height of the trees made seeing them more problematic. There are 2 Eucalypts, however, just to the west of the house that appear to be re-sprouts of old larger trees cut down years ago. These two "trees" are now quite sizable in their own right and are at the peak of their bloom.* I observed 9 different species sipping nectar from the abundant flowers on these trees. (Admittedly some birds could have been after insects stuck in the nectar wells, but I couldn't see that.)
The 9 species I observed dipping their heads into the flowers were: Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds (more than I've ever seen in nature, except perhaps in some mountain meadows.), Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Wrentits, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Orange-crowned Warbler, Steller's Jay.
There were also a number of Swainson's Thushes singing loudly and, at times, quite visible but I didn't see any of them on the flowers. The area has a riparian feel as there are also Alder and Willow thickets and unless it was just my imagination there appeared to be a certain zippiness to everyone's behavior that begged the description, "sugar high". The road to Navarro State Beach is a west turn from Hwy. 1 just to the south of the bridge crossing the Navarro River. The white house mentioned is the first structure you'll come to after about 1/3 mile.
*Blue Gum Eucalyptus are well know winter bloomers in northern CA and the Bay Area (Dec./Jan.). Perhaps these are experiencing a second
bloom? Anyone know? -- Vishnu
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this morning. The bird of the morning was easily an AMERICAN BITTERN juvenile which I spotted flying S along the Russian River. It crossed the oxidation ponds and lit in the Typha on the S edge of the sludge pond (aka "the bubbler"). Other new birds out there included a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and about 25 peeps, mostly LEAST but also several WESTERN SANDPIPERS. There were also single WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES. A PEREGRINE FALCON made several stoops, terrorizing the sandpipers. The summering male RING-NECKED DUCK, which has never totally molted into alternate plumage, and female BUFFLEHEAD continue. There was a cool, fresh south breeze and the smoke was visibly thinning as I was there. It would not be difficult to imagine we were at the Salton Sea these past couple of days! -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 11 July 2008 -- It was just reported to me by Julie Jedlicka, a UCSC researcher, that one juvenile LONG-EARED OWL was observed at 5:30 AM this morning on the University Road (on the white side-line) just below the "sharp turn to the right" as described by me on 7/5. Julie and fellow researchers had a great look at it in their headlights...and said that this juv. does not have orange coloration on the facial disks....but is definitely a long-eared owl. This is about 200 yards before (downhill) the wide pullout where folks have been hearing and seeing the owls in the evenings at dusk. Thus far I have been unable to locate any of this family group during daytime roosting. Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Thur, 20 Jul 2008 -- This evening I found a female BUFFLEHEAD in the Pudding Creek lagoon just east of the Highway One bridge in Fort Bragg. Although Dr. Stanley Harris' book states that "a few nonbreeders remain [in northwestern California] throughout the summer," this is the first summer BUFF I have seen along this coast since I returned in 2001. -- David Jensen
Wed, 09 July 2008 -- Hi All. July 9, after a PRBO bird-a-thon meeting (hope you are all organizing your county teams now for this great fun fund raiser) in Petaluma I headed north for the Long-eared Owls near Hopland. It was 112 in Hopland July 5 and nice details provided by Dave Quady on July 8 I easily found the spot. At 9:01 PM the temperature was down to a "cooler" 93 and the first call of a young Long-eared Owl came out of the canyon. It (and/or others) were constant until 9:10. At 9:08 I heard a Screech Owl. It and at least 3 other Screech Owls were calling from both sides of the road until I left. At 9:12 a silent Barn Owl flew over the canyon and landed in a tree for nice looks. At 9:15 I briefly saw a Long-eared Owl fly up the canyon. There were occasional LE Owl begging calls down (west) the canyon until I left at 9:25. Back in Hopland at 9:30 a cold snap had hit and it was 80. -- John Luther, Oakland
Wed, 09 Jul 2008 -- I did a survey of the Lake Mendocino on Wednesday. There was little of note except a few returning migrants: an adult RING-BILLED GULL and two adult CALIFORNIA GULLS at the south marina, and two adult LEAST SANDPIPERS at Pomo A. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 --Birders: Last night the fledgling LONG-EARED OWLS again begged for food at the University Road location that Bob Keiffer described in his July 5 posting. Beginning at 9:10 pm I heard three (I think) fledglings, two consistently uttering higher-pitched whines than the third beggar, as they moved along the far side of the canyon, from a hundred yards or so above the pullout down at least to the lower end of the pullout. They begged pretty steadily up until 10 pm, when I left. I didn't detect an adult either indirectly (via really excited begging, 'yum-yum' cries, or something else that indicated a youngster being fed) or directly until 9:55 pm, when I got my light on a silent adult as it cruised down the canyon just below the pullout. As a bonus, a pair of Western Screech-Owls began duetting just below the pullout as the Long-eared Owls began begging.
Earlier in the day I had good luck birding Mendocino National Forest, following\ Kris Carter's "Etsel Ridge" trip (in A Guide to Finding Birds in Mendocino County). Following Etsel Ridge Road (Forest Road M1), I began at Grizzly Flat Station at 6:30 am, stopped also at Coffee Mill Flat, at the 'small hill' 1.4 miles further up the road, at the junction with road M6, and at the 'site that has harbored nesting White-headed Woodpecker' before arriving at the Spruce Grove campsite at 10:30 am. There I spent a couple of hours wandering that wooded area and the nearby meadow's willow clumps. Among those stops, and a couple more on my way back down, I found most of the mountain birds that I sought. These included: Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Townsend's Solitaire, Orange- crowned Warbler (they were everywhere), Nashville Warbler, Yellow- rumped Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee Rufous-crowned Sparrow (a surprise at the 'small hill'), Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Cassin's Finch. I was unable to locate Hammond's Flycatcher or MacGillivray's Warbler.
It was hot by the time I started back down the hill, and birding slowed to a near crawl. My only high (low?) lights of the afternoon were the opportunity to practice changing a tire on my car, and seeing a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE do a wheelie in front of my car, along US 101 near Ukiah. Hard to know which I enjoyed least. -- Dave Quady, Berkeley
Mon, 07 Jul 2008 -- This morning at about 09:00 two CASPIAN TERNS, making their characteristic squawk, flew high over the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley headed SE toward Clear Lake. The only other records here have been in late August.
Some other unseasonal records in recent weeks were three PINE SISKINS at my feeders (Jun 11, 25, 30), and a male GREATER SCAUP (Jun 27) on the East Road Pond. The TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD colony on East Road is rapidly disbanding as the second nesting comes to an end. There is a creche of about 80 juveniles in a nearby cattail marsh that is being attended by adults, but numbers are down from about 400 last Thursday. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 -- On either side of the Ten Mile River bridge, the alternate-plumaged AMERICAN AVOCET and GREATER SCAUP continue.
Sat, 5 July '08, three SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS arrived on the east side of the bridge.
All of these birds were still here this afternoon, after the sun finally brightened up
the landscape. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 -- The highlight of today's beginners' bird walk at the Botanical Gardens (in addition to having 25 participants, many from out of the area) was the presence of a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL on Joe Moura's pond directly south of the Gardens. -- David Jensen
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 -- The family of LONG-EARED OWLS discovered at the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center has now moved about a half-mile from the original site. This is good news to those who wish to pursue this species as the new site is right along University Road ...which is a county road with access to everyone. For the last two nights the family group of three or four fledged young plus at least one adult has been at this location. To get there, go to Hopland on Hwy 101, then east on Hwy 175 to a small community called "Old Hopland" (there is no sign). As you pass through this little community you will reach a round-a-bout on Highway 175 ...head north onto Old River Road. Go about 200 yards and University Road will be on your right (east side). Follow University Road ....you will pass irrigated pasture on your left and vineyard on your right, then cross a cattleguard and pass an old barn on your left. Continue on University Road as you begin to climb a fairly steep grade. As you climb the grade the road makes a sharp turn to the right, then makes another jog-turn to the right, and then you will see a large pullout on your right. At this point you are almost at the top of the grade climb. Below this pullout, which is to the south, is a small pocket canyon of thick oaks, pepperwoods, etc. BE THERE AT DUSK, by 9:00 PM, and listen quietly for the juvenile calls, a high pitched, single note "eeeeckkk" (identical to the Cornell juv. long-eared owl recording). Last night all of the juveniles were very vocal, and could be seen flying through the trees occasionally. We were able to get one good look at a perched bird. One adult was there for a while but then flew to the north and away, I presume to hunt for nightime snacks to bring back to the young. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 -- Hi Birders. There has been a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT singing at the intersection of East Road and Burris Lane in Potter Valley for at least a week. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 -- This morning I saw an AMERICAN AVOCET with its toasted marshmallow head and neck, first on Ten Mile beach, then late AM and this afternoon, it was west of Ten Mile bridge (best seen with a scope). Also, on the river west of the bridge, was an adult male GREATER SCAUP, also in alternate plumage.
I called Art Morley, who also got to see the Am Avocet, which is a MEN County bird for both Art and me. I have been fortunate to have added 8 birds to my MEN County list since the beginning of May! -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 -- Hi Birders. I spent a few minutes at Virgin Creek Beach both yesterday today, and the first few south-bound Shorebirds are starting to pass through. Yesterday (the 1st) I had 22 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 1 LEAST SANDPIPER. Today I had the Least Sandpiper again, as well as 12 WHIMBRELS, 3 MARBLED GODWITS and 3 Black-bellied Plovers. The Westerns were gone. Also, among several hundred California and Western Gulls I had 4 very bleached Glaucous-winged Gulls yesterday and about 50 Heermann's Gulls today. -- Matt Brady
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 -- I saw a WILSON'S PHALAROPE and 3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS at Caspar Creek mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 -- I saw a MERLIN of the 'suckleyi' race flying about 20 feet west from, and above, the Haul Road at the north end of Ward Ave in Cleone. (The previous day, I was fairly sure that a, or the same, Merlin flew over the bluff at Ocean Meadows). At Ward Ave, I had easy, clear views of the bird and noted the very, dark streaking on the breast and narrow, dark tail. Any barring on the tail was not easily discerned.
Also, 1 July, '08 - Dave Bengston saw 3 eclipse-plumaged HARLEQUIN DUCKS off Virgin Creek beach in N Fort Bragg. I called Toby, and she said that she had seen one HADU in eclipse plumage there. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 - Chuck Vaughn and I met with several other birders to pursue the LONG-EARED OWL that I posted on Monday. We arrived at the site shortly after 9:00 PM. Even before I had the caller equipment set up, at around 9:15 PM, two Long-eared Owls flew out from the hardwood grove and flew about over the open grassy field, sometimes flying overhead. One of the owls lighted in a dead oak for about one minute ....one could see short ear tufts through binoculars. I believe that this was an immature bird ...but I cannot be sure. We never did hear them vocalize, but they put on quite a display for a couple of minutes. Later a Barn Owl flew over the same grassy field ...it had much faster wingbeats than the LEOWs ...and of course was very light on the underneath side as compared to the LEOWs. Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 -- Hi Birders, I was camped at the Kate Wolf music festival along Ten Mile Creek just north of Laytonville. There were a few birders among the several thousand gentle tie-dyed folks. The highlight for me was a PHAINOPEPLA pair. It seems a bit west of their range in the Central Valley foothills. 25 species all together, common stuff. -- John Lace, Grass Valley, CA
Sun, 29Jun 2008 -- Last week a UC researcher reported to me that she and fellow surveyors believed that they had several young LONG-EARED OWLS respond during their night-time surveys on adjacent property to the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. I played a Cornell tape of juvenile Long-eared Owls for her and she thought was identical to what they had heard. Tonight I ventured out to the vicinity of where they had heard the reponses. I arrived at around 9:20 PM at a side road on the UC Hopland REC ...which bisected open grassland and the dense hardwood forest where they had heard the earlier responses. I sat quietly on the tailgate of my pickup as I prepared the tape caller and spotlight. During this time I thought I heard a strange bark-like owl call about 100 yards away in the dense forest. I proceeded to call the typical Long-eared owl "hoot" call for about a minute. After waiting a few minutes I called again with just a few hoot notes ....and waited again! The third time that I called I saw the silhouette of an owl fly in from the direction that I had heard the earlier bark-like call ...and it alighted in a tree about 60 feet away from me. I turned the tape caller down low and proceeded to play the tape again while I had the spotlight ready. Within a couple notes of playing the owl left its perch and flew directly over me ...at which time I flipped the spotlight on the bird which was 25 feet directly over my head. It circled two complete tight circles directly over me in grand light ....I could see the orangish facial disks, the vertical streaks on the breast, the dark "coma" marks on the underwing "wrists", the "barn owl" size as compared to huge size that a Great Horned Owl would be. There was no doubt .... an adult Long-eared Owl. The owl flew back to the direction that it came ....I turned the light off as it disappeared about 250 feet away. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 -- This morning five birders saw a group of 13 WILSON'S PHALAROPES on the south pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It was an almost equal mixture of adult females and males in alternate plumage. -- George Chaniot [I checked the MEN database for inland Wilson's Phalaropes in June. The only records are 2-8 birds on the ponds at USTP from 6/17 thru 7/15 in 2000. There are no notes regarding age or sex. -- Chuck Vaughn]
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 -- We spent about 5 hours over the last three days scoping the islands off the Mendo Headlands and enjoyed many views of the various sea birds. However, this morning between 7 and 7:30 am in light fog and smoke we were treated to good views of one of the TUFTED PUFFINS flying and briefly standing on the cliffs. We did not see it go to a burrow. After flying around the area for several minutes it headad northwest in a line out to sea around 7:25. It was just off-shore near the northwest corner of the Mendo Headlands. We had the best view of the sea bird colony by walking north from the northwest parking area on Heeser. Thanks to Dave J. and Cheryl W. for previous reports. -- Roger and Grete Adamson, Davis
Tue, 24 Jun 2008-- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin telephoned to say that she heard a singing NORTHERN PARULA about two miles east of Mendocino Village off Little Lake Rd. There is a fire road near mile marker 2.0, and the bird was singing in the forest. For more precise directions, please call Toby at 964-6216. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 23 Jun 2008 -- Geoff and I scoped the northern burrows of the seabird colony off Heeser Drive in Mendocino early this afternoon and were fortunate to see two TUFTED PUFFINS. Both birds were perched near the top of the rock when we arrived. Each flew off and returned separately, then departed together about fifteen minutes later. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 20 Jun 2008 3:00 PM, a mature BALD EAGLE was seen perched in a tree overhanging the Russian River along the 101 Highway between Squaw Rock and Commisky Creek. It's wings were kind-of spread as if to say, "Dang it's hot out here" (over 100 F. degrees today). This is just north of the MEN/SON line by a few miles. Another birder has reported to me seeing mature Bald Eagles (two, then one) between Hopland and Cloverdale within the last few weeks. I suspect that we have a nest somewhere nearby ....but nobody has reported one yet. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 19 Jun 2008 -- In the past few days, I have seen several interesting sightings on the coast. Monday, 6/16, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was near the Ten Mile Rvr bridge. Today, 6/19, I saw an AMERICAN BITTERN at Lk Cleone. I would not have seen it, but it lifted up and moved a few feet at the edge of the large, area of reeds at the east end of the lake. Also 6/19, I had a Willit, still in alternate plumage, on Ten Mile beach. (There are NO Snowy Plovers on the the beaches of MacKerricher SP at present).
I have been searching (and seeing) for some TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. Today, 6/19, I finally was able to observe a closed area near where I live. There were at least 3 adult males, and one juvenile with a presumed female TCBL. Details will be provided to George Chaniot for his survey.
And lastly, the CALIFORNIA TOWHEE at Ocean Meadows/Ten Mile area, is still here. He stopped singing about ten days ago. Now, he gives his "chink" call all day long. He is lonely! -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 -- Last night, a good couple of hours after dark, I heard something that seemed to be coming from the eaves above my back deck, but by the time I turned on the outside light, it had relocated to somewhere up in a nearby tree. Weird as in, I couldn't even characterize it as specifically vocal or a wingbeat kind of noise: it was low in pitch, wavery and fluttery, in discrete bursts of a few seconds with a slightly longer interval between them. The sound couldn't translate easily into a word phrase like some bird calls do. I know this is ambiguous and a long shot, but maybe somebody reading this will know exactly what it is? thanks all. -- Janet Rosen
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 -- The TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD colony on East Road in Potter Valley is still active. About half of the birds seem to be renesting asynchronously. Some are still singing, but the colony is much quieter than two weeks ago. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 15 Jun 2008 -- At 11:00 this morning I saw the TUFTED PUFFIN fly to the seabird colony at the northwest end of Heeser Drive in Mendocino. With its large orange bill and bright orange feet, it is easy to distinguish from the crowd of black and white Common Murres and larger black Brandt's Cormorants that share the island. The bird flew into a burrow that was obscured from sight and remained in there during the 45 minutes I watched. The cormorants are still actively engaged in nest building. Two notes of interest: unlike other years, most of the birds are nesting on the dirt and vegetation covered island east of the traditional larger bare rock colony that lies to the most northwest. This new colony is much easier to observe from the headlands. Two smaller groups of Murres remain on the original colony. Also, if you proceed to the end of the spur that runs north from the parking area, you can easily view many burrows on the side of the closer, more active colony. I believe that the Puffin disappeared into one of these burrows. -- David Jensen
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 -- Around 6:00 p.m. there was a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE calling and being harassed by the Brewer's Blackbirds across from the Mendocino Beacon office just west of the Post Office in the village of Mendocino. Cheers -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 11 Jun 2008 -- This afternoon I had a juvenile PINE SISKIN at my feeder here in Potter Valley. It's the only time I have seen one in June - in fact, I've never seen one between April 22 and Sep 24. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 05 Jun 2008 -- At least 4 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS can be found flying around the Dos Rios Highway 162 (Covelo Road) bridge, as previously reported by C. Vaughn and G. Chaniot. This is a great place to find these birds in Mendocino County ,,, with some terrific looks (actually looking down on the birds). If you go there don't be confused by the numerous Cliff and Rough-winged Swallows that also nest under the bridge. The swifts come and go every few minutes ...so listen for their excited twittering calls. -- Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 03 Jun 2008 -- The day before yesterday (June 1) I went to look at the GOLDEN EAGLE nest in Redwood Valley. Two very large chicks were on the nest. Today I got an excited report that at least one of them was in the air, riding the currents high above the valley. My informant couldn't tell if the other one in the distance was an adult or a juvenile. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 31 May 2008 -- The colony of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS on East Road in Potter Valley is still very active after one month. It appears that renesting is occuring. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 31 May 2008 -- I saw three WHITE-FACED IBISES ~ 9:30 AM flying west over Ten Mile River toward the mouth. Jim and I were on the road south of the river, but he drove us north across the Ten Mile bridge and could not see them until we parked. He did get to see them, but they flew north gaining altitude. (There were also quite a few Purple Martins at the bridge). We also drove north and checked everywhere we thought possible, including Westport STP and creek mouths.
Around 11:00, we saw Jerry White near Juan Creek. He was heading south and was going to also check at the Westport STP. So far, no word from Jerry (at 2:00 PM), so I guess they kept migrating or stopped at an out-of-sight farm pond. That is another MEN county bird for me. Watch out "bd." One more and we will be tied. Nice consolation birds, since I missed the Indigo Bunting. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 30 May 2008 -- At 5:00 pm tonight there was a female LONG-TAILED DUCK feeding about 10-20 yards off the beach at Noyo Harbor. -- David Jensen
Fri, 30 May 2008 -- A male INDIGO BUNTING just appeared on the ground outside my window for a few seconds. Both Charlene and I got good looks at it. I'll post again if it stays around. -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 28 May 2008 -- On May 28th, a flock of 15 WHITE-FACED IBIS were feeding in the irrigated fields of White Dog Ranch in Western Potter Valley. Observation was made by Angie Meroshnekoff. They stayed until near evening, then moved on. -- Catherine de la Cruz
Wed, 28 May 2008 -- At 1:15 PM today, I witnessed the same view of a TUFTED PUFFIN at Mendocino Headlands. The bird was on the water NW of the rocks when I arrived, but it almost immediately picked up and flew to a burrow that is barely out of sight on the NW side of the rock/island with grass on top (could be Goat Rock?). It was great to see the puffin come in for a landing, with wings and bright orange-red feet spread out in all directions! -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 26 May 2008 -- About 11:00 AM, Stan Snyder spotted a TUFTED PUFFIN in the bay north of Mendocino Headlands. After watching the bird dive, we saw it fly to the north most near island and landed just below the rim. This is the green island with the tunnel through the right side and the Western Gulls nesting above the "puffin nest." The bird stretched and shook off water then disappeared into a hole. The mouth of the hole is not visible from shore. -- Larry Siemens
Sun, 25 May 2008 -- This morning I helped Chuck Vaughn with his Breeding Bird Survey along Route 162 between 101 and Round Valley. Afterwards we did not go up the high country as usual because the snow looked daunting near Hull Mountain. We returned to the Dos Rios bridge over the Middle Fork of the Eel where a five minute wait produced nice looks at WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. We saw at least four at once, and they seem to be nesting under the bridge. This is probably the most reliable place in Mendocino County to see this species. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 24 May 2008-- This morning there was an almost full adult BALD EAGLE (it looked like the head was not pure white, but we didn't get that good of look) perched in a tall tree along Highway 128 at mile marker 33. This is between Boonville and Yorkville and along Rancheria Creek not too far east of the Fish Rock Road turnoff. -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 23 May 2008 -- I saw 2 adult BALD EAGLES flying overhead and calling at the Hopland Reservation today. They were probably a couple hundred feet above, just passing through; direction was from the ESE to WNW. I'm guessing they came from Lake County. The checklist for the nearby Hopland Research and Extension Center (where I work on my doctoral research) lists Bald Eagles as 'occasional' in the spring - i.e. not seen every spring season. -- Emily Heaton
Sun, 18 May 2008 -- Thanks to Kerry Ross for keeping such good notes for us. Here is the trip list and the totals.
Location: Noyo Harbor, Mendocino Coast Audubon Pelagic trip
Notes: Great sea conditions with a light wind and smaller swell but we were in the fog the entire trip. Visibility was ~ 1/4 mile for much of the trip and never exceeded 1 mile all day.
Number of species: 23
Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata 14
Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica 3
Common Loon - Gavia immer 1
Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis 12
Black-footed Albatross - Phoebastria nigripes 57
Northern Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis 3
Pink-footed Shearwater - Puffinus creatopus 15
Sooty Shearwater - Puffinus griseus 88
Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis 3
Brandt's Cormorant - Phalacrocorax penicillatus 6
Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 1
Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus 9 (including two nests with chicks near the harbor breakwater)
Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus 161
Red Phalarope - Phalaropus fulicarius 78
California Gull - Larus californicus 11
Western Gull - Larus occidentalis 98
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 1
Sabine's Gull - Xema sabini 4
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo 5
Common Murre - Uria aalge 142
Pigeon Guillemot - Cepphus columba 7
Cassin's Auklet - Ptychoramphus aleuticus 8
Rhinoceros Auklet - Cerorhinca monocerata 26
Ocean Sunfish - Mola mola 1 very large one!
Harbor Seal - Phoca vitulina 1
California Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus 1 on the dock
Notably absent were all cetaceans, including dolphin and porpoises, and absolutely no By the Wind Sailors (Velella velella), usually quite prevalent in the spring. -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 18 May 2008 -- Barbara Dolan and I watched a pair of WILSON'S PHALAROPES on the north pond of the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning, a male and female in beautiful breeding plumage. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 16 May 2008 3:45 PM - a lone WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen on a private pond near the bottom of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. If anyone really wants to see this bird, this evening is probably a good chance. Call me 391-8190 cell or 744-1160 home (eves). I have permission from the landowner and can get you in this evening. I doubt if the bird will stay the weekend due to human activity on the pond this weekend. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 16 May 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called to say that she saw a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Fort Bragg late this AM. The bird was near McPherson and Chestnut. He then flew east a block to Harrison, between Chestnut and Hazel. She lost track of it after that. He had a very, long tail, and he only made a single call note. -- For Toby Tobkin (Karen Havlena)
Thu, 15 May 2008 -- The colony of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at 10707 East(side) Road in Potter Valley is still going strong with a constant stream of parents arriving with food for fledglings and going right back out. There are some signs of renesting, but this colony could pick up and leave in a week when the nestlings have fledged. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 12 May 2008 -- A very late GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW has been visiting my feeders in Potter Valley today. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 11 May 2008 -- Twenty eight people joined the Peregrine Audubon field trip to the Eel River near Potter Valley. Some of the more interesting observations of the day were a party of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS foraging in the top of an oak near the Old Bridge on Potter Valley Road, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER near the Pioneer Crossing Bridge, an AMERICAN DIPPER at Van Arsdale Dam, YELLOW WARBLERS in the willows near Trout Creek, and several MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS at different locations along the Eel. For a full list click here. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 11 May 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports seeing approximately 200 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES this morning on Lake Cleone (in MacKerricher State Park). There was at least one RED PHALAROPE as well, but it was extremely windy. -- Trudy Jensen for "Toby" Tobkin
Fri, 09 May, 2008 -- The second in a series of 9 point-count surveys in the Spring Big River Bird Surveys took place this chilly morning shortly after dawn. Nine stations were surveyed in the vicinity of Laguna Marsh, the easternmost of the three survey routes at Big River, with the following results: Purple Martin were heard or seen at four of nine stations, while Vaux's Swifts were seen at 3. Violet-green Swallows were observed at 2 stations, Tree Swallows at one. Cliff Swallows were observed only at one station but may have been the most numerous swallows of the day with at least 15 individuals counted.
Marsh Wren were widespread (4 of 9 stations), numerous and noisy but only one Virginia Rail was heard. Swainson's Thrush were observed at 5 stations and Hermit Thrush at 3. Hummingbird species included Anna's (2 stations) and Allen's (only one.) Raptors were scarce with only Turkey Vultures (3 stations) and Northern Pygmy Owl (one station) noted. Mallards were the most numerous duck species at the Marsh this morning but three Wood Drakes were also seen.
Olive-sided Flycatchers were heard from 5 stations and Warbling Vireo only at one.
Woodpecker species observed were Northern Flicker (3 stations), Acorn Woodpecker (2 stations) and Hairy (on the way out.) Red-breasted Nuthatch were only heard from one station. European Starling were noted at 4 stations.
The station overlooking Little Laguna Marsh was the diversity champion of the day with 22 species noted during a ten-minute survey. -- Matt Coleman
Thu, 08 May 2008 -- Scott Harris saw a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD at a feeder at his home in Willits. It was a twenty minute bird and has not been seen since.
Thu, 08 May 2008 -- On southeast side Ukiah I had two competing pairs [of Red-tailed Hawks] screaming at each other and doing aerial maneuvers about a month ago and very quiet since. -- Janet Rosen
Wed, 07 May 2008 -- Pardon this sort of "Hound of the Baskervilles-esque" post, but for the first time in 36 years, including a dozens with active nesting in the oaks around my house on Burris Lane in PV, I have not even HEARD a Red-shouldered Hawk since winter some time. Anyone one else with a similar lack? Although OT, it may be related that I am also not seeing previously common mammals such as raccoons, skunks, oppossums, squirrels, etc. I have had a Grey Fox several times in the last couple of weeks; his/her daytime appearances are a little worriesome with a rabies report for one in the area. George's Tri-colored Blackbirds on East Road will be worth a look on the way to the Eel next Sunday. -- Jim Armstrong
Wed, 07 May 2008 -- The Spring Big River Bird Surveys, a collaborative project between the Mendocino Land Trust's Big River Stewards, the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society and California State Parks, got off to a good start today as surveyors surveyed 11 point-count stations on the lower Haul Road.
Two species rarely seen at Big River, WHIMBRELS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, were observed during the surveys for the first time,
although participants in the training led by Ron LeValley, of biological consulting firm Mad River Biologists, last Sunday spotted them first. From station two, observers also spotted a lone Red- necked Phalarope.
Osprey were the most frequently observed raptor during today's survey (noted at 5 of 11 stations), but surveyors also documented a Red-
shouldered Hawk, a Red-tailed Hawk and a Peregrine Falcon at station three, about a half-mile above the Haul Road gate.
Woodpecker species observed were Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker.
At the quarry, or station four, surveyors saw at least 20 Violet- green Swallows, two Tree Swallows and two Vaux's Swifts.
While Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Orange-crowned Warblers were widespread, Olive-sided Flycatchers and Warbling Vireo were only heard at the lowermost stations. Two Brown Creepers were heard at station six, about a mile-and-a-half above the haul road gate.
After finishing the last station, surveyors stopped for a second time at station nine, which looks downstream to the New Boom, to watch a "feeding frenzy." Two adult Harbor Seals and a pup, 18 Common Mergansers, 5 Great Blue Heron, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Osprey, a Western Gull and a Great Egret feasted on abundant small fish while a Red- tailed Hawk circled overhead. -- Matt Coleman
Mon, 05 May 2008 -- I have been observing a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES for the past couple of weeks out here in the Talmage area. I saw them fly onto my property together about two weeks ago, and I have been hearing and seeing them almost every day since. Sincerely "for the birds" -- Deborah Grilli
Sun, 04 May 2008 -- Looks like the BROWN THRASHER visitor has moved on somewhere else. I have not seen it since about 6 p.m. yesterday (Saturday). It is interesting that the few quail that usually hang around under the feeder weren't present most of the time the Brown Thrasher was here. Today they are back. -- Carolyn Kinet
Sun, 04 May, 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called to say that she saw at least 14 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Lake Cleone in MacKerricher SP. It is quite windy today, with large whitecaps on the ocean. Perhaps that pushed the tiny phalaropes to the lake. Yesterday, the BROWN THRASHER was still in Inglenook at Carolyn Kinet's home on Hwy 1. -- For Toby and Carolyn, (Karen Havlena)
Thu, 01 May 2008 -- This morning I counted 7 OSPREY above Lake Cleone at MacKerricher State Park. Several attemps were made by osprey to catch a fish. Finally, one osprey dove into the water and grabbed a fish. -- Fred Andrews
Fri, 02 May 2008 -- Hi all: The BROWN THRASHER continues to hang around near my feeder. He/she is pretty aggressive when the scrub jays come around looking for peanuts and does a little display with his feathers sometimes to keep them away. -- Carolyn Kinet
Fri, 02 May 2008 -- I just posted 2 pictures of the BROWN THRASHER found in Carolyn Kinet's Inglenook yard. Mendobirds members click here Jim Havlena, Carolyn, and myself waited about 20 minutes for it to show up. It totally intimidated the two Scrub- jays that were there. It acted very much like a woodpicker raising it's head and pounding it's bill into the ground. See contact information in Karen's post. I understand from Jim that they will be breaking out a good bottle of wine tonight. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 01 May 2008 -- Thanks to a visiting birder, Gary Deghi, from Half Moon Bay for calling my attention to a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD colony in Potter Valley. The colony is along East(side) Road between Pine Avenue and Mid-Mountain Road. Just north of milemarker 4.77 on the west side of the road there is a vineyard pond behind an elevated berm with cattails along the road and a swath of blackberries along the south side. The birds can be observed easily at close range from the road, but there is very little room to pull off. Look for a narrow pullout by mailbox 10707. The tricolors are nesting in the blackberries and are probably in the fourth week of the breeding cycle. They are beginning to provision young - "birds on a mission", and their comings and goings are very conspicuous. I haven't made a careful estimate yet, but the numbers are probably in the 400-600 range. This may be the same group that nested several years ago on West(side) Road in a similar situation, but where the blackberries have been killed with herbicides.
I'm am embarrased to say that I looked this new site over several times in the last four weeks specifically looking for tricolors, but I overlooked the conspicuous.
I should add that I checked the Lake County site on Lyons Creek on 27 Apr. and found a colony that I estimated at about 620. This is on Whalen Road just beyond the Juvenile Detention Center and just inside the white gate of the Lake County Sanitation District on the left-hand side in cattails. With the window rolled down you can't miss them. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 1 May 2008 -- A BROWN THRASHER was spotted this afternoon by Carolyn Kinet at her feeder in Inglenook, north of Cleone and the Fort Bragg Grange. The bird appeared under the feeder in early afternoon, then went into hiding for a couple of hours. When it came back to feed around 3:00, she called me and Toby. I live about 2 miles north of Carolyn, so it did not take me long to get to her house. Thanks to Carolyn, I just saw my 300th Mendocino County bird! If anyone wants to talk to Carolyn or go to her home, you can inquire through me (964-1280) or Toby Tobkin (964-6216). -- For Carolyn Kinet, Karen Havlena
Sun, 27 Apr 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant with Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken. The best bird of the morning was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER which we saw along an exposed mud strip that is appearing on the western corner of the north pond. It was with a single DUNLIN, and a group of about 20 peeps with equal numbers of LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. The bird returned to this same mud after flying away twice and was still there when we left at 1045. There was an early SWAINSON'S THRUSH calling along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 -- My second post in a day, sheesh...on my way back to the house after filling feeders I looked up to see a flock of what sure looked like swifts flying over the house, heading east...which ones do we get hereabouts? [most likely Vaux's Swifts- GEC] -- Janet Rosen
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 -- Well I have had a serious case of feeder envy, but came home from work today to find a pair of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS joining "the usual suspects" at my sunflower seed feeder (down way south South Dora). Yay! -- Janet Rosen
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 -- Marigold Klein saw two AMERICAN DIPPERS on the Russian River yesterday. She has seen them there before. If you go north on the Potter Valley Road from Hwy 20, it's about .67 miles from Hwy 20. The road makes a sharp right turn and then there's a parking place on the right for McKee Park. She also saw some wing wiggling among the four Bullock's Orioles that were there. Mergansers and a kingfisher also. Rich spot. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 -- The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK that has been coming to my yard since 12/09/07 was seen again on 4/19(6:10PM) and 4/21/086:50AM. A triangle of skin is observeable on the right neck of the bird from the throat to the shoulder right of midline. The nape of the neck is also thin of feathering. The feathers and retrices in some areas look like cellophane brown . It appears to be eating well and attentive to surroundings. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 20 Apr 2008 -- Sun, 20 April 08-- The wind stopped blowing, so I ventured down Hwy 1 for a while this AM. I saw one of the LONG-TAILED DUCKS just north of Pudding Creek. Later, during a phone call to Toby Tobkin she said there were two LTDU's there. Eight WHIMBRELS fed on the bluffs, while an additional 7 Whimbrels worked the beach. The parking lot is located between the Beachcomber and Surf and Sand motels.
I also drove out Bald Hill Rd, east of Hwy 1 and north of Pudding Ck. A WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on a fence wire by the cattle fields. During my call to Toby, she stated that only 1 or 2 WEKI's are seen each Spring and Fall by her on the coast, while many can be found in the inland valleys and open, oak woodland habitats. Maybe it will stop by Ocean Meadows. I need it for a yard bird! -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I made a brief, but fruitful, visit to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this morning. The middle pond is being drained and there is lots of exposed mud. It seems that some birds are starting to move in and out of there. Six days ago I saw 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 1 LEAST SANDPIPER. This morning there were no Yellowlegs, and 8 Least Sandpipers. They were accompanied by a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER that was mostly molted into breeding plumage. That is the first I have ever seen out there in the spring. The ducks were quite flighty and it was difficult to get looks at all of them. However, there were at least 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL females. Two of the group of wintering EARED GREBES remain, and they are growing their yellow ears. A few YELLOW WARBLERS are already singing along the river. Cheap thrills!! -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 16 Apr 2008 -- I saw 1-2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WABLER this morning foraging in oaks on the City of Ukiah property south of Low Gap park. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 -- Hello, Re: Viviana's email - I'm a "regular lurker" of Mendobirds living in Albion. In the Ft. Bragg Safeway parking lot I regularly see a blackbird with whiteish wings and tail feathers. Robert Keiffer was kind enough to educate me on the likely cause. Leucism. Regards -- Howard Guyer
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 -- We have a white headed blackbird in our yard here in the Covelo area. He/she also has alot of white underneath her wings. Looks like a minature bald eagle on first glance. She hangs out with a flock and talks the talk. Anyone else ever see such a variation/mutation? -- Viviana
Sun, 13 Apr 2008 -- Early this morning, I could hear the CALIFORNIA TOWHEE singing in the pine at the north edge of our driveway. I took some seed out as I started my walk. The towhee came down to have some breakfast. When I returned, I was shocked to see EIGHTEEN EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in the driveway, along with a lone Mourning Dove (truly mourning) by the brick pillar. They scattered north to a tree in the next yard as I ran towards them waving my arms. Hopefully, they will keep on migrating somewhere else. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 -- Last Saturday morning (12 Apr), a singing male PALM WARBLER made a brief appearance in the budding alders along the pond at the Ocean Lake mobile home park in Fort Bragg then headed north. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 -- Toby Tobkin called to report the presence of two, late ROCK SANDPIPERS and three LONG-TAILED DUCKS on the rocks just west of the Haul Road parking lot, north of Pudding Creek along Hwy 1, north Fort Bragg. The parking lot is located near the Beachcomber and Surf and Sand motels. -- For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin (Karen Havlena)
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 -- Maybe these have already been reported? I saw several pairs of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and WESTERN KINGBIRDS today for the first time this year. A friend saw a Bullock's Oriole at Lake Mendocino on Thursday, as well. I still haven't seen any Western Tanagers or Lazuli Buntings. Has anyone else? -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 12 April 2008 -- There were 3 male and 1-2 female PURPLE MARTINS flying above the Ten Mile River bridge this morning. Also, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS fed with several GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the mudflat east of the bridge on the north shoreline. As I walked back north to Ocean Meadows, sadly a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were on the telephone wires. The CALIFORNIA TOWHEE sang both atop a willow and the top of a cypress at the southern curve of Ocean Meadows Circle. Three OSPREY hunted at the river mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 09 Apr 2008 -- A handsome male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD stopped at our feeder in Talmadge for a drink this evening. -- Cheryl Watson
Tue, 08 Apr 2008 -- PURPLE FINCHES, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and an early BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in addition to the regulars in the backyard. Spring has sprung! -- Kelly Austin, Redwood Valley
Tue, 08 Apr 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- A male CASSIN'S FINCH made 2 lengthy visits to our backyard feeders this evening. This is only the second time we have seen this bird in our yard, and the only other visit was when a pair came to the feeders in February, 1997. I got some serviceable photos of the bird feeding on the patio through the sliding-door glass, and you will not mistake them for the art of Messrs. LeValley and Matthiessen. Nevertheless, I will post them on Mendobirds when I get them off my very expensive camara/lens setup and fuss with them in whatever-you-call that editing software. Mendobirds Menbers click here -- ChuckVaughn
Sun, 27 Apr 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant with Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken. The best bird of the morning was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER which we saw along an exposed mud strip that is appearing on the western corner of the north pond. It was with a single DUNLIN, and a group of about 20 peeps with equal numbers of LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. The bird returned to this same mud after flying away twice and was still there when we left at 1045. There was an early SWAINSON'S THRUSH calling along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 -- My second post in a day, sheesh...on my way back to the house after filling feeders I looked up to see a flock of what sure looked like swifts flying over the house, heading east...which ones do we get hereabouts? [most likely Vaux's Swifts- GEC] -- Janet Rosen
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 -- Well I have had a serious case of feeder envy, but came home from work today to find a pair of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS joining "the usual suspects" at my sunflower seed feeder (down way south South Dora). Yay! -- Janet Rosen
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 -- Marigold Klein saw two AMERICAN DIPPERS on the Russian River yesterday. She has seen them there before. If you go north on the Potter Valley Road from Hwy 20, it's about .67 miles from Hwy 20. The road makes a sharp right turn and then there's a parking place on the right for McKee Park. She also saw some wing wiggling among the four Bullock's Orioles that were there. Mergansers and a kingfisher also. Rich spot. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 -- The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK that has been coming to my yard since 12/09/07 was seen again on 4/19(6:10PM) and 4/21/086:50AM. A triangle of skin is observeable on the right neck of the bird from the throat to the shoulder right of midline. The nape of the neck is also thin of feathering. The feathers and retrices in some areas look like cellophane brown . It appears to be eating well and attentive to surroundings. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 20 Apr 2008 -- Sun, 20 April 08-- The wind stopped blowing, so I ventured down Hwy 1 for a while this AM. I saw one of the LONG-TAILED DUCKS just north of Pudding Creek. Later, during a phone call to Toby Tobkin she said there were two LTDU's there. Eight WHIMBRELS fed on the bluffs, while an additional 7 Whimbrels worked the beach. The parking lot is located between the Beachcomber and Surf and Sand motels.
I also drove out Bald Hill Rd, east of Hwy 1 and north of Pudding Ck. A WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on a fence wire by the cattle fields. During my call to Toby, she stated that only 1 or 2 WEKI's are seen each Spring and Fall by her on the coast, while many can be found in the inland valleys and open, oak woodland habitats. Maybe it will stop by Ocean Meadows. I need it for a yard bird! -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I made a brief, but fruitful, visit to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this morning. The middle pond is being drained and there is lots of exposed mud. It seems that some birds are starting to move in and out of there. Six days ago I saw 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 1 LEAST SANDPIPER. This morning there were no Yellowlegs, and 8 Least Sandpipers. They were accompanied by a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER that was mostly molted into breeding plumage. That is the first I have ever seen out there in the spring. The ducks were quite flighty and it was difficult to get looks at all of them. However, there were at least 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL females. Two of the group of wintering EARED GREBES remain, and they are growing their yellow ears. A few YELLOW WARBLERS are already singing along the river. Cheap thrills!! -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 16 Apr 2008 -- I saw 1-2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WABLER this morning foraging in oaks on the City of Ukiah property south of Low Gap park. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 -- Hello, Re: Viviana's email - I'm a "regular lurker" of Mendobirds living in Albion. In the Ft. Bragg Safeway parking lot I regularly see a blackbird with whiteish wings and tail feathers. Robert Keiffer was kind enough to educate me on the likely cause. Leucism. Regards -- Howard Guyer
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 -- We have a white headed blackbird in our yard here in the Covelo area. He/she also has alot of white underneath her wings. Looks like a minature bald eagle on first glance. She hangs out with a flock and talks the talk. Anyone else ever see such a variation/mutation? -- Viviana
Sun, 13 Apr 2008 -- Early this morning, I could hear the CALIFORNIA TOWHEE singing in the pine at the north edge of our driveway. I took some seed out as I started my walk. The towhee came down to have some breakfast. When I returned, I was shocked to see EIGHTEEN EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in the driveway, along with a lone Mourning Dove (truly mourning) by the brick pillar. They scattered north to a tree in the next yard as I ran towards them waving my arms. Hopefully, they will keep on migrating somewhere else. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 -- Last Saturday morning (12 Apr), a singing male PALM WARBLER made a brief appearance in the budding alders along the pond at the Ocean Lake mobile home park in Fort Bragg then headed north. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 -- Toby Tobkin called to report the presence of two, late ROCK SANDPIPERS and three LONG-TAILED DUCKS on the rocks just west of the Haul Road parking lot, north of Pudding Creek along Hwy 1, north Fort Bragg. The parking lot is located near the Beachcomber and Surf and Sand motels. -- For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin (Karen Havlena)
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 -- Maybe these have already been reported? I saw several pairs of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and WESTERN KINGBIRDS today for the first time this year. A friend saw a Bullock's Oriole at Lake Mendocino on Thursday, as well. I still haven't seen any Western Tanagers or Lazuli Buntings. Has anyone else? -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 12 April 2008 -- There were 3 male and 1-2 female PURPLE MARTINS flying above the Ten Mile River bridge this morning. Also, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS fed with several GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the mudflat east of the bridge on the north shoreline. As I walked back north to Ocean Meadows, sadly a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were on the telephone wires. The CALIFORNIA TOWHEE sang both atop a willow and the top of a cypress at the southern curve of Ocean Meadows Circle. Three OSPREY hunted at the river mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 09 Apr 2008 -- A handsome male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD stopped at our feeder in Talmadge for a drink this evening. -- Cheryl Watson
Tue, 08 Apr 2008 -- PURPLE FINCHES, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and an early BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in addition to the regulars in the backyard. Spring has sprung! -- Kelly Austin, Redwood Valley
Tue, 08 Apr 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- A male CASSIN'S FINCH made 2 lengthy visits to our backyard feeders this evening. This is only the second time we have seen this bird in our yard, and the only other visit was when a pair came to the feeders in February, 1997. I got some serviceable photos of the bird feeding on the patio through the sliding-door glass, and you will not mistake them for the art of Messrs. LeValley and Matthiessen. Nevertheless, I will post them on Mendobirds when I get them off my very expensive camara/lens setup and fuss with them in whatever-you-call that editing software. Mendobirds Menbers click here -- ChuckVaughn
Sun, 06 Apr 2008 -- 4/6/08 9 to Noon.
Hwy 1, South of Cleone: Tree Swallows, Mourning Doves, White-crowned Sparrows, 1 male
California Quail,6 Band-tailed Pigeons, Chestnut-backed Chickadees,
3 Turkey Vultures, 1 Scrub Jay, 4 Mallards, 10 Common Ravens.
Green Acres: Brewer's Blackbirds, 1 Song Sparrow,3 American Robins, 2 House
Finches
Coast south of Laguna Point: 2 Canada Geese, Black Oystercatchers, Western Gulls, 30+ Pelagic Cormorants, Several Black Turnstones, 2 Killdeer, 1 Whimbrel
Headlands: 1 Osprey, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 1 White-tailed Kite
Lake Cleone and Vicinty: 6 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Double-crested Cormorants, 6 American
Coots, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 Steller's Jay -- Fred Andrews
Fri, 04 April 2008 A WHITE-WINGED DOVE flew past me near the County buildings on south Franklin Street this morning.
Fri, 04 Apr 2008 -- We are seeing a similar surge in species at my house in Northern Redwood Valley. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, but no Calliope yet. :( We are seeing seeing BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS at the feeders :) Cheers -- Bruce Gove
Fri, 04 Apr 2008 - It looks like Karen is experiencing the same surge of migrating hummingbirds that we are seeing inland. In my yard it has been an audible rise and fall of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS like this: 28 Mar 2
29 Mar 3
30 Mar 3
31 Mar 14
1 Apr 7
2 Apr 4
3 Apr 5
4 Apr 3 -- George Chaniot
Thu, 03 April 2008 - Today at there were only 2 hummingbirds that I saw at Ocean Meadows/Ten Mile area. For the past 5 days, there have been several male Rufous and numerous Allen's, plus the female Calliope.
Alas, poor "Cal" the California Towhee has been singing more often, and louder than ever around the house. It breaks my heart, knowing that he is all alone over here.
Also, for arrival dates, there were 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS on 3/31. Today, Jim spotted a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT near the house. 4/2 there were 4 Savannah Sparrows in the yard. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 02 April 2008 -- A female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visited here late this afternoon in the yard at Ocean Meadows Circle- Ten Mile area, north of Fort Bragg and the Ten Mile River. I watched her feed at some electric blue, low-growing plants for a couple of minutes. Then, a female Allen's/selasphorus hummer came up and challenged the Calliope. Both spread their tails, and I could see the Calliope's tail well, as she was facing away There was little, or no, rufous visible at the basal halves of the retrices (it was not apparent). A really neat addition to the yard list. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 -- There's a fungal infection (Fusarium moniliforme) that hummers spread from fuchsia to fuchsia and other prized garden plants. . .this might be it. If not, it looks suspiciously like scaly face mites. Also of consideration: candida, caused by either dirty hummingbird feeders or people feeding honey instead of sugar/water mixed to the correct ratio. -- Feather Forestwalker
Wed 02, April 2008--I need some opinions on a ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD picture I just posted. Obviously there's a problem with the bill. I've done some searching of the internet and can find no definitive answer as to the cause. Things that are mentioned are Avian Pox, knemidocoptes mites, bacterial infection, and hopefully, "sticky nectar and pollen".
The hummingbird seems to be healthy and currently is the alpha male. I'm getting more hummingbirds (Anna's, Allen's and Rufous)at my feeder then usual. The Anna's that wintered here didn't have this problem. Any ideas? -- Richard Hubacek
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports seeing two LONG-TAILED DUCKS, along with six HARLEQUIN DUCKS (and Scoters), today from the bluff west of the Haul Road parking lot. They are in heavy molt - no long tails. The Haul Road parking lot is just north of Pudding Creek, just north of Fort Bragg. The birds were readily visible from the bluffs directly west of the parking lot.
Tue, 01 Apr 2008 -- Recent arrivals on Middle Ridge, Albion, elevation 400 ft, 3/4 mile east of Highway 1:
March 30: First 3008 sighting of a Violet-Green Swallow, checking out potential nest sites in a dead redwood snag.
March 28: First 2008 sighting of (male) American Goldfinch on thistle sock.
March 30: After disappearing for over a week, the Acorn Woodpeckers are back.
April 1: Eurasian Collared Dove in front yard.
In the last week or so we have had a big influx of Allen's Hummingbirds, perhaps two dozen or so around the house. Males are displaying everywhere. No Rufous yet.
Now for the question: Janet in Anchor Bay reported Pine Siskins arriving on March 27 - but we have had a small flock of PS here pretty much all winter. Are they generally resident here, or was this unusual? They seem to have mostly moved on recently. We had a Purple (?) Finch as well, around the same date, but it didn't stay. Cheers -- Tim
Mon, 31 Mar 2008 -- In the last week I have visited all of the locations in Lake and Mendocino Counties where I know Tricolored Blackbirds have nested in recent years, and I have discovered a new colony on Highland Springs Road. Tricolors are present at most of these areas and song, display, nest building, and copulation are under way already. Here's a summary of what I've found. All of the numbers estimates are preliminary and conservative. The best places for watching or photographing are probably the Adobe Creek and Highland Springs Road sites:
MacGuire's Pond/Camp 19 on Route 20: At least 9 males displaying.
Wilson's Pond, Burris Lane, Potter Valley: At least 35 males.
Christmas Star Vineyard, Potter Valley: None present. Blackberry hedge where they nested once has been nuked.
Fetzer's Valley Oak Center pond: Males present, singing, displaying, no number estimate yet.
Lyons Creek Wetland: None present.
Adobe Creek Reservoir: At least 34 males in the NW corner, and another group of at least 21 males on the east side. Nest-building, copulation. 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds on territory in the NE corner.
6495 Highland Springs Road: At least 95 males displaying in a blackberry patch right along the road near the driveway. Nest building, copulation. Foraging in the vineyards to the east.
I am going to be the coordinator for Mendocino and Lake Counties of the statewide Tricolored Blackbird survey this spring. If you have any observations of tricolors in Lake and Mendocino between now and July please contact me - particularly nesting information. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 31 Mar 2008 -- For the last couple of evenings I have heard a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK singing, but couldn't find him. This morning about 0800, I heard him again and finally saw the boy perched atop a conifer about 50 yards to the north of my house, one mile up Tomki Rd. in Redwood Valley.. Happy Birding!! -- Bruce Gove
Mon, 31 Mar 2008 -- A great day for birding at MacKerricher State Park. 10:15 to 12:15. On and around Lake Cleone I identified 25 bird species including: 1 Osprey with a fish, 1 Great Blue Heron, Many Chestnut-backed Chickadees, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, Heard several Marsh Wrens, 2 red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 Hermit Thrush, And possibly 1 Pine Sisken. I have never seen one before!, Good Birding to all. -- Fred Andrews
Sat, 29 Mar 2008 -- On Saturday the 29th, two SHORT-EARED OWLS hunted leisurely at Anderson Marsh from 5:55 to 6:55 pm. I was hiking with my family and did not observe them the entire time, but nearly every time I scanned the open marsh/fields one (rarely two) was easily visible as it flew back and forth across the area. They began at the south end near the buildings and methodically worked their way northward. On one occasion an owl flew upward a few hundred feet and chased an unidentified raptor (rear views only) for a few hundred yards, then it returned and landed in the field. I think it was the first time I had ever seen an owl chase a hawk. I assume these were the same owls first found by Jerry White on the evening of the Clear Lake CBC. I had searched for them several times at dawn but had only a brief glimpse of one, and had never searched for them at dusk. Perhaps dusk is a much better time for viewing them. -- Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I watched a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD as it visited our feeders this afternoon from 4:30 until at least 7:30 when it became too dark to see anything. It was a bright, pleasant surprise on this gloomy afternoon. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 -- I see that the HOODED ORIOLE at our feeder right now represents the earliest record for Mendo interior. One day earlier than the previous record. -- Happy birding, David Smith-Ferri
Thu, 27 Mar 2008 -- Joanne Haller and I birded the north coast Thursday from Ten Mile River to Navarro River. It was a beautiful, clear day with an onshore wind, but not very birdy. The most interesting bird we found was a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL sitting with a group of Western Gulls on the beach by the parking lot at Laguna Point. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 27 Mar 2008 -- Yesterday a huge group of PINE SISKINS arrived. At one point over thirty of them were clinging to our thistle feeder. Another visitor arrived to join the noisy party - a male PURPLE FINCH. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Sun, 23 Mar 2008 -- To all; the SLATE-COLORED JUNCO came on 3-21-08 at 7:30AM. Not seen 22nd or this AM, 23rd. I have had 1 PINE SISKIN on 22nd and 23rd. Lots happening in those trees, a PURPLE FINCH sang for 3 hours today. -- Barbara Dolan, Ukiah
Sat, 22 Mar 2008 -- There was a single male HARLEQUIN DUCK upstream from the Noyo Harbor (visible from the parking lot at the boat ram on the south side of the river) today.
OSPREYS were making a lot of noise as well and there was a group of 15 COMMON RAVENS floating about the Osprey nest area.
Last Sunday, the 16th, there was a singing PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and at least 5 singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS along Ten Mile River about 3 miles upstream from the Highway 1 Bridge. Spring is here... -- Cheers, Ron LaValley
Sat, 22 Mar 2008 -- Hi All, Yesterday my husband, Rick, spotted a male AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. We put out the thistle feeder and this afternoon six, male and female, were at the feeder. Yea! -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Thu, 20 Mar 2008 -- At noon today, there were about 125 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, plus a few SURF SCOTERS just off Ten Mile River mouth, north of MacKerricher SP. They were flying then landing, over and over, in a large oval where the fresh water and the salt water mix together. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 19 Mar 2008 -- Yesterday I had a new bird at my seed feeder, which sent me scurrying for the binoculars. I definitely have not seen one of these guys here before, the bright red would be impossible to miss. His mate was here with him. I am familiar with House Finches, though they don't come around our house. I used my Thayer birding program to try to be sure of his identity, and concluded that I would not be able to distinguish a Purple Finch from a Cassin's Finch, so I'm going with the PURPLE FINCH on the basis of likely habitat. (I'm at a low elevation, creekside, mixed conifers at the edge of a small orchard) Anybody have any suggestions?
Our BAND-TAILED PIGEONS have recently returned, I counted 11 yesterday. In summertime we have had as many as 30. -- Becky Stenberg, Glen Blair
Wed, 19 Mar 2008 -- Hello - The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW I reported last week is still here (corner of Ford and Little Lake in Mendocino) and was last seen at 6p this evening (Tuesday) around the Blair House.
The sparrow flock has grown and now includes 3 FOX SPARROWS, a SPOTTED TOWHEE, 2 HOUSE SPARROWS, a few SONG SPARROWS as well as the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS mentioned previously -- a veritable sparrow convention! Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 -- Al [the LAYSAN ALBATROSS] hasn't been seen for a while. Point Arena's famous visitor may be gone. On a happier note, OSPREYS have returned to our road in Anchor Bay where they have successfully nested for more than twelve years. -- Jeanne Jackson
Sun, 16 Mar 2008 -- I have some long-overdue reports. One WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near Pomo CG at Lake Mendocino about two weeks ago; two SOOTY GROUSE west of Willits south of Hwy 20 right at the peak of the Willits Grade, and one SOOTY GROUSE on Ridgewood Ranch, reported by Marigold Klein. And one HOODED MERGANSER in the hidden lagoon immediately west of Rodman Slough along the Nice-Lucerne cut-off. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 16 Mar 2008 -- Today at Big River near the rivermouth and along the haul road: 1 Osprey, 5 White-crowned Sparrows, 14 Turkey Vultures, 30+ Common Ravens, 1 male and female Common Mergansers, non-breeding, 2 adult non-breeding Common Loons, 6 American Coots, 10 Western Gulls, 3 Steller's Jays, 5 Buffleheads, 1 Song Sparrow, 1 large hawk, unable to identify, possibly a juvenille Red-tailed Hawk -- Fred Andrews
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 -- 3-15-08 The female SLATE-COLORED JUNCO is still around and it looks very beautiful. The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was seen last on 3-9-08 and still looked a little tattered. -- Barbara Dolan
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 -- Roger Foote found and photographed a female LONG-TAILED DUCK this morning about 200 yards north of Virgin Creek mouth. The bird was near the long, flat rock where Harlequin Ducks sometimes rest. (No Harlequins were there today). If you are on the Haul Rd, the spot is off the bluff, west of the small, decorative lighthouse by the road. Virgin Creek is just north of the Fort Bragg city limit, west of Hwy 1. It is a part of MacKerricher SP. -- Karen Havlena for Roger Foote
12 and13 December 2007 - T.Reid reported to me that AL was at the Point Arena Cove yesterday and today ...and came in VERY close to the pier several times. He was able to photograph AL, including on "take-off" and the legs appear to be working ...and reported that AL could possible be favoring the right leg... but it was somewhat difficult to tell even directly below the pier in clear water. If you look at the attached photo taken by Mr. Reid it looks as if both feet are used during the running. In the sequence of three photos that were provided to me the left foot splash MAY be a little larger than the right foot splash ...but both feet are definitely being used. Several birders were able to see AL, including a San Diego fellow who specifically came to Pt. Arena for the chance of seeing this famous Laysan Albatross. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 13 Dec 2007 -- A late-posted follow-up to Karen's sighting: "My" WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (adult) returned to our yard in Fort Bragg on Sunday, December 9. I was beginning to fear the bird would not return. We have had at least one WTSP spend the winter in our yard (near the edge of Pudding Creek) for each of the three winters we have owned this house. Lesser Goldfinch numbers at our thistle feeder have increased only slightly since mid-summer. -- David Jensen
Thu, 13 Dec 2007 -- This morning, Jim spotted a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW from the kitchen window feeding by the brick pillar and the pine tree with the other birds. Four zonotrichia species all at once! It appears to be a sub-adult or adult, but some of the coloration is not perfect. Within the range from all tan to pure white, it leans mostly to the white side, but the yellow lores are very dull. The left side of the head has a little more tan on the supercilium, while the right side has more white. The throat is quite white with a nice black border. -- Jim and Karen Havlena
Tue, 11 Dec 2007 -- I stopped by Arena Cove this afternoon and saw "Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS. He swam up to a returning fishing boat and either greeted the fishermen or begged for a handout, depending on your interpretation of Albatross bill clackings. I clearly noticed that he was using both legs for propulsion as he swam across the bay. This surprised me greatly. Last winter one leg trailed uselessly as he swam. I was unable to stay long enough to see him fly. If anyone sees the bird fly in or take off, please post your observation of the legs - does one leg still dangle as the bird flies, and does the bird still hop across the water on one leg as it takes flight? Does anyone know whether a broken leg (at least we assumed it was broken) can heal and become totally functional without receiving aid? As I watched the interaction with the fishermen, I heard one of them claim that this was not Al, but a different bird. I find it easier to believe that the leg could reheal on its own than that anot!
her Laysan would quickly fill the void left by a non-returning Al.
I stopped at Stoneboro Road just before sunset and observed 6 TREE SWALLOWS. I was also able to count 16 TUNDRA SWANS near the mouth of Brush Creek as they flew into the estuary for the evening. -- David Jensen
Mon, 10 Dec 2007 -- I spent the morning again at Lake Mendocino concentrating on refinding the loon for a closer view. I didn't find the loon, but I did find some more interesting birds. There was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER near the south boat ramp resting in the water and on shore. There was also in the south end a lone female Common Merganser trailing about three feet of fishing line in flight. There was a group of 19 California Gulls in the same area and they were joined by an adult THAYER'S GULL and a RING-BILLED GULL. I have birded the lake for the last four days, and the gulls seem to change daily. The only constant has been an adult HERRING GULL that likes to sit on the buoys in the Pomo A area. The group of CACKLING GEESE has grown to 51. Only two have partial white collars, there is a big range of browns on their breasts, and a few have divided chin patches. They were mainly near the south ramp but were swimming to the east shore when last seen. The ROSS'S GOOSE is still hanging out with his two buddies near Oak Grove. It's a good photo opportunity for someone. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 10 Dec 2007 -- The first year HARRIS'S SPARROW in our front yard north of Ten Mile River in Ocean Meadows is certainly a different bird than the Fort Bragg bird. We see our bird several times per day, and we live almost 11 miles north of the city of Fort Bragg. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 09 Dec 2007 -- Marybeth Arago reports that she has a HARRIS'S SPARROW has shown up at their feeder yesterday the 8th in Fort Bragg, It was confirmed as such on Sunday (DT)...and is a probably different bird from the Ocean Meadows Circle - Ten Mile Harris's Sparrow which was still there on the 7th. If interested in seeing this bird you can call Marybeth at 962-0724 anytime after 8:15am.
Sun, 09 Dec 2007 -- Around 8:30 AM I had a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at my wild bird seed feeder. The feeder has ground sunflower and thistle seed and I mix it with regular wild seed. The bird sat long enough for me to recognize it in a foreshortened view head toward me. It flushed. I called Cheryl and Geoff, thinking it might not come back. Then it returned and long enough for me to have same look at it feeding while putting film in an ancient camera. It flushed again and did so turning giving me looks at the white windows and spots on top wing. It appeared as a vibrant mature male. I neglected to note behind the eye if it had a broken head pattern with any orange? It is too early for count week in our area. Of Ukiah. I did put out sunflower seeds in the open feeders. I am wondering if this bird is ever known to eat persimmons because there are ripening trees in the area, and thinking that neotropical migrants switch to fruit when they go south? -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 09 Dec 2007 -- About noon today Barbara Dolan and I found a RED-THROATED LOON at Lake Mendocino. It was about half-way between the dam and Perry Creek Cove. Probably it could be scoped from Coyote Dam. Hope it sticks around until Saturday. The flock of 26 CACKLING GEESE is still around. Today we saw them fly west over the dam and south towad Ukiah. A ROSS'S GOOSE is still present in the north end. It is hanging out with two domestic geese near the Oak Grove parking lot. There are also two adult BALD EAGLES which have been in the north end mornings and are eating dead striped bass on the mud flats. Yesterday there was a CANVASBACK at the delta of the Russian River - now migrated south of the Mesa. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 09 Dec 2007 -- Lake Cleone - MacKerricher State Park 9 -10:45 am 40F at 9 am: Parking Lot: Brewers Blackbirds. On or Near the Lake: 100+ American Coots, Several Mallards, 5 Double-crested Cormorants, Buffleheads, 4 female, 4 male, 1 Eared Grebe, non-breeding plumage, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Great Blue Heron, About 12 Scaups, Greater or Lesser, 1 Northern Harrier soaring low over the lake, About two dozen Western Gulls, Other gulls not able to ID. Tidal Pond West of Lake: 1 Pacific Loon, Several coots. Trail Around the Lake: Flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees in trees, Flock of House Finches in trees, 1 Common Raven, 5 Stellars Jays, 1 Acorn Woodpecker, 1 Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers, very active in trees south of the lake, 1 Red-tailed Hawk perched in dead tree on south side of lake, 1 Turkey Vulture soaring overhead -- Fred Andrews
Sun, 09 Dec 2007 -- Off of the Little River Headlands today we saw at least 3 ANCIENT MURRELETS and 5 MARBLED MURRELETS in close. We also saw a winter/plumaged PIGEON GUILLEMOT in the same place that we saw one on November 6. Cheers -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 07 Dec 2007 -- Hooray! AL, the local winter visiting LAYSAN ALBATROSS is, in fact, back. It was reported to me by two independent observers (Thank you Tom and Grace) that at 2:45 pm Mel Smith saw him fly in and land at the wharf. At 4:30 pm one of my tried-and-true observers verified it with Zeiss and with Elites. It is just riding in the water and preening. -- Bob Keiffer
[This is the 15th winter season that it has been known to be present]
Fri, 07 Dec 2007 -- This morning at Lake Mendocino there were a few birds of Christmas Bird Count interest:
BONAPARTE'S GULL, 1, southmost end of the Lake, Area 3.
CACKLING GEESE, 26, south of the South Boat Ramp. Flew to the north shore near Oak Grove Parking Lot, Area 2
ROSS'S GOOSE, 1, with the Cacklers., Area 2
ROCK WREN, 1, Coyote Dam between markers 004 and 005, Area 2
SNOWY EGRET, 1, Pomo A, Area 2.
HERRING GULL, 1 adult, Pomo A, Area 2.
-- George Chaniot
Fri, 07 Dec 2007 -- Hi- This morning Jim and I saw three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS in the traditional spot in Oak Manor near Yosemite, Pomo and the north end of Washo.
After arriving back on the coast this afternoon, one of the first birds we spotted was the HARRIS'S SPARROW. It frequents the low hedge and area around the lone pine and the brick pillar at the north end of our yard. The location is halfway around the inner circle of Ocean Meadows Circle, 1/3 mile north of the Ten Mile River bridge. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 -- This AM while driving east on Branscomb Rd, Jim and I saw at least one VARIED THRUSH with a small group. Some, or all, of the other 5-6 birds could also have been Varied Thrushes. The location is between mile markers 3.00 and 3.65 at the west end of Branscomb Rd, north of Westport. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 -- I visited Lakeside County Park on the south side of Clear Lake this morning. I found a group of geese in center field of one of the ball diamonds. Today there were 15 CANADA GEESE, 9 CACKLING GEESE (of two sizes), 7 SNOW GEESE, and 1 ROSS'S GOOSE. I also checked Pyle Road for the shrike but to no avail. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 02 Dec 2007 -- Today I saw three female RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS at the county park in Clearlake Oaks (I didn't know Jerry had seen them until I just now read his message from Friday). After they were spooked by a boat, I relocated them plus an adult WESTERN GULL along the south shore, viewed from the campground just south of the park. A partially leucistic PIED-BILLED GREBE was in the channel at the park. I also saw three
COMMON MOORHENS in a small pond visible from Sulphur Bank Road just east of the entrance to the El Em Indian Colony.
The few gulls at Clearlake are loafing on a dock near the end of Golf Street in Clearlake (just south of
Redbud Park), where I found an adult and a 3rd-cycle WESTERN GULL, plus five 1st-cycle and three adult THAYER'S GULLS. Two 1st-cycle WESTERN GULLS were present on November 18 and an adult on November 11. SCAUP continue to increase at Borax Lake with 645 present on December 2, but no Tufted Ducks yet.
Two CACKLING GEESE were among 139 CANADA GEESE in a field beside Hidden Valley Plaza, opposite the Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course on Highway 29. I first saw these two birds on November 4. On November 11 I tallied 110 CANVASBACKS at the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 01 Dec 2007 -- The "Sanel Valley" group of Canada Geese have been using the Crowfoot Ranch pasture which is along Highway 101 between Hopland and Ukiah ....just north of Jepson Winery...on the east side of the highway. I stopped to check them out and found three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 6 ALEUTIAN-race CACKLING GEESE mixed in with about 75 Canada Geese (Great Basin race). There is one Canada Goose with an extra large white check patch which is common when they interbreed with domestic geese ....but more interesting is a very light-breasted Canada goose that is just slightly smaller than the Great Basin Canadas (Branta canadensis moffitti). This bird may be an Interior Canada Goose (Branta canadensis interior) but needs to be checked out further. Good Birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 01 Dec 2007 -- The HOUSE WREN was in the yard across from us on Ocean Meadows Circle. It was missing yesterday, so I was glad to see it this AM. The HARRIS'S SPARROW is also still at the north side of our yard near the lone pine and low hedge. This is halfway around the circle on the inner side. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 30 Nov 2007 -- Today there was a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE on Pyle Rd., Nice.
A large number of fish-eating birds have moved into the Clearlake Oaks lower arm of Clear Lake. At the Clearlake Oaks Boat Launch Facility I found 2 female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS .
Lakeside County Park (on Park Drive off of Soda Bay Rd) is a fairly reliable location to find Canada Geese.
Today as usual there was a flock of geese but none were Canada Geese Instead there were 9 CACKLING GEESE, 6 SNOW GEESE, and 1 ROSS'S GOOSE. -- Jerry White
Thu, 29 Nov 2007 -- This morning I birded Lake Mendocino and found a few interesting species: There was a MEW GULL at the south boat ramp area,two HERRING GULLS in the north end of the lake, a SNOW GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE on the shore at Pomo B, an adult BALD EAGLE at the Mesa, a pair of CANVASBACKS at the Mesa, and a COMMON LOON at Perry Creek Cove. Later in the day there was an Aleutian-like CACKLING GOOSE among the 75 honkers at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 29 Nov 2007 -- Hi-- Both yesterday and this morning, a HOUSE WREN has been in the slightly overgrown yard across the street from us at Ocean Meadows. Hopefully, it will stay a few more days, but some people are now visiting the usually vacant home. The HARRIS'S SPARROW Sparrow is still present in our yard, as well. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 27 Nov 2007 -- Hi --This morning I was surprised and encouraged to find a MARSH WREN right outside the living room window. The wren was a bright, rusty red, more like the eastern population.
So, I headed north to Juan Creek and worked my way south along Hwy 1. There were almost no birds to be found, not even a Red-tailed Hawk. When I finally got back to Ocean Meadows, the wintering FERRUGINOUS HAWK was hovering on the east side of Hwy 1, and the HARRIS'S SPARROW greeted me. The Marsh Wren has moved on, presumably to the marsh just a quarter mile to the south. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, November 27, 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- A male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER made a brief visit to some sap wells in a red berry bush just outside the lab window at HREC this morning. A Red-breasted Sapsucker, apparently the rightful proprietor of the wells, ran him off and I haven't seen him since. That is a new bird for the Center. If anyone is interested in a follow-up on the presence/absence of this bird, let me know off list and I will let you know if he returns. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 26 Nov 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- A "Red" Fox Sparrow showed up this morning at the feeder outside the lab at HREC. I have posted a very nice photo of the bird, taken by Bob Keiffer, on the Mendobirds website. Mendobirds Members Click Here -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 25 Nov 2007 -- Belated 22-25 November 2007 - Irish Beach to Point Arena highlights: BLACK SCOTER - female - directly below Irish Beach housing - sometimes with Surf Scoters
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - 4 on Hunter's Lagoon, 1 at Pt. Arena Cove near the pier, several along the coastline
FERRUGINOUS HAWKS - 3 to 4 - various places along Hwy 1 - one very cooperative bird (for photos) was seen several times on the
power poles just north of Manchester ....about three poles north of Brush Creek.
PEREGRINE FALCON - atop the pyramid-shaped rock island that is in the NW view from the CalTrans overlook by Mallo Pass Creek ...just north of Irish Beach
BLACK-CROWNED NIGT HERON - 20 - 25 birds along Garcia River just west of the end of the Miner Hole Road
Of note: I did not see any swans on the Garcia River flats ...and "Al" the Laysan Albatross had NOT shown up yet at the Pt. Arena Cove... and I did not see any Eurasian Collared-Doves along Duxbury Ln. (many times near the Thompson residence). Good birding -- Bob Keiffer.
Sun, 25 Nov 2007 -- Hi, The BURROWING OWL we took to Ronnie James, who does bird rehabilitation, was released on Bald Hill Rd in north Fort Bragg this afternoon. Toby, Jim and I accompanied Ronnie and a few other people to a property near the cattle ranch. We all followed Ronnie, who had the owl in a carrier, to a somewhat open spot on the property. There was a fence with nice posts, and we all hoped that the owl would land on a post for a few seconds. But no. It popped out of the cage and immediately flew about 50 yards around some cypresses. We did not see where it landed, but hopefully it will find a good spot to feed and rest tonight. The bird seemed to be quite healthy now.
Toby came by our house late this morning, and finally saw the HARRIS'S SPARROW. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 25 Nov 2007 -- I drove around Potter Valley this morning and encountered quite a few raptors: Golden Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, 1st-winter FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 2 Cooper's HAwks, American Kestrel, and a PRAIRIE FALCON. On Burris Pond there was a pair of GADWALLS - fairly unusual in the valley, and there were two female GREATER SCAUP on the East Road pond - also unusual locally. Between Burris Lane and Pine Avenue I saw at least three distant LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Nov 2007 -- Toby Tobkin and I tried to find the Rock Sandpiper at Laguna Point this morning during high tide but failed to find it. Plenty of Turnstones and Surfbirds but no Sandpiper. We did see a flock of 14 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS fly by(they seem to be numerous this year). We then went up to Ward Ave. and found 6 BLACK SCOTERS with a few HARLEQUIN DUCKS mixed in. Since I was most of the way there I decided to try for Karen's HARRIS'S SPARROW and when I arrived (around noon). Karen waved me up to her front porch from which I had an excellent look at the Sparrow. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 23 Nov 2007 -- Today from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. I walked around the Lake Cleone trail at MacKerricher State Park. I need help with identifying a bird that I only glimpsed for a few seconds. It was perched in a deciduous tree along the south side of the lake. It was grayish and very small, but not a hummingbird. Any ideas?
Birds on the lake: 100s American Coots, Dozens Western Gulls, Several Mallards, About 2 dozen male and female Ring-necked ducks, One Pied-billed Grebe, One Male Greater Scaup (has the green appearing iridescent head), (Immature)Male and female Eurasian Wigeons (the male did not have the white forecrown of a male American Wigeon)
Flying overhead: Two separate flocks of Canada Geese, One Turkey Vulture, Three Common Ravens
On the trail around the lake: Maybe a dozen male and female Yellow-rumped Warblers, Three Double-crested Cormorants perched in a dead tree, Female Acorn Woodpecker, Ten California Quail, Heard a Marsh Wren, Five Stellars Jays, One Western Scrub Jay, A dozen or more Chestnut-backed Chickadees, One White-crowned Sparrow (probably a juvenille, I need a new field guide), Female Ruby-crowned Kinglet, One female Northern Flicker
Paking lot: Brewers Blackbirds -- Fred Andrews
Fri, 23 Nov 2007 -- After arriving home, the HARRIS'S SPARROW is still in the front yard by the lone pine and brick pillar (inner part of Ocean Meadows Circle, halfway around). Our neighbor did a good job in putting out enough seed. The bird has stayed over a week now. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 23 Nov 2007 -- Around noon today, I spotted an OSPREY flying over the Russian River at milepost 8 on Hwy 101. I think Jim got a glimpse of it as we drove north. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 23 Nov 2007 -- "Toby" Tobkin had a ROCK SANDPIPER today during high tide. It was mixed in with the Turnstones and Surfbirds at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park. -- Richard Hubacek for "Toby"
WED, 21 Nov 2007 -- Today's Mendocino Coast Audubon Society's Birdwalk at the botanical garden tied the previous high species count at 59. Some of the most interesting birds were a RED PHALAROPE(new to the gardens list), several WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, a MERLIN seen from the parking lot, a WILSON'S SNIPE (also new to the list), and a PALM WARBLER that showed up as we compiled our list. The Palm Warbler was seen in the parking lot around the pond and was last seen near the adm. buildings just north. The walk was led by "Toby" Tobkin. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 19 Nov 2007 -- The first year HARRIS'S SPARROW has been seen twice this morning feeding in the same location on Ocean Meadows Circle, north of the Ten Mile River bridge. If I can get a neighbor to put out seed around Thanksgiving, hopefully the bird will stay for a while longer. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 18 Nov 2007 -- Some of the highlights for the Peregrine Audubon field trip to Round Valley were a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS around the Sandstone Bluffs along hwy 162, several FERRUGINOUS HAWKS and a PRAIRIE FALCON along Dobie Lane. and about nine CHINOOK SALMON at the bridge over the mainstem Eel River at the mouth of Outlet Creek. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 17 Nov 2007 -- The HARRIS'S SPARROW is still in the front yard, and Matthew and Roger are photographing it this AM. Location: halfway around the inner side of Ocean Meadows Circle, 1/3 mile north of Ten Mile River. Near the lone pine by the brick pillar.
The BURROWING OWLwas refound standing by a culvert at Seaside Beach. Dave and Johanna Jensen came by to look for the sparrow, so the three drove down and looked the owl, thinking it was fine. Ronnie James (bird rehaber) did not agree, so in the late afternoon, Jim and I captured it and delivered it to Ronnie in the early evening. She will contact us for release in a couple of days, hopefully.
This morning, Jim brought a dead adult male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on Seaside Beach. Matthew took a couple of photos of it, also. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 16 Nov 2007 -- Hi-- The HARRIS'S SPARROW has been feeding this AM, Fri. 16 Nov 2007, in the front yard near the lone pine tree and brick pillar. It is a very attractive bird. The location is halfway around Ocean Meadows Circle on the inner side, about 1/3 mile north of Ten Mile river bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 15 Nov 2007 -- Just a few minutes ago, a HARRIS'S SPARROW was feeding in front of the garage! That is another yard bird and a new one for MEN County. The sparrow flock usually works around Ocean Meadows Circle. Hopefully it will stay. It is a first winter bird - very pink bill, tan head, white chin, and a necklace of black spotting over a pure, white breast and belly. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 14 Nov 2007 -- This evening, a BURROWING OWL was in our front yard about 6:45 PM. I got a few photos of it, as it was very tame. A great yard bird! -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Wed, 14 Nov 2007 -- Late this morning, I tried for the third time to see if a Rock Sandpiper has returned to Laguna Point in MacKerricher SP. Last year there were six ROSAs, but none has shown up as yet this year. A few Common Murres flew by, a Clark's Grebe was in the cove, and a few MEW GULLS were near the parking lot. At Lake Cleone, a "minima" CACKLING GOOSE stood near the picnic tables. It had a broken chin strap, small bill and no white necklace whatsoever. I did not have time to venture out on the board walk. It is a very pretty day today, though. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 11 Nov 2007 -- Saw one OSPREY flying overhead at the west end of the Haul Road at Big River. -- Fred Andrews
Sat, 10 Nov 2007 -- The Mendocino Coast Audubon chapter led a field trip to view wintering hawks along the coast from the Navarro River to Point Arena this morning. Despite the periods of light rain, we saw five FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in the fields along Highway 1 immediately north and south of the Irish Beach subdivision. However, the highlight of the day came as we birded from the pier in Arena Cove. We watched as a PEREGRINE FALCON swept down from the cliff bordering the cove and struck an unsuspecting female Bufflehead on the back of the neck as she floated near the surf line. The falcon then wheeled past us, circled back, snatched the motionless duck off the ocean surface, and flew past us again, this time to a cliffside perch where it fed on the hapless hen. -- David Jensen
Fri, 09 Nov 2007 -- One adult BALD EAGLE was seen flying upstream along the Russian River 1.6 miles north of the Sonoma/Mendocino County line along Highway 101 at about 10:00 am. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 09 Nov 2007 -- The SURF SCOTER was still present today on the south pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 09 Nov 2007 -- Four of us went birding on the Spring Ranch portion of Van Damme State Park this morning. Highlight was a ROCK SANDPIPER on the north side of the headlands. Number of species: 27
Surf Scoter 4, Western Grebe 1, Brown Pelican 1, Brandt's Cormorant 20, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Pelagic Cormorant 20, Turkey Vulture 5, Northern Harrier 1, American Kestrel 2, Black Oystercatcher 10, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Black Turnstone 40, Surfbird 20, Rock Sandpiper 1, Wilson's Snipe 1, Mew Gull 4, California Gull 10, Western Gull 40, Glaucous-winged Gull 2, Mourning Dove 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Black Phoebe 4, Common Raven 4, Winter Wren 1, American Pipit 5, Savannah Sparrow 5, Western Meadowlark 15 -- Charlene McAllister and Ron LeValley
Thu, 08 Nov 2007. -- I stopped at Arena Cove (south of the lighthouse, west of the town) about 3 p.m. this afternoon for about 30 minutes. I saw the usual assortment of gulls (sorry, larophiles) and WESTERN GREBES, a flock of 27 EARED GREBES, one solitary HORNED GREBE, at least 8 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (one of them less than 50 feet offshore directly alongside the pier so you could look straight down on the bird), 2 female BUFFLEHEADS, 4 river otters (one of which was 'chirping' at the rest), but no Albatross. First sighting dates for 'Al' have ranged from November 21 to December 12, so it is still early. -- David Jensen
Wed, 07 Nov 2007 -- On my jog this morning I came upon a group of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES near the intersection of Powerhouse Rd and Main Street in Potter Valley. There were at least 12 birds roosting in a thick ash tree and going down to feed on the bare ground of a horse paddock. This seems like a pretty large number considering that they were first detected in Potter Valley on June 11, 2007. Do they rove around in big groups like Rock Pigeons or Band-tails? I've never seen them on the move like that. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 06 Nov 2007 -- Hi all, Today off of Little River Headlands there was a single basic (winter) plumaged PIGEON GUILLEMOT. Most of these go north for the winter and I rarely see them after September. -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 05 Nov 2007 -- At Pudding Creek, 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. I first saw a female American Kestrel perched high on a telephone wire. I also sighted: Western Gulls, American Coots, Common Ravens, Turkey Vultures, Mallards, a Snowy Egret, a Great Egret, a pair of American Wigeons, a a pair of Surf Scoters, Rock Doves and an an immature White-Crowned Sparrow. As I was getting ready to leave, I noticed a large raptor flying overhead. It was a Red-tailed hawk that flew accross to the east side of Hwy 1 and perched a top a monterey cypress. Quite a sight. -- Fred Andrews
Mon, 05 Nov 2007 -- Hi Birders. I visited the Ukiah STP this afternoon, where I was surprised to see an immature SURF SCOTER. Are there prior records of this species for the USTP? [No, this is the first. There are records for Lake Mendocino.-GEC] It was on the south pond, with all the rest of the ducks and coots and whatnot. There were also six Eared Grebes on the pond.
Also present were a number of AMERICAN PIPITS (25 or 30 at least), as well as quite a few MARSH WRENS. Three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS may have been notable, but the only other shorebirds that I saw were Killdeer. -- Matt Brady
Mon, 05 Nov 2007 -- Toby Tobkin passed on to me that she saw a LONG-TAILED DUCK (likely the same one reported by David Jensen yesterday) and an ANCIENT MURRELET from the middle platform out on Laguna Point today. There was also a CLARK'S GREBE present there. Cheers. -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 04 Nov 2007 -- Hi all, Today around 11:45 a.m. when I was driving into Fort Bragg (for an 11:00 a.m. meeting), I noticed a pair of Ravens harassing a slightly smaller hawk as the three birds flew north to south across the Noyo Harbor. Charlene and I got only a quick, but good, look at the hawk, but it was smaller than the ravens, shaped like a Red-tailed Hawk, and was notably white below with dark black wing tips. Both the under side of the body and the under wings were almost immaculate white. The only thing that keeps me from calling this a light juvenile Broad-winged Hawk was that the tail was finely barred all the way to the tip of the feathers (I did not notice a larger subterminal band). Given the look that I had, and the fact that I was driving, I would not want to call this bird for sure, but I encourage anyone birding around the Noyo Harbor Bridge to keep a eye out. Most Broad-winged Hawks that are in California are migrating, but given that this is getting late in the season, occasionally one hangs around for a few days. Good luck. -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 04 Nov 2007 -- I was able to see the following today between 10 and 11 a.m. from the Laguna Point lookout: All three loons, but mostly many flocks of Common Loon heading south. All three Scoters. 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Parasitic Jaeger, 1 Black-legged Kittiwake, 1 male Long-tailed Duck (resting on the water just outside the surf zone), many Common Murres (having seen none during the month of October), about 20 Rhinoceros Auklets, about 10 Cassin's Auklets, and finally, a mystery gull that soared low over the waves, ALL WHITE - with no black markings on the wings (and if there was significant grey it did not show in the bright light that reflected from the flying bird), probably smaller than a Heerman's, with tight pointed wings and a square to slightly rounded (not forked) tail. These markings were confirmed by another person who was watching through my Leicas while I trailed it with a Swarovski scope. Probably just another albino . . . All in all, it was a good morning and I hated to leave. -- David Jensen
Sun, 04 Nov 2007 -- This morning at MacKerricher State Park I saw: On Lake Cleone: Hundreds of American Coots, Mallards, Western Gulls, One Pied-billed Grebe, and a few other waterfowl that I could not identify.
Along the trail aroung Lake Cleone: Common Ravens, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, White-tailed kite, Yellow-rumped Warblers, male Ruby-crowned kinglet, Stellars Jays, male and female Northern Flickers, Song Sparrows, Brewers Blackbirds, Marsh Wren on wet grassy area on west end of lake, 2 Double-crested Cormorants perched in a tree snag -- Fred Andrews
Sun, 04 Nov 2007 -- This afternoon, I spotted a FERRUGINOUS HAWK atop a pine on the east side of Hwy 1, about 1/3 mile north of the Ten Mile River. This is directly across the road from the mail boxes for Ocean Meadows Circle. For the past two+ winters, an adult Ferruginous has hunted in this vicinity. -- Karen Havlena
Sa, 03 Nov 2007 -- There are 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and 6 CACKLING GEESE (Aleutians) hanging out with the resident Canada Geese in the Hopland area. Seen this am in the large open flat field on the south side of Feliz Creek viewed from Feliz Creek Road about 1 mile west of Hopland. These geese range to various local ponds including the "Crowfoot" pond and pasture along Hwy 101 just north of the CDF fire station north of Hopland. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 02 Nov 2007 -- To all; I finally got to see in good light this morning a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW that joined the 9 Golden-crowns and 2 Dark-eye Juncos at my yard feeding area. It started a loud call at 6:15AM. This was not a tan striped form as we saw at our Clearlake Field Trip . New yard bird for me. -- Barbara Dolan
Fri, 02 Nov 2007 -- Dear All, While paddling on Ten Mile River I saw, among the 18 species of mostly ducks, an AMERICAN BITTERN. -- Erica Fielder
Thu, 01 Nov 2007 -- While working in the Manchester area today I saw the following: 2 Peregrine Falcons , 1 Merlin, (many Kestrel, Red-tails and Northern Harriers, as expected), 2 Osprey (together), 1 immature Bald Eagle, no Ferruginous Hawks, and 7 White-winged Scoter, mostly immatures, on Hunter's Lagoon
Two brief impressions:
* I have seen more White-winged Scoter this year along the entire coast than I can remember in recent years.
* My job has required me to drive to Gualala about twice a week since July. The number of White-tailed Kite seen from Elk to Anchor Bay has increased dramatically in the past two weeks. _- David Jensen
Sun, 28 Oct 2007 -- This morning Joel Franks found an AMERICAN BITTERN in the small overflow pond at Lake Cleone. When he returned from jogging, he refound the bird near the lake before it flew into the reeds. -- Dave Jensen for Joel Franks
Sun, 28 Oct 2007 -- "Toby" Tobkin reported seeing a "probable" female LAPLAND LONGSPUR at noon today. Location was the Mendocino Headlands at the far most south- western parking area. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Sun, 28 Oct 2007 -- This morning George Chaniot, Geoff Heinecken, and I refound the AMERICAN BITTERN reported by Chuck Vaughn last Friday at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The bird was hunting along the south edge of the south pond, keeping a respectable distance as we walked east until it was nearly "cornered". It then flew across the pond, stayed there awhile, then flew back in behind us to resume feeding.
On the dry north pond, a flock of seven HORNED LARKS fluttered in to
peck around in the dirt and were joined by eight or so AMERICAN PIPITS. The flock was moving between the north pond and the corporation yard over the north fence.
Other highlights were a late male WESTERN TANAGER and four WHITE-TAILED KITES. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 -- Today another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW made an appearance in my yard - a white-stripe bird this time -- George Chaniot
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I made my obligatory Friday morning visit to the USTP today, and the wet, gloomy weather proved lucky for me. I saw an AMERICAN BITTERN in the tall "Smart Weed" on the south edge of the south pond. The bird flushed as I approached and hopped over the south fence into the drainage ditch adjacent to the pear orchard there. It may well still be in the area. On the dry and recently-plowed north pond I saw a beautiful reddish, male HORNED LARK. This bird, unfortunately, flew SE over the river and disappeared. Other birds of local interest included 22 CACKLING GEESE (no collars, dark brown-purple upper breast), a single DUNLIN, and 3 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 -- A first-winter male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was picking seeds out of sunflower heads in my garden a few minutes ago. We had an adult male at the window feeder once last year, and I heard them singing in the redwoods this spring. How often are these birds seen on the coast?
Earlier today, in the same garden, a juvenile COOPER'S HAWK made a dramatic appearance, perched on the frame over the strawberry bed. Somehow it managed not to collide with any of the two dozen or so Mourning Doves infesting the front yard. Too bad; better luck next time!
Two nights ago we had a very small owl flittering about, but I was unable to see it clearly enough to get an ID. It seemed smaller than a Screech to me. What's the next most likely small owl? Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Thu, 25 Oct 2007 -- Four PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS have been feeding in the former lumber storage area on the GP mill site just south of the path that leads to Glass Beach at the end of Elm Street in Fort Bragg. I first spotted the birds in that same area on Tuesday evening while walking my dog. Unfortunately I did not have my binoculars with me that evening (DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!) and could only guess the species based on relative size, behavior and habitat. I was able to return this evening and confirm my earier assumption. In his book Northwestern California Birds, Dr. Stanley Harris reports that small groups winter in northern California, so I will check on these periodically to see how long they stay. -- David Jensen
Thu, 25 Oct 2007 -- This morning I had a tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in my yard. This is my first for the season and fairly late. I also have been seeing a single PINE SISKIN around my feeders -- George Chaniot
Tue, 23 Oct 2007 -- Thanks for your report, Floyd. Regarding the different pattern to this year's Fall migration, might it be due to the fact the fog has stayed off the coast (except for just a few days) producing many starry nights for migrating south along the ocean?
I live right on the ocean bluff and it was 73 degrees here today with no wind and a beautiful green-flash sunset through a distant (light) fog bank out over the water. Tonight it is stunning with nearly a full moon shining on the ocean. I've lived 10 years full-time on the coast now and this was the best summer/fall I've experienced. Global warming???
This is the first year I've ever seen so many GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flocks (6) migrating south over the ocean and the number of resting/feeding shorebirds have been more numerous, also. FWIW -- Rich
Sun, 21 Oct 2007 -- On Oct 21, (6) GRAY JAYS were seen in Leggett at the junction of Hwy 101 and Hwy 1. -- Rich Stallcup [ from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Sun, 21 Oct 2007 -- On Sunday the 21st I found an adult male EURASIAN WIGEON among perhaps 300 AMERICAN WIGEON at Borax Lake. I was surprised to see about 90 SCAUP, numbers which usually don't appear until January, but I could not find a Tufted Duck among them. At Clearlake Park I saw a partially leucistic female COMMON MERGANSER with a diffuse whitish eyering and postocular stripe plus extra large white wing patches. A COMMON LOON and a male HOODED MERGANSER were at Detert Reservoir.
Does anybody have a hypothesis why so few shorebirds turned up this year in Lake County? The past few months the habitat has been excellent at Borax Lake and Detert Reservoir, yet I've seen only Killdeer and, on Sunday, a Wilson's Snipe at Borax Lake. Not even one yellowlegs, peep or dowitcher! I did see a few more shorebirds the few times I visited Clear Lake State Park, but I've been told there were relatively few this year considering the excellent habitat. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 21 Oct 2007 -- After observing the Snow Bunting Toby and I went up to Bald Hill Rd. We did find an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK. The Canada Goose flock(130+)had small numbers of CACKLING GEESE but no other varities. There were large flocks (200+) of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. No Burrowing Owl yet. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 21 Oct 2007 -- The SNOW BUNTING was still in the same location as described at 3:00PM this afternoon. Pictures to be posted on Mendobirds shortly. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 20 Oct 2007 -- Dave and Sarah (last names unknown), a couple of new birders on the Mendocino Coast, found a winter male SNOW BUNTING at MacKerricher State Park this morning. "Toby" Tobkin confirmed the sighting at 12:15 pm today... and the bird was at the same place as described to her. From the "south" parking lot at Mackerricher ...this is the one just a short ways north of Pudding Creek, one takes the "southern" path that leads towards the "tip of land" ...the bird was at the far end of the main walk trail. -- Reported for Toby Tobkin by Bob Keiffer. This is a CBRC "Review" species ....so please take descriptive notes, sketches, photos if possible. Good birding.
Fri, 19 Oct 2007 -- An almost entirely white leucistic EUROPEAN STARLING is with a large flock of starlings along University Road on the east side of (Old) Hopland...University Road turns off of the Old River Road. The flock hangs around the permanant pasture on the UC property (north side of road) and the Lakeview Vineyards (south side of road). The bird is entirely "whipping-cream white" with smudgy brown on the head area, which may just be from feeding. It shows up like a neon sign when the flock is in flight. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 16 Oct 2007 -- I got a much better view of this parrot yesterday. It is a parakeet with a bright green, almost chartreuse, back, yellow tipped tail and yellow wings with black speckles and black spots on its face and neck. Its cere is brownish, so perhaps it is a female. I can't see any leg bands, but apparently the practice is much less common than it used to be. Several reponses I got predicted a very short life expectancy, but it is a month or more since first sighting. -- Jim Armstrong
Sun, 14 Oct 2007 -- A CANVASBACK, at least 8 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, a couple of BLACK SCOTERS and a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER were at various areas of MacKerricher SP today. I could not find very many small, colorful passerines, except Townsend's and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Yesterday, I looked from Juan Creek to Lake Cleone. This morning the Canvasback had arrived at Lk Cleone. The scoters in many, large flocks flew south past Laguna Point. I tried to find a Rock Sandpiper but had no luck. The Pacific Golden Plover was called in to me by Becky and Win Bowen. They saw it in the dry sand north of Ward Ave. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 13 Oct 2007 -- I just wanted to mention that I had a COMMON POORWILL on my dirt-road driveway here in Hopland. This bird was in the same spot on the road as COPO have been observed at in years past (same bird?). Mid-October to early November seems to be the time period that this species migrates south and passes through our county. The bird was seen on the road just at dusk ...and was later foraging nearby. Good birding -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 13 Oct 2007 -- On Saturday 10/13 amongst the AMERICAN WIGEONS an Pudding Creek, I saw one in plumage that my nat. geo. guide described as "eclipse." Bright color in the bill, rusty sides, but no white mohawk. I hadn't noticed those before...are they common? -- Haley Ross
Wed, 10 Oct 2007 -- This afternoon was beautiful after the storm moved on. At Lake Cleone I observed a male and female GREATER SCAUP, a male and female LESSER SCAUP, a few PIED-BILLED GREBES, dozens of AMERICAN COOTS, some MALLARDS, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and dozens of WESTERN GULLS. Along the Lake Cleone trail there was a WINTER WREN, two STELLER'S JAYS and an immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. At the Laguna Point headlands there were about two dozen HEERMANN'S GULLS, a few BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, one BROWN PELICAN, several PELAGIC CORMORANTS and two WILLETS. And there was a WESTERN GREBES in a tidal area next to the Haul Road. -- Fred Andrews
Tue, 09 Oct 2007 -- Four, beautiful, male HARLEQUIN DUCKS stood side by side on a rock just off Glass Beach in Fort Bragg this morning. It was quite breezy, so virtually all litttle birds stayed in the low willows. Glass Beach is at the west end of Elm St. After walking out to the beach, the ducks were just to the north on a rock with some whitewash on it. They were very close to shore. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning and saw 3 CACKLING GEESE on the south pond. None of them had white-collars so I assume they were probably not "Aleutians". Despite the large expanse of muddy puddles on the draining middle pond, the only shorebirds besides some LEASTS were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS , an adult and an immature, made several noisy and half-hearted strafes over the ducks on the south pond. A much more stealthy MERLIN was also working the area. There were several hundred swallows out there, but all I could find were VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. This afternoon I have had a late WESTERN TANAGER eating what remains of my zinfandel grapes at home. On 10/3 a "V" of about 110 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over the HREC office area headed SSE. They were definitely not going to Clear Lake. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 -- The Big River Stewards spotted a PEREGRINE FALCON at Station 1 (Big River Beach parking lot)and again at station 4 (the Quarry)during the first survey of the West Haul Road this Fall. For the past four years experienced surveyors from the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society have joined with volunteers from the Mendocino Land Trust's Big River Stewards program to conduct Fall Bird surveys at various locations on Big River.
An EARED GREBE (possibly new to the surveys), was also observed near the mouth of Big River, as were a pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Volunteers also observed a juvenile Sea Lion hauled out on the Beach and Harbor Seals at Station 2 (Haul Road Gate.)
Further upriver, strong winds made surveys challenging but BROWN CREEPERS were heard at both Stations 7 and 8 (about 2 miles up the haul road)and a BRANDT'S CORMORANT was observed at Station 9 (New Boom).
Other birds heard or seen included Northern Flickers, Acorn and Downy Woodpeckers, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons and the "usual suspects." -- Don Coleman
Wed, 03 Oct 2007 -- I saw my first DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT of the fall, a juvenile, yesterday above the Russian River in Potter Valley. It's funny how in the spring they're so plentiful that I get a little bored with them, but I missed having big birds in the trees all summer. I also got a pretty nice and very lucky photo of a flock of WOOD DUCKS flying over me that I've added to my Potter Valley album. -- Elaine Lindelef
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 -- Birders, Gjon Hazard and I birded northern Mendocino County on 10-1-07 We started the day at Usal Campground/mouth of Usal Creek. We had more migrant landbirds here than anywhere else today; the other coastal patches we checked were had very few birds. The highlight for me was the SWAMP SPARROW out in the low veg near the mouth. There were also 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS about. We had a few warblers (including a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER), vireos, and PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS.
Later in the morning, about 200 feet up Usal Road from Highway 1, there was a termite hatch going on that was being attended by a flock of warblers (Yellow, Townsend's, Black-throated Grey, Wilson's), Warbling Vireos, kinglets, etc. The highlight was a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. The scene reminded us of something you'd see in the tropics with antbirds and army ants, and was really fun to watch up close since the birds ignored us in their feeding frenzy. Also, there was a single PECTORAL SANDPIPER at the mouth of Virgin Creek. -- John E. Hunter
Arcata
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 -- For the second time in two weeks, I have a small, uniformly bright yellow parrot (or large yellow parakeet) in my yard in SE Potter Valley. It was here briefly on George and Chuck's Big Day, but refused to be seen when they came by. While I assume it is an escapee from a home or collection, it is far from tame, flushing from my seed feeder area with wild-bird speed when I go out. I haven't noticed any call or song. Any one know where it might belong? -- Jim Armstrong
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 -- After searching the entire Virgin Creek area in MacKerricher SP in Fort Bragg, I could find neither Ruff nor Buff. I included looking at the bluff area south of the creek mouth, the pond at the SW corner of the Baxman Gravel property, and the beach as far north as I could go. Also at Virgin Creek beach: There was a CACKLING GOOSE with a narrow, white neckband, probably an Aleutian and 14 godwits of the Marbled variety. A female BLACK SCOTER played in the surf with other scoters. Jim Havlena saw 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS flying north very close to shore at Seaside beach, north of Ten Mile River. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 -- On Saturday the 29th I stumbled across a juvenile female RUFF at Virgin Creek. It was well observed and photographed by a group of birders during the Albion Birding Weekend. We followed it from 9:00-10:00 am as it moved from the mouth of the creek southward along the rocks, where it foraged with Black Turnstones and Surfbirds in the surf. I just uploaded two photographs at:
http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/ruff
We searched for it unsuccessfully on Sunday afternoon, but met a couple of birders who mentioned that one had been seen over the weekend at Pudding Creek. If so, I'd be interested in knowing the details (none posted on Mendobirds).
On Friday the 28th a juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen just north of the mouth of Virgin Creek by Stan Snyder and several other birders. Stan, a very experienced birder familiar with both Ruff and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, also saw the Ruff on Saturday and says it was a totally different bird than the Buff-breasted Sandpiper they saw on Friday.
Other shorebirds seen at Virgin Creek during the weekend included a juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning there was a VESPER SPARROW in an open pasture above the office area at the UC Hopland RandE Center. The COMMON MOORHEN continued on the southern sag pond at noon. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 29 Sep 2007 -- While birding with the group from Albion on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 29, in the campground at Manchester Beach State Park I found a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE in a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Views of the birds were short as they moved through the pines and cypress trees. But the one Black-capped Chickadee gave a striking view as it worked over a group of exposed cones on a bare cypress branch for half a minute before moving behind the greenery. I hope someone else can find this bird again. -- Larry Siemens, Redding
Sat, 29 Sep 2007 -- My wife came back from shopping today and said she saw a strange bird in the Fort Bragg Safeway's parking lot. She had her camera with her and chased it around the lot taking it's picture. It turned out to be a female BREWER'S BLACKBIRD with partially white feathers. I've haven't seen many birds with "abnormal coloration" and thought it interesting in light of the most recent issue of ABA's "Birding" magazine. I posted photos in the Mendobirds photo section. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 29 Sep 2007 -- A flock of fifty to sixty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE was seen at 1:20 PM 9/28/07 over Mendocino Town at the south end of Howard Street flying northwest.-- Jack Booth
Thu, 27 Sep 2007 -- Hello Mendobirders, I took a trip yesterday through Covelo, via 162, to the middle fork of the Eel. Notable birds were a VIRGINIA RAIL along Outlet Creek and a CANYON WREN on the Eel, 3-4 miles upstream from the Eel River Work Station. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 24 Sep 2007 -- I've had a PINE SISKIN around my thistle feeders this afternoon after a virtual absence for two years. This is the earliest record by a week for inland Mendocino (1 Oct 1998), and the earliest I've had them before in Potter Valley is 11 Oct. If they follow their pattern of ups and downs, this winter should be a big siskin winter. Is anyone else seeing them yet? -- George Chaniot
Mon, 24 Sep 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- At noon today I saw a hatch-year BLACKPOLL WARBLER in the wooded adjacent to the sag ponds at HREC. This is a first for the Center. The COMMON MOORHEN continues. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 23 Sep 2007 -- Hi - The MCAS pelagic trip on 9/23/07 went very well. The highlights were: 4 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA, 20+ NORTHERN FULMARS, 10+ BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, 22+ BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, 3 POMARINE JAEGER, 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS, and several HUMPBACKED WHALES. The South Polar Skua was spotted by Richard Hubacek. Pelagic trips are risky; there was "the one that got away" seen by Chuck Vaughn. It started to come in, then turned- tail and quickly flew away. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 21 Sep 2007 -- There was a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS in downtown Ukiah Thursday (9/20). I got a good look at them and could clearly see the yellow wax on the tail tips of some of the birds. I think I hear them again today (Friday morning), but I couldn't see them clearly enough for a positive ID.
Also, I've realized it's been quite a while since I've seen Chestnut- backed Chickadees at my feeders. I really miss them, and it's starting to creep me out. They used to be year-round visitors, and we still get titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, etc. all year along with bigger birds (Acorn woodpeckers, Steller's Jay's, Towhees, Ravens). Have they all been up in the mountains for the summer or is something more sinister going on? -- Maureen O'Hagan
Thu, 20 Sep 2007 -- This morning, a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER and 4 juv BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were on Ten Mile beach, along with 5 MARBLED GODWITS scattered from Fen Creek mouth north to Seaside Beach. The PGPL was fairly close to the Ward Ave ramp with 2 Black-bellied Plovers. The Baird's were all by Inglenook Creek mouth. Also, there was a SAY'S PHOEBE in our backyard at noon. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 20 Sep 2007 -- About 11am this morning there was a second winter HEERMANN'S GULL at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. The gull was swimming just beyond the long, thin gravel bar that is on the west bank of Kelsey Creek right at the outlet into Clear Lake. There was also one MARBLED GODWIT standing on the gravel bar. Watch out for the aerial yellowjacket nest that is on a leaned over willow trunk along the trail that leads out to the outlet of Kelsey Creek. -- Dave Woodward
Sat, 15 Sep 2007 -- Hi All. A female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK showed up at my feeder last week here in Anchor Bay. She "posed" for me and I have posted the picture. She was joined by a male the following day. Exciting! -- Jeanne Jackson
Fri, 14 Sep 2007 -- Today about noon we saw a small Alcid in the cove off the end of Main Street in Mendocino, not far from the near end of the sea cave. It appeared to be a MARBLED MURRELET in transitional plumage. Wish I'd had the camera, it was quite close in and might have made a decent photo. Also watched a PEREGRINE FALCON standing on top of the westernmost island off the northwest tip of the Headlands. It made a couple of short flights but returned empty-taloned. Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Thu, 13 Sep 2007 -- Thursday, 13 Sept, there were 2 juv BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and a juv RED KNOT on Ten Mile Beach, with the Baird's near Fen Ck and the Red Knot close to the Ward Ave ramp in MacKerricher SP. Large rafts of SURF SCOTERS have shown up between Ward Ave and Ten Mile River mouth. I tried to find other scoter species with my scope but could not pick out any different birds. I noticed a single MERLIN flying south over Seaside Beach, too. I forgot to mention the 4 MARBLED GODWITS that I have been studying for days at the mouth of Ten Mile River. Not one of them will turn into something better. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 13 Sep 2007 -- I had two relatively minor sightings today that are worth noting. A COMMON TERN was feeding in the Navarro River just west of the Highway 1 bridge. A pair of MERLIN put on a wonderful show the hour before sunset above the Noyo Rive beach. A male and a female (the color and size differences easily noted) chased each other, with each alternatively taking the role of aggressor. They also literally flew circles around a few pitiful Ravens that got in their way. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES continue to be plentiful along the coast and in the lower reaches of rivers. -- David Jensen
Wed, 12 Sep 2007 -- This is just for curiosity's sake ...yesterday, here at UC-Hopland REC I observed a mature GOLDEN EAGLE swooped down in front of my vehicle and nab a mature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK as it left it's perch on a large oak limb. Both birds continued to the ground with the Red-shouldered screaming. The eagle left, maybe due to the presence of the vehicle, and the hawk lowered itself into the grass. I thought that the hawk was probably dying but upon inspection it seemed rather alert and perky. I left it in an open box hoping that it might recover and fly away ...but it perished. It is now destined to be a museum study-skin specimen here at HREC. Good birding - Bob Keiffer
Mon, 10 Sep 2007 -- This morning at Pudding Creek's northern part of the beach (behind the hotels) I saw a plover that I cannot id. It was overall very dark with white under the tail on the belly, but the breast and belly were mainly very dark, white eye stripe and a bit of white around the bill, but had black primaries. Was this a molting Black-bellied? I got some photos, but they didn't turn out. IF one of them did, I will post a link to it later. -- Feather Forestwalker
Sun, 09 Sep 2007 -- This morning and yesterday at Pudding Creek there was a single COMMON TERN, in the vicinity of the tressel. Also: Yesterday at Virgin Creek Beach there was a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. The Buff-breasted was near the north end of the beach. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES continue in numbers at Virgin Creek and other lagoons and beaches near Fort Bragg. -- Art Morley
Thu, 06 Sep 2007 -- This evening at about 7:30 - 7:35 PM, I saw Jerry's SHORT-EARED OWL at milepost 72.32 on Hwy 1. This is the old townsite of Newport. I thought I was a little early arriving at 7:20, but a high marine layer began to come in. I parked at the gate at milepost 72.21. Many times I've thought that this is a great spot for Short-eared Owl. The sun was obscured by the partial marine layer, so the lighting was just right. Just about 7:35, I saw the owl fly low from the slope on the east side of the highway. It flew across the road, rose higher, then swooped straight down into the high grass in the field. It landed close to the road. I walked up to mm 72.32. Shortly, it flew north, staying low and went over the small rise. The terrain slopes down again. I walked back to the car. Another car stopped on the road between the two mileposts. I started to go up to talk to them, but they moved forward, stopping and driving until they went over the rise. Their timing would have been good, if the marine layer had not come in Hopefully, they will try again.
I really like watching Short-eared Owls hunt. Either Jim or myself were always assigned to get one for the Morro Bay CBC. We were successful all but once or twice. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 06 Sep 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Today at noon there was an adult COMMON MOORHEN on the more southern of the 2 sag ponds near the HREC office area. I suspect this is one of the 2 birds which spent the period from Oct 23, 2006 through April 20, 2007 on the same pond. In the area were 2 SAY'S PHOEBES, the first I have seen this fall. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 6 Sep 2007 -- The best birds of the day were not at Usal but on the trip out there this morning. I watched a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting (it was successful) for about 5 minutes starting at 6:35 AM on Highway 1. This was in the grasslands near milemarkers 72.21and 72.32. Then on the Usal Road about a mile from Hwy 1 there was an adult male NORTHERN GOSHAWK. At Usal after about 2 1/2 hours of birding I was able to find a first fall CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. This bird was with a mixed flock about 2/10ths of a mile up the dry creek bed from the bridge. Earlier I observed another successful owl hunt as a Northern Pygmy-Owl grabbed an unidentified prey item. There were moderate numbers of western migrants; Willow Flycatchers, 1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Tanagers, Lincoln Sparrows, Western Wood-Pewee's, 2 Black-headed Grosbeaks Warbling Vireos, and Wilson's, Yellow, Black-throated Gray, Common Yellowthroats, and Townsends warblers. -- Jerry White
Thu, 6 Sep 2007 -- This morning, I heard a very, vocal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in some conifers alongside Ten Mile River. A post on another listserv mentioned that many RBNU have been seen in the Northeast US and may be a sign of a good flight year. We will have to wait and see. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 05 Sep 2007 -- I just saw a pair of PEACH-FACED LOVEBIRDS in a tree just in front of the main office of Savings Bank on School Street in Ukiah! The male was calling (screetching) rather loudly, which is what caught my attention. I'm assuming they are recent escapees - there isn't a feral lovebird colony in this area, is there? -- Maureen O'Hagan
Mon, 03 Sep 2007 -- George Chaniot, Geoff Heinecken, and I refound two or possibly three BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on the beach about half mile north of Virgin Creek this afternoon. Becky Bowen saw the birds earlier today and told us exactly where to look. -- Cheryl Watson
There were also two juvenile SNOWY EGRETS at the mouth of Virgin Creek wearing aluminum bands above their "heels". Does anyone know where these birds may have been banded? -- George Chaniot
Sun, 02 Sep 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Matthew Matthiessen and I made a quick trip to Fort Bragg this morning to do some birding at MacKerricher with Karen Havlena. We tried for the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER that Karen had seen north of Ward Avenue yesterday. We dipped on that Sandpiper, but did see a first-year COMMON TERN resting on the beach. We moved south to Virgin Creek Beach to see if the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER seen there yesterday by Matthew might still be around. It was. We found it on the long open stretch of beach just north of what is presently Virgin Creek estuary. On the estuary there was a single WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Matthew saw 3 there yesterday. There were also 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on the estuary providing some nice comparisons of the two. We tried Lake Cleone boardwalk for some passerines, but things were very quiet there. We stopped for some ice cream at Cowlick's on our way home (Mocha Fudge and Root Beer Sundae) where we found a resplendent DAVID JENSEN. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 -- Becky Bowen called to say that the 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS are still present in the Virgin Creek area. The birds were together almost 1/2 mile north of the creek mouth in the wet sand. One might park at the state park access north of Matson's and the Three Rivers School at Hwy 1, then walk out to the bluffs. -- K Havlena for Becky Bowen
Thu, 29 Aug 2007 -- To beat the heat, I tried to turn Mendocino Co. blue. Best birds of the day were the continuing BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER north of the Ward Ave. parking lot at McKerritcher SP., 2 RED-NECKED GREBEs with quite a bit of color still visible just off the beach at the Ward Ave. parking lot, and the rocky shore shorebirds that I saw at Laguna Point with John Luther after we hooked up at Lake Cleone - BLACK TURNSTONES, 1 SURFBIRD, 2 WANDERING TATTLERS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 9 WHIMBRELs, 1 WILLET, and a bunch of very vocal BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS.
The Ukiah WTP did not have much in the way of shorebirds, with only some Leasts and Westerns, 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS to keep the KILLDEER company. There was a good variety of ducks with at least 8 species evident. If you need COMMON YELLOWTHROAT for the county, this is the place to go - they were all over the place!
I did beat the heat, and I did turn the county blue with 52 species for the day, getting me to 113. -- Kathy Parker, Los Gatos
Thu, 30 Aug 2007 -- There are, or have been, a total of 3 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at both Virgin Creek beach and at the Ward Ave end of Ten Mile beach at MacKerricher SP. I saw the Ten Mile beach bird this morning (8/30), about a quarter mile north of the ramp at Ward Ave access to the beach. At least one of the Virgin Creek birds was seen yesterday (two birds on Tuesday).
Also, there is a Baird's Sandpiper near Fen Creek mouth, seen yesterday and today (Toby Tobkin and me). -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 30 Aug 2007 -- After a week or more of tiptoeing around the east side of my house, I discovered this morning that the CALIFORNIA QUAIL nest I posted about has only eggshells in residence. The fact that they are all in place and apparently undisturbed makes me think that they hatched successfully instead of falling prey. Also no signs of feathers anywhere around. I will keep a close eye for a little covey scurrying around the neighborhood. -- Jim Armstrong
Thu, 30 Aug 2007 -- hi all...'Toby' Tobkin, Bill from Redding, and I saw the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at noon today. From the Ward Avenue parking lot, go north along the Haul Road to where it slopes down to the beach. The bird was in the wet sand, not far from the surf line. It had been further north, near the wood 'structure' (that Ron LeValley would term a 'predator perch'), but a southbound jogger pushed it towards us. Now all we have to do is figure out how many Buff-Breasted Sandpipers are here, right? -- Trudy Jensen (for Toby Tobkin)
Tue, 28 Aug 2007 - 4:40PM - 6:30 PM - I chased the American Redstart, that Karen and Jim Havlena found at the end of Windy Hollow Road...this species has avoided me over the many years. However, I stepped out of my vehicle, saw a bird high in the alders, and amazingly enough it
was a nice, brilliant male AMERICAN REDSTART. I was able to get many looks at the bird in the same flock that Karen described, however I was never able to coax it down close for decent pictures.
At the west end of Miner Hole Road I walked down the Garcia River for a ways ... I find that wearing sandals and shorts makes this easy and allows one to sometimes approach birds in the river. Of note were: BAIRD'S SANDPIPER,1 ad., 1 juv.; LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2; GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1; RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, 30+;BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, 1.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were seen in the towns of Pt. Arena (2) and Manchester (1). WILD TURKEY, 5 two miles north of Manchester. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 29 Aug 2007 -- I found what appears to be a Juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER at about 3:00PM, north of Ward Ave. I use the "appears to be" because I'm unfamiliar with Jaegers in general and have been comparing pictures I took (they are posted) with those in the books. It was found well north of the spot where the haul rd. ends, just pass some driftwood artwork along the beach. It may have a bad wing because the right wing hangs lower. I was able to get within 4 to 5 Feet of it without it appearing to be bothered. Moving closer caused it to fly south in a very low flight. I wasn't able to see the under-wing feathers. -- Richard Hubacek
Tue, 28 Aug 2007 -- Jim spotted a male AMERICAN REDSTART in a large flock of migrants on the NORTH portion of Windy Hollow Rd that ends at the Garcia River. The road is off Hwy 1, just south of Mountain View Rd. I found several western migrants in the flock, including Black-throated Gray Warbler, Cassin's Vireo, Western Wood Pewee, Pac Coast Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers. At the west end of Miner Hole Rd, I spotted at least 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS.
I forgot to mention in last night's post about the BBSA's, that I saw a BARN OWL flying in the large, vacant lot for sale between Hwy 1 and the haul road by Virgin Creek beach in Fort Bragg. (That bird is not on the MacKerricher SP bird checklist). -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Wed, 29 Aug 2007 -- I found a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER North of Ward Ave at approx 3:30PM. Could be one of the two seen at Virgin Creek but it would be going in the wrong direction. The location is north on the haul road until it ends then down the trail to the beach. Head North/West towards the beach. It was in the remains of the last high tide kelp. It was moving in a northern direction. I was lucky to get a couple of pictures that I will post shortly. The buffyness is washed out a little. -- Richard Hubacek
Mon, 27 Aug 2007 -- We saw one of the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS found this evening about 6-PM at Virgin Creek mouth by Art Morley. Jim and I arrived after 7:00 and found one of the pair feeding among the piles of kelp. Toby Tobkin came from the north, where she saw the other bird on the shore near the vicinity of the rocks where the Harlequin Ducks rest. Toby saw the bird we saw through my scope. She commented that the bird to the north was smaller than the creekmouth bird. This was a crisp juvenile - very pretty! We stayed until almost dark. Tina Fabula happened along and got to see the creek- mouth bird through my scope, also. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 27 Aug 2007 -- Hi All, I birded the Ukiah sewage ponds this morning and did add LESSER YELLOWLEGS for Mendo. In fact there were 6 Lesser Yellowlegs and 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS all in the middle pond from the middle to the west end. There were 10 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the middle pond and 14 in the south pond. About 9 AM over 30 VAUX'S SWIFTS swirled over the middle pond for a couple of minutes and then left. A couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and a few WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS were also there. -- John Luther, Oakland
Sat, 25 Aug 2007 -- Greetings, Mendobirders, This morning I was at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant from 9:30-11:00. The north pond is now nearly dry and had no shorebirds. The west end of the central pond had some shorebird habitat, and there were 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and a number of LEAST and WESTERN, and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. There was also a group of Least and Western Sandpipers walking on the floating mat on the sludge pond. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 25 Aug 2007 -- Hi Birders, Best birds of this morning were LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Inglenook Creek and CASSIN'S VIREO at the east end of the boardwalk at Lk Cleone, both in MacKerricher SP. Other birds were 3 MARBLED GODWITS at Ten Mile rivermouth, WANDERING TATLER at Seaside beach (Jim Havlena), 19 SNOWY PLOVERS, 13 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (where there were zero just two days ago), two good-sized flocks at Lk Cleone with WARBLING VIREOS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, etc. It was overcast, cool and fall-like this morning with very little breeze. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 23 Aug 2007 -- Early this afternoon there was one SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. The avocets and godwits that were at the outlet yesterday were not present today. -- Dave Woodward, Lakeport
Wed, 22 Aug 2007 -- Hi, I was standing on my back deck in Redwood Valley, just off of Laughlin Way, about 11 in the morning and spotted a PILEATED WOODPECKER. It came flying across our back pasture and landed on our fence next to our neighbor's vineyard. It sat there for several minutes before taking off again. It was AWESOME! -- Christy Scollin, Redwood Valley
Wed, 22 Aug 2007 -- Today at noon I made my way out to the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. This has been one of the
best birding locations in Lake County during years when water depth in Clear Lake is low enough to expose the mud flat at the outlet of the creek. The area remained underwater during all of 2005 and 2006, but Clear Lake is presently at 2.38 ft. on the Rumsey scale, low enough to expose mud below the Creeping Water Primrose that has unfortunately covered most of the mud flats around the lake shore. To get to the outlet, pay the $5 entry fee to the park and go to the north end of the Visitor Center parking lot. Find the trail leading into the dense thicket of willows and follow it ca. 100 yds to the tules. It is difficult to follow as many willows have fallen during the past two years. Also, pay attention to this WARNING!!. About 75
yds along the trail there is a large aerial YELLOWJACKET nest about three feet above ground on the underside of a fallen willow. The nest is just about 15 yds before the location where you reach the tules and if you try to duck under this trunk your face will be nearly right on the nest. I went past the yellowjackets by going off the trail out towards the tules and around. Look for the trail which passes through the tules out onto the flat at the outlet of the creek.
Today at the outlet there were 7 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 7 CASPIAN TERNS and about 100 gulls. There were also SPOTTED, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. -- Dave Woodward, Lakeport
Tue, 21 Aug 2007 -- "Toby" Tobkin reported seeing an AMERICAN BITTERN at Lake Cleone at around 11:00AM today. Location was half way up the Lake on the North Shore, just west of the pump-house. She said if it stays in that location it would be easier seen from the South side of the lake. She also reported an EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE at the Pudding Creek overlook sitting on a power(telephone?)line. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 17 Aug 2007 -- Mendobirders, At the mouth of the Garcia River I had 1 SEMIPALMATED, 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 60+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, lots of SANDERLINGS, and 300+ peeps (mostly WESTERN and some LEAST SANDPIPERS). Also, later that day along Highway 101 at a bridge at milepost 103 (just south of Piercy) I saw a single WHITE-THROATED SWIFT while driving by at about 60 mph. -- John E. Hunter,Arcata, CA
Fri, 17 Aug 2007 -- Hi all, This morning I went to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The north pond is almost completely dry, but there is still a good patch of wet mud with shorebirds. I did not find a Golden-Plover, but there was one BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER among the few LEAST, WESTERN, and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. On the middle pond there were at least three BLUE-WINGED TEALS sitting on the bank, a number of NORTHERN SHOVELLERS, and two more HOODED MERGANSERS have joined the one that has been there for weeks now. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 16 Aug 2007 -- Hi -- There was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER along with an adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Inglenook Creek mouth this morning. The SemiSand had a very, short bill an was quite pale (like the one found by Curtis Marantz east of the Ten Mile River bridge in late July).
There were not very many other shorebirds along the four mile walk. Numbers and variety have dwindled considerably. Also seen were (12) SNOWY PLOVERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, WHIMBREL, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, SANDERLINGS,and other expected species. The SURF SCOTERS are coming in, with at least 75 off Ward Ave. Also, CALIFORNIA GULLS have been increasing over the last 3 weeks. I have had MARBLED GODWIT almost every week except today.
Mammals: Just offshore there were several HUMPBACKED WHALES and a few RIZZO'S DOLPHINS between Laguna Point cove and Fen Creek mouth The whales and dolphins were very active! -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 15 Aug 2007 -- Hi All, I birded the Ukiah sewage ponds and Lake Mendocino today (Aug 15). Of interest to me at Lake Mendocino near the dam was an adult FORSTER'S TERN (first in county for me at last) and 3 adult CASPIAN TERNS.
At the sewage ponds 4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were present along with a SPOTTED, 6 WESTERN, and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS. Of greater interest was an adult PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER feeding in the mud with Killdeer. It still had a black belly between the legs to the vent and black marks along the white flanks and black on the throat and chin. The upperparts were very golden. The perplexing part was that the primaries went well beyond the tip of the tail (about 1.5 cm plus in my estimation) and 4 primaries were visible past the tertials which is what an American Golden-Plover should show. However the primary tips did not show even spacing. It had the tall, long-legged look of a Pacific Golden-Plover. So I am saying Pacific Golden-Plover for the moment, but certainly would be interested in any comments and hope that someone might be able to see the bird tomorrow. You might be interested in looking in Western Birds Vol 35, No 2, 2004 at the article by Alvaro Jaramillo on Identification of Adult Pacific and American Golden-Plovers in their Southbound Migration. It has two featured photos on the back cover. -- John Luther, Oakland
Tue, 14 Aug 2007 -- For the last several years we routinely have had Lesser Goldfinches eat (really EAT) the leaves of our Echinacea plants. Sometimes only the spines are left. At first I thought it was major insect damage until I saw them actually doing it. They're so small they can perch and tear at the same time. The new thing this year is they have recently discovered the hulled sunflower seed kernels feeder (it used to just get medium small birds such as titmice and nuthatches, and one very determined female Acorn Woodpecker as customers). -- Maureen O'Hagen
Mon, 13 Aug 2007 -- While doing the SOS survey at Virgin Creek today at about 3p.m. I saw a juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, carefully compared with nearby Least and Western, at about 25 feet distance. A small number of peeps usually feed along the edge of the lagoon near the road (away from the gulls). -- Art Morley
Mon, 13 Aug 2007 -- I saw a juvenile (juvenal? hatch-year?) RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at the mouth of the Mattole River yesterday. It was all alone. I got pictures that should be good, but haven't uploaded them yet. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 13 Aug 2007 -- Hi Jim, Our LESSER GOLDFINCHES ate most of the early leaves off our sunflowers this spring but the sunflowers grew new leaves faster than they could be eaten and bloomed marvelously. -- John Lace, Grass Valley, CA
Mon, 13 Aug 2007 -- George and I were kidding last week that it is getting expensive to keep the Goldfinches of various ilks in Nijer seed. I have two socks that I fill every morning and lately there is usually just a little left the next day. Yesterday the little boogers discovered two sunflower plants that had volunteered in my tomato barrels. By this afternoon, one is completely stripped of foliage and most of its flowers and the other about half gone. This before my very eyes. I've never seen this in all the years of feeding them. Anyone else? -- Jim Armstrong
Mon, 13 Aug 2007 -- There is a WHITE-WINGED DOVE sitting in our back yard in Little River. Hopefully it will stay awhile. -- Charlene McAllister and Ron LeValley
Sun, 12 Aug 2007 -- Hi all, For the past few days my yahoogroups account has been down, now I have it reactivated. Apologies for the late report on the Bald Eagle. Since at least Saturday the 4th of August there has been a Bald Eagle just south of the Little River Post Office. It is eating hatch year Western Gulls on the island offshore, and then hiding in the trees when the gulls get to it. It is a young bird, probably hatched in either 2005 or 2006 on Santa Catalina Island and I know that because it is tagged on both wings with bright orange patagial tags. Today I read the numbers on the tags, so will report when I get more information. This bird is probably best seen in the morning from behind the Little River Post Office. You might have to wait a bit before it flies out of the trees and searches over the islands.
Also, Lisa Hug saw a hatch year SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek Beach yesterday afternoon. We did not see it today. There was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS there today.
Also, off Van Damme Beach State Park we saw one freshly fledged RHINOCEROS AUKLET and two freshly fledged PIGEON GUILLEMOTS today. Cheers -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 12 Aug 2007 -- Ron LeValley has discovered an immature BALD EAGLE in Little River. The bird was seen yesterday and today just offshore on the large rocky island directly behind the post office. The bird reportedly has two orange patagial tags. Evidently Ron is experiencing computer problems, so I have posted this sighting to alert others to this uncommon coastal sighting. -- David Jensen
Sat, 11 August 2007 -- A pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES flew over Old river Road and Highway 175 on the north side of the "Old" Hopland community. This is the first time that I have seen this species on the east side of the Russian River in Sanel Valley. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 11 Aug 2007 -- MendoBirders - Notable for us today: Early this morning, Les Lieurance and I saw 1 juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at the mouth of Virgin Creek in Fort Bragg.
Later in the morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds we saw 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPEs and 6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPEs in the south pond. The north pond has a lot of good mud exposed, an we saw WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERs there. The GREATER SCAUP was still in the middle pond. Along the walk between the fenceline next to the orchard and the cattails, on the south side of the entrance pond, we saw 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERs.
WESTERN TANAGERs and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKs were moving through in good numbers at the USTP and at a little Ukiah city park off the
Gobbi exit from Highway 101. -- Cindy Lieurance
Sat, 11 Aug 2007 -- Mendobirders: Today, Les Lieurance and I rambled around coastal Mendocino County.
At Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg we found 7 WANDERING TATTLERs, 27 BLAC TURNSTONEs, 3 WHIMBRELs, the usual PURPLE MARTINs and a few COMMON MERGANSERs.
At the mouth of Virgin Creek in Fort Bragg we saw a RUDDY TURNSTONE, along with LEAST SANDPIPERs, WESTERN SANDPIPERs, SANDERLINGs, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERs, and WHIMBRELs.
At Ten Mile Beach estuary we saw a lot of nervous-acting waders, the only additional ones to the list above being SPOTTED SANDPIPER and silent, distant dowitchers.
At the mouth of the Garcia River (near the Point Arena Lighthouse) we saw many waders, including extremely distant dowitchers, phalaropes (the close ones were RED-NECKED PHALAROPEs), WILLETs, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SANDERLINGs, LEAST SANDPIPERs, WESTERN SANDPIPERs and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs. Fortunately, the BAIRD'S SANDPIPER flew over our heads, calling as it went. And a LESSER YELLOWLEGs landed briefly in front of us before flying off to the east. Two CASPIAN TERNs and a few COMMON LOONs also made an appearance there.
We saw only 4 species of gulls all day - WESTERN, CALIFORNIA, HEERMAN'S and HERRING. -- Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco
Fri, 03 Aug 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning George Chaniot, Matthew Matthiessen, and I birded the USTP oxidation ponds. The south pond has been reflooded, but now the north pond is being drained and there is some nice mud in the NW corner of that pond. There were a number of shorebirds there, but the highlights were 2 juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. These birds can be easily studied in comparison to adjacent WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS in an array of plumages. There was also a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on the N pond and 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were swimming there. Ducks included the continuing HOODED MERGANSER and GREATER SCAUP, and a CINNAMON TEAL. YELLOW WARBLERS continue to sing along the river and 3 GREAT EGRETS flew over, the first I have seen inland this fall. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 02 Aug 2007 -- Today I found a RED KNOT on Ten Mile beach, and Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin also had a RED KNOT at Virgin Creek beach. By coincidence, we each found our personal bird at almost the same time this morning. My bird was about 3/4 to one mile north of the Ward Ave ramp down to the beach.
There are still 9-10 SNOWY PLOVERS north of Inglenook Creek mouth on Ten Mile beach. Most of them have been rotating in and out of this location, because some of the banded birds keep changing. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 02 Aug 2007 -- I heard the LONG-EARED OWL again this morning, once at 03:16 and then at 04:10. I have listened a lot in the evening, but I have not heard it then. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 30 Jul 2007 -- On Monday I found a juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at the Garcia River Mouth. It was seen by others later in the day and was last seen flying out toward the beach. -- David Vander Pluym, Ventura, CA
Mon, 30 Jul 2007 -- On Friday July 27th Nikki White and I saw a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL on a utility pole on the Ukiah Boonville road just before noon. At the Garcia River estuary there was an adult RUDDY TURNSTONE, at least 40 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS,and 3 WILLETS. On Saturday July 28th there was a distant Kingbird sp. on the south facing slope at Usal. Probable WESTERN KINGBIRD based on the time of year? On Monday July 30th 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS flew over Highway 1 into Mackerricher State Park. At Virgin Creek Beach there was another adult RUDDY TURNSTONE and a MARBLED GODWIT. -- Jerry White
Mon, 30 Jul 2007 -- 04:02 A LONG-EARED OWL woke me out of a deep sleep. Less than 100 yads away - probably in the oaks behind the house. It gave about 10 hoots in the full moonlight. 04:16 Seven more hoots. About 200 yards to the east. 04:27 Five hoots about 1/4 mile to the east now. 04:29 Five more hoots from about the same area. 04:32 Five more hoots. The last I heard. No going back to sleep for me.
I'd been expecting this guy eventually; several years ago I heard one at sunset about 1/2 mile to the west. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 29 Jul 2007 -- Hi, Seabirders, Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip from Fort Bragg on Sunday, July 29, 2007 kicked off the seabird season on the north coast. Even though the seas were very nice the day prior to our trip, we were not so lucky. Swells and wind made the day somewhat difficult, but we did make it to the canyon and to the Tolo Banks. Highlights of the day included: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, PINK-FOOTED and SOOTY SHEARWATERS; POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS; SABINE'S GULLS; COMMON MURRE, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. In the morning, five PURPLE MARTINS were in the trees at the harbor while an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was calling. -- Debbie Shearwater
Sun, 29 Jul 2007 -- For much of the trip Curtis was either leaning over the back of the boat or sleeping, so from his perspective the pelagic trip probably "was not particularly great". For the visiting birders from Denver and Reno the trip was a huge success. I don't have the official numbers that the leaders will be providing, but we did see good numbers of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS and SOOTY SHEARWATERS. There were a few PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS, 1 POMARINE JAEGER, at least 2 SABINE'S GULLS, an ELEGANT TERN and usual numbers of the usual birds. However, there were spirited games of volleyball and shuffleboard and the pool-side catered buffet was five-star. Otherwise, the trip was admittedly ordinary. Jerry White, Matthew Matthiessen and I were hoping for that really rare pelagic bird that never appeared, but we were certainly in the right habitat. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 29 Jul 2007 -- Today at Borax Lake I saw a distant male Aythya duck whose head shape appeared to be that of a GREATER SCAUP. A female-type CINNAMON TEAL was also present. At Austin Park in Clearlake I saw an alternate plumaged FORSTER'S TERN and a female COMMON MERGANSER. At the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant I saw a CLARK'S GREBE, which was my first for the locality. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 29 Jul 2007 -- As of 5:10 PM, the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER had not been seen at Ten Mile River. The tides changed considerably, and less Western and Least Sandpipers were seen from various locations. There were quite a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, though. Art Morley also tried for the Semi-palmated Sandpiper without success. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 28 Jul 2007 -- Hi- Curtis Marantz found a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER just east of the Ten Mile River bridge this afternoon, 28 July. He was with Jon Dunn and Larry Sansone. Jim and I saw the bird about 5:30 PM. This is 10 miles north of Fort Bragg along Hwy 1.-- Karen Havlena for Curtis Marantz
Sat 28 Jul 2007 -- LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES are still coming on a daily basis to my thistle feeder in Potter Valley -- George Chaniot
Fri, 27 Jul 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- George Chaniot and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this morning. There were some new birds on the ponds and birding is starting to pick up a little bit inland (see George's post about Lake Mendocino yesterday). On the north pond, presently fully flooded, there was a CLARK'S GREBE, the continuing male GREATER SCAUP, and a HOODED MERGANSER in very confusing molt. It is probably an adult female. There were 2 juvenile CALIFORNIA GULLS and a single juvenile WESTERN GULL milling on and over the ponds. Shorebirds included SPOTTED, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 7 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. They were mostly along the north edge of the south pond where there is some really nice muddy habitat due to an apparent water leak between the middle and south ponds. There was also a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE on the middle pond. That was probably the highlight bird of the morning. At least 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and several YELLOW WARBLERS are still singing along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 -- There was a smattering of migrant shorebirds at Lake Mendocino this morning: a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at the south boat ramp. This is the earliest sighting of Baird's Sandpiper on record for the interior county. At the inlet were 5 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. There was a RING-BILLED GULL and a group of CALIFORNIA GULLS at the south end. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 20 Jul 2007 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 4 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 8 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was still singing from the Russian River riparian.-- George Chaniot
Wed, 18 Jul 2007 -- This morning there were 5 juvenile LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES around my yard in Potter Valley. They were following a male around, but he was not directly feeding them. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 16 Jul 2007 -- As I drove past Squaw Rock (south Mendocino County along Highway 101 and the Russian River) last evening I could see at least two PEREGRINE FALCONS sitting on the edge of the nest site on the face of the rock. I believe they were ready-to-fledge juveniles ....but it was difficult to tell at 60 mph. The nest site ledge is very evident from the amount of white wash below it. The site could be easily viewed from the large pullout on the east side of Highway 101 ....if you are coming from the north you may have to go further south, maybe down to the Commisky Road exit in order to turn around safely and head back north. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 14 Jul 2007 -- Hi. As early as 5 July, Jim Havlena saw 3 MARBLED GODWITS on Ten Mile beach. Two days later, I saw 2 Marbled Godwits on Seaside Beach. On 12 July, I again saw 2 Marbled Godwits on Ten Mile beach, just south of the river mouth.
Four SNOWY PLOVERS are being seen (7/12-19)on Ten Mile beach 900 yards north of Inglenook Creek mouth. There are bands on two of the birds: LR:WW and GW:LY. Apparently, the LR:WW bird is at least 7 years old! (One can read a detailed account on the Yahoo group Save Our Shorebirds Or contact Angela Martin Liebenberg: ammartin@parks.ca.gov . This is a "members only" group, so the web address might not work.
Also, Erica Fielder told me that there are several PURPLE MARTINS flying below Ten Mile bridge. It is a little difficult to bird around there now, due to the new bridge construction, but there are about 4 parking spaces on the south side of the bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 13 Jul 2007 -- Charlene and I were surprised to see 5 SNOWY EGRETS on the offshore rocks off of Van Damme Beach this morning. They were feeding in the intertidal out off Little River Headlands. One of them left flying to the south, but the other four stayed until the fog came in and we could no longer see the rocks. -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 11 Jul 2007 -- I was on the coast for a couple of days recently and saw a few things of interest to me. On July 8 there was a TUFTED PUFFIN on the water north of the Mendocino Headlands and a RHINOCEROS AUKLET with a horn pretty close to shore in the same area. On July 9 there was a MARBLED MURRELET just south of Laguna Point, and three MARBLED GODWITS flew north across the point. On July 9 there was a male PURPLE MARTIN at the parking area for Caspar Cemetery landing on the dead tree with an Osprey nest just to the east of the road.
In Potter Valley LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES continue to come to my feeders daily, and I have been seeing a few at other locations around the valley where I have never seen them before. They are quite the phenomenon in Potter Valley this summer. I see that they are being reported in Humboldt and Del Norte counties too. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 09 Jul 2007 -- I was on the coast for a couple of days recently and saw a few things of interest to me. On July 8 there was a TUFTED PUFFIN on the water north of the Mendocino Headlands and a RHINOCEROS AUKLET with a horn pretty close to shore in the same area. On July 9 there was a MARBLED MURRELET just south of Laguna Point, and three MARBLED GODWITS flew north across the point. On July 9 there was a male PURPLE MARTIN at the parking area for Caspar Cemetery landing on the dead tree with an Osprey nest just to the east of the road.
In Potter Valley LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES continue to come to my feeders daily, and I have been seeing a few at other locations around the valley where I have never seen them before. They are quite the phenomenon in Potter Valley this summer. I see that they are being reported in Humboldt and Del Norte counties too. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 01 Jul 2007 -- The male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES continue daily at my thistle feeder in Potter Valley. Today there were three. I have not seen a felmae yet. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 29 Jun 2007 -- This morning while driving out of Potter Valley towards highway 20, right as I was crossing the final bridge, I saw an OSPREY flying overhead. That was an unexpected bit of pleasure for my day. -- Elaine Lindelef
Tue, 26 Jun 2007 -- This morning, I heard a late SWAINSON'S THRUSH Thrush singing repeatedly from the riparian/conifer area east of Hwy 1 (Seaside creek drainage, east of Ocean Meadows.
Also, last Thursday, 6/21/07, Jim Havlena saw two, early WESTERN SANDPIPERS at Inglenook Creek mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 23 Jun 2007 -- This morning I saw a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE on West Road, Potter Valley near Spring Valley Road - about 2.5 miles from Matt's observations. I think they became firmly established in interior Mendocino in 2005 and 2006, and this year they are spreading out everywhere.
I also had an ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD male visiting my feeders this morning, which is a less-than-annual event, and two male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES continue to visit my thistle feeder irregularly. --
George Chaniot
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 -- Hi Birders. I was shocked and apalled to see a second EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE interacting with the first bird this morning. The two birds were flying around my parent's Valley-floor yard, with one chasing the other. The first bird has been present since June 12th, and probably represents the first Potter Valley record. I wonder how many will be here by the end of the summer.
In other news, I saw my first south-bound RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD of the summer here in Potter on the 20th. Also on the 20th a large FALCON, either a Peregrine or a Prairie, circled over the house. I didn't have my binoculars, and the bird was rather high up, but I'm guessing it was likely a Peregrine. I'm not really sure where it might have come from, but I don't think I have seen any other PEFAs in Potter Valley. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 -- Today while at Schooner Gulch State Beach I saw 9 BRANTS foraging in the tide pools. The state beach is a couple miles south of the town of Point Arena, and is basically a pullout / trailhead leading down to the beach. If anyone is interested I could download some photos. I was also surprised to see 6 or 7 European Collared Doves in and around the town of Point Arena. -- Craig Swolgaard, Folsom, CA
Thu, 21 Jun 2007 -- Hi all, This morning about 8:15 a.m. a large herd (at least 100) of RISSO'S DOLPHINS passed by the Little River Headlands going north. The seas were flat, the sun was low and behind us and it was quite beautiful. -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 17 June 2007 - I just received information about a GREATER ROADRUNNER observed on this date last month in Mendocino County. The observer has a place in Point Arena and spends a lot of time in the county. His verbal report (to Jerry White) sounds credible. The observer saw the bird on Mountain View Road (Boonville to Manchester) on Sunday, 17 June, near mile marker 17. If I recall the area correctly this is coastal scrub type habitat - blue blossom (Ceanothus sp.), etc. I have heard of a roadrunner in past years near Whitethorn, Humboldt County, which would be similar habitat (this is on the way to Shelter Cove).
The observer got a clear look at the one bird, saying he saw good color on the face and felt that it was an adult. There was apparently another bird in the area that he did not get a good look at, but it was the same size and color as the identified bird. The second bird disappeared into the brush as it was approached.
Even though this report is near a month old, I suspect that any roadrunners observed in June may have be nesting or had newly fledged juveniles in the area. I would venture to say that it is VERY possible that the birds are still in the vicinity. I encourage any birders to check out this area ... the birds would most likely be silent and foraging at ground level. My limited experience with Mendocino County Roadrunners is that they are extremely wily .... not the typical tame "road-runners" from the Southwest.
This is a VERY difficult species to find in Mendocino County ...and the number of occurrences had dropped to almost zero in the past two decades. Please post if you have positive or negative results from a search of the area. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 18 Jun 2007 -- A male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH just joined the swarm of Lesser and American Goldfinches at my thistle feeder. I've been expecting him for years, and this certainly is the year for Lawrence's in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 17 Jun 2007 -- This morning, Chuck Vaughn, Geoff Heinecken, and I saw an eclipsing male NORTHERN PINTAIL floating with the MALLARDS on the middle pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. This is only the second summer record in the county. Also of note were a continuing GREATER SCAUP and a very late, singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
The south pond is nearly dry and the middle pond is expected to be emptied next. It could be a good summer/fall for migrating shorebirds. -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 17 June 2007 -- I just received information about a Greater Roadrunner observed on this date last month in Mendocino County. The observer has a place in Point Arena and spends a lot of time in the county. His verbal report (to Jerry White) sounds credible. The observer saw the bird on Mountain View Road (Boonville to Manchester) on Sunday, 17 June, near mile marker 17. If I recall the area correctly this is coastal scrub type habitat - blue blossom (Ceanothus sp.), etc. I have heard of a roadrunner in past years near Whitethorn, Humboldt County, which would be similar habitat (this is on the way to Shelter Cove).
The observer got a clear look at the one bird, saying he saw good color on the face and felt that it was an adult. There was apparently another bird in the area that he did not get a good look at, but it was the same size and color as the identified bird. The second bird disappeared into the brush as it was approached.
Even though this report is near a month old, I suspect that any roadrunners observed in June may have be nesting or had newly fledged juveniles in the area. I would venture to say that it is VERY possible that the birds are still in the vicinity. I encourage any birders to check out this area ... the birds would most likely be silent and foraging at ground level. My limited experience with Mendocino County Roadrunners is that they are extremely wily .... not the typical tame "road-runners" from the Southwest.
This is a VERY difficult species to find in Mendocino County ...and the number of occurrences had dropped to almost zero in the past two decades. Please post if you have positive or negative results from a search of the area. Good birding. Bob Keiffer
Sun, 17 Jun 2007 -- I have a larger than normal crop of young BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS this year. For the last couple of weeks I have noticed a begging/feeding behavior I've missed before: The youngsters have a distinct shivering movement, with their wings in sort of a trailing position. Both mom and dad will feed them with just eaten seeds, even with the baby on the feeder with them. Several sources mention that the young leave the nest after 11 or 12 days, but can't fly for two more weeks. Do they simply stay near the nest or run around on the ground? -- Jim Armstrong
Sat, 16 Jun 2007 -- Today at 12:46 PM I found the TUFTED PUFFIN that Toby reported back on the 9th of June. It was almost exactly where she said she saw it. Just east of the northern most island off the Mendocino Headlands. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 14 Jun 2007 -- Hi Birders -- In the past 24 hours, I have seen several slices of bird life that may be of interest. A PEREGRINE FALCON that I see occasionally over Seaside beach was flying laboriously north over our bluff. It was carrying a PIGEON GUILLEMOT, with its red feet dangling! A male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD was "singing" his raspy song for a female in a shrub behind our house. This suggests possible breeding for both the falcon and the blackbird.
Up the coast at milepost 83.30, just south of Hardy Creek mouth, there is a large, pointy rock that cormorants, etc, rest upon. On the very, steep side facing Hwy 1, there is a family of BLACK OYSTERCATCHER. I saw one parent bring food to the rocky nestsite, where the other parent and THREE fluffy chicks were waiting for lunch. PURPLE MARTINS are still flying around the Juan Creek bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 12 Jun 2007 -- Hi Birders. This morning, while stacking chord wood at my parent's place in Potter Valley, I heard the distinctive "Wheew-wheew" of a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. Looking up, I saw it fly into one of our oak trees. This was a first for me in Potter, has anyone else had them here? -- Matt Brady
Mon, 11 Jun 2007 -- Daffy Duck? There's a nesting MALLARD under a rosebush at the Ukiah fairgrounds. It's on the right of a yellow building on the north side of the parking lot. She was on the nest the morning of June 9. I couldn't tell how many eggs were there. I assume she's a resident of the small pond across from the fine arts building. -- Don Rowe
Sat, 09 Jun 2007 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports finding a TUFTED PUFFIN at the Mendocino Headlands this morning. First it was in the water north of the northmost island. Then it began flying and flew to a burrow on the north face of the northmost island. This is a new burrow location in this area.
Sat, 09 Jun 2007 -- Today John Luther and I failed to find any Horned Puffins from Jenner north to Pt. Arena (northern Sonoma to southern Mendocino counties). We looked hard at a quite a few locations. Much of the coast line is private and not accessible, so we didn't check every possible location. One TUFTED PUFFIN at the Pt. Arena cove was a highlight. Also at Greistler (sp.?) campground at Salt Point State Park on the Sonoma coast, there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK at night and a singing PURPLE MARTIN at dawn. Also a pair of martins were on the wire over Gualala River at the bridge. Another martin was on the ridgetop at Pine Flat Road in Sonoma County. -- John Sterling, Woodland [from N.CalBirdBox]
Fri, 08 Jun 2007 -- Dear Helen et al, Advice on the egg came in from several sources, including suggestions to keep it moist and to help it break out of the shell. Bob Keiffer said it most certainly was a goose egg, some of which are as big as eagle eggs. He said a raven wouldn't be able to carry an egg that large without putting a hole in the shell. My friend was quite sure it was not a goose egg. Turkey was proposed as a possibility. Ron LeValley asked for a picture but digital camera problems won out.
One internet source said that it could take 5 days for such an egg to hatch, others said that if it didn't hatch within in 24 hours it would die. Alida Morzenti, an eminent raptor expert with Bird Rescue in Santa Rosa, offered to take it and hatch it out.
The pecking stopped so my friend decided to help it out of the egg, and it turned out to be dead. She has saved the egg, which is mostly intact except for a hole, and was planning to take it down to Alan Grass at the fish hatchery for i.d. I haven't heard the final word yet. I think she's going to give me the egg eventually, though if it's a golden eagle egg I'll have to turn it over to HREC or someone who can legally hold it.
Thanks for everyone's advice and interest. -- Kate Marianchild
Fri, 08 Jun 2007 -- Hi Tim, The 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nestlings are still in the nest here, looking quite large but still a bit ragged. They have a little bit of red on their shoulders. They should fledge sometime between June 12-14. -- Kate Marianchild
Fri, 08 Jun 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders, Yesterday a large, fluffy, very light-colored RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched on our gatepost. It did not have red shoulders but did have all the other characteristics. I suspect it is a recent fledgling - anyone else noticing young ones flying about? -- Tim Bray, Middle Ridge, Albion
Fri, 08 Jun 2007 -- A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK came to my feeder two years ago with a possible sighting last year. I have a male at my feeder now. -- Lois Sundberg, Little River, 8151 n hwy one, 937-2909
Thu, 07 Jun 2007 -- As I was out and about this morning, I saw a large bird outline in what I think of as my "Cormorant Tree", a tree that hangs over the Russian River - a perfect hangout if you like wet fishy snacks. I haven't seen any cormorants for a while, so I figured I'd snap a
photo of a June sighting. But as I got closer, it became clear that it wasn't a cormorant. I think it's an OSPREY: photo
This is in the main valley on the river between Burris and Pine. I've never seen an osprey here before, but I may just have been unobservant. -- Elaine Lindelef
Tue, 05 Jun 2007 -- Hi Kate, Unfortunately the ravens/crows do steal eggs, they take most of our chickens eggs! On the bright side, when i first moved to Redwood Valley I saw one carrying a very large snake into a tree! One nice thing about the decline in (raven) population past few years is Ive seen a big return of nests/ babies of smaller birds. However , its not just the ravens/crows- when we lived in Cloverdale we frequently saw/found baby birds taken from their nests by the bluejays. I was wondering about coming up with some sort of nesting place that would appeal to the smaller nesting birds where the crows/jays can reach them etc. Hope your friend has something suitable to feed her baby, seems he should've come out by now. -- Lynne
Tue, 05 Jun 2007 -- Still hoping for word of golden eagle nest near Van Arsdale dam. My friend Jo wrote this today:"Yes, I definitely know goose eggs. Not big enough for sure. You know, it is sooo bizarre if this is a Golden Eagle, but I'm thinking those ravens may very well have teamed up on the parents, with the intention of getting an egg. We have a LOT of egg-loving ravens and crows and I have frequently seen them flying around here with eggs in their big mouths. If they're starting to steal raptor eggs, they need to be stopped.
It didn't make much progress last night, but a little at the bigger hole. It seems to be pecking strategically in two spots and then maybe he'll more easily be able to break through in the middle of those two spots and have a big hole. I've got a better "nest" set up for him
now. Although, I still didn't get a very good night's sleep. -- Kate Marianchild 463-0839
Mon, 04 Jun 2007 -- Saturday night a friend of mine found what she thinks is a golden eagle egg near the Van Arsdale dam. She put it in her bed and slept with it and last night it started pecking. (At that time she thought it was a turkey egg, but she's since measured it and it's probably too big to be a turkey. It's about 3").
Does anyone know where a golden eagle nest is in the vicinity? Would anyone be willing to look at it to help her figure out what it is? Her phone number is 743-2389 -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 31 May 2007 -- I visited Usal Beach campground after completing the Branscomb Road Breeding Bird Survey. The coast was cold, damp, and fogged in. PURPLE MARTINS are nesting again in a couple of old snags above the Branscomb Road at about the 1.0 mm (one mile from Hwy 1). The road to Usal was rough as usual but easily passable. Off Usal Beach campground was a large pod of HARBOR PORPOISE (constant rolling on the surface)...probably working schools of surf fish. 140+ Aechmophorus sp. grebes (Western and probably some Clark's) were also clumped off the beach area ....I saw a large flock there last year at this time also. I was not in the mood to eat lunch in the fog so I decided to try driving the Usal Road which leads north. I was able to drive all the way to the Shelter Cove Road (Usal Road is 27 miles of 1st and 2nd gear dirt road from Hwy 1) and never saw another vehicle ...only one tired mountain biker. It helps to have high vehicle ground clearance on this road, and I used 4WD once in a while, but a sturdy 2WD vehicle with good ground clearance should be able to make it. I would NOT recommend this road, even to 4WD, in the winter ...as there are some deep muddy holes (now dry) and some narrow "suicide" chutes that the road goes through. I did see HERMIT WARBLERS at one of the side pullouts (there are only about three of them the entire way).
One the way home I stopped at the Benbow State Park, accessed via the old Hwy 101 road which exits Hwy 101 just north of the "Bigfoot" souvenir shop just before the freeway). This takes you to an old state campground right under MAL COOMB MEMORIAL bridge where you can watch WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS entering the vertical drain holes. There are also VAUX'S SWIFTS around. This is, however, Humboldt County. I did not get a chance to check out the Piercy bridge or any of the other Mendocino County bridge structures. -- Good birding, Bob Keiffer
Sun, 20 May 2007 -- Here is a belated report form the Mendocino
Coast pelagic birding trip from Sunday May 20th. It was led by Ron LeValley and attended by about 20 mostly local folks. The weather was quite nice with good visibility and very calm seas, which was nice for a change. I believe that we went out to about 12 miles or so and we were out for about 6 hours. We actually had little bird activity ...a few areas that picked up but no unusual species, no migrating terns, only two jaegers, no Laysan Albatross, etc. The highlight of the trip was getting into the middle of a HUGE (estimated 1000-2000+) herd of Pacific White-sided Dolphins that were feeding on congregated schools of bait fish. These bait fish were very near the surface, probably due to harassment by the dolphins, and could be seen "churning" the surface or 6 to 12 inches under the surface as the boat went through them. A few Northern Right Whale
Dolphins were mixed into the foray also.
Several flocks of migrating (north) Red Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes were observed, sometimes sitting on the water for some decent looks at them. And, we had great looks at 3 Red-necked Grebes up close as we left the harbor. One of these was in full breeding plumage with the other two almost there.
There were also PURPLE MARTINS either using (for nest sites) or
looking at the drain holes underneath the new Noyo Bridge. Here is the list of species: Pacific Loon 15, Common Loon 10, Red-necked Grebe 3, Western Grebe 15, Black-footed Albatross 75, Pink-footed Shearwater 2, Sooty Shearwater 100+, Pelagic Cormorant 5, Brandt's Cormorant 6, Osprey 2, Red-necked Phalarope 75, Red Phalarope 300, Parasitic Jaeger 2, Jaeger sp. 1, Calif. Gull 12, Western Gull 100, Glaucous-winged Gull 1, Common Murre 75, Pigeon Guillemot 2, Ancient Murrelet 2, Cassin's Auklet 25, Rhinoceros Auklet 50, Tufted Puffin 1, California Sea Lion + 2 (in the Harbor), Northern fur Seal 4, Northern Elephant Seal 1, Harbor Seal 2, Northern Right Whale Dolphin 30 -100+ (Ron thought 30, I think
more, use your own judgment!), Pacific-White-sided Dolphin 2000+
Hope to see you on future trips ...each one is different and the
"surprise" species is always possible. Some day in the future
Mendocino County will get its first Short-tailed Albatross.
Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 28 May 2007 -- Hi all: An overnight trip to Hendy Woods State Park (Mendocino Co./Anderson Valley) had me marveling at a colony of PURPLE MARTINS this morning at the Hendy Woods Day Use section of the Navarro River. The birds are occupying cavities in dead portions of the the upper canopy of live redwoods. Very scenic locale, and very vocal, gorgeous birds. I counted 9 martins, 5 males and four females in two trees, but the amount of chatter coming from the canopy of other redwoods as I approached the river made me believe the colony is at least twice that size. Good birding, -- Bob Power, Oakland, CA [from Calbirds]
Sun, 27 May 2007 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called to say that today, she saw a singing, male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK along the Skunk Train railroad tracks. The bird was singing "like on territory" about a mile east on the tracks from Franklin Ave. Park near the entrance to the cemetery and walk inland above Pudding Creek. Be careful to listen for the train or small rail vehicles. -- K Havlena for Toby Tobkin
Sun, 27 May 2007 -- Sunday morning, Jerry White, Jim and myself searched valiantly for Matthew's Brewer Sparrow, but we had no luck with it. We visited the east end of the boardwalk at Lake Cleone more than once, walked the outer edge of MacKerricher SP along Hwy 1, and then hiked up and down Ten Mile beach. Karen started at Ward Ave going north, while Jerry and Jim came down from the Ten Mile River. We looked all over the dunes.
Consolation birds: There were a few phalaropes on the east side of Ten Mile bridge. Jerry thought that two of them were very likely WILSON'S PHALAROPES. They were whiter than the others, Jim said, but they did not have scopes. Jerry was pretty sure of the differences, saying that they had a different feeding pattern. After coming home, Jim and I went back to the river with our scopes, but only one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE remained. I (Karen) saw a single sandpiper on the southwest bank that was very likely an adult BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. The wing extension was quite long behind the tail tip, and it had light brown, streaky neck and upper breast. There was no rufous at all, and the scapulars and coverts were a dull brown with black centers. There were no white streaks at the sides of the mantle like Least, and the legs appeared to be dark. It disappeared when I moved the scope slightly, so Jim did not see it, and I did not see where it flew. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 26 May 2007 -- Matthew Matthiessen had a BREWER'S SPARROW this morning about 9:30 at the boardwalk at Lake Cleone. It was in willows at the far end of the boardwalk on the east side of the lake. Dorothy Tobkin looked for it about an hour later and was unable to relocate it.
Fri, 25 May 2007 -- This morning a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, two ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, a WARBLING VIREO, and a male RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER were among the birds at Usal Camp. CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were silent (I finally saw two of them), so there were no flocks to follow. The Chat was up the hillside above the road that goes out to the beach, and the Ash-throated Flycatchers were together on the same road, but closer to Usal Road. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Thu, 24 May 2007 -- Hi Birders. I took a walk up Burris Lane in Potter Valley today. Several LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES persist at the end of the road, over-looking the pond. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was singing from the willows where the road turns to dirt. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was singing in the field below the barn with the Guinea Fowl. There were YELLOW WARBLERS and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS singing from a number of locations. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Thu, 24 May 2007 -- The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (or one of his buddies) that eluded us on the Potter Valley field trip has been hanging around my house for the past week or so. I have a lousy photo in my Potter Valley album
Yellow-breasted Chat - he only comes out of the foliage when the light is terrible.
There's also another little bird that I photographed on our fence line that I can't identify. He's small and fawn colored all over.
A belated thanks for the field trip, by the way - my daughter and I had a wonderful time. -- Elaine Lindelef
Tue, 22 May 2007 -- There is a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE setting up house-keeping in Hopland. They sometimes hang out in the big California Valley oak tree located behind the Hopland Inn / Lawson's Station. They have been in the area for about one week as first reported to me by my parents.... and I finally saw the birds today. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 22 May 2007 -- Toby Tobkin called to say that she saw an adult FRANKLIN'S GULL in full, breeding plumage late AM at Virgin Creek beach, but it flew north and did not return I will be fighting the wind and unlikely odds, but I will write back if it can be refound. -- Karen Havlena (for Dorothy Tobkin)
Mon, 21 May 2007 -- Is this a Bonaparte's Gull or . . . ??? It was photographed by me (It wouldn't let me get very close, but the zoom helped a little) in Virgin Creek this afternoon north of Fort Bragg. Bonaparte's Gull? -- Feather Forestwalker
Mon, 21 May 2007 -- I birded Potter Valley for a couple hours yesterday. The LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES are still at the top of Burris Lane. Also of interest was a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with a much larger domestic goose at a pond on West Road. Traveling south on West Road the pond is on the left side of the road right after the 2.54 mile marker sign. Are there any May records for this bird in Mendocino County? I looked at George Chaniot's Potter Valley birds list and he didn't have any records for april-september. -- Austin Booth
Mon, 21 May 2007 -- I found my first-ever WESTERN KINGBIRD nest this morning. It was a cup of what appeared to be mainly Ramalina, though I couldn't see the inside. I also watched a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE carry what looked like cattail down to a nest well-concealed in oak leaves, and found a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW cavity in a black oak. The three hawk nestlings are doing well. Watched them swallow lizard legs yesterday. I have also found groups of newly fledged black phoebes, orange-crowned warblers, and bushtits in the last two days.-- Kate Marianchild
Fri, 18 May 2007 -- The pale male, female and what appears to be a juvenile (or molting into adult plumage - it's hard for me to tell) are at the smallish pond behind Baxman's Gravel Co. on the Haul Road. Here are some shots I took of them - I also have video of their feeding behavior for anyone interested. (Email me privately for that).
Male RNP: Male RNPH
Juvenile being chased by two ducklings: Juvenile
Female: Female -- Feather Forestwalker
Wed, 16 May 2007 -- I saw a male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH at Round Mountain ranch in oak canopy this afternoon.
I also saw the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Dad feeding a King Snake to his three youngsters. He worked on the tail end for a long time, struggling to get meat. It seemed to be hard to tear it off. Then he ceased feeding the chicks, and kept looking in the nest, as if wondering, "Now what am I going to do with the rest of that snake? It's taking up too much space." He picked it up and held it, looking off into the distance, which is when I saw that the body of the snake was largely untouched. Then he put it down and picked it up a few more times, and finally he flew off with it. I wish I knew where he took it. To hang it over a limb somewhere and save for later? Does anyone know if raptors cache food away from their nests? -- Kate Marianchild
Wed, 16 May 2007 -- Today I saw at least 5 male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES feeding on fiddleneck flowers with a group of Lesser Goldfinches (mostly males). With this number showing up, and other sightings in the county, it is likely that the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center birds will soon find the established salt feeder along University Road. If this happens, as it has in the past (except for last year), it provides a good "wait and see" spot for the public birders to watch for this species. Chuck Vaughn and I will keep an eye on this spot and post it if they begin to use the salt feeder site. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 15 May 2007 -- Luise Mariana reports a possible COMMON GROUND-DOVE at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg around midday on the 15th. She saw it at close range several times along the sandy trail which runs north from the beach along the bluff toward Pudding Creek. Toby has looked for it once without luck, and she will probably try again this afternoon.
Wed, 16 May 2007 -- Hi, I was visiting Mendocino Woodlands State Park last weekend and two PILEATED WOODPECKERS flew past the dining hall in Camp 1, landing briefly on a nearby stump. The first sighting was at 2:00 pm. Then they came through a second time about 4:30 pm. Are PIWOs known to be in that area? I've attended a weeklong camp in the same location for several years--at the end of June--but have never heard or seen PIWOs there before. I'm just wondering how recently they moved into the area. -- Judy Donaldson, Capitola, CA
Tue, 15 May 2007 -- This morning Dave Woodward and I tried for, but did not find,the cuckoo reported yesterday at Rodman Slough.The bird was heard calling on Monday by Tom Leskiw and reported on nwcalbird. We did see a Black Tern (4th county record) in flight with a flock of Bonaparte's Gulls. There was also an adult Bald Eagle in the area. -- Jerry White
Tue, 15 May 2007 -- The single GOLDEN EAGLE chick in the nest off of Black Bart trail above Redwood Valley fledged sometime between May 6 and May 12, three to four weeks earlier than the fledging of two chicks from the same nest two years ago. Darn! I wanted to get a good look with my scope. -- Kate Marianchild
Tue, 15 May 2007 -- I am always delighted when I find an active nest in my yard. Yesterday an unnoticed accumulation of poop led me to a cavity in adead branch about 30 feet up a Poplar tree. Binoculars, then a scope, showed three fairly well-grown chicks with a lot of interest in their surroundings. A little time turned up an early explorer fluttering around the nest, always in danger of falling from the tree. A parent would make really quick feeding approaches, with the chicks moving back in the hole to be fed, instead of leaning forward for first dibs as seems more common. I finally got a good look at Mom: Phooey, a STARLING. Well, heck, I guess they don't know they were imported. Still interesting to watch. -- Jim Armstrong.
Sat, 12 May 2007 -- We have a pair of VARIED THRUSHES still in the Anchor Bay area. One of my expert birding friends says it is very late for them to still be here. Do you know if this is at all unusual? Maybe they are expanding their territory? Anyway, I love hearing their calls. Thanks, Jeanne Jackson
Sat, 12 May 2007 -- At MacKerricher State Park today, I photographed a White-crowned Sparrow - nothing unusual in that - but this bird had a seamed band on its right leg. Does anyone know of any banding projects involving White-crowned Sparrows? -- Feather Forestwalker
Sat, 12 May 2007 -- We have a pair of VARIED THRUSHES still in the Anchor Bay area. One of my expert birding friends says it is very late for them to still be here. Do you know if this is at all unusual? Maybe they are expanding their territory? Anyway, I love hearing their calls. Thanks, -- Jeanne Jackson
Sat, 12 May 2007 -- At MacKerricher State Park today, I photographed a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - nothing unusual in that - but this bird had a seamed band on its right leg. Does anyone know of any banding projects involving White-crowned Sparrows? -- Feather Forestwalker
Fri, 11 May 2007 -- Last weekend, on May 5, I believe, 3 lovely chicks were born to a pair RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS in the nest near my house. This hatching was approximately one week later than the 2005 hatching. Both parents and chicks appear to be doing well, though with three chicks the "sitting adult" has difficulty finding a place to rest in the nest and is often a "standing adult." -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 10 May 2007 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I birded along the Eel River near the Pioneer Crossing Bridge. There was a lot of song: Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Lazuli Bunting, i.a. We saw seven species of warblers: Yellow, Orange-crowned, Hermit, MacGillivray's, Wilson's, Black-throated Gray, and Yellow-breasted Chat. An Osprey was sitting on a nest along the county road, but we did not see a bird on the recently discovered Bald Eagle nest nearby.
Saturday morning, May 12, there will be a Peregrine Audubon field trip to this same area. We will leave from the Ukiah Long's parking lot at 8:00 am, or you can meet us at the old Potter Valley Road bridge along the Russian River at 08:30 am. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 06 May 2007 -- Hi, On May 6th, I birded for an hour and a half in the afternoon along the northern end of the Reynolds Hwy. which is just north of Willits The only highlights were a GOLDEN EAGLE flying over the ridge to the east and a PILEATED WOODPECKER calling to the north. NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER and OAK TITMOUSE, which were both present, are regular here, but rare just to the north. -- Jim Tietz
Sat, 05 May 2007 -- On May 5, I believe, 3 lovely chicks were born to a pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS in the nest near my house. This hatching was approximately one week later than the 2005 hatching. Both parents and chicks appear to be doing well, though with three chicks the "sitting adult" has difficulty finding a place to rest in the nest and is often a "standing adult." -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 3 May 2007 -- Hi Birders,I birded the Glass Beach area for quite a while with Toby early on, then Ron and Charlene briefly, covering the entire area twice. Toby said she saw (earlier) what looked like a kingbird (from the back), and it seemed to show a little yellow at the top of the chest. We could not refind it or any thrasher as the morning progressed. Toby said she might try again in the early evening. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 02 May 2007 -- Maria Finnegan and I have seen a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL on five consecutive nights between 8:15pm and 9:00pm on the telephone wires on the west side of Live Oak between Cypress Ave. and Maple Ave. right along the golf course in Ukiah. We got an incredible look one night, about 5 feet away, the owl was sitting on top of the speedometer sign. It tends to hunt and then come back to the phone wires. Dusk is best after that we only hear it. -- Shawn O'Brien
Wed, 02 May 2007 -- At approximately 7:00 this evening I saw a SAGE THRASHER feeding in the old GP lumber storage area just south of the path to Glass Beach, near the fork in the path where one branch goes off to the northwest.
Shortly after that, I saw a TROPICAL KINGBIRD flying to and from the western end of the chainlink fence that separates Glass Beach from the old mill site. I am aware that TRKI are usually found along the coast during fall migration. However, I was able to study this bird with the sun behind me and clearly saw the following field marks: bright yellow feathers from the vent up the belly to the top of the chest where it met the light grey/whitish throat; notched tail with brown feathers to the outer edges (no white in tail); large bill about half the length of the head. Ironically, I misidentified this bird on the 2004 Mendocino Coast CBC (I reported a Western Kingbird by mistake because I failed to study the bird), so I have been very cautious when observing yellow-bellied kingbirds ever since. -- David Jensen
Tue, 01 May 2007 -- Hi birders, This morning we saw 1 female and 3+ male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH on Burris Lane, Potter Valley. The birds were just west of the pullout above the large pond. They perched on the fence and came across the road to feed in the fiddleneck along the roadside, singing sweetly all the while.
Thanks to Paul, Austin and George for their reports and updates. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 30 Apr 2007 -- My partner Larry Knowles and I attend Heron Days, too. On Sunday we kayaked up Kelsey Creek about .5 miles and flushed several times, both coming and going, two immature BALD EAGLES and four male and two female WOOD DUCKS. We got great looks at all these birds. We were also on the first pontoon boat to find the HORNED GREBE and got a great look at it. Heron Days was great. -- Erica Fielder
Mon, 30 Apr 2007 -- During the Heron Festival and Wildfowl Brunch at Clear Lake State Park, an alternate (breeding) plumaged HORNED GREBE was seen by several guides on both Saturday the 28th (as reported to me by Susanne Scholz) and Sunday the 29th (when I had good looks at it). I heard a second-hand report of two AMERICAN BITTERNS seen on Sunday and a first-hand report from a non-birder of a swan (presumably a MUTE SWAN) at Rodman Slough on Wednesday the 25th. Several dozen WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBES were present over the weekend, which was considerably more than the previous weekend. As alluded to in a brief post a few weeks ago by Kate Marianchild, most of the grebes on Clear Lake departed after a mass fish mortality event--presumably due to cold temperatures--back in March. It will be interesting to see whether any grebes wind up breeding this year.
Belatedly I've seen some birds (plus a mammal) of interest during my daily commute past Detert Reservoir, including a BOBCAT on April 23, an adult BALD EAGLE on April 20, a HORNED GREBE in about 90% basic (winter) plumage on April 6, a pair of CINNAMON TEAL on March 22, and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE feeding on roadkill (I had to swerve to miss it) on March 20. A pair of OSPREYS were nest building on a utility pole on March 22 but within a few weeks the nest disappeared, so I suspect it was removed by PGandE employees. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 29 Apr 2007 -- This morning from 07:15 through 08:15 Joanne Haller and I saw at least three LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES among about ten Lesser Goldfinches at the end of Burris Lane. They were feeding
on the young seeds of fiddlenecks. We did not see any yesterday evening just before sunset.
The Burrowing Owl was not visable, but some vegetation has grown up around the entrance to its burrow. Nor did we see any Tricolored Blackbirds.
An early YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was singing near the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 29 Apr 2007 -- Today I saw the LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at the top of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. They were on the fence on the north side. There was about 4-6 of them. I just put up a photo album on here and there is a picture of one of the goldfinches in it. -- Austin Booth
Fri, 27 Apr 2007 -- Toby Tobkin reported seeing at first year GLAUCOUS GULL on Virgin Creek beach today (April 27) at noon. She reported that it is all white except when it raises its wings and shows the brown vermiculation on the back. A very large bird, it has a pink bill with a black tip and was seen in with a flock of Western Gulls. Also present were 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, giving a wide range of sizes to the gull flock. -- Charlene McAllister
Thu, 26 Apr 2007 -- Yesterday I was birding along the Russian River under the bridge on Talmage Rd. I got a very brief look at a sparrow that I believe was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. It had a spot of yellow in front of the eyes and the throat was white. Unfortunately it flew before I could observe any more details. I'm not going to say it was a white-throated for certain because I only saw it for a couple seconds and didn't get a chance to fully analyze the bird. Good birding. -- Austin Booth
Thu, 26 Apr 2007 -- Hey Birders. Another male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD put in a brief appearance at my parent's place in Potter Valley today. I was able to take a couple of quick shots with a small digital camera. If they turned out at all, I'll post them later. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Wed, 25 Apr 2007 -- Although I knew this day would come, I was dismayed to see a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE fly over the freeway north of Ukiah this morning. It's probably only a matter of a couple of years until they're crowding every telephone pole, like they are down south. I may have missed previous reports, but I think this may be the first record for inland Mendocino County.
On another note, Austin Booth and I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today, and found all three ponds full. There were quite a few ducks on them, mostly Mallards and Ruddy Ducks, but also 65+ Ring-necked Ducks, several Greater Scaup, two or three pairs of Cinnamon Teal, a pair of American Wigeon, 20 or so Buffleheads, 25 Green-winged Teal, and several Canada Geese. The only shorebirds were two WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Mon, 23 Apr 2007 -- Hi birders- Jim saw a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER with about 30 WESTERN SANDPIPERS at the mouth of Ten Mile River yesterday. There has also an influx of CASPIAN TERNS during the last week. In our yard, a CHIPPING SPARROW fed on the driveway for the last two days. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 23 Apr 2007 -- A pair of RED CROSSBILLS have been coming to my feeders on an infrequent basis since April 14th. I've called neighbors who regularly feed birds and they also are reporting Crossbills on an infrequent basis. Since we live at the Woods Senior Community amongst pygmy forest they are not out of place but are listed as rare in Mendocino. This is the second year in a row that we've seen them here. I've posted three pictures. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 20 Apr 2007 -- I saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at the top of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. They were sitting on a wire on the fence on the north side of the road, bright patches of yellow in the wing very evident in the male. Also saw Chipping Sparrow, Bullock's Orioles, and Western Kingbirds, among others. The Burrowing Owl was not to be found on the hillside where we had seen it a few weeks ago.--Paul Hawks
Thu, 19 Apr 2007 -- I was attending an event at Redwood Valley Cellars. It was about 6:30 PM, drizzly and dusky. I saw what I'm pretty sure was a Semipalmated Plover in the picnic/garden area. I believe it had only one neckband. It also didn't have the white band through the eye area. I thought this unusual as it was out of its normal habitat. I have seen a killdeer before. This bird appeared to be smaller and didn't pretend to be crippled when I inadvertantly approached it. Nor did it fly off, just sort of ran away along the paved walkways. I would appreciate anyone confirming this bird either way if they are in that area and can stop by. Thanks. -- Bill Schuhmann
Tue, 17 Apr 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I first reported this male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD on the evening of the 10th and he is still here. I did not post his presence again because he was somewhat irregular. He is getting a little more aggressive, more comfortable with the other hummingbirds at the feeders, and Barbara and I have pretty reliably seen him the past few days. A number of Ukiah-area birders have been successful and if anyone else would like to make a twitch, please reply OFF LIST and we can make arrangements. We had NW wind gusts in excess of 30 mph today, and can expect the same tomorrow according to the weather guessers, so I think he might hang around a little longer. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 16 Apr 2007 -- Hi Birders. On Friday the 13th I heard a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE at my parent's place in Potter Valley, and have heard it several times since. According to the database posted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/database this is the earliest record in inland Mendocino County. The previous early record was on April 20th, 2005 at the Hopland Field Station, recorded by Chuck Vaughn.
On Saturday the 14th Austin Booth and I had a NASHVILLE WARBLER up at Cow Mountain, as well as several Warbling Vireos. Apparently this was the first one in inland Mendocino County this year. A drive around Potter Valley yielded many pairs of Western Kingbirds. There was a single Tricolored Blackbird at the end of Burris Lane, and several more along Pine Avenue. I'm not sure what their status in inland Mendocino county is. There was no sign of the Burrowing Owl at the end of Burris Lane, which I last saw it on March 29th.
Yesterday the 15th Ryan Terrill, Austin Booth and I headed up to Hull Mountain. The low snow levels made it possible to drive all the way to the top, although the road is in bad condition and a high clearance vehicle is necessary. There were very few birds up there, though 'THICK-BILLED' FOX SPARROWS are in, as were 'AUDUBON'S' YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. At Lake Pilsbury we also heard a PURPLE MARTIN, which, if it had been in Mendocino County, would have been the first one this year as well as the earliest arrival. I'm not sure what their status is up there, but these may have been the first arrivals this year for Lake County.
There has been no sign of the Calliope Hummingbird since Saturday morning. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Sun, 15 Apr 2007 -- The 70,000 or so Western and Clark's grebes that wintered on Clear Lake don't appear to be there now. Brad Barnwell drove around the entire lake looking for them the other day. Vishnu saw 400 on Lake Mendocino yesterday. Does anyone know where the rest are, or have any theories? -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 14 Apr 2007 -- Hi Birders. I woke up this morning to find a nice adult male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD on my parent's feeder in Potter Valley. He has returned several times since, so he may stick around for a bit. If you'd like to check him out, give me a call at (707) 743-1133. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Tue, 10 Apr 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Between 545 and 730 this evening Barbara and I enjoyed a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD that was visiting our feeders repeatedly. It was quite timid, but we saw it 8-10 times. There were 6-8 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and 4 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS also at the feeders. We have had the Rufous continuously since March 15, and more this evening than previously. I never remember them in these numbers during spring migration at our feeders in the past. This is the second CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD we have seen in our yard, and only the third I have seen in Mendocino County. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 09 Apr 2007 -- Stan Beach saw a Magpie (assumed YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE) at Navy Camp, Lake Pillsbury yesterday afternoon. This is a first for Lake County at that location. Could this be the Potter Valley magpie? --Jerry White
Mon, 09 Apr 2007 -- The GOLDEN EAGLE nest in Redwood Valley west of (upper) Black Bart trail has a bird sitting on eggs, as does the osprey nest above Hwy 20 west of Fife Vineyards. I think the GE nest is visible only from private property.
I'm always interested in hearing about any active nests (hummingbird to eagle-sized) that can be seen from a close to level vantage point one way or another, including via climbing trees. I love to watch nests, especially nests with chicks, and also like to pass information on to Jon Klein, wildlife photographer. No bird too drab. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 08 Apr 2007 -- This morning, Peggy Macres and I walked up the hill to Montgomery Grove in the moments before dawn. We were rewarded with hearing a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL along the hike, then two BARRED OWLS in conversation somewhere to the south of the grove. Lots of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, BROWN CREEPERS, WINTER WRENS, and three PILEATED WOODPECKERS, too.
There were plenty of WILD TURKEY throughout Mendocino County today. We encountered the largest flock of the day on and just off the road about two miles west of Montgomery Woods.
At Van Damme State Park, we dipped on Gray Jay. We enjoyed plenty of returning warblers (ORANGE-CROWNED and WILSON'S). At MacKerricher State Park, we saw one RED-NECKED GREBE in full alternate plumage off-shore, one HERRING GULL and quite a few GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS mixed in with WESTERN GULLS, and a breeding colony of PELAGIC CORMORANTS. On the trail around the lake, we enjoyed two HORNED GREBE feeding with AMERICAN COOT - we assume the Horned Grebes were migrating, indulging in a feeding frenzy. One of the Grebes had almost completed its molt; the other was still in basic, making for an interesting comparison. Good birding --Jennifer Rycenga, Half Moon Bay
Sat, 07 Apr 2007 -- Steve, one of the operators at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, saw a BLACK-NECKED STILT at the edge of the south pond yesterday. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 06 Apr 2007 -- Hi birders. While sitting on the back deck this morning, drinking my coffee, I heard a BUL:LOCK'S ORIOLE and at least one WESTERN KINGBIRD. These are my first for the spring, which is rather exciting. Has anyone had any earlier ones in Mendocino County this spring? I also saw a male HOUSE SPARROW investigating nesting holes, which was a bit of a shock. That's a species I've never seen here before, and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen them anywhere else in Potter Valley, either. The pack of Myrtle Warblers seems to have left. Good birding, -- Matt Brady, Potter Valley
Fri, 06 Apr 2007 -- There was one EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE (and probably a 2nd bird) at the west end of Lakeshore Blvd. in Nice this morning. The bird was seen perched in an oak tree from the small pullout area at the gate in front of the abandoned section of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road.
Also (Matt) in the same oak tree was the first WESTERN KINGBIRDI have seen this year in Lake County.
A very belated report for Mendocino County; there were about 20 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES along with one very obvious RINGED TURTLE-DOVE at the Thompsons near Manchester on Friday March 2nd. -- Jerry White
Thu, 05 Apr 2007 -- Hi Birders. While standing on the back deck this evening, I heard an unfamiliar bird song. It turned out to be a troop of a half dozen or so MYRTLE WARBLERS, notable (to me) for two reasons: firstly because wintering Myrtle Warblers tend prefer dense coastal riparian thickets, and secondly because these were the first Warblers of any species I have seen in the yard since I got back from Costa Rica last week. So, these guys, spiffy-looking in fresh alternate, were definitely migrants that weren't here earlier in the day! It's always fun to see migration in action. Good birding, -- Matt Brady, Potter Valley
Wed, 04 Apr 2007 -- I'd given up on "my" RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest (thought I'd scared them off by watching one day) but we're in biz over here! Yes, it seems to be a late year. I notice that the tree is only now leafy enough to provide some cover, so maybe that factor overrode the light factor. (Bob Keiffer explained to us the other day on the "Ecology of the Oak Woodlands" field trip that the arrival of Orange-crowned Warblers appears to coincide with the appearance of tassels on oak trees. That was a great field trip. Thank you Bob!)
Jim, I also had a one-chick family that year, but the same pair had two chicks that fledged successfully last year in a different, hard-to-see nest. I wonder how many it will be this year.
For those of you who don't know it yet (I don't think I've mentioned this here before), the current issue of Birder's World features my Red-shouldered Hawk diary from spring 2005, with Jon Klein's incredible photographs. One of Jon's photos is on the cover, and we have six pages on the inside. The article got edited in half, so it's missing some of the interesting hawk behavior, but it's still pretty exciting for me. -- Kate Marianchild
Tue, 03 Apr 2007 -- Yes, Jim, there is a distinct pair that has been in my trees and sky over Standley street.Calling to each other tree to tree, pairing and calling legs down at times since Feb. On previous years they were always calling at the most West hills . Unfortunately some oak tree trimming near the Creek last week, but the report is the "nests "(and we do not know if it is theirs) remained un harmed purposely. Will keep a look out of course as usual. -- Barbara Dolan
Mon, 02 Apr 2007 -- At the same time Kate was "raising" her RED-SHOULDERED HAWK chick(s) two years ago, I had a one-baby family. They nested elsewhere last year, but have been visiting their old nest this week. If I recall all of the '05 chicks hatched in the last week of April, putting this year's (at 33+/- days incubation) quite a bit behind. Any others in some phase of nesting this year? -- Jim Armstrong
Mon, 02 Apr 2007 -- Today, there was a pair of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES in our yard. They seem to be spending most of their time at the south end of Ocean Meadows Circle. Only time will tell if they will stay, and if they do stay, how many doves will we have in the next few years? I'm not particularly thrilled about these new neighbors. Where we used to live, the collared- dove population grew rapidly in just a few years. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 02 Apr 2007 -- Lot of migratory birds returning, or passing through, lately. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS returned a few days ago, and BARN SWALLOWS; the VIOLET-GREN SWALLOWS have been staying around since last week. This morning a couple of flocks of CASPIAN TERNS flew right over me, about 1 mile inland from the beach (avoiding the wind?), heading north.
Have not seen the Varied Thrush for about a week, and Spotted Towhees have not been in the yard for a couple of days. ACORN WOODPECKER comes to the suet morning and evening; yesterday I heard the pair of them calling to each other about 30 yards apart. One was on the standing redwood snag, the other in the trees - perhaps they were scouting for nest sites?
Lots of raptor activity as well. A COOPER'S HAWK flew through the front yard, somehow failing to collide with any of the sparrows; the next day another, smaller bird flew over the house. I would have called it a Sharp-Shinned but the tail had distinctly rounded corners. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were around last week. A pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS have been coming up Salmon Creek canyon in late morning, when the air warms up.
There are eight hummingbirds attempting to drink from the 3-station feeder on my window as I type this. Cheers, -- Tim on Middle Ridge
Sun, 01 Apr 2007 -- I have finally posted a few photos on the Mendobirds website from Jan 1, 2007 of Al the LAYSAN ALBATROSS interacting with a surfer. When the surfer entered the water, Al, already very near shore, starting "talking" immediately and swam over, mouthed his hand, and still stayed close when nothing was proferred. Other photos show his injured leg and his behavior of pulling "sticks" up from under the water and moving them to a new location.
I read that Al has left this year, hope others get to see him next year. -- Kris Olson, Menlo Park CA
Mon, 26 Mar 2007 -- Gobblepalooza 2007 is in full swing at our place these days. During the winter, we had only 3 faithful toms who came to eat seed I put out for ground feeders. But a week or so ago, a switch was flipped (the solstice?) and now we have 3 - 4 toms in full display (I call it full sail) and gobble mode most of the day, along with 6 - 8 females and what we think are several young (yearling?) males. They snooze and have dust baths under our oak trees, the young males chase each other around in circles, hitting each other with their wings and trying to bite each other's throats. Lively times - Spring clearly has sprung for the turkeys. Do only males have the "horn" at the top of the beak (that turns into the drooping flap along their beaks)? Is that a way to distinguish females from young males without a breast beard?
I also saw a blue grouse along side the road on Parducci Road as I was driving home around 6 pm on Friday. It was much lower down the road (closer to town) this time below the fir forest where I saw the grouse last August. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Tue, 27 Mar 2007 -- There is a MUTE SWAN hanging around Rocky Point near Lakeport, as seen from a boat by Greg Giusti. It is apparently a strong flier but is seen often with the domestic mallard-type waterfowl.-- posted by Bob Keiffer
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 -- Today I heard my first spring arrival of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER near Hopland. Also, last Friday the Chen hybrid goose (Snow x Ross's) was still at the pond along Old River Road and Gielow Lane...south of Talmage. This hybrid was first discovered during the Christmas Bird Count in December. I heard from a landowner near Hearst (NE of Willits) that the "Silver" Crow was back. The observer said that the wild turkeys paid no attention to the normal black American Crows, but would harrass the silver-colored American Crow if it got near them. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 -- 12:25-13:15 Today I, along with Kelly and Phil Austin, refound the shrike first reported on 18 Mar by Al DeMartini. It was a bit distant for confidence, but I read it as an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE also: as big as a robin, narrow mask with eye extending above the edge, mask not extending above the bill, very pale above and below, rump paler than the back, perhaps some lighter color at the base of the lower mandible.
It was on the north side of the end Burris Lane, Potter Valley, at the high point above the pond. It sat on fenceposts of the fence along the east side of the vineyard, and it sat in the bare tops of willows along the gully that runs across the pasture and through the vineyard. It also sat in the tops of two valley oaks and returned several times to the tops of the willows. We saw it make two captures of mouse-like creatures one of which it appeared to cache deep in the leafy willow along the gulch in the vineyard. The caching behavior gives some hope that it may stay around. I have only seen one other shrike in Potter Valley, a Loggerhead, in the early seventies.
There were several groups of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS around the vineyard intermittently, and several small groups of males were chorusing from the tops of the oaks. The stake-out BURROWING OWL was in its usual spot. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 -- The last time Al, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, has been seen in the waters off the Point Arena Cove is Friday, March 16th. Al's injured leg appears to have healed so we have hopes this famous bird will continue to thrive.
I've been enjoying watching an OSPREY fixing up its nest here in Anchor Bay. The cry of an Osprey circling in the sky is, for me, the sound of spring. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Sun, 25 Mar 2007 -- Today I heard my first PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER about 4 miles up Navarro ridge Road and returned to hear the first PIGEON GUILLEMOTS calling off the Little River Headlands.Cheers -- Ron LeValley
Sat, 24 Mar 2007 -- There were two HOODED MERGANSERS, one male and one female, at the Beckstoffer Pond south of Talmadge Saturday afternoon at about 3 p.m. The male's crest was up for a long time as he washed and preened. With light shining through it was beautiful.
Off Twining Road along a stream I also saw a site where a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK had recently been devoured - on a thick horizontal branch about 10 feet off the ground under fairly dense canopy. Feathers on the ground and in the bushes caught my attention, and, looking up, I saw a 2-foot section of branch littered with feathers. Who could/would do that? Great Horned Owl? There was a large nest high in a tree nearby - possibly an RSHA nest.
Also, in the same spot, I got my first sight of the crown on an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERr. It was bathing in the stream. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 24 Mar 2007 -- A beautiful glowing copper colored RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in the morning sun at my feeder and then at the Primroses at my feet this morning. One lone VARIED THRUSH staying around with robins. About 8 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS (the most at my feet at one time) in my patio at the Hemlock tree and seed feeder, are singing episodically, but are in molt or replacement feather state, and are in interesting ragged and varied appearances. -- Barbara Dolan
Sat, 24 Mar 2007 -- Last week I briefly saw a small group of swallows, maybe 8 or so, high overhead - too high for ID. Yesterday, two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS flew around us for a few minutes; hopefully they will return to nest again in the old redwood snag. Haven't seen the Barn Swallows at the Albion PO yet. Today the first ACORN WOODPECKER showed up at my suet feeder.
ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS have been showing up in large numbers recently; two days ago there were probably twenty at my house. Now the males have staked out territory and are making display flights, and the numbers are down a bit.
OSPREYS are back in force - I saw three while driving up to Fort Bragg yesterday. Cheers -- Tim in Albion
Sat, 24 Mar 2007 -- This morning there was a group of 40 male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS foraging on the ground in the vineyard at the end of Burris Lane, Potter Valley. There were also groups of females of undetermined species collecting nesting material and carrying it toward the hidden pond to the east. It looks like trikes may be preparing to nest there for the fourth year.
The BURROWING OWL had moved about 20 feet from its usual station, but it returned there later when a ground squirrel was running around too close. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 23 Mar 2007 -- I spotted a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in the pine tree at the north end of our yard this morning, above where I have been putting out seed. The female LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen by Jim this morning near the mouth of Ten Mile River. Also, the FERRUGINOUS HAWK was hunting just east of Hwy 1 across from our neighborhood this AM. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Wed, 21 Mar 2007 -- Cliff Hawley and I returned home to the Central Valley via Lake Mendocino and Potter Valley. We also found the BURROWING OWL, but no Northern Shrike. Found 2 female HOODED MERGANSERS on a farm pond along West Side Valley Potter Valley Road Nothing else remarkable to note. Lake Mendocino had the usual oak woodland species, plus a FOS WARBLING VIREO. The CACKLING GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE still remain. -- Frances Oliver, Lodi
Tue, 20 Mar 2007 -- This afternoon, having been away for several days, I spent about an hour and a half on Burris Lane and Pine Avenue hoping to find the shrike. The BURROWING OWL was sitting in the burrow where it has been a fixture for about a month now. I was able to scope a distant BALD EAGLE sitting north of Pine Avenue, there were several GOLDEN EAGLES about, but I was unable to find the shrike. It has become very green and lovely out there in the last week, and the popcorn flower is beginning to bloom. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 19 Mar 2007 -- Hi all, A pair of OSPREY have been circling over our house, about 1 mile east on hwy 20 near the feed lot, for a couple of days now. They have done this every spring for the past three or four years. They glide in circles at altitudes between 500 and 2000 feet, probably catching thermals from the asphalt highway, communicating back and forth. It is my belief that they nest in the relatively thick woods between Dorffi Road and the Noyo river, as they usually disappear to the northwest.
Toward midsummer, as usual, we expect to see one of them (mom?) appear with a very loud baby learning to fly. I'll post again when the youngster arrives.
Mon, 19 Mar 2007 -- Hi Birders, Jim saw another female Long-tailed Duck at the mouth of Ten Mile River this morning. I saw her from the bridge using a scope. One of the Ten Mile Osprey arrived this morning. The wintering Ferruginous Hawk was still across Hwy 1 from Ocean Meadows Saturday. The Red Fox Sparrow was last seen by both of us late afternoon on March 9th. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 19 Mar 2007 -- Wonderful view of OSPREY in nest. Easy to see from the east side of Stone Road in Finley (near Kelseyville in Lake County) about a half mile south of Soda Bay Road. -- Lolo Westrich
Sun, 18 Mar 2007 -- On Mar 18, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a previously reported BURROWING OWL, BALD EAGLE, GOLDEN EAGLE, PEREGRINE FALCON and COOPER'S HAWK were reported from Burris Lane in the Potter Valley. The shrike was seen near the pond on Burris Lane, which is 1.4 miles from East Side Potter Valley Road. -- Al DeMartini [from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Sat, 17 Mar 2007 -- On Mar 17, (5) RED CROSSBILLS were seen in the Pygmy Forest at Jug Handle State Preserve. -- Al DeMartini [from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 -- At Lake Mendocino today there were three BONAPARTE'S GULLS, newly arrived CLIFF SWALLOWS, and a big increase in Western and Clark's Grebes. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 -- Dorothy Tobkin found a dead HORNED PUFFIN on the beach north of Ward Avenue. It was probably a week old. Then she saw a flyby HORNED PUFFIN at Laguna Point from the platform about halfway out the boardwalk.
Wed, 14 Mar 2007 -- I got a photo of Al just last Friday (9 Mar). The stories of him interacting with the surfers is true. He was just floating around and occasionally preening, but, as this surfer returned to shore, Al definitely rode over to check him out and the surfer stopped to return the gesture and pass the time of day. I'll bet the surfers are developing quite a legend of this amazing bird. A passerby surfer on the pier told me that the leg injury seems to be permanent but seems not to be hindering Al. Picture was taken about 3:30 PM and it's posted in these albums. I haven't heard if anyone has developed a history of Al's ETD in the spring. Good luck. -- Ken Holmes
Tue, 13 Mar 2007 -- Today I checked the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES along Tollini Lane N. of Ukiah and saw at least six between 3580 and 3650. There's a lot of collared-dove song in this neighborhood. One bird was carrying nest material into the dense, twin cypresses that span the sidewalk at 3600. I watched five trips with nest material. One house to the north there was a RINGED TURTLE-DOVE sitting on the wire (smaller, paler, wingtips the same color as the back, white undertail coverts). A collared-dove went to land beside it, and it flew off to the west.
In Potter Valley I saw the BURROWING OWL sitting in the mouth of the same burrow as reported previously. From the high spot above the pond on Burris Lane look to the SW. The owl is in a burrow about 1/3 way up the hill facing you. A trio of ravens was harassing an immature FERRUGINOUS HAWK to the north of this point. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 11 Mar 2007 -- On Sunday the 11th I found a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER with a flock of about 30 COMMON MERGANSERS on the north side of Clearlake Oaks. Other enjoyable birds included two CINNAMON TEAL and four HOODED MERGANSERS at Robinson Lake, about 20 HORNED GREBES at Glenhaven, five GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS at Clearlake Oaks and three THAYER'S GULLS at Clearlake. Most of the wintering waterbirds appear to have departed. Along the north, east and west shores of Clear Lake I saw <100 white-headed gulls, <150 mergansers and <200 RUDDY DUCKS. And at Borax Lake there were only about 200 scaup, with no Tufted Duck among them. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 10 Mar 2007 -- A COMMON REDPOLL was first seen coming to a feeder on private property in Fort Bragg on 2 Mar. It was last seen on 10 Mar. See a photo.
Sat, 10 Mar 2007 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a winter-plumaged TUFTED PUFFIN and a MARBLED MURRELET from the Mendocino headlands in the water to the NW of Goat Island. On 8 Mar she saw three ROCK SANDPIPERS with Black Turnstones on the rocks off Virgin Creek beach.
Fri, 09 Mar 2007 -- Hi birders-- The RED FOX SPARROW is still coming to seed in our front yard north of the Ten Mile River. Its timing is more sporadic than in January, but we see it once or twice per day. The TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD was also seen this morning. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Fri, 02 Mar 2007 -- Hi Birders-- Jim saw an OSPREY yesterday near the Ten Mile R bridge. The RED FOX SPARROW, FERRUGINOUS HAWK and the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD contine around Ocean Meadows Circle north of Ten Mile River. -- Jim and Karen Havlena
Mon, 26 Feb 2007 -- Once yesterday and twice this morning, a COOPER'S HAWK has chased birds coming to our seed. The RED FOX SPARROW has been seen twice today, so it has escaped the hawk so far. The hawk has mainly been going after quail and blackbirds. Hope it moves on soon. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 25 Feb 2007 -- This morning Geoff Heineken, Cheryl Watson, Barbara Dolan, and I birded in Potter Valley along Burris Lane and Pine Avenue. Of note were a BURROWING OWL sitting in an opening about 30 yards from the place I reported one on the 19th. We also saw three WILSON'S SNIPES on the edge of the pond and several GOLDEN EAGLES from Burris and Pine. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 24 Feb 2007 -- It's been several days since I saw and photographed two PINE SISKINS dining on our thistle bag feeder (see Middletown album) with a bevy of goldfinches. I hoped, at the time, that they might become regular visitors, but then, after several days with not another sign of them, figured that I'd probably see them no more. Well, I haven't seen "them" but, happily, this morning, when I looked out the kitchen window I was happy to see not two, but just one lone siskin among all the goldfinch hanging on that popular thistle bag! I'm hoping that he and his ilk will decide to become "regulars" in our back yard. -- LoLo Westrich
Sat, 24 Feb 2007 -- Mendobirders, This afternoon about 2:20 Chris Corben and I had a BROWN BOOBY fly past us as we were standing on Cliff Way at the end of Ocean View Drive in Fort Bragg. This is the overlook just south of Noyo Harbor. It was a first year bird and likely a male because it had some blue in the face around the bill. The bird came in from the north and continued flying south.
We also had the LAYSON ALBATROSS next to the Point Arena pier at about 5pm. It flew off around 5:15 pm. -- Lisa Hug, Sebastopol
Thu, 22 Feb 2007 -- I stirred up a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (?) laying in the gravel of my drive 5 feet of Highway 175 in McDowell Valley at 5:00 PM today 2/21/07 (dusky, cloudy conditions). I was only 15 feet from him when he decided to fly off. He hovered near an old oak and finally landed in
a low branch.
Due to his size, I thought at first it was an indigo bunting. He was no more than 6 inches long (if that), and his wings were more rounded and shorter than you'd expect from mountain bluebird. I couldn't ID his bill. There were no other colors than blue.
Could this have been a rare occurrence of a bunting? Sibley Guide says it's possible. Or should I just accept that it was a mountain bluebird in all its glory. What a sight! -- Bill Schuhmann
Wed, 21 Feb 2007 --Two handsome little PINE SISKINS seen at our thistle bag feeder this morning. Nothing unusual about this except that they are the first we've had in our yard this winter. -- Lolo Westrich, Middletown
Tue, 20 Feb 2007 -- In Lake County today there were at least 8 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES on the south slope of Quackenbush Mt in Clearlake. This is above the Landfill at the end of Davis Ave. Take the middle road (dirt) on the public easement access to BLM land. The signs indicate no motor vehicles allowed. I first saw the birds about 3/4 miles up the road in an abandoned orchard around 12:15 PM. On the walk back down about a half hour later they had moved to near the start of the access road. There were also 2 SAGE SPARROWS along the road, the first I have detected this winter in the area.
I finally found one of the TUFTED DUCKS reported by Floyd Hayes at Borax Lake. There were maybe 1 or 2 thousand of the Scaup near Sulphur Bank Dr , the first time I have seen them on the near side of the lake this year. -- Jerry White
Mon, 19 Feb 2007 -- This afternoon I saw an EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE on Tollini Lane north of Ukiah where Maureen O'Hagan has been reporting them since July. From Hyw 101 take the Lake Mendocino Drive exit and turn north (left) on N. State Street. In about 1/2 mile turn left on Parducci Road, and as soon as you cross over the freeway, Tollini Lane is the first left turn. The dove was near the Calvary Way church. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 19 Feb 2007 -- At 10:00 this morning there was a BURROWING OWL sitting conspicously in the open near the pond on Burris Lane, Potter Valley. When you are at the high point of the road at the pond, there is a prominent burrow system of Beechy Ground-Squirrels about 150 yards to the SW. The owl was sitting in plain view here while two ground-squirrels were active a few feet away. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 19 Feb 2007 -- On a Fifty Species Challenge walk on Saturday we saw two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. I'm not sure how unusual that is. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 19 Feb 2007 -- On Saturday, Jim Rowoth, Liz West and I birded around Lake Co. We started out at Hidden Valley Sewage Ponds, drove down Butts Canyon Rd to Detert Rd and back than drove around Clear Lake. Highlights included:
Along the west side of the road leading to Hidden Valley SP 10+ CACKLING GEESE were found hidden in the grass. Further along the road a BURROWING OWL was sunning himself on top of the dirt ridge close to the post marked #2. Next we scoped from a vantage point above the ponds where CANVASBACKS were added to the list.
Along Butts Canyon Rd, 2 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were found with a flock of blackbirds. Then Liz spotted FERRUGINOUS HAWK standing on the top of a distant tree, but soon it took off and soared giving us tremendous views. After returning to the car we saw a LEWIS' WOODPECKER (not sure if they are common in this area).
Borax Lake - a huge flock of LESSER and GREATER SCAUP (I'm sure that the Tufted Duck was tucked away somewhere in there!) more CANVASBACKS, NO. SHOVELER, etc. A lone SAY'S PHOEBE flitted around the wood pile.
Glenhaven Cove - COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, MERLIN, COMMON GOLDENEYE, female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE were the great birds for us all.
Clear Lake State Park - a drumming PILEATED WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, multiple VARIED THRUSH, a WINTER WREN rounded out the day of great birding.
On interest was the 1000+ flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS that was soaring first thing in the morning. A beautiful day of birding! -- Frances Oliver, Lodi
Sun, 18 Feb 2007 -- The BURROWING OWL near the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant was conspicuously present at 9:00 am on Saturday the 17th (thank you very much Jerry!) but not today, Sunday the 18th, at 3:40 pm. Since I visit the ponds nearly every weekend I wonder
how many times I might have driven past the owl. The CACKLING GEESE were barely visible in a field a few hundred yards southeast of the sewage ponds on the 11th but there was no sign of them this weekend. If you drive to where the road becomes dirt and park at the gravel-like serpentine rock formation on the right, you can walk along the outside of the fence to
the top of the hill and easily scan the sewage ponds without trespassing. I once inquired at the office about obtaining permission; they asked me to leave my phone number and said they would call me back, but never did.
I spent about 15 minutes scanning the armada of scaup at Borax Lake on the 10th without any luck. Today I spent another 15 minutes and lucked out by spotting a male TUFTED DUCK after only 2 minutes. I managed to show it to two of the seven students with me before it vanished in thick scaup soup. The students would have mutinied had we lingered any longer there, so we left.
Several miles southeast of the junction of highways 53 and 20 there are several ponds along highway 20 where we saw 17 TULE ELK (my first) plus about 50 TREE SWALLOWS this morning. Four elk were still present in the afternoon.
On the 11th I saw two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at High Valley but no YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES.
The gulls have been a bit disappointing for me this winter. At Glenhaven I saw an adult WESTERN GULL on the 10th and a first-cycle WESTERN GULL on the 11th, plus a presumed 2nd-cycle HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL on the 10th and a presumed 1st-cycle HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL on the 11th. A few hundred gulls were loafing on scattered docks and boathouses there last weekend, but I didn't check them this weekend. Gulls have basically vacated the Clearlake arm of the lake.
I'll end on a sad note. At Redbud Park in Clearlake I easily captured a CLARK'S GREBE flopping about on a boat ramp this afternoon. It was badly entangled in fishing gear which we managed to remove (after the bird poked me in the face and drew some blood), but one leg was nearly severed (perhaps while being reeled in by a fisherman who no doubt was disappointed) and badly bleeding. Unable to do any more for the poor bird I let it go, reckoning it would probably succumb to an infection within a few days. Is there anybody in Lake County who specializes in rehabilitating wildlife? I wish I had a phone number to call. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 18 Feb 2007 -- At 2:45PM to 3:25PM today I had a SLATE-COLORED JUNCO at the open mixed seed feeder. Clearly a male. At the feeder and then joining the other 2 dozen or so DEJU below the feeder when a Western Scrub Jay threatened all. Last year a Slate-colored visited 2-20-06. Other species accompanying were a VARIED THRUSH(they have been singing like a chorus in the mornings), 13 Lesser Goldfinches at thistle and mixed seed, Acorn woodpecker (suet cake), Nuttall's Woodpecker, 2 Golden-crowned Sparrows, 2 American Robins, 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Rufous-sided Towhee. A male Pileated Woodpecker has been actively tearing at the bark of the Bay tree in the yard, and now is active at a Madrone in the next lot in the morning, pounding and very vocal last week and Saturday.
I was at the USTP today and highlights as I sped around the sundry of ducks were, MERLIN(one seen 2/17), RTHK , 1 Eared grebe, 1 Green-winged Teal. Did not see Moorhen.
A trip to the College today resulted in seeing and hearing the expected Acorn Woodpecker, but I surprised a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK perched on an ornamental bush by the Lowery Library door. It flushed to a visible perch and I could see the the nice blush of streaking on the chest and
abdomen, the distinctive legs, and the sharp corners on the tail, folded
in repose. -- Barbara Dolan
Sat, 17 Feb 2007 -- Saw and heard an OSPREY today at approx. 2:30 PM South/West of the Little River Airport. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 -- Jim found a female LONG-TAILED DUCK in basic (Winter) plumage west of Ten Mile River bridge late this afternoon. Karen saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at Ocean Meadows Circle and Hwy 1 today. Also, the RED FOX SPARROW is still coming to feed in our yard. -- Jim and Karen Havlena
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 -- I've lived at Lake Pennyroyal for about 5 years now, and saw CANVASBACKS here today for the first time - two males and 1 female. Also 8 Ring-necked Ducks - 7 males and 1 female; 6 Ruddy Ducks or so, and 2 muskrats. -- Kate Marianchild
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders, Today (Friday Feb. 16) we headed down the coast to Point Arena to see Al, but he was not in evidence. We tried from about 10:00 - 10:30 and again after lunch, but no luck. Then we went out Miner Hole Road and though we did not quite know how to bird that area, we did see the FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (4), a NORTHERN HARRIER, and one beautiful PEREGRINE FALCON who obligingly flew up close and soared around us for a few minutes. No Tundra Swans - were they supposed to be in the meadow, or do you have to wade the river to bird the other side near the mouth? I didn't have waders. There were two sizeable flocks of Egrets, but they were too distant for me to make a positive ID.
Great place for hawk-watching. One of the Ferruginous perched on the ground for a while, just like the book says they do. Are the hills (on the other side of the fence) off-limits? Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 -- I decided to move quickly on this owl since I have missed others in Lake Co. several times. Jerry's directions led me right to the spot at 08:10, and there was the BURROWING OWL on the lip of the bank directly above some burrow openings. A nice look at close range.
Thanks, Jerry.
I drove into the Hidden Valley Treatment Ponds, but I was told that there was no public access for birding. So I left, but not without poaching a quick peek: there were quite a few diving ducks including several dozen CANVASBACKS. I went out Butts Canyon Road as far as Detert Reservoir and saw several TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in a flock of mixed blackbirds along the way.
Next I went up to Borax Lake to try my hand at the Tufted Duck challenge. After about an hour of scoping scaup, I was unable to find one either. My rule of thumb of 1 Tufted Duck per 1000 scaup is going to have to be revised downward by an order of magnitude. What is it about the flora and fauna of Borax Lake that makes it so attractive to scaup? No wonder that we don't have any scaup on Lake Mendocino - they've been sucked into the Borax Lake vortex. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 15 Feb 2007 -- Today I found a BURROWING OWL at 12:15 PM (present until about 1:00) near the Hidden Valley Treatment Ponds. From Highway 29 several miles north of Middletown take Grange Road. Continue until you come to a road that is marked 18896 Grange Road (there is a sign for Crazy Creek Gliders) and turn south; you will go by the entrance to the Treatment Ponds. Along the road look for a yellowish metal post with the # 2 on it.. Look behind that post to the high bank that is on the east side of a small creek drainage. This is in the same general area I found a Burrowing Owl a couple of years ago. -- Jerry White
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 -- Dear Birders, This may be of interest to birders of Mendo County. While on a family vacation to Elk, California, I was surprised to see two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS within a mile of the ocean. They were both located in cattle country near the town of Manchester. One, an adult, was located half- way out the road to Manchester State Park and the other, an immature, was located on Hwy. 1 just north Manchester. -- Deren Ross, Auburn
Thu, 15 Feb 2007 -- Jim and I went to the Westport STP at noon. Neither the Barrow's nor the Common Goldeneye were seen. We stayed a while to see that if they were in the NE corner, they might swim into view. Jim walked all the way to the north end, but he could not see a small part of the pond and shore. The male Buffleheads were practicing their romantic moves, but the females did not seem too impressed -- too early in the year. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Wed, 14 Feb 2007 -- I heard my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD of the season yesterday, 2/13, at the future Mendocino Coast Regional Park, 3 miles east of Fort Bragg, Highway One on Highway 20. -- Ron LeValley
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 -- The RED FOX SPARROW has stayed through the rainy days on Ocean Meadows Circle north of the Ten Mile River. The last of the three Varied Thrushes has apparently departed for the hills, but he was here yesterday (Monday). The Tri-colored Blackbird was seen again today.
The Fox Sparrow has changed his habits of coming to the seed around the hedge and pine tree. Now, we don't see it until around 11 AM, then it comes in several times during the afternoon. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 -- I live in town in Fort Bragg and I am watching birds more closely than before since this is the first year I've been involved in Project Feeder Watch. I'm wondering if what I have now seen 3 times is unusual or common. I have seen both White-Crowned Sparrows and Golden Crowned Sparrows feeding at a platform feeder with Pine Siskins. Both species have grabbed a Siskin by a wing tip, twirl it around almost 360 degrees and let it go.
I'm curious if this is something I've just missed before; how common is this? Thanks -- Maria Wetzel
Tue 13 Feb 2007 -- I was in my backyard, in McDowell Valley, on 2/13/07 and I disturbed a large bird on the ground. He flew up into a tree and as he did so I thought he dropped something. I went back into the house to get my distance glasses and binoculars. From the window I saw this bird fly back to the spot on the ground where he was before and start plucking feathers from the neck and possibly head of another bird which he had mounted. He had this bird by the "shoulders" with his talons.
The bird beneath him was as large as he(?)and I saw bright red quills on the lower bird who had its wings spread on the ground. As I went out the door the upper bird flew off. I could not get a good look at the lower bird other than the wings.
The agressor bird had a buff colored breast and a large bill. Dark eye markings. About 2 feet long from head to tip of tail. The tail was dark with a few light bars. There was no apparent red shoulders. Definitely no red tail.
.I have collected feathers from the ground that were plucked from the other bird. They are very short, about 1" to 1 1/2" in length. The
larger feathers are mostly medium brown with thin black stripes. The others are light rust colored with a black dot towards the tip.
I've been able to narrow the selection to a red shouldered hawk with the assistance of varous bird books and the Univ. of Mich website. Any help in identifying these birds and whether what I viewed was a breeding would be very much appreciated. -- "mendobill1"
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports two BLUE-WINGED TEAL and several EURASIAN WIGEONS in Hathaway Creek along Miner Hole Road. There were thirteen species of waterfowl in that area including about 120 Tundra Swans and a large group of CACKLING GEESE. At Arena Cove the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was in its usual place at about 2:30 P.M.
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 -- Elaine Lindelev photographed a NORTHERN SHRIKE at her home on West Road in Potter Valley. This was probably the first sighting of a bird seen on 18 Mar and 25 Mar by other observers.
Mon, 12 Feb 2007 -- A neighbor of mine on Burris Lane in Potter Valley had a good look last Monday (3/12) morning at what she is sure was a Yellow-billed Magpie. This was a long look at about ten or fifteen feet of a fairly tame bird; she was too excited to think to get her camera. Given the quality of seeing and the distinctiveness of this species, it seems unlikely she was mistaken. George, Mike Brady and/or I have looked in the area every day since with no result. I have alerted almost all of the residents on the lane to keep an eye out. George points out that the nearest known breeding group of YBMA's is in High Valley north of Clearlake Oaks in Lake County, perhaps 25 miles as the Magpie flies from PV. So it is possible that this individual could be any place in the area. Also, given its relative tameness, it would be worth knowing if there is a captive population anywhere near. -- Jim Armstrong
Sat, 10 Feb 2007 -- This morning I spotted (what I think is) a juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON down on the river. I've seen him before, very occasionally. And I braved the rain for quite some time until it let up enough to attempt a photo. (Click Here) He even moved his head for me once, and I got a shot of him looking directly at me - from the front they look like completely different birds. (Click Here) But, the joke was on me, because the camera actually caught two. I never spotted the second one. (Click Here) -- Elaine Lindelef
Thu, 8 Feb 2007 -- I've probably been seeing the same group of WOOD DUCKS, and with the same problem of flushing them before I saw them. Until I got a shot with my camera (click here) , I couldn't ID them. This morning there were maybe ten swimming together and calling out to each other in the Russian River just south of Jones Creek (a bit north of Burris Lane). Either they're getting less spooky or I'm getting stealthier. -- Elaine Lindelef
Wed, 07 Feb 2007 -- I know WOOD DUCKS are not a great discovery, but I have had a mini- flock of about ten of them in my creek for the past month or so, the first time I've seen them there in 35 years, more often seeing signs of muskrat, otter or raccoon. I had a hard time identifying them because when I would go out for the mail or paper, I would startle and flush them, startling and nearly flushing me; they would go out of sight so quickly, I couldn't get a good look. On clear mornings, they would disappear behind the trees and then off into the distance; on foggy mornings, they would only go a couple of turns up the creek. Of course, when I would sneak up, they wouldn't be there.
George finally ID'ed them one morning and I've been getting better looks recently. If you're out Burris Lane, take a look from the county bridge about a 1/4 mile from East Road or from my bridge another 100 yards on the north side. -- Jim Armstrong
Tue, 06 Feb 2007 -- On Sunday the 4th I spent about 2.5 hours scanning the scaup flock at Borax Lake and picked out only two male TUFTED DUCKS. The first I found after only 10 min and the second after 40 min. After scanning about 2/3 of the scaup in 45 min they suddenly spooked and scattered. I continued scanning hoping to see something unusual (such as a female Tufted or hybrid) during the next 2 hours but only saw a male Tufted (perhaps one of the two seen earlier) just before I gave up and left. John Sterling suggested I estimate the proportion of scaup species present. I counted a sample of 300 scaup and came up with an estimate of 79% LESSER SCAUP, 21% GREATER SCAUP. At Clearlake Park there were only about 10 AMERICAN GOLDENEYES and no BARROW'S GOLDENEYES. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 06 Feb 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- At noon today I refound the 2 COMMON MOORHENS which have been on the south sag pond since this fall. I had not seen them since December and had thought they were gone. They prefer the eastern edge of the pond where they can disappear into the cattails. Also in the area has been a first-winter BALD EAGLE. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 06 Feb 2007 -- Hi Birders-- The BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (99.9% sure) is still at the Westport STP along Hwy 1. Jim and I saw the bird again Tuesday AM. The bird is most likely a first year female. Looking with scopes, the yellow wash over a dark bill extends almost up to the base of the upper mandible on the LEFT side of the bill. The right side of the bill has less yellow showing through. The bill shape is good for Barrow's; it is smaller and straighter than the Common accompanying the Barrow's. The angle of the forehead is more abrupt and the crown seems more bulbous on the front of the crown, while the peak on the Common's head is more at the top of the crown.
Also, there appears to be much more white on the folded wing. Consistently, the Barrow's has just a little white showing toward the tail end, while the Common has a long stripe of white showing along the sides. The Westport STP is at the north end of town. Turn east up a dirt drive. One has to walk up behind the large pond about halfway down the pond. The Goldeneyes usually stay toward the north end of the pond. There is a viewing platform, but it is only available Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 10 AM for part of the day.
I forgot to mention that the eyes of the Barrow's Goldeneye are not yet golden. They are a dull yellow-brown, which would point towards a first-year bird.
The RED FOX SPARROW, a red SONG SPARROW, two VARIED THRUSHES are still in our yard on Ocean Meadows Circle, north of Ten Mile bridge. I have not mentioned that for the 2nd Winter, there is also at least one TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD in the neighborhood. We don't see it every day, because it is usually with a flock on the south end of the circle. It is probably the same Tri-colored that was here late last Fall and Winter.
I don't know the races of Song Sparrow, but this bird has very reddish wings and is quite streaky all over. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 04 Feb 2007 -- The dull eye is a characteristic of immatures, so this bird is likely a first-winter bird. By now, most males should show some of the darker head, facial crescent and black bill, so I guess we are safe in calling it a female as well.
What did others think of the bill color? I only saw the bird with binoculars and could not be sure of the color. Anybody else have comments on the head shape? I know Karen thought that the bird was smaller than the adjoining Common, and that is not a problem as, although the Barrow's averages larger, there is enough overlap that individuals could be smaller than individual Commons. -- Ron LeValley
Sun, 04 Feb 2007 -- Hi all, Yesterday afternoon Charlene and I stopped at the Westport Sewage Ponds and were surprised to find two goldeneyes on the pond. They mostly stayed in the far back (northeast) corner. I am 95% sure that one is a Common and one is a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. I only got a look at the Barrow's through the binoculars, but it
appeared to have a mostly yellow bill and a very steep forehead.
Sorry I didn't post this yesterday. Just spaced on it when we got home. Good luck. -- Ron LeValley
Thu, 01 Feb 2007 -- Dorothy Tobkin birded the south Mendocino Coast today, and she reports about 120 TUNDRA SWANS at Brush Creek. Nearby there was a group of about 150 CACKLING GEESE most of which appeared to be Aleutians and two SNOW GEESE. She also had FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in four different locations.
Thu, 1 Feb 2007 -- Birders, Paul McHugh of the SF Chronicle wrote about the Point Arena Laysan Albatross today February 1 at this link . Best, Tom Leskiw, Eureka, CA
Thu, 1 Feb 2007 -- Hi birders, The RED FOX SPARROW continues to come to our yard north of the Ten Mile River bridge. The flock includes Varied Thrushes, Spotted Towhees, Song, Lincoln's, Golden- and White-crowned Sparrows. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 28 Jan 2007 -- Sunday at 11:00 I spent about an hour scoping the ducks on Borax Lake in Lake County looking for the Tufted Ducks reported by Floyd Hayes last week. Although I didn't see any Tufted Ducks there was one male EURASIAN WIGEON and at least 20 CANVASBACKS present. If you want to try for the Tufted Ducks you must bring plenty of patience and lots of time because there a thousands of scaup on the lake spread from one end to the other. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 29 Jan 2007 -- I didn't see anything spectacular over the weekend but I did tally some personal high counts for several species of waterfowl.
On 27 January there were 13 CACKLING GEESE (two appeared to be "Aleutian"), 48 CANVASBACKS and a male CINNAMON TEAL at the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, and 43 HOODED MERGANSERS and 15 CANVASBACKS at Detert Reservoir.
On 28 January there were 10 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (7 males, 3 females) among roughly 75 COMMON GOLDENEYES at Pirate's Cove, Clearlake Park. At Borax Lake the scaup were much more clumped than last weekend and I was unable to detect a TUFTED DUCK among them despite >1.5 hr of searching; however, I spent some time counting the LESSER and GREATER SCAUP by 100s and came up with about 13,000!
There were hundreds of gulls at Clearlake Park but the only unusual one I could find was a presumed adult HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL hybrid (grayish hood with some streaking, whitish iris, pale gray back and wings, dark gray wingtips).
I learned from a couple of local residents about the recent cholera outbreak and just read several articles in the Lake County Bee , which report that about 4,000 birds (>90% Ruddy Ducks) have died thus far in northern Clear Lake. One of the locals pointed out two dead birds floating near the shore at Pirate's Cove, so perhaps it has begun to spread there... -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Tue, 23 Jan 2007 -- Sighted an adult PEREGRINE FALCON at Pudding Creek today, perched on the rock to the north of the main beach - I was hiking along the cliff trails shooting panoramics of the ocean when I spotted it sitting on the tall rock (looking north) which, from that distance and perspective, has Baxman's Gravel Co. on the cliff behind it. I took several shots when I realized there was a bird on the rock. Thought it was a gull at first. Got closer, zoomed in, and there was a Peregrine Falcon sitting there! Posted the images to the Photos section. They're not that good but at least you can tell they are of a Peregrine Falcon. Enjoy -- Feather Forestwalker
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 -- We put a small pond on our property in June, 2006, and it has been full of water for a couple of months now. I am pleased to announce we are now hosting our first duck visitor: a RING-NECKED DUCK drake! He has been at the pond for about a week now (keeping the phoebes company) and I finally got a good look at him during daylight on Sunday. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Sun, 21 Jan 2007 -- Sunday morning produced a handful of nice
birds at USTP. The LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS were still present. Only six species of ducks were present but this included a lone female COMMON GOLDENEYE. One MERLIN and at least three TREE SWALLOWS rounded out the morning.
A couple hours around Lake Mendocino in the early afternoon produced a few nice birds. At the north end of Coyote Dam there was a MEW GULL hanging out with the resident ducks and geese. From the parking lot below the dam I was able to scope two adult BALD EAGLES on the east side of the lake. At the north end of the lake the CACKLING GOOSE and two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were still present sitting on the shore together between the boat launch and Pomo A. Two CANADA GEESE had joined them making for nice comparisons between cackler and canada. I could not find the Canvasback reported last week by Chuck Vaughn but there were several CLARK'S GREBES just out from Pomo A. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 20 Jan 2007 -- Paul Fox, Bob and Ann Marcus tried for the Laysan Albatross on Saturday the 20th from 9:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. without success though there were many other good birds on the windy roads getting to Pt. Arenas that made the trip worthwhile. -- Paul Fox, Pacific Palisades [from Calbirds]
Sun, 21 Jan 2007 -- Today I birded the eastern and southern shores of Clear Lake. The hordes of grebes, mergansers and gulls were concentrated at Glenhaven, Clearlake Oaks and north of Clearlake Park.
I spent more than 2 hours scanning the guesstimated 7,000 scaup at Borax Lake and picked out three male TUFTED DUCKS. I also found a presumed male hybrid TUFTED DUCK X GREATER SCAUP. Its back was blackish but was slightly paler toward the neck, the tuft was tiny and fluffy, there was some smudginess between the blackish back and white sides, and the forecrown had an angular bump shaped like that of a Greater Scaup. I took some distant photos. On 14 January I spent an hour scanning the guesstimated 4,000 scaup at Borax Lake and picked out two male TUFTED DUCKS. There are about 10 CANVASBACKS and 10 RING-NECKED DUCKS among the scaup.
Although I saw no unexpected gulls the past two weekends, today I tallied six WESTERN GULLS (one 1st-cycle and two 3rd-cycle at Glenhaven, one 2nd-cycle and two adults at Clearlake Park). I also saw 20 CANVASBACKS at Lucerne and a COMMON MOORHEN at Clearlake Oaks.
Belatedly, I saw a CLARK'S GREBE and 15 HOODED MERGANSERS at Detert Reservoir on 1 January. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 20 Jan 2007 -- Today there was an immature GLAUCOUS GULL on the beach at MacKerricher State Park. Unfortunately, this beautiful gull has a compound fracture of the lower right leg. The FERRUGINOUS HAWK is still present on Bald Hill Road. Yesterday (January 19) there was an OSPREY above the lower haul road at Big River, along with the 4 male/ 1 female COMMON GOLDENEYES reported earlier. -- David Jensen
Sat, 20 Jan 2007 -- Pete and Mary Gealey reported seeing a male HARLEQUIN DUCK on lower Big River amongst a small group of buffleheads of Friday. They saw this group of ducks upriver of the gate but well below the rock quarry.
Today Suzanne and I found it from the parking area near the first bend above the bridge and still with a group of about 10 buffleheads. We had a scope with us and it gave us plenty of time to observe it. As we left, the group was swimming upstream behind the first island.
We also saw a group of very active COMMON MERGANSERS, one RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, three COMMON GOLDENEYES and a SNOWY EGRET. For awhile, the snowy egret was following the mergansers as they were working along the riverbank. The snowy would hop/fly along along the bank, keeping pace with the ducks, apparently to see if they would stir up something interesting. -- Ed McKinley
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 -- I did a survey of Lake Mendocino today, and, as mentioned previously, there is a dearth of ducks this winter. I managed to claw my way up to 7 species. Most interesting was a pair of REDHEADS south of the Mesa. There were two adult BALD EAGLES sitting again in the last tree on the boat-in campground spit and an immature sitting on the 'osprey' platform near Perry Creek Cove.
This week I have also seen an adult Bald Eagle along the Eel River below Tomki Creek, and another adult has been scavanging chinook salmon carcasses at the Tomki Creek ford on the Willits-Hearst Road. There has also been an AMERICAN DIPPER foraging on the spillway of Van Arsdale Dam. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 17 Jan 2007 -- An OAK TITMOUSE tried to harbinge spring from the top of a sunlit oak early this morning, but he didn't fool me! Nor did he seem to fool himself for long. -- Kate Marianchild
Tue, 16 Jan 2007 -- I found a FOX SPARROW in our yard that is of the "Red/Taiga (Eastern)" race. We saw it briefly late yesterday, but this morning I was able to get very good looks in the scope. In the fading light Monday, the reddish streaking on the mantle, reddish wash on the crown, and the reddish pattern on the auriculars was not apparent, making it look more like the "Slate Colored/Interior" race (but not Thick-billed). Today, I studied it as often as I could see it. Jim just now got looks in the scope, too. It is definitely an Eastern Red. I went online to Google. If you put "Fox Sparrow Photo" on the search line, our bird looks like a combination of Greg Lavaty's and Bob Moul's photos on www.pbase.com and the Cornell/P.Lowther photo. It is quite striking, especially the super bright, rusty-red rump and dorsal side of the tail. The malar stripes and base of the throat have a hint of light cream.
Also, new to our yard are three Varied Thrushes visiting since yesterday. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 15 Jan 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- It being a beautiful, bright morning, I got out and about for some early birding. At the USTP I found a group of about 15 CHIPPING SPARROWS in the blackberries on the south side of the ponds. I was surprised at the array of plumages in these birds as some of them appeared to be molting into alternate plumage already. There were 4 TREE SWALLOWS and a single BARN SWALLOW working over the ponds. It was nice to hear the bubbly chatter of the Tree Swallows. Both the north and middle ponds are now pretty much full of water and most of the former muddy habitat has disappeared. Not surprisingly the numbers of shorebirds has declined. I saw 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, about 15 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and the Dunlin seem to have left the area. At the south boat launch at Lake Mendocino I saw an adult BALD EAGLE along the Hunter's Cove area to the east. From the Pomo day-use area on the north end I saw an adult WESTERN GULL, the 1 CACKLING and 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE that George reported, and 6 CANVASBACK. I was hard pressed to find a couple of LESSER SCAUP and never did see any Clark's Grebes. There were only 4 species of ducks at the USTP. Can anyone explain the dearth of water birds in this area this winter? -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 14 Jan 2007 -- I saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS (Big Al) Sunday afternoon, 1/14, near Pier 1 at Pt. Arena. -- Anne Scofield, Upland, CA [from Calbirds]
Sat, 13 Jan 2007 -- Just a quick note to say that my wife Jody and I did NOT find "Al", the Laysan Albatross. We arrived later than we wanted at about 3:15 PM and stayed for about 1 1/2 hours. A local told us Al hadn't been seen for about three days. Good birding, -- Eric Goodill, Menlo Park
Sat, 13 Jan 2007 -- Hi, On Saturday I went birding with Elias Elias on a friend's property which is along Shimmin's Ridge Rd just east of Hwy 101 and north of Willits. The habitat is predominantly oak savannah scattered amongst ponderosa/douglas fir forest.
In a grassy field with a stream running through it, we found at least 5 THICK-BILLED FOX SPARROWS in manzanita and willow shrubs. I first noticed them by their metallic call note, which sounds to me like "sting." This is slightly different than the California Towhee's (also present in the field) metallic call note which sounds more like "chink," and much different than the Sooty Fox Sparrow's which sounds like "check." I got good looks at a few of the Thick-bills. They had all gray heads and mantles and much larger bills than the Sooties which out-numbered the Thick-bills in this field 3 to 1. I've never seen Thick-billed Fox Sparrows outside of their breeding habitat and from looking at a few range maps, they are not supposed to winter in Northern California. Has anybody else seen them wintering in Northern California?
We also found a CHIPPING SPARROW in a flock of 150 juncos on a hill in an oak savannah setting. It was smaller than the juncos, long-tailed, white below, and had a black eyeline that went through the lores. -- Jim Tietz, Arcata
Sat, 13 Jan 2007 -- This afternoon I saw a BURROWING OWL from the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It was sunning at the mouth of its burrow on a distant hillside to the SE of the highest point of the lane. I have seen an owl at this burrow several times over the last three years. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 13 Jan 2007 -- Those of us on today's Mendocino Audubon trip to 10 Mile did get good looks at the BALD EAGLE reported earlier by Karen. We found it East of the bridge after walking inland a short distance. It was last seen soaring North of the bridge.
Also spotted was a 1st year THAYER'S GULL and a single RING-BILLED GULL amongst the mixed (Mew, California, and Western) gull flock at the month of the river.
There were approx. 30 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE (we has bad sun glare, ID based on head shape). They were chased off by a light airplane before we could get a better look. They were seen near the mouth. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 13 Jan 2007 -- At 8:15 this AM, I saw a 2nd-year BALD EAGLE sitting on the south shore of the Ten Mile River just west of the bridge. It flew a little further west and tried to nab a female Bufflehead, but missed. It then sat again on the shore for several minutes. I scoped the ducks it flew, so I did not see which way it flew.Shortly thereafter, Art and members of a field trip arrived. I told them about the Bald Eagle, so hopefully they will refind it.
Also on Tuesday, there were at least 375-400 BROWN PELICANS at the river mouth. Today, there are only about 5 pelicans left. There were 5 SNOWY PLOVERS at the mouth of Seaside Creek this morning -- the first time Jim has seen them at that location (no dogs or other people). -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 10 Jan 2007 -- At twilight this evening I was out on West Road in Potter Valley with binoculars looking for Comet McNaught on the western horizon. As I was searching, I saw a COMMON POORWILL against the twilight sky flying back and forth above some trees. This is exactly the same location where I was startled to hear a poorwill calling on Jan 8, 2003! -- George Chaniot
Wed, 10 Jan 2007 -- Today, Toby Tobkin braved the cold wind and saw the 1st cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at the NW edge of the Mendocino Headlands. I don't know the exact time she was there. It was flying with a small group of other gulls, but she said she got very good looks at it. -- For Dorothy Tobkin (Karen Havlena)
Wed, 10 Jan 2007 -- This afternoon, among the geese, muscovies, and other ducks that hang out at the Oak Grove parking lot at the north end of Lake Mendocino, there were two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, one CANADA GOOSE, and one CACKLING GOOSE. (There has also been a Greater White-fronted Goose on the Christmas Star vineyard pond north of the cemetery on West Road in Potter Valley for more than a month.) Sitting in the last tree on the spit by the boat-in campground were two adult BALD EAGLES. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 -- This afternoon Tim Derry and I flushed a SOOTY (Blue) GROUSE on private property along Longbranch Creek NW of Potter Valley. They must be more widely distributed, but I don't run into them very often. I haven't seen one in Mendocino Co. in nearly two years. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 -- Mendobirders, Sorry for the late report but I felt it important to report. Fellow birder Don Wyman and I drove up from San Jose hoping to see the Albatross of Pt. Arena. This was the third try for the bird in the past three years and with all the recent stories about his/her leg injury, I thought we better get up there. On Sunday (7th)for one last try. Four hours later after lunch there in the cove area we joined several people--not all birders--who were standing at the end of the pier. It was about one-thirty, windy and cold. As we waited most of the others left, one was a fellow birder from our South Bay Bird group. Just about two, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS flew in from the left side of the pier and landed just off the right end of it. Another fellow got the thrill of seeing it fly in all from the south as I caught the flight just before it landed in the water. To my surprise this life bird for Don and it was not as large as I had thought. Al remained floating about the area on the right side of the pier for several hours as we waited--hoping to see the bird fly. The sea was rough but we still got good scope views. Al approached several surfers obviously interacting with them with open beak. Later Al tried to tuck in his/her head for a snooze but for the most part was up during the time we were there. We checked after seven and Al was still out there. Sunday afternoon we also saw a gorgeous pair of Red-breasted Mergansers in full plumage in the same area feeding in the rough water. It is a rare treat to see these birds with their red breast! Thank you, Mendobirds. -- Bernice Camuso, San Jose and Don Wyman, Morgan Hill
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 -- Yesterday, January 8, Charlene found a PILEATED WOODPECKER and an interesting sapsucker in the yard on the Little River Headlands. The sapsucker was clearly a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, with a complete red head, except that it had a strong white stripe running from the bill back below the eye and down the side of the face like the more southern daggetti race and not the nuchalis race with a very red head that I am used to in Humboldt County. It might have had some red-naped genes in it. I'll keep an eye out for it and try to get some photos one of these days.
We also heard and saw 85 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE heading north along the coast over the house. Today a single adult HEERMANN's GULLl flew by. -- Ron LaValley
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 -- Hi birders, I saw the GLAUCOUS GULL found on Monday afternoon this morning at 11:30. I thought I would be too early, since the original sighting was at 2:30, but I stopped by late this AM anyway. Approaching the N/NW bluff, there were lots of Brown Pelicans but only a few gulls among them. As I looked down at a long, low rock, there was the first cycle Glaucous Gull next to an adult Western Gull. The size difference was obvious. I watched it for over ten minutes. There were only five other gulls visible during my time at the bluff. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 -- I have posted two photos of what I believe is a GLAUCOUS GULL (1st winter) spotted at the North/West corner of the Mendocino Headlands this afternoon at approx. 2:30. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 07 Jan 2007 -- Today Chuck Vaughn and I were on the coast and we refound the female LONG-TAILED DUCK at Alder Creek which was first reported on Dec. 30. It was in the little lagoon at the mouth of the creek with some Buffleheads and a Ring-necked Duck. The road to the mouth of Alder Creek is closed now due to damage, but you can park just off Route 1 and walk in about 3/4 mile one-way. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 07 Jan 2007 -- Hi Birders. Today Austin Booth, my dad and I tried for some birds along the Mendocino coast. We started at MacKerricher SP, where we did not see any Rock Sandpipers. However, we did see a RED-NECKED GREBE sitting off Laguna Point. Back at the parking lot, a first-cycle THAYER'S GULL was hanging out in the small
Gull flock on the beach.
At Pt Arena we succeeded in finding Al the LAYSAN ALBATROSS sitting just off the pier at Pt Arena Cove. He spent most of the time we were there asleep. While watching Al, a young FERRUGINOUS HAWK cruised overhead for an odd combination of species. We saw a second young Ferruginous Hawk north of Manchester.
The most interesting sighting of the day (for me at any rate), was a bird that I am pretty sure was a first-cycle ZONE-TAILED HAWK. The bird was in the town of Pt Arena, and was flying around with some Turkey Vultures. It was strongly back-lit, but it was completely black - the body, underwing coverts, tail, and upper parts were all black, with no streaking or other markings. The secondaries and primaries were light, which contrasted with the body and underwings, but I could not determine if they were patterned or not. The shape of the bird was also correct for Zone-tailed Hawk, with long, narrow wings and tail, and a rather small head profile. However, the poor viewing conditions (with the sun almost directly behind the bird), and the short period of time I was actually able to observe the bird make me less than certain of my sighting. So, those of you heading out to Pt Arena to look for Al ought to keep an eye out for weird Hawks, too!
Finally, our last sightings of the day occurred along Mountain View Road, on our way back to the Ukiah Valley. Somewhere along the west slope of the mountain we had a pair of MOUNTAIN QUAIL foraging along the road, as well as several VARIED THRUSHES. It's always a treat to see these guys, and Mountain View Road is just about as good a place as I know of. -- Matt Brady
Sun, 07 Jan 2007 -- Heard and observed mid-morning Sunday, 1/7/07 were, at least 2 each, VIRGINIA RAILS and SORAS at Mendocino College. At one point I had both a Sora and a Virginia Rail in my scope at the same time. These birds were along the pond margins of the pond just south of Hensley Creek Rd. and about a block before one encounters the first college buildings. -- Vishnu
Fri, 05 Jan 2007 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I got out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this brisk morning. The only new birds were 3 TREE SWALLOWS, and the only other bird of note was a very pale "richardsonii"-type MERLIN. The middle pond is being filled out of the north pond, and the extensive mud is being submerged. It will be interesting to see if the shorebirds stick around with the disappearance of that great habitat. The waterfowl are really falling off both in numbers and diversity. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 01 Jan 2007 -- Ron Thorn and I drove to Pt Arena to see the Laysan Albatross on Jan. 1 -- great way to start the new year with perfect weather and beautiful views.
We stopped at a cove just before Fort Ross. There we saw 150 ANCIENT MURRELETTES, 400 RHINOCEROUS AUKLETS,20-30 SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES. Two
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERs flew by. [Sonoma County]
When we arrived at Pt Arena about 11-11:30AM, no Al. Locals told us that he/she always comes in around mid-day and stays for the rest of the day. We birded Miner's Road and Alder Creek Road next. We saw some terrific raptors, esepcially from the Alder creek road turnoff, right at the top by the house/farm there.
First we saw one, then 2, FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. One was an adult (sitting in front of the farm facing the ocean) and the other, which we saw on the east side of route 1 over the farmland, was an immature with no rufous markings under the wings. Soon the adult joined the immature and both flew together over the farm fields.
Next, Ron spotted this really intersting RED-TAILED HAWK. From the dark brown-black back, white/light gray tail with narrow subterminal band, and heavily streaked breast, Ron thought it was probably a light morph HARLAN'S HAWK, which apparently is pretty rare. Once he got home, he did some more research and agrees (see his comments below). I looked it up in Raptors of Western North America and it fits well with the photos of the light morph Harlan's. So that was pretty exciting. We got to watch it for quite awhile.
We also saw 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, AMERICAN KESTRELS, a NORTHERN HARRIER and a WHITE-TAILED KITE.
Back at Pt Arena, Al had indeed arrived, floating in his usual position on the north side of the pier. He floated to about 20' from shore and stayed there, head tucked. Eventually, a friendly surfer who had "known" Al for 10 years got into the water near the bird, and amazingly, Al woke up, opened his bill and started making all kinds of noises, swam over to the surfer, mouthed the surfer's hand coverings with it bill. The surfer said that Al is this friendly toward all of them and will even climb in their laps while they are surfing! He also says that surfers don't feed Al, but he sure looks used to expecting good things from their hands. I have all this on photos, but I have to get them off the camera onto my computer. Next Al proceeded to search around him for bits of stick-like
things in the water, apparently clearing them out of his way? He would pick them up, move them, put them down. He was not eating them. he also picked up a couple of round items, maybe floating snails,and moved them.
We left around 2:30 or 3pm and headed over to highway 101 via Mountain View Road (thanks Dean Manley for the tip.) In addition to VARIED THRUSHES and TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, we found 3 MOUNTAIN QUAIL. We had pulled over to check the Birding Mendocino book, and wham, there they were! pretty amazing coincidence. They froze, so we got quite good and close looks. It was a lovely way to start the new year! -- Kris Olson, Menlo Park
Sun, 01 Jan 2007 -- Yesterday afternoon around 2:30PM, I watched a beautiful first year GLAUCOUS GULL harass a couple of WESTERN GULLS on the rocks just offshore of the Mendocino headlands near Goat Rock. I wonder if this is the same gull seen from the Point Arena Lighthouse on the coast CBC? -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 31 Dec 2006 -- Here are my best birds seen today (Sunday the 31st):
TUFTED DUCK: Two long-tufted males among roughly 2000
scaup at Borax Lake. One had some faint dark smudges on its sides and presumably was the same molting individual with more extensive dark smudging on its sides that I found among only eight Greater Scaup on 16 December.
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE: One male among hordes of mergansers and perhaps 15 COMMON GOLDENEYES at the north side of Glenhaven.
CINNAMON TEAL: A pair at the Hidden Valley Lake
Wastewater Treatment Plant (HVLWTP).
CANVASBACK: 50 at HVLWTP plus two males at Borax Lake.
COMMON MOORHEN: Three at the county park in Clearlake Oaks and one in a pond (but three on the 16th) visible from Sulphur Bank Road just west of the entrance to the El Em Indian Colony.
WESTERN GULL: One 2nd-cycle immature at Lucerne, plus one 3rd/4th-cycle immature and one adult at Glenhaven. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 31 Dec 2006 -- Yes, Al the Laysan looks to have a broken right foot. But Al is coping. Yesterday Al was seen in the water off the Point Arena pier. A surfer swam out with some bait for Al and the bird negotiated itself over to the surfer for its treat. Then Al tucked his head down and took a nap. Al is able to fly and to fish. Bird experts have decided to monitor Al for the time being. If Al appears to deteriorate, an intervention may be tried. We treasure this Laysan very much here on the coast. This is the fourteenth winter that Al has spent here. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
Sat, 30 Dec 2006 -- Bob Keiffer, Cheryl Watson, and Geoff Heinecken found a winter female LONG-TAILED DUCK at the mouth of Alder Creek today on the coast CBC.
Matthew Mattheissen, Chuck Vaughn, and I scoped to sea from the Point Arena Lighthouse from 8:30-12:00 this morning, and among the highlights were 5 MARBLED MURRELETS, 2 ANCIENT MURRELETS, a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL, and an unseasonal PIGEON GUILLEMOT. Later, looking from Hunters' Lagoon to Brush Creek, we saw a BLACK-NECKED STILT, and a male EURASIAN WIGEON. Finally, we went north to Laguna Point and found a ROCK SANDPIPER off the point, proving that, yes, they _can_ be found at low tide. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 26 Dec 2006 -- Hi all, Thanks for posting these pictures, Jim. This does look like a "typical" broken leg that seabirds get. I'm not sure how it happens, but at any breeding colony, one sees this kind of hanging foot. I would be almost positive that it was not caused by "kids throwing rocks."
I think the stress of capture, handling and so forth could be harder on Al than letting things play out. I would suggest that we keep on eye on his plumage, and if the condition of the feathers starts deteriorating (indicating some sort of stress), then some action might be considered. As long as he otherwise looks healthy, I recommend a wait and see approach. Cheers -- Ron LeValley
Tue, 26 Dec 2006 -- I've posted photos of the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Point Arena Cove (Mendocino County, CA), taken on Saturday 23 December 2006, a da after it was noticed with a broken leg; unfortunately, overcast and wind made conditions lousy for making photos that might help determine extent and kind of injury:
Click here. -- Jim Greaves, Santa Barbara [from Calbirds]
Mon, 25 Dec 2006 -- Hi All, I received the following email this morning stating that Al can fly and land, and that the International Bird Rescue and Research Center in Fairfield has been contacted. There is hope.
"Thanks for your concern. We are assessing Al's condition when he returns to Arena Cove and have been in touch with International Bird Rescue and Research Center in Fairfield, who will accept and treat the bird if necessary. At the present time Al is able to fly and land, so there is good reason to hope for the best. David Jensen, Mendocino Coast Audubon Society" -- Ron Storey, Petaluma
Mon, 25 Dec 2006 -- I just finished reading on North Bay Birds the disturbing news about 'Al' having a broken leg due to some kids throwing rocks at it. Since an Albatross needs to run on the water to take flight, can `Al' fly? Since this bird is now crippled what is its future? This bird has been viewed by many of us, and I personally would not like to see this bird come its demise in this manner. What are the options now for helping this bird to recover? Is there a wild animal rescue or wild bird rescue that can retrieve the Albatross and aide it until the leg mends? -- Ron Storey, Petaluma
Sun, 24 Dec 2006 -- Barbara Dolan, Geoff Heinecken, and I were surprised to see a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW circling low over the north pond of the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning.
As we were leaving, a flock of 18 Canada, 3 Cackling, and 1 SNOW GOOSE
flew in to the south pond.The three of us studied the Snow Goose until
closing, unsure whether this was the Chen (Ross's x Lesser Snow Goose?)
seen by Matthew Matthiessen on the CBC. The grin patch on this bird
was easily seen with a scope and although the goose was smaller than
the Canadas, it seemed comparable in size to the Cacklers. Geoff and I
stopped at Mountanos pond on Old River Road on our way home and sure
enough the Chen was still there with the ducks and domestic geese,
appearing much more Rossy than the USTP goose.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and DUNLIN continue in the middle pond. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 23 Dec 2006 -- Big Al, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Point Arena Cove, is present 23 Dec 2006. Unfortunately, has a broken leg (first noticed yesterday). Flies fine, roosting on water N of pier at 1225 (noon-ish). Best of luck to those who seek this great bird... a lifer for both of us, sought on a fluke! -- Jim and Lark, Santa Barbara
Sat, 23 Dec 2006 -- Observed by Vishnu and son, Michel, around 3:30 pm 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS about 1/4 mile south of the sister city monument at the Mendocino Headlands. One was perched on an outer ocean stack and the other flying in the area where a large number of Brown Pelicans have been roosting for the past couple of months. -- Vishnu
Fri, 22 Dec 2006 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports three ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna point today.
Tue, 19 Dec 2006 -- The Clear Lake CBC was held on Saturday December 16th, the coldest day of the year. Despite the weather the preliminary total was 143 species. This will, I believe, be the 3rd highest count ever.
Two new species were added to the cumulative total. A SPOTTED OWL was heard by Dave and Brian Woodward near Boggs Lake and a TUFTED DUCK was found by Floyd Hayes at Borax Lake. -- Jerry White
Fri, 15 Dec 2006 -- Saw an OSPREY this afternoon heading north towards Ten Mile from MacKerricher State Park at around 3 PM....... -- Feather Forestwalker
Thu, 14 Dec 2006 -- This morning, 4 SNOW GEESE were seen flying with a group of about 35 Canada Geese. They were flying north along the coast past Seaside Beach. -- Jim Havlena
Wed, 13 Dec 2006 -- There were 4 MARBLED GODWITS and at least 250 BROWN PELICANS by the mouth of Ten Mile River on Wednesday morning. -- Jim Havlena
Tue, 12 Dec 2006 -- Two ROCK SANDPIPERS were found this morning just south of the Ward Ave coastal Access. The sandpipers on the rocks with Surfbirds and Black Turnstones. Ward Ave is off Hwy 1, a short block north of the Purple Rose restaurant. Drive on Ward to the ocean (it curves southwest after a few blocks). -- For Toby Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Mon, 11 Dec 2006 -- There was an AMERICAN DIPPER plunging into the Eel River at Todd's Riffle about a mile downstream from Tomki Creek. The water visibility is only about 18 inches after the recent rain. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 10 Dec 2006 -- As beginning birders, we can be excited by sightings that others might consider quite ordinary. This morning from my office window on Fern Creek Road east of Caspar, we spotted a pair of gorgeous VARIED THRUSH scratching like chickens in the pine duff, and hopping around on high limbs of nearby trees. At one moment one posed for us -- a beautiful view taken directly from the front and back covers the the Sibley FG to Western North America. Ahhh.... the pleasure of wishing I could fly... Best, -- Tony Miksak and Joselyn Bartlett, Caspar CA
Sun, 10 Dec 2006 -- I saw a quite a few raptors this morning around Manchester and Brush Creek. Only one short shower and a few sprinkles had me using the windshield wipers. The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, plus 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS, a nearby RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES, 4 NORTHERN HARRIERS and numerous AMERICAN KESTRELS were all around the dairy farm and Brush Creek. The 4 TUNDRA SWANS and an adult SNOW GOOSE were near the mouth of Brush Creek. The hawks kept moving all around the farm fields. The area is visible at the end of Stoneboro or Bristol, just south of Manchester. I looked for, but did not see any swallows, no Eurasian Collared Doves, nor a Eurasian Wigeon.
Further north on Hwy 1 near mailbox 12250 there was a PEREGRINE FALCON and a large flock of about 35 WILD TURKEYS.
North of Fort Bragg on Bald Hill Rd, the FERRUGINOUS HAWK remains. There was an adult and an immature SNOW GOOSE with the Canada Geese. I did not see the BURROWING OWL. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 09 Dec 2006 -- Geoff and I scouted the river below the pullout at mile marker 37.08 on Highway 20 this morning and were rewarded with a look at an AMERICAN DIPPER. We hiked down to the grassy flat, then took a "trail" east until we had a good view of the rapids upstream. The bird was preening on a flat rock in the river for several minutes then flew across the river and out of sight. I sure hope it's around next Saturday. No sign of Rufous-crowned Sparrows. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 09 Dec 2006 -- No Gadwall today at the Lake Mendocino Inlet. There were 2 drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL. At the N boat launch were 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and a real CACKLING GOOSE with the 2 Canadas. The lake is a desert. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 08 Dec 2006 -- I did a survey of Lake Mendocino this morning with an eye to the upcoming CBC on Dec. 16. I was surprised at how few waterfowl were present. Maybe this will change with the approaching storm system. The lake level has been dropping to 724.8 feet, and there is mud and gravel exposure around the south boat ramp, Perry Creek Cove, south of Miti Campground, and at the mouth of the inlet. Nonetheless, the whole south end of the lake was devoid of birds other than the menagerie around the feeding area at the south boat ramp. Most of the waterfowl were along the north shore - best viewed from the Oak Grove parking lot. Two Canada Geese have been in this area for weeks, but today they were joined by a singleton GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. (There is another GWFG on the Christmas Star Vineyard pond in Potter Valley) At the mouth of the Russian River inlet there were LEAST SANDPIPERS, and a drake GADWALL. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 07 Dec 2006 -- Tim Derry and I were hiking Longbranch Creek on private property and heard a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL calling from 09:00-09:05 a.m. It was hidden in a group of Douglas Firs on the edge of some chaparral. A pair of Steller's Jays were mobbing it, but they were not making the noise. I remember hearing Saw-Whet calling in the daytime only one other time. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 06 Dec 2006 -- Toby Tobkin is reporting that she saw an imm. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at 11:00 AM. The location was just North of Hunter's Lagoon on a fence Post. Hunter's Lagoon is off of Stoneboro Rd. which connects to Highway 1 just South of Manchester.
She also reported 4 Swans (presumed Tundra)in the Brush Creek Wetlands which is just North of the lagoon. -- Richard Hubacek for Toby
Mon, 4 Dec 2006 -- Two ROCK WRENS were observed foraging together amongst the rip-rap rocks on the Coyote Dam. They were just on the north side of where the concrete pump/gate column pier is located. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 05 Dec 2006 -- I think of ROBINS as a Spring bird, but I seem to be hearing them everywhere these last few days around Ukiah. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Mon, 04 Dec 2006 -- Hi Mendobirders, Five miles north of Willets, Rebecca Green and I stopped along Reynold's Hwy to check out the birds from 3:30 to 4:40PM. We drove about a half mile down and parked and then walked another half mile. Highlights were a WESTERN PALM WARBLER amongst a flock of Audubon's Warblers and a male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD
with the numerous Bicolored Blackbirds.
This is a great stretch of road to bird while passing through Willets. In the winter, the waterfowl in the flooded fields are abundant. Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, and Ring-necked Ducks are easy to find here. Raptors can also be good here. I've seen Cooper's and Ferruginous Hawks, Peregrine Falcon, and White-tailed Kites. Oak woodland species are also present here such as Nuttall's and Acorn Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, and White-breasted Nuthatch.
Description of Palm Warbler - It was slightly smaller than the 3 Audubon's Warblers flocking with it. It stayed above me in an oak the entire time of observation so I was not able to see the bird's upperparts well. Undertail coverts yellow. Tail black and bobbed constantly. White tailspots obvious from below. White patch between legs. Chest and belly pale grayish with darker gray blurry streaks. Throat white. Face and malar dark gray contrasting with white supercilium and malar stripe. Wings and mantle grayish-brown. Wingbars not noticed. Rump and crown not seen. Good birding, -- James R. Tietz, Southeast Farallon Island
Mon, 04 Dec 2006 -- A CACKLING GOOSE is still roaming the Clearlake area, where I've now seen it on three occasions. On 3 December it was swimming alone in the water off Austin Park. Hopefully it will stick around for the CBC.
On Sunday the 3rd, large numbers of gulls were loitering along various piers at Lucerne, where I saw 8 species including one first-winter and two near-adult (each with a small black smudge on the bill) WESTERN GULLS. I've also seen a second-winter and two similar-looking adult WESTERN GULLS at Clearlake during the past few weeks, plus some suspected hybrids.
Other birds I've seen recently include an adult BALD EAGLE at Detert Reservoir on 27 November, a PRAIRIE FALCON at Nice on 24 November, a YELLOW-BELLIED MAGPIE at High Valley on 19 November, and five CINNAMON TEAL at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant on 19 November. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 03 Dec 2006 -- Larry Knowles and Erica Fielder saw a female HOODED MERGANSER about 1 mile up Ten-mile River on Sunday. It was with a small group of Buffleheads. They also might have seen at least one female EURASIAN WIGEON in the vicinity of the Ten-mile Bridge. They were in a loose flock with Mallards, Buffleheads, Ruddy Duck (1) , and pintails. They weren't sure of the i.d.
The river is alive with Buffleheads.
They also saw group of Mallards fly at full speed past a tree with a perched PEREGRINE FALCON. The falcon took off after the Mallards and quickly caught up with them. It appeared to hit one of the mallards, which dropped directly downward briefly and then resumed flying. The Peregrine abandoned the attack. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 02 Dec 2006 -- I visited the [Beckstoffer Vineyard] pond Saturday afternoon (starting around 2 p.m.) and there were not a lot of birds there - coots, a few Northern Shovelers, quite a few Ruddy ducks, a pied-billed grebe, and a pair of buffleheads. I tried, unsuccessfully, to turn the male bufflehead into a male Hooded Merganser, and then after I'd been there a while, a real pair of HOODED MERGANSERS appeared, and the male was unmistakable. (Just a single pair - I think they had been sleeping over on the far right of the pond where I couldn't see them from where I was on the access road). They swam back and forth and then bathed, so I got a good look at them. They are beautiful, especially the male! When I left about 3:15 they were still in view. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Sat, 02 Dec 2006 -- Ed DeBellevue of San Rafael, CA Saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Arena Cove at 1:30 PM. For more information see the report on Calbirds
Sat, 02 Dec 2006 -- FYI - no Hooded Mergansers to be seen this morning (Sat Dec 2) on the pond. But it was worth a try. I'd be interested to know if they are gone for good or I just happened to miss them. Thanks, -- Helen Kochenderfer, Santa Rosa
Fri, 01 Dec 2006 -- Chuck Vaughn and I birded the coast today looking for those two little Emperor Geese, which we did not find. We did see an ANCIENT MURRELET at Laguna Point, 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS among the BLACK SCOTERS at Ward Avenue, and THAYER'S GULLS at both Virgin Creek Beach and the mouth of the Garcia River. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 01 Dec 2006 -- I just wanted to let the Humboldt folks know that "AL", the Laysan Albatross that has wintered of the Mendocino coast and uses Point Arena Cove (where the boat dock is) as a resting area for the last ten years, has returned as of 11/28/04. The bird was first discovered by Tod Easterla and Jim Booker... and it might have even used the cove in prior years. This will be the 11th winter season that this bird has used the cove. He/she typically arrives right around Dec 1 and usually leaves around the first week of March. The bird comes and goes from the cove. When it is there it is usually on the water somewhere between the buoy and the dock, sometimes very close to the dock, and usually straight out or to the North of the dock. It is very tame and approaches the surfers... even taking handouts of food from them. If it is all by itself far out with its head tucked under its wing it can be confused with a Western Gull by novices ... that is if there is no size reference to the bird. -- Bob Keiffer [from nwcalbird]
Tue, 27 Nov 2006 -- In the course of making a Chinook Salmon survey on the Eel River, I saw two AMERICAN DIPPERS and two BALD EAGLES (one adult, one immature) in the mile and a half below the mouth of Tomki Creek. The following day I worked in tributaries, covering 3.5 miles in Tomki Creek and its tributary, Long Branch Creek, and I saw neither dippers, eagles, nor chinooks. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 25 Nov 2006 -- On Sat the 25th I did a count on this pond among the Am Widgeon, Am. Coots, Ruddy Ducks, Pied and Eared Grebes and got 45-48-and 47 on count passes. Their plumage is exquisite now. -- Barbara Dolan
Sat, 25 Nov 2006 -- On Nov 25, the two EMPEROR GEESE were seen flying north of the Pt Arena Lighthouse, near the Garcia River. -- "Pete Panchin" [from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Sat, 25 Nov 2006 -- Yesterday I joined the North Coast Butterfly Club on a search for wintering Monarchs around Bodega Bay. It was a lovely sunny day. No luck on the Monarchs but on the way home I stopped at Point Arena, walked up the pier and there, 20 feet out, was Al [the LAYSAN ALBATROSS] resting with his head tucked back. Then he awakened, stretched his long long wings, flew a few feet and then settled down again. Think of the thousands of miles those wings have taken him since last spring Nature is truly a Thanksgiving blessing. --Rosie Rhia
Fri, 24 Nov 2006 -- This afternoon the two adult EMPEROR GEESE flew from Big River into Mendocino Bay. They were later found just off the headlands south of Mendocino, near the area called "Portagee Beach." Hopefully they will stay a while, but they will need to be refound in the morning. -- David Jensen
Fri, 24 Nov 2006 -- The two EMPEROR GEESE reported by Toby and David Jensen have left Big River and were last seen flying North around the Mendocino Headlands at approx. 2:00 pm. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 24 Nov 2006 -- Toby Tobkin reports seeing 2 adult EMPEROR GEESE on the shoreline of Big River, just before the gate to the logging road (near the parking area). -- Johanna Jensen for Toby / David Jensen
Tue, 21 Nov 2006 -- It was a nice morning to be jogging with binoculars on Burris Lane, Potter Valley. There is now a variety of waterfowl on the pond including American Wigeons, Bufflehead, and Ring-necked Ducks. There was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the oaks near the pond too. (On the field trip to Round Valley on Sunday we saw about 10 along Fairbanks Road). There was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in a group of White-crowned Sparrows in the brush along the driveway just before the bridge which I saw on both passes. (This is less that 100 yards from your place, Jim. It ought to be coming to your feeders.) The biggest surprise was a CALIFORNIA THRASHER in the blackberries along the flat section. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 -- There were 23 HOODED MERGANSERS on the Beckstoffer vineyard Pond which is located on the west side of the Old River Road about 1/2 mile south of Talmage. I have been seeing Hooded Mergansers there consistently for the last couple of weeks but last Friday was the highest count. This is a great place to view this spectacular waterfowl species ...the drakes are as eloquent as any duck species in the world. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 -- At Lake Mendocino today there was a male GADWALL among Mallards at the inlet to the lake. There were also five BONAPARTE'S GULLS moving around the lake - seen sitting on the margin at the south boat ramp and sitting on the water in the middle of the lake.
At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant Chuck Vaughn and I saw a odd duck: it was much like an adult, male Mallard but the sides of the head and the throat were brownish and the bill was mottled yellow and black. After looking at at some pictures on the web, we agree that it is probably a Mallard/American Wigeon hybrid. It is a good match for the putative Mallard/American Wigeon hybrid seen at this link -- George Chaniot
Sun, 12 Nov 2006 -- On 11 November I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON at Borax Lake and a CACKLING GOOSE with a flock of CANADA GEESE at Redbud Park in Clearlake. Presumably these were the same individuals I saw at Borax Lake on 22 October, but I missed both on 5 November.
At the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, there were a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS and three CINNAMON TEAL on 12 November and six CINNAMON TEAL on 5 November.
At Detert Reservoir, a HORNED GREBE, about 10 HOODED MERGANSERS, an adult BALD EAGLE and a PEREGRINE FALCON were present on 12 November. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 04 Nov 2006 -- Hi Birders -- A male CANVASBACK was found by Toby Tobkin around noon at Lake Cleone. Jim and I went to the lake, and we too saw the Canvasback. Also, we found a Redhead among the American Wigeon, Ring-necked, Wood, scaup, Bufflehead and Ruddy Ducks. This was about 1:30 PM. Most of the ducks were on the east and south sides of the lake.
Upon arriving back home, we scoped a FERRUGINOUS HAWK atop a cypress on Hwy 1, just south of the curve going down to Seaside Beach.
The Canvasback is 280 on my Mendocino county list. It may take a few more years to reach the milestone 300 mark, but I am happy to have reached my goal of 280 this year. Thanks to all who have helped me with my quest. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 01 Nov 2006 -- There is a resident flock of 80 to 100 Canada Geese (Great Basin subspecies Branta canadensis moffitti ) that hangs around the Hopland/Sanel Valley area. They use farm ponds in the Feliz Creek drainage and Hopland area, and can be seen each morning feeding south of Feliz Creek road... on the opposite side of Feliz Creek in the large bare field (used to be vineyard). They also use the farm pond west of and along Hwy 101 just south of the CDF fire station ... and they also use the Crowfoot Ranch permanent pasture field about 1/2 mile north of Jepson Winery. 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE has been with them for a couple weeks and today 5 CACKLING GEESE (Aleutian subspecies Branta hutchinsii leucopareia ) joined the group. Throughout the fall and winter it is always good to view these Canada Goose groups for the "unexpected" visiting goose species that may show up. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 30 Oct 2006 -- Toby Tobkin called to report that she saw a/the returning FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Bald Hill Rd, north of Pudding Creek Rd, east of Hwy 1 in Fort Bragg. She thought that the BURROWING OWL was in its place on the east side of Bald Hill Rd, but it was difficult even with a scope. The Canada Geese were way west of the road, so she could not tell if any other species were there.
A SLATE-COLORED JUNCO is coming to her feeder in Fort Bragg. Call 964-6216 for info. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 30 Oct 2006 -- On the evening of October 30, 2006, Dennis Freeze photographed a SPOTTED OWL on his property approximately one and one quarter miles east of Highway One on Little Lake Road in Mendocino.
Mon, 30 Oct 2006 -- This morning there was a BLACK-NECKED STILT in the flooded northern pond along the Nice-Lucerne cutoff. The stilt was in the southern end of the pond while I was there. That portion of the pond is only visible from the extreme northern end of the pond near the small wooden barn. There were also at least three Dunlin and three Pectoral Sandpipiers among the dowitchers and peeps along the shorlines. The only egret at the pond this morning was a Great Egret. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 29 Oct 2006 -- I saw a late WILSON'S WARBLER in my backyard.... maybe that goes with the lovely fall weather we have been having until recently. --Tina Fabula
Sat, 28 Oct 2006 -- Hi Birders- This morning at 8:30, I saw 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS on the Mendocino Headlands. They were south of the monument and dirt parking lot at the foot of Little Lake St. I was out on the trail closest to the ocean. From behind me where the short grass meets the long grass, I heard the "rattle" call. Turning, I saw the 2 birds fly a short distance further south (and nearer to me). They landed about 15 yards away on the edge of the slope. One bird flew down to the narrow, strip of green grass. The other bird joined it. When I left, they had flown back up to the edge of the slope and the trail. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 27 Oct 2006 -- This morning I walked around Lake Cleone in MacKerricher St Park. There was a group of about 9 or 10 RED CROSSBILLS in the tall, shore pines on the SSE side of the lake. Two were adult, orange-red males. Warblers included Orange-crowned, Townsend's, Yellow-rumped and Common Yellowthroat.
Along the ocean, an OSPREY made its way south near Laguna Point. Just south of the Lake Cleone restrooms, a male NORTHERN HARRIER hovered and hunted only a few yards from me. I got great looks at that beautiful bird. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 27 Oct 2006 -- One adult COMMON MOORHEN continues to reside at the "middle" sag pond located on the west side of University Road at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center near Hopland. If interested in seeing this bird please contact Chuck Vaughn (cevaughn@ucdavis.edu) or myself, Bob Keiffer, at (rjkeiffer@ucdavis.edu) SORAS and VIRGINIA RAIL can be heard also, but not likely seen. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 27 Oct 2006 -- This morning I saw a CATTLE EGRET along the Nice-Lucerne cutoff in the northern field which currently has water in it. It was in a group of about 15 Snowy Egrets. At about 08:30 a group of egrets flew off to the SE; I do not believe the Cattle Egret was among them. I could not find it after that - it may have been out of sight behind the reeds in the foreground. The most recent Lake County checklist shows only one previous record of Cattle Egret, a fall record.
On the field to the south, which is currently dry, there were 14 CACKLING GEESE, apparently Aleutians, visable from the green gate. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 23 Oct 2006 -- On 22 October, a CACKLING GOOSE and a male EURASIAN WIGEON were at Borax Lake, about 75 HORNED GREBES (outnumbering EARED GREBES) and an adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL were at Clearlake, and seven CINNAMON TEAL were at the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant (HVLWTP).
Belated bird observations at HVLWTP include: four CINNAMON TEAL on 23 September and 15 October; a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on 1 October (best of eight shorebird species recorded this fall); and what appeared to be a melanistic NORTHERN SHOVELER that was jet black with neatly patterned paler-fringed feathers (unlikely to have been oiled) and pale outer tail feathers on 23 September (unfortunately not photographed).
And very belatedly, four CANVASBACKS were at Detert Reservoir on 23 September and a flock of 34 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Borax Lake on 10 September. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 23 Oct 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: At noon today I saw 2 COMMON MOORHENS on the middle sag pond at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The last time there was a Moorhen here it stayed into the winter. Early in the morning 3 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were in the oaks at our upper weather station at 3000'. With regards to the woodpeckers, I am copying below a note I received from Lue Owens of Covelo. She reports that she is seeing them at their usual spot along Dobie Lane. This is easily the most reliable spot in Mendocino County to see these birds.
"Yesterday, October 22, I saw at least five (5) Lewis's Woodpeckers on Dobie Lane, 1.3 mile north of where it starts at Fairbanks Road. A fence goes west across the field, and there are two trees on the north side of the fence close to the road, and one on the south side a little farther away, and they flew back and forth. I am putting down the details because I read in the "Falcon Flyer" that sometimes people come out here birding. " -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 23 Oct 2006 -- Toby Tobkin called this afternoon (10/23) to say that she had two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS about 1/4 mile south of the far platform at Laguna Point in MacKerricher St Park. -- (for Toby Tobkin) Karen Havlena
Sun, 22 Oct 2006 -- Toby Tobkin called to say that today she saw one BURROWING OWL on Bald Hill Rd, north of Pudding Creek Rd in Fort Bragg. The owl was seen at 4:30 PM on the south side of the mound east of the gate marked with a yellow cord.
On the west side of the road, there were a CACKLING GOOSE and an ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE with the large flock of Canada Geese. Saturday, Toby had a PALM WARBLER at the Mendo Coast Botanical Gardens in the west end of the cultivated gardens. -- Karen Havlena for Toby Tobkin
Sat, 21 Oct 2006 This morning I scoped the dry flat behind the metal barn on the Nice-Lucerne cutoff. The flat is several hundred yards east of the Rodman bridge. The most interesting birds on the flat were three HORNED LARKS. There were also six CACKLING GEESE, several of which had very thin white collars. Also present were about 20 AMERICAN PIPITS and about 25 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. Around the corner to the east in the pond that is now drying the MARBLED GODWIT reported yesterday was still present. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 20 Oct 2006 -- Yesterday a quick stop at "Robinson Lake" (Nice-Lucerne Cutoff) turned up a flock of about 50 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a continuing MARBLED GODWIT . Just west of mile post 21 on Highway 20 at the large turnout overlooking Clear Lake there was a ROCK WREN. At Austin Park in Clearlake there was a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE. -- Jerry White
Thu, 19 Oct 2006 -- And to add to the earlier report of a Palm Warbler, there was a SWAMP SPARROW on the Little River Headlands this morning as well. -- Ron LeValley
Thu, 19 Oct 2006 -- To the plethora of eastern warblers along the north coast of California, you can add a single PALM WARBLER on the Little River Headlands October 19, 2006 seen by Ron LeValley and Charlene McAllister.
Wed, 18 Oct 2006 -- This morning Jim and I traveled up to Usal Camp again. The weather was a little windy early, but it got pretty warm later. Last night was quite clear with high pressure. There are less people there mid-week, so we went ahead.
The best bird we could find was a wayward BEWICK'S WREN! A NORTHERN FLICKER looked like an intergrade (neither Red- or Yellow- shafted), but it was at a distance, so I could not be sure.
There were the usual large flocks in the same places as in past weeks. Other birds besides RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were WARBLING VIREO, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, PINE SISKINS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, LESSER GOLDFINCHES, the usual sparrows, etc. Even the Great Blue Heron has departed. The spots of water have almost completely dried up.
It is surely a great birding spot, though. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Tue,17 Oct 2006 -- Two large flocks of migrating (south) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen over the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center. The first flock had about 200 birds, the second about 100 ... both were heard before being seen. Keep an eye (and ear) out for other migrating geese as the heavy storm front hitting Alaska and British Columbia is driving them southward. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 16 Oct 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: There was a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on the permanent pasture at the lower end of the Center. A female BLUE-WINGED TEAL, first observed 10/9, continues on the middle sag pond just above the office area. Yesterday I saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in an open pasture just east of the office. Last week I had one-time sightings of a BURROWING OWL and a PRAIRIE FALCON. I apologize for the late posts. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 13 Oct 2006 -- This morning, due to cold, foggy conditions, Jim and I got a late start and went to Lake Cleone. We started on the south side of the lake with a very large, pure flock of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. We saw at least 70 YRWAs fly in like a stream of Sooty Shearwaters. There were 6 RING-NECKED DUCKS and over 100 AMERICAN COOTS on the lake. On the southeast side, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was mobbed by Bushtits, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and chickadees. The owl was perched directly above the trail. Virtually no other warblers or vireos were seen around the board- walk trail. The owl sighting was exciting, though. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Thu, 12 Oct 2006 -- Hi Birders, This morning Jim and I had an imm female MAGNOLIA WARBLER along the Skunk Train tracks in Fort Bragg at about 9:45. The bird was in a flock of Townsend's Wblrs, R-C Kinglets and C-B Chickadees. The location was about 75 yards west of the boggy area, where a small creek joins Pudding Creek from the south. We had a couple of other small flocks, but nothing unusual was with them.The bird stood out with her pretty, yellow breast, gray face, gray streaks on the flanks, and the undertail - bright white with a wide black terminal band. Good birding! -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Thu, 12 Oct 2006 -- Yesterday morning I saw the CACKLING GOOSE (first found by Stan Beach in September) at Library Park in Lakeport. It was hanging out with 2 Canada Geese.
Late afternoon there was a MARBLED GODWIT on one of the ponds at Nice- Lucerne Cutoff Road. -- Jerry White
Sat, 07 Oct 2006 -- Back out at Usal on a clear cool day, but again very little wind. The numbers and diversity of birds were way down as compared to Thursday. However, the first thing in the morning I found 2 SWAMP SPARROWS moving back and forth between the grasslands and the coastal scrub on the north slope, another new rarity for Usal. About an hour later in a mixed flock I had an excellent close look at an immature CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER in the campground area northeast of the bridge. Other additions to my Usal list were Red-winged Blackbird and Pine Siskin.
For the 5 trips made to Usal this fall I recorded a total of 5 vagrant warblers: Blackburnian,Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Black-and-white (add Blackpoll and Palm found by others=7 at Usal) plus Clay-colored Sparrows on 4 trips and the Swamp Sparrows on Saturday. Last year I was out there 3 times and had American Redstart, Black-and-white and a White-throated Sparrow. This was probably an exceptional year (it has been a very good year for vagrants up and down the coast) but I think it is safe to say that Usal is one of the best locations to look for rarities in Mendocino County. -- Jerry White
Fri, 06 Oct 2006 -- started out birding the south coast on a somewhat overcast day again with little wind. A very slow day birdwise. I did not even hear a chickadee until I got to the Navarro. On Miner Hole Road there were 2 or 3 YELLOW WARBLERS. At Duxbury Road there was a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD. Along the Navarro there were 2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS. Also here were about 600 BROWN PELICANS. On the day I estimate seeing a total of 1000 Brown Pelicans. Early afternoon I walked the train tracks but had no luck on locating the vagrants found the day before. Congratulations to Toby, Karen and Jim on those birds. The Black-throated Blue Warbler found by Jim was the second county record. -- Jerry White
Thu, 05 Oct 2006 -- I birded Usal in the morning and along the coast (Highway 1) to Ft Bragg during the afternoon. The day was overcast with occasional rain showers. At Usal there was little wind and a lot of bird activity.On the north slope I found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW that ended up flying out to the beach with a couple of Savannah Sparrows. At the west campsites (wooded sites next to the grasslands) I found an active early morning flock which had an immature BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. A little later in the morning I came across a huge mixed flock on the road just south of the bridge that I stayed with for well over an hour. There were large numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets in all of the flocks I saw on the day. Another immature Black-and-white Warbler was in this flock along with 2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, 5 or 6 YELLOW WARBLERS, a WILSON'S WARBLER, 1 WARBLING VIREO, a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and an immature HERMIT WARBLER which was new for Usal for me. Back at the west campsites I found a NASHVILLE WARBLER which was also new. On the drive out I stopped at the pullout/overlook above Usal and saw two very late WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES competing for perching sites on the tops of the conifers. I continued birding along the coast (Highway 1) which was very active even in the early to mid-afternoon. At milepost 81.25 on the east side of the road there is a Cal Trans property where they keep materials such as sand, gravel and on this day brush piles. There were large numbers of sparrows and with them was a PALM WARBLER. I ended up @ 11 warblers on the day with 10 seen at Usal. -- Jerry White
Sun, 08 Oct 2006 -- This Sunday morning Toby Tobkin birded with Jim and me at a few spots on the north coast. The same BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (from 10/3) was still at Wages Creek. At Wesport STP pond there were 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Chadbourne Gulch did not have anything of note. At the southside Ten Mile River road (remember it's Sunday), we had a HERMIT WARBLER and a HY WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, along with TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, YELLOW WARBLER and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Thu, 05 Oct 2006 -- This morning at 9:00 AM, I found the 1st of 2 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, and Toby Tobkin found the 2nd CSWA in the same large mixed flock. At about 10:45, Jim spotted the female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in a smaller flock. These and an HY Lazuli (unlikely possible Indigo) Bunting were all seen along the Skunk Train railroad tracks in Fort Bragg. The birds were all seen about a quarter mile past the eucalyptus trees with Chestnut- backed Chickadees. We heard a Sora and several Virginia Rails below Pudding Creek.
Park just east of Franklin St. on Spruce St at the entrance to Rose Mem'l Cemetery. Walk through the south edge of the cemetery to get on the tracks. Be careful -- listen for the 10 AM train and work vehicles on the tracks, get away from the tracks! -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 05 Oct 2006 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin and Karen and Jim Havlena found a female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER along the Skunk Tracks in Fort Bragg. It was in a small group of birds less than 1/4 mile up the tracks. Farther up the tracks they found a female-type Lazuli/Indigo Bunting which could bear further observation. Even further up they found a larger mixed flock that contained two CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS
Wed, 04 Oct 2006 -- I saw a male HOODED ORIOLE flying over the Rancho del Rey seniors' park in Ukiah. It was coming from the direction of two palm trees on Leslie Street, but I did not specifically see it there. Is this the latest record ever? -- George Chaniot
Tue, 03 Oct 2006 -- The third BLACK-AND-WHITE Warbler I've seen this fall, plus a PALM WARBLER were near the coast at Wages Creek this AM between 10 and 10:30. They were with a good-sized flock of chickadees. Yellow, Wilson's, Warbling Vireo among the flock. Wages Creek is on Hwy 1 just north of Westport. Be careful birding here, as there is not much room on the roadsides, except for a large turnout a few yards north of the creek.
This Black and White was an adult, with heavy streaking and obvious spots on the undertail coverts. The Palm had very, bright yellow undertail coverts, bobbed it tail continuously, and even showed a hint of chestnut color on the crown at certain angles. (The other Black-and-Whites at Ten Mile and Usal, were female or immature - slightly dingy, while this bird was immaculate).
A LARK SPARROW was seen by Jim Havlena while I was out this morning on our driveway. I saw it at lunchtime with lots of White-crowns. Good birding! -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 08 Oct 2006 -- On today's Big Sit at Lake Mendocino Chuck Vaughn spotted a RED-NECKED GREBE among the many Western Grebesin the center of the Lake. This is one of the very few inland records of this species. Also of interest were the first season records of LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, BONAPARTE'S GULL, and COMMON LOON. Our total for the day was 75 species, about average for the eight years that we have done this event. Lewis's Woodpecker was new to the circle, and the cumulative list is now 118 species. To see the full list and details go to Lake Mendocino Big Sit Results -- George Chaniot
Mon, 02 Oct 2006 -- An imm, or basic-plumaged ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was reported coming to a feeder south of Fort Bragg above Hare Creek. This is the same location where an adult male RBGR was seen last year. Call Raj at 964-5072 for directions. This bird was reported by phone to Toby Tobkin today.
In my neighborhood (Ocean Meadows, north of Ten Mile River), a SAY'S PHOEBE was flycatching in my front yard, while I was talking to Toby on the phone, just a few minutes ago. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 01 Oct 2006 -- This morning I birded Miner Hole Road and the Garcia River to the mouth in hopes of finding fall migrant vagrants. I had all the usual warblers including two NASHVILLE WARBLERS, but none of the more unusual vagrant warblers. There was a bobcat in the flats and a coyote barking from the river area. River highlights including a nice mature PEREGRINE FALCON perched on a snag near the mouth and a lone BRANT. Shorebirds included a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 16 MARBLED GODWITS, 5 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 50 DUNLIN, many LEAST SANDPIPERS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and SANDERLINGS. Also there were 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. I find it enjoyable to walk to the mouth of the Garcia from the end of Miner Hole Road by wearing shorts and sandals and wading across the river in a couple places ...it seems much closer than walking down Manchester Beach with a greater variety of birds.
There were about 200 BROWN PELICANS resting and bathing near the mouth of Elk Creek (the 200 acre parcel which is for sale). Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 30 Sep 2006 -- About 1:15 this afternoon, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flew over Ten Mile River, while a flock of 12 adult, male GREATER SCAUP paddled about below the bridge. An OSPREY is still hunting off Seaside Beach.
At Virgin Creek mouth, there were 39 MARBLED GODWITS, about 11:30 AM.
Casper Creek mouth and Doyle Creek willows (just south of the RV park store) had a late-ish PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, a Yellow and a Wilson's Warbler. I was there mid-morning. It has been quite cool and overcast for several days here. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 29 Sep 2006 -- I saw about 50 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at 11:45 AM fly west over Howard Street in Mendocino. -- Jack Booth
Wed, 27 Sep 2006 -- Jim and I had a BLACK and WHITE WARBLER and an imm. Black- throated Gray Warbler at Usal Camp among almost 60 species. A heavy marine layer about 150 ft. above the campground kept birding somewhat quiet. We also had Bonaparte's Gull, Sharp- shinned and Cooper's Hawks, Warbling Vireo, Cedar Waxwings and Vaux' Swift.
Jim commented on how nice it was to bird in quiet surroundings, without the traffic at most of the coastal creek mouths. The weekend can have many more people, as Matthew related on Saturday. So, mid-week is the best time to go to Usal. The turnoff from Hwy 1 is at milepost 90.88, east of Rockport. Then drive 6 miles on a steep, windy dirt road. There is a $3 day use fee. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Mon, 25 Sep 2006 -- Today there was a VESPER SPARROW just past the entrance gate to Anderson Marsh State Park (north section) at the end of Lakeview Way (near the church) in Clearlake. Also there were 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Borax Lake. -- Jerry White
Mon, 25 Sep 2006 -- I went to Chadbourne Gulch early Sunday, but had no luck with the Kentucky Warbler. Only Fox, Song, crowned sparrows and a Common Yellowthroat made themselves known. He also went to Wages Creek and DeHaven Creek without any luck there, either. Just the usual common migrants. It is time for another good warbler wave to arrive -- Jim Havlena
Sun, 24 Sep 2006 -- Today I saw (what I think was) a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE near the cliffs off the Mendocino Headlands (by the north parking lot). It was a single, small, elegant white seabird with gray on the back, a black cap, black line through the eye, and a black, needle-like bill. I also saw 8 BLACK TURNSTONES on the rocks near by. We had originally stopped to get a good look at the brown pelicans, who were on the farther rocks in a considerable group (adults and juveniles). I had also seen the pelicans in Agate Cove Thursday evening, some in the water filling their pouches. The bird book said the pelicans only migrate through this area, but where we stayed in Mendocino said the pelicans had been around for a couple of weeks. Is that a normal migration pattern? -- Maureen O'Hagan
Fri, 22 Sep 2006 -- Usal Creek Campground - Yesterday the Chuck Vaughn, George Chaniot, and Bob Keiffer "Birdathon" crew found a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and an immature BLACKPOLL WARBLER in the same mixed flock with Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Wilson's Warblers, Hutton Vireos, etc. We found these while walking the creekbed upstream from the bridge. The key is searching the campground and listening for chickadees, then locating them ... usually there are warblers associated with them. "Pishing" sometimes helps. I also find that it helps to wear an old shirt or jacket so that one can lie flat on the ground to view the birds in the treetops .... this helps to prevent a permanent kink in the neck.
There were not as many warblers as on Wednesday ... so we really had to search for them. Activity does not really start until the sun hits the trees ... about 08:30 AM. It was quite windy at times but we did find pockets where it was calm ...at least for a while.
There was one CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the entrance ....right near the campground sign. There were also numerous VAUX'S SWIFTS and at least a dozen WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS foraging over the north hillside (up near the burned area). The white-throated can easily be seen and identified from the beach access area.
For any of you that pursue the Kentucky Warbler at Chadbourne Gulch (I unfortunately did not see this bird) Chuck found it by "pishing" and then hearing a "chup" note call somewhat like a Hermit thrush's but different. He realized it was a warbler and continues to "pish" it closer to him (about 10 feet away) in the thick underbrush riparian along the creek. This guy is a real "skulker" and sticks to the ground or low dense understory. The bird was seen just about 50 feet west of where the dirt entrance road meets Hwy 1. We searched for another 20 minutes or so without relocating the bird ... I even walked (crawled) up the creek in search of it. -- Good birding. Bob Keiffer.
Fri, 22 Sep 2006 -- A male KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen by Chuck Vaughn, George Chaniot, and Bob Keiffer at Chadbourne Gulch, a few miles north of Ten Mile River on the Mendocino Coast. What a week for warblers! -- message relayed by Cheryl Watson
Fri, 22 Sep 2006 -- Hi birders, This morning Jim walked below the bridge and east on the old haul road. He had a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER and his first GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW of the Fall. I went to the river mouth, where I saw 4 ELEGANT TERNS and 3 MARBLED GODWITS. Last Saturday, Becky Bowen saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW on the beach south of the river mouth. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 21 Sep 2006 -- This afternoon at the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff pond there was a MARBLED GODWIT and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. -- Jerry White
Thu, 21 Sep 2006 -- In addition to the birds already reported I had the following at Usal Camp; a SAY'S PHOEBE and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER were on the north slope on the road out to the beach, and there were 2 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS in other locations on Tuesday September 19th. On Wednesday the 20th there was a LARK SPARROW on the north slope. On Thursday the 21st there were a total of 4 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW; 3 were seen in the grasslands and on the north slope and 1 was at the entrance campground. Also on Wednesday Chuck spotted (seen by the rest of us) the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS, a very good local bird.
Directions to Usal Camp; take Usal Road @ mile marker 90.88 on Highway 1. This is about 15 miles west of Leggett or about 13 miles northeast of Westport. Usal Road is a rather rough sometimes fairly steep dirt road but is passable this time of year even without 4 wheel drive or a high clearance vehicle. It took me about 25 minutes to drive from highway 1 to Usal (6 miles) on this road each morning. From Ft. Bragg the total trip time was about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The beach, grasslands and the north slope are the first to get sunlight this time of year. Most of the woodlands and riparian areas are not light until about 9 AM (if there is no fog).
This is a major migrant "trap" (and therefore a vagrant trap) this time of year. Including 3 trips last year and the 3 this year my list includes: Tennessee, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, American Redstart (warblers). Add to that the Blackpoll seen on Wednesday and a Palm Warbler that was recorded prior out there and you have 7 of the 15 vagrant warblers reported for the county. For sparrows I have seen a White-throated and the Clay-colored.
That is the good news. On the down side is it is a very large area and can be difficult birding( a group of birders is the best way to cover the area). Also the weather conditions can be a factor. The winds in the morning (from land to sea) can be very strong and make looking through the flocks moving through the woodlands near impossible. And of course the birds do not always cooperate. I looked through a number of passerine flocks yesterday (in perfect weather conditions with no wind) and did not turn up anything rare. -- Jerry White
Wed, 20 Sep 2006 -- While waiting on the 9th tee at the Ukiah Golf Course yesterday, a LESSER GOLDFINCH landed on the index finger of my left hand, which was also wrapped around my golf ball and my club. She sat there for about 5 seconds.... -- Bruce Gove
Wed, 20 Sep 2006 -- TENNESSEE WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER and BLACKPOLL WARBLER topped the list of 10 Warbler species seen this morning at Usal Campground on the Lost Coast of MEN Co. Three CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, Cassin's Vireo and 5 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS added to the fun had by Chuck Vaughn, George Chaniot, Jerry White and myself.
The other warbler species were: Black-throated Gray, Townsend's, Orange-crowned, Yellow, Wilson's and Yellow-rumped. The Magnolia was an HY female, while the Tennessee and Blackpoll appeared to be non-breeding adults. Yesterday, Jerry White had a MacGillivray's in addition to the Blackburnian (NOT seen today).
From N Hwy 1, take Usal Road at MM 90.88 and go 6 miles to the campground. (The road is passable but steep in places).
In the afternoon, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS were off Juan Creek, and a second Cassin's Vireo (quite gray, but still a Cassin's) was at Chadbourne Gulch in the willows. Cheers -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 19 Sep 2006 -- Jerry White reports that he spent the morning birding the campground at Usal Beach. This is reached by taking the dirt road north off of Hiway 1 at mile marker 90.86. The campground is 6 miles north along this road. Jerry said that when the sun warmed the trees in the campground by about 10 am, there was lots of bird activity. Between the first large camping area to the left and the bridge over Usal Creek he followed a mixed flock which contained a first-winter BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. This is our first county record. Jerry also found 2 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS in the same flock, one a first-winter bird and the other a probable fall adult. Along the road were 2 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS. Jerry intends to go in there again tomorrow. He advises that birding activity doesn't pick up until the sun reaches the campground trees later in the morning -- ChuckVaughn
Tue, 19 Sep 2006 -- This morning I went to the ponds along the Nice/Lucerne cutoff reported on by Dave Woodward yesterday. I found about the same group of birds as he: an AMERICAN AVOCET, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, about 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS. This was my third try this fall for an avocet in Lake Co., and I finally succeeded. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 18 Sep 2006 -- A mudflat has developed at the pond behind the metal barn on the Nice/Lucerne cutoff that bears watching for the next couple of weeks. This is several hundred yards east of the Rodman bridge. This morning there was one AMERICAN AVOCET and one PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the flat as well as hundreds of gulls and lesser numbers of peeps and wading birds. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 17 Sep 2006 -- Hi, Seabirders, This is the trip report for Shearwater Journeys' Sep 15 and 17 pelagic trips. The Sep 15th trip from Bodega Bay was weathered out at the port the morning of the trip. Many of the birders who had signed up for the trip on the 15th, were also scheduled for the Fort Bragg trip on the 17th. So, those of us who were, birded our way north along Highway 1 from Bodega Bay to Fort
Bragg on the 16th. Many out-of-state birders headed up to Mountain View Road to successfully find MOUNTAIN QUAIL. A few lucky birders also found NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS on this road, and in Van Damme State Park.
On Sep 17th the swells were still quite large, and winds were from the northwest at 15-20 knots. Highlights of our trip included BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, MARBLED MURRELETS off Usal River mouth, and two BLUE WHALES. Leaders on the 17th were: Lisa Hug, Jim Danzenbaker, Scott Terrill, and Debra Shearwater. Our species list is unusually low due to the difficult weather conditions.
Species recorded on Sep 17th from Fort Bragg: PACIFIC LOON-8, COMMON LOON-1, WESTERN GREBE-3, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-4-5, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-325, BULLER'S SHEARWATER-18, SOOTY SHEARWATER-468
BROWN PELICAN-80, BRANDT'S CORMORANT-45, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT-2, PELAGIC CORMORANT-2, WANDERING TATTLER-3, RUDDY TURNSTONE-2, BLACK TURNSTONE-8, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-35, RED PHALAROPE-9, SOUTH POLAR SKUA-1, POMARINE JAEGER-1, HEERMANN'S GULL-180, CALIFORNIA GULL-38, WESTERN GULL-350
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-12, SABINE'S GULL-2, COMMON MURRE-1524, PIGEON GUILLEMOT-5, MARBLED MURRELET-4, RHINOCEROS AUKLET-43, HARBOR SEAL-5, MINKE WHALE-1, BLUE WHALE-2, HUMPBACK WHALE-3, PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN-2, HARBOR PORPOISE-15-20, VAUX'S SWIFTS flying over Noyo Bridge while the boat was at the dock. Thank you, one and all, -- Debra Love Shearwater
Sun, 17 Sep 2006 -- Two distinguished guests from New York have been staying at my home. They just got in the door from birding in Mendo County after the boat trip on Sep 17th. So, I just now learned that they saw a PHILADELPHIA VIREO during their time spent birding after the trip.
Directions for the vireo are as follows: Highway 128 off Route 1 just below Redwoods State Park at mile marker 1.38 near pullout with short trail to river. The vireo was in cottonwoods or aspens on the river side toward Route 1. It was seen from 4 feet above ground and in aspens by two very top notch east coast guys.
They also saw three NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS in daylight. One owl was at Lake Cleone, being mobbed by a single Steller's Jay. Two owls were at Van Damme Park, also being mobbed by little birds. They drove Mountain View Road twice and saw MOUNTAIN QUAIL both times.
These fellows had a great time birding in Mendo County. They are here for the month of September, and are going on every single Shearwater Journey's trip during the month, including the October 1st trip. Then, they head home. -- Debra Love Shearwater, Hollister
Sun, 17 Sep 2006 -- Hi birders, I had a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and a NORTHERN PARULA this morning on the south bank of Ten Mile River. Jim and I walked down the paved haul road east of the bridge to the low bridge over the south fork of the river. The female BAWW was seen near where the old (walking) haul road joins the paved road. Later, she moved with a large, mixed flock to the east. The young male NOPA was on the steep hillside above the road with Warbling Vireos, Yellows, Wilson's, Orange-crowns, etc. Even though the skies have been clear, I'm glad we took the chance. (Unfortunately, Sunday is the only day to walk on the paved road).
At Lake Cleone, a SORA responded nicely to clapping today, at the east end of the lake. On Friday, Jim watched a RED PHALAROPE with 6 Red-necked Phalaropes on Lake Cleone. There was Black-throated Gray Warbler on the south side of the lake, along with a Willow Flycatcher.
Friday, I had my first-of-the-year Amer. Pipits at Caspar Creek mouth, Lincoln's Sparrows at Big River, and Western Wood Pewee at Wages Creek. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Sun, 17 Sep 2006 -- There was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on the east side of Hiway 1 past Howard Creek across from a Vista Point entrance. This is north of Westport. Also there was a LARK SPARROW at Westport and a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at Chadbourne Gulch that same morning. -- Jerry White
Sat, 16 Sep 2006 -- I birded today with Chuck Vaughn on the south coast from Point Arena to the Navarro River. We were hoping for warblers but had trouble getting beyond Yellow and Wilson's. The most interesting birds were shorebirds along the Garcia River: we had a SOLITARY SANDPIPER at Windy Hollow, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS near the end of Miner Hole Road, and a RED KNOT at the mouth. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 15 Sep 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning George Chaniot and I found 2 CATTLE EGRETS on the north oxidation pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatmen Plant. They subsequently flew to the south pond and were walking between there and the middle pond when we left at 945. They seemed fairly approachable so hopefully will hang around a while. We also found a PECTORAL SANDPIPER among lots of peeps. As Cheryl Watson reported last weekend, the north pond is being filled and presently has some great shorebird habitat. They are filling it by emptying the south pond which will very soon also be great for shorebirds. We also refound the first-winter male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in a large flock of mostly Red-wingeds. Of local interest was an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flying between the ponds and the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 12 Sep 2006, 06:17 -- This morning before sunrise I was stopped for road construction on Hwy 20 over the Russian River inlet to Lake Mendocino when I heard several BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS down along the inlet. Kate Marianchild reported seeing several in willows along there back on 26 Aug. while she was kayaking. Maybe they are regulars -- George Chaniot
Mon, 11 Sep 2006 -- Hi -- This morning, Toby Tobkin had a RED KNOT at Glass Beach. I had a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, plus WILSON'S WARBLERS and YELLOW WARBLERS at Wages Creek. At Ten Mile River by the bridge, there were 2 MARBLED GODWITS and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, but no LTDU (last seen 28 August). -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 10 Sep 2006 -- The north pond is being filled and the south pond emptied, creating some nice mud banks and flats. Nothing unusual today, but a small flock of LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS may be the harbingers of some interesting shorebird activity. Five AMERICAN WIGEON were the only new ducks seen. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 08 Sep 2006 -- The EASTERN KINGBIRD was still present this evening at the Hopland Research and Extension Center's permanent pasture along University Road. Barbara Dolan, Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heineken, and I found it at about 7:05 PM foraging from posts and sprinkler heads in the center of the pasture north of the road. I had been scoping the pasture and the vineyards to the west and south for nearly two and a half hours before we found it. So, as of sunset it was still in the area. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 08 Sep 2006 -- Hi Birders, Today Jim and I birded various locations north of Fort Bragg. Wages Creek had a large flock containing an imm female BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, several WARBLING VIREOS (I looked at each one carefully), YELLOW WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, etc. An unfortunate SWAINSON'S THRUSH was alive, but in the mouth of a cat inside inside the fence at the private campground.
Inglenook Fen and Ten Mile beach had a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO at the fen. Four RUDDY TURNSTONES, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, four MARBLED GODWITS, WANDERING TATTLER, and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS were scattered up and down the beach and rocks.
Lake Cleone had a CASSIN'S VIREO and a WESTERN TANAGER. An early RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was along the boardwalk over Mill Creek.
The Long-tailed Duck has not been seen. The river mouth may be closing off, because the water is becoming quite high east of the Ten Mile bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 08 Sep 2006 -1:40 -2:30 PM -- There is an adult EASTERN KINGBIRD foraging over the irrigated pasture at the lower elevation of the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center. It would be viewable with binos or preferably a scope from the University Road (county road). In the short time that I looked at the pasture I saw 1 Willow Flycatcher, 2 Western Kingbirds, 2 Black Phoebes, 1 Say's Phoebe, and the Eastern Kingbird. There are also a dozen or so Western Bluebirds flycatching from the fences and sprinkler heads also. The EAKI ranges all over the pasture during the time that I watched it, at one time into the vineyard to the west, and another time atop the large Valley Oak tree at the NE side of the pastures. This bird may hang around until this evening ...the south wind helps to keep the migrating birds in place. You can call me 707-391-8190 if you wish to pursue this bird this evening. Cheers. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 07 Sep 2006 -- John Luther saw a flyover COMMON TERN (extremely rare for Lake) from the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road. There were also 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in one of flooded checks; but no Avocets. -- Jerry White
Wed, 06 Sep 2006 -- 18:00 hrs - I saw an EASTERN KINGBIRD along MacKerricher Haul Road. The white-tipped black tail was evident. It was flycatching from posts along the east side of the Haul Road north of Virgin Creek about 1/8th mile, near a red house with white trim. -- Tina Fabula
Mon, 04 Sep 2006 -- Hi all, Charlene and I decided to avoid the traffic through Fort Bragg and so went south to the Garcia River Mouth. Immediately after getting out of the car at the end of Miner's Hole road, we had two Cassin's Vireos and then Charlene spotted an adult male AMERICAN REDSTART which was shortly joined by a second adult male. We later encountered at least 2 other Cassin's Vireos and a scattering of other western migrants including two Townsend's Warblers, Western Wood Pewee, Wilson's Warblers, Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroat. On the river were two Lesser Yellowlegs and a Red Phalarope of note.
To see a photo of yesterday's Reeve, you can go to http://levalleyphoto.com/gallery/viewphoto.php?id=694 . There will be a
second photo posted tomorrow morning. Cheers. -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 04 Sep 2006 -- Jim and I went early this morning in hopes of seeing Ms. Reeve at Caspar Creek mouth, but she was not there. There were campers just below the pullout, and a man with his coffee was walking around the edge of the usual "birdy" area. We also checked the mouth of Doyle creek around the corner to the south, but no luck there either.
I have not seen the Long-tailed Duck since Monday, August 28th. He regularly seen the previous week. The tides have been high during the day, and the Common Mergansers have been missing as well. They may all be up stream. His flight feathers were still not in very good shape on or about 8/23, so he still could be around. This coming week, the low tides return to the early, daylight hours -- so, we shall see . . . -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 03 Sep 2006 -- Hi all, Charlene and I had a juvenal REEVE (female RUFF) at the Caspar Creek mouth late this afternoon, Sunday September 3, 2006 -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 01 Sep 2006 -- There were at least 8 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the pond behind the barn on Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road. This is about 1 mile from Highway 20 fairly close to Rodman Slough Bridge. There were also a large number of gulls. I was not able to get out and check for an accurate count of the Avocets or to look for any other species. -- Jerry White
Fri, 01 Sep 2006 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a female REDHEAD on the south pond hanging with the Greater Scaups and Ring-necked Ducks. At Lake Mendocino there were two FORSTER'S TERNS flying widely around the lake from the Mesa to the Coyote Dam. There was also an eclipse male NORTHERN PINTAIL at the very south end of the lake. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 31 Aug 2006 -- Just a quick note to report an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER on the coast at Little River Headlands today 8/31/06 -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 -- Sorry for the late post on this as we live in Manteca. While birding the trail around Lake Cleone on Wed. 8/30, my wife Lorna found a female AMERICAN REDSTART. It was associating with a group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, and warblers (Wilson's, Orange-crowned, and Yellow). It was seen at the eastern end of the lake from the boardwalk. There were also several Warbling Vireos and at least one Cassin's Vireo in the flock.
Of local interest, I found a juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON on the east side of Hwy. 1 bridge at Pudding Creek. -- Mark Elness, Manteca
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 -- This morning, Jim and I drove north to Juan Creek and worked our way south. We had a great flock on the east side of Hwy 1 at Juan Creek. There was a Nashville Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, 7-8 Warbling Vireos, a Hutton's Vireo, and the usual suspects. Howard Creek had 3+ Red-breasted Sapsuckers, a Vaux' Swift, a Western Wood Pewee, a couple of Western Tanagers, and a Black-headed Grosbeak with so much blackberry juice around his bill and chin that we looked twice to make sure it was not a RBGR.
At Wages Creek, there was a Hermit Warbler above the large, dirt turnout. A "warbling" vireo was different-looking to me, with an elongated face and large bill. Unfortunately, a sudden traffic jam of 5th wheels and pick-ups ruined my looks at that bird. It had flown across the road to the edge of the camp- ground, and I was trying to look at it again when the large vehicles pulled out in front of me and stopped. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 -- Over the last ten days I have been participating in the annual steelhead rearing surveys, and I have visited eleven sites on the Main Fork of the Eel River between Lake Pilsbury and Dos Rios - spending 3-4 hours at each site. Last year I reported seeing AMERICAN DIPPERS at every site visited. This year I saw only one (28 Aug 2006, mouth of Thomas Creek). There were droppings on rocks throughout the reach, but, excepting Thomas Creek, none appeared fresh. This change must relate somehow to the near-record flows of 55,000 cfs that went through this canyon last winter, but how is not clear to me. Populations of stoneflies and mayflies seem good. The riverbed is altered considerably in a few places, but hardly at all in many others. Perhaps nest sites were destroyed. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 29 Aug 2006 -- Near sundown today approx. 40-45 VAUX'S SWIFTS were flying above my home in SW Lakeport. They remained in sight for more than one half hour until dark. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 28 Aug 2006 -- One of the birders who did the late August Fort Bragg pelagics, told me on the Monday, August 28th Bodega Bay trip, that he saw a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL perched on a fence post for more than 5 minutes, basking in the full morning sun on Mountain View Road. He also saw MOUNTAIN QUAIL with chicks on this road. See you in September, -- Debra Love Shearwater
Mon, 28 Aug 2006 -- This morning, 8/28, I returned for more attempts at seeing the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE and the female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in Albion. Finally, after driving back and forth over the bridge many times searching both sides of town and the campground down by the river, I did see both birds. The GTGR was on the south side near the two abandoned stores. The YHBL was on the north side on the roof of the Albion River Inn.
Also seen at Caspar Creek mouth: the adult and juv BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and the juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Sadly, a male COMMON NIGHTHAWK had been killed and was in very bad shape on the roadway, right by where birders have been parking. The head and tail were missing. Perhaps, a predator had killed it prior to its being left on the road. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 27 Aug 2006 -- Jim and I saw one COMMON NIGHTHAWK at Caspar Creek mouth. Earlier mid-morning, I saw the DUSKY FLYCATCHER at the north end of the parking area at Glass Beach. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 27 Aug 2006 -- Hi, Mendo Birders, Don Doolittle and I birded south along the coast on our way to Bodega Bay today. Among other places, we stopped at the Albion River Inn to look for the White-winged Dove, which I suppose was flying over
Jerry's head at Glass Beach. While looking for the dove, a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD popped up in the tall, dense hedge at the Inn, along with a few Brewer's Blackbirds. It flew across the street, and sat on the roof of the house at the Llama Farm. Continuing south, we turned west on Mendo Road 401 after crossing the Albion bridge. A GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE surprised us by popping up on a telephone pole a
short distance down this road! Paul Sykes and Bill Blakeslee were watching the bird, too. They returned to the Albion Inn and found the Yellow-headed Blackbird, too.
We made numerous stops at the typical places along the coast, beginning with the Botanical Gardens in town, Casper Creek, and Navarro Road, and Miner Hole Road. Didn't find anything unusual. Western migrants on the move included BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS (6), WESTERN TANAGERS (4), WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE (1), PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER (1), YELLOW WARBLER (2), WILSON'S WARBLER (10), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (6). We also saw many resident species.
Beautiful drive. Hoping the flat sea conditions that we observed along the entire length of the drive will continue for tomorrow's pelagic trip from Bodega Bay! Sparrows forever, -- Debra Love Shearwater
Sun, 27 Aug 2006 -- While looking for the Prairie Warbler (not found) that was reported at Glass Beach on Thursday August 24th I had a WHITE-WINGED DOVE fly over. -- Jerry White
Sun, 27 Aug 2006 -- A DUSKY FLYCATCHER was working the dead broom stalks close to the parking area at Glass Beach this morning. -- Les Lieurance, San Francisco
Sat, 26 Aug 2006 -- I had some nice sighting on a kayak excursion at the northeast end o Lake Mendocino and up the Russian River on Saturday, August 26.
There's a still-active ACORN WOODPECKER nest across from the north boat ramp, with what I think is a sibling rivalry war going on - birds from other family groups fighting over who gets to claim a breeding vacancy in the family associated with this nest. (Some non-birder fishermen told me about "some red-headed woodpeckers over there having a big fight" - so I paddled right over). Whenever a bird landed near the nest hole another one would fly over and land near it, often higher on the trunk, keeping it's wings spread; then it would back down the tree and force the other one to fly off. The fighters were male (unless they were this year's juveniles among whom the males and females are indistinguishable - which would probably mean it wasn't a sibling rivalry war). Sometimes four birds were around the nest hole. I saw one bird fly at and collide with a bird perched on the trunk, knocking it off. According to Walt Koenig these wars can go on for a week, stop, and then start all over again. (I'm not sure if the fights typically revolve around who gets to feed the young - of course that would happen only during nesting season). Occasionally a young bird peeked out of the hole.
I saw two juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS in a huge willow tree opposite the Bu-Shay Campground road.
In the same area were several confusing flycatchers. One looked a lot like a Black Phoebe from a distance, in shape, size, and behavior, but it was definitely not one (head and upper breast were not black). Unfortunately I didn't get good enough looks to report it very well Head was grey-brown, but having puzzled over many flycatchers that day, I'm not sure about the breast and belly. How many birds could look like a Black Phoebe?
Another flycatcher was fairly large, greyish head and back, whitish breast and belly, long pinkish(?) bill with black tip, highly patterned "back" but indistinct wing bars. No hint of an eye ring. Its forays were long - maybe 10-15 seconds, and it rarely returned to the same perch. Sometimes the perches were low, sometimes 15 feet up Olive-sided? Would one be in riparian habitat if migrating?
Also a WILLOW FLYCATCHER and a couple of WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES.
Three WESTERN TANAGERS (one male, two females), an American Crow with white spots on its wings, one quick glimpse of a possible Rufous Hummingbird.
A copious pile scat resided on a low horizontal part of the trunk of the huge willow tree - scat of different ages and ingredients - purple-red berries, crayfish, and some just smooth olive-brown. Would that be otter? I saw two otter farther upstream. One (juvenile?) peered out of a hole in a hump covered with pink fibers that I think were willow roots. A Stellar's Jay loudly warned it of my presence, and then danced close attendance after it slipped into the water and came out with a fish. I was surprised at how long it took to chow that fish down. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 26 Aug 2006 -- Geoff, Vishnu, and I watched a SAY'S PHOEBE work the east end of the dry north sewer pond around 11AM Saturday. Lots of SAVANNAH SPARROWS and several COMMON YELLOWTHROATS in the same pond. Very few ducks in the wet ponds now: a pair of RUDDIES, two LESSER SCAUP, one CINNAMON TEAL, and MALLARDS, also one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. We saw and heard several WESTERN TANAGERS along the river and in the willow south of the bubbler pond. These are the first I've seen at USTP this year. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 26 Aug 2006 -- Howdy, Seabirders, Shearwater Journeys operated two back-to-back trips from Fort Bragg, CA on August 25 and 26th. The contrast in these two trips was remarkable. The cold chill of the morning mist greeted us both days, but these two trips would turn out to be remarkably different in terms of weather and the number of species and abundance of seabirds. In the end, those participants who opted for both trips, compiled a near complete list of standard seabirds and marine mammals for the season. Unusual were brief sightings of MANX and FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. The sea surface temperature was an even 52F throughout both days.
The Friday trip on August 25th had patchy areas of fog, swells, and difficult seas. We headed offshore and encountered large flocks of shearwaters about 8 miles out of the harbor. Our destination was offshore to the Noyo Canyon and Viscaino Knoll. In sharp contrast to our trip on August 13th, there were precious few seabirds in the canyon or at the knoll. Highlights of this day included exceptional views of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES at the stern with excellent photo ops, and a great time with the NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHINS and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS.
The next day, August 26th, I decided to try a different route, as the weather forecast was excellent for flat seas. So, for the first time, ever, on any of the one day trips that we have run from Fort Bragg, we headed south to explore new canyons. Immediately, we encountered flocks of shearwaters, and leader, David Vander Pluym called out a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER! This was followed shortly by a call from Todd McGrath of MANX SHEARWATER! Along the 50 fathom curve, both in the morning and evening, we encountered tremendous seabird life, and marine mammals, including feeding HUMPBACK WHALES and large numbers of RISSO'S DOLPHINS. Thousands and thousands of shearwaters were feeding in the morning, and resting on the water in the evening. This was our first trip of the season that encountered flocks of over 100 BULLER'S
SHEARWATERS sitting on the water, along with numbers of PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and a few SOOTYS. The amount of wildlife in this area was phenomonal. Virtually all of the cetaceans were found along the continental shelf. The photo ops were excellent. Other highlights included a " full house" in the jaeger department POMARINE, PARASITIC LONG-TAILED, and SOUTH POLAR SKUA. Offshore, we visited the Navarro and Arena Canyons quite possibly the first time birders have ever been to these canyons. SABINE'S GULLS, COMMON and ARCTIC TERNS were found offshore in these canyons. The weather continued to remain excellen throughout the day, with flat seas, and uniformly high overcast skies. (no fog!). It was a wonderful day, in sharp contrast to the previous day, but also a good experience for the folks who signed on for both days! -- Debra Love Shearwater
Sat, 26 Aug 2006 -- Hi all, This evening, Daryl Coldren, David Vander Pluym, and I had 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS at the Caspar Creek Mouth near dusk. There was also a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (juv.) and 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS there. Today on the way home to Humboldt County Daryl and I made a stop at Ten Mile River, and saw the continuing LONG-TAILED DUCK. -- Rob Fowler, Arcata
Sat, 26 Aug 2006 -- Hi -- Mid-morning, I spotted a juvenile WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Albion. We motored down to look for the Great-tailed Grackle (which we did not find, darn). The White-winged Dove was seen three times by both Jim and myself. I initially got very good looks at it and noted markings clearly indicating a juvenile (whitish areas on the forehead and auricular area above a dark gray slash right below). Tail and wing markings were obvious. The WWDO was mostly in the vicinity of the Harris Llama Farm directly across Hwy 1 from the Albion River Inn. It also flew to several telephone poles and lines just to the south in the same little neighborhood north of Albion-Little River Airport Rd. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 25 Aug 2006 -- * This afternoon at 17:50 Chuck Vaughn and I found a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE in Albion. We were driving south on Hwy 1 and the bird was flying north. It perched in a tree just east of Hwy 1 on the south side of the Albion River. The bird then few and perched briefly on the east railing of the Hwy 1 bridge over the Albion River. Finally, the bird flew to the group of eucalyptus trees at the northwest end of the bridge. By driving a short distance up the airport road that T's into Hwy 1 at the northeast end of the bridge we could observe the grackle perched in the top of one of these eucalyptus trees. The bird was still there when we left. This is only the second or third record for GTGR in Mendocino County. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 25 Aug 2006 -- . This morning at the Reclamation Rd. wild rice fields near Upper Lake two WHITE-FACED IBISES flew in from the east and landed in the check just to the west of the stock gates on the north end of the rice fields. They stayed more than 10 minutes, then flew and circled several times before landing in a check near the center of the fields. -- Dave Woodward, Lakeport
Thu, 24 Aug 2006 -- Other birds seen this morning at Caspar Creek mouth included a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. Four to five BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were along Ten Mile Beach on the 23rd. The LONG-TAILED DUCK is still on the east side of the Ten Mile River bridge.
Neither I nor Dave, Jerry or Nikki could refind the Prairie Warbler as of 1:30 PM today. Jerry was headed back to Caspar Creek mouth this afternoon to look for the probable Long-toed Stint. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 24 Aug 2006 - "Toby" Tobkin reports finding a PRAIRIE WARBLER in one of the large willow patches at Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, at around 9:30 AM. The willow patch is found on the NW side of the Glass Beach area ....nearest the lone cypress tree. The bird was on the north end of the willow patch and disappear down into the thick willows. Toby could not coax it back up again
Thu, 24 Aug 2006 -- The possible Long-toed Stint found yesterday by Jerry White at the Caspar Creek estuary could NOT be refound this morning as of 10:00 AM. Characteristics seen on this bird last evening by Jerry White and "Toby" Tobkin appear to be good for Long-toed Stint, however further documentation (photo, other observers with good notes) are necessary to confirm this sighting. There were about one-half the number of Least Sandpipers there this morning as compared to last evening. Several observers will continue to look for the Stint elsewhere along the coast and back at Caspar Creek estuary throughout the day. Yesterday the Stint was there at 6:15 PM until dark. -- reported by Bob Keiffer for Jerry White.
Wed, 23 Aug 2006 -- On Wednesday August 23rd I walked the beach south of 10 Mile River. There were 5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS -- Jerry White
Wed, 23 Aug 2006 -- This afternoon Jerry White found a bird among the peeps at the mouth of Caspar Creek which he thinks is a possible LONG-TOED STINT. Jerry, Nikki White, and Toby Tobkin all saw the bird and agree that it is of great interest. Jerry asks for more observers to look for the bird, offer an opinion, and get photo documentation.
Sun, 20 Aug 2006 -- I did some birding here for the first time in nearly a month. At Borax Lake there were four RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, a worn male GREATER SCAUP, a CINNAMON TEAL, a few NORTHERN SHOVELERS and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, all at the south end. There were disappointingly few shorebirds. Another WILLOW FLYCATCHER was at Redbud Park. There were three CINNAMON TEAL at the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Highlights from last month included a female RUDDY DUCK accompanied by 12 ducklings, two male GREATER SCAUP and two adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at Borax Lake on 23 July, and six female COMMON MERGANSERS at Clearlake Park on 15 July. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 20 Aug 2006 -- This morning I found a peep at the Ukiah Sewage
Treatment Plant which I believe to be a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. It was on
the dike separating the south from the central percolation ponds in the company of a Least Sandpiper. I base the ID mostly on structural grounds: it was faintly larger than the Least Sandpiper, the bill was relatively short, thick at the base, and blunt-tipped without droop. The legs were dark. The plumage was gray-brown, paler than the Least and without a hint of rufous in the scapulars or crown. I believe that it was a juvenile in fresh plumage, but the pair flew off to the east before I could assess that, and I could not relocate them.
Some other birds at the ponds this morning were 3 California Gulls, 2 Caspian Terns, 1 Black-necked Stilt, 2 Eared Grebes in alternate plumage, and 10 Red-necked Phalaropes. I could not find the Yellow-headed Blackbird
in the blackbird flocks, but there was a blue BUDGERIGAR among the female
redwings. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 20 Aug 2006 -- A RED KNOT was found at Virgin Creek Beach this morning by Stan Snyder at about 10:30 a.m. Other notables at Virgin Creek Beach were MARBLED GODWITS (4) and BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS (4). Yesterday, Saturday, several observers (Stan Snyder, Kathy Robertson, Roger and Greta Adamson and I failed to find the BAR-TAILED GODWIT. Nor was the bird found this morning by noon by Stan or I. -- Roger Foote
Mon, 21 Aug 2006 -- Thanks everyone, for your reponses, both public and private; sadly, the [Red-necked Phalarope] passed on late last night. Had hoped to take it to Woodlands Wildlife here on the coast after the vet checked it, but Nature had other plans, I suppose.
Meantime, I did go out to Pudding Creek yesterday afternoon and saw another dead one on the creek edge, but three live ones; one adult and two juveniles, feeding in a shallow tidepool north of the beach area. -- Feather Forestwalker
Sat, 19 Aug 2006 -- I saw what I think was a female BLUE GROUSE on Parducci Road Saturday afternoon (around 4:30 p.m.) when driving through a small fir forest a couple of miles above Round Mountain. It was a solitary bird, with a short tail, and definitely not a quail or young turkey. According to the range maps in Sibley, if I saw a grouse, it must have been a Blue Grouse, so that's what I guess it was. They are listed as "uncommon" in the Mendocino checklist. Certainly the first grouse I've ever seen! -- Maureen O'Hagen [ as of July, our Blue Grouse is now called the "Sooty Grouse". It's going to take some time to get used to that-GEC ]
Sat, 19 Aug 2006 -- A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE juvenile was caught at Noyo Beach this evening and brought to me for care (I am taking it to the vet in the morning in hopes that another rehabilitator can take it on, as I am ill-equipped here for such an undertaking). The bird is weak - not emaciated, just weak (has a thick store of fat at the keel), and seems a bit disoriented. Does anyone know if this is too early for Red-necked Phalaropes to migrate down the coast? -- Feather Forestwalker
Sat, 19 Aug 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I got out to the sewer ponds this morning for my weekly cheap thrills. I was surprised to find 2 juvenile WILLETS on the edge of the dry north pond. Other new birds out there were 2 juvenile CALIFORNIA GULLS and an adult CASPIAN TERN moving between the flooded middle and south ponds. The summering ducks had been joined by NORTHERN SHOVELERS (5) and a GREEN-WINGED TEAL. I refound the YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD wading aggressively through a large flock of mostly Red-winged Blackbirds. The 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES reported a week ago had tripled to 9. The BLACK-NECKED STILT continues. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 17 Aug 2006 -- Hello, After a couple of days of the Long-tailed Duck missing and our phone lines being down for almost 24 hours, Jim and I saw the LONG-TAILED DUCK both yesterday and today, Thursday. Yesterday morning, a Common Murre was east of the bridge just floating around. It looked alert and okay -- just on a tour of the river, I guess. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 17 Aug 2006 -- Just this morning while talking with Stan Beach in my office; he recalled another rock that may be a roosting site for the Brown Booby in that area. It is called Needle Rock and can be seen after a short walk north on a trail from the visitor center. We looked it up on the California Resource Project which shows photos of the coastline. The rock is visible on one of the photos (the other rocks Bob mentioned are too far out to show up on those photos) and is an obvious roosting rock. So, if by chance anyone else decides to make the long trek up there, make sure you also check out Needle Rock. -- Jerry White
Wed, 16 Aug 2006 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports that she watched the BAR-TAILED GODWIT again today from about 5:00-6:00 pm at Virgin Creek Beach. It ranged from the pond at the creek mouth to the north end of the beach. The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS were still there too.
Wed, 16 Aug 2006 -- - George Chaniot and I searched Bear Harbor from about 7:00 AM to 11:30 Am this morning looking for the Brown Booby discovered by Jerry White last week. Despite several flurries of bird activity (surf fish run, bait fish frenzies at the surface, etc) we could not locate the Brown Booby. We viewed the sea stacks from various angles, including Morgan Rock and North Rock and Cluster Rocks. Highlights for the day included 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in Bear Creek ...including one the worked its way upstream about 1/16 mile, 1 RED PHALAROPE, 1 WANDERING TATTLER, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT eating a large Surf Perch, a mixed flock of warblers in the eucalyptus/alder grove which included numerous Yellow Warblers, Wilson Warblers, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Warbling vireo, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. A lone immature male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was at the mouth of Bear Creek. 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET was seen amongst numerous Common Murres and Pigeon Guillemots. No other alcids could be found. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was near the visitor center and a BARN OWL was heard early in the morning.
The numerous Harbor Seals were either on the rocks or sleeping in the middle of seaweed patches ...my theory is that they try to stay out-of-sight of the Great White Sharks. I only saw one harbor Seal swimming by itself in open water.
On the road in just near the end of the pavement a large 7 point bull elk posed for photos and appeared to be a Tule Elk, and once we reached the ocean bench numerous Roosevelt Elk were seen, including a large bull near Orchard campground.
This is a beautiful place to visit and I hope that this note does not discourage folks from looking for the Brown Booby ...it could use the area again at any time I feel. It takes about 4 hours to get there from Ukiah and the limited campgrounds include picnic tables and a fire pit. Good Birding -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 14 Aug 2006 -- This afternoon I went to Virgin Creek Beach to look for the BAR-TAILED GODWIT reported over the last week. I arrived at about 2:20 and walked the full length of the beach several times without finding it. I walked clear to Laguna Point checking all the rocks and small coves. Finally at 5:20, on my fourth pass after three hours, I found it as it was walking from the outer beach to the small lake impounded at the mouth of Virgin Creek. Here it tucked and went into resting mode. It flew off excitedly with a group of noisy Whimbrels -OK, I was getting too close - but it peeled off from the Whimbrels and landed at a small pool along the base of the bluff about 100 yards to the north. Here I watched it forage for about 45 minutes. On the landward side of the pool about 10 feet up from the water, it was very easy to overlook. It was not associating with any other birds and ignored a Marbled Godwit about 150 feet away. Finally, at 6:30, it flew off to the north, giving me good looks at its wing linings, and landed on the beach in the central third.
Some other interesting birds in the area were a pair of bright PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS with remnants of breeding plumage, a pair of gorgeous SURFBIRDS in alternate plumage, several WANDERING TATTLERS in alternate plumage, and a pair of MARBLED MURRELETS flying south past Laguna Point. There were lots of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES nearshore, on beaches and puddles, and on wrack piles. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 14 Aug 2006 -- Hi, I got out of jury duty early, so I headed for the USTP and spent late morning there. I saw most of the species mentioned by George Chaniot yesterday, except it must have been a little late for the Black-crowned Night Herons.
I did see an adult, male RING-NECKED PHEASANT in the pear orchard south of the plant, two rows east of the large willow. He appeared to be alone, but he did not move from his spot down the row, close to the river. Maybe a hen and/or young were under a pear tree. Also, I saw a WILLOW FLYCATCHER near the river. I looked for, but did not see, a Yellow-headed Blackbird mentioned on Saturday -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 14 Aug 2006 -- Hi, Birders, Don Doolittle and I drove down Highway 1 from Fort Bragg to Bodega Bay this afternoon. At 4 pm, I found a sparkling male AMERICAN REDSTART on Miner Hole Road. He stayed well hidden in the dense willows about 50 yards from the end of the road where the big turnaround is located. We also saw a smattering of western migrants, including HUTTON'S and WARBLING VIREOS, PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER, WILSON'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. -- Debi, Debra Love Shearwater, Hollister
Sun, 13 Aug 2006 -- A pelagic trip from Fort Bragg had the following: a well photgraphed DARK-RUMPED PETREL, (1) LAYSAN ALBATROSS, (94) BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, (32) BULLER'S SHEARWATER, (20) ASHY STORM-PETREL, 3 species of Jaegers, (1) SOUTH POLAR SKUA, (18) SABINE'S GULL, (1) TUFTED PUFFIN, (2) XANTUS'S MURRELET, and (1) MARBLED MURRELET. -- Debbie Shearwater [from N.Calif.Birdbox] For a longer report see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/message/1873
Sun, 13 Aug 2006 -- The BAR-TAILED GODWIT was present at Virgin Creek again today. For much of the day, the bird was feeding approximately 2/3 of the way north along the sandy beach (approximately 500 yards(?) north of Virgin Creek) where a group of Black-bellied Plovers often congregates. It often fed in the dry sand up from the surf zone, but would occassionally feed in the surf. At approximately 4:30 it returned to the impounded creek to bathe and rest, but aggressive Whimbrels forced it to fly north again.
Other birds seen in the area today included eight HARLEQUIN DUCK, two PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. -- David Jensen
Sun, 13 Aug 2006 -- Hello, Mendobirders. This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and a BLACK-NECKED STILT on the south pond. There were five immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS flying around all of the ponds. The CLARK'S GREBE continues. The over-summering ducks include 2 female RING-NECKED DUCKS, four female GREATER SCAUPS, a female BUFFLEHEAD, and a mixed group of RUDDY DUCKS. I saw Mallards and Wood Ducks, but I did not see any juveniles of either species, nor is there a surface layer of duckweeds on the ponds this fall. I did see a small number of juvenile coots. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 -- (8) HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at Virgin Creek State Beach. -- Ryan Terrill
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 -- This morning John Luther and I found a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment ponds. The YHBL was along the south side of the middle pond towards the southeast corner. It was very stealthy flying behind as we approached rather than ahead. It appears to be an immature male. The SPSA's flew up from either side of the road between the middle and south ponds about half way.
The BLACK-NECKED STILT was still present. -- Roger Foote
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 -- Jim and I looked diligently for almost 4 hours without any luck in seeing the Brown Booby at Bear Harbor. We had some help for a while from Cindy and Les Lieurance (but it is good that they left us to get video of the Bar-tailed Godwit instead)!
If one still wants to try for the booby, there is another view of Morgan Rock that can be had from the north. After leaving the Needle Rock Visitor Center and pay station, one can see the huge, white Morgan Rock from the road as you descend to the parking area. There is space to pull over and scope from there, as well as from the ridge at Bear Harbor. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 -- CalBirders - A short windows media file of the BAR-TAILED GODWIT is available at: http://www.petrels.com/movies/barg.wmv
The video was taken at 5pm today (12 August 2006), Virgin Creek Beach, Fort Bragg, Mendocino County. We did not see the bird when we looked for it early this morning.
And we can offer a negative report today for the Brown Booby in Mendocino County at Bear Harbor it the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. Others stayed looking after we left, so may have more to report. -- Les and Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco [from CalBirds]
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I had two PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS at Virgin Creek Beach. The birds were together at the very north end of the beach and eventually flew off over the rocks to the north. These were the brightest golden-plovers I've seen in the county, not having yet completely lost their alternate plumage. Also at Virgin Creek Beach was a SNOWY PLOVER and a MARBLED GODWIT (no other godwit species was present). Lots of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were on Lake Cleone and at Laguna Point. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 11 Aug 2006 -- Hi again, Toby Tobkin, and later, Jim and I saw a possible Bar-tailed Godwit this afternoon at Virgin Creek area in Fort Bragg. The bird was alone, except for a Whimbrel. Toby thought the bird was definitely smaller than the Whimbrel. The two birds were many yards apart when we saw it, so size was difficult to distinguish.
Key features were: VERY, pale from lower breast to undertail coverts; fairly broad, long, whitish supercilium; pinkish base to the bill; bill did not look particularly long; legs looked a little short to Toby, but Jim and I did not get that impression.
Missed feature: The bird flew directly away, so that we could NOT see the underwing linings. That would have clinched it, but alas, we could not see that. Hope it sticks around for others to determine the species -- best wishes. Look north of the creek mouth. -- Karen Havlena, Toby Tobkin, Jim Havlena
Thu, 10 Aug 2006 -- This afternoon, 10 August, I saw an alternate-plumaged RED-NECKED GREBE with Surf Scoters at the north end of Ward Ave, Cleone. This arrival date seems to be a little early. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 11 Aug 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning for the first time in 2 weeks, and there were a few birds of local interest out there. There was an oddly out of place CLARK'S GREBE on the middle pond. I never remember seeing that species out there before. An immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was flying between the south and middle ponds and the willows along the river. The waterfowl numbers are way down. Other than some mallards, the 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 2 GREATER SCAUP, and the BUFFLEHEAD that all spent the summer continue there. The BLACK-NECKED STILT also continues. Along the river I saw the season's first WILLOW FLYCATCHER. There were also 6+ WILSON'S WARBLERS along the river so things are beginning to move south. In terms of habitat, the ponds continue pretty much as lakes. They are quite high with only thin strips of mud. I was told that they will be ripping the presently drying north pond within the next 2 weeks and it will then be filled. This should leave one of the other ponds with lots of shorebird habitat. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 11 Aug 2006 -- Jerry White called to say that on 9 August, he and Nikki again saw the BROWN BOOBY just off Bear Harbor, extreme NW Mendocino Co. This time, the bird had moved a little north to a large sea stack called Morgan Rock. When at Bear Harbor, climb up to a ridge top at the north end of Bear Harbor. You must use a scope to see the birds on Morgan Rock.
Directions: From Hwy 101, go through Redway on Briceland Rd. towards Shelter Cove. After several miles, turn on a road to Whitethorn. The road is paved almost to the Humboldt/Mendo county line. Then, follow the dirt road towards Sinkyone Wilderness St Park. At a crossroad, there is a kiosk to pay $3 day-use fee. Continue west on a narrow dirt road about an additional 7 miles to Bear Harbor. Jerry said that passenger cars are able to traverse the dirt road that has one stream crossing. -- For Jerry White (Karen Havlena)
Thu, 10 Aug 2006 -- Early this afternoon, Jim was trying again for the Horned Puffin (unsuccessfully) from Mendocino Headlands St Park. While scoping off to the west, I spotted an early ASHY STORM-PETREL. There was a stiff breeze with overcast conditions. The fog was further out. The Ashy Storm-petrel was flying with somewhat erratic, batlike flight, while moving forward toward the north at a good clip. (Flighty and direct at the same time). I eliminated every other dark-rumped storm-petrel easily.
This morning: At Virgin Creek mouth, there was an injured Red Phalarope in the shallows by the sand. I believe it was an adult in molt, with a few vague, orange spots along the lower flanks and sides of the breast. It was missing quite a few feathers under the left wing, which also seemed to be missing some primaries.
The LONG-TAILED DUCK fed on the east side of the Ten Mile River bridge. The wing coverts are now becoming black. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 08 Aug 2006 -- Jerry White phoned and asked me to let everyone know that he found an adult, male BROWN BOOBY at Bear Harbor in the Sinkyone Wilderess State Park. This is in extreme NW Mendocino County, south of Shelter Cove (Humboldt Co). One gets there from Hwy 101 near Redway. Jerry saw the bird between 8:30 and 9:30 AM this morning -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 07 Aug 2006 -- The LONG-TAILED DUCK is rapidly growing new, black feathers on the mantle and scapulars. I could not see the throat and chest, today, which have remained white. But, he is surely headed in the "wrong" direction in his molt, more like spring than winter.
Jim walked from Ten Mile down the beach to Ward Ave this afternoon. The SNOWY PLOVERS are increasing during this early part of fall migration. Jim had 11 Snowies: 10 were up near Inglenook Creek and the 11th bird was almost to Ward Ave. There were various types of bands on about 3 of the birds (he wrote to Angela about the details of the bands).
Also, he saw 4 RUDDY TURNSTONES, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in alternate plumage, and 2 godwits (which took off heading north before he could really get a look at them). I will check Ten Mile River mouth tomorrow morning. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 06 Aug 2006 -- This afternoon shortly after 14:00 I saw a BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Virgin Creek Beach (this is the same bird Jerry White reported earlier for me). The bird was flying south in the company of a Marbled Godwit. They did not stop at Virgin Creek Beach but continued flying south. The birds flew past at about 25-30m distance and slightly above eye-level. I picked the birds up through my bins as they were flying towards me so I saw them from the front and back. The bar-tailed was slightly (but obviously) smaller than the marbled and much paler. The bill was strongly bicolored with a reddish base. The tail had four or five dark bands on a very slightly buffy tail (possibly immature?).
Also at Virgin Creek Beach were a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a RUDDY TURNSTONE. Other birds of note were a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in Noyo Harbor just east of the Hwy 1 bridge (across from where pelagics are boarded) and an adult alternate TUFTED PUFFIN at the Mendocino Headlands just east of Goat Rock. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 06 Aug 2006 -- I am not sure if this is noteworthy, but I believe about 2 dozen RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were feeding at Lake Cleone, and a few were in the ocean nearby at mid-day today (Sunday). SPOTTED SANDPIPER and several GREATER YELLOWLEGS were feeding at Caspar Creek near the beach yesterday afternoon and this morning. -- Jessica Morton
Sun, 06 Aug 2006 -- Geoff and I saw a single BLACK-NECKED STILT at the middle Ukiah Sewage Treatment Pond this morning. A flock of four GREEN HERONS took off from the cattails at the east end of the middle pond and landed out of sight over the bank of the south pond. The duck population has decreased: we saw a single female BUFFLEHEAD, MALLARDS, RUDDY DUCKS, and a few GREATER SCAUP.
The north pond has been mowed and ripped to increase percolation and is dry at the moment. Steve at the plant says it will begin filling again shortly. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 05 Aug 2006 -- While searching unsuccessfully for the horned puffin in Mendocino, I saw a breeding-plumaged TUFTED PUFFIN off the northwest corner of Mendocino Headlands State Park. -- Ken Burton, McKinleyville
Thu, 03 Aug 2006 -- The HORNED PUFFIN was seen near the northern most rocks off of the northern most parking lot at Mendocino Headlands Park. -- Sal Salerno [from Northern Calif. Birdbox ]
Wed, 02 Aug 2006 -- Thank you to all that have written. Most think that the California Gnatcatcher is a Common Bushtit. Some suggestions as to the identity of the posted picture of, what I thought to be a Red Tailed Hawk, to be a: immature Red Shouldered Hawk or Cooper's Hawk. Subsequent to the sighting they made a nest and were frequent visitors until it became really hot, I even have a feather souvenir (should I photograph it?). A portion of a oak tree toppled and I notice that, presumably, their nest along with it. The nest used to be still around, if it still is, I could photograph it, came to a rest at ground level. I presume it was abandoned.
I do not know for certain that the passing of food (snake) was between two eagles.
For years we have had towhees ground nesting and enjoying the food and water we put out on the deck. This year we had not one but two nest pairs of Scub Jay take up residence. One of the nests was within a couple of feet of our entry gate in and amongst the Clematis climbing the Crepe Myrtle. They probably appreciate the regular water which encourages the bugs so the birds get to feast. Since the Scrub Jays started nesting the Tohoes have disappeared. We miss them. The juvenile Scrub Jays are quite friendly and often are off at short discrete distance scolding us for getting in their way. Please excuse poor spelling and grammar. -- Wayne Busby, Kono Tayee, Lake County
Sat, 29 Jul 2006 -- Greetings MendoBirders, I made another attempt to spot the Mendocino Headlands Puffins onSaturday afternoon. There was a very nice couple from Chico birding at the north parking lot with a scope, and together wescanned the rafts of birds feeding in the sea north of the Murre Colony rocks. No puffins! Lots and lots of Murres of course, and a pair of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS obligingly circled around showing off their red feet.
The visitors asked if Black Oystercatchers moved out of the area in summer, as they had not seen any yet. It occurred to me that I don't really know. Are they year-round, or do they move off?There must be good schools of baitfish in the area, as we saw a lot of feeding birds - welcome sight after last year. Murres would come up with a fish and paddle around for a while with it sticking straight out in front, giving the illusion that they had long decurved silver beaks!
Lots of BROWN PELICANS flying around lately, too. Have they been here all summer and I just didn't notice? Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Mon, 31 Jul 2006 -- This morning I drove up the coast from Ten Mile River to to Hardy Creek mouth. Ten Mile River: Long-tailed Duck, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes, 4 Long-billed Dowitchers, Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers. Westport: An adult, male HOODED ORIOLE landed on a wire south of the store/post office. Wages and Howard Creeks: A Vaux's Swift at Wages, and Wilson's Warblers at both creeks. Juan Creek: 4 PURPLE MARTINS carrying food up under the bridge, a MARBLED MURRELET, 2 Pacific Loons, Pigeon Guillemots, and a fledgling Common Murre following closely behind its parent, apparently the father. The young bird was much smaller than the parent - cool to see. Hardy Creek: An Osprey soared above the cove.-- Karen Havlena
Mon, 31 Jul 2006 -- Barbara Pratt, who works at the Gualala Art Center, told me there have been about 1000 pelicans feeding in the Gualala River near the sandbar for a couple of weeks. They are standing and dipping their beaks and swallowing something. Anyone know what they would be eating? She's never seen this before, but thinks she might have just missed it. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 17 Jul 2006 -- Dear All, I watched an AMERICAN KESTREL move from one cliff swallow nest to the next beneath the Ten Mile Bridge looking for nestlings. It hangs onto the edge of the mud nest and reaches its head and shoulders far into the hole. Now that the babies are nearly full grown, they cannot move away from the hole as well and the kestrel seems more successful at grabbing a baby. I often see it sitting on the wire that runs parallel to the bridge on the east side. This is the second summer that it has dined on baby swallows.
Yesterday I saw a coyote stalk the resident flock of parents and full grown young Canada geese across the mudflat at Ten Mile. I don't see coyotes often so this was a thrill. The geese, of course, saw the coyote and raised a ruckus that then attracted ravens. The coyote soon left, flopping its ears and ducking a raven's repeated attacks. -- Erica Fielder
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 -- I saw the LONG-TAILED DUCK yesterday for the first time, and am glad to have this confirmation of his changed plumage. I'd been expecting a long tail, for one thing. Now I know that I was definitely looking at the right bird.
When I first saw him he was sitting on a log on the east side of the bridge toward the south side of the river with 2-3 mergansers on each side of him. As I watched a new merganser arrived and "bumped" him off the log. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 -- Hi -- The LONG-TAILED DUCK is changing in appearance from just two weeks ago. He is growing new feathers on the scapulars, crown, auriculars, face and breast. His face has changed from "winter" male to "spring" male, with the crown, nape and side of the neck now mostly black. Up until very recently, the crown was white and the face was generally dark. See Sibley for comparison. The scapulars and mantle are now black and brown, but the main, flight feathers are still very worn. The breast is still mostly white with blotchy blackish spotting. The tail is short.
I saw him fly about 3 or 4 feet from the sandbar to the water. Then, he swam to the next sandbar and ran on the sand, flapping his wings, but he did not take off.-- Karen Havlena
Mon, 17 Jul 2006 -- The Long-tailed Duck continues on the east side of Ten Mile River bridge as of today, 17 July. It is best to look at low tide on the sandbars that form near the old stump. There are also usually a few Common Mergansers around, but they do not associate with the LTDU. -- Karen Havlena
Sunday 16 July 2006 -- Debra and Gigi Attaway were surprised and thrilled to see a GREATER ROADRUNNER on Old River Road about two miles south of Talmage this afternoon. -- Cheryl Watson
Tue, 11 Jul 2006 -- Hi all, I made a one day dash to the Mendocino coast, Tuesday 07/11/06, based in part on Matt Brady's post. I saw at least 2 GRAY JAYS in the upper campground of Van Damme SP.
I then headed for the Mendocino Headlands Common Murre colony. Walking part way out to the point from the parking area I scanned the ocean to the north and found something different. The bill shape/size looked good for a Rhinoceros Auklet but the image was distant and poor and my experience zero on this bird so I went on out to the point. Kerry Ross arrived shortly and said he had seen 8 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS earlier in the morning. He quickly found a small group, while viewing well out past the south end of the murre colony. I had better looks of at least 3 of these RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and was confident of the id. We moved back around the trail to another small point north of the parking area. I was able to see at least 3 more rhinos, including the horn feature.
Kerry spotted a breeding plumage TUFTED PUFFIN in much closer. Excellent scope views were enjoyed. The puffin was carrying what appeared to be a feather in it 's bill. A breeding indicator? Regrettably the Tufted Puffin flew while we were distracted for a few seconds and we didn't see where it went.
The Horned Puffin was not seen. -- Dean Manley, Mountain View
Fri, 14 Jul 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I was able to get out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant ponds early this morning and beat the heat. The waterfowl numbers are dropping off, but some of the odd summering ducks are still there: 4 GREATER SCAUP, 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 1 BUFFLEHEAD, 2 CINNAMON TEAL, and a dozen or so RUDDY DUCKS including a female escorting 2 downy young. I could not find the COMMON GOLDENEYE that has been seen out there all summer. There were about twenty sandpipers, mostly WESTERN with several LEAST mixed in. There was also a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and the BLACK-NECKED STILT that Cheryl and Geoff reported from last weekend was still there. Mixed in with the swallows feeding over the ponds were 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS and a female PURPLE MARTIN. There were SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, YELLOW WARBLERS, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS still singing along the river. That seems late to me? -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 10 Jul 2006 -- This evening I observed a male and female PURPLE MARTIN along University Drive at approximately 19:30. The location was just west of the cattleguard at the base of the long steep hill about 0.75 miles east of Old River Rd. The birds were part of a large swallow flock that was working the south side of University Dr. University Dr is the road that leads from Old River Rd to the Hopland Field Station (HREC). Good Birding, -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 09 Jul 2006 -- Oscar Johnson, Brett Tryon, Ayla Reith and I birded along the Mendocino Coast today, from Pt Arena north to Ten Mile River. Highlites include: Three GRAY JAYs were at Van Damm State Park, in the upper portion of the campground. One second-summer HORNED PUFFIN at the Murre Colony at the Mendocino Headlands. We first saw it sitting on the water, just off the northern-most rock at the north parking lot. It then picked up off the water, flew around for a bit, and then landed again out of
sight before we could obtain photos. I'd imagine this is the same bird that was seen last week further north. We couldn't find any Tufted Puffins. A single MARBLED MURRELET in alternate plumage flew north.
30 Western Sandpipers, a dozen Whimbrels, 5 Least Sandpipers and 3 Short-billed Dowitchers were at Virgin Creek Mouth. The summering LONG-TAILED DUCK continues at Ten Mile River. It was upstream of the bridge, resting on a small exposed mud flat near a very large tree trunk. Also present were ~100 Western Sandpipers and 4 Short-billed Dowitchers just east of the bridge.
A single BARRED OWL called at 9:15 pm at Montgomery Woods State Reserve at the usual spot at the rear of
the main grove. That's it, Matt Brady, Santa Cruz
Sun, 9 Jul 2006 -- The LONG-TAILED DUCK was missing for 3 days, but we saw him both Friday and Saturday. It is best to look at low tide on either side of the bridge. A spotting scope helps immensely. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Sat, 08 Jul 2006 -- Birds of note this morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant included six GREATER SCAUP, one female COMMON GOLDENEYE, LEAST SANDPIPERS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, and a BLACK-NECKED STILT. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 07 Jul 2006 -- I've confirmed the birds I saw on Tollini Lane near the Forks are EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES. I have seen the doves several more times (through binoculars) and they have the dark undertail coverts needed for a definite ID. I talked to a man who lives next door to where I first saw them, and he says there are at least 3 pairs, they are around every morning (making "a lot of noise"), and he thinks they are nesting. I have seen them in the late afternoon (6-7 pm) on my way home from work and there is usually a couple of birds sitting on the tops of telephone poles, if they are not on the ground. I looked them up in a couple of W. European field guides, and they are described as "confiding", which I take to mean they are more than comfortable around humans and their works. Right now it's exciting to see a new species locally, but I wonder if they will become ubiquitous like English Sparrows? The European books say they started from Eastern Europe and are now widespread and common in W. Europe and England. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Tue, 04 July 2006 -- The HORNED PUFFIN was offshore of MacKerricher State Park again today. This afternoon at 5:00 it was approximately 75 yards offshore, north of the Ward Avenue parking lot, at the end of the Haul Road. It was feeding and preening with a group of Pigeon Guillemots, Common Murres, and Surf Scoters. -- David Jensen
Tue, 04 Jul 2006 -- Geoff and I saw the COMMON GOLDENEYE this morning in the south pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, along with at least two WOOD DUCK families, one female BUFFLEHEAD, several pairs of RUDDY DUCKS, and one pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS. In the mud flats of the north pond was a flock of sixty or so WESTERN SANDPIPERS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. -- Cheryl Watson
Mon, 03 Jul 2006 -- -- This afternoon Matthew Matthiessen and I refound the HORNED PUFFIN at MacKerricher State Park and had it under observation from about 4:45-6:30. We parked at Lake Cleone parking lot, walked north on the Haul Road about 200 yards, and found the puffin in the water just north of the rocks with the Harbor Seals hauled out. When we first saw it, it was just inside the outermost breakers. Later it swam closer to shore and began diving. We lost it for a half hour, but found it again right in the same area where we had been looking. This time it was less than 100 feet from shore. Karen Havlena arrived as it was swimming toward the outer breakers again, and she was still on the bird when we left. The puffin appeared to be an adult in non-breeding plumage. The bill was fairly large and dark-colored with a little reddish hue. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 03 Jul 2006 -- Calbirders, I am currently in the presence of an adult, non-breeding HORNED PUFFIN off Laguna Point in MacKerricher SP, just north of Fort Bragg off Hwy 1. This was first found yestrday by David Jensen and posted to the Mendobirds list. Best viewing is by parking at Lake Cleone (in the park) and walking across the road and up on the dunes/walking trail proceeding right (north). The bird has been hanging around the group of exposed wrack-covered rocks that form the northern "rim" of the cove. Thank you to Mr. Jensen for posting! Good Luck, -- Steve Abbott, Cameron Park [from Calbirds]
Mon, 03 Jul 2006 -- July 1-2, 2006 * This past weekend Gary and Randy Maddox and I drove into the eastern mountains for some high elevation Mendo birding. We chose to approach from the north via Covelo. Saturday morning on our way to Covelo we birded the Dos Rios area and found at least five WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS flying around the Hwy 162 bridge over the Eel River and one ROCK WREN along the Eel just north of Dos Rios. Covelo itself yielded one GRASSHOPPER SPARROW along Dobie Ln.
Our first stop in the mountains was Grizzly Flat which produced CASSIN'S FINCH, HERMIT WARBLER, and DUSKY FLYCATCHER. Coffee Mill Flat a little further on added NASHVILLE WARBLER to the list. After turning onto M-1 we found MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, and more CASSIN'S FINCHES and HERMIT WARBLERS at our first stop along Etsel Ridge. After setting up camp we worked Spruce Grove and added GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER to the list. Also present were more MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and CASSIN'S FINCHES. The meadow below the grove contained LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. After sunset we worked on owls but could only produce one uncooperative NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL during a two hour effort.
Sunday morning we drove to Hull Mtn and then walked to Windy Point. The walk yielded RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and a single PURPLE MARTIN as well as more WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES. Windy Point did not produce any Black-chinned Sparrows but of interest was a pair of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS on the walk back. After descending the mountain via Boardman Ridge we easily found a pair of MACGILLIVRAY'S WARLBERS near the Pioneer Bridge north of Potter Valley.
In general the weekend was very successful missing only a couple of the high elevation specialties. The road from Covelo to Spruce Grove is in good repair but from Spruce Grove to Hull Mtn there are several places were high clearance is required due to deep ruts from erosion. There is no longer any snow on the road. Good Birding, -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 02 Jul 2006 -- At 4:30 this afternoon there was an adult HORNED PUFFIN near the shore at MacKerricher State Park. I saw the bird wtih a spotting scope looking directly north from the upper parking lot. It was across the bay in front of the wash rocks on the other side. -- David Jensen
Fri, 30 Jun 2006 -- I saw the LONG-TAILED DUCK again this morning. He has been moving around a lot from one side of the Ten Mile bridge to the other. If the tide is low, he frequently sits on the east-most sandbar near a huge, old stump. Twice he has been quite close to the bridge on the south bank, west side. If he is feeding, he is quite difficult to see in the river. Also this morning, a GREEN HERON was perched atop the same large stump mentioned above, out in the middle of the river. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 25 Jun 2006 -- Art Morley and myself arrived at the same time to see the two, male WILSON'S PHALAROPES at Virgin Creek beach a little after 4:30 this afternoon. While we were scoping the male Wilson's, a beautiful female Wilson's Phalarope appeared nearby. She has crisp colors and is quite striking.
Also, the LONG-TAILED DUCK was still present both today and yesterday. He is getting a little erratic in his behavior. Today, I saw him on a sandbar a little east of the Ten Mile R bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 25 Jun 2006 -- Today at 4 PM, Toby Tobkin saw 2 post-breeding WILSON'S PHALAROPES on the west side of the haul road at the far edge of Virgin Creek mouth. They were adults, most likely males.
Fri, 23 Jun 2006 -- Four people (Becky, Angela, Jim and myself) all looked Thursday for the LONG-TAILED DUCK without any luck. But, this morning (6/23)I saw him at his usual spot on the sandy, south bank of the river west of the bridge. Whew! Also, I saw another out-of-season duck at the mouth of the river - a non-breeding RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. This bird was present yesterday, but I could not get a good look from the bridge. It was seen by the others yesterday, but no conclusion as to species was made. But this morning, I went down towards the river mouth, and a non-breeding Red-breasted Merganser swiftly swam by on its way to the nearby ocean. I have seen numerous RBME on Morro Bay and inner coastal waters, and this bird looks much more like a Red-breasted than a juvenile Common Merganser. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 21 June 2006 -- Hullville Breeding Bird Survey Highlights: Near Hull Mtn: CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW. Salmon Creek Crossing: WILLOW FLYCATCHER. Other birds: FOX SPARROW, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, WESTERN MEADOWLARK. -- Chet Ogan, Eureka
Fri, 16 Jun 2006 -- Hello. The forlorn LONG-TAILED DUCK continues to reside on the south bank of the Ten Mile R, west of the bridge. The Surf Scoter has not been seen for three days now, so the LTDU looks lonely. An alternate plumaged WILLET was on the mud flat area of the south bank this morning. An early arrival or just lost? -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 16 Jun 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this morning. There was pretty much the same array of interesting summer ducks that I reported on June 8: 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS (1 m, 2 f), 5 GREATER SCAUP 2 m, 3 f), a female COMMON GOLDENEYE, and 2 female BUFFLEAD. They have been joined by 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 15 Jun 2006 -- On Saturday afternoon (around 5:50 pm) I saw a EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE on Tollini Road on the front lawn of the new house across the street from the church. The white band on its tail caught my eye, especially with all the talk on this board about band-tailed pigeons in Ukiah (which this of course obviously wasn't). I first saw it flying (that's when I saw the tail), and then it settled on the lawn and walked around slowly, so I was able to get a good look at it. To my unaided eye (I didn't have binoculars with me) it was a small, light grey dove (smaller than a normal city pigeon) with a black band around its neck. I had never seen anything like it. I haven't seen it since, although I look every time I drive by (2x a day). -- Maureen O'Hagen
Tue, 13 Jun 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning I saw a SAY'S PHOEBE near the office area at HREC. It never sang, but repeatedly made its plaintive call. This bird is way out of range for this time of year; I don't know whether it is early or late! I looked quickly at some references I have here in the lab and can find no summer records for Mendocino, Sonoma, or Lake Counties, and Stan Harris had no summer records for Northwestern California in his second edition (1996). -- Chuck Vaughn
[ As far as Sonoma County the latest Spring dates are mid-April. The
earliest Fall arrival dates were 9/8/57 and 9/10/95. You pose an interesting
question is the bird 1 1/2 months late or 3 months early ? Good Birding, -- Doug Shaw, Santa Rosa
Mon, 12 Jun 2006 -- On Sunday the 11th, a more thorough survey of Borax Lake produced a female HOODED MERGANSER (northwest sector), two male GREATER SCAUP (resting on fresh dirt pile on northeast sector), 18 GADWALLS (14 males, 4 females) and 40 RUDDY DUCKS. At Anderson Marsh I saw two CINNAMON TEAL and two AMERICAN BITTERNS. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 11 Jun 2006 -- This morning I saw a female BUFFLEHEAD west of Ten Mile R bridge in the general vicinity of the Long-Tailed Duck and Surf Scoter. The Bufflehead was feeding and diving on the water, casually associating with the three families of Canada Geese (there are 7 goslings of varying age). The LTDU and SUSC were resting side by side on the south bank of the river. (The LTDU is looking quite disheveled now, except for his head and bill). -- Karen A Havlena
Fri, 09 Jun 2006 -- Hello -- The molting LONG-TAILED DUCK and his cohort the SURF SCOTER were together at the south bank of Ten Mile River, west of the bridge this morning. The Brant has not been seen since June 4. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 08 Jun 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: After an absence of nearly 3 weeks, I made it out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today at noon. There were SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS singing along the river. I had not heard the former singing out there as of 3 weeks ago. There were 6-8 broods of WOOD DUCKS in various stages of development and that is encouraging to see. There was a strange collection of other summer ducks out there as well. I saw a male CINNAMON TEAL (could there be a female somewhere out there on a nest?), 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS (2 f, 1 m), 3 GREATER SCAUP (2 f, 1 m), a female BUFFLEHEAD, 6 RUDDY DUCKS (2 f, 4 m), and a very out of place female COMMON GOLDENEYE. I believe that the latter is our first Mendocino County summer record. I note that Jerry White has never recorded one in Lake County in the summer. -- Chuck
Mon, 05 Jun 2006 -- On Sunday the 4th, at Borax Lake there were two male GREATER SCAUP north end, two at south end) and 32 RUDDY DUCKS (scattered). Two first-alternate RING-BILLED GULLS were among 30 CALIFORNIA GULLS at Clearlake. A few CEDAR WAXWINGS (one seen, at least two heard) were at Anderson Marsh. -- Floyd Hayes
Mon, 05 Jun 2006 -- Hi- This morning, June 5, the molting male LONG-TAILED DUCK and his pal the male SURF SCOTER are still west of Ten Mile R bridge. The BRANT was seen yesterday, June 4, but I did not see it this morning. We will continue to monitor these birds. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Thu, 01 Jun 2006 -- The male LONG-TAILED DUCK, single BRANT, pair of OSPREYS, and the SURF SCOTER were all on the west side of Ten Mile River bridge this morning. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 31 May 2006 -- Hi birders, On this last day of the Spring reporting period, I saw the male LONG-TAILED DUCK (and his pal of a couple of weeks) an adult male SURF SCOTER on the west side of Ten Mile River bridge. On the east side of the bridge was a single Brant. On the beach near the river mouth was a late WILLET in breeding plumage (5/30). -- Karen A. Havlena
Sun, 28 May 2006 -- Tuffed Puffins - Easy! Today I went to Mendocino to find the TUFTED PUFFINS. These two beautiful breading plumage birds did not disappoint as they swam and dove in the blue water, easily visible from land less than 100 yards out. According to the local birder I met, a TUPU pair have taken up residence in most past summers. So it quite possible that these birds are a pair and may nest, providing reliable viewing opportunity for a few months. At first we spend a lot of time looking too far out, but did find a first year RHINOCEROS AUKLET among the Common Murres.
The PUFFINS were feeding actively up and down together. With their clown-like faces, flinging their heads and cream colored tuffs from side-to-side, huge orange beaks and bright orange legs and feet, all on a jet black puffy bodies, they looked like a costumed bird pair for a major Halloween masquerade party. And the best part was no pelagic trip cost and nausea or scope-less heaving views.
Thanks to Karen Havlena for the directions to the exact location and Floyd Hayes from Clear Lake who first spotted the puffins which was my life list view. Go for it! Good birding, -- Ed DeBellevue, San Rafael
Sun, 28 May 2006 -- This morning 28 May, Jim Havlena found 4 BRANT at Virgin Creek mouth in Fort Bragg. We also saw the LONG-TAILED DUCK west of the Ten Mile River bridge. Also, a female HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen in the waves, about 150 yards NW of Lake Cleone in MacKerricher State Park by Karen.
Matthew Matthiessen, et al, saw 2+ HARLEQUIN DUCKS on Sat. 27 May. Matthew and his group also saw the pair of TUFTED PUFFINS just north of the Mendocino Headlands near the rock islands, with many Common Murres, cormorants and gulls. They too, saw the Long-tailed Duck on Ten Mile River. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 24 May 2006 -- Toby Tobkin saw the presumed, breeding pair of TUFTED PUFFINS off the north side of the Mendocino headlands today at 11:30 AM. There were also two RHINOCEROS AUKLETS nearby. This is on the east side of the rock islands with Common Murres, cormorants and gulls. I drove down and saw the Tufted Puffins about 1:30 PM in the same location. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 24 May 2006 -- There's a beautiful HOODED ORIOLE nest in our neighbor's fan palm. Looks like it just arrived UPS. Same tree as last year, and as best I can recall, the underside of the same leaf. This tree is set about 100 feet off Mill Creek Road, right next to our driveway. I can let you know if the pair successfully breeds, and if anyone wants to come out to see the nest, I'd be happy to make arrangements. -- David Smith-Ferri
Tue, 23 May 2006 -- A single EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was seen this afternoon on Pacific Way, about 1/2 mile south of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. -- David Jensen
Mon, 22 May 2006 -- This afternoon about 2:45 PM I found a BANK SWALLOW at Borax Lake. The bird was seen twice (and heard calling once) amongst the 100's of swallows that are hunting low over the water. At the southwest end of the lake there is a dirt road that goes down to the lake off of Sulphur Bank Drive. There are two oak trees near the dirt parking area. -- Jerry White
Sun, 21 May 2006 -- . A first-summer BRANT was found in the cove at "downtown" Elk today. A juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON (Tundra race) was also seen. -- David Jensen
Sat, 20 May 2006 -- This morning, another LARK SPARROW was seen feeding on our gravel driveway with House Finches and two, local White- crowned Sparrows. It was over 5 weeks ago since the other Lark Sparrow was seen, so it must be a different bird.
The LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen by both Jim and myself at different times on Ten Mile River, west of the bridge. We hope it will remain here for a while longer. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 19 May 2006 -- In the last couple of days, a male and female HOODED ORIOLE have begun to move together. They come to the feeder regularly as a pair. And I've seen them together in the fan palms as I've driven by. I'll start to pay more attention to the palms for signs of nest-building. How long do you suppose it takes to construct one of those nests? I couldn't do it if my life depnded on it. -- David Smith-Ferri
Fri, 19 May 2006 -- This morning, I ventured down to the Simpson Lane area south of Hwy 20 in Fort Bragg. The male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK showed up at the feeders. When not at feeding, he was nearby singing beautifully from the trees. The bird was not seen in the afternoon yesterday, but returned this morning about 9 AM. Call Raj at 964-5072 for current info and directions. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 18 May 2006 -- A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was observed Thursday morning at a feeder on the south bluffs of Hare Creek. It was seen from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, but was not seen since then. Call Raj at 964-5072 for details and somewhat complicated directions .....off Simpson Lane.
Jim saw the LONG-TAILED DUCK again Thursday AM on Ten Mile River, west of the bridge. He is sometimes close to the bridge, but rests on the sand on the south bank. He also feeds close to the river mouth.-- Karen Havlena
Thu, 18 May 2006 -- Thanks to Kate's' and Google Maps' directions to Lakeside County Park and near-by coves my husband and I enjoyed a canoe trip Mother's Day mid-afternoon. It was "Wake" day on the lake. (A term we coined many years ago for the numerous boaters, skiers and jet skiers that make so may "wakes", usually much worse on Saturday and even worse on Sunday.) We paddled quietly along the shore line cameras in hand just waiting for the awesome sights of rushing Grebe's. We weren't disappointed. One could hear the distinctive sound of pattering feet indicating that another pair was "running on water" and it was impossible for me to keep from turning toward the spectacular sights. There were many Grebe's, both WESTERN GREBES and CLARK'S GREBES in mixed flocks both species displaying their stuff. Dave was worried I would upset the canoe with my spinning body; he said he didn't mind the swim but hated to lose all that camera gear. As the sun was lowering in the sky the flocks appeared to be napping so we proclaimed our addiction to the "Rush of the Grebe's". It was hard to paddle back the distance we had strayed but worth every stroke. Spring time birding was almost deafening as we glided through the reeds. My arms ached not sure which was more difficult, the paddling or holding my camera with the shutter locked in gear, or attempting in vain to do both at the same time, but the efforts produced prize winning photo's.
Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Double-created Cormorants, a Mallard pair with 12 ducklings in tow, many and 1 lone American Coot filled my view finder as we impatiently waited for the next Rushing Sequence. Barn Swallows and American Crows were numerous along the fields near the entrance to the park. I know the area was full of other species but my "birding by ear" needs more refined tuning.
Thank you Kate for providing this information and hope others take the opportunity to witness this special show. You can see the Grebe's without boating: Off of Soda Bay Road turn on Park Drive onto St. Frances Street, the next to the last lot on the street is vacant with several boats parked there. From this location you can see the water and Grebe's. This is to the west of the Park Entrance. Google Map Directions - Ruth Wiebe
Wed, 17 May 2006 -- - On Wed evening from 18:25-18:45, George Chaniot and I observed the AMERICAN BITTERN at Lake Cleone in MacKerricher State Park. The bittern was midway along the north shore of the lake and out from the reeds so it was fairly easy to observe. On the drive over George was hoping the bird would be easy to find and, sure enough, he located the bird within 30 seconds of parking the car. We lost sight of the bittern when it flew into the reeds at the east end of the lake. I was able to take some identifiable pictures of the bittern making it my 300th species photographed in Mendocino County. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 17 May 2006 -- A friend and I kayaked out of Lakeside County Park today. I saw 1-3 BLACK TERNS flying over the water just to the west of the park.
There were more nesting WESTERN GREBES than last Friday, fewer on the water, but still many on the water and significant numbers of rushing rituals and "Simon Says" head bobbing and turning rituals. No babies yet, lots of eggs. I just read that it's mostly the males that carry the babies around on their backs.
We saw one pair of WOOD DUCKS swimming about, and a large OSPREY on a relatively low nest. I wasn't sure if it was an adult or a very large baby. There were buffy to orange markings on the forehead. Has anyone seen that? I don't think it was blood from prey. I couldn't see the breast. A HOUSE SPARROW was nesting on the underside of the Osprey nest.
Also saw a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD sitting in a nest. Several broods of Canada Goose goslings of different sizes. One Ruddy Duck floating among the grebes. Lots of Green Herons, sometimes two or three flying across open water together - maybe newly-fledged siblings? Also a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron flying across open water. Heard but didn't see several Pied Billed Grebes. A rich morning. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 13 May 2006 -- Hello birders, This morning, I heard a very, vocal YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at the corner of Hwy 1 and Ocean Meadows Circle in the myoporum. The LONG-TAILED DUCK is still on the west side of the Ten Mile River bridge. On the east side of the bridge, there are two families of Canada Geese - one with three goslings and one with two goslings. The pair of Osprey catch quite a few fish daily at the river mouth and near Seaside Beach. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 12 May 2006 -- Before deciding to buy a used two-person kayak yesterday I went out on Clearlake with the seller of the boat to the cove where huge numbers of grebes are still congregated. There are thousands on the open water, and quite a few nesting in the tules, particularly in one area where there is a big opening in the tules. I saw a few eggs, but didn't want to go in close enough to see more.
We found a spot on the east side of the cove where we could nestle our boats under overhanging trees, which served as sort of a blind. From there we watched many spectacular rushing episodes, and several other types of head and neck rituals - one where one bird imitates the other in a synchronized "dance", one where they face each other, puff up the area under their chins, and jut their heads toward each other over and over again; then they abruptly turn, extend their necks in an s-curve, and perform the parallel "rushing" on top of the water for 15-30 feet. It is very beautiful. Anyone who hasn't seen this should try to. The noise was quite exciting too - lots and lots of grebe sounds. Babies on mothers' backs will come next.
It is the next cove to the west from Lakeside County Park, where there is a boat ramp. The shore is covered with tules, so access is only by water.
We also had great close-up views of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, and two beautiful nests that I suspect were theirs, which were no longer occupied but had lingering feathers. The nests were 6-7 inches tall, maybe 5 inches wide, woven of brown and green strands of a very flexible, wavy material. It seemed too soft and wavy to be tule strands. -- Kate Marianchild
Thu. 11 May 2006 -- Hi birders, This morning, Jim and I saw a /the LONG-TAILED DUCK west of Ten Mile R bridge. He is in one of 2-4 molts. The head, neck and upper chest are white; tail is short, back is dark with reddish brown on the back. The face and bill are crisp, like this past winter. Yesterday, Jim walked the beach from Ten Mile south to Ward Ave. He did not see any Snowy Plovers, but he did have a LONG-BILLED CURLEW, MARBLED GODWIT, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a male BLACK SCOTER. A few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were in the two creek mouths. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 09 May 2006 -- Today just after noon, a flock of 12 northbound CASPIAN TERNS flew over the west end of Middle Ridge in Albion, about one mile inland from the beach. They did this last year around this time, too. Cheers, -- Tim Bray
Tue, 09 May, 2006 -- An early morning walk around Lake Cleone produced one AMERICAN BITTERN, over 35 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, three SWAINSON'S THRUSH (still not singing), one OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER among the normal species. Last week, (May 3) the same walk produced one PEREGRINE FALCON and two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at the water's edge on logs or snags. -- Tina Fabula
Mon, 08 May 2006 -- This morning, Monday, at about 7:45, I saw what appeared to be two EURASIAN COLLARED in Ukiah on Yokayo Dr. near Beacon Lane. I good view of them on a power pole and in flight. The pair seemed to be like the doves we have seen in Manchester, and like I have seen in Europe. The calls of the two birds seemed to match the verbal descriptions in Sibley. If indeed these are Eurasian Collared- Doves, I don't know if they are escapes from this area, but they could be legitimate residents. -- Paul Hawks
Sun, 07 May 2006 -- On Sunday morning there were three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the southwest corner of Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 07 May 2006 -- Hello Mendobirders, Chuck Vaughn and I spent an hour between 10:00-11:00 this morning at the Ukiah sewer ponds and were able to see a single male BLUE_WINGED TEAL and a male GREEN-WINGED TEAL. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were circumspectly singing in the willows, as is their wont, and an obviously proud pair of Canadian Geese led a parade of 5 young goslings in the northernmost pond. Chuck's eye caught a patch of white flying in and this turned out to be a ROSS'S GOOSE. We were not able to locate the female Redhead reported from here on Sat 5/6. Good birding, -- Vishnu
Sat, 06 May 2006 -- Today there were still about a dozen RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at the rapidly-shrinking vernal pool on the Mendocino headlands. Also four Canada geese, but no other shorebirds that I saw. A Northern Harrier was hunting the meadow, as usual. -- Tim Bray
Sat, 06 May 2006 -- Today we and several friends made a fast stop at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds before running up to Lake County. Heather Cameron spotted the male BLUE-WINGED TEAL, still present, along with a female. Rich Stallcup spotted a female REDHEAD. She was limping and hobbled up the banks of the three ponds several times, finishing in the middle one. Lazuli Buntings, Yellow Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, Black- headed Grosbeaks and Bullock's Orioles were also singing and visible in the area.
A Red-shouldered Hawk nest is active in the middle oak by the white sandbags. At least 4 Yellow-breasted Chats (1 seen well) were calling around the property. One Golden-crowned Sparrow was seen travelling north through the brush piles. -- Les and Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco
Fri, 05 May 2006 -- On 5-5-06 there was a singing male HOODED ORIOLE in the town of Westpost. There were numerous RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on the Westport Sewage Ponds, but I could not get a good enough view to count them. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata
Fri, 05 May 2006 -- We have a male HOODED ORIOLE coming to our feeder, and last year we had a pair successfully nest in our neighbor's fan palm. No sign yet of a female. -- David Smith-Ferri
Thu, 04 May 2006 -- There were 47 breeding plumage RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the pond on Mendocino Headlands on 5-4-06. There were also two LONG-TAILED WEASELS hunting in broad daylight in the field next to the parking area at the pond. They paid no attention to me except when I squeaked like a mouse which made them come as close as about 15'. That was the best study of these interesting little critters I've ever had. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata
>Thu, 04 May 2006 -- This morning I birded at Adobe Creek Reservoir and some other locations in Lake County. TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were much in evidence at the colony in the NW corner of the reservoir. At 08:15 they were already commuting in and out, but I counted at least 107 males on territory in the cattails. The total number might be around 400 birds. I followed groups of trikes as far as 1.5 miles to the north where they were foraging on the ground in the vineyards north of Bell Hill Road. There were at least 5 male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS singing in the tules on the east side of the reservoir and females coming and going with nesting material.
In the wetlands at milemarker 5.80 on Scotts Valley Road there was a COMMON MOORHEN with a brilliant red shield and bright chartreuse 'socks', and it was the first time I remember hearing one calling. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 03 May 2006 -- During the last week I have been checking various places around Ukiah for HOODED ORIOLES. Although they may still be around, I have not seen any at some of the locations where they have been in recent years: Sherry Drive, Empire Drive, Pomo Circle. But I have found two locations in the Oak Manor district with both males and females present: the fan palm at 875 Maya Way, and the fan palm at 225 Pomo Drive. In both locations there are thick cedars nearby where the males are often singing from a hidden location. On April 27 I also saw a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON hidden in the branches of the redwood at 230 Washoe Drive. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 03 May 2006 -- Is it unusual for Phalaropes to be on land during migration? There were still 26 or so at the Mendocino headlands on Wednesday at noon. Could it be because upwelling isn't happening yet this year, or because some other aspect of ocean conditions aren't right for providing them with enough of the microscopic organisms they eat?
Wed, 03 May 2006 -- For the last two evenings Red-necked Phalaropes (in breeding plumage) have been seen in the small wetland/pond on Baxman property adjacent to the McKerricher Haul Road. Nine were in the wetland/pond last night with two more at the Virgin Creek outlet. Four were seen in the wetland the evening before. -- Tina Fabula
Tue, 02 May 2006 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a BLACK-NECKED STILT on the south pond - probably the one Chuck Vaughn saw last week but whch was not seen Saturday. There were also four RED-NECKED PHALAROPE females in spring colors and the continuing BLUE-WINGED TEAL and CINNAMON TEALS. There has been a decrease in waterfowl numbers since Saturday; water is still high in all ponds but going down noticeably. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 01 May 2006 -- At 5 p.m. the RED-NECKED PHALAROPES seen by David Jensen were still at the vernal pool. I counted 26, all frantically whirling about as they fed. I've never seen them in breeding plumage so it was a treat. 5-6 Canada Geese were also in the pond, and the sight of a tiny little phalarope feeding right in the shadow of a huge goose's breast was kind of touching. It looked like a row boat next to an ocean liner.
Also on the edges of the pond were 4-5 sandpipers, and at least some of them might have been Semipalmated Sandpipers. I haven't done this I.D. before, but I couldn't see any curve to the bills, and the tips looked pretty blunt. The head and scapulars had only a hint of brown to rufous color. I didn't check the cheeks. Or maybe they were Westerns transitioning to breeding plumage?
Larry Knowles and I kayaked up Noyo River last evening, a bit beyond the skunk train bridge, in search of a heron rookery, which we didn't find. We saw four osprey nests, at least three of them active (birds perching on branches right near the nests). We are not counting the beautiful nest growing ferns seen from the mid-way parking lot on the road to the put-in. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 30 Apr 2006 -- . I had not heard returning Osprey at the nest near my house on the edge of Pudding Creek in Fort Bragg, so I took a look this afternoon. Under the category of "Just because you can, it doesn't mean you should," I found a CANADA GOOSE sitting in the former Osprey nest approximately 80 feet in the air. Sadly but surely, nature will take its course, but too late for the Osprey. -- David Jensen
Sun, 30 Apr 2006 -- There are (at least) 24 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the village of Mendocino on the vernal pool just east of Heeser Drive in Mendocino Headlands Park. Nearly all are in breeding plummage. Another RNPH was seen briefly about one half mile inland from the mouth of Big River. Other Big River sightings this morning included one Dunlin, at least three Western Sandpipers, at least four Semipalmated Sandpipers, and several Spotted Sandpipers. -- David Jensen
Friday, April 28, 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I went out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this morning. Interesting how dynamic the bird movement is out there this time of year. Much of what George reported from Tuesday morning had already left. There were no Dunlin or Semipalmated Plovers, no Red-necked Phalaropes, no Horned Grebes and no Aechmophorus grebes. The sludge-drying bed had only Killdeer on it. There were small numbers of Least and Western Sandpipers along the edges of the oxidation ponds along with 6-8 Spotted Sandpipers and a single Greater Yellowlegs. I heard at least 3 Yellow-breasted Chats singing at various spots along the river and ponds. The birds of the morning were a single BLACK-NECKED STILT on the edge of the southern-most pond, and a pair (m, f) of BLUE-WINGED TEAL on the middle pond. -- Chuck
Fri, 28 Apr 2006 -- For me it was exciting to see a pair of orioles (male and female) visiting our black oil sunflower feeders this morning. Definitely the first ones this year. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Thu, 27April 2006 -- The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS showed up this week along the Albion River at the Albion Field Station, Pacific Union College's biology field station. Their beautiful song echos through the valley letting us know spring is here and it's about time the sun comes out. Happy Birding to you all, -- Ruth Wiebe
Thu, 27April 2006 -- We also had a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at our window feeder two days ago. April 19 there were a number of CASPIAN TERNS migrating north along the shoreline at Navarro Headlands. -- Tim Bray, Albion Ridge Road
Tue, 25 Apr 2006 -- I went to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant around midday today. The water is still high in all three settling ponds, but the sludge drying bed has some shallow water and mud where there was a handfull of shorebirds: DUNLIN, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and LEAST SANDPIPERS. On the south pond was a pair of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in fresh breeding plumage. Unusual was the number of grebes on the ponds: There were WESTERN GREBES, CLARK's GREBES, EARED GREBES, and HORNED GREBES. Clark's Grebe is new to the cumulative list for USTP http://www.pacificsites.com/~chaniot/USTP_listv1.html. Overhead was a flock of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, also new to the list. A newly-arrived YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was singing in the blackberries along the south fence.The staff tells me that there has been a WILD TURKEY (also new to the list) hanging out with three RING-NECKED PHEASANTS on the north side of the plant.
Lake Mendocino is almost devoid of waterfowl except for Western Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, and Common Mergansers. Scoping way out in the center of the lake I was surprised to find a pair of SURF SCOTERS, very unusual inland,and five BONAPARTE'S GULLS. A BALD EAGLE was sitting near Perry Creek Cove, and an OSPREY was in a tree on the island near Coyote Dam. Another Osprey was on the nest on a power tower on the ridge north of Route 20.Finally, on my last two visits to the lake I have seen cormorants flying into and out of the trees on the island near the dam. Are they just roosting there, or could there be nesting taking place? It bears watching. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 27 Apr 2006 -- After seeing my first BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK of the season at the Hopland Field Station field trip, a male showed up at my black oil sunflower seed feeder the next day. He may have been coming for a little while, since as one of my bird guides says, they are "furtive" feeder visitors. Scared him away by walking into the room which overlooks the feeder and had to hide and wait for 2-3 minutes before he ventured back again. Good appetite, though! We also have a male GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW in breeding plumage now. My husband noticed him in our orchard yesterday and initially didn't recognize it because he's so used to winter plumage. -- Maureen O'Hagan
Thu, 27Apr 2006 -- I attended the Heron Festival at Clear Lake State Park on Saturday the 22nd and was totally enthralled by the courtship displays of the WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES. During each of four boat trips we passed through a cove with perhaps a thousand scattered grebes and I must have seen 10-20 "rushing" ceremonies (two or three birds running across the water) on each trip at an average interval of about 2 minutes. If you're interested in observing the grebes' courtship displays from up close, I would highly recommend participating in next year's event. Although the grebes were not yet nesting (which the boat captain attributed to the higher than usual courtship activity), we saw nesting OSPREY, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and GREAT BLUE HERON. The only unexpected bird that I saw was a single FORSTER'S TERN (Dave Woodward saw three at Nice on the 18th). It was one of my most memorable birding days ever--and I thank Marilyn Waits for inviting me.
At Borax Lake there were still about 1000 SCAUP on the 23rd and about 3000 on the 16th, but the last TUFTED DUCK that I saw there was a long-tufted male on the 9th of April. On the 16th there was a suspected masculinized female scaup (older female birds of many species occasionally acquire male plumage), which resembled a male but had grayish sides, a very dark back and a brownish head with darker blotches.
An immature BALD EAGLE and a CASPIAN TERN were at Clearlake Park on the 16th of April. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 27 Apr 2006 -- I had at least two male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at my seed feeder this morning, the first I can remember; probably from George's end-of-the-lane flock. They were mixed in with several Red-winged BB's, the males of which have been dancing like dervishes in their mating displays. I also have several Crows who are keeping the Red-shouldered Hawks from last year's successful nest. -- Jim Armstrong
Sat, 22 Apr 2006 -- Hi birders About 8+ PURPLE MARTINS have returned to the bridge at the mouth of Juan Creek, between Westport and where Hwy 1 turns inland toward Rockport. I was there this morning about 9 AM.
On Tuesday, 18 April, I went there to look for the martins, and all I came up with was the Red-necked Grebe I wrote about on Mendobirds. There was not a single Cliff Swallow nor martin at the Juan Creek bridge either Tuesday or Wednesday the 19th, even though there were Cliff Swallows at Howard Creek bridge on Wednesday, just a short distance to the south. I was not able to go up there Thursday or yesterday, but the Purple Martins must have returned either then or last night. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 21 Apr 2006 -- Today at noon there was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the edge of the pond on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. Hiding behind the bank was another shorebird, perhaps a yellowlegs. No Tricolored Blackbirds have been apparent recently. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 20 Apr 2006 -- 9:45 AM - one adult PRAIRIE FALCON was observed soaring with Turkey Vultures over University Road on the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The bird was missing some primary feathers (Primaries #7,8,and 9 I think) on the right wing. After soaring it headed in a northerly direction and disappeared in the direction of the River Road between Hopland and Talmage. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 19 Apr 2006 -- This noontime, the CHIPPING SPARROW was still feeding in our yard on Ocean Meadows Circle, north of Ten Mile River. The flock moves around the north end of the circle.
Also, around 11:15 AM, I saw a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS on Sherwood Road east of Fort Bragg. They were a little west of the 3.4 mile marker. They were about 35 yards apart, calling to each other. There was some loud tapping. The male flew over to the other bird, and they interacted for a couple of minutes. Then the male flew north across the road and down the canyon. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 18 Apr 2006 -- A breeding plumaged RED-NECKED GREBE was off Juan Creek this morning. Stops at other creekmouths, like Wages Creek, turned up just a few migrants. Two WILSON'S WARBLERS, and three ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were at Wages, while a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, another Orange-crowned and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT were in a marsh on the east side of Hwy1, just north of where Seaside creek passes under the highway.
Jim walked the beach from Ward Ave to Ten Mile River, but he was mostly concerned with counting SNOWY PLOVERS. He had 5 snowies, 2 with bands. Some Western Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Surfbirds, Whimbrels, Black Oystercatcher and Black Turnstones were seen. Also, he watched an OSPREY carrying a fish inland from Inglenook Creek. This was probably the same Osprey I saw a couple of weeks ago, where Inglenook Creek meets Hwy 1. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 18 Apr 2006 -- Today I checked on three historical PEREGRINE FALCON nest sites for the Santa Cruz Predatory Birds Center. All three sites that I checked I confirmed that Peregrine's are using the nest sites in 2006. From the evidence that I witnessed they are still sitting on eggs. All three of these sites are in a five-mile line ...pretty impressive. When Monte Kirven checked the Peregrine nests back in the 1980's or so, California had about 60+ confirmed nests and Mendocino county had over 20 of those. The last survey by SCPBc (about ten years ago) showed the California numbers up to over 200 pair ... I don't know how many are in Mendocino now. Anyway ...it looks like nesting attempts are still high in the county if this small sample size is representative.
Also, four WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were active near one of the nest sites. Unfortunately I cannot disclose the location of these... private property and confidential.
If you know of any other Peregrine Falcon nest sites in the county that you know is active (best way to observe is from a distance, out of site, and wait for a food exchange ...this may take several hours) please let me know. DO NOT disturb birds on the nest if you are unsure of how to do this without disturbing them ...they can abandon the eggs! Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 17 Apr 2006 -- This morning I went out to feed my chickens which have a large pen to roam and in this fenced area I have a large brush pile for birds. I always spread some scratch feed near the brush pile for the birds. In the fall I had one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW for a few day but no evidence of throughout the winter. This morning I noticed many Golden-crowned Sparrows immediately going after the feed so I decided to stand quietly and watch. Within a minute or so one White-throated Sparrow arrived (white-striped variety), then another of the same arrived, and then a third duller-colored bird which I believe to be a tan-striped variety arrived. The one White-throated, though smaller in size than the Golden-crowns, is definitely dominant and did not hesitate to run a G-c away. My guess is that these birds are in northward migration and are maybe waiting out the stormy period. Also, if you take Golden-crowned Sparrow for granted because they are common and here all winter long ---look closely at them now as their head stripe and colors are vivid. Anyway, keep an eye on your feeders. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 16 Apr 2006 -- The past two days I have had a lovely male WESTERN TANAGER coming to my suet feeder--a squirrel-proof one. I make my own suet with lots of peanut butter, oatmeal and sunflower chips. At first he had difficulty deciding how to reach the suet--finally got brave enough to squeeze through the wire squares that keep out the squirrels. In fact yesterday when it was raining hard he moved in under the suet (I also have a plastic globe that keeps out the rain) and just sat there for several minutes. He eats with dainty bites, different than the Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Purple Finches and Goldfinches--they just grab a big bill full and go.
The new feeder has frustrated the first-of-the-season BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, though, evidently he cannot quite squeeze through the squares and has to reach in--barely getting to the suet. Such birdwatching fun. -- Rosie Mattingly
Sun, 16 Apr 2006 -- I had a fun birding weekend - not sure what's noteworthy, if anything, but it was exciting to me.
Clearlake Oaks on Friday: one YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, 5-6 HORNED GREBES in breeding plumage, and many crows catching and eating shad - swooping down and scooping them up from the surface of the lake. The Birder's Handbook doesn't mention fish as part of their diet, but it does mention carrion; I was told the shad are floating on the surface of the lake, almost but not quite dead. The crows would fly up to a branch, hold the shad down with one foot and take bites with their beaks - much as osprey eat fish.
Only a few AMERICAN WHITE PE:ICANS. I was looking for the hordes of birds I've heard about near Clearlake Oaks, but missed them. I wonder if most of the white pelicans have left?
Nice, today: 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT foraging among tules, 20 CASPIAN TERNS, 8 GREEN-WINGED TEALs, 20 or so NORTHERN SHOVELERS, two KILLDEER feigning injury (I obliged by going toward the first one who tried to lure me away, but it just kept going and going; I didn't want to go in that direction indefinitely so I turned back and looked for the nest or scrape, but didn't find it); thousands and thousands of grebes, a few doing neck dancing and parallel water-scooting, and hundreds and hundreds of swallows - cliff, tree, VG, and barn - swooping low and close enough for me to see the beautiful colors on the backs of the VG's and Trees. It was exquisite with sun shining from the side and illuminating the birds against a dark backdrop of blue-grey-purple clouds. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 16 Apr 2006 -- Hi- As I write, there is an adult CHIPPING SPARROW in our front yard. It is feeding with the White- and Golden--crowns, but it has been harrassed a little, maybe because of its smaller size.
Yesterday, we did not see Lark Sparrow. It probably moved on with the group of Golden-crowns and "Oregon" Juncos that were also here -- and now gone. The Chipping Sparrow is only shown as rare in Fall on the checklist for MacKerricher St Park. A couple of nice yardbirds to start off the Spring season! -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 16 Apr 2006 -- While driving back from SoCal last week I tagged a couple of HWY 101 birds. Between Hopland and Ukiah along the one-way stretch a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flew across and landed on a fence post. Then a short time later near the Antique store near Reeves Canyon Road a PILEATED WOODPECKER flew in and landed on a roadside utility pole. -- Chet Ogan, Eureka
Sun, 16 Apr 2006 -- I saw an AMERICAN BITTERN between 11:45 and 12:25 today at Lake Cleone in MacKerricher St Park. It was standing in the reeds very close to the restrooms, near the main road. There was a large shrub (or small alder) at the edge of the reeds, and the bittern was just in front of it. It stood out, sort of, because of the very light, cream color of the dead reeds or sedges that were also partially lying down, due to wind and/or rain. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 15 Apr 2006 -- I'm living on the south end of Ukiah now, and while taking a late afternoon walk today (Friday), I heard the call of a HOODED ORIOLE as I passed the Nokomis School on Washington St. I stopped and with the repeated calls of the bird soon spotted a brilliant male in an oak tree just to the west of the main school buildings. I did not see any nesting activity.
I have not checked to see of the hooded orioles have arrived at the familiar palms on Sherry Dr. on the north end of town near where I used to live.
The BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are still plentiful here on the south end of town. -- Paul Hawks
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 -- There was a flock of approximately 60 CEDAR WAXWINGS seen in Fort Bragg - presumably moving through after the storms. -- Tina Fabula
Fri, 14 Apr 2006 -- There are a dozen or so BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in the oak trees here in our yard on Mill Creek Rd in Talmage. They've been around, off and on, for a coupla weeks. -- David Smith-Ferri
Wed, 12 Apr 2006 -- A very bright male WILSON'S WARBLER showed up at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center's office...first one that I have seen this year. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 -- The LARK SPARROW spent the night at Ocean Meadows Circle, north of Ten Mile River. We saw it late yesterday afternoon, then it got a little foggy. This morning at 7:15, it was still with the flock of that makes its way around the north half of the neigborhood. Toby Tobkin commented that she had only seen 4 Lark Sparrows along the Mendocino coast in 20 years. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning I saw a SOLITARY SANDPIPER along the edge of the upper sag pond just south of the office area at the UC Hopland Center. It was still there when I left. Other new arrivals singing in the oaks included a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and several each of CASSINS AND WARBLING VIREOS. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 12 Apr 2006 -- Hello--- Late this morning, I looked out my kitchen window to see a LARK SPARROW feeding on our gravel driveway with a flock of White- crowned Sparrows. The striking facial patteren was obvious. Some puff of wind flushed the flock, and the Lark Sparrow flew into the open yard to our east. I easily saw the white in the tail as it flew around with the flock. Again the flock dispursed, as is the case here in this very, open neighborhood. I tried to follow it, but lost track of it near the northern edge of Ocean Meadows Circle. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 10 Apr 2006 -- Likewise on Standley I have a flock [of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS] that has additional numbers every day since 4-6-06 , first 5, then 11 and today 25. They are roosting about 70 feet up in the Oaks. About 2 dozen were in the open lot and I flushed all of them. They must have been feeding. -- Barbara Dolan
Sun, 09 Apr 2006 -- It's been such a quiet spring until now. I saw two TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS on Friday afternoon and another one today. The one today distracted me from a pair of NORTHERN FLICKERS who were behaving most interestingly - a stop and start chase followed by both birds sitting on a bridge railing about 12 feet apart, both with tails spread, not facing each other. The female looked about a third again as big as the male - I guess she was all fluffed up - and she bobbed and swung her head repeatedly. I was hoping to see a mating, but then the Townsend's Warbler distracted me and when I looked back the Flickers were gone. The Birders Handbook says that large Flicker clutches usually represent the eggs of two females. There can be up to 12 eggs, but 5-8 is normal. Not sure if 5-8 represents one female or two.
If anyone finds a Ruby-crowned Kinglet nest I'd love to be told about it. Birder's Handbook says they're in conifers at 15-30 feet.
I'm actually interested in nests in general..... -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 09 Apr 2006 2006 -- Just saw a juvenile BALD EAGLE at the Van Arsdale Fisheries Station. Right now, it's sitting in a tree usually occupied by one of the adults. I think this is the first juvenile I have seen here. -- Alan Grass
Sun, 09 Apr 2006 -- This morning about 7:30 AM, Jim saw the male LONG-TAILED DUCK again near the mouth of Ten Mile River. I joined him, and got good looks in the scope. He still is in crisp, basic plumage, with the throat, neck and crown all white.
At the north tip of the beach on the MacKerricher St Park side of the river, a WESTERN SANDPIPER was with a WHIMBREL and several gulls. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 08 Apr 2006 -- We have BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS in our yard this morning. They may have arrived yesterday or Thursday (I've been away). Maybe they know something we don't know, and spring really is coming. Here's hoping, David Smith-Ferri
Thu, 06 Apr 2006 -- Wed/Thurs 5/6 April 2006 Grace Steurer reported to me that "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at Point Arena Cove on both of these days in the late afternoon. This is the first time to our documetned knowledge that "AL" has continued using the cove into the month of April before annual departure (to Midway perhaps?). Good Birding -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 06 Apr 2006 -- After checks along Red Hills Rd. in Lake County, CA every 2-3 days from mid March until April and checks on 5 of 6 dates in April, I finally observed PURPLE MARTINS for the first time in 2006. There were a minimum of four adult males along the length of the road. Three were observed together in flight near the Beckstoffer vinyard sign. A fourth adult male was seen about 250 yds W of the intersection with Siegler Springs Rd. North, near the top of the slope. No females were observed today. First observation of martins along Red Hills Rd. occurred between between March 16 and 22 in 2003, 2004 and 2005. There is some sun today, but many more days with rain forecast over the next 10 days so I hope they can find a meal. -- Dave Woodward, Lakeport
Thu, 06 Apr 2006 - This afternoon I noticed the arrival of WESTERN KINGBIRD (1), CLIFF SWALLOW (1), and BARN SWALLOW (1) amongst numerous Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows. All were at the lower. pasture portion of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. -- Good birding! Bob Keiffer
Wed, 05 Apr 2006 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Late this afternoon while sitting in the sun in my back yard trying to make some Vitamin D, I had a solitary CASPIAN TERN soaring overhead. I assume that it came off of Lake Mendocino. I see them regularly during the fall, but this is the first I have ever seen in the spring. I looked at Jerry White's "Birds of Lake County Seasonal Checklist" and note that he reports them as "Rare" in the spring. I ascribe it to this bird's response, which is much like mine, to the most unpleasant, gloomy weather we have been experiencing. It did not know where it was or when it was. I had a couple of other migrating birds in the yard as well: single RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD and TOWNSEND WARBLER males. Go Giants, -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 04 Apr 2006 -- The BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are still plentiful in the Ukiah area in residential areas. I have been seeing flocks of approx 25 in the area of Laurel and Beacon, and I received a report from Sherry Drive this morning that a hawk had killed several Band-tails and eaten them in the same back yard yesterday and today. From the reported description, it sounded like a Cooper's Hawk. -- Paul Hawks
Sat, 01 Apr 2006 -- Noteworthy birds seen today (1 April) include: HORNED GREBE: six in splendid alternate plumage lingering at Glenhaven.
PIED-BILLED GREBE: brood of three downy chicks (one jumped off nest and joined the others; one fed a fish by an adult) at Clearlake Oaks.
TUFTED DUCK: two males with long tufts (photographed together!) lingering with several thousand SCAUP at Borax Lake.
CINNAMON TEAL: four pairs at Robinson Lake. BALD EAGLE: an immature at High Valley.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: two immatures lingering at Clearlake Park.
CASPIAN TERN: two at Lucerne, three at Robinson Lake. YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE: two at High Valley.
Yesterday (31 March) a COMMON LOON was at Detert Reservoir. -- Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Thu, 30 Mar 2006 -- There's a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW hopping around under a feeder outside my office window. Beautiful little guy, with white stripes on his head and yellow dots on his forehead and that bright white throat. First time I've noticed one here. I know they are year round residents in the county. Do they tend to keep to woods or streams or are they just uncommon... -- David Smith-Ferri
Wed, 29 Mar 2006 -- This evening a flock of about 100 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were doing their bag-o'-cats chorusing in the tops of oak trees at the end of Burris Lane, Potter Valley. At 17:53 they flew off to roost toward the cattail marsh where they have nested for the last several years. It looks like nesting is likely again this year. -- George Chaniot and Joanne Haller
Wed, 29 Mar 2006 -- We have a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at our feeder this morning. Took me by surprise. I thought with this cold, wet weather they'd be later. -- David Smith-Ferri
Wed, 29 Mar 2006 -- Hi--This morning, Jim saw a SAY'S PHOEBE near Seaside Creek, among the driftwood near Hwy 1. A short while later, he spotted a (the?) male LONG-TAILED DUCK quite close to the Ten Mile River- mouth. It flew back up the river a way toward the bridge. He was still in distinct, basic plumage. Jim said he got very good looks at the duck, when he was at the rivermouth.
Also, both Mr and Mrs OSPREY are reunited. The second bird arrived March 16th, three days after the first bird. They frequently fly in circles together. -- Karen (for Jim) Havlena
Tue, 28 March 2006 -- This is not really a report of a specific sighting. I would just like to point out that I have received several calls from the Ukiah and Hopland area, within the last couple of weeks, of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flocks being seen at valley floor locations where folks usually don't see them. I have reports of 100+ birds coming to feeders in the Oak Knoll area of Ukiah. Other folks have reported them coming to backyard feeders in Ukiah. I recently saw two flocks in the Oak Manor area ...one flock feeding on a backyard tree that has Boston Ivy (berries) all over it. I have seen them in California Valley Oaks, probably feeding on buds, on the valley floor of Hopland. Within the last couple of days I have had them coming to my backyard chicken-yard at Hopland. Anyway, for some reason inland Mendocino County has been inundated by these birds, and I don't know if it is related to weather, food, or what! Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 28 Mar 2006 -- The male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was still present this morning at the same location it was reported from this past weekend. To reach this spot drive north on Tomki Rd and turn right on Fisher Lake Dr. Check the group of three trees in the front yard of the first house on the right. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 26 Mar 2006 -- Geoff and I watched a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in Bruce and Ann Gove's yard at Fisher Lake Drive in Redwood Valley this morning. The bird was working the birch trees near the road until a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew in, spooking the Sapsucker and two Mourning Doves.
The bird has been seen at this location for at least a week and the three birches are easily visible from the road. They're in the front yard of the first house on the right at the corner of Fisher Lake and Tomki Road. -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 26 Mar 2006 -- Today at MacKerricher State Park/Lake Cleone I saw a single BROWN PELICAN flying overhead which Toby Tobkin tells me is an early in the season sighting. -- Charlene McAllister
Sat, 25 Mar 2006 -- I saw a male TUFTED DUCK (sleeping so tuft not seen) among perhaps 3500 SCAUP at Borax Lake on Saturday the 25th. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 25 Mar 2006 -- As of around 4pm today, "Al", the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, is still hanging around at Arena Cove just west of Point Arena. There also was a first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL in the field just north of the Garcia bridge a few miles north of Point Arena and a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK mixed in with a flock of Surf Scoters off the Point Cabrillo lighthouse. -- Stefan Schlick, Orangevale, CA
Sat, 25 Mar 2006 -- A flock of about 40 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, all males, briefly landed in the oaks in front of my house in SW Lakeport early this afternoon. In the past 14 years, this is the third winter that fairly large flocks of male Yellow-headed Blackbirds have been observed near this area. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 22 Mar 2006 -- I saw a 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at Clearlake Park on Wednesday the 22nd. -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 21 Mar 2006 -- This evening an adult male CINNAMON TEAL was found at the western end of Lake Cleone. These birds are seldom seen on the coast, although (at least) one pair successfully nested on a pond in the dunes at Stornetta Ranch last year. -- David Jensen
Sun, 19 Mar 2006 -- On Sunday, March 19, a CASPIAN TERN flew north over Point Cabrillo. -- David Jensen
Sun, 19 Mar 2006 -- Geoff Heinecken and Cheryl Watson came over and saw the SLATE-COLORED JUNCO which made two appearances between 12:00 and 1:00. I saw it several more times through the afternoon. [ 25 Mar: I have not seen it since. ] -- George Chaniot
Sun, 19 Mar 2006 -- At Point Arena today, my family and I enjoyed watching
"Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS from 12:00-1:00 pm. Al repeatedly drifted within 20 feet or so of the shoreline and then would paddle back out a short distance. Once he flew out a short distance and landed in front of an incoming surfer who casually reached out and touched Al. So amazing!
Yesterday at about 10:45 am I saw a PEREGRINE FALCON fly over the highest point of the Boonville Road between Boonville and Ukiah. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 18 Mar 2006, 11:15 a.m. - - PEREGRINE FALCON was observed consuming a BAND-TAILED PIGEON in the oak at the SW corner of W Smith and Hortense Streets in Ukiah's Westside. I first saw the bird fly from the SE. It appeared to be of the anatum race and, as judged from its large size, a female.
Several of us spent an hour watching from under the oak. The falcon took note of automobile, roof construction, and human noises, but continued with its meal until its crop was bulging and all that was left of the pigeon were a couple of bloody bones and a wing dangling from its perch on the horizontal limb. -- Roger Foote
Fri, 17 Mar 2006, 11:16 -- The SLATE-COLORED JUNCO just made another appearance at my window feeder. It approaches and leaves through the live oak along the fence and seems more wary that the Oregon Juncos. I also saw it once in the eucalyptus across the fence. [seen about 5 times until 4:30] -- George Chaniot
Fri, 17 Mar 2006 -- This morning there was a flock of 40 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS foraging on the ground in the Bald Eagle Vineyard on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It appeared to be a single-species flock, 7 males, 33 females. This is about the time of year when they have appeared the last two years when they nested at a pond about 1/2 mile away. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 16 Mar 2006 16:50 -- I just had a SLATE-COLORED JUNCO visit the feeder at my study window in Potter Valley. I've never seen one in California before. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 13 Mar 2006 -- Today, Jim and I observed an OSPREY hunting above the mouth of the Ten Mile River. It's behavior was just like the pair who nest back up the river watershed. This morning, we saw the same (we think) Osprey flying up and down Seaside beach, north of the rivermouth. So, 14 March, unless this bird leaves the area, should be the returning date for this bird. -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Sun, 12 Mar 2006 -- Here are some recent sightings:TUFTED DUCK: Male with a short tuft on 7 March and a male with a long tuft on 4 March, both at Borax Lake.
hybrid TUFTED DUCK X SCAUP: Male with grayish sides, nearly black back and only the slightest of a Lesser Scaup-like tuft at Borax Lake on 4 March (same bird seen on 26 February; gray sides are rather odd and bill not seen; perhaps a hybrid with Ring-necked Duck?). Male with white sides, nearly black back and only the slightest of a Lesser Scaup-like tuft at Borax Lake on 7 March (I hadn't seen this bird earlier, so there is one definite and two presumed hybrids).
Hybrid EURASIAN X AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL: Male in a flock of Green-winged Teal at Robinson Lake on 12 March; a broad white scapular stripe and a short and narrow white vertical bar (characteristics of both taxa) are visible in photos are posted at: http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/hybridgreen-wingedteal
CINNAMON TEAL: Three pairs at Robinson Lake on 12 March.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: Male at Pirate's Cove, Clearlake Park, on 5 March.
HOODED MERGANSER: Male at Robinson Lake, 12 March.
GLAUCOUS GULL: 1st-basic immature among hundreds of
gulls on boathouses at mile marker 25.66, Glenhaven (north of Clearlake Oaks), on 12 March. Photos reveal that the dark pattern on the bill appears identical to the bird at Clearlake on 16 January, but the breast appears to be darker in this bird, suggesting it is a different individual: http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/glaucousgull
Other odd gulls at Glenhaven on 12 March include a presumed hybrid 3rd-basic GLAUCOUS-WINGED X WESTERN GULL and two presumed 1st-basic GLAUCOUS-WINGED X HERRING GULLS. I was unable to find the presumed KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL among hundreds of gulls at Clearlake Park on 4, 5, 7 and 12 March, so I think it's gone...
BARN SWALLOW: One at Lucerne Harbor on 12 March.
PINE SISKIN: One at my feeder at Hidden Valley Lake on 11 March, my first of the winter.
Unfortunately I missed two birds on 12 March: the Short-eared Owl (arrived too late, 6:21 am) and Eurasian Wigeon (none among a dozen or so American Wigeon). -- Floyd Hayes
Wed, 01 Mar 2006 -- This morning I drove over to Clearlake and saw the KUMLIEN'S GULL candidate landing on a boathouse visable from 10705 Lakeshore Drive. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 28 Feb 2006 -- This evening I saw a SHORT-EARED OWL in Lake County along Reclamation Road at 6:30-6:33 PM. Dave Woodward had flushed one earlier in the day while working on private property nearby. I arrived at 5:00 PM and cruised the roads as it grew darker. At sunset I pulled to the side of Reclamation Road about 100 y before the gates and stop sign at the south end, got out, and watched the fields. The owl appeared flying low over the nearest field. It was close enough to rule out Barn Owl through binoculars. I followed it until I lost track of it in the dark in the vicinity of the blue tractor. It was drizzling lightly at the time. In the chronology of the evening, this was just after the night herons quit going over, and just when the snipe started calling. It had just become too dark to read my watch without a light. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 28 Feb 2006 -- I took a quick run up Bald Hill Road, off Pudding Creek Road north of Fort Bragg today. Among the 25 or so Western Canada Geese were one SNOW GOOSE and 3 ROSS'S GEESE. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Mon, 27 Feb 2006 -- Decided to head up to Lake to see if I could get a look at that Kumlien's Iceland Gull and tic some of the good county birds folks have been finding of late. Started at the Glen [Eden] Trailhead on Scott's Valley Road (2.7 mi south of Hwy 20) at 5:45AM. During the next hour, one and then two NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS were calling nearly continuously. Two GREAT HORNED OWLS had a conversation and one WESTERN SCREECH-OWL called briefly uphill. No Long-eared Owl.
Headed straight to the Iceland Gull spot. Lots of gulls but no Iceland during THAT stop. Did find a PACIFIC LOON very near shore at a point .7 miles north of the Clearlake Park Post Office along Lakeshore Dr. An adult THAYER'S GULL was in the water just north of the Iceland Gull spot.
Next I went to Borax Lake and after about 40 minutes of sifting through the thousands of sleeping scaup, found the male TUFTED DUCK with a full tuft. Made another visit to the Iceland Gull spot without finding the bird.
I needed CANVASBACK and got them at Detert Reservoir, then headed up the south side of Clear Lake. Along Nice-Lucerne Cut-off there was nice assortment of ducks and I increased my Lake County shorebird total by 50% by finding WILSON'S SNIPE.
By now it was mid-afternoon so I went BACK to the Iceland Gull spot and, lo and behold, there was the bird. -- Ed Pandolfino, Loomis [from Countybirders]
Sun, 26 Feb 2006 -- This morning Matthew Matthiessen and I birded Clearlake Park and Borax Lake with three of my students.
At Clearlake Park there were no gulls on the docks at11021 Lakeshore Drive, but a few hundred were on docks in the cove to the north and we relocated the presumed KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL among them, observing it on the docks, in the water and in flight from 8:25-9:30. I've received reports that it was also seen on Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. We also saw two WESTERN GULLS (adult and 3rd-basic).
At Borax Lake we searched an hour among the 5,000+ scaup and could not find a Tufted Duck (unless Matt succeeded after we left), but we did see a presumed male TUFTED DUCK X SCAUP hybrid which was different than the one photographed earlier. This one had a very dark but not quite black back, light gray sides, and a very slight tuft. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake
Sun, 26 Feb 2006 -- HI, Mendobirders. Toby Tobkin has reported two heavily oiled gulls at MacKerricher State Park (on the beach near Laguna Point) in the past two days, a HERRING GULL yesterday and a CALIFORNIA GULL today. She has reported them to the Coast Guard and is suggesting that if anyone else notes oiled birds in our area to report them as well in case a pattern develops.The phone numbers for the Coast Guard (in Eureka) are 269-2563 or 269-2571. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 -- Dear Birders, I spotted a small goose in a flock of 27 "Canada" geese just east of the Ten Mile bridge in the mudflat area on the north side of the estuary. It has a blue collar with the number 41J. I looked up this collar color on http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/ and found this statement:
"3 DIGIT COLLARS Collars with 3 digits include yellow and orange collars from the Arctic Goose Joint Venture. Gray, Blue, and Green have all been used on the threatened Aleutian Canada Goose, which breed in the Aleutian Islands and migrate along the west coast as far south as California."
If you want to see this goose and check out the other birds of this flock, look for high tide and go to the north end of the Ten Mile Bridge on Highway One, eight miles north of Fort Bragg, in the early morning. Happy birding, -- Erica Fielder
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 -- Today Chuck Vaughn and I found two YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES in the Valley Oaks and vineyards at the east end of High Valley. It has been several years since I have seen them there myself, and I have heard concern voiced that this population may have disappeared. The most recent record I have found in the Mendobirds archives is from 28 Mar 2005.
Some other birds of interest which we found in Lake County: LONG-EARED OWL calling NE of the parking lot at Glen Eden Trailhead, 05:44-05:50, also 23 Feb 05:48-05:52; EURASIAN WIGEON, 2 males in flooded fields E of Rodman Slough; TUFTED DUCK, 1 adult male at Borax Lake; BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, 2 females in Clearlake Oaks, mm 26.86 on Route 20; PHAINOPEPLA, 1 male at 12551 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. We did not find the Kumlien's-like Gull anywhere along Lakeshore Drive in the interval 09:50-10:30 [It was seen by Floyd Hayes about a half-hour earlier] -- George Chaniot
Wed, 22 Feb 2006 -- While not as flashy as the Clear Lake Gulls, here is an update on ducks, etc, at Ten Mile R and Seaside Beach north of Fort Bragg: This morning, Jim found a male BLACK SCOTER off Seaside Beach. I saw an OSPREY with a fish being harassed by two ravens near mile post 67.00 on Hwy 1 about 1:15 this afternoon. The LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen Tuesday west of the Ten Mile bridge, and a COMMON GOLDENEYE was taking his place this afternoon. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 20 Feb 2006 -- Mendobirders - Les Lieurance and I enjoyed birding in Lake County from the afternoon of Saturday, February 18 through mid-morning on Monday, February 20, 2006. We spent most of our time along the shores of the lake, which is teeming with many thousands of gulls and grebes plus smaller numbers of various ducks. We observed everyone from coots to gulls to grebes to ducks feeding on small, silvery fish that appeared to be in great abundance, especially between the Kumlien's address (11021 Lakeshore Drive) and the Pine Dell Resort.
On our way to the lake Saturday afternoon, we saw the continuing HOODED MERGANSERs and CANVASBACKs at Detert Reservoir.
On Sunday afternoon we stopped at 11021 Lakeshore Drive and immediately noticed the bird "showing features of a KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL", first reported by Floyd Hayes. Even when the eyes glaze over from staring at so many other gulls, this bird stands out as distinctly different. It was sitting on the railing of the dock from about 2:25 PM to 2:45 PM. On the boathouse roof next to it was a GLAUCOUS GULL. This was our second GLAUCOUS GULL of the day; we saw another individual that morning north of Clearlake Oaks on Highway 20. The Kumlien's Iceland Gull flew off, and Les relocated it a few minutes later sitting on the water off the parking area of the gas station at the Pine Dell Resort. Les got some great video of this gull and will post it in a few days.
Other gulls we saw throughout the weekend were HERRING, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, WESTERN (one), MEW, RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA and THAYER'S (two.) COMMON MERGANSERs were numerous on the lake, but we were unable to find a Red-breasted. We had no trouble finding COMMON GOLDENEYEs, but could not find a Barrow's. Grebes included the usual 5: WESTERN, CLARK'S, EARED, HORNED and PIED-BILLED.
Also on Sunday, we heard and then saw a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in the
redwood trees at Harbor Park in Lucerne. While checking the waterbirds from the boat launch in Clearlake Oaks, we saw a male PHAINOPEPLA in the tall leafless bushes on the lake side of the parking lot. (The bushes have some clumps of mistletoe.) We saw 2 male EURASIAN WIGEON in a flooded field 1/4 mile east of Rodman Slough.
At Borax Lake, the thousands (we estimated 5,000 to 6,000) of GREATER SCAUP (also some LESSER SCAUP and 2 RING-NECKED DUCKs) made for a challenging 1.5+ hour search, but we just couldn't tear ourselves away, and I eventually found one of the male TUFTED DUCKs.
We went to the Glen Eden Trailhead on Scott's Valley Road at 6:00 AM on both Sunday and Monday. We did not see or hear Long-eared Owl (reported by George Chaniot), but heard several each WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS. We also saw a pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS engage in various pair-bonding and courtship activities, including the male delivering a rodent to the female both mornings, the two of them flying from tree to tree together, calling back and forth to each other, and copulation.--Cindy and Les Lieurance, San Francisco
Mon, 20 Feb 2006 -- Hi Birders, Today, about 9:00 am, at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lake County I saw two PHAINOPEPLAS, a male and a female. Take the Cache Creek trail. Start looking up in the huge globs of mistletoe in the large deciduous trees starting where the boardwalk crosses the creek. That's where I saw the male. The female was further down the trail just beyond where the boardwalk quits and again, in the mistletoe. Also of note - 3 TREE SWALLOWS and 4 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS.
I am not going to list the birds that I saw today, but, I will say that this is a very "birdy" place. The park is at the south end of Clear Lake just off Hwy 53. You go north on 53 from Hwy 29 for only about a half of a mile and it will be on your left. The park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays so I parked at the Lake County Social Services building next door and walked in. I saw nothing to indicate that was not allowed. -- Sara Blauman, Santa Rosa [from NorthBayBirds]
Tue, 21 Feb 2006 -- Now that the presumed KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL is more
cooperative (it was seen by others Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, so that's 3 days in a row), more detailed directions for finding it might be helpful to anybody intrepid enough to search for it (and if you miss it, hopefully the hordes of waterbirds in the area and at Borax Lake will make the trip worthwhile).
Drive to the home at 11021 Lakeshore Drive, which is a few yards northwest of Patterson Drive, 2.3 miles northwest of the hairpin curve junction of Lakeshore Drive and San Joaquin Avenue, and 4.0 miles northwest of the Clearlake Park Post Office. There is a gap between this home and the next home to the left, fortuitously offering unobstructed views of a boathouse (please stay on the road). The gull is seen most consistently on the roof of this boathouse, but has been seen on the dock visible to the right. It has also been seen on the roof of the next boathouse to the left, which can be viewed by walking toward the house on the right and looking left. Farther left there is another boathouse where the gull has also been seen, viewed by walking left and crouching to look beneath a pine tree. There are additional docks with gulls to the left but they can only be partially glimpsed by walking down Patterson Drive and peering between the homes.
When not on any of these docks the bird is often sitting on the water a few hundred yards offshore or flying back and forth over the area. To search for it over the water, drive north to the first vacant lot on the left (for sale, if anybody wants to live in a prime birding locality), park in it, and scan the lake. The bird shuttles back and forth between the lake and the main boathouse.
A few hundred gulls have also been hanging out on docks in the cove to the north but the gull hasn't been seen there, so if you can't find the gull anywhere else and gulls happen to be present on those docks, be sure to check them out. They're best observed rather distantly by peering between homes south of the docks or by looking down from the road on the hillside north of the docks.
It's impossible to predict how long the group of gulls the bird is hanging out with will continue foraging in the area. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 19 Feb 2006 -- The presumed KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL at Pirate's Cove, Clearlake Park, was surprisingly cooperative this morning. I saw it briefly from 8:05-8:10 and 09:28-09:29, and then watched it leisurely in terrific light from 10:05-11:38, viewed on the water, in flight and resting (three different docks). Jerry White joined me during the last half hour or so and we were both pleased with how closely the plumage matches that of a Kumlien's Gull (which doesn't mean it will be automatically accepted by the CBRC). I have uploaded further photos including closeups of the rather white wingtip and relatively pale secondaries of the outstreched wing at:
http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/mysterygull3 .
In the cove to the north I saw two male RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS among the hordes of diving birds. I didn't see any females, but in my photos a female is clearly swimming beside one of the males! Unfortunately they're a challenge to see. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 18 Feb 2006 -- This afternoon I finally relocated both the 1st-basic KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL (identity controversial, ofcourse) and the 1st-basic GLAUCOUS GULL among hundreds of gulls at Clearlake Park.
The GLAUCOUS GULL was circling overhead in a flock that had just spooked from a dock that cannot be viewed, and was seen from about 3:30-3:35 pm.
The KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL was out on the water and seen flying several times from 3:45-4:00 pm, and was then seen on a dock from 4:10-4:45. The dock is at11021 Lakeshore Drive, 4.0 miles north of the Clearlake Park Post Office and 2.3 miles north of the hairpin S-curve junction of Lakeshore and San Joaquin. The Kumlien's-like Gull is paler now than it was on 16 January; the wingtips are the palest part of the bird with a narrower dark line along the shaft of each primary, the tertials and tail are finely spotted, and there definitely is no contrasting secondary bar. Photos of the bird on 16 January with a link to comments from others are posted at: http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/mysterygull
Within a few hours I will be uploading new photos of the bird at:
http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/mysterygull2
Also, on Friday the 17th I saw a flock of about 15 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, my first for the year (I've seen TREE SWALLOWS on several occasions), at Hidden Valley Lake. -- Floyd Hayes
Thu, 16 Feb 2006 -- This morning I went back owling to the Glen Eden Trailhead and was there from 06:00-06:47. It was much colder and quieter than my previous visits. At 06:13 a LONG-EARED OWL flew into the top of the exact same tree where I saw it on the 13th. I had the impression that it came from the walnut orchard on the east side of the road. It sat there without hooting for three minutes while I halved the distance and got good binocular views. Then, as a car passed, it flew off into the dense trees to the west. A few minutes later a Great Horned Owl flew into the large oaks by the picnic tables. Then it flew off to the west in much the same direction as the Long-eared, and a pair began hooting in this same area. This close proximity to Great Horned has to be dangerous, and I did not try to provoke any owls into calling. Two N. Pygmy-Owls and three Great Horned Owls were calling spontaneously until 06:35.
Since this owl is a repeater, I would point out that the tree in question is a leafless oak on the west side of the road 75 paces north of the parking lot entrance and next to milemarker 8.09. Viewed from the parking lot, the tree breaks above the skyline. If you go further north near the house on the west side of the road, the barking of the dog is counterproductive.
After sunrise I found four COMMON MOORHENS in the small wetland along Eickhoff Road. How can this species be so rare in Mendocino County only a few miles away? -- George Chaniot
Mon, 13 Feb 2006 -- At sundown, Brian Woodward and I went to the Glen Eden trail parking lot on Scotts Valley Rd. in western Lake County to look for the Long-eared Owl found by George Chaniot before sunrise on the same date. About a half hour after our arrival two GREAT HORNED OWLS flew into one of the huge oaks at the NW corner of the parking lot and called for some 10 minutes before flying back into dense forest where we continued to hear them during most of the rest of our stay. A WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was also calling in the distance to the west. At about 6:40 we moved to a location about 225 yds to the north of the parking lot, about 75 yds past the house on the west side of the road. There we heard the LONG-EARED OWL call numerous times over the next 15 minutes. We heard nothing more from the owl over the next half hour before we left.
I returned to the location on Tues. Feb. 14 at 6:05am hoping to see the owl as George had the previous morning, but I did not see or hear the owl during the next 40 minutes. There were Great Horned Owls, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL calling repeatedly during that interval. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 13 Feb 2006 -- What a coincidence - there was a LONG-EARED OWL sitting on our gatepost last night when we returned home. He didn't seem to want to move, giving us a great look from about 30 feet away as he swiveled his head around. Finally he flew off, displaying those improbably long wings. Definitely a "first-class encounter!" -- Tim Bray, Middle Ridge, Albion
Mon, 13 Feb 2006 -- This morning I had a first-class encounter with a LONG-EARED OWL at the Glen Eden Trailhead on Scotts Valley Road in western Lake County. The owl was sitting in the top of an oak about 50 yards away silhouetted against the moonlit sky. It hooted about ten times. At this range I could hear a hoarse quality that I have never noticed before and a slight, husky release note at the end, "hoooooo-uh". Then it flew off to the north about 200 yards and began calling again. There I heard several upward slurred calls, "hoooo-weeee", a 'doit' in jazz parlance. This was from 06:20-06:28 about 40 minutes before sunrise, 07:08. There were also multiple GREAT HORNED OWLS, 06:20-06:34, and a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL calling continuously, 06:20-06:35.
This is one of the best owling spots I have found within 20 minutes of my house. It is 2.7 miles south of route 20 between milemarkers 7.88 and 8.09 (only visable northbound). There is a large equestrian-sized parking lot with restrooms and picnic tables on the east side of the road. There is very good hearing with no significant road noise, water noise, or wind and no houses nearby. This morning the predawn soundscape was enhanced with turkeys gobbling and Wood Ducks flying along the creek. I have visited here about five times this fall and winter and have had Great Horned, Northern Pygmy-, Western Screech-, Barn, and Long-eared, at least three species per visit.
Another good place is near Kelly Family Kamping about 1.1 mile south of Route 20 near milemarker 9.46. There are good pullouts on both sides of the road and good hearing for the same reasons. Here I have had Great Horned, Northern Pygmy-, and Western Screech-Owls. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 12 Feb 2006 -- TheTufted Ducks at Borax Lake can be very difficult to find. On Friday I spent the last hour of daylight scanning the entire flock of about 5,000 scaup without seeing a Tufted Duck. This morning I returned with a group of seven students (in a Vertebrate Biology course) and couldn't bore them too long while searching, so luckily I managed to find within 10 minutes a male TUFTED DUCK with a very short but distinct tuft and all students eventually got to see it. Presumably this was the same individual seen last Sunday by Vishnu, Geoff Heineken and Cheryl Watson,
and I have no doubt that this was a different individual than the two with longer tufts that I found in January, so there are at least three different male TUFTED DUCKS plus the hybrid. Good luck to anyone else who searches for them--and beware of a lone male
RING-NECKED DUCK among them, seen both Friday and today.
Since finding the KUMLIEN'S-like GULL on 16 January, I had not seen a single gull on the docks at Pirate's Cove, Clearlake Park, until today. Although many gulls were present, none was unexpected. The hordes of gulls are still out in the water at Clearlake Oaks.
At Detert Reservoir, there were six HOODED MERGANSERS and 21 CANVASBACKS last evening, but I was unable to find the mergansers today. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake
Sun, 12 Feb 2006 -- On the Peregrine Audubon Society field trip to the south Mendocino Coast today, we failed to find the albatross around 10:00, but we returned shortly after noon, and the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was there in its usual place near the pier. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 11 Feb 2006 -- Mendoandamp;Lakebirders, Keith Slauson and I had two male TUFTED DUCKS on Borax Lake Saturday, 2/11/06. One had a short tuft, the other had a "ponytail." -- Chet Ogan, Eureka
Tue, 07 Feb 2006 -- Hopland - About a month ago I had two glimpses of a bird lifting off our dirt driveway just at the limits of my headlights. The first time I thought ..."surely it must have been a W. Screech Owl". The second time I was convinced that the flight was like a "Goatsucker" (family Caprimulgidae). My family members all got glimpses of the bird within the last couple weeks, including my son Ryan who, on Saturday, walked to within 3 feet of it while it rested on the road in his headlights. Tonight, I FINALLY got to view the bird while it rested on the road. I was able to view it with my binoculars, in the headlights, at about 30 feet away. The small gray headed bird, with rictal bristles around its mouth, had a dark eye but the typical red eyeshine was not evident. The throat collar appeared whitish. When the bird flew up and away from me I did not notice white on the tail retrices, but the outer upper wings were rounded and appeared to be "warm" in color .! ..a warm brownish instead of grayish. Ryan swears that the tail had white on it from when he saw it last Saturday.
All these markings are consistent with that of a COMMON POORWILL which is an extremely rare species in the winter in the North Coast. I have only seen one before during the winter months in Mendocino County. This species is known to hibernate during the winter... but this bird certainly is not hibernating. There are lots of moths out in the oak woodland at night and I would guess that the bird is feeding on these. Somehow I feel that the abundance of live and old dead manzanita mixed into the oak woodland is somehow providing a key habitat element ...but this is just a guess. Usually this bird is associated with chaparral habitat.
Anyway ...it was fun to solve the mystery bird. Good Birding. Bob Keiffer
Wed, 08 Feb 2006 -- Hello birders, The male LONG-TAILED DUCK and 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES were on the west side of Ten Mile bridge again this morning, Wed, 8 Feb. A Cackling Goose of undetermined race flew by Seaside Beach, going south, with a few Canada Geese. Enjoy the beautiful weather -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 06 Feb 2006 -- here in sf the COMMON RAVENS are all pairing off and 'necking' (ok, billing!) -- Janet Rosen
Sat, 04 Feb 2006 -- We saw the male LONG-TAILED DUCK on Saturday and the Goldeneyes. Gorgeous. -- Tiffany Erickson, Windsor
Mon, 06 Feb 2006"My" RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS seem to be setting up housekeeping. I saw one trying to get comfortable in the nest today, and then it got up to arrange some sticks. The other one was nearby. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and OAK TITMICE started their territorial calling yesterday, here where I live, and I today I heard my first trilling SPOTTED TOWHEE. Whoopee! -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 06 Feb 2006 -- This morning there was a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL just to the east of a small park in Lucerne (Highway 20). The bird was sitting on a "seawall" along with a number of other gulls. The park is just west of 16th avenue. -- Jerry White
Sun, 05 Feb 2006 -- Today Geoff Heineken, Cheryl Watson and Vishnu circumnavigated Clear Lake and visited many of the sites (some for the first time) that have been recently mentioned on this Mendobirds forum. From Ukiah and proceeding east on Hwy 20 we first found hundreds of COMMON MERGANSERS in the easternmost Blue Lake and a few miles further to the east in a flooded field just adjacent to the Half Diamond Ranch about 20 CANVASBACKS.
Proceeding further we found the flooded fields/ponds along the Nice/Lucerne Cutoff Rd to the north of Rodman Slough and there among a large number of GADWALLS, AMERICAN WIGEONS and GREEN-WINGED TEAL we saw 3 EURASIAN WIGEON. Continuing east on Hwy 20 we made several impromptu stops along the lakeshore for the common but multitudinous numbers of WESTERN GREBES, Gulls and Great and Snowy Egrets. I haven't yet mentioned that the light was PERFECT all day and every bird that was seen appeared bright and splendid.
Entering Clearlake Oaks (to the right) there is a boat launch picnic area with tables on a berm projecting into the lake. We had lunch there, easily observing up close many CLARK'S GREBES and Cheryl identified RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, THAYER'S, and HERRING GULLS that, along with the Grebes, covered the water as far as one could see. These were not unusual birds but the sheer number of them as well as the brilliance of the light made it seem like we were at Morro Bay or some exotic birding locale.
From there we drove to Borax Lake and found among the thousands of Scaup 1 TUFTED DUCK. Although the raft it was in was large it was not nearly so large as the immense raft further to the southeast. The bird we saw had a small but quite distinct tuft which, as it was preening a great deal, was shaken about and almost continually visible. In our opinion this duck had the typical black back and head of a Tufted Duck. No color variation as might be seen in a hybrid was observed by us (althoug it was quite apparent in the nearby Scaup). We searched in vain at Clearlake County Park for a Phainopepla but found only Western Bluebirds eating the white mistletoe berries. Species count for the day was 74 birds. Thanks to Floyd Hayes, Kathy Robertson and George Chaniot for the valuable Lake County birding information and directions posted on this forum. -- Vishnu
Sun, 05 Feb 2006 -- Late this afternoon during the Superbowl game (yes, I'd rather be birding), there was a BURROWING OWL at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley sunning itself by the mouth of its burrow. The burrow is located on the distant grassy hillside about 400 yards SE of the high point in the road. There is an outcrop of rocks, and the burrow is below and in front of those rocks. I have seen an owl in this same location several times over the last year and a half. Today there were at least two Beechy Ground-Squirrels active around the mouth of the same burrow. Scope is best, but it could be seen with binoculars. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 05 Feb 2006 -- This morning there were about 5000 scaup (I didn't try to count this time) at Borax Lake, where I relocated one of the male TUFTED DUCKS and was very fortunte to relocate (and obtain blury photos of) the male TUFTED DUCK X SCAUP hybrid found by Kathy Robertson yesterday. It's definitely a hybrid with a short tuft and a dark but not solidly dark back that is paler toward the front and the dark extends farther down the sides than in the other male scaup. Some photos are on the Mendobirds website
Also present was a rather uniformly brown female duck appearing slightly smaller than the scaup and lacking white on the head. I'm fairly certain it was a female TUFTED DUCK with an extremely short tuft. However, it dived frequently and was a bit too distant to obtain photos or to be 100% certain.
Rather bizarre was a female duck among the scaup that I think was a SCAUP X MERGANSER hybrid. Unfortuntely it was too distant to photograph. It resembled a female scaup with: a scaup-like bill; a brown but more slender head lacking a crest or a distinct white patch but with an ill-defined pale area on the cheek; a golden iris; a blackish chest contrasting with white underparts; brownish upperparts and rear; long white stripes on the wings; and, most noticeably, a distinctly longer body and longer tail, with the tail held higher above the water.
Elsewhere, two WESTERN GULLS (3rd-basic and adult) were at Austin Park, Clearlake. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sat, 04 Feb 2006 -- Hi Birders, I did some birding in Lake County today, in very cool and windy weather.
At Borax Lake, I searched for the previously reported Tufted Ducks. I did not see either of the two reported adult males with full tufts, but I did find an adult male bird that I believe may be a TUFTED DUCK X SCAUP HYBRID (see Sibley, bottom of page 91) . The bird had what I would describe as a crest rather than a tuft. The color of the back was intermediate between a Tufted Duck and Scaup (the photo does not show this well). I have posted a (blurry) photo on the Mendobirds website , of my supposed hybrid adjacent to Lesser and Greater Scaup males. Comments/opinions welcome.
I had a flyover BALD EAGLE as I was heading north on Hwy 20 north of Clearlake Oaks.
Also, yesterday (2/3/06), I saw a female PHAINOPEPLA at Lakeside County Park
(off of Soda Bay Rd.). Can any of you locals let me know how rare/common this
species is at this location at this time of year.
I saw two male EURASIAN WIGEONS in Lake County today. They were in the previously reported location, in the flooded ag fields just east of Rodman Slough, on the north side of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road.Good birding. -- Kathy Robertson, Hayward
Fri, 03 Feb 2006 -- The adult male LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen from the Ten-Mile bridge again today, as were the pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES. The male can be hard to spot (it tends to drift downstream near the mouth of the river). The female LTDU was not seen.
At the northern edge of Westport on the western banks of the sewage treatment ponds near the road, there were 12 ALEUTIAN GEESE. One on the birds wore a blue neck band with (at least) the white markings "52A". There may have been additional characters, but the bird was on one leg and didn't move to show the rest of the band. -- David Jensen
Wed, 01 Feb 2006 -- The BRANT was still below Ten Mile River bridge on the west side this morning about 8:30. An Osprey was a little further south in a tall, old snag along Hwy 1 just south of Little Valley Rd. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 -- Good evening- George's email of last week jogged my memory. Chuck Vaughn and I saw a banded gull at Van Damme several years ago. I started wondering if it was the same bird. So today, in a true test of the data base, I queried Western Gull, Van Damme, 1996 (cause George told me that was the year). Lo and behold, there are two records: March 2 and March 24, 1996. The bird in question was banded on the left leg, black color band above the knee, metal band below that bearing the numbers 2406 01341. I can't seem to find the report I got from the Bird Banding Lab, but obviously it's the same bird.
It's amazing that it's been 10 years between observations. And that when re-found, it was at the same beach. -- Demian Ebert
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 -- I birded around in Lake County this morning. First off was owling along Scotts Valley Road. I had NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL at the pullout 1.1 mile from Hwy 20 and 2 Pygmies, 2 Great Horned, and 1 Western Screech Owl at the Glen Eden trailhead 2.7 miles in. Pygmies were calling up to 7:00.
Next stop was the flooded fields near Rodman Slough where there was a EURASIAN WIGEON among the many American Wigeon. Finally, I worked the north shore of Clear Lake between Lakeview and Island Drives in ClearLake Oaks and found two female BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, possibly the same individual, one sighting at mm 26.86 and the other near Lakeview Drive. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen in the afternoon at Arena Cove -- Andreas Meyer Winnem, Trondheim, Norway [from Calbirds]
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 -- Hi- The BRANT found a few days ago, is still in the Ten Mile River area as of this morning. It flew over our yard toward the rivermouth, calling. I was out in the front yard at 10 am and watched it fly by. Many CANADA GEESE have been flying north and south each day for a couple of weeks. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 29 Jan 2006 -- Early this morning at Clearlake Oaks I saw four male and one female BARROW'S GOLDENEYES. One male (courting a female COMMON GOLDENEYE) in the small cove at the junction of Hwy. 20 and Hillside Lane at the north end of town (where I found two males last week), another male was to the north of the cove, and two males and a female were farther out in the lake near Rattlesnake Island. Two males were also seen by Jim Lomax on Wednesday (25th) and Dave Woodward on Friday (27th). The light is best in the early morning. There are about 75 COMMON GOLDENEYES in the area. I spent 1.5 hours searching unsuccessfully for a RED-NECKED GREBE found by Jim Lomax in the same area on Wednesday.
At Pirate's Cove, Clearlake Park, a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were fishing among an enormous raft of EARED GREBES just north of the Pine Dell Resort Fuel Station. The female may well be the same individual found in the vicinity by Bryan McIntosh on 4 December. I also relocated the leucistic EARED GREBE.
The two male TUFTED DUCKS were still present at Borax Lake, though they're a bit more difficult to find now that the scaup population has increased to about 4,750. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 29 Jan 2006 -- Late morning at high tide, Jim and I saw 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point lookout in MacKerricher St Park. There were 2 ANCIENT MURRELETS offshore just beyond the breaking waves, best seen with a scope. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 29 Jan 2006 -- There was a single BRANT west of the bridge on the Ten Mile River today. I was unable to locate either Long-Tailed Duck. I observed an adult PEREGRINE FALCON consume a Sora atop a power pole along side the bridge. The falcon plucked the feathers but ate everything else, including each tarsus, complete with toes. It then picked the small pieces that had become stuck to its talons, wiped its beak on the post, and ate what was wiped off. Very efficient. -- David Jensen
Sun, 29 Jan 2006 -- This morning at 10:30 Geoff and I saw a third year BALD EAGLE glide across the south ponds at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant and land atop one of the cottonwoods across the river. The bird was still there when we left at 11:00AM. -- Cheryl Watson
Sat, 27 Jan 2006 -- Three ROCK SANDPIPERS were seen at Laguna Point and one female HARLEQUIN DUCK off Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. -- Andreas Meyer Winnem, Trondheim, Norway [from Calbirds]
Sat, 27 Jan 2006 -- Steve Tucker and I had the SANDHILL CRANE on the Reynolds Highway north of Willits in Mendocino, with Wild Turkeys on Saturday 27th Jan. -- Rob Hewitt, Eureka
Fri, 26 Jan 2006 -- On Jan 26, at high tide, (4) ROCK SANDPIPERS were among Surfbirds and Black Turnstones at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Beach. In 10 Mile River, the adult male LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen, first discovered in early Jan. However, the female Long-Tailed Duck was not seen today. The flock of HARLEQUIN DUCKS is down to eight at Glass Beach off of Elm Street in Fort Bragg. -- Dorothy Tobkin [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Tue, 24 Jan 200611:00AM to noon - The SANDHILL CRANE continues at mile marker 2.14 Reynolds Highway, which is east of Hwy 101 and north of Willits. The bird continues to associate with a large flock of Wild Turkeys, of which I watched two different turkeys try to run the crane off without success. The crane and the flock moved out-of-sight into the thick trees heading west towards the water. I was unable to get close enough to establish an actual height of the bird ....it would be nice to determine if it is a Lesser or Greater Sandhill.
About a 1/2 mile south on Reynolds Highway I was able to scope two BALD EAGLES, one mature and one first winter bird, atop wood fence posts in the middle of the flooded valley. Also nearby were numerous WHITE-TAILED KITES and a NORTHERN HARRIER.
On the flooded water on the far north end of the valley (pullout on the west side of Reynolds with lots of garbage) were various species of waterfowl, including 10 COMMON GOLDENEYES. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 23 Jan 2006 -- Jan and I also saw the male and female LONG-TAILED DUCKS at Ten-Mile at 3:00 this afternoon, as did Toby at about 11:00 this morning. They were spending 90% of their time underwater. I think the adult, winter males are one of the most beautiful of the waterfowl - right up there with Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck.
At sunset this evening Jan and I also drove the Reynolds Highway near Willits and found the SANDHILL CRANE with the turkeys again near milemarker 2.14. By my odometer this is 1.5 miles from 101. Some people have missed it, but it is still around. 68 turkeys, 1 crane. The turkeys were definitely aggressive toward the crane, but at one point the crane appeared to be dancing with a tom turkey. The two were leaping 3-4 feet in the air face to face in the manner of cranes. Bizarre.
On January 8th Matthew Matthiessen, Chuck Vaughn, and I saw a banded, adult WESTERN GULL sitting on the entrance sign to Van Damme State Park. It had an aluminum band and a black color band on the left leg, and I was able to read the entire number, 2406 01341, through my telescope at about 20 feet. Today I received word back that this gull was banded on 24 Jun 1989 near the Farallon Islands as a juvenile too young to fly. When we saw it, it was about halfway through its 17th year! -- George Chaniot
Mon, 23 Jan 2006 -- Saturday afternoon around 4, both male and female LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen diving in the same west-of-the-bridge spot in Ten Mile River, near Goldeneye, Bufflehead, a lone Clark's Grebe, Scoter, and a male Merganser loyally swimming alongside his dead mate as she was carried back and forth by the river tides. -- Jessica Morton
Sun, 22 Jan 2006 -- At Borax Lake, the number of scaup along the east side increased dramatically within the past week, with about 2350 present today. Among them were at least two male TUFTED DUCKS (I wouldn't be surprised if there were more), each with a pure black back and long tuft. A lone female REDHEAD was on the west side of the lake.
Two male BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were in a cove on the north side of Clearlake Oaks this afternoon.
Other than 500 or so BONAPARTE'S GULLS (nothing unusual among them despite an hour of scanning) north of Clearlake Park, there were only a few hundred gulls present both yesterday and today in the southwestern arm of Clear Lake, much fewer than normal. This afternoon I found out why: thousands of gulls were out on the water at Clearlake Oaks in the southeastern arm of the lake, where foraging conditions must have been optimal but the light and viewing conditions were poor. Along the east shore of Clear Lake there were hardly any gulls to the north, with only about a half dozen at Lucerne Harbor. I saw nothing more unusual than a couple of adult WESTERN GULLS (one at Clearlake, one at Clearlake Oaks).
A leucistic EARED GREBE with a few dark markings on the back and some darker markings on the head was within an enormous raft of several thousand EARED GREBES north of Clearlake Park on Saturday, but I was unable to relocate it today. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 22 Jan 2006. -- I was able to steal just an hour or two today to check on some recent sightings along the coast. The male LONG-TAILED DUCK is still at the mouth of Ten-Mile River near the bridge. I was unable to locate the female. Several COMMON GOLDENEYE were also present. At Bald Hill the FERRUGINOUS HAWK was still present, perched on a pole near the road (evidently a preferred perch) and a beautiful adult PEREGRINE FALCON was on the field near the road. Several ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE and six WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were present with the Canada Geese. I saw one BURROWING OWL at the "southern burrow". The original burrow appeared to have been abandoned for some time. -- David Jensen
Fri, 20 Jan 2006 -- I found a winter, adult female LONG-TAILED DUCK was west of the Ten Mile River bridge about 4:30 this afternoon. The male LTDU was also west of the bridge, but the two were not together. The female was with a few scoters, while the male was was diving in the center of the river. Jim refound the male, which has not been seen in the last few days. -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 17 Jan 2006 -- Today I saw the TUFTED DUCK first found by Floyd Hayes at Borax Lake. Also there was an adult WESTERN GULL at Lucerne Harbor. I did not find any of the gulls that were seen on Monday. -- Jerry White
Tue, 17 Jan 2006 -- Hello, today at 8:45 AM, I saw the adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON at the north junction of Pomo Dr, Yosemite andamp; Washo Dr in the Oak Manor area of Ukiah east of Hwy 101. The adult bird was in the NE most tree looking north. I could not find the juvenile. But, because of having to peer over the house in front of the redwood trees, I did not look particularly hard for the young bird, having seen the adult rather easily.
On my way home, I briefly looked for the Sandhill Crane on Reynolds Hwy at mi post 2.14, but did not see it. There is a huge flooded, shallow lake nearby where it could easily be hiding out. No turkeys were out in the open either. This was around 11 AM, but it was pretty dark and rainy, so I took the chance. Luckily, Jim and I saw the bird last week. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 16 Jan 2006 -- Today was by far my best day birding in the county. Here are the highlights, beginning with the species whose identity is certain:
GLAUCOUS GULL: First-basic immature on dock at Austin Park, Clearlake, from 10:25-10:40 am (absent at 3:15 and 4:30 pm); a photo is posted
here
TUFTED DUCK: Adult male with long tuft, pure black back and pure white sides with 680 scaup (in three flocks) at Borax Lake, from 4:10-4:25 pm. No photo (drizzling, poor light).
Possible KUMLIEN'S ICELAND GULL: First-basic immature on dock at Pirate's Cove, Clearlake Park, from 8:00-9:15 am (absent during early to mid-afternoon). This bird's identity is controversial. However, a well known gull expert in Newfoundland and Jon Dunn here in CA thought the photos looked great for Kumlien's (a few others have disagreed; I'm looking forward to receiving more opinions). If anybody is lucky enough to relocate this bird (driving directions are given at the end of this message), good views or photos of the secondaries would be useful in evaluating its identity. Photos with a link to comments (so you can judge for yourself whether chasing this bird might be worthwhile) are posted here.
OTHER GULLS: The identity of two other interesting gulls at Clearlake Park eluded confirmation. The first was a 3rd-basic immature with very dark back and wings (lacking white-tipped primaries), seen for less than 1 min at 9:10 am. It had a bicolored bill, pink legs and a broad white secondary skirt. When I noticed it had a pale iris, dark smudge behind the eye and dark streaking on the hindneck, I instantly jumped into my car to retrieve my camera battery which was recharging at a nearby gas station, but when I returned 4 minutes later the bird was gone. I'm convinced it was either a Western or Slaty-backed Gull, but don't know which. The pale iris and dark markings were real but perhaps not quite as contrasting as I would have liked for a Slaty-backed.
The second gull was scoped out on the lake by Jerry White in the early afternoon (when the gulls had abandoned the docks). According to Jerry, it "seemed to fit an adult Kumlien's quite closely," but there are no photos.
In addition to the above gulls there are at least a half dozen Western Gulls of various ages (mostly adult), probably a dozen Glaucous-winged Gulls (mostly 1st-basic), several hybrid Western X Glaucous-winged Gulls (2nd-basic, 3rd-basic and adult) and many Thayer's Gulls, all roaming the southern Clear Lake area.
The ROSS'S GOOSE seen at Hidden Valley Lake on Sunday the 8th has not been seen since.
Mon, 16 Jan 2006 -- Yesterday I tried to find the Sandhill Crane again and ran into Kate and Barbara. We weren't successful. However, one thing I figured out was that if you start from the Reynolds Highway turnoff at 101 and set your odometer, you will go around 1.1 miles. If you get out of your car and look at the mile marker across the road, you will see that you are at 2.14. So where Roger and Holly found it is where everyone else has been finding it. I'm trying one more time today! There are a variety of other great birds around, though. AMERICAN KESTRELS, WHITE-TAILED KITES, NORTHERN HARRIERS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS - and we saw a COYOTE very close up! -- Karin Wandrei
Sun, 15 Jan 2006 -- Roger and Holly, and Bob Keiffer and Linda and I all ran into each other looking for the SANDHILL CRANE yesterday afternoon. Roger and Holly saw it around 1.1 mile marker, with turkeys near the horse farm, but a truck scared it off. I don't think Roger and Holly saw it again and we didn't either. I know Bob was going to hang around longer and try. I am going to try again today. -- Karin Wandrei
Sat, 14 Jan 2006 -- BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS continue to roost in the backyard clump of Redwood Trees on the north end of Pomo Drive in Oak Manor subdivision (east side of Highway 101, between Gobbi and Perkins exits) in Ukiah. The clump of trees can be viewed from both Pomo and Washo, so almost all sides of the trees can be viewed. During stormy weather the birds are usually tucked way into the foliage and out of sight, when weather is better they venture farther out onto the limbs and into view. I usually see them on the south/south east side of the clump of trees, about half-way up the trees. On Ssturday I saw an adult and an immature. Please be courteous using binoculars in the subdivision as you peering over the top of houses to see the trees. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 14 Jan 2006 -- Hello, Jim and I also saw the SANDHILL CRANE - on late Friday afternoon. It was just north of mile marker 2.14 on Reynolds Hwy. There were two groups of turkeys on either side of the road. The crane was on the west side of the road in high weeds with mostly tom turkeys. It stayed at the edge of the group -- Karen and Jim Havlena
Fri, 13 Jan 2006 -- At about 10:00 this morning there was a male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD among the 150 Brewer's Blackbirds in the trees at the south marina at Lake Mendocino. There was also an adult BALD EAGLE sitting in a tree across the lake at the end of the spit by Miti boat-in campground. An adult RING-BILLED GULL was at the south marina. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 13 Jan 2006 -- I did not have time earlier in the week to try to find the LESSER SANDHILL CRANE NE of Willits until this (Friday) morning. To my delight, it was still there. It was hanging out with the wild turkeys, and I didn't see any of them trying to run it off. They seemed quite at ease with each other. -- Quince Amanda
Thu, 12 Jan 2006 -- Charlene and I surveyed for SNOWY PLOVERS along Ten Mile Beach today. We saw 41 of them. We also saw a MERLIN being chased by an AMERICAN KESTREL, and as soon as the Kestrel gave up, the Merlin turned and dived into the dunes and came up with a gopher(!) that we watched being torn apart.
I also saw a Burrowing Owl just south of Inglenook Creek (about 50 meters passed the bridge) in a pile of driftwood adjacent to the Haul Road. -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 09 Jan 2006 -- The SANDHILL CRANE was still present north of Willits on Mon at noon. The bird was west of the Reynolds Hwy at mm 2.14. It was associating with a group of Wild Turkeys although this association did not appear to be mutual. On several occasions I watched the crane get chased away from the group by an aggressive turkey. The crane would wander back only to be chased off again. Good Craning. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 09 Jan 2006 -- I had a call last night from Jim and Susanne Scholz. They and Susanne's brother saw a bird on the Mendocino coast they feel certain was a BROWN BOOBY. They first saw it fly by the headlands on January 4th at the Botanical Gardens. Then the next day, January 5th, they had an even better look as the bird flew by Laguna Pt -- Jerry White
Sun, 08 Jan 2006 -- This evening I found a lone ROSS'S GOOSE among 128+ CANADA GEESE in a flooded, brushy field west of the junction of Spruce Rd. Ext. and Hwy. 29 at Hidden Valley Lake. Spruce Rd. Ext. is on the west side of Highway 29 opposite Hidden Valley Rd. (entrance to gated Hidden Valley Lake community), about 5 miles north of Middletown. On Monday I was surprised to find a female COMMON GOLDENEYE and six BUFFLEHEADS in a shallow pool there that couldn't have been deeper than a few feet.
Also today, a PRAIRIE FALCON and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK were in the open fields along Butts Canyon Rd. south of Middletown and two immature BALD EAGLES were at Detert Reservoir.
On Monday, two CINNAMON TEAL were at the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant but they were absent today. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 08 Jan 2006 -- A SANDHILL CRANE is being seen in the Little Lake Valley NE of Willits. It was first found and photographed by Jim Harrison, who lives in Willits, on 28 Dec, but it did not become known to the wider birding community until after the New Year. It has been seen at various locations along the Reynolds Highway on both the east and west sides of the road. Today Chuck Vaughn and I found it just north of milemarker 2.14 on the west side of the road. It appears to be an immature and is so small that it must be a Lesser Sandhill Crane. It prefers the company of Wild Turkeys. See photo , and probably the best way to find it is to drive the Reynolds Highway and look for turkeys. This is about the sixth record for Mendocino County.
Other birds of interest which we saw today were a BALD EAGLE sitting in a tree on the east side of 101 about 3 miles north of Willits, the continuing LONG-TAILED DUCK at Ten Mile River (today it was about 300 y upstream on the east side of the bridge), several BLACK SCOTERS at Ward Avenue, a very tame CACKLING GOOSE at the Lake Cleone parking lot, a BURROWING OWL on Bald Hill Road, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Bald Hill Road, and the continuing SWAMP SPARROW at Big River. Matthew Matthiessen directed our attention to a flock of geese grazing west of Bald Hill Road. The flock contained Canada, Cackling, White-fronted, Snow, and Ross's Geese. Quite a gold mine of geese. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 07 Jan 2006 -- Hi again, The winter male LONG-TAILED DUCK is west of the Ten Mile River BRIDGE. It is best seen by parking in the small turnout on the north side of the bridge and (being very careful) look from the small elevated walkways, perhaps on both sides of the bridge. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 06 Jan 2006 -- There's a LONG-TAILED on 10 Mile River 50-100 yards west of the bridge. Best viewed from the north side. -- David Jensen
Mon, 02 Jan 2006 -- On Saturday at 5 p.m. there were still 10 RED PHALAROPES at the USTP south pond, and the SORA in the southwest corner of the middle pond. Both life birds for me. The phalaropes were very active and appeared healthy. I didn't see the ROSS'S GOOSE, but one of the workers there said he'd seen it a couple of hours earlier hanging out with some Coots. I also saw several EARED GREBES, NORTHERN SHOVELLERS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, RUDDY DUCKS and lots of BUFFLEHEADS.
Today I saw an OSPREY over Lake Pennyroyal at Round Mountain, and on the lake Ring Necks, Buffleheads, and Ruddy Ducks. Yesterday a couple of COMMON GOLDENEYES in Potter Valley. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 02 Jan 2006 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 6 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point near high tide! This must be a record number.
Mon, 02 Jan 2006 -- Hey birders. The road through Hopland was clear of fast-moving water this morning, so Brett Tryon and I were finally able to head back to Monterey from Potter Valley. At the Crow Foot Ranch near Retech we found four CACKLING GEESE in with a large flock of Canada Geese, as well as a few Mallards and Wigeon sitting in a gigantic puddle. I hope everyone had a safe New Year, and I hope that '06 is birdy for everybody! -- Matt Brady
Fri, 29 Dec 2005 -- "Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS arrived at the Point Arena Cove around 4:00 PM after having not been there for three days (checked routinely by Brian and Karen Fitch (spelling?) from the Bay Area). "Al" cooperated by eventually flying near to the dock to settle in for the night.
Brian told me that one or possibly two GLAUCOUS GULLS (2 year birds) were at the cove earlier that day.
There were numerous EARED GREBES and a few HORNED GREBES in the cove also.
I'm sure that I don't have to warn folks...but don't plan a trip to Point Arena until this strom event has passed....you may get locked in there due to flooding. Good wet birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 29 Dec 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I had the opportunity to get out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning in between monsoons. At least 10 RED PHALAROPES continue. They are feeding actively and appear in good health. There were 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS as well, and a SORA roaming around the edge of an island of rushes. I saw no geese. I was very fortunate to be watching a PEREGRINE FALCON through my scope when it took a GREEN-WINGED TEAL out of the air over the ponds. The falcon approached the duck from above and behind and took it very casually, almost without a feather being lost. The falcon struggled to fly toward the river where it disappeared low into the willows. It was one of those occasions when you wonder whether or not what you think you just saw actually happened? -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 29 Dec 2005 -- Today there were two RED PHALAROPES at Lake Mendocino between the Joe Riley overlook and Perry Creek Cove. The 'event' continues.
I could not refind the Tufted Duck today. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 Dec 2005 -- Today, mid-morning I walked out to the Ten Mile Rivermouth, where a fairly large number of gulls were resting. The most interesting were two THAYER'S GULLS - an adult and a first year bird. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 28 Dec 2005 -- I took advantage of a slack in the rain to run out to Lake Mendocino. The water has come up rapidly and is about 1.5 feet below the inlet road. The north end of the lake is full of floating debris and the ducks and grebes were dispersed. From the N. boat ramp and Oak Grove parking lot I saw an adult male TUFTED DUCK among the 200 scaup. The black back and gleaming white sides show up well among the scaup. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 26 Dec 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders, today at Cheryl Watson's suggestion that we look for some RED PHALAROPES come inland; Cheryl, Barbara Dolan, Geoff Heineken and I betook ourselves to the Ukiah sewer treatment plant where we
encountered 14 of that species in apparently good health.
Other birds of note were a flock of over a dozen GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a lone ROSS'S GOOSE and a pair of SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS intent on maintaining a high level of anxiety among their avian cousins. -- Vishnu
Tue, 27 Dec 2005 -- I counted 50+ RED-THROATED PHALAROPES [sic] in the short distance I could see both up and down river at the Albion Field Station on the south side of the Albion River this afternoon. They seemed to continue along the river out of view. They were busy feeding along the edge of the banks and in the eel grass beds. A number would fly to nearby locations or to where other Phalarope was swimming. I didn't notice any of the typical spinning behavior, but they were busy foraging for food - it appeared they were eating what they found. I didn't notice anything unusual about their appearance except the absence of spinning. We have had Red-throated Phalaropes on the Albion River in past years but not the numbers counted today. Ruth Wiebe: at the Albion Field Station on the south side of the Albion River. -- Ruth Wiebe
Mon, 26 Dec 2005 -- People driving north on Highway 1 from Jenner to Gualala/Point Arena on Christmas (Sunday), as I did, saw more than 100 - 150 dead or injured Phalaropes on and along the roadway, plus more than that number alive. While most of these appeared to be RED PHALAROPES, there were also some RED-NECKED PHALAROPES identified, too. We began seeing the birds feeding on worms on/along Highway 1 just north of Fort Ross. When we appeared at The Sea Ranch, most of the streets west of Highway 1 had MANY Red Phalaropes on them: we had 8 on our block-long cul-de-saw. People hiking this morning reported finding them in the meadows and even in some areas with trees. They appear weak and have no fear of automobiles or people, as one can walk to within 4 - 5 feet before they fly. Another birder at TSR had noted large flocks migrating south over the near water on Saturday. Several birds were transported to the Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa yesterday and today. Birders on TSR ListServ believed this phenomenon is related to the turbulent ocean and poor feeding conditions at sea due to the prolonged series of storms having forced the birds to seek food ashore. Does anyone else have other ideas? TIA and Good Birding in 2006! -- Richard Kuehn
Mon, 26 Dec 2005 -- An unusual number of RED PHALAROPES continued to be present on freshwater sources along the coast. For the record, Toby Tobkin reported seeing at least 200 REPH Saturday, 12/24 on Brush Creek. Today I began to find a few dead birds. I pulled one off the surface of Lake Cleone this afternoon; I could feel no breast muscle. Another was picked up on Glass Beach by a tourist who reported it could not fly. A few others appeared to be floating dead in other parts of the lake. One was walking among the floating pond weed, apparently looking for insects among the foliage. None are spinning in typical phlarope style. -- David Jensen
Mon, 26 Dec 2005 -- Mid-morning I saw the SWAMP SPARROW in the marsh north of Big River. From Hwy 1, turn east and down the hill on N Big River Rd. Turn east at the bottom of the hill. Park across from the row of large boulders lining the road. The bird was in a slightly different spot from where Matthew saw it. From the start of the rock row (west end), walk west about 20-25 meters. The sparrow was near a single cattail that still is completely covered in brown fuzz. The bird popped up from the reeds and flew both to a coyote bush and back to one of the small trees. Toby had arrived to see it fly back to the small tree and perch in the open.
Also, there was an adult SNOW GOOSE in a field near mile post 66.50 on the east side of Hwy 1, just south of Little Valley Rd. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 24 Dec 2005 -- I heard two hoots from a LONG-EARED OWL this evening from West Road in Potter Valley about 1/4 mile north of my home. The time was 17:37 - just about when all the light was gone from the sky. This was exactly the same place on the western ridge that I heard one calling back in January. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 24 Dec 2005 -- So nice to have the rain stop. I went out Bald Hill to see the BURROWING OWL this noon. There is a second (!) owl on the same knoll, about 100 yards to the south and maybe ten feet higher up the slope, near the south end of that formation. The second burrow faces to the southwest and can be clearly seen from a point on the road about 200 yards south of the "rope gate." On the west side of Bald Hill Road, there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK in the pine trees northwest of the "rope gate", a SAY'S PHOEBE was directly west of the "rope gate', and the SNOW and ROSS'S GEESE reported yesterday were still present.
An observation and open question about the number of RED PHALAROPES on the coast. Today I saw at least 20 on Pudding Creek, several small flocks of 6-15 each flying in and out of Lake Cleone, heard a report of REPH dodging cars in the parking lot at Arena Cove, saw 5 REPH on large mud puddles behind the motel on Todd's Point, and they were not bathing. I think they were looking for food. Yes, it has been stormy, with lots of rain, but the ocean has not been particularly rough (no 40-foot waves). And although it was windy the past week, there have been no downed trees or power outages. In other words, I do not believe the weather and ocean conditions have been sufficiently severe to cause such an influx.
Any thoughts? -- David Jensen
Sat, 24 Dec 2005 -- This morning at Big River I refound the SWAMP SPARROW reported yesterday by Toby. From Hwy 1 turn east on North Big River Rd and follow it for about a quarter mile until you see a row of large rocks bordering the north side of the road. The bird was in the brush on the north side of the road at the very beginning (west end) of this row of large rocks. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 24 Dec 2005 -- The fog cleared off of the lake at about 11:30 to
reveal a single RED PHALAROPE at the south end of Coyote Dam out from the
intake tower. This week's storm system seems to have blown them onshore and
even inland widely from California to Washington. There was a small,
distant gull in the mists, probably a Bonaparte's Gull, and a ROCK WREN on
the dam at marker 011.
The north end of the lake is full of floating debris from the storm inflow, but among a group of about 200 scaup off Ky-En campground I found a
single CANVASBACK, two NORTHERN PINTAILS, and a dozen AMERICAN WIGEON. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 23 Dec 2005 -- At 3:30 this afternoon, Toby Tobkin took a drive up Bald Hill Rd. She had 1 ROSS'S GOOSE, 1 imm. SNOW GOOSE, and 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in the large flock of CANADA GEESE on the west side of the road.
Also, she had a Burrowing Owl in the same location that one wintered last year. Look on the right (east) side of the road, where there is "yellow tape" across a gateway, fairly far up the road. Look up the incline to the right. The owl was at a burrow. -- Karen Havlena (for Toby)
Fri, 23 Dec 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin found a SWAMP SPARROW about 11:00 this morning at the Big River marsh. Turn off Hwy 1 at the N. Big River road, drive down the hill . The sparrow was in the marsh on the left just before a row of rocks that keeps vehicles out. It was with Song Sparrows.
Fri, 23 Dec 2005 -- Mid-morning I chased north to the Westport Treatment pond, but I did not (yet again) see any female Hooded Merganser. One RED PHALAROPE remained at the pond. A dark MERLIN flew over while I was there. At mile post 75.00, a little south of Chadbourne Gulch, an OSPREY perched on the utility wires.
Jim and I will attempt Big River and Navarro Rivermouth tomorrow and/or Sunday for a couple more county birds. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 22 Dec 2005 -- I headed to the coast today because of the reports of Red Phalarope from Jim and Karen Havlena. At Lake Cleone there was a single TREE SWALLOW. From the Laguna Pt parking area there were 2 RED PHALAROPES flying low over the beach during a heavy downpour. Later there were 2 more on the Westport Treatment pond along with a female HOODED MERGANSER. At the Navarro River there were at least 20 more RED PHALAROPES. -- Jerry White
Thu, 22 Dec 2005 -- At least 7 RED PHALAROPES continue this morning (Thursday) at the mouth of Ten Mile River. They move around in the surf, very close to shore between the river and Whale Rock at the south end of Seaside Beach. -- Jim Havlena
Wed, 21 Dec 2005 -- Hi birders- Jim Havlena found several RED PHALAROPES very near to shore where the Ten Mile River empties into the ocean by Whale Rock. I saw three of them. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 17 Dec 2005 -- After looking through hundreds of crown sparrows on Saturday's CBC, I finally found a white-striped phase WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Oak Manor Park in Ukiah. It was perched with some white-crowns in the shrubbery on the west side of the creek behind the "Tot Play Area". -- Demian Ebert
Sat, 17 Dec 2005 -- On the Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count the temperature never got above 40 degrees; there was rain, wind, fog and a little snow. Despite all of that the participants were able to tally 142 species (subject to change). Two species were new for the CBC list. A BARN SWALLOW (2nd winter record for the county) found by Floyd Hayes and a WILSON'S WARBLER (1st winter record for the county) found by Bryan McIntosh. Other highlights included: EURASIAN WIGEON, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, COMMON MOORHEN, 5 species of owl's, TREE SWALLOWS, and AMERICAN DIPPER. -- Jerry White
Mon, 12 Dec 2005 -- There was a loose flock of at least 35 TREE SWALLOWS between Quercus Point and Clear Lake State Park this morning. They were seen by boat from near shore to mid-lake, all in the count circle of the upcoming CBC. They were attempting to find a meal while flying just above the surface of the lake. Hopefully some of them will hang around through the weekend. Also seen by boat at the outlet of Kelsy Creek were a roughly estimated count of about 400 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 -- Four GRAY JAYS were seen near the Visitor's Center by the paved circular turn-around near the restrooms at Van Damme State Park. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen at Pt Arena Cove in the afternoon. -- Ken Archimbaud [From N.Cal.Birdbox]
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 -- Hi-In addition to the birds noted by Toby Tobkin on 11 December, Karen Havlena saw a TREE SWALLOW near Brush Creek, followed by David Jensen seeing a few more Tree Swallows and one swallow that had orange-tan underparts! I didn't see it, but that would good to refind for the CBC.
Karen andamp; Jim later saw a bright, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at the home on Duxbury with the beautiful, heather garden. Another Orange-crowned Warbler was on Miner Hole Road. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports from a field trip to the south Mendocino coast today:
35 TUNDRA SWANS seen at Brush Creek from the end of Bristol Road. There was also a SNOW GOOSE among Canada Geese in the same general area.
1 male EURASIAN WIGEON on a pond along the lower Garcia River, seen from the overlook at the end of Lighthouse Road.
1 SAY'S PHOEBE on Stoneboro Road
1 LAYSAN ALBATROS flew into Arena Cove at 11:45 and settled down in its usual place.
Sat, 10 Dec 2005. -- An adult CACKLING GOOSE was feeding near the picnic tables at the Lake Cleone parking lot today. Last year, three immature Cackling Geese spent the winter at that spot. Although the bird appears a slightly taller than the resident mallards due to its longer legs, it looks like it is actually lighter in weight. This is a very small goose. -- David Jensen
Fri, 09 Dec 2005 -- Shoreline, 200 yds south of Glass Beach. Tim Howe and I observed 3 male and 2 female HARLEQUIN DUCKS, jumping playfully back and forth from a niche in the shore-rock to the water about 2 feet below. We watched them for about 20 minutes, leaving them seemingly rooted to their spot! -- bvkelly
Fri, 09 Dec 2005 -- Just a quick post to let other Mendobirders know there were ~45 TUNDRA SWANS on the Garcia River slough yesterday morning as I drove to Fort Bragg; they had NOT been present when we searched for them on Monday. 20 Harlequin Ducks continue on the rocks off the left-hand side of Glass Beach and there were both WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS present off Ward Avenue yesterday, also. Good Birding and Happy Holidays! -- Rich Kuehn
Mon, 05 Dec 2005 -- Around noon today, I saw two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS lift off the water and fly with a large group of Surf Scoters when disturbed by a small boat. The birds were just off the mouth of Ten Mile River and were easily seen as I scoped from my front porch. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 05 Dec 2005 -- Today I walked to Virgin Creek Beach and saw a WHITE-TAILED KITE hover and stoop successfully in the meadow on the way in. It was so beautiful hovering with the light shining through its wings. I didn't recognize the prey, but caught a flash of what looked like yellow orange. (?)
On the beach was one BLACK TURNSTONE, one MARBLED GODWIT, 15 or so BLACK_BELLIED PLOVERS, and about 8 SNOWY PLOVERS, I think. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 04 Dec 2005 -- On Sunday I drove to Fort Bragg via Hwy 253 and Anderson Valley. Just before getting off of 101 on to 253 I saw an AMERICAN KESTREL fly to the 101 median strip, grab something, and zoom back to the east side of 101. The prey looked short and narrow, like a lizard without its tail.
I stopped twice on 253. At the first stop (mm 6.63) I saw a RED-TAILED HAWK, 1-2 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, and 8-10 VARIED THRUSHES feeding on madrone berries.
At the second stop (just past Anderson Creek, .5 mm) I climbed the hill on the south side of the road and saw 1 or 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, along with lots of chestnut back chickadees, all feeding in an oak tree. 2 nuttalls woodpeckers, bushtits, juncos, flickers, acorn woodpeckers, oak titmice, and ruby crowned kinglets, one with crown showing, rounded out the bonanza in the area. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 04 Dec 2005 -- Here's a summary of recent sightings:
COMMON LOON: one at Clearlake Park, one at Sulphur Bank Point, 12-04.
REDHEAD: one female at Hidden Valley Lake, 12-04; two males and a female at Hidden Valley Lake, 11-20.
CINNAMON TEAL: three males and four females at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, 12-04 (present since 10-29).
WESTERN GULL: one 1st-basic, one 2nd-basic and one adult at Clearlake, 12-04; two adults at Clearlake, 11-25 and 11-27.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: seven 1st-basic, two 2nd-basic, one 3rd-basic and one adult at Clearlake and Clearlake Park, 12-04 (smaller numbers in late November).
Presumed WESTERN X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: one 3rd/4th-basic at Clearlake, 12-04 (adult-like with dark smudges near tip of thick yellowish bill; gonys prominent; iris dark but slightly pale; head with distinct grayish hood; mantle color intermediate; primary tips blackish with white tips, but pale underneath; legs pink).
THAYER'S GULL: three 1st-basic, one 2nd-basic, one 3rd-basic and two adults at Clearlake and Clearlake Park, 12-04 (smaller numbers in late November).
MEW GULL: one adult at Clearlake, 12-04; one 1st-basic at Clearlake, 11-27 (only individuals I've seen at Clear Lake since last winter).
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: one 1st-basic at Borax Lake, 12-04 (two on 11-20); three 1st-basic at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, 11-27 (absent on 12-04).
LEAST SANDPIPER: one at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, 12-04 (12 on 11-27).
WILSON'S SNIPE: two at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treament Plant, 11-27 (one on 11-20).
PHAINOPEPLA: one female at Anderson Marsh, 11-26. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 03 Dec 2005 -- Toby Tobkin andamp; Becky Bowen saw an AMERICAN AVOCET on the beach off Inglenook Fen on 3 Dec. Please call Art Morley if this bird is seen again. Thanks. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 1 Dec 2005 -- I had the good luck today of computer problems at work which meant I was able to escape to Mendocino County. After about 50 minutes of driving up and down University Road I decided to try one last time. Luck again was with me as I found the NORTHERN SHRIKE sitting on top of a tree (leafless) on the north side of the road in the middle of a vineyard.This was at about 1:20PM. I called Chuck who made it down in about 5 minutes. By this time the bird had moved twice, first to the top of a utility pole along the road and then out onto a post in the middle of the vineyard on the south side of the road. That is where Chuck and I last saw the bird.
Bob Keiffer,who first discovered the bird , has more details concerning the general location in his message posted yesterday. -- Jerry White
Wed, 30 Nov 2005 -- Hi birders, This afternoon, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD came through our yard in Ocean Meadows, north of Ten Mile River. This was a different bird from the one here 5 October.
Yesterday afternoon, I looked for White-winged Scoter (did not see). Instead, I saw 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES, and 4 BLACK SCOTERS off Ward Avenue.
From Juan Creek to Hardy Creek, there were: 1 late PIGEON GUILLEMOT, 1 Rhinoceros Auklet, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, along with assorted Common Murres and loons.
A NORTHERN HARRIER harrassed a juv SHARP-SHINNED HAWK around our area. The young hawk hit one of our windows, but it managed to fly off only to hit a neighbor's window. We put it in a box for a while, and it recovered. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 30 Nov 2005 -- This morning at 11:30 to 11:45 I watched an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE along University Road leading to the UC-Hopland Research andamp; Extension Center. As one follows University Road heading east from the Old River Road, go about 3/4 mile until you come to a long straight stretch with vineyard on both sides of the road. On the left or north side there is a metal panel gate and lone cottonwood tree that separates vineyard from permanent pastureland. The shrike was first seen flying to and resting in this cottonwood tree which is right next to the road. I was able to get a very clear view of the upper part of the bird including the light gray crown and nape, the thin black mask that did not broaden behind the eye, long mandible with a definite hook at the tip, and a bright white throat and upper breast. I was unable to see the color of the rump. From the characteristics mentioned above I am certain that the bird is an adult Northern Shrike ... I believe the first adult that I have seen in the county (I have only seen 3 or 4).
The bird flew south across the road to a 30 foot tall cottonwood about 200 yards away on the edge of a vineyard and a fallow vineyard (vines removed about a year ago leaving a weedy field). The bird remained motionless in this tree for about 10 minutes. As I drove around to approach closer (on private property for which I have permission to venture) I lost sight of the bird for about 2 seconds and it totally disappeared ... I have no idea which way it headed.
I suspect that it is around this little valley somewhere. Shrikes of either kind are very far and few between in Mendocino County. If you look for the bird from University Road you should be able to scope in many directions easily. If you bird along Highway 175 to the south be VERY careful of traffic .... pull way off the road to be safe.
There was also an adult BALD EAGLE in the area this morning. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 30 Nov2005 -- Grace Steuer reported to me that a surfer told her that "Al", the LAYSAN ALBATROSS that has frequented Point Arena Cove during the last dozen winters, returned several days ago. Grace personally saw the bird today to confirm. I repeat this every year, but Point Arena Cove from now through probably Late February provides THE BEST CHANCE of seeing a Laysan Albatross with your feet planted on firm ground (not in a boat on a pelagic trip) of anywhere in the 48 states or probably North America.
In past winters, based upon reports and personal experience, one has about a 50% chance of seeing it in the cove on any day. Arrival and loafing time for the bird in the cove varies ...sometimes being there first thing in the morning, other times arriving in the morning, mid-day, or late afternoon. If you plan on viewing this bird plan on walking out on the dock several times during the day to increase your chances of seeing it. Some days it apparently does NOT come into the cove. Good Luck -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 30 Nov 2005 -- Nate Bouchee, who works at Cove Coffee, emailed me that the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, Al, arrived today. Right on schedule (or one day early?) It's amazing! -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 22 Dec 2005 -- I headed to the coast today because of the reports of Red Phalarope from Jim and Karen Havlena. At Lake Cleone there was a single TREE SWALLOW. From the Laguna Pt parking area there were 2 RED PHALAROPES flying low over the beach during a heavy downpour. Later there were 2 more on the Westport Treatment pond along with a female HOODED MERGANSER. At the Navarro River there were at least 20 more RED PHALAROPES. -- Jerry White
Thu, 22 Dec 2005 -- At least 7 RED PHALAROPES continue this morning (Thursday) at the mouth of Ten Mile River. They move around in the surf, very close to shore between the river and Whale Rock at the south end of Seaside Beach. -- Jim Havlena
Wed, 21 Dec 2005 -- Hi birders- Jim Havlena found several RED PHALAROPES very near to shore where the Ten Mile River empties into the ocean by Whale Rock. I saw three of them. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 17 Dec 2005 -- After looking through hundreds of crown sparrows on Saturday's CBC, I finally found a white-striped phase WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Oak Manor Park in Ukiah. It was perched with some white-crowns in the shrubbery on the west side of the creek behind the "Tot Play Area". -- Demian Ebert
Sat, 17 Dec 2005 -- On the Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count the temperature never got above 40 degrees; there was rain, wind, fog and a little snow. Despite all of that the participants were able to tally 142 species (subject to change). Two species were new for the CBC list. A BARN SWALLOW (2nd winter record for the county) found by Floyd Hayes and a WILSON'S WARBLER (1st winter record for the county) found by Bryan McIntosh. Other highlights included: EURASIAN WIGEON, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, COMMON MOORHEN, 5 species of owl's, TREE SWALLOWS, and AMERICAN DIPPER. -- Jerry White
Mon, 12 Dec 2005 -- There was a loose flock of at least 35 TREE SWALLOWS between Quercus Point and Clear Lake State Park this morning. They were seen by boat from near shore to mid-lake, all in the count circle of the upcoming CBC. They were attempting to find a meal while flying just above the surface of the lake. Hopefully some of them will hang around through the weekend. Also seen by boat at the outlet of Kelsy Creek were a roughly estimated count of about 400 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 -- Four GRAY JAYS were seen near the Visitor's Center by the paved circular turn-around near the restrooms at Van Damme State Park. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen at Pt Arena Cove in the afternoon. -- Ken Archimbaud [From N.Cal.Birdbox]
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 -- Hi-In addition to the birds noted by Toby Tobkin on 11 December, Karen Havlena saw a TREE SWALLOW near Brush Creek, followed by David Jensen seeing a few more Tree Swallows and one swallow that had orange-tan underparts! I didn't see it, but that would good to refind for the CBC.
Karen andamp; Jim later saw a bright, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at the home on Duxbury with the beautiful, heather garden. Another Orange-crowned Warbler was on Miner Hole Road. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports from a field trip to the south Mendocino coast today:
35 TUNDRA SWANS seen at Brush Creek from the end of Bristol Road. There was also a SNOW GOOSE among Canada Geese in the same general area.
1 male EURASIAN WIGEON on a pond along the lower Garcia River, seen from the overlook at the end of Lighthouse Road.
1 SAY'S PHOEBE on Stoneboro Road
1 LAYSAN ALBATROS flew into Arena Cove at 11:45 and settled down in its usual place
Sat, 10 Dec 2005. -- An adult CACKLING GOOSE was feeding near the picnic tables at the Lake Cleone parking lot today. Last year, three immature Cackling Geese spent the winter at that spot. Although the bird appears a slightly taller than the resident mallards due to its longer legs, it looks like it is actually lighter in weight. This is a very small goose. -- David Jensen
Fri, 09 Dec 2005 -- Shoreline, 200 yds south of Glass Beach. Tim Howe and I observed 3 male and 2 female HARLEQUIN DUCKS, jumping playfully back and forth from a niche in the shore-rock to the water about 2 feet below. We watched them for about 20 minutes, leaving them seemingly rooted to their spot! -- bvkelly
Fri, 09 Dec 2005 -- Just a quick post to let other Mendobirders know there were ~45 TUNDRA SWANS on the Garcia River slough yesterday morning as I drove to Fort Bragg; they had NOT been present when we searched for them on Monday. 20 Harlequin Ducks continue on the rocks off the left-hand side of Glass Beach and there were both WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS present off Ward Avenue yesterday, also. Good Birding and Happy Holidays! -- Rich Kuehn
Tue, 06 Nov 2005 -- On Nov 6, (13) HARLEQUIN DUCK were roosting on the rocks at the end of the trail at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. Further north, (2) ROCK SANDPIPERS were amongst many shorebirds a little north of Virgin Creek. -- Rick Lebaudour, Penngrove[from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Mon, 05 Dec 2005 -- Around noon today, I saw two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS lift off the water and fly with a large group of Surf Scoters when disturbed by a small boat. The birds were just off the mouth of Ten Mile River and were easily seen as I scoped from my front porch. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 05 Dec 2005 -- Today I walked to Virgin Creek Beach and saw a WHITE-TAILED KITE hover and stoop successfully in the meadow on the way in. It was so beautiful hovering with the light shining through its wings. I didn't recognize the prey, but caught a flash of what looked like yellow orange. (?)
On the beach was one BLACK TURNSTONE, one MARBLED GODWIT, 15 or so BLACK_BELLIED PLOVERS, and about 8 SNOWY PLOVERS, I think. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 04 Dec 2005 -- On Sunday I drove to Fort Bragg via Hwy 253 and Anderson Valley. Just before getting off of 101 on to 253 I saw an AMERICAN KESTREL fly to the 101 median strip, grab something, and zoom back to the east side of 101. The prey looked short and narrow, like a lizard without its tail.
I stopped twice on 253. At the first stop (mm 6.63) I saw a RED-TAILED HAWK, 1-2 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, and 8-10 VARIED THRUSHES feeding on madrone berries.
At the second stop (just past Anderson Creek, .5 mm) I climbed the hill on the south side of the road and saw 1 or 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, along with lots of chestnut back chickadees, all feeding in an oak tree. 2 nuttalls woodpeckers, bushtits, juncos, flickers, acorn woodpeckers, oak titmice, and ruby crowned kinglets, one with crown showing, rounded out the bonanza in the area. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 04 Dec 2005 -- Here's a summary of recent sightings:
COMMON LOON: one at Clearlake Park, one at Sulphur Bank Point, 12-04.
REDHEAD: one female at Hidden Valley Lake, 12-04; two males and a female at Hidden Valley Lake, 11-20.
CINNAMON TEAL: three males and four females at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, 12-04 (present since 10-29).
WESTERN GULL: one 1st-basic, one 2nd-basic and one adult at Clearlake, 12-04; two adults at Clearlake, 11-25 and 11-27.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: seven 1st-basic, two 2nd-basic, one 3rd-basic and one adult at Clearlake and Clearlake Park, 12-04 (smaller numbers in late November).
Presumed WESTERN X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: one 3rd/4th-basic at Clearlake, 12-04 (adult-like with dark smudges near tip of thick yellowish bill; gonys prominent; iris dark but slightly pale; head with distinct grayish hood; mantle color intermediate; primary tips blackish with white tips, but pale underneath; legs pink).
THAYER'S GULL: three 1st-basic, one 2nd-basic, one 3rd-basic and two adults at Clearlake and Clearlake Park, 12-04 (smaller numbers in late November).
MEW GULL: one adult at Clearlake, 12-04; one 1st-basic at Clearlake, 11-27 (only individuals I've seen at Clear Lake since last winter).
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER: one 1st-basic at Borax Lake, 12-04 (two on 11-20); three 1st-basic at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, 11-27 (absent on 12-04).
LEAST SANDPIPER: one at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant, 12-04 (12 on 11-27).
WILSON'S SNIPE: two at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treament Plant, 11-27 (one on 11-20).
PHAINOPEPLA: one female at Anderson Marsh, 11-26. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 03 Dec 2005 -- Toby Tobkin andamp; Becky Bowen saw an AMERICAN AVOCET on the beach off Inglenook Fen on 3 Dec. Please call Art Morley if this bird is seen again. Thanks. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 1 Dec 2005 -- I had the good luck today of computer problems at work which meant I was able to escape to Mendocino County. After about 50 minutes of driving up and down University Road I decided to try one last time. Luck again was with me as I found the NORTHERN SHRIKE sitting on top of a tree (leafless) on the north side of the road in the middle of a vineyard.This was at about 1:20PM. I called Chuck who made it down in about 5 minutes. By this time the bird had moved twice, first to the top of a utility pole along the road and then out onto a post in the middle of the vineyard on the south side of the road. That is where Chuck and I last saw the bird.
Bob Keiffer,who first discovered the bird , has more details concerning the general location in his message posted yesterday. -- Jerry White
Wed, 30 Nov 2005 -- Hi birders, This afternoon, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD came through our yard in Ocean Meadows, north of Ten Mile River. This was a different bird from the one here 5 October.
Yesterday afternoon, I looked for White-winged Scoter (did not see). Instead, I saw 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES, and 4 BLACK SCOTERS off Ward Avenue.
From Juan Creek to Hardy Creek, there were: 1 late PIGEON GUILLEMOT, 1 Rhinoceros Auklet, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, along with assorted Common Murres and loons.
A NORTHERN HARRIER harrassed a juv SHARP-SHINNED HAWK around our area. The young hawk hit one of our windows, but it managed to fly off only to hit a neighbor's window. We put it in a box for a while, and it recovered. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 30 Nov 2005 -- This morning at 11:30 to 11:45 I watched an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE along University Road leading to the UC-Hopland Research andamp; Extension Center. As one follows University Road heading east from the Old River Road, go about 3/4 mile until you come to a long straight stretch with vineyard on both sides of the road. On the left or north side there is a metal panel gate and lone cottonwood tree that separates vineyard from permanent pastureland. The shrike was first seen flying to and resting in this cottonwood tree which is right next to the road. I was able to get a very clear view of the upper part of the bird including the light gray crown and nape, the thin black mask that did not broaden behind the eye, long mandible with a definite hook at the tip, and a bright white throat and upper breast. I was unable to see the color of the rump. From the characteristics mentioned above I am certain that the bird is an adult Northern Shrike ... I believe the first adult that I have seen in the county (I have only seen 3 or 4).
The bird flew south across the road to a 30 foot tall cottonwood about 200 yards away on the edge of a vineyard and a fallow vineyard (vines removed about a year ago leaving a weedy field). The bird remained motionless in this tree for about 10 minutes. As I drove around to approach closer (on private property for which I have permission to venture) I lost sight of the bird for about 2 seconds and it totally disappeared ... I have no idea which way it headed.
I suspect that it is around this little valley somewhere. Shrikes of either kind are very far and few between in Mendocino County. If you look for the bird from University Road you should be able to scope in many directions easily. If you bird along Highway 175 to the south be VERY careful of traffic .... pull way off the road to be safe.
There was also an adult BALD EAGLE in the area this morning. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 30 Nov2005 -- Grace Steuer reported to me that a surfer told her that "Al", the LAYSAN ALBATROSS that has frequented Point Arena Cove during the last dozen winters, returned several days ago. Grace personally saw the bird today to confirm. I repeat this every year, but Point Arena Cove from now through probably Late February provides THE BEST CHANCE of seeing a Laysan Albatross with your feet planted on firm ground (not in a boat on a pelagic trip) of anywhere in the 48 states or probably North America.
In past winters, based upon reports and personal experience, one has about a 50% chance of seeing it in the cove on any day. Arrival and loafing time for the bird in the cove varies ...sometimes being there first thing in the morning, other times arriving in the morning, mid-day, or late afternoon. If you plan on viewing this bird plan on walking out on the dock several times during the day to increase your chances of seeing it. Some days it apparently does NOT come into the cove. Good Luck -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 30 Nov 2005 -- Nate Bouchee, who works at Cove Coffee, emailed me that the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, Al, arrived today. Right on schedule (or one day early?) It's amazing! -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 27 Nov 2005-- Dorothy Tobkin reports the following today off Ward Avenue in Cleone: 9 BLACK SCOTERS, 8 RED-NECKED GREBES, 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and 1 NORTHERN FULMAR. She also witnessed the arrival of a large group of Surf Scoters, more than have been around recently.
Sun, 27 Nov 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Yesterday morning I visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, and there were hundreds of ducks on the oxidation ponds. I counted 14 species and they were the usual suspects with the exception of a single female REDHEAD on the north pond. I made trips to Lake Mendocino both yesterday and today looking for the Canvasback and Glaucous Gull reported by Jerry and George. I saw neither and the lake was dead. There were more birds on the north pond at the USTP than I saw on the entire lake. A ROCK WREN continues along the rock facing of the dam between the parking lot and the intake tower, and I watched a PEREGRINE FALCON stoop unsuccessfully on a lucky/wise Western Meadowlark. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 27 Nov 2005 -- I observed three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS amongst two large flocks of Surf Scoters (estimated about 300-400 birds total) that flew from Ward Avenue to the ocean off Virgin Creek. We can be thankful for good field marks that are distinguishable from a distance. -- David Jensen
Fri, 25 Nov 2005 -- On Friday Nov. 25th I birded the south coast. There was an immature BALD EAGLE seen in flight over hiway 1 and Kinney Rd. A SNOW GOOSE (probable) was with a flock of Canada Geese seen in flight from Miner Hole Rd. I refound the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Stoneboro Road ; this time in the vicinity of the intersection with Duxbury. A EURASIAN WIGEON was at the Garcia River estuary. And I found a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER with a mixed flock on Miner Hole Road not far from Highway 1. -- Jerry White
Wed, 23 Nov 2005 -- In the late afternoon today the GLAUCOUS GULL was still around the area of the south marina at Lake Mendocino. It was sitting with some other gulls on an emerging bar that is just barely breaking the surface about 100 m SE of the parking lot. I saw the gull fly to the south end of the lake beyond the intake tower, land on the water , and pick at some things. Then it flew back to the duck feeding area, circled several times without landing, and flew back to the bar and landed. By sunset it had disappeared and was replaced by an adult THAYER'S GULL, the seventh species of gull to have been seen on the lake this week. -- George Chaniot [Bob Keiffer saw a WESTERN GULL this week for eight gulls.]
Wed, 23 Nov 2005 - Jerry White reports that the 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL reported on the 17th is still near the south marina at Lake Mendocino. He also saw a CANVASBACK on the lake (295).
Wed, 23-Nov 2005 -- Today I traveled to the high country of Mendocino County with my dad and brother in hopes of birds such as Clark's Nutcracker or Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (seen once before in very late November) or Northern Goshawk. No such luck. Going up Boardman Ridge on the Lake County side I did see 4 THICK-BILLED FOX SPARROWS and about 12 SOOTY FOX SPARROWS. 1 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were also on the Lake County side. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were also there.
Once we reached Mendocino County at slightly higher elevation on Hull Mountain I could not find any Thick-billed but did see 20+ Sooty Fox Sparrows. It was rather "dead" up there despite beautiful clear weather and excellent "listening" conditions (important for possible Clark's Nutcrackers). At Windy Gap there were 8 American Robins... nothing else. Further I found a couple flocks of Mountain Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.
Onto Spruce Grove for lunch (11:00 AM) ... still rather "dead" with heavy frost still matting the west side of the meadow. I saw 1 WINTER WREN in the meadow, and found a large mixed flock of Mtn. chickdees, R-b. Nuthatches, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and a lone, very silent, female WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER. One PILEATED WOODPECKER was heard.
Continuing on towards Bald Mtn on Road M-1 and then east on Road M61 only turned up more Chickadees and R-b. Nuthatches and a few Dark-eyed Juncos. One pair of Western Bluebirds was near Bean Rock.
I took advantage of the day because as soon as the first major winter storm event hits then the road is usually closed with snow for the winter. Despite few birds, the drive was again peaceful and the views spectacular. We saw NO ONE ELSE on the "loop" all day! Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 22 Nov 2005 -- This afternoon there was a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS on the Beckstoffer/Talmage Pond just south of the Talmage along the Old River Road (formerly East Side Road). Also on the pond were Northern Shovelers, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, and of course, Mallards. A local domestic cat was sneaking up on some of the Ivory-billed Birds of Paradise (American Coots). Good Birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 19 Nov 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a single ROCK SANDPIPER on the rocks to the north of Laguna Point today. This was about 11:15, fully an hour before a fairly low high tide of 5.8 feet. She also had a late ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the willows near Lake Cleone.
Fri, 18 Nov 2005 --Toby Tokin has just reported 3 ANCIENT MURRELETS feeding among a flock of gulls in Brewery Gulch, just south of the town of Mendocino. To get there cross the Big River Bridge going south and take a left (west) on Brewery Gulch Road (directly across from the Comptche-Ukiah Road). Go 1/4 mile to a pullout with a short trail overlooking the ocean. Cheers, -- Ron LeValley, Arcata, CA
Thu, 17 Nov 2005 -- At 8:30 this morning I found an immature GLAUCOUS GULL sitting with other gulls on the little mud spit at the east end of the parking lot at the south marina at Lake Mendocino. It appeared to be in first winter plumage with fresh feathers throughout; bill bicolored pink/black; slightly larger than adult Herring Gull; primaries very pale, approaching white, with faint brownish edgings; fine brown flecking on wing coverts and back. At about 8:50 all of the gulls dispersed over the lake, and I never saw it again. This is the first record of this species at Lake Mendocino that I am aware of.
SeeLake Mendocino Bird List
Later I saw an "odd goose" sitting on the water south of the mesa. It turned out to be an immature BALD EAGLE which was worrying an isolated coot. The coot would dive to escape the eagle, the eagle would lift off the water, swoop down at the coot when it surfaced, and land on the water again. Shortly the immature eagle was joined by an adult eagle, and they began to double-team the coot at twice the frequency. The coot began to tire and could only stay submerged for a few seconds. Finally, on the 21st pass, the adult snatched the coot from just below the surface and carried it off, followed by the immature. I didn't get to see the rest of the story.
Still later in Potter Valley, I saw a light, adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK on a power pole beyond the gate at the end of Burris Lane. I have still not seen a Lewis's Woodpecker this fall despite a moderate acorn crop that is keeping the Scrub-Jays and Acorn Woodpeckers busy. I'll be interested to see if there are any in Round Valley on the field trip this Sunday. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 12 Nov 2005 -- Stu and I were out at Lake Mendocino on Saturday. Between Pomo A and B a flock of 36 COMMON MERGANSERS flew in, spent a while fishing just offshore; after 15 minutes I walked away to the bathroom and then they were gone. Is it unusual to see a flock of them like that? I'm used to just seeing pairs...so it was unusual for me, and a real treat to watch! (almost as neat as watching a MERLIN strafe a pair of ravens trying for a quiet drink) -- Janet Rosen
Sat, 12 Nov 2005 -- This morning I went owling along the road from Potter Valley to Lake Pilsbury just into Lake County. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL responded to imitation at mile 36.2 at 06:28 just as it was getting light and I was about to give up. This was in mixed Douglas Fir, Black Oak, and Ponderosa Pine. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 11 Nov 2005 -- Today I found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in with a large sparrow flock on Stoneboro Road near Manchester. The bird was in the vicinity of the small pond on the south side of the road not far from Highway 1.
At the Highway 1 bridge over the Garcia River there was a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. This is the first time I have seen this species away from the Duxbury Road area. Also yesterday Ed Pandolfino left a message that he found a PALM WARBLER about 150 yards north of the bridge over Virgin Creek (Virgin Creek Beach area) . That was his 200th Mendocino County bird. -- Jerry White
Tue, 08 Nov 2005 -- Hi--A ROCK SANDPIPER was still north of Virgin Creek this morning about 10:30 AM. The bird was on the 3rd set of rocks from the creek mouth with Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Whimbrels and Oystercatchers. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 06 Nov 2005 -- This afternoon a female SURF SCOTER provided a pleasant surprise at the Clearlake Wastewater Treatment Plant. At the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant there were seven CINNAMON TEAL, five CANVASBACKS, six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a DUNLIN and eight LEAST SANDPIPERS (the most shorebirds I've seen there). At Borax Lake there were three CANVASBACKS (first I've seen there). A juvenile THAYER'S GULL was among the gulls on the dock at Austin Park both this afternoon and on 29 October. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 06 Nov 2005 -- Today, Sunday, we have a CACKLING GOOSE feeding in our yard. Also, the FERRUGINOUS HAWK is still in the immediate area, just east of Hwy 1 andamp; Ocean Meadows Circle.
After seeing Jim's TROPICAL KINGBIRD so late yesterday, and with the fog and light rain, I thought it might stay. But, I've looked north and south about 2 miles each way and have not seen it today. But, it could could be just short distance away, just out of view. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 05 Nov 2005 -- Hello birders, About 4:30 this afternoon, I had a TROPICAL KINGBIRD. It was perched on the utility wire where Highway 1 intersects with Ocean Meadows Circle (the north junction), just north of Ten Mile River. -- Jim Havlena
Wed, 02 Nov 2005 -- While driving north from Fort Bragg about 3:45 this PM, I spotted an 'ALEUTIAN' CACKLING GOOSE. It is/was on a large lawn directly across Hwy 1 from the "Green Acres" campground sign. Jim and I came back with our scopes and could easily see that the white chinstrap was split by a stripe of black. Also, the white neckband was at least an inch wide completely circling the neck. Nice steep forehead and square-headed appearance, too. The bird was alone. Toby was just leaving to walk her dog, so she stopped by and saw it, as well. -- Karen (andamp; Jim) Havlena
Tue, 01 Nov 2005 -- This afternoon, I drove up Hwy 1. At around 2:30 PM, I parked on the NE side of Howard Creek bridge. The sun was breaking through the clouds, bringing a good-sized flock out into the open. A late CASSIN'S VIREO fed amongst the Townsend's Warblers, Hutton's Vireos, etc. I then walked out onto the bridge just above the creek. A large flock of Yellow-rumps, chickadees, kinglets, and a late YELLOW WARBLER were quite agitated and began mobbing, to my delight, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. The pygmy owl flew occasionally from perch to perch, each time moving closer to the bridge - and me. Great looks!
Then, I went to Juan and Hardy Creeks. Nothing of note at Juan Creek, but a close-knit group of 5 MARBLED MURRELETS were off the cove at Hardy Creek at about 3:30. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 31 Oct 2005 -- On 31 October, Toby Tobkin had a ROCK SANDPIPER. It was on the rocks just north of Virgin Creek mouth. This was around 2:30 to 3:00 in the afternoon. There were approximately 16 - 18 HARLEQUIN DUCKS on the south side of Glass Beach in Fort Bragg the same day. -- [from N.Calif.Birdbox].
Mon, 31 Oct 2005 -- This morning around 10-AM, I scoped from the bluff above above the Ten Mile River mouth. I found a female BLACK SCOTER in the several, large rafts of Surf Scoters. Also, there was a RED-NECKED GREBE just off the river mouth. Later, it moved offshore a little.
There were quite a few dolphins in the immediate area, too. The river broke through the sand, draining back to a more normal level a few days ago. Now, there is some sandy shoreline that can be be seen from the bridge. VIRGINIA RAILS were quite vocal in the early morning. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 29 Oct 2005 -- On Saturday the 29th there were ten CINNAMON TEAL, four DUNLIN and five LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant. -- Floyd Hayes
Sat, 29 Oct 2005 -- I also saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. This is the earliest inland record in our database -- George Chaniot
Sat, 29 Oct 2005 -- Today, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK was hovering and hunting just east of Hwy 1, north of Ten Mile River andamp; Ocean Meadows Circle. This was late afternoon.
On Friday in the late morning, the Ferruginous found a few days ago,and the large flock of CANADA GEESE was still on Bald Hill Road, north of Fort Bragg, off Pudding Creek Rd. A WHITE-TAILED KITE was near the Pudding Creek trestle. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 28 Oct 2005 -- I birded Etsel Ridge and Round Valley. In the mountains I recorded the three accipiter's; Sharp-shinned, Coopers and NORTHERN GOSHAWK. Nothing unusual in the valley; the best birds were 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS and a GOLDEN EAGLE. On Saturday morning I found a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at Usal. This is very likely the same bird first discovered by Don Doolittle and Debi Shearwater October 16th. There was also a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER in the same flock. At the Westport Treatment Pond there was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. -- Jerry White
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 -- I think we may have seen a FERRUGINOUS HAWK at our place on East Road in Potter Valley on October 27th. But our bird ID skills are still novice level.
Today we saw a gorgeous GREAT BLUE HERON hiking across our back pasture. He thoughtfully moseyed slowly, turning this way and that, so we could admire all sides of him and check several times what we saw in the binoculars against the book. -- Elaine Lindelef
Thu, 27 Oct 2005 --I did a survey of Lake Mendocino today, having been away for two weeks. New arrivals were BUFFLEHEADS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and a young male COMMON GOLDENEYE, the earliest record ever. A huge flock of pipits was drifting over the island emerging on the east side south of the boat-in campground. At Bu-Shay campground there was a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER, 3 Red-shafted Flickers, 2 Hybrid flickers, and a bright 'ruber' RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 22 Oct 2005 -- I spent yesterday birding the coastline, mainly in the southern part of the county. The best bird of the day was a SAGE THRASHER which was on Alder Creek Beach Road (north of Manchester) around 1:30 PM. It was about 6/10ths of a mile from hiway 1 working the fence line that separates the private lands from the state parks property.I watched it for almost 2 minutes before it disappeared over the hill to the west. There was also a FERRUGINOUS HAWK and SAY'S PHOEBE in this area.
In the morning just before sunrise there was a calling NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL at mile post 11 on Mountain View Road.
On Miner Hole Road I had a somewhat late PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and a NASHVILLE WARBLER. There was a RED-NECKED GREBE on the Navarro River. -- Jerry White
Fri, 21 Oct 2005 -- During the weekend I also heard andamp; witnessed two sets of geese traveling in a southeastern direction above our place on Pine Mountain. I don't know which species they were. Today, I got in a very small CANADA GOOSE, subspecies minima. It was found a couple of days ago from the Spy Rock Road area north of Laytonville. This little goose is extremely emaciated. I doubt that it will survive. I understand they breed from western Alaska east to the Yukon and that "Cackling Goose" is another name used for this little species. -- Cathy Ortiz
Wed, 19 Oct 2005 -- Mendobirders, On 10-19-05 I had a ROCK WREN on the Lake Mendocino Dam, just below the first bench on the lake side. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata, CA
Tue, 18 Oct 2005 -- I took a quick run up Bald Hill Road just outside of Fort Bragg today and saw one adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK, one PEREGRINE FALCON, three WHITE-TAILED KITES and about 200 western CANADA GEESE. The Peregrine was harassing the Ferruginous Hawk and the White-tailed Kite was harassing the Peregrine and the Ferruginous Hawk. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata, CA
Tue, 16 Oct 2005 -- 15-16 October 2005 On Saturday I heard above a flight of geese (not Canadas) very high above the clouds above Vichy Springs area. On Sunday I heard then saw a "V" of about 60 geese, either Snow's or Greater White-fronted Geese" flying high over Hopland from West to East. The storm system that is hitting Western Canada, Washington and Oregon is probably responsible for moving the geese south. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 16 Oct, 2005 -- Chuck Vaughn, Jerry White, David Nelson, and I found a LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Virgin Creek Beach on Sunday following the cancellation of the pelagic trip. The bird was in the grassy area west of the Haul Rd and just south of the beach. There is a large sand dune in the grass at this location and the bird was in the short grass along the bluffs just southwest of this dune. On several occasions the bird flew down to the rocks below the edge of the bluff. Good birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 15 Oct 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Jerry White phoned to tell me of several interesting local sightings this morning. Ed Pandolfino, David Vander Pluym and others saw the continuing CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR and HORNED LARKS near "Robinson Lake" in Lake County early this morning. See earlier posts on this list for directions. They proceeded to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant where they found a COMMON MOORHEN. Meanwhile, Jerry White was birding on the coast where he found a PALM WARBLER at the NE corner of Howard Creek Bridge on Hwy 1, above Westport. Jerry also found a HORNED LARK on Hwy 1 just N of mile-marker 71.54 where there is a pullout on the west side of the highway. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 14 Oct 2005 -- I was at the gate looking for the CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR when the sun rose this morning. There was a lot of Savannah Sparrow action, but no longspur. When Dave Woodward arrived it materialized in the edge of the dirt road a short stone's-throw away. We got good scope looks at it at good range. I concur with the Chestnut-collared ID. At one point it flew up, circled far to the south, returned, and landed in the plowed field near the gate where it did the longspur thing of hiding behind clods. There were at least two HORNED LARKS poking their heads up from behind clods too. After an upflight of pipits, larks, and longspur, I lost track of the bird. Also in the area was a MERLIN and a suspicious dove that may possibly have been a collared-dove. It was sitting on the fence with the hosing draped along it further south near the young walnuts. The dove flew off to the west beyond the oaks. It had the right undertail pattern, the right size, squared tail, gray undertail coverts seen in flight, but seemed too dark above. I wish I could have seen it in the scope. It's worth keeping an open eye. On the drying mud of Robinson Lake there was a group of four stubby-billed CACKLING GEESE. One had such a broad white collar that I thought it was wearing a radio collar until I got it in the scope. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 14 Oct 2005 -- Hello, This morning, Friday, I walked from Ten Mile River to Sand Hill Lake and Inglenook Fen. My best bird was a "Western" PALM WARBLER in the large, mostly dead trees southeast of Sand Hill Lake. Also, between Ten Mile River and Inglenook Creek I saw the SNOWY PLOVERS (20-each). I went to Sand Hill Lake, where there was a RING-NECKED DUCK. Then I proceeded south from the lake with the intent of exiting somewhere on Highway 1, which I eventually did (the hard way, I think!). About half way between Sand Lake Hill and the highway is a large pond (lake?) where I saw 6 WOOD DUCKS. -- Jim Havlena
Thu, 13 Oct 2005 -- Yesterday afternoon (10/11/05) I got fairly distant binocular views of an unknown but interesting bird near the stock gate at 1725 Pt. Land Drive on the Nice-Lucerne cutoff. After an hour of searching with Jerry White we found and identified the bird as a longspur. This morning Bryan McIntosh relocated the longspur at the same location. The concensus of our opinion at this point is that the bird is probably a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR. The bird has a fairly indistinct face pattern, a light colored bill with a dark tip, whitish throat, finely streaked buffy chest and whitish lower belly and undertail coverts. The primary projection appears to be short. A whitish spot was sometimes visible on each shoulder. The outer retrices of the tail are white, but we have not yet been able to see the entire pattern of the white in the tail.
This morning Bryan also found a HORNED LARK in the same field as the longspur. Later I saw two Horned Larks in the field and early this afternoon Jerry White saw four Horned Larks at the same location.
The plowed field where all of these birds were seen is about 150 yards south of Sentry Market on the west side of the Nice-Lucerne cutoff. The longspur has been seen both in the plowed field and near the gate along the dirt road that is the entrance to Pt. Land Farms. All of the property is private and it is very important that we not tresspass as we are developing a good relationship with the conservation-oriented owners of the property. All of the birds have been visible from outside the barbed wire fence and outside the gate along the public road. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 12 Oct 2005 -- I spent about two hours at the south marina and Coyote Dam area this morning. I found one COMMON LOON among the red and green buoys at the launching area, but I could not find any other loon. It was spooky how this loon could disappear for long periods underwater then reappear in the same place. I caught it repeatedly surfacing for less than one second for 15 minutes.
I also went to Pomo A and the north marina for a half hour but did not see any other loon. There was a pair of HORNED GREBES, the first of the season for me. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 11 Oct 2005 -- This morning, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was just west of the Ten Mile River bridge. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was in our front yard at Ocean Meadows. In a private pond west of Ocean Meadows, there was a WILSON'S SNIPE and a LESSER SCAUP. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 10 Oct 2005 -- Hello, Jim and I just saw our first (Mendocino Co) FERRUGINOUS HAWK. It was a light morph adult, east of Hwy 1 across from Ocean Meadows, north of Ten Mile River, seen at 1:45 PM.
I had just finished talking with Toby Tobkin on the phone. She saw the PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Glass Beach, and a SAY'S PHOEBE was there, as well. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 9 Oct 2005-- Yesterday morning (October 8th) Nikki White and I saw the SNOW GOOSE at Lake Cleone and found the PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER on the beach near the Laguna Pt parking lot. There was also a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Glass Beach. -- Jerry White
Sat, 8 Oct 2005 -- Mendobirders, On the afternoon of 10-5-05 at the Garcia River Estuary there was a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, a bright red female EURASIAN WIGEON with the American Wigeon, and a SAY'S PHOEBE.
The next morning (10-6-05) along Miner Hole road I had a HOUSE WREN, and a female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK about 1/2 way out the road. There was also a SAY'S PHOEBE in Manchester. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Wed, 5 Oct 2005 -- Hi-- We were out of town for a few days, so I tried for some of the birds mentioned on the listserv lately on Wednesday.
I saw the PACIFIC GOLDEN-POLVER on the beach with the WHIMBREL on the rocks, north of the Lake Cleone in the general area mentioned by Matt M. The SNOW GOOSE was by the parking area with the park geese. A WINTER WREN was all I could find on the south side of the lake. The Blk-N-White Warbler was a 5-day longshot, which did not materialize.
Then, I drove to Little River, where a note was clipped to a bush for "John." John had indicated that he did not see the Rose-breasted Grosbeak; neither did I. A trip down to the visitor's center at Van Damme did little good. The campground host said that there were no feeders, but that he scattered seed around on the ground. He had not seen anything like the grosbeak.
After returning home to just north of Ten Mile Bridge, an ad. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD briefly rested and fed in our backyard. On the cetecean list, I noticed two huge spouts way out in the ocean, near the horizen. We grabbed our scopes, and saw two Blue Whales (barely). -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 25 Sep 2005 -- We've all seen some strange Mallards, but has anybody ever seen one with a bright orange head? Photos of an orange-headed male are posted at:
http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/mallard
It looks so Mallard I'm inclined to think it's a mutant. Or could it be a hybrid, such as Mallard X Redhead? -- Floyd Hayes
Tue, 20 Sep 2005 -- Today around the lunch hour the BLACK-NECKED STILT, the MARBLED GODWITS and 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were at "Robinson Lake". This is an abandoned rice check that the owner is keeping partially flooded for the sandpipers and plovers etc. This is private property however viewing is possible from alongside the road in front of the gate near the implement sheds. This location is not far Northeast of the Rodman Slough Bridge on Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road. Two times while at this location I have been approached by the property owners, who were OK once they found out I was birding. Please do not trespass. -- Jerry White
Wed, 05 Oct 2005 -- After flying down to the park on Tues 10/3, the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK returned to my feeder for about 1 hr. He left at about 5:45 pm, and i have not seen him since. Thanks to all of you who shared your knowledge with me, I had a grand time and i truly think this wayward bird was enjoying himself also. -- Lois Sundberg
Tue, 04 Oct 2005 -- I've spent the last two days along the Eel River near Potter Valley visiting multiple locations from Thomas Creek in Mendocino to Bloody Rock in Lake County. I saw AMERICAN DIPPERS at the mouth of Tomki Creek and at Bloody Rock and sign of them almost everywhere. There was an adult BALD EAGLE at Cape Horn Dam. I also note the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE is still with the domestic geese just below Cape Horn Dam. It first showed up as a juvenile in Sep 1997 and fell into bad company. It just celebrated its eighth birthday -- George Chaniot
Tue, 04 Oct 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders, This past weekend Floyd Hayes, Stan Snyder, Larry Siemens, Myron Widmer, and I spent several days birding on the coast. Some of our sightings have already been reported but I thought I'd provide some updates. Monday afternoon (Oct 3) the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, and SNOW GOOSE were all still present. The grosbeak was still visiting the feeder at 8151 PCH in Little River at 15:00. When the bird left the yard it flew down to the lower Van Damme campground. Could it also be visiting the feeders at the visitors center there? The golden-plover was still at MacKerricher until 17:00. It was on one of the near-shore rocks about 200 meters north of the Lake Cleone parking lot. The Snow Goose was also at Lake Cleone until 17:00.
Saturday Oct 1 - I found a female BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the southeast side of Lake Cleone at 08:45. The bird was was in the willows on the lake-side of the path about 50-100 meters west of where the boardwalk ends and the dirt path begins. There was also a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on Lake Cleone at 07:45. One PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Virgin Creek Beach throughout the morning. In the afternoon there were a couple late PIGEON GUILLEMOTS out from Navarro Beach. Also in the afternoon was a single GRAY JAY in the upper campground at Van Damme and a PEREGRINE FALCON at the Mendocino Headlands.
Sunday - Oct 2 - Floyd Hayes found and digiscoped an early ANCIENT MURRELET from the Laguna Point observation platform. He also had several MARBLED MURRELETS from Laguna Point. On the ocean the species diversity was low but the overall numbers were good. We took a six-hour pelagic out of Noyo Harbor and had BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (3), NORTHERN FULMAR (4), BULLER'S SHEARWATER (300+), PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (300+), SOOTY SHEARWATER (300+), RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (3), COMMON MURRE (100), CASSIN'S AUKLET (25), and RHINOCEROS AUKLET (200).
Monday - Oct 3 - Early in the morning we had two BLUE GROUSE and five MOUNTAIN QUAIL along Mountain View Road. There was also one NORTHERN "YELLOW-SHAFTED" FLICKER along Miner Hole Road and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at Hunter's Lagoon. In the fields along Hwy 1 north of Irish Beach were at least two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon,0 3 Oct 2005 -- Stan Snyder reports the continuing presence of the PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER south of Ward Avenue along the Haul Road at MacKerricher Beach State Park today October 3. He also had a SNOW GOOSE with a flock of gulls on the beach just south of the south end of the Ward Avenue access, and later reported
that the goose had moved to Lake Cleone (as of 10:00 a.m.).
Earlier in the morning he reported the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continuing at Lois Sundberg's feeder in Littleriver. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Sun, 02 Oct 2005 -- This morning I observed a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER mixed with a large group of Black-bellied Plovers between MacKerricher campgrounds and Ward Avenue. They were on the upper beach near an area that has quite a bit of large log driftwood. Toby refound the bird this evening in the same area.. she describes the area as that where the Harbor Seals hang out in the water. I also saw a Pacific Golden Plover on Saturday about noon near the mouth of the creek near the Laguna Point Praking lot ...however it only stuck around for about two minutes before people scared it off to the south. It may or may not be the same bird that I saw today.
A MERLIN was hanging around Lake Cleone. Also saw 14 WOOD DUCKS on the SE corner of Lake Cleone.
A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was on Virgin Creek Beach along with DUNLINS, MARBLED GODWITS, a WHIMBREL, a couple SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and many BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SANDERLINGS, and BLACK TURNSTONES. SURFBIRDS were at Glass Beach along with SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS.
Apparently Matthew Matthiessen found a BLACK and WHITE WARBLER on the south side of Lake Cleone on Saturday morning but numerous other birders have been unable to refind the bird. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 02 Oct 2005 -- Charlene and I joined Jerry White and saw the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at Lois' feeder this afternoon. It's a very nice male, I'm guessing second year. Lots of 'rose' color on the breast and black feathers where a young bird would have brown.
I also saw a LAPLAND LONGSPUR out on the Spring Ranch headlands (2 miles south of Mendocino) late this afternoon. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Fri, 30 Sep 2005 -- At the feeder for 3 days now, looks like a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. The belly is whitish and unstreaked,the neck and underwings are red. The head is streaked and has light eyebrows, the back is also streaked. Help with identification please. thanks -- Lois Sundberg, Little River
Fri, 30 Sep 2005 -- Chuck Vaughn and I also saw the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH briefly at the Lake Cleone willows. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 29 Sep 2005 -- On my third try, I heard and saw (plain olive brown, dorsal view only) the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH in the willows-spring just north of the parking area at Lake Cleone. The bird only called on 2 occasions. I stood up from crouching after only hearing the bird 30 minutes before and decided to walk across the first, little bridge inside the willows. The waterthrush flew away from me east along the overgrown path, calling several times. After returning home I played the "Warblers" record, that has the best call for both Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes. Northern fit the call.
Also, Jim and I observed a VIRGINIA RAIL for about 10-15 minutes at the tiny pond just inside the willows, when we first arrived. Jim had left the immediate area prior to the waterthrush flying away. (Guess we will have to take Chuck's invitation to visit HREC to get the Sora). Thanks! -- Karen andamp; Jim Havlena
Thu, 29 Sep 2005-- Jerry White reports that he refound the NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH at Lake Cleone today at 1:30 PM on his third try. It responded to his imitation of its "spwik" call. It was in exactly the same place as reported by Toby yesterday but came in from some more distant point in the willows.
At Usal he had 1 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, 9! MARBLED MURRELETS, 1 AMERICAN REDSTART, and 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
At Juan Creek he saw a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the east side of the bridge where a road goes down.
Thu, 29 Sep 2005 -- Before light this morning I heard four owls along Scott's Valley Road in Lake County: GREAT HORNED OWL 6, WESTERN SCREECH OWL 2, NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL 1, BARN OWL 1. I found that Robinson Lake is drying up, and there was nothing there but Killdeers. A rice field to the NE had a little moisture, and I found one GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a flock of LEAST SANDPIPERS, and a WILSON'S SNIPE. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 Sep 2005 -- At the cemetery in Potter Valley I had a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in the willows and blackberries in the NE corner. This is my latest record ever by 25 days. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 Sep 2005 -- I observed a light juvenile FERRUGINOUS HAWK at midday flying north from Pacific Star Winery until it reached Westport. I tried to find the Waterthrush a bit after three this afternoon, but failed. I did see a MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER from the boardwalk at Lake Cleone. -- David Jensen
Wed, 28 Sep 2005 -- Hello, Late in the afternoon, I arrived at the Lake Cleone parking lot in MacKerricher St Pk. Jerry White was just walking off of the boardwalk. Neither Jerry (nor I) heard or saw the N. WATERTHRUSH found by Toby Tobkin late morning. Jerry had SORA in the same vacinity. Jerry also had a female AMERICAN REDSTART along the boardwalk around the area where there is pavement and a trail goes north towards the campground (Mill Creek RD cpgrd). I did see the Redstart after Jerry left the area, but I did not see or hear the Sora or the N Waterthrush.
Yesterday (Tuesday) I had a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at Wages Creek in the late afternoon. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 28 Sep 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin found a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH at about 11:00 this morning at Lake Cleone. (It seems she's specializing in birds that wag their tails this fall)
From the Lake Cleone parking lot walk north past the boardwalk entrance. You will come to a green barricade and a 'No Parking' sign. Climb over the barricade. There is an obscure trail on the right that goes into some brush a short way to a small wet area. A taller person may have to bend over considerably. The waterthrush was in there. Listen for its distinctive call note.
Tue, 27 Sep 2005 -- Hi all, I just saw a BLACKPOLL WARBLER outside the window here on Little River Headlands. It seems to have moved through and I can't locate it again. I noted a greenish warbler with light black streaks on the back, prominent wing bars, pale yellow below with diffuse streaks on the sides of the chest and flanks and a dark line through the eye on a greenish yellow head. I did not specifically check the flanks, but the overall greenish-yellow indicated a Blackpoll and not a Bay-breasted and the streaks on the back rule out Pine Warbler. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Mon, 26 Sep 2005 -- This morning we saw a PRAIRIE FALCON on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. -- Joanne Haller andamp; George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Sep 2005 -- It was a beautiful day on the ocean off Fort Bragg, but very few birds were seen. Highlights were two SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS and about 250+ RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Mammals included three blue whales and 2-4 humpback whales. A complete list follows: (send corrections to me if I missed something): Red-throated Loon 1, Pacific Loon 1, Common Loon 3, Black-footed Albatross 3 (only one came close!), Northern Fulmar 8, Pink-footed Shearwater 4, Sooty Shearwater 50, Short-tailed Shearwater 2, Brown Pelican 1, Brandt's Cormorant 1, Double-crested Cormorant 25, Pelagic Cormorant 1, Surf Scoter 3, Red-necked Phalarope 20, Pomarine Jaeger 2, Parasitic Jaeger 1, Heerman's Gull` 1, California Gull 50, Western Gull 100, Common Murre 50, Cassin's Auklet 1, Rhinoceros Auklet 250+
OTHER SPECIES: Humpback Whale 2-4, Northern Elephant Seal 1, Harbor Seal 5, Blue Whale 2, Dall's Porpoise 6, Ocean Sunfish 1, Blue Shark 1 --Ron LeValley, Arcata
Sat, 24 Sep 2005 -- Tiday an AMERICAN AVOCET was at the Hidden Valley Water Reclamation Plant, along with a male GREATER SCAUP and a bizarre male MALLARD with a fairly bright orange head (either a mutant or a hybrid, but everything else looks Mallard--We've all seen some strange Mallards, but has anybody ever seen one with a bright orange head? Photos of an orange-headed male are posted at:
http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/mallard It looks so Mallard I'm inclined to think it's a mutant. Or could it be a hybrid, such as Mallard X Redhead?.
There wasn't much of interest at Anderson Marsh, Clearlake or Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sat, 24 Sep 2005 -- On 9/23/05 Xiaoqing Hunter and myself stopped and hooted (like a LEOW) at MP 11 on Mountain View Road. The only thing that responded was a WESTERN SCREECH OWL.
On 9/2405 we birded from Point Arena to Westport. The only thing worth mentioning was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK at the mouth of Alder Creek. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata
Thu, 22 Sep 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning I saw an adult male TENNESSEE WARBLER at the UC Hopland Research Center. The bird was in the willows on the shady west side of the middle sag pond near the office area. It was in a large, fairly compact passerine flock that seemed to be contained within the boundaries of 30-40 active and noisy BUSHTITS. The flock included 2 late PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, HUTTON'S VIREOS, OAK TITMICE, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (the first I've seen this fall), several each of ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and WILSON'S WARBLERS, a single COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and several WESTERN TANAGERS. There were 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS along the open east side of the pond. On Monday I found a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL on this same pond, but was unable to refind it today. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 20 Sep 2005 -- Being up before daylight this morning, I decided to
embrace the night and go owling in nearby Lake County. Route 20 turned out to be much too noisy with truck traffic, so I tried Scott's Valley Road which was very productive (06:00-06:30). In the first three miles I heard 3 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS, 2 WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS and 1 GREAT HORNED OWL. All three of these could be heard close up and clear at the trailhead of the Eden Valley Trail. Further south near the intersection of Eickhoff Road I heard a BARN OWL fly over.
After sunrise I was at Rodman Slough where a flyover PEREGRINE FALCON adult was my 199th Lake County bird. Try as I could, I couldn't turn up another at Robinson Lake, although Floyd Hayes's report from yesterday had three that I 'need'. I walked south from the parking lot along the trail which goes quite far back. There was a lot of warbler activity, mostly Yellow Warblers. The most interesting bird I could find was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER in the buttonwillows. I was impressed how the ratio of Clark's/Western Grebes is much higher here than on Lake Mendocino. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 19 Sep 2005 -- The highlight of several days of birding in Mendocino was of course Toby's fantastic discovery of the wagtail. Another excellent bird was the third county record for RED-EYED VIREO that Ron LeValley found at Chadbourne Gulch on Saturday. I was able to see that bird (thanks to Ron). On Wednesday evening September 14th on Mountain View Rd there was a calling LONG-EARED OWL. On Saturday September 17th (before the really good birds were found!) I had a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and a BLACKPOLL in a large flock at Wages Creek. Today September 19th I refound the LARK BUNTING at the location described by Chuck. Also at Virgin Creek Beach there was a RED KNOT. -- Jerry White
Mon, 19 Sep 2005 -- To answer Matt Brady's question .... yes, the Eastern Yellow Wagtail (thanks to Joe Morlan for the current name correction) should be species number 400 for Mendocino County. All applause should go to "Toby" Tobkin for finding the bird last Friday evening and Saturday morning .... and more applause to the network of birders that got the info out quickly. By Saturday late afternoon at least 18 birders had observed the bird.
If you saw the bird please note that this is a reportable species to the California Bird Records Committee http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ ...at this site you will find an excellent observation form and directions on how to submit your details to the CBRC. If you use the CBRC form please review the form first BEFORE sending, adn then print or save it for your own records and to send to me, and THEN submit it to CBRC. Please also submit notes/photos to me for archiving into the Mendocino County records. Thanks.... and good birding! -- Bob Keiffer, 4070 University Road, Hopland, CA 95449 rjkeiffer@ucdavis.edu
Sun, 18 Sep 2005 -- On Sunday the 18th an AMERICAN BITTERN, a BLACK-NECKED STILT, five MARBLED GODWITS, six PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS were at Robinson Lake. I saw five species of warblers including a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at Rodman's Slough. At Borax Lake there was a BLUE-WINGED TEAL, six CINNAMON TEAL, a REDHEAD, two RING-NECKED DUCKS and no shorebirds other than KILLDEER. A female COMMON MERGANSER was at Clearlake. -- Floyd Hayes
Sun, 18 Sep 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Yesterday evening (9/17), while chasing the Yellow Wagtail, Steve Howell found a LARK BUNTING on the south side of Virgin Creek. The bird was refound late this afternoon (9/18) by many observers from today's Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip. I am reporting it now because I don't see any other reports of the bird today, and am not certain if local birders are aware of its presence. The bird was in the short grass on the flat ridge just above and to the south of Virgin Creek. It appears to be a first-year male. It stayed in this area, quite a ways west of the Haul Road, even when it flushed from human approach. We did not see the YELLOW WAGTAIL. I will let Debi Shearwater make her report on the pelagic, but there were no rarities seen today. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 17 Sep 2005 -- The bird [YELLOW WAGTAIL] was also seen from around 6:30 p.m. to about 7:30 p.m. by about 8 observers (Rob Fowler). This bird is a 1st county record and, if accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, will be the 400th species recorded in Mendocino county, the last coastal county in California to achieve such a feat. -- from Arcata Birdbox summary
Sat, 17 Sep 2005 -- A juvenile PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was seen during the beach clean-up today on the beach approximately one mile south of the Ten Mile River. Seventeen SNOWY PLOVERS were in the same area. - David Jensen
Sat, 17 Sep 2005 -- Yesterday evening (16 Sep) Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found
a YELLOW WAGTAIL at Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg. She went back this morning, refound the bird, confirmed its identity, and it has been seen by many observers this afternoon. It appears to be in first basic plumage and is a good match for the "1st Winter" illustration in Sibley but with a little different distribution of yellowish wash on the upper breast and flanks. It is a very active bird and has been moving around in the area where Virgin Creek crosses the beach to the ocean. Much of its time this afternoon was spent in the piles of kelp washed up on the beach, sometimes hidden from sight for some time. It also frequents the margins of Virgin
Creek wading among the peeps, bathing in the creek, foraging on the sandflats, and perched on the bluffs and on rocks in the wash zone to the north. Although it moves around, it often returns to the exact same piles of kelp where it forages actively for brine flies.
To reach this area drive north from Fort Bragg on Hwy 1. About 3/4 mi. north of the Pudding Creek bridge there is a North-O-Town industrial park sign, and shortly beyond that is a dusty parking area on the east side of the road with the sign "Granite Construction Company". Park here, cross the highway, follow a sandy trail to the paved "haul road", turn right (north) on the pavement, and in about 200 yards you come to the small bridge over Virgin Creek. The wagtail was seen today in the area that you can see west from the bridge. -- George Chaniot -- Photos by Ron LeValley
Sat, 17 Sep 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a possible YELLOW WAGTAIL at
Virgin Creek beach this morning - definitely a wagtail, probably Yellow.
It was wandering on both sides of the road up and down the creek.
Strong whitish supercilliary, yellow on upper chest, barely discernable wingbars, long tail with white outer tail feathers.
Fri, 16 Sep 2005 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were still two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a few Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers. The four BLACK-NECKED STILTS continue. Along the north fence and in the felled orchard there was a large amount of sparrow action - possibly several hundred: Golden-crowned, White-crowned, Chipping, Song, Lincoln's, Savannah. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 11 Sep 2005 -- 4:30pm at Montgomery Woods S.R., 200m uphill south-east of the Kellieowen grove, I saw one BARRED OWL swooping away from me as I walked up the trail away from the grove. It perched in a tree perhaps 50m away. I think I had startled it out from where it had undoubtedly been resting calmly, because that's what it did for the next 15 minutes, with one open eye occasionally on me. -- L. Bean
Sat, 10 Sep 2005 -- 3pm at Van Damme S.P., I saw what looked like one of the giant 8" graypine cones that you see in the Sierra foothills at the end of a 5-ft dead branch on a snag. I thought I'd bino in for a better look because the unmoving and dark shape really ought not to have been a cone, not 'round there, anyway. Indeed: it was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, which watched me a moment before unconcernedly returning its gaze to the ground 16 ft below itself. Before another couple minutes went by it snatched what looked like a 2" black bug from the ground and re-alignted to eat it in 3 pieces. -- L. Bean
Sun, 11 Sep 2005 -- Hi all, Becky Olsen and I spent this weekend in the vicinity of Mendocino. An interesting observation along the trail beside Little River in Van Damm State Park involved a group of 5 GRAY JAYS feeding enthusiastically on a pinkish colored fungus growing off a Doug Fir snag. Does anyone have any information on this behavior. There was also, a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL calling at 3pm.
Other sightings include a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and a WANDERING TATLER along Mendocino Headlands. RED-THROATED LOONS were off-shore and a FOX SPARROW was at the mouth of Big River. -- Ken Wilson
Sat, 10 Sep 2005 -- Just 1/2 mile east of the end of Burris Lane I observed 1 adult GOLDEN EAGLE, 20+ MOUNTAIN QUAIL, 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, 2 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, 1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. On a side note... Great Egrets are migrating south right now so check out wetland areas such as ponds, pastures, sewage treatment plants for elusive rarities such as Cattle Egrets. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 11 Sep 2005 -- Hi birders, This morning, Jim and I drove up the old Georgia Pacific (now Hawthorne Timber) road along
the north fork of Ten Mile River. Note: this road is only available on weekends! We saw 2 juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPERS (Karen) at
the low bridge, east of Hwy 1. At 2-3 miles up the road, we saw a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Jim) and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
(Daggetti) (Jim) in a large, mixed flock. Further on, approximately 5 or 6 miles up the paved road, we watched a juvenile
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Karen) fly up from a low perch to circle with Red-tails and TV's.
Entrance
to this unmarked road is south of Ten Mile River bridge across from the large pull-out with big rock and gravel piles. Remember not
to try birding here on weekdays -- too many logging and gravel trucks. But, there were bicyclists and other people in cars on outings
today (Sunday). We believe that the "no trespassing" signs apply only if you leave the paved roadway. So, just stay on the road.
It is wide enough to pull over to park. There are private residences for several miles up the road to the active Hawthorne Timber
property. -- Karen (and Jim) Havlena
Sat, 10 Sep 2005 -- An EASTERN KINGBIRD was flycatching from a post in the northeast corner of the parking lot at Lake
Cleone in MacKerricher State Park. A WILLOW FLYCATCHER was also feeding in the willows at the far northwest corner of the boatramp
pavement.
Highlights from this morning's MCAS field trip to Virgin Creek include a LONG-BILLED
CURLEW and approximately seven MARBLED GODWITS. -- David Jensen
Thu, 08 Sep 2005 -- Jerry White just called to report that he found a female LARK BUNTING this afternoon at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. It was about 50 yards down the trail that follows the fence west from the parking area by the gate. It was on the margins of the trail and sometimes in the middle of it. People walking would flush it off but it would return to the same general area. He had it under observation from 3:45-4:05.
Thu, 08 Sep 2005 -- This morning I ventured up to Wages and Juan Creeks, north of Westport. There was still quite a bit
of traffic, but I stayed for a while. There was an AMERICAN DIPPER on the west side of Wages Creek bridge. It seemed to be a
juvenile on its maiden, post breeding site dispersal. I had just been looking at a rock by the creek with droppings that reminded
me of Dipper. Not 5 seconds later, the Dipper flew in far from the bridge. It fed in the creek where the creek turns SW and out
of view. Warbler and vireo activity was moderately slim - Townsend's, Yellow,
Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers, plus 2 Warbling Vireos.
At Juan Creek, there were 2-3 MARBLED MURRELETS, 1 Pigeon Guillemot,
and several Common Murres and a few loons in the water. A lone WANDERING TATTLER combed the shoreline. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 08 Sep 2005 -- Jerry White and I saw 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS today at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant's north oxidation pond. Also present were the four continuing BLACK-NECKED STILTS and a bunch of Least Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 04 Sep 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Matthew Matthiessen, George Chaniot, and I spent the day on the coast.
We didn't see anything hugely rare, but there were a number of birds of local interest. On Miner Hole Road we had 2 flyover RED
CROSSBILLS. At the mouth of the Garcia River, viewed from above on the south side, we saw a RED KNOT and 19 MARBLED GODWITS.
On the beach at Virgin Creek we saw 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and 8 more MARBLED GODWITS. Only local birders can appreciate having
seen 27 MARBLED GODWITS along this coast in a day! The 2 REDHEADS continue at Lake Cleone.
On 9/2, there were 2 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS on the north oxidation pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The 4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS continued, as did 2 BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS. WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were along the Russian River there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 01 Sep 2005 -- 1 Fem/imm BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, 3740 Gard St., Kvl.; 1 Imm male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, same place -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Thu, 01 Sep 2005 -- On two separate occasions a LEAST BITTERN was observed at Tule Point, from a boat, on Clear Lake. It is uncertain whether this was one bird or two. Look at the top center portion of the photo to see one bird. One flyby WILLET flew by a couple of times while we were there. CLARK'S GREBES and WESTERN GREBES are still in breeding mode ranging from courtship dances, to nests with eggs, to newborn young on parent's backs, to almost full-sized juveniles. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 31 Aug 2005 -- Well, I'm the third person to report from Robinson Lake today, although I was probably the first one there (7:00-8:20). At that time there were seven species of ducks including a female(type) BLUE-WINGED TEAL. There was also a definite SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, an unidentified dowitcher, and a half dozen WILSON'S SNIPE. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley (but I can see Lake Co. from my yard)
Wed, 31 Aug 2005 -- Today, I went looking for shorebirds in Lake Co. I spent the entire time birding between Borax Lake and Robinson Lake. Birding was very good!
Borax Lake:2 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Baird's Sandpiper (juv), 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Plover (juv), 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper (juv), lots of Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers, Killdeer, Green Heron
Robinson's Lake:1 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher. 1 dowitcher sp, 1 Marbled Godwit, 1 Baird's Sandpiper, lots of Western's and Least's, 4 Caspian Tern's, Killdeer, Green Heron
A Willow Flycatcher was found along Rodman Slough. Good Birding! -- Frances Oliver, Lodi, CA
Wed, 31 Aug 2005 -- 1 Juv. Short-billed Dowitcher, Rob. Lk., Nice;1 W. pl. Marbled Godwit; 1 Juv. Solitary Sandpiper ; and 3 W. pl. American Avocet on a Private pond N. of above. -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Sun, 28 Aug 2005 -- Birds seen on 28 August:
REDHEAD: two (males?) at Borax Lake.
AMERICAN WIGEON: two males at
Borax Lake.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: about 110 at Borax Lake.
BUFFLEHEAD: one female at Borax Lake.
CINNAMON TEAL: 17 at Borax Lake.
WILLOW FLYCATCHER: one at Redbud Park; one at Anderson Marsh.
Belatedly, a male
RING-NECKED DUCK was at Borax Lake on 22 August, and another was in Pope Valley, in Napa County just south of Lake County,
on 18 August. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sun, 28 Aug 2005 -- The following birds were recorded on the coast the last week or so:
There was a flyover
LONG-BILLED CURLEW at Alder Creek Beach on 8/23. That same day there were 10 species of shorebirds at the Garcia River estuary;
including 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, and 8 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
On 8/24 there was a flyover BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
at the Garcia River bridge on Highway 1 at dawn. At Lake Cleone late afternoon there were 2 REDHEADS (female type).
Today
8/28 near Juan Creek seen from Highway 1 there was an ELEGANT TERN and 2 MARBLED MURRELETS. An AMERICAN REDSTART (yellowstart-female )
was in a large mixed flock at Wages Creek on Highway 1. I recorded 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS on the day. A female or 1st winter male
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was on the roof line of a house in Ft. Bragg at 601 Stewart St. (cross street:Fir). There is a bird feeding
area (visible from Fir Street) in the yard at this residence. -- Jerry White
Sun, 28 Aug 2005 -- Mendobirders -- A few sightings in and around Fort Bragg on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28, 2005:
Late Saturday afternoon, we stopped at the mouth of Virgin Creek. A juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and an alternate adult
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were among the many SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERs, WESTERN SANDPIPERs, few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs and large flock of
WESTERN and CALIFORNIA GULLS (plus a few RING-BILLED GULLS.)
Early Sunday morning 2 REDHEADs were on Lake Cleone. A juv.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was at the far north end of the Noyo Harbor parking lot (near Sharon's By-the-Sea.) The bird was in the trees
and bushes at the base of the very steep and heavily-vegetated hillside below the Harbor Light Lodge. -- Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco
Sat, 27 Aug 2005 -- 2 Juv. WILLET, Rob. Lk., Nice -- McIntosh, Bryan J.
Sat, 27 Aug 2005 -- Today I did a little birding near home. There was a nice, female MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER in the willows below the pines just northwest of the Ten Mile R. bridge. A PEREGRINE FALCON landed briefly on a telephone pole near the bridge as I slowly crossed. It was a rich brown and tan in color. Five MARBLED GODWITS were west of the bridge near the river mouth. Working its way through the neighborhood at Ocean Meadows Circle, was a SAY'S PHOEBE. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 26 Aug 2005 -- Once again a trip aboard the Trek II ventured out of Noyo Harbor on a Shearwaters Journeys trip. We
left the harbor at 7:00 AM. The ocean was flat calm all day with water temps being cold ranging from 51.6 to 52.7 degrees. I am
just going to report the highlights, which may differ from the final numbers tallied by Debi Shearaters' trip leaders. Birds were
within view all day with some of the deep water pelagic species, like Black-footed Albatross showing up within 3-4 miles of shore.
The highlight of the trip was a concentration of ASHY STORM-PETRELS, including a raft of 60-80 birds on the water. Total numbers I
believe were estimated at 170 - 200 Ashy Storm Petrels ...the largest concentration ever recorded for Mendocino County. The other
highlight was a VERY EARLY 1st-year MEW GULL ... normally a winter resident species.
Pacific Loon - 1 (at the harbor)
Black-footed Albatross 50 - 100 or more
Northern Fulmar 5-8
Pink-footed Shearwater 40-60
Sooty Shearwater
200-500
Buller's Shearwater 10-15
Ashy Storm Petrel 170-200
Brown Pelican 8-10 (one at 14 miles off shore)
Brandt's Cormorant
Whimbrel 3
Marbled Godwit 11
Sanderling 1
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope 80-120
Parasitic Jaeger 1
Long-tailed Jaeger 4-6
Mew Gull 1 (very early arrival)
California gulls
Western Gulls
Sabine's Gull 20-30
Common Tern 8-20
Arctic Tern 1-2
Common
Murre
Cassin's auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Passerines included:
Yellow Warbler 2
Warbling Vireo 1
Townsend's Warbler 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1-2
Wilson's Warbler 1 (eaten by a gull)
Western Wood Pewee
Western-type Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 1
Mammals included:
Elephant Seal 1
Northern fur Seal 2
California Sea Lion
Harbor Seal
Blue Whale (12-20)
Humpback Whale 3
Pacific White-sided Dolphins 100+
Northern Right-Whale Dolphin 100+ -- Bob Keiffer.
Fri, 26 Aug 2005 -- Lake Mendocino is still pretty much in its summer
aspect, but a few birds are starting to move in. Today there were two EARED
GREBES in the middle of the north end still in breeding plumage. At Pomo A
there was one adult BLACK-NECKED STILT on the shoreline. The last report
from USTP was of three stilts; could this be the fourth bird gone forth to
the lake? This is a new species on my provisional list of Lake Mendocino birds
Lake Mendocino List
Summer loons are uncommon on inland waters, but I saw one on July 25,
possibly a Pacific Loon, two Common Loons near the dam on Aug 12, and today
a COMMON LOON near Miti campground.
There was also a single CASPIAN TERN flying near the dam.
( Jim Armstrong reports a flock of about 25 Caspian Terns on Aug 23 flying over a house he is
roofing in Potter Valley. I saw a similar flock when I was
roofing my house in Potter Valley on Aug 25, 2001. These flocks of Caspians
flying overland are turning out to be confined to a narrow time slot in
August.)
I heard PILEATED WOODPECKERS at three locations around the lake
today. I am also seeing them in my neighborhood flying into vineyards where
I suspect they are indulging their appetite for grapes. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 25 Aug 2005 -- On a private pond N. of Robb Lake near Nice, Lake County
3 AMERICAN AVOCETS,
2 RED NECKED PHALAROPE -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 24 Aug 2005 -- At Rob. Lake, Nice
1 Juv. Short-billed Dowitcher
6 Long-billed Dowitcher
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Juv. Semipalmated Sandpiper
-- Bryan J McIntosh
Wed, 24 Aug 2005 -- This morning on the north side of the Ten Mile River Bridge, I saw a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT just west
of Camp 2 Ten Mile Rd, in the same vicinity as previous reports of chat(s) since mid-May. Also, the pines at the NW side of the
bridge held a WARBLING VIREO, plus Wilson's, Orange-crowned, and Yellow Warblers.
At Seaside Beach, between the Ten Mile
rivermouth and Seaside Creek,
my husband Jim saw a WANDERING TATTLER still in alternate plumage and two MARBLED GODWITS. Good birding -- Karen Havlena
Tue, 23 Aug 2005 -- Jim Armstrong reports a flock of about 25 CASPIAN TERNS flying south at elevation over a house he was roofing on Main Street in Potter Valley.
Sun, 21 Aug 2005 -- In Southern Lake County large numbers of dabbling ducks appear to be new arrivals. Here are some birds
seen this morning:
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 25 at Clearlake Wastewater Treatment Plant; 6 at Borax Lake; 5 at Hidden Valley Lake
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 1 at Clearlake Wastewater Treatment Plant; 3 at Borax Lake; 1 at Hidden Valley
Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant.
CINNAMON TEAL: 13 at Borax Lake; 1 at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant.
GADWALL: 5 at Clearlake Wastewater Treatment Plant; 10 at Borax Lake.
BUFFLEHEAD: female at Clearlake Wastewater
Treatment Plant (couldn't find female at Borax Lake, or the male Lesser Scaup)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 at Borax Lake.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 juvenile at Borax Lake.
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER: 5 juveniles at Borax Lake.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: 1 Borax Lake -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sun, 21 Aug 2005 -- At about 12:30 today Chuck Vaughn and I refound the STILT SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek just west of the
bridge. We had checked the outflow creek of Lake Cleone at about 9:00 and 12:00 without seeing one. To all appearances it was the
same bird seen last Sunday. While we were watching it, it began calling and then flew off to the south and disappeared around the
rocky point. I don't know if this was a definitive departure, or whether the same bird moves around from place to place.
On the beach at Virgin Creek was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER in very fresh juvenile plumage, a RUDDY TURNSTONE, and 13 HARLEQUIN DUCKS
on a flat rock just offshore - great close-up views of eclipse plumages.
At the Ten Mile River mouth we saw 2 MARBLED GODWITS,
and then when we walked the beach to near Inglenook Fen we saw another group flying. In the willows beneath the Ten Mile bridge there
was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, Yellow, Orange-crowned, and Wilson's Warblers, and a Hutton's Vireo. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 19 Aug 2005 -- Toby Tobkin just reported the Stilt Sandpiper continuing at Lake Cleone on the beach side of the haul
road.
It was also present when I stopped by last night (18 Aug) around 6:30 pm. I was also fortunate to see the Stilt Sandpiper
in Eureka at the Palco Marsh yesterday around noon, so I may be the first to see (and photograph) Stilt Sandpipers in both Humboldt
and Mendocino in the same day! Is that my fifteen minutes of fame? -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Thu, 18 Aug 2005 -- This week (15-18 Aug) I worked on steelhead reproduction surveys in the Eel River between Van Arsdale Dam and Dos Rios. Most of the stretch between Van Arsdale Dam and Outlet Creek is seldom birded because access is through private property. Birding was incidental to other activities, and there were no surprises, but it was interesting to note that AMERICAN DIPPERS were present at every location I visited: 3/4 mi below Van Arsdale, Thomas Creek, 3/4 mile below the Hearst bridge, Covelo Road mp 11.14. Also at milepost 11.14 on the Covelo Road there was a CANYON WREN in a pile of boulders on the far bank. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 18 Aug 2005 -- Hello, We took our first drive up Etsel Ridge Road Thursday. We got off to a late start, so we missed a few target species. . . but, we will return! We only encountered four other vehicles the entire time (so, mid-week trips are good, if you can take the time). Highlights included watching a family of 4 MOUNTAIN QUAIL as they crossed the road. This was 10:50 AM, 4.7 miles up M1 from the Eel River Campground, still outside the National Forest. We also saw a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, 28.5 miles from the Eel R. Cpgd. The road got quite rocky there, so we headed back north. Also, in a spruce grove near Grizzly Flat, we saw HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, lots of MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, NASHVILLE and HERMIT WARBLERS, and many Red-breasted Nuthatches and Dark-eyed Juncos. Thanks to Toby, Art and George for their help. -- Karen and Jim Havlena, Fort Bragg
Thu, 18 Aug 2005 -- Toby reports the STILT SANDPIPER was at the Lake Cleone Overflow again this morning.
Thu, 18 Aug 2005. -- A bit of advice for any who might come to see the Stilt Sandpiper this weekend (since it seems to be sticking around). Arrive at MacKerricher Park's Laguna Point parking lot as early as possible. 7:00 or 8:00 is a good time. The bird is easy to find and view in the small stream that runs from the west side of the haul road to the beach BEFORE the kids and dogs start wading through. If you arrive after the visitors hit the beach, the bird may be difficult (impossible) to find. Good birding! -- David Jensen
Thu, 18 Aug 2005 -- 2 Adult LEAST BITTERNS Long Tule Pt., Kelseyville (Thanks to Greg Giusti's initial report via Jerry White) -- Bryan J. McIntosh
Thu, 18 Aug 2005 -- This evening at 7:15PM, Geoff and I saw and heard a flock of what we believe to be CASPIAN TERNS heading southeast over our place off Old River Road, three miles south of Talmage. They were flying way up there in a loose flock of about fifty birds, visible only as glittery specks to the unassisted eye. The big white birds with black wingtips were croaking distinctively. -- Cheryl Watson
Wed, 17 Aug 2005 -- Today Toby reports one STILT SANDPIPER continuing at the Lake Cleone overflow.
Tue, 16 Aug 2005 -- Toby reports that she saw two STILT SANDPIPERS at 11:00 this morning. The birds were found at MacKerricher Park, just north of Fort Bragg, in the Lake Cleone overflow. Drive past the lake, pass under the trestle, and the birds are in the small stream that flows to the bay. This is the location where the first county record was found. Toby reported that one of the birds was a juvenile (perhaps the one seen Sunday at Virgin Creek). The other was buffier, probably an adult.
Tue, 16 AUG 2005: -- 2 Br. ad. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 2 Juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 1 Juv. SANDERLING, 1 Juv. PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 6 W./ RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Molt. Juv. Borax Lake, Clearlake Park -- Bryan J. McIntosh
Tue, 16 Aug 2005 -- Seen at the USTP today, 8/16 between 11:15am and noon were 3 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 5 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a couple of DOWITCHERS, a hunting COOPER'S HAWK and several BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. -- Vishnu
Mon, 15 Aug 2005 -- Luke Cole and I were at Virgin Creek about 11:30 AM today . We did not find the STILT SANDPIPER. However
a group of us (15 or more birders) just off the Shearwater boat trip did have great looks at the bird on Sunday (14 Aug) at about
5:00 PM; thanks to Roger Foote who met us at the dock with the news. Congratulations to Roger on his discovery and special thanks
to him, to George Chaniot, and to Toby Tobkin for their phone calls and all their efforts to notify the local birders of this
excellent county bird.
Today Luke Cole and I birded the coast from Juan Creek to Ft. Bragg. By 1:00 PM we had about 85 species.
We found nothing exceptional but of interest were: a MARBLED MURRELET and PURPLE MARTINS at Juan Creek, a large flyover flock of
MARBLED GODWITS (I believe Luke counted 27 birds) and a LARK SPARROW at the Westport Headlands. We ran across 3 or so good sized
flocks of mixed passerines which included migrant WILSON'S WARBLERS, YELLOW WARBLERS, a few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS,
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and a CASSIN'S VIREOS or two. Not a lot of diversity yet.
Luke continued south on Hiway 1 trying to reach
100 in Mendocino County for the day. I went inland to the Ukiah Treatment Ponds where I found 3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and a
WILSON'S SNIPE.
Mon,15 Aug 2005 -- This afternoon there was a lone juvenile SOLITARY SANDPIPER (as opposed to a solitary lonely sandpiper) on a private pond near the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. There were also 6 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and many KILLDEER along the shore of this pond .... which is of local note: when sandpiper sp. show up in the inland Hopland area it means that migration is in full swing for shorebirds. If you have a chance to bird the coastal shore, Lake Mendocino, or the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant soon you might have a chance of finding good shorebirds! Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 14 Aug 2005 -- When I arrived at Virgin Creek at 3:15 p.m., Karen and Jim Havlena were already on the STILT SANDPIPER. It is a juvenile in fresh plumage, and I got good scope-filling views at close range. Over the next hour and a quarter it foraged along the creek on both the east and west sides of the bridge and was always in view from the bridge. Most of the time it was by itself, but sometimes it seemed to associate with a Greater Yellowlegs. I also saw a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER high on the outer beach in the wrack and several RUDDY TURNSTONES. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 14 Aug 2005,11:00 -- Roger Foote and Dorothy Tobkin just phoned me from Virgin Creek beach where they were looking at a STILT SANDPIPER. It was wading in Virgin Creek where it crosses the beach. Second county record? -- George Chaniot
Fri, 05 Aug 2005 -- Today Chuck Vaughn and I birded the Mendocino coast from Point Arena north to Juan Creek. First we made
a brief stop at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant where the 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES and 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE continued from yesterday.
On Mountain View Road we had a BLUE GROUSE in the middle of the road about halfway between Boonville and Manchester. We found
RUDDY TURNSTONES at two locations: one at the mouth of the Garcia River and two at Virgin Creek Beach. We saw 4 ELEGANT TERNS flying
along the coast south of the Navarro River, and 2 PURPLE MARTINS at the mouth of Caspar Creek.
At Virgin Creek Beach there was a
LONG-BILLED CURLEW and the bird-of-the-day, a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, still mostly in breeding plumage. This bird was among the
Black-bellied Plovers on the beach just north of the creek outlet and later by itself in the dunes very close to the haul road.
Finally, at Juan Creek north of Westport we saw 6 MARBLED MURRELETS offshore and a pair of PURPLE MARTINS carrying food under
the bridge over the creek.--George Chaniot
Thu, 04 Aug 2005 -- Today I went back to the sewage treatment plant briefly at about 3:20 PM and found the following on the north pond mudflats: 19 Western Sandpipers, 8 Least Sandpipers, 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 11 Long-billed Dowitchers, 4 Black-necked Stilts, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Three species that weren't there yesterday and different numbers of most that were. It looks like the birds are turning over daily, and it's worth frequent checking. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 04 Aug 2005 -- Here are a few birds seen during the hot afternoon today in southern Lake County:
LESSER SCAUP:
male at Borax Lake, uncertain if a new arrival or overlooked
BUFFLEHEAD: female still at Borax Lake
RING-BILLED GULL:
adult at Clearlake
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER: four juveniles at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant
At Detert
Reservoir, three male RUDDY DUCKS (possibly females, too, but I didn't have a telescope) were present during 28-29 July.
-- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake
Wed, 03 Aug 2005 -- I saw what I'm pretty sure was an Eagle (probably Golden) perched high up on a tree on next to highway 101 about a mile south of Willits on the west side. It was big and definitely had that eagle look. The breast didn't look that solidly dark but more worn. It stayed there for awhile (I was able to turn around about a mile further south and double back and see it through my binoculars) but after about 30 seconds it flew off and I didn't see it again.........In looking more closely at Sibley when I got home, I am wondering if what I saw was a 2nd year Bald Eagle? The breast was definitely quite light and looked worn while the rest of the bird was definitely dark. -- Karin Wandrei
Wed, 03 Aug 2005 -- This morning at the mudflats on the north percolation pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were 27 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 10 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and 4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS. If there are any county birders out there who have never seen stilts in Mendocino, this is your chance. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 01 Aug 2005 -- There were 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES at Virgin Creek Beach on Thursday July 28th. A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at Caspar Creek on Friday July 29th. I saw a total of 5 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. 3 were on the beach just north of the Garcia River mouth on July 29th. Another one was at Virgin Creek on Saturday and Sunday July 30th and 31st. A different bird was on the beach south of the 10 Mile River mouth on Saturday. Most of the peeps were WESTERN SANDPIPERS. I had good looks at maybe 300 birds but was not able to turn up a Semipalmated Sandpiper. -- Jerry White
Mon, 01 Aug 2005 -- Perhaps not news to other local birders, but was delighted with about 50 or more BROWN PELICANS on a stack north of Westport Monday late afternoon. -- Jessica Morton
Sun, 31 Jul 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant oxidation ponds this morning. Highlights were 2 juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPES and a nice, bright adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Other shorebirds included the usual WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. The 2 adult and 2 juvenile BLACK-NECKED STILTS also continue, as do the pair of GREATER SCAUP and the female AMERICAN WIGEON. The latter have now "officially" summered here. What a vacation spot! -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 25 Jul 2005 -- Today I was swimming at the Pomo site at Lake Mendo when I looked in the vegetation and saw a heron but it didn't look like a little blue. I didn't happen to have my binoculars on me (I don't think they work too well in water) but I went back to my car got them and when I did, sure enough, the bird was still there and it turned out to be a first year GREEN HERON! I got a good long look at it. It flew a little but kept coming back to the vegetation spot. This spot is between the swimming area and the marina. -- Karin Wandrei
Sat, 23 Jul 2005 -- The RED KNOT was still present at Fort Bragg on Friday. It tends to stay on the beach about 75 yards north of the mouth of Virgin Creek. A group of eleven HARLEQUIN DUCKS are regularly seen on a wash rock just offshore from that location. Other birds in that area include LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, WHIMBRELS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SURFBIRDS, BLACK and RUDDY TURNSTONES, and HEERMANN'S GULLS. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES have been appearing in coves and on Ten Mile River. CASSIN'S AUKLETS have been seen close to shore from the headlands, a TUFTED PUFFIN was in the water just east of the gull rookery (the island still covered with vegetation) at the northwestern parking lot on Heeser Drive in Mendocino. -- David Jensen
Sat, 23 Jul 2005 -- Cathy, We could see the BROWN PELICAN was in distress but did not see the fish lines. Congratulations on the dramatic rescue. -- Jerry and Nikki White
Sat, 23 Jul 2005 -- I just got back from helping the BROWN PELICAN you mentioned near the south boat-ramp at Lake Mendocino.
The sheriff's department called this afternoon concerned about a Pelican that had been seen since 5:00 am this morning tangled in
fishing line. I grabbed all the tools I thought I would need- the most important, being my good-natured husband (Who else is willing
to help me capture this big beaked bird that no one else on the lake would touch). Thank goodness for my husband who accompanies me
on these rescues (he calls these outings "Honey Do Errands").
One of the Park Rangers took my husband out on a jet boat to the
point where the pelican was, and since my husband is much more agile that I am, he was the one who got into the water and captured the
bird. I've learned through experience that where there is fishing lines there are also fishing hooks, and this case was no exception;
there was a very large lure with 4 of its 6 hooks embedded in the skin on the underside of the bird's wing. I was able to cut the
hooks with wire cutters and pull them out of the skin with needle nosed pliers, and with scissors was able to cut the fishing line
that was tangled tightly around the one wing and body. I gave the bird a quick exam and could not palpate any fractures. We loaded the
bird up in a large kennel and took him to Mendocino Vet Hospital where Dr Robert's administered fluids, antibiotics and a little pain
reliever (nothing to make him groggy). We drove the bird back out to the busy lake where Sheriff Officers Mike McBride and Scott Poma
were waiting for us and took us by boat out across the lake to a quiet area where we re-released the bird. It was great to see the
bird be able to stretch his wings and flap them.
I wondered if we should have driven him to the coast but it was getting late in
the afternoon. I sure hope this bird can now find his way to wherever he belongs. Please let me know if you see him again.
-- Cathy Ortiz
Sat, 22 July 2005 -- There were two female type RING-NECKED PHEASANTS in the vegetation next to the mudflats in the most
northerly pond at the Ukiah Treatment Plant.
Floating around with the gulls and ducks on Lake Mendocino seen from the south
parking area was a lost BROWN PELICAN. -- Jerry White
Thu, 21 Jul 2005 -- At about 10:00 am there was a single WILLET along the waters edge at the Lake Mendocino Dam. -- John Hunter, Arcata
Tue, 19 Jul 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a RED KNOT today at the north end of Virgin Creek beach. She also had a report of a BLACK-NECKED STILT at Lake Cleone, but she could not refind it. Shorebird migration is picking up along the coast: Today she had a WANDERING TATLER.
Tue, 19 Jul 2005 -- Hello birders. Since nothing has been posted on them in a while, I figured it'd be worth noting that Austin Booth and I had a pair of calling BARRED OWLS at Montgomery Woods SP last night. We arrived at dusk, and they started calling back and forth at around 9:15, but had stopped by 9:20. We waited around a bit longer, but didn't hear anything after that. Also present was a distantly calling LONG-EARED OWL. Good birding -- Matt Brady
Sat, 16 Jul 2005 -- Hi Birders. Taking a break from helping my parents move back into their house in Potter Valley, Austin
Booth and I made a quick trip to the south coast this afternoon. We headed up and over Mountain View Rd., went to Hunter's Lagoon,
Pt Arena lighthouse, the Garcia River mouth, Pt Arena pier and the Gualala River mouth. Highlites were limited to:
Three BLUE GROUSE along Mountain View Rd. at 2:30 PM.
One WHIMBREL, ~10 CASPIAN TERNS, 4 SURF SCOTERS (including one disguised
as a Black Scoter), 1 RED-THROATED LOON, 1 PACIFIC LOON and small numbers of assorted and distant Calidris Sandpipers at the Garcia
River mouth.
A pair of PURPLE MARTINS at the bridge crossing the Gualala River (also in Sonoma County - gotta love those two'fer
County birds). Is this a known/regular location for this species?
Three MOUNTAIN QUAIL (one adult and two very small babies)
coming back over Mountain View Rd. this evening. This is a great road for this species, especially early in the morning.
It's
good to be back in California. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Mon, 04 Jul 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I walked around the oxidation ponds at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. I counted 14 RUDDY DUCKS (10m, 4 f), and a female AMERICAN WIGEON and 2 female GREATER SCAUP continue. New arrivals included a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS. The pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS, Mendocino County's first nesters, are raising at least 2 young on the north pond. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon 04 Jul 2005 -- On July 4, Larry Knowles and I took the canoe and paddled under the Ten Mile Bridge to count the
CLIFF SWALLOW nests that, as far as we could tell, were being used this year. We counted 1,185 of them. Assuming that each nest is
maintained by two adults and that there are also unmated individuals in the colony, we estimated there were close to 3,000 birds
involved, not counting chicks. We saw lots of little heads peeping out of the entry spouts to the nests.
Over the 15 years
I have lived at Ten Mile next to the bridge, I have noticed that the swallows move, year to year, to different sections of the bridge
to make nests. Two years ago they nested on the northern third of the bridge. last year, they nested on the southern third. This year
they are nesting on the center third. I think they rotate to reduce possible infection from disease, mites, lice, etc. You can see
thousands of old nests and parts of nests in the unused sections. I expect that next year, the swallows will use the nests on the
northern third of the bridge, that is, unless CalTrans disturbs them too much. I think bridge construction begins in 2006.
To
my surprise, the swallows built twice the number of nests on the more exposed side than on the protected east side of the bridge. I
have observed just the opposite in years past. Does anyone else have information on this? Since the new bridge will be built on the
east side of the existing one, perhaps the swallows are already responding to CalTrans disturbance. There has been some activity on
the east side over the years as CalTrans drills and explores the river.
After our count, we observed the birds for about an hour
from the beach on the south side of the river. A male kestral spent some time perched on the telephone wire that hangs close and
parallels the bridge. For at least 20 minutes he periodically flew beneath the overhang to the nests and appeared to be looking into
the nests. Sometimes he actually landed and clung for a moment to the entrance of a nest. Once I saw him stick his head into a nest.
During the time we observed him, he caught nothing, but he sure looked like he was trying to grab a chick. During this behavior,
clouds of swallows followed him at a distance. They never got close to him, like blackbirds would do. Even though these nests appear
quite protected in their position above the river, they are vulnerable to both predators and humans.
I sure hope CalTrans has
made adequate nesting sites with a flat, rough vertical surface and an overhang so the new bridge can support this huge population.
-- Erica Fielder
Sun, 03 Jul 2005 -- This weekend, Liz West, my sister Carmen, and I decided to take a trip up to Fort Bragg and beyond. Had a great trip. Started out birding Mountain House Road off of Route 128. Found many of the typical Oak woodland species. Highlights of the trip were a singing male LAZULI BUNTING (lifer for my sister) and two singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS near the bridge 2-3 miles from Route 128. One of the chats decided to sing from the top of the tree. Quite a stunning bird. Further north on the fence above the grasslands and near the summit we saw 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS.
From here we drove to Fort Bragg and the coastline, periodically stopping to listen and watch. The scenery was quite spectacular and the weather was great (especially after the hot central valley!). At the Mendocino Headlands found a few Black Oystercatchers, lots of Common Murres and all 3 cormorants. Both a NORTHERN HARRIER AND WHITE-TAILED KITE were flying over the grasslands.
On Saturday, we checked out Caspar Cemetery for the Northern Parula. Unfortunately, didn't find it. But, did enjoy seeing the old cemetery and reading the headstones. An Osprey nest was up in one of the trees, and we were surrounded by the sounds of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. Further up the road we found another chat singing from the north side of Ten Mile Bridge. A few shorebirds were seen on the northeast side of the bridge; both peeps, Greater Yellowlegs, SP Plover, and Killdeers. Both a Common and Red-throated Loon were found at the river mouth, on the west side of the bridge closer to the ocean.
Further north, at Juan Creek, we found several PURPLE MARTINS flying over the vista area. Quite a delight. Also, in the ocean we found a juvenile JAEGER sp. fairly close to the vista point. We tried to identify it to species, but unfortunately we could never stay on it long enough! Oh well- it was quite an learning experience. All and all a delightful trip! Good birding, -- Frances Oliver, Lodi, CA
Sun, 03 Jul 2005 -- July 2 and 3. I drove to Spruce Grove with Austin and Mimi Booth. At the camp used by the Peregrine Audubon group in the 1990's we heard three FLAMMULATED OWLS one west of the wet meadow on the ridge, one SE of the camp and another further to the east of camp. Austin also got video of WHITE-EADED WOODPECKER going to and from it's nest hole. -- Jack Booth
Sun, 03 Jul 2005 -- This past weekend I drove up to Etsel Ridge for a little high elevation Mendo birding. Nothing unusual but all the usual suspects were present. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were abundant. Along the M-1 just north of Spruce Grove (I forget the mileage) I had to work to find a single WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER and the site that is normally very good for them. Also at this spot were GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE and CASSIN'S FINCH.
Along the M-1 south of Spruce Grove were DUSKY FLYCATCHER, HERMIT WARBLER, and NASHVILLE WARBLER. At Spruce Grove itself were HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (daggetti), and an adult and an immature TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. In the meadow below the grove were singing LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. I camped Sat night in the grove but was unable to turn up any owls.
For the most part the road is now passable. There were numerous downed trees across the road but they've all been cleared. The only obstacle I couldn't get past was a snow bank covering the road just north of Windy Gap (apparently passable with 4-wheel drive). I was hoping to get out to Windy Point and then drive down Boardman Ridge but had to return to Ukiah via M-61 and M-6. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 02 Jul 2005 -- Early this morning there was a female BUFFLEHEAD and three male RUDDY DUCKS at the Clearlake Sewage Ponds.
Light conditions were poor at Borax Lake, where I saw at least 10 adult RUDDY DUCKS and 3 GADWALLS. One female RUDDY DUCK at the south end was accompanied by three small chicks. Also there were a WESTERN SANDPIPER and two LEAST SANDPIPERS at the south end. I was unable to relocate the worn female BUFFLEHEAD present on 18 June, which was considerably more worn than the female at the Clearlake Sewage Ponds and almost certainly a different individual. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Thu, 30 Jun 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin heard another NORTHERN PARULA singing on the south side of the Big River road about 1/2 mile up.
Henri Bensussen, in whose Fort Bragg yard many of us saw a White-winged Dove about a year and a half ago, now reports a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE frequenting the same spot. Give her a call at 964-8844 if you are interested in looking for it.
Tue, 28 Jun 2005 -- The pair of PURPLE MARTINS nesting in the power transmission pole at UC-HREC are still present, apparently feeding young. The adults forage out-of-view of the nest site ... at least far enough away to where I lose track of them through binoculars/ridge horizons. I watched the male arrive at the nest and the female immediately left to forage. The male emerged to forage five minutes later. We are working with PGandamp;E to erect a set of nest boxes nearby (based upon Purple Martin Conservation Assoc. standards) in hopes of establishing a colony next year (assuming that progeny and associates will visit the site next year). -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 25 Jun 2005 -- To all birders; Today I spent 3 hours at the Caspar Cemetary road from pipe gate to the Cemetery itself from 2-5pm. Weather was overcast, balmy and no wind.
I heard the NORTHERN PARULA'S distinctive buzzy ascending trill(4pm) and recognized it right away with subsequent calls X 4 very confirmatory. I was in the south east woods looking for Band-Tailed Pigeon possible nest and the call made me jump out. I was able to identify the possible location as it wasn't moving by standing at the pipe gate opposite the cemetery sign and 30 steps back. At the skyline is view of a mossy topped gray trunked old tree and to its right is a taller, I think, fir,gray-trunked, as well ,and the bird was calling about 1/2 way down that tree. I never saw it, but thought I could give effort to do so because it was not moving. Unfortunately, 3 Stellar Jays came in that exact area and were raising commotion and I never heard the bird again from 4pm to 5pm.
Other species included GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET fledglings with gaping orange-colored mouths very demanding, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER calling, WILSON'S WARBLERS, Acorn WP with quite a few trees for cache, Wrentit, SWAINSON'S THRUSH fluted song, Anna's Hummer, Hutton's Vireo, Mourning Dove, Osprey calling unrelentlessly the whole time, NO. Flicker, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, Purple Finch, and as I was leaving I got to observe 2 PURPLE MARTINS preening at the top of the tall gray, spar of a tree across the road with beautiful light on a male. -- Barbara Dolan
Wed, 22 Jun 2005 -- Early this morning Scott Whitney, a PGandamp;E linesman, watched an adult BALD EAGLE perched in a tree on the east side of Lake Mendocino. It was near the artificial nesting platform but no activity was evidence of nesting on the platform.... perhaps this is just a visiting Lake County bird. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 20 Jun 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports hearing the NORTHERN PARULA singing at Caspar Cemetery about 4:30 PM. Also several days ago she birded Mountain House Road and had a two singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS near the bridge 2-3 miles from Route 128. Further north at the grassland near the summit she heard singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and saw a family of RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS.
Mon, 20 Jun 2005 -- Bob Keiffer and Mendobirders, I followed up on the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at the 15.08 mm at the Covelo-Dos Rios Bridge. At 2PM on 6-19-05 I had one right away. I had flybys of a single bird about 4 Xs in the next hour . Then a second bird joined the flybys and at the south west direction the pair did some tumbling. It was thrilling to see them at this level at the river edge and at eye level. These black and white torpedos are awesome from this vantage point. You can appreciate the color contrast on the sides, their aerodynamic shape, and speed in flight. The last time I saw them was looking up only , and that was 1997 so this was a real treat.. Thanks and good birding. -- Barbara Dolan
Mon, 20 Jun 2005 -- Toby Tobkin left a phone message saying she heard the NORTHERN PARULA about 4:30PM today near the Caspar Cemetary. -- Jerry White
Sun, 19 Jun 2005 -- The Northern Parula was (heard only) on the trail (road) to the Caspar Cemetery yesterday, Saturday June 18th. Park at the pullout to the south at the gated dirt road off of Pt. Cabrillo Drive. I first heard the bird as I got out of the car at about 11:40 AM. The bird then moved up along the trail about halfway to the cemetery and continued to sing its distinctive rising buzz song on and off for the 35 minutes I was in the area. I had made a quick stop the evening before at about 7:30 PM at this location but had not detected this bird. Also Toby Tobkin called and said she tried yesterday at about 4:30 PM but did not find the bird. Other birds of interest on Saturday included a lingering GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Lake Cleone and a MARBLED MURRELET seen from Highway 1 on the ocean just north of Juan Creek. Also of interest were three other species ( maybe late migrants?) that seemed to be effected by the storm system that prevailed over the area all weekend. There were two calling YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS near the intersection of Highway 1 and Camp 2 Ten Mile Road. Two OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS seemed somewhat out of habitat with one in the coastal scrub and one working a pasture and residential area at the south end of Westport. At Wages Creek I got a brief look at a Myiarchus flycatcher (probable Ash-throated) that was moving north. -- Jerry White
Sun, 19 Jun 2005 -- Floyd, Now that we have a checklist available that has good long term information on the status of birds in Lake County we can start the process of refining that information for a number of species. Actually it appears you have already begun that work.
Gadwall; I had a male and female at Borax Lake on the June 14th for the 4th summer record. I will consider your June 18th and 19th records as the 5th and 6th county records. We are now at extremely rare. There are no nesting records so far. Reality ( if more birding is done in the June and July period) is probably that Gadwall is Rare (or above) in the summer.
Ring-billed Gull; I have been working on that. I only had 4 summer records in the data base when I did the list. This summer I have recorded what I consider 3 more records so they are now extremely rare. Reality is at least Rare but probably Uncommon.
Your very high numbers for Gadwall and Ruddy Duck are interesting. Thanks for the detailed information. -- Jerry White
Sun, 19 Jun 2005 -- For Dave Woodward and others that have an interest in PURPLE MARTIN sightings:
On May 17th there were 2 birds (male and female) on Crestview Dr (Clearlake Park). At the same location on June 16th there were 5 birds on a windy overcast day.
On June 16th there were also 10 birds at Verna Way, Kono Tayee.
On June 10th above treeline on Hull Mt there were 3 birds; 2 male and 1 female. -- Jerry White
Thu, 14 Jul 2005 -- The pair of Purple Martins at the UC-HREC utilizing a woodpecker cavity in a transmission line power pole is still there. I watched the adult male and female sit on the cross arm while a juvenile peered out of the nest cavity. It seems like it has taken forever for this nest to fledge. The pair was first observed at the cavity on May 23rd. Good birding -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 18 Jun 2005 -- I spent a few hours birding southern Lake County 18 June. I was unable to relocate the FORSTER'S TERN at Clearlake. I birded Borax Lake rather thoroughly and found the following birds:
BUFFLEHEAD: a worn female at the north end of the lake (2nd summer record?)
GADWALL: about 17 scattered around the lake (4th summer record?) and possibly breeding, although all the ducklings appeared to be associated with more numerous MALLARDS (a leucistic MALLARD was at the north end of the lake)
RUDDY DUCK: about 17 scattered around the lake, none with ducklings
KILLDEER: a nest with four eggs at the north end of the lake
Today, 19 June, I visited the Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant and saw a male GADWALL (5th summer record?) among the more abundant MALLARDS. I didn't have my telescope with me and am uncertain whether there were any female GADWALLS with ducklings. Are there any nesting records for the county? -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake
Wed, 15 Jun 2005 -- An alternate-plumaged FORSTER'S TERN was leisurely fishing from the pilings off Austin Park in Clearlake from 12:40 to 1:30 this afternoon. I suspect it will be sticking around a while. At least two RUDDY DUCKS were at Borax Lake. Belatedly, a CASPIAN TERN was at Detert Reservoir on 17 May. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co., CA
Tue, 14 Jun 2005 -- Bob, Thanks for posting the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD note. While checking out the garden at Hopland yesterday going to the pond, we saw a WESTERN BLUEBIRD near the trail junction toward the pond. The people in the tasting room were very interested. Nice organic garden, lots of native solitary bees, butterflies, and dragonflies/allies. Cliff swallows, barn swallows, belted kingfisher, green heron, marsh wren, song sparrow, all near the pond -- Chet Ogan, Eureka
Sat, 11 Jun 2005 -- On 6-11-05 Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinekin and I were able to view the the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS as Bob described. I then went over to Lakeport and on Lakeshore Drive at the 3800 area there are reeds where 2 reported male Yellow-headed Blackbirds are moving in and out . I did not see the birds . I suggested keeping an eye out for females. They've been observed there for a week and reportedly were there this morning. I did see a pair of GREEN HERONS. Later 2 OSPREY, courting WESTERN GREBES as well as juvies along side adults, and the MUTE SWAN -- Barbara Dolan
Fri, 10 Jun 2005 -- Today I again tried to reach Spruce Grove, this time from the south. Snow across the road stopped me just past the Lake County line not far from the road up to the Hull Mt. peak. I ended up on foot for 3 or so hours of birding in the area. There was a singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW on the south facing slope of Windy Ridge (just to the northwest of Hull Mt.). Other species seen in the area were DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, and a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS. Around mid-day a COMMON POORWILL called a few times from the montane chaparral. -- JRW
Fri, 10 June 2005 -- Today I conducted my Breeding Bird Survey on the Branscomb Road. There was nothing too exceptional... one YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT singing new the Red Rock Casino sign. The PURPLE MARTINS (minimum of four birds) are still nesting in the snags at mp 0.52. Four more Purple martins were at the Juan Creek Bridge.
Afterwards I ventured to Covelo to look for the Sage Thrasher with no luck. However, on the way in I stopped at the Dos Rios Covelo Road bridge and immediately heard WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. I watched up to five birds flying to and from the NE underside of the bridge ...maybe parents with fledglings? although they all looked the same in flight. This was about noon and I was able to watch them at eye level about 30 feet away from the Poonkinney/Dos Rios road. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 10 Jun 2005 -- At the Mendocino headlands today Chuck Vaughn and I found an alcid on the water near the murre/cormorant colony which we believe is a juvenile RHINOCEROS AUKLET. It was smaller than adult Pigeon Guillemots nearby but coloration, bill size, and bill shape indicated a rhino. According to the literature, juvenile rhinos leave their burrows and move to the water when they can barely fly and are only 40-85% of their adult body weight. The presence of an undersized juvenile rhino on the water this early in the season suggests local nesting, perhaps on the islands of the Mendocino headlands themselves.
Further south we also visited the house on Duxbury Road near Manchester and saw a flock of 11 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES fly up from behind the house. This number should raise this newcomer species from the "x" rating (extremely rare) to the "r" rating (rare) on the Mendocino county list. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 09 Jun 2005 -- Today I relocated both female BUFFLEHEADS: the highly worn bird at Borax Lake (near southeast corner; attempted unsuccesffuly to fly when closely approached by a boy with a gun who shot and killed a BREWER'S BLACKBIRD) and the less worn bird at Clearlake Sewage Ponds. The RUDDY DUCK with 3 chicks was at the southwest corner of Borax Lake. I was unable to find any GADWALLS at Borax Lake but found an immature male WOOD DUCK.
At Clearlake the CALIFORNIA GULL population doubled from about 20 to 40 birds during the past week and included the first juvenile of the season.
On Friday (8 June) a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK captured a small bird in my yard.
And belatedly, a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was at Anderson Marsh on 15 June. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Wed, 08 June 2005 - This morning I learned from a CalTrans Bio-Survey Crew that there was a small colony of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the Fetzer "Pavilion" pond. I checked it out at noon and found a colony that I estimate at 20 - 25 individuals. I was able to see 5-7 males at any one time and 4-5 females at any one time. Birds were coming and going with food in their beaks so it was hard to get an accurate count. The colony is located at the pond just to the west of the famous Fetzer Gardens, and is on the southeast side of the pond about 100 yards south of the Pavilion building...just to the south of the yellow-ribboned road (to keep vehicle traffic out) and the newly-bladed parking lot. The area has a row of 60' tall cottonwoods adjacent to the tules (narrow-leafed and broad-leafed) where the birds are nesting and many of the birds were hanging out in the cottonwoods. There are Red-winged Blackbirds elsewhere around the pond. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 05 June 2005 -- Today I went to Hearst for a Emandal Chorale event. When I got there Tam told me that a chorus member had found a dead bird near the building. She asked me to identify it. It is a very distinctive bird, and one that I had never seen locally before, so I froze it for the day in her freezer and then brought it home. Consultation with field guides indicated OVENBIRD to me. Chuck Vaughn confirmed that today. He said it's the third county record. The bird had been dead one or two days. It looks like it flew into a window or somehow experienced an impact to its head. I gave it to Chuck, who will take it to Hopland for Bob Keiffer to preserve.
My hawklet has fledged, though as of this morning she was still spending time at the nest. Tomorrow's UDJ should have a story on Jon Klein, with photos, and my final hawk diary will be in the following Friday's paper, I think. I'll also post here when finished.
Have seen numerous fledged young 'uns in the last weeks. Jon Klein reports that the two young golden eagles have fledged. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 04 Jun 2005 -- On Friday (3 June) night I heard two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS on Albion Ridge at the location first discovered by Matthew Matthiessen a couple of years ago. The birds started calling at 8:43 PM. They continued for only 3 or 4 minutes. This was on Road K just off of Albion Ridge Road. On Saturday I tried for but did not see the Sage Thrasher found by George Chaniot in Round Valley. At that location there was a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Also just to the south there were 2 males and one female LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. -- Jerry White
Sat, 04 Jun 2005 -- i have been puzzled about the redwing blackbirds at my feeder. Most have epauletes that are red/with a fairly broad yellow border, fewer are red only. Then a few have pale orange epauletes. -- Lois, Little River
Fri, 03 Jun 2005 -- This morning I found a singing SAGE THRASHER in Round Valley. I first found it about 10:20; I returned at 12:50, and it was singing in the exact same place; Chuck Vaughn dashed up, and at 2:30 we saw the bird at the same spot.
The location is on Dobie Lane 1.3 miles N of Fairbanks Road. You must approach from Fairbanks as Dobie Lane is washed out further north. Look for a fallen oak tree in a hayfield about 100 feet east of the road. On the west side of the road here there is a shrubby, 8 foot valley oak in the fenceline. The thrasher is very faithful to this bushy oak and probably spent 90% of its time in and near it. It sang from the oak, the fence, the fallen oak, and at mid level in larger oaks to the east and south. Always it returned to the bushy oak. It also foraged on the ground along the edge of the road and hawked insects from the ground and from the pavement in the middle of the road. It was rather conspicuous.
My main purpose in being in Round Valley was to look for Tricolored Blackbirds. In the process I noted that about 20% of the Red-winged Blackbirds there have broad, yellow, lower borders to the epaulettes, about 20% have a thin yellow border, and about 60% have no yellow at all visable in the field. I do not remember seeing yellow borders on summer males in Potter Valley - I should pay more attention. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 27 May 2005 -- This afternoon I made an attempt to get to Spruce Grove in the Mendocino National Forest by going through Round Valley and then up Forest Service road M1. The main concern was snow blocking the road, but before I reached any snow, a fallen tree across the road stopped my progress. This was about 6 miles past Grizzly Flat. On the trip I was fortunate to see an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK in hunting mode flight. But the most surprising bird was a VESPER SPARROW near Grizzly Flat in the Brewer Oak/grasslands area. There may have been a small flock as several birds flew up; but I was only able to get a good look at the one. Other expected birds noted were; a "thick-billed" FOX SPARROW, a singing TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, many MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. -- Jerry White
Wed, 25 May 2005 -- Along the Point Arena Lighthouse Road in the morning I saw the following highlights - Common Loon (1), Brown Pelican (140-150 single flock), Rough-winged Swallow (6) Olive-sided Flycatcher (3), Ash-throated Flycatcher (1), and Western Bluebird (2). I Could NOT confirm the report of possible Bank Swallows along the bluffs at Lighthouse Road ... I did see many Cliff Swallows and six Rough-winged Swallows along the bluffs south of the road (toward Loran Station). I have several times viewed Bank Swallows at known colonies in other parts of the west and find that the neck band is extremely hard to see on birds in flight ... so be careful.
At Manchester State Beach area along Duxbury and Bristol Lanes and Brushy Creek highlights included - 25 Canada Geese, Snowy Egret (1), Bonaparte's Gull (2), Caspian Tern (1), Eurasian Collared-Dove (2), Northern Harrier (2) with probable nesting on the SW side of Hunter's Lagoon. Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 24 May 2005 -- HOODED ORIOLES are nesting again at 501 Sherry Dr. on the northern end of Ukiah. Check under the palm fronds on the east side of the western-most fan palm. Nest can be easily seen from the sidewalk. -- Paul Hawks
Tue, 24 May 2005 -- I saw a singing male LAZULI BUNTING and heard the female responding two days ago, further up Round Mountain Ranch road (on the way to Heartland).
2-3 pairs of HOODED ORIOLES at the entrance to Sunset View trailer park. At least one hooded oriole baby has fledged. I saw it looking very unsure of itself, taking tentative flights and cheeping.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE nest near the gate into Round Mountain Ranch, but babies have fledged. It's an unusual nest, because it's not deeply pendulous - more globular, 5 inches in diameter, made with a lot of "Spanish moss." Jon climbed a tree hoping for photos, but we think the birds seem to have fledged since i discovered it, which was three days ago. I'm sure there are more nests around because there are quite a few bullock's orioles around there. Also in that vicinity: lots of chipping sparrows, western kingbirds, western bluebirds, lesser goldfinches, a white-tailed kite, a three-legged coyote. Really good birding and wildlifing around there.
I've been hearing and seeing ash-throated flycatchers, cassin's vireos, hutton's vireos, kingbirds, here where I live, and am sure there are nests nearby for all of the above, in addition to the numerous acorn woodpecker nests. Also blue-grey gnatcatchers up the hill a bit. As of Friday Anna's Hummingbird and Blue-grey gnatcatcher females were still sitting on their nests -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 23 May 2005 -- Last year Chuck Vaughn discovered a nesting pair of PURPLE MARTINS in a PGE line pole here at UC-HREC. I checked the site today to find the female's head sticking out of the hole. Soon she left to forage to the east over the Huntley Peak area. I did not see the male ...but am assuming that the pair is nesting again this year. Purple Martin observations are always worth noting ...especially the inland sites. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 22 May 2005 -- About twenty folks braved the choppy seas and swells 5-10 feet to look for our fine feathered friends out of Noyo Harbor. The skies were clear and sunny and the visibility was excellent. Our direction headed NW out of Noyo Harbor as Jason, the Trek II boat captain, headed into the swells at a leisurely pace. We crossed the Noyo Canyon at about 8 to 10 miles out. There were no extraordinary species seen, but we did have great looks and photo opportunities for BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS feeding on chum behind the boat. At least two of these birds were banded (sorry...couldn't read the numbers). On the way back in at about 2:00 PM the swells had grown to a point where Jason halted the boat outside the harbor mouth, timed the waves perfectly, and went full-steam into the harbor riding (surfing) on the back-side of a mega-wave. It is comforting to have experience at the helm!
Here is a list of species seen:
Pacific Loon (1), Common Loon (1), Western Grebe (2), Black-footed Albatross (80), Pink-footed Shearwater (10), Sooty Shearwater (100+), Brown Pelican (2), Brandt's Cormorant (20), Double-crested Cormorant (1), Pelagic Cormorant (5), Surf Scoter (25), Red-necked Phalarope (12), California Gull (3), Western Gull (100), Glaucous-winged Gull (1), Common Murre (350), Pigeon Guillemot (30), Cassin's Auklet (1), Rhinoceros Auklet (5). Mammals .... Steller's Sea Lion (2), Northern
Fur Seal (1), California Sea Lion (7), Dall's Porpoise (2) Good Birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 20 May 2005 -- At least three MARBLED MURRELETS were observed from Little River Headlands this afternoon. One bird was solo and in mostly basic plumage, while the other two, who were tightly paired were in high alternate plumage (are they nesting very nearby?). -- Sean McAllister, Loleta, CA
Tue, 17 May 2005 -- I was sitting in my hot tub this morning and looked up on my roof and couldn't believe it but I saw a PHAINOPEPLA. Black bird about 8 inches long with very noticeable crest. I recognized it because I had seen them in March in Tucson. According to Sibley we are a little north of their range. I live on Pine Mountain in Willits at 2000ft - mixture of oak, fir, madrone. -- Karin Wandrei
Mon, 16 May 2005 -- Today Frances Oliver and I visited Lake County. Nothing spectacular to report but we had good passerine diversity (e.g., every species of 'western' warbler except Townsend's and Wilson's and all three vireos along Elk Mtn Rd) despite winds and occasional drizzles
Best bird was a PROBABLE COMMON TERN off-shore at Lakeport. Just too far away for me to be 100% certain.
Also had PURPLE MARTINs along Red Hills Road, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT just south of the Elk Mtn Road bridge over the Eel River (west of Lake Pillsbury). A couple MACGILLIVRAY's WARBLERS were also in this vicinity. A calling ROCK WREN above the Clear Lake Landfill site and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDs at the marsh off Robin Hill Dr. near the NW corner of the lake. More YH Blackbirds at Borax Lake. -- Ed Pandolfino, Loomis, CA
Sun, 15 May 2005 -- Two days of birding did not turn up a whole lot; with one exception. The male BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds on Friday. The EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were easily found both on Friday and Saturday on Duxbury and Stoneboro Rds near Manchester. There was a flock of 16 BRANT at the mouth of the Garcia River on Saturday. BONAPARTE'S GULLS were in several locations including a bird in the small pond right off Highway 1 at the south end of Manchester. While scoping a small flock of Bonaparte's on the Brush Creek lagoon on Friday an AMERICAN BITTERN briefly flew out and then back into the tules.This species is difficult to find in Mendocino and this is only the 3rd one I recall seeing in the county. -- Jerry White
Thu, 12 May 2005 -- I observed one pair of PURPLE MARTINS atop a streetlight post on the south end of Hopland at 8:00 AM. The Hwy 101 streetlight post is just south of "The Keg" (Where every night is Saturday night) and directly across from Petro America gas station. It appeared as though they were checking out the light/post for nesting. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 12 May 2005 -- For those heading out to Potter Valley on Sunday, look for the replacement OSPREY nest on top of the tallest high tension tower on the ridge north of Highway 20; it pops into view at mile marker 34.54. This nest was active last year, but was removed or blown down over the winter. Due to the configuration of the tower, building materials that don't stick to the nest are caught by the girders underneath, making a two-story effect. The first good place to scope it is just past the Marina turn (it is blocked from the big turn-out). Best viewing is 100 feet or so past where Road B makes its right angle turn to the north; take Road A as if you are heading for Fife Vineyards. It is huge lift from Lake Mendocino to this site and it seems likely that materials and food may also come from ponds north of it. -- Jim Armstrong
Wed, 11 May 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders- At 8:30 this morning, while doing bird transects, Jennifer Potts and I heard a GREATER ROADRUNNER singing on the Mendocino County side of the BLM South Cow Mountain recreation area. The bird was in some of the lower chaparral immediately west and downslope from Lost Valley. Other birds of local interest were a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, HAIRY WOODPECKERS, and NASHVILLE WARBLERS singing in seemingly every hardwood and mixed hardwood/knobcone pine grove up there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 04 May 2005 -- I had the fortune to go out onto Mendocino Redwood Company lands southwest of Philo. During the morning we heard probably 20 to 30 male BLUE GROUSE hooting. My sense from speaking with MRC personnel is that the wild hog population really crashed about 10 years ago... and the Blue Grouse numbers have apparently (casual observations ... no actual transects or counts) increased during this last decade. My theory is that after heavy timber harvesting in the county during the 1950's and 60's that the blue grouse population crashed ... and was suppressed until the habitat began to recover. In combination with this, I believe that the wild hogs predated nests quite heavily (since grouse are ground nesters) in areas that had high wild feral pig populations. Now that both the pig population is way down and the forests are recovering I believe that blue grouse population in the west and southern part of Mendocino County are bouncing back. In recent years I have had several reports of single grouse in very out-of-character places ... which I think represents young individuals expanding or emigrating from their "traditional "home population" area. I also just learned of Blue Grouse in the extreme SE portion of Mendocino County ... east of the Russian River and almost to the Sonoma County line. Happy birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 06 May 2005 -- To all Mendocino county birders who had hopes of adding CRESTED CARACARA to your list ... you are out of luck. Probably the same bird was seen at Point Reyes peninsula on May 4th ... two days after it was observed near Caspar MEN. If we are lucky, maybe it will venture north again this next fall. I believe the Calif. Bird Review Committee is still in deliberation as to whether this a bird of natural origin in California...however, I hear rumors that the species will probably be added to the official California Bird List in the near future. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 03 May 2005 -- The Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds were quite productive this morning. The BLACK-NECKED STILTS reported Sunday by Jerry White have increased to three birds. The birds alternated between the northern and southern large ponds. Two of the birds stayed together at all times while the third bird never associated closely with the other two.
When I first arrived there was a solitary SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the northern large pond. Unfortunately this bird soon took off heading north and ultimately disappeared from sight climbing in altitude and still flying due north.
Also on the northern large pond was a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. The male and female BLUE-WINGED TEAL were also initially on the northern large pond but flew to the middle large pond. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 03 May 2005 -- the CRESTED CARACARA that was seen yesterday near the coastal town of Caspar has NOT been relocated yet. This is probably the same bird that came through Mendocino County last August and then ventured north to Humboldt County. I have heard reports of it around Humboldt Bay/Eel River flats off-and-on through the fall/winter. I speculate that this is the same bird now headed south to ????? If you are in the vicinity of Highway 1 and spot a deer carcass along the way I suggest that you stop and take a look around for this bird. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 02 May 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Paul Reiber reports seeing a CRESTED CARACARA on Highway 101 near Caspar just after noon today. The bird was seen in the vicinity of the Caspar Pond. Paul has seen them in Mexico previously. Toby Tobkin is going to look for the bird. If you have questions later, phone Toby at 707-964-6216. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 01 May 2005 -- 1 Br.pl. Wilson's Phalarope Rob. Lk., Nice
Sun, 01 May 2005 -- This morning at the treatment ponds there were two Black-necked Stilts -- Jerry White
Sun, 01 May 2005 -- Driving along S. State St. in Ukiah about 7:40 pm Sunday evening I saw a flash of yellow in the vicinity of the two tall fan palms on the Ukiah Airport property. Driving in, I easily located a pair of HOODED ORIOLES drinking nectar from a Bottle Brush shrub. After several minutes they flew off into the top of the easternmost of the two fan palms. -- Vishnu
Sat, 30 Apr 2005 -- Yesterday (Sat) the team of Bob Keiffer, Chuck Vaughn, Jerry White, and I did a Big Day in Mendocino County. This is the 15th consecutive year that this "sporting" event has been done in the spring. In past years we have sometimes had an excellent morning in the interior - only to have a windy or otherwise unproductive afternoon on the coast. Some years it has been the reverse, and some years both areas have been slow. This year all of the elements combined for an excellent day of birding: It was mostly overcast, and neither cold, rainy, nor windy. On the coast the ocean was glassy with low waves and good seeing conditions. We changed the route slightly: instead of going from Ukiah to the coast via Boonville and Navarro, a route which is faster but usually does not provide us with any new species, we crossed Orr Springs Road and picked up a handfull of species which are difficult elsewhere or which we had missed earlier. This year we found six species which had not been seen in the previous 14 years: Ross's Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Spotted Owl, N. Saw-Whet Owl, and Gray Jay. We missed Northern Harrier (for the first time), Wandering Tatler, and six other species which I had seen in the same locations in the previous three days. For me the day began with a 02:30 alarm. The team met up in Hopland at 03:45 and the first bird of the day was a BARN OWL carrying a mouse into the Keiffers' water tower. Sunrise was on top of the ridge at the Hopland Field Station listening to COMMON POOR-WILLS, NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, and picking the voices out of a rather lusty dawn chorus. Chuck and Jerry acted as whips to keep us in the "tick and run" mode throughout the day - no time to stop and enjoy a Lazuli Bunting or Hermit Warbler. At about 5:30 pm we broke the old record of 161 species with a BRANY at Ten-Mile River on the coast. We managed to pick up three more species after that with difficulty. Then we had a leisurely dinner before dark (a first!) before plunging back into the darkness of Jackson State Forest to listen for some more owls. When a SPOTTED OWL spoke up about 9:30, the cheer of "166!" went up, and fifteen minutes later, when a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL began tooting, "167!" That was our last new bird of the day. I got home to Potter Valley at 11:20 where I fell asleep listening to a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL calling outside the window. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 30 April 2005 -- One of the local leucistic BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS was seen on a tidal rock 300 yards off the mouth of Caspar Creek. The bird was almost total white with the head/neck a buffy/off-white color. To me the bird looked like the one that has been around Mendocino Headlands during the winter season. I very much suspect that it is the one-in-the-same bird that has left Mendocino Headlands for the breeding season. If anyone is still seeing a whitish Black Oystercatcher at Mendocino Headlands then please post the sighting. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 27 Apr 2005 -- 1 HO Canyon Wren, Riv. W. Bluffs, Kvl.; 1 Ad. Peregrine Falcon Riv. W. Bluffs, Kvl.; 2 White-thr. Swift Riv. W. Bluffs, Kvl.
Wed, 27 Apr 2005-- This morning I searched some of the _Washingtonia_ fan palms in Ukiah for HOODED ORIOLES while scouting for an upcoming Big Day. I found a number of orioles:
Pomo Circle (the bend in Pomo Drive): one yellow, 1st-summer male singing at mid level in the palm. Chased off another oriole sp.
501 Sherry Drive: none seen in 16 minutes. Workman claims they have been around.
512 Empire Drive: 1 bright orange, adult male singing in the hanging fronds. Over 15 minutes this bird ranged about a block to the NE and NW.
398 Empire Drive: 1 bright orange, adult male sitting on wires near the palm. Possibly the same bird as above.
Some other sightings, mostly of Big Day interest:
Coyote Dam: ROCK WREN singing at marker 10 on dam. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE still hanging out with two Greylags near boat launch.
Pomo A: small group of GREATER SCAUP with one LESSER SCAUP. Possible CACKLING GOOSE at Miti Camp scoped across the water. CLARK'S GREBE.
Potter Valley: AMERICAN DIPPER at Old Bridge: 08:30, no; 12:45, yes. SWAINSON'S THRUSH singing between the bridges (earliest record ever). 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in dead tree north of Burris Lane. TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in vineyard at end of Burris. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 26 Apr 2005 -- At 6:15 this evening there was an AMERICAN DIPPER singing under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road - first time in a while. Hopefully it will stay. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 26 Apr 2005 -- I went to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this afternoon to look for the grackle reported Sunday. No grackle, but I did see a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL on the center pond. There was a smattering of waterbirds including Greater Scaup, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Semipalmated Plover, Least and Western Sandpipers. Recently arrived Lazuli Buntings were singing in the felled orchard to the north, and a Yellow-breasted Chat was singing along the river. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 26 Apr 2005 -- I was out at the Wente Boy Scout Camp just east of Willits this past weekend and heard a booming American Bittern in the marsh area surrounding the lake on the property. Was just wondering if anyone knows how common (or uncommon) American Bittern is in Mendocino County since I've never been to this location before. -- Richard Ackley, San Rafael
Mon, 25 Apr 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports three BLACK-NECKED STILTS at Lake Cleone this morning near the parking area. It seems unlikely that they will stay long at this location. She also had a winter-plumaged MARBLED MURRELET off the boardwalk.
Sun, 24 Apr 2005 -- 2 Vaux's Swift, CLSP, Kvl.; 1 Ad. Bald Eagle CLSP, Kvl.
Sun, 24 Apr 2005 -- I spent an hour at the Sewage Treatment Ponds today and had pretty good luck. The best bird was a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. It looked like a large black bird with yellow eyes, a long bill and a long tail. Overall it was very long and slender. In flight the long tail almost looked as though it was sideways. When I first arrived I saw a flock of about 6-8 CHIPPING SPARROWS between those two small ponds as you are walking out to the 3 big ones. Right when I got to the first big pond a GREEN HERON flew right by me. All the usual ducks were present. I know a WESTERN GREBE is not unusual but its the first time I've seen one at the treatment plant. There was a mixed flock of about 15 WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS in the north pond on a small mud bank. Then as I was leaving I saw a MERLIN perched on a sign just outside the gate. I was very satisfied with my hour of birding today. -- Austin Booth
Fri, 22 Apr 2005 -- Because of the poor weather forecasts for today we decided to change our Big Day to today, Friday April 22nd. Unfortunately Matthew Mathiessen and Dave Woodward were not able to participate. Thanks are due them for their support and understanding of the necessity for that change.
Bryan McIntosh and I forged ahead and ended up having a very successful day. We were able to record 148 species on the day which is 7 species above the previous Big Day Team record set in 2000. This is also one above the highest number of birds found on a single day in the county (147 on a previous Christmas Bird Count).
We would like to add to that one day total if possible. If there were other birders out yesterday let me know what you recorded. Some of the "easier" birds we missed that others may have seen were: Snowy Egret, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus sp.), Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and Olive-sided Flycatcher.
The first bird of the day for us was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL near Boggs Lake at about 2:30 AM. The last bird for the day was a SORA on Eickhoff Road northwest of Lakeport at about 9:00 PM. Thanks to Dave Woodward for discovering this very good rail spot. Highlights on the day included a NORTHERN HARRIER flying over Soda Bay Road (a first Spring Count record), a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE on Cobb, 2 COMMON MOORHENS (one heard at Adobe Reservoir and one seen at Lakeside County Park), and a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW at Verna Way, Kono Tayee (significant because it was the 142nd bird of the day) -- Jerry White and Bryan McIntosh
P.S. Bryan and I after discussing the big day in detail have decided to adjust the final number to 150 (see discussion below). We traveled 266 miles by car. Walked maybe a mile and birded about 19 hours from about 2:00 AM till 9 PM. Both of us saw 143 of the species (shared total). There were 7 birds not seen by one or the other of us (unshared total).
Thu, 21 Apr 2005 -- 3:40 PM, one female HORNED LARK was seen foraging along one of the upper bare dirt roads of UC-HREC this afternoon. It seemed intent on feeding upon seeds along the roadside and returned to the road behind me as I drove past. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 19 Apr 2005 -- 1 Early Hermit Warbler, Rock Crk., 16N32, Up. Lk., 1 HO Spotted Owl, Rock Crk., 16N32, Up. Lk, 1 Early Common Poorwill Rd. 16N01, Up. Lk. -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Mon, 18 Apr 2005 -- 2 HO, N. Saw-whet Owl, Boggs Mt., Cobb
Sun, 17 Apr 2005 -- 1 HO Red Crossbill, Mi. 19.0 Hwy 175, Cobb -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Sat, 16 Apr 2005 -- As of 1:45 PM the SOLITARY SANDPIPER found by George and Chuck continued in the same location as described in their post. No Bonaparte's Gulls but there was a fly over adult BALD EAGLE. Earlier this morning I birded the Old Toll Road. New arrivals (for me) were numerous BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, CASSIN'S VIREOS, and a WESTERN TANAGER. There were many migrating hummingbirds besides Anna's. I was able to get a good look at only 5 birds and they were all adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (one with some green on the back). -- Jerry White
Sat, 16 Apr 2005 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant and some other locations in the Ukiah area. At USTP we found a single SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the small sludge drying pond on the left as you go in. It was still there when we returned on our way out. There were seven BONAPARTE'S GULLS on the north percolation pond, unusual for this location.
We looked for Hooded Orioles at Pomo Circle and 501 Sherry St. , but did not see any. A worker at Sherry said he had seen them there yesterday.
We also drove up Low Gap Road and heard two BLUE GROUSE booming at the sharp left turn about 1/2 mile beyond the second cattle guard. On the way down we ran into a wave of warbler activity in some leafing-out Black Oaks which included a number of singing TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and at least one singing HERMIT WARBLER. This is the earliest record ever for Hermit Warbler in this area.
Back in Potter Valley at the end of Burris Lane TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were in evidence in the vineyards and around the hidden pond to the ENE, and a group of about 10 males were chorusing like a bag-o'-cats in an oak tree in the vineyard. A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was hawking from the dead oak to the NNW, and last of all in my yard I saw my first GREEN HERON of the year. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 13 Apr 2005 -- 2 HO; early Nashville Warbler ~ Mi. 7.5 Bart. Sp. Rd., Nice, 1 HO Cassin's Finch ~ Mi. 7.5 Bart. Sp. Rd., Nice -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Thu, 13 Apr 2005 -- Hello Birdsers, Today at approx 3:45PM I had two male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS fly up among a flock of 25+ blackbirds. I only was able to ID two of the closest birds, (very prominent white edgings) as they flew up from beside the road as I was driving, and could not stop due to traffic. Location was north of Lakeport at the junction of Hill Road East (parallels Route 29 )and Weimer Way (just north of the Hill Road/Park Way exit on Route 29) I will be in Oregon starting tomorrow, so will not be able to re-locate these birds. I saw them at the head of the draw literally right next to the fenceline on the southeast side of the intersection. Regards, -- Jeff Hayes, Nice
Tue, 12 Apr 2005 -- 2 1 ml.,1 fem. Cinnamon Teal, Rob. Lk., Nice, 1 HO American Bittern Rec. Rd., Nice -- Bryan J. McIntosh
Mon, 11 Apr 2005 -- 1 HO; early Swainson's Thrush H. Sp. Dam, Kvl., HO; early Lazuli Bunting, H. Crk. Can., 17 (14+1+2) Canada Goose, H. Sp. Res.,Lksd Pk.,Kvl., 1 HO Common Moorhen, Ad. Res.,1 Common Moorhen, Lksd. Pk., 1 HO American Bittern -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Sun, 10 Apr 2005 -- Following up on the report by Dave Jensen, I saw 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at the Garcia River estuary and a small flock of 4 or 5 in flight from the Pt. Arena pier. Also there were large numbers of CASPIAN TERNS.
At Potter Valley from the end of Burris Lane I was able to locate at least 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS thanks to detailed directions from George Chaniot. With a scope on the distant dead Valley Oak to the NNW birds can be seen in flight hawking on occasion.
There were also at least 4 singing CHIPPING SPARROWS, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, and a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.
Other spring arrivals noted on the day were Pigeon Guillemot's (30 or so off of the Pt Arena headlands), Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black- throated Gray and Wilson's Warblers, and a Black-headed Grosbeak. -- Jerry White
Sat, 09 Apr 2005 -- Hello Birders, Today at Rodman Slough there were at least four male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS "singing" in the tules just south of the point of rocks at the mouth of the slough. Also there, one singing YELLOW WARBLER. Regards, -- Jeff Hayes, Nice
Sat, 09 Apr 2005 -- At 10:30 this morning there was a female PHAINOPEPLA in my yard in Potter Valley for several minutes. It flew off to the north over the vineyard pond and beyond, and I have not been able to relocate it. Yardbird #164 -- George Chaniot
Sat, 09 Apr 2005 -- For the past week waves of BONAPARTE'S GULLS and CASPIAN TERNS have been passing north along the coast. It's been blowing gales, so the birds have been resting and feeding along nearly every freshwater inlet. On today's Audubon trip to Sea Ranch we also spotted WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS moving north with a flock of Surf Scoters. -- David Jensen
Fri, 08 Apr 2005 -- This evening at sunset there were many small parties of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS flying over the grassland and vineyards at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. Several hundred flew into the area of the hidden pond, and they are probably beginning breeding there. I have not seen any yet at the Christmas Star Vineyard pond on West Road where they also bred last year. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 06 Apr 2005 -- Hello Birders, There are at least four pairs of OSPREYS nesting in the Nice/Rodman Slough area. Also, the bridge at Rodman Slough on the Nice-Lucerne Cut-Off has scads of Cliff Swallows nest-building, and the mouth of the slough attracts hundreds of Aechmophorus grebes, with many Clark's among them. Com. Mergansers have been common along the Nice lakefront, and Pied-b Grebes and D-c Cormorants are going into nesting mode.
Other birds seen at Rodman Slough Park on 5 Apr: Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wilson's Warbler, Purple Finch (singing), two Varied Thrushes and perhaps 75 or so Yellow-rumped Warblers.
On 6 Apr in Nice: Vaux's Swift, Pygmy Nuthatch, Bullock's Oriole influx. Tuesday, 4/5/05, in Lakeport (South Main St.) there were two PURPLE MARTINS (males, calling loudly) among the large flock of swallows.-- Jeff Hayes
Tue, 05 Apr 2005 -- Cliff Johnson called this evening with a report of a nighthawk. He saw the bird about 10:00 AM this morning in flight near the intersection of Finley East Rd. and California Packing Road which is northwest of Kelseyville and south of Lakeside County Park. He reported it as a Common Nighthawk, but he did not hear it vocalize. Based on the date I believe it is more likely to be a LESSER NIGHTHAWK. He last saw the bird flying in the direction of Lakeside County Park. -- Jerry White
Mon, 04 Apr 2005 -- 2 early Bullock's Oriole, CLSP, 1 HO; early Wilson's Warbler, 2 early Western Kingbird, Highl. Sp. Rd., Lkpt., 1 Ad. Common Moorhen, Adobe Res., Kvl.
Sun, 03 Apr 2005 -- 2 early Greater Yellowlegs Kelsey Crk. adj. Loasa, Kvl. -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Sat, 02 Apr 2005 -- This morning there were about 50 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS blackbirds at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley in mixed blackbird flocks including Starlings, "Bicolored" Red-winged Blackbirds, and Brewer's Blackbirds. They were associating most closely with the starlings. Some were also flying toward the hidden pond closeby to the ENE on private property where several hundred nested last year. Today they were mostly foraging on the bare ground in the vineyards with the heavy legume covercrop. I have been checking these locations several times a week through the winter, but this is the first time I've seen "trikes" here since July.
WESTERN KINGBIRDS hit Potter Valley like gangbusters overnight. Today I saw a half-dozen birds in locations where I didn't see them yesterday. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES appeared suddenly too. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 02 Apr 2005 -- 1 HO; early Cassin's Vireo, Highl. Spr. Dam, Kvl., 1 HO, Rufous-crowned Sparrow Highl. Crk., 4 HO; early Black-thr. Gray Warbler, 1 HO; early House Wren, 1 Ad. Common MoorhenAdobe Res. -- By McIntosh, Bryan J.
Fri, 01 Apr 2005 -- A pair of CINNAMON TEAL were at the sewage ponds at Hidden Valley Lake on 1 April and an early WESTERN KINGBIRD just south of Middletown on 29 March. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Thu, 31 Mar 2005 -- This morning there was an adult male TUFTED DUCK in the north end of Lake Mendocino. It was in the flock of about 200 scaup and grebes in the middle of the lake between Pomo C and the Mesa. I did not recognize it from the Pomo area, but the light was favorable from the end of the mesa, and its black back jumped out. I don't think there has been a report from Lake Mendocino since Jan 23. Has it been here all along? -- George Chaniot
Thu, 24 Mar 2005 -- Recent sightings in Lake County:
CANVASBACK and GREATER SCAUP: One male of each still at Hidden Valley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant on 24 March.
COMMON LOON: Two in Clearlake Park on 22 March.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: Two first-cycle immatures at Clearlake on 22 March (plus a half dozen or so THAYER'S GULLS).
HORNED GREBE: Four (identified from photos) a few miles south of Lucerne on 13 March.
WOOD DUCK: 10 at Detert Reservoir on 6 March, the only time I've seen them there (in the past 6 months). -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Wed, 23 MAR 2005 -- 1 American Bittern ,Recl. Rd., Nice
27 MAR 2005: 1 HO\ Yellow-billed Magpie High Valley, CLO, 1 HO Lawrence's Goldfinch
28 MAR 2005:1 Yellow-billed Magpie -- Bryan McIntosh
Sat, 19 Mar 2005 -- Sightings in Mendocino County:
ROSS'S GOOSE AND BRANT: One of each still at Caspar on 19 March.
GLAUCOUS GULL: What looked like a 2nd-cycle immature was on the jetty at Fort Bragg on 19 March, but I saw it only briefly from a whale tour boat and am not certain of its identity. Couldn't relocate it or anything resembling it later in the day at the end of Ocean View Drive.
Fri, 18 MAR 2005 -- 1 Early Yellow-headed Blackbird CLSP, Kvl., 1 Early Brown-headed Cowbird
23 MAR 2005:
1 Early Common Yellowthroat, Rod. Sl. W., Nice
25 MAR 2005: 1 Ad. Golden Eagle, Highland Spr. Res., Kvl.,1 HO; early Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Highlands Creek Can., -- McIntosh, Bryan J.
Fri, 18 Mar 2005 -- I saw a mature BALD EAGLE flying parallel to Hwy 128 heading east on February 4th. The bird was over the creek at about eye level from the highway at mile marker 32, which is several miles ease of Boonville and about where the serpentine outcrops are. -- Tina Fabula
Thu, 17 Mar 2005 07:50 -- Two male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDSwere on the ground foraging with a mixed flock of Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Brewer's Blackbirds adjacent to the intersection of Highway 175 and Old River Road (north of the little town of "Old Hopland". None of the birds were wearing green however they were in green grass. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 14 Mar 2005 -- 1 Ad. ml. Lawrence's Goldfinch, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Highland Spr. Rd., 1 Ad. Golden Eagle -- Bryan J. McIntosh
Sun, Mar 13, 2005 -- Birds seen or missed on Sunday the 13th:
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER: I searched for it within a radius of 200 yards of the original tree from 08:25-10:05, but couldn't find it. A HAIRY WOODPECKER was pecking most of the time 50-100 yards east of the tree and was quite vocal, and I thought I heard a DOWNY WOODPECKER a few hundred yards to the west. No other woodpeckers present. I shouldn't have waited so long to look for it...
COMMON LOON: Two in pre-alternate molt a few miles south of Lucerne.
HOODED MERGANSER: A male and two females in a pool east of the barn on the north side of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, and another female flying out of the marsh at the junction of Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Lakeshore Blvd.
DUNLIN: Three basic-plumaged birds in a pool west of the barn on the north side of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff (5th spring record?).
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: A first-cycle immature at Lucerne.
At Austin Park, Clearlake, there were only 15 gulls on the dock at 14:20. On Saturday the 12th there were no gulls at 07:33 and a dozen at 08:00. Couldn't find the GLAUCOUS GULL among the gulls on the water. Quite a contrast with last weekend when the dock was crowded with gulls. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sun, 13 Mar 2005 -- Today I found WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at the location that John Hunter reported seeing them (on 03-07-05). Just prior to 9:10 AM after about an 1 1/2 hour wait I saw two birds fly over. I was standing at milepost 102.98 (Highway 101) at the north end of the South Fork Eel River Bridge.
Later at the Caspar Pond just off Highway 1 the ROSS'S GOOSE and BRANT reported by Dave Jensen were both present. In the pygmy forest on the Comptche Ukiah Road about 2 to 3 miles from Highway 1 I saw 2 separate flocks of RED CROSSBILLS. -- Jerry White
Sun, 13 Mar 2005 -- The Burrowing Owl that spent the winter north of Fort Bragg on Bald Hill Road left the area during the week of March 5-12. -- David Jensen
Sat, 12 Mar 2005 -- Earl Hare reported to me that on Saturday there was a pair of adult BALD EAGLES soaring high above the Model Airplane Strip near Russian River Estates/McNab Creek. The birds were seen twice. The late morning sighting had them depart to the NW towards Burke Hill, then the late afternoon sighting had them depart to the SE. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 11 Mar 2005: -- 1 Ad. Bald Eagle, F.O. Cold Crk.Cmpgrd., CLSP, " -- Bryan McIntosh
Mon, 07 Mar 2005: -- 1 HO Barn Swallow Highland Spr. Rd. x Sky Park Dr., Kvl., 1 HO N. Rough-winged Swallow Staheli Dr. x White Ln., Kvl., 1 Ad. Peregrine Falcon,Kelsey Crk. Canyon S.E., 1 HO Lawrence's Goldfinch 3430 Bell Hill Rd., Kvl.-- Bryan McIntosh
Mon, 07 Mar 2005 --Mendo birders, Today I saw at least 4 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS (along with some Violet-green Swallows) flying beneath and exploring potential nest sites under the north end of the Hwy. 101 bridge over the South Fork Eel River just a few miles south of the Humboldt County line. The north end of this long bridge is at milepost 103 on Hwy. 101. A few miles north in Humboldt County on the same day I had 7-10 White-throated Swifts along with Violet-green Swallows exploring the Wagner Bridge. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata
Sun, 06 Mar 2005
03 MAR 2005: 1 adult male.; early RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, 3765 Gard St., Kelseyville
04 MAR 2005: 1 heard only; early CLIFF SWALLOW 3740 Gard St. Kelseyville
05 MAR 2005: 1 Plum. irreg. WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER Mac's Trail, Boggs Mtn., 1 Winter Plumage PACIFIC LOON and 1 ROCK WREN, Mile 20.0, Kono Tayee
06 MAR 2005: 1 1st yr. GLAUCOUS GULL and 1 Poss. hybrid? "Mixed" Glaucous Gull? (like a whitish imm. Glaucous-winged Gull w/ bicolored bill) Austin's Beach., Clearlake -- Brian McIntosh
Sun, 06 Mar 2005 -- Today in Montgomery Woods I heard on 2 occasions a booming Grouse (presumed) BLUE GROUSE. This was not in the popular "big trees" section but along the creek trail that runs north/south about 1/4 mile in from the eastern boundary of the Woods.
I also walked in to the western groves later and was in the Kellie-Owen Grove (where Barred Owls have been encountered in previous years) from 5:45 pm until 6: 40 pm. There was no owl activity in that area at all but from 6:15 - 6:20 I could hear at least 2, and I think 3, owls calling in the distance. I would estimate that they were in or around the main Montgomery Grove. My ear could not make out whether they were Northern Spotted or Barred Owls. -- Vishnu
Sun, 06 Mar 2005 -- 's up, Birderdudes? . . . . .Today I went up to Lake County. And as anyone who went out today knows, every blob of protoplasm that can somehow operate a vehicle also went out today. AND thousands that couldn't operate a vehicle also came out and just cluttered up the roads. It was a very trying day. I shaved a couple more years off my life. I could feel that aorta throbbing. . . . . .So about 10:30 I arrived in Boggs Forest. I followed Dave Woodward's directions. Head west out of Middletown on Hwy 175 to a little past the golf course seven or so miles later (in the Hoberg area), and look for Entrance Road on the right (east). Drive straight east to the first bend (less than a tenth of a mile) and you will see the Hoberg Loop Trail sign. Park and take the trail uphill. Dave estimated a quarter mile, but I think it's less. Walk until you see the plastic trail marker stating Mac's Trail. Take this (bears right) and follow it another short ways (about the same distance already covered) and you will see an open area of Ponderossa and other trees, with no (or slight) vegetation under them, spaced well apart. It was reported that a cushion was laid up against a tree where the bird was seen, but it was moved and laying along side the trail. When you see the cushion, if you go straight south 200 feet, not following the trial, you will find another tree with the branches leaning up against it. These are the two spots the bird was seen in the last few days. It was not there.
I stood in the area along the trail for about 25 minutes and then heard some soft tapping to the east. I went east from about where the cushion was, to the base of the next hill (100 yards) and saw the WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER working on another tree. A real beaut. A male coming into full adult plumage. If you go to look, have patience, stand and listen, quietly walk around and keep listening. The entire area is not that large and I'm sure Willy Sap will stay in that area until it leaves Lake County.
From there I made the mistake of arriving in Clearlake and Redbud Park just after noon to look for the Glaucous Gull. I'm sure you can guess the numbers of people. No gulls. Headed home via Hwy 20 to I-5 and participated in the 3 PM traffic jam from Vacaville thru Benicia to Concord. Lovely. -- Jim Lomax, From No Place In Particular (Concord, CA) [from CountyBirders]
Sun, 06 Mar 2005 -- Birders: The male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER continues today at Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest in Lake County. Directions are at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/message/1197; however, if you are driving up from the south on Highway 175, there is no sign when you enter the town of Hoberg. Hoberg is north of Cobb Mountain and south of Lock Lomond. If you are coming from the south, and you have passed MP 17.64, you have missed the turn-off.
I spent some time walking around the area but did not find the cushion until after already passing it. I found it while walking back in the opposite direction. Someone had flipped it face down making it easy to pass up. I picked up the cushion and leaned it against the trunk and placed a small pile of sticks in front of it. The cushion has the words "Carry Comfort" printed on it. After finding a few Pygmy Nuthatches and Red Crossbills in the area I heard some tapping from the east and after a while I finally got my eyes on the male Williamson's Sapsucker working the back side of the trunk about 100 feet up.
From the cushion I walked past a pile of rocks directly east about 50 yards
to a dirt road that runs in a north-south direction. To the left and west of the road is a patch of freshly sprouted forest grass. The Williamson's Sapsucker was working a Ponderosa Pine at the east side of the road. In front of this pine there is a small group of young Douglas Firs, the tallest of which is about 8 feet in height. -- Mike Feighner, Livermore
Sun, 06 Mar 2005 -- This morning at 8:50 AM there was a BLUE GROUSE calling on Low Gap Road west of Ukiah . This was about 3/10ths of a mile past mile marker 15.95 just past a cattle guard. This is an established and known location.
Somewhat earlier on Potter Valley Road I saw 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, the first of the year for me.
In Lake County the EURASIAN WIGEON was at the north end of Borax Lake. I was not able to locate the Pacific Loon or Glaucous Gull. -- Jerry White
Sat, 05 Mar 2005 -- At Austin Park in Clearlake, a 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was at the end of the pier this morning from 7:20 until somebody spooked the flock at 8:10. It looked "pure" to me (unmarked white primaries, symmetrically bicolored bill). An adult WESTERN GULL was also present on the same pier and seen later on another pier northeast of Austin Park. I've got photos of both birds. The number of gulls on the pier is unpredictable (often none) so the odds of relocating the Glaucous Gull aren't rosy. There are two viewing angles: one from the park beach and the other through a gate behind the adjacent motel. [photo here] (Whoa! After sending out my message I read George Chaniot's message from yesterday and see that he found the GLAUCOUS GULL on Friday. The bird is easier to relocate than I imagined! I've been checking out the gulls there nearly every weekend so perhaps it just arrived.)
I couldn't find any GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS around Clearlake but tallied seven 1st-cycle birds at various points along the west side of Sulphur Bank Point, where they seem to be more common. An immature BALD EAGLE flew along the point. A flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS north of Glenhaven provided my 8th gull species of the day.
At Borax Lake, the male EURASIAN WIGEON was at the north end (where I overlooked it last weekend). The SCAUP flock was close to the road and I counted 366 birds; unfortunately the TUFTED DUCK wasn't among them. However, a few hundred SCAUP were on Clear Lake at nearby Clearlake Park, but I couldn't detect a Tufted among them. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sat, 05 Mar 2005 -- There was a single Brant this afternoon at the pond just east of Highway One in "downtown" Caspar. The single Ross' goose with a probable damaged wing still remains there as well. The three Greater White-Fronted Geese are still at Lake Cleone, their white fronts having fully formed over the winter. One of the original three Cackling Geese remains there as well. The Burrowing Owl is still at Bald Hill Road north of Fort Bragg. -- David Jensen
Fri, 04 Mar 2005 -- Today Chuck Vaughn and I went over to Boggs Mountain State Forest in Lake County to look for the WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER found on Feb 24 by Darlene Hecomovich and Jeanette Knight. Good directions to the site were given by Dave Woodward at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/message/1197
We arrived in in the late morning in a light drizzle and found the Ponderosa Pine with the plastic cushion leaning against it. After we had worked the area for about 30 minutes, Chuck found the bird on another Ponderosa about 100 yards further south and to the right of the trail. We had good looks at close range as it worked at some sets of wells in the bark. Dave's description of the bird is accurate in every detail. After it moved on, we proped up some branches against the trunk of this tree to mark it. Not every Ponderosa in this area appears to have sapsucker wells in the bark.
Afterwards we birded some other locations in Lake County. We found PYGMY NUTHATCHES and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES at Boggs Lake and several locations along Harrington Flat Road. At Redbud Park in Clearlake we found a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL and a first winter THAYER'S GULL among other gulls on nearby piers. There was a male PHAINOPEPLA in the tree with heavy mistletoe near the restrooms. We did not find the Tufted Duck at Borax Lake, but there was a male EURASIAN WIGEON. On the north shore of Clear Lake we scoped from the pullout at milemarker 21.00 just west of Bruner Drive. Here we saw six COMMON LOONS and a PACIFIC LOON coming into breeding plumage. At the Richardson Lake rice-fields along the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off there was another EURASIAN WIGEON among the many dabblers.
Last stop of the day was at Burris Lane, Potter Valley back in Mendocino. Here we saw several distant LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS and a BURROWING OWL sunning itself at the mouth of a burrow on the hillside off to the southeast. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 02 Mar 2005 -- Anyone finding the following in Lake Co. in 2005 please let McIntosh, Bryan J know ASAP at 707/279-4870 or bryan_m_95451@yahoo.com: Pacific Loon; Red-necked Grebe; Least Bittern; White-faced Ibis; Tundra Swan; Redhead; Barrow's Goldeneye; Red-breasted Merganser.
Also note following observations: 24 FEB 2005: 2 Winter Plumaged COMMON LOONS at Kono Tayee, Lucerne
27 FEB 2005: 1 HO, early CHIPPING SPARROW at Adams Spr. GC, Hobergs and 1 adult male TUFTED DUCK at Borax Lake, Clearlake Pk.
01 MAR 2005: 1 Adult male EURASIAN WIGEON at Borax Lake, Clearlake Pk.
Wed, 02 Mar 2005 -- This morning an AMERICAN DIPPER was singing under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. This is the time of year when nestbuilding usually takes place, but I have not located any new nest since the old one under the bridge was destroyed last April. The waters of March have washed the rocks clean, so any new droppings are evidence of continuing activity at this location. There was also a Black Phoebe building a nest on the right side of the bridge. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 02 Mar 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports finding a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL sitting in a group of gulls near Todd's Point in Fort Bragg at the end of Ocean View Drive beyond the College of the Redwoods. It was a very white bird, and she had good views of it up close.
Sun, 27 Feb 2005 -- I briefly stopped by Borax Lake with a group of students this afternoon on our way back from Sacramento NWR. The scaup flock was close to
shore on the east side of the lake and it took me about 5 minutes to relocate the TUFTED DUCK. But the flock was moving around so quickly and it was drizzling so I quickly gave up trying to show it to students, who by then had seen enough birds for the day.
It amazes me how few gulls on Clear Lake perch on the numerous docks (very few yesterday afternoon), but surprisingly a few hundred perched on several docks scattered around Clearlake while it was raining this afternoon (is Clear Lake gulling best in the rain?). I scanned them only briefly and found four first-cycle
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and two first-cycle and one adult THAYER'S GULLS. I now suspect the "probable first-basic WESTERN GULL" I reported a few weeks ago was a thick-billed HERRING GULL, possibly the same individual present last weekend which I took photos of. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sat, 26 Feb 2005 -- A male TUFTED DUCK was among the roughly 600 scaup at Borax Lake, seen from 4:45-5:00 pm this afternoon (Feb. 26). Pure black back and long tuft--no signs of hybridization. Luckily the scaup flock was near the road on the west side. When I first visited the lake last month the scaup flock was on the east side, which I was able to access by foot from the end of 12th Street on the south shore of the lake. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County
Sat, 26 Feb 2005 -- A sapsucker found on Feb. 24 by Darlene Hecomovich and Jeanette Knight in Ponderosa Pines in Boggs Forest near Hoberg's was refound on Feb. 25th by Jerry White and later also seen by me. After more than 6 hours of total observation time among the four of us, our concensus opinion is that the bird is a male Williamson's Sapsucker, a first for Lake County. Although most of the plumage is indicative of an adult, which should be expected this time of year, the plumage is not completely typical of an adult male of this species. If the bird is found by others, we invite more discussion of the identification, age and plumage of this sapsucker.
The entire crown and most of the sapsucker's head are black with two white facial stripes. The white supercilia extend onto the back of the head where they broaden and nearly meet in the middle, but they are separated by a narrow strip of black feathers. The back is entirely black except just above the rump where there are a few white feathers mixed into the black, giving the very lowest portion of the back a slightly speckled appearance. The rump is entirely white and the tail is entirely black. There is a red patch in the center of the throat entirely bordered by black, the black extending onto the upper breast. The center of the lower breast and belly are extensively yellow, but this is not easy to see unless the bird turns away briefly from its work on the tree trunk. The flanks have a black and white scalloped appearance. Strangely, the white patch expected on the wing coverts also has a black and white scalloped appearance causing the leading edge of the wings to blend in coloration with the flanks. The remainder of the wings are black except for a few white edges near the wingtips.
Although the location is in Bogg's Forest, it is most easily accessed from the back entrance to Mac's Trail in Hoberg's. At the deep curve on Hwy 175 by Hoberg's Resort there is a road (named both Entrance or Grouse Road) that takes off to the East. Go straight on this road the equivalent of two blocks and you will see the Hoberg Loop Trail starting point. Take the trail and keep to the right and in approximately 1/4 of a mile you'll see the Mac's Trail sign that will again take you to the right. After another 1/4 of a mile gradual climb, you will come to a leveled-out forested area with very little undergrowth. An old plastic seat cushion abandoned in the forest has been leaned against the trunk of the pine in which the sapsucker stayed for several hours yesterday morning and afternoon.
Red Crossbills remain common in the Cobb Mtn area. Yesterday they were seen near the office in Boggs Forest and near the back entrance to the forest at Hoberg's. -- Dave Woodward
Thu, 24 Feb 2005 -- Hello birders, Sorry to be so late in posting this, but on Sun. 2/20 I was birding the Blue Lakes and Tule Lake area, and saw the swan (at about 5:00 PM). It was definitely a MUTE SWAN, easily visible fairly close to the roadside. Also there that day were 300+ Mallards, 150 Coots, 50 Am. Wigeon, 15 N. Pintail.
Nothing at Blue Lakes save two very nice Bald Eagles, adults playing tag low over the water.
At the north end of Tule L. off Hwy 20, same day: 70 Canvasback, 12 Ring-necked Duck (at least) and 30+ Scaup and Buffleheads further out.
At the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off rice fields (Robinson L.) were 250+ Am Wigeon, 50+ Green-w Teal (200+ on 2/18), 40+ N.Shoveler, 4 N. Pintail, 100+ Mallards. Also, an adult Bald Eagle seen flying over Rodman Slough. Have not seen Eurasian Wigeon there lately, my most recent Ross' Goose sighting was 2/17.
Today (2/24) in the late afternoon I visited the Clearlake water treatment ponds: 225+ D-c Cormorants, 3 Am. White Pelicans, 100 or so each Bufflehead, Am. Wigeon and Mallard, a smattering of Ruddies and Scaup.
Borax Lake had roughly 1100 Scaup, a Gadwall and Shovelers. I couldn't detect anything unusual within the long string of Scaup on the far side of the lake. Good birding, --Jeff Hayes
Wed, 23 Feb 2005 -- Had about half a day to bird Lake on Wednesday. Best bird was a male EURASIAN WIGEON at Borax Lake (west of Clearlake). The bird was on the far (north) side of the lake with a dozen or so American Wigeon.
HOODED MERGANSERs were at Detert Reservoir (along Butts Canyon Road) and a pair was in the flooded fields along Nice-Lucerne Cut off Road. Here as well were four CINNAMON TEAL, a duck that I had been unable to find in Lake before. No geese except Canadas in this area that day.
Following Jerry White's suggestion, I looked for and found RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW near the Clearlake dump (take Davis road to the east, stop just before the recycling center and walk (don't drive) up the dirt (not the gravel) road that traverses the hillside overlooking the dump. Only sparrow in the vicinity and it was silent and skulky. -- Ed Pandolfino, Loomis, CA [from CountyBirders]
Wed, 23 Feb 2005 - 4:00 PM - A swan (probable Tundra but should be checked out) was reported in Lake County in the flooded fields West of Tule Lake - South of Highway 20. -- Bob Keiffer [There has been a Mute Swan seen in that area recently. -- Jerry White]
Mon, 21 Feb 2005 -- "Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was home today in Point Arena cove between 12 PM and 3 PM. --Sidd Ramachandramurthi, Mountain View, CA
Sat, 19 Feb 2005 -- There was a continuing EURASIAN WIGEON at the north end of Borax Lake yesterday (I first found this bird on February 11th). In High Valley there were 2 YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES. Just west of Glenhaven seen from Highway 20 there were 3 COMMON LOONS. -- Jerry White
Wed, 16 Feb 2005 -- Hello Birders, At approx. 2:00 PM Wed 2/16 I went to the flooded rice fields by the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff (Robinson Lk.) to scan the waterfowl. 30 Canadas were there, but no Cackling. Two more Canadas flew in, with a smaller white goose that turned out to be a ROSS'S GOOSE.
Also present were N. Shoveler (30+), Gadwall (20+), Am. Wigeon (100+), numerous Mallards, plus a few N.
Pintail and Green-w.Teal. Today (Thu. 2/17) I went there shortly before dusk (5:30), no geese present. I think they go to roost in the Tule Lake area and use the rice fields as their feeding/loafing grounds.
A pair each of White-tailed Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks and American Kestrels have been present here most times since Jan.
Also look through the sparrows in the foreground, Lincoln's sometimes pops up. More rain in the forecast could bring another push of waterfowl... Good birding, -- Jeff Hayes
Tue, 15 Feb 2005 -- Today Cliff Johnson reported the CACKLING GOOSE at Robinson Lake off of Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. Also there are PILEATED WOODPECKERS being seen and heard at Clear Lake State Park. -- Jerry White
Mon, 14 Feb 2005 -- This afternoon I had a male LESSER GOLDFINCH with an entirely black back visit my thistle feeder amid a swarm of green-backed birds. I have never seen the black-backed form in northern California before, nor can I find any mention in the Peregrine sightings archive. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 15 Feb 2005 - 8:00 AM -- One adult BALD EAGLE was observed flying up the canyon along University Road east of Hopland. When I first spotted the bird it was flying alongside my vehicle about 200 feet away ... quite magnificent at such a close distance! Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 11 Feb 2005 -- 1 HO WESTERN TANAGER, Hobbs x Willow, Klsyvl. (seen and recorded on 12 FEB) -- Bryan J. McIntosh
Thu, 10 Feb 2005 -- 1 HO TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, Adams' Spr. Cobb
2 RED CROSSBILL, Hwy. 175 x Evergreen,
2 HO RED CROSSBILL, Boggs Mtn
1 HO TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE
(last two abv. ~ 1000 hrs. @ parking area Boggs State Forest) -- Bryan J. McIntosh
Thu, 10 Feb 2005 -- I made a quick run out to look over the partially flooded fields along Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Rd. (Robinson Lake) at lunch time today. Amongst the Canada Goose flock I found the CACKLING GOOSE and ROSS'S GOOSE feeding together. There are records of Cackling Goose for the county but this is the first live bird (I had another report of one in a hunter's bag)found since the split. I also saw Jim Lomax who had tried for the Red Crossbills at Bogg's State Forest this morning around 10:00 AM but was not successful. -- Jerry White
Sun, 6 Feb 2005 -- I saw the following birds along western Clear Lake:
COMMON LOON: two at Baylis Point; last week's loon at Hidden Valley Lake was gone.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (mostly) and TREE SWALLOW (few): about 25 at Soda Bay, a few more at Clear Lake State Park and Park Drive in Kelseyville.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: 1st-winter immature at Lakeport.
MEW GULL: adult at Lakeport. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Sat, 5 Feb 2005 I saw the following birds: FERRUGINOUS HAWK: one at Hidden Valley Lake (HVL) sewage ponds.
CANVASBACK: flock at HVL sewage ponds increased to 29.
WESTERN GULL: probable 1st-winter immature at Austin Park, Clearlake, but disappeared when I retrieved my camera (I was hoping to study it longer).
THAYER'S GULL: 3rd-winter immature and adult at Austin Park.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: two 1st-winter and one 2nd-winter immatures at Austin Park. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Tue, 08 Feb 2005 -- 1 White morph ROSS'S GOOSE- Robinson Lk., Nice
1 CACKLING GOOSE - Robinson Lk., Nice
1 Ad. male EURASIAN WIGEON - Robinson Lk., Nice
Bryan J. McIntosh
Tue, 08 Feb 2005 -- A flock of 20+ RED CROSSBILLS found by Darlene Hecomovich has been fairly reliable in Ponderosa Pines near the office building in Boggs State Forest for the past couple of weeks. I have seen them each of the past two mornings. From Hwy. 175 about 1 mile S. of Hobergs take the Boggs State Forest entrance Road (Forestry Drive) and drive E. several hundred yards to the office. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 04 Feb 2005 -- Today I birded Round Valley (Covelo) and vicinity. There were 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS including a dark morph, 2 PRAIRIE FALCONS, one adult and one immature BALD EAGLE, and a "SLATE-COLORED" FOX SPARROW. In the Mendocino National Forest below snowline at about 3000 feet there was a male CASSIN'S FINCH. At Dos Rios I heard a calling CANYON WREN. -- Jerry White
Thu, 03 Feb 2005 - 6:40 PM -- Jerry White and I ventured to Montgomery Woods S.P. which is about 14 miles west from Ukiah on the Orr Springs Road (just past the Orr Springs Resort) in hopes of hearing the Barred Owls that have resided there for the last couple of years. Both Jerry and I had unsuccessful attempts during the last month. This time we were successful, hearing two BARRED OWLS calling back and forth from high in the treetops in a southerly direction from the Kelly/Owens grove ...which is on the SW end of the main walk loop. This is consistent with their location from prior years. No other owl species were heard despite an ideal night for hearing sounds in the distance (no wind/no water noise). Over the years I have personally heard six species of owls here ... Barn Owl, Spotted Owl (now seemly displaced by the Barred Owl), Barred Owl, Saw-whet Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, and Western Screech Owl. Good Birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 31 Jan 2005 -- At noon, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was off the Point Arena Fishing Wharf. A single GRAY JAY was seen next to the creek across from the campfire center at Van Damme State Park. -- Ken Archibald [from N.Calif.BirdBox]
Mon, 31 Jan 2005 -- I searched for the Tufted Duck on Lake Mendocino today but did not find it. There were only about 450 scaups on the lake compared to about 4000 earlier in the month. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 30 Jan 2005 -- In Mendocino County near noon on the Old Toll Road there were 2 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES . A singing (if you can call what they do a song) SAGE SPARROW was nearby. Down the road further near the Sheldon Creek Campground there was a calling PILEATED WOODPECKER.
In Lake County there was a ROSS'S GOOSE,, 14 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and a MUTE SWAN along with a flock of Canada Geese and several species of ducks. All of these birds were in the partially flooded pasture lands ("Tule Lake") seen from highway 20 a few miles west of Upper Lake near the Witter Springs Road turnoff. -- Jerry White
Sun, 30 Jan 2005 -- There were two BARN SWALLOWS at the Spring Ranch between Mendocino and Little River during what was otherwise a very quiet, but beautiful, day of birding. -- David Jensen
Sat, 29 Jan 2005 -- Here are the more interesting birds I saw in southern Lake County on Saturday the 29th:
At Hidden Valley Lake:
COMMON LOON: 1
WESTERN GREBE: 1
At Hidden Valley Lake Water Reclamation Plant:
CANVASBACK: 12
LESSER SCAUP: 5 (2 males, 3 females)
GREATER SCAUP: 1 (male)
GADWALL: 16
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW: 6
At Detert Reservoir:
EARED GREBE: 1 (first I'd seen there)
CANVASBACK: 8 (first I'd seen there)
RING-NECKED DUCK: 110
AMERICAN WIGEON: 6
GREEN-WINGED TEAL 5
Belatedly, an OSPREY was at Detert Reservoir on January 9. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Thu, 27 Jan 2005 -- I went back to the same place at the same hour to listen again, but I did not hear any owl. This evening was windy with low clouds rolling by and the beginning of sprinkles. Unlike last night the chorus of Pacific Chorus Frogs was deafening. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 26 Jan 2005, 5:55-6:15 PM -- At dusk this evening I was walking along West Road near my home in Potter Valley. I heard what sounded like a LONG-EARED OWL hooting from the ridge to the west. So I hopped a fence and trespassed across a field for about a quarter mile for a better listen. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't the bellowing of cattle, which can be pretty similar at times in pitch, duration, and quality and at the same time of day. The owl moved closer in response to my imitation, and we were separated at about 300 yards. I could not entice it to fly into the nearest oak for a visual where it would have been silhouetted in the last light of the evening, but I did hear about 15 hoots at good range over a twenty minute period. It was a clear, still evening. This is a Long Overdue Bird (LOB) for me here in Potter Valley. I know of one other record -- George Chaniot
Sun, 23 Jan 2005 -- I visited the Hidden Valley Lake Water Reclamation Plant (aka sewage ponds) today and saw the following birds:
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 7
NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1
CANVASBACK: 10
RUDDY DUCK: 80
BUFFLEHEAD: 35
MALLARD: 5
SAY'S PHOEBE: 1
Very few gulls were at Austin Park in Clearlake. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Sun, 23 Jan 2004 -- Went by Lake Mendocino. The two TUFTED DUCKS were still there. -- Jim Lomax, Livermore [from County Birding]
Sun, 23 Jan 2005 -- I visited the Hidden Valley Lake Water Reclamation Plant (aka sewage ponds) today and saw the following birds: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 7, NORTHERN SHOVELER: 1, CANVASBACK: 10, RUDDY DUCK: 80, BUFFLEHEAD: 35, MALLARD: 5, SAY'S PHOEBE: 1 Very few gulls were at Austin Park in Clearlake. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Sat, 22 Jan 2005 -- Saturday, Gary and Judy Maddox and I saw one TUFTED DUCK in a grouping of Scaup fairly close to shore at Pomo C. The ducks were quite active as we arrived there about 3:30 p.m. and quite soon thereafter we spotted one male Tufted with a very black back and a clearly defined pony-tail tuft. Soft sunlight made for good coloration. For about an hour we followed the duck preening and diving with a number of good views. It would have been an excellent photo opportunity for Matthew Matthiessen, but I understand he is birding in Texas this weekend! There were many Scaup farther SW from Pomo, but we didn't have time to search that area for the other two Tufted Ducks which Matthew and I saw 1/13. -- Paul Hawks
Sat, 22 Jan 2005 --Common sightings in the hills near Confusion Hill:
Red Tailed Hawks .... young and old hovering over clearings
Flocks of Black Birds making noise at sunrise
Quite Ducks on the South Fork of Eel River
Thousands of gulls at Ten Mile Creek Beach ? -- Eddy R. Ryan
Tue, 18 Jan 2005 -- I didn't realize cackling geese were such a rarity here! On January 18th I was at Lake Cleone in Mackerricher Park. First I saw a flock of Canadian geese. Then I went for a walk around the lake and when I came back I saw about 4-5 birds that looked like Canadian geese but were much smaller. I was close enough to positively identify them as CACKLING GEESE. This was around 2:30 pm. -- Karin E. Wandrei
Tue, 18 Jan 2005 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning I saw at least 12 (6m, 6f) LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at HREC. They were in a mixed group of several hundred Carduelis finches, primarily Lesser Goldfinches, but including about 10% Pine Siskins and the LAGOs, that were feeding in chamise at about 2800'. The birds were swirling over the chaparral and then disappearing into the chamise crowns, so it was difficult to get a good count. At 8 am it was already 60 degrees up there and it was a spring-like inversion. All the brush birds were singing- Sage Sparrows, California Thrashers, Bewick's Wrens, and Mountain Quail were "quarking" everywhere. Spring can't be too far away. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 16 Jan 2005 -- This morning at the Garcia Flats I found one of the male EURASIAN WIGEONS reported earlier. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at Arena Cove around noon. In the afternoon on three of the stops on Mountain View Road I heard RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. -- Jerry White
Sat, 15 Jan 2005 -- I birded the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project around noon today and found a nice, compact flock of Bushtits which had some fellow travellers: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Hutton's Vireo, and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. There also was a surprise CALIFORNIA THRASHER singing for a while in the brush behind the restrooms.
Later I ran into Barbara Dolan, Geoff Heinecken, Cheryl Watson, and Vishnu at Lake Mendocino, and we found two of the TUFTED DUCKS among the scaup. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 15 Jan 2005 -- This morning I explored (my first time) the southeast corner of Clear Lake, from Clearlake to Sulphur Blank Point. Waterbird concentrations were highest from Pirates Cove northward. Here are my highlights:
HORNED GREBE: 3 at Clearlake (1) and Pirate's Cove (2).
LESSER SCAUP: 2 at Clearlake.
GREATER SCAUP: 1 at Clearlake.
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 2 (pair) among rafts of grebes far from shore at Pirate's Cove, seemed out of place.
MEW GULL: 1 (1st-basic immature) at Clearlake.
BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1 (basic adult) at Clearlake.
THAYER'S GULL: 2 (3rd-basic immature, basic adult) at Crestview.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: 7 (3 1st-basic, 2 2nd-basic and 2 3rd-basic immatures) from Edgewater Estates to Crestview.
Many Western and Clark's Grebes were courting but I saw only one pair actually run across the water.
At nearby Borax Lake (east shore accessed by foot from end of 12th Street) I saw:
LESSER SCAUP: about 565.
GREATER SCAUP: about 10 males, probably some females too.
GADWALL: about 40.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (American): 4.
AMERICAN WIGEON: 2.
Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake, Lake Co.
Thu, 13 Jan 2005 -- Thursday afternoon I was birding the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant at closing time about 4 PM. Walking along the fence on the south side of the sludge pond, I found a few CHIPPING SPARROWS moving from the orchard on the south into the trees along the fence and then across the pond toward the office buildings. I followed them there and found at least 26 birds sitting in the bare trees in the garden area by the buildings. It was overcast and darkening, and they appeared to be settling into the garden trees for the night. I have never seen a winter concentration of Chipping Sparrows in this area, and I note that only one individual was seen in the first 18 years of Ukiah Christmas Bird Counts. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 13 Jan 2005 -- This afternoon between 15:15 and 16:30 Paul Hawks and I observed three different TUFTED DUCKS from Pomo B/C at Lake Mendocino. Two of the birds were adult males with solid black backs, pure white sides, and well developed pony-tails. The third individual had a solid dark brown back and head with white sides that tended towards buffy near the tail. The pony-tail on this third bird was fairly long but very thin. This third bird is probably a first winter male as the sides were too white and the pony-tail too well developed for a female. All three birds were in the group of scaup closest to shore (though still too far for decent pics). At one point the two adult males were in the same scope view while the immature male was just one scope width to the side. [See Bottom Photo] -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 12 Jan 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports two male EURASIAN WIGEONS in the Garcia River lowlands close to the elevated pullout just north of Miner Hole Road. She also saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS in Arena Cove.
Wed, 12 Jan 2005 -- This afternoon George Chaniot and I birded Lake Mendocino. The first scoping of scaup from Pomo A/B resulted in numerous Greater and Lesser Scaup, maybe 20 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 4 AMERICAN WIGEON, numerous RUDDY DUCKS, and the 2 continuing WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. There were maybe 4 HORNED GREBES, several EARED GREBES, at least 2 CLARK'S GREBES, and 40 - 50 WESTERN GREBES. In the distance two GOLDEN EAGLES could be seen soaring over the eastern horizon.
We could see part of the scaup flock on the east side of the Lake so we ventured to the Bu-Shay campground to overlook the cove of ....no scaup. They had all left and gone back to the west side of the lake. While there, however, we saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, heard a NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER, and saw a HUTTON'S VIREO.
We returned to the Pomo A site where the scaup flock had gathered almost in totality ... probably 3000 to 4000 birds in all. With diligent scoping, looking for the contrasting bright white side with the black (not gray) scapulars and back, George soon spotted the male TUFTED DUCK. A few CEDAR WAXWINGS were nearby and the robins were beginning to arrive for roost at 4:00 PM when we left.
George also had a ROCK WREN on the dam near the pump tower. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 09 Jan 2005 -- Today George Chaniot, Chuck Vaughn, and I birded the north coast. Though it was raining rather hard in Ukiah when we left the sun was actually shining by the time we got to McKerricher. At Laguna Point there were three ROCK SANDPIPERS [Photo Here] on the loafing rocks to the north of the observation platform. From the parking lot we found one adult RING-BILLED GULL among the large assortment of gulls on the beach. At Lake Cleone were three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and four CACKLING GEESE.
The BURROWING OWL was standing post at the edge of it's burrow on Bald Hill Rd. Where Pudding Creek empties into the ocean we found a single very early (or late) BARN SWALLOW. Jerry White was kind enough to call us and let us know at Ten Mile Beach he refound the GLAUCOUS GULL reported Sat by the MCAS field trip. We rushed to Ten Mile and after much difficulty were able to locate the first winter GLGU among the several thousand gulls on the beach at the point. [Photo Here] From Ten Mile we drove to Caspar Pond where the lone ROSS'S GOOSE is still present. At Van Damme State Park a single GRAY JAY was in the top of a tree directly south of the visitors center.
After returning to Ukiah, George and I drove up to Lake Mendocino to try for the Tufted Duck. The lake was covered with scaup but after 45 minutes of scoping from Pomo A we found the male TUFTED DUCK at 16:45 out near the center of the lake. His crest has definitely grown since his arrival in Dec and now looks like a normal male TUDU pony-tail.
The flight of robins at the north end of Lake Mendocino was quite impressive yesterday evening. We didn't make a count but the total number was n-1 because, while we were scoping, a MERLIN grabbed one of the robins for dinner. We were afforded great views as the Merlin flew across the lake clutching the dead robin in it's talons. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 09 Jan 2005 -- Today the morning started out with rain but the day turned out quite nice with little wind and mild temps. From Juan Creek I saw thousands of birds streaming south past Cape Mendocino; mostly gulls but also one huge flock of ducks as well as other species. To far out to get any ID's on these. At Laguna Point I met up with Toby Tobkin, Chuck Vaughn, George Chaniot and Matthew Mathiessen. There were 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS on this day. Having heard about the Glaucous Gull seen the morning before I went back out to Ten Mile and fairly quickly found the 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL. A stop at Virgin Creek beach turned up 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL and a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD. At Van Damme State Park the upper campground is closed but from the visitor center I saw a single GRAY JAY on top of a conifer on the ridge to the south. The next stop was the end of Albion Ridge road where Bob Keiffer had reported Red Crossbill. Just as I was about to leave after about 15 minutes of no luck I heard and then saw a flock of RED CROSSBILLS in flight. Their calls were alarm calls as a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK had flown into the area. On the drive back there was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL about 1.5 miles up the Ukiah-Boonville Road and further on 2 soaring GOLDEN EAGLES. -- Jerry White
Sat, 08 Jan 2005 -- Heavy downpours at times with generally windy conditions while birding the Mendocino Coast. The four CACKLING GEESE first found by Bob Keiffer were a Lake Cleone. A two hour sea watch at Laguna Point produced several interesting birds: One ROCK SANDPIPER, a fly-by MERLIN, a good close look at the only shearwater that was near enough to shore to ID turned out to be a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, there was one HEERMANN'S GULL that flew by (I saw about 8 total for the two days), large #'s of NORTHERN FULMARS were seen, one adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, and two fly-by ANCIENT MURRELETS.
An OSPREY was at the Pudding Creek estuary. At the end of Ward Avenue the BLACK SCOTERS were in one large group concentrated near shore in relatively calm waters because of the rough conditions. I counted 20 birds. There was also a RED-NECKED GREBE here.
In the afternoon Ten Mile River at the beach there were 2 to 3 thousand gulls (mentioned in a previous post). Most of these were California and Herring Gulls.There were also lesser numbers of Western and Glaucous-winged. There were some Mew and THAYER'S GULLS and 4 or 5 HEERMANN'S GULLS . As always there were various hybrids. I studied two particular birds that both had very long wings and very thin longish bills. One was an immature bird. The other bird had a fairly dark mantle and seemed to show some of the characteristics of a VEGA HERRING GULL.
At about 4:45 PM I went out to Bald Hill Road and viewed the staked out BURROWING OWL. -- Jerry White
Sun, 09 Jan 2005 -- I moved to Lake County a few months ago, joined
Mendobirds a few weeks ago, and finally found some time today for local birding.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: Three (1st-basic immature, 3rd-basic immature and basic adult) among gulls on pier at Austin Park, Clearlake, in late afternoon.
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH: Three males in my neighborhood
at Hidden Valley Lake.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (5), RING-NECKED DUCK (62),
RUDDY DUCK (16) and COMMON MERGANSER (23) at Detert Reservoir, Butts Canyon. Up to three HOODED MERGANSERS were present in November and December. I drive by the reservoir nearly every day, but usually in the dark. -- Floyd Hayes, Hidden Valley Lake
Sat, 08 Jan 2005 -- Dorothy Tobkin, Art Morely, and David Jensen looked through a flock of about 2000 gulls at Ten Mile River today. Among the many California Gulls were a GLAUCOUS GULL, a HEERMANN'S GULL, and a THAYER'S GULL. Along the horestrail that leads down to the beach they flushed two BURROWING OWLS - making at least five birds known to be on the coast this week.
Thu, 06 Jan 2005 -- The TUFTED DUCK is still being seen among the scaup in the north end of Lake Mendocino. There are about 2500 scaup now, so the Tufted Duck is not quite a needle in a haystack, but at least a needle in a hay bale. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 06 Jan 2005 --
01 JAN 05: 1 (heard) White-throated Sparrow, 5515 Gaddy, Kelseyville
2 Violet-green Swallow, Clear Lake State Pk.
1 Prairie Falcon, High Valley, Clear Lake Oaks
1 Ferruginous Hawk "
1 (adult) Bald Eagle, Tule Lake, Upper Lake
04 JAN 05: 1 Ross' Goose, Rob. Lk., Nice
1 Snow Goose, Will.Pt., Lakeport
06 JAN 05: 1 Ross' Goose (see abv.)
1 Eurasian Wigeon, Rob. Lake., Nice
1 (adult) Bald Eagle, Rodman Slough, "
1 Blue-winged Teal, Rob. Lk., Nice
-- Bryan J. McIntosh
Wed, 05 Jan 2005 -- Mendocino County: We left yesterday and arrived at Lake Mendocino north of Ukiah about 8:45 AM. We went to the west side of the lake around Pomo A, walked to the shore, and scoped the Lesser Scaups. Among them we found the reported TUFTED DUCK. Onshore south of us were two BALD EAGLES, one adult, one juvenile. After getting my Egg McMuffin and two apple pies, we headed for Lake County. On Hwy 101 just before (south of) Hwy 20, there was a MERLIN flying along the roadway.
Lake County January 5th: Roughly a quarter mile north of Rodman Slough, in a wet marshy area on the west side of the road among the Mallards, American Wigeon, and Gadwall, were two BLUE-WINGED TEAL (male) and a ROSS'S GOOSE. Perched in a tree west of this marshy area keeping an eye on the ducks and licking his beak, a PEREGRINE FALCON. In Clear Lake State Park at the Kelsey Creek area just north of the Visitor's center was a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER and a HUTTON'S VIREO. -- Jim Lomax and John Luther [ from Countybirders ]
Wed, 05 Jan 2005 -- Yesterday Jeff Hayes found a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the flooded rice fields on Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Rd. Today John Luther, Jim Lomax and Jeff had refound those birds as well as a ROSS'S GOOSE when I arrived.
This morning at Library Park at the end of 1st Street in Lakeport there were a 1st year GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and THAYER'S GULL as well as an adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at "feeding time" about 7:30 AM. The SNOW GOOSE continues amongst the park duck flock.
Another Snow or Ross's Goose is with the Canada Goose flock in the field on the lakeside of South Main (Lakeport) just prior to the city limits sign. -- Jerry White
Wed, 05 Jan 2005 -- In Potter Valley today there were five COMMON GOLDENEYES on the McMenomey Vineyard pond just south of the cemetery on West Road. Last winter a few goldeneyes began frequenting this pond; now there are more. You can get a good view into this pond at close range without trespassing if you park at the cemetery and walk through the cemetery to the south edge. As I was walking home along West Road, I heard the distinctive wing-whistle of goldeneyes flying by in the dark. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 04 Jan 2005 -- Some additional information concerning the flycatcher found at Clear Lake State Park is in order. Prior to our local CBC on December 18th Bryan McIntosh found an empid in the same general area as the recently reported bird. He only saw it briefly but also got a sound recording which I listened to. The recording was not conclusive, but he and I agreed that it most sounded like a Hammond's Flycatcher. The final decision based on the recording and Bryan's brief look is that it was a "probable" Hammond's. Since we were not certain I thought it prudent to let others know in case anyone else gets a good look at this bird. Assuming it is the same bird, which is likely. Bryan looked for the bird today with no luck. -- Jerry White
Mon, 03 Jan 2005 -- Some additional notes concerning birds I saw during 3 days of birding Mendocino County. On Saturday the 1st I saw the TUFTED DUCK and the two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in the area George noted on Lake Mendocino . There was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the South Ramp and again two White-winged Scoters (same birds I assume). This morning there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Bristol Road off of Stoneboro. The PRAIRIE FALCON was seen hunting in the Garcia River Estuary. The ROCK WREN reported yesterday on the count was present today at the north end of the (Elk) beach hopping around on the driftwood. -- Jerry White
Mon, 03 Jan 2005 -- Jerry White and I refound the BURROWING OWL at Davis Lake (now drained) which is on State park property between Alder Creek and Kinney Lane (Manchester KOA road). Jerry refound the PRAIRIE FALCON from the Point Arena Lighthouse Road. I had 8 RED CROSSBILLS near the deadend of Albion Ridge Road. The adult ROSS'S GOOSE is still at Caspar Pond. This bird appears to be a very mature bird based upon the quantity of protuberances at the base of the mandible. There are still 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Lake Cleone. There are also four CACKLING GEESE at Lake Cleone ...which I believe to be Aleutians. Two of them have partial white neck rings and light breasts which the B. c minima subspecies should not have...and they appear to be a little large for true "Cacklers" (Branta canadensis minima). Two of them have darker breasts and no sign of neck rings at all ...so maybe they are "Cacklers" but I think their size is more fitting to be Aleutians.
The were at least two first year THAYER'S GULLS at the Laguna Point parking lot beach, and a mature Thayer's on the "loafing rocks" just north of the viewing platform. There were 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS with Surfbirds just south of the viewing platform.
Oh... the leucistic BLACK OYSTERCATCHER was seen at Mendocino Headlands directly off the "Sister city Monument". It is rather cream color overall with a darker tan neck and head. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 02 Jan 2005 -- since there has not been a post concerning the results of the Mendocino Coast CBC I thought I would mention some of the highlights as best I can remember. The day was a bit rainy before daylight for those who dared to go owling. Several GREAT HORNED OWLS were heard and/or seen. I personally saw 15 BARN OWLS either hunting in fields, on telephone poles, or on fenceposts, between Irish Beach and the Lighthouse Road. Jerry white had NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL up the Greenwood Road out of Elk.
The day's weather was OK with overcast clouds and an occasional shower but overall quite nice. Two BURROWING OWLS were found on Manchester State Beach property. There was a definite lack of waterfowl species seen and the count of 110 TUNDRA SWANS was down from most past counts. Only CANADA GEESE and CACKLING GEESE were seen.
Dorothy Tobkin's area of Point Arena Lighthouse Road was well covered by a crew with good spotting scopes resulting in many near-shore birds such as NORTHERN FULMARS ,
RED-NECKED GREBES, CASSIN'S AUKLETS, RHINOCEROS AUKLET, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, and a possible SOUTH POLAR SKUA. This area also produced a PRAIRIE FALCON. No Sandhill Cranes were found this year. A number of Great Egrets utilize the Garcia Flats but the Cattle Egret, seen a week or two prior, could not be found. Five EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE were on Duxbury Lane, which is off of Stoneboro Road leading to Manchester State Beach access... these have been seen since last spring/summer but were new to the count.
Dave Jensen found a pair of female HARLEQUIN DUCKS in the cove below the vista Point just North of Irish Beach... these were new to the count also. FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were seen in several areas and a first-year ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on Crispin Lane just north of Manchester. GRAY JAYS were again found coming to a feeder off of Cameroon Road just south of Navarro River (north end of count circle).
Thanks to all who participated and coordinated the count. Next year's count is scheduled for Friday, December 30th, 2005. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 02 Jan 2005 -- "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at the Point Arena Cove again arriving at around 2:00 PM.
Sun, 02 Jan 2005 -- Burris Lane, Potter Valley: Except for a couple of dozen cold Coots on the pond and various sparrows in the blackberries, it was a good day for raptors down the lane. Two AMERICAN KESTRELS, one RED-TAILED HAWK, two bright-brick- red-fronted RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, all pretty active, and a grumpy looking GOLDEN EAGLE hunkered on top of an oak north of the pond. Not much sign of ground squirrels or other prey. -- Jim Armstrong
Sun, 02 Jan 2005 -- Happy New Year! It has been for me, so far. Yesterday I was birding all day between Nice boat docks and the West end of Rodman Slough. Bird activity was not frenetic, but there was an impressive turnout of species during the sunny breaks. Highlights include: NORTHERN PINTAIL - 4 still at flooded rice fields west side Cut-off south of HWY 20.
BALD EAGLE - 1 adult, in area near bridge on Cut-off.
PRAIRIE FALCON - I finally found it, Jerry! Missed it 12/31, but got it 01/01 at approx 3:15 just south of the end of Reclamation Rd.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - One dark bird coming down from the walnut orchard on the plateau above Rodman Slough Park. Flew toward the fields south of Sentry Mkt.
COM. MOORHEN - 2, in flooded ditch east of s. end Reclamation Rd.
PHAINOPEPLA - 2, along northside dike 0.8 mi. west of Cut-off just n. of the bridge. Look in mistletoe- laden trees on west bank of shallow pond north of the access trail.
I did not see either the RING-NECKED DUCKS or the HOODED MERGANSERS that had been there in previous days, but I suspect they are still in the area. Also, there were two VIRGINIA RAILS and three SORAS (at least) at the westward bend of the access road south of the end of Reclamation, 01/01, around 3:45 PM. info on where the such-and-such was seen last, I can usually be reached at 274-1851. Happy birding. -- Jeff Hayes
Sat, 01 Jan 2005 -- Today I saw the male TUFTED DUCK again at Lake Mendocino. It was among the 2000 or so scaup off of the Pomo B Day-Use Area. Assuming it is the same bird, it looks like the tuft may have grown a little in the last 10 days. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 31 Dec 2004,4:00 PM -- Hello birders, A HOODED MERGANSER continues at the ponds (flooded rice fields) just west of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff 1/4 - 1/2 mi. south of Hwy. 20. Also, two recognizable male RING-NECKED DUCKS today. I have seen 4-10 Hoodeds here since mid Dec. They are also seen on the slough channel just SW of here. Also here this afternoon: Mallard - 125, Gadwall - 25, Northern Shoveler - 30, Green-winged Teal - 25, Northern Pintail - 4 (2 pair), American Wigeon - 45 (probably many more further back), American Pipit - 2.
Also, one PHAINOPEPLA flew over the road (Cutoff) right in front of me just west of the S-turn 12/30 at approx. 1:45 PM. The SNOW GOOSE was still at Library Park 12/30. HAPPY NEW YEAR !! -- Jeff Hayes, Nice, LAK
Thu, 30 Dec 2004 -- I was just up in your neck of the woods, briefly, on part of a holiday trip with my wife. We were mostly visiting her relatives (including her sister in Redwood Valley), but we did manage a little birding. In particular, we saw what I tentatively ID'd as a LEAST FLYCATCHERr at Clear Lake State Park on Thursday morning. I didn't know whom to contact, and in any case I didn't have access to a computer until I got back this evening. I figure you might know to whom this should be forwarded. The bird was in the visitors' center parking lot, and was extremely uncoorperative. It didn't seem to want us to be very close to it, and it ranged all over the lot, finally disappearing. We didn't have very long views of the bird, and it might turn out to be a western (small "w") empidonax. I was struck by the bird's small size and small bill, the whitish-gray throat, the prominent eye ring that seemed slightly teardrop-shaped behind the eye and the sharp contrast between the tertials and wing bars against the surrounding dark color. I didn't get a good look at primary projection. It might turn out to be a Western (capital "W"), but the throat color and bill size didn't seem right. It seemed too boldly patterned for a Hammond's. I must add that these observations were all made on very brief views, and my impressions could be off.
At any rate, I hope that someone else might see the bird. Happy New Year! -- Sandy Koonce, Redlands, CA
Tue, 28 Dec 2004 -- This morning there was a very wet PRAIRIE FALCON perched on a power pole on Reclamation Road. In the afternoon there was a wet and stunned NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL sitting on Soda Bay Road in front of Clear Lake State Park. The bird seemed to be recovering after an afternoon sitting in a box in a warm dry house; but just to be safe was sent to the Wildlife Center for a checkup. -- Jerry White
Tue, 28 Dec 2004 - At the Beckstoffer Vineyard pond on Old River Road just south of Talmage I saw one pair of HOODED MERGANSERS, 6 NORTHERN SHOVELLERS, 6 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 3 RUDDY DUCKS, about 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS, some MALLARDS, and 1 SNOWY EGRET. Also, there has been a tan-phase WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at my folks feeder in Hopland, along with a pure white English HOUSE SPARROW. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 26 Dec 2004 -- Today, Jim Rowoth and I decided to bird Lake Co. After perusing all the past emails about birds seen, we planned a route to take us around Clear Lake, up into High Valley, then back down and around the lake. Unfortunately, the rains came! And because of the storm, our visibility of the lake was severely hampered. Thought we didn't get all the expected birds we did pretty well.
Austin Park: 5 HERRING GULLS, a 2nd winter WESTERN GULL, among the many Ring-billed and California Gulls. 2 HORNED GREBES were right off shore along the pilings of the old pier.
Borax Lake: 30 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, many BUFFLEHEADS, GADWALLS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 1 AMERICAN PIPIT, Ruddy Ducks, 3 LINCOLN SPARROWS.
High Valley: 40 Wild Turkeys and 1 Ring-neck Pheasant
High Valley Campground: 1 FOX SPARROW, 12 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 BROWN CREEPER.
Lakeshore Blvd Marsh (west of Hammonds Rd on the north side of the road): 3 HOODED MERGANSERS
Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Marsh: 4 NORTHERN PINTAILS, lots of Green-winged Teals, 30 AMERICAN WIGEONS, Gadwalls.
Reclamation Rd: a COMMON SNIPE, 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE (close to the Abatement Ponds)
Scott Valley Rd pond: 12 Wood Ducks, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, 2 American Wigeons, 1 EURASIAN WIGEON,
30 Wild Turkeys
Library Park (Lakeport): 4 MEW GULLS, 2 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, 1 SNOW GOOSE (present since 11/13/03)
Clear Lake State Park: 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, expected oak woodland birds, plus 30 more Wild Turkeys! Good Birding! -- Frances Oliver,Lodi, CA
Wed, 22 Dec 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning I saw 4 (2m, 2f) LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at the Hopland Randamp;E Center. The birds were at about 2800' in some oaks adjacent to the chaparral on South Cow Mountain. They were in a large flock of finches, primarily Lesser Goldfinches, but also including a number of Pine Siskins, and they are probably feeding on chamise seeds. This the first confirmed winter record for MEN of which I am aware. Anyone with knowledge otherwise, please let me know. This afternoon George Chaniot and I refound the TUFTED DUCK and 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS which many observers have seen on Lake Mendocino just off the Pomo day-use area. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 22 Dec 2004 -- At 1:30 PM there was an adult BALD EAGLE perched on an oak tree about 1/2 mile east on University Road, Hopland. This is the road to the Hopland Research and Extension Center. Also, a SAY'S PHOEBE is hanging around the permanent pasture on the north side of the road in the same vicinity. Good Birding...-- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 21 Dec 2004 - This afternoon at 14:30 the TUFTED DUCK reported yesterday by George Chaniot continued just off the Pomo A beach at Lake Mendocino. The bird had only the beginnings of a pony-tail but I agree with George that this is a pure bird. On a personal note I'd just like to add that it's great to see the scaup back on the lake. This is by far the most scaup we've had in three years (and I believe our first TUDU in three years as well).
Both WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were also present just off of Pomo A. They both seemed to be feeding around some driftwood floating at the south end of the Pomo A area. -- Matthew Matthiessen [ Photos of the Tufted Duck ]
Mon, 20 Dec 2004 -- From 2:30 to 3:00 this afternoon I had a male TUFTED DUCK under observation at Lake Mendocino just off the swimming area at Pomo A. It was very close to shore among the scaup and would have been a good photo opportunity in the afternoon light. The bird had a prominent crest on the back of the crown which was easily visable in all postures. The crest did not hang down in a pony-tail however. The head was black with a purplish sheen, and the chest was black. The back was a dark, unvermiculated, charcoal grey - slightly lighter than the head and chest. The sides were gleaming white, and it had a long, white wingstripe. The bill was bluish and slightly lighter behind the prominent black nail. I think this is a pure Tufted Duck with no need to invoke the H-word. A park ranger driving along the beach flushed the ducks further out, but the Tufted was easy to refind with the dark back and prominent tuft.
I also saw a single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER among the scaups. It appeared identical to the one we saw on the other side of the lake Saturday. The scoter, unlike the scaup, spent most of its time underwater. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 18 Dec 2004 -- On the Ukiah Christmas Bird Count two parties independently saw WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on Lake Mendocino. At about 10:00 Geoff Heineken and I found a young male on the east shore between the Mesa and Barn Cove - visible from the Little Bear group campground. There was also a male EURASIAN WIGEON here among the 200 American Wigeons feeding along this shore. About 3:00 Ollie Kolkmann and Vishnu saw two White-winged Scoters on the west side of the lake near the Pomo A area. These were apparently both first-year males and possibly included the bird seen earlier. The only other record of this species on Lake Mendocino that I know of was a pair on 8 Nov 2001 (Mendobirds message 223).
The Ukiah CBC drew a beautiful, clear, warm day and set a new record of 127 species. It was a very fun and satisfying day to be afield. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 18 Dec 2004 -- The Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count was held today with cool morning temperatures but overall good conditions including sunny skies and little wind. At the count dinner 137 species were tallied (subject to change).
Highlights included; after a days absence, the NORTHERN SHRIKE was refound by Cliff Johnson in High Valley near the large white barn. A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was discovered by Jeanette Knight on Perini Road near the intersection with Seigler Canyon Rd. RED CROSSBILLS were found by two parties in the Cobb Mt. area. A ROCK WREN was found by both myself and Bryan McIntosh on the dirt road above the Clearlake Landfill at the end of Davis Ave. in Clearlake. The bird was seen along the rock covered drainage channel a few hundred yards from the gate. Also seen along this road were 3 RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. No private motorized vehicles are allowed on this road.
We had a boat out with John Graham and Brad Barnwell and they did some transect work and estimates of the birds on the lake. Between their efforts and additional input from the land based birders we estimate that there was close to 100,000 fish-eating birds, almost all of these from the Narrows (Buckingham Pt. across to Kono Tayee Pt.) into the two lower arms of the lake. Most of these were Aechmophorus grebes. -- Jerry White
Fri, 17 Dec 2004 -- Today around 10 AM I found a shrike in High Valley above Clearlake Oaks. The bird was in the vicinity of the last vineyard just before High Valley Rd starts up into the mountains. This is about 1/4 of a mile past MM 3.57. Dave Woodward later in the day found the bird in a different location (still on the valley floor) near the large white barn. We believe this bird was an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE. Dave also found 11 YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES and a PRAIRIE FALCON in the same area and we both saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. -- Jerry White
Thu,16 Dec 2004 -- This morning on my way back from Ukiah via Talmage I stopped by the Beckstoffer Vineyards pond (on the west side of "Old River Road" a short ways south of the Calif. Conservation Corps office). There were 4-6 HOODED MERGANSERS on the far SW corner of the pond. The flock of 9 Cackling Geese that have been around for a while were there also. This is a great opportunity to view the true CACKLING GOOSE (Branta canadensis minima) as opposed to the Aleutian Canada Goose which is the other small Cackling Goose-type that we also commonly find in our county. Don't get mixed up with the hybridized Canada/domestic geese that are there on the pond also (because of political correctness I will not say my opinion of what should be done with these genetic hybrids ... but does goose dinner for Xmas give you a clue?)
Further south on "Old Talmage Road" there is a small farm pond on the west side of the road ... almost across from Fern Canyon Road ... and there were 9 - 10 HOODED MERGANSERS on this pond. They like to hide in the shadows along the far bank. Also, a lone SNOWY EGRET was there. Good birding! -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 15 Dec 2004 -- Wed 12/15. Today I was able to bird from the west end of Nice lakefront to the mouth of Rodman Slough. Coming into Nice on Hwy 20, go right(south) on Hammond Ave to Lakeshore Blvd, right again on Lakeshore. At the 90-degree right turn there is a barrier, behind which lies the old connection to the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. There is room for one car to park lengthwise right next to the barrier. Walk in and bird, everything on the lakeshore side is open, the other side is private.: CANVASBACK- 17 (10m, 7f) On the lake near mouth of Rodman Slough, RUDDY DUCK- 420+ in general area, PEREGRINE FALCON - 1 (ad) in active hunting flight circled overhead three times, waiting for me to get moving again, maybe kick up some prey.., SAVANNAH SPARROW - 9 (at least), LINCOLN'S SPARROW - 3 (at least). There are scads of sparrows and Marsh Wrens toward the lakeshore, also good raptors (incl Kite), limited lake views unless you don't mind wet feet. Good birding! -- Jeff Hayes
Tue, 14 Dec 2004 -- Hello, birders. Have a few sightings to share, nothing earthshaking, but rewarding experiences with some fun birds. It was nice to be out birding in 60-degree weather in Dec. Today I went up to High Valley Road campground area (roughly 2 miles east off Bartlett Sprs Rd) to harvest a holiday tree. Time of day was 2:30-4:45 pm. Elevations range from 2800-3300 feet, roughly. Habitat is ridgetop coniferous forest (mature yellow pine and douglas-fir), the glades sloping down to the south and west are montane chaparral with some black oak, etc. This is above the digger pine belt, in the Transition zone. PILEATED WOODPECKER - 1, HERMIT THRUSH - 15+, CALIFORNIA THRASHER - 4 (singing just before sunset), TOWNSEND'S WARBLER - 1 (in mistletoe-laden black oak), FOX SPARROW - 30+. Only a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES this time. -- Jeff Hayes
Wed, 15 Dec 2004 -- This afternoon the CATTLE EGRET continued at the Garcia Flats. The bird was still associating with the large flock of Great and Snowy Egrets. Initially I found the bird north of the Garcia River and on the west side of Hwy 1 within the Stornetta farm. This is private property and has restriced access but I sought and was granted permission to drive into the farm to look at the bird. Eventually the CAEG (along with the entire flock of egrets) flew to the east side of Hwy 1 where it was easily viewable from the road.
At Brushy Creek there was one male EURASIAN WIGEON, 35 TUNDRA SWANS, and three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 12 Dec 2004 -- I spotted quite clearly an ALBINO OYSTERCATCHER today (Sunday, 12-12-04) off the Mendocino headlands. It was in a sizeable group of Black Oystercatchers. It had the disctinctive pink legs, red bill, red eyes...but all white feathers. -- John
Sun, 12 Dec 2004 -- The MCAS field trip group found a CATTLE EGRET this morning in the field east of Hwy 1 just north of the green Garcia River bridge. It was among 70 Great Egrets and 4 Snowy Egrets. [ The last time a Cattle Egret was reported to this page was 2 Dec 1999 - at the same place. - GEC ] The TROPICAL KINGBIRD was seen again in the same place on the west side of the road just south of the same bridge. About 12 TUNDRA SWANS were seen at Brush Creek.
Sun, 12 Dec 2004 -- On December 12 Paul Rosso had the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at the Point Arena pier ar 4:15 PM. [from Birdwest]
Sat, 11 Dec 2004 -- The AMERICAN DIPPER was singing at the rapids near the quarry on Potter Valley Road again today as reported below on the Dec 5th. It's nice to hear exuberant birdsong so close to the solstice. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 10 Dec 2004 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD in the Garcia lowlands just south of the green bridge over the Garcia River. It was on the west side of the road on the wire and in the bushes. She saw some distant TUNDRA SWANS at Brush Creek but did not see any on the Garcia flats yet.
Yesterday there were tremendous 20 foot waves at Fort Bragg. She found a ROCK SANDPIPER at Glass Beach among the Surfbirds and Black Turnstones that were taking refuge high on the beach. At Virgin Creek there were three ROCK SANDPIPERS out of habitat high on the sandy beach among the Black-bellied Plovers, and at Ward Avenue in Cleone there were eleven HARLEQUIN DUCKS out among the BLACK SCOTERS. These were probably the birds usually found on the rocks at Glass Beach taking refuge from the unusually high surf.
Sun, 05 Dec 2004 -- I don't run into this species often in my usual ambit, but this morning I had a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW in the rocks and grassy hillside at milepost 1.28 on Potter Valley Road. There was also an AMERICAN DIPPER singing just below the "death trap" rapids at the quarry near milepost 0.86. There was also a lot of fresh dipstuff on the rocks in this region. I've never heard one singing here in December before, and I've been slow to realize that dippers are one of our earliest songsters - and earliest nesters. Finally there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK just south of my home on West Road. I guess it pays to get out early on a frosty morning. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 04 Dec 2004 -- This morning I saw and heard one SWAMP SPARROW at the Kelsey Creek Outlet. There was also a MEW GULL and a probable 1st winter WESTERN GULL. Elsewhere in Clear Lake State Park there was another SWAMP SPARROW seen from the bridge over Cole Creek, and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW with a Golden-crowned Sparrow flock near campsite 45 in the Kelsey Creek campground. -- Jerry White
Fri, 03 Dec 2004 -- Hello birders! I recently moved from Sonoma Co to the north shore of Clear Lake, and have been enjoying the excellent birding this fall. We just got about five inches of rain, these fronts should bring some more waterfowl in. Here's a few of my recent Lake County sightings:
TUNDRA SWAN -- 2, 11/29, upper Rodman Slough (south of Upper Lake)
VIRGINIA RAIL -- up to 4 heard calling at dusk late Nov thru 12/6, Rodman Slough
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW -- 1 heard singing in yard, several days thru Nov 29, in Nice.
SURF SCOTER -- 2 (1 ad M, 1 F) 11/30, Clear Lake at mouth of Rodman Slough. Drifting along tail end of raft of 700+ scaup and some Buffleheads, etc. The male's white head spots and bill pattern were visible even at some distance. My only sighting so far, check lakeshore between Rodman Slough bridge on Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Library Park in Lakeport, search thru the rafts of scaup.
FERRUGINOUS HAWK -- 1 imm., 12/01, Soda Bay Rd 1 mi. east of Konocti Vista turnoff. Beautiful bird. Look in the wide-open fields between Lakeport and Kelseyville, along Soda Bay Rd.
SWAMP SPARROW-- 1 typical winter plumage adult, 12/03, Rodman Slough. Bird was with Fox Sparrows in large blackberry/willow/alder thicket bordering on wet, rank weeds (Marsh Wren, Com Yellowthroat and Lincoln's Sparrow also present, plus 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk...) Location was along dike trail on NW side of the Cut-off bridge, about 200 yds from the road. Look in the blackberries on your right in the vicinity of the little tin shack. Should be a Townsend's or two in the mistletoe overhead...
PHAINOPEPLA -- 1 female, 11/21, Rodman Slough near Westlake Rd. In mistletoe.
COMMON MOORHEN -- 1 in plumage state between juv and basic (winter). Bill was mainly grayish. Found in tule marsh, 12/3 and 12/6, Rodman Slough, N of the bridge. Heard calling loudly at dusk. Happy birding {:> -- Jeff Hayes, Nice
Fri, 03 Dec 2004 - The first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW for the season showed up at Chuck Vaughn's feeding station here at UC-HREC. I believe it is a first winter white-striped morph... but will have to get some better looks (the crown is rather in-between tan and white). -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 03 Dec 2004 -- This afternoon a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was found just east of the motel at the corner of Highway One and Pudding Creek Road at the north end of Fort Bragg. Park on the gravel pad just east of the motel entrance and scan the utility lines and trees directly east. Toby Tobkin found a juvenile EURASIAN WIGEON on Pudding Creek lagoon Wednesday, December 1 (still present). -- David Jensen [ For a photo of this kingbird click here. ]
Fri, 03 Dec 2004 -- Today, having seen the Colusa NWR Harris's Sparrow, I drove back to the Bay Area by way of Lake County, to commence my Lake County list. I walked the basic loop trail at Anderson Ranch SHP from 1:30 to 3:30, and came away with a list of 35 birds. Most unusual - and surprising to me - was a male PHAINOPEPLA. I found the bird by Cache Creek, just past the end of the boardwalk trail. It called a few times, and did some flycatching quite close to me (until it was chased off by a Golden-crowned Sparrow). I thought I had heard one call earlier on the trail, but I was so not expecting this species that I disregarded that part of my mind that said "Arizona?"
Also notable were one LINCOLN'S SPARROW, a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT, a small flock of PINE SISKIN, numerous BUFFLEHEAD in the creek along with COOTS, PIED-BILLED GREBES and MALLARDS. -- Jennifer Rycenga, Half Moon Bay
Fri, 03 Dec 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I was able to get out and about this beautiful, crisp morning and do some birding in Ukiah-area locales. I saw nothing worth making any phone calls about, but still had a good morning. At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a first-winter GOLDEN EAGLE. The fellows on the staff tell me that the GOEA has been hanging out along the river for several days. Of local interest were 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a WINTER WREN. At the Mendocino Vineyards pond on Old Eastside Road (Talmage) there was a pair (m,f) of HOODED MERGANSERS. On the Valley View Trail and North Cow Mountain I saw a CALIFORNIA THRASHER, 2 SAGE SPARROWS, and 25+ FOX SPARROWS, including 1 Thick-billed type. There were also a number of PINE SISKINS eating chamise seeds up in the chaparral. I also saw some in the alders along the river- seems that we have an influx this year. I stopped to poke around the ponds on my way back down Mill Creek Road. I saw 2 VARIED THRUSHES and found a couple of nice Boletus aureus. Great way to finish the day! -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 01 Dec 2004 -- Grace Steurer reports that "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at the Point Arena Cove at 1:00 PM today. The bird first showed up on Nov 28th. this is the bird's eleventh consecutive winter season of using the cove as a resting/loafing spot.
Thu, 02 Dec 2004 -- Bryan McIntosh reported 2 SWAMP SPARROWS from the Kelsey Creek Inlet at Clearlake State Park. Also at other locations in the park he saw the PILEATED WOODPECKER that has been around this fall. He heard a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and saw a COMMON MOORHEN and an AMERICAN BITTERN. -- Jerry White
Mon, 29 Nov 2004 -- For about a week now, all the residents and weekenders in the vicinity of Jago Bay have been totally amazed and fascinated seeing the hundreds of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS feeding on the shad (we think) They are accompanied by large numbers of small gulls, I believe Bonapartes, and some cormorants. On Friday, we think every one of the 758 counted last year at Christmas Bird Count were in Jago Bay in one huge flapping feeding mass. -- Janet Swedberg
Tue, 23 Nov 2004 -- I was in Pt. Arena yesterday (Tuesday) and did not see the albatross. However, it was very windy, at low tide, with a lot of surfing activity, so who can say? Th afternoon's list for the area from Navarro River to Pt. Arena included: 3 PEREGRINE FALCON, 6 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, about 5 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES on Duxbury Drive/Road/Lane, 1 BRANT, 1 BOBCAT, and 1 COYOTE. TUNDRA SWANS were feeding north of Biaggi Ranch, with only 6-12 in the Garcia Flats at midday. Today (24 Nov) there was 1 OSPREY, 1 BRANT, and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES at the mouth of Ten Mile River. Also, the BURROWING OWL and a SHORT-EARED OWL are still regularly seen on Bald Hill Road. -- David Jensen
Mon, 29 Nov 2004 -- This morning there was a PACIFIC LOON on Lake Mendocino in the center of the lake off the Joe Riley picnic area. The number of scaups has increased to about 1300, all in the north half of the lake. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 28 Nov 2004 -- This morning on my jog I found a WESTERN TANAGER, perhaps two, in the northwest corner of Potter Valley. It was feeding on madrone berries amid a flush of waxwings and robins. This is my first November record in Potter Valley ever. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 28 Nov 2004 -- During some casual birding over the weekend, I had some good birds. The (continuing?) adult male HARLEQUIN DUCK was just offshore at Glass Beach (Nov 26). Our friend the LAYSAN ALBATROSS continues just offshore at Pt. Arena Cove shortly after noon (Nov 28). Is this really the first sighting this year? Two NORTHERN FULMAR were well offshore at Jug Handle State Reserve (Nov 26). And at least 17 RED CROSSBILL were at at least four different locations along the ecological staircase at Jug Handle State Reserve (Nov 26). -- Mark W. Eaton, San Francisco
Sun, 28 Nov 2004 -- A COMMON MURRE was found today at Caspar Beach - not unusual, I know - but what is or seems to be unusual, is that his entire breast is caked in tar. Anyone know if this could be from an oil spill, or is this just a weird fluke from an oil leak in the ocean floor? (or from a tanker?) -- Feather Forestwalker
Sun, 28 Nov 2004 -- MendoBirders, The LAYSAN ALBATROSS has returned to Point Arena cove. At 4:15 P.M. today we spotted Al sleeping about 500 feet beyond the end of the pier near an anchored fishing boat. Al eventually roused himself, yawned and stretched a few times, and then paddled slowly about the area. -- Dennis and Patricia Braddy, San Ramon
Wed, 24 Nov 2004 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports that there are now two ROSS'S GEESE at Caspar Pond. She also saw one HORNED LARK at the Mendocino Headlands near the monument.
Sat, 20 Nov 2004 -- Yesterday morning I found an immature ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Reclamation Rd off Highway 20 between Upper Lake and Nice. The bird was seen on a power pole near the Abatement Ponds before it flew off. This is the 10th county record (only the 2nd one I have seen in the county) and the 1st record since 1991. Additional searching by Dave Woodward and I did not turn up the bird. Dave did find a TUNDRA SWAN (on private land) which I also saw. There is also a MUTE SWAN at Rodman Slough which Dave first found on Tuesday. This is the first time I have seen this species in the wild in Lake County. -- Jerry White
Thu, 18 Nov 2004 -- New for the season today at Lake Mendocino were 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES, and 1 HERRING GULL. There were also still two BONAPARTE'S GULLS sitting among the California Gulls near the south marina. Most spectacular was an adult BALD EAGLE near Coyote Dam which made about thirty close passes at a flock of coots which escaped by diving under water. Eventually it gave up and went and sat on the east shore. There is a raft of about 800 scaup building up in the north end of the lake - more than twice as many as last year at this time. Greater Scaup predominate over Lesser about 16 to 1. Near the north marina there is still a group of 15 DOWITCHERS sp. hanging around. Finally, in the inlet there was a beautiful pair of HOODED MERGANSERS. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 13 Nov 2004 -- Hi All. I saw a MARSH WREN nest the other day with someone moving around inside. (They are spherical so you can't see inside). It was about 3 pm. I stayed and watched for a half hour or so. The only bird activity I saw in the rushes was a ruby-crowned kinglet, but I had heard a marsh wren as I approached. Does anyone know if marsh wrens are likely to use nests after breeding season for warmth or hiding, or if other birds or animals might use them?
And, my friend Sheryl Greene saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK along the "old Reynolds Hwy" north of Willits yesterday. She said it's been there every winter for about 5 years. Pass the Hearst/Willits road and look on the right near the top of a big leafless oak tree. -- Kate Marianchild
Fri, 12 Nov 2004 -- Chuck Vaughn and I drove to Laguna Point this morning for the spring tide (+6.6') and, along with Dorothy Tobkin, we scoped out to sea for about two hours with fine viewing conditions. We found two ROCK SANDPIPERS among the Surfbirds on the rocks. Toby saw them as early as 25 Oct this year (see below). Good numbers of Surf Scoters and Pacific Loons were moving south past the point. Toby says the movement is just picking up. A twenty minute count yielded an estimate of 484 Pacific Loons per hour. We saw several WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS among the Surfs, and had fly-bys of ANCIENT MURRELET, CASSIN'S AUKLET, and RHINOCEROS AUKLET.
Later we saw every Mendocino goose species except Emperor, including a BRANT close off the Laguna Point parking lot, a SNOW GOOSE, three CACKLING GEESE, and three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Lake Cleone, and a ROSS'S GOOSE at Caspar Pond. We searched the Mendocino Headlands for longspurs but found only one HORNED LARK, but there were a lot of people walking around the headlands at noon. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 09 Nov 2004 -- I observed the CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR with 5 HORNED LARKS near the Sister Monument at the Mendocino Headlands this morning around 8:30 a.m. As first reported by Toby, it is a rather drab individual but every so often the wind would ruffle the nape feathers and you could see the chestnut coloration. -- Janet Stein
Tue, 09 Nov 2004 -- The SURF SCOTER found this morning by Jerry White at Library Park in Lakeport was still present this afternoon. It had moved to the area of the main pier between 3rd and 4th streets and was very close to shore. -- Dave Woodward
Tue, 09 Nov 2004 -- This morning there was a SURF SCOTER (in 1st winter plumage) on Clear Lake. The bird was seen from Library Park at the end of 5th Street in Lakeport. -- Jerry White
Tue, 09 Nov 2004 -- Four vivid HORNED LARKS were feeding slightly to the north of the Miasa monument at Mendocino Headlands on Monday about 12:45 p.m. and offered great views of beautiful markings and tufts. -- Jessica Morton
Sun, 07 Nov 2004 -- Yesterday at the Mendocino Headlands the two HORNED LARKS reported by Toby last week had been joined by a third individual. The birds seemed to prefer the area around the sister city monument itself. I could not locate the longspur reported by Toby. The ROSS'S GOOSE continued at Caspar Pond. It appears to have an injured wing so it may stay around for a while. At Lake Cleone there was one REDHEAD, one SNOW GOOSE, and two CACKLING GEESE. From Laguna Point the birds of note I scoped were one WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, one BONAPARTE'S GULL, and three ANCIENT MURRELETS. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 05 Nov 2004 -- Today at about 10:00 Dorothy Tobkin found a CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR at the Mendocino Headlands near the Sister City monument. It was a very drab individual and hung around two HORNED LARKS. At Casper Pond there was an adult ROSS'S GOOSE, and at Van Damme SP she heard her first VARIED THRUSH of the fall and saw two PILEATED WOODPECKERS in the upper campground.
Wed, 03 Nov 2004 -- I was at the Cleone Lake parking lot, Mackericher S.P. this morning at 10:30. There were two each CACKLING GEESE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE along with the domestic waterfowl. I think they get fed there so the wild types may stay for a while. -- Art Morley
Mon, 25 Oct 2004 -- From the Northern California Birdbox:
On Oct 25, at high tide, a ROCK SANDPIPER was at Glass Beach, on the main beach. (2) ROCK SANDPIPERS were roosting on a rock half-way along the boardwalk at Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park. (15) HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 12 males and 3 females, were at the first cove south of Glass Beach, reached by going a short distance along the chain-link fence, which borders the mill site. (Dorothy Tobkin).
Sat, 23 Oct 2004 -- Hello all, Today I headed through Lake County in hopes of getting my county list to 200 and then continued west to check out the action at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Pardon a lack of directions as I don't have a map with me. Let me know if you need something more specific.
Along Butts Canyon Rd. in southern Lake Co. were all of the typical open oak woodland species as well as a flock of 60 TREE SWALLOWS. At the reservoir were 15 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and numberous ducks, but nothing special. On the way back to Hwy 29 I found a Merlin (#199) north of the road near a white church.
At the sewage ponds just north of here in Hidden Valley I managed to climb a hill and look down into the ponds. If you drive all the way past the ponds you can park and walk up amongst the chamise. I don't know how kosher this is but there are no signs and no fence. Anyway, there is currently great habitat even if there weren't any rarities. Birds included 6 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 15 DUNLIN, 8 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 8 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, many puddle ducks and a couple of unidenified scaup.
Next was the mouth of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. Here were 300 +/- TREE SWALLOWS, 175 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 5 WILSON'S SNIPE, 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS and two VIRGINIA RAILS. A PEREGRINE FALCON (#200) was along Reclamation Rd. north of Nice. Next stop was the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. We strategically arrived just as it was starting to rain. Sign in at the office before birding. Here I found quite a few new county birds including a COOPER'S HAWK, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 30 DUNLIN, and many ducks, including at least one BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELLERS, NORTHERN SHOLVELLER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK and 10 Scaup sp. I was unable to id the scaup or find the Eurasian Wigeon found by Chuck the day before as the ducks flushed and simply decided to fly around in circles until I left. No matter how long it took. Finally the rain got so heavy that I gave up and sloshed back to the car, pretty much soaked through despite a rain coat. When I got back to the car Misty had an interesting look on her face that was a combination of pity and amusement. Mostly amusement. But what the heck, I got 5 new county birds. Good birding,
Steve Glover, Dublin
Fri, 22 Oct 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I went out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant oxidation ponds to see what the last couple of fronts had blown down our way. Among 11 species of ducks, I saw 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a nice male EURASIAN WIGEON. Shorebirds included many winter-resident WILSON'S SNIPE, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 12 DUNLIN, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and 1 LEAST SANDPIPER. There was a single late YELLOW WARBLER along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 20 Oct 2004. -- Toby found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Bald Hill today, near the southern gate that leads to the towers. I found the bird again this evening with a flock of White-crowned Sparrows. I also spotted a BURROWING OWL a little further north, directly east of the roped gate with the cattle guard. It was sitting at the mouth of a burrow nearly half way up the closest rise. A PEREGRINE FALCON was feeding in the general area, as well. At sunset I stopped at Glass Beach and found a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting in the fields from the Glass Beach path north to Pudding Creek. Great views, some directly overhead, for as long as I could stay. -- David Jensen
Tue, 19 Oct 2004 -- Today I found a PALM WARBLER at the Mendocino County Avilla Center on south Franklin Street in Fort Bragg. There were also two BEWICK'S WRENS at Glass Beach, one in the bushes on the path to the beach, and another in the Cypress tree often used as a homeless (or urban nomad) camp. -- David Jensen
Thu, 14 Oct 2004 -- I just spent a few days birding along the coast. The weather was great but the birding was not so great. However I did find a few birds of interest.
There were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERSS and a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER at Virgin Creek on Monday October 11th. A MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was at Chadbourne Gulch on Tuesday. The LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at the Mendocino Headlands on Tuesday and was seen again today. On Tuesday I saw the LEUCISTIC BLACK OYSTERCATCHER from the headlands.
On Wednesday morning while standing on the bluffs on Lighthouse Rd near the entrance gate to the Pt. Arena Lighthouse I first heard and then saw a LAPLAND LONGSPUR fly in from over the ocean. It landed briefly and then moved on. On Miner Hole Road there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a somewhat late departing WARBLING VIREO as well as large numbers of PINE SISKIN. That same day on Pomo Lake Drive in the Irish Beach Subdivision there was a fly over light morph juvenile FERRUGINOUS HAWK. At Pomo Lake itself I saw a SORA and heard a VIRGINIA RAIL.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were heard on three of the four days.
Today there was a fly by WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Laguna Pt. About 1pm today I found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on Highway 1. The bird was on the utility wires on the west side of the road just south of the Salmon Creek bridge near MM 42.95.
In Lake County later in the afternoon there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near the Rodman Slough levee. At the Kelsey Creek outlet there was flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. -- Jerry White
Tue, 12 October 2004 -- For the second time in three days, we saw GOLDEN EAGLES fly through our backyard on Mill Creek Road (a mile east of Ukiah) and then circle above the hills east and north of the road. On both occasions, the birds came through in the late afternoon, around 4 pm. And both times, a bird came through so low that it was not only easily recognizable to the naked eye as an eagle, but so majestic it left me trembling. Today I watched three birds for a full half hour -- mostly easy, effortless circling above the hills, though at one point one of the birds chased off another. This same bird also wasn't always content with mere circling. It soared high on currents, folded its wings, and dove, then bottomed out and swooped upwards. Very impressive! It did this several times. With hot weather in the forecast for Wednesday, we should have good thermals again. Happy birding to all. -- David Smith-Ferri
Fri, 08 Oct 2004 -- Today there was a EURASIAN Wigeon on Borax Lake (near the City of Clearlake). -- Jerry White
Thu, 07 October 2004. -- As the heavy fog began to lift around noon, I counted at least 24 WHITE-TAILED KITES in the cattle fields along a quarter-mile stretch of Highway 1 between Ten Mile River and Pacific Star Winery, south of Westport. Previously, I have never seen more than three in the expanded area along this section of coastline. -- David Jensen
Thu, 07October 2004 - Today I birded Miner Hole Road and the Garcia River, followed by a quick visit to Mendocino headlands. The highlights included a PALM WARBLER which was on the north side of the Garcia River about 1/8 mile downstream from the "end-of-the-road" parking area. I only saw a handful of Yellow-rumped Warblers and one Orange-crowned Warbler all day! The island at the mouth of the river has some interesting salt marsh habitat ... complete with pickle weed ... but I could turn up nothing unusual. Lots of seaweed and jellyfish had washed into the river channel.
There were the usual shorebirds including: (not in Phylo. order) 50 Least Sandpiper, 5 Western Sanpiper, 100 Sanderlings, 20 Black-bellied Plover, 25 Dunlin, 35 Black turnstone, 10 Killdeer
Other species included: 50 Common Merganser, 4 Mallard, 4 Greater Scaup, 30 American Wigeon, 3 Green-winged Teal, 3 Northern Pintail, 1 Snowy Egret, 12 Great Egret, 2 Great Blue Heron, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Red-shouldered hawk, 2 Northern harrier, 3 Am. Kestrel, 2 Red-tailed hawk, 2 White-tailed Kite, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White and Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Wrentit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe
At Mendocino Headlands just east and south of the Sister-City Monument there were numerous Savannah Sparrows ( call note a high-pitched "seep" and short light brown tail) and one LAPLAND LONGSPUR (call note a "buzzy" note and white is evident on the outer ends of the tail). The longspur was very "spooky" not letting me approach any more than about 25 feet but I did manage to get a couple of good looks at it. Good birding -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 04 October 2004 -- At noon today there was a HORNED LARK on the path south of the Friendship Monument at the Mendocino Headlands, near the LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Also, a note to you photographers: a first year WHITE-SHOULDERED KITE [sic], with chestnut breast coloration, has been regularly feeding on a post in the field directly east of the parking lot at that same location. It is a beautiful bird with the appetite of a teenager. Should be easy to film.
Mon, 04 Oct 2004 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin saw 6, possibly 7, LAPLAND LONGSPURS at the Mendocino headlands in the vicinity of the Sister City monument. At Russian Gulch State Park she found a mixed flock along the road to the picnic area which included a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (unusual on the coast) along with some Townsend's Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hutton's Vireo, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees.
Sat, 02 October 2004 -- Ollie Kolkmann reported to me that somebody picked up a broken-winged bird in Recreation Grove in willits yesterday. Recreation Grove is on Commercial Street across from the County Museum. The bird was taken to Kathy Ortiz who rehabilitates critters. The bird was identified as a male SUMMER TANAGER ... but the survival of the bird looks dismal. Without looking at the county records I believe this is the third Mendocino County record ... the other two are from the coast. -- Bob Keiffer [For a photo of this bird click here.]
Sat, 02 Oct 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Toby Tobkin reports 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS at the Mendocino Headlands this morning. The birds were just south of the sister-city monument in the lower grass. Toby also briefly saw a 6th Longspur there, but was unable to ID it. This morning at the USTP I saw a BLUE-WINGED TEAL and 9 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 01 Oct 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: For the last 3 mornings I have birded with Jennifer Potts in the chaparral fields on the upper ridges of South Cow Mountain in both Lake and Mendocino counties. The weather up there early in the morning has been delightful- bright and sunny, looking down on the sea of fog in the Ukiah Valley- and there were lots of CALIFORNIA THRASHERS and SAGE SPARROWS singing. We did not see anything really rare, but a number of uncommon birds of local interest. On the 29th we watched ~110 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE fly W to E over the valley and Cow Mountain directly toward Clear Lake. All 3 mornings we saw numbers of VAUX'S SWIFTS flying S mixed in with hundreds of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. We saw several HAIRY WOODPECKERS and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES in both counties. This morning we watched an oddly out-of-place ROCK WREN working along a fire trail in some recently burned chamise. Today we also saw 3 VARIED THRUSHES, the first inland birds in Mendocino county this fall, and a single TOWNSEND'S WARLBER which is the first we have seen up there in the brush in nearly 3 years of monitoring. We saw a real array of FOX SPARROWS, many of them singing. There were primarily Sooty types, but also lots of Thick-billeds, some Slate-coloreds, and a single very large, very dark Sooty type that I have never seen before. On Monday the 27th, I saw a pair (m,f) of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at HREC. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 01 Oct 2004 -- Today at the north boat ramp at Lake Mendocino the mix of shorebirds continued, including 12 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a SANDERLING, and a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL. -- George Chaniot
Tue,28 Sep 20041:35 PM - A very high flying "V" of 48-50 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew in a southeasterly direction over the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center this afternoon. There was one lone SNOW GOOSE at the tail end of the "V" (discrimination?). Their constant calling is what alerted me to them. Golden Crowned Sparrow and Fox Sparrows are all over in the Chaparral now. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Thu, 30 Sep 2004 -- Dorothy Tobkin birded the south coast and found 4 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in a pine tree next to the Thompson's on Duxbury Road, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK at milemarker 28-29, and a white morph NORTHERN FULMAR off the lighthouse road at Point Arena.
Thu, 30 Sep 2004 -- It was too foggy at Lake Mendocino this morning for me to do my usual survey, but there were some interesting birds to be found. The water level continues to fall about a foot a week, and more muddy edges are appearing. Near the south marina there was a WILSON'S SNIPE on the mud, a pretty unusual bird at the lake. The juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE which has been there several weeks has fallen into bad company with the resident greylag thugs and may be there for some time. On the mud emerging near the north marina there were 9 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 8 dowitchers including at least two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 12 LEAST SANDPIPERS, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and a juvenile SANDERLING. The latter may be a first record for the lake. Does anyone remember any other inland Mendocino records of Sanderling? -- George Chaniot
Tue, 28 September 2004 - 1:35 PM -- A very high flying "V" of 48-50 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew in a southeasterly direction over the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center this afternoon. There was one lone SNOW GOOSE at the tail end of the "V" (discrimination?). Their constant calling is what alerted me to them. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and FOX SPARROWS are all over in the chaparral now. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon, 27 Sep 2004 -- This past weekend (Sept 25-27) Larry Siemens, Stan Snyder, Floyd Hayes, Paul Hawks and I birded the Mendo coast from Miner Hole Rd to Lake Cleone. Highlight of the weekend was two WHITE-FACED IBIS at Garcia Flats on Sun Sept 26. The birds were at the south end of the straight stretch of Hwy 1 going south from the bridge over the Garcia River (in the wet area on the east side of the road). We watched and photographed the birds for about 10 minutes before they flew further east into the Flats and landed in deep grass out of sight.
Additional highlights were two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Virgin Creek Beach on the 26th and 27th (a single bird was present on the 25th). There were also two early FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in the fields along Hwy 1 between Manchester and Irish Beach on the 26th.
Local birds of interest included MARBLED GODWIT at Virgin Creek Beach on the 26th and 27th. Also at Virgin Creek Beach was a RUDDY TURNSTONE on the 25th, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the 26th, and an early RED-NECKED GREBE on the 25th and 27th. On the 25th there were six GRAY JAYS in the upper campground at Van Damme and on the 26th there were two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES on the wires along Duxbury Ln. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 25 Sep 2004 -- Greetings, You know it is a slow day at sea when you have equal numbers of warblers and albatrosses. At least there was some variety among the warblers. A fairly calm day, with fog only impeding our visibility for about an hour. Highlights include Ashy Storm-Petrels and long looks at White-sided and Right Whale dolphins.
Loon sp. 5, Western Grebe 1, Black-footed Albatross 4, Northern Fulmar 4, Pink-footed Shearwater 25, Buller's Shearwater 10, Sooty Shearwater 50, Ashy Storm-Petrel 15, Brwon Pelican 3, Brandt's Cormorant 10, Double-crested Cormorant 25, Pelagic Cormorant 1, Wigeon/Pintail 20, Brant 30, Red-necked Phalarope 10, Red Phalarope 30, Pomarine Jaeger 2, Parasitic Jaeger 15, Long-tailed Jaeger 2, Heermann's Gull 20, California Gull 1, Western Gull 20, Sabine's Gull 2, Common Tern 4, Common Murre 200, Pigeon Guillemot 1, Cassin's Auklet 100, Rhinoceros Auklet 25, Yellow Warbler 2, Black-throated Gray Warbler 1, Audubon's Warbler 1, Blue Whale 1, Pacific White-sided Dolphin 400, Northern Right-whale Dolphin 100, Dall's Porpoise 25, Northern Fur Seal 2, Northern Elephant Seal 3, Ocean Sunfish 2, Blue Shark 5 (including one with an orange tag on the back?) -- Ron LeValley
Wed, 22 Sep 2004 -- On my jog this morning on Burris Lane there was a bustle of fall bird activity. On the pond were some NORTHERN SHOVELERS, AMERICAN WIGEON, a WILSON'S SNIPE, and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. In the rocky grassland to the north a PRAIRIE FALCON was hunting meadowlarks and starlings. Western Meadowlarks themselves have recently increased in numbers and begun singing again. A BURROWING OWL was sitting out on a rock near where I reported one last year, and it was being 'mobbed' by a single SAY'S PHOEBE. Further down on the lane White-crowned Sparrows (including Gambell's), Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Say's Phoebes were back in numbers, and in some blackberries I found a single COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - unusual in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 18 Sep 2004 -- Some of us birded our way up the coast along Highway One to Fort Bragg the [day after the pealgic trip to Cordell Bank]. The weather was just beautiful along this scenic drive. I stopped at Stillwater Cove Park for a few minutes and found a nice flock: CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES (20), PYGMY NUTHATCHES (60), BROWN CREEPER (2), HUTTON'S VIREO (6), TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS (7), WILSON'S WARBLER (1), YELLOW WARBLER (1), along with Steller's Jays, California Towhees, and the usual residents. I also stopped at Point Arena Lighthouse and Miner Hole Road. Altogether a very pleasant drive to Fort Bragg. Watching the ocean all the way, I noticed as I have so many times in the past, the seas just flattened out, and whitecaps disappeared at Point Arena. It was another windy day in Bodega Bay, but this north coast seems to have something about it that really flattens out the seas.
On September 19th a small party of us boarded the Trek II at 7am, heading to Noyo Canyon. Most of the shearwater flocks were concentrated about 8-10 miles offshore, as has been the case in past trips. The conditions were so pleasant that we decided to head far offshore. We made it over 40 miles offshore. The offshore zone had very few shearwaters, but jaegers all around 117 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS, alone. It seemed that any time we scanned the skyline, jaegers were there. A single CUVIER'S BEAKED WHALE surfaced, a rare find in California. We returned to the nearshore area where we had seen the shearwaters on our way offshore. Sure enough, this was the place to be. A very rare, dark-morph PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER was found right after we had seen a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER and a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER. Many BLUE WHALES were feeding in the area. We returned to the dock about 6 pm.
The leaders for the September 19th trip were: Steve Howell, Peter Pyle, Debi Shearwater, David VanderPluym, and Matt Brady. -- Debi Shearwater
Fri, 17 Sep 2004 -- I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning from 8:00-10:00. They have been adding water to the middle pond for several weeks now, and there is water under a good growth of knotweed and dock - good rail habitat. I got good looks at two SORAS and one VIRGINIA RAIL standing in the open for a long time. I heard others calling and heard some mystery rail sounds that have never been able to pin down. The third rail was the Great Black Rail, aka AMERICAN COOT. Out of 145 I only saw two juveniles - a very poor year for coot production at the ponds. There was a good bit of warbler activity in the fennel along the back fence and at some grapes on the fence behind the cattails - mostly Yellow Warblers.
At Lake Mendocino yesterday there were some newly arrived migrants: a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the south marina and some AMERICAN PIPITS near the mesa. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 12 Sep 2004 -- At the Kelsey Creek outlet this morning I heard 2 LEAST BITTERNS calling and saw a WILSON'S SNIPE . There was also a new bird for the outlet list(#155): a calling RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. The Clear Lake State Park list is now at 193. -- Jerry White
Thu, 09 Sep 2004 -- At Lake Mendocino this morning I saw a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, an adult RING-BILLED GULL, and an immature GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL on the emerging mud near the dam. At Pomo A on the NW corner of the lake was a female GREATER SCAUP. Except for the Ring-billed Gull these were all the earliest records ever. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 08 Sep 2004 -- This evening at the Kelsey Creek outlet I found a COMMON MOORHEN and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Then just as I was ready to leave I saw a LEAST BITTERN (adult male). Jerry White
Sun, 05 Sep 2004 -- Today at about 1:45 PM a large, pale tan, square-tailed dove flew over the Longs parking lot. It was much larger than a Mourning Dove and about the same size as a Rock Pigeon. There was no white in the wing, and the primaries were blackish compared to the rest of the wing. It flew with a peculiar wing stroke unlike either Mourning Dove or Rock Pigeon. It was surely either a Ringed Turtle-Dove or a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, and due to the large size and blackish primaries I would vote for the latter. However, due to the angle of view, shadowing, and the short time, I could not check the undertail pattern. It flew east above Longs and across 101 in the direction of Burger King and the Evangelical Free Church. Heads up; I think the're here. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 05 Sep 2004 -- This morning Matthew Matthiessen, Chuck Vaughn, and I saw a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on a small pond in Talmage just east of the road. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 04 Sep 2004 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I saw a FORSTER'S TERN, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and a group of ELEGANT TERNS at the mouth of the Garcia River. As a result of the Stornetta easement, you can now walk 5 minutes across the grasses of Point Arena and look down onto the river mouth from a bluff. Much better than walking 40 minutes down the sand from Manchester State Beach and still have to look against the sun. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 29 Aug 2004 -- Mark Colwell reported four AMERICAN AVOCETS at Little River Headlands at about 7:00 a.m., and Sean McAllister reported two YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS at the Caspar Pond at about 2:30 p.m. -- Charlene McAllister
Sun, 29 Aug 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Matthew Matthiessen and I headed over to the coast today hoping to get a head-start on migrating passerines. Well, we pretty much struck out there, but did see a number of birds of local interest between Point Arena and Virgin Creek Beach. On the way over we saw a BLUE GROUSE on the side of Mountainview Road. When we hit Hwy 1, we decided to head straight to the Thompson's on Duxbury to look the the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES which have been reported there occasionally since June. The original 2 birds have grown to 5, so they successfully bred and/or have invited friends in. We then went to the Point Arena Lighthouse. To our surprise and delight, all of the fields along the access road are now open as part of the Stornetta conservation easement purchase. We birded the row of cypress trees on the way in (zilch). We walked from the Lighthouse outer parking area to the bluffs on the S side of the Garcia and scoped right down on the island there. Here among hundreds of peeps we saw 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS, a RUDDY TURNSTONE, and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Heading N we birded Miner Hole Road (nada), stopped at Alder Creek (juv. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON), Van Damme (juv. RING-BILLED GULL), and Casper Creek (nothing). Our final stop was Virgin Creek Beach where we saw 2 more RUDDY TURNSTONES, 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS (all males in basic plumage), 10 MARBLED GODWITS (an unusually high number for MEN?), and a juv. RED KNOT (the bird of the day). Nothing spectacular, but we had a good day with lots of birds. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 28 Aug 2004 -- Today I saw a RED-EYED VIREO shortly after sunrise in some valley oaks along West Road near the Potter Valley Cemetery. I heard some weak, Cassin's-like singing, and, as it was fall, I decided to try to get a look. When I got the singer in my binoculars, I realized I had an eyeline vireo and not an eyering vireo. It played hide and seek in the upper branches, but I finally got an identifying look - red eye and all. Then it flew off to the south over pastures, and I did not see it again. I looked again Sunday and Monday, but no luck. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 27 Aug 2004 -- A GRAY JAY family came to breakfast at the Albion Field Station feeder this morning about 7:30 This is the first time in several years that the Gray Jay has been seen in our valley. There was an adult and 2 juveniles braving the Steller Jay's for the best morsels of food.. The Albion Field Station is a biological field station owned by Pacific Union College. The field station is located by the Albion River located at the end of Albion Street. -- Ruth Wiebe
Fri, 27 Aug 2004, 8:10 AM -- There have been NO reports of the Crested Caracara since Tuesday mid-afternoon. At that time it was seen flying north high above the bluffs heading towards Howard Creek..... north of the 79.75 mile marker sign where the deer carcass is. To all you Humboldt County birders ... be on the lookout. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 26 Aug 2004 -- I went to take a took at noon today. Was disappointed once again. There were two other ladies who had spend about 2 hours and I stayed about 1 hour. There was almost no bird activity on the deer carcass. I went about 3 miles north of 79.75 searching and then continued to search south. There were several flocks of vultures feeding closer to Fort Bragg. Searched each face but no Caracara. -- Ruth Wiebe
Thu, 26 Aug 2004 -- This morning there was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on the bar that is appearing south of the marina at Coyote Dam. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 25 Aug 2004 -- This morning around 10:30 AM a friend and I drove up to see the Caracara. We found the dead deer, several dozens of juvenile and adult Turkey Vultures and a few Common Ravens, but no Caracara.
If someone spots it again, would you mind letting me know? My friend said he'd try another drive up there before the end of the week if someone spots the bird again. Thanks in advance. -- Feather Forestwalker, feather@earthling.net
Wed, 25 Aug 2004 -- Check out this article in the Petaluma Argus Courier on a Crested Caracara in Sonoma county earlier in August http://www.arguscourier.com/news/news/rareeagle040804.html Verry interesting! Could this be the same bird? -- Feather Forestwalker
Tue, 24 Aug 2004 -- The CRESTED CARACARA was present when I arrived at marker 79.75 north of Westport at 2:10 today. It was feeding on the carcass but quickly lifted with several Turkey Vultures, circled a couple of times, then took off in the direction of the ridge. I waited for about 2 hours, but it didn't return. Good birding -- Karen Peterson, Berkeley, CA
Tue, 24 Aug 2004 -- I saw a house finch at my feeder a few days ago with a grossly swollen and reddened eye. The swelling caused some feathers on the head to be pushed up unnaturally, which is what first got my attention. Do we have house finch conjunctivitis (mycoplasma gallisepticum) in this part of the country? I don't know if hitting a window could have caused it. I looked at pictures of mycoplasma gallisepticum on the Internet and nothing looked as dramatic as this swelling. In fact in some of the pictures I couldn't see anything. This was a lump about the size of a fresh pea split in half, and very red and raw looking. -- Kate Marienchild
Tue, 24 Aug 2004 -- Photos of the CRESTED CARACARA taken yesterday by Roger Foote can be viewed in the Mendobirds photo section at http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/lst and at the Peregrine Audubon Website at http://www.pacificsites.com/~chaniot/peregrine/CRCA.html Thank You, Roger.
Mon, 23 Aug 2004 -- This afternoon late I searched the area starting just before Blue Slide north to about 1.5 miles past mile marker 79.5 for the Crested Caracara. I found a flock of Turkey Vultures including several juveniles eating the deer and perched in the tree near by. But I didn't spot the Crested Caracara. I met another car load of birders from San Francisco area about 79.5 mile marker where the deer carcass was located. They had been searching for about 1 1/2 hours when we arrived. I searched Hwy 1 for about 1 1/2 hours. There were several gatherings of Vultures spotted and searched each face to no avail. When I left the area south of Westport the other car was proceeding back north. I was disappointed but didn't have near as far to travel as these other two fellows. There was plenty of deer meat left so my bet is that it will be a great feasting ground for many days. Hopefully I'll get my chance yet! Thanks to you all for the detail directions. It appears to me by the sighting locations on Hwy 1 that he is traversing about an 8 mile or more area. -- Ruth Wiebe.
Mon, 23 August 2004 -- The CRESTED CARACARA was still present along Highway 1 on the coast in Mendocino County today from about 3:00 - 3:30 PM. The bird was seen in the cypress tree near the dead deer carcass at mile marker 79.75 north of Westport. It flew to the north once only to return again a short while later. At
about 3:30 PM it flew to the north along the bluff and disappeared from view. Several local birders observed it today and it would be great to have observation notes from those who see it. As far as we could tell it appears to be a one year old bird with yellow legs and a brown cast to the body (but light was bad). There was lots of meat left on the deer carcass so the bird will probably hang around for a while. -- Bob Keiffer
P.S. We also found the ORCHARD ORIOLE in Westport ranging widely near the intersection of Hillcrest Terrace and Pelican Road. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 22 Aug 2004 -- Around 2:30 PM today Nikki White and I found the CRESTED CARACARA in the area already described. Shortly after Toby Tobkin arrived. We watched the bird for over an hour. At about 4:10 PM the bird flew north. Dave Jensen's report describes the events following our last sighting.
Additional information concerning the discovery of the bird may be of use to those who will be "chasing". I had a call from Bonnie Eagleton a Lake County resident . She saw the bird yesterday at about 2:30 P.M. while driving on highway 1 . At that time it was not far south of Westport in an area called Blue Slide feeding on carrion. This is between Chadbourne Gulch (a steep gulch with a small creek and an extensive riparian area) and Westport. Evidently it then moved north of Westport to its present location and has stayed in that area through today.
Also this morning I found an ORCHARD ORIOLE in Westport. The bird was perched in a tree (there is a dilapidated shed right next to this tree) near the intersection of Hillcrest Terrace and Pelican Rd. It flew off and I could not relocate it. However at about 4:30 P.M. Toby Tobkin refound the bird in the same tree.
Additionally at about 12:30 P.M. there was a fly-over WHITE-WINGED DOVE at the Mendocino Headlands. -- Jerry White
Sun, 22 Aug 2004 -- When I reached the cypress full of vultures this afternoon, the CRESTED CARACARA was gone, having reportedly flown north. Art Morely and I continued to canvas the nearby area. The bird returned to the cypress at about 5:30 and appeared to settle in. Art and I got good looks. The dead deer between the cypress and the road may hold the bird there for a while. -- David Jensen
Sun, 22 Aug 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Roger Hoesterey of Santa Barbara reported seeing a CRESTED CARACARA along highway 1 on the coast in Mendocino County today. The bird was seen at mile marker 79.75 north of Westport. He first saw the bird perched in a cypress tree with a number of Turkey Vultures. It left the tree and soared with the vultures for some time, and then returned to perch in the same cypress. Toby Tobkin and Jerry White are looking for the bird this afternoon, and I am sure there will be posts made regarding their efforts. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 20 Aug 2004 -- A CRESTED CARACARA was seen at Alder Creek on the south coast by Angela Martin, who didn't believe her eyes until it was spotted by others near Westport.
Fri, 20 Aug 2004 -- Mendobirders, My wife Xiaoqing and I birded the mouth of the Gualala River 8-20-04. There was a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER along the river downstream of the Hwy. 101 bridge on the Mendo side. On the Sonoma County side along the straighaway leading to the entrance to Gualala Point Regional Park there was a NORTHERN PARULA (possibly a hatch year bird). Xiaoqing also saw her first PILEATED WOODPECKER and RIVER OTTER. The BLACK SKIMMERS were waiting for me when I returned to Humboldt County.
Also, on 8-19-04 we birded the mouth of the Garcia River. There were lots and lots of shorebirds (SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, WESTERN SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE)
and a large tern flock (ELEGANT TERN, CASPIAN TERN) but nothing shocking. I had a probable Semipalmated Sandpiper, but am uncertain on that one. That is probably where the skimmers rested on their way to Humboldt!
The high point of my trip was my lifer POINT ARENA MOUNTAIN BEAVER at Manchester State Park!! -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Wed, 18 Aug 2004 -- The following is a list of the more interesting birds I recorded during a few days of birding on the Mendocino Coast.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS which are normally found along the coast this time of year in small numbers were seen at several locations (this seems unusual). There was one on Sunday near the mouth of the Garcia. There were 3 today at Virgin Creek and I saw 3 more at the Navarro River Mouth. Guy McCaskie had reported 5 from the Navarro on Monday.
The two EURASIAN COLLARD-DOVES were on Duxbury Road across from the Thompson's on Sunday at about 10AM.
This morning there was a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek (at the beach). -- Jerry White
Tue, 17 Aug 2004 -- We had lots of weather and even a few birds on yesterday's Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip out of Fort Bragg. The trip began in fog so heavy that we couldn't see birds until we "bumped" into them. About 10 miles out we left the fog bank for beautiful sunshine. Highlights of the day were an immature TUFTED PUFFIN we "bumped" into in the fog and a SOUTH POLAR SKUA that gave us all good looks at the back of the boat. Late in the afternoon we also found three FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. In addition to the birds, we encountered a large group of Northern Right-whale Dolphins that played around the boat and entertained us with their antics. Below is the list of birds seen along with numbers of each in parentheses.
Surf Scoter (2), Black-footed Albatross (30), Northern Fulmar (8), Pink-footed Shearwater (250+), Flesh-footed Shearwater (3), Buller's Shearwater (35), Sooty Shearwater (360), Brandt's Cormorant (2), Pelagic Cormorant (4), Red-necked Phalarope (15), South Polar Skua (3), Pomarine Jaeger (15), Long-tailed Jaeger (3), Heermann's Gull (2), California Gull (200), Western Gull (60), Sabine's Gull (2), Common Murre (40, Pigeon Guillemot (5), Cassin's Auklet (8), Rhinoceros Auklet (45), Tufted Puffin (1), California Sea Lion (7), Northern Fur Seal (1), Northern Elephant Seal (1), Northern Right-whale Dolphin (1,000), Pacific White-sided Dolphin (100), Dall's Porpoise (10), Ocean Sunfish (3), Blue Shark (1)
For those interested, Shearwater Journeys has two more pelagic trip scheduled out of Fort Bragg this week - one of Fri the 20th and another on Sat the 21st. Good Birding, -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 16 Aug 2004, 08:45-12:15 -- This morning I birded the relatively inaccessible E. side of Lake Mendocino from the Mesa day-use area to Perry Creek Cove and back. This entailed about 6 miles of walking on trails and shoreline. Probably the best shorebirding right now in interior Mendocino Co. is on the mud just south of spit at the Miti boat-in campground. There were also a few shorebirds at Barn Cove, but none at Perry Creek. Among about 80 LEAST SANDPIPERS were 9 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and an immature BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. There were three immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS and a SNOWY EGRET on this mud too, and 6 CASPIAN TERNS on the emerging bar with three buoys around it.
By the time I got back to the Mesa heat stress was a reality; I should have gone earlier in the day. It probably would be better to boat across from the south marina. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 12 Aug 2004 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin reports two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS at Virgin Creek Beach.
Wed, 11 Aug 2004 -- I was unable to locate Dave's Ibis this evening but did run across some other pretty good birds.
Some shorebird habitat has formed in the flooded rice fields on the west side of Nice-Lucerne Cutoff rd. This is about 1/2 mile south from the intersection with highway 20. Along with dowitchers, peeps, yellowlegs and a Spotted Sandpiper there were 2 Marbled Godwits, a Willet and a Wilson's Phalarope. -- Jerry White
Wed, 11 Aug 2004 -- The wild rice on Reclamation Road near Upper Lake has been harvested and most of the checks have been drained. This afternoon there was one WHITE-FACED IBIS among about 20 egrets in one of the checks. From the corner of Reclamation Rd. and Reclamation Cutoff the Ibis was in the second check to the west and visible from the public road at that time. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 25 Jul 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant I found an imm. WILSON'S PHALAROPE on the north pond (lake!). There was also an imm. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON in the willows along the river. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, YELLOW WARBLERS, and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES are still singing along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 24 Jul 2004 -- Jan and I birded from Mendocino to Arena Cove today. I spent a good bit of effort scoping to sea from the Vista Point north of Irish Beach at about mile 25.5. There were at least a thousand murres offshore here and a few dozen guillemots, but I also found two RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, an adult with an immature, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS, and some oversummering SURF SCOTERS (3), PACIFIC LOONS (group of 16), and a RED-THROATED LOON (1). On Tue, 20 July I also saw an adult Rhinoceros Auklet with an immature just beyond the rocks at Laguna Point. I don't
believe they've ever been confirmed nesting in Mendocino Co., but how far could the immatures have dispersed from nesting sites by this date?
I also spent a good bit of effort searching Stoneboro, Duxbury, Barnegat, Bristol, and Coventry Roads for the Eurasian Collared-Doves reported recently but to no avail. There were a lot of Band-tailed Pigeons in the area. Then as I was driving on Route 1 less than a mile to the south, I saw a pair of doves flying parallel with the car. I pulled over by the Stornetta Ranch composting slugs and got a brief but identifying look at two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES as they disappeared to the south near the green bridge over the Garcia R. I couldn't relocate them. (I first saw this species in Texas in 2002, then in Imperial Co. in Feb 2004, and now Mendocino Co. in Jul 2004. How long before they appear in my yard?) -- George Chaniot
Thu, 22 Jul 2004 -- The Mendocino county Public Health Dept. and Agricultural Dept. confirmed that the West Nile Virus has reached Mendocino County. An American Crow, collected in Ukiah, tested positive for the virus. Other Northern California counties including Butte, San Joaquin, Tehema, and Sacramento also had positive tests very recently. Look for press releases in the news in the next few days. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 20 Jul 2004 -- This morning at around 9:00 AM Chuck Vaughn, while working with the Lyme Disease Research mist-netting group, mist netted an adult RED-EYED VIREO on the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. Chuck was kind enough to call me on the Center radio and I was able to see the bird also and release it. We have no idea if it will hang around. This is Mendocino county's first record for this long-overdue expected vagrant species. -- Bob Keiffer
Further searching by four people on the 20th and 21st failed to turn up this bird again. photos here
Mon,19 Jul 2004 - Both the male and female PURPLE MARTINS were observed this morning near the power pole with the probable nest cavity located in the interior of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center.. The female appears to be molting with the #1 primary or secondary missing in the right wing. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 15 Jul 2004 -- Today at Lake Mendocino I saw at least 7, possibly 11, CASPIAN TERNS on various parts of the lake. All were adults. This still seems early for this number to be showing up here. There was also an adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON at the very south end of Coyote Dam near the small boat dock. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 15 Jul 2004 -- UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The female PURPLE MARTIN was observed atop a power pole near the power pole with the possible nest cavity as discovered by Chuck Vaughn on June 16th. Since the birds had not been seen in awhile we were uncertain whether or not the birds were just passing through or if they were actually nesting. With the female still around a month later it is probable that the pair is nesting. This is the first record of Purple Martin's nesting in the Sanel Valley area. The observers were Troy McWilliams and Bob Keiffer. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 12 Jul 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Earlier this evening I had a CASPIAN TERN noisily flying over my yard toward Lake Mendocino. This is by far the earliest inland Mendocino County fall record of which I am aware. FYI- I visited the USTP on Saturday morning and the conditions for shorebirds out there are really dismal. Two of the oxidation ponds are dry and weedy and the N pond is a lake with no shore at all. Unless management conditions change out there soon, shorebirding will be a bust this fall. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 29 Jun 2004 -- I observed two WESTERN SANDPIPERS at the UC-HREC irrigation pond today. These are very early migrants heading south from their breeding grounds. One was a juvenile. Also, one PEREGRINE FALCON was crossing University Road at the bottom of UC-HREC this early morning. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 29 Jun 2004 -- Two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS (2 females, a subadult male and an adult male) (K-MARTins??) have been active at a utility pole across the street from the SE corner of the K-Mart parking lot on South Main St. in Lakeport. The pole has several old woodpecker holes near the top. Yesterday the adult male and a female were feeding young in the highest hole on the pole, best seen on the east side of the pole. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 27 Jun 2004 - 6:30PM -- While driving back from the coast on the Mountain House Road, which goes from Highway 128 east of Yorkville to Highway 101 at Hopland, I saw two adult and two begging juvenile RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS right at milepost 1.80 (just southwest of Cummiskey Creek Bridge). The birds were very vocal and active on both sides of the road, many times alighting on the fences. There may have been at least one more individual. Another Rufous-crowned Sparrow flew across the road near the culvert at milepost 3.98. These birds should be easy to refind for those that want good looks at RCSP. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 27 Jun 2004 - 4:30 PM -- After a very rough day at sea on a Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip, I ventured down to Manchester State Beach to try to refind the Eurasian Collared Doves that were found earlier in the month by Jerry White and Dorothy Tobkin. They had both seen the birds on Duxbury Lane (off Stoneboro) near the Thompson's (fancy garden) residence. I slowly drove Duxbury Lane twice without finding the birds. I decided to drive out Barnegate, which is a short deadend single lane road which leads to the north and overlooks Hunter's Lagoon at the end. At the end of Barnegate there is a loop, and off that loop is a dirt road which leads another 100 yards to where one can see Hunter's Lagoon. As soon as I parked at the end of this dirt road I looked out the front windshield and the pair of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES where flying by about 100 feet away right-to-left. I was able to get the binoculars on them and verify that they were beige in color, had neck-rings, and dark gray primaries which showed on the upper and lower wing. They disappeared in the direction of the south edge of Hunters Lagoon and Bristol Road (another deadend road). -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 23 Jun 2004 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports seeing a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER at Russian Gulch. At approximately 10 a.m. it was located in the tall willows in the area of the group camp.
Mon, 21 Jun 2004 -- Ron LeValley reports seeing a BROWN THRASHER north of Fort Bragg and south of Westport at mile post 75.25. It was in the long stand of willows along the creek at approximately 9:00 a.m. -- Charlene McAllister
Sat, 19 Jun 2004 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin birded the south coast and refound the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES first reported on 4 Jun.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/message/935
They were just west of and close to the Thompson home, the house with the impressive, manicured gardens, sitting on a utility pole with Mourning Doves nearby. She saw all marks, heard the distinctive song, and notes that they were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a very paired sort of way.
At Miner Hole Road Toby also heard an intriguing warbler singing, perhaps an American Redstart. There were also Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers singing.
Directions to EUCDs: DeLorme p.72, C1; Guide to Finding Birds in Mendocino County, pp.46-47, SC-12. From Hwy 1 south of
Manchester turn west at milemarker 19.64 on Stoneboro Road. Procede 1.1 miles and turn south on Duxbury Road, a 0.6 mile horseshoe. The Thompson home will be conspicuous on the right.
Fri, 18 Jun 2004 -- The BRANT continues at Library Park in Lakeport, the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS on West Road, Potter Valley, and the HOODED ORIOLES at 501 Sherry Drive, Ukiah. -- Mike Feighner
Thu, 10 Jun 2004 -- The BRANT continued in the vicinity of the TNT restaurant all day. It was last seen at 3 PM by Jim Lomax -- Jerry White
Thu, 10 Jun 2004 -- This morning in Lakeport I refound the BRANT at Library Park. When Dave Woodward and I left at 7:15 AM or so the bird was sitting with a bunch of the park ducks on the beach on the south side of the TNT Restaurant. Also the Snow Goose continues. -- Jerry White
Wed, 09 June 2004 -- Today I ran the Branscomb USGS Breeding Bird Survey. Highlights included several HERMIT WARBLERS and a couple PURPLE MARTINS. The are nesting in a snag above the Branscomb Road at mm 0.52. All other species found seemed normal however WESTERN TANAGERS and SWAINSON'S THRUSH seemed rather numerous compared to other past years. Vaux's Swifts have been absent the last two or three years but historically were seen about one mile up Branscomb Road above some mature growth conifers. Even though Branscomb Road is still remote, the number of residences along the road has increased over the last decade. 2 to 4 more Purple Martins are building nests under the Juan Creek Highway 1 bridge, and a River Otter was leaving the rip rap rocks (probable den) to enter the surf. A dozen CASPIAN TERNS were seen along the coast. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 08 Jun 2004 -- My neighbor made an interesting observation of a flock of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at his thistle feeder this afternoon, actually during the thunderstorm. I went over just after the rain stopped and counted 11 Lawrence's Goldfinches, 7 males and 4 females. I got a brief view of several more that were mostly out of sight behind a couple of rocks. One of the males was abnormally colored with a partially white head and nape. Also present were many Lesser Goldfinches and a few American Goldfinches. The feeder is located in Blue Oak Woodland and has been up for a few weeks, but this was the first observation of Lawrence's Goldfinches. On my own neighboring property I have seen 2 pairs of Lawrence's Goldfinches in the past 12 years. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 04 Jun 2004,11:00 AM -- Jerry and Niki White report finding two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at Manchester State Beach. These non-native birds, which have a breeding population in the Los Angeles area, apparently have been showing up along the Pacific Coast recently. These are not to be confused with the smaller Ringed Turtle Doves which occasionally escape aviaries. Jerry reports that these appear to be "wild" birds. They were seen on Duxbury Lane across from the Thompson's residence (the house with the incredible manicured gardens). Exit Highway 1 just a mile-or-so south of the town of Manchester and just north of the Mountain View Road (the road from Boonville). This species MAY be added to the Mendocino county list based upon these observations. If anyone searches for these birds please take notes and document primary flight feather color, undertail coverts color, size of the birds, and amount of feather wear. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 01 Jun 2004 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports two NORTHERN PARULAS recently from the coast. The first was seen and heard Sun, 30 May, about a half mile up Big River Road in some big alders before the Osprey nest. This is the road on the south side of Big River behind the Stanford Inn.
Yesterday, 31 May, and today she had another singing male at the Caspar Cemetery. The bird was heard right at the intersection of the cemetery road and Point Cabrillo Drive and then ranged further back in the cemetery.
Mon, 31 May 2004 -- Over Memorial Day weekend Larry Siemens and I spent some time birding on the northern Mendo coast. Birds of note were the BROWN THRASHER at Little River (seen on Fri 5/28 and Sat 5/29) and a male NORTHERN PARULA along the Big River on Mon 5/31 (the same bird found by Toby Tobkin the previous day).
Birds of interest were a single COMMON NIGHTHAWK displaying over the pygmy forest on Road K just off of Albion Ridge Rd on Fri 5/28. Four LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were at Virgin Creek Beach on Sat 5/29. Two WANDERING TATTLERS, one at Little River and one at Glass Beach, were still hanging around on Sat 5/29. GRAY JAYS were at the upper campground at Van Damme on Sat 5/29 and Sun 5/30.
On Sun afternoon (5/30) during a two hour pelagic we saw approximately 200 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 20 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, 100 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, and 2 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 27 May 2004 -- Chuck Vaughn and I were able to see the BROWN THRASHER at Little River headlands this morning about 08:00 after about an hour wait. See contact information below. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 26 May 2004 -- Once again LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES are coming to the salt feeders here at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. I saw 3 on Friday mid-day and 2 males today at mid-afternoon. Easily seen from University Road, drive up the University Road from East side road just north of the little community of "Old Hopland" (Highway 175 runs through this town). Go about two miles east on University Road, climbing a steep grade along the way. Within about a half-mile past the top of the grade you will pass a green meadow on your right and as you approach a sharp turn to the left you will see a bright red feeder next to a sign that says "Vasser Corner". Park on the right at the pullout leading to the aluminum gate and watch the fenceline for birds. they have been coming to a rubber tub salt feeder next to the bright red feeder. They may also come to the other two modern-looking salt feeders near the bath tub drinking trough.
There has also been a male LAZULI BUNTING in this area. Good Luck. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 26 May 2004 -- An unexpected day off turned into a Hull Mt./Lake Pillsbury trip. Just north of Hull one of the remaining snow fields blocked the road. I ended up walking to and beyond Windy Gap (keeping a wary eye out for the animals that left the distinctive bear tracks along the road). Many of the usual suspects were recorded ; DUSKY FLYCATCHERS (common), RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES (Lake only), and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERs, CASSIN'S FINCH, and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in Mendocino County only. Bonus birds were; a ROCK WREN below Hull Mt summit in Lake and a calling NORTHERN GOSHAWK in the Hull Creek drainage (Mendocino).
Near Lake Pillsbury while sitting in my vehicle at the southeast corner of the runway and having just decided there was nothing left to see in this area a male and female LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES flew up and started feeding about 10 feet from me. They stayed so long I was the one that finally had to leave.
On the way back I checked out the established BLUE GROUSE location for Lake (about 2 miles from Soda Creek right next to "The Slides" road 301) and they were still calling despite the windy conditions, the afternoon time and the late date. -- Jerry White
Wed, 26 May 2004 -- I just returned to Charlene's after a day in the field at Big River. I flushed a bright rusty bird from the feeders and jokingly said that it looked like a Brown Thrasher. Imagine my surprise and delight when a BROWN THRASHER showed up a few minutes later!
It's at 45601 Headlands Drive, Little River, CA. Call us at 937-4463 for detailed directions and an update if you want to come to see it. -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 24 May 2004 -- Last Wednesday Jim Armstrong and I confirmed the nesting of several hundred TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at a pond on private property in SE Potter Valley. This morning I saw several small parties of Tricolors in the hayfields west of West Road about 2.5 miles from that colony. Following up on their movements I discovered a second nesting colony near a vineyard pond 1/4 mile N of the cemetery. The birds were clustered in a hedge of Himalayan blackberries on the south edge of the pond which is right along West Road. I would guess a minimum number of 200 birds here. Tricolors were drinking and gathering nesting material along the edges of the pond and foraging in the vineyards to the west and north. Males were noisily displaying in the blackberries and along the power cable right above. I saw at least a dozen females carrying nesting material into the blackberries. This colony appears to be in an earlier stage of nesting than the first colony, which is now busy feeding many juveniles. There may have been several independent juveniles at the second colony, suggesting that this group may have bred elsewhere this year. I pass this area several times a week, including last Wed, Thu, Sat, and Sun, and I don't think I would have missed them that many times.
These Tricolors are easily seen from West Road, but there is no convenient parking place close by. I suggest parking at the cemetery and walking north on West Road about 1/4 mile to the pond. Be very careful with the traffic. I have previously been asked not to park near the vineyard gate to the north of the pond as it interferes with vineyard activities. All of the nest building activity I saw was in the first 50 yards of the blackberry hedge. There are some photo opportunities here, but I have read that Tricolor colonies may be vulnerable to disturbance at this stage. Be careful. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 19 May 2004 -- So far the BRANT has not been refound in Lake County. -- Jerry White
Tue, 18 May 2004 -- This afternoon about 4:15PM I watched a BRANT land on Clear Lake about 200 yards off shore from the 5th Street boat ramp in Library Park, Lakeport. It stayed for a short time until a boat scared it. The bird then flew to the north along the lakeshore. This is the first county record. -- Jerry White
Sun, 16 May 2004 - The Mendocino Coast Audubon Chapter once again ventured out of the Noyo Harbor at Fort Bragg to look for bird and mammal life off shore. Relatively clear skies and medium seas resulted in a rather pleasant day of bird and whale watching. A few northward bound flocks of PACIFIC LOONS were migrating north totalling about 100 birds. * COMMON LOONS were seen. No Laysan Albatross showed, but about 25 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS showed around the boat. 5 NORTHERN FULMARS, 12 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and an impressive 2500 SOOTY SHEARWATERS graced the waters.
All three cormorants were observed... 12 BRANDT'S, 6 DOUBLE-CRESTED, and 25 PELAGIC. 75 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were in scattered flocks heading north, but no Red Phalaropes were seen. Only 1 jaeger, a POMARINE JAEGER, was observed. Gulls included 15 CALIFORNIA GULLS (nearshore), 300+ WESTERN GULLS, 2 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, 8 SABINE'S GULLS, 1 RING-BILLED GULL, and an unusual FRANKLIN'S GULL were out there. The Franklin's Gull was approached by the boat for grand looks of the bird... and was a Mendocino County first for many of the participants. 2 COMMON TERNS and 7 ARCTIC TERNS flew by.
50 COMMON MURRES, 40 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, and 10 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS made up the alcid list.
Also seen near the harbor were 5 OSPREY, 1 MALLARD, a GREAT BLUE HERON, 2 TURKEY VULTURES,and an occasional COMMON RAVEN.
Mammals included a couple California Sea Lion, 20 Northern fur Seals, 6 to 8 Gray whales, and 4 Pacific White-sided Dolphins.
Once again the Trek II was skippered by Rick Thornton who always does an admirable job. The water temps ranged from 50 - 52 degrees F. The route crossed the Noyo Canyon and ventured 18 miles offshore.
Thanks to all the organizers and leaders and participants .... a good time was had by (almost) all. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 13 May 2004 -- This morning I found another OSPREY nest on the Eel River about halfway between Trout Creek and the Lake County line. It is on the north side of the county road in the broken top of a fir and at an angle of view not likely to be noticed from a vehicle. This second nest is only about 1.5 miles upstream from the nest I reported on Tuesday. I don't know the status of either of these nests other than that they have adults sitting in them. One Osprey has a broken primary near the tip of the left wing which may help in individual recognition. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 13 May 2004 -- Last fall I spotted an OSPREY nest on Highway 20 where Marina Drive turns down to Lake Mendocino. PGandamp;E took down the nest this winter and installed some angle irons to prevent its reconstruction. It is possible that one or both of that pair has found an even better spot about a quarter mile to the northwest. Easily seen going either way on Hwy 20 is the tallest high tension tower featuring a blob at the top. I found the best vantage by going up Road A to Road B then east to Riccetti Lane (where Road B turns north). This point is about 2-300 yards due north of the tower and the nest is quite active with at least one chick and frequent visits from the adults bearing fish dinners. -- Jim Armstrong
Mon, 03 May 2004 -- On May 3rd or so Amy Leist and I saw an ACORN WOODPECKER fly into a tree. Squawking and fluttering promptly ensued, and two entangled birds then spiraled and squawked their way 20 feet or so to the ground. 18" grass surrounded them but I was able to tiptoe to where I could watch them. They remained there, one bird on top, with occasional fluttering and squawking and regular rhythmic movement for FOUR OR FIVE minutes! Then they flew back up into the tree.
Has anyone else ever observed such a thing?
And... I naively bought a house for western bluebirds that is difficult to attach to a post, as the sides are not plumb and the roof overhangs the sides. It can be done - I just thought of how - but I'm wondering if anyone knows if bluebirds will nest in a house that is suspended from hooks and therefore swings. Since they are cavity nesters, and cavities usually don't swing and sway in the breeze, or in response to bird movements, I am wondering if they would reject such a house. I know it's sort of late to put one up, but you never know about second broods or late first broods. -- Kate Marienchild
Tue, 11 May 2004 -- Hello Mendobirders, I was able to approach to within 30 feet of a singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER around 8:00 this evening on South Cow Mt. That was a good thing to be so close because I had neglected to bring my binoculars. Beautiful clear song(s) and they DO go on and on. -- Vishnu
Tue, 11 May 2004 -- 07:30-10:15, I did more birding than jogging this morning along the logging road by the Eel River near Potter Valley. Quite a morning chorus of duelling grosbeaks, tanagers, and a dozen other species singing (s). Highlights were a pair of OSPREYS on a nest right over the county road about 1/2 mile upstream from the Pioneer Bridge, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, BALD EAGLE, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, YELLOW WARBLER, PILEATED WOODPECKERS, and others. Things look good for the Peregrine Audubon field trip here on the 22nd. The logging road is still closed to most traffic due to a slide, and it is quiet and dustless for good birding. Although Purple Martins can be heard overhead occasionally in Potter Valley, they do not appear to be nesting under the bridge where they did from 1989-2002. I heard an unusual quail call this morning, and I was not certain which species it was. It turned out to be a male California Quail stepping very gingerly around a large garter snake. TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS can still be found easily at the end of Burris Lane, and the AMERICAN DIPPERS have fledged one brood and appear to be refurbishing the nest for a second attempt. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 09 May 2004 -- Michael Maltas and I went up Low Gap today hoping to see or hear Blue Grouse. Michael isn't a birder but he has very sharp eyes for wildlife, having grown up in the bush in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. We followed Roger Foote's directions to the place he saw a male blue grouse in full regalia. We didn't hear or see any grouse. Maybe it's too late. We did see a male LAZULI BUNTING, a first for me and spotted by Michael, some WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and a WESTERN TANAGER. On the way home we saw one MOUNTAIN QUAIL on the road, also a first for me!. -- Kate Marienchild
Sun, 09 May 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: We were treated to very good looks (<10') at a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD which visited our feeders several times this morning between 7 and 7:15. Unfortunately, we haven't seen it since. It is a new yard bird! -- Chuck and Barbara Vaughn
Fri, 30 Apr 2004 -- This evening I found a large flock of about 150 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. This flock was rolling through the short grass pastures beyond the gate and the vineyards. The regular occurence of Tricolors here is a new phenomenon of the last several months. I suspect that they are breeding nearby - possibly at a pond on private property over the hill beyond the gate and which cannot be seen from public access. Some of the movement of Tricolors this evening seemed to be to and from that area. Several years ago I saw that pond and noted that it was heavily ringed with cattails - unlike the visible pond. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 27 Apr 2004 -- At 12:30 today Norm Anderson and I observed two BLACK TERNS in breeding plumage on the Upper Arm of Clear Lake, about one half mile offshore from Land's End. We were in a boat, but the terns would have been visible to the SE from Library Park in Lakeport. Some of their flights may have taken them nearly as far north as the park. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 26 Apr 2004 -- Today Cindy and I found a SAGE THRASHER in Mendocino County along the south side of 10 Mile River. After parking at the south end of the 10 Mile River Bridge (about 4 miles north of Ft. Bragg on Highway 1) we walked down the narrow trail to the old roadway and on towards the ocean. The streaks on the bird's breast were distinct. The wing bars were narrow and didn't coalesce into a patch. When it flew across the roadway into a bush, we could see the white tail corners (not entirely white outer retrices), and no white wing patches. Later, talking with Dorothy Tobkin, we learned that this may be only the third record for Mendocino County. The others were in fall. -- Les and Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco
Sun, 26 Apr 2004 -- The COMMON MOORHEN reported last week from Lake Cleone was still present Sunday morning. The bird was among the reeds at the east end of the lake and is most easily seen by scoping from the parking lot. Also at Lake Cleone was a RING-BILLED GULL. There was a RED-NECKED GREBE north of the Laguna Point observation platform. Finally, at the bridge over Jaun Creek there was a PURPLE MARTIN. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 24 Apr 2004 -- Today Dave Woodward and I birded the county on a Spring Big Day. Our species count of 136 was the second highest total ever (we had 141 species in 2000). Highlights were a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a FORSTER'S TERN, two REDHEADS on Borax Lake, and 5 species of owls. -- Jerry White
Sun, 26 Apr 2004 - Today at noon at the Hwy 1 overlook north of Juan Creek I found a loon I identified as a basic ARCTIC LOON. What caught my attention was the white flank patch on each side of the bird. The patches were large and conspicuous and constantly visible while the bird was on the surface. The bird dove frequently during my 30 minute observation but was always easily refound due to those flank patches. Even when the bird was facing directly away it was still easy to locate as it appeared to have two white taillights.
The bird was in close proximity to a basic Pacific Loon for the entirety of my observation. Although I couldn't detect a size difference between their bodies the bill on the arctic was larger and the head appeared to be larger as well. The arctic had more white on the face and neck and did not have a chinstrap. I could not detect a difference in nape shading.
The bird was northwest from the overlook in the general area of where murrelets are often seen. The bird consistently swam to the northwest so that it continually moved farther away from me. I stopped watching when the bird was too far away to observe any details besides the flank patches.
I have no prior experience with Arctic Loon so someone who does will have to comment on how reliable the white flank patches are as a field mark. I have never seen a Pacific Loon with markings this distinct before. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 23 Apr 2004 -- If you go to the old Potter Valley Bridge to watch the AMERICAN DIPPERS feeding 3 or 4 Dipperettes, there is a bonus of a colony of CLIFF SWALLOWS nesting just above the Dipper nest. One species works the air and the other the water; it is fascinating to watch the Dippers zooming over the river, then landing on the rocks below the nest, "dipping" with a morsel in their beaks before being greeted by the open-mouthed brood at the nest opening. Two thumbs up. -- Jim Armstrong
Fri, 23 Apr 2004 -- From 6-7am this morning we had good views of a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD that repeatedly visited a feeder at our home southwest of Lakeport. -- Dave Woodward
Thu, 22 Apr 2004-- Hello, Mendobirders. At 11:59 my dad and I were driving north on Hwy 101 coming into Hopland. Just after crossing the Russian River Bridge about a mile south of Hopland, we saw a mature BALD EAGLE circling lazily just off the Hwy on the west side of the road. We pulled onto the shoulder and we watched the bird for about 5 minutes. It was exquisite, shining in the sun and not very high in the sky. A vulture was circling above it. -- Rachael Smith-Ferri
Thu, 22 Apr 2004 -- There appears to be another HOODED ORIOLE nesting site a few blocks from the Sherry Dr. site in Ukiah. Though I have not been able to spot an actual nest, Hooded Orioles have been at the fan palm at 1520 Gamay Lane the last couple of mornings. This morning a male was exhibiting what seemed to be nest-guarding behavior as he came to the tree and sustained a stream of chatter as he watched me standing in the street below. -- Paul Hawks
Wed, 21 Apr 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Yesterday morning I saw a pair (m, f) of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES near the permanent pasture on the lower edge of the Hopland Research Center. This is where they were present last spring as well. During at least the last decade or so they have become pretty much rare but regular breeders in this part of Mendocino County -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 20 Apr 2004 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reported seeing a COMMON MOORHEN at the eastern end of Lake Cleone early this afternoon. An adult in breeding plumage, it slid in and out of view. She also reported numerous BARN SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS. Other seen were CLIFF SWALLOWS, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS.
Sat, April 17, 2004 -- From 0900 to 1130 - Bob and Ryan Keiffer, Marie and Tess Behnke birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Highlights included a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL mixed with several GREEN-WINGED TEAL. There was a strange looking female duck with the few Ring-necked Ducks, which I now embarrassingly realize (thanks to John Sterling's report) was a female REDHEAD. Other waterfowl included about 20 BUFFLEHEAD, several Great Basin CANADA GEESE, several RUDDY DUCKS, and of course MALLARDS which included one head with 7 newly hatched young. 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a few KILLDEER comprised the only shorebirds. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were calling from the marsh vegetation. Singing BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS from the river and a handful of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS finished the morning's adventure. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 18 Apr 2004 -- I was treated to a wonderful view of a female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER yesterday. What a beautiful bird! Very cooperative. It fed so long in the same part of a tree in front of me that I couldn't hold my arms up any longer (are there exercises for birders' shoulders?). Are these birds with us all summer?
Also this morning a male WESTERN TANAGER in our neighbor's eucalyptus tree. And what I believe was an EVENING GROSBEAK at our feeder. Happy birding. -- David Smith-Ferri
Sun, 18 Apr 2004 -- Howdy, I just returned from Godwit Days in Humboldt...saw the Magnificent Hummingbird...what a great bird! On the drive up on Friday (16 April) I stopped in Ukiah and saw the HOODED ORIOLE at 501 Sherry and saw the female BLUE-WINGED TEAL and REDHEAD at the Ukiah Sewage Ponds...oriole and redhead were long overdue county birds for me.... -- John Sterling, Woodland
Sun, 18 Apr 2004 -- I birded Lake and Colusa counties in the sprinkles and under the nice cloud cover. I started by owling and poorwilling along highway 20 west of Williams to Lake Co. I heard W SCREECH and GREAT HORNED OWLS and POORWILL. At Clear Lake State Park there was a fly over light SWAINSON'S HAWK, a second year BALD EAGLE and at least two OSPREY. Along the lake shore and over the park were many swallows including at least one BANK SWALLOW. Along the Lucerne Cut Off at the north end of the lake in a flooded field were up to 20 G YELLOWLEGS, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL with about 20 CINNAMON TEAL, and 3 HOODED MERGANSERS. -- John Luther, Oakland
Sat, 17 Apr 2004 -- A few weeks ago I reported the presence of HOODED ORIOLES in our neighborhood (northeast of Ukiah High School). A nesting pair has again taken up residence at 501 Sherry Drive where twin fan palms dominate the front yard. The nest is easy to see from the public sidewalk. The nest is in the eastern-most tree, on the east side of the tree). The nest was essentially built in one day, Friday. On Friday morning I spotted two sites about 2 1/2 feet apart where a few strands of fibrous material indicated the start of nest-building. Friday evening, when I returned, the one site displayed what appeared to be a finished nest.
I am curious as to the nesting material used. It is long, string-like pale-yellow fiber. The same nesting material was used last year. Good birding. -- Paul Hawks
Fri, 16 Apr 2004 -- Today around 10 AM there was a HOODED ORIOLE in the palm trees at Kono Tayee and a singing RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW seen from the cul-de-sac at the end of Verna Way. Between Glenhaven and Lucerne on Hiway 20 go to MM 21.87. Verna Way goes up the hill away from the lake. Nearby Cora Dr takes you into the subdivision on the lake. Stay to your left onto Alston Way. Where Alston meets Harry St. there are several palm trees.
Yesterday there was about 25 VAUX'S SWIFTS in flight over the courthouse in Lakeport. -- Jerry White
Fri, 16 Apr 2004 -- Today Joanne Haller and I birded in the Eel River drainage above Potter Valley. Along the county road to Lake Pilsbury we found a booming BLUE GROUSE between milemarkers 33 and 34 in Lake County. By triangulation it seemed to be in a large ponderosa pine with a broken top to the east of the road. There may have been a second bird booming on the other side of the road. It was a very lovely morning with a nice mix of spring migrants. Along the logging road about 1/2 mile upstream from the Pioneer Crossing Bridge we found a male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. This is the earliest record ever by over a week. The logging road is now closed to vehicle traffic due to a slip-out about 0.3 mi. up. That makes it much quieter and better for birding. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 14 Apr 2004 -- This afternoon there was a flock of about 20 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS foraging on the ground in the vineyard at the end of Burris Lane, Potter Valley. I only have a handful of records for Potter Valley, and this is by far the largest group.
Elsewhere but nearby, the AMERICAN DIPPERS are now feeding young at the nest under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road and can be seen pretty easily on their comings and goings. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 15 Apr 2004 -- Hello all, I hit it good this afternoon. Walking in Montgomery Woods I was just at the Kellieowen Grove when the deep silence exploded with a deep owl call somewhat behind me and then from within the grove a more complex BARRED OWL, "Who cooks..." type call. They spoke loudly to each other for a few minutes as the first owl flew into the grove; eventually joining the other on a high branch and apparently food which had been brought in was exchanged. Good views for about a minute and then the one flew off leaving its mate in the grove. This occurred at 6:20 pm and though I remained in the area for another hour there were no subsequent vocalizations or appearance. -- Vishnu
Thu, 08 Apr 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I saw a VESPER SPARROW just above the office area at the Hopland Center this afternoon. The bird was feasting on Crane Flies in the tall grass adjacent to the road and was quite approachable. I believe this is just the Center's third Vesper Sparrow record, and the second spring bird. It was a good sparrow day, all in all. Grasshopper Sparrows are now singing in both of our known breeding areas, and I watched a Rufous-crowned Sparrow actually fly into one of our barns. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 05 Apr 2004 -- This is unusual to say the least. WILD TURKEYS down by the Albion River at the Albion Field Station. Yesterday, Sunday one lone hen meandered thru camp late in the afternoon. Direction of travel was from the River southward up along our canyon creek. Today, Monday She was back with two hen friends. So far no Tom's have been observed. This is definately not turkey habitat. I've seen them in north Fort Bragg and again in Anderson Valley, we know them to be on the coast but not along this section of the coast and river. How did they get here (one step at a time my husband said) but Why?
The Albion Field Station is the marine biological field station for Pacific Union College. 3 miles north of Hwy 128 and Hwy 1 intersection is Albion. Take Albion Street from the Market down to the Albion River and that is where the field station is located.
I also have been noticing the return of the ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS for the past week. -- Ruth Wiebe, Albion Field Station
Sun, 04 Apr 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I went out to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant in the early-morning fog. Apparently there has already been a good turnover of birds in the last couple of days according to the log in the office. I could not refind the f Blue-winged Teal, but did find a f REDHEAD. The Snow Goose, which spent the winter and most of March, has been replaced by a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Mixed in with a bunch of LEAST SANDPIPERS and a couple of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. The passerines on the river were pretty quiet. Unfortunately, I did see lots of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS which seem to plague the miserably thin riparian strip that has been left there. HERMIT THRUSHES are singing in my yard. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 04 Apr 2004 -- HOODED ORIOLES have returned to our neighborhood. Two males very active this morning in our neighbor's palm and eucalyptus trees. We've seen these birds each spring/summer since we moved here 6 years ago; they often come to our feeder, as do the Bullock's, which we've been seeing for about a week now. In past years, I haven't looked carefully for nests...I'll do that this year. Several neighbors have palm trees -- David Smith-Ferri
Fri, 02 Apr 2004 -- The HOODED ORIOLES are back in the neighborhood north and northeast of Ukiah High School. I have heard and then seen a Hooded Oriole the last couple of mornings, but as of now, there seems to be no evidence of their establishing a nesting site in the palm trees at 501 Sherry Dr., where they have nested the past several years. I'll keep looking. -- Paul Hawks
Wed, 31 Mar 2004 -- I dropped by the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant in the
early afternoon today. There were several GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a single
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER on the middle pond (seen as early as 24 Mar by Matt Brady, I see by the register). On the north pond there was a nice variety of ducks including one female BLUE-WINGED TEAL making a nice side-by-side comparison with females of the other two teal species.
Some new arrivals today were a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in Redwood Valley and a female Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird at my place in Potter
Valley. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 31 Mar 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I had the opportunity to get up Low Gap early this morning to look/listen for BLUE GROUSE, primarily. Unfortunately it was very windy at the top of the gap. Fortunately I was still able to hear a least 2 males "booming". They were in exactly the same spot that Matthew Matthiessen found them last year. Go 0.75 miles past the second cattle guard (located at the top of the gap). About 0.1 miles past a long, sweeping meadow just below the road, the road makes 2 sharp lefts in a backwards "S" and the birds were best heard below the second left turn. There is a very wide and dry turnout here. There were lots of recent arrivals singing up there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 24 Mar 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood. This morning I saw a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at the HREC. The bird was in the lower of 2 historical breeding areas on the Center, and is our earliest record ever. Incidentally, this site is 1/4 mile or less from one of the proposed CalTrans routes for the future "Hopland Bypass". Other recent arrivals in the area included Pacific-slope Flycatchers, a Western Kingbird, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, a warbling Warbling Vireo, numbers of Orange-crowned Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, and singing Bullock's Orioles. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 22 Mar 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders, There were two adult male PURPLE MARTINS along Red Hills Rd. today, 3/22, the same date that I first observed martins at that location in 2003. This morning there were five martins circling in
the area including one non-adult male.
The location is about 5 mi. SE of Kelseyville. Turn south off Hwy 29 onto Red Hills Rd and watch for martins along the 2.2 mile
length of the road. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 21 Mar 2004 -- Today on private property along Robinson Creek Rd. (just west of Ukiah) a male BLUE GROUSE was found booming in the top of a large fir tree. Long and excellent views of him were had. A short while later and several hundred yards away equally fine views were had of a motionless female Blue Grouse perched on the ground. (Although I was no longer able to hear the male at that point I rather hoped that her hearing was more acute than mine so as to not have all his ardor be for nought and whatever passes for love between grouse go unrequited in this lovely Spring.) -- Vishnu
Sun, 21 Mar 2004 -- At 2pm, driving east on Black Bart Rd, Rachael and I saw a GOLDEN EAGLE in very hot pursuit of a red-shoulder hawk. The birds came swooping down across the road about 30 feet in front of our car, into a grove of oak trees on the south side of the road, then back up again out of the trees, over them, and out of sight behind them and into the valley. It was quite something to see how small the hawk appeared, and to see how agile and fierce the eagle was. We were able to stop the car and watch for a few seconds, but we didn't have a chance to look with our binoculars. I've only seen a golden eagle twice before, and both times I was able to take my time and use binoculars. I hope someone will tell me if I'm crazy, and these eagles never chase/hunt hawks...I am quite sure the bird in pursuit was not a red-tail hawk... -- David Smith-Ferri
Sun, 21 Mar 2004, 2:10 pm -- PILEATED WOODPECKER flying west across highway 101, near West Road in Redwood Valley. This is the first pileated woodpecker I've seen since the late fall. Usually we see them near our house on Mill Creek Rd into the winter. I'm wondering what their migratory patterns are, and whether other birders have been seeing them this year. I know that these woopeckers aren't rare, but since I haven't seen one for several months, I thought it might be noteworthy. Also, we hear a GREAT HORNED OWL every morning and evening at our home. Is this something people in this group would be interested in knowing? Thanks -- David Smith-Ferri
Thu, 18 Mar 2004 -- The Burrowing Owl is no longer being seen on Pine Ave., Potter Valley. It was last seen March 4. Jim Armstrong and I inspected the burrow today and found it empty with no signs of avian occupancy nearby. The roof of the burrow was collapsed about a foot from the entrance - perhaps due to the Tule Elk which were there 2-4 Mar.
However, the GREAT HORNED OWL can still be seen roosting on the catwalk under the Hwy 20 bridge over the inlet to Lake Mendocino. It roosts between the middle pillar and the east pillar. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 17 Mar 2004 -- This afternoon there were two male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS among other blackbirds foraging among the horses and burros at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. There were also three CINNAMON TEAL on the pond. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 11 Mar 2004 -- A follow-up to last Saturday's Peregrine Audubon owling trip to the Bu-Shay Recreation Area: This afternoon there was a GREAT HORNED OWL roosting under the Highway 20 bridge over the Russian River inlet to Lake Mendocino. About 4 PM it was sitting on the catwalk between the 1st and 2nd pylon west of the road under the bridge. It was in plain sight. Why couldn't I see it last Saturday before it got dark? -- George Chaniot
Wed, 10 March 2004 -- A pair of OSPREY were at the mouth of Ten Mile River today. There were also seven TREE SWALLOWS at the mouth of DeHaven Creek. -- David Jensen
Sun, 07 Mar 2004 -- - Drove up to Round Valley yesterday morning to see what was about. The only bird of note there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. On the way up I stopped off at Dos Rios and found two ROCK WRENS and one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW along the river.
In the afternoon I drove over to Ten Mile Beach where the NORTHERN SHRIKE was still present. The bird was in the wet area immediately south of Inglenook Fen. -- Matthew Matthiessen
sun, 07 Mar 2004 -- Today I went to look for the Northern Shrike. Not being familiar with the area or knowing terms like "Grange Hall" etc., I opted to walk south from Ten Mile River. I parked by the bridge over the river (Hwy 1, south end of the bridge, west side) and followed the trail down to the river which puts you on an old paved road. I followed this road south (it first heads west towards the ocean) for a good hour scanning for the shrike. As the pavement ran out, I finally reached a corral of sorts with a shed in the northwest corner where Toby reportedly saw the Shrike yesterday. No, of course it wasn't there today. I continued on in the sand another 1000 feet or so and then headed east over the dunes a couple hundred yards, then angled back north. I came upon some shallow marsh areas and suddenly saw the NORTHERN SHRIKE fly across the wet area, catch an insect, and land on a leafless bush to eat. It was about 100 feet away. I watched the Shrike work the area for about 20 minutes, then left continuing north. When I came over a large dune, I was faced with a large pond/small lake.
Later back on the old paved road heading north, I ran into Matthew Matthiessen riding out on his bike. He said this pond was the "Fen". To make it easier to get to the same spot, follow the south side of that corral east and continue another 200 feet along the ridge. You should see the "Fen" on the north side of the ridge and the marshy area on the south side. Of course, the Shrike won't be there but you should lose 5 pounds.
For my own two uneducated cents worth of opinion, this Shrike does have adult plumage, but the first half of the bill (both mandibles) is pinkish pale from the nasal tuft, with the second half dark to the tip. Thus, I think this bird is a first year bird. -- Jim Lomax [from countybirders]
Sat, 06 Mar 2004 -- The Peregrine Audubon Society owling field trip went to the Bu-Shay Recreation Area at Lake Mendocino instead of Montgomery Woods. We heard a BARN OWL make two passes overhead, and one WESTERN SCREECH-OWL responded to a tape. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 06 Mar 2004 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin refound the NORTHERN SHRIKE in the Inglenook Fen area. She walked out from the Grange Hall side and found the shrike near the shed in the NW corner of the old fenced area where cattle once ran. At Laguna Point she found one ROCK SANDPIPER among Black Turnstones at high tide, and at Ward Avenue there were 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 4 RED-NECKED GREBES, 15 BLACK SCOTERS, and an early BARN SWALLOW.
Sat, 06 Mar 2004 -- This afternoon Gary Maddox found a "YELLOW-SHAFTED" NORTHERN FLICKER at the Burris Lane Pond in Potter Valley. The bird was perched in the top of the first oak tree along the fenceline due east of the pullout overlooking the pond. We were able to study the bird through the scope before it flew to the south and disappeared behind a group of trees. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 05 Mar 2004 -- Hi All, My friend Pat MacEwen and I drove up from Stockton Wednesday. I was looking for Harlequin Duck and Rock Sandpiper. Pat is a beginner so most things were new for her.
We tried Glass Beach, but nothing was around but a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. We went to MacKerricher and I made it out to Laguna Point and back. Not a mean feat (especially after Glass Beach) as I'm partially disabled and can't walk far or stand long. No Rock Sandpipers, but Black Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel, and IDing cormorants and gulls kept Pat busy. A Pacific Loon flew by.
Thursday morning we made it a point to be at Laguna Point at high tide. No Rock Sandpipers. Pat spotted some oystercatchers and a Black Turnstone on a
rock. On closer inspection, there were at least 20 oystercatchers and five turnstones in a group. It was hard to tell, as most of them were sleeping and unless you got a flash of red or pink it was hard to tell the birds from the rock. I saw 15-20 Sanderlings fly by.
As we started to leave I was thinking I was too sore to try Glass Beach again (I was wondering if I could make it back to the car). A couple of
other birders arrived singly and gave advice. One was Dorothy Tobkin (Toby) who is familiar to this list. She said she'd been sick, and didn't think anyone had seen the sandpipers in days- but they should still be around for another couple of weeks. She didn't think the high tide was high enough for a good chance at a sighting, though. She said there were scoters in the water off Ward Ave. and I wouldn't even have to get out of the car- so Pat and I decided to forget Glass Beach and hit Ward Ave. before leaving for Stockton.
Well, the second bird I put my bins on was a gorgeous drake HARLEQUIN DUCK! Thanks, Toby!!! I hope one of you up there thanks her for me, as she said she doesn't have email. I put my window-mounted scope up and enjoyed that beauty for almost a half hour. It was amazingly hard keeping track of him as he rode the waves and dove and dove and dove. But fun! Next year, I'll get that Rock Sandpiper. Maybe a high tide in January... -- Cheri Pillsbury, Stockton
Fri, 05 Mar 2004 -- The SNOW GOOSE is still with the mixed duck and geese flock in Lakeport. I saw the bird today in Willow Point Resort which is just to the south of Library Park. Also the TUFTED DUCK was still at Borax Lake. -- Jerry White
Thu, 4 Mar 2004 -- I went over to see the it in Potter Valley March 4th and as promised, the BURROWING OWL was peeking up out of it's hole off Pine. -- Jim Lomax [from countybirders]
Sat, 28 Feb 2004 -- There was a first-year GLAUCOUS GULL at Laguna Point beach with an assortment of other gulls. One BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE flew by also. This was all about 3:00 pm -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 28 Feb 2004 -- Hi all, Charlene and I walked south from Ten Mile River this morning and found the NORTHERN SHRIKE on the north side of Inglenook Creek. It was first visible perched at the top of a dune about 75 meters east of the haul road on the north bank of the creek. We walked inland a short ways and watched it from pretty close range. It appeared to be a full adult, with no hint of brown in the plumage and no visible barring on the sides of the breast.
We also saw 22 SNOWY PLOVERS along the beach, 6 of which were banded. Five of the banded birds were from the Humboldt population and one was a Santa Cruz bird that has been present in Mendocino for a few years. -- Ron LeValley, Arcata
Fri, 27 Feb 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning I went out to Pine Avenue in Potter Valley where George Chaniot showed me the BURROWING OWL that he has tied to a stick out there. I walked around the USTP ponds early in the afternoon. All of the ponds now have water, and after a 2-weeks' absence, I saw lots of new birds. There were at least 12 spp of waterfowl and the SNOW GOOSE is still present. There was a HORNED GREBE in with several Eareds. On the S pond I found lots of LEAST SANDPIPERS and singleton DUNLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, both very early inland. I picked through probably 100 TREE SWALLOWS, but could not find any other swallows among them. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 27 Feb 2004 -- This morning I found a male TUFTED DUCK (with a tuft) on Borax Lake among the scaup flock (several thousand).
I also relocated one of the PACIFIC LOONS that have been present since mid-December. I saw this bird in one of the huge flocks of fish- eating birds on Clear Lake. This was from Lakeshore Dr. ( near 11426 Lakeshore Drive). This general area is called Clearlake Park and is near Windflower Point several miles from the City of Clearlake.
Further out at Windflower Point there were thousands more birds which included grebes, gulls, ducks, and cormorants. -- Jerry White
Wed, 25 Feb 2004 -- I don't want to wear out your interest in this bird, but the BURROWING OWL on Pine Ave. was sitting outside the same hole in the drizzle this afternoon. It dived down the hole when pelted by a spurt of rain but came out shortly when it died down. It can disappear completely from view down the hole. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 -- As soon as I got Matthew's post, I went right back to
Pine Ave., having been there less than an hour earlier. Following his good directions I found the BURROWING OWL sitting in the scrape just beyond the pi-shaped fence posts. Only the top of its crown was visible from the Pine Ave. Assoc. sign, but I walked up the road to the yellow 'SLOW' sign where I could scope into the hole and see the owl's whole head. Hopefully this bird will find the hole to its liking because it is less than 100 m from the road and a nice view for this difficult Mendobird.
No bluebirds of any species today, but the AMERICAN DIPPER was singing somewhere near the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. Its favorite rocks were covered by waters from last night's rains, but it could be heard singing from some hidden location.
For those unfamiliar with Potter Valley, turn onto Potter Valley Road from Hwy 20 about six miles east of Hwy 101. Follow this road for 2.25 miles and continue straight on East Road about 2 miles further. Turn right onto Pine Ave. and follow it about one mile to the sign where the paved county road ends. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 -- This morning I went up to Pine Ave in Potter Valley to try and photograph the Mountain Bluebird George reported yesterday. Didn't find the bluebird but did find a BURROWING OWL. The bird was visible from the Pine Ave Assoc. sign. At the sign face to the southwest. There is a fence running due south about 50 m beyond the sign. Locate the two wooden fenceposts with the wooden cross beam joining them at the top. Look over this crossbeam and into the field beyond. There is a dirt scrape in the field and the BUOW was sitting in this small dirt patch. I couldn't tell if there was a burrow here or just a bare patch. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 23 Feb 2004 -- This evening just before sunset I saw a single MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD male with a flock of 10 Western Bluebirds on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. This was in the same area where Mountain Bluebirds appeared in 2001 and 2003 - along the road near the broad pullout on the right just before the Pine Ave. crosses the creek about 3/4 mi. from East Road. A passing car put the flock up, and they flew together to the oaks to the south. In past years they have roamed widely throughout the whole area you can see from the pullout and from the Pine Ave. Association bulletin board a little further up the road. The range of dates when they have been seen here before is 1 Feb - 6 Mar. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 22 Feb 2004 -- John Sterling reports a CANYON WREN on the Russian River along Potter Valley Road and the continuing WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Fort Bragg.
Sat, 21 Feb 2004Howdy Birdheads, I am hoping that some of you can review these photos....especially Mr. Dunn, Mr. Morlan, Mr. Singer, Mr. Webb and anyone else with more experience with Iceland Gulls than I. I photographed what I believe is an Iceland Gull at McKerricher S.P. in Mendocino last Saturday. Is this correct or is it impossible to make a positive ID? I anxiously await your feedback.
I have much better photos that I can send to you upon request (~1.2 mb), but I only placed low resolution photos on my website.
I completely forgot about it until now when I put the images on my computer because it was my first time using my digiscoping setup and I didn't think that I had good results. Also...I am ashamed to admit that I had casually forgotten due to the general lack of CA birder's interest in Iceland Gull because of its close taxonomic relationship to Thayer's Gull and I left the bird as a "mystery gull" ID at the time. A severe and uncharacteristic lapse of judgement on my part. Hope that some of you can refind the bird. It was sitting on the beach at the parking lot to Laguna Point. See the photos at http://www.cal.net/~ani/photos.htm -- John Sterling, Woodland, CA
Sat, 21 Feb 2004 -- Today I relocated the NORTHERN SHRIKE reported on the 15th from the Ten Mile River area by David Jensen. The bird was along the Haul Rd about a half mile north of Inglenook Creek (about 1.5 miles south of Ten Mile River) at 10:00. At this location a small inlet from the ocean comes in next to the road and there are trees and bushes on the east side of the road. The shrike was perched in the only tree on the west side of the road (a small dead pine tree maybe four feet tall).
I spotted the perched bird from about 100 yds away. Unfortunately it flew seconds later. It disappeared to the southwest behind a mound and even though I searched for another 90 minutes I was unable to relocate it.
Also of interest were three BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and one ROCK SANDPIPER at Laguna Point. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 18 Feb 2004 -- As I drove south on Highway 101, south of Hopland, I observed two adult PEREGRINE FALCONS power-diving a Red-tailed Hawk that was flying in front of the face of the large rock historically known as Squaw Rock. From the position of the birds and their activity I am guessing that the resident pair of Peregrines is once again nesting on the ledge on the vertical face of the rock. This ledge is about three-quarters the way up the rock on the east-south-east facing side of the rock ..... not the alternate nesting ledge on the northeast "mossy" face of the rock. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 15 Feb 2004 -- A suspected NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the mouth of Ten Mile River during yesterday's MCAS field trip, but the bird flew before we could approach near enough to confirm. This morning I found the bird further south on the east side of the haul road at Inglenook Creek. It is definitely a NORTHERN SHRIKE. -- Dave Jensen
Sat, 14 Feb 2004 -- A BARRED OWL was calling between 06:50-06:55am in the Montgomery Woods State Reserve. The reserve is located on the Orr Springs Road, which is 13.8 miles from the North State Street in Ukiah. The bird was in the Kellieowen Grove. NOTE: There is a right hand arrow at 13.8 miles, the parking lot is
behind this sign. I don't think there is a sign indicating Montgomery Woods from the Ukiah side. Map for trails is at http://www.mcn.org/1/mendoparks/mwtrail.htm
(3) GRAY JAYS were taking hand-outs at Van Damme State Park, by the visitor's center. -- Calvin D. Lou [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Tue, 10 Feb 2004 -- Matthew is on to something here. Lesser Scaup are very hard to find at Lake Mendocino. In past years the numbers of scaup overwintering on Lake Mendocino has been in the 1000-4000 range. This year the number is in the 150-300 range, and Lesser Scaup is almost absent. Unbeknownst to anyone but myself, I have begun doing a weekly survey of the waterfowl on Lake Mendocino, weather permitting, starting in Sep 2003. I had become concerned with the low numbers of ducks in the 2002/03 winter and decided to start documenting numbers. I have found a few Lesser Scaup, but it is difficult. In the last two weeks the ratio of GRSC:LESC has been 124:3. The scaups have been mainly in the north end in the Pomo A area and up in the inlet almost to the Hwy 20 bridge.
As for the low numbers of diving ducks, I am sticking to my hypothesis that it is due to the drawdown of Lake Mendocino in the fall of 2002 causing destruction of the bottom fauna, principally the fingernail-sized clams which the diving ducks and some dabbling ducks can be seen to be eating. If this is true, I predict the numbers will begin to increase in the coming years as the bottom fauna recovers. In the fall of 2002 scaup arrived in usual numbers, but they did not remain even when the water level came back up (Remember that Christmas Count?!). In the fall of 2003, the numbers never built up.
In addition there has been a long-term decline in numbers of both scaup since the 1960's becoming serious in the late 1990's. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 09 Feb 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders, So far this year I've been up to Lake Mendocino three times and have yet to see a single LESSER SCAUP. GREATER SCAUP are easy to find though numbers seem to be significantly lower than normal (actually the numbers of ducks in general seems to be very low). It's been my experience that the split between LESC and GRSC on the lake is fairly even. Has anyone seen a LESC on the lake this year and if so from where? How many were seen on the CBC and what was the ratio between scaup species? Any theories on where they are? -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 08 Feb 2004 -- Today I spent a little time birding the south Mendo coast. At 0900 "Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was in the harbor at Arena Cove. Scoping from the Point Arena lighthouse produced only two NORTHERN FULMARS. At Brushy Creek were a couple hundred TUNDRA SWANS as well as six SNOW GEESE and one ROSS'S GOOSE. The FERRUGINOUS HAWK at mm 26.92 on Hwy 1 was ready and waiting when I drove by. Finally, one BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was among the large group of gulls roosting at Navarro Beach. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 05 Feb 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders- There were 6 TREE SWALLOWS over the permanent pasture at HREC earlier today. Those were the first I've seen this year. It was nice to hear their excited bubbling. Time to dust off your optics!! -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 01 Feb 2004 -- At Clam Beach just north of Arcata I saw a red gull today. The gull was brown and looked just like the other gulls it was hanging out with, except it had large patches of red on it. There was a patch on the back of its head and along its wings and tail. All the coloring was symmetrical, so it wasn't blood or paint. Has anyone seen a gull like this or know why it was colored that way? Also, at Clam Beach last weekend I saw a burrowing owl near the mouth of the Little River. -- No Name (kandjluvs)
Sat, 31 Jan 2004 -- On Jan31 , a ROCK SANDPIPER was re-found at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park. It was part way up the bluff at the end of the boardwalk. A BURROWING OWL was found in the field adjacent to boardwalk. -- Patrick Santanellow [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Wed, 28 Jan 2004 -- This afternoon at 2:45 at the end of Burris Lane, Potter Valley, I saw the BURROWING OWL sitting on the same rock as I reported on Jan 20. The rock in question is in an isolated clump of rocks half-way up the distant grassy slope to the NE. You are not going to get a satisfying look at this fellow without a scope since it is maybe 400 m off. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Jan 2004 -- Dear Mendobirders - Peggy and I had a fine, fun day along the Mendocino coast on Sunday January 25. Thanks to all who gave fine directions to the GRAY JAYS - we had three right at the Visitor's Center of Van Damme park, albeit they scorned the bread we offered from our subs. Otherwise a solid day of 65 species. We had the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Point Arena (3rd year I've visited Al), plus a PEREGRINE FALCON at the Point, who flew leisurely for a while, then made a fast pass at the ocean, coming up empty (we think maybe he was just washing his feet!). At the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, we had a two VARIED THRUSH. We were surprised, generally, at how little activity there was on the ocean, and how few shorebirds were around in the Ft. Bragg area. On previous trips, I had seen a good mix of rocky shorebirds at McKerricher, but this time, except for a very large flock of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS (circa 40) and a few BLACK TURNSTONES, high tide did not yield anything more unusual - is this a weekend problem?
We came for shorebirds and seabirds, we got raptors! RED-TAILED HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, WHITE-TAILED KITE, the aforementioned PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERICAN KESTREL, and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK along SR1 about 8 miles north of Point Arena. It seems it is quite a good year for FERRUGINOUS HAWKS throughout northern California - my county lists are all looking the finer for it!
Thanks also to the staff at the Audubon center, who were very helpful -- Jennifer Rycenga and Peggy Macres, Half Moon Bay
Thu, 22 Jan 2004 -- On Jan 22, (3) ROCK SANDPIPER are reliably being seen at Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park at high tide . (4) HARLEQUIN DUCKS, (14) BLACK SCOTERS and (3-4) RED-NECKED GREBES are being seen in the Ward Ave area. Up to (7) HARLEQUIN DUCKS can be seen at Glass Beach, on the rocks or in the cove to the south of the main walkway, high tide is best. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE is being seen in Fort Bragg, call 707-964-8844 for directions and permission. -- Dorothy Tobkin [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Thu, 22 Jan 2004 -- Add three BLACK-SHOULDERED KITES (with white tails) to the growing list of recent raptor sightings (9?) on Burris Lane, Potter Valley. They were about a mile west of the pond (my house) and were soaring quite high for their normal hunting routine. -- Jim Armstrong
Wed, 21 Jan 2004 -- The Lake County BURROWING OWL was seen today by at least 3 people (at different times during the day) at its location near the Hidden Valley Treatment Plant. -- Jerry White
Tue, 20 Jan 2004 -- At about 11:15 today I had a BURROWING OWL visible from the knoll above the pond on Burris Lane, Potter Valley. In 25+ years of visiting this spot this is only the second time I've seen one here. Other people have reported them occasionally in the Burris Lane/Pine Avenue area through the years. This bird was sunning itself atop a clump of rocks on a hillside to the NE. As I was watching it through the scope, it stretched up tall looking at something and then hopped down quickly behind the rocks. Immediately a PRAIRIE FALCON flew through the field of view low over the rocks. The owl did not reappear during the next 45 min. Maybe there is a
secure burrow back there. To the list of raptors seen recently from this spot add Red-shouldered Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Burrowing Owl.
At 11:00 the AMERICAN DIPPER was singing again under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. To the list of birds which have begun singing in the last week add White-breasted Nuthatch and Oak Titmouse. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 19 Jan 2004 -- Today at Clear Lake State Park there was a PACIFIC-SLOPE(?) FLYCATCHER that was 1st reported in December. The bird was seen from the boat launch parking lot and was in the riparian along Kelsey Creek. Also there were 15 TREE SWALLOWS.
The BURROWING OWL reported on Friday near the Hidden Valley Treatment Ponds was seen on Sunday by Susanne Scholtz. She spoke to a local man who said it had been present for several months. -- Jerry White
Sat, 17 Jan 2004 -- Heard two BARRED OWLS calling back and forth just at dusk at Montgomery Woods State Park. They began at about 6:00 PM on their own. The assumed female was responding from the se direction (we were at the first main "Grubb Grove"grove of big trees) .. calling somewhere near the Kellie Owen grove. The assumed male was calling from the eastern segment of the loop trail and worked his way down the hill in the direction of the parking lot. They called for about 15 minutes or so. No other owls were heard. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 17 Jan 2004 -- Gary and Judy Maddox and I were able to refind the PRARIE FALCON in Potter Valley originally reported by George Chaniot several weeks ago. We observed the bird from the pond overlook at the east end of Burris Lane at about 1600. The bird was perched in the top of a tree on a ridge line east of the pond.
Also visible from this location were two GOLDEN EAGLES, one BALD EAGLE,
a RED-TAILED HAWK, a NORTHERN HARRIER, one WHITE-TAILED KITE, two
AMERICAN KESTRELS, and a COOPER'S HAWK making it a fairly decent raptor
spot. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 16 Jan 2004 -- Today near Hidden Valley Lake subdivision (north of Middletown) I found a BURROWING OWL. Take Grange Road (east) off of Highway 29. This turn is just to the north of mile marker 9.21. Continue on Grange Road till you see a paved road that goes south with two signs at the intersection ; one for Crazy Creek Glider and the other for the Hidden Valley Lake Water Reclamation Plant. Go about 3/10ths of a mile. The owl was standing right next to the road (on the west side) at the high point of a large bump beside what appeared to be a burrow. I did not get out to investigate as it would have disturbed the bird. I was able to stop using the car as a blind and watch the bird from about 12 feet. It was aware of the vehicle but it did not flush.
I have only seen Burrowing Owl at three locations in the county and this is by far the most accessible and convenient. Hopefully the bird will stay (and not get run over). This was at about 12:55 PM. When I drove back by at 1:10 the bird was still there. There were also 2 SAY'S PHOEBES and a NORTHERN HARRIER along this road.
Also today there was an immature BALD EAGLE at Detert Reservoir . And further on towards highway 29 on Butts Canyon Rd. there were two FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. In Clearlake at Austin Park there were a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, THAYER'S GULL, and an adult WESTERN GULL along with the ever present PHAINOPEPLA. At Borax Lake the hybrid (Tufted type) duck continues. -- Jerry White
Mon, 12 Jan 2004 -- This morning at about 09:00 the AMERICAN DIPPER was singing under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. This is the earliest date I have ever heard them. Dipper is one of the earliest birds to begin singing and nesting here, although mockingbirds and meadowlarks have been making a half-hearted attempt at singing recently. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 11 Jan 2004 -- Hello all: Kris Olson, Bob Lewis and I thought it would be fun to tackle a county big day again . . . . but where, and when? The 'where' was settled when I suggested we take on the nearest county where none of us had recorded any birds previously. January 11 was the first time after the idea arose that we all had a free day, so that set the 'when.'
Oh, and we agreed we wouldn't do any scouting beforehand . . . .
Happily, there were many posts on these and other mailing lists that helped us plot a tentative route. And, thankfully, John Luther, Dave Woodward and Jerry White were kind enough to offer helpful comments on our plan, suggestions of other locations to check, and notes on birds we might expect.
Our route began at 4 am with owling between Cobb and Kelseyville, continued after dawn with an hour at Clear Lake State Park, then comprised a slow counter-clockwise circle around Clear Lake and environs, including a detour up High Valley Road. We ended at Library Park in Lakeport shortly before sunset, then high-tailed it back to Berkeley, trying in vain to spot some geese at Hidden Valley Country Club along the way.
We lucked out with the weather, being hampered only by dense fog during our time at Clear Lake SP and some late afternoon glare as we scoped the lake from SR 20. Despite our unfamiliarity with the county we lost only about 15 minutes to driving miscues. We did adjust our itinerary during the day by dropping a few hoped-for stops in order to stick to our overall schedule, but overall our plan worked pretty well.
We ended up recording 92 species and saw all of these but the non-Tyto owls. We called in a Barn Owl before dawn, and, fittingly, ended the day by enjoying a pair of Barn Owls cuddling together in Library Park.
We have no way to calibrate this result, but do feel very good about it. We had dreamed of 100 species -- and can see how that could have been reached -- but in our hearts were quite ready to settle for 75, considering our nearly complete ignorance about the county. (We figured out during our drive up that none of us had even BEEN in Lake County before.) Beyond the species count, we had a lot of fun, and learned a bit about Lake County. We'll be back. -- Dave Quady, Berkeley
Sun, 11 Jan 2004 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Someone is leaving seed out in the planters between Albertsons and Super Taco in the Pear Tree Center, Ukiah. There were hundreds of birds there early this morning. Among the Brewer's and Red-wingeds was a nice male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD. There were also some BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS in the group. The next time you are over there picking up your Corona and spicy-pork super burrito log at Super Taco, give them a look. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 10 Jan 2004 -- Mendobirders, Early on 1-10-04 I drove to Potter Valley to look for Prairie Falcon. After the fog finally lifted I saw the PRAIRIE FALCON that had been reported at the end of Burris Lane (thanks George!). There was also a SAY'S PHOEBE along Pine Ave.
Then I drove to the house in Fort Bragg to look for the WHITE-WINGED DOVE. It showed up about 3:00 p.m. There were also 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in the yard. I also saw an ORIOLE flying about the neighborhood. I was
unable to get a good look, but it looked like a male Northern-type (can't
rule out Bullock's). -- John E. Hunter, Arcata, CA
Fri, 09 Jan 2004 -- This morning after I took my son to school, two flocks of Canada Geese (mixed with some Cacklers and possible Aleutians) flew over the intersection at Oak and Franklin Streets in Fort Bragg, coming in from the south west and heading north east.
The second flock had a smaller all-white goose with black primaries. This was either a SNOW or ROSS'S GOOSE - I was not close enough to be able to tell, but it sure amazed me....and of course, was reminiscent of Winged Migration. :)
Wish I could have gotten a proper ID, but it's pouring out there. -- Feather Forestwalker
Wed, 07 Jan 2004 -- Some recent sightings in LAKE COUNTY in the last 2 or 3 days have been:
2 WESTERN GULLS seen from hiway 20 by Gjon Hazard. One was near mm 25.66 near Glenhaven.
There was also an adult THAYER'S GULL at this location.
One RED-NECKED GREBE near mm 25.26 seen by Gjon.
A hybrid ? TUFTED DUCK/SCAUP on Borax Lake. Seen by Gjon and later by me.
A 2nd Winter WESTERN GULL and a PHAINOPEPLA at Austin Park(off Lakeshore Dr. across from Olympic Dr behind a Chinese Restaurant in Clearlake) seen at different times by Gjon and myself.
A COMMON LOON near Pine Dell Resort, Lakeshore Drive Clearlake Park. (J. White)
In High Valley (off High Valley Road from Hiway 20 in Clearlake Oaks) were YELLOW-BILLED LOON, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, and a PRAIRIE FALCON. -- Jerry White
Mon, 05 Jan 2004 -- My husband and I were visiting your area from Half Moon Bay over New Year's and saw the white OYSTERCATCHER referred to in the 11/2 posting from Ron. We saw it both on 12/30 and 12/31 during mid-morning walks on the headlands. Both times we were down by the monument. We are only semi-experienced birders but it was on rocks pretty close in on 12/31, so there was no mistake that it was an oystercatcher. There were two oystercatchers standing together that were identical, except for the body color. One was black and one was "white". The "albino" was off-white and the head was a bit darker - more of a buff color. -- "mlgater" , Half Moon Bay, CA
Mon, 05 Jan 2004 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports the following from the south coast: 188 TUNDRA SWANS, 6 SNOW GEESE, and 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Garcia River flats, and she saw 16 RED-TAILED HAWKS from one spot along Highway 1 at milemarker 28.96.
Sun, 04 Jan 2004 -- Today I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON again along Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. This is probably the same bird that I saw five times in December. If you are interested in looking for this bird I recommend driving about 3/4 mi. east on Pine Avenue and stop at the pullout near the set-back gate just before the creek. Today the PRFA was sitting eating a prey on the fence that runs north from here (Informally known as Ollie's Grasshopper Sparrow Spot). You could also scan south from the Pine Avenue Assn. sign spot about 1/4 mi. further, or north from the knoll at the end
of Burris Lane. Scope recommended.
Also I saw the AMERICAN DIPPER under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road near Route 20 for the first time since early November. The water was running pretty high and turbid, but I got nice close-up views of it snorkelling in the cloudy water. The earliest I've heard them singing here is January 20th. Lesser Goldfinches were very busy working over the old pistillate cones of the alder trees - about 50 birds per tree in several locations. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 03 Jan 2004 -- Chuck Vaughn and I birded the Mendocino coast Saturday
hoping to ring in the Ought-Four birding year with some nice finds. We covered many stops from Arena Cove to Cleone. We found 102 species, highlights below:
Red-necked Grebe, 1, Ward Avenue
Laysan Albatross, 1, Flew into Arena Cove about 9:00
Northern Fulmar, hundreds, Close to shore everywhere we scoped out to sea. This is quite the bird phenomenon of fall/winter season.
Tundra Swans, 139, Garcia River bottoms
Greater White-fronted Goose, 5, Garcia River bottoms
Snow Goose, 5, Garcia River bottoms
Ross's Goose, 1, Garcia River bottoms
Aleutian Canada Goose, 2, Garcia River bottoms
Eurasian Wigeon, 1, Garcia River bottoms
Harlequin Duck, 1, Glass Beach
Black Scoter, 2, Ward Avenue
Ferruginous Hawk, 3, N. and S. of Irish Beach
Mountain Quail, 3 groups, Surprised along Mountain View Road in early morning
Thayer's Gull, 2, Laguna Point, 1st basic
GLAUCOUS GULL, 1, Sitting on bluffs near Point Arena Lighthouse;1, On rocks off Navarro Beach
Black-legged Kittiwake, 1, Sitting on rocks near Point Arena Lighthouse, probably more way off Laguna Point
Pigeon Guillemot, 1 off Point Arena, 1 off Laguna Point; unusual in winter, basic plumage
Marbled Murrelet, 1, Arena Cove
Gray Jay, 3 ,Van Damme SP Visitors' Center
Varied Thrush, 18, along Mountain View Road, compared to 49 on the same transect 1/5/2003
River Otter, 1, Stoneboro Road
-- George Chaniot
Sat, 03 Jan 2004 -- Barbara Dolan, Geoff Heinecken, and I were thrilled to see the WHITE-WINGED DOVE this afternoon at 3:20 in Fort Bragg. The bird flew in just after we arrived at Henri Bensussen's and remained for about 15 minutes, preening and feeding with European Starlings, American Goldfinches, and Mourning Doves until something spooked them all away. -- Cheryl Watson
Sun, 28 Dec 2003 - The WHITE-WINGED DOVE continues to visit the backyard feeder in Fort Bragg. I saw it today briefly at 10:30 am. It flew from the apple tree in the next-door neighbors' yard when the owner of that yard went out to pick apples. I traveled the neighborhood looking for the dove but could only find Mourning Doves on the power lines. So far, nobody knows where else this dove visits but it probably hangs around the south end of Fort Bragg and possibly down to the boat dock at Noyo Harbor (just a guess).
Please call Henri Bensussen at 964-8844 to arrange a visit. From Hwy 1 in Fort Bragg turn east on Chestnut and drive for about 6 blocks. Turn LEFT on S. Harold (one-way). 475 S. Harold is the third house on the left. You cannot see the feeders or trees from the street, so call ahead. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 27 Dec 2003 - Between 1615 and1645 we (Austin B. and Jack) watched two PEREGRINE FALCONS stooping on starlings. They started within about 200 yards of us near Lake Mendocino Drive and Eastside Calpella Road. As time passed the starlings rose higher until they were difficult to see, you could see them when they were doing their evasive twists and turns. I would guess that they were over 1000 yards up. We watched one peregrine doing the same the day before, 12/26, at the same location around 1400. The starlings are using a vineyard next to our place and also roost in oaks above the vineyard. Unfortunately we did not see the peregrines connect (just like George in the previous post). They did put on a good show.
Also had a MERLIN fly by at same location around 1430 today (Sun, 28 Dec). -- Jack Booth
Sat, 27 Dec 2003 - The Mendocino Coast Christmas Bird Count had beautiful weather this year as opposed to last year's torrential rains and flooding. 130 species were counted on the day with 3 additional Count Week birds. Highlight species included AMERICAN DIPPER for the 2nd year in a row, a SHORT-EARED OWL (a county bird for JRW)(CBC first), a WESTERN KINGBIRD (CBC first), a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (CBC first), and a EURASIAN WIGEON. A BURROWING OWL was found on the north side of Davis Lake. As I remember about 165 TUNDRA SWANS were reported this count. Thanks to all who participated. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 27 Dec 2003 -- "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS flew into Point Arena Cove at about 1:00 PM landing just on the north side of the pier. By the time I ate my soup and got my camera it had swum (is this a word?) out to the first round white buoy ball. Here I watched it pick bits of seaweed or barnacles or something off of the ball, turn to its right side and drop the bits into the water. It would also occasionally paddle its feet very briskly almost sitting "upright" in the water for a second or two. It rather reminded me of when waterfowl stretch upright on the water and flapp their wings ... except that "AL" did not flap his/her wings. I'm not sure if it may have been displaying some sort of courtship behavior (to the white ball?).
After about fifteen minutes it flew to the south, circled around a couple of surfers in the water, then flew back to the north past the pier, where it landed right next to another surfer in the water. The surfer reached out an appeared to feed something to AL. The surfer then paddled the rest of the way to shore leaving AL sitting on the water.
Jerry White reported seeing the bird on Friday the 26th also, about 2:30 PM. The sandwich/cafe shop nearest the pier has a couple of great photos of AL hanging on the wall. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 27 Dec 2003 -- This afternoon I had the pleasure of watching at close range a PEREGRINE FALCON working a flock of starlings near the cemetery on West Road, Potter Valley. Never caught one, darn! Over the last three weeks I have seen a PRAIRIE FALCON along Pine Avenue four times. It seems to be fairly regular sitting in the tops of the isolated valley oaks along the first mile and a half.
Of local interest, there was a COMMON GOLDENEYE in the McMennomey Vineyards pond just south of the cemetery and some stunning HOODED MERGANSERS in the vineyard pond to the north. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 22 Dec 2003 -- This Afternoon I drove to Fort Bragg hoping to see the White-winged Dove that has recently been present at 475 S. Harold. When I arrived at the house the WHITE-WINGED DOVE was cooperatively sitting in a tree in the back yard. I was there from 1530 - 1600 and the bird was present the entire time. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 20 Dec 2003 -- Chuck Vaughn and I went to Fort Bragg this afternoon to look for the White-winged Dove reported yesterday. When we arrived at about 1:30 we found a group of Mourning Doves sitting in a tree across the fence in the neighbors' yard to the south. About 2:15 the WHITE-WINGED DOVE flew in and landed among the Mourning Doves where it sat quietly until we left at about 2:40. It was also seen some time in the morning today. Evidently the bird was first seen in early November, was absent for several weeks, and now is coming regularly. It visits the platform feeder hanging in the apple tree which it approaches from the south - where we saw it sitting today. It is most often seen after 3:30.
Call Henri Bensussen at 964-8844 to arrange a visit. From Hwy 1 in Fort Bragg turn east on Chestnut and drive for about 6 blocks. Turn LEFT on S. Harold (one-way). 475 S. Harold is the third house on the left. You cannot see the feeders or trees from the street, so call ahead. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 19 Dec 2003 -- After several misses, Dorothy Tobkin today confirmed a WHITE-WINGED DOVE which has been coming for several weeks to the feeder of Henri Bensussen at 475 S. Harold in Fort Bragg. The bird is travelling with Mourning Doves and may be visiting other feeders in the area. It has a tendency to arrive at about 3:45 or 4:00 in the afternoon. It may have an injury to its right foot or leg.
Give a call to Kim or Henri at 964-8844. To reach the location from Hwy 1, turn east on Chestnut for about 6 blocks, turn left on Harold (one-way) and the house is several doors on the left.
Tues, 16 Dec 2003 -- Of local interest; today at Clear Lake State Park from just north of the Visitor Center to the Kelsey Creek outlet there were seven TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS.There was also a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (extremely rare in Lake County in the winter) at the beginning of the trail through the riparian area to the outlet.
In Lakeport at Library Park there was an adult Western Gull both today and yesterday. Also today at the park there were at least two Mew Gulls. -- Jerry White
Mon, 15 Dec 2003 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin saw 6 TUNDRA SWANS and 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Garcia River bottoms. But at Brush Creek there were 60 TUNDRA SWANS, 7 SNOW GEESE, and 1 EURASIAN WIGEON among a good variety of waterfowl. In the lagoon at Barnegat off Stoneboro she found an unusual concentration of about 100 GREEN-WINGED TEAL.
Wed, 03 Dec 2003 -- I took advantage of a break in the rain today to drive around Potter Valley to see what was out. The most interesting find was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL sitting on a fencepost on Gibson Lane near Eel River Road. I backed up and watched it from the car for about 10 minutes at 20 feet. I'm always impressed with how oblivious these little guys are to what is going on around them when they are on the hunt. I also found a PRAIRIE FALCON sitting in the big dead oak between Pine Ave. and Burris Lane, visable with a scope from the Pine Ave. Assn. sign. There were several SAY'S PHOEBES along Burris Lane. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 28 Nov 2003 -- Today Chuck Vaughn, Matt Brady, and I birded the Mendocino coast from Arena Cove to Cleone. We missed the Laysan Albatross at Arena Cove, but we did see the AMERICAN AVOCET at Hunters' Lagoon which Toby found on the 23rd. There were also 5 SNOW GEESE and 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. We could also see four TUNDRA SWANS in the distance at Brush Creek. Along Hwy 1 north of Irish Beach there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK sitting on the ground. At Van Damme State Park GRAY JAYS were easy to find at the campsites near the Visitors' Center. We did not find any longspurs today at the Mendocino headlands. At Ward Avenue in Cleone the waves were very light, and we had nice looks at a dozen BLACK SCOTERS, several RED-NECKED GREBES, and a pair of male HARLEQUIN DUCKS. Finally, at Laguna Point we found one ROCK SANDPIPER at high tide on the rocks to the north. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 26 Nov 2003 -- Grace Steuer reports that "AL", the presumable same LAYSAN ALBATROSS, has returned to use Point Arena Cove as a resting area for the 10th fall/winter season in a row. This bird was first discovered using the cove ten years ago by Jim Booker and Tod Easterly. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 24 Nov 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin ran into some birders from Montana who reported seeing an EASTERN PHOEBE at the Little River Inn this morning. She went to look for it and was unable to find it, but she thinks it is a credible report. Toby also saw a LAPLAND LONGSPUR at the Mendocino headlands at what is becoming the "usual" spot by the sister city monument.
Sat, 23 Nov 2003 -- Greetings, In early October there was a series of posts to Calbirds about Lewis's Woodpeckers, Acorn Woodpeckers, and Pinyon Jays showing up in widespread places in central California where they usually do not occur. I was thinking of following up with a post about the absence of Lewis's Woodpeckers in places where they usually do occur. Where I live in Potter Valley, Mendocino Co., there is usually a small population of several dozen every winter from about mid September through late April, easy to find. So far this fall I have seen exactly one (on September 24). In this region there has been a massive failure of the acorn crop of Interior Live Oak, Blue Oak, and Valley Oak this year. I wonder if this could be due to the very rainy April this year which was about 325% normal here.
Today, Sep 22, on an annual Peregrine Audubon field trip to Round Valley, MEN, we visited a stand of large Valley Oaks where we usually see several dozen Lewis's at this time of year. They were conspicuous in their absence. Chuck Vaughn and I decided to return to Ukiah via the high country of the Mendocino National Forest, and, to our surprise, we found a group of LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS on Etsel Ridge in the Brewer's Oak zone at about 5200 feet elevation between Grizzly Flat and Coffee Mill Flat. We saw at least 14 easily from road M1. We do not remember ever seeing them here before, although, admitedly, we do not venture up here often in November. We also saw some Band-tailed Pigeons which have also been sparse at lower elevations. Acorns were abundant under every Brewer's Oak I checked, and quite a few were still on the twigs. On a trip on May 31 we noted that the phenology of the Brewer's Oaks seemed several weeks behind. Could they have produced a good mast crop this year by blooming later than the other species?
So it seems that some Lewis's Woodpeckers have found a food source at a higher elevation than they usually frequent at this time of year. Will they be moving downslope as the winter progresses? -- George Chaniot
Sun 23 Nov 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Eleven folks from Peregrine Audubon visited Round Valley on 11/22 and it was definitely a big day for raptors up there. We got to Dobie Lane, the N to S road running the length of the E side of the valley, a little after 9. We birded our way N along this road until noon, and were well rewarded. The best bird of the trip was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK which we spotted immediately after we got out of the cars. We watched as it hunted, as it soared chasing a NORTHERN HARRIER, and as it sunned itself on the frosty morning. We also had a PRAIRIE FALCON perching and preening in a Valley Oak right in front of us. We watched it hunting and actually picking off some unknown small bird. The valley was full of WHITE-TAILED KITES, 7 in one tree! We had scope-filling views of FERRUGINOUS HAWK, and counted 3 of them just on the east side of Round Valley. By the time the morning was over, we had seen 11 raptors, also including COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK in a variety of color morphs, adult GOLDEN EAGLE, AMERICAN KESTREL, and a couple of MERLIN. We proceeded leisurely E to the Black Butte NFS camp ground for lunch. Here we watched a soaring adult BALD EAGLE for dessert. A 12-raptor day- that is about as good as it gets in Mendocino County! -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 23 Nov 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin birded the south Mendocino coast today. She found an AMERICAN AVOCET at Hunters' Lagoon, visable from near Barnegat Drive, and a male REDHEAD, visable from near the Perkins'. She also saw an immature ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at milepost 25.96 north of Irish Beach.
Sat, 22 Nov 2003 -- Chet Ogan reports a CATTLE EGRET the Saturday before Thanksgiving in a little creek just north of the Garcia River. It was about 100 feet downstream of the bridge west of HWY1.
Fri, 21 Nov 2003 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin saw three ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point at high tide. At Ward Avenue in Cleone she saw seven BLACK SCOTERS, eight RED-NECKED GREBES, and one BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE.
Sat, 15 Nov 2003 -- Yesterday (Sat 11/15) at 1330 I found an immature female CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR at the Mendocino Headlands. The bird was skulking along one of the paths about 100 ft east of the sister city monument. Also in the same area were two HORNED LARKS.
Late yesterday afternoon I informed Toby of the CCLO and this morning I received a phone call from her indicating she was able to refind the bird today (Sun 11/16). She also found two LAPLAND LONGSPURS and one
HORNED LARK nearby. Given the number of longspurs that have shown up here over the past four years it appears as though the sister city monument is THE spot in Mendo County for longspurs. Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 13 Nov 2003 -- Rather unusual for Lake Mendocino this afternoon was a single RED-THROATED LOON. It was hanging out just off the swimming area near the Pomo A parking area. It was fairly close to shore - at times inside the buoys. Then it dove and I never saw it come up again. How do loons do that?
Among the several hundred scaup was a pair of drake CANVASBACKS, the first of the season. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 13 Nov 2003 -- Of local interest is a white phase immature SNOW GOOSE associating with the motley crew of geese and ducks at Library Park in Lakeport. The bird was first found yesterday and is still present today. -- Jerry White
Thu, 13 Nov 2003 --- The HORNED LARKS reported by Toby yesterday were still at the Mendocino Headlands this morning. I saw a flock of at least eight near the sister monument this morning at around 8:30 a.m. -- Janet Stein
Wed, 12 Nov 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin went back to the Mendocino Headlands and was unable to find the Lapland Longspur today. However, there were three HORNED LARKS in the grassy area near the sister city monument. At Caspar Pond there was a white goose that is possibly a SNOW/ROSS'S hybrid.
Mon, 10 Nov 2003 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reported seeing a LAPLAND LONGSPUR this morning near the monument at Mendocino Headlands. She noted that it was in with a small flock of AMERICAN PIPITS.
Thu, 06 Nov 2003 -- Today at 11:00 there were 7 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at Lake Mendocino sitting on a small island very near Coyote Dam. No binoculars needed. At 11:40 they took off and flew east across the lake to Perry Creek Cove where they began cooperative feeding. Visible from the marina area. Scope required. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 06 Nov 2003 -- At about 12:20 PM I saw the BROWN PELICAN on the water with a flock of American White Pelicans.The birds were near the Rodman Slough Bridge and in fact were seen as I drove across the bridge. However, shortly after, as I was on the phone with Jim Matzinger, the Brown Pelican flew across the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road back towards the lake. Additional searching did not turn up the bird. -- Jerry White
Wed, 05 Nov 2003 -- A guest staying at the Pacific Union College Biological Field Station in Albion reported to me that she had observed this strange ALBINO OYSTERCATCHER at the Mendocino headland today. Apparently he is still being seen around the area. -- David and Ruth Wiebe
Sun, 02 Nov 2003 -- Hi all, Went up to Lake Co. today since I am still well on the wrong side of 200 for the county. I also saw the BROWN PELICAN today at the small vacant lot near the west end of Lakeshore Blvd in Nice. It is tough to follow Lakeshore Blvd but look for the small lot with a tiny little building and a dilapidated old pier. At 11/27 the Brown Pelican was suddenly present very close to shore and eventually swam under the pier. I don't know if it was hiding to close to see or if it flew in. A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL fly-by was also a county tick. At mile 22.30 on Hwy 20 there was a single male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (not a tick) and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (tick), amongst Brewers and Red-wings. On the way back south I decided to check Detert Res. east of Middletown. Lots of birds, nothing rare, but an OSPREY, 15 HOODED MERGANSERS in the shallow end, 750 RING-NECKED DUCKS, GADWALL, NORTHERN PINTAIL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A nice FERRUGINOUS HAWK was a nice tick on Butts Canyon Rd. just east of Hwy 29. Good birding. -- Steve Glover, Dublin
Sun, 02 Nov 2003 -- Hi all, Charlene and I saw the albinistic oystercatcher at Mendocino Headlands today. I've posted a picture of it to the Photos section of Mendobirds. It was pretty far off for photos, so the picture is not high resolution, but it is pretty neat!
For Yahoo members, the link to the photos is
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/lst Then just click on the photo labeled White Oystercatcher.
The bird was on rocks on the south side of the Headlands, about 100 meters south of the monument, which is south of the southernmost Headland parking
area. -- Ron LeValley, McKinleyville
Sun, 02 Nov 2003 -- The BROWN PELICAN was seen again yesterday from a small graveled lakefront parcel (county owned) at the west end of Lakeshore Blvd,Nice.This is in the same area reported earlier.The bird was seen by Jim Lomax, his wife, and John Luther. They and I later saw a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER along the Rodman Slough Levee.After that group departed to bird Highway 20 and the north end of the lake I found a COMMON MOORHEN on Clear Lake at the Rodman Slough (Middle Creek) outlet.
Several tries by various birders did not turn up the White-winged Dove which was seen on Thursday. -- Jerry White
Sat, 01 Nov 2003 -- Hi all, Charlene and I birded Laguna Point for a couple of hours this afternoon, hoping to see a lingering murrelet. No Murrelets were seen, but the weather and a few birds kept us entertained.
NORTHERN FULMAR - 25 (some in quite close)
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - 1 (this small bird has been at Lake Cleone for a long time, I'm not sure if it leaves?)
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER 22 (in one flock)
RED PHALAROPE - 200+ (including some on Lake Cleone and many along the beach)
PARASITIC JAEGER - 1 (harassing a gull offshore)
CASSIN'S AUKLET - 3
The best sighting of the day was a pod of about 30 RISSO'S DOLPHINS (Grampus griseus) that were about 1 mile due south of Laguna Point feeding for the whole time we were watching! We got great scope views and at one time had a HARBOR PORPOISE surface close to shore in the foreground of our scope view with the Grampus in the background! -- Ron LeValley, McKinleyville
Sat, 01 Nov 2003 -- Today was a banner day on the coast for SNOW GEESE. On North Windy Hollow Rd at 0900 I had a group of 45 SNGO and six ROSS'S GEESE fly overhead. An hour later on Miner Hole Rd I had another group of 50 SNGO and one ROGO fly over. Finally at 1130 I had a third group of 25 SNGO flying south over the ocean from Point Arena Lighthouse Rd.
Other birds of interest were a PALM WARBLER along the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Rd. Also on Miner Hole Rd was a daggetti RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. At the north end of Windy Hollow Rd South were a pair of tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. Finally, there was
a pair of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Hunters Lagoon. There were no swans on the Garcia Flats and there was no Tropical Kingbird at mm 35.18 of Hwy 1.
Of non-bird note were two bobcats, one on Miner Hole Rd and one along North Windy Hollow Rd. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 31 Oct 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports that she saw an albino BLACK OYSTERCATCHER at the Mendocino headlands. Quite an impressive looking bird!
Fri, 31 Oct 2003 -- Today at about 1130 there was a ROCK SANDPIPER at the tip of Laguna Point. -- Ken Burton, Inverness
Thu, 30 Oct 2003 -- At midday today there were 12 TUNDRA SWANS sitting in Barn Cove (=Hunters' Cove) at Lake Mendocino. They were visable at great distance from Pomo A and the Mesa, but I walked clear down to scope them closely. There were 8 adults and 4 immatures. 6 of the adults had yellow in the lores area. This party may be recognizable if they show up somewhere else. Are they headed for the Garcia River bottomland? I saw a journal article once showing the paths of radio marked birds. They started from the north slope of Alaska, came down through central Montana and Wyoming, then came west across the Great Basin to winter in Central California. Do the Garcia River birds arrive from the east? -- George Chaniot
Thu, 30 Oct 2003 -- This afternoon I found a WHITE-WINGED DOVE (1st county record) in the town of Kelseyville.The bird was first seen perched on the utility wires in front of the residence at 5205 3rd street about 3:30PM. It then flew across the street (to the east) and was briefly perched on a garage. The BROWN PELICAN was seen again (happily swimming and feeding near the shoreline) on Clear Lake from Lakeshore Blvd (west of Hammond Ave.) in Nice.Unfortunately getting a good view of the lake is difficult because all the lakefront parcels are privately owned in this area. There was also an adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL on the pilings at Austin Park in Clearlake. -- Jerry White
Tue, 29 Oct 2003 -- This afternoon there was a PRAIRIE FALCON between Pine Avenue and Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It was sitting in a prominent dead valley oak about halfway between and using it to launch attacks on the hundred or so meadowlarks being stirred up by a NORTHERN HARRIER. In recent weeks there have been good numbers of WOOD DUCKS on the pond at the end of Burris - in the 20-60 range. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 29 Oct 2003 -- Today at 1:20 PM from the lake shore at Rodman Slough I saw the (or a) BROWN PELICAN flying over Clear Lake (nearshore)heading in the general direction of Nice.There were also a large number of BONAPARTE'S GULLS on the lake. -- Jerry White
Tue, 28 Oct 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: The 2 adult SANDHILL CRANES flew off at about 8:00 this morning. I just drove by the pond, however, and they have returned. Evidently they are quite happy here. I encourage anyone interested to take advantage of this opportunity to see these birds. I waited 30 years to see one in Mendocino County. If you follow the directions I posted yesterday and approach the pond from the water tanks on the north side, you will be above the pond and be able to view the entire shoreline. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 27 Oct 2003 -- I spent several hours scoping from Laguna Point in the late afternoon. I could not relocate the Long-billed Murrelet of recent interest. The light offshore breeze, which is causing so much havok in southern California, made real pleasant viewing conditions here. There were several NORTHERN FULMARS flying right over the seal rocks - no binoculars needed. Some shearwaters were in very close to the point too, and I was able to get an identifying look at a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER. I also had two close flybys of POMARINE JAEGERS with full streamer tails. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 27 Oct 2003 -- Today there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, 2 YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKERS and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK just past the end of Miner Hole Road. I also had 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS and a flock of 3 PALM WARBLERS near the Hwy. 1 bridge over the Garcia River. -- John Hunter, Arcata
Mon, 27 Oct 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Late this morning Bob Keiffer and I found 2 adult SANDHILL CRANES at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The birds are on the northern-most pond just west of the county road entering the office area. Birders are welcome, but we would like the opportunity to photograph the birds in better light tomorrow morning, so ask that follow these directions. Drive on past the ponds and as you start down the hill into the office/housing area, pull off by the aluminum gate to your left that is just below our large metal water storage tanks. If you walk to the tanks, you can view the entire northern pond. The birds have been resting/feeding on the western edge. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 26 Oct 2003 -- Hi All, I birded the Point Arena area today. What a beautiful windless day on the coast! At dawn I scanned the ocean for a few hours from the lighthouse road. Highlights included 3 ELEGANT TERNS, 2 SABINE'S GULLS, 20+
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER, 2+ FULMARS along with lots of loons and scoters. I also looked carefully for Tropical Kingbird there, along the road and at the end of Miner Hole Road with no luck. 18 SNOW GEESE flew over the Garcia Flats going north at about 7am. There was an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK in the flats. Pipits were flying over and walking in many of the fields. Almost at the south end of Windy Hollow Road (off Highway 1 just before the Garcia Flats) I found a RED-THROATED PIPIT walking with the Am Pipits in the grassy field to the west of the road and north of the willows and the Garcia River. I also heard it call when it flew which some birds in the dispersed flock were often doing as they moved around in the field. As I was looking through my scope at the pipits I heard an unexpected call which I did not believe until I looked up and saw a young male PHAINOPEPLA land in a Coyote Bush about 20 feet from me. It then flew to a nearby tree and a couple of minutes later flew east behind the hill next to the road. It was not yet totally black, but was mostly black and had a nice shaggy black crest and some white in the wings as it flew.
I then went to Windy Hollow Rd from the town of Pt Arena and drove to the north end of that part of Windy Hollow Rd. Where there is a gate (that you can drive around) there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the small willow clump. Another White-throated Sparrow was at the end of the paved road just before the river. It was feeding on the road under a large pine tree with Fox Sparrows.
Hunters Lagoon north off of Stoneboro Rd off Highway 1 had lots of ducks and shorebirds including a late PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
As I was driving north from Elk (after calling Toby and leaving a message about birds I had seen) I was recalling all of my time spent looking in vain for one of the Tropical Kingbirds seen recently in the Garcia Flats area. When what to my wondrous eyes should appear but a beautiful TROPICAL KINGBIRD on a telephone wire right along the west side of highway 1!! There was even a convenient pulloff on the west side of the road which I
discovered when I turned around and went back to look at the bird. It kept fly catching from the wire and I got scope filling looks. It was at milepost 35.18 a few miles north of Elk. Happy Birding and may a bit of luck bird with you. -- John Luther, Oakland
Sun, 26 Oct 2003 -- While unsuccessfully looking for the Long-billed Murrelet, I saw a flock of about 20 SNOW and 1 ROSS'S GOOSE flying around Laguna Point, and landing in the ocean at one point. Later, I saw a TROPICAL KINGBIRD at MP 35.18 which is north of Elk. -- John Hunter, Arcata
Sun, 26 Oct 2003 -- So far this fall the gull watching has been pretty slow at Lake Mendocino - there has been a virtual monoculture of California Gulls. This week the lake has gone down about a foot, and a new island is appearing near Coyote Dam. About noon today, Ollie Kolkmann and I saw six species of gulls sitting on this island: California Gull-many, all ages; BONAPARTE'S GULL -five; Ring-billed Gull -two, 2nd-winter, adult; Herring Gull-two, 1st-winter, adult; Glaucous-winged Gull-one, 1st-winter; THAYER'S GULL-one, 1st-winter. There was a nice, side-by-side comparison between 1st-winter Herring and 1st-winter Thayer's
We also saw a ROCK WREN perched for as long as we wanted to watch it on the concrete terrorist barrier just beyond the parking lot. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 26 Oct 2003 -- Of interest but not importance: Some friends who live just inside Mendocino County on the north side of Highway 20 have had a plump CHUKAR around their house for the last week or so. I did not find a record of this species for the county at the Peregrine webpage. It is nonnative, of course, a singleton and somewhat tame (not banded, as far as we can see) so probably not a part of a wild breeding population. I'll post again if more appear. -- Jim Armstrong
Replies: Hi. There was a small flock of them July 2002 in the brush past the fence at the south end of the Ukiah Sewage Ponds; the staff there had a photo of one wandering past the office and I saw the flock. Folks I contacted at local chapter suggested they were escaped from City of 10K Buddhas. -- Janet Rosen
The last time I was at the Buddahs (early spring 2003) I noticed quite a few chuckar in amongst the usual peafowl. This is the only time I had ever seen them there and wondered at the time if they had "ordered" them from somewhere as domestic birds. As the initial poster commented, they were all quite plump and not particularly wary of humans! -- Barbara Pereira, Burlingame
Sat, 25 Oct 2003 -- This morning Gary and Judy Maddox and I spent several hours at Laguna point searching for the Long-billed Murrelet. At 1000 I saw what I believe to be the LONG-BILLED MURRELET about 200 yards due north of the outer observation deck. Unfortunately I found the bird just as it dived and was unable to relocate it. All the field marks I saw were consistent with LBMU but unfortunately I was unable to study the bird.
There were many birds moving south including all three common loon species, one LONG-TAILED DUCK, and 12-15 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and two BLACK SCOTERS among the long lines of SURF SCOTERS. We also saw two NORTHERN FULMARS and 9 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. The ROCK SANDPIPER continued on the rocks north of the outer observation deck and RED PHALAROPES were abundant. At Lake Cleone the hen CANVASBACK continued along with one aleutian CANADA GOOSE. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 24 Oct 2003 -- The LONG-BILLED MURRELET first spotted at Laguna Point by Dorothy Tobkin on Monday was seen again yesterday by Janet Stein, myself, and others. Today Chuck Vaughn, Dorothy Tobkin, and I found it again in the waters to the north of Laguna Point. Yesterday it was seen from ~9:30-11:00 about 200 yards off the third observation platform along the boardwalk. Today it was about 300 yards NNW of the last observation deck at the end of the boardwalk from ~10:00-11:30. It was not easy to find as the waves were higher than yesterday, and it was diving frequently. Even when on the surface, it could only be seen about 10% of the time. It could also be seen from the third platform, but the views were better from further out because the line of sight was more nearly parallel to the wave troughs. Today's views have dispelled any of my doubts as to the identification. Be cautioned that there were several basic-plumaged Pigeon Guillemots nearby.
It was a nice day on the point. Thousands of Surf Scoters were flying south past the point and among them a few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS. There were a few migrating PACIFIC LOONS, but I think their numbers have yet to peak. A single ROCK SANDPIPER, the first of the season, was among the Surfbirds waiting out the high water on a rock just north of the point. Several NORTHERN FULMARS, both white and dark, made close passes just beyond the rocks. Further out were dozens of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and a single SABINE'S GULL. At Lake Cleone there was a hen CANVASBACK and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE among the wigeon. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 22 Oct 2003, 11:45 -- Jerry White refound the LONG-BILLED MURRELET reported Monday at Laguna Point. It was out a good distance to the NW from the second overlook along the boardwalk. The fog this morning cleared sufficiently about 11:00. The bird was diving frequently, and it was difficult to stay on it. It appeared to be moving outward at that time. There were no Marbled Murrelets nearby.
Mon, 20 Oct 2003 -- Dave and I saw a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT along the grassy road way of Hwy 128 at mile marker 1..10 along the Navarro River about 4:30 PM . Apparently something flushed him from the grass and he landed along side the road way. We turned around and were able to get a better view and a few photos of him before traffic disturbed us. Photo's can be e-mail upon request. -- Ruth Wiebe
Mon, 20 Oct 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin and Art Morely saw the murrelet again in the afternoon, and both believe that it is a LONG-BILLED MURRELET. It was in the waters off the outer parking lot at Laguna Point. More opinions are solicited.
Mon, 20 Oct 2003, 11:00 -- Dorothy Tobkin found a bird this morning that
may be a LONG-BILLED MURRELET. It was in the waters off the outer parking lot at Laguna Point. However, the heavy fog interfered with making the definitive identification. She's going out again this afternoon when the conditions may be clearer.
She also had a BURROWING OWL near the observation platform.
Sun, 19 Oct 2003 -- There is a report by Ted Ekman from Berkeley of two TROPICAL KINGBIRDS in the blackberry thickets below the Mendocino Village visitor center on Sun, 19 Oct at 10:45 AM.
Sun, 19 Oct 2003 -- I was able to confirm a report of a possible BROWN PELICAN found by Jim Branston, a retired Fish and Game Warden, 2 or 3 days ago on Clear Lake. This morning there was a juv. Brown Pelican roosting with American White Pelicans at the Kelsey Creek outlet at Clear Lake State Park .The bird stayed about 45 minutes before it flew off to the West. Dave Woodward was able to see the bird also. This is the 1st county record. -- Jerry White
Sat, 18 Oct 2003 -- Mendobirders, today I birded from Point Arena to Rockport. In the predawn darkness at 6:53 am I heard a MARBLED MURRELET flying overhead where Hwy. 1 crosses Alder Creek. There was a single ROSS'S GOOSE with the Canada Geese in the Garcia River Bottoms. I saw one of the TROPICAL KINGBIRDS; this time it was in the field to the south of Point Arena Lighthouse Road, best seen from the highest point along that road. This Tropical Kingbird had a full tail, I think I saw the other one too but could not refind it. There was also a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER near the mouth of Howard Creek. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Thu, 16 Oct 2003 -- Al DeMartini reports that he heard two BARRED OWLS calling in Montgomery Woods State Park about 1:30 AM. He also heard a call note from a SPOTTED OWL from the direction of the woods above the Orr Springs Resort.... or to the East/Southeast of the trail loop I assume. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Thu, 16 Oct 2003 -- There were two BALD EAGLES at Lake Mendocino today: an adult was harrassing coots around the south boat ramp, and an immature was flying along the shore near the mesa. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 16 Oct 2003 -- There is a report on the N.Calif.Birdbox today by Al DeMartini who found a RED-THROATED PIPIT among American Pipits at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today. It was on the dike between the north and central ponds and stuck to the north side of the dike in the short grass.
Yesterday (?) he found a _japonicus_ race AMERICAN PIPIT on the coast at the Alder Creek estuary at the end of Alder Creek Beach Road. Today Jerry White relocated and studied the bird.
Today Jerry White refound the two TROPICAL KINGBIRDS near Miner Hole Road, but they were actually about along Highway 1 about 0.3 mi N of Miner Hole Road in a brush patch. One of the birds appears to have lost most of its tail.
Tue, 14 Oct 2003 -- The TROPICAL KINGBIRD at Miner Hole Road N. of Point Arena was seen through the day up to 3:30 by several people: Jerry White, Dorothy Tobkin, Bob Keiffer, Chuck Vaughn, and myself at least. To look for the bird, drive to the end of Miner Hole Road and park at the turn-around at the end. Do not walk straight ahead along the fence, but take the trail north through to willows. Before you get to the river take a broad tractor trail going off to the left and follow it until it gets close to the river. Then look for a short trail through the brush to the river. If you try to approach this area from slightly upstream, you will have to wade. The bird was seen throughout this area, flying, foraging, and sitting on exposed staubs. We saw it down a large dragonfly, after which it sat quietly digesting about four feet above the water. It would have been hard to discover at this time, so keep looking. It's a very nice, bright bird.
No luck with the Blackpoll or Black-throated Blue Warbler today. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 14 Oct 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This message comes from Jerry White. He reports that Al DeMartini found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD yesterday at 5:30 in the evening. The bird was along the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Road. The access to the river is at the large turn around at the end of the road. Walk N through the willows to the river. Al found the bird by walking W along the gravel on the S side of the river to the point where the river turns a bit to the south. However, the bird may anywhere along the river there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 14 Oct 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This message comes from Jerry White. He reports that Al DeMartini found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD yesterday at 5:30 in the evening. The bird was along the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Road. The access to the river is at the large turn around at the end of the road. Walk N through the willows to the river. Al found the bird by walking W along the gravel on the S side of the river to the point where the river turns a bit to the south. However, the bird may anywhere along the river there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 14 Oct 2003 -- Geoff gave me a heads up on the horned lark; went out today but didn't see it. Happy to flush an AMERICAN BITTERN, though, and to watch a COOPER'S HAWK slowly flying up up and away most un-accipterly (and upsetting the swallows considerably!) -- Janet Rosen
Mon, 13 Oct 2003 -- Jerry White spent the day on the coast and his big find was a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBER on Miner Hole Road late this morning. This is the first county record! The bird was only about 0.1 miles W on Miner Hole Road from Hwy 101. In an area where water comes audibly down hill from the S side of the road, where the road gradually turns a little N, there is a nice thick riparian area. Jerry found the bird here, in a large mixed flock, on the N side of the road. He also saw a BLACKPOLL WARBER in this same area about an hour later. Jerry reports 2 PALM WARBLERS in the area of the Garcia River bridge later today.
Sun, 12 Oct 2003 -- Sun, 12 Oct 2003 -- Sunday the Lake Mendocino Big Sit was held for the fifth consecutive year at the Mesa Day-Use Area of the Bu-Shay Recreation Area. Participants this year were George Chaniot, Chuck Vaughn, Vishnu,
Barbara Dolan, Cheryl Watson, and Matthew Matthiessen for all or part of the day. The object is to see as many species as possible in one day by staying put in a 17 foot diameter circle.
The morning started out well with four owl species, and by the time the sun came over the ridge we had recorded a record number of 51 species.
After that the birding became rather slow compared to our experience in previous years. By sunset we had inched our way up to a new record low of 71 species. The record high for this site is 87 species, set just last year. Two species, Barn Owl and Northern Pygymy Owl, were new for the cumulative list, now 110 species. The level of Lake Mendocino was 733 feet, seven feet higher than on any other Sit date. After five years it is becoming clear that the number of species seen is inversely correlated with
the lake level (r = -0.997, P <1%). There were virtually no muddy edges along the east shore, and consequently there were fewer species of shorebirds, dabbling ducks, and diving ducks. With every big day there are big misses. This year we missed four species seen in every previous year: Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Mourning Dove.
Some highlights of the day were an adult Bald Eagle that was in sight perched or flying for most of the morning, thousands of late Violet-green Swallows milling over the entire lake and ridges for hours, and a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, Orion's nebula, and shooting stars in the still air before dawn were pretty impressive too - as was watching two fishermen pull a nice Striped Bass out of a boil-up of bait fish. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 08 Oct 2003 -- This morning there was a basic-plumaged COMMON LOON at Lake Mendocino south of the Mesa. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 06 Oct 2003 -- This morning I saw the first RING-NECKED DUCKS of the season at the pond on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 05 Oct 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg this morning. There was also a continuing LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
Sun, 05 Oct 2003 -- This morning I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant looking for the Lapland Longspur and Horned Lark reported yesterday. I found the HORNED LARK on the edge of the mud puddle at the west end of the south pond among Least Sandpipers and Killdeer. Cheryl and Geoff Heineken and Vishnu also saw it. It was in about the same place all morning from 08:00-10:30. I spent several hours looking for the longspur without luck; I even walked out onto the south pond to try to flush it from the ground. No luck. There was absoultely nothing along the Russian River riparian.
At Lake Mendocino there was a HORNED GREBE among the many arriving Eared Grebes. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 04 Oct 2003 -- Mendobirders, Today I birded coastal Mendocino between Caspar Creek and Rockport. There were 5 stunning male HARLEQUIN DUCKSs at Glass Beach, 1 GRATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Lake Cleone, and a PALM WARBLER at Westport Sewage Ponds. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Sat, 04 Oct 2003 -- At 2:45 PM the PECTORAL SANDPIPER was still with LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS at the western waterhole of the south pond. Numerous AMERICAN PIPITS were walking through the flats nearby along with a HORNED LARK (only the second that I have ever seen in the county). At 3:10 PM I got a brief glimpse of the LAPLAND LONGSPUR that Chuck found earlier in the day ... it flushed from the road on the SSW end of the south pond. circled overhead and flew to the pear orchard to the south landing just into the orchard ...but I could not find it again. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 04 Oct 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: At 8:30 this morning there was a LAPLAND LONGSPUR at the USTP. I saw the bird at 2 places along the western edge of the southern-most oxidation pond. The bird was very spooky, and flushed easily, but wanted to stay in that location. Unfortunately, when I left about 945 I could not refind it. There was still a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, lots of LEAST SANDPIPERS, and maybe 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on the drying south pond. The riparian strip along the river was dead. -- Chuck
Fri, 19 Sep 2003 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reported seeing a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and a RED KNOT at Virgin Creek Beach earlier today. The PLOVER was near the Black-bellied Plovers and the RED KNOT was seen just past the rock on the north side.
Fri, 03 Oct 2003 -- This morning near 10:00 am myself and two other observers approached the Kelsey Creek outlet at Clear Lake State Park by boat where we observed a FRANKLIN'S GULL swimming in a mixed flock of gulls for nearly five minutes. We also saw the bird in flight. This gull had the black half-hood, white eye cresents, white nape, dark gray mantle, white underside with black confined to the wingtips and other characteristics of either a non-breeding adult plumaged or a second winter bird. There were many Bonaparte's Gulls nearby for comparison. We last saw the gull in flight headed west towards Lakeport.
To look for this gull from land go to the north end of the visitor center parking lot in Clear Lake State Park. The Monterey Pine that was near the start of the trail to the Kelsey Creek outlet has been removed, but the stump is still there. Find the stump and proceed across the grass to locate the start of the unmarked trail to the outlet. High rubber boots are recommended due to the high lake level this year. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 28 Sep 2003 -- Greetings All, This past weekend (9/27-9/28) Stan Snyder, Larry Siemens, and I along with a group of birders worked the Mendo coast. Highlight of the weekend were great views by all of the RED-THROATED PIPIT found by Jerry White on Sat. We saw the bird both on Sat and Sun (at 0800 and 1500).
Other highlights were a TENNESSE WARBLER at Glass Beach on Sat morning. The TEWA was in the willows about 100 ft north of the lone cypress tree. At Virgin Creek Beach also on Sat morning was a RED KNOT, a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER,a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, an early MEW GULL, and 10 SNOWY PLOVERS. In the conifers on the walk down to Virgin Creek Beach was a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
On Sun morning we had a MERLIN and another PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Hunters Lagoon. On Sun afternoon the golden-plover continued at Virgin Creek Beach. At Ward Ave were four BLACK SCOTERS. And late Sun afternoon at Laguna Point we had a shockingly close flyby of a SOUTH POLAR SKUA. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 27 Sep 2003 -- Sat afternoon I had the opportunity to take a small boat out of Noyo Harbor to look at seabirds. We were only out about three hours but still managed to see a good assortment of birds. The sea was very calm and the winds were nonexistent so most of the birds we encountered were on the water (at least initially). COMMON MURRE numbers were huge and about a mile out of harbor we found ourselves floating through vast rafts of them. I was surprised to find the three shearwater species (buller's, pink-footed, and Sooty) in about equal numbers.
It's odd for the highlight of a pelagic to occur in the harbor but on this trip that's exactly what happened. On our return we encountered a CASSIN'S AUKLET sitting on the water inside Noyo Harbor (about where we board the Trek II). We eased our boat up to about 15 ft from the bird and followed it as it paddled on the surface further into the harbor. We finally parted ways with it just before reaching the Coast Guard station.
Species and numbers follow. Common Loon - 1,Black-footed albatross - 1Northern Fulmar - 2, Buller's Shearwater - 1,000+, Pink-footed Shearwater - 1,000+, Sooty Shearwater - 1,000+, South Polar Skua - 2, Pomarine Jaeger - 4, jaeger sp - 2, Sabine's Gull - 1, Common Murre - 2,500+, Cassin's Auklet - 15, Rhinoceros Auklet - 500, -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 27 Sep 2003 -- Mendobirders, On September 27, 2003 in a day of birding between Point Arena and Rockport, I had a total of 6 SAY'S PHOEBE. -- John Hunter
Sat, 27 Sep 2003 -- Today at about 2:30 PM I found a RED-THROATED PIPIT at Caspar Creek. The bird was with 5 American Pipits and provided excellent views for a large group of birders. It was still present at 4:00 pm when I left. Earlier in the day there was a BOBOLINK at the Westport Headlands park. A Greater White-Fronted Goose found yesterday was still at Lake Cleone. I was not able today to refind a Palm Warbler seen Wednesday and Friday by me and on Thursday by Toby T. This bird was in the area of the lone Cypress near Glass Beach. Jerry White
Thu, 25 Sep 2003 -- The AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS which have been on and off again at Lake Mendocino for the last two weeks reappeared today. At noon they were sitting in the usual place, a little mud bar along the east side across from the south marina. They could be seen from Coyote Dam or anywhere around the south marina. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 21 Sep 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Today's Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip out of Noyo Harbor was both birdy and eventful. Briefly, highlights were an imm THICK-BILLED MURRE and an adult f BROWN BOOBY. Both birds were seen within minutes if one another 5 miles offshore just south of the Bear Harbor area in Mendocino County. Details will follow. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 20 Sep 2003 -- Birds of interest seen on a weekend trip to the coast follow: A RED KNOT was at Virgin Creek Beach on Friday late afternoon. There was a TENNESSEE WARBLER in a mixed flock of passerines at Wages Creek bridge on Highway 1 on Saturday. There was also 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. There were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at the Westport Treatment Pond. Around mid-day on Saturday there were 2 RED KNOTS at Virgin Creek Beach.
On Sunday there were 3 WILSON'S SNIPES at the Ledford House Restaurant pond. And there was a fly-over RINGED TURTLE DOVE at the Mendocino Headlands. Jerry White
Sat, 20 Sep 2003 -- Mendobirders, On 9/20/03 early a.m. the RED KNOT (thanks Toby!) and PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER were still present at Virgin Creek Beach along with one GREATER and one LESSER YELLOWLEGS and other assorted shorebirds.
There were very, very few landbird migrants to be found in the various patches north of Fort Bragg.
George and others-please keep those White Pelican reports coming! Thanks. -- John Hunter
Sat, 20 Sep 2003 -- On the Peregrine Audubon Society field trip to MacKerricher State Park last Saturday, 20 Sep 2003, some of us saw two color-banded Snowy Plovers at Virgin Creek Beach. Both of these were banded as chicks last July. One bird, Red/White:Red/Orange was banded at the Moss Landing Salt Ponds in Monterey Co. The other, White/Orange:Aqua/White, was banded at the Salinas River State Beach, also in Monterey Co. The latter bird was seen here earlier on 26 Aug. Toby has seen these birds and says that they move back and forth between Ten-Mile Beach and Virgin Creek Beach. If you see banded Snowy Plovers, report them to Frances Bidstrup and add them to our growing database at Mendobirds Databases. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 20 Sep 2003 -- Hello Mendobirders, Saturday 9/20 I found an immature BLACKPOLL WARBLER and an adult male NORTHERN PARULA on the south Mendo coast. The BLWA was in the row of cypress trees bordering the road out to the Point Arena lighthouse. This row of trees ends where the road turns north along the cliffs. The NOPA was along the Garcia River where Windy Hollow Rd hits the river. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 19 Sep 2003 -- -- At noon today there was a single AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at Lake Mendocino sitting on a bon the east side south of the boat-in campground. It was visable from the south marina - even without binoculars. Boat activity was very low. I don't have much confidence that it will be there this weekend when the boat activity may increase 10-fold. I know some county listers are interested in seeing this species in Mendocino, so I will continue to report all sightings.
Earlier at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 2 SNOWY EGRETS among the other waders. The first NORTHERN SHOVELLER of the season was among the Mallards. The south pond is drying out, but there is still good wader habitat.
I have recently started a new database at the Mendobirds website for reporting first fall arrivals for the inland parts of Mendocino County. Check it out at Mendobirds Databases All Mendobirds subscribers who have a Yahoo ID linked to their membership should be able to view it, add records, or edit records. Please contribute. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 19 Sep 2003 -- Late this afternoon, I found the RED KNOT and PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER that Toby Tobkin had reported earlier today. The RED KNOT was working the rocks on the north end of the beach along with some BLACK TURNSTONES. The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was on the wave slope in with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. -- Charlene McAllister
Tue, 16 Sept 2003 -- Today Chuck Vaughn found a BLUE GROUSE in oak/grassland at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. Also seen by me (thanks to Chuck), this is the first BLGR that either Chuck or I have seen on the Center (30 and 20 years respectively). We have one other record from 30+ years ago. I have seen and heard about other BLGR showing up around Hopland in oak woodland type habitats and on the valley floor in the fall of the year. There is at least one resident population between the Mountain House Road and Hwy 101 near Squaw Rock. This particular bird was very wild and flighty ... unlike most other ones that I have seen in the past. There are also BLGR in the Yorkville, Boonville, and to the west of Ukiah areas where Douglas Fir is mixed in with oaks. I have never seen BLGR in the mature Douglas Fir stand near Sheldon Creek campground (BLM South Cow Mountain) but the habitat looks right. I have heard of BLGR on North Cow Mountain above Hwy 20. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 16 Sep 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin found the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER again this morning in the same location as yesterday, the willows at the head of the boardwalk at Lake Cleone.
Mon, 15 Sep 2003 -- Dave Jensen reported to Toby that he refound the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER about 2:30 pm in the willows to the left of the beginning of the boardwalk at Lake Cleone.
Mon, 15 Sep 2003 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin saw a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER in the willows at the beginning of the boardwalk at Lake Cleone. It was moving with a very bright Orange-crowned Warbler. After three good looks she lost track of it and was not able to find it again. It resembled the Ist fall male in Dunn and Garrett.
Yesterday she saw a MERLIN along the Haul Road at Virgin Creek Beach and also the first DUNLIN of the season.
Mon, 15 Sep 2003 -- The weather was cooperative for the Mendocino Coast Audubon Pelagic trip out of Noyo Harbor on Saturday September 13th - mostly sunny with calm wind and light seas. Water temperature was 50 degrees and we traveled out 17 miles. Highlights of the trip included South Polar Skuas, Black-vented Shearwater, good looks at Pomerine and Parasitic Jaegers along with Elephant Seals and a great show by Blue Whales.
BIRD SPECIES - 29, Pacific Loon 1, Common Loon 2, Black-footed Albatross 50, Northern Fulmar 20, Pink-footed Shearwater 100, Buller's Shearwater 15, Sooty Shearwater 500, Black-vented Shearwater 1, Brown Pelican 2, Brandt's Cormorant 1, Double-crested Cormorant 3, Pelagic Cormorant 15, Red-necked Phalarope 2500, Red Phalarope 20, South Polar Skua 3-5, Pomarine Jaeger 30, Parasitic Jaeger 30, Long-tailed Jaeger 4, Heerman's Gull 55, California Gull 1000's + (a great majority first year birds), Western Gull 1000s, Glaucous-winged Gull 2, Arctic Tern 1, Caspian Tern 2. Common Murre 200
Cassin's Auklet 500, Rhinoceros Auklet 20, Tufted Puffin 1, Wandering Tattler 2, Black Turnstone 5
OTHER SPECIES: California Sea Lion 6, Steller's Sea Lion 1, Northern Elephant Seal 2, Harbor Seal 1, Blue Whale 6, Harbor Porpoise 1 -- Charlene McAllister
Sun,14 Sep 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders,
Today I found an immature male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK along Miner Hole Rd. The bird was between the first wide left curve and the cattle guard.
Also of interest yesterday were four separate coveys of MOUNTIAN QUAIL and four BLUE GROUSE along Mountain View Rd. One celata ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was along Miner Hole Rd. One LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at Hunters Lagoon. Virgin Creek Beach also had one LESSER YELLOWLEGS as well as five SNOWY PLOVERS and five MARBLED GODWITS. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 14 Sep 2003 -- Mendobirders, Tom Leskiw and I were unable to relocate the White Pelicans at Lake Mendocino on 9/13/03 at about 5:00 pm. -- John Hunter, Arcata
Fri, 12 Sep 2003 -- I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning from 10:00-11:00. The water level and exposed mud in the south pond is excellent now for drop-in shorebirds. Numbers were low, but there was an interesting mix: 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 10 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 20 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 3 immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS At Lake Mendocino I found 3 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS sitting on the east shore - visable from the south marina or the Joe Riley picnic area. There were 15 CASPIAN TERNS sitting on a bar near Miti Campground spit, and 4 HORNED GREBES were in the water nearby. Finally, there was an AMERICAN DIPPER on the rocks under the old Potter Valley Road bridge where they have nested for at least the last three years. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 10 Sep 2003, -- The immature YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD is still with the mixed flock of blackbirds at the irrigated pasture at the entrance to the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. Bob Keiffer and Chuck Vaughn viewed it just north of the bird-netted vineyard feeding with the flock in the irrigated pasture. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 06 Sep 2003 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I birded The Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The water level is falling in the south pond, and some nice mud bars are starting to appear. Water is being added to the middle pond now, and the north pond is dry and recently scarified. Among the peeps on the south pond we found a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. We saw a SORA flying over the middle pond, and we saw our first White-crowned Sparrows, Sooty Fox Sparrow, and Lincoln's Sparrows for the fall. The 1st-winter White-crowns appeared to be _gambelii_ with light lores and orangish bill. It's funny that the northern race should be the first to arrive, when the southern yellow-billed birds prevail in the inland county through the winter. Along the Russian River riparian there were several WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and several quarts of YELLOW WARBLERS. Later Yellow Warblers were much in evidence in trees and shrubs around Ukiah.
The level of Lake Mendocino is falling, now at 734', and muddy edges are starting to appear in the inlet. I saw a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the east shore and three CASPIAN TERNS flying around the north end. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 06 Sep 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports an EASTERN KINGBIRD at 7 PM today at Virgin Creek north of Fort Bragg. It was in the driftwood east of the bridge where the Haul Road crosses the creek, and it was fairly high on the big logs.
Wed, 03 Sep 2003 -- There were more than 40 phalaropes at the north end of Borax Lake in the city of Clearlake this afternoon. There were 8 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES near the northwest corner of the lake. A second group of more than 30 phalaropes on the northeast side of the lake were probably the same species, but they were too distant to identify for certain. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 03 Sep 2003,10:35 AM -- Just saw four CASPIAN TERNS fly over Eastside Calpella Road toward Lake Mendocino. 3 adults and one immature. -- Jack Booth
Sun, 31 Aug 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders, Yesterday Rich Schilk and I birded the coast from Navarro to Westport. At Navarro we had one MARBLED GODWIT. At Van Damme we had a small group of GRAY JAYS in the upper campground. Caspar Pond yielded on late PURPLE MARTIN. Scoping from Laguna Point produced two PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS and on the boardwalk around Lake Cleone we saw two MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS. At Ward Ave we saw two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on the beach. As John Hunter previously reported, the Westport Sewage Ponds held one AMERICAN AVOCET and from the Juan Creek Overlook we scoped two MARBLED MURRELETS. Virgin Creek Beach had three SNOWY PLOVERS, five HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and three more MARBLED GODWITS. Of particular note were the numbers of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES which were numerous at every coastal stop yesterday.
We returned to Ukiah via Comptche Ukiah Rd and stopped at Montgomery Woods to do some owling. At 2100 in the Grubb Grove we had one BARRED OWL calling almost directly over our heads. Upon returning to our car we were suprised to hear another Barred Owl calling from the parking area. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 30 Aug 2003 -- Mendobirders, Today the YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was still present near Hopland Field Station.
There were lots of people on the beaches around Fort Bragg so the shorebirds were really moving around. At Glass Beach there was a single PECTORAL SANDPIPER. At Virgin Creek Beach I had 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 3 MARBLED GODWITS, at least one SNOWY PLOVER and a good variety of other misc. shorebirds. On my way back to the car I was surprised by the arrival of 15 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the mouth of Virgin Creek. I saw one imm. WILLOW FLYCATCHER at the mouth of Howard Creek. At the Westport Sewage Ponds, Matthew and I had 10 dowitchers (some SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS at least), 50 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and one AMERICAN AVOCET flew in. -- John Hunter, Arcata
Fri, 29 Aug 2003 -- An immature YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD is hanging out with a flock of mixed blackbirds at the irrigated pasture/small vineyard at the entrance to the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. From East Side Road just north of the "Old Hopland/Hwy 175" community, go about 1/2 mile until you see an irrigated clover/grass pasture on your left. The flock was hanging around the east side of the pasture near the sheep and vineyard. It is yellow only on the throat and breast with buffy marks on the face and no white on the wings. It associates with the brewer's and opposed to the red-winged, but the flock is mixed. Seen by Bob Keiffer and Chuck Vaughn. Detailed map to HREC is on the HREC website. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Thu, 28 Aug 2003 -- I went least terning at Virgin Creek on Thursday morning, 8:30 a.m., unsuccessfully. But in the four hours that I was there I saw 1 greater yellowlegs, 1 red-necked phalarope, several black turnstones, 1 adult male ruddy turnstone (breeding plumage), 3 marbled godwits, 3 whimbrels, 3 snowy plovers, lots of juvenile black-bellied plovers and one adult male in breeding plumage, 2 willets, some sanderlings, dozens of semi-palmated plovers, and lots of western sandpipers. I'm new to identifying shorebirds but am pretty sure of most of these. Someone let me know if any of these are unlikely. Bood girding. -- Kate Marianchild
Thu, 28 Aug 2003 -- Between 7:30 and 8:00 PM two flocks of migrating CASPIAN TERNS were flying south over the lower elevation portion of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The first flock of 20 birds was a mixture of immature and adult birds, and one could here the high pitched calls of the young along with all the other typical loud raucous calls that Caspians make. They were probably about 800 to 1000 feet high and circling as they moved south. Within minutes a second flock of 24 birds, not quite as noisy as the first and flying in a more direct flight pattern, flew over in the same path but slightly higher. The entire next month is a good time to be constantly checking habitats for fall migrating birds .... the birds at any one place can be replaced by others within hours. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 4:15 - 5:30 PM -- The LEAST TERN was still at Virgin Creek Beach, MacKerricher State Park, just north of Fort Bragg. Upon arrival at about 3:45 PM I could not find the bird. Several people scattered along the beach and no birds except for shote birds along the creek. I then noticed a group of Black-bellied Plovers and sanderlings high on the beach near the fenced closed area for snowy plovers. Upon scoping them I thought I saw the tern. Upon closer inspection I could not find the tern. Dorothy Tobkin (Toby) arrived and we both veiwed these birds ... I even went above them to view down into the pockets and swales.
We both walked north to view the northern beach and upon return Toby noticed the tern in with the group of sanderlings. It was either there all the time or flew in while were were gone. Over the next hour I observed it on the beach four times and foraging out in open waters (as far as a quarter mile offshore) to the west ...always between Virgin Creek Beach and Laguna Point.
It was alone on the beach when I left. This bird is the second Mendocino County record for this species. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon, 25 Aug 2003 - Some additional details on the LEAST TERN sighting; I found the bird about 4:20 PM standing with the Black-bellied Plovers approx.. 100 yards north of Virgin Creek. I watched it for about 10 minutes. During that time it flew circled out over the ocean and returned and lit closer to the ocean. It then again flew and ended up back at its original spot. I then walked up the beach and noted some other birds of interest; 2 Snowy Plovers, 2 Ruddy Turnstones, and a group of Harlequin Ducks. When I returned I could not relocate the tern. However just as I was leaving I noticed the bird flying overhead. It eventually landed on the beach again. This was about 5pm. Good luck! -- Jerry White
Mon, 25 Aug 2003 - LEAST TERN - "Toby" called me to report that Jerry White saw the least tern at Virgin Creek Beach at 4:15 PM. It was hanging out with Black-bellied Plovers. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon, 25 Aug 2003 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reported seeing another immature LEAST TERN this morning at Virgin Creek beach. The bird was seen twice, approximately an hour between each sighting. -- Charlene McAllister
Thu, 21 Aug 2003 -- On Aug 19 and 21 I saw 18 and 22 Caspian Terns at Lake Mendocino sitting along the east shore and on the emerging island near the south marina - fairly high numbers for inland Mendocino. I also note that it was 25 Aug 2001 when I saw a similar, unexpected flock fly over my house in Potter Valley. This is their seasonal slot here. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 16 Aug 2003 -- Hello, Mendobirders, Of interest at the Ukiah wetlands this morning was the continued presence of a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (I only saw one), a pair of Western Kingbirds, a pair of Black-shouldered Kites, about 4-5 Wood Ducks in eclipse plumage and 3 juvenile large gulls (sp?). The gulls had dark bills with darker tips to them. -- Vishnu
Thu, Aug14 2003 -- Debra Shearwater reports a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD mixed in with a flock of other blackbirds at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant.
She also had a huge flock of mixed neotropic migrants (warblers, vireos, grosbeaks, etc.) at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg in the late afternoon. She mentioned that it was one of the largest mixed flocks of neotropic migrants that she has witnessed and was able to view many, many birds from one spot as the flock moved past in the trees. She did not spot any Mendocino County rarities in the flock. However, there was a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD at a feeder at the Botanical Gardens. Debra did see a couple of WILLOW FLYCATCHERS.
Thu, 14 Aug 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on Ten-mile Beach this morning. There are also SNOWY PLOVERS at this location, but she hasn't seen them at Virgin Creek recently.
Wed 13 Aug 2003 -- Jerry White phoned in from the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. This morning he had 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, and 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
Tue 12 Aug 2003 -- I visited The Ukiah Sewage treatment plant from 9:30 to 10:30 this morning. I saw a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the middle pond, as several other people have noted in the last two weeks. There was also a BLUE-WINGED TEAL and one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, a well as two Greater Scaup, a Hooded Merganser, and two young Ruddy Ducks, probably local hatches. There do not seem to be many juvenile coots around - considering the number of nests and broods I saw in mid-June before I left for Australia. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 10 Aug 2003 -- Hello, Mendobirders, Just a brief report on the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant for midday Sunday 8/10. There were 4 species of swallows flying; Violet-green, Tree, Northern Rough-legged and Barn. One Dowitcher (sp), one Greater Yellow Legs and one Lesser and at least 2 Green-backed Herons were observed. There were more Kildeer than the law allows but also one Red-necked Phalarope swimming, while not often in circles none the less quite frenetically, in the eastern part of the southern most pond. The water in the southern pond is now at a very high lake-like level and the northern pond is dry and had NO activity. Most sightings were from the middle pond. -- Vishnu
Fri, 08 Aug 2003 -- The HOODED ORIOLES are still nesting at 501 Sherry St. in Ukiah. This is the third brood this season, and the third nest built in the same palm tree. -- Paul Hawks
Thu, 07 Aug 2003 -- Hi everyone. I went back to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today, to see if any new birds had come in. A few have, including what was probably a juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. I first saw it at the east end of the central pond at around 2:30, and watched it for about a minute before it flew, but several points make me think it was indeed a Semi. These include the length of the bill (it was on the short end for a Semi, and fairly thick and straight), breast, neck, and head pattern, overall coloration and leg color. I'm not going to say for sure that it was indeed a Semi, but its something to keep an eye out for out there.
Other new birds included a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, starting to molt into basic plumage, and three more DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, for a total of five. Gone are the Willet, Long-billed Dowitchers and California Gull. Still around are the GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and all the Peeps. A total of 4 GREAT EGRETS were nice to watch. At one point all the birds on the central pond freaked out and started flying around, yelling (which was when I lost the Semi). I then noticed a BOBCAT slinking into the dead dock. I never saw it come out. Shorebird activity is definitely picking up out there. Good birding. -- Matt Brady
Wed, 06 Aug 2003 -- My Aunt and Uncle and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant early this afternoon. We observed a few interesting birds, including a WILLET, an EARED GREBE still mostly in alternate plumage, and two LESSER SCAUP, which were in need of a good molt. The Grebe and Scaup were in the duck Pond, while the Willet flew between the Duck pond and the Central pond. Also around were two GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, two DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, a half dozen CINNAMON TEAL, the previously reported Juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL, 8 or so LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, at least 4 GREEN HERONS and scads of Least and Western Sandpipers. Most of the Shorebirds were in the far eastern end of the Central pond, with the Blackbirds and Swallows, though 6 of the Dowitchers and the Willet were at the western end of the Central pond. There was only one Western and one Least Sandpiper in the Northern pond, where most of the shorebird activity had been previously. Good birding. -- Matt Brady
Sun, 03 Aug 2003 -- Austin Booth, my Aunt and Uncle and I visited the USTP this afternoon, where we met Vishnu. We also saw the WILSON'S PHALEROPES in the central pond, but no Dowitchers. On the northern pond Austin spotted a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. On the berm between the Duck Pond and the central pond were a baker's dozen CANADA GEESE, and at the east end of the Central Pond were numbers of juvenile TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a GREEN HERON. Swimming in the Duck Pond was a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, while Chuck's juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL flew around scaring the Blackbirds. in the northern pond was a variety of peeps, including both juvenile and adult WESTERN SANDPIPERS and some LEAST SANDPIPERS. Good birding, -- Matt Brady
Sat, 02 Aug 2003 -- Greeting Mendobirders: I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning (8/2) and there was quite a bit of activity out there. I saw 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES on the middle pond on the exposed grassy hummocks. There were also lots of peeps (I saw just LEAST and WESTERN) and a number of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on all 3 oxidation ponds. Among the hundreds of MALLARDS, etc was the first NORTHERN PINTAIL I've seen here this summer/fall. There was also a juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL hanging around the ponds. WILSON'S WARBLERS are already moving south down the river, and a newly-arrived MARSH WREN was singing in the weeds on the middle pond. Some of you sharp-eyed birders get on out there! Incidentally, Barbara and I have been enjoying the hummingbird wars at our feeders since the SELASPHORUS started arriving about a week ago. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 31 Jul 2003 -- Yesterday I spotted an OSPREY nest that I can't believe I missed before. It is in the top of a high voltage pole right where Marina Drive turns off Highway 20 to go down to the north shore of Lake Mendocino. It is a big conglomeration of sticks and branches, some really close to the HT wires. It is also very close to the camera that Caltrans has on a tall pole to monitor their variable message sign. I got lucky with a phone call to the Caltrans Eureka office this morning and spoke to the guy in charge of the camera. He said they knew of the nest and saw activity there in the last week; he turned it on as we spoke and watched several still pictures (refreshed every 10 seconds), but nothing going on. The nest is easily observed from the parking area along Hwy 20, maybe 100 feet to the west. I'll try to find a spot to look down into the nest. -- Jim Armstrong
Sun, 27 Jul 2003 -- Of local interest were 2 MARBLED GODWITS seen in flight over Clear Lake from Lakeside County Park this morning. This is the 3rd "summer" record and the second earliest arrival date for this rare Fall Migrant. -- Jerry White
Sun, 27 Jul 2003 -- My Dad and I birded along the coast today. Our first stop was the Garcia River mouth, where a number of returning Shorebirds were present. Although most of the peeps were along the far shore and unIDable, I did see a number of SANDERLINGS, most still in breeding plumage, a half-dozen or so BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, a large flock of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a single WHIMBREL, a DOWITCHER SP., a small flock of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and small numbers of both BLACK and RUDDY TURNSTONES. Also present were a dozen or so CASPIAN TERNS and 25 or so HEERMANN'S GULLS. Along Miners Hole Road were a couple of Passerines, but none that I would consider migrants. A pair of Caspian Terns were harassing a Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, which I thought was interesting. Past the last parking area, at the end of the Road was a large stand of apparently naturalized Fuscia that had a cloud of Hummers swarming around it. There were at least a dozen Selasphorus Hummingbirds, and 6 or so Anna's Hummingbirds. We then headed up to the Mendocino Headlands. We didn't see any Puffins, but the Western Gull, Cormorant and Murre colonies were in full swing. We then looked for Toby's Least Tern at Virgin Creek Beach, but we didn't have any luck there, either. However, there were more Shorebirds, including SANDERLINGS, WHIMBRELS, SURFBIRDS, and both TURNSTONES. Back in Ukiah I saw a flock of 5 CANADA GEESE in the big weedy field between the Freeway and the end of Brush Street. Early migrants? -- Matt Brady
Fri, 25 Jul 2003 -- Toby Tobkin reported good looks at a LEAST TERN this morning at Virgin Creek Beach. This is a first county record. She noted that it flew in to the beach and hopped around for a bit before flying due west. She thought it possible that it's making circles and will come back in to shore. She also saw a USFWS silver band, probably on the left leg.
Fri,1 8 Jul 2003 -- Larry Knowles and I saw 7-8 PURPLE MARTINS soaring around over the Eel River about 1/2 mile upstream from Hearst. Also saw a BALD EAGLE. -- Kate Marianchild
Sat, 12 Jul 2003 -- My Dad, Uncle and I went birding at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today. Shorebirds were limited to 9 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER and some KIlLDEER, all at the west end of the northern pond. On the duck pond were several hundred eclipse Mallards, 2 WOOD DUCKS (1F, 1M in eclipse), 1 CINNAMON TEAL (M in eclipse), and 1 LESSER SCAUP (M, going into eclipse). Interesting Passerines included 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH singing from the river, and a pair of LAZULI BUNTINGS along the north pond. Good birding. -- Matt Brady
Mon, 07 Jul 2003 -- Morning: The ridge loop from Covelo to Lake Pillsbury delivered most of the target birds with the Spruce Grove being the best location.
Highlights: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES at Grizzly Flat and Spruce Grove, CASSIN'S FINCH in one of the old logging clearings between Coffee Mill Flat and Spruce Grove, then singing in Spruce Grove MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE nest in a cavity about 4 ft off the ground in a fir tree at Spruce Grove. DUSKY FLYCATCHER building a nest in the whitethorn on the southern edge of the wet meadow at Spruce Grove. Nest is about 2-3 ft off the ground. Female was lining it with down from the nearby willows while the male called from across the meadow. FLAMMULATED OWL at 1030 PM Saturday night at Spruce Grove (7-5). Heard calling from up the hill above the camp but the bird eventually moved down the ridge past the camp and was heard much closer to camp. WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER on a snag in Spruce Grove. HERMIT WARBLERS (a pair) at the wet meadow of Spruce Grove. TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at the base of Hull Mtn. at the overlook to Lake Pillsbury (in both Mendocino and Lake counties). Nesting RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS in a snag at Haydon Rock. The HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER were probably also at Spruce Grove, but I couldn't get them to sit still long enough to tell - the only miss of the trip.
Other items of interest:
I took a botanist friend with me this trip and he managed to find five species of orchids (I'll get names for those interested). The butterflies are incredibly abundant right now. We probably saw a dozen species. The dawn chorus at Spruce Grove on Sunday morning started at 430 AM. Let me know if anyone wants more information. -- Demian Ebert
Sun, 06 Jul 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant and saw a number of recently-arrived shorebirds: about 30 Least Sandpipers and 10 Western Sandpipers, 6 Greater Yellowlegs, and a single Lesser Yellowlegs. There were single male Greater and Lesser Scaups among the ducks. The middle pond promises to provide some excellent habitat for shorebirds. The workers told me that they are allowing it to dry up beginning today. Although weedy at present, there will be some excellent open areas at both the W and E ends, as well as along both N and S edges. Yellow-breasted Chats and Swainsons Thrushes are still singing along the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 06 July 2003 -- Janet King reports an adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visiting her feeder. Bob Keiffer also saw one the same day in Lake County. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 03 Jul 2003 -- On July 3, an adult male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen in a little drainage just west of Verde Drive in north Mendocino. Although this is a public road, it may be hard to see the bird. You may try Mar Vista Road too. -- Ed Pandolfino, Haines, AK [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Thu, 03 Jul 2003 -- This morning at 8AM I saw an adult male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK in north Mendocino. The bird was in a small drainage west of Verde Drive. It was behind the last two houses on your left near the end of Verde Drive. This area is difficult to see from the road so the bird may be hard to find. There is another more substantial and more visible drainage along Mar Vista Drive that may be worth checking out for this bird as well.
This area is reached by taking Point Cabrillo Drive from Hwy 1 north of Mendocino, turning west on Mar Vista and right on Verde.
Also, two days ago there was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK at dusk flying and calling along Palette Drive in Mendocino. -- Ed Pandolfino
Thu, 03 Jul 2003 -- Wednesday, 02 July 2003, Bob Keiffer observed at least one pair of PURPLE MARTINS utilizing the dead snag on the uphill (south) side of the Branscomb road at mm 0.5 (one'half mile from Highway 1). There were also at least two pair at the Juan Creek bridge at the north end of Highway 1 before it leaves the coastline.
At Juan Creek there were numerous 15-20) alcids out beyond the rocks. My first thought was that they were Marbled Murrelets but closer spotting scope inspections showed that there were adult COMMON MURRES with juveniles (which look a lot like MAMUs). There may have actually been MAMU out there but I got tired of squinting my eyes through the scope and trying to find birds that were 5% on top of the water and 95% under the water feeding. The note here is.... be careful this time of year differentiating juvenile Common Murres from Marbled Murrelets.
At Usal Beach there were 150 -200 WESTERN GREBES with a few CLARK'S GREBES mixed in. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 28 Jun 2003 -- There was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS foraging at the west end of Lake Pennyroyal (nw of Ukiah, near Parducci winery) yesterday. -- Kate Marianchild
Fri, 27 Jun 2003 -- There were two YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS singing along the Eel River, along the road to Covelo this afternoon, at mile marker 13.91. Also in the area were nesting VIOLET-GREEN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and CLIFF SWALLOWS, and several singing YELLOW WARBLERS Thiere was also a really great swimming hole there. -- Matt Brady
Mon, 23 Jun 2003 -- Austin Booth and I camped up near Hull Mountain this weekend, and saw some high-altitude species. We visited Spruce Grove, Hull Mountain Summit, Tar Flats, and the Mendocino County Black-chinned Sparrow Spot. At Spruce Grove we heard and saw a red-morph FLAMMULATED OWL on both nights we camped there. We also had a female WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, and numbers of songsters, including NASHVILLE WARBLERS, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS, "THICK-BILLED" FOX SPARROWS, TOWNSEND'S SOLITATIRES, and CHIPPING SPARROWS. In the Corn Lilly meadow next to M1 we saw 4 or 5 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. Along the road up to the summit of Hull Mountain we had a CALIFORNIA THRASHER walk across the road. At Tar Flats there was a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER singing, another WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, and several WESTERN TANANGERS. Along road M6 we had a GOLDEN EAGLE soaring high above Penny Pines, and another near the Black-chinned Sparrow spot. Also at the Black-chinned Sparrow spot was a DUSKY FLYCATCHER, a HERMIT WARBLER, tons of "THICK-BILLED" FOX SPARROWS, but NO Black-chinned Sparrows. Other birds of interest along the various roads included a DUSKY WARBLER [=Flycatcher?, GEC] and a nesting HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER between Spruce Grove and the BCSP spot along M1, and a COOPER'S HAWK soaring above the junction of roads M1 and M61. MOUNTAIN QUAIL were abundant, with several calling at all stops, and about 10 sighted along the various roads. We also saw a Black Bear early this morning along M1 just past where the road for Spruce Grove turns off.
Directions: Spruce Grove is off of M1, several miles north of Hull Mountain. The turn-off is not marked, but there is an open meadow with Corn Lilly on the left, where the Lincoln's Sparrows were, and a small marker that says "Discovery Trail" on the right. The turn-off goes up the hill to the right, and the Flamm Owl was where the road makes a sharp turn to the left.
The "Black-chinned Sparrow Spot" is just below the summit of Hull Mountain, and is just within the Mendocino County line. We used George Chaniot's directions, posted to Mendobirds last year. His directions, which I will paraphrase, are: about 0.2 miles past the turn-off for the summit of Hull Mountain, there is a pull-through with several fire rings on the west side of the road. Just after this pull-through is an off-road vehicle trail that goes off towards the west, to Windy Point. This is labeled 10W32 on the Forest Service map, but is not labeled on the ground. Austin and I then followed this trail out to a rocky outcropping, which we sat upon, and listened. We didn't hear anything, but people last summer at about this time had luck with the Black-chinned Sparrows. All roads we drove on were passable by passenger car. -- Matt Brady
Thu, 19 Jun 2003 -- Mike Effinger in Redwood Valley reports that an adult male HOODED ORIOLE and an immature male are still coming regularly to his feeders. He thinks that there are some good photo opportunities here. Give him a call if you're interested in coming to look for this one (707 485-1747). -- George Chaniot
Tue, 17 Jun 2003 -- Morning- I just got a call from Mike Effinger in Redwood Valley. Apparently the male HOODED ORIOLE is back at his feeders. He also thinks that he's seen a female HOOR in the last couple of days. Give him a call if you're interested in coming to look for this one (707 485-1747). -- Demian Ebert
Sun, 08 Jun 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: The nice mix of late ducks that had been at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant oxidation ponds on June 1 (including pairs of Redhead and Greater Scaup and a female Ring-necked Duck) were not to be found yesterday. However, there was a female RUDDY DUCK with 5 downy young on the sludge pond (the small square pond to the right as you enter the pond area). As far as I know, this is the second breeding record for Ruddy Duck in Mendocino County. The previous record was also from USTP. There were at least 5 other female Ruddies on the ponds, and twice that many males, so it would not be surprising if there are more nesting efforts. -- Chuck
Sat, 31 May 2003 -- Chuck Vaughn and I headed up Etsel Ridge from Covelo
after we finished with his BBS route. The season seems to be about two weeks late in the higher country, and the Brewer Oaks were just beginning to bud out. We got about as far as Bald Mountain before we were stopped by some trees down across the road. It looked like the road was covered with snow shortly beyond. FOX SPARROWS and one GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE were singing along the road from Grizzly Flats to Bald Mountain. After we turned around we explored road 20N78 for a ways before it was blocked by snow too. On this road we found DUSKY FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and CASSIN'S FINCHES before we headed back down to Round Valley.
Species of note along the Covelo Road were RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS at two stops in the Eel River canyon area, and two PEREGRINE FALCONS at the sandstone cliffs. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 May 2003 -- The NORTHERN PARULA reported yesterday from the Caspar cemetery area by Toby Tobkin was still there this morning (Wed 5/28). The bird stayed mostly in the tall conifers just inside the green gate but occasionally strayed midway to the cemetery. The buzzy song is flat (somewhat similar to Orange-crowned Warbler) rather than the rising song I'm used to hearing from this species. PURPLE MARTINS were also in the area. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 28 May 2003 -- The NORTHERN PARULA reported yesterday from the Caspar cemetery area by Toby Tobkin was still there this morning (Wed 5/28). The bird stayed mostly in the tall conifers just inside the green gate but occasionally strayed midway to the cemetery. The buzzy song is flat (somewhat similar to Orange-crowned Warbler) rather than the rising song I'm used to hearing from this species. PURPLE MARTINS were also in the area -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 27 May 2003 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reported hearing a NORTHERN PARULA singing in the top of the spruce trees this morning at the entrance to the Caspar Cemetery, off Pt. Cabrillo Drive. She also reported PURPLE MARTINS and RED CROSSBILLS in the same area.
Tue, 27 May 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders, This past weekend a group of birders (inlcuding Larry Siemens, Stan Snyder, Paul Hawks, Dave and Ruth Wiebe, Myron Widmer and me) had our annual Memorial Day coastal birding weekend based out of Albion. The most notable bird of the weekend was a first year GLAUCOUS GULL seen
Monday morning (5/26) at Laguna point. We initially saw the bird as it flew north over Laguna Point. We were able to observe the bird at very close range but as the fog was quite heavy we were unable to see if the bird landed on the beach or not. We went back to our car and drove to the Lake Cleone parking lot and walked up onto the Haul Rd just in time to watch the bird fly south down the beach right in front of us. It then circled over Lake Cleone and headed north once again disappearing into the fog. We drove up to Ward Ave but were unable to relocate the bird.
Of local interest were COMMON NIGHTHAWKS found Fri and Sat evenings. The clouds were very low Fri so we could only hear a single bird. On Sat the weather was a bit more cooperative and we saw three birds including one repeatedly performing a booming display. To reach this location drive east on Albion Ridge Road for about three to four miles from Hwy 1. Look for a telephone pole on the right with a big "K" painted on it. Turn right onto the dirt road directly in front of this telephone pole. Drive maybe 0.1 miles on this dirt road and park (stop short of the large containers on the left side of the road). Listen and
watch overhead. We had birds between 2030 and 2100 hours on both sides of the road.
The TUFTED PUFFIN at the Mendocino Headlands was easily observed Fri, Sat, and Sun. The bird was always seen in the water north of Goat Rock (in the direction of the Cabrillo Lighthouse) and always in the company of a RHINOCEROS AUKLET. GRAY JAYS were also easily observed on Fri and Sat in the upper campgrand at Van Damme. We also had at least 10 RED CROSSBILLS in the confers along the path through the trees leading to Virgin Creek Beach on Sat morning.
Short pelagic runs (app 2 hours in length and no more than 12 miles out) were made Sat and Sun afternoons and on Mon morning. I was on the Sat run. We had one LAYSAN ALBATROSS at 1715 hours approximately 10 miles west of Noyo Harbor. Other tubenoses were seven BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, two PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and approximately 100 SOOTY SHEARWATERS. The pelagic runs on Sun had several BFAL, many SOSH, one PFSH, two NORTHERN FULMARS, and five HEERMANN'S GULLS. The run on Mon encountered heavy fog but also saw SOSH, BFAL, and one HEEG.
Other birds of interest were at least five HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Virgin Creek Beach on Sat morning. One late BONAPARTE'S GULL was also at Virgin Creek Beach Sat morning. A single RING-BILLED GULL was seen Mon morning at the Navarro River mouth. And finally, a leucistic BLACK
OYSTERCATCHER was seen Sun morning from the overlook just north of Juan Creek. The oystercatcher was completely white except for a dusky gray head, orange bill, and pink legs. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 26 May, 2003 -- On Monday BLUE GROUSE were still booming on Low Gap Road outside of Ukiah - .7 miles past the second cattle guard.
California Towhees are nesting - not sure how far along in the process they are since I just found the nest this morning. Nest is about four feet off the ground in a shrubby live oak about 8 feet from a frequently-opened gate on a dirt road!
A friend and I watched from a canoe as a Red-winged Blackbird mom fed at least two very big-mouthed babies in a nest at Lake Pennyroyal last week. We were lucky to be able to see the nest - most are in the middle of the reeds but this one is on the edge. It is about 2 feet off the ground. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 25 May, 2003 -- Many rafts of Sooty Shearwaters (300+), mixed with 200+ Common Murres, and many Brandt's Cormorants feeding on a mass of long, skinny bait fish (I don't remember what they are called ....the name begins with an "S"). I was actually able to watch Sooty Shearwaters grab these bait fish from the surface while they sat on the water. This feeding frenzie was about 2 miles offshore and several miles north of Noyo Harbor. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 24 May 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 1 TUFTED PUFFIN and 4 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS feeding in the waters off the Mendocino Headlands.
Sat, 24 May 2003 -- Two PURPLE MARTINS flew over my yard in Potter Valley this afternoon, chortling as they went. This is about a month later than usual for a first sighting here. Maybe I should check the Pioneer Bridge again. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 23 May 2003 -- A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was calling in my neighborhood this morning after midnight. It kept me awake from 01:10-01:50. This is only the second record I know of from Potter Valley. Yardbird #161. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 17 May 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This morning at the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project we saw a single BLACK SWIFT working N into the NW wind just above the trees. We saw the bird through such a narrow opening in the woods out there that we couldn't see if there were others in the area -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 15 May 2003 -- I went to the 501 Sherry location on a trip to Ukiah to look for HOODED ORIOLES. I parked across the street and watched the tree. It took about 20 seconds for the male to appear and about 90 seconds for the female. Very nice views.
Then I went to the Pomo Drive location which I have been checking about once a week since late March without luck. After watching the palm tree for about 15 minutes, I saw a female Hooded visit the blossoms on the Bottlebrush at 805 Pomo Drive. She flew off to the south down Pomo Drive followed by a male Hooded. I never saw either in the palm tree. Later a male Bullock's visited the Bottlebrush too. I checked about six other fan-palms in the wider neighborhood, but never saw the orioles again. They're in the neighborhood, but where are they nesting? -- George Chaniot
Thu, 15 May 2003 -- We had a report from Peter Windrem of a "GRACKLE" in the trees near a restaurant (TNT's) across from Library Park on 1st street in Lakeport on Monday evening. We have not so far refound that bird which was likely a Great-tailed Grackle. While I was searching today a park employee pointed out to me 2 young Barn Owl's in one of the palm trees (the one on the North side) in front of the old Carnegie Library. -- Jerry White
Wed, 14 May 2003 -- Add another HOODED ORIOLE nesting site to your list. For four days in a row I have seen Hooded Orioles in the immediate vicinity of 501 Sherry St. (northwest Ukiah), and today got absolute identification of a pair going and coming from a palm tree in the front yard of this address. There are two palm trees. Their apparent nesting site is in the tree to the west. I first saw a male Hooded Oriole in the general neighborhood on March 29.
I stopped by and talked to the owner at 501 Sherry St. He said the orioles have been nesting there for several years. He showed me the nest, easily seen on the underside of the palm fronds on the south side of the tree (the palm on the right hand side of the yard). The owner was okay with people stopping by in the street to watch the Hooded Orioles. But I ask that you knock and ask permission to view the nest from their yard.--Paul Hawks
Wed, 14 May 2003 -- This morning I did my jog along the Eel River on the logging road from Pioneer Bridge to Bucknell Creek and back. The road has not been graded yet and is rather potholed, so the Pilsbury traffic is going on the county road, and the logging road is very quiet and dust-free. My pace Jogging With Binoculars was pretty slow as it was a very birdy morning. Everything was singing, and there were duelling grosbeaks duelling tanagers, duelling vireos, and more. Warblers were particularly active, and I found Yellow-breasted Chat, Common Yellowthroat, MacGillivray's, Hermit, Black-throated Gray, Wilson's, Orange-crowned, and Yellow Warblers.
I spent some time at the bridge watching for Purple Martins, but I saw none. They seem to have deserted nesting in the drain holes last year. Purple Martin is the only migrant (besides the high-elevation quartet: Green-tailed Towhee, Flammulated Owl, Dusky and Hammond's Flycatchers) which has not been reported to the Mendobirds database for interior Mendocino County this year. Has anyone out there seen them?
Possibly the most interesting bird was a Chestnut-backed Chickadee about 1/2 mile upstream from the bridge. This species is always rare around Potter Valley, but there seems to be a sparse population in this area which has persisted for decades.
It looks like the Peregrine Audubon field trip to this area on Saturday should be pretty interesting, and the weather forecast is favorable.
Tue, 13 May 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders, This is a belated report of the pelagic trip on Sunday May 11 led by Debbie Shearwater. The unequivocal highlights of the trip were two MURPHY'S PETRELS. The first bird was seen approximately 35 miles out around noon. Not everyone saw it as it was flying away from the boat fairly rapidly. The second bird was seen 16 miles out at about 1600 hours. Everyone got good looks at this bird as it hung around the boat for a few minutes and made three passes at fairly close range. I believe these are only the second and third records of this species in Mendocino county.
Conditions started out favorably but as the day progressed and we got further out the wind picked up considerably. Chuck tried hard but couldn't get a volleyball game going. Overall bird numbers were low but we did see a good variety of species. The following is a list of species seen with approximate numbers.
BIRDS:
Common Loon - 2, Western Grebe - 5, Black-footed Albatross - 50, Northern Fulmar - 5, Murphy's Petrel - 2, Pink-footed Shearwater - 50, Sooty Shearwater - 500, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brant - 3, Surf Scoter - 5, Whimbrel - 20, Wandering Tattler - 1, Dowitcher sp - 3, Red Phalarope - 500, Pomarine Jaeger - 12, Parasitic Jaeger - 2, Bonaparte's Gull - 3, California Gull, Herring Gull - 1, Glaucous-winged Gull, Western Gull, Sabine's Gull - 25, Common Tern - 1, Common Murre - 100, Pigeon Guillemot - 3, Cassin's Auklet - 15, Rhinoceros Auklet - 25
MAMMALS:
Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Northern Right-whale Dolphin, Dall's Porpoise, Harbor Seal, Northern Fur Seal, California Sea-Lion, Steller's Sea-Lion -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 11 May 2003 -- The May 11th pelagic trip sponsored by Shearwater Journeys from Fort Bragg was a very pleasing and satisfying trip for all on board. A full boat load of seabirders departed from Noyo harbor at 7 am. with leaders: Peter Pyle, Steve Howell, Jim Danzenbaker, Luke Cole, Lisa Hug, Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Todd McGrath, Jennifer Green, and Debra Shearwater. With many recent reports of Murphy's Petrels offshore, all on board had high hopes for seeing this enigmatic Pterodroma. We were not disappointed!
We saw the usual nearshore species, including Brandt's, Pelagic, and Double-crested Cormorants, Wandering Tattler, and Pigeon Guillemot. Pacific Loons were migrating just offshore. Seas were low, and never amounted to much more than a Beaufort 2-3 most of the day, making it one of the finer May trips. We headed directly for Noyo Canyon, making excellent time in our
vessel which recently had brand new and faster engines installed. Shearwater numbers picked up at the canyon, but we pressed on for Viscaino Knoll and the Viscaino Canyon beyond it. In all, we motored some 38-40 miles offshore.
The first MURPHY'S PETREL flew past the bow of the boat just after 12 noon! (During the morning announcements, I had reminded birders that most of the many rare seabirds sighted on our trips have been found after noon, or later in the day!). Unfortunately, only the 10 folks on the bow of the boat saw the first Murphy's Petrel. I was at the stern and missed it.
However, at 4:10 pm a second Murphy's was found and flew around the boat for quite awhile, even approaching us relatively closely a few times. Our pro
chummers, Matt Brady and David Vander Pluym, dumped a bottle of cod liver oil overboard, and the petrel actually alighted on the ocean near the slick! Slick! That didn't last long, and soon it was up and flying. Some folks even managed to get photos of the bird! This bird was only 16.85 miles off of Laguna Point, once again, proving that rare seabirds are not always out there in the 100 mile range.
Everyone on board had excellent views of the second Murphy's Petrel, and celebrated royally. It was a life bird for many. Nearing the harbor at the end of our successful day, we sang Happy Birthday to our chummer, Matt Brady. Great day, all around! -- Debra Shearwater, Hollister, CA
Sun, 11 May 2003 -- Sunday morning about noon, a bit to the northeast of Goat Rock, I had good views of a TUFTED PUFFIN in summer plumage bobbing in the ocean. -- Jessica Morton
Sat, 10 May 2003 -- Finally, a sunny May morning. The big wave of migrating shorebirds at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant seems to be passing, but there was a single WHITE-FACED IBIS on the mud in the N. pond. It disappeared and reappeared several times; probably moving into the vegetation. Also present were 2 Least Sandpipers, 1 Wilson's Snipe, 1 Greater Yellow--legs, and 1 Spotted Sandpiper.
Along the Russian River there were a lot of singing migrants: Yellow-breasted Chat, Swainson's Thrush, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, among others.
On the S. pond there is still a variety of ducks including 3 REDHEADS, and Ruddy Ducks doing complete bubble display to copulation. I wonder if ruddies will nest here again this year. Several nests on American Coot were in the process of hatching, with tiny downies in their spiked, orange, punk hairdoos. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 08 May 2003 -- Another female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD has been visiting the feeder on the back deck this morning. This appears to be a different individual that on 29 Apr as the peach wash on the underparts is heavier and the white tick in the lores is more prominent. This is the latest I have ever seen CAHU here in Potter Valley. Could it be the abnormally wet April and the chilly, damp first week in May? -- George Chaniot
Sun 04 May 2003 -- The May 4th Pelagic Trip out of Fort Bragg started out wet and cold, but turned into a sunny day as we headed out to sea. We went out 24 miles and the highlights of the trip included 2 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, RIGHT-WHALE DOLPHINS, A LAUGHING GULL and an abundance of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and WESTERN GULLS. Great looks were had of POMERINE JAEGERS and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS.
Full species list:
Pacific Loons-100's, Red-throated Loon-10, Common Loon -5, Western Grebe-25, Laysan Albatross- 2, Black-footed Albatross -750, Northern Fulmar-50, Pink-footed Shearwater- 250, Sooty Shearwater-2000, Brandt's Cormorant -5, Pelagic Cormorant-5, Double-crested Cormorant-2, Black Brant -40, Red-necked Phalarope -250, Red Phalarope-1000, Pomarine Jaeger-25, Bonaparte's Gull-5, California Gull-100, Western Gull-1000, Glaucous-winged Gull-5, Sabine's Gull-50, Laughing Gull-1, Arctic Tern -2, Common Murre -250, Pigeon Guillemot-2, Cassin's Auklet 10, Rhinoceros Auklet-15, Long-billed Curlew -2
Other species:
Northern Fur Seal -1, Northern Right-whale Dolphin-50+, Pacific White-sided Dolphin -300+, California Sea Lion-15, Ocean Sunfish -1, Blue Shark -3, By-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella)- millions! -- Charlene MacAllister
Mon 05 May 2003 -- Austin Booth saw a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant (USTP). Also a solitary SOLITARY SANDPIPERr at a winery pond in north Redwood Valley ... it has been there for about ten days.
Jim Xerogeanes has two female HOODED ORIOLES checking out the fan palm in his yard. 485-7896
Fri, 02 May 2003 -- Very good close-up views of the REDHEAD pair at USTP 5/1 as they were initially quite close in the 1st, bubbler pond. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was also seen in that pond. On the north pond was a DUNLIN in breeding plumage.
Today 5/2 between 3:00 and 4:00 pm the REDHEADS were in the south pond as was a winter plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. (A number of COOTS in that pond were also observed busily swimming in circles apparently having been recruited by the PHALAROPE.) A GREEN-BACKED HERON was seen flying between ponds. A very attractive breeding plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPER was at the eastern end of the north pond. Just a few of the many shorebirds present. Excellent scoping weather too; bright overcast skies with no hint of heat wave distortion. -- Vishnu
Thu, 01 May 2003 -- Toby Tobkin reports that the TUFTED PUFFIN(s) have returned to the Goat Island area off Mendocino Headlands where they have been observed in the past. Toby saw one today in the water just on the north end of the large island where they have previously nested in the burrow visible from shore. Toby also saw 13 HARLEQUIN DUCKS on the rocks just off Virgin Creek Beach.
Thu, 01 May 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: This afternoon I saw 4 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES (2m, 2f) near the irrigation pond by the permanent pasture at the entrance to the Center. Also in the area was a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 30 Apr 2003 -- This evening I observed several hundred VAUX'S SWIFTS feeding over Friedman Bros., the 101 freeway, and the adjacent pear orchard on the east side of the freeway. I was even more impressed with the numbers as I drove through Ukiah and saw swifts everywhere... all the way to Perkins and Dora. At 8:00 PM I returned to this area to show the swifts to my son, Ryan. There were even more swifts and they were congregating on the west side of Dora and Perkin. As I turned west on Perkins Street off of Dora I noticed that some of the birds were intently swooping over the chimney of the Silver Birches Residential Care Home on the SE corner of Perkins and Hortense. We parked and proceeded to watch an estimated 3000 swifts congregate in circling and twittering formations. About half seemed to split off and go elsewhere. But about 1000 to 1500 birds finally funnelled down into the chimney at around 8:20 PM. They were all in (except for a very few stragglers) within 60 seconds. I was trying to pick out any bulkier-looking swifts that may be Chimney Swifts but could not pick out any different from the norm. These birds may use this roost for several nights until they continue north to whatever coniferous forest is their nesting home where they will pair up to nest in individual cavities. -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 30 Apr 2003,1300-1400 -- Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. One SOLITARY SANDPIPER is still on the mud at the north pond. Western, Least, and Spotted (2) Sandpipers also present. Many yellowlegs, at least 4 Dunlin and 9 Semipalmated Plovers. Red-necked phalarope was not seen by us today. Waterfowl included Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Redhead (last three days), Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck. Wood Duck was also seen 4/28. The ruddy duck courtship is interesting right now if you have not seen it. The Bonaparte's Gulls use the south pond mostly with most of the waterfowl. -- Jack Booth
Wed, 30 Apr 2003 -- Geoff and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds today from 11:30 to 12:45. Specialties of the day were a pair of REDHEADS, three SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and a DUNLIN in breeding plumage in the north pond, and a pair of BONAPARTE'S GULLS engaged in what appeared to be some serious courting in the south pond -- Cheryl Watson
Wed, 30 Apr 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Today at HREC I was able to get out and about between storms. The birds were abundant and vocal. I saw 8 species of warblers, including Townsend's, Hermit, Nashville, and MacGillivray's. There were a number of female Selasphorus hummers zinging north in the chaparral at 2500'. Yesterday there was a late White-throated Sparrow at the feeder outside my lab window. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 29 Apr 2003 -- At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, Austin Booth reports seeing 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS in breeding plumage, 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, several DUNLIN, several SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and 11 species of waterfowl. The north pond is superb shorebird habitat right now and shorebird migration is in full force .... don't miss the opportunity! -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 29 Apr 2003, 12:30 -- A female hummingbird that I am confident is a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD just made several visits to the feeder on my front porch at 9430 W. Road, Potter Valley. It was visably smaller than a female Rufous nearby, had almost no rufous in the tail, and had a faint peach wash to the sides and underparts. It returned about a half hour later, and I got excellent looks at it sitting in the oak branches and hovering at the feeder at distances too short for binoculars. Calliope Hummingbird is always rare and occasional in Mendocino Co., but over the years I think there have been more sightings at this one feeder than all other sightings in the county combined -- George Chaniot
Sun, 27 April 2003, 4:00 PM -- A migrating group of 15 - 20 VAUX'S SWIFTS were following Feliz Creek corridor just west of Hopland flying downstream (east) about 100 feet off the ground. They were not foraging or milling around.... just here and gone in a rather tight flock ( tight for swifts ... all within about 200 feet). It was rather gloomy weather with sporadic rain showers at the time. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 27 Apr 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirds, At least one of the two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS seen at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant on Saturday April 26 was still present Sunday the 27th. The bird seems to like the east end of the north pond as it was seen in this same location both days.
The sewage ponds are currently an outstanding shorebird location. The north pond in particular has the best mud flats I've seen there in the four years I've lived here. In addition to the Solitary Sandpiper were SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (2), KILLDEER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. --
Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 27 Apr 2003 -- Of local interest is a very late departing (for Lake County) WHITE-THROATED SPARROW I saw today at Clear Lake State Park at campsite #47. This bird was reported by Bob Dunn (on Calbirds) as being at campsite #35 on April 18th and he noted it had been present through the winter.
Also, congratulations to Chuck Vaughn and company on their excellent big day effort -- Jerry White
Sun, 27 Apr 2003 -- This is a late posting but I wanted Mendo birders to be aware of HOODED ORIOLES in the county. Penny Seamen who lives on the south end of Ukiah has for many years had Hooded Orioles visiting her nectar feeders... however the nest tree has never been located in this part of Ukiah. This year April 12th was the arrival date for the first male Hooded Oriole at her feeder.
Hooded Orioles have in recent years nested in Fan Palms in the Oak Manor part of Ukiah (Pomo Dr.), on Twining Road in Talmage, and on Stewart and Fir Streets in Fort Bragg. I'm sure that we have several other nesting trees scattered throughout the urban areas of Mendocino County. Currently, there are no reports ever from anywhere else in the county.
Please keep an eye on all FAN PALM trees in your area and report any nesting by Hooded Orioles. Thanks. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 27 Apr 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Yesterday the group of George Chaniot, Bob Keiffer, Matthew Matthiessen, and myself made a Mendocino County Big Day effort trying to break the old record of 161 species seen in 24 hours from 1999 (Chaniot, Keiffer, Vaughn, and White). We came close, winding up with 159, but didn't quite make it. We started the Day at 0400 at the tank house on the Keiffer farm in Hopland for the usual Barn Owls. We proceeded to the UC Hopland Randamp;E Center for more owling (Western Screech, Great Horned and Northern Pygmy-Owls), and birded the chaparral and oaks there until 1000. Highlights (including unexpected very late and early birds) were Western Wood-Pewee, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings, Hermit Warblers, Lazuli Buntings, and Rufous-crowned, Lincoln's and Grasshopper Sparrows. On to the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant where we found a nice assortment of ducks (including late Northern Shovelers, Lesser Scaups, and American Wigeons) and some very nice shorebirds: Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitchers, and the birds of the day, 2 Solitary Sandpipers. We proceeded to Potter Valley and Burris Lane, finding American Dipper, Lewis's Woodpeckers, and a very late Merlin. Lake Mendocino is presently a steep-sided bath tub of muddy water being stored for Sonoma and Marin county consumers (pardon the editorial tangent), and was miserable birding (Western and Clark's Grebes). We picked up a Peregrine Falcon on Boonville Road and left for the coast with 124 species and confident that with any luck at all we had a great opportunity to raise the Big Day bar in the county. Well...the coast was slllooowwww. The only bird of note was a single Bonaparte's Gull on the mud at the Navarro River beach. We had no unusual shorebirds, and in fact missed birds like Willet, Black-bellied Plover, and Surfbird. Scoping was unproductive even with our best scope-stretchers. We ended the day at McGuire Hill Pond on Highway 20 at 8pm with a single Tricolored Blackbird. Wait 'til next year! -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 14 Apr 2003 -- My sister, Rya Rubenthaler, saw a female BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER at her house on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley yesterday, April 12, in the afternoon. The Blackburnian warbler was hanging out in the oak trees with yellow-rumped, black-throated gray, and Nashville warblers. Nearby were a couple orange-crowned warblers.
Thu, 03 Apr 2003 -- I took photos, too! :) An AMERICAN CROW, eating food off the street in the middle of South McPherson Street in Fort Bragg, just a few moments ago. The photos aren't that good, but I have them here for anyone who would like to see. . . -- Feather Forestwalker
Tue, 01 Apr 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing a very late ROCK SANDPIPER among turnstones on an offshore rock between Virgin Creek and Laguna Point. There was also a CASPIAN TERN flying by. On 31 Mar she saw some BROWN PELICANS from the Botanical Gardens.
Mon, 31 Mar 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Earlier this afternoon I saw a male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH in a mixed flock of Lesser Goldfinches and House Finches by the permanent pasture at the entrance to HREC. This is the earliest record I have for LAGO in the county by a month! -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 31 Mar 2003 -- Greetings MendoBirders, Yesterday I drove up Low Gap Rd to see if any Blue Grouse are booming yet. I began at the second cattle guard (no Blue Grouse) and continued west from there stopping periodically to listen. At 0.75 miles west of the second cattle guard I finally encountered BLUE GROUSE. A male was booming downslope from this location and a female was in a tree directly over the road.
To find this location drive west on Low Gap Rd to the second cattle guard. At about 0.7 miles west of the second cattle guard there is an open meadow area downslope on the right (north). At 0.75 miles west of the second cattle guard the road makes an "S" curve to the left and then immediately back to the right. Right where the road curves left there are trees on the right (north) side of the road and this is where the grouse was booming. Good Birding Ya'll -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 29 Mar 2003 -- Yesterday I saw what appeared to be a mostly white hummingbird at one of the feeders the 3rd grade class at Potter Valley Elementary has outside its windows. I went back this morning and got three fairly long looks at what I assume is an Anna's with an all white (genuinely WHITE) rump and shoulders with a bright speckled green band around its middle. It's head is grayish with sort of polka dots; the gray on its primaries is also spotted. The tail is mostly white with black tips. No, it is not April 1st yet. If you want to take a look, I recommend non-school hours at the east end of the parking lot; you can't miss the line of feeders along the north side of the building, although I think the right-hand nectar feeder is empty. I searched Google for piebald Hummers with no hits, but some for albino or leucistic, i.e. not quite albino. He comes at about 10-15 minute intervals and gets a pretty good drink. These may not be all that rare, but I've never seen one. I took some shaky video. -- Jim Armstrong
Sat, 29 Mar 2003 -- Chuck Vaughn and I birded the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. There is still a nice assortment of ducks, though not as many as last Saturday. Among the newly returning migrants were CHIPPING SPARROW, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and WARBLING VIREO. The "first seen" dates of most migrants are being logged on the Mendobirds database at this URL. Check it out and please contribute. Chuck sees a disproportionate share of the firsts because he spends a lot of time near Hopland, the "Gateway to Central Mendocino" for spring migrants.
At Lake Mendocino I saw a BONAPARTE'S GULL sitting on floating driftwood off Miti camp. There was an OSPREY carrying nest material to the platform on the east shore just north of Perry Creek Cove, and there was an immature BALD EAGLE sitting nearby. There still are very few birds on the lake: lots of Western and Clark's Grebes, some doing courtship dancing, 60 Double-crested Cormorants, a few Common Mergansers, and less than 100 scaup. My hypothesis is that the big let-down of the lake last fall decimated the bottom fauna, particularly the fingernail-sized clams that seem to be the mainstay of most ducks. There still is opportunity for fish-eating birds.
After several quiet weeks of incubation, the AMERICAN DIPPERS nesting under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road are now carrying food to the nest, with a trip about every three minutes. It's a good time to see them. I spent some time watching the hummingbird feeders at Potter Valley Elementary School for the odd humminbird seen yesterday and this morning by Jim Armstrong, but I did not see it. While waiting, I heard a parrot aaacking nearby and tracked down a RED-MASKED PARAKEET in the trees among the buildings. This is the first time I've seen this species on the loose in California. I've exhausted my library resources, but I think I can eliminate all other _Aratingas_: Larger than a Mourning Dove (13-14 in?) with long, pointed tail; mostly bright green with the following exceptions: bold, white, teardrop-shaped ring around the eye; bill pink; feet pink; crown and most of face bright scarlet, broadly surrounding the eye but not connecting under the chin as illustrated in Sibley (Is there age variation in this?); forecrown not brownish; underwing coverts bright scarlet; underside of tail yellowish; "anklets" peach, not scarlet; no red flecks on sides of neck and breast. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 18 Mar 2003 -- Hi All. Larry Knowles saw a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at the Botanical Gardens south of Fort Bragg this morning. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 17 Mar 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports one ROCK SANDPIPER still at Laguna Point. This is a rather late date. She also saw a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL at the Laguna Point parking lot. Many gulls are getting faded out at this time of year, but this one was definitely a Glaucous with pink bill with dark tip and huge size with heavy chest.
Sun, 16 Mar 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: It is swallow-arama this morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The recently-arrived Tree and Violet-greens have been joined by NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, CLIFF, and BARN SWALLOWS. This is my earliest record for the latter. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 15 Mar 2003 -- At Lake Mendocino this afternoon at 12:45 there was a singing ROCK WREN on top of the rocks in front of the 1st bench to the south of the water outlet structure on the dam. -- Vishnu
Fri, 07 Mar 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: At 07:30 this am I saw/heard a CASSIN'S VIREO at the HREC headquarters. This is the earliest record I have for Mendocino County by nearly 2 weeks. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS are also singing in the oaks around here. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 06 Mar 2003 -- The MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS continue on Pine Avenue. Today they were further east near the Pine Avenue Association sign and the fenceline that runs to the south. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 04 Mar 2003 -- Although I could not find them yesterday, the MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were back on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley at 09:15 this morning. I am revising the numbers estimate slightly to 9 (6m, 3f). They rove about in a fairly tight flock, but they are not always all together. Some stay in the tops of the trees along the creek.
Had the first ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD of the year at my feeders yesterday. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 01 Mar 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Birding activity seems to have been picking up in the last few days. Yesterday in the am, Jennifer Potts and I were running her birding transects in the knob cone pines/brush on Cow Mountain just above Eagle Point Ranch. We saw 2 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, the first I've seen this spring, and some RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Her work up there the last 18 months has pretty clearly demonstrated that the Nuthatches, as well as Hairy Woodpeckers, are resident in the thicker knob cone groves up there. Why can't we ever get them on our CBC? Late yesterday a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visited our feeders briefly at home, and then proceeded north like a red bullet. This am George Chaniot and I birded USTP, Lake Mendocino, and Potter Valley. At USTP we saw a DUNLIN in basic plumage. There was a nice assortment of ducks, including a drake CANVASBACK. There were 3 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS mixed in with the Tree Swallows. The Lake is pretty (VERY?) slow bird wise. We did see an adult Herring Gull at the south launch. George then showed me the AMERICAN DIPPER and the MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS he has staked out in Potter Valley. The Bluebirds are a must see and George has provided good location details in previous posts. They are along Pine Avenue in the vicinity of the first big pullout on your right as you drive east. -- Good birding, Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 24 Feb 2003 -- Howdy, I took my family on a weekend vacation to Mendocino and just returned. Highlights included the SANDHILL CRANE and a male EURASIAN WIGEON at the Garcia River Bottoms on Sunday and a male BLACK SCOTER at the end of Ward Ave north of Fort Bragg on Saturday. Beautiful weather throughout the weekend. No Laysan Albatross for Amy...shucks.
Finally broke the 275 mark with 276--but after speaking with Dorothy Tobkin, we figured out that I hadn't even birded the county at all in the past 7-8 years.... -- John Sterling, Woodland, CA
Fri, 28 Feb 2003 -- 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS were roosting at high tide at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park. Also in the area, there were 3 RED-NECKED GREBES,1 male HARLEQUIN DUCK, and 2 MARBLED MURRELETS. 6 BLACK SCOTER were in the scoter flock off of Ward Ave, along with 2 RED-NECKED GREBES and a female HARLEQUIN DUCK. 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at the Virgin Creek Beach area at MacKerricher. -- Dorothy Tobkin [from N. Calif. BirdBox]
Wed, 26 Feb 2003 -- Yesterday I saw the MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS again at 4:30 pm. on Pine Ave., Potter Valley. Today I watched them from 9:00-9:45 as they roved through much of the area visible from the set-back gate on the north side about 3/4 mile from East Road. They were on the fences along the creek, on the ground and rocks in the fields, the grape-stake fence along Pine Ave., and the tops of the oaks along the creek and by the pullout. The number appears to be 8 (4m,4f) possibly 9, but there is sometimes a Western Bluebird or two with them when they fly up into the trees. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Mon, 24 Feb 2003, 08:15 -- This morning I found a group of 8 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. Initially they were sitting on the fences near the set-back gate on the north side of the road about 3/4 mile from East Road, just before Pine Avenue goes down to cross Burright Creek. They flew off and lit in a large oak on a knoll to the north. When I returned an hour later there was a single male sitting in the top of an oak along the creek. This is only 1/4 mile from the area where a group was present 1 Feb to 2 Mar 2001. Up close they certainly were the bluest of
blues, even on a 'cloudy bright' day.
There was also a FERRUGINOUS HAWK conspicuous in the area, LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, a taiga MERLIN, and a SAY'S PHOEBE. Yesterday there were two AMERICAN DIPPERS under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road, singing and nest building. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Mon, 24 Feb 2003 -- Howdy, I took my family on a weekend vacation to the coast and was able to get a little birding in. The SANDHILL CRANE was still at the Garcia River Bottoms on Sunday--but was difficult to see during much of the time. There was a male EURASIAN WIGEON and several dozen ALEUTIAN CANADA GEESE with the swans, and there was a male BLACK SCOTER at the end of Ward Ave north of Fort Bragg on Saturday. Beautiful weather throughout the weekend. Hadn't birded Mendocino in about eight years.....but finally broke 275 for the county.
No luck on the albatross or Laughing Gull or Rock Sandpiper..... -- John Sterling
Tue, 18 Feb 2003 -- Hi All: I was out at Lake Mendocino to check out the scaups and the mergansers at the south end. A SHORT-EARED OWL flew out of the rocks on the east side of the dam, went about 60 yards north, and landed back in the rocks. The time was about 5:45 pm (this was why I never made it to the mtg). It was very distinctive in shape, size, and flight. Bob Keiffer asked me if it flew like a moth. The answer is yes. But, what it really made me think of was how a northern harrier would fly if it was drunk. I know that this is unexpected terrain. It seems like it should have been on the western slope where the grass is. I surmise that it was catching some sort of small rodents. I have been out four more times since, looking for it again with no luck. It could have just been passing through.
Last night at L. Mendo, there were eleven Great Blue Herons on the island. Vishnu had told me he spotted eight a couple of days before. They are still there.
BTW - I have two breeding pairs of White-breasted Nuthatches at my house now. One on the east side and one of the west side, both using boxes in large oaks. -- Good birding. Dave Bengston
Sat, 15 Feb 2003 -- Roger Foote saw and photographed the Laughing Gull at the upper parking lot at Lake Cleone. Check out the photos at Mendobirds or at Peregrine website.
Fri, 14 Feb 2002 -- A FERRUGINOUS HAWK has been hanging around the Burris Lane area in Potter Valley for several weeks. Today it was on a power pole near the pond. Quite impressive close up. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 12 Feb 2003 -- I would like to second Vishnu's report on the startling STARLING phantasmagoria ("a constantly shifting complex succession of things seen or imagined.") Watching them whirl and swoop, transforming instantly from clouds of evenly spaced birds to dense undulating mobius strips to exploding fireworks is especially beautiful against the pink sky to the east. And sometimes a bit of sun touches them, adding golden magic to the show. Looking up through layers of birds, with one level going one way and the next going another direction and a higher level heading yet another way can be quite mesmerizing.
I want to add that while the show started at 5:35 last night, it wasn't until almost 5:50 that two gigantic clouds of birds appeared in the east, swooping in from Lake County. So don't give up. -- Kate Marianchild
Tue, 11 Feb 2003 -- Hello Mendobirders. Before 10am this morning I had great looks at a SHORT-EARED OWL in Anderson Marsh St. Park near Lower Lake. I first observed the bird in flight about .4 mi W of the ranch house under overcast conditions, however it is possible that my hike flushed the bird into the air from the tall grass in Anderson Flat and I missed seeing it fly off of the ground. It briefly landed within binocular range before flying again to the NW where it landed in what appeared to be taller grass and teasel still in Anderson Flat, but about a half mile away. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 10 Feb 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing three ANCIENT MURRELETS from the boardwalk at Laguna Point. The LAUGHING GULL was also at Lake Cleone about 1:30 p.m.
Mon, 10 Feb 2003 -- Hello all. Against much advice, David Vander Pluym, Austin Booth and I headed up to Hull Mountain today. Although it was snowy at the summit, we could drive almost all the way to the top. Highlites included CASSIN'S FINCH, singing CALIFORNIA THRASHERS and a whole mess of LESSER and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES (it sounded like more than 40 birds) before the turn-off to Hull Mountain, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES on the road up, and STELLER'S JAY, COMMON RAVEN and WESTERN BLUEBIRD around the summit. We also heard a Woodpecker's long call at the summit area that seemed likely to have been a White-headed Woodpecker's, but we never saw the bird. At Lake Pilsbury we saw Mallards and Bufflehead on the lake, 24 Tule Elk on the shore, and a large flock of AMERICAN PIPITS on the landing strip. Down in Potter Valley, we saw 2 LEWIS' WOODPECKER, 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, a few AMERICAN WIGEON and about 20 RING-NECKED DUCKS on the pond at the end of Burris Lane. Also present was a SNOWY EGRET, which wasn't listed on the bird list. Thanks again to everyone who responded to my request for info. Good birding, -- Matt Brady, Santa Cruz
Sun, 09 Feb 2003 -- Today, David Vander Pluym, Austin Booth and I did some birding along the coast. We started at Montgomery Woods Sate Park at 6:45 am, where we heard a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL, 2 BARRED OWLS, a dozen MOUNTAIN QUAIL, and about 6 PILEATED WOODPECKERS. We saw the Barred Owls near the fallen log that has been cut up at about 7. Also around the grove were a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
From Montgomery Woods we went on to Glass Beach, where we were unsuccesful in looking for the Harlequin Ducks or Laughing Gull. We then went on to Mckerricher State Beach, where we found the LAUGHING GULL on the beach. We first observed it at 9:30, then again at 11:15. At about 11:25 it flew over to Lake Cleone. On Lake Cleone was a pair of GREATER SCAUP. Along the board walk near Laguna Point were 6 BARN SWALLOWS cruising around. They were pretty white below, which is apparently similar to birds being seen in Washington. Off the Point was a pair of RED-NECKED GREBES, a HEERMAN'S GULL, and a BROWN Pelican.
At Van Damme State Park a small flock of GRAY JAYS were frequenting a campsite just past the visitor's center.
At the Garcia Flats, we saw the TUNDRA SWANS, SANDHILL CRANE, dozens of ALEUTIAN GEESE, a few BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. At the Point Arena Harbor the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sitting out with some surfers. It even let a surfer apparoach to within just a couple of feet! We then headed out to the light house. Although we didn't see anything different out there, it looked like it could be a spot to check in the fall for vagrants. Do any ever show up out there? In many ways it looks like similar habitat to the Pt. Reyes area. From there we headed back to the Garcia River, where we hiked out to the River mouth. Access is at the end of Miners Hole Road, and requires rubber boots, as you have to ford the river and several muddy puddles. On the way out we saw a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK fly and land in a cow pasture. Out at the mouth was a large flock of gulls, including many Herring Gulls, our only individuals of the day. Off shore was an ANCIENT MURRELET, a MARBLED MURRELET, several NORTHERN FULMARS, and a HORNED GREBE. On the way back we saw 2 more BARN SWALLOWS flying around. The Garcia River mouth looks like another great spot that I haven't heard any reports from. There are extensive flooded pastures that look like they might attract things like Baird's and Le Conte's Sparrows and Yellow Rails, and definately seems worth a check in Fall. Again, rubber boots are at the least necessary, and hip-waders recommended. -- Matt Brady, Santa Cruz
Sunday, 09 Feb 2003, 1:30 PM -- Observed two AMERICAN DIPPERS on the large rock directly across the Russian River from the mouth of Pieta Creek. The birds eventually flew downstream. I suspect that this may be the pair that has nested in the cave at the base of Squaw (Indian Maiden) Rock in the past. During periods of Russian River high flow (muddy) I suspect that these birds forage up Pieta Creek. Access to the mouth of Pieta Creek along Highway 101 (several miles south of Hopland) is easy, simply park off the main highway and walk down to the gravel bar... this is state property (even though it has an old No Trespass sign from a past over-zealous nearby landowner). -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 09 Feb 2003 -- This evening at around 5 p.m. at the northwestern end of Lake Mendocino among a small mixed flock of ducks were 2 pair of - presumed WESTERN as opposed to Clark's - GREBES performing their courtship rituals. This included a pair approaching each other from a distance of about 12-15 feet elaborately bowing forward and from side to side with long outstreched necks and both in unison. When the pair would then meet there was more bowing and the raising of their bodies rather high out of the water (how?) and with necks outstreched. Twice from this position and now "standing" side by side they raced across the top of the water for about 10 feet before settling back in, whereupon they more or less ignore each other for awhile. Although I've seen this behaviour at Clear Lake before I'd never seen it at Lake Mendocino.
Also, although it was my impression last week that the Starling numbers at the Kyen Campgroundd roost were somewhat diminishing, a report by Kate Marienchild from last Friday and the experience of 5 observers today is that it is still as strong and fantastic as ever. The starling arrival time this evening was 5:35pm. --
Vishnu
Sat, 08 Feb 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders, this afternoon the immature LAUGHING GULL was still at Lake Cleone. Initially I located the bird on the beach just below the Haul Rd at 1430. Shortly thereafter it flew over to Lake Cleone to beg for handouts from picnicers. The bird flew back over to the west side of the Haul Rd at 1500 and lit out on the ocean a couple hundred feet offshore. -- Matthew Matthiessen Ukiah, CA
Fri, 07 Feb 2003 -- Toby reports seeing the 1st winter LAUGHING GULL at 1:00 p.m. at Lake Cleone by the picnic tables near the parking lot. She did not see it there at 8:30 a.m. nor at Pudding Creek shortly after.
Wed, 05 Feb 2003 -- Mendobirders, the LAUGHING GULL was begging for food with the other gulls at the mouth of Pudding Creek on 2-4-03. There was a RED-NECKED GREBE at Laguna Point.
On 2-5-03 I saw an ANCIENT MURRELET from near the base of the Point Arena Lighthouse. On the road out to the Lighthouse there was a cooperative Bobcat enjoying the sun in a field. In the Garcia River Bottoms, the SANDHILL CRANE was still present near the TUNDRA SWANS and other waterfowl. A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was soaring overhead. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata
Tue, 04 Feb 2003 -- At 2:30 this afternoon I located the LAGU on the trestle at Pudding Creek. I then drove down to the end of Glass Beach Drive and walked to the chain link barrier onto the trestle where the gull was only about 10 feet away. Nice looks. -- Charlene McAllister
Mon, 03 Feb 2003 -- Today, Cindy refound the LAUGHING GULL in Ft. Bragg at the mouth of Pudding Creek about 9am. (Video still in Gull photo folder on CalBirds.) It spent time preening on the old wooden trestle bridge with other gulls. Several times it flew down to the creek to bathe. A great overlook for Pudding Creek and level viewing of the bridge is the north end of Glass Beach Drive. We tried looking for the gull at Cleone Lake and adjacent beaches about 7 am with no luck.
As we were enjoying close looks at the gull, 48 ALEUTIAN CANADA GEESE flew close overhead going north.
Glass Beach in Ft. Bragg is undergoing lead removal and construction so access is through the field to the north of the parking area and then down the beach. We didn't venture too far south due to the warning signs and didn't see any Harlequin Ducks.
At Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park there were at least 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS associating with Black Turnstones and Surfbirds. Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew by Laguna Point.
We saw three GRAY JAYS at Van Damme State Park close to the visitor's center. Russian Gulch picnic area overlooking the ocean is a delightful spot for lunch. And we heartly recommend the refurbishing Surf Motel ($$) for lodging and Mendo Bistro ($$$) for dinner, both in Ft. Bragg. -- Les and Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco [from CALBIRDS]
Mon, 03 Feb 2003 -- At 11:35 Dorothy Tobkin refound the LAUGHING GULL at Lake Cleone where it was discovered on Feb 1. On the 1st it was found about 1:00 and seen until about 4:30, if there is any pattern to its movements to be discovered yet. On the 2nd it was not at Lake Cleone at 07:00 or 2:00, and was refound on the trestle bridge at Pudding Creek at 09:00.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003 -- Thanks to MendoBirds and then Toby's birdbox message we had a great day on your north coast. Cindy refound the LAUGHING GULL in Ft. Bragg at the mouth of Pudding Creek about 9am. It spent time preening on the old wooden trestle bridge with other gulls. Several times it flew down to the creek to bathe. We left more info on sightings and a video still of the gull on CalBirds. -- Les and Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco
Sun, 02 Feb 2003 -- Today in Mendocino County, Cindy and I saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at Arena Cove about 3pm. There were also 2 RED-NECKED GREBES. Then, at the Garcia River flats off Miner Hole Road the SANDHILL CRANE was still present as were at least 3 EURASIAN WIGEON and about 250 TUNDRA SWANS and some CANADA GEESE. Best birding, -- Les and Cindy Lieurance, San Francisco
Sat, 01 Feb 2003 -- The Boy Scouts camped across from the visitor's center at Van Damme State Park were feeding the birds this morning. The GRAY JAYS that we drove 3 hours to see were everywhere.
A nearby tree was filled with dozens of grooming PINE SISKINS. Also seen from the visitor's center were CALIFORNIA QUAIL (shoulder-to-shoulder on an elevated feeder), ACORN WOODPECKER, STELLER'S JAY (terrorizing the quail), AMERICAN ROBIN, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.
A few minutes of birding past the last occupied campsite yielded several each of VARIED THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, WINTER WREN, FOX SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, COMMON RAVEN, and a single BROWN CREEPER. The Winter Wrens sang beautifully. -- Dennis and Patricia Braddy, San Ramon
Sat, 01 Feb 2003 -- Greetings Mendbirders: Toby Tobkin reports a first-winter LAUGHING GULL at Lake Cleone late this afternoon, Feb 1. The bird was found by some birders from So Cal, and was with a large flock of gulls on the edge of the lake. Toby will try to let us know if it stays the day. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 30 Jan 2003 -- For the first time at the Robin/Starling roost at the north end of Lake Mendocino I was able to see two 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS together.
There has always been one Peregrine seen and usually also a Coopers and /or Sharp-shinned hawk hunting in the area every evening. (Hmm, I wonder if in my enthusiasm to report about the Robins and Starlings I neglected to mention the Peregrine??)
Well whatever, I have strongly suspected that I was seeing 2 falcons and last night heard them crying out and also saw them flying comfortably together. Perhaps a pair. Best current viewing times: 5:10 - 5:35pm -- Vishnu
Wed, 29 Jan 2003 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin reports a ROSS'S GOOSE and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE on Caspar Pond, 12 GRAY JAYS around the Visitors' Center at Van Damme SP, 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point, and 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Ward Avenue.
On the south coast on the 27th she found an adult male ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK over Arena Cove, the continuing SANDHILL CRANE at the Garcia flats, and 8 BARN SWALLOWS and two male EURASIAN WIGEON at Brush Creek.
On the 21st she saw her first female Selasphorus hummingbird of the season.
Wed, 29 Jan 2003 -- This afternoon there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK sitting in the oaks between Burris Lane and Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. There was also a NORTHERN HARRIER nearby which is uncommon locally. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 27 Jan 2003 -- The great American Robin and European Starling convocation at the north end of Lake Mendocino (as first anounced in a post last Sunday) continues unabated every evening beginning at about 4:45 and reaching its climax sometime before 5:15. In drizzly wet weather the show is attenuated but on brighter days it is truly astonishing. It turns out that the best place to view is standing right in the middle of Marina Dr. near the Kyen Campground entrance which places you dead center in the middle of the nightly roost. I have come up with no satisfactory analogy but my recurring images while watching those swirling birds are of a fireworks display; of looking into the Milky Way through a rich field telescope and of "special effects" a la' George Lucas. Bring some children. -- Vishnu
Sun, 26 Jan 2003 -- At Arena Cove the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sitting at home when I arrived, no more than 50 meters from the pier. Since there was no wind, the albatross was unable to take-off, although it tried several times, allowing good views of its wings. Local fishermen and surfers regaled me with tales of petting and feeding this great bird enroute to their surfing/fishing grounds!
There was a RED-THROATED LOON right next to the albatross today. A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over the pier into the cliffs nearby. Just north of town, along Hwy-1 was a large flock of TUNDRA SWANs in a flooded field.
At Van Damme State Park the GRAY JAYs were easy to find in the tree-tops around the visitor center. They also came to the feeder for dog food!
At Laguna Point although I arrived about 2 hours before high-tide, the rough surf was forcing the rock-pipers on to high ground allowing for easy viewing.
All I needed to see was just one ROCK SANDPIPER, and that's all I got. The view was excellent allowing a three-way comparison between SURFBIRD, BLACK TURNSTONE, and ROCK SANDPIPER. -- Sidd Ramachandramurthi, Mountain View, CA [from CALBIRDS]
Sat, 25 Jan 2003 --This morning (1/25) at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant I watched a white-headed RUDDY DUCK for a long time, maybe trying to turn it into something it wasn't. This bird has an absolutely snow-white head and enough white in the feathers on its back to give lots of contrast there. In profile it is a RUDU; it stayed with the RUDU; except for the white plumage it looked like a RUDU; so... There were also at least 8 TREE SWALLOWS still along the foraging along the river and over the pond, and I wonder if they aren't here to stay? -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 21 Jan 2003 -- I went to see this spectacle and "audacle" and it was truly wonderful.
At 4:15 pm yesterday, 1/20, I was talking on the phone with a friend whose house overlooks Lake Mendocino on the west side (Lake Ridge Drive). He has been seeing thousands of robins flying north across the lake around sunset every day since December 16. He was on the verge of asking if I had any idea where the robins go and where they spend the night, when I said, "I got an email today about robins and starlings that appear to roost at the north end of the lake." I proceeded to read Vishnu's email to an astonished him, and we quickly decided to head down there. Another Lake Ridge Drive resident joined us, and we got there at around 5:15 (5:00 would have been even better). As we approached the Kyen Campground we were stunned by the sight and sound of thousands of birds. The robins were mostly already noisily settled in trees but explosions of starlings were still swooping around. The sound of their wings mingled with the vocalizations of the robins was unlike any sound I hav! e ever heard.
My Lake Ridge Drive friends say the robins fly south every morning. I am wondering if they actually fly in all directions away from the Kyen Campground area, and converge from all directions in the evening. Vishnu hypothesizes that they head for grape fields during the day, and that this phenomenon may be more remarkable this year than in previous years because of the numbers of unpicked grapes. (My friend who has lived above the lake for 3 years claims to have never seen robins crossing the lake in such numbers before). Or, maybe it has nothing to do with grapes, but is one of those migrant irruptions that happen cyclically, usually due to adverse food conditions in the summering areas.
Next time anyone heads over there, please check to see if robins are coming in from all directions.
I saw my first wood ducks, male and female, yesterday at Lake Pennyroyal. -- Kate Marianchild
Mon, 20 Jan 2003, 09:10-- This morning an AMERICAN DIPPER was singing under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. The nest under the bridge, which has been used the last two years, appears spruced up, and there is a lot of fresh dipstuff on the rocks which were scoured by water only a week ago. Hopefully they will nest here again.
It's nice to hear exuberant singing in January. I noted Oak Titmouse on the 10th and White-breasted Nuthatch on the 16th.
From Highway 20 turn onto Potter Valley Road. The old bridge is on the left in about 200 yards. You can walk down to the water on either side and see the nest.
A N. PYGMY-OWL was also hunting just off Potter Valley Road. A passer-by saw it fly up from the road and stopped to see if it were injured. It wasn't. Just on the hunt and oblivious to people 20 feet away. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 19 Jan 2003 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Continuing with the thread of MEN swallows: this morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, Geoff and Cheryl Heinecken and I saw 8-10 TREE SWALLOWS along the Russian River. There was also a nice assortment of ducks on the N and S ponds, although nothing unusual. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 19 Jan 2003 -- Tonight just before 5 pm and just after sunset at Lake Mendocino, two very common birds (and one of them much maligned) began to make their appearance at the north end and what ensued in the next hour turned into an amazing spectacle. The robins came in low, over and in between the tree tops, in smalll flocks of 20 or so birds and began alighting in the tops of the bare trees, As this steadily continued flocks of higher flying starlings started to gather numbers and circle overhead in their shape-shifting flight. I was in the Kyen campground between Marina Dr. and the lake and the ever increasing robins became a colorful foreground for the large flocks of dark starlings that were putting on an acrobatic show above and then in whistling flocks careening over the treetops just where I was standing. At about 5:15 what appeared to be the combined starling flock suddenly dove into the top of a nearby live oak and I thought, "wow, that was impressive" and I assumed the show was over. Three minutes later, though, that whole flock erupted from the tree and began flying again, staying low. For some reason while watching and listening to them I happened to look up high and gasped. The whole sky was filled with a truly immense flock of starlings (5X the original flock) who joined, split apart and rejoined with each other for the next 5 to 10 minutes. All this time the robins continued to arrive in their separate smaller flocks. When the starlings finally settled in about 5:30 all the trees on both sides of the road and for blocks along the north shore of the lake were filled with very talkative robins and starlings. It was like being in a huge, noisy zoo aviary hundreds of yards long. I don't know if they put on the same roosting show every night but this spectacle definitely compared with the September massing of Vaux's swifts in Healdsburg, IMHO. -- Vishnu
Sat, 18 Jan 2003 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports finding a GLAUCOUS GULL in Mendocino Bay which she spotted from the Brewery Gulch frontage road. It was on the water and appeared to be in 3rd year plumage. On the 17th she had 4 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point. On the 13th there was a group of 12 swallows over Lake Cleone including 4 BARN SWALLOWS and 2 TREE SWALLOWS. On the 15th she saw another Barn Swallow. Quite unseasonal swallow activity.
Sat, 18 Jan 2003 -- Charlene McAllister and I looked around MacKerricher S. P. north of Fort Bragg today seeing about 30 HERRING GULLS and one THAYER'S GULL at Laguna Point with the Westerns, G-winged and Californias. At Ward Ave we saw 5 male and 2 female BLACK SCOTERS, one female HARLEQUIN DUCK, a RED-NECKED GREBE, and a single ANCIENT MURRELET feeding very close to shore.
The big surprise was 5 Barn Swallows flying steadily north past Ward Avenue and on up the Haul Road.
Lots of Gray Whales are migrating now. -- Ron LeValley, McKinleyville, CA
Thu, 16 Jan 2003, 12:30 -- There was a PRAIRIE FALCON north of Burris Lane today; it was sitting on a rock in the grassland and making hunting sallies after birds. I also saw at least 10 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS during a 40 minute jog on Burris Lane. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 12 Jan 2003 -- Hopland Research Station: Wood Duck (pr), Belted Kingfisher, Western Bluebird, Sage Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow
Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant: Peregrine Falcon
Potter Valley, Burris Road: Ferruginous Hawk, 3 Northern Mockingbirds, Lewis's Woodpecker
-- Chet Ogan, Eureka, CA
Sat, 11 Jan 2003 -- Hardy Creek (where HWY 1 meets the coast on the north): Black Scoter, Black-legged Kittiwakes, A leukistic Black Oystercatcher, Brown Pelican
Ward Ave. Overlook: Black Scoter, Brown Pelican, Whimbrel, Glaucous-winged Gull
Lake Cleone: Female Canvasback, Wood Ducks (pair), Common Goldeneye (pair)
Van Damme State Park Visitors Center: Pygmy Nuthatch, Red-breasted Sapsucker. Gray Jay (Toby Tobkin), Thayer's Gull, Herring Gull
Garcia River flats: 2 Greater White-fronted Geese, 2 Snow Geese, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Sandhill Crane, Tundra Swans
Point Arena Cove: Laysan Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Marbled Murrelet, Brant's Cormorant
-- Chet Ogan, Eureka, CA
Thu, 09 Jan 2003 -- Dept of Fish and Game received a report from the harbormaster at Pt Arena that over a hundred "shearwaters" (actual species unconfirmed) product (possibly fish oil). We have had fish and vegetable oil bird kill incidents in Monterey Bay in the past. If any birders have any observations about this, please send them to me at shampton@ospr.dfg.ca.gov. thanks, -- Steve Hampton, Davis, CA [from Calbirds]
Wed, 08 Jan 2003 -- Since I was awake unusually early this morning, I decided to take an owling walk near my home in Potter Valley at 05:30. I heard Western Screech-Owl at 05:46 and Great Horned Owl from 06:10 to 06:20. I was surprised, however, to hear a COMMON POOR-WILL calling from the ridge west of West Road from 06:20 to 06:25 only a half mile from my house. I have only encountered a poor-will once in this area since 1979, a bird foraging over the oaks at dusk on a summer evening. I was not aware that they even call at this time of year. I note that they have never been recorded on the Ukiah Christmas Count, and the county list indicates that they are x-tremely rare in winter and u-ncommon in all other seasons. Has anyone else ever heard them calling in the winter in Mendocino Co.? -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, CA
Thu, 05 Jan 2003 -- Yesterday afternoon, on the lower arm of Clear Lake, the AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS had a swimming parade. It was a mile long, streching from Baylis Point to Jensen Point, and must have contained at least 500 of these great birds. What a beautiful sight! -- Janet Swedberg, Redbud Audubon
Sun, 05 Jan 2003 -- Today Matthew Matthiessen, Chuck Vaughn, and I made a fast trip up the coast, getting a jump start on our year lists. All of the coast was taking a pounding by 20 foot waves, and there were piles of froth on many beaches. At Arena Cove we missed the Laysan Albatross ( maybe we used up some of our birding luck yesterday south of the Golden Gate with a triple twitch of Brown Booby, Sedge Wren, and Nutting's Flycatcher ), but there was a N. PYGMY-OWL tooting from the riparian willows. At the Garcia River bottoms we found the continuing SANDHILL CRANE, 94 TUNDRA SWANS, a SNOW GOOSE, 2 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a EURASIAN WIGEON, another N.PYGMY-OWL, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
Zipping quickly up to Van Damme State Park we met Dorothy Tobkin and spent some time searching the chickadee flocks for a Black-capped, but we were unable to find one. About 10 CANADA JAYS were conspicuous near the Visitors' Center and a nearby campsite where a plate of corn chips had been put out for them. I don't think I've ever seen this many here so easily. Among the gulls on the beach across the road was a THAYER'S GULL in third winter plumage. We don't remember ever seeing this plumage before.
Next a quick trip to Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park for high tide. Lake Cleone is still quite full, but the water is no longer over the road, and you can drive to the outer parking lot. The haul road has been breached at the outflow of the lake. There were five ROCK SANDPIPERS resting on the rocks north of the observation deck among surf-birds, oystercatchers, and turnstones. This is possibly a record number for this location. Matthew promises some stunning, full-frame photos of Rock Sandpipers, among others. He was stoked. Offshore there was pretty good activity of tubenoses ( when you could scope over the towering breakers ) including SOOTY and BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, and N. FULMARS. There were also several MARBLED MURRELETS and BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKES. Toby reports that the group of HARLEQUIN DUCKS usually found a Glass Beach appears to have been scattered by the wave pounding of the last several week, but we found two birds at Laguna Point.
Next a quick trip to Ward Avenue where 3 BLACK SCOTERS did not disapoint us, and finally to Bald Hill where a FERRUGINOUS HAWK made it's anticipated appearance. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, MEN, CA
Sat, 04 Jan 2003 -- On Saturday afternoon I visited the Garcia Flats area along Hwy 1 near Pt. Arena and counted 128 TUNDRA SWANS in the first grassy field just south (and west) of the Garcia River. It appeared there were likely another 50 swans in the field beyond the first fence. Many of the birds were fairly close to the highway which made for easy viewing even with binoculars. In the same first field were approximately 25 Canada Geese and approximately umpteen gulls (sp).
On the east side of the highway there were more gulls (sp) and 2 flocks of Great Egrets. One flock was comprised of 50 Great Egrets and the other had 23.
Albert, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, was initially several hundred yards offshore of the Pt. Arena pier but upon perceiving that he was being viewed by an Albatross authority from the PRBO (who also happened to show up while I was there) he very cooperatively flew to within 60 feet of the north side of the pier and then very gradually drifted out with the ebbing tide.
Driving north from Pt. Arena on Hwy 1 I took a side road, prominently marked as a "Coastal Access". This road is between the Pt. Arena Lighthouse Rd. and the town of Manchester. After driving the 1 1/2 miles to the parking area I hiked a trail 1/4 mile to the ocean and as I walked I saw about 5 or 6 flocks comprising, in total, about 50 TUNDRA SWANS flying north (presumably from the Garcia River area and presumably to some overnight roosting accomodations. This was between 5:00 -5:30pm). I wondered specifically where they were going? Is anyone aware of other coastal sites utilized by the Tundra Swans during their winter sojourn on our coast? -- Vishnu
Wed, 01 Jan 2003 -- I just called the N CA birdbox (415-681-7422) and there is a report from Bill Myers and Thomas Miko from Pasadena of a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE on Jan 1 at Van Damme State Park. The only details provided are that it was seen foraging with a group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees. From other comments made I inferred that the chicadees were seen in the vicinity of a campsite where Gray Jays are coming to some cat food put out for them (this is only my inference).
I'm putting this notice on Mendobirds as I think this would be a first county record. If anyone knows either of the gentlemen who made this report could you please have them contact Mendobirds or me (matthima@ah.org) with additional details? Thanks.
Also mentioned was a SWAMP SPARROW at MacKerricher State Park. -- Matthew Matthiessen, Ukiah, CA
Tue, 31 Dec 2002 -- Tue, 31 Dec 2002 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin found a BURROWING OWL on the bluffs north of Virgin Creek opposite the last house. It flew south a short ways but seemed to be hanging around. She also had 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS opposite the lilac-colored house in the same area about two hours after high tide.
Tue, 31 Dec 2002 -- Laysan Albatross: 1 at Point Arena Cove (MEN) 12/31/02; Tundra Swan: 20 in a flooded field near hwy 1 between Point Arena and Manchester (MEN) 12/31/02; Northern Mockingbird: 2 in a winery in Philo (MEN) 12/31/02 -- Mark Miller, Vancouver, WA
Sun, 29 Dec 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin revisited the Garcia River bottoms under better viewing conditions than Saturday and found an immature male EURASIAN WIGEON. The SNOW GOOSE, 120 TUNDRA SWANS, and the SANDHILL CRANE were still present but were difficult to see from Miner Hole Road. The slough is now a lake.
Sun, 29 Dec 2002, -- During the coastal CBC Stan Snyder and I located a PALM WARBLER at the north end of Bristol Rd. Bristol Rd ends in a circle and the bird was in the willows on the inside of the west side of the circle (directly across from the driveway). We observed the bird for several minutes at close range at 0830. We could not relocate the bird later in the day. To reach this location, turn west off of Hwy 1 onto Stoneboro Rd (just south of the town of Manchester). Just before the west end of Stoneboro Rd turn right (north) onto Bristol Rd and follow it about .1 miles to the circle. For those familiar with the area this is also the west end of Hunter's Lagoon.
Also during the CBC, Stan and I located a HERMIT WARBLER. This bird was located along Hwy 1 at approximately mm 27.00. This location is a couple miles north of Irish Beach and is at the north end of a long straightaway. At the north end of this straightaway Hwy 1 makes a sharp turn to the east and descends for a short distance to a creek before turning north again and climbing up and out of the ravine. We parked where the hwy turns east and begins descending (there is a gate here with a sign announcing "Vicious Bulls"). The HEWA was in the trees along the road on the south side of the creek. We observed the bird for 15 minutes at about 1430.
The SANDHILL CRANE was also present on the Garcia Flats along with approximately 100 TUNDRA SWANS. -- Matthew Matthiessen, Ukiah, CA
Sat, 21 Dec 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports four ROCK SANDPIPERS today at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park. They were close by on rocks near the end of the boardwalk. No binoculars needed. You cannot currently drive in from the main entrance nor walk in from Ward Avenue due to flooding of Lake Cleone. You must walk in from the south on the Haul Road from Virgin Creek.
Tue, 17 Dec 2002 -- Along with some Tundra Swans, the SANDHILL CRANE was still present 12-17-02 in the Garcia River bottoms.
On the morning of 12-18-02 there were lots of NORTHERN FULMAR off Point Arena near the lighthouse, along with at least 1 SHORT-TAILED/SOOTY SHEARWATER. Later, I saw 1 HEERMANN's GULL with the gull flock at the mouth of Howard Creek. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Tue, 10 Dec 2002 -- Today Toby reports a SHORT-EARED OWL near Inglenook Fen. She had walked west from the Grange Hall and was N and W of Sandhill Lake when she flushed it from the ground. In the air it was pursued by ravens, but it lit again, and she is hopeful that it may stay around. Offshore there were many NORTHERN FULMARS again and a possible PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER.
Mon, 09 Dec 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing an adult female YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in her year in Fort Bragg today. She also had a SLATE-COLORED D-e JUNCO among the Oregons recently, but it seems to have moved on.
Thu, 05 Dec 2002 -- At MacKerricher today, at high tide (ca. 11:00 am), I had three ROCK SANDPIPERS amidst the plentiful Black Turnstones and Surfbirds; also a few Ruddy Turnstones. I did a bit of a seawatch, but the waves were very high, so I didn't see any Ancient Murrelets, but I did have one dark phase NORTHERN FULMAR foraging. Amongst the many gulls I found a few MEW GULL.
Struck out on the Barred Owls at Montgomery Woods, but there were plenty of VARIED THRUSH around. I don't think the owls approved of my imitation of them - they refused to honor me with a reply. -- Jennifer Rycenga, Berkeley, CA
Thu, 05 Dec 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW showed up at the feeder outside my lab window this morning...first of the year here. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 05 Dec 2002 -- There has been a flock of about 25 Canada Geese feeding in the recently cultivated (pulled grape vineyard) on the North side of Highway 175 on the east side of the Russian River near the town of "Old Hopland". The only reason that I post this is because of the nice comparison of subspecies which was there this morning ... 24 Great Basin Canada Geese (B.c. moffitti), 1 Aleutian Canada Goose (B.c. leucopariea , much smaller, grayish tone overall, wide white neck ring), and 1 Cackling Canada Goose (B.c.minima , smaller yet, warm dusky overall tone, NO white neck ring at all). -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 03 Dec 2002 -- I spent a couple of hours yesterday and today scouting Lake Mendocino for the Christmas Bird Count on the 14th, concentrating on waterbirds and shoreline birds. I walked half of the shores and scoped into every corner. Lake level is now 706.56 feet, inching down lower than ever this year. The most interesting bird I found was a EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL subspecies, a male with strong, horizontal white stripe and no vertical white stripe. It was resting among American Green-winged Teal where the Russian River inlet now makes a delta near the end of the mesa.
The number of scaup have dropped in the last several weeks from several thousand to maybe 800, and they are mostly in the deep south end of the lake. Another group was along the west shore in the cove south of Grapevine Point, an area seldom covered on the count and hard to scope from the east shore. There are several hundred gulls on the lake now (some years there have been close to none). The favorite resting areas are at the delta in the north end, the mud near Hunter's Cove, and a new bar becoming exposed just south of Miti spit. I found four species, but closer inspection could turn up some more.
I did not find Osprey, Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, American Pipit, or Savannah Sparrow. I hope others know of some places where they can be found along the river, at USTP, or in ponds. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, CA
Tue, 03 Dec 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports the following from the Laguna Point area of MacKerricker State Park: 4 ROCK SANDPIPERS on the rocks halfway out the boardwalk, 1000's of gulls feeding offshore along with 5 NORTHERN FULMARS, 3 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS, 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKE, 20 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, 14 RED PHALAROPES, and 7 MARBLED MURRELETS. Also on the rocks south of Glass Beach in Fort Bragg were 10 male and 5 female HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
Sun, 01 Dec 2002 -- I spent Sunday making a big loop through Mendocino Co. Nothing rare but some interesting things. I stopped to scope the ocean south of Pt. Arena and saw lots of PACIFIC LOONS moving south as well as 8-10 N.FULMARS. Ten GREAT EGRETS standing on floating kelp seemed interesting. At Pt. Arena there were 2 Willets, 6 Oystercatchers and 90 Black Turnstones. The albatross with the imaginative name was a no-show while I was there. The SANDHILL CRANE was still present on the flats at Garcia though I didn't see either Rough-legged or Ferruginous Hawks. Hunter's Lagoon had 3 female HOODED MERGANSERS. I didn't see much at Lake Davis but offshore I saw more fulmars as well as a single MARBLED MURRELET, 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, several RED PHALAROPES, a pair of BLACK SCOTERS and quite a few more Fulmars. A flock of 200+ TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were along Hwy 1 at mile 23.50. Heading inland I took Hwy 128 and then 253 towards Ukiah. A quick stop about a mile down the road at an obvious spot yielded 2 ROCK WRENS. Along Burris Lane in Potter Valley there was a single SAY'S PHOEBE (needed that!) and at least 3 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS. There was a PEREGRINE FALCON circling with Turkey Vultures over Potter Valley. The pond at the end of the road had lots of Am. Wigeon and Ring-necked Ducks but nothing out-of-place. A quick scoping from the dam area of Lake (puddle, really) Mendocino produced 18 Hooded Mergansers and single Snow and Ross's Geese in with the Canadas. Good birding. -- Steve Glover, Dublin, CA
Sun, 01 Dec. 2002 -- "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sleeping on the water 100 yards north of the pier at noon today. One visiting birder was arriving to look at the Albatross as I left. There were numerous surfers hanging about wondering who was going to be the first to see a Great White! Maybe "AL" is their good luck charm!
The Sandhill Crane (greater) was still out on the Garcia Flats. It usually hangs out near the fence between the cultivated field and the pasture field... although it usually stays on the cultivated side somewhat near the concrete water trough. The geese were not in the flats today. -- Robert J Keiffer
Sat, 30 Nov 2002 -- Saturday night David Nelson and I visited Montgomery Woods to see if the BARRED OWLS are still there. We heard the first BAOW on the hillside to the south of the footbridge just after leaving the parking lot. We both thought the bird sounded like an immature that was still learning to call. We continued up over the hill and down into the main grove using the tape periodically but heard nothing. Finally we continued on to the southeast portion of the loop trail to the grove (I've forgotten the name) where I think the BAOW nest was located this past spring. At this location we had two BAOWs respond very loudly to the tape.
Either the first owl we heard followed us quietly and only vocalized once we got deep into the Woods or we heard three birds. Given the location and the difference in quality of the calls, I think we had three birds, possibly a mated pair and an immature fledged this past spring. Good Owling -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 30 Nov 2002 -- 20 CANADA GEESE (B.c.moffitti) were in the Garcia Flats along with a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and a SNOW GOOSE. The SANDHILL CRANE was nearby also. From a high vantage point at Irish Beach I scoped the offshore and, out of curiosity, counted the PACIFIC LOONS heading south in an almost constant stream. In five minutes I counted 560 pacific Loons flying by. These flights were constant over the entire holiday, morning and afternoon. Question is...what is pushing them south in such force? Also, NO Tundra Swans anywhere in sight yet around the Garcia Flats. However, I hear that they are in the upper Scaramento Valley by the tens-of-thousands. It might be that the wintering population normal to the Garcia Flats won't get here until there is another storm event. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 30 Nov 2002 -- This morning I visited Burris Lane in Potter Valley with David Nelson. We had one PRAIRIE FALCON consuming breakfast in the top of a dead oak to the northwest of the pond, one LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the oaks near the house just west of the pond, and one FERRUGINOUS HAWK in the field on the south side of Burris Ln just before the road turns to gravel.
Earlier in the morning we had a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL calling on Low Gap Rd about a mile below the second cattle guard. Happy Holidays -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 28 Nov 2002 -- Thursday (Happy Thanksgiving) The GREATER SANDHILL CRANE could still be found at the Garcia Flats. No sign of the earlier reported Lesser Sandhill Crane. Two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were in the area ...one in the flats itself. One FERRUGINOUS HAWK also in the flats. Hundreds of KILLDEER in the plowed field .... worth scoping for those with good scopes for possible Golden Plovers. "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was in Point Arena Cove at noon but was not there early in the morning. Two WILLETS were in the rocks north of the pier. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Thu, 28 Nov 2002 -- On Thanksgiving morning I spent spent an hour doing a seawatch at Laguna Point. The weather was warm, the wind was slight, and the sea was calm. Best bird was a BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER that flew by at relatively close range (app. 250 m) offering excellent extended looks. Other birds of interest were one ROCK SANDPIPER on the rock near the observation platform before the Point itself and seven ANCIENT MURRELETS (three fly-bys and four on the surface). Loons are still making an impressive showing. I performed one 15 minute count and had 715 loons of three species (703 pacific, 11 red-throated, and 1 common).
There were still 12 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass beach. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 26 Nov 2002 -- There is not one SANDHILL CRANE at Garcia Flats today. There are two. One Greater and one Lesser. At the end of Brushy Creek in the wetlands were, with the Canada Geese, one GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and one SNOW GOOSE. Couldn't refind the E. Wigeon. The RED-NECKED GREBE and several HOODED MERGANSERS were in Hunter's Lagoon. -- Jim Lomax, Solitary Birder, Concord, CA
Mon, 25 Nov 2002 -- A TAIGA MERLIN preened itself luxuriously atop the yellow pine 40 feet from my door at Round Mountain this morning. It was startled a couple of times by a flicker that landed a few feet away on dead branches. It seemed quite nervous. It flew north, as did Vishnu's merlin. Are these numerous merlins just passing through our area, or do some of them stay all winter?
Since I'm new to Ukiah valley I don't know what's common here and what's not. Has anyone made a list? If so could you email it to me? katem@mcn.org Thanks. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 24 Nov 2002 -- This morning I ran back over to the south Mendo coast to try and turn up one of the Rough-legged Hawks reported from there last week. On the drive over Mountain View Rd I saw one BLUE GROUSE beside the road.
At Garcia Flats, the SANDHILL CRANE was still present. This time I heard it vocalize for the first time. I searched the Flats from Hwy 1 and from Miner Hole Rd and was about to give up hope when a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK finally soared out from behind the escarpment on the south side of Miner Hole Rd. The bird was rather elusive allowing only a brief look. After much searching I relocated it hoving over the fields on the east side of Hwy 1 across from Miner Hole Rd. Also on the Flats was a PEREGRINE FALCON. Still no swans.
"Al' the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sitting in the Point Arena harbor just off the north side of the pier. In the fields along Stoneboro Rd was one FERRUGINOUS HAWK. At Hunter's Lagoon there was another PEREGRINE FALCON and a RED-NECKED GREBE. From the Lagoon I was able to scope Brushy Creek and found one male EURASIAN WIGEON. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 23 Nov 2002 -- This afternoon Gary and Judy Maddox and I saw the SANDHILL CRANE at Garcia Flats at about 1515. The bird was along the fenceline midway out in the field northwest of the Hwy 1 pullout. We searched without success for the Rough-legged Hawks reported from there earlier in the week.
We then did some scoping from the bluffs just south of the Point Arena lighthouse. There were dozens of NORTHERN FULMARS far out from shore. I also got an extended look at a FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL fairly close to shore flying north.
At the Point Arena Harbor at 1630 "Al" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sitting on the water a couple hundred yards out from the end of the pier. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 21 Nov 2002 -- This morning, after a predawn trip to the Santa Rosa Airport, I decided to come home the long way up the coast and look for the Sandhill Crane at the Garcia R. bottomlands. I started off by making my first-ever complete transit of Fish Rock Road, making a chance encounter with a BLUE GROUSE at about mile 8 between Gualala Peak and Walalla Mt. [sic.]
At Arena Cove "Al", the LAYSAN ALBATROSS, was sitting on the water about 10 feet north of the pier. Some of the local habitues had also noticed it, and they seemed to think that today was the first day that it had been seen. Is this the 7th year?
At the Garcia bottomland I quickly found the SANDHILL CRANE from the elevated pullout on Hwy. 1 just north of Miner Hole Road. It was standing with two Great Blue Herons in a puddle of water along the fence that runs straight out from that pullout. Also standing in the puddle were two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS which seemed to be trying to bathe their feathered tarsi but were being mercilessly tormented by ravens, which hounded them as they fled. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was tooting regularly from the Garcia riparian near the green bridge. No swans yet.
Next I went out to the Point Arena lighthouse and scoped out to sea with favorable morning light at my back. This was my best pelagic birding from shore this year. There were large numbers of phalaropes rather near shore, both RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. A PARASITIC JAEGER was chasing some of them. There were numerous NORTHERN FULMARS, several BULLER'S SHEARWATERS and SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and several BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. A BLACK SCOTER flew by in a line of Surf Scoters. An impressive longshore line of loons was moving south all day today, predominately Pacific Loons. A ten-minute count at Point Arena yielded an estimate of 1785/ hour.
At the Mendocino Headlands I found a HORNED LARK along the edge of the bluff south of the sister city monument. It was flushed by a woman with a dog and flew south over the water to the next point, where I found it again. Both times it was sitting directly in the trail. [ Some people seem not to know where the sister city monument, often mentioned recently, is located. At the very west end of Little Lake Street is a parking area, the southernmost parking on the headlands. The small monument is just south of this parking area and is visable from the car. This shortgrass area has been the site of several longspur and lark sightings. ] As I was driving north on Heeser Drive, a VESPER SPARROW flew up from the side of the road near the Goat Island parking area. Five minutes later it was back on the road and gave a good scope look.
I walked out to the Cabrillo Point Lighthouse and scoped to sea. There were more BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, three SABINE'S GULLS and the line of loons. The lighthouse is much restored since my last visit, and the beautiful Fresnel lens was turning in the tower, putting out a beam every ten seconds.
North of here the fog set in heavily. I made a stab at Laguna Point, but the fog and tide were not favorable. I walked all of the bluffs and trails south to Virgin Creek beach, but I could not find any of last week's visitors. By the way, David Nelson's fine photos of the Snow Bunting can be viewed on Joe Morlan's California Birding Page -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, MEN, CA
Wed, 20 Nov 2002 -- I walked out the door of my yurt at Round Mountain on Sunday morning (11/17) and saw a raptor on the upper dead branch of a fir tree about 50 feet away. A maelstrom of feathers were drifting away as it jabbed at a bird in its talons. I watched as it got down to red flesh. After about 10 minutes it flew directly over my head toward the north. After exhaustive searching of bird books I determined it had to have been a MERLIN. I imagine it's the same one Vishnu saw. -- Kate Marianchild
Wed, 20 Nov 2002 -- Toby Tobkin reports that three (3) HORNED LARKS made a brief appearance at the Mendocino Headlands this morning. The birds landed on the ground near the sister city monument for only a few minutes before leaving.
Tue, 19 Nov. 2002 -- This morning I arrived at Garcia Flats at 0900 and immediately saw the lone SANDHILL CRANE from the Highway 1 pullout near the guard rail just north of Miners Hole Road. The crane was out in the middle in the recently plowed/leveled field. Close by were two Great Blue herons. After a short while the crane ended up (flew?) in the permanent pasture on the south side of the fence working its way across the field with a GBHE. The crane was easily viewed from Miners Hole Road at this point ... but still a ways out there (a scope helps). The whole while
there was a beautiful ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK sometimes perched on fence posts, sometimes working the fields... even hovering once in a while.
No swans were present as of yet. No sign of "Al" the Laysan Albatross at Point Arena Cove either.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was atop the large pointed island (almost an island) off the Vista pullout just north of Irish Beach. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 19 Nov 2002 -- At 0830 Chuck Vaughn, Ollie Kolkman, and I were able to relocate the SANDHILL CRANE on the Garcia Flats. The bird was on the north side of the flats directly north of the Hwy 1 pulloff which is just north of Miner Hole Rd (just seeing how many times I can use the word "north" in one sentence). Also present on or around the flats were a MERLIN, a PEREGRINE FALCON, and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK.
Further north were 12 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach. The ducks were all resting on a rock at the south end of the beach until some adult red-necks (of the (sub)human form) threw rocks at them till they disbursed out into the surf. When I asked why they threw the rocks they replied that they were "trying to get some lunch."
As reported by Dennis Braddy, the Snow Bunting was not seen at Laguna Point by 1500 when I left but there were other birds of interest to keep us occupied. Also reported by Dennis Braddy were the four ROCK SANDPIPERS (three on Loafing Rock just north of the observation platform and one on the rocks south of the platform), dozens of NORTHERN FULMARS (including one apparently sick bird among the rocks on the north side of the Point), and two immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. We also saw one SABINE'S GULL flying north, a late HEERMANN'S GULL, and a PEREGRINE FALCON scaring up flocks of phalaropes out over the ocean. Of note were the impressive number of loons moving south. During one representative 15 minute period I counted 611 loons (all pacific except for one red-throated). -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 17 Nov 2002 -- MendoBirders,Some days just don't go according to plan. The plan was simple: find the Snow Bunting at MacKerricher State Park and maybe a Lapland Longspur; stop by Mendocino Headlands for a Chestnut-collared Longspur; locate the Rock Sandpiper reported at Bodega Bay. That was the plan.
We arrived at Laguna Point at 8:45 this morning and found our friend Dave Weber. (Good news.) Dave had arrived an hour earlier and had not seen the Snow Bunting. (Bad news.) He pointed out 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS on nearby rocks surrounded by Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, and Black Oystercatchers. (Good news.) While waiting for the bunting we found a fourth Rock Sandpiper and saw a number of NORTHERN FULMARS and juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. (More good news.) Even though we hated to leave the two White-crowned Sparrows that had done their best for 4 hours to stand-in for the missing bunting, we finally gave up at 1:00 P.M. No bunting. No longspur. (Bad news.) The closest we came to the Snow Bunting was meeting someone who had seen it the day before - Toby Tobkin. (Nice lady - very good news.)
Our stop at Mendocino Headlands didn't exactly go as planned either. We failed to find a Chestnut-collared Longspur. In fact we failed to find the Sister City Monument. Oh well.
Since we had already seen Rock Sandpipers at Laguna Point we decided to chuck the rest of the plan, skip Bodega Bay, and head home by way of Hwy 128. 7 miles before Hwy 128 runs into Hwy 101, just barely in Mendocino County, a female PILEATED WOODPECKER flew in front of our car and landed on the side of a telephone pole. This was definitely not in the plan! Amazingly, the woodpecker waited for us to find a place to turn around, wait for traffic to clear, and return. We stopped in a driveway across the street from the pole and observed our first California Pileated at close range for several minutes. Very exciting!
Sometimes things don't go according to plan. Sometimes they go better. -- Dennis and Patricia Braddy, San Ramon
Sun, 17 Nov 2002 -- Hello Mendobirders, Today - Sunday 11/17 - at 10:00 am a MERLIN with avian prey (species unknown) in its talons flew across lovely downtown Calpella and lit on the top of a telephone pole where it remained long enough for me to locate my binoculars before continuing on to a nearby oak for its brunch.
Then between 1:00 -3:00 pm at the foot of the Skinnydip Trail (no snickering please, this IS the officially designated name assigned to this trail by the U.S. Forest Service) I was fortunate to locate a CANYON WREN sought unsucessfully in the same location yesterday by members of the Peregrine Audubon Covelo fieldtrip. A very beautiful bird; calling a lot, though not actually singing.
Also of note - the buff-rumped skinnydippers having all migrated for the season to their respective hot tubs - were two true AMERICAN DIPPERS flying up and down the Eel River canyon and one of which stopped for a leisurely bath in the shallows of a clear pool also occupied by a number of large spawning salmonids some of them fanning the gravels to prepare their nests. Another good day. -- Vishnu
Sat, 16 Nov 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Today's Peregrine Audubon field trip, with many participants, to Covelo/Round Valley was a great success. We saw 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in the Valley, and had LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS everywhere we stopped. We saw at least 20 during the day. The highlight, however, was a beautiful ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK which we watched for 15-20 minutes along Dobie Lane.
Toby Tobkin reports from the coast that she saw the SANDHILL CRANE this morning on the Garcia River flats. The bird was visible both from the turnout on Hwy 101 just N of Miner Hole Road, and from along Miner Hole Rd itself. The Crane was feeding in the flat pastureland W of Hwy 101. Toby saw 12 HORNED LARKS in the same area. She also saw the SNOW BUNTING at Laguna Point in McKerricher SP again today. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 15 Nov 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Toby Tobkin reports the continuing presence of the SNOW BUNTING at Laguna Point in McKerricher State Park this morning. She saw it shortly after 9 near the observation platform at the end of the boardwalk at Laguna Point. Toby also reports that Rich Stallcup saw a SANDHILL CRANE today at the Garcia River flats. The bird was visible from Miner Hole Road. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 15 Nov 2002 -- I received a call last night from David Nelson indicating that he oberved the SNOW BUNTING at Laguna Point yesterday afternoon (Nov 14) at 1530. He also mentioned that he searched for the Chestnut-collared Longspur at the Mendocino Headlands from 1600 till dark but could not find that bird. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 14 Nov 2002 -- At 0845 I refound the SNOW BUNTING at Laguna Point, MacKerricher State Park. It was feeding on the northside of the boardwalk, sometimes in the rather tall grass, but sometimes coming out onto the open trail. Another birder, Peter White, had just been viewing the bird also. I viewed the bird for about 10 minutes when it flew to the highest post on the observation platform. I was able to get several photos while it fluffed its feathers, exercised its wings, and made a couple of chattering calls. After about one minute on the post it lifted its wings and headed south. It seemed to drop back onto the coastal bench about half-way to Virgin Creek Beach ... maybe about 1/8th to 1/4 mile south of the observation platform. I don't know if it will be back to the boardwalk area!
I could NOT locate the Lapland Longspur after an hour of searching. I also could NOT refind the Chestnut-collared Longspur at Mendocino Headlands.
Three Harlequin Ducks were close to the shore 100 yards south of the viewing platform. Two Red-necked Grebes were at the end of Ward Avenue (north of Mill Creek Street).
For those of you who saw the Snow bunting please submit observation records to me before the end of the month for the fall period report. This is a CBRC review species so notes/photos are important. Thanks. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 -- Hi, everyone. I went back later this afternoon around 2:40 PM and stayed for a while getting some shots of the SNOW BUNTING. I have them up at my server if anyone would like to look. They are not the very best photos, to be sure, but at least there is some photographic record.
And it was Toby that spotted the Snow Bunting before I did. :) She pointed it out to me.
http://home.onemain.com/~featherf/SnowBunting5.jpg -- Feather Forestwalker
Wed, 13 Nov 2002 -- This afternoon Vishnu, George Chaniot, and I relocated the basic female SNOW BUNTING that has been at Laguna Point the past couple days. The bird was in the bare area on the south side of the boardwalk a few feet before the observation platform. We first located the bird at about 1430 and watched it for an hour as it foraged out in the open. Eventually the bird hopped up onto the boardwalk itself and then worked the taller grass on the north side of the boardwalk for a few minutes before returning to the bare area on the south side. Finally the bird flew up onto the observation platform where it perched momentarily before flying down to the rocks and out of sight.
Also in the same area as the Snow Bunting was a first basic male LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Although this bird spent some time in the bare area it seemed to prefer the slightly taller grass just before the bare area (in particular the trails next to the boardwalk).
After Laguna Point we visited the Mendocino Headlands where we were joined by Jerry White. After about five minutes of walking through the grass we refound the first basic female CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR reported yesterday by Chuck Vaughn and Bob Keiffer. This bird was within a few feet of the bluff edge about 200 feet south of the sister city monument. Eventually it flew about a hundred feet in from the bluff but always stayed in the taller grass and wouldn't flush till nearly stepped on. We observed this bird from 1600 to 1630.
Good Birding (it certainly was today). --Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 -- As soon as I read this, I headed out to MacKerricher, where I ran into Toby Tobkins. We headed out together towards the deck. The bird is there -SNOW BUNTING, possible juvenile or female in winter plumage.
Just before the observation deck, it is taking shelter in the logs on the left (south) side of the boardwalk. It allowed me to approach and I had my digital camera, but the setting was off, so the photos I did get are so blurry you cannot make out a decent image of the bird. So, I will go later and try again, when the rain lets up a bit.
MacKerricher is north of Fort Bragg on Highway One about three miles or so. Turn left at the park entrance or on Mill Creek Drive, just north of the entrance and across from Ricochet Ridge Ranch (horse stables). Go all the way to the parking area past the bridge.
Also of note was a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the bluffs at the north side of the parking area, hanging around a Killdeer. Toby said it was unusual to see one on the grassy part, that they usually prefer the sand and rocks.
The Snow Bunting is a lifer for me. -- Feather Forestwalker
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: After this morning's emails re the Snow Bunting, Bob Keiffer and I headed to the coast mid-morning today. We met Toby at 1145 and she pointed out the SNOW BUNTING, reported having been refound earlier today by Feather, on the rocks immediately below the platform at Laguna Point. Bob and I watched the bird very briefly before it flew further out into the rocks and disappeared. Happily, Matthew Matthiessen reports having refound the bird at 4:30 pm, again on the logs just south of the boardwalk as you approach the platform. Bob and I went on to the Mendocino Headlands looking for the Lapland Longspur(s) reported there earlier this fall by Toby and Matthew. The Lapland has been replaced by a Chestnut-collared, which we observed in the higher grass S of the Sister-City Monument. We watched the bird in the dark mist for at least an hour. It is quite tame and will hopefully hang around for a while. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed 11 Nov 2002 -- I received this message from Richard Gage. If somebody re finds this bird please call me at 707-744-1160 (hm) or 707-391-8190 (cell) or 707-744-1424 (wk). please!
"I got a good look at a solitary SNOW BUNTING at the Laguna Point seal observation deck at Mackerricher State Park this afternoon at about 1:30 pm on Nov. 11th.
The bird was strolling about on the bare ground next to the observation deck and gave me a great look. It was not shy at all and came within about 7 feet of me. I also got to observe it for some time, as it stuck around for about 10 minutes. I was able to see the bird from all angles and was able to make a detailed observation both through binoculars and with the naked eye. A passing pedestrian eventually startled the bird and it flew off northwards for about 100 feet before settling somewhere I couldn't see. I had a cheap disposable camera handy and snapped several shots but I am not overly optimistic that any of the pictures will be very good. Thanks,
Richard Gage"-- Robert J. Keiffer
Fri, 01 Nov 2002 -- At about 10:45 this morning three TUNDRA SWANS flew into Lake Mendocino. They circled the north end several times and settled down along the west shore near water tower. They were easy to spot from any vantage point in the north end of the lake. This is only the second time that I recall seeing swans at the lake.
At about the same time I found a TUFTED DUCK among the scaups south of the mesa near Hunter's Cove. It was an adult male with a long tuft, black back, and typical bill markings. The sides, however, were not gleaming white, which, I think, is OK for Nov.1. This bird woud be a hard refind without a good bit of walking on the lakebed, favorable light, and a scope.
I also saw at least three ROCK WRENS along the shoreline from the pipe at the end of the mesa down to the Little Bear Group Camp area. They were foraging from the edge of the dessicated mud, through the gravel and rocks, around the stumps and roots, in the eroded crevices along the mesa, and even up into the grass a bit. I wonder if the low lake level is enabling them to disperse along the margins of the lake. I can't believe I've missed them here over the years.
The lake level is now about 707 feet, 42 feet below "full", and there is maybe 200 yards more mud than only three weeks ago! -- George Chaniot
Sun, 27 Oct 2002 -- I visited the Mesa day use area on the northeast side of Lake Mendocino and the ROCK WREN that was discovered there during the Big Sit a couple weeks ago is still there. There are actually two individuals and they range along the south and west shores of the Mesa. The easiest way to observe the birds is to take the path down to the southwest point of the Mesa where there is an overlook and a large pipe running into the lake.
A couple of corrections on my North Coast report from 10/26. The Merlin we observed was of the race columbarius and the weasel we saw was a Long-tailed Weasel. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 27 Oct 2002 -- Today from the Kelsey Creek outlet there was 1 SURF SCOTER and a COMMON LOON. The EMPEROR GOOSE has survived the first day and half of hunting season and was still at Rodman Slough. -- Jerry White
Sat, 26 Oct 2002 -- Today Gary and Judy Maddox and I birded the North Coast of Mendocino County. Started the day at the Mendocino Headlands where we refound one of the LAPLAND LONGSPURS in the same place that Toby Tobkin reported them on Thurs. Next stop was the Caspar Creek estuary where we found one PECTORAL SANDPIPER. At the south end of Glass Beach were 15 HARLEQUIN DUCKS. At lake Cleone we were treated to a MERLIN (columbianus) catching dragonflies over the lake and returning to the same perch repeatedly to eat it's prey. There was one male BLACK SCOTER at the end of Ward Ave. We ended the day at Virgin Creek Beach where we found one PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER at the creek outlet.
Of interest was a BLACK-TAILED WEASEL at the Mendocino Headlands that kept popping his head up out of different holes. Beatiful animal and quite humerous to watch. Doubt there are any ground-squirrels that would agree with me. Good birding (and weaseling). -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 26 Oct 2002 -- Jim Lomax birded Lake County yesterday and reported the following birds; the SURF SCOTERS were at the Kelsey Creek outlet, at Borax Lake he saw the BLUE-WINGED TEAL at the south end and found a male EURASIAN WIGEON, there was a VESPER SPARROW, a YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE, and LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in High Valley. -- Jerry White
Sat, 26 Oct 2002 -- There was a second winter HEERMAN'S GULL at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park this evening. It was present for more than an hour within the group of gulls on the west side of the sandbar. It was also seen by Jerry White and Brian Woodward and was still in the area near 6pm. -- Dave Woodward
Thu, 24 Oct 2002 -- This evening just before dark there were 2 SURF SCOTERS on the lake seen from the Kelsey Creek outlet-Clear Lake State Park. Also the EMPEROR GOOSE continues at Rodman Slough. -- Jerry White
Thu, 24 Oct 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Toby Tobkin reports 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS at the Mendocino Headlands this morning. She saw them along the bluffs at the end of Little Lake Street. This is the southern-most parking lot where the little monument to the Japanese Sister city is. Toby said the birds were just south of the monument in the grass. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 18 Oct 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER found by George Chaniot at Lake Mendocino on the 16th was still there at 730 this am. The bird was just below and to the W of the intake pipe at the Mesa day-use area that George described. It was with a large group of Killdeer; there were no Black-bellied Plovers anywhere out on the mud that I could see. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 16 Oct 2002 -- At 1:00 today there was a GOLDEN-PLOVER on the mud west of the Mesa at Lake Mendocino. The best view was from the end of the mesa near the pipe. I'm not certain of the species, but I would guess Pacific. The light was a little too harsh to be sure, but it definitely was a Golden-Plover (dark rump, light axillaries, smaller and slimmer than the 6 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS that it was with). Maybe someone with one of those new-fangled zoom lenses could pull it in for the ID.
Also of interest in the north end of the lake were 4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 6 GADWALLS, 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 5 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 15 Oct 2002 -- Today I took pictures of the EMPEROR GOOSE that is at Rodman Slough near Nice (Clear Lake). I posted six pictures of the Emperor Goose on the Mendobirds discussion group's photo album. If you do not know how to get to the photo album the URL (web address) is as follows:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/lst Most of you should be able to just click on the address and it will take you to the website where the photos are posted. To view the photos you will need to click on the folder "Emperor Goose". I want to thank Jerry White for sending me excellent directions for finding the Emperor Goose.
For more pictures of birds (but not the Emperor Goose found at Rodman Slough) taken by me please visit my website at: http://home.attbi.com/~rastorey/ -- Ron Storey, Petaluma, CA
Mon, 14 Oct 2002 -- Yesterday (Oct 13) was Big Sit! day nationwide, and Vishnu, Matthew Matthiessen, Chuck Vaughn, and I participated for the fourth year. The game is to see how many species you can spot in one day from a fixed circle 17 feet in diameter. Our circle is on the south side of the Mesa Day-use Area at Lake Mendocino with a broad view of the lake, surrounding ridges, nearby oaks, and conifer plantings.
The morning started off at 05:20 with a stunning view of Orion and Canis Major over the lake, and, this year, the moons of Jupiter served to warm up the spotting scope. There was a bit of a chilling north wind before light, but a Great Horned Owl and a Western Screech-Owl tuned up nicely, and the Screech-Owl even came into the nearest tree. Each year we have a subcontest going to see how many species we can record before sunup. This year we thought we were doing badly since we only had 43 (record 48). But the day unfolded nicely. Reveille sounded at 7:00 as there was a camporee with 973 Pathfinders taking place right next to our site. Despite fears, the camporee did not interfere with birdfinding. The low lake level, now about 38 feet below full, probably improved the birding some by providing a lot of muddy edges for waterbirds. Through the day the scoping conditions were very good with still air and very little heat distortion. We kept finding new species during each hour of the day. Ten species were new for the event (marked with an asterisk below), but we missed six species which we have seen every year previous (Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Dunlin, Band-tailed Pigeon, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch). At sundown we had tallied 86 species - exactly twice the sunrise number. This is a new record for us; the previous being 81. Have we moved the bar too high ever to surpass again, or does this circle have the potential for a 90-species day? Our cumulative total is now 108 species. As usual The Big Sit = A Fine Fall Day of birding, comraderie, and comestibles, but I went home with a serious case of scope-eye. I note that the Big Sit to Big Day ratio for this fall is 86/149 ~ 58%, not too bad - and a lot less driving. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 14 Oct 2002 -- Yesterday there were 2 BLUE-WINGED TEALand a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park. The EMPEROR GOOSE continues at Rodman Slough. At Library Park in Lakeport there was a fly-by light adult PARASITIC JAEGER (2nd county record). -- Jerry White
Thu, 10 Oct 2002 -- This afternoon at 4:30 there were two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS sitting on the mud west of the mesa. Yes, there are now several acres of mud _west_ of the mesa including two mud islands in the middle of the lake which I have never seen before, having been out of the country during the drought in the 70's. The pelicans were gone when I looked again at 6:00. Do they commute to Lake County? There was also a group of 5-6 BONAPARTE'S GULLS milling around the end of Miti spit. This morning there was quite a fallout of Yellow-rumped Warblers in Potter Valley. There were hundreds everywhere where there were none yesterday. There was a heavy, high overcast for the first time in weeks. The warblers were most concentrated in some vineyards which have not been picked this year, but they could be found in any tree inspected. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 08 Oct 2002 -- It was a good day for tubenoses off of Laguna Point. Dorothy Tobkin reports 6 FULMARS, numerous SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and several BULLER'S SHEARWATERS fairly close to shore. There were also 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS and a POMARINE JAEGER in fairly close and morejagers further out. There were singleton GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Lake Cleone and Pudding Creek and an AMERICAN BITTERN at Inglenook Fen. Toby also reports her fist Hermit Thrush of the season.
Tue, 08 Oct 2002 -- Was finally able to make it over to Rodman Slough this afternoon (10/8) accompanied by Gary and Judy Maddox. The EMPEROR GOOSE was still present from 1800 to 1830. The bird was feeding throughout the observation and keeping fairly close company with a group of domesticated geese. Best view was from the pullout about a quarter mile northwest of the bridge. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 05 Oct 2002 -- This am about 9:30 I spotted a TROPICAL KINGBIRDat The Sea Ranch. It was feeding from a tree adjacent to the Black Point Beach public access. I observed it for More than a half hour. -- E Rae Hudspeth
Sun, 06 Oct 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 3 male BLACK SCOTERS and several RED-NECKED GREBES off of Ward Avenue in Cleone, and a large total of 36 SNOWY PLOVERS at Ten-Mile beach. Jessica Morton reports: "The PALM WARBLER was on a round fencepost along the Haul Road, just to the south of the palms at 1:42; it was sitting on top of the post, constantly dipping its tail for several moments before flying down to the grass behind the fence. Also about 3 dozen Canada Geese on R and R among a few American wigeon at the Pudding Creek lagoon, west side of the highway about 2 p.m."
Sun, 06 Oct 2002 -- Today Jim and Matt Matzinger and I watched the EMPEROR GOOSE for about 45 minutes. During that time two flocks of calling GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over. On one occasion we saw and heard the Emperor Goose responding to their flight calls. -- Jerry White
Sun, 06 Oct 2002 -- Yesterday (5 October 2002) I headed straight for the first-winter Emperor Goose at Rodman Slough (Clear Lake, Lake County). I arrived shortly after 2 PM and saw what appeared to be the Emperor Goose from the Rodman Slough Bridge. I then drove to the pull-out 0.4 mile west of the bridge from where the EMPEROR GOOSE was much easier to see being it was only a "stone-throw" away.
The VESPER SPARROW continued among the Savannah Sparrows at 11315 High Valley Road along the south side of the road. I next drove two miles past the end of pavement hoping for a Greater Roadrunner or anything else. No such luck. I stopped again at 11315 High Valley Road on the way back and refound the Vesper Sparrow one more time. Down the road I ran into Jim and Sheree Lomax of Contra Costa County looking for the Vesper Sparrow. I told them I had just seen it and was now looking for a Yellow-billed Magpie. Later Jim and Sheree did see the Vesper Sparrow in addition to a YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE at the same location, 11315 High Valley Road. There is always a reason to return to Lake County.
Next I moved onto the east end of Borax Lake via 11th Street. I walked along the shore to the south-east corner of the lake and looked west toward a spit where the three GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were hanging out. There was no sign of the two Blue-winged Teal that Jerry White had reported the day before. -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
Sat, 05 Oct 2002 -- At noon today the EMPEROR GOOSE was easy to find from the Rodman Slough bridge as described in recent posts. First fall bird, no bands apparent. Good photo opportunites. I hope someone will post some to the Mendobirds photos area as they become available. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Fri, 04 Oct 2002 -- As was posted earlier the EMPEROR GOOSE was very cooperative today. Dave Woodward and I saw it about 1pm. We saw Roger Foote? near the bridge about 5 PM and he said he had just seen it. In High Valley (take High Valley Road off of Hiway 20 in Clearlake Oaks) Dave and I found a VESPER SPARROW. At the Clearlake Treatment plant we saw a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 1st found yesterday by Dave. At Borax Lake we saw 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL I found yesterday. Take 9th or 10th street (City of Clearlake) to the lake. Also on Borax Lake were 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. -- Jerry White
Fri, 04 Oct 2002 -- This morning Bob Keiffer and I saw a PALM WARBLER in the vineyard next to the permanent pasture at the entrance to HREC. The bird was eating grapes. It had rather particular tastes as it kept returning to the Mourvedre. This is the first HREC record for Palm Warbler. At about 2 pm we saw the EMPEROR GOOSE in Lake County. The bird was easily seen from the bridge on the Nice/Lucerne Cutoff, looking back up Scott's Creek to the west. We drove back west 0.4 miles to a turnoff on the north side of the road. The bird was on the spit just opposite (north) the turnoff, preening with a bunch of American White Pelicans and some domestic geese. It had no bands. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 02 Oct 2002 -- The EMPEROR GOOSE continues at Rodman Slough. I viewed the bird from the pullout about 4/10ths of a mile from the Rodman Slough bridge today at about 11 A.M. No leg bands have been detected. The goose has dark marks on the white head and neck. It appears to be a 1st winter bird. -- Jerry White
Tue, 01 Oct 2002 -- I was unable to relocate the American White Pelicans at Lake Mendocino on 9/30/02.
On 10/1/02, there was a single PALM WARBLER at the Westport Fire Station, and two more at the mouth of DeHaven Creek. -- John E. Hunter, Arcata, CA
Sun, 29 Sep 2002 -- This morning at Rodman Slough, Darlene Hecomovich and Jeanette Knight found an EMPEROR GOOSE. The bird has since been seen by myself and several other people. Look for the wide pullout about 7/10's of a mile from the Rodman Slough Bridge (up the slough) on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road. The bird was swimming and feeding near the mud and gravel bar. After the bird swam out of sight at this location I found I could view it with a scope from the pullout on the northeast end of the bridge. -- Jerry White
Sat, 28 Sep 2002 -- At about noon, Bob Keiffer, Chuck Vaughn, and I found 3 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS sitting on the mud off of the north boat ramp at Lake(bed) Mendocino. These pelicans rarely make the border crossing from Lake to Mendocino County, but as Lake Mendocino continues to fall, and the fish become more concentrated, I suspect that the lake will become increasingly attractive to them and some other waterbirds. At Coyote Dam we saw a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (perhaps the same one reported last weekend) and spotted (by scope) an AMERICAN AVOCET on the east shore between Miti spit and Perry Creek Cove. We also found LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS again on Burris Lane in Potter Valley, this time in a large, dead oak well north of the pond.
These observations were made during the PRBO fall Big Day by the team representing Mendocino County. We began the day at 04:30 in Hopland and ended on the boardwalk at Lake Cleone at sunset. The birding began a little slowly after sunrise in the high chaparral at HREC as a heavy fog layer developed. From above it looked like it might fill the whole valley, but as we descended it cleared, and we slowly made up missed species. The Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant ponds were not very productive this year, but Lake Mendocino made up for that with a good variety of ducks and waterbirds. The coast was rather slow in the afternoon, but each area visited produced a few species not seen elsewhere during the day. We finished with 149 species, a new record for Mendocino for the fall event. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 27 Sep 2002 -- Between 5:45 and 7:00pm this evening in the area just south of the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino swimming and feeding in a small offshore pool surrounded by exposed mud flats was a winter plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. On the adjacent flats was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER (possibly the same bird reported earlier in this week). A single COMMON SNIPE and a flock of 20 winter plumaged DOWITCHER sp (I think short billed) were likewise feeding there. -- Vishnu
Thu, 26 Sep 2002 -- I saw about 5 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS this morning at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley, a spot where they occur with some regularity in winter. Also of interest were a SAY'S PHOEBE, a late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW. 4 Ring-necked Ducks were on the pond and a Cooper's Hawk, hot on the hunt, actually landed on the water twice. What was it going after? -- George Chaniot
Fri, 20 Sep 2002 -- Friday afternoon I stopped off at the Lake Mendocino Boat Ramp at the north side of the reservoir which Rob describes below. The PECTORAL SANDPIPER Rob reports was there then as well along with an inland MARBLED GODWIT but no Black-bellied Plover. I am not sure if Rob and I are talking about the same location as this boat ramp is on the north side of the reservoir at the in-flow of the creek.
A check of the Ukiah Sewage ponds yielded nothing exciting beyond a flock of American Coots. -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
Tue, 24 Sep 2002 -- On the return from Hawk Hill, Marin, this past weekend we stopped in at the Main Boat Ramp on Lake Mendocino. In drying pools to the south by the dam were several KILLDEER, a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a distant PECTORAL SANDPIPER -- Rob Hewitt, Eureka, CA
Sat, 21 Sept 2002 Last Saturday's pelagic birding trip, coordinated by the Mendo Coast Audubon Chapter, was another unique excursion onto ocean waters. Overall the water was rather calm compared to many past trips... swells from 2-6 feet with very little in the way of wind waves. The trip started out with clear skies with a fog bank out about 1-2 miles offshore. There was quite a bunch of shearwaters, including 6 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS, working the waters just outside the fog bank. Once we entered the fog everything slowed down rapidly. Even a visit to a shrimp-troller pulling its nets resulted in few birds. Following the Noyo Trench out to about 18 miles we were in continuous high dense fog with fairly good visibility... just very few birds. We even chummed once out about 8 miles with NO response.... zero birds showed up.
These results are based upon my and Chuck Vaughn's estimates and may differ from the "official" count as tallied by the leaders (which undoubtedly will be more accurate than this version).
We also had California Sea Lions, Dall's porpoises, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, and Northern Right Whale Dolphins. Several Blue sharks were seen.
Black-footed Albatross 12-20; Northern Fulmar 10; Sooty Shearwater 50-75; Pink-footed Shearwater 50+;Black-vented Shearwater 6; Buller's Shearwater 15-20; Brown Pelican 25-30; Double-crested cormorant present; Brandt's Cormorant present; Pelagic cormorant present; Red-necked/Red Phalaropes 12+; Red-necked Phalarope 25; Red Phalarope 1; South Polar Skua 1-3 (one very dark individual); Long-tailed jaeger 50+; Parasitic Jaeger 1; Pomarine Jaeger 1-2; California gull 1 ad.; Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid 1; Western gull 100+; Sabine's Gull 8-10; Common Murre 75-100; Pigeon Guillemot 0; Xantus's Murrelet 2; Cassin's Auklet 12; Rhinoceros Auklet 60-75; Tufted Puffin 1 flightless adult due to wing molt; Belted Kingfisher 1 -I believe all previous Black-vented Shearwater sightings in MEN have been from shore. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 21 Sep 2002 -- I was very surprised to spot 2 large flocks of geese (Canada?) migrating South last evening (9/20) at dusk on a very warm evening. I have never seen so many birds, (around 200 total) heading South when it is still officially Summer. It is usually mid-October when I see them passing overhead here NW of Willits. -- Quince Amanda
Wed, 18 Sep 2002 -- I birded for several hours this morning around the north end of Lake Mendocino. The lake level continues to fall, now at about 718'. The area bounded by the Mesa, Deer Camp, and the North Marina will soon be completely dry except for the channel. There are some shorebirding opportunities on all this mud. This morning there was a MARBLED GODWIT and two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS visible from the north boat ramp - both fairly unusual at this location. Also there was an immature BALD EAGLE sitting on the mud in Hunter's Cove. The first scaup of the winter are arriving. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 14 Sep 2002 -- At about 5 PM I found a juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON at Rodman Slough. The bird was with a group of about 10 Snowy Egrets at the now exposed mud and sand island that is up the slough from the Rodman Slough Bridge. This area attracts a number of species including gulls, pelicans, shorebirds, ducks, and egrets. The pulloff to view this area is about 7/10ths of a mile from the bridge on Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road.
Much searching by Dave Woodward and myself since Saturday has so far been unsuccessful. We have been seeing MARBLED GODWITS (a rare fall migrant for the county) on occasion at this location. -- Jerry White
Mon, 16 Sep 2002 -- Mendo birders, On Sept 15 and 16 Gjon Hazard, John Luther, and myself birded coastal Mendocino County. We have nothing to report on the 15th. On the 16th, we had an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON along the Garcia River near Miner Hole Road and a single AMERICAN AVOCET at Hunter's Lagoon. At the mouth of Alder Creek there was a single PECTORAL SANDPIPER. After John Luther departed for home, we saw a ROCK WREN in the rocks on the beach at the mouth of DeHaven Creek. At the Westport Fire Station/Sewage Ponds there was an AMERICAN REDSTART(yellowstart) and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. On private lands at the mouth of Cottonneva Creek we found an eclipse EURASIAN WIGEON. -- John E. Hunter
Sat, 14 Sep 2002 -- Greetings, Spent this morning birding the south coast. Best bird of the day was the continuing AMERICAN AVOCET that Jerry White found yesterday at Hunter's Lagoon. Today the bird was working the north shore shallows at the west end of the lagoon.
Other birds of local note were two immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Rd, five MARBLED GODWITS on the beach just north of the Garcia Rivermouth, and a PEREGRINE FALCON having a grand time harrassing a raven over the Garcia Flats. -- Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 14 Sep 2002 -- This morning at 8:30 AM I found an adult BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. The bird was near the Westport Solid Waste and Recycling Center. Take the road at mile marker (Hiway 1) 77.71 just north of Westport. As of this morning there was a fire truck sitting in front of a locked gate. I saw the sparrow with a flock of White-crowned Sparrows in the roadway just to the east (just past) the gate.
Also of interest was a ROCK WREN at a Vista Point at mile marker 74.09 south of Westport. The bird was in the rock lined drainage channel on the southwest side of the parking area.
At about 7:00 AM Toby Tobkin again saw the MAGNOLIA WARBLER in the Cypress tree near the beach at Glass Beach. -- Jerry White
Fri, 13 Sep 2002 -- Today Jerry White reports a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at the mouth of the Garcia River and an AMERICAN AVOCET at Hunter's Lagoon near Manchester.
Fri, 13 Sep 2002- This evening at 5 Jerry White saw a BANK SWALLOWS with several Barn Swallows at Casper Pond.
Thu, 12 Sep 2002 -- Jerry White looked for the Magnolia Warbler just reported, but he did not find it, He found a Ring-necked Pheasant nearby instead. Hie did find a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW west of Highway 1 at mile marker 69.3, which is just south of Ten Mile River. Also at Ten Mile were a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and an early Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Check the Arcata Birdbox for a report of a possible WOOD SANDPIPER in Del Norte Co.
Thu, 12 Sep 2002 -- At about noon today Dorothy Tobkin found a MAGNOLIA WARBLER at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. She first saw it in the brush near where the main paths divide and then later in the lone cypress at the west end of the willows. It was calling a lot and responded to pishing. There also were 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach and an early female Greater Scaup at Lake Cleone.
Mon, 09 Sep 2002 -- Allan Grass reports that two BALD EAGLES have been hanging around Van Arsdale Dam on the Eel River daily for the last four months. They are eating "eels" and an occasional Wood Duck. There are reportedly two nests this year near Lake Pilsbury, and these birds may come from there.
Sat 17 Aug 2002 -- This is a report of one of the most spectacular trips in twentyseven years and nearly 1500 boat trips organized by Shearwater Journeys. The highlights included: STREAKED SHEARWATER, YELLOW-BILLED LOON, XANTUS' MURRELET, SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, and TUFTED PUFFIN. By all accounts it was one of the top ten pelagic trips that we have ever done.
Shearwater Journeys had just completed six of the first fall boat trips along the central California coast. Each one was quite spectacular (see other reports), and the air was just buzzing with anticipation and aggitation, especially among the leaders. Two nights prior to this trip, I mentioned to a friend of mine that I could just feel sparks, like electricity vibrating amongst the leaders! We were jazzed. We were juiced up for this sold-out trip. The leaders were: Jim Danzenbaker, Jon Dunn, Tristan McKee, Peter Pyle, Mike San Miguel, Brian Sullivan, and Debra Shearwater (one leader for every five passengers!). The participants were just as interesting. They hailed from 14 different states, and many were "regular" Shearwater Journeys" patrons for over twentyfive years.
I arrived in Fort Bragg just prior to sunset the night before the trip. I made a short walk to Glass Beach where I spotted 2 TUFTED PUFFINS flying by. I was met by Jon Dunn, Mike San Miguel, and Guy McCaskie who were also headed to the beach. Immediately, Jon Dunn zeroed in on a passing MANX SHEARWATER (second Mendo county record). After excellent views through the scope, he then pointed out an ARCTIC TERN feeding amongst the COMMON TERNS. Good spot! This just added to our anticipation of the next days' trip.
We departed from Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg at 7 am. Some fog and light seas greeted us once we passed the numerous PIGEON GUILLEMOTS along the breakwater. About six miles offshore, we encountered two shrimpers pulling their nets with thousands of birds following them. This was exciting enough, as one always hopes for that rare seabird to somehow materialize out of this giant, swirling mix of wings and feet. But, alas, after spending about one and a half hours with these birds, I sensed the urge among the passengers to move on. On to what? I was happy learning about shrimp boats and how they fish. I was happy watching the nets winding around the spools. True, we were only finding about 2000 gulls, 50 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 150 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and only 1 BULLER'S SHEARWATER in this mass of birds. Oddly, no jaegers were with them. Oh, but those birders long for the offshore.
So, off we went. Twenty-some miles to Noyo Canyon. And, yes, this is where we found jaegers, SOUTH POLAR SKUAS, SABINE'S GULLS, knock-out views of 4 XANTUS' MURRELETS, 1 TUFTED PUFFIN, more BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, 1 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, outstanding views and photo ops of 1 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, and more. Now, we were all pleased. For me, it was the first time that I have ever heard a Flesh-footed Shearwater vocalize! It sounded just like a Pink-foot. The seas had picked up a little. So, the skipper and I decided to head back to the shrimpers, and then to check along the inner coast for MARBLED MURRELETS, hoping for LONG-BILLED MURRELET. I keep pointing out that we are never going to find the Long-billed Murrelets because we do not spend enough time birding from the boat close to shore. As I said, our hopes were quite high. In addition, we were into the noon hour. This is a special time on pelagic trips. We have found a huge proportion of rare seabirds after the noon hour! When everyone is feeling dozy, we down our coffee and come alive!
Back at the shrimp boats, I finally sat down at the stern for the first time during the trip. After one or two moments, someone said, "Manx Shearwater." Well, I thought I guess I'll have to get up to look at this bird. I saw a large, white shearwater flying with a Pink-footed Shearwater. Unknown to me, Jon Dunn had already spotted the rare STREAKED SHEARWATER on the bow and was calling it out to everyone up there! Somehow, it got translated to Manx at the stern. Well, that's how boat communication can go. But, not for long. Although I didn't hear Jon, I was soon shouting STREAKED SHEARWATER, too. It was 2:13 pm. No worries, the shearwater flew around us for 45 minutes, being chased by Pink-foots, and allowing for excellent views, photographs, and even for some folks to get bored enough to sit down and stop looking! There are fewer than 10 records of Streaked Shearwater for all of North America, nearly all having occurred in California (mostly Monterey Bay). In Japan, it is a nearshore species.
Finally, we wandered near shore to hunt among the MARBLED MURRELETS. Jon Dunn turned up another goodie a YELLOW-BILLED LOON! It was off of Juan Creek, and was apparently seen from shore later by birders. A great many folks ended and celebrated the day, no doubt, happily checking off their lists. It was a truly magical day. The electricity that sparked us will be with us all season. It may well be the best pelagic trip of the year on the California coast!
This is the fourth year that Shearwater Journeys has organized trips from Fort Bragg. Every year has produced a mega-rarity seabird. 2002: STREAKED SHEARWATER, YELLOW-BILLED LOON; 2001: DARK-RUMPED PETREL; 2000: DARK-RUMPED PETREL, MARKHAM'S STORM-PETREL 1999: WHITE-CAPPED (SHY) ALBATROSS. Certainly, we will have a nice selection of trips from this area which can be combined with other trips in 2003. Watch our web site. The entire species list for the August 17, 2002 trip follows. Every species listed was seen well by every passenger.
The Streaked Shearwater details are: first sighted at 2:13 by Jon Dunn at 3938.799/12353.802, about 6 miles west of Westport, sea surface temperature: 56.1 F, depth: 420 feet, heading south. Last sighted: 2:55 pm at 3938.569/12354.355. -- Debi Shearwater
AUGUST 17, 2002 FORT BRAGG PELAGIC TRIP BY SHEARWATER JOURNEYS YELLOW-BILLED LOON-1, SY BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-75-85 SOOTY SHEARWATER-65 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-1 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-350 BULLER'S SHEARWATER-18-20 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-1 NORTHERN FULMAR-1 POMARINE JAEGER-8 PARASITIC/POMARINE JAEGER-2 PARASITIC JAEGER-1 LONG-TAILED JAEGER-35 SOUTH POLAR SKUA-5 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-1 (in the harbor) WESTERN GULL-1000 CALIFORNIA GULL-1500 HEERMANN'S GULL-4 RING-BILLED GULL-2, juveniles SABINE'S GULL-20 (2 juveniles) ARCTIC/COMMON TERN-4 COMMON TERN-2 COMMON MURRE-400 PIGEON GUILLEMOT-70 RHINOCEROS AUKLET-40 CASSIN'S AUKLET-8 XANTUS' MURRELET (scrippsi)-4 MARBLED MURRELT-10 TUFTED PUFFIN-1 adult RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-75 RED PHALAROPE-5 LEAST SANDPIPER-4 WESTERN SANDPIPER-20 LESSER YELLOWLEGS-1 NORTHERN PINTAIL-100 NORTHERN SHOVELER-4 MINKE WHALE-1 PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPIN-12-15 HARBOR PORPOISE-3 STELLER'S SEA LION-1 CALIFORNIA SEA LION-+
Fri, 06 Sep 2002 -- I spent most of the morning birding around the north end of Lake Mendocino and went back and to the south marina with Chuck Vaughn on Saturday. The lake level has fallen to 720 feet, and, for those who haven't been there recently, there is quite a bit of mud appearing at the Russian River inlet and near Coyote Dam and the south marina. At the inlet the mud is firm, and you can walk quite a ways out on it. There are a few shorebirds and ducks arriving now, and these areas bear watching in the next several weeks. You can view the inlet in the best light by driving down the inlet road, parking near the port-a-pottys, hopping the rail, and walking out to the west. Some CASPIAN TERNS have been sitting on the mud, along with several wigeon, pintail, and teal among the mallards. A female HOODED MERGANSER has been around several weeks going through eclipse molt - rather unusual for the period. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, CA
Sat, 07 Sep 2002 -- In the vicinity of the Rodman Slough bridge this morning there were at least 3 VAUX'S SWIFTS. At the Kelsey Creek outlet there was a juvenile WESTERN GULL, a COMMON MOORHEN, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a flyover LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. -- Jerry White
Fri, 06 Sep 2002 -- There were 4 BLACK TURNSTONES at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park this evening. Brian Woodward and I watched the turnstones for about half an hour until just before 6pm. During most of the observation they were feeding in windrows of uprooted aquatic plants and filamentous green algae at the northern edge of the sandbar. They flushed once but quickly returned and allowed close approach. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 04 Sep 2002 -- This evening at about 7PM at the Kelsey Creek mudflats in Clear Lake State Park I saw a juvenile LEAST BITTERN There was also an AMERICAN BITTERN and 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. -- Jerry White
Tue, 03 Sep 2002 -- This morning I had a WILLOW FLYCATCHER along lower Pine Avenue in Potter Valley.
Mon, 02 Sep 2002 -- Today at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park there was a WILSON'S PHALAROPE and a COMMON MOORHEN (actually found by two out of county birders before my arrival). Also there was an AMERICAN BITTERN, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and two active and well seen SORAS. Jerry White
Sun, 01 Sept. 2002 -- Spent Saturday Night and Sunday morning at Spruce Grove. Present were a pair of WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS coming in to roost in a large snag, 1 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS (a total surprise), 1 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, 1 PILEATED WOODPECKER, numerous RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. 2 im. LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. One large flock of about thirty warblers consisted of TOWNSEND'S, HERMIT, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, ORANGE-CROWNED, and a lone YELLOW WARBLER. One adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen just south of where the Spruce Grove road leaves M1 Road. Missing were any evidence of Flammulated Owls, Hammond's Flycatchers, or Dusky Flycatchers. A family group of 4-5 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES were at Hull Mountain. Two adult GOLDEN EAGLES soaring on the south side (Lake County) of Hull Mountain. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 01 Sep 2002 -- This morning at 1100 there was an alternate plumaged adult TUFTED PUFFIN feeding off the Mendocino Headlands. The bird was in the water just north of the parking lot for Goat Rock (in line with the Cabrillo Lighthouse). The bird dove frequently during the 30 minutes I watched it but on a couple of occasions stayed on the surface for several minutes.
Only other bird of note this morning were three SNOWY PLOVERS at Virgin Creek Beach. They must have arrived recently as there were none there last weekend. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 01 Sep 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: At 745 I saw an imm American Bittern in the cat tails on the SW corner of the sludge pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. For anyone unfamiliar with the layout there, the sludge pond is the small square pond immediately S of the office area. The bird was not visible when I left at 930. Lots of stuff is moving around. New fall birds in the area for me were Say's Phoebe and Lincoln's Sparrow. Willow Flycatchers and Yellow Warblers are everywhere, and there were lots of Wilson's Warblers on the river. The warblers are starting to pick the insects off the fennel making themselves quite visible. I saw a gray-headed type Orange-crowned Warbler doing so. Some of you sharp-eyed birders get out there and turn up something!! Regards, -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 31 Aug 2002 -- I got a report yesterday of a Common Moorhen at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park and a Solitary Sandpiper at Borax Lake (City of Clearlake) from David Rice.
In the last two or three weeks Dave Woodward has recorded Willet, Black-necked Stilt, Common Tern and Lesser Yellowlegs at the Kelsey Creek outlet. -- Jerry White
Thu, 29 Aug 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw a BANK SWALLOW at Caspar Pond at about 4:15 this afternoon along with Rough-winged and Barn Swallows.
Sun, 25 Aug 2002 -- The Yellow-throated Vireo that was found at the UC-HREC on Friday at noon has NOT been refound to my knowledge. John Hunter and I both checked on Saturday morning and I checked this morning. I think others checked Friday evening. Migrants are moving however, with different birds showing up every several hours... even during mid-day. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 24 Aug 2002 -- Today I scoured the north coast hoping to refind some of the rarities reported in recent days. Unfortunately I didn't find anything exceptional but there were a few sightings of note.
At Glass Beach a flock of 18 MARBLED GODWITS flew over heading north. At the San Juan Creek overlook were a pair of MARBLED MURRELETS. There were 27 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on the Westport sewage pond. One LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at the Caspar Creek outlet. And three BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS were at Navarro Beach. The only tubenoses I saw all day were two SOOTY SHEARWATERS seen from the Mendocino Headlands. Good birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 23 Aug 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: I found a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at the Hopland Research and Extension Center at noon today, August 23. The bird was seen along a pond edge and an associated dense willow thicket just west of the road into the Center. To reach the pond, drive up the hill until you reach a redwood sign on the east side of the road that reads "Vasser Corner Experimental Area". Drive another 0.1 mile past this sign and you will see a small pond below the road to the west. There are yellow-striped plastic ribbons tied to a tree on the west and a road marker on the east side of the road to mark this location. The road marker is also now crowned with a green surgical glove. You can park at various pull-offs along the road in this vicinity. I had a brief look at what I am now quite certain was this same bird a week ago. Hopefully it will stick around. It is a real skulker so it may take some effort to dig out. You are welcome to chase the bird, but please be advised that this weekend a small number of deer hunters will have access to the Center. You should have no problems if you confine your search to the pond and willows right below the road. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 23 Aug 2002 -- The BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER reported yesterday from Glass Beach in Fort Bragg was still there this morning.
Thu, 22 Aug 2002 -- At 9:00 this morning Toby found a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. It was north of the main beach in some fresh kelp. Yesterday there was also an early female CANVASBACK at Caspar Pond and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS at the Caspar Creek estuary.
Sat, 17 Aug 2002 -- The Shearwater Journeys trip from Ft Bragg on August 17 recorded a STREAKED SHEARWATER! This is a Mendocino County First, and one of the few records away from Monterey Bay. The bird was in view for 45 minutes and seen well by all! Other highlights of the trip inluded a YELLOW-BILLED LOON, as well as FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER and XANTUS'S MURRELET. -- Todd McGrath, For Shearwater Journeys
Mon, 19 Aug 2002 -- The WHITE-FACED IBIS is still being seen on the edges of the vineyard pond at milemarker 1.33 on West Road, Potter Valley. Jim Armstrong saw it yesterday, and I have seen it several times today. It is an immature bird with dark eye and uniform, grayish-brown head and neck, cohort 2002. It is not always on this pond; I've made five spot checks today and seen it three times. Twice I have seen it fly to a nearby pond which is hidden from public view. It seems to be finding quite a lot to eat. Pastures nearby are being flood-irrigated today and look ideal. Maybe it will stick around. There is little room to pull off, so park in my driveway at 9430 West Road.
Yesterday I spent many hours scoping to sea near Juan Creek looking for the Yellow-billed Loon without success. I did see 10 MARBLED MURRELETS there. The RED PHALAROPE was still at Virgin Creek beach sitting on an nearshore rock. There were at least 3 immature BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on the beach. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Fri, 16 Aug 2002 -- Debra Shearwater reported to me the she, Guy MacKaskie, and Michael San Miguel observed a MANX SHEARWATER, 2 TUFTED PUFFINS (fly by), and an ARCTIC TERN, all from Glass Beach (west end of Elm Street) at Fort Bragg. The Manx Shearwater was with a group of Sooty Shearwaters and is Mendocino County's second record. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sat, 17 Aug 2002 -- I saw the WHITE-FACED IBIS again today at 5:00 pm on the edge of the vineyard pond at milemarker 1.33 on West Road, Potter Valley. I first saw it early on the 15th. So it is still around, but not always in view. If you come looking for it, feel free to park in my driveway at 9430 West Road, directly across the street. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Sat, 17 Aug 2002 -- Jerry White reports that several observers found an immature YELLOW-BILLED LOON after today's pelagic trip. It could be seen from the Juan Creek overlook north of Rockport. It was found in the late afternoon and was moving northward in a leisurely manner. This is the second county record and very unusual at this time of year.
Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing a TUFTED PUFFIN again at the Mendocino headlands. This one was flying and carrying fish, and, although not seen, it may have been feeding young on the water to the north. There were also two RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and there is a possibility that they may be breeding nearby too.
Fri, 16 Aug 2002 -- Toby and Jim Danzenbaker found a RED PHALAROPE at Virgin Creek Beach. It was an adult molting into winter plumage. Toby thinks that this bird may have been there for the last 5 days. Red Phalaropes are seldom seen on shore.
Thu, 15 Aug 2002 -- At 07:00 this morning there was singleton WHITE-FACED IBIS on the vineyard pond near my home on West Road, Potter Valley. Later it circled the neighborhood several times and went down on another pond nearby hidden from public view. Yardbird #158.
Immature and adult female Rufous/Allen's hummingbirds continue to swarm my feeders - up to ten at a time. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Sat, 10 Aug 2002 -- The hummingbird feeders in my yard are being overrun with Selasphorus hummingbirds - maybe as many as ten - including one likely Allen's Humingbird male. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 07 Aug 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw an adult TUFTED PUFFIN in breeding plumage on the water north of the Mendocino headlands.
Mon, 05 Aug 2002 -- At about 10:00 this morning I found a MERLIN perched near the pond near my home on West Road, Potter Valley. The earliest that I have seen Merlin previously in Potter is 29 Sep. I have 27 records between 29 Sep and 15 Apr.
I had a scope-filling view at about 50 feet for 20 minutes, but I agonized over the ID with books in hand because it seemed too big for a Merlin. There was an Acorn Woodpecker frozen quite near it and it looked nearly twice the length of the woodpecker. A Mourning Dove tried to land beside it, then thought better, and the Merlin was maybe 1.5 times as long. It was definitely shorter than a Green Heron that landed nearby. This might put it in the 16-18 inch range, too big for a Merlin? Wheeler and Clark indicate that the top length for a Taiga female is 12 inches, and that the Prairie form is larger. I interpreted it to be an adult female of the Prairie form: adult because of wear and fading of some feathers, female because of brown upperparts, Prairie because of near absence of moustachial stripe, some spotting on the upper side of the primaries, lack of buff or rufous in the underparts, and large size. However, the overall coloration was a little darker than most Prairie Merlins I have seen.
Assuming that it had been on the breeding grounds this year, the nearest breeding population would be in eastern Oregon. Some older references I have call these _F.c.bendirei_. What are they like? They're Taiga types, aren't they? Grinnell and Miller state that there is inconclusive evidence that a few _bendirei_ remain in California through the summer, and they were skeptical of any breeding records. Are there any subsequent breeding records in California?
Later in the day I was over on Lakeshore Blvd. in Nice and saw an immature BAIRD'S SANDPIPER on the boat ramp at the Featherbed Railroad Co. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 02 Aug 2002 -- A single, duckweed covered, WHITE-FACED IBIS was feeding in the south pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. Phil at the plant spotted the bird early today on the south levee. It didn't fly when he drove toward it, instead the bird escaped on foot into the water. Neither did it fly when I surprised it and a group of MALLARDS in the northwest corner of the pond. The MALLARDS, of course, were outta there. -- Cheryl Heinecken
Sat, 27 Jul 2002 -- There was a bit of birding that occurred on a recent (7/22-23) Sanhedrin chapter Calif. Native Plant Society (CNPS) fieldtrip to Snow Mt. Hiking into the red fir forest area at an altitude of approx. 5800 ft. about an hour's walk from the Summit Springs trailhead we observed Orange-crowned, Hermit, Nashville, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Gray Warblers - at times many species in one tree. There were also Fox sparrows, Cassin's vireos, Western wood-pewees, Olive-sided flycatchers, White-headed woodpecker and Red-breasted sapsucker. -- Vishnu
Thu, 25 July 2002 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin saw about 80 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES from Todd's Point which is immediately south of Noyo Harbor accessible from the end of Ocean View Drive. They were flying and sitting on the water within a mile of shore. Probably they had followed a trawler in. There were a few Common Murres and Western Gulls and virtually nothing else.
Wed., 17 Jul 2002, 11:00 am -- Brian O'Connor reports seeing RHINOCEROS AUKLET from the end of Ward Avenue in Cleone at low tide.
Fri, 19 Jul 2002 -- Matt and Mike Brady report seeing LESSER YELLOWLEGS today at the pond at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. I went up there about 3:30 and was unable to find them initially. I tried whistling an imitation and was successfull in provoking them to respond. I think they were hidden behind the marginal vegetation near the boat. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Fri, 19 Jul 2002 -- Wednesday (? GEC), 18 July 2002, I had one WINTER WREN show up at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. I believe this to be an early bird in migration. Even though common within the habitats of maritime influence (Tan Oak habitat and west) Winter Wrens are very scarce within this dry Southeast portion of the county. I don't believe we have ever had a summer record here at HREC.
Mon, 15 Jul 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing at least 4 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES from Laguna Point today along with quite a few Sooty Shearwaters, several HUMPBACK WHALES, and some HARBOR PORPOISES. Shorebirds are returning; On 12 July she saw 14 species at Virgin Creek Beach including the following return migrants: Semipalmated Plaver, Black-bellied Plover, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, many Whimbrels, and Short-billed Dowitchers. There were also 9 Harlequin Ducks in heavy molt, and Caspian Terns flying by.
Thu, 04 Jul 2002 -- Last night (July 3-4) I camped at Spruce Grove. Joining me for the evening were a pair of FLAMMULATED OWLS. They first announced their presence about 2230 last night and I last heard them when they woke me up this morning at 0300 calling from right over my tent. Also present in Spruce Grove this morning was a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER.
I broke camp early and drove to the gap just below Hull summit. Several GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES were encountered along the way and several more were at the gap. After parking I walked out to the spot John, George, and Chuck had Black-chinned Sparrows a few weeks ago. The birds did not disappoint. I hadn't even reached the overlook and I could already hear a BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW calling from over the edge. I walked partway down the hill below the overlook and was able to get very good views of the bird.
On the walk most of the high elevation specialties were also encountered including one HERMIT WARBLER, one WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, two DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, and numerous NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Good birding ya'll -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 27 Jun 2002 -- Birders, I had a singing male Northern Parula the morning of 6/27/02 along the road to the Casper Cemetery, between the gate and the cemetery. It was high in the doug-firs and very difficult to see but was singing constantly. When excited, it has a very loud and strong chip. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Tue, 25 Jun 2002 -- Several observers including Cheryl Watson and Vishnu this morning (Tues. 6/25) failed to find the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak seen yesterday during much of the day on Stipp Lane in Ukiah. From approximately 8:15 am until 10am and then again from 10:45 till 11:10am the feeders were watched from the lawn across from the driveway but to no avail. Male and female HOODED ORIOLES were seen however visiting the hummingbird feeder. Also of some interest were a pair of Western Bluebirds entering a hole in the west wall of the Adventist Junior Academy. The single small hole is about 10 ft from the ground in the monolithic cinder block wall. The effect created is of the world's most robust nestbox.
Mon, 24 Jun 2002 -- Got a call this morning about 0900 from some friends saying they had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak coming to the feeders at their house. I immediately jumped in the car and, after arriving at their house, only had to wait about 10 minutes for an adult male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK to come to one of their feeders. During the 45 minutes I was there the bird returned twice more.
To reach this location, go south on South State St and turn right (west) on Stipp Lane (the last road before Hwy 253). If you're driving south on Hwy 101, Stipp Ln is directly across State St from the Hwy 253 exit. Follow Stipp Ln west a short distance and turn right on the road that forms the western boundary of the Ukiah Junior Academy parking lot.
As soon as you take this right turn the house in question will be up a slight rise right in front of you. The house is white with brown trim and the number on the side is 200. The people who live there are Bob and Earline Chinnok. The Chinnok's say it's okay to park in their driveway and wait for the bird or knock on their door and come in (best viewing is from their kitchen window). Their driveway is very short and has a green swing at the end of it. Just beyond the green swing are a hummingbird feeder and a tubular seed feeder. The grosbeak is coming to the tubular feeder.
The Chinnock's first saw the bird this past Saturday. Unfortunately they're moving out of town next week so the feeders will only be up through this week. While I was there an adult male, an immature male, and an adult female HOODED ORIOLE visited the hummingbird feeder repeatedly. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 23 Jun 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: The Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant oxidation ponds continue to provide some surprisingly ducks for Mendocino County this summer. This morning I saw 12 REDHEAD on the south pond, 6m and 6f (the south pond is the only one with water presently). This was easily the largest group of Redheads I've seen in the county. Unfortunately, they flew as I approached throwing rocks, and disappeared N along the Russian River. There is still a pair of RUDDY DUCKS (m,f) on the pond, and today there was a f BLUE-WINGED TEAL. The breeding pair of CINNAMON remain, and the 6-7 young birds are nearly ready to fly. I heard 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS singing on the river. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 22 Jun 2002 -- I am making this posting for Linda Angerer. On June 18 at 1100 Linda reports observing an adult male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD singing at Mendocino Pass. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 22 Jun 2002 --Last night (Fri June 21) Linda Angerer and I observed a female LESSER NIGHTHAWK at the Timberline campsite on Boardman Ridge in Lake County. We saw the bird around 2045 and the observation lasted for 3-5 minutes. The bird was rather small and extremely buffy (including the pale wing patch) and flew no higher than the treetops during the entire observation. The bird made several passes overhead within 30 ft of us. Eventually the bird flew off at treetop level along the ridgeline to the northwest heading for Mendocino County. We never heard the bird vocalize.
Timberline campsite is at 4,900 ft and is the last campsite before leaving treeline on Boardman Ridge. The campsite is reached by taking a dirt track about 50 meters west off of M-1. If you walk through the campsite the track ends shortly at a bare lookout point overlooking Lake Pillsbury. This overlook and the hillside below it is covered in Manzanita with no trees over head high. During our observation the bird only flew around this lookout point. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 21 Jun 2002 -- After the reports from last weekend by John Hunter and Matthew Matthiessen, I went with Chuck Vaughn to Hull Mountain to look for Black-chinned Sparrows in Mendocino Co. The MEN/LAK county line is unmarked along M-1, and I have come to realize, after inspecting several maps and aerial photos of the road, that all my previous sightings of BCSP along Boardman Ridge have been entirely in Lake County.
We arrived at the high point where the spur road goes off to the summit about 07:15. About 0.2 mi beyond this point there is a pull-through with several fire rings on the W side ( BM 6425 on the topo sheet ). Shortly beyond this pullout a motorcycle trail takes off to the west toward Windy Point. This is labled 10W32 on the Forest Service map (but not on the ground) and is called a jeep trail on the topo sheet. We went out this trail about 1/2 mi. and John Hunter's excellent directions, which I paraphrase, took us right to BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS. The trail rises at first to a low summit (6573 on topo sheet) and then descends. Where it begins to descend rapidly there are several pieces of bright pink flagging. We went off the trail to the left here, worked around a small rock outcrop and downslope until the brush became rather thick. From here we could hear one, perhaps two, BCSP singing from the brush downslope near a domed rock. We found a singing bird sitting up on a dead branch in a patch of ceonothus scrub and had this bird under observation from about 07:50 to 08:10. The elevation here is about 6000 to 6400 feet.
We drove on to Spruce Grove where we found both HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS , the latter singing in the corn lily meadow near the spring. We returned south to the pullout mentioned above at 12:00, and while we were eating lunch, Chuck heard another BCSP upslope along the ridge toward the low summit. Matthew heard his downslope from this same place last weekend. The wind made hearing difficult by this hour. These locations are at least a half-mile into Mendocino County, so I redeemed my Mendocino tick on this trip.
Concerning the location of the county line: As you ascend Boardman Ridge in Lake county you pass Timberline Camp off the road to the left. Above the camp you come to a section where the road winds up through the brush. At the bottom of this section is a large pullout heavily used by hang-gliders as a jumping-off point, and at the top of the section is a similar pullout. Here there is a wooden post on either side of the road, and the road straightens out toward the summit. I calculate that the county line is about 0.135 mi (or 238 yards) beyond these posts, and I built a small kairn on the uphill side where I estimate the line crosses the road E/W. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 15 Jun 2002 -- Today I drove up Boardman Ridge to see if BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS are back this year (I had no idea John Hunter was making an effort the same day). I stopped at the first pull-out south of the Hull Peak turnoff (apparently the spot John camped the night before) and heard one BCSP calling below me.
Knowing there is controversy as to which county this location is in I drove further north to see if I could locate any more BCSP. After passing the turnoff to Hull Peak I descended a short distance to the small gap north of the turnoff and parked the car in the pullout there. Within a few minutes I heard another BCSP calling below me on the south-facing slope. As John said, this is well within the Mendo county line. Other high elevation specialties here were several DUSKY FLYCATCHERS and one WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER.
After the BCSP I drove on to Spruce Grove. Along the way I encountered a couple NASHVILLE WARBLERS. At Spruce Grove were HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, CASSIN'S FINCH, and HERMIT WARLBER. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 17 Jun 2002 -- At 08:10 this morning I found a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW along Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. About 3/4 mi. up Pine Avenue, as you are approaching Burright Creek, there is a broad pullout on the right and a locked gate set back from the road on the left. The GRSP was about 30 y. beyond this gate, and I was able to get a good scope view as it sat up on a weedstalk, preened, and sang. After about five minutes it flew off about 100 y., plopped in the short grass, and I did not see it again in the next half hour, nor when I came back about 9:45.
This is the same general area where Ollie Kolkmann found GRSP on 12 Jun 1987 while he was appraising some property in the area. I looked for them in 2000 and 2001 without luck. These are the only GRSP records for Potter Valley that I am aware of. There are probably more birds around on private property, but this bird was viewable from public access.
Further up Pine Avenue families of Western Tanagers were roving around already eating poison oak berries, and there was a House Wren singing near 12600. I have also had a House Wren singing in my neighborhood off and on since 17 May - yard bird #157. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Sun, 16 Jun 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: There were some interesting ducks on the S pond at the USTP this morning. Among the Coots and Mallards I saw: 1 m BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 1 m REDHEAD, 1 m Ring-necked Duck, 2 m and 1 f Ruddy Duck.
There was also a f WOOD DUCK with 12 young, and 2 pair of CINNAMON TEAL with 1 f leading 7 young. Cinnamon Teal are increasingly rare breeders in Mendocino County due to loss of habitat. The only other recent nesting record of which I am aware was about 10 years ago in Little Lake Valley by Jack Booth.
Along the river were 3 singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and 2 singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 16 Jun 2002 -- Potter Valley birder Rya Reubenthaler was also at the Spruce Grove Campground this week and reported a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, a FLAMMULATED OWL and a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER.
Sun, 16 Jun 2002 -- On the afternoon on 6-14-02 I headed up to Hull Mountain, to look for Black-chinned Sparrow. Through Covello and way out the dusty and bumpy Forest Service route M1 along Etsel Ridge. I stopped to camp at the first dirt track/overlook going off to the right after the turnoff to Hull Mountain. Black-chinned Sparrows had been reported from here but this location appeared to be 0.15 miles inside of Lake County, although you could possibly hear one over in Mendo from here. After changing the flat tire, I could hear about 6 COMMON POORWILL calling on both sides of the Mendocino-Lake county line.
On 6-15-02 I did not hear Black-chinned Sparrow from the campsite so I birded along the road back into Mendocino. I walked out the trail to Windy Point (trail 10W32 on the Forest Service map) about 0.5 miles and found a good spot to listen to the south. After much listening, I finally heard a BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW singing far below, but easily within Mendocino County. I can provide better details about the location if anyone is interested. There was also a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER near the trailhead.
In the patch of corn lily at the turnoff from M1 to Spruce Grove there was one, possibly two, singing LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. I'm not sure if they get any further than this in the coast ranges. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES were nesting in the corn lily. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Thu, 13 Jun 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a singing, first-year male AMERICAN REDSTART and an unusual summer WILLOW FLYCATCHER at Lake Cleone. They were near the campground on the south side of the lake.
Wed, 05 Jun 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a breeding plumage FRANKLIN'S GULL flying north past Laguna Point in MacKerricker State Park. She saw a second bird that was probably also a Franklin's. There were tons of Common Murres and the first Heermann's Gulls of the season.
Sun, 02 Jun 2002 -- The June 2, 2002, pelagic trip out of Noyo Harbor as coordinated by "Toby" and the Mendocino Coast Audubon Chapter was a smashing success. We had a full boat and about fifteen other folks were apparently turned away. We began the trip at 0800 with the usual Pigeon Guillemots at the harbor mouth and Western Gulls scattered about. We were barely out of the harbor when a shearwater was spotted by the close buoy no more than a few hundred yards from the harbor mouth. Peter Pyle quickly recognized the small bright white and jet black birds as being a rarity with few possibilities. Peter immediately yelled out that we had a possible MANX SHEARWATER and instructed us to look for white undertail coverts.... and yes it did have them. The bird was approached within 75 yards and made a couple circle flights around the buoy giving us great looks. Once reviewed and accepted by the CRBC this will be the first record of a Manx Shearwater for Mendocino County (species number 386 for Mendocino). According to Peter Pyle, in 1993 during El Nino years, about 100 Manx Shearwaters, normally found in Atlantic Ocean waters, slipped around the tip of South America and were observed off the coast of Chile. these birds have been roaming Pacific waters since then and experts suspect that they are breeding somewhere in the Pacific. Manx Shearwaters have been showing up now and then along the California nearshore for the last few years.
The rest of the trip had great visibility but was on the rather rough side with pretty good swells and a cold NW wind. We had many periods of seeing no birds, but chumming and creating slicks with cod-liver oil resulted in a few birds tracking the scent. We had about 30-40 Pacific Loons, 20 Black-footed Albatrosses, 100+ Sooty Shearwaters, 10-20 Pink-footed Shearwaters, 1 Parasitic Jaeger, 1 Pomarine Jaeger, many Common Murres, 10-12 Pigeon Guillemots, 1 probable Red Phalarope, 4-8 Rhinoceros Auklets, Western Gulls, and Glaucous-winged Gulls.
These are my estimated numbers and may differ slightly from the "official" count compiled by the leaders ....I just wanted to get the word out. It looks like there is a fall trip being planned and I encourage each of you to participate. -- Bob Keiffer
Fri, 24 May 2002 -- On Friday Dave and Brian Woodward saw 7 BLACK SWIFTS from Summit Springs, which is the access to the Snow Mt Wilderness on the south side of the mountain. On Saturday they watched 18 birds feeding in flight for about an hour and a half in the same general area. Dave and I went up yesterday and saw 2 birds fly by. All sightings took place between 3 and 5 PM.
Dave and I also found a calling GRAY FLYCATCHER about one half mile up the trail from the Summit Springs Trailhead. This is the 3rd county record. Exactly one year ago the 2nd record for the county was a bird that was found in nearly the same location. -- Jerry White
Thu, 23 May 2002 -- Mendobirders, today there was a male and a female WILSON'S PHALAROPE at the southernmost pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Sat, 18 May 2002 -- Today I helped Chuck Vaughn do his Breeding Bird Survey along the Covelo Road (Rte. 162 between 101 and Round Valley). It was a rather birdy morning, and we recorded over seventy species. Yellow-breasted Chats were particularly evident along the first third of the road. Of particular interest were a pair of RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS at milemarker 9.25, two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at 19.50, an adult PEREGRINE FALCON at the sandstone cliffs near 20.50, and a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in Round Valley at 26.47.
After finishing the survey, we returned through the high country via Etsel Ridge, Hull Mountain, and Lake Pilsbury. In general the roads are dry, graded, and easily traversed. However, there is still a snowbank across road M1 between Windy Gap and Hull Mountain. and high-clearance, four-wheel drive is necessary to get around it.
DUSKY FLYCATCHERS were seen and heard at many locations from Grizzly Flat to Hull Mountain (Dave Woodward reports Dusky Flycatchers as early as May 4 in the Snow Mountain area). We did not find Hammond's Flycatcher at Spruce Grove as we did 19 May 2001, nor did we find Lincoln's Sparrow or Hermit Warbler yet, but there were other migrants and residents such as Green-tailed Towhee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Fox Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee (feeding nestlings already), and Townsend's Solitaire. MOUNTAIN QUAIL were "quarking" everywhere, and we actually saw them 5 or 6 times. On the way back we found a singing MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER along the Eel River about 1/4 mi up the logging road from Pioneer Crossing Bridge. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Thu, 09 May 2002 -- About 10:30 this morning Dorothy Tobkin and I saw a WHITE-FACED IBIS at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant on the small wet area in the north percolation pond. It flushed and went down on the south pond with all the water. This is probably the same individual which has been seen off and on for the last week or so.
There was also a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the north pond, at least three Yellow-breasted Chats singing along the river, Ruddy Ducks displaying and courting actively, and American Coots breeding in all stages from nest building to feathered juveniles. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley
Wed, 08 May 2002 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin found a TUFTED PUFFIN in the water off the Mendocino Headlands. It was north of the island with murres, cormorants, and burrows where TUPUs have nested before ( This is sometimes called Goat Island by birders, I believe incorrectly. GEC ). There were also a number of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS in the water near the puffin. On May 6 she was scoping from Laguna Point in high winds and saw a probable FRANKLIN'S GULL but did not get a definitive look. There were a lot of migrating loons, phalaropes, scoters, and gulls.
Wed, 08 May 2002 -- LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES have been showing up at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center for about one week now...but in scattered areas. This afternoon between 2:00 and 2:30 PM I saw 6 LAGO and heard a couple more by the Vasser Corner Experimental Area along University Road. This is the same site that has provided LAGO for birders in the past. After turning onto University Road, which heads east from East Side Road just north of "Old Hopland", follow the road up the grade for about two miles. You will pass an old wooden barn on the right (south) side of the road. Go about another 1/8th mile and there will be a sharp bend to your left. At this turn you will look directly at the "Vasser Corner Experimental Area" sign on a 6 foot high fence...here there will be a pullout/parking area on your right. Watch the tipped-over wooden box which is a salt feeder as the birds come to this for salt. Especially watch the bathtub water trough... this is where I saw most of the LAGO drinking.
There are many Lesser Goldfinches in the area so scan all the fences and "popcorn flower" patches on which the goldfinches love to feed. One of the best ways to find the birds is to just sit and listen for the bell-like tinkle call which is very distinctive once you hear it. You can call 707-744-1424 and ask for Bob Keiffer or Chuck Vaughn if you need further details. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 05 May 2002 -- Today around 1:00 PM I watched a breeding adult FRANKLIN'S GULL fly by the Mendocino Headlands slowly heading north into a strong wind. Later in the afternoon in Ukiah I tried unsuccessfully for the phalaropes and ibis. There was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE paddling around with the Mallards. -- Jerry White
Sun, 05 May 2002 -- This morning I had a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in breeding plumage at my feeder in Little River. -- Charlene McAllister
Sat, 04 May 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Yesterday Bob Keiffer, George Chaniot, Matthew Matthiessen and I did some birding around the county. Two of the highlights were found at the USTP at about 1030: a pair of WILSON'S PHALAROPES and a flyover WHITE-FACED IBIS. One of the fellows out there said that the WFIB had been hanging around for several days, so it might be worth a chase. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 03 May 2002 -- Today I saw a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT flying near the bridge on Hwy 101 just south of the Piercy exit. This is close to milemarker 103. I did not see any when I passed northbound on 28 April. White-throated swifts were easily seen at the Edward Wagner Bridge at milemarker 6.0 in southern Humboldt County on both the 28th and today. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, CA
Mon, 29 Apr 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: There was a VESPER SPARROW singing in the rain this am at the Hopland Center. I would have driven right past the bird but that it sounded strangely like Gene Kelly. Lots of sparrows migrating through the hills- Golden and White-crowned (including one with black lores), Lincoln, and Savannah. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 25 Apr 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin visited the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant ponds and reports the following: a singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CINNAMON TEAL in breeding plumage, RING-NECKED DUCKS , and AMERICAN PIPITS.
Tue, 23 Apr 2002 -- This morning (Tues. 4/23) between 8:30 -9:15 I did some bird observing at a spot .6 mile up North Cow Mt. There were SAGE SPARROW, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and CALIFORNIA THRASHER both visible and singing. Seen also were LAZULI BUNTING and and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER very generously displaying his orange crown (first time I've seen that). MOUNTAIN QUAIL and WRENTITS were heard.
From Mill Cr. Rd. this spot is just a wide place on the N. Cow Mt. road .6 mile up. The next good area (and somewhat flatter) starts at 1.2 miles from Mill Cr. (Avoid the pullout at .7 mile as a couple of boars were dumped there about 6 weeks ago and it smelleth strongly.... NO, worse than that, much worse.)
Vishnu
Sun, 07 Apr 2002 -- This morning 4/7/02 at the only mildly odoriferous Ukiah WWTP (wastewater treatment plant) I observed 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTSs (towards the western end of the middle pond), exactly 29 CANADIAN GEESE (in the northern pond), a MERLIN and a brilliantly plumaged COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. (Whoever first called a Yellowthroat "common" must have been either tired or blind.) A few hours later along the stretch of Big River that runs through Montgomery Woods I also saw a Dipper. This bird was near the bridge that is .3 mile east of the main Montgomery Woods parking area. -- Vishnu
Sat, 06 Apr 2002 -- I'm happy to report the four BLACK-NECKED STILTS were still at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning (Sat Apr 6). They were very skittish but allowed closest approach for photos on a small quiet pond (no killdeer or mallard) in the extreme northwest corner of the complex. That's number 300 in the county for me. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 04 Apr 2002 -- Mendobirders, there were 4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS at the Ukiah Sewage Ponds on 4-3-02; they were in the northern pond. There were also 2 DOWITCHERS and 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS I also had my first CHIPPING SPARROW of the year. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Tue, 02 Apr 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a LONG -TAILED DUCK near the SURF SCOTERS and couple of BLACK SCOTERS off Ward Avenue in Cleone. Also 4 RED-NECKED GREBES in beautiful breeding plumage. A BLACK-EGGED KITTIWAKE was seen flying North over Mendocino Bay.
Mon, 01 Apr 2002 -- Early Monday afternoon (4/1) Vishnu observed 2 pairs of HARLEQUIN DUCKS preening and resting on the rocks 150 yds north of the mouth of Virgin Creek. An earlier search at Glass Beach had produced nothing.
However - going off topic here for anyone who may be in the area for the next week or two - the ocean bluffs starting about 100 yds north of Glass beach and extending most of the way to Pudding Creek are carpeted with Baby Blue Eyes, Cream Cups and an unknown yellow daisy. The effect is spectacular and having spent much of the past week at coastal spots from Sonoma to northern Humboldt counties I can say that this stretch far and away has the best current coastal wildflower display viewed in the 3 counties.
Sat, 30 Mar 2002 -- Greetings Mendobirders: At 8 this am the BLACK-NECKED STILT pair were still at the USTP. I found them easily on the western edge of the north oxidation pond. The workers out there told me the birds are hopping around between that area, the square sludge pond ("bubbler") on your right as you pass the plant buildings, and the long, rectangular drying pond on your left just past the bubbler. Of local interest were lots of ducks on the eastern end of the south pond, including a female Blue-winged Teal. Common Yellowthroats have arrived en masse as have, unfortunately, the Brown-headed Cowbirds that plague the river there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 25 Mar 2002 -- Chuck Vaughn and I birded a number of places in the Ukiah area this morning. A number of migrants are returning. At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER among the varied waterfowl. This is probably the earliest local record for LBDO. It was totally in worn, basic plumage. At the south launch at Lake Mendocino there was a BONAPARTE'S GULL and a BARN SWALLOW, and a ROCK WREN was near marker 007 on Coyote Dam. Scoping across the lake we could see a pair of OSPREYS sitting on a nest on the platform north of Perry Creek Cove. I believe that this is the first time this platform has been used since it was put up some years ago. We drove up Low Gap Road and heard BLUE GROUSE booming near the second cattle guard. An AMERICAN DIPPER was singing by the nest under the bridge on Potter Valley Road. On the 23rd I saw a dipper carrying a mouthfull of stoneflies into the nest, but I couldn't tell if it was feeding nestlings, a mate, or itself. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 25 Mar 2002 -- From 7:30-8:15pm Vishnu heard at least 2 Barred Owls vociferously calling in Montgomery Woods . With a good amount of moonlight I hiked into the 2nd smaller KellieOwen(sp?) Grove . Almost as soon as I arrived there I heard 2 owls calling to each other from the direction I had just walked through. They sounded like they were probably in the 1st main grove or possibly somewhere in between. They were at a distance but very clear. 15 minutes later one of them (or possibly a third one) commenced calling the "who-cooks-for-you" call from only about 200 ft away. I had no tapes with me and all calling stopped by 8:15 although I lingered until 8:45.
Tue, 19 Mar 2002 -- I spent several hours at the lake this morning looking into every corner. The water level is fairly high at about 740 feet. In the last several weeks there has been a big decrease in the number of ducks. The scaups have dropped from several thousand to several hundred, the ruddies and Buffleheads are way down, and the goldeneyes are gone. At the same time there seems to have been an increase in the numbers of Western/Clark's Grebes, maybe a thousand today rafted up on the lake. I walked clear across Coyote Dam, which has been reopened to non-terrorist activities, and found a ROCK WREN singing at marker 012, another singing at marker 015, and a third at 025. A very stern, adult BALD EAGLE was sitting in a tree on the island near the dam.
Incubation seems to be in progress at the AMERICAN DIPPER nest on Potter Valley Road. On the 16th I saw a bird enter the nest and remain for a long time. Today I could see the white eyelids blinking on a dipper sitting deep in the domed-over nest. I keep mentioning this nest because dippers can be difficult to find in Mendocino County, and this is a pretty easy place to see them. They should be findable here in the near future, but you may have to be satisfied with blinking, white eyelids. To look for these birds, turn off of Route 20 onto Potter Valley Road. In about 0.2 miles you will see the old bridge on the left with a "Bridge Closed" sign. There is ample parking space. The nest can be seen from trails down to the bank on either side of the bridge. If you take the paved path on the left side and look up under the bridge, you can see directly into the nest opening with binoculars or scope. The nest is on a ledge of the second piling well out of sight of predators and with little danger of disturbance by fishermen or birders. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 18 Mar 2002 -- On the south Mendocino coast today Dorothy Tobkin reports exactly 4 immature MUTE SWANS and 2 male EURASIAN WIGEONS on the Garcia River flats. She also saw a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER on the walk into Davis Lake.
Sat, 16 Mar 2002 -- On Sat. 3/16 Vishnu saw exactly 4 Tundra Swans in the field that they frequent in the Garcia River bottom. This is down from the 20 that were seen there on 3/2 by the Peregrine Aud. group. At least 2 of the swans seen today exhibited pinkish bills suggesting immature although their feathering is pure white like their companions. Is this to be expected at this time of year?
The cold and wind seemed to keep most birds hunkered down today so I had minimal sightings. I did see a Northern Waterthrush however, walking along the edge of the Garcia. Thanks to Matthew Mattiessen for posting his waterthrush photo on the Peregrine web site. Had I not recently seen that picture and area notation I would have been clueless.
http://www.pacificsites.net/~chaniot/peregrine/photos.html
To find the N. Waterthush site follow Miner Hole Rd. almost to its end and park in the little lot just before the large puddle covering the road. A trail goes off on the north side of this lot. The first 15 ft is very wet but past that it is clear. In a few hundred ft the trail hits the river. The bird was observed walking along the gravel south shore of the river both to the east and west of where the trail hits. Al Batross was still in Pt. Arena Cove today. When I arrived a surfer had paddled over on his board and had his face within 2 ft. of the bird's and was smiling blissfully. The surfer, that is. Al looked totally indifferent.
Fri, 15 Mar 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS on the "midway rock" on the way out to Laguna Point, 1 female LONG-TAILED DUCK, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES and 8 BLACK SCOTERS off Ward Avenue in Cleone, 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Lake Cleone, and 2 more on the pond on Ocean Drive just south of the botanical gardens.
Wed, 27 Mar 2002 -- This afternoon at 3PM, I spotted a pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The vocal pair were foraging near a group of 6 to 8 CANADA GEESE in the north pond for a while, then flew off to the small pond at the entrance to the plant. I spoke to one of the crew who said he'd noticed the birds earlier in the day.
Other finds were SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, the raggedy YELLOWLEGS, and 20 or so NORTHERN SHOVELERS. -- Cheryl Heinecken
Sun, 10 Mar 2002 -- The wintering LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen at Point Arena Cove. -- Eric (Letold?) [from N.Calif.BirdBox ]
Mon, 18 Feb 2002 -- Toby and several other people have restudied the large immature swans among the Tundra Swans on the Garcia R. bottom land and have decided that they are immature Mute Swans. There appears to be three of them. Does anyone know where they may have come from?
Sun, 17 Feb 2002 -- This afternoon Dorothy Tobkin was looking at the swans in the Garcia R. bottoms from along Miner Hole Road. Among the Tundra Swans were two immatures distinctly larger than the adult Tundras. This raises the possibility that they might be immature Trumpeter Swans or Mute Swans, and she would like some other people to take a look at them and see what they think.
Sat, 16 Feb 2002 -- Spent today working my dow from Fort Bragg to Monterey. Highlights were 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS in Fort Bragg at MacKerricher State Park (Laguna Point) just north of Ft Bragg. Just South of Fort Bragg there were 4 GRAY JAYS at Van Damme State Park. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS continues at Pt. Arena Harbor, as does the EMPEROR GOOSE at Bodega Bay.
Other interesting birds were about 75 KITIWAKES just North of Ft Bragg feeding offshore, as well as many VARIED THRUSHES throughout the forests around Ft Bragg. -- Todd McGrath,Marina Del Rey, CA [from Calbird]
Sat, 16 Feb 2002 -- The pair of AMERICAN DIPPERS continues nest building activities under the old Potter Valley Road bridge. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 14 Feb 2002 -- The AMERICAN DIPPER was sitting on the rocks beneath the old Potter Valley Road bridge singing. No indication of further nest building. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 12 Feb 2002 -- At the end of Ward Ave. in McKerricher State Park there were 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and 6 BLACK SCOTERS. 13 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were on the rocks at Glass Beach. A ROCK SANDPIPER was at Laguna Point just after high tide. -- Florence Bennett [from N. Calif. Birdbox]
Tue, 12 Feb 2002 -- This morning I did a run on Pine Avenue, Potter Valley and saw a PRAIRIE FALCON on lower Pine Avenue. After flying over, it landed in the large oak on the open knoll to the north. Several weeks ago I saw one sitting in the same tree. Several days ago I had another sighting looking north from Burris Lane. There was also a distant FERRUGINOUS HAWK south of the emus, and on upper Pine Avenue, a MERLIN eating a junco. At the pond on Burris Lane, there were two GOLDEN EAGLES up close and personal. Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, a Sharp-shined Hawk, and an American Kestrel made it a pretty good raptor day. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 11 Feb 2002 -- Today at about 3:30, I watched "two Dippers dipping" (no Partridge) at the location of their (?) first nest of last year on the old Potter Valley bridge. This is on the north or upstream side of the bridge on the west column with a great viewing site by the little gulch on the east bank. They were working on the same ledge where they had a complete nest with two or three young last year before it blew, or was knocked, off. A subsequent nest was located further under and higher on the same column and resulted (we think) in a second family. Yesterday they alternated bringing mossy material to the ledge, but hadn't made much of a structure yet; they greet one another with a series of dips. At each dip, a white eyelid or membrane covers their eyes.
The water is still so murky, it is hard to believe they are feeding on the aquatic insects they rely on later. Check 'em out. -- Jim Armstrong
Sat, 09 Feb 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and 6 BLACK SCOTERS in the surf north of Ward Avenue in Cleone. There was also one ROCK SANDPIPER at Laguna Point at a not particularly high tide. [see below]
8-9 Feb 2002 -- See Trip Report by Stuart Healy 8-9 Feb 2002
Fri, 08 Feb 2002 -- While scoping out to sea from a pullout near Juan Creek north of Westport, Dorothy Tobkin saw numbers of BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKES.
Tue, 05 Feb 2000 -- Today one GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen between Ukiah and Hopland along the Hwy. 101. This bird has been there for at least two weeks and hangs out with a large group of Mallards that feed in a wet pasture. The pasture is located on Crowfoot's property.... look for a white fence and stylish "Crowfoot" sign on the east side of Hwy. 101... about 1/2 mile north of Jepson Winery. There is a paved side-road that you can turn onto to view the birds. A group of Canada Geese (B.c.moffitti) frequent the area also. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 03 Feb 2002 -- Decided to get an early start on my Superbowl celebrations this morning (Sun Feb 3) by doing some owling up Low Gap Rd. It was rather foggy but still ended up being a productive morning. Best bird was a LONG-EARED OWL at 1.5 miles above Pine Ridge Rd (all mileages will be from Pine Ridge Rd). Unfortunately the bird only called three times. Surprisingly, the first owl of the morning was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL I coaxed into responding to my whistles (1.0 mile). As is often the case with saw-whets, it took a while to get started, but once warmed up there was no stopping it. I think it was still calling as I drove away. Had my first WESTERN SCREETCH-OWL at 1.5 miles (with the LEOW). At 1.7 miles I had another NSWO and WESO). At 2.5 miles I heard my one and only NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. The morning was capped off with a PILEATED WOODPECKER calling just below the gap shortly after dawn (not an owl but we'll still count it). -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 30 Jan 2002 -- At about 11 a.m. I saw one ROCK SANDPIPER with Surfbirds on the rocks north of Laguna Point. It was most clearly viewed from the top of the stairs between the 2nd and 3rd observation platforms from the end. At 10 a.m. I saw 6 male and 6 female HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the cove south of Glass Beach after a nice birder from Arcata showed me to look on the rocks near the water line. 3 trips to Van Damme produced no Gray Jays, but a ranger told me that one joined her for lunch on the 30th at one of the picnic tables opposite the visitor center. (which is not open) -- Karen Peterson. Berkeley
Thu, 31 Jan 2002 -- The HARRIS'S SPARROW at Geoff and Cheryl Heinecken's feeders, last reported on 24 Dec., reappeared early this morning. Geoff, Vishnu, and I saw it again between 9:30 and !0:00. The bird is in winter adult plumage. For a moment I had all four Zonotrichia species in my binoculars at once! The location is on Fern Canyon Way south of Talmage. Geoff andamp; Cheryl's phone number is 462-4289.
On the way home I checked out Lake Mendocino and saw two CANVASBACKS, a SNOWY EGRET, and a COMMON LOON from Pomo A, adding a little variety to the low diversity on the lake this winter. Another unusual thing at Lake Mendocino this winter is the great predominance of Greater Scaup over Lesser Scaup, about 98:2 Usually at this time of year the ratio is more like 20:80.
An AMERICAN DIPPER was also under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 30 Jan 2002 -- Vishnu viewed in very transparent air from the north end of the dam at Lake Mendocino Tuesday afternoon 5 male COMMON GOLDENEYE and an un-numbered flock of very handsome male and female COMMON MERGANSERS. An adult BALD EAGLE perched for awhile in a tree on the island/peninsular just east of the dam. Also a Corps Ranger reported that the dam would be opened to birders (and other pedestrians) as soon as they receive clearance from the United States Department of Defense in Washington, D.C.
Mon, 28 Jan 2002 -- Today on the way home from work at about 3:30 there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Pine Ave. just north of the mailboxes. It was perched the large oak tree behind the house adjacent to these mailboxes. There was also a Juve. Cooper's Hawk in the same tree. When I arived home there was a SLATE-COLORED JUNCO at my feeder. -- Justin Ward
Mon, 27 Jan 2002 -- Today I spent the morning birding from Fort Bragg to MacKerricher. Saw the usual suspects but nothing unexpected. At Laguna Point were three ROCK SANDPIPERS, one RED-NECKED GREBE, and one first year THAYER'S GULL. At the end of Ward Ave were 10-12 BLACK SCOTERS and another RED-NECKED GREBE. Finally, at Glass Beach were 18 HARLEQUIN DUCKS roosting on their favorite rock at the south end of the beach. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 25 Jan 2002 -- Emily Turula reports a probable SLATE-COLORED JUNCO coming to her feeder in her backyard. Emily is 90% sure that it is a slate-colored rather than a dull dark-eyed, and she is hoping that someone can take a look to verify this. It is best if you call ahead 462-0706 so that she can schedule appropriate (bird) feeding times. Her address is 825 North Oak Street, Ukiah. It is best to park on the street as there is limited turn-around room on the long, narrow driveway. The driveway leads to the east side of North Oak Street. At least one White-throated Sparrow is also present.
Sun, 20 Jan 2002 -- Last seen on 28 Jun, an AMERICAN DIPPER is back under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. There is also fresh dipstuff on the rocks just below the bridge and at the quarry site near milemarker 0.86. The nests under the old bridge where two broods were raised last spring are in decrepit state, but hopefully the dippers will nest there again this year. The bridge is on Potter Valley Road about 1/4 mile north of Route 20 just before the new bridge. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 20 Jan 2002 -- Pat and I observed the following birds today: LAYSAN ALBATROSS - Mendocino County at 9:00 A.M. in the northern part of Point Arena Cove about 50 yards from the end of the fishing pier. It's a small cove, if the albatross is there you'll see it and see it well. -- Dennis Braddy, San Ramon [from Calbirds]
Sun, 20 Jan 2002 -- This morning Gary and Judy Maddox and I had a RED-NECKED GREBE along the north shore of Lake Mendocino. The bird was just off shore from the Kyen Campground (between the north boat ramp and the Pomo A picnic area). When we first saw the bird it was feeding among some Mallards within five feet of shore. It eventally moved a little further out but was never further than 100 feet from shore. Also in the Kyen Campground was an adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. On the east side of the lake just south of the Mesa was an adult BALD EAGLE. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat ,19 Jan 2002 -- Yesterday Demian Ebert, Shiela Ryan and I went down to Sonoma County to look for the COMMON GRACKLE. We found it at about 830 in the Post Office parking lot directly N of the Safeway Parking lot in Guerneville. We decided to come back up the coast to Mendocino County. We stopped at Point Arena Cove and saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS right below the pier. At Glass Beach in Fort Bragg there were 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS loafing on a rock N of the main path to the beach. We saw 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS on the rocks at Laguna Point during a very mediocre high tide at 2:30. By then the wind was blowing so hard out of the WNW that it was nearly impossible to see through our scopes so we came home. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 12 Jan 2002 -- Toby Tobkin reports the following birds from Lake Mendocino on Sat, Jan 12, all seen from the N end of the lake: an adult WESTERN GULL off of Pomo A, a COMMON LOON on the Lake not far from the inlet, and 8 HOODED MERGANSERS (4f, 4m) just up the inlet from the lake.
Fri, 11 Jan 2002 -- This morning there was an adult male Tufted Duck in Clear Lake seen from mile marker 18.67 on Hwy. 20 just east of Lucerne. The duck has a moderately long and quite evident tuft about half the length of the back of the head. It was associated with a group of about 150 scaup that were just offshore. It is likely this is the same Tufted Duck that has spent a portion of the last two winters near this location. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 06 Jan 2002 -- In the last few days I've seen some interesting raptors in Potter Valley: On Jan.3 I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON hunting ground squirrels in the grasslands N of Burris Lane, and on Jan 4 there was an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK E of East Road near Mid-Mountain Road. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 31 Dec 2001 -- Made a trip to Round Valley today to try and find one last new bird for 2001. Nothing new, but birds of interest were four FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, one PRAIRIE FALCON, seven LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, and five TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS (in a mixed blackbird flock). On the way back through Willits I made a detour on the Reynolds Hwy and found an additional FERRUGINOUS HAWK. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 30 Dec 2001 -- We have been feeding a mature Red-tailed Hawk the last couple of days. He/she does not appear to be injured, but may be ill or simply malnourished. It stays mostly on the ground or low perches and is pretty mellow about being approached. This is the second hawk in the last few weeks in Potter Valley with this behavior, the other having died after a few days of care in captivity. We hope to keep this guy alive without the trauma of capture. Any ideas about caring for this bird or other instances of RTH's in this condition would be helpful. -- Jim Armstrong
Sun, 30 Dec 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports an immature GLAUCOUS GULL at Lake Cleone today - white with brown vermiculation. There was also a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. At Laguna Point at high tide there were four ROCK SANDPIPERS which were rousted by a Peregrine Falcon, and at Glass Beach south of the main walkway were 23 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
Wed, 26 Dec 2001 -- Brian Dick of Covelo reports that there are four assumed TUNDRA SWANS at the old LP Mill site on the north end of Round Valley. This may be the first report on file for swans in Round Valley.
Mon, 24 Dec 2001 -- A winter plumage HARRIS'S SPARROW was identified by Cheryl Heinecken at their feeder at Fern Canyon Drive/Fern Canyon Way south of Talmage. Geoff says the bird has been there for several days but was unsure of its identity until Cheryl saw it. This bird may hang around for awhile. Geoff and Cheryl's phone number is 462-4289.
Wed, 26 Dec 2001 -- The female (immature? adult?) BULLOCK'S ORIOLE that has been frequenting my feeders is still here. Generally, she shows up around 9:30 and stays til around 11 AM or so, though she has been here later in the afternoons than that. She's eating the peanuts and other nuts in my platform feeder which is attached to the apartment window. She also drinks water droplets from the tops of the other window feeders and has not yet utilized the oriole feeder I've hung on the window. -- Feather Forrestwalker -- see photos at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/
Mon, 17 Dec 2001 -- I just had the most amazing experience for me. . .at my window feeders, among the mixed flock of House Finches, Pine Siskins and Brewer's Blackbirds, was a lone, immature female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Is this strange for mid-December? And is it stranger to see her eat nuts and sunflower seeds? (All the nuts and sunflower seeds are previously hulled and crushed). She was also sipping water droplets off the tops of the plastic window feeders. I caught her on video and hope she comes back. If you are interested in coming by sometime to see if she is still here, drop me a line: feather@earthling.net, or call me, 964-7023, if I don't answer your e mail in a timely fashion. -- Feather Forestwalker
Mon, 08 Dec 2001 -- Today I drove up into the mountains north of Lake Pillsbury to see what birds were about and how high I could get the Accord before the snow stopped me. Started off by driving up Panther Ridge along Hull Creek. I had one TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in Lake County at 3,750'. I was able to drive on up to 3,850' before the snow stopped me. Since I was very close to the Mendo county line I decided to walk up the road. At 4,030' in Mendo county I had a second TOSO. I continued to walk further up the road but the snow began to get quite deep and after about a quarter mile I suddenly realized I had been following bear tracks in the snow. After discovering bear scat in the middle of the road (yes, bears do poop in the woods) I needed no further encouragement to turn around and head back to the car. On my way out I decided to try Boardman Ridge. I got a little higher here due to the south facing slope but still had to turn around at 4,200'. If you're interested, with 4WD one can easily get higher.
Fri, 07 Dec 2001 -- One and maybe two HORNED LARK(s) flushed from a dirt road at the 3000' level at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. This species is very rare in inland Mendocino County. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 04 Dec 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing the LAYSAN ALBATROSS back in Arena Cove near Point Arena. It was very close to the pier on the north side and in very sleek plumage. The locals indicated that it had been there for about ten days which would put it's arrival at about Nov 25.
She also saw 14 TUNDRA SWANS flying south near Hunters' Lagoon. Although the Garcia River bottoms are getting wet, there was not much in the way of waterfowl.
Sun, 02 Dec 2001 -- When God created scopes, he probably had a day like yesterday in mind. The wind at Laguna Point was blowing hard (my guess was at least 35 mph) out of the southwest and the waves were huge. During the three hours I spent scoping, a veritable cornucopia of pelagics put in appearances. SOOTY SHEARWATERS were present in large numbers. Everywhere I pointed the scope, sooties were swooping up above the horizon. Mixed in with the sooties was at least two SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS. Other tubenoses present were one BULLER'S SHEARWATER and two PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. There were several additional "white-bellied" shearwaters I was unable to ID but surprisingly, no fulmars.
On the larid front, I had one dark-morph POMARINE JAEGER and two light-morph PARASITIC JAEGER fly-bys. There were also four BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and one first winter THAYER'S GULL.
Alcids were particularly entertaining. Any alcid flying south had to work much harder than normal. The wings were a blur but the body didn't make much headway. As a result, I got leisurely looks at two ANCIENT MURRELETS as they worked their way south. Finally, there were two ROCK SANDPIPERS on the rocks just off the point. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 2 Dec 2001 -- Today there was RED-NECKED GREBE seen from Hiway 20 near Bruener Dr. Nearby at MM 21.32 there was a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. In High Valley (off of High Valley Rd, Clearlake Oaks) there was a PEREGRINE FALCON being harassed by a YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE. Also in the valley were a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, a SAY'S PHOEBE, and a large flock of CANADA GEESE . Soaring in the heavy winds over Austin Park in the city of Clearlake were a BALD EAGLE, another PEREGRINE FALCON and an adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. At Redbud Park in Clearlake there were 5 more GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, 2 THAYER'S GULLS, and an adult WESTERN GULL.
On Friday Nov. 30th Gary Lester found a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at Rodman Slough. On the same day Ed Pandolfino and Brian Williams had a YELLOW WARBLER at Austin Park and on Clear Lake saw a total of 3 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and 2 COMMON LOONS. -- Jerry White
Fri, 30 Nov 2001 -- Today I saw an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK at milepost 72 north of 10 Mile River and south of Westport. It was on a telephone pole near the Pacific Star Winery. -- Ron LeValley
Fri, 30 Nov 2001 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin saw 20 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. They have been fairly consistent recently on a large rock in the cove just south of the main trail. Follow a path along the chain-link fence south for about 300 feet for a good viewpoint. She also saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Bald Hill Road and three ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point at high tide.
Thu, 29 Nov 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin had five RED-NECKED GREBES and at least three BLACK SCOTERS off Ward Avenue in Cleone.
Thu, 29 Nov 2001 -- I spent several hours birding Lake Mendocino today. The
recent rains have brought the lake level up to 734', and most of the islands and muddy shorelines are again submerged. Thousands of scaups are back and are hanging out mostly along the east shore south of the Mesa. Of particular interest were four SNOW GEESE on the east shore south of Miti spit, an adult BALD EAGLE in the north end, and four CANVASBACKS and a male REDHEAD close to shore near Ky-En campground at the north end.
For those who haven't been to the lake recently, Coyote Dam has been closed to all public access since Sep. 11, and it is no longer possible to walk across the top of the dam. This greatly limits birders' viewing of the extreme south end of the lake where loons and goldeneyes sometimes hang out and of two of the most reliable Rock Wren sites in the county.
Back in Potter Valley, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW has been hanging out among the Golden-crowned Sparrows in my neighborhood since Nov 23. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 23 Nov 2001 -- Today Chuck Vaughn and I worked the coast with a few highlights. The most interesting bird of the day was a "Siberian" WHIMBREL seen by Chuck at Laguna Point. Also at Laguna Point were three BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and five ANCIENT MURRELETS. Scoping from the end of Ward Ave produced one ROCK SANDPIPER, two more WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and two MARBLED MURRELETS. Finally, there was one FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Bald Hill Rd. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 -- The HARRIS'S SPARROW was still present in my yard this morning. The feeders are located on the ocean side of my house and are best seen from inside. Call 707-937-4463 for directions,or e-mail me and I will send them to you. -- Charlene McAllister, 45601 Headlands Drive
Mon, 19 Nov 2001 -- At 4 p.m. today , a beautiful adult HARRIS'S SPARROW visited a feeder in Little River Headlands. It was in with a White-throated, a Golden Crowned and numerous White Crowns. -- Charlene McAllister and Ron LeValley
Wed, 14 Nov 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports two ROCK SANDPIPERS among Surfbirds and Black Turnstones at high tide at Laguna Point on the rocks just north of the point.
Thu, 15 Nov 2001 -- Thursday afternoon between 2:15 and 3:30 at the north shore of Lake Mendocino between Pomo A and the marina I observed an adult PEREGRINE FALCON calling loudly as it flew over the lake and repeatedly dive bombing a red tail cowering in the top of an oak. This behaviour lasted about 25 minutes whereupon the falcon rested awhile in the top of an oak. It then began again to fly back and forth over the lake and skimming over the shoreline. Interestingly, even though its flight took it right over several large flocks of ducks and grebes none of those birds seemed to take much notice. --Vishnu
Sun, 11 Nov 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports four HORNED LARKS along Bald Hill Road north of Fort Bragg. They were in the ciltivated field with low grown on the west side of the road opposite the piles of fly ash. There were also several hundred TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in mixed blackbird flocks in the same area.
Sat, 10 Nov 2001 -- The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW reported by Toby Tobkin yesterday at the Westport recycling center was still present today. I was able to get several brief but definitive looks at the bird this morning. Initially it was on the fenceline directly east of the building but moved to the brambles due north of the building. also at the recycling center was a BONAPARTE'S GULL on the pond.
At Virgin Creek Beach there was an adult basic plumaged PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER on one of the large rocks just off the beach. Also at Virgin Creek Beach was a RED-NECKED GREBE.
From Laguna Point I had all three scoter species (two female BLACK
SCOTERS and one male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER that was flying north) along with a skein of 25 BRANT. Also at Laguna Point were a RED-NECKED GREBE, three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and several hundred loons (all PACIFIC except for a handfull each of COMMON and RED-THROATED). Finally, at Ward Ave were two male BLACK SCOTERS. Good Birding Ya'll -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 09 Nov 2001 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin found a ROCK WREN near the Dehaven Day-Use Area ar Westport-Union Landing State Beach. From the day-use area walk north beyond the first camp area. The old highway has caved in , and there are posts with yellow tape. The wren was in the rocks nearby. She also found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the recycling center just north of Westport. She saw it briefly on the fence but was unable to relocate it when it flew.
Thu, 08 Nov 2001 -- This morning at about 9:00 there were two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS at Lake Mendocino. They were in the middle of the north end between the Mesa and Pomo B and not associating with other ducks. I saw them from the tip of the Mesa, but if they stay, they will probably be visable from Pomo B in afternoon light. This is the first time I recollect seeing this species inland. There were also several HORNED GREBES among the Eared, several Hooded Mergansers, and increasing numbers of scaup. I also saw a very bright _ruber_ Red-breasted Sapsucker in the walnut trees of the Little Bear Group Camp. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 04 Nov 2001 -- This morning I drove up to the Angelo Coast Range Reserve near Branscomb to see if I could find any goshawks. I hiked around for a couple hours with no luck and resigned myself to it being a no go for NOGO. Fortunately, just before I got back to my car, I heard a NORTHERN GOSHAWK calling up on the hillside. I ran out into the middle of a nearby meadow and could see the trees the bird was calling from but couldn't see the bird. Finally, after about ten minutes, the bird flew out, made a lazy circle over the meadow so that I could get a great look, and then returned to it's hidden spot in the trees. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 03 Nov 2001 -- This morning I found an adult BURROWING OWL at Virgin Creek Beach. Walk the Haul Rd till you come to the miniature white wooden lighthouse (maybe 0.1 mile north of the bridge over the creek) and then take the path due west till you reach the edge of the bluff. This is where I initially encountered the bird. I almost stepped on it as it cowered in the opening of a burrow. When I initially scared it, it flew about 100 ft further north and lit just beneath the edge of the bluff. The bird ranged between this spot and about 100 meters south (where the beach widens out and the bluff disappears). The bird always stayed near the edge of the bluff except for once perching on a rock out in the ocean (what a strange visual) and once landing on a fencepost along the Haul Rd. The burrow where I initially frightened the bird is deep enough that I couldn't see the end. Wonder if the bird has been around for awhile....
Also seen on the coast today were a bakers dozen HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW on Ten Mile Beach, and one ROCK SANDPIPER on the loafing rock at Laguna Point. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 02 Nov 2001 -- Today I spent about an hour and a half birding along the roads of Round Valley while Jan was doing some campaigning. I found several FERRUGINOUS HAWKS along Covelo Road near Fairbanks Road and Wattenburg Road. I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON along Barnes Lane and MERLINS at several locations (Dobie Lane and Covelo Road at Fairbanks Road). A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was among -crowned sparrows on Dobie near Fairbanks, and there were dozens of LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in the Valley Oaks trees along Dobie Lane and Fairbanks Road.
Up in Laytonville there was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the Valley Oaks trees N. of the high school football field. There were also lots of raptors in the Little Lake Valley N. of Willits, but I didn't have a chance to look at them. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 01 Nov 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin two ROCK SANDPIPERS today on the rock just N of Laguna Point at about 10:45 with high tide and high seas. There were also 3 RED-NECKED GREBES. At the mouth of Caspar Creek there were two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE which have been there several days, and on the rocks just south of Glass Beach were 13 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
Mon, 29 Oct 2001 -- Yesterday morning, Sun Oct 28, there was a PRAIRIE FALCON at the end of Burris Lane. It was on a rock on the hillside north of the vineyard on the north side of Burris Lane and could be seen from the parking area overlooking the pond. The bird was consuming a breakfast of what appeared to be ground-squirrel.
From Burris Lane I drove up Boardman Ridge to Hull Mtn then took M-61
back down. There were hundreds of Pine Siskins up on top but the only bird of interest was a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at Goat Rock. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 29 Oct 2001 -- I spent an hour scoping from Laguna Point. As Matt Williams mentioned in his post, the loons were streaming by. In one hour I had four COMMON LOONS, four RED-THROATED LOONS, and 2,600 PACIFIC LOONS. It was nigh impossible to scope and count loons as the the breaks between groups of loons were few in number and short in duration. If you took your eye off the loons to scope further out you were likely to lose your place in the line. Also at Laguna Point were six BONAPARTE'S GULLS, one RED-NECKED GREBE, and one RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. At Virgin Creek Beach were three HARLEQUIN DUCKS, three DUNLIN, and another RED-NECKED GREBE.
In response to Matt Williams' query about Sanderlings, they are often observed feeding on rocks near shore. Most commonly I have seen them on the flat rocks at Virgin Creek Beach but occasionally have seen them at Glass Beach as well. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 28 Oct 2001 -- On Friday we drove up to Fort Bragg from Davis in search of the Harlequin Ducks reported at Glass Beach. We didn't see any on either our Friday 5:00 PM visit or our Saturday 8:00 AM visit, but on Friday evening did see numerous BLACK TURNSTONES, 4 BLACK OYSTERCATHERS, a WHIMBREL and 16 SANDERLINGS gleaning the rock surfaces of the large rocks just off the beach. The SANDERLINGS were a surprise, both for their numbers and where (and how) they were feeding. Their behavior and location was so unusual that I redoubled my efforts to see if there was any alternative to SANDERLING, but their size relative to the BLACK TURNSTONES and light grey/white color left me with no alternatives. Has anyone else seen SANDERLINGS in similar habitat?
Saturday morning the SANDERLINGS and WHIMBREL were gone, the BLACK TURNSTONE flock had reached 50+ and 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS had arrived. The beach was alive with AMERICAN PIPITS, and despite some very active scanning none of them were Red-throated. Four species of Sparrows, FOX, SONG, WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED were present in significant numbers in the blackberry bushes and the grasses. A WHITE-TAILED KITE was either perched on the chain link fence or hovering over the fields in both our visits.
At both Glass Beach and Mendocino Headlands there were many hundreds of LOONS streaming southward. More at the Headlands than at Glass Beach. More Loons than we have ever seen in my life. All in all a great trip -- good for the soul. -- Matt Williams and Landon Scarlett
Sat, 27 Oct 2001 -- There were two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS on private property just north of the Van Damme beach. One individual was immature, the other adult. The adult was the first tan-striped form I've seen in the county. Neither bird has been seen since the 27th. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 25 Oct 2001 -- This morning I found a RED-NECKED GREBE seen from Library Park in Lakeport. While searching for the grebe in the afternoon; Dave and Brian Woodward and I found a Pacific Loon and also refound the Red-necked Grebe. In addition, the Western Gull, which has for several years wintered along the lakeshore in the vicinity of the park returned. -- Jerry White
Sat, 20 Oct 2001 -- A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW showed up at my feeder in Little River Headlands today. It's in with a flock of White Crowns (including at least one Gambel's) and a couple of Golden Crowns. -- Charlene McAllister, 707-937-4463, 45601 Headlands Drive, Little River
Mon, 14 Oct 2001 -- Today Mary Beth and Brian Woodward and I walked the 4 miles from the Summit Springs Trailhead to the Milk Ranch on Snow Mtn., a location that is rarely searched for birds in fall. We were all rewarded with some excellent Lake County birds. Highlights were 23 CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS (3 of those were seen in both Lake and Colusa Counties not far past the trailhead, the rest at the Milk Ranch Meadow). All of the nutcrackers that we saw were in flight. The first 2 flew over from the Colusa Co. side of the trail at about 7:45am just 150 yds. beyond the Summit Spr. Trailhead and were last seen flying upslope into Lake Co. The third approached from the same direction about 10 minutes later but eventually veered east and was last seen flying well into Colusa Co. Four miles later near noon at the Milk Ranch a flock of 19 nutcrackers flew over the meadow and a lone nutcracker was seen about 20 minutes later. All 20 nutcrackers observed at the Milk Ranch were last seen flying toward the North Ridge area of the mtn. Also at the Milk Ranch Meadow were at least 34 EVENING GROSBEAKS and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK. The large flock of Evening Grosbeaks that we saw at the Milk Ranch meadow were feeding and calling from the Red Firs that ring the meadow. Most of the flock moved several times giving us our best chance for an accurate count. During one move I counted 34 grosbeaks in flight and there were still several calling from the trees nearby. The grosbeaks were still present when we left the meadow after 1pm. Other species seen during the day included White-headed Woodpecker, Cassin's Finch, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Sisken, Winter Wren, Violet-green Swallow, Western Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, Band-tailed Pigeon, Fox Sparrow, Golden- crowned Sparrow, Am. Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk and an immature Golden Eagle. -- Dave Woodward
Sat, 13 Oct 2001 -- The two PALM WARLBERS reported by Toby on Thursday were still present this morning (Sat Oct 13) at Virgin Creek Beach. Both birds were near the house with the miniature wooden lighthouse in the yard. I initially found one bird in the southernmost cypress (next to the wooden lighthouse) but it quickly flew to the fenceline north of the house and was shortly joined by a second bird. After a few minutes the two birds flew out of sight around the east side of the house. Eventually they returned to the cypress trees near the wooden lighthouse. Also on the coast this morning were a dozen HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach and a RED-NECKED GREBE at Laguna Point. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 11 Oct 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports seeing a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on the Haul Road of MacKerricher State Park just north of the Virgin Creek bridge. A little further north she found a PALM WARBLER on the property with the miniature lighthouse. It was around the palms and in the cypress. At Hare Creek Beach there was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER.
Tue, 09 Oct 2001 -- There were 16 stunning HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.
Mon, 08 Oct 2001 -- Near 9:30am this morning I got excellent looks at a VESPER SPARROW at Anderson Marsh State Park. It was associated with a group of about 12 Savannah Sparrows along the fenceline at the southwest corner of the parking lot at the Ranch House. To get to the location turn into the parking lot from Hwy. 53 about 1 mile north of Hwy. 29 in Lower Lake. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 07 Oct 2001 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn, Matthew Matthiessen, and I made a trip to the Hull Mountain area mainly to look for the Clark's Nutcrackers reported recently. We crossed through the Hull Creek drainage on Forest Service Road 20N16 from High Rock on M6 to Monkey Rock on M1. None of us had ever birded this road before. The road was in good condition and easy to drive except for the last quarter mile near Monkey Rock which is definitely for high clearance four-wheel-drive. We did not find any nutcrackers but had an interesting day birding. Of particular interest were 5 WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS at different locations, many RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 5 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES, from 3850' to 6100', and 3 FOX SPARROWS, Slate-colored, not the local _brevicauda_ breeders. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 07 Oct 2001 -- Chris Slingsby and Rya Rubenthaller report seeing a BURROWING OWL in Potter Valley in the pastures east of the pond on Burris Lane. This was about 12:30. I tried to see it about an hour and a half later but was unable to refind it. There have been more recent reports of Burrowing owls in this vicinity, and in the lower pasture with the bulls west of the barn with the red roof, and in the grassy fields between Burris Lane and Pine Avenue.
Sat, 06 Oct 2001 -- Several groups of ALEUTIAN CANADA GEESE were seen flying along the coast. Almost all showed white neck rings in the afternoon light. A group of 70 flew south over Inglenook Fen followed by a group of about 350. Later a group of 70 was seen flying north at Laguna Point.
Mon, 01 Oct 2001 -- Ollie Kolkmann reports three successive flocks of about 150 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying over his home east of Willits at sundown today. They were on a ESE bearing toward Potter Valley. They're on the move!
Mon, 01 Oct 2001 -- Last night I went out about 10:30 to listen to some W. Screech-Owls in the yard and heard in addition the high-pitched, double yelping of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE winging south in the moonlight. This morning on my exercise run I saw flocks in the air at several locations around Potter Valley, at least 120. Jim Armstrong tells me that 73 went down on the pond on Burris Lane. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 30 Sep 2001 -- On Sat, during our big day, I found a pair of VESPER SPARROWS at the Ukiah Sewage Ponds. The birds were working the weeds along the north edge of the north pond but eventually flew into the weedy field north of the USTP (in the area of the tall silver windmill). Yesterday, Sun the 30th, I was able to relocate one of the birds. This time it was in the weeds on the south side of the south dry pond. Also present was a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 29 Sep 2001 -- On Saturday Chuck Vaughn, Matthew Matthiessen, and I participated in the PRBO Bird-o-thon representing Mendocino County. We were joined on the coast by Dorothy Tobkin and Jerry and Nikki White. This is the fifth year that we have done this event. We ended the day with 147 species, breaking the previous fall record by one.
The first bird of the day was a Barn Owl at 4:45 in the town of Hopland. We continued owling on the grounds of the Hopland Field Station, and by sunup we had five species. The fifth was a LONG-EARED OWL hooting on the top of the ridge at the poorwill hour just as the light was gathering in the east. This was probably the best bird of the day.
After we worked our way down from the ridge through the chaparral and oak woodland we went on to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant where Matthew spotted a pair of VESPER SPARROWS, as reported earlier - another very good species locally.
From there we went to the Joe Riley picnic area at Lake Mendocino and scoped the lake for waterfowl and shorebirds. Then on for a brief visit to Burris Lane in Potter Valley where we picked up a few species not seen elsewhere during the day, and then back to the inlet and the Mesa Day Use area at the lake.
Zipping to the coast through Boonville, we met up with the rest of the party at Navarro Beach and headed up the coast, hitting Caspar Creek, Brewery Gulch, Mendocino Headlands, Glass Beach, Bald Hill, Virgin Creek, Laguna Point, Lake Cleone, and Ward Avenue.
At Glass Beach we found a gorgeous pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS at close range. On Bald Hill Road there was an early FERRUGINOUS HAWK. At Laguna Point we had good scoping conditions and picked up POMARINE JAEGER, PARASITIC JAEGER (probably Long-tailed too) and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER from shore, among others. On the Lake Cleone boardwalk an unexpected LONG-BILLED CURLEW announced itself and flew over in clear view. The last birds of the day were some BLACK SCOTERS at Ward Avenue in Cleone as the sun sank into the sea.
It was a long, tiring, satisfying, and fun day, 3:15 AM to 10:30 PM for me. With every Big Day there are some Big Misses: Osprey, Say's Phoebe, Lewis's Woodpecker, Ruddy Duck, White-fronted Goose i.a. this year - all of which I've seen easily in the next day and a half. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 28 Sep 2001 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Today at noon I saw a TENNESSEE WARBLER at the sag ponds near the headquarters of the Hopland Research and Extension Center. If you are interested in chasing the bird, here are directions: Follow University Road up into the hills to the junction of the Poor Ranch road on your right. Park here and walk through the aluminum gate on your left (west). Follow the path along the fence that goes along the edge of the north pond until you reach the base of the hill. Bird in the trees that run north and south along the western edge of the 2 ponds. I saw the bird in the madrones and oaks between the 2 ponds. There are a number of loose groups of birds here, with Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Bushtits being most obvious. Mention that you have access permission from Chuck Vaughn and Bob Keiffer if anyone asks. Good luck. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 25 Sep 2001 -- Today I spent much of the morning scouting Lake Mendocino, and I peeked, at least telescopically, into every corner of the lake. The lake level is 729.7 feet, fairly high for this time of year, but there is a little muddy shoreline exposed in the inlet, the creek south of Bu-Shay campground, Barn Cove, and Perry Creek Cove, and islands are appearing near Coyote Dam. Of most interest was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER along the shore at Pomo A, and three FORSTERS TERNS ranging widely over the lake, mostly north of Miti spit. Back in Potter Valley there was a PRAIRIE FALCON sitting on a rock in the grassland north of Burris Lane, and after 23 years of waiting, I finally saw a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in my yard (yardbird#157). -- George Chaniot
Sat, 22 Sep 2001 -- Today there was an immature BLUE GROSBEAK in the riparian area between Navarro Bluff Road and the Navarro River. The bird was working along the meadow just to the east of the riparian woodland where (I assume) the Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found. The trail goes through the woodland then along the side of the meadow. The bird was in this area and calling for about 2 or 3 minutes. I birded the general area and this specific spot on and off for about another hour and did not refind the grosbeak. I left the location about 1pm. Also: earlier today there were two ELEGANT TERNS at the Gualala River. Yesterday there was an immature CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER at Chadbourne Gulch which is on hiway 1 south of Westport (MM 75.33). On Thursday there was 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH under the hiway 1 bridge at the Garcia River. -- Jerry White
Sat, 22 Sep 2001 -- Geoff, Vishnu, and I spotted a flock of seven winter Avocets flying over Lake Cleone this morning, a thrilling sight. The birds started toward the southeast, then turned back over the lake and disappeared down the south coast. -- Cheryl Heinecken
Fri, 21 Sep 2001 -- Still one PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the bubbler at the Ukiah sewage ponds this morning. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 21 Sep 2001 -- At about 5:45 this evening Matthew Matthiessen refound the immature BOBOLINK at the permanent pasture of the Hopland Field Station. It was in the short, green grass to the north of the vineyard and loosely assiciating with Red-winged Blackbirds. The pasture is near the first barn you come to along the entrance road.
Fri, 21 Sep 2001 -- Greetings Mendobirders: There was a BOBOLINK in the permanent pasture at HREC at noon today. I don't know how long it has been there, but in 1997 we had a pair of Bobolink there that were seen over a period of 3 days. Unfortunately, the bird is behind a locked gate. However, Bob Keiffer will unlock the gate into the pasture that is along University Road early each morning this weekend. If anyone asks questions, mention that Bob or I have given birders access permission. Any questions phone me at work (744-1424) or at home (462-8137). -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 17 Sep 2001 -- This morning I saw several LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at two locations in Potter Valley. Two were in the oaks near the pond on Burris Lane, and another was flying near the pullout by the "End of County Road" sign on Pine Avenue. These are among the few drive-up, public access locations in Mendocino County where one can nearly always be assured of seeing this species mid-Sep. to late April. Say's Phoebes were also present at both sites today. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 17 Sep 2001 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin reports a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and a Hermit Warbler near the end of Miner Hole Road. She also reports that one or two NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES continue at the HWY 1 bridge over the Garcia River as reported for the last two days.
Sun, 16 Sep 2001 -- This morning, before 8:00, Jerry White, Matthew Matthiessen, Chuck Vaughn, and I relocated the 2, maybe 3, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES near the green, Hwy 1 bridge over the Garcia River. We found one bird among some logs along the water directly under the bridge, and it later flew a short way upstream. The other one, or two, was found less than 100 meters downstream from the bridge. Some of the access to this site is through private property. Please be respectful. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 15 Sep 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a very definite PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. She also saw one of the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES just reported by Matthew Matthiessen just to the west of the green, Hwy 1 bridge over the Garcia River.
Sat, 15 Sep 2001 -- Today at 12:45 pm I had two (and possibly three) NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES at the Hwy 1 bridge over the Garcia River. I parked in the pullout on the southeast side of the bridge and walked north through the gate and down to the south bank of the river. I stopped there below the east side of the bridge and began pishing. Almost immediately a NOWA appeared out of the brush on the north bank. A couple more pishes and a second NOWA joined the first. I watched and photographed for a few minutes until they disappeared back into the brush. I then followed the south bank west for about 100 meters west of the bridge. At this point it became impossible to walk any further west without entering the river (there's also a pump on the north bank here making quite a bit of noise). One pish from this new location was all it took to turn up another NOWA (this one on the south bank). Whether this third NOWA was a different bird from the first two I don't know. The sightings were seperated by about three minutes and about 100 meters and were on opposite sides of the river. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Mon, 10 Sep 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw a bright, immature SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER at Hunters' Lagoon. It was seen from the viewpoint at the west end off of the lagoon. Scope recommended to see the far side. From Hwy 1 at milepost 19.64 turn onto Stoneboro Road. After about 1 mile turn north on Barnegat Road and drive about 0.5 mi. Park and look for the grassy trail that leads to an overlook.
Toby also saw an early SAY'S PHOEBE on Alder Creek Road and a PEREGRINE FALCON along Duxbury Road. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 10 Sep 2001 -- It was "Tyrannidae time" in the HREC permanent pasture on the Russian R valley floor today at noon: the season's first Say's Phoebe, single Willow and Dusky Flycatchers, a late Western Kingbird, and the ubiquitous Black Phoebes. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 10 Sep 2001 -- Yesterday morning (Sun the 9th) I had two AMERICAN REDSTARTS (one adult and one immature male) along Miner Hole Rd. The birds were within 100 meters west of the cattle guard. This is just a few feet from where I had two redstarts last weekend. However, the immature seen yesterday was a different individual from the immature seen last weekend (much more orange on yesterdays bird).
Also on Miner Hole Rd were two celata ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and one pale blue BUDGERIGAR (could this be a first county record?). Along the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Rd were three RUDDY TURNSTONES.
Hunters Lagoon produced one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and one LESSER YELLOWLEGS among the numerous peeps, dowitchers, and Greater Yellowlegs.
The mudflats at the west end of the lagoon are very good right now but you will need a scope.
The beach out to the Garcia Rivermouth had four BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. Of note was a flock of 20 probable LONG-BILLED CURLEWS flying east up the Garcia River. The birds were quite high and came from behind me and unfortunately I didn't get on them till they were past me. I watched them in the scope until they disappeared to the east. The bills were clearly curlew types and from the color and size they looked good for long-billed but I couldn't absolutely rule out Whimbrel. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 09 Sep 2001 -- Cheryl Heinecken and Vishnu birded the Kelsey creek outlet at Clear Lake State P ark today, 9/9/01, from approx. 11:30 -4pm. We were rewarded with good views of a green heron, at least 2 sora, a LEAST BITTERN (quick views), a common moorhen, a family of 10 wood ducks, pectoral sandpipers, western grebes swimming with young, a probable Virginia rail, a Caspian tern and several semi-palmated and one black-bellied plover. In the parking area were numerous foraging yellow warblers and a female common yellowthroat. A very enjoyable trip that included meeting Lake and Marin county birders. -- Vishnu
Fri, 07 Sep 2001 -- At about 10:00 Dorothy Tobkin found an immature or female LARK BUNTING near the gate fence at the Westport Recycling Center. It could seen from outside the fence.
This afternoon Chuck Vaughn and I walked the ocean beach from Stoneboro Road to the mouth of the Garcia River. We found at least 7 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS in the kelp flotsam along the beach. Other shorebirds along this stretch were Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Semipalmated Plovers, and Snowy Plovers. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 07 Sep 2001 -- Hi All, I headed directly to Kelsey Creek today after work without looking at my email. I had a very brief look at the juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER at about 7:30 PM while scoping the lake to the west. My attention was brought to the bird since a large number of shorebirds and blackbirds suddenly took flight all at once. I was expecting a Peregrine, not a jaeger, surprise, surprise. I also had a juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER that was squabbling with a WESA. I saw this bird in the scope and with binoculars from about 50 feet away. The back on this bird was rather plain brown and scaly. There was a strong head pattern consisting of a dark cap and a distinctive dark brown cheek. There was a single patch of light brown buff on the sides of the breast with clean white down the center of the breast. The peep numbers are as follows: 5 PECTORAL, 3 LEAST, and 35+ WESTERN. I only heard the LEAST BITTERN calling three times between 6PM-7PM. The blackbirds started moving heavily into the tules around 7:00 and the bittern became silent. A SORA came out around that time for a walk on a log. I had 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS that were moving back and forth from the upper drier mudflat and the shore edge. There were also 7 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS on the muddy shore. All and all, a very productive 1 3/4 hours. -- Doug Shaw, Santa Rosa, CA
Fri, 07 Sep 2001 -- Todd Easterla this morning while scanning Clear Lake from the Kelsey Creek outlet area found a juvenile LONG-TAILED JAEGER. This is the 3rd county record. -- Jerry White
Fri, 07 Sep 2001 -- This morning George Chaniot found a basic plumaged FORSTER'S TERN at Lake Mendocino. He initially located the bird off the west tip of the Mesa at 10:00. By the time I arrived the bird was south of the Mesa. Ultimately the bird landed on a small island just off the west tip of the long spit sticking out to the west well south of the Mesa. When I left at 11:00 the bird was still roosting on the island. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 07 Sep 2001 -- Today there was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (3rd county record) at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park seen by Margaret Barson, Jerry White, Brian Woodward and me. The bird was feeding at the edge of a row of willow sprouts just beyond the last tules on the west side of the flat. It was first seen near noon and still present near 5pm. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 05 Sep 2001 -- At 7:00 AM we began our trek to the offshore waters of Mendocino County on the aptly named Trek II. Less than a mile offshore, we got quick glimpses of a coupe of Blue Whales. They showed us a few blows, and then disappeared under the choppy seas. Soon afterward, Sooty and Buller's Shearwaters appeared, at first distant, but eventually flying by quite closely. A nice Gull flock had formed behind the boat, attracted by the trail of stale popcorn being thrown from the stern. Expert Pelagic leader (and author of the justly praised Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part I), quickly spotted a juvenile Mew Gull in the attending flock. Fresh Juvenile Mew Gulls are a beautiful tan-gray mix, and we usually encounter one or two in the late August to mid-September timeframe. Strangely, we generally do not record them again until late October.
After good views of the Mew Gull, we focused our attention back on tubenoses. As we progressed offshore, the numbers of Shearwaters began to increase, and we started seeing good numbers of Pink-footed Shearwaters. Some of the local Mendocino County birders were talking about their desire to see Flesh-footed Shearwater in the county. Shortly thereafter, Leader Lisa Hug and I screamed "FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER" in stereo from different ends of the boat. We had both gotten on the bird at exactly the same time, as the bird approached from the port side. Flesh-footed Shearwaters often come directly to the stern to check out the chum, and this bird stayed true to form. Our skipper stopped the boat, and all on board were able to get good views as the bird circled leisurely in the stern.
As we continued offshore, we began filling out the day's list. Red Phalarope, Northern Fulmar, Rhinoceros Auklet, and a few Jaegers put in appearances. Soon the first few Sabine's Gulls and Artic Terns were being spotted, and then the Long-tailed Jaegers kicked in. We had a conservative 93 Long-tailed jaegers over the course of the day, ranging in ages from juveniles to full adults complete with tail streamers. As many as 10 were in view at once, and one full-tailed adult made several close circles right off the stern. In the distance, flocks of Sabine's Gulls and Arctic Terns were being harassed by multiple Long-tailed Jaegers. At one point, a single Arctic Tern was chased down by three Long-tailed Jaegers. It looked like a battle scene from Top Gun, as the tern tried to every aerobatic maneuver to shake the pursuers.
At about 16 miles out of Fort Bragg, the wind was blowing harder, and the seas looked even less inviting, so we decided not to venture further offshore. Besides, the birds slowed down after about 12 miles, so we proceeded inshore to lay our first of three cod-liver oil slicks for the day.
The first slick brought us good looks at Arctic Terns, Sabine's Gulls, but no storm petrels, so we proceeded in shore. A half-mile or so from our slick, one of the participants showed-up all the leaders by spotting a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL in the stern. The bird did not hang around, and we used our second oil slick, in the hopes of enticing it back, but to no avail. There are only a handful of records for WILSON'S STORM-PETREL in Mendocino County, although that is probably due more to the paucity of trips then the actual rarity of the bird, nonetheless, the Mendocino listers on board were all pleased to add a county tick.
Two Ashy Storm-petrels were seen by a few as they flew by, and our third slick produced a brief view of a third. As we started to pull away from the slick, a South Polar Skua materialized right behind the boat, and hung in the air a few feet off the stern before making several passes around the boat, affording us excellent views. The Skua sealed the Jaeger Grand slam, all three species of jaeger, plus Skua! It was birdy the whole way to shore, and just a short distance outside the harbor, one of the participants spotted a breeding plumaged Tufted Puffin sitting on the water. A perfect cap to the day!
As the crew tied up the boat, the ever observant Peter Pyle spied an early Herring Gull on the nearby rocks. One last good bird.
I would like to thank Peter Pyle, Lisa Hug, and Luke Cole for co- leading what turned out to be an excellent day at sea. Information about future trips follows, as does a complete trip list. -- Todd McGrath
Tue, 04 Sep 2001 -- Greetings: At noon today there was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at the Hopland Research Center. Other new fall arrivals in this area were 2 Townsend's Warblers and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. -- Chuck
Wed, 05 Sep 2001 -- This afternoon (9/4) there were 2 SNOWY PLOVERS (1st county record) on the flat at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. Other recent arrivals were 2 Black-necked Stilts and 3 Pectoral Sandpipers. Continuing were 2 Marbled Godwits, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Common Tern and 1 Forster's Tern. On the way out near 4:30pm all of these species were still present and there was a MacGillivray's Warbler in the riparian just after leaving the flat. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 03 Sep 2001 -- The PECTORAL SANDPIPER that was at the Ukiah sewage ponds yesterday afternoon has been joined by a second individual. Both birds are on the bubbler (this is the only pond with mudflats). -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 02 Sep 2001 -- Late Sun. afternoon (9/2) at Rodman Slough I found 11 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS foraging with peeps and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs on the mudflat above the bridge. On Mon. afternoon at Kelsey Creek outlet I had at least three Pec. Sandpipers, one Common Tern, one Spotted Sandpiper, two Marbled Godwits, and several Semipalmated Plovers. The highlight for me (life bird) was two LEAST BITTERNS, an adult male and a paler bird that was an immature or female. Also spotted a couple of Yellow-headed Blackbirds in a large flock of blackbirds/starlings in late afternoon.Also in later afternoon/early evening, I had a very interesting "mixed flock" of blackbirds, starlings, a Common Moorhen, and a Sora foraging side by side. -- Kathy Robertson, Hayward, CA [from North Bay Birds]
Sun, 02 Sep 2001 -- At 3:00 I dropped by the sewage ponds for a quick look and found a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on the bubbler. The bubbler is the first pond on your right as you walk out to the three long ponds. The bird was in the east half of the pond and on the south bank. At times it was difficult to find the bird as it foraged through some vegetated areas but at other times it was out in the open and quite easy to see. Also at the ponds were a pair of juvenile WOOD DUCKS on the northern large pond. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 02 Sep 2001 -- This morning I worked the south coast of Mendocino County. The day started off well with a very cooperative BLUE GROUSE along Mountain View Rd. Along Minder Hole Rd were two AMERICAN REDSTARTS (an adult male and an adult female) along Miner Hole Rd. Also of note along Miner Hole Rd was a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. Along the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Rd was one PECTORAL SANDPIPER and two immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. Along the Garcia River and the end of Windy Hollow Rd were a pair of WOOD DUCKS and a CASSIN'S VIREO.
I concluded my coastal birding with a walk out to the mouth of the Garcia River. On the beach were a pair of BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS mixed in with the Sanderlings. At the river mouth was one ELEGANT TERN roosting with the gulls and three SNOWY PLOVERS (only one of which was banded - aqua on left leg, nothing on right). -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 01 Sep 2001 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Early this afternoon George Chaniot, Matthew Matthiesson, and I found a juvenile BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER on Ten Mile Beach at the northern end of McKerricher SP north of Fort Bragg. The bird was seen about 0.5 miles south of the main access to the beach from where the old Haul Road runs parallel to Ten Mile River. It was feeding on amphipods along the kelp rack which had washed up on the beach. It was very approachable and still there when we left. Of local interest were 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, also along Ten Mile beach, and 12 ELEGANT TERNS seen feeding near-shore off Laguna Point. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 31 Aug 2001 -- This afternoon there was a WHIMBREL at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park. This was the second at the outlet this month and the third county record overall. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 31 Aug 2001 -- Greetings Mendobirders: Those of you have birded at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant the last 3 weeks have noticed a big change: all the gates at the east end of the oxidation ponds which provided access to the Russian River have been locked. Thanks to some very diplomatic negotiations by Barbara Dolan of the Peregrine Audubon Chapter, the issue of access to the river has been resolved. Barbara has asked me to post this note of explanation on mendobirds, and to emphasize the importance of following the requested checking in procedures. Thanks!
There are new hours from 7:30AM to 3:30PM. The UWTP Staff are supportive of Birders having access. They ask that on arrival we each sign in , thus a sign-in board has been established. The sign-in board will be located inside the office building which is the building to your left (north) as you enter the parking area. The sign in list requires "a check" that you have left the premises. Jerry Gall wants to keep track of numbers of birders as 'a positive'. For access to the riparian edge, the operators will unlock the lock of one gate during their open hours. Please follow this process of access. Leave the gate closed. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 30 Aug 2001 -- This evening at Clear Lake State Park at the outlet there was a flock of about 15 COMMON TERNS. A LEAST BITTERN was also seen. MARBLED GODWIT and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were still present. -- Jerry White
Wed, 29 Aug 2001 -- This afternoon Dorothy Tobkin saw two golden plovers at Virgin Creek Beach. One was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and was among the Black-bellied Plovers that usually loaf on the beach near the creek mouth. This bird may have moved on. The other was a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER and was alone on the beach further to the north.
Some Mendobirders way not yet be aware that a COMMON GREENSHANK has been seen in McKinleyville, HUM, CA on Aug 27, 28, and 29. Contact the Eureka RBA (707) 442-5666 for further information. Or check the archives of nwcalbird at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwcalbird
Sun, 26 Aug 2001 -- This morning I found a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (2nd county record) along the Rodman Slough levee on Nice Lucerne Cutoff road. This location is about 3 tenths of a mile east of the Rodman Slough bridge. Or from the west it is about 1 mile from Hiway 29. Park in the obvious pullout at this location. The bird was about 150 yards up the levee trail on and around a small mudflat near where there are several fallen trees. I saw it well only one time but heard it calling on at least 2 other occasions. Birds of interest at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park were: Marbled Godwits, Semipalmated Plover, and Short-billed Dowitchers. -- Jerry White
Sat, 25 Aug 2001 -- I spent yesterday morning birding the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant ponds, and, as has been the case recently, the birding was not very good. There is water only in the sludge pond and in the north percolation pond, where the level is fairly high and the surface is entirely covered with duckweed. The other ponds are bone dry and overgrown with dock and smartweed. Furthermore, the chain-link fence along the east side had been rebuilt and the gates are locked, limiting access to the Russian River riparian. The most interesting birds were a lone, adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE which has been there about a month now, and several late-hatching, downy American Coots with their spiked orange hairdos.
Later in the day in Potter Valley, I saw 16 CASPIAN TERNS flying ESE in the direction of Clear Lake. This is a new species for the Potter Valley list, and I probably would not have noticed them if I had not been roofing. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 25 Aug 2001 -- The PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Caspar Creek (originally reported by Toby on Thursday) was still present this morning, Saturday the 25th. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 24 Aug 2001 -- This morning at the mudflats at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park there was a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (3rd county record) and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Other notable birds were a heard-only LEAST BITTERN, 4 MARBLED GODWITS, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. -- Jerry White
Wed, 22 Aug 2001 -- At the west end of Spring Ranch (VanDamme State Park, Little River), Wednesday at about 4 p.m., I spotted a probable FRANKLIN'S GULL flying along the water at the edges of the cliffs. -- Charlene McAllister
Thu, 23 Aug 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports the first PECTORAL SANDPIPER of the season at Caspar Creek beach today
Sat, 18 Aug 2001 -- Greetings Mendo birders: Here are the birds seen on the Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip out of Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. The obvious highlight was the DARK-RUMPED PETREL, our second county record. This bird was well seen by almost all on board. It was seen only 8 miles from shore and almost exactly a year from our first Dark-rumped Petrel, also observed on a Shearwater Journeys trip. There is another trip going out on Wednesday, September 5. You can contact Debra Shearwater at 831-637-8527 regarding available space.
Black-footed Albatross 34,
Northern Fulmar 6,
Dark-rumped Petrel 1,
Pink-footed Shearwater 37,
Buller's Shearwater 15,
Sooty Shearwater 21,
Ashy Storm-petrel 3,
Red Phalarope 2,
Phalarope Sp. 2,
Pomarine Jaeger 9,
Parasitic Jaeger 3,
Long-tailed Jaeger 3,
Jaeger Sp 2,
Sabine's Gull 7,
Common Tern 5,
Common Murre 50,
Pigeon Guillemot 18,
Cassin's Auklet 5,
Rhinocersous Auklet 19,
The usual gulls and cormorants.
Non-bird Highlights included
20 Pacific white-sided dolphins,
1 Northern Fur Seal -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 18 Aug 2001 -- I'd never done a Ft. Bragg pelagic so this seemed like a chance for some county birds. It was a rough trip in Beaufort 5-6 conditions much of the day but I did manage to see the basic Mendo pelagics: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, N. FULMAR, DARK-RUMPED PETREL, SOOTY, PINK-FOOTED and BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, SABINE'S GULL. Missed several others (i.e., Ashy Storm-Petrel, Cassin's Auklet) as it was too rough to move around much. [Hey, wait a minute... could you go back a couple birds? DR PETREL? As in DARK-RUMPED PETREL? Well, yes actually. I drew a sketch and wrote field notes directly on returning to shore and before checking any literature. These are now on line at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAlistDRPE.html . But do recognize that we all suffered for this bird. It was a miserable trip -- a miserable and sick trip for some -- and we were cold and wet. You wouldn't have wanted to be there. And yes, it was a new state bird for me. Thanks for asking.] In the meantime Rita had enjoyed a nice sunny day ashore and tallied some 21 county tics including some summering HARLEQUIN DUCKS. She took me back to the spot -- north side of the Virgin Creek mouth -- the next morning. But today the fog was rolling in, reducing visibility rapidly, and I felt lucky to see two female-type HARLEQUIN DUCKS diving in the surf (we heard there were 8 summering here) plus the basic shorebirds like WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRD, BLACK TURNSTONE, SEMIPALMATED and SNOWY PLOVERS, and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. -- Don Roberson
Fri, 17 Aug 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at Ten Mile Beach north of Fort Bragg. Also nearby were about 20 SNOWY PLOVERS.
Mon, 13 Aug 2001 -- Aug 13 there was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER along the edge of the sag ponds at the Hopland Field Station. Also in the area were several Wilson's Warblers and the year's first Savannah Sparrows. Passerines are obviously moving- keep your eyes opened! -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 14 Aug 2001 -- Last Wednesday (8 Aug) we banded a female, hatch-year MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at our Navarro River banding station. The station is located just west of the Hwy 1 bridge, about a third of the way down the Navarro Beach road. -- Tina Fabula
Sun, 12 Aug 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin found an immature AMERICAN REDSTART along the Navarro River on the north side of the road about halfway between Hwy 1 and the beach. She also saw PURPLE MARTINS in the area and a MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER just west of Caspar Cemetery. On the rocks off Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg there are still 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.
Sun, 12 Aug 2001 -- This morning at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park, Steve Glover found a RUDDY TURNSTONE (1st county record; also seen by J. White, Dave and Brian Woodward), a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Still present were a MARBLED GODWIT and a LEAST BITTERN (call only). Jerry White
Thu, 9 Aug 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a RED KNOT in partial breeding plumage at Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg. She also saw the first Marbled Godwit of the season.
Sun, 5 Aug 2001 -- This evening (8/5) there was a WHIMBREL (2nd county record) at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park seen by Brian Woodward, Jerry White and me. LEAST BITTERNS continue to be heard at this location although recently they have stayed out of sight in the tules. Also present in the past few days have been a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. -- Dave Woodward
thu, 2 Aug 2001 -- Today I checked the Ukiah Sewage Ponds. Shorebird habitat is poor this fall; I saw 1 Least Sandpiper. I suspect the management of the sewage ponds could be changed slightly to provide valuable stop-over shorebird habitat each fall. The only noteworthy observation I had was of an adult VIRGINIA RAILS with two jet black downy young (there may have been more that I did not see) in the first very first pond you pass on the right on your way to the 3 large ponds. -- John E. Hunter
Mon, 30 Jul 2001 -- Made a quick trip to the north coast yesterday (Sunday, July 29) to see the surfsquaw that's been at Ward Ave for the past few days. It was still there in the large raft of Surf Scoters. It's easy to see why this bird was initially identified as a Long-tailed Duck. The head is eerily similar to LTDU but it's definitely a SURF SCOTER. The body is that of a normal SUSC but the head is entirely white except for a dark patch at the base of the bill and extending behind and below the eye. If you're into albinistic or leucistic birds, this individual is definitely worth a look.
Other birds of interest were a MARBLED GODWIT at Ward Ave and another at Ten Mile River. Also at Ten Mile River was a DUNLIN. Two WANDERING TATTLERS were at Laguna Point. And at Virgin Creek Beach were a pair of RUDDY TURNSTONES and six HARLEQUIN DUCKS. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 28 Jul 2001 -- At the Kelsey Creek outlet this evening there was a WILLET. Also a LEAST BITTERN was heard calling. On Thursday at the same location there was a breeding plumaged BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. -- Jerry White
Fri, 27 July 2001 -- Toby took another look at the "Long-tailed Duck" reported yesterday off Ward Avenue and has second thoughts about the ID. She now thinks it is an albino or aberant "somthing else", perhaps a scoter. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thu, 26 July 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a LONG-TAILED DUCK off of Ward Avenue in Cleone. It was in with a flock of Surf Scoters and diving synchronously with them. She also saw a flock of 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS in eclipse plumage on the rocks off Virgin Creek Beach.
Sun, 22 Jul 2001 -- Yestrday (7/22) I went to the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park where Jerry White had found a Least Bittern on 7/20. At 5:20p two LEAST BITTERNS were seen clambering along the edge of the tules on the small island that is straight out (NE) from the flat. I was unable to age or sex one of them but the other was an adult male that stayed in view for several minutes before it took several short flights to other locations with tules around the edges of the flat. A few minutes later a juvenile clambered to the edge of the tules on the south side of the flat (well away from where I had seen the first two) and stayed in view for several minutes before it also made some short flights around the edges of the flat. At 6:20p presumably the same juvenile was seen for more than 10 minutes as it stayed relatively motionless while holding onto a tule with one foot. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 20 Jul 2001 -- This evening at about 5:30 PM I found a LEAST BITTERN at the Kelsey Creek outlet in Clear Lake State Park. Go to the north end of the boat launching parking area and look for the one Monterey Pine. Behind this tree is a fairly well worn path that will take you through the thick riparian forest and out through some tules to the "forming" mudflats. You will need wading boots at this point. The bird flew into the tules that are along the south side of this area and then across and to the tule patch that is on the north side. Shortly after the bird flew to the lake and disappeared around another patch of tules. This is only the 3rd documented record for the county and the 1st since 08-02-1988. -- Jerry White
Sat, 14 Jul 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin (Toby) reports seeing an immature male AMERICAN REDSTART towards the end of Miner Hole Road north of Point Arena.
Tue, 10 Jul 2001 -- This message is being passed on from Pablo Herrera(PAH) and Elias Elias(E?E) who were conducting sea fairing transects off of the Mendocino coast yesterday (7/10/01) They report 2 HORNED PUFFINS, one of which was in full alternate plumage, The first was ~3KM off of Elk Creek North of Mendocino (N39 .08405 W123 .73704). The second bird was seen ~3km off shore of the town of Mendocino (N39 .29061 W123 .83813).
Yesterday I (JFW) was in southern Mendocino east of Gualala and I saw an AMERICAN DIPPERS just North of Greenbridge on Gualala road. You can access this sight by driving over Greenbridge and then parking on the Left hand side then finding the trail down to the river (bring wellies) then head upstream ~50 meters. -- Justin Ward
Sun, 08 Jul 2001 -- Today (7/7) Brian Woodward and I followed the marked trail to the Milk Ranch, a wet meadow surrounded by coniferous forest, 4 mi. n. of the Summit Springs Trailhead on the s. side of Snow Mtn. We had heard the flight calls of RED CROSSBILLS there last weekend and returned hoping for a good look at them. At 10:30 this morning we saw eight crossbills in flight at the small meadow 150 yds. n. of the Milk Ranch sign. Six landed in a fir closeby giving us great views and one of them moved to within 15 ft. of Brian to get a drink from the stream. Also at the stream was an American Dipper. Near the main meadow today there was a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a very unusual summer record for this species in the county. Last weekend we heard a N. Saw-whet Owl w. of the meadow just after dark and on 7/1 we saw ca. 10 male Rufous Hummingbirds feeding at the s. end. Two Lincoln's Sparrows were seen each weekend at the meadow along with most of the other high mountain breeding birds common to the area. -- Dave Woodward
Mon, 02 Jul 2001 -- Greetings Mendo Birders, here are the highlights from my weekend birding trip up Etsel Ridge on Saturday and down Boardman Ridge on Sunday. On my way to Etsel Ridge Sat morning I stopped off at Dos Rios to walk the tracks. I parked in the railroad yard just north of the bridge and walked the train tracks further north. There is a tunnel about a quarter mile north of the rail yard and there was one CANYON WREN singing from the wooden beams at the southern entrance to this tunnel. There were two more CANYON WRENS about two hundred yards north of the bridge on the west side of the river (one was possibly the same bird that was at the southern end of the tunnel). In the same general area were a group of four ROCK WRENS and a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW. There was another RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW just upstream from the junction of Hwy 162 and the Dos Rios road. My first stop on Etsel Ridge was Grizzly Flat. There were quite a few NASHVILLE WARBLERS but only one HERMIT WARBLER present. Also seen were MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE and DUSKY FLYCATCHER. Driving along Etsel Ridge I saw only one TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE but quite a few CASSIN'S FINCHES. . At the woodpecker site between M1/M61 junction and Spruce Grove were three WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS and one RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (ruber). Spruce Grove yielded DUSKY and HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. There were also two RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS (daggetti), two HERMIT WARBLERS, one GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, and several CASSIN'S FINCHES and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. Saturday night I camped in Spruce Grove and had one very cooperative NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and one very uncooperative FLAMMULATED OWL. The saw-whet seemed to be particularly fond of my whistling ability and several times flew in to within 15 feet of where I was standing. The flam, on the other hand, remained in the distance except for once flying by my head and very briefly perching for a quick view.
Sunday morning as I descended Boardman Ridge I stopped at the spot where George Chaniot, Chuck Vaughn, and I heard Black-chinned Sparrows two weeks earlier. This time I heard only two BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS but one of them graced me with very good looks and a few photos. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Thu, 21 Jun 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw a TUFTED PUFFIN at the mouth of a burrow on Goat Island off the Mendocino Headlands at 07:15. She says that she has looked many times recently without seeing any, and early morning may be a favorable time to see one at the burrow.
Thu, 21 Jun 2001 -- Yesterday I did a search along Gibson Lane in Potter Valley where Matt Williams reported a Hooded Oriole last weekend. I found a first-summer male HOODED ORIOLE in some Eucalyptus trees at 9425 Gibson Lane between Hawn Creek Road and Powerhouse Road - the same place where I had seen and heard a suspicious oriole while I was jogging on June 11, and about 0.3 mi. from the vineyard where Matt saw one on 17 June. The bird was completely yellow underneath with a black throat, decurved bill, and long tail. He ranged to some poplar trees to the west and far into the pear orchard to the north. There were also Bullock's Orioles in the same Eucalyptus trees and several adults feeding dependent juveniles along this stretch of Gibson Lane. Today I went back but did not find a HOOR. The presence of a Hooded Oriole in this area over a period of a week in mid June suggests that there may be nesting nearby. All of the other Hooded Orioles that I have seen in Mendocino Co. have been associated with palm trees (Stewart St, Fort Bragg; Colonial Inn, Fort Bragg; Pomo Drive, Ukiah; East Road, Talmage). There are no palm trees nearby on Gibson Lane and only one small one that I know of in Potter Valley at the corner of Main Street and West Road about 1.5 mi away. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 19 Jun 2001 -- While doing some low-intensity birding this past weekend we were crossing Potter Valley from East to West and very briefly saw what to all appearances was a HOODED ORIOLE which took off from a fence wire and flew away down a vineyard row. Kris Carter's Mendocino County Guide lists HOODED ORIOLE as an Extremely Rare County Bird with some nesting records. Would a HOODED ORIOLEW sighting in Potter Valley be consistent with other Mendo Bids sightings? Earlier in the afternoon we saw two different broods of Mountain Quail in two minutes as we returned to Potter Valley from Lake Pillsbury on Eel River Road. Three adults and just under 20 chicks was quite a sight! -- Matt Williams
Sat, 16 June, 2001 -- This am, Ev Wadsworth and I observed an AMERICAN DIPPER on the Gualala River at the Hot Spot on the Sea Ranch. It paused for a few moments and then continued downstream (northward) -- E. Rae Hudspeth
Sat, 16 Jun 2001 -- Chuck Vaughn, Matthew Matthiessen, and I birded today along Forest Service road M1 in the higher parts of Lake and Mendocino Counties. We went up Boardman Ridge, to the summit of Hull Mountain, to Spruce Grove, to the summit of Bald Mountain, and back along the same route. We found most all of the montaine specialties, except Flammulated Owl. Of particular interest were a SAGE SPARROW at 5675' in Lake County, at least three singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS at the LAK/MEN line in the scrub oak and manzanita on the steep west-facing slope, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES singing strongly at several locations, CASSIN'S FINCHES at Windy Gap and Bald Mountain, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES feeding young at a nest, HAMMOND'S and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS at Spruce Grove, especially in the conifers on the far side of the corn-lily meadow at the spring, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS in an old logged area beyond Spruce Grove, many singing FOX SPARROWS, all of the _brevicauda_ type, an unexpected ROCK WREN on the summit of Bald Mountain, three PURPLE MARTINS near Red Rock, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, NASHVILLE and HERMIT WARBLERS. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 10 Jun 2001 -- This morning about 8:30 AM in Mendocino County I found a SAGE THRASHER (Mendo #350) on the walking path to Glass Beach. The bird landed on the chain link fence at about the point where a second trail veers off the main trail (Y intersection). It stayed briefly on the fence then flew north over the trail to the extensive willow patch; landed on the top and again stayed briefly and then disappeared. I searched for about 40 minutes more in the immediate and surrounding area with no success. Toby Tobkin tried again around 11:00 AM but could not locate the bird. I believe this is the 4th county record and possibly the 1st spring record. Take Elm Street west at the north end of Ft. Bragg to the parking area for Glass Beach. -- Jerry White
Wed, 06 Jun 2001 -- At about 11:00 this morning Dorothy Tobkin had a singing, 1st-year male AMERICAN REDSTART at Lake Cleone. It was about 1/2 mi from the parking lot past where the boardwalk crosses the stream.
Mon, 04 Jun 2001 -- Bob Keiffer, Mike Webster, and Becky Webster, traveled from Potter Valley to Lake Pillsbury to Boardman Ridge to Hull Mountain to Spruce Grove to Etsel Ridge to Black Butte and back via Covelo. Highlights included:One mature Bald Eagle flying down river (at eye level) at the Eel River Bridge. No Purple Martins were seen. One Nashville Warbler was observed along the Eel River/Pillsbury #240 road near South Ridge just before you get to Soda Creek resort. One large dark brown Black Bear stood still for about 30 seconds for a good look. Gravelly Valley had four Tule Elk close to the road...two of the three cow elk had radio collars. Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were here also. Boardman Ridge Road, on the Mendocino County side, produced singing Fox Sparrows and Green-tailed Towhees, Yellow-rumped Warblers (Audubon's), and Dusky Flycatchers. The only Hummingbird of the day was an Anna's feeding on Indian Paintbrush. Hull Mountain ...the loop road to the top of Hull was impassable due to a couple of remnant snow drifts. Mountain quail were calling and one was observed calling from a leaning live fir tree ....the calling male was about 15 feet off the ground and the female was in the thick brush below. A male Townsend's Solitaire was proclaiming his territory on the NE and East side of Hull Mountain by singing from tree tops and singing while doing long flights across the basin. Windy Gap produced the first of several White-headed Woodpeckers for the day. Another Dusky Flycatcher was heard here. Monkey Rock has a great Willow/meadow area on the SE side. "Pishing" produced another Dusky Flycatcher, Robins, 6 Orange-crowned Warblers, D.e.Juncos, and another White-headed Woodpecker. Another Townsend's Solitaire was along the route as were Western Bluebirds. Lazuli Buntings were singing in the scrubby Oregon White Oak. Spruce Grove held it's reputation of producing at least 2 Hammond's Flycatchers. Dusky Flycatchers were here also along with White-headed Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Cassin's Finches, Audubon's Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Mountain Quail, and Green-tailed Towhees. No Lincoln's Sparrows were seen yet in the normal nesting habitat of Corn lily/Meadow. No Northern Goshawks were seen or heard. We left Spruce Grove at 3:00 PM. Etsel Ridge was rather quick and unproductive. We stopped at a traditional hummingbird spot filled with scarlet larkspur but no birds were seen. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 03 Jun 2001 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin birded along Mountain House Road between Yorkville and Hopland and found RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS at several locations. She also saw an immature BALD EAGLE overhead in this region.
Fri, 01 Jun 2001 -- I'm very happy to report that our AMERICAN AVOCET couple that has been at the USTP since May 26 has decided to start a family! This morning, June 1, I dropped by the USTP to see if anything interesting was around. As soon as the north pond came into view I stopped and scanned the west end. Initially all I saw was a single avocet standing in the water among the foliage. But then I noticed the second bird sitting on a mound of dead plant matter. At this point a figurative light went on in my head. As soon as I started walking again the bird that was sitting down flew off to the east, circled back to where I was walking and started circling me, all the time calling loudly.
As I proceeded east along the north side of the pond the second bird took flight and began circling me as well. After walking about a quarter of the length of the pond I stopped and scanned the area where the sitting bird had been. I'm happy to report that the bird had been sitting on a nest containing three eggs.
The nest is about a hundred yards from the west end of the pond and about 30 feet south of the north shore. I photographed it as well as I could and then departed as the new parents were very upset. As I left I stopped at the southwest corner of the pond for a final look and observed as one of the birds crept back to the nest and began incubating again.
This appears to be Mendocino County's first nesting record for AMERICAN AVOCET. If anyone goes to see the nest, the easiest way to locate it is to stop at the southwest corner of the pond and scan the north shore until you locate the avocets. One of them most likely will be sitting on the nest. The incubating bird will probably leave the nest as soon as you walk closer than the southwest corner. Therefore I urge anyone who visits the nest to disturb the pair as little as possible. Please have a look at the nest and the leave quickly so that the birds can resume their parental duties. Feel free to scope from a distance the avocets are comfortable with.
One thing I did notice is that the water level in the north pond is higher than it was when I was there on Tuesday. For the most part, the mudflats that were exposed on Tuesday are now underwater. If the water rises much more this nest will most likely fail as the eggs are only a few inches above the water as it is.
Again, please use care when visiting this area and disturb the birds as little as possible (if at all). -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 29 May 2001 -- I just pulled in my driveway to see this: A Red-shouldered Hawk, sitting atop a pole, looking down and searching the ground, dozens of scared bird sounds coming from every direction. And this: Mourning Doves and House Finches flying at the RS Hawk, sort of attacking it, getting really close, but not making contact. It evenually flew off, and the other bird life returned to normal. Is this typical behavior of the hawk or the other birds? Just checked Sibley's. I'd say it was an adult, and probably the same one that I have seen for the past 2 years. Anyone know how large their territory is. -- Thanks, Patti
Tue, 29 May 2001 -- Geoff and Cheryl Heineken and Vishnu easily located the pair of AMERICAN AVOCETS on the north shore of the north USTP pond and observed and photographed them from 2:30 - 4:00pm today, Tuesday 5/29. No longer a bit shy the pair performed for us the act for which their beautiful breeding plumage was intended to inspire. The 7 white faced ibis seen earlier in the day by Matthew Mattiessen unfortunately did not re-appear. Umpteen tiny mallards continue to follow their mothers around in the far eastern part of this north pond. -- Vishnu
Tue, 29 May 2001 -- Took a break from work this morning at 0800 and ran over to the USTP to see if the avocets were still there. It only took a few seconds of scoping to find the two AMERICAN AVOCETS reported on the 26th (thanks Chuck). Also present were a flock of seven WHITE-FACED IBIS. Both species were on the north pond. The avocets were fairly cooperative so I attempted to photograph them. When I finished photographing the avocets, the ibis (ibises?) were gone. I never heard or saw them leave so I don't know which direction the flew. However the mudflats are fairly extensive so they might return. The avocets were still in place when I left at 0845. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 27 May 2001 -- While taking a rather long leisurely walk with a friend, I spotted a male DARK-EYED JUNCO sitting on the top of a pine in the Leisure Time RV Park off Highway 20 near Fort Bragg. As we descended the trails, down to a logging road, we spotted a pair of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, male and female, flitting around searching frantically for insects. Has anyone heard of Dark-eyed Juncoes nesting so close to the coast? I suspect that they were nesting since they were hunting insects together and were not eating them, but gathering them in their bills. . . -- Feather Forestwalker
Mon, 28 May 2001 -- Some friends (including Ollie Kolkmann, Stan Snyder, Dave and Ruth Wiebe, Myron Widmer, and Larry Siemens) and I spent Memorial Day weekend birding the Mendo coast. George Chaniot already posted a couple of our sightings. Some of our other highlights were a pair of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS at Navarro on Saturday the 26th (seen in the morning and afternoon). Also on Saturday we got good looks at the HOODED ORIOLE in Fort Bragg. Saturday night I drove up Albion Ridge Rd about three miles to the pygmy forest and heard three COMMON NIGHTHAWKS calling. Went back to the same place Sunday night and heard three nighthawks again and oberved one of them performing his display flight including hearing the booms clearly.
On Sunday the 27th we went to Lake Cleone where we saw a male and female RED CROSSBILL and a very late GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. While standing in the parking lot of Lake Cleone we oberved a flock of 50 WHITE-FACED IBIS flying south directly above the Haul Rd. At the Laguna Point parking area on the 27th we saw another group of nine HEERMANN'S GULLS and a RING-BILLED GULL. At Virgin Creek Beach on the 27th we saw a group of nine HARLEQUIN DUCKS resting on the rocks beside a pair of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a WHIMBREL.
On the morning of Monday the 28th we spent approximately 3.5 hours on a pelagic trip that never ventured further than 8 miles offshore. We didn't see anything exceptional but what follows is a list of the species seen with numbers in parentheses.
RED-THROATED LOON (3)
PACIFIC LOON (200)
COMMON LOON (1)
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (17)
NORTHERN FULMAR (1)
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (2)
SOOTY SHEARWATER (150)
HEERMANN'S GULL (1)
COMMON MURRE (100)
PIGEON GUILLEMOT (14)
CASSIN'S AUKLET (26)
RHINOCEROS AUKLET (3) -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 27 May 2001 -- About 12:15 Jan and I saw three LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. A male and two females were feeding with a group of five Lesser Goldfinches in the weeds along the road above the pond. The LAGOs seemed to prefer the yellow fiddlenecks which are just about bloomed out. Nice view from the car window. -- George Chaniot
Barbara Dolan saw several LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES in the same area in the afternoon.
Sun, 27 May 2001 -- The GRAY FLYCATCHER found by Jerry White yesterday on Summitt Springs Trail (about 1 mi. north of the trailhead) on the south side of Snow Mtn. was still present and seen multiple times between 9:00 and 10:00am this morning, mostly within 30 yards of the rock and limb marker he left at the site. The bird was very active and moved in and out of sight. See his earlier message for directions. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 27 May 2001 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin had three groups of WHITE-FACED IBISES flying in the vicinity of Ten Mile River estuary. Flocks of 11, 30, and 20 were variously flying W, N, and E. She also saw a COMMON NIGHTHAWK in the dunes, and, in the late department, a Greater Yellowlegs, a Dunlin among the Sanderlings, a pair of N. Shovellers, and a Brant.
Sun, 27 May 2001 -- Barabara Dolan reports seeing the two AMERICAN AVOCETS at the Ukiah Sewage Ponds again today.
Sat, 26 May 2001 -- The AMERICAN AVOCETS that Chuck Vaughn found this morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant were still there at 10:30 in the same place on the north pond.
Matthew Matthiessen reports from the coast today a TUFTED PUFFIN in the water at the Mendocino headlands and several groups of early HEERMANN'S GULLS, 6 at Ward Avenue and 5 at Virgin Creek Beach. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 26 May 2001 -- Greetings Mendo and Lake birders- This am at about 8:15 I watched a pair (m,f) of AMERICAN AVOCETS land on the N pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. The birds were on the W side of the pond where there is lots of exposed mud, and were conspicuous even among the large clumps of sedge and amaranth. Although the birds were initially quite flighty, and made even more nervous by the pair of nesting Red-shouldered Hawks out there, they were feeding and preening when I left at 8:45. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 26 May 2001 -- I just spoke with Dave Woodward who is at Summit Springs. Last night he also had a FLAMMULATED OWL -on the north side of Snow Mountain. He will be trying for the Gray Flycatcher tomorrow morning. - Jerry White
Sat, 26 May 2001 -- On Friday there was a fly-by NORTHERN GOSHAWK at Summit Springs (the trailhead to the wilderness on the south side of Snow). On Friday night at about 10:30 there was a calling FLAMMULATED OWL on road M10 about .9 miles from the intersection of M10 and the road to Summit Springs. There was a sign at this location: Bear Creek Upper Lake (on M10) and Blue Slides (a road off of M10). This is only the 3rd record that I am aware of for Lake. However I believe intensive owl surveys would turn this species up more often. During the night on Friday at Summit Springs there was a calling COMMON POORWILL. Today on a walk into the wilderness there were calling HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS in the Red Fir forest near Cedar Camp. Other species of note during a walk along part of the Milk Ranch trail were: WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, and CASSIN'S FINCH. On the walk out I found a GRAY FLYCATCHER. This is the second record for the county. This bird was maybe 1 mile up the trail from the trailhead. There were 3 fir trees right along the trail (the first ones you would encounter on this montane chaparral hillside). I put a marker of stones and limbs at this location pointing in the direction where I found the bird. What is interesting is that the first record for the county (several years ago) was on Goat Mt. which is to the south and visible from Snow Mt. That bird was also recorded at the end of May. -- Jerry White
Fri, 25 May 2001 -- At 9:35pm a FLAMMULATED OWL was heard calling on Rd. M-3, 0.15 mi. west of the spur road to West Crockett Trailhead on the north side of Snow Mtn. There is a large drainpipe on the south side of the road at this location. The owl was in the flat that is elevated slightly above the road to the south. -- Dave Woodward
Fri, 25 May 2001 -- Dave Woodward refound one of the BLACK TERNS on the lake out from Rodman Slough. See the previous message for details on location. He said the best viewing site was from the west end of the bridge. Also the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen again at Library Park in Lakeport yesterday evening.
Thu, 24 May 2001 -- This morning in Lake County I found a very vocal adult male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. The bird was in Library Park in Lakeport and was first seen about 10:30 am. I last saw the bird at about 3:30 PM. I again searched for the bird between 5 and 6 PM with no success. It basically moved from the willow tree along the shoreline south of TNT restaurant through the main part of the park behind the "library" building. This is the third record for the county but the first time local birders have seen one here. -- Jerry White (#280) note: the Black Terns found on Sunday put the Lake County list at 297.
Mon, 21 May 2001 -- On Monday, I, too, saw the WHITE-FACED IBIS in the Ten Mile Estuary. It was among a group of waders that contained Great and Snowy Egrets, what may have been a Cattle Egret, a possible Common Moorhen and a Green Heron. The Ibis was disturbed by something on the north side of the estuary when it flew to the south side. As it flew I was able to see the coloration as well as the long, down-curved beak and whitish patch around the eye. It was a life bird for me! -- Feather Forestwalker
Thu, 24 May 2001 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin saw a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. It appeared to arrive from over the ocean, landed in the cypress tree to the north, and was last seen in the willow thicket.
Wed, 23 May 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports that the WHITE-FACED IBIS is still at estuary of Ten Mile River. It has moved farther east to a mudbar in the middle of the river. Also present are a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, and some late, female GREATER SCAUP.
Mon, 21 May 2001 --This morning at 7:15 I observed a male and female LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH at the Hopland Research Center. The birds were at the Vasser East corner. I initially saw the male sitting on the small wooden box beside the metal gate. After a couple minutes he dropped down into the dirt below the box and began to forage. I couldn't determine if there were seeds or salt in the dirt or whether he was ingesting grit. He stayed there for a few minutes and then flew up to the fenceline where he was joined by the female. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 20 May 2001 -- A tour around Lake Cleone turned up a PILEATED WOODPECKER and 2 PURPLE MARTINS this past Sunday. Both species were seen on the north side of the lake in the area w/ the dead trees. -- David Armstrong
Sun, 20 May 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a WHITE-FACED IBIS and an AMERICAN AVOCET in the marsh on the north side of the Ten Mile River estuary. They could be seen from near the bridge or from above the marsh along the Camp#1 Road. While she was watching, 50 WHITE-FACED IBISES flew south along the coast. Yesterday she had a report of 5 BLACK-NECKED STILTS in the same location.
Sun, 20 May 2001 -- In Lake County I found 2 BLACK TERNS (the first record for Lake) on Clear Lake off of Rodman Slough. From highway 29 north of Lakeport take the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road to the parking area just prior to the bridge (south side). Walk towards the Lake until you can get a view of the numerous buoys out on the lake (two are near a tule island). Amongst the many Forster's Terns look for the Black Terns on a buoy or in flight in the area. The birds were still present at about 3:00 PM when I left.
About .5 mile past the bridge going towards hiway 20 look for the pond on the west side of the road (many sightings from this location have been reported). There were 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES there today. Recently there have been White-faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilts, Dunlin, and a Solitary Sandpiper seen here.
Earlier in the day at the northeast end of Lake Pillsbury (in northern Lake County) there were 2 WHITE-FACED IBIS (a first for this location) and 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. On Hull Mountain there was 1 DUSKY FLYCATCHER and several FOX SPARROWS. Gathering together before they make there break across the border into Mendocino County were 4 GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES. -- Jerry White
Sat, 19 May 2001 -- Today, after completing a Breeding Bird Survey on Covelo Road, Chuck Vaughn and I continued up Mexico Ridge and Etsel Ridge to the high country of Mendocino Co. This is the first time that we have birded this region this early in the spring. (Has anyone out there ever birded this area before May 19?) The roads M1 and M61 were in good shape and recently graded(Low-clearance vehicles OK). On M1 south of Bald Mountain we encountered increasing snow.(High clearance 4WD advised). Probably we could have continued as far as Windy Gap, but we turned back at Spruce Grove and exited via M61 by Calamese Rock and the State Game Refuge in Glenn and Lake Counties.
We found about 8 DUSKY FLYCATCHERS at 8 locations from Grizzly Flat to the Glenn Co. line. We saw at least one HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER at Spruce Grove. FOX SPARROWS were singing in many locations, and all seemed to be the type we tenatively call _brevicauda_ (gray head and back, large bill, horn-colored upper and lower mandibles, dark lores, sparse breast spotting with central spot). Most of the high montane species seemed to be in place at this date except Green-tailed Towhee, Hermit Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow. We were unable to find these birds in areas where we know they can be found in June and July. Green-tailed Towhee seems to arrive very late, and from what staging areas? They are almost never seen at lower elevations. Lincoln's Sparrows are a bit of a puzzle, since they are already several weeks departed from lower elevations where they are fairly common in winter.
Exiting the high country via Lake Pilsbury and the logging road , we found the logging road on the south side of the Eel River to be recently graded and very fast. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was easy to find west of Bucknell Creek, but there were no Purple Martins at the Pioneer Bridge.
In Potter Valley we stopped on Eel River Road at the site where White-faced Ibises have been seen recently and were unable to find them. We talked to the owner, who is now aware of them (and our interest), and he says they were around on May 17 and May 18, but not today. The pastures were flooded on May 17 and 18, but not today. After we left that area, we found a flock of 23 WHITE-FACED IBISES in the air near the intersection of East Road and Mid Mountain Road (5:15 PM). They circled up in a thermal, then glided out to the WNW and then to the north. When we lost sight of them, they had spread out into a line and were heading north at high altitude.
So, this is Day 3 of the "Ibis Event" in Potter Valley. They seem to be attracted to flooded hay fields, but 80 birds can disappear into two-foot high grass very easily. They are most easily spotted when they are in the air: So, Eyes Up! All observations so far are between 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 18 May 2001 15:50 -- I just saw a flock of about 80 WHITE-FACED IBISES land in the pasture where Matthew and I saw 10 yesterday: on Eel River Road in Potter Valley about 1/2 mi N of Hopper's Corner, the pasture with horses on the west side of the road before the "English Lessons" sign, English riding, that is. The flock landed behind the second fence at some distance. They were not found there around 8 this morning. So far all the sightings are after 10:30 am. Maybe they commute from somewhere. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 17 May 2001 -- There were 67 WHITE-FACED IBISES at the pond east of the Rodman bridge this morning along with 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. I drove by again near noon and the ibises were still there. -- Dave Woodward
Thu, 17 May 2001 -- At about 10:30 today I spotted 45 WHITE-FACED IBISES flying over Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. They circled up in a thermal, headed off to the north , and appeared to go down toward some vineyard ponds on private property. I was unable to relocate them on the ground or in the air.
This evening Matthew Matthiessen came out to Potter Valley, and we drove around the valley looking for ibises. We found a group of ten in a pasture along Eel River Road about 1/2 mi north of Hopper's Corner. The pasture is on the west side of Eel River Road near the "English Lessons" sign (the house that the Steiners used to live in), and it is being flood-irrigated. Warning: there is no shoulder and no easy place to park. By the time that we had found a place to pull off, the birds took off, circled, and headed south, but this wet field may remain inviting to ibises for several days. This evening we hit the right two-minute interval. We checked Mid Mountain Road, Pine Avenue, East Road, West Road, and Burris Lane with no luck. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 14 May 2001 -- Yesterday, May 13, we saw 2 breeding plumaged WHITE-FACED IBISES, Plegadis chichi, flying north just above the bluff-top trail from our hot tub at The Sea Ranch.
Today, we saw an adult, male, breeding plumaged SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, Tyrannus forficatus, sitting on a trail marker post at the corner of Buckeye Court and Rock Cod on The Sea Ranch.While we didn't film the WF ibis, we have videotaped the ST flycatcher. Both sightings were approximately 1 mile south of the Gualala River. -- Rich Kuehn and Dean Schuler
Sun, 13 May 2001 -- Matthew Matthiessen already reported a bird list, but the following list is a compilation from the leaders of the trip who were: Jim Danzenbaker, Tristan McKee, Peter Pyle, Debra Shearwater, Linda Terrill, and Scott Terrill. There were 25 participant aboard the "Trek II," skippered by Rick Thornton. The trip ran from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Weather was mostly sunny, Beaufort 1-2.5. It was a very pleasant day. Fewer birds were found offshore. We visited a new area for us the Vizcaino Canyon, along with Vizcaino Knoll, and Noyo Canyon. We spent a considerable amount of time over the 1,000 fathom line. Highlights of the trip included the 322 Black-footed and 3 Laysan Albatrosses, 15 Long-tailed Jaegers, and the offshore Bottlenose Dolphin. Everyone was hoping, of course, for a Pterodroma, especially as a Murphy's Petrel had just been found on the May 11th Bodega Bay trip only 27 miles offshore. The trip was organized by Debra Shearwater/Shearwater Journeys. Our next trips are scheduled for Aug. 18, Sept. 5 and 18. Local discounts are available.
Common Loon-3,
Pacific Loon-8,
Red-throated Loon-1,
Western Grebe-1,
Black-footed Albatross-322,
Laysan Albatross-3 or 4,
Sooty Shearwater-150,
Pink-footed Shearwater-27,
Northern Fulmar-190,
Pomarine Jaeger-6,
Parasitic Jaeger-1,
Long-tailed Jaeger-15,
Herring Gull-5,
Glaucous-winged Gull-2,
California Gull-300,
Western Gull-200,
Sabine's Gull-78,
Black-legged Kittiwake-2,
Arctic Tern-1,
Common Tern-7,
Common Murre-34,
Pigeon Guillemot-9,
Rhinoceros Auklet-34,
Cassin's Auklet-25,
Ancient Murrelet-2,
Red Phalarope-300,
Red-necked Phalarope-115,
Surf Scoter-5,
Brant-7,
Baird's Beaked Whale-7-11,
Pacific White-sided Dolphin-350,
Northern Right Whale Dolphin-50,
Bottlenose Dolphin (offshore type)-1,
Risso's Dolphin-7-9,
Northern Fur Seal-1,
Steller's Sea Lion-1,
California Sea Lion -x -- Debi Shearwater
Sun, 13 May 2001 -- This is a report from the pelagic trip out of Fort Bragg on Sunday, May 13. There were four Mendocino County birders on the trip - Toby Tobkin, Chuck Vaugh, Jerry White (he's sort of a Mendo birder), and myself. We spent twelve hours on the ocean and had accomodating weather and seas.
Following is the list of pelagic species seen with the number of individuals in parentheses. Highlights of the day were having 144 Black-footed Albatross and one Laysan Albatross sitting on the water around the boat at the same time and a dark-phase Pomarine Jaeger that circled the boat for several minutes. It was also nice to see phalaropes in breeding plumage for the first time.
RED-THROATED LOON (2),
PACIFIC LOON (~10),
COMMON LOON (1),
LAYSAN ALBATROSS (2),
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (~185),
NORTHERN FULMAR (~50) - all color phases PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (12),
SOOTY SHEARWATER (~100),
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (~25) - most in breeding plumage, RED PHALAROPE (~150) - most in breeding plumage, POMARINE JAEGER (5) - both dark and light phases, LONG-TAILED JAEGER (3) - first Mendo county spring records?, SABINE'S GULL (~15),
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (2),
COMMON MURRE (~30),
PIGEON GUILLEMOT (15),
ANCIENT MURRELET (2),
CASSIN'S AUKLET (10),
RHINOCEROS AUKLET (~12)
Good Birding, Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 11 May 2001 -- A large flock (20-22 individuals) of WHITE-FACED IBISES flew south over Todd's Point in Fort Bragg at about 6:30AM today -- Greg Grantham
Thu, 10 May 2001 -- I just had a report from Jeannette Knight that both the WHITE-FACED IBIS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS were in the Rodman Slough pond at 8:15 this morning. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Wed 09 May 2001 -- At 3 pm today there were four WHITE-FACED IBISES at the shallow pond 0.5 mi. east of the Rodman Slough bridge on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate either the black-necked stilts or the Wilson's phalaropes. The pair of CINNAMON TEAL were still there, however. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Mon, 07 May 2001 -- At 7:25pm today there were 6 BLACK-NECKED STILTS at the shallow pond 0.5 mi. east of the Rodman Slough bridge on the Nice- Lucerne Cutoff in Lake County. Jerry White visited the site after 8:00 pm and found the stilts as well as 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES. The White-faced Ibises seen at the pond on May 6 were not observed today. To reach the site exit Hwy. 29 on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff between Upper Lake and Lakeport and travel east past the bridge. -- Dave Woodward
Sun, 06 May 2001 -- A PILEATED WOODPECKER was sighted yesterday at MacKerricher State Park, just north of the campgrounds, close to the Purple Rose Restaurant. At SEASIDE BEACH, a single DUNLIN was spotted along with some Whimbrels. In the Rose Memorial Gardens, there's a Killdeer nest. The female feigned a broken wing at my approach and upon very careful, close inspection, a single egg was noted. After leaving a note on the door of the office and walking back towards the nest area (in order to leave), it was noted that while gone, the female had lain a second egg in the nest and was even more protective of it, rushing us, then feigning a broken wing. . .I sure hope they don't mow the area and that people with dogs will keep them on leashes! -- Feather Forestwalker
Sun, 06 May 2001 -- Spent a very slow day on the coast today . Birds of note were a first summer BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON on the Garcia River at the end of Miner Hole Rd. Nine BRANT were at the mouth of the Garcia River. One BONAPARTE'S GULL was at Van Damme. Four HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Virgin Creek Beach. I searched for but did not find the Moorhen at Lake Cleone. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 05 May 2001 -- I began the day at the old bridge over the Eel River in Potter Valley. I was rather dismayed to discover the dipper nest had disappeared. It looked as though someone had swept the nest off its perch with a broom. After a few minutes I noticed an adult AMERICAN DIPPER flying under the bridge with what looked like nesting material in its bill. From under the bridge it took just a couple minutes to discover where the birds were building a new nest. The new one is under the bridge just inside of where the old one was. Let's hope this one makes it.
From the old bridge I drove over the hill to Pioneer Bridge. Within a few minutes a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER popped out of the brush on the northwest side of the bridge. From the bridge I scanned the kettle of TURKEY VULTURES circling downstream and noticed one of them was significantly larger and had a totally white head and tail. The adult BALD EAGLE was carrying something in it's talons but at that distance I couldn't determine if it was plant or animal. I watched the eagle for a while but ultimately lost the bird low against the hillside to the west.
Next stop was Low Gap Rd. There were no grouse booming at the cattle guard so I continued up the road. I finally heard a BLUE GROUSE booming approximately .9 miles past the cattle guard where the road makes a 90 degree lefthand turn. The bird was on the downhill side of the road. There was also a GOLDEN EAGLE at the cattle guard.
My final destination was the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Of the large ponds, only the north one has water in it and it was here that I found one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and one SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (caurinus). Good Birding Everyone -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 06 May 2001 -- At 1l:45 a.m. today, there were 6 DUNLIN in breeding plumage on the beach at Ten Mile, about 0.5 mile south of the river. They were in with a group of WHIMBRELS and LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. -- Charlene McAllister
Sun, 06 May 2001 -- At 9:45am this morning at the last wild rice check with mud, 0.1 mi. east of the Rodman Slough bridge on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff in Lake County there was one DUNLIN in breeding plumage with 6 dowitchers. At 10:00am at the shallow pond 0.5 mi. east of the same bridge there were 3 WHITE-FACED IBISES. This is very near the location where an ibis was found and reported last week. Also at the shallow pond were 17 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and a CINNAMON TEAL. To reach the location exit off Hwy. 29 onto the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff between Upper Lake and Lakeport and travel east past the bridge. -- Dave Woodward
Tue, 01 May 2001 -- This morning I did my exercise walk on the logging road along the south side of the Eel R upstream from Bucknell Creek. The logging road is clearly marked with a new green sign 1/4 mile before the Pioneer Crossing Bridge. It is passable but could use some spring pothole maintainence. There is also a new sign marking the Mendo/Lake border, but according to my map, Lake county begins at Bucknell Creek.
My goal for the morning was to find MacWarbler in Lake Co., so I worked the riparian strip of alders, willows, and old-growth poison oak, but with no luck. Back on the logging road, I walked east into the national forest. About a half mile beyond the Mendocino NF sign I came upon a Black-throated Gray Warbler which pished in very close. Along with it came another BTYW, 2 Warbling Vireos, a Cassin's Vireo, a Hermit Warbler, and a male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. Quite a productive pish; never neglect to enlist the aid a cooperative BTYW. (I put up a small cairn on the shoulder to mark the spot, Jerry)
Back downstream in MEN I found another MacGillivray's in the brushy area near the broad pullout before the gate. No Purple Martins at the bridge this morning. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 30 Apr 2001 -- This morning I just watched one, maybe two, male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES with a large feeding flock (about 40 birds) of Lesser Goldfinches. They can easily be seen from University Road east of Hopland. After leaving East Side Road follow University Road up the hill for about 3 to 3.5 miles. There will be a sharp left hand corner on the road and directly ahead of you (east) is a deer fenced pasture called Vasser Corner Pasture. There will be a salt feeder box and bathtub water trough on your right (ESE). Watch for the flock of goldfinches feeding on popcorn flower inside the deer fenced area. When they feed they drop below the grass line out of visibility...so watch them as they "hop-scotch" across the field as they feed. Once in a while they flush to the deer fence along the county road. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon, 30 Apr 2001 -- I went to Rodman Slough this morning mainly to look for the WHITE-FACED IBIS, but I did not find it right away. After about 40 minutes, a raptor put up the shorebirds and ducks, and the ibis appeared in the drier rice field near the mired tractor. It was best seen from the green Powder River gate directly across the road from the red house east of the bridge.
It was a pleasant morning birding in that area. There were Least and Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, 7 Long-billed Dowitchers, and a possible Short-billed Dowitcher (too far away to be certain) in the wettest rice field. Sora and Virginia Rails were both seen in the same place. Purple Martins were cruising along the lake side of the road. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 28 Apr 2001 -- The team of Vaughn, Keiffer, Matthiessen, Chaniot, and Tobkin did a Mendocino Big Day today starting at 04:00 near Hopland for owling and hign chaparral and ending at sunset scoping off of Laguna Point for seabirds. The result was 150 species, about average for the eleven years that this approximate route has been run. The day began with Barn Owl and ended with Wandering Tattler - with a number of notable misses in between. Some of the day's highlights were a HERMIT WARBLER near Hopland, a pair of HOODED ORIOLES building a nest in a palm on Pomo Drive in Ukiah, a TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD on Burris Lane in Potter Valley, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW at Virgin Creek Beach, a COMMON MOORHEN at Lake Cleone close to the parking lot, and a mystery peep at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant (the size of a Least, black legs, and an orangish-yellow bill !?) George Chaniot
Sat, 28 Apr 2001 -- This morning at sunrise there were BLUE GROUSE (and a N PYGMY-OWL) calling west of Lake Pillsbury at an established location. Take Elk Mt Rd (301) west (over the bridge) from the Soda Creek Grocery intersection about 2,2 miles to the edge of "the Slides". At the bridge over Soda Creek there were two YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and HOUSE WRENS calling. At Lake Pillsbury there were two immature BALD EAGLES. On Hull Mt there was a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD. Go to Boardman Ridge (M1). The bird was about 2.9 miles past the intersection of M1 and M6. Also further up Boardman ridge there were singing stephensi FOX SPARROWS. A WHITE-FACED IBIS has been in the rice fields off of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff (near Nice) near Rodman Slough for two days. Usually it is seen across the road from the abandoned (red) house which is about 3 tenths of a mile from the Rodman Slough Bridge. -- Jerry White
Fri, 27 Apr 2001 -- I dropped by the sewage ponds at 8:00 this morning for about 45 minutes. The SOLITARY SANDPIPER continues at the west end of the middle long pond. Along the river at the east end of the ponds was a single YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. In the grass between the "bubbler" and the southernmost long pond was a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 27 Apr 2001 -- I stopped by this morning and watched several feeding cycles at the Ousel (AMERICAN DIPPER to be OC) nest George found on the old Potter Valley bridge. The parent would work the rapids downstream from the bridge, come back low with a wet bug which he or she washed again before approaching the verge of the nest. There it was met by two or three yellowish maws with the exchange taking only seconds; this was followed by several minutes of preening on a rock in the shallows.
Interestingly, I saw a Robin about a mile upstream following a very similar pattern; the Dipper looked pretty dapper, but the Robin was wet and disheveled.
Hopefully both these guys and others will survive the opening of trout season tomorrow; I have seen over 50 vehicles along this stretch of river on past opening days. -- Jim Armstrong
Thu, 26 Apr 2001 -- Today I did some Big Day scouting of Lake Mendocino and some other areas. There is very little left in the way of waterfowl at the lake. The water level is "full",748 feet, about a foot below the access road to the Mesa campground. The campground is being readied for opening, and there is vehicle access to the Mesa Day Use Area. Because of the water level there is no sandy or muddy shore anywhere.
A brief tour of the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant revealed a continuing SOLITARY SANDPIPER which flew from the central pond to the north pond. There were also Least and Western Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Snipe, and a brood of downy Killdeers.
And, Bingo!, there is an AMERICAN DIPPER nest with young under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. The nest in on the middle pier on the upstream side. It can be seen from either end or by leaning over the rail, but the best view into the domed entrance is from a fishermen's trail on the SE corner of the bridge. I don't know how I've missed this nest. I've literally overlooked it. And on Burris Lane, Potter Valley a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER and a GOLDEN EAGLE. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 26 Apr 2001 -- This morning I saw a female HOODED ORIOLE next to the palm tree in the southwest corner of Pomo Circle. This is the same location they nested last year so it looks like they may be back. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 24 Apr 2001 -- This morning at 8:00 at the Ukiah sewage ponds I refound the SOLITARY SANDPIPER reported by Chuck over the weekend. The bird was initially on the "bubbler" but then flew to the west end of the central long pond. Good Birding. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 24 Apr 2001 -- This morning I birded "over the hill" from Potter Valley in the Eel River drainage near the Pioneer Crossing Bridge. The whole time I was there (8:50-10:40) I heard two N. PYGMY OWLS calling. They were on opposite sides of the Eel River about 1/2 mile upstream from the bridge. I'm certain I could have approached the one on the south side and seen it, were it not for the thicket of poison oak with buds and tiny leaves.
About 200 m upstream from the bridge I was able to pish up a female MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER from the ceanothus and poison oak. This pushes the earliest spring date back two days. I heard PURPLE MARTINS in the distance, but I didn't see any coming to the drain holes in the bridge yet.
Back in Potter Valley the season's first YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was singing in the Russian River riparian by the high school football field., and a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was at the end of Burris Lane.
Check out the spring arrivals database at the Mendobirds database
The table is filling in as migrants return, but there are a few more species to arrive. Any subscriber can add to or edit the records. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 23 Apr 2001 -- Today Dorothy Tobkin reports the following: 1 COMMON MOORHEN and an early OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at Lake Cleone; 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK, 2 MARBLED MURRELETS, several RED-NECKED GREBES, and several BLACK SCOTERS just north of Ward Avenue in Cleone.
Yesterday (Sun, 22 Apr) she had 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.
Sat, 21 Apr 2001 -- Greetings: I went to the Ukiah sewage treatment plant oxidation ponds this morning. Things were very quiet, even along the river. The first YELLOW WARBLER males of the season have arrived, singing among the plague of Brown-headed Cowbirds which outnumber them on the order of 25 or 50 to 1. Last weekend's Blue-winged Teal pair have left, but there was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the west end of the middle pond where there is still standing water. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 19 Apr 2001 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin flushed a LESSER NIGHTHAWK along the Haul Road near Ten Mile River. She parked at the pullout on Route 1 at the south end of the Ten Mile bridge and walked west along the Haul Road. The nighthawk flushed near the point where the road makes a sharp bend to the south and settled nearby. First county record? Also nearby was a CHIPPING SPARROW, scarce on the coast, and 11 SNOWY PLOVERS.
Sat, 14 Apr 2001 -- Today I had a male and female BLUE-WINGED TEAL at the Ukiah Wetlands (sewage ponds). The teal were at the east end of the northernmost large pond. Shorebird activity was light with only four GREATER YELLOWLEGS, two WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and four LEAST SANDPIPERS. Also of interest were a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and an alternate plumaged MYRTLE WARBLER. Good Birding -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 15 Apr 2001 -- A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen in the meadow north of The Sea Ranch Lodge about 5 pm on Apr. 15. -- E. Rae Hudspeth
Sun, 15 Apr 2001 -- - A male CALLIOPE H UMMINGBIRD was observed twice at a feeder in Hopland at 7:00 PM. The feeder was swarmed by numerous Rufous and Anna's Hummingbirds and the Calliope slipped in for a 30-second feed. I will check the feeder tomorrow, if the Calliope is still there I will post the information. -- Bob Keiffer - 744-1160
Sun, 15 Apr 2001 -- The male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was seen again several times this afternoon at my feeders in Potter Valley. 3:30-3:35 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:22-6:25 PM, 7:49-7:52 PM
If there is any pattern, it seems to show up for 3-5 minutes and then disappear for an hour or two. There is a _lot_ of Rufous Hummingbird activity swamping the belligerant Anna's. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 15 Apr 2001, 15:30 -- -- A male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD has been coming to a feeder at my house for the last few minutes. There is a great flurry of hummingbird activity today, maybe 10 Rufous and 6 Anna's; the Rufous are so numerous that the male Anna's can't chase them away. The Calliope sneaks in among the Rufous. There may be a female too.
This is a seldom-seen species in Mendocino County; I haven't had one here since 1985. There's no pattern yet, but you're welcome to come and watch for it. I'm putting out a few lawn chairs and benches. 9430 West Road, Potter Valley, the driveway is right across from milemarker 1.33. -- George Chaniot 743-1310
Sun, 08 Apr 2001 --Greetings: George Chaniot and I spent the am yesterday birding the Ukiah area. We started at USTP ponds, and saw 2 DUNLIN which were molting into alternate plumage. Although Dunlin are often seen locally in the fall, neither of us could recall having seen Dunlin in this area in the spring. Jerry White reports only a single spring sighting in Lake County. There was also a late MERLIN hanging around the ponds. We went up Low Gap Road for Blue Grouse, but neither heard nor saw any. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS were singing all up and down the hills there. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS have been singing at HREC since 4/5. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 28 Mar 2001 -- Howdy Mendo birders
Today I saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW and a RED-NECKED GREBE at the mouth of Inglenook creek on Ten-mile beach. It was about 08:30 and the Curlew just sat there for a moment before flying North calling. The Red-necked Grebe was actively diving just behind the breakers. Both PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and CASPIAN TERNS were seen at numerous locations this week on the coast.
Just a quick side note, today I saw 15 Osprey swarming the mouth of the Russian river in Sonoma County. There was also a huge group of over 100 Cormorants (DCCO and PECO), 25 Loons (RTLO, COLO), 25+ Caspian terns and hundreds of Gulls feeding in the same location. Thats all for now, Good Luck and Good Birding. -- Justin Ward
23 Mar 2001 -- I observed an INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea) at 8:45am today. The observation occurred at Lake Cleone in MacKerricher State Park just north of Fort Bragg, CA. The bird was observed on the La Laguna trail on the north side of the lake in the cleared area at the waterworks located on the edge of the lake. An indigo bunting was observed 30 minutes later on the south side of Lake Cleone directly across the lake from the waterworks. I could not determine if this was the same individual located earlier. Access sites by parking in the Lake Cleone parking lot in MacKerricher State Park. Walk the trail encompassing the lake starting on the boardwalk on the lake's northern shore. -- David Lancaster
Sun, 25 Mar 2001 -- This morning I observed at the Ukiah oxidation ponds 10 pair of green winged teal. Also seen were a pair of greater yellow legs, a white-tailed kite, several common snipe, a pair of american widgeon, 3 swallow species - NRWS, VGSW and TRES - and an Osprey (enjoying a Sunday brunch). -- Vishnu
Mon, 26 Mar 2001 -- My son and I saw an adult male MERLIN attacking a European Starling this afternoon near the Dodge dealership on Chestnut Street in Fort Bragg this afternoon. He was simply beautiful! He sat on the sidewalk with his prize before flying, heavily, to land on the ground again in a nearby yard before finally taking his heavy prey to the rooftop of some apartments on South McPherson Street. -- Feather Forestwalker
Thu, 22 Mar 2001 -- With a major infusion of data from Chuck Vaughn, I have put together a list of the early arrival dates for some migrant and summer resident birds. These are the earliest spring dates recorded over a period of some years. In most years, of course, they usually arrive somewhat after this date. The geographical area covered is the interior valleys and ranges of Mendocino County from about Willits south to Hopland and the Sonoma county line, including Potter Valley. Roughly, the SE quarter of the county. We are in need of better information on some sparse migrant species (MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, et al.) and for the primarily montane species (Flammulated Owl, Green-tailed Towhee, Hammond's and Dusky Flycatcher, et al.). The higher areas of the county are little explored in this season. I have put this data on the web at http://www.pacificsites.com/~chaniot/intMENarrivals.html with some similar data from a subarea, Potter Valley, at http://www.pacificsites.com/~chaniot/springarrivals.html Thirdly, I have created a database at the Mendobirds homepage where we can accumulate information on arrivals as the spring season unfolds. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds and choose "database" from the lefthand column. Any subscriber can enter new data, edit entries, correct my spelling, or write over information already there. (Someone may want to edit my Rufous Hummingbird entry. ). I have included columns for the coast separate from the interior, as I know there are some differences in timing of migration. Does anyone have similar historical data from the coast that they would like to contribute? Well, eight have returned, only thirty-two to go. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 18 Mar 2001 -- George didn't see or forgot to mention the five Double-crested Cormorants at the Burris Lane pond Sunday. I also had a pair of Ring-necked Pheasants on Burris Lane on Thursday and a pair of Great Blue Herons fly over my house Sunday. -- Jim Armstrong
Sun, 18 Mar 2001 -- -- At 9:30 this morning I found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. It was in a flock of White-crowned Sparrows that frequents the farm machinery at the Tiara Ranch about 1/3 mile from East Road. Prominent crown stripe, light lores, ear patch, and tan rump. There was another _Spizella_ present, but I could not get a good enough look to ID it.
Around Potter Valley this morning there was also a MERLIN on Pine Avenue, no Mountain Bluebirds seen today, and another MERLIN and a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at the end of Burris Lane.
Along Potter Valley Road there was an American Dipper carrying nesting material under the old bridge, another dipper carrying nesting material at mm 0.75, and yet another dipper singing near mm 0.89. -- George Chaniot
11 Mar 2001 -- On March 11 I saw a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in Clear Lake near milemarker 20.5 on Highway 20. -- George Chaniot
15 Mar 2001 -- Jim Armstrong and I were talking, and there is apparently some general interest in tracking early arrivals of some of our regular migrants. I have kept a database over the years with dates going back to the 60s which Ollie Kolkmann has provided me. At this point it does not include anything from the coast, west of the Russian River watershed, or north of Willits. George Chaniot also has lots of early arrival data. So...here is what I have so far this year of birds which I am quite certain were not winter residents. Please let me know if you have earlier dates and be sure to provide dates for birds which haven't shown up yet so I can keep the Mendocino County database current. -- Thanks, Chuck Vaughn
Tree Swallow 2/4 at USTP
Violet-green Swallow 2/18 at USTP
Allen's Hummingbird 2/28 at my feeders
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3/11 at USTP
Orange-crowned Warbler 3/12 at HREC
Mon, 05 Mar 2001 -- Last Monday, March 5th, there was quite a bunch of gulls at the south boat ramp. The first winter Thayer's Gull is still there, 2 Herring Gulls, 10-20 Ring-billed Gulls, and a multitude of California Gulls. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 04 Mar 2001 -- Today, my son and I spotted close to a dozen WESTERN MEADOWLARKS in various plumage states, from fall-winter and juvenile to spring, in the field right next to McDonald's on Highway One south of Fort Bragg. There were several singing, perching on pines on the very tops, as well as foraging on the ground. Mixed in this flock were several European Starlings, English Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows. Also in this same location were a few Hermit Thrushes. -- Feather Forestwalker
Fri, 02 Mar 2001 -- One male and two female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were on Pine Avenue, Potter Valley among the emus. If there is anyone who has not taken advantage of this rare opportunity to see this species locally, it's not because I haven't been reporting them. The emus were "singing" too.-- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 Feb 2001 -- Only one MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was seen on Pine Avenue, Potter Valley today. -- Janet and George Chaniot
Sun, 25 Feb 2001 -- After getting rained out yesterday, Matthew Matthiessen and I birded the coast from Arena Cove to Ward Avenue. Some of the highlights from south to north: the LAYSAN ALBATROSS in Arena Cove, 10 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 30 NORTHERN FULMARS out from the Point Arena lighthouse, a EURASIAN WIGEON and PEREGRINE FALCON near Miner Hole Road, ~200 TUNDRA SWANS on the Garcia flats, a PRAIRIE FALCON and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK north of Irish Beach at mm 26.92, another PEREGRINE FALCON at the Mendocino Headlands, an ANCIENT MURRELET, 25 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and a THAYER'S GULL at Laguna Point, and 8 BLACK SCOTERS at Ward Avenue. We saw more White-winged and Black Scoters each than Surf Scoters today. -- George Chaniot
24 Feb 2001 -- At sunset at the mouth of 10 Mile I saw a group of SNOWY PLOVERS, about 14-20 in all. A few came within 15 feet of the log I was sitting on. One had two bands on its right leg: Blue on top, red under. Left leg had 3 bands: yellow or orange on top, with two red under. This is the first banded bird I have seen out in the field. -- Patti Brill
Thu, 22 Feb 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 4 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point among Surfbirds and Black Turnstones on a big rock to the north about halfway from the parking lot to the point. She also saw 11 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.
Ollie Kolkmann also saw a SABINE'S GULL from Laguna Point on Sun, 18 Feb.
The MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS are still on Pine Ave., Potter Valley, and yesterday I saw another male about 5 miles to the north in the fields just before Eel River Road starts up the hill. Near the summit of the hill MOUNTAIN QUAIL were "quarking", the first I've heard this year, and there was an AMERICAN DIPPER singing at Van Arsdale Dam.
On 24 Oct 2000 I saw a radio-collared Greater White-fronted Goose on the vineyard pond near my home in Potter Valley. Since it was much larger than two other GWFG with it, I took it to be a "Tule" Goose. Today I heard back that V69 is indeed a Tule GWFG and was banded as an adult female in the Kahiltna River drainage 75 mile NW of Anchorage, Alaksa on 8 July 1997. So she was at least four years old when sighted and pretty well travelled. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 21 Feb 2001 -- There is a BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKE on the beach at Van Damme. It is located on the west end of the beach where the trail goes up to Peterson Lane. The bird is badly oiled, but only on it's tail feathers and the tips of it's wings. It does not appear able to fly. -- Charlene McAllister
Sun, 18 Feb 2001 -- Greetings- I made it out to the Ukiah sewage treatment plant oxidation ponds this am between storms. With all of the recent rain, the ponds are finally getting some serious water. Among the usual ducks were 7 Canada Geese, including an "Aleutian" type. The Tree Swallow numbers along the river have increased to a couple dozen, and they were joined by a pair of Violet-green Swallows. The Violet-greens are the first I've seen this year. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 18 Feb 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports the following from the south Mendocino coast area: a PRAIRIE FALCON at about milemarker 30 on Hwy 1, and 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in about the same area. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen near the green bridge over the Garcia River, and the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen in Arena Cove at about 12:30.
Sat, 17 Feb 2001 -- Two male TUFTED DUCKS continue to be seen among scaups in the north end of Lake Mendocino. Seven MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS continue at the end of the county road on Pine Avenue, Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 13 Feb 2001 -- Late Monday afternoon 2/12/01 a pair of immature BALD EAGLES were observed diving for fish in the water just east of the large parking lot at the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino. I watched from a boat near the east shore and they eventually flew back over the lake and overhead cavorting in the sky. What looked playful may have been more competitive as it turned out one of them had a fish. What appeared to be a 3rd eagle flew across the lake at the same time further down but I didn't ID it as I was too taken with the ones close by. A WHITE-TAILED KITE was also seen perched near the east shore. -- Vishnu
Mon, 12 Feb 2001 -- Greetings: At 7:30 today Cory Simerson found a very weak BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKE in the snow at the headquarters of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The bird was found at about 800' elevation and probably 30-35 miles from the coast. It would be interesting to know how long/far it was flying around in this northern cyclone. -- Chuck Vaughn and Bob Keiffer
Sun, 11 Feb 2001 -- Today in Lake County there were 2 adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Keeling Park in Nice (Lakeshore Blvd). An adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was seen from about mile post 16.57 hiway 20 just west of Lucerne. The TUFTED DUCK was seen from hiway 20 at about mile post 19.81 east of Lucerne. -- Jerry White
Sat, 10 Feb 2001 -- Today I dodged between storms to go out to Lake Mendocino and peer into most every corner. The lake is still very low, standing at 723.1' above sea level, up only slightly from 720.5' on 22 Jan, at a time of year when it would normally be more than 20 feet higher. The waterfowl are in a late winter pattern of high numbers and low diversity. I saw no dabbling ducks at all, not even Mallards! [The last observation contested by Jim Armstrong about 11:00] No herons. There are probably about 3-4000 scaups with Greater predominating, but with zero boat activity and little wave action, they are scattered widely over the lake and hard to see. The biggest concentrations were in the coves on the east shore and south of Grapevine Point on the west shore where they are very hard to see. I walked as far as Little Bear Campground where I found a TUFTED DUCK among the scaups. Later off Ky-en Campground on the north shore I found another TUFTED DUCK. The first had a dark gray back and a short tuft, while the second had a black back and a long pony tail. This confirms that there are at least two birds on the lake this winter.
South of the mesa there was an immature BALD EAGLE eating a coot on a stump. It had white on the top of the head, white on the back, white on the wing coverts, a white belly, and nearly white tail. It resembled White Belly II in Clark and Wheeler, but more extreme. At the Pomo Day-use area there was another immature flying by, similar, but with a different tail. Later the first eagle was sitting in the last tree on Miti spit. There is often a raptor of some kind in that tree.
Back in Potter Valley the MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD bonanza continues. Today there were seven birds on seven consecutive fence posts right along Pine Avenue by the emus. (Would you believe 7 bluebirds and a rainbow?! Something out of Disney.) There was also a FERRUGINOUS HAWK along lower Pine Avenue. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 08 Feb 2001 -- At about 11:00 today I saw a single male CASSIN'S FINCH at about 1000 feet elevation. It was in a short-grazed pasture along a little-known private road near the quarry on Potter Valley Road. It flew off over the skyline, and I don't expect it will be seen at the same spot. This is just the second time that I have seen CAFI this low. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 07 Feb 2001 -- The MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS are still easy to see on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. They have been seen every day since first discovered on 1 Feb. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 06 Feb 2001 -- I saw a mature BALD EAGLE over Feliz Creek/Hopland today at about 11:00 AM. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 04 Feb 2001 -- Today I birded the Mendocino County coast. Nothing extraordinary but there were some highlights. At Garcia Flats, I counted 310 TUNDRA SWANS, a dozen CANADA GEESE (all of them large forms), and one GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.
At Hunters Lagoon there was one COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in the reeds at the west end of the lagoon.
At Navarro Beach I observed an adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE fly in off the ocean and land on the river among a small flock of gulls. Eventually it flew with the rest of the gulls to the riverbank where it preened for a few minutes before flying back out over the ocean.
The immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues at Caspar Pond and there were a pair of CANADA GEESE (again all large forms) at both Van Damme and Virgin Creek. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Sun, 04 Feb 2001 -- Greetings: This am Geoff and Cheryl Heineken and I birded the Ukiah Sewer Treatment Plant area. It continues to be pretty mediocre birding habitat because of the lack of rain. However, we did see the year's first TREE SWALLOWS - four of them rolling and tumbling and singing their bubbly song as they visited tree holes along the river. They seemed to be as happy to be here as we were to see them! -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 04 Feb 2001 -- MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, otherwise rare in Mendocino County, continue to be seen easily from the bulletin board on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. The number appears to be seven, but there may be more. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 02 Feb 2001 -- Christie Nelson reported to the Arcata Birdbox of seeing a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH near Miner Hole Road west of highway 1.
Fri, 02 Feb 2001 -- Greetings: On my way to work this am I decided to go by Pine Avenue in Potter to see if the MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were still there. When I arrived at the bulletin board, George Chaniot and Ollie Kolkmann had the birds already spotted. We watched them (3m, 4f) for about 30 minutes until 11:30. They were easily seen south of the road, both in the grassy field and on the fences. George said he had been watching them since 9:30. On the way out of Potter we went out Burris Lane (3 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS), and stopped along the Russian River turnout just north of the new bridge (AMERICAN DIPPER). George and I went on to Lake Mendocino. The first winter THAYER'S GULL continues in the parking lot area at the south launch. We also observed 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on the spit by the boat-in campground. There was a ROCK WREN in the rock rip-rap on the far south end of the dam, just above the Corps of Engineer's barge. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 01 Feb 2001 -- Justin Ward checked out the site about 12:15 and found 7 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. They were flying back and forth from the Emu fence to the other side of the road. Matthew Matthiessen and I returned from about 1:30 to 2:15 and saw 7, possibly 8, mostly along the fence which runs south from the Pine Avenue Association bulletin board pullout. They seemed to be foraging mostly in the short-grazed pasture on the west side of the fence and from the rocks among the valley oaks. Nice looking birds.
Go to Pine Avenue in Potter Valley , drive to the end of the pavement, park by the bulletin board, and start the search from there. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 01 Feb 2001 -- At about 11:45 I found a bright male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. It was on a fence near the Pine Avenue Association bulletin board where the pavement ends. After a few minutes it flew off toward the large valley oaks to the SW. There were about 15 Western Bluebirds in the vicinity, but it was not associating with them.
Pine Avenue runs east from East Road a mile north of Burris Lane. It is a private road beyond the emus. Bird only from the road, and don't block it. There is a broad pullout at the bulletin board and another just before you cross Burright Creek. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 01 Feb 2001 -- I found a singing AMERICAN DIPPER on Kelsey Creek at the bridge on Bottle Rock Road today at 12:30 PM. This location is about 8 miles from hiway 29 and about 3 miles from hiway 175 and the community of Cobb. Dipper is somewhat difficult to find in the county, especially at locations with easy access.
Also we have another report of dipper being seen by Brad Hanson at the bridge over Kelsey Creek at hiway 175 in Cobb on 1-30-01. -- Jerry White
Wed, 31 Jan 2001 -- There was a lot of AMERICAN DIPPER activity on the Russian River along Potter Valley Road today 4:30-5:30 pm. At the pullout at milemarker 0.75 there was singing and territorial fighting and chasing between two birds. At the pullout across from the quarry near milemarker 0.86 there was another pair, one of which was singing for about 15 minutes. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 30 Jan 2001 -- A 1st-winter THAYER'S GULL was still present at the south marina of Lake Mendocino. Today it was sitting in the parking lot, but later it flew and landed among the gulls on the mud near a 1st-winter Herring Gull and a 1st-winter Glaucous-winged Gull. Excellent side-by-side comparison.
A ROCK WREN was present at the usual place on Coyote Dam, below the "Rock Wren Bench" near marker 025. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 27 Jan 2001 -- Saturday morning Chuck Vaughn and I saw a first-winter THAYER'S GULL among the other gulls at the south marina of Lake Mendocino. From the Joe Riley overlook nearby we saw a PACIFIC LOON and a RED-THROATED LOON. We are only aware of one or two other records of Red-throated Loon in inland Mendocino County -- George Chaniot
Sat, 27 Jan 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin birded the south Mendocino coast today and reports the following: a male EURASIAN WIGEON on the Brush Creek Wetlands, 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, one along Miner Hole Road, one north of Irish Beach, and one south of Irish Beach, 1 OSPREY, 5 ROSS'S GEESE, 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, TUNDRA SWANS, and a group of 39 Great Egrets on the Garcia River flats off Miner Hole Road. There is also an immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Caspar Pond which has been there for some time.
Sat, 27 Jan 2001 -- At about 11:30 I saw a male TUFTED DUCK along the north shore of Lake Mendocino. It was visable from Pomo A and the boat ramp, feeding rather close to shore. It is possibly a different bird than reported from 7-17 Jan.: the tuft is a little longer and beginning to hang free, and the back is saturated black with a metallic sheen, like the head. If it is the same bird seen before, it had become distinctly more manly in
just 20 days.
I also saw an AMERICAN DIPPER in the Russian River along Potter Valley Road. It was singing from the rocks just downstream from the "old" bridge near Route 20 and disappeared under the bridge. Matthew Matthiessen had one singing in the same spot on the 20th. Perhaps they will nest under the bridge as they did about 5 years ago. In recent weeks I have also seen a dipper from the pullouts near milemarker 0.86 and milemarker 1.37. They can be hard to find at times. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 26 Jan 2001 -- At about 3:30 in the afternoon I found two first winter Heerman's Gulls in with a mixed flock of Western, Glaucous Wing and Mew Gulls. They were on the beach just north of Laguna Point and the Parking lot, west of Lake Cleone. -- Charlene McAllister
Mon, 22 Jan 2001 -- John Hunter reports seeing the male TUFTED DUCK among the scaups at the north end of Lake Mendocino.
Sat, 20 Jan 2001 -- Greetings. While driving to Covelo for a meeting , we saw two adult BALD EAGLES. One was perched above the Eel River near mile marker 13.4 on Highway 162. The other was observed flying downstream about a half mile east of there (about MM 13.0). No time in Covelo for other birding unfortunately. -- Demian Ebert
Tue, 16 Jan 2001 -- The TUFTED DUCK at Lake Mendocino was seen again yesterday, 15 Jan, by several people, and again today by myself. It was visable among the scaups from near the Pomo A parking lot. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 14 Jan 2001 --Today I birded the Mendocino County coast from south to north. At Point Arena cove, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was present along with a RED PHALAROPE feeding within fifty feet of the beach on the north side of the pier.
From the Point Arena lighthouse there were an estimated 20 NORTHERN FULMARS as well as five BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES (one adult, four immatures). In addition, one first winter GLAUCOUS GULL flew by at close range heading south.
The flock of TUNDRA SWANS was present on Garcia Flats. I counted 270 swans as well as six ROSS'S GEESE, eight GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and 14 CANADA GEESE (none of which had collars or appeared to be of the Aluetian race). I failed to mention it in my report from the 13th, but at this location on Saturday I counted 248 swans, six ROSS'S GEESE, and eight GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (no Canada Geese).
At Navarro Beach there was one first winter THAYER'S GULL in the large congregation of gulls. At Glass Beach there were seven HARLEQUIN
DUCKS.
On the loafing rock at Laguna Point there were three ROCK SANDPIPERS at high tide. A few minutes of scoping from the platform produced one immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, one RED-NECKED GREBE, and numerous RED PHALAROPES and NORTHERN FULMARS. -- Good Birding, Matthew Matthiessen
Sat, 13 Jan 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin and I saw the TUFTED DUCK among the scaups in the north end of Lake Mendocino today. Other members of the party did not see it - the proverbial needle in the haystack. It appeared to be the same bird reported on Jan 7. It could be seen from the parking lot near the north boat ramp and the nearby shore below Ky-en campground. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 13 Jan 2001 -- Today Matthew Matthiessen saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER from the pier at Arena Cove, and 50 NORTHERN FULMARS at the Point Arena Lighthouse, some so close that no binoculars were needed. On some farm ponds near Hunter's Lagoon he saw a number of RED PHALAROPES, a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE off the Mendocino Headlands, and a male BLACK SCOTER at Ward Avenue in Cleone.
Thu, 11 Jan 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports four ROCK SANDPIPERS on the rocks near Laguna Point at high tide today. Also seen were 4 immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 4 NORTHERN FULMARS, numerous RED PHALAROPES, a possible SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, and an unseasonal immature HEERMAN's GULL. At Glass Beach there were 10 HARLEQUIN DUCKS on the rocks.
Sun, 07 Dec 2001 -- Today I spent some time checking out poor lonesome Lake County. And, yes, there are some birds here.
The adult male TUFTED DUCK returned for the 3rd year. The bird was with a flock of scaup and was seen from hiway 20 at about mile marker 18.35 near Lucerne.
At mile marker 21.0 on hiway 20 was a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.
There were 5 HOODED MERGANSERS on the pond east of Lower Lake mile marker 21.0 hiway 29.
This morning there was a WHITE-THROATED in a crowned sparrow flock at Anderson Marsh State Park (the ranch house) off hiway 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
In High Valley (take High Valley Road off hiway 20 in Clearlake Oaks) there was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. Also a MERLIN was being harassed by 3 YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES. On January 1st at this location there was a PRAIRIE FALCON and a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER.
Many miles further on High Valley road in the mountains (Mendocino National Forest) and under the heading "totally unexpected" were 3 SNOW GEESE flying towards the Central Valley. -- Jerry White
Sun, 07 Jan 2001 -- Matthew Matthiessen and Chuck Vaughn relocated the female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant about 1:00. Today it was associating with a roving group of blackbirds which were seen at various places around the grounds and near some houses to the north.
Sun, 07 Jan 2001 -- At about 11:00 today Chuck Vaughn, Matthew Matthiessen, and I saw a TUFTED DUCK in the raft of scaups off the Pomo Day-Use Area at Lake Mendocino. It appears to be a 1st-winter male much like the bird of Dec 1995. It has a pronounced peak on the back of the head, but no dangling tuft. The head, chest rump and tail-quarters are a dark, saturated black. The upper back and scapulars are a bit lighter - dark, unvermiculated,
charcoal gray. The sides are gleaming white, and the bill is blue with a light area behind the dark tip.
From Route 20 take the Marina Drive exit and follow the road east about 1/2 mile to the Pomo A parking area. Walk about 100 yards to the lake shore. A scope and patience are recommended. There is usually another group of scaup on the opposite side of the lake south of the Mesa Day Use Area. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 06 Jan 2001 -- Today I birded the coast with Chuck Vaughn and Matthew Matthiessen from Ward Avenue south to Arena Cove. The following are some of the more unusual birds seen: 2 1st-winter THAYER'S GULLS on the beach near Laguna Point parking lot, 1 ad. PEREGRINE FALCON sitting on the observation deck at Laguna Point, 14 HARLEQUIN DUCKS on the rocks at Glass Beach, 1 2nd-winter GLAUCOUS GULL on the beach at Van Damme SP, numerous NORTHERN FULMARS scoped at sea from several locations, 4 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in the fields near Irish Beach, 185 TUNDRA SWANS, 6 ROSS'S GEESE and 12 ALEUTIAN CANADA GEESE, including one with a blue collar, at the Garcia River bottoms, 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE off the Point Arena lighthouse, and, of course, 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS near the pier at Arena Cove. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 05 Dec 2001 -- At about 11:00 today I saw a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It was in the flooded weeds on the northern pond and was by itself and not associating with the flock of female Red-winged Blackbirds. I probably would not have seen it except for a White-tailed Kite that kept flushing the birds. When it landed in the weeds, it was very hard to see.
Otherwise it was rather quiet there, except for a MERLIN that was working starlings around the parking lot. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 30 Dec 2000 -- I found a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at mile post 27.5 Highway 1 north of Irish Beach while doing the Mendocino Coast CBC. The bird was seen again today at the same location by Nikki White and I.
Bob Keiffer found a PALM WARBLER and a GREEN HERON today on the Garcia River under the Highway 1 bridge. Nikki and I refound the birds a short time later. Both birds were seen at different times just to the east and just to the west of the bridge. The Palm Warbler was actually on the bridge a couple of times. Additionally we saw at least 10 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS down the river about 100 yards from the bridge. -- Jerry White
Sat, 30 Dec 2000 -- Today at about 3:30 PM, Geoff and I saw 3 pairs of WOOD DUCKS on Robinson Creek at the 3600 area. -- Cheryl Heinecken
Thu, 28 Dec 2000 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was present at Pt. Arena harbor at 1700 on 11-28-00. It was so close to shore I wouldn't be surprised if its feet were scraping the bottom! Nearby, an adult male Bufflehead became either a toy or a meal to what appeared to be a river (!!) otter. The duck was dead, and the larger of two otters dragged it up onto a rock and mouthed the head and then one of the feet. I got the impression it didn't quite know what to do with the bird. The smaller otter also shimmied up onto the rock and seemed to be watching the process. After a couple of minutes the larger otter took the duck back into the water (followed by the smaller otter), dove, and disappeared. A while later, clumps of feathers were floating on the water. Is there anyone familiar with the area, or with otters, who can shed some light on these observations? -- Chris Brady (from CALBIRD)
Thu, 28 Dec 2000 -- This report is from out of the area, but may be of interest to Mendobirders. Today I drove to Point Reyes to chase the KING EIDER which was first reported on 24 Dec. I found it easily at the Fish Docks below the Chimney Rock parking lot. It spent all of its time 2-50 yards offshore, affording nice looks at close range range in good light. It appears to be a first-winter male, and when I left, it was visable from the parking lot. There were also a LONG-TAILED DUCK, an ANCIENT MURRELET, 30 ELEPHANT SEALS, and numerous BLACK SCOTERS nearby.-- George Chaniot
Sun, 24 Dec 2000 -- Jim Armstrong reports a PRAIRIE FALCON buzzing over the pond on Burris Lane, Potter Valley
Wed, 20 Dec 2000 -- Yesterday (12/20/2000) I had a couple of nice raptor sightings. First, an adult BALD EAGLE was perched on the west side of HWY 101 at Mile Marker 4.00 (South of Hopland). Second, there was a PRAIRIE FALCON on Pine Ave in Potter Valley when I returned home. It was perched on the North side of the road just before you go down the hill before the second (before it turns to dirt). -- Justin Ward
Sat, 16 Dec 2000 -- The Ukiah Christmas Bird Count took place today with beautiful weather. The unofficial species total was 122. Two birds new to the count were seen: the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER at the north marina at Lake Mendocino, and a very late BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER in the oaks near Mendocino Brewery. The crew working the lake also found three RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS in a "new" location at the overflow spillway.
Thu, 14 Dec 2000 -- While scouting Lake Mendocino for the Christmas count, I found an adult BALD EAGLE sitting in trees on the east side between Miti Point and Perry Creek Cove. Its white head could easily be spotted with binoculars from the Coyote Dam. Later I saw an immature BALD EAGLE flying along the shore near Pomo B. Of interest for the CBC I also found a ROCK WREN on Coyote Dam near marker 021 right beside the walkway to the intake tower. It disappeared into the chain-link enclosure underneath the walkway. Also of interest was a pair of REDHEADS among the diverse divers off Pomo B. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 09 Dec 2000 I started at Mendocino Headlands and worked my way south to Miner Hole Road. Highlights for the day were two BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and a PEREGRINE FALCON seen from the Mendocino Headlands. Three FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were present at various points along Hwy 1 between Elk and Manchester. At Garcia Flats there were 53 TUNDRA SWANS. I looked for but did not find the Lapland Longspur that has been at the Mendocino Headlands or the Rough-legged Hawk seen by Toby last week near Irish Beach.
After birding the coast, I drove up to Lake Mendocino. Scoping from the Pomo A area yielded a drake REDHEAD but I could not refind the Red-naped Sapsucker. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 06 Dec 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin birded the south Mendocino coast today. She saw a SWAMP SPARROW just north of Miner Hole Road on the west side of Hwy 1. A SAY'S PHOEBE was in Irish Beach just across from Lake Pomo. She saw an adult female ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK just north of Irish Beach, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK south of Elk, and a late OSPREY at Hunter's Lagoon. There were also numbers of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in mixed blackbird flocks in recently plowed fields: about 100 south of Elk Creek and 20 more toward Alder Creek.
On the inland scene, today I birded Lake Mendocino. The RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was still at the north marina: in the bare elms at 12:00 and in the live oak at 14:00. There were five species of grebes and 17 species of ducks on the lake, including a single female REDHEAD south of the Mesa Day-Use Area (directly below the Big Sit Site). It's looking pretty good for the CBC -- George Chaniot
Tue, 05 Dec 2000 -- Today I relocated the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER at the West end of the Marina parking area, near the trail that appears to be under construction. It was being actively chased off by just about everything in the area. In the 45 minutes I spent with the bird it was chased by Acorn Woodpeckers, Red Breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, and even a Northern Mockingbird. I attempted to get some video of this guy, but I can't say I was that successful. -- Justin Ward
Mon, 04 Dec 2000 -- At about 2:00 P.M. today the RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was in the Live Oak behind the Elm trees. -- Jerry White
Mon, 04 Dec 2000 -- The male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER at Lake Mendocino was seen again yesterday by Barbara Dolan and several times this morning between 08:00 and 09:30 by Jerry White, Dorothy Tobkin, Dave Woodward, and myself. It returns to the bare elm trees near the pay phone at the top of the north boat ramp. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 03 Dec 2000, 08:10-08:30 -- I easily relocated the male RED-NAPEDSAPSUCKER found yesterday by Chuck Vaughn and Matthew Matthiessen at the north marina at Lake Mendocino. I first saw it in the leafless trees (English Elms?) on either side of the pay phone across from the restrooms. It was driven off several times by Acorn Woodpeckers and retreated into the live oaks on either side of the boat ramp, and circulated to some Toyon near the snack bar, and the large Valley Oak to the west. The whole time I followed it, it was within 50 yards of the pay phone. It has several red feathers in the black facial stripe, which is ok for Red-naped by some references, but may indicate some degree of Red-breastedness. There was a lot of sapsipping activity around the holes in these trees by Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Anna's Hummingbirds and Audubon's Warblers -- George Chaniot
Sat, 02 Dec 2000 -- Ed Pandolfino, a visiting birder from Loomis, spotted a pair of REDHEADS on Lake Mendocino late in the day on 12/2. They were spotted with CANVASBACKS on the NW corner of the Lake. Ed was observing from the Pomo A recreation area.
Sat, 02 Dec 2000 -- There was a fly-over immature BALD EAGLE seen from hiway 1 at mile marker 72.21 north of 10 mile river. Around high tide a group of us saw 5 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Laguna Point.
Richard Irvin and I found the LAPLAND LONGSPUR about 200 yard south of the Sister City marker near the South Parking lot at Mendocino Headlands around 4:30 PM. -- Jerry White
Sat, 02 Dec 2000 -- Matthew Matthiessen and I made a leisurely trip to Round Valley mid morning only to find it socked in. Went up Etsel Ridge to about 5000' and found nothing of note. There was a ROCK WREN in the large rock rip-rap just W of the Black Butte store- an area we've all seen them before. Round Valley cleared in afternoon and in the area we had 4 Golden Eagles, 4 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, a PRAIRIE FALCON and a MERLIN. Tried Reynolds Hiway where there was so much activity reported recently but found nothing. The bird of the day was at the N launch at Lake Mendocino- a male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. This bird was working a leafless ornamental tree just to the W edge of the top of the launch. It is on the edge of the parking lot above a phone booth. The bird has a number of sap wells pecked out and was visiting them and flying to the large Valley Oak to the W along the edge of the lake. Be patient. We watched the bird for an hour between 3:30 and 4:30, took photos, and it revisited the ornamental tree repeatedly. Good luck. -- Chuck Vaughn and Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 01 Dec 2000 -- At noon today an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN circled over the irrigation pond and permanent pasture at the entrance to the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. It proceeded to land on the long water ski/irrigation pond on the south side of University Road. This is perhaps 0.5 miles E of the junction of University and Eastside Roads, prior to starting up the hills toward the Center office. At 12:45 the bird was still there, very obvious on the south end of the pond. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 30 Nov 2000 -- On this date I had numerous Varied Thrushs (~30 individuals), 15 Band-tailed Pigeons, and 1 Blue Grouse on Mountain View Road. 2 Tundra Swans were foraging with numerous Canada Geese and American Wigeon at the Mouth of Brush Creek in Manchester. Finally I had 5 Common Goldeneye (4 Males, 1 Female) swimming in the Navarro River just West of the HWY. 1 Bridge. -- Justin Ward
Wed and Thu 29 and 30 Nov 2000 -- The GRAY JAY was once again observed eating at the feeders at the Albion Field Station. 1 individual was observed at various intervals. No predictable pattern observed as of yet this season. Location: The Pacific Union College's biological station. The Albion Field Station, 32000 Albion Street, Albion, CA. -- Ruth Wiebe, rawiebe@puc.edu
Thu, 30 Nov 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports that the LAPLAND LONGSPUR, first noted on 11 Nov., is still present on the Mendocino Headlands near the Sister City marker by the s. parking lot.
Mon, 28 Nov 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin spent about an hour with a scope at Laguna Point in MacKerricher SP today and saw the following: 4 ROCK SANDPIPERS at high tide on the rocks to the north, many Pacific Loons and Surf Scoters moving south, 12 Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwaters, 6 NORTHERN FULMARS, 8 ANCIENT MURRELETS, 1 jaeger sp., 8 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 60 BRANTS, 1 Bonaparte's Gull, and 20 RED PHALAROPES.
Sun, 26 Nov 2000 -- Ev Wadsworth saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS in Point Arena cove Sunday, Nov 26 about 9:30 A.M. -- E. Rae Hudspeth
Sat, 25 Nov 2000 -- According to Vic Crosetti an AMERICAN DIPPER was seen along Robinson Creek Road near Ukiah on Saturday morning. It was just downstream from the first bridge over Robinson Creek.
Sat, 25 Nov 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 4 ROCK SANDPIPERS on the rocks just north of Laguna Point, 14 HARLEQUIN DUCKS (6m 8f) at Glass Beach, and 12 BLACK SCOTERS off the end of Ward Avenue.
Tue, 21 Nov 2000 -- This morning I drove over to the Mendocino headlands to see if the LAPLAND LONGSPUR was still present. Unlike other reports I've heard, the bird didn't hop into my lap as soon as I opened the car door. In fact, I walked around for about 10 minutes without success. Finally, I stopped to look at a Savannah Sparrow and suddenly a bird with white in the tail and giving a distinctly different stacatto flight call flushed from no more that ten feet from where I was standing. I'm glad I stopped where I did. I watched the LALO for about 10 minutes before it finally flew below the lip of the bluff. I would agree that the bird is a first year female. I left the area by 8:15am.
For anyone who hasn't seen the bird yet but would like to, my advice is to cover the area thoroughly. If the bird doesn't flush immediately keep looking. When I initially found the bird, it was about 100+ feet east of the "Behold The Sea" marker. When the bird flushed it flew to about 50 feet south of the marker. The bird showed strong preference for those two spots repeatedly flushing back and forth between them. The bird also showed a preference for grass tall enough to hide in (at least two inches high). Not once did I observe the bird out in the open in the short grass around the marker. Also, listen for that distinctive flight call. Only once did the bird not call when flushed (out of at least five times). Other than that the bird was silent.
A few minutes of scoping from the headlands failed to produce the "flock" of Horned Puffins that George saw last week but there were at least three NORTHERN FULMARS within binocular view of the bluffs. Thanks to all (especially Toby) who have continued to send in reports of the LALO. Those of us who couldn't make it over last week sincerely appreciate it. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 17 Nov 2000 -- Today I made an unsuccessful canvass of the area north of Fort Bragg for Mountain Bluebirds. While I was scoping out to sea near Glass Beach (not for bluebirds) I saw a HORNED PUFFIN flying north fairly close to shore. It appeared to light on the water out from Virgin Creek Beach. Later at Laguna Point I saw a second Horned Puffin flying south in a flock of Surf Scoters, and possibly a third in a group Pacific Loons, but I didn't get on it soon enough. I doubt that these birds can be refound, but this is an "Eyes Up" alert, they're around.
The combination of clear atmosphere, light winds, light seas, and morning light from the back made it an excellent day for scoping out to sea. The main action was the southward drift of loons. About 3000 Pacific Loons were passing Laguna Point per hour. I also saw a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at binoculars range and several BLACK SCOTERS among the passing Surf Scoters. On Bald Hill Road I had a nice "close encounter of the bird kind" with a FERRUGINOUS HAWK. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 16 Nov 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw six MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS on Bald Hill Road near Fort Bragg. They flew off to the west and may not still be in the same area.
Thu, 16 Nov 2000 -- My friend Dave Lancaster, a biologist with the Department of Fish and Game and I went out to the Mendocino Headlands today to get a look at the LAPLAND LONGSPUR.
She was exactly where everyone said she would be. I brought Dave along with me because he has seen them in northeastern California before and I had never seen one at all until today. Of course, before we set out, I took out all my field guides and studied the markings so I would know what to look for. After watching her for a good half an hour or more, we both decided that this bird was a female, of the buffy fall coloration described in the National Geographic Field Guide. She is a beauty! -- Feather Forestwalker
Wed, 15 Nov 2000, 12:15 -- I also found the LAPLAND LONGSPUR near the sister city plaque by the S. parking lot at the Mendocino Headlands. I had scarcely walked ten strides from the car when it flew up. It went down about 30 feet further and disappeared, longspur style, in the shortest of grass. I was able to work up on it and get a good view, then I went back to the car and scoped it from the driver's seat for about 15 minutes. MEN#323, Thank you, Toby. [She saw it later in the day too; this bird is twichable.] I then went up to Laguna Point where I had an adult THAYER'S GULL in the big flock of gulls on the beach near the parking lot. I walked out to the end of the boardwalk with scope and umbrella and found two ROCK SANDPIPERS foraging on the rocks just off the end of the boardwalk, another sleeping among the Surfbirds on the rocks to the north, a nice male HARLEQUIN DUCK in the water to the south, and a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and several NORTHERN FULMARS not too far out to sea. From Ward Avenue I could see about 20 BLACK SCOTERS from the parking lot. At Pudding Creek the COMMON MOORHEN was still east of the bridge, and at Bald Hill a FERRUGINOUS HAWK was flying over the pastures. All-in-all, pretty good birding for a rainy afternoon - and most of it from the car. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 15 Nov 2000 -- The LAPLAND LONGSPUR that Toby reported on both the 11th and 14th was still present this morning near the plaque at the south parking lot at the Mendocino Headlands. I watched it for about 15 minutes around 8 am in the wind and mist on my way to work. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 14 Nov 2000, 10:30 -- The LAPLAND LONGSPUR reported on Nov 11 was still present at the Mendocino Headlands. It was near the plaque marker south of the S. parking lot at the headlands. -- Dorothy Tobkin
Mon, 13 Nov 2000 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin saw a ROCK SANDPIPER at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park among Surfbirds. There were also 9 HARLEQUIN DUCKS and a MERLIN at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, and a HOODED MERGANSER at Hunter's Lagoon near Manchester.
Mon, 13 Nov 2000 -- I would love for someone to e-mail me and see if they can tell me whether I've been seeing a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD at my feeders. All day today, an immature male Anna's Hummingbird was chasing a lot of other hummers away from my feeders. Several birds were the same size as this little guy, one was larger (not sure what species it was), and one or two were smaller. One of these hovered in front of my face, watching for the little "firebrand" Anna's immature male, but definitely interested in eating. This birds gorget appeared to be bright, iridescent purple an extended downward along the flanks of the smallish hummer ."Could it actually be a male Costa's?!" If someone can e-mail me and let me know what time you are available, I would love for you to come over and watch the feeders with me. . .feather@earthling.net -- Feather Forestwalker
Sun, 12 Nov 2000 -- On the Mendo Coast Audubon field trip, we saw two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS with good views. This was in the area of north Irish Beach/Mallo Pass at about noon. They were seen first soaring and hovering over the bluffs while looking out from the red barn, and again overhead at the Scenic Overlook parking lot. -- Art Morley
Sat, 11 Nov 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw a male LAPLAND LONGSPUR near the S. parking lot at the Mendocino Headlands.
Sat, 11 Nov 2000 -- Rob Hewitt and I birded inland Mendocino County. With Justin Ward and Tyler we had 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS on Burris Lane, Potter Valley. On Pine Ave there was what we think was a imm. Chipping Sparrow with the White
and Golden-crowned Sparrows. At Lake Mendocino we saw 7 CANVASBACKS, 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, HOODED MERGANSERS, and 3 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Later in the day the dam was uneventful.
At the Ukiah Sewage Ponds, Rob and I ran into Barbara Dolan, but had no birds of note. The southermost pond, which was so good earlier this fall, has dried up and had all vegetation removed.
During the 1/2 hour leading up to sunset, Rob and I birded Reynolds Road, near Willits, about 3 miles south of the 101 turnoff, and had 1 PEREGRINE FALCON, 2 American Kestrels, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, I FERRUGINOUS HAWK, Red-tailed
Hawk, 4 kites, a NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 Cooper's Hawk, and 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK. The best raptor watching I have seen yet in Mendo. -- John Hunter
Wed, 08 Nov 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin and I made a trip to high country near Mendocino Pass on a unsuccessfull nutcracker quest, but driving about Round Valley in the afternoon, we easily saw three nice FERRUGINOUS HAWKS and found a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW among "-crowned" sparrows near Dobie and Fairbanks roads. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 08 Nov 2000 -- I found a PACIFIC LOON (9th county record) on Clear Lake, seen from Library Park in Lakeport. Continued searching by myself and others has not been successful. However we did receive a report from a local fisherman of a "loon sp." in the general area for the past few days so the possibility exists the bird is still in the area. -- Jerry White
Tue, 07 Nov 2000 -- Since the private logging road on the S sife of the Eel River below Lake Pillsbury has been repaired and reopened, I did about 8 miles of roadwork myself including Pine Mountain Road. Four N. PYGMY OWLS were heard, and one seen, between 7:30 and 10:30 A.M. I also had some RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES in Knobcone Pine along this road. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 06 Nov 2000 -- Over 100 BROWN PELICANS were sighted today at Ten Mile beach, at the mouth of the river. Photos are being processed as I write. Also spotted were three SNOWY EGRETS and one GREAT EGRET, several American Coots, Great Blue Herons, Pied-billed Grebes, Western and CLARK'S GREBES, a Belted Kingfisher, and a Black Phoebe. The sighting of the BROWN PELICANS occurred at around 1:00 PM. They were hunting fish at the mouth of the river with several different gull species, including RING-BILLED and others -- Feather Forestwalker
Mon, 06 Nov 2000 -- I had a soaring, light-phase, adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley just beyond the end of the county road. It was soaring over the oaks and then glided out to the NE (right over your house, Justin). -- George Chaniot
Sun, 05 Nov 2000 -- A friend from New Hampshire and I took a look at the east side of the Pudding Creek Bridge this evening around 5 PM and spotted the immature Common Moorhen among a small flock of American Coots.
Spotted on the west side of the bridge was a Snowy Egret and a Great Egret, and in the water of the creek there appeared to be American Wigeons with possible Eurasion Wigeons. We will hopefully visit the area again tomorrow. -- Feather Forestwalker
Sat, 04 Nov 2000 -- A little farther from home, Gerald Mugele had a CLARK'S NUTCRACKER at Black Oak Camp near Goat Rock in NW Colusa Co.
Sat, 04 Nov 2000 -- This morning Chuck Vaughn and I made a birding trip to the high country in Mendocino Co. near Hull Mountain and found two CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS along Forest Service Road M61 between Calamese Rock and Bald Mountain at about 9:30. This is very near an area called Hell's Half Acre on both the Forest Service map ( F3 ) and the Delorme Atlas ( p.65, D5 ).
The elevation is about 6200 feet, and the vegetation is Ponderosa Pine with some White Fir. We had to turn back at this point because of snow, and in fact we heard the birds when we got out to figure out how to turn the pickup around.
We also saw a pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS fly over the road with several robins near Calamese Rock. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 02 Nov 2000 -- The immature COMMON MOORHEN was seen again at Pudding Creek in Fort Bragg east of the Hwy. 1 bridge. It was first reported at this site on 14 Oct. For a bird hard to find in Mendocino Co., this one is staying around.
Tue, 31 Oct 2000 -- Six or more LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were seen from the knoll above the pond at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. This is turning out to be a very reliable location for this species this winter, like last winter. I have seen them on every visit since 14 Sep., usually rather close and vocalizing. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 30 Oct 2000 -- At Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park Dorothy Tobkin found the season's first ROCK SANDPIPER among Surfbirds and Black Turnstones. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was also seen in the grass south of the point. In recent days she has seen a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, a SABINE'S GULL, and a late PIGEON GUILLEMOT from shore in the same area.
Sun, 29 Oct 2000 -- A MERLIN was seen sitting out the rain in a tree near the parking lot at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Another MERLIN was seen sitting in a tree along Route101 near Calpella. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 28 Oct 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW visiting her yard in Fort Bragg.
Fri, 27 Oct 2000 -- On Bald Hill Road, off of Pudding Creek Road, in Fort Bragg, Dorothy Tobkin saw several hundred TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, and a PEREGRINE FALCON.
Tue, 24 Oct 2000 -- I missed the Pinyon Jay this morning, but I did see a PRAIRIE FALCON along Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. It was soaring over the oaks and grassland to the south of the road near the Iron Horse Ranch sign. I also heard three N. PYGMY-OWLS calling at mid-morning along the upper reaches of Pine Avenue. Justin says that they are fairly regular up there. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 24 Oct 2000 -- This morning (0730) as I reached for my coffee my eyes were pried apart by the appearance of a PINYON JAY at my feeder on Pine Avenue in Potter Valley. I am very familiar with both common forms of Jay around here (Western Scrub and Steller's) and have seen the Gray Jays at Van Damme State Park, but this really stood out as something different. I did get some video of the bird and have seen and heard it around the house and feeders all morning. I don't know if it will stick around, but if it does, birders are welcome to come see it, please call for directions. (1-707-743-1604)
I don't know what the past status of this species is but I could not find it on any of the Mendocino check lists (Is this a first county record?) [Yes, first Mendocino County Record.- GEC]
One quick side note - CALBIRD has had many reports of unusual corvid numbers and locations last month (mostly from So. Cal), I wonder if we are seeing something similar? -- Justin Ward
Sun, 22 Oct 2000 -- The team of Vaughn, Chaniot, Dolan, Vishnu, and Matthiessen participated in the 2nd Annual Lake Mendocino Big Sit this weekend variously in the interval of 5:30 A.M. to 6:40 P.M. We ended up with 81 species seen from a 17-foot circle at the Mesa Day-Use Area, exceeding last year's count by one. Highlights were a large group of Common Mergansers doing waves of cooperative foraging past the area, a Bald Eagle fly-over, a Peregrine Falcon making multiple passes through the day, a Golden Eagle which landed on a branch very close by, and migrating flocks of Canada and White-fronted Geese high overhead. A fine, fall day of good birding, camaraderie, and great eats. Is there any other spot in Mendocino County that can equal this one in species? That's a friendly challenge. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 18 Oct 2000 -- The pelagic trip out of Fort Bragg ran into fog but had nice views of a SOUTH POLAR SKUA and two ANCIENT MURRELETS among other pelagic species.
The immature COMMON MOORHEN east of the bridge at Pudding Creek was seen again today by many observers at about 5:00 p.m.
Tue, 17 Oct 2000 -- A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was at the Pt. Arena Lighthouse. Drive past the kiosk and look on the white fence near the heliport. A NASHVILLE WARBLER, SWAMP SPARROW, FERRUGINOUS HAWK and a possible BROAD-WINGED HAWK were seen along Miner Hole Road, a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD was on Navarro Bluff Road, and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was observed near the beautifully landscaped house on Duxburry Road. -- Debi Shearwater (from N.Calif.Birdbox)
Tue, 17 Oct 2000 -- Jerry White found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD in the willows near Glass Beach. It was searched for on the 18th by m.ob. but not refound. 17 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at Glass Beach on the 17th and easily refound on the 18th, including views of stunning males at close range.
Sat, 14 October 2000 -- Geoff and Cheryl Heinecken saw a juvenile COMMON MOORHEN in Pudding Creek late Saturday afternoon. The bird was was seen east of the Pudding Creek bridge, in the water along the south edge of the creek near the bridge. Barbara Dolan found the bird again Sunday morning 15 Oct, same location.
Sun, 15 Oct 2000 -- This morning about 9:00 AM Dave and Brian Woodward and I found the SWAMP SPARROW discovered yesterday by Matthew Matthiessen. The bird was in the same location as described in that report. This is the 6th record for Lake County. Another search for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was unsuccessful. -- Jerry White
Sat, 14 Oct 2000 -- Today, I spent some time in Lake County at Anderson Marsh State Park in an effort to find the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker found earlier in the week by Jerry White and subsequently refound by Dave Woodward. I didn't have luck with the sapsucker (even though I did find the mixed flock that it had been hanging out with) but I did find a SWAMP SPARROW at the exact location that Dave had the sapsucker on Wednesday.
Directions to this spot are: Take Hwy 53 south from Hwy 20. Turn right at the third light (Old State Hwy). After BD mile turn left onto Lakeview. Follow Lakeview until it turns to dirt. After another 0.1 mile turn left onto a dirt track beside a broken-down metal gate. Follow this track till it dead ends at Cache Creek. Approximately 75 yards before you get to the creek there is a quasi path that goes left (east) and allows relatively easy access through the tall grass to the riparian area beyond (maybe 50 yards). A few yards after starting on the path you'll step over an old pile of leaves and then the skeleton of a small christmas tree. Initially, the sparrow was in the tall grass about 20 yards beyond (east of) the christmas tree but it kept making short hops to the south for about 50 yards. It was still there when I left at noon. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri 13 Oct 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports that she saw two HORNED LARKS today inside the Georgia Pacific fence in the Glass Beach area. They were rather hard to see, but they were finally flushed up by some machines and seen and heard at a distance. A scope is advised. She also saw 15 HARLEQUIN DUCKS south of Glass Beach sitting on offshore rocks.
Wed 11 Oct 2000 -- At 10:40am this morning 10/11/00 I refound the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER reported by Jerry White yesterday in Anderson Marsh St. Pk.. Today the sapsucker was about 80 yds. N. of the location described by Jerry. From the end of the dirt road on Cache Creek walk about 80 yds. N., then about 40 yds. east to the edge of the dense riparian habitat. The sapsucker was feeding in willows and, as with yesterday's observation, it was found near a mixed flock that today included Brown Creepers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Bushtits, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and two Nutall's Woodpeckers. -- Dave Woodward
Wed, 11 Oct 2000 -- A HORNED LARK was seen along the northern end of the Haul Road about 3:00 PM. It was about 1/8 mile down from the northern most curve along the beach. It was there again about 4:30 PM. -- Tina Fabula and Justin Ward
Tue, 10 Oct 2000 -- Today I found a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (2nd Lake Co. record) in the portion of Anderson Marsh State Park which is at the south end of the city of Clearlake. From Old Highway 53 take Lakeview Way until it turns to dirt. Go about 1/10th of a mile further and look for a damaged metal gate. Turn left or south on that rough dirt road and follow it to it's end at Cache Creek. I found the sapsucker about 100 yards upstream from that point around 12:00 PM.
The Tropical Kingbird Dave Woodward found on Friday has not been refound. Dave had a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a DUNLIN at the Kelsey Creek inlet today. -- Jerry White
Mon, 09 Oct 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports a PECTORAL SANDPIPER and a remarkable 16 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. The 7 male and 9 female Harlequins were on the rocks and in the water directly out from the end of the access road.
Sat, 07 Oct 2000 -- I found 2 (possibly more) HORNED LARKS in Mendocino County. They were on the lumber company property that is fenced in just to the south of the trail to Glass Beach. The birds were very difficult to locate and keep track of as they blended in with the background. This appears to be a very good place to look for this species during migration. Horned Lark's are rare in Mendocino County. -- Jerry White
Fri, 06 Oct 2000 -- There was a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on the flat west of the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park from 3:35 to 4:30pm today 10/6/00.The bird was flycatching from low perches near the center of the flat during most of this time. The bird flew over the willows and cottonwoods to the west and had not returned when I left at 5:30pm. To reach the flat go to the north end of the Visitor's Center parking lot and look for the path near the Monterey Pine. -- Dave Woodward, Lakeport
Thu, 05 Oct 2000 -- The RUFF was at the mouth of Caspar Creek on 10-4-00, and we had an immature BALD EAGLE fly over. One male and possibly 3 other HARLEQUIN DUCKS were out from the Quality Inn in Fort Bragg at dusk.
On 10-5-00 at the Pudding Creek estuary there were 2 immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Fri, 29 Sep 2000 -- This morning Ev Wadsworth and I followed a flock of several hundred small birds on the ridge mid Sea Ranch and Gualala Redwoods land. The usual suspects were accompanied by many Townsend's Warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatches, but the best bird was an AMERICAN REDSTART. -- E. Rae Hudspeth
Sat ,30 Sep 2000 -- I stopped by Caspar Creek to see if the RUFF was still present. He was. But instead of feeding along the creek, this time he was actually feeding on the beach with three dowitchers (and a dozen people and a dog). I observed the bird from about 3:00-3:30pm at an ebb tide. He's now been at that site for two weeks. It will be interesting to see how much longer he stays. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Tue, 26 Sep 2000, 1:30 p.m. -- A juvenile LONG-BILLED CURLEW was feeding along Manchester Beach between the trail to the beach and the mouth of the Garcia river. One SNOWY PLOVER was seen on the beach north of the mouth of the Garcia and south of the high dunes. -- Kris Carter and Beate Schikora, Davis, CA
Wed, 27 Sep 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports 9 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 5 females and 4 males, at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. They were directly out from the end of the walkway.
Mon, 25 Sep 2000 -- A number of us saw an adult male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens at mid-day on Monday. It was in a large mixed-species flock that included several BROWN CREEPERS, numerous C-B CHICKADEES, two TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. The flock was gione when I checked again at about 3P.M. -- Greg Grantham
Tue, 26 Sep 2000 -- The immature male RUFF has been sometimes absent, sometimes present at the mouth of Caspar Creek since last reported on the 19th. It was seen yesterday by Art Morely and again at 10:30 this morning by Dorothy Tobkin. It was last seen flying out to sea, but it has done this before and returned. Toby also reports an eclipse male BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Pudding Creek in Fort Bragg today.
Sat, 23 Sep 2000 -- I spent a couple hours at the Garcia rivermouth. Highlights were one BRANT, two MARBLED GODWITS, and one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Scoping over the ocean from the beach right at the rivermouth also yielded two adult POMARINE JAEGERS and one adult PARASITIC JAEGER.
The drive over Mountain View Rd on my way to the Garcia River provided excellent views of four gallinaceous species. There were several coveys of CALIFORNIA QUAIL and MOUNTAIN QUAIL along the road. There was also a group of WILD TURKEY and a single female BLUE GROUSE standing on the edge of the pavement.
I also birded along Miner Hole Rd but the most interesting bird there was a FOX SPARROW of subspecies unalaschcensis.
This afternoon at 6:00pm I drove up to the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino to see if the birds reported there from the past two days were still present. There were two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and one DUNLIN on the emerging mudflats southeast of the parking area but I could not find the Sabine's Gulls. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Fri, 22 Sep 2000 -- This morning I went to Coyote Dam at Lake Mendocino and saw about the same suite of species reported by John Hunter yesterday. The two SABINE'S GULLS and one COMMON TERN are still there and easily seen from the dam or the lower parking lot. Baitfish were "boiling" to the surface, and the gulls were attracted to the feeding frenzy of other gulls, mergansers, grebes, and herons. This is a good opportunity for people who don't do pelagic trips to see Sabine's Gull at a pretty good range.
The lake level is down to 726 feet and still falling. More mud islands are appearing, and there is a variety of shorebirds and other waterbirds: 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 20 Western Sandpipers, 1 Dunlin, 1 Least Sandpiper, 5 (Long-billed?) Dowitchers, 2 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Horned Grebes, et al. A single Caspian Tern was seen in the north end of the lake. There has been a major influx of Western Grebes and American Coots since last weekend, and a smattering of dabbling and diving ducks. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 21 Sep 2000 -- Today, 9-21-00, at Coyote Dam at Lake Mendocino in 20 minutes of birding I had 1 COMMON TERN, at least one CASPIAN TERN (calling), 2 imm. SABINE'S GULL (my first ever inland!), 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and 1 DUNLIN. Earlier, at the mouth of the Russian River in Sonoma County I had 7 White Pelicans; there was also a SAY'S PHOEBE near Jenner. Yesterday, 9-20-00, in Sonoma County about 3 miles out Tin Can Road off of Skaggs Springs-Stewarts Point Road I found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. -- John Hunter, Arcata, CA
Wed ,20 Sep 2000 -- The RUFF was still at Caspar Creek on Tuesday morning at 8:00 am as reported by the Wades. I saw it at 3:30 on the north side of the creek in a small patch of grass near the outlet. -- Art Morley
Mon, 18 Sep 2000 -- We arrived at 5:15 pm and found the immature male RUFF still at the mouth of Caspar Creek. It was foraging in the small lagoon and feeding on amphipod beachoppers which seemed to be plentiful. At 6:10 pm it flew to the west toward the rocky reefs on the south side of the cove. It may have landed there.
We also searched the Virgin Creek area for the Cassin's Kingbird without luck. -- Matthew Matthiessen and George Chaniot
Mon, 18 Sep 2000 -- Warren Wade reports that the RUFF is still at the mouth of Caspar Creek this morning.
Several people have looked for the Cassin's Kingbird near Virgin Creek since Saturday without luck.
Sun, 17 Sep 2000 -- This morning around 8:30 am there was a juvenile RUFF at Caspar Creek. Toby Tobkin came by shortly after I first found the bird. She felt, based on size, it was a male. At this time the tide was still low and there were spotted sandpipers, Western Sandpipers and several Killdeer in the area. I checked again around 1:30 pm at a higher tide and not only was the Ruff gone but all the other shorebirds had disappeared.
I also briefly looked for the Cassin's Kingbird around 11 am with no luck. Both birds could of course still be in the area and maybe further searching will turn them up.-- Jerry White
Sat, 15 July 2000 -- The habitat at USTP is developing rather well for shorebirds this year. There is a sizeable area of exposed mud on the south pond, and the waterlevel is falling on the middle pond. Today there were about 100 Western Sandpipers, 100 Least Sandpipers, 2 Long-billed Dowitchers, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 WILSON'S PHALAROPE, and 1 Greater Yellowlegs. 2 female BLUE-WINGED TEAL continue. A Vaux's Swift was among the swallows. One of the Western Sandpipers had a red colorband on the right leg and a silver band on the left. -- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Sat, 16 Sep 2000 -- This afternoon a CASSIN'S KINGBIRD was spotted by Jerry White north of Virgin Creek and seen well by a party of seven birders. The location was about 1/2 mile north of Virgin Creek on the Haul Road, or about midway between Virgin Creek and Laguna Point. It was foraging from the wire fence of the northmost residence, a brown house with a floral flag. This is the first county record of this species. -- George Chaniot
Sat ,16 Sep 2000 -- Around noon today we saw a SABINE'S GULL at Lake Mendocino from the south boat ramp near Coyote Dam. It was flying around the emerging islands in the south end of the lake and last seen flying toward the east shore. This is one of the very few (2?) inland Mendocino Co. records for this mainly pelagic species. Please update if you see it again. -- Chuck Vaughn, Matthew Matthiessen, and George Chaniot
The Am. White Pelican has not been reported since Tuesday evening, 12 Sep.
Fri, 15 Sep 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports an immature AMERICAN REDSTART along the lower Navarro River. It was in the vicinity of the dwellings but moved eastward. This is possible the same bird seen by Debbie Shearwater on Tuesday, and it may still be around.
Wed,13 Sep 2000 -- This morning Dorothy Tobkin found a fall-plumaged BLACKPOLL WARBLER along the Skunk Tracks in Fort Bragg. It was in a large mixed flock of kinglets, warblers, vireos, and chickadees not too far up the tracks. There was also a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on a beach with lots of kelp at the far end of the Mendocino Botanical Gardens S of Fort Bragg.
Tue, 12 Sep 2000 , 6:00pm -- I observed the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN on Lake Mendocino. It was in a cove on the east side of the lake directly across from Coyote Dam and the southern boat ramp (the same location that George Chaniot reported it from at 11:30am yesterday). Initially the bird was out of site in the hidden southern portion of the cove. After a few minutes of scanning it finally swam into view. -- Matthew Matthiessen
Wed, 13 Sep 2000 -- This morning I checked out mud flat along the Garcia River near the end of Miner Hole Road and found no Baird's Sandpiper among the dozen or so Least and Western Sandpipers. I did flush up one AMERICAN BITTERN that flew upstream. The Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant had one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER in the middle of the three ponds. -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
Tue ,12 Sep 2000,11:30 -- The AM. WHITE PELICAN reported at Lake Mendocino Friday through Monday was relocated today sitting on the mud of Perry Creek Cove on the inaccessible E. side of the lake. It could be seen from the S. Boat Ramp and Coyote Dam directly to the east. Telescope recommended, but it dwarfs the Great Egrets nearby. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 10 Sep 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin and Jan Anderson report a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER along the Garcia River near the end of Miner Hole Road.
Sun, 10 Sep 2000 -- This morning we searched the Garcia River at Windy Hollow for the Blackpoll and Virginia's Warblers reported yesterday without luck. There was a lot of Yellow Warbler activity in this area. Dorothy Tobkin and Jan Anderson saw two NORTHERN PARULAS among Yellow Warblers at the end of Windy Hollow Road on the south side of the river. Be prepared for some shallow wading in this area. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 10 Sep 2000 -- Three PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant as of 2:30 PM.
Sun, 10 Sep 2000The AM. WHITE PELICAN is still present at the Russian River Inlet to Lake Mendocino as of 3:30 PM. It hasn't moved 50 yards since it was discovered Friday morning. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 09 Sep 2000 -- Ev Wadsworth and I saw a male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER along the logging road under the Gualala River Twin Bridges over Annapolis road. -- E. Rae Hudspeth
Sat, 09 Sep 2000 -- This morning I found an immature BLACKPOLL WARBLER and an immature VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (first Co. record) along the Garcia River near Windy Hollow Road. They were with a group of Yellow and Wilson's Warblers in the early morning and later in the morning too. To reach this spot I recommend coming in from the south side, turning E. on Riverside Drive in Point Arena and then N. on Windy Hollow Road. Work downstream a couple hundred yards and look for a tree fallen over the river from the north bank. This is the area. Walk to the end of the gravel bar. You can reach the area from the north side, but there will be more wading. Ankle-high waders are recommended in any case. -- Jerry White
Mon 29 Jul 2000 -- Today toby saw a WILSON'S PHALAROPE, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and some LEAST AND WESTERN SANDPIPERS at Caspar Estuary and a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at Glass Beach.
Sun, 28 Jul 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw 25 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS in Mendocino Bay off Brewery Gulch and from the headlands. She also saw a MARBLED MURRELET there and WANDERING TATLERS at Todd's Point and Virgin Creek Beach
Wed, 24 Jul 2000 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw both juvenile PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and juvenile COMMON MURRES off Laguna Point.
Wednesday, 8 Mar 2000, 5pm -- A winter plumage CHIPPING SPARROW arrived in our yard on Ryan Creek Road, Willits today, the first of the season. He was defiantly guarding a brushpile. -- Jeff Joseph
Wednesday, 8 Mar 2000,10am -- We saw a PRAIRIE FALCON perched along Route 101 just south of the railroad crossing north of Willits. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK has claimed the hunting territory formerly occupied by the pair of White-tailed Kites on Commercial St. in Willits opposite the little league fields. -- Jeff Joseph and Suzanne Johnson
Sunday, 5 Mar 2000 -- This morning Matthew Matthiessen and I tried to refind the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW that had been seen yesterday at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. We were unsuccessful. However, Matthew did see a SWAMP SPARROW along the south fence about 3/4 of the way to the Russian River. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sunday, 5 Mar 2000,4pm -- At the "S" word Rock between Cloverdale and Hopland, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were perched together on the south face and then flew off individually around the north of the rock. -- Vishnu
Saturday, 4 Mar 2000, a.m. -- This morning I headed off to MacKerricher State Park hoping the ROCK SANDPIPERS were still hanging around. Sure enough, at high tide there were FOUR ROCK SANDPIPERS on the rocks immediately north of the Laguna Point observation platform. Of note, on the same rocks were a flock of 33 Black Oystercatchers! I've seen oystercatchers in groups of up to a dozen before but never this many.
Also at Laguna Point were a RED-NECKED GREBE and a HARLEQUIN DUCK. There were also at least three BLACK SCOTERS at the end of Ward Ave. -- Matthew Matthiessen, Ukiah, CA
Saturday, 4 Mar 2000 -- This morning about 9:00 we saw a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant in the blackberries along the south fence. It was making fairly conspicuous hops into the air, perhaps flycatching like Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers in the same area. When last seen it may have flown off into the pear orchard to the south. -- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Friday, 3 Mar 2000 -- I returned from a successful McCown's Longspur twitch in Colusa County to find a bright male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at my feeder in Potter Valley. This is about a week earlier than ever before here in my patch. My previous early record was 9 March, but usually I don't see them until the last week of March. Violet-green and Tree Swallows showed up on 1 March - a little earlier than usual. -- George Chaniot
Wednesday, 1 Mar 2000 -- Several ROCK SANDPIPERS were reported from MacKerricker State Park. -- fide.. Alvaro Jaramillo
Tuesday, 29 Feb 2000, 1 PM -- 2 miles east of Willits on Center Valley Rd. near Sawyers Lane a PRAIRIE FALCON was seen flying from the SW to the NE at about 60 feet over Center Valley Rd. as I was driving west. The dark axillaries were clearly seen on the underside of the wings where the wings join the body. -- Ollie Kolkmann
Friday, 25 Feb 2000 -- This morning I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON fly over my yard in Potter Valley. Yardbird#154 -- George Chaniot
Wednesday, 23 Feb 2000, p.m. -- A 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL was scrounging food in the parking lot at Laguna Point. It is obvious as it is a very white bird. 1st year THAYER'S GULLS were seen at Laguna Point and at Van Damme State Park. Three ROCK SANDPIPERS were in with a flock of Surfbirds on the rocks just north of Laguna Point, at high tide and a high ocean. One male HARLEQUIN DUCK was at Glass Beach. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, Fort Bragg, CA
Monday, 21 Feb 2000 -- A WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen near Bucknell Creek on the old logging road on the south side of the Eel River. -- George Chaniot, Potter Valley, CA
Sunday 20 Feb 2000, 1:30 p.m. -- During our Great Backyard Bird Count foray just before the storm front, Richard Irvin and I saw 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES in with the large gull flock at Navarro Beach. -- Kris Carter
Saturday, 19 Feb 2000, 11:30 -- A ROCK SANDPIPER was seen on a rock just north of Ward Avenue resting among Black Turnstones. Eight BLACK SCOTERS were seen from this same location. At Laguna Point a male HARLEQUIN DUCK was sitting on the rocks, and a first winter THAYER'S GULL was among the other gulls on the beach. -- Toby Tobkin, Chuck Vaughn, and George Chaniot
Friday, 18 Feb. 2000, 8:30 a.m. -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at Arena Cove, but quite far out, beyond the floats. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Thursday, 17 Feb 2000 -- A bit past high tide, Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw 4 ROCK SANDPIPERS all on the same rock on the north side of Laguna Point. They were in with a sizeable flock of Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Whimbrel, and Black Oystercatchers. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, Fort Bragg
Thursday 17 Feb 2000 -- At 8 AM this morning, two pair of HOODED MERGANSERS were in the irrigation pond on East Side Road, Ukiah at the end of Fern Canyon Drive (~3 miles south of Talmage Road). -- Cheryl Heinecken
Tuesday 15 Feb 2000 -- A very grey WESTERN TANAGER was seen in the Mendocino Botanical Gardens on the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Field Trip. Western Tanagers are extremely rare in Mendocino County during winter months. A 2nd immature ROSS'S GOOSE has appeared at Caspar Pond. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin
Sunday, 13 Feb 2000, 8:45-9:05a.m. -- Mark from Manteca and his wife observed a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS at Glass Beach, and later saw a lone Peregrine off the Mendocino Headlands.
Saturday, 12 Feb 2000,p.m. -- Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen near MM27.90 on Hwy 1. The adult was perched on top of a telephone pole and the immature was perched on the wire next to it (first time I have seen a Peregrine on a wire). A gorgeous FERRUGINOUS HAWK was perched in a tree just north of Mallo Pass Creek and immediately east of the highway. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Saturday, 12 Feb 2000, noonish -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was in Arena Cove. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin.
Friday, 11 Feb 2000 -- Not much to see on a rainy day in Potter Valley but an adult BALD EAGLE on Burris Lane north of the pond and LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS still conspicuous hawking insects from the tops of the oaks. Some nice HOODED MERGANSERS were visable at close range at the vineyard pond on East Road. -- George Chaniot
Thursday, 10 Feb 2000, 1:30 p.m. -- Two THAYER'S GULLS were in the large gull flock at the Navarro beach. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000,4:15 -- Chuck Vaughn reports a hugh flock of 100+ migranting TREE SWALLOWS over pastures at the Hopland Field Station.
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000,11:00-4:30 -- Toby Tobkin and George Chaniot were unable to relocate the Tufted Duck at Lake Mendocino. Oak Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Varied Thrushes, American Robins, and Hutton's Vireos are beginning to sing regularly.
Monday, 7 Feb 2000,10:00-4:00 -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin searched the north end of Lake Mendocino but did not find the Tufted Duck or Redheads. For a full report of this trip see CA-MENDO-BIRDS Archive
Sunday, 6 Feb 2000,1:30-4:00 -- An adult male TUFTED DUCK was discovered by Matthew Matthiessen at Lake Mendocino among the scaup off of the Pomo A day-use area. It was subsequently seen by Chuck Vaughn, Vishnu, and Jan and George Chaniot. It associated with the scaup and ranged from Pomo A nearly to Pomo C. About 4:00 the scaup flew up and dispersed around the lake, and it was not seen again.
The bird is in fine plumage and much more distinctive than the bird of 95/96. It has a dark black back, gleaming white sides, a distinct, hanging tuft, golden eye, and a gray bill with a broad black nail and light subterminal area. This is the third county record for this species.
From Highway 20 take Marina Drive and follow it to the Pomo A parking lot on the NW corner of the lake. It is a short walk to the shore where several thousand scaup often congregate. However, the bird could be anywhere on the lake. A scope and patience are recommended.
Sunday, 6 Feb 2000 -- A new WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, this time an adult, white-striped individual, has been visiting my feeder in Potter Valley . An immature, tan-striped individual has been coming for several weeks.-- George Chaniot
Sunday, 6 Feb 2000 -- At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Pond an immature ROSS'S GOOSE has fallen in with the two remaining White China Geese on the south pond. At least 15 TREE SWALLOWS and 1 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW were milling over the south pond. This is an increase over the few seen in January; are these the first returning neotropical migrants of the season?
At Lake Mendocino we saw an adult BALD EAGLE flying and sitting on the east side, and we saw a few more TREE SWALLOWS over the lake. We relocated the pair of REDHEADS reported yesterday, this time close to shore at Pomo C. -- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Saturday, Feb 5, 2000 - This morning at Navarro Beach there was a second winter GLAUCOUS GULL and and adult winter THAYER'S GULL along with a lot of rain. At Garcia Flats there were about 65 TUNDRA SWANS and four CINNAMON TEAL (two male). The teal were at the north edge of the Flats on the east side of Hwy 1. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was present at about 1:30 at the Point Arena Harbor. It was sitting on the water about midway out towards the tall buoy directly out from the pier. -- Matthew Matthiessen, Ukiah, CA
Saturday, 5 Feb 2000 -- A male and a female REDHEAD were at the north end of Lake Mendocino visable from both Pomo A and Ky-En. They often dive in the very shallow water along the north shore. Redhead is an r-rated species in Keiffer's 1998 checklist and is the hardest to find of the regularly occuring ducks at Lake Mendocino. -- George Chaniot
Thursday, 3 Feb 2000 -- An adult BALD EAGLE was seen siting in an isolated valley oak in the "Bald Eagle Vineyard" north of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Thursday, 3 Feb 2000 -- One FERRUGINOUS HAWK was seen on the raptor fields north of Irish Beach, 3 male and several female CINNAMON TEAL were east of hwy 1 at the north edge of the Garcia Flats. The teal were in shallow water near 45 Great Egrets. 12 COMMON GOLDENEYES were in the Navarro River Estuary. -- Richard Irvin and Kris Carter
Wednesday, 2 Feb 2000 -- An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Mendocino Headlands, flying south. Also Wednesday the long-present SNOW GOOSE and ROSS'S GOOSER continue at Caspar Pond. -- Richard Irvin andamp; Kris Carter 937-1194 kkcarter@mcn.org
Monday, 1 Feb 2000 -- At Ward Avenue north of Fort Bragg there were 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS among the Black Turnstones and Surfbirds. They were seen about 2 hours after the high tide. Also present were 6 BLACK SCOTERS and a RED-NECKED GREBE. At Laguna Point in MacKerricher two RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were seen and another RED-NECKED GREBE. At least 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at various places near Glass Beach at the end of Elm Street in Fort Bragg. -- Toby Tobkin
Friday, 28 Jan 2000 -- Today Toby Tobkin, Chuck Vaughn, and I birded the south Mendocino coast from Navarro Beach to Arena Cove, and even though there didn't seem to be much bird activity, we saw a number of unusual birds. From a pullout north of Elk we saw a HORNED PUFFIN flying north with some smaller alcids. At least three FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were seen in the fields north and south of Elk and on Miner Hole Road. On the Garcia flats there were at least 5 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE among the 196 TUNDRA SWANS. Among the Mallards was an interesting hybrid PINTAILxMALLARD drake - worth a look. From a pullout south of Elk we saw a pair of MARBLED MURRELETS, and from Point Arena Lighthouse we saw 12 ANCIENT MURRELETS at a reasonable scoping distance. A first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL was seen flying north along the bluffs before the lighthouse entrance gate. At Arena Cove the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was within spitting distance off the end of the pier from 13:30-14:00. It was busily engaged in tearing apart a floating memorial wreath which was teathered from the end of the pier. It was, would you believe, picking carnations. Chuck refound the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER in the chickadee flock near the rock pile along the Navarro River where it was found in the fall. Finally, both the immature ROSS'S GOOSE and the adult SNOW GOOSE are still on Caspar Pond, a nice side-by-side comparison at close range. -- George Chaniot
Saturday, 22 Jan 2000 -- Nine people went on the field trip to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge on a beautiful day sandwiched between rainy days. Highlights were a male EURASIAN WIGEON, 6 WHITE-FACED IBIS at close range with sun highlighting their iridescence, HOODED MERGANSERS, a BALD EAGLE, BLACK-NECKED STILTS, flocks of TUNDRA SWANS, HORNED LARKS on a mudflat, a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and a excellent views of a MARSH WREN going up and down a cattail. -- Ollie Kolkman.
Saturday, 22 Jan 2000, am -- This morning I had a chance to quickly bird the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. There was a small mixed group of swallows foraging over the oxidation ponds, including at least 4 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, 2 TREE SWALLOWS, and a single NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. There was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the Himalaya Berries on the southern fence. Of Ukiah-area interest were 5 NORTHERN PINTAILS which circled the ponds without ever landing, and continued south. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 17 Jan 2000, 10am -- One adult BALD EAGLE was scouting along the Russian River about 1/4 mile south of Squaw Rock. -- Jeff Joseph
Monday, 17 Jan 2000, 10:30 a.m., on a cool, clear, calm day -- Today, at the Garcia flats were 260+ TUNDRA SWANS, and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS. I did NOT see the Laysan Albatross at Arena cove, but there were 3 RED-NECKED GREBES there around 1:30. There was 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in the fields south of Elk. Good birding - Brad Goodhart.
Sunday, 16 Jan 2000, 3p.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports seeing 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS at the MacGuire Ranch / Bald Hill Farm northeast of Fort Bragg. 1 was a dark morph, probably immature (a beautiful bird), 1was an immature, and 1 was an adult.
Saturday, 15 Jan 2000, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. -- outgoing tide -- During a couple hours of sunshine and warm breezes today, Richard Irvin and I drove down to Navarro Beach and saw the following birds in or near the estuary: 2 Horned Grebes; 2 Western Grebes; 9 Bufflehead (5m4f); 4 Ruddy Ducks (2m2f); 2 Common Goldeneye (pair); 1 Surf Scoter; Western, Glaucous-winged, California, Herring, and Mew Gulls (one with yellow eyes* and one oiled bird) [Now is a great time to brush up on your gull identification skills!]; Song, Golden-crowned, and White-crowned Sparrows, and a Wrentit. Also present were 47 Harbor Seals. *During the MCAS field trip to Ten Mile River on 8 Jan., 2 other yellow-eyed Mew Gulls were seen. Art `suggested they might be the kamchatka subspecies. Any comments?
Kris Carter, kkcarter@mcn.org
Saturday, 8 Jan. 2000 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin of Fort Bragg spotted two ROCK SANDPIPERS at the north end of Virgin Creek Beach, with a large flock of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones, at ebb tide, around noon. She also found PALM WARBLER on the Haul Rd. in the shrubbery in front of the brown rental house that is adjacent to the field with the electric fence [along the Virgin Creek Beach stretch of the Haul Rd.]-- Kris Carter
Monday, 3 Jan. 2000 -- Three ROCK SANDPIPERS were together just north of Ward Ave., on an outgoing tide. They were feeding with Surfbirds and Black Turnstones. An adult SNOW GOOSE was in the gull flock at the Laguna Point parking lot. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin.
At 10:00 a.m., the LAYSAN ALBATROSS flew into Arena Cove, on the north side of the pier. At 1:45 p.m., a FERRUGINOUS HAWK was soaring above the bluff near mile marker 26.5 on Hwy 1 south of Elk. A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES is still present at the Elk Creek Lagoon at 2:00 p.m., and 6 COMMON GOLDENEYES were feeding in the Navarro River estuary at 2:30 p.m. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Monday, 3 Jan. 2000 -- At approx. 11a.m., there were NO swans on the Garcia Flats, only a few Mallards, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, 1 female Northern Pintail, and 2 Least Sandpipers in a small puddle near turn at the south end of the flat stretch of road. 19 Tundra Swans and 11 Canada Geese were in a field on the south side of Stoneboro Rd. Most of the waterfowl appear to be in the flooded area between the mouth of Brushy Creek and Hunter's Lagoon. At 2:30 p.m. today, the Navarro River Estuary had 15 Common Mergansers, 6 Common Goldeneye, 12 Bufflehead, 4 Horned Grebes, 4 Western-type Grebes, 3 Eared Grebes, and 1 Common Loon. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Friday, 31 Dec, 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports 6 MARBLED MURRELETS and 9 BLACK SCOTERS at Ward Ave, and 8 RED-NECKED GREBES in the bay north of Laguna Point. Art Morley reports a 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL and a 2nd year THAYER'S GULL at Virgin Creek Beach. John Hunter reports an adult THAYER'S GULL at Virgin Creek Beach. -- Kris Carter
Tuesday, 28 Dec. 1999, late morning -- One Bewick's race of Tundra Swan was seen at the Garcia Flats by Art Morley, Jean Morley, Kris Carter and Richard Irvin.
Tuesday, 28 Dec. 1999, a.m.-- Kris Carter spotted a PEREGRINE FALCON on the large stack off the mouth of Greenwood Creek, and Jean Morley found one in a tree in the middle of the Garcia Flats. NOT SEEN were the Swamp Sparrow found on Dec. 25th by Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, nor the female Blue-winged Teal found at the Garcia Flats on Dec. 26th by Bob Keiffer, nor the Long-billed Curlew seen on the east side of the Garcia Flats on Dec. 26th by Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, nor the Eurasian Wigeon seen on Dec. 27th by Bob Keiffer at Hunter's Lagoon.
Sunday, 26 Dec. 1999, a.m. -- Several PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen on the Mendocino Coast Christmas Bird Count, including one on the smaller rock southwest of the mouth of Elk Creek, and one in a tree near where Hwy 1 crosses Mill Creek. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin.
Saturday, 25 Dec. 1999 -- Around noon, Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found a SWAMP SPARROW at the Garcia Flats. The bird was in an area of about 1/4 acre of knee-high grass/weeds surrounded by green, north of Gasker Slough/Hathaway Creek (just north of Miner Hole Rd.), south of the tiny Hwy 1 pullout at the sharp bend of the road where most persons stop to look at the swans, and west of Hwy 1. The weedy stuff was full of sparrows, including 3-4 Lincoln's Sparrows. The Swamp Sparrow came up into the bushes along the highway railing after determined pishing. Toby also reports 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and at least 2 TREE SWALLOWS at the Garcia Flats, a PEREGRINE FALCON on the sandbar at Elk Creek, and one at the mouth of Brush Creek, and a FERRUGINOUS HAWK north of the farm north of Hunter's Lagoon.
Friday, 24 Dec. 1999, 2 p.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted a ROCK SANDPIPER at high tide on the rocks close to the start of the Laguna Point boardwalk, and 10 RED-NECKED GREBES in the bay north of Laguna Point.
Friday, 24 December 1999, early a.m. -- The PRAIRIE FALCON and the LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were seen from the Burris Lane pond pullout in Potter Valley. A Golden Eagle was perched in the top of a tree near the Burris Lane pond pullout in Potter Valley. -- Richard Irvin and Kris Carter.
Thursday 23 Dec 1999 -- This am at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant I saw a CHIPPING SPARROW in the mixed Crowned Sparrow-House Finch group along the south fence. There were also 5 TREE SWALLOWS feeding above the oxidation ponds, and I assume these were the same birds that Toby, Bob, and Lois saw there on our CBC on the 18th. -- Chuck Vaughn
Wednesday, 22 Dec 1999,4:00 PM -- On Burris Lane in Potter Valley a PRAIRIE FALCON was seen sitting in an oak north of the pond. Over the years the area between Burris Lane and Pine Ave. has been good for this species -- George Chaniot
Tuesday, 21 Dec. 1999 -- 10:00: Birds seen at the mouth of the Garcia included California, Western, and Glaucous-winged Gulls, Green-winged Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, PEREGRINE FALCON, American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover, Black Phoebe, and Red-tailed Hawk. Kris Carter, Richard Irvin, Rich Kuehn, Dean Schuler.
--12:30: A Northern Mockingbird and an Anna's Hummingbird were seen at the Thompson's garden on Duxbury Rd. KC, RKI, RK, DS.
--early p.m.: 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 1 SNOW GOOSE, and several CANADA GEESE were in the field north of the dairy that is on the northwest side of the Garcia Flats, along with several Tundra Swans and a Great Egret. On the flats were about 130 Tundra Swans, 2 Great Blue Herons, Mallards, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Monday, 21 Dec 1999 -- Today at the Hopland Field Station I had a single SAGE SPARROW in chaparral at 3000' (first of the winter and the first since Nov 1). I also watched 3 TREE SWALLOWS foraging low over an open pasture this morning. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sunday, 19 Dec 1999, 09:00 -- The EURASIAN WIGEON discovered by Justin Ward on 12 Dec. is still present on the pond at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It is a male in bright, alternate plumage. There may also be a female Eurasian Wigeon among the forty American Wigeon present. LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, rare in most years, continue to be unmissable in the tops of the oaks near the pond, and Jim Armstrong saw a BALD EAGLE in this area on Friday, 17 Dec. -- George Chaniot
Friday, 17 Dec. 1999 -- At least 3 MARBLED MURRELETS were seen off the Vista Point that is just north of MM81.05 on Hwy 1 (north end of Westport-Union Landing). -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Thursday, 16 Dec 1999 -- A fine, male EURASIAN WIGEON is still present on the Burris Lane Pond in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Wednesday,15 Dec 1999 -- Two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are coming to the feeder at my house in Potter Valley, usually between 09:00 and 11:00 --George Chaniot
Sunday, 12 Dec 1999-- Justin Ward reports a EURASIAN WIGEON and two GOLDEN EAGLES from Burris Lane in Potter Valley. LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS continue to abound along Burris Lane and Pine Avenue.
Sunday,12 Dec 1999, 3:00 PM -- At the East end of Commercial St, Willits there was a pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES (Elanus leucurus) -- Jeff Joseph
Saturday, 11 Dec. 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports a LAPLAND LONGSPUR (which subsequently flew off) and a ROCK SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek Beach, 11:30-12:00, on an incoming tide. Both birds were seen also by Rusty Namitz. Toby saw a SOOTY SHEARWATER and a possible BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER over the ocean, 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach, and 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS at Bald Hill (NE of Fort Bragg). The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen at Arena Cove by Richard Irvin and Kris Carter (2:30p.m.), and Art and Jean Morley. 2-3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were seen between MM26.5 and 27.3 on Hwy 1 (KC, RKI, et al). The Eurasian Wigeon and American Wigeons were not at the Garcia Flats today.
Saturday, 11 Dec 1999, 1:00 PM -- A pair of FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, a female NORTHERN HARRIER, and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK were seen on Canyon Road in Willits. -- Jeff Joseph
Saturday, 11 Dec 1999 -- A female REDHEAD was among the Ring-necked Ducks at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. At Lake Mendocino there were six species of gulls, including a first winter THAYER'S GULL. At the Pomo Day-use Area there were 17 species of ducks and geese mixed in the large raft of scaups, including another female REDHEAD and 18 CANVASBACKS. Good viewing conditions with few boats and late afternoon sun. -- George Chaniot
Thursday, 9 Dec 1999 -- In MacKerricher State Park, a ROCK SANDPIPER continued at the mouth of Virgin Creek. In Fort Bragg, HARLEQUIN DUCKS continued off Glass Beach. A RED-NECKED GREBE was in Noyo Harbor, below the Highway 1 bridge. -- Steve Hampton ( from N.Calif.BirdBox)
Wednesday, 8 Dec. 1999 -- A ROCK SANDPIPER was seen on the rocks off the northern section of Virgin Creek Beach, on a falling tide in the early afternoon. The ROSS'S and SNOW GOOSE are still at Caspar Pond. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1999 -- In Fort Bragg, 11 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Glass Beach off the west end of Elm Street. -- Florence Bennett (from N.Calif.Birdbox)
Tuesday 7 Dec. 1999-- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS flying around Bald Hill, from Bald Hill Rd. (off Pudding Creek Rd, northeast of Fort Bragg). Kris Carter and Richard Irvin saw the male EURASIAN WIGEON at the Garcia Flats.
Monday, 6 Dec. 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS at Virgin Creek Beach on an incoming nearly high tide.
Saturday, 4 Dec 1999 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS returned to Point Arena Cove, seen at 10 AM. A male EURASIAN WIGEON was at the Garcia River bottoms. -- Dianne Sierra (from N.Calif.BirdBox)
Saturday, 4 Dec. 1999, 10:30 A.M. -- Suzanne Wuerthele from Denver, visiting Jan and Jo Ann Stickle of Fort Bragg, saw 5 BLACK SCOTERS (3 males and two females) in the surf just north of Ward Ave.
Saturday, 4 Dec 1999 -- Among the gulls on Lake Mendocino was a 1st-winter THAYER'S GULL at the south marina, and a BONAPARTE'S GULL over the water between the Mesa and Miti spit. -- George Chaniot
Friday, 3 Dec 1999 -- A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was hawking from oaks along Black Bart Trail north of Lake Mendocino. -- George Chaniot
Thursday, 2 Dec 1999 -- Justin Ward reports the following from the coast: At Virgin Creek Beach, 1 ROCK SANDPIPER in a flock of 30+ Surfbirds and many Black Turnstones and1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. At Ward Ave., 3 BLACK SCOTERS. At Casper Pond,1 Immature ROSS'S GOOSE and1 SNOW GOOSE. A tenth of a mile North of Garcia river Bridge, 1 CATTLE EGRET in with a flock of 25+ Great Egrets.
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1999 -- There were two very unseasonal birds in my Potter Valley yard today: a female WESTERN TANAGER, and a female Selasphorus.. hummingbird. These are my first December records of these species locally. -- George Chaniot
Monday, 29 Nov 1999 -- For Fulicaphiles only: The albino AMERICAN COOT, "Cueball", has returned for the fourth winter to the pond at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. Each year it gets whiter. No binoculars needed. -- George Chaniot
Sunday, 28 Nov. 1999 -- Art Morley spied an immature SNOW GOOSE at Virgin Creek, above the bridge, with the Mallards.
Friday, 26 Nov 1999 -- Bob Keiffer and neighbors have been hearing a LONG-EARED OWL near his home in Hopland recently.
Saturday, 27 Nov. 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted a CATTLE EGRET with the cattle in the farm on the north side of Hunter's Lagoon, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK off Hwy 1 near what would be mile marker 28 if there were a mile marker there, and 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 2 SNOW GEESE at the Garcia Flats (along with 25 Tundra Swans and 30 Canada Geese, including some minimas.)
Saturday, 27 Nov 1999 -- At Lake Mendocino there are now rafts of diving ducks and, unlike last year, hundreds of gulls, including Western, Glaucous-winged, and Herring. The lake level is still low at 724 feet with lots of exposed mud. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Friday, 26 Nov 1999, 11 a.m., incoming tide -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw 3 (yes, three, not a typo) ROCK SANDPIPERS on the sand at the mouth of Virgin Creek Beach. They were with a flock of Black Turnstones, Surfbirds, and Dunlin. She also reports that the ROSS'S GOOSE remains at Caspar Creek, and that 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Glass Beach.
Thursday, 25 Nov 1999 -- Eric Bloom reports seeing a PEREGRINE FALCON yesterday and today in the Kibesillah area, on the phone lines just north of the old Orca Inn. He says it has been hanging around for a while, so it sounds like there is a good chance of spotting it. (The Kibesillah area is about 1.5 miles north of Abalobadiah Creek, which is north of Ten Mile River.)
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1999 , at MacKerricher State Park, the ROCK SANDPIPER was seen again on the rocks immediately north of Virgin Creek Beach, on an ebbing tide. November 21st, it was seen roosting on a rock halfway between here and Laguna Point. Today, November 23rd, in Fort Bragg, 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were off Glass Beach, which is at the west end of Elm Street. -- Dorothy Tobkin (from N.Calif.BirdBox)
Saturday, 20 Nov 1999, between 12 and 1 -- Sarah Flowers reports seeing a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Hwy 1 north of Elk. Too bad the MCAS field trippers missed it: would have made for another 10 raptor species day on the south coast!
Friday, 19 Nov 1999, 3 p.m. , on a rising tide -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted a ROCK SANDPIPER at the north end of Virgin Creek Beach, in with a mixed group of Black Turnstones, Surfbirds, and Sanderlings. She also reports that the ROSS'S GOOSE remains at Caspar Pond.
Thursday, 18 Nov 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin identified a ROSS'S GOOSE at Caspar Pond.
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999, a.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted an "eastern-type" PALM WARBLER in the willows at Glass Beach, and a "usual-type" PALM WARBLER at Caspar Pond.
Monday, 15 Nov 1999, 11:00 a.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE about 200 ft. north of the Ward Ave. parking lot and 200 ft. west of the Old Haul Rd. at MacKerricher State Park. The bird was sitting on a shrub.
Sunday, 14 Nov 1999 -- Lake County: The NORTHERN SHRIKE was still present on Sunday. Go 2 miles up High Valley road and bird has been seen here and beyond. Only the 3rd county record, the last being found by Ollie Kolkmann in 1981. Take High Valley Road off Hiway 20 in Clearlake Oaks. -- Jerry White
Saturday, 13 Nov. 1999 -- 11:10 a.m. -- Al DeMartini found a female SUMMER TANAGER in the alders above campsite #12 in Van Damme State Park. The bird then flew east up Little River. Between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m., Tina Fabula and John Hunter saw a PALM WARBLER in a myrtle below the bluff top just south of Laguna Point, a HARLEQUIN DUCK off the end observation platform at Laguna Point, and one PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER at Virgin Creek Beach.
Sat, 13 Nov. 1999-- The PAC trip to Round Valley took place today with lovely fall weather. Highlights were several FERRUGINOUS HAWKS at different locations and a PRAIRIE FALCON, a GOLDEN EAGLE, and numbers of LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS along Dobie Lane.
Sat, 13 Nov. 1999, a.m. -- A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flying east of MM 33.17 on Hwy 1, an immature FERRUGINOUS HAWK perched on a wire at MM 29.07 on Hwy 1 (between Irish Beach and Elk) , and an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK in a field further south (the field that used to be identified by a "Vicious Bull sign"), were seen by all participants of the MCAS "Hawks of the South Coast" field trip.
Fri, 12 Nov. 1999, p.m. -- Cynthia Bassett saw the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER on the fence and tree between Captain Flint's Restaurant and the apartment building to the north of the restaurant.
Thu, 11 Nov 1999, 9:30 a.m. - Justin Ward and Kelly Hansen saw the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in the area between Captain Flint's and the apartment building to the north. The two PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS were seen at Virgin Creek Beach at different times in the morning by Justin Ward, Kelly Hansen, and Art Morely.
Thu, 11 Nov 1999, 07:00 -- At the Mendocino Vineyards pond, Eastside Rd just S of Talmage: The recent unsettled weather has finally brought some variety to the waterfowl on the Mendocino Vineyards Co pond at Talmage. In the early morning light (dark?) today, among the usual cast of duck characters, were a pair (m,f) of HOODED MERGANSERS, 5 CANVASBACKS in assorted plumages, and a striking adult male REDHEAD. This is an excellent opportunity to observe these ducks at close range. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 09 Nov. 1999 -- At 4:10 p.m., a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was perched on a wire at MM 29.07 on Hwy 1 (between Irish Beach and Elk) -kkc and rki. Two PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVERS and a CATTLE EGRET were seen at Virgin Creek Beach today by Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin.
Mon, 08 Nov 1999, 2:00 PM -- LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS are still easy to find at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 08 Nov 1999, a.m. -- The PROTHONOTARY WARBLER survived the storm and continues to be seen in the area between Cap'n Flint's Restaurant and the apartment building to the north of it, at Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. (RJK, DT, KKC, RKI). Bob Keiffer saw two PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS at Virgin Creek Beach early this afternoon.
Sun, 07 Nov 1999, a.m. -- The adult male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen by several birders* at various times between 8:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.. The bird was seen earliest on top of the pilings holding up various structures at and on either side of Cap'n Flint's restaurant riverside retaining wall. After the initial sightings, the bird was seen mostly in the fenced vacant garden area between Cap'n Flint's and the apartment building just north of the restaurant. A favorite hiding place for the bird was low in the small, densely foliaged tree on the fenceline between Cap'n Flint's parking lot and the fenced garden area. If you go to see this bird, please do not occupy parking spaces close to the entrance to Cap'n Flint's as this is all private parking for the restaurant. Also, the apartment building is occupied, so please be respectful of the occupants. If you don't see the bird right away, keep looking, as it would often be obscured from view for half an hour or more before coming out to feed on the ground in the garden area, or on the fence railings. -kris *Art Morley, Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, George Chaniot, Janet Chaniot, Jerry White, Kris Carter, Lila McMurtry (who found the bird), Ollie Kolkmann, and Richard Irvin.
Sun, 07 Nov 1999 -- Yesterday, Lila McMurtry discovered a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER in the gardens of Captain Flint's (restaurant) at the Noyo Harbor. Early this morning, Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found the bird in the garden area and under the pilings at Captain Flint's and confirmed the identification of the bird as a Prothonotary Warbler.
Sat, 06 Nov 1999, p.m. -- This afternoon we re-found the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at "half-mile meadow" (the meadow on the south side of the road at MM 0.5 on Highway 128) in a mixed flock of chickadees and kingkets. At Laguna Point we scoped several NORTHERN FULMARS far offshore, and a PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER close in. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 06 Nov. 1999, 10 a.m. -- One PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen in with a large group of Black-bellied Plovers at Virgin Creek Beach (Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot saw it several hours later, when it was spooked off by dogs). Later in the day, 6 BLACK SCOTERS were off Ward Ave.. The SNOW GOOSE continues to reside at Caspar Pond. - Kris Carter and Richard Irvin.
Fri, 05 Nov 1999, approx. 3:30 p.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS at Virgin Creek Beach, just north of the creek, in with a small group of Black-bellied Plovers.
Wed, 03 Nov 1999 -- The Black Rail was not relocated this morning despite attempts with taped recordings. However, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen over the sewage ponds at about 11:00. It disappeared to the NW over S. Ukiah. -- George Chaniot and Toby Tobkin
Tue, 02 Nov 1999 -- This morning I saw a BLACK RAIL at the west end of the south oxidation pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It flew up from the edge of the pond when I was about 10 feet away and disappeared into some knotweed (smartweed) an inch or two above the water. I thought I had a Song Sparrow - actually I was looking for a Swamp Sparrow. As I watched the spot, it flew about five feet across the water, touching the water in flight, and disappeared into the base of the cattail clump. It was clear then that this was a small, dark rail with chestnut on the back. I watched the cattails for about a half hour, and got one maddening glimpse of rail motion deep at the base of the cattails. Twice I heard a sharp "crick-et" call, much like the sound of the child's toy. I don't remember hearing this call before, and don't identify it with any other rail. There were a lot of other rails in the immediate vicinity; a low-flying airplane set off at least three Virginia Rails and two Soras within 50 feet. -- George Chaniot
Sat ,30 Oct 1999 -- At least four LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were hawking from the oaks and power poles at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. A PRAIRIE FALCON and two GOLDEN EAGLES were seen aloft -- George Chaniot and Toby Tobkin
Fri, 29 Oct 1999 -- I saw two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS flying over West Road in Potter Valley near my home. There seems to be a lot of them around this season - maybe an "irruption" year. I also saw the first VARIED THRUSH of the season. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 29 Oct 1999 -- Bob Keiffer and I saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER this morning in the permanent pasture here at HREC. Same area where the Loggerhead Shrike was and easily visible from the county road as it hawked among the valley oaks down there. -- Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 26 Oct 1999 -- Five or more LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were seen on Burris Lane in Potter Valley -- Justin Ward
Sat, 23 Oct 1999 -- The immature male GARGANEY was not seen at Rodman Slough, despite constant searching from dawn to dusk. -- Greg Scyphers (from N.Calif.Birdbox)
Sat, 23 Oct 1999, 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. -- The LAPLAND LONGSPUR was still present at the mouth of Inglenook Creek, with 1 pipit and 2 Killdeer. -- Art and Jean Morley, Kris Carter, and Richard Irvin.
Sat,23 Oct 1999, 08:15 -- At the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant a winter-plumaged Swamp Sparrow was along the south fence. It was in the first patch of cattails and himalaya berries that you reach as you walk toward the Russian River along the southern-most levee. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 22 Oct 1999, p.m. -- John Hunter and Tina Fabula spotted a BURROWING OWL in the driftwood at the mouth of Fen Creek at Ten Mile Beach.
Fri, 22 Oct 1999 -- near Nice, an immature male GARGANEY continued at Rodman Slough, seen from 4:30 to 6 PM. From Highway 20 on the north side of Clear Lake, take Nice-Lucerne Cutoff past the Rodman Slough Bridge. After another 0.3 miles, stop at a wide pullout and scan the slough. -- Dave McKenzie (From N.Calif.Birdbox)
Thu, 21 Oct 1999 -- A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at Van Damme State Park. It was seen 100 feet up from the wooden bridge that crosses the creek to the Bog Trail, just north of campground 15. -- Don Schmoldt (from N Calif. Birdbox)
Wed, 20 Oct.1999 -- Near Nice, an immature male GARGANEY continued at Rodman Slough, seen from 4:30 to 6 PM. From Highway 20 on the north side of Clear Lake, take Nice-Lucerne Cutoff past the Rodman Slough Bridge. After another 0.3 miles, stop at a wide pullout and scan the slough. Marcel Holyoak (from N. Calif. Birdbox)
Wed, 20 Oct 1999 -- I searched for the GARGANEY on the morning of 19 Oct and 20 Oct from sunrise to 09:00 and did not see it. I returned at 2:00 PM and found it about 50 yards upstream from the bridge, and I had it under observation until 3:00. I understand that it was seen later in the evening too. The bird is very wary of boats and activity and acts like a wild bird. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 18 Oct 1999 a.m. -- Ron LeValley spotted a LAPLAND LONGSPUR on Ten Mile Beach where Inglenook Creek comes in. The bird was looking for seed in an area from which water had dried up.
Sat, 16 Oct. through Tues. 19 Oct. -- On 10/16, Rich Stallcup found an immature GARGANEY at Rodman Slough about 3/10ths or 4/10ths of a mile past the Rodman Slough Bridge (coming from hiway 20 turning onto the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road). Jerry White refound the bird at the same location (It was seen by Dave Woodward and Bryan McIntosh also) at about 7:30 a.m. It had flown off by 8:00 a.m. or so. --Jerry White On 10/17, the Garganey had returned to Rodman Slough and was still present at 4:00 pm when Jerry left. It was working along the shoreline next to the road. Go to an access to the slough at about 3/10ths of a mile past the bridge (if coming from hiway 20) on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff road. The bird has both times I've seen it been alone. -- Jerry White
On 10/19, the Garganey was in the same location, in the afternoon, moving between the bridge and points up river near two access areas about 3/10ths and 4/10ths of a mile towards Hwy 29 on the cutoff road. The bird is very wary. -- Kris Carter, Richard Irwin, Chuck Vaughn, Gail Roper
Sat, 16 Oct 1999, near Nice, an immature GARGANEY was found on Rodman Slough in Lake County. From Highway 20, take Nice-Lucerne Cutoff past the Rodman Slough Bridge. After another 0.3 miles, stop at a wide pullout and scan the slough. (Rich Stallcup fide Jerry White) October 17th, the GARGANEY was refound from 7:30 to 8 AM, when hunter's gunshots scared the bird off. It returned as was seen again between 3:30 and 4:00 PM. -- Jerry White
GARGANEY is a California Bird Record Committee review species. Please submit documentation to committee secretary Michael Rogers. -- from N. Calif Birdbox
Sun, 17 Oct 1999 -- A "Big Sit" done from the Mesa at Lake Mendocino totaled an unanticipated 80 species. Highlights were a rufous-phase, female EURASIAN WIGEON, two DUNLIN, and two COMMON LOONS -- George Chaniot, Chuck Vaughn, and Barbara Dolan
Thu, 14 Oct 1999 -- Dave Woodward saw the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER onthe south side of the "half-mile meadow" at MM0.5 on Hwy 128, just east ofthe Hwy 1 bridge over the Navarro River. -- Jerry White.
Fri, 08 Oct 1999, 5:30 p.m. -- Jerry White refound the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the Navarro River, this time at Hwy 128 mile marker 0.18 (the west end of the Caltrans mixing table) in with a large mixed flock.
Fri, 08 Oct 1999 -- The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was still present at the Hopland Research and Extension Center this morning at 07:30 at however, it was not visible from the public road. If you wish to come look for this bird, please call Bob Keiffer at the HREC, (707) 744-1424. A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was also seen along Eastside Talmadge Road-- George Chaniot
Thu, 07 Oct 1999 -- The BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was found at the east end of the Caltrans mixing table west of MM 5.0 on Hwy 128. A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Glass Beach at approx. 2 p.m.; it flew up off the ground halfway between the parking lot and the ocean, and proceeded to fly out over the ocean and disappear. Also at Glass Beach were 1 Harlequin Duck, many shorebirds, and a flyover flock of Aleutian Canada Geese. --Bob Keiffer, Chuck Vaughn, Justin Ward, Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin..
Tue, 05 Oct 1999, 12:30-12:48p.m. -- The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was still present at the Hopland Research and Extension Center; however, it was not visible from the public road. If you wish to come look for this bird, please call Bob Keiffer at the HREC, (707) 744-1424.
Mon, 04 Oct 1999 -- Today between 3:00 PM to 3:15 PM Chuck Vaughn and I watched a mature LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at the bottom (valley floor level) of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. The bird was seen on the north side of the irrigated pasture area of what is called Niderost pasture. The area is viewable from University Road which is a county road. Look atop fences and steel fence posts along the pastures or on the dry hillside just north of the irrigated pastures. If you drive to the first cattleguard there will be an old barn on the left...you can stop there and view along the deer fence and back to the west. It was fairly active diving to the ground to catch about six or eight grasshoppers in the time that we watched it. This is a difficult bird to find in MEN!!! -- Robert J. Keiffer
Sun, 03 Oct 1999 a.m. -- The AMERICAN REDSTART and a PALM WARBLER were seen in a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees, with Hutton's Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Wilson's Warblers, and Townsend's Warblers at the Vista Point at MM74.09 on Hwy 1 north of Ten Mile. - Kris and Richard. The BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was seen at "Half-mile Meadow", on the south side of Hwy 128 at MM 0.5, and the CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was seen at the edge of Hwy 128 at the east end of the CALTRANS mixing table west of MM 0.5. --Jerry White.
Sun, 03 Oct 1999, 9:40 a.m. - An AMERICAN REDSTART was seen in the grove at the Vista Point at MM 74.09, north of Ten Mile. - Jerry White and Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin.
Fri, 01 Oct. 1999 -- John Hunter and Tina Fabula heard a GRAY JAY on the upper section of the waterfall trail at Russian Gulch State Park, and John saw a MERLIN flyby at the mouth of Caspar Creek.
Thu, 30 Sep 1999 , 4pm -- John Hunter found a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the north end of Point Cabrillo Drive, in the alders along Caspar Creek, probably about half way from the bridge at Hwy1 to the pullout near the mouth of the creek.
Thu, 30 Sep 99 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw a FERRUGINOUS HAWK and a MERLIN on Miner's Hole Rd. in the morning, a POMARINE JAEGER from Lighthouse Rd. at mid-day, and a young COMMON TERN at Hunter's Lagoon in the afternoon.
Wed ,29 Sep 1999 -- John Hunter also saw a PALM WARBLER at DeHaven Creek, along with the BLACKPOLL WARBLER previously reported, and a "Yellow-shafted" Flicker at the Vista Point at MM 74.09.
Wed, 29 Sep 99 -- John Hunter found 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS about halfway around Lake Cleone, and 1 on DeHaven Creek off Branscomb Rd.
Tue, 28 Sep 1999,10:00 AM -- One LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was observed flying high in a southeast direction at the Univ. of Calif. Hopland Research and Extension Center -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon, 27 Sep 1999 , time not stated -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin found an AMERICAN REDSTART at the north end of Windy Hollow Rd. (where it ends at the Garcia River).
Mon, 27 Sep 1999, 8:55a.m. and 9:15 a.m. -- While looking unsuccessfully for the Northern Waterthrush, I found a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER associating with a small flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The flock was moving along the riparian strip between the north edge of the Navarro River and the tall-grass field south of Hwy 128 at MM0.50 (this is half a mile east of the Navarro River bridge). This field is _not_ the privately-owned, gated site where sinker logs were being salvaged at one time. Along the south edge of Hwy 128, west of MM0.50 and east of the Caltrans mixing table, there was another flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees, with Warbling and Hutton's Vireos, several Townsend's Warblers and a Nashville Warbler. Be sure you don't leave your valuables in your car, there, as there were two young guys behaving rather suspiciously in the area, and marks in the dirt on my back window where it looked as if someone had been peering into the car. -- Kris Carter.
Sun ,26 Sep 1999, 3p.m. - Gjon Hazard flushed a fall plumage BOBOLINK on the Coastal Bluff Trail at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens.
Sun, 26 Sep 1999, 9 a.m. -- Art Morley saw an immature FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Navarro Ridge Rd. west of the MM2.0 ranch, across the road from an old barn, and a flock of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the ranch.
Sun, 26 Sep 1999, 12:30 p.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin re-found the CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on Hwy 128, east of the Navarro River bridge, high in an alder above a sign having to do with littering. She did not re-find the Northern Waterthrush.
Sat, 25 Sep 1999 , 10a.m. on -- Gjon Hazard found a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on Hwy 128 east of the Navarro River bridge, where the road is flat and there is a Caltrans work area alongside. From the Caltrans parking area, he went east on Hwy 1 to a vacant grassy field, and walked around the edge of the field, to the river. The waterthrush was close to the riverbank, was silent, popped up to Gjon's pishing, took a look at him, and left. He found an immature MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER on the Navarro Beach Rd, across from the banding station, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS (one being chased by a PEREGRINE FALCON) at the end of Miner Hole Rd., a DUSKY FLYCATCHER on Duxbury Rd., and TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in with a flock of Brewer's Blackbirds at a feeder in downtown Mendocino.
Sat, 25 Sep 1999, 9:15 a.m. -- Gjon Hazard reports finding an immature CHIPPING SPARROW at Wages Creek near Hwy 1, a PALM WARBLER at the Vista Point where the eastern warblers were found, and the SNOW GOOSE, which summered at Caspar Pond and is still there.
Sat, 25 Sep 1999 -- Three RED-NECKED GREBES were seen north of Laguna Point in MacKerricker SP. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 24 Sep 1999 -- A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was seen in the oaks near the pond on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. This is the earliest record for Potter Valley; Is this going to be a Lewis's Woodpecker winter? -- George Chaniot
Thu, 23 Sept. 1999, 10:30 a.m. -- An AMERICAN REDSTART (1 or 2) in immature or fall plumage was seen in a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees at the end of Road500D, which is west off Hwy 1 between Lansing and Russian Gulch State Park. The flock moved deeper into the park after being observed. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin.
Tue, 21 Sep 1999, 12:02 PM -- Two swifts flew directly by me at about 150 feet away, eye level, at about 2700' elevation, heading due south. The second one appeared to be an all dark bird. I had a good look at the dorsal profile of the bird, tipped with one wing up and one wing down (body tipped to the right), and distinctly saw a long (for a swift) notched tail. I grabbed my binoculars that were just feet away, but they had quickly disappeared heading south at lower elevation. This is the second time I have seen BLACK SWIFTS in southward migration over the higher elevations of Hopland Research and Extension Center. -- Bob Keiffer
Mon, 20 Sep 1999 -- A PALM WARBLER was spotted by Toby in the shrubs on the east side of Caspar Pond (a.m.). At 2:30 p.m. , Bob Keiffer found 2 CHESNUT-SIDED WARBLERS off Hwy 1 at MM 75.43. He said there is a place to park and walk down to the beach there, and the warblers (1 immature and 1 mature) were in the alders of the riparian area there. The Magnolia and Northern Parula have not been seen since Sunday morning.
Sun, 19 Sep 1999, a.m. -- Jerry White reports seeing a MAGNOLIA WARBLER, and a NORTHERN PARULA in the treetops at a vista point at MM 74.09, north of Ten Mile.
Sat, 18 Sep 1999 -- Highlights of a Mendocino County Big Day of birding (Keiffer, Vaughn, Chaniot, White, and Tobkin) were BAIRD'S and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at both Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant and Virgin Creek Beach, an early DUNLIN at Virgin Creek Beach, and an AMERICAN REDSTART at Bruhel Point vista area north of Ten Mile river. Jerry White also saw a MAGNOLIA WARBLER in the pines near this vista.
Sat, 18 Sep 1999, 11a.m. -- A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen on Ten Mile Beach, about half way between the river and Inglenook Creek, by half of the Ten Mile California Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers. -- Art, Jean, Richard, Kris.
Mon ,13 Sep 1999, 9 a.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin spotted an AMERICAN REDSTART at Glass Beach, in the lone cypress tree at the far end of the willow patch.
Sun, 12 Sep 1999 -- At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were three BLUE-WINGED TEALS, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, several WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, one DUSKY FLYCATCHER, some late CLIFF SWALLOWS, and early GAMBELL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. At Lake Mendocino there were 9 CASPIAN TERNS and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER near the dam. The lake level is falling, and good mud habitat for migrating shorebirds is beginning to appear at the mouth of the inlet and near the dam. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 11 Sep 1999 -- Among many species seen at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, Kris Carter reports PECTORAL SANDPIPER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.
Wed, 08 Sep 1999 -- The TENNESSEE WARBLER was re-found by Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin and Ollie Kolkmann at the original location (in the willows along the Russian River behind the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. At 12:30 PM, Bob Keiffer found a single VESPER SPARROW on University Road in Hopland.
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 -- I was searching for the Tenessee Warbler that CEV and JRW saw by the river...but did not find it. The area has lots of Yellow Warblers, and some WILSON'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, migrating through the willows. Also, lots of COMMON YELLOW-THROATS. Also, five WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 4 CASPIAN TERNS. 11 WOOD DUCKS and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER were seen the day before. There are LOTS AND LOTS of migrants moving through right now....so get out there and bird (please)! -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon, 06 Sep 1999 -- Jerry White refound the TENNESSEE WARBLER along the river at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds and also found a BOBOLINK.
Mon, 06 Sep 1999, 9 a.m. -- Chuck Vaughn spotted a TENNESSEE WARBLER in with a large flock of YELLOW WARBLERS along the river by the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Ponds. Go to the back cyclone fence where there is a lot of rock armoring, and look in the willows there. There was also a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the sludge pond.
Sun, 05 Sep 1999 -- Barbara Dolan reports the first (?) returning WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in Ukiah.
Sat, 04 Sep 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports seeing a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD fly over Caspar Pond around 4 p.m., and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at Virgin Creek Beach this morning.
Fri, 27 Aug 1999, a.m. -- Two hatch-year WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were caught and banded at the Navarro River banding station. - Tina Fabula
Tue, 24 Aug 1999, 12:00 noon -- A SHY ALBATROSS was seen in Mendocino County 9 miles WSW of Point Arena during a Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip from Bodega Bay to Fort Bragg ( latitude 38 degrees 57' 08', longitude 123 degrees 55' 40" ). If accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, this will be the first California record of Shy Albatross. Rich Kuehn took video footage of the Shy Albatross and kindly sent some stills for me to post on the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society website,
http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ca/mendocino. The pictures are accessed from the sightings page. Thank you, Rich! A HORNED PUFFIN was seen in Mendocino County by many observers during this trip. -Kris Carter
More on this trip: Debra Shearwater, Shearwater journeys, promoted a two day pelagic trip from Bodega Bay to Fort Bragg and back. MENDOCINO Highlights from Aug. 24 include 1 Horned Puffin, many Sooty Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Pink-footed Shearwaters, Black-footed Albatross, Ashy Storm-Petrels, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, Arctic Terns, Common Terns, Pomarine Jaegers, Parasitic Jaegers, Long-tailed Jaegers, Common Murres, Cassin's Auklets. The highlight was a well-documented Shy Albatross 9 nautical miles WSW of Point Arena. This is sure to be California FIRST accepted record of this Southern Hemisphere albatross. There are only two other west coast documentations....a 1951 specimen collected off of Washington, and an Oregon sighting two or three years ago. Congratulations MENDOCINO COUNTY! - Bob Kieffer
Sat ,21 Aug 1999 - At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER in the oaks at the west end of the ponds, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and a MacGILLIVRAY's WARBLER along the river. - George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 11 Aug 1999, morning -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw a total of 32 MARBLED MURRELETS, 21 in groups of 2 off the Westport-Union Landing Vista area, 3 off Juan Creek, and 8 off downtown Westport. The 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS which summered at the north end of Virgin Creek Beach were still there, but in eclipse plumage. (I saw these five on 2 Aug. on the rocks off the north end. A nice opportunity for a good look at close range. -- GEC)
Wed, 11 Aug 1999, ~9a.m. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw a HORNED PUFFIN in the water off the South Kibesillah Fishing Access bluff (off Hwy 1, just north of Abalobadiah Creek, which is north of the Ten Mile River and south of Westport.
Mon, 09 Aug 1999, 12:30 p.m. -- A WANDERING TATTLER was present at the north end of Glass Beach, in a small flock of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones. - Kris and Richard
Mon, 02 Aug 1999 -- Penny Seaman from Critter Care, who lives four houses west of the Oak Knoll store at the south end of Ukiah, reports that she has had a minimum of five HOODED ORIOLES, an adult pair and three juveniles, visiting her feeders and hollyhock blossoms. There is one immature (one year) male hanging around also. She saw some of these birds today.
Sat ,31 Jul 1999 -- A SWAINSON'S THRUSH and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT are still singing along the river at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. There is not much good shorebird habitat presently. The north and central ponds are dry and being scarified. The water is high in the south pond, but there is a little shorebird habitat and a few shorebirds on the sludge pond. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 21 Jul 1999 -- Today I saw a HOODED ORIOLE fly west over S. State Street in Ukiah near the airport. -- George Chaniot
Wed ,21 Jul 1999 -- Elias Elias reports 36 CASSIN'S AUKLETS at Fort Bragg and 4 ANCIENT MURRELETS at Westport. -- [from Northwestern CA RBA]
Tue, 20 Jul 1999 -- A trip to the coast turned up numbers of returning shorebirds still in breeding plumage: 200 WESTERN SANDPIPERS at Ten Mile River, dozens of SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES at Laguna Point. Three MARBLED MURRELETS were also off Mendocino Headlands. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 16 Jul 1999 -- At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the sludge pond with about 20 LEAST and 10 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Most surprising bird was female RUDDY DUCK with 3 downy young on S oxidation pond- believe this is first county breeding record??? These birds are very hard to see as they are extremely shy. They hang around in the cattails that are now profuse in the S oxidation pond- a lake presently. Shorebird habitat is pretty bad with exception of margins on the sludge pond. -- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 16 July 1999, 5p.m. -- A juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was in the trees on the north bank of the river at Hendy Woods State Park, upriver from the picnic area parking lot, but not as far as the end of the exposed gravel bed. -- Richard Irvin and Kris Carter.
Thu, 15 July 1999 -- Eric Bloom and Cynthia LeDoux saw 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS at Hendy Woods State Park, near the east end of the exposed gravel bed upriver from the picnic area parking lot.
Wed, 14 Jul 1999 -- Return migration of shorebirds is beginning: today there was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS flying south over my house in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 04 Jul 1999 2:00 pm -- At the Ukiah Sewage Ponds a single male scaup was in with the coots. We suspect he's a GREATER SCAUP since he has a flattish head -- Cheryl Heinecken
Tue, 29 Jun 1999 -- Today we took a trip through the high portions of Lake and Mendocino counties from Lake Pilsbury to Hull Mountain to Spruce Grove to Etsel Ridge to Covelo. Of particular interest was the discovery of a singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW in manzanita/ ceanothus/ scrub oak along Boardman Ridge Road, M1, at the Lake/Mendocino counties line. The bird ranged widely in both counties in section 10. Caution: This is a low-range, four-wheel-drive road. Most of the high-elevaton suite of species were found: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, CASSIN'S FINCHES, DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, and WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS at many locations, HAMMOND'S and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS at Spruce Camp, and two PEREGRINE FALCONS at the sandstone bluffs on Covelo road. -- George Chaniot, Chuck Vaughn, and Bob Keiffer.
Sat ,26 Jun 1999, 09:15-10:15 -- The NORTHERN PARULA continues at Caspar Cemetery singing high in the spruces inside the gate and occasionally allowing glimpses. Three ELEGANT TERNS were also seen flying north past the Mendocino headlands. -- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Tue, 23 Jun 1999: 10:30 - 11:00 AM -- The NORTHERN PARULA at Caspar Cemetery was singing often...with approximately 100 vocalizations heard during this time. The bird stays high in the conifer trees 100'- 200' high and tends to stay in the interior parts of the canopy making it extremely hard to see. I was able to see it twice, but very brief glimpses in the binocs. NOPA like to nest in conifers that have lots of spanish moss or lichen (east coast). There are a few Calif. nesting records. The Caspar Cemetery area conifers seem to fit this habitat type well. So, keep an eye out for a female. The bird ranged over the entire area first in the big trees far to the east of the gate, then moved to the trees just west of the gate, then moved down close to the cemetery. Caution note: there was an Orange-crowned Warbler singing downhill and to the northwest of the cemetery. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 22 Jun 1999 , 12:20-1:00p.m. -- The NORTHERN PARULA was seen as well as heard at the Caspar Cemetery today, in the trees on the north side of the cemetery road between the gate and the bend in the road. Kris and Richard. The bird was heard singing this morning by Toby and Ollie. Richard and Kris looked for the LAUGHING GULL at the Gualala River mouth this morning and did not find it.
Tue, 22 Jun 1999 -- The BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, still in brown plumage, continues at the pond at the end of Fern Canyon Drive along Eastside Road. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 21 Jun 1999 9a.m., and Sun 20 June 1999, 8a.m. -- Roger Adamson reports 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS (1 adult male, 1 adult female, 3 immature males) approx. 300 yards north of Virgin Creek Beach. The adult male was banded. If anyone can get more detail on the leg band, please let Bob Keiffer know.
Mon, 21 Jun 1999 -- Mike Parmeter reported an adult, alternate plumaged LAUGHING GULL in the afternoon at the mouth of the Gualala River. The bird moved back and forth between Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and Mike thought it was a good twitcher.
Mon, 21 Jun 1999 -- Yesterday and today, a NORTHERN PARULA was heard in the Spruce Grove near the northern end of Cabrillo Dr. off of Highway One near Casper. About 1/10 of a mile after you turn west on Point Cabrillo Dr. there is a gated road on the left. Walk a few hundred feet up hill to hear or perhaps see the bird. -- Dorothy Tobkin (from N.Calif.Birdbox)
Mon, 21 Jun 1999 -- A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was heard singing from the Russian River Bridge on Route 175 near Hopland. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 19 Jun 1999 -- At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL is still present among the eclipsing Mallards, also a male GREATER SCAUP and a female BUFFLEHEAD. Two SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and two YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were singing in the riparian strip and blackberry tangles. These two species did not used to over-summer in this location. -- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Tue, 15 June1999 11-11:30a.m. -- A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and a MACGILLIVRAY's WARBLER were singing at the northwest side of the bridge over the Eel river at the Van Arsdale reservoir. An AMERICAN DIPPER was on the Van Arsdale dam, briefly. Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Thu, 17 June 1999 -- Richard and I saw a singing RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW at 6:30 a.m. near MM12.24 on Hwy 162 (to Covelo), on rocks between the highway and the river. At 10:00 a.m. at least 3 GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES were present at Grizzly Flat on Etzel Ridge Rd. (M1), including one male who was displaying as well as singing. Four more were seen further south on the M1, about 5-6 miles south of Spruce Grove, on the last ridge before the road climbs to Hull Mountain. [The M1 is still blocked by snow, just north of Hull Mountain, but the patches were melting quickly.] At 12:20p.m., a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER was drumming at Spruce Grove, in a snag and an adjacent large tree visible from the road just after it makes the sharp right turn in the campground. He also was feeding in trees inside the campground. We saw between 1- and 2- dozen DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, scattered along Etzel Ridge Rd. -- Kris Carter
Sat, 12 Jun 1999 -- On a Breeding Bird Survey along the Covelo Road the following species of interest were noted: a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW in the "canyon" section at milemarker 13.81, a PEREGRINE FALCON at the sandstone bluffs historic nesting site at milemarker 20.33, a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in Round Valley along Fairbanks Road just off Covelo Road.
Later in the day two PURPLE MARTINS and two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were seen near the 101 Eel River bridge south of Piercy, a single BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was off Laguna Point, and a TUFTED PUFFIN was seen entering the right-hand burrow system on Goat Rock at the Mendocino Headlands. -- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Fri ,11 Jun 1999 -- A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH sang from the Russian River riparian strip all through the Potter Valley High School graduation ceremony. (The mind does wander during graduation oratory.) -- George Chaniot
Thu, 10 June, 10:00 a.m. -- Marilyn Douglas saw about a dozen ELEGANT TERNS flying north over the western terminus of Pacific Way (near the Mendocino Botanical Garden).
Mon, 07 Jun 1999 -- Natalie Somer reports that the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK which visited the Somer's home for three days has not been seen since the afternoon of Wednesday, 2 June. Many thanks to Natalie and Dick for inviting birders to come see the grosbeak in their garden.
Fri, 04 Jun 1999 -- A single male BLUE-WINGED TEAL was on the middle pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant among the mallards. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 02 Jun 1999 -- I went looking for the INDIGO BUNTING reported below and saw it several times between 09:30-10:30. It was singing from several widely-spaced dead snags at the tops of trees and appeared very much on territory and on patrol. A female LAZULI BUNTING was displaying at it and soliciting copulation. The Indigo Bunting followed her down into the ravine. Thank You, Justin! -- George Chaniot
Tue, 01 Jun 1999 -- Bob Keiffer reports that the INDIGO BUNTING was still singing near milepost 12.80 at 10:30 a.m.. It was hanging out with a female LAZULI BUNTING on both sides of the road, but usually on the downhill side. Memorial Day Weekend, the birding group out of Albion Field Station found a BANK SWALLOW over Caspar Pond. Sorry, I have no details on this. If anyone sees a Bank Swallow in the county, please report it to Bob Keiffer and notify Kris Carter and this website.
Tue, 01 Jun 1999 - Natalie Somer reports that the adult male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was at a feeder at her house at 7:50 a.m. today. She said that anyone who would like to come see it is welcome. Her address is 13101 Sea Pines Lane, the first road (gravel) to the north of Russian Gulch State Park and east of Hwy 1. Stay on the gravel road until you see the house number, then turn right into Natalie and Dick's driveway. Their phone number is 937-0675. Please be considerate of the Somers if you go to see this bird.
Mon, 31 May 1999 - Dick Summers reports that a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK hasbeen coming to feeders at his house all day today. Birders are welcome to come take a look. His address is 13101 Sea Pines Lane (the first road, gravel, north of Russian Gulch State Park. Go beyond the big white house to the green house. Please be considerate of the residents.
Sun, 30 May 1999 -- In the early afternoon, a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen at Usal Creek by Mike Ray.
Sun, 30 May 99 -- The adult male INDIGO BUNTING that Justin Ward found yesterday was singing at 8:05-8:48 a.m. this morning, and was still singing at 10:30 a.m. The bird was found at the pullout on the west side of the Boonville-Ukiah Rd. between mile marker 12.75 and 12.80. It was singing from the tops of the deciduous trees and from snags which poke up from the crowns of some trees; mostly on the west side (the sunny side this am) of the road, but also on the east side. At one point, it flew into a manzanita shrub on north side of the east road cut, and was quiet for a while before flying out and resuming singing. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Sat ,29 May 1999 -- Justin Ward reports an male INDIGO BUNTING singing from a telephone pole at MM 12.7 on the Boonville-Ukiah Rd. between 3:00 pm and 3:45 pm this afternoon. It was on the left side of the road if you are heading from Boonville to Ukiah, at a pullout with a phone pole.
Sat ,29 May 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports that 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS are still at the far north end of Virgin Creek Beach, a BRANT was in Mendocino Bay, and 8 PURPLE MARTINS were seen at Juan Creek. A singing adult male BLACK-THROATED SPARROW at Westport-Union Landing was reported to her earlier this week, but she was not able to locate it.
Wed, 26 May 1999 -- I just saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES along the University Road at 11:02 to 11:13 AM this morning. Drive to the top of the hill on University Road and continue on the flat-to-downhill stretch until you come to a sharp almost-90 degree left bend in the road. There is a "Vassar Corner Experimental Area" sign directly ahead of you at this bend. The LAGOs were seen feeding in the wooden salt boxes on your right, then flew to the tree by the Exp. Area sign, then flew across the road (west side) to the Oregon Ash Tree, then flew northwest to the small "wood duck pond" below the road. They were searching around the oak trees when I left them. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Tue, 25 May 1999 -- May 24th and 25th, an adult male BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was at the Westport Union Landing State Beach, 2 miles north of Westport and 17 miles north of Fort Bragg. Enter the Dehaven(sp?) Creek parking area of the state beach at milepost 79.3 of Highway 1. Drive north for about 3/4 of a mile to the area including campsites 14-18. It was first seen at 4:30 PM on May 24th, but soon flew off and was not refound until the morning of the 25th, when it was seen until 8:00 AM, but was not present at 8:30 AM. -- Kirk Swenson (from N.Calif. Birdbox)
Tue, 25 May 1999, am -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw 3 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS from shore (probably Laguna Point).
Tue, 25 May 1999 -- Along the Eel River logging road between the Pioneer Crossing Bridge and Bucknell Creek, PURPLE MARTINS, MacGILLIVRAY's and HERMIT WARBLERS were evident i.a., and a MacGILLIVRAY's WARBLER and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were seen upstream from Bucknell Creek just into Lake County. -- George Chaniot
Mon ,24 May 1999 -- PURPLE MARTINS were seen perched in an evergreen near the Navarro River at the western end of Hendy Woods State Park. Also at Hendy Woods, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were calling from the willows adjacent to the day-use area, and one gave a display flight at the north end of the day-use parking area. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Sun, 23 May 1999 -- In the early afternoon, a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was seen at Usal Creek by Mike Ray.
Sun, 23 May 1999 -- Lois Oeth reports 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS at the southern oxidation pond at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Sun, 23 May 1999 -- The pelagic trip to the Vizcaino Seamount 30 miles out from Noyo Harbor took place with relatively light seas, overcast, and good viewing conditions. Some estimates of species seen: Red-throated Loon 2, Pacific Loon 20+, Common Loon 1, Red-necked Phalarope 4, Red Phalarope 20-40, Northern Fulmar 10-25, Sooty Shearwater 100-200, Black-footed Albatross 55-100, Laysan Albatross 1-2, Pink-footed Shearwater 20-40, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Tern 2, Cassin's Auklet 20, Rhinoceros Auklet 100, Common Murre 40, Pigeon Guillemot 8, Ashy Storm-Petrel 6-8, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel 30, Leach's Storm-Petrel 100+, Parasitic Jaeger 2-3, Western Gull 50+, Sabine's Gull 15, Black-legged Kittiwake 6, warbler sp.-possibly Townsend's 1, Olive-sided Flycatcher 1, Yellow Warbler 1.
Calif. Sea Lion 1, Northern Fur Seal 1, Humpback Whale 2, Pacific White-sided Dolphin 2-6, Risso's Dolphin 10-20, Dall's Porpoise 8, Harbor Porpoise 3, beaked whale sp.
Sun, 23 May 1999 -- 06:25 In Ft. Bragg, just north of Pudding Creek (near Quality Inn), a flock of 12 WHITE-FACED IBIS was seen flying over Hwy 1 heading north-northeast. -- Gjon Hazard and John Hunter
Sat, 22 May 1999 -- 12:15 On the Mendocino Coast, at the Vista Point at north end of Westport-Union Landing St Pk , an adult FRANKLIN'S GULL (1) was seen flying north several hundred meters from shore. -- John Hunter and Gjon Hazard
Thu, 20 May 1999 -- Ted Wooster from the Dept. of Fish and Game reported to me that this year, for the first time, there is a BALD EAGLE nest on the Galbraith Ranch which is a property designated for Humboldt State University. It is located along the Rancheria Creek between Yorkville and Boonville and is south-southwest of Highway 128. The southern end of this ranch touches the Elk Horn Road. This is the first record of Bald Eagles nesting in Mendocino County. -- Bob Keiffer
Tue, 18 May 1999 @ 11:00 AM -- The Ukiah City Utility crew noticed a very large bird flying over Ukiah...from Gobbi Street area flying high towards the "U" and disappeared over the mountains heading west. Dan Quarles reports that they looked at the bird through binoculars and it was a overall gray-colored pelican. Could it have been a lost Brown Pelican?? -- Bob Keiffer
Wed, 19 May 1999 -- Saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES (m,f) today here at the Hopland field station. They never were seen here last year. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 16 May 1999 - Eleven participants on the Peregrine Chapter trip to the Eel River near Potter Valley saw at least 65 species. Highlights were PURPLE MARTINS, nine species of warblers including HERMIT , NASHVILLE, MacGILLIVRAY'S, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and displaying AM. DIPPERS.
Sun, 16 May 1999 - Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports that the TUFTED PUFFIN was in the nest hole at Goat Rock this morning. Yesterday she saw what she believes is the Hemlock subspecies of RED CROSSBILL in the cemetery next to Caspar Creek. The crossbills were smaller than what she normally sees here, and their voice was more subdued than what she normally hears here. She also reports that RED-NECKED PHALAROPES have been turning up at Caspar Pond and the Pudding Creek basin.
Fri, 14 May 1999 -- SWAINSON'S THRUSHES appeared in Potter Valley today, and with their arrival all of the regularly occurring inland migrants have returned - with the possible exception of the high elevation species like Green-tailed Towhee, Hammond's Flycatcher, and Flammulated Owl -- George Chaniot
Thu, 13 May 1999 -- This morning I did a workout on the logging road between Pioneer Crossing Bridge and Trout Creek on the Eel near Potter Valley. Despite windiness, a nice variety of birds are in place for the field trip this Sunday (See Trips link above): WILSON'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, ORANGE-CROWNED, MacGILLIVRAY'S, HERMIT, and YELLOW WARBLERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, PURPLE MARTIN, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER among others. The weather forecast looks favorable too; it should be a fine spring day. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 10 May 1999 -- Toby saw RHINOCEROS AUKLET off the Mendocino Headlands, an OLDSQUAW (prob. female) and MARBLED MURRELETS in Mendocino Bay, and the SNOW GOOSE at Caspar Pond today.
Mon, 10 May 1999 -- The gale-force N winds this Sat and early Sun had interesting effect on some migrating birds. I had 150-200 VAUX'S SWIFTS in small, loose groups of 2-8 birds struggling N right at tree-top level over my yard during that period. Apparently the winds beat them down. I see them much more frequently in the fall, and have never seen more than a few in spring from the yard. I believe the same winds forced down 7 PURPLE MARTINS that were being buffeted about as they flew N. That is only the second time I've ever seen PUMA at my place. Today at the field station I saw 7 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS at various places, so they are staying really late this year, and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was right outside the office. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 09 May 1999 -- Toby saw 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS (4 male, 1 female) at Virgin Creek Beach.
Sat, 08 May 1999 -- Today there were two DUNLINS in breeding plumage on the north pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 06 May 1999 -- At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant a single DUNLIN in high breeding plumage was among the many migrating WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on the north pond. A single CALIFORNIA GULL (would you believe?!) was in the middle pond. -- George Chaniot
Wintering sparrows are lingering into the first week of May with GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS in Hopland on the 6th and Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant on the 4th, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in Hopland on the 5th and Potter Valley on the 4th, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in Potter Valley on the 3rd. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 03 May 1999 -- Five HARLEQUIN DUCKS were present at the north end of Virgin Creek Beach -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Sun, 02 May 1999 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW and HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Virgin Creek Beach in the afternoon. She also reports that the HOODED ORIOLES have returned to the palm trees on Stewart St. in Fort Bragg. Jerry White saw a male HOODED ORIOLE in the shrubs across the street from the same palm trees.
Sat, 01 May 1999 -- Jessica Morton saw a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in the smallpond next to the Haul Rd. at the south end of Baxman's gravel company property.
Sat, 01 May 1999 -- The team of Keiffer, Vaughn, White, Chaniot, and Tobkin had an excellent "Big Day" today. Beginning before dawn near Hopland and ending at sunset at Ward Avenue in Fort Bragg, we found 161 species of birds, breaking the previous record of 153. Highlights were a LONG-EARED OWL, a DUSKY FLYCATCHER, and a tremendous wave of warblers at the Hopland Field Station, an OLDSQUAW at Mendocino Bay, HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Virgin Creek, and large numbers of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES flying north offshore at Mendocino and Laguna Point. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 01 May 1999 -- Not rare birds, but gorgeous in their near-breeding plumage (hardly ever seen here), were tens of DUNLIN and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at Pudding Creek this afternoon at 5 p.m. this afternoon. -- Kris Carter
Fri, 30 Apr 1999 -- Had 2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS and 2 HERMIT WARBLERS at HREC this noon. First I've seen of the year. Both are definitely later than usual. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 29 Apr 1999 -- I heard/saw a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE at the ponds at the Hopland field station at lunch. First inland MEN report for 1999? If so, over past 7 years the avg. first arrival date is 4/28, a range from 4/24 to 5/1. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 29 Apr 1999 -- Along the Eel River at the Pioneer Crossing Bridge were 6 PURPLE MARTINS, the first (?) YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and a probable WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE. A CALIFORNIA THRASHER was singing in the chaparral at mp 3.2 on Eel River Road. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 28 Apr 1999 -- Teresa Sholars saw an adult YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Lake Cleone. A BALD EAGLE has been seen at Pudding Creek recently. -- (report passed on from ? by Ginny Rorby)
Wed ,28 Apr 1999 -- This morning at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant both species of dowitcher were present, both "keeks" and "chews". The first (?) VAUX'S SWIFTS were milling around with five species of swallows. -- George Chaniot
Sat ,24 Apr 1999 -- Barbara Dolan and Chuck Vaughn report the first YELLOW WARBLER to arrive in inland Mendocino Co. at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant.
Fri, 23 Apr 1999 -- Chuck Vaughn reports the first ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER for this spring from the Hopland Field Station.
Wed, 21 April 1999 - A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in Fort Bragg at 12:15 p.m. today. It flew across Highway 1 from GP at Cypress St., heading east. It circled Fort Bragg several times before disappearing from view towards the east. -- Kris Carter and Richard Irvin.
Tue, 20 Apr 1999 -- A bunch of tropical migrants appeared like gangbusters in an area which I have visited almost daily for the last week: the Pioneer Crossing Bridge over the Eel River near Potter Valley. Could it be related to the cirrostratus deck which invaded simultaneously and threw a halo around the sun all day? The first (?) PURPLE MARTINS, 4m,3f, were visiting drain holes in the bridge, many WILSON's WARBLERS were singing in the flowering Big-leafed Maples, the first (?) BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, the first (?) MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, and several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, WESTERN TANAGERS, CASSIN'S VIREOS, WARBLING VIREOS,and PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was drumming conspicuously, and PILEATED WOODPECKERS were very noisy in the area between the bridge and Trout Creek. Redbuds and Nuttall's Dogwoods are in full bloom. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 18 Apr 1999 -- Two BONAPARTE'S GULLS with black heads were seen sitting on the water in the north half of Lake Mendocino. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 18 Apr 1999 -- Chuck Vaughn found two BLACK-NECKED STILTS, a single SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and two drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning. [All of these were still present at 1:00 PM; the stilts were last seen on the mud at the east end of the north pond, the solitary on the west end of the south pond. There is good mud habitat developing there for the spring migration. -- GEC] He also reports the season's first WESTERN TANAGER singing in Deerwood.
Sat ,17 Apr 1999 -- Today an AMERICAN DIPPER and a PILEATED WOODPECKER were seen at the Russian River rapids at milepost 1.00 along Potter Valley Road -- George Chaniot
Sat, 17 Apr 1999 -- About 24 participants on the Peregrine and Redbud Chapter field trip to the Hopland Field Station saw 68 species of birds. Of particular interest were 3-4 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and the first LAZULI BUNTINGS of the season.
Fri,16 Apr 1999 -- A BALD EAGLE and two GOLDEN EAGLES were in evidence at the pond on Burris Lane in Potter Valley -- George Chaniot
Fri, 16 Apr 1999 -- A drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL continues at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. Some migrant shorebirds, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and WESTERN SANDPIPERS are also present. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Tue, 12 Apr 1999 -- Charmaine Siciliani reports an Osprey at the pond on West Road in Potter Valley.
Tue ,12 Apr 1999 -- Your Webmeister has returned from a sojourn to find spring advancing and Bullock's Orioles, Western Kingbirds, and Cassin's Vireos returned from their sojourns. Does anyone have records of their early arrival in inland Mendocino?
Sun ,28 Mar 1999 -- The first (?) inland spring report of a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD comes from Potter Valley today, although there have been a few sightings of female Selasphorus hummingbirds earlier. This is about three weeks later than last year. We seem to have a late spring developing here, and many aspects of plant development may be 2-4 weeks behind. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 27 Mar 1999 -- 78 species were seen today on the Peregrine Chapter trip to the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant and Lake Mendocino. Highlights were two drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a GREEN HERON, and the first COMMON YELLOWTHROAT of the season at USTP and a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Bu-Shay campground. This appears to be the same bird first found on the Mesa November 28 and last reported on March 1 in exactly the same location as today. It it now coming into bright breeding plumage. To look for this bird park at the entrance booth and walk up the left road about 300 yards. Look for an electric meter box 776 and a power pole marked 4181. The sapsucker was seen in the live and deciduous oaks to the right near campsite 32.
Fri ,26 Mar 1999 -- The first migrant BARN SWALLOWS for inland Mendocino Co. were reported today in Hopland (Chuck Vaughn) and Potter Valley (George Chaniot). A CALIFORNIA THRASHER was singing and MOUNTAIN QUAIL were "quarking" at mp 3.2 on Eel River Road in Potter Valley. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 23 Mar 1999 -- Two drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a possible female were on the south pond of the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. They were actively feeding with GREEN-WINGED TEAL and CINNAMON TEAL. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 21 Mar 1999 -- Today at noon I saw a WARBLING VIREO in a mixed group of kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Orange-crowned Warblers...first 1999 report for inland Mendocino Co.? I almost always find WAVIs after hearing them first, but this bird was silent. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 21 Mar 1999 -- "AL" the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was still at the Point Arena Cove/pier. It was near the pier at about 1:00 PM and left the cove at 1:30 PM. In the previous four years this bird disappears from the cove sometime in early March... so this year it is lingering around longer. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat ,20 Mar 1999 -- A male BLUE-WINGED TEAL was hanging with Shovelers at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, and at least three BLUE GROUSE were heard booming near the second cattle guard on Low Gap Road about 11:00 AM. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn A CALIFORNIA THRASHER was singing along Marina Drive between Calpella and Lake Mendocino. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 15 Mar 1999 -- Today I heard a male BLUE GROUSE "booming" in the Douglas Fir tree site that Demian discovered on Low Gap Road several years ago. This site is 7.2 miles west of North State Street, 6.8 miles west of the N. Bush Street intersection, 6.4 miles west of the Spina Lane Intersection by the High School, 5.2 miles west of the end of the pavement, and 3.3 miles west of the first cattleguard. Go just beyond the second cattleguard at the top of the "ridge" and enter a small grove of mature Douglas Fir. The bird likes to sit very high up in the fir trees and is usually difficult to spot. He was "booming" at 1:30 PM today. Please stay on the road as this is LP private land. -- Robert J. Keiffer
Mon ,15 Mar 1999 -- 10:00 a.m. - A NORTHERN SHRIKE was present in the Ten Mile dunes, southeast of the haul road on top of a big clump of willows where the haul road turns south at the northern end of the Ten Mile dunes. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin.
Sat ,13 Mar 1999 -- In Point Arena, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen again in Point Arena Cove from 2:30 to 4:45 PM. -- Dick Ashford [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Sat, 13 Mar 1999 -- Gail and Evan Johnson have had a male BLACK-HEADED GRASBEAK coming to their feeder in Ukiah since March 7. This is the first report for inland Mendocino Co. for 1999, and the earliest ever inland report for BHGR.
Fri, 12 Mar 1999 -- A NORTHERN SHRIKE was hawking insects on the east side of the Haul Road in the vicinity of the riparian habitat of Inglenook Creek in the Ten Mile Dunes. A PEREGRINE FALCON was hunting the beach area. --Tina Fabula
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 -- A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found near the parking area at the south end of Ten Mile River Bridge, west of Highway 1 and about 8 miles north of Fort Bragg. In MacKerricher State Park, 12 BLACK SCOTERS and several RED-NECKED GREBES continue off Ward Avenue, and 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were off Virgin Creek Beach. -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Sun, 07 Mar 1999 -- Ollie Kolkman had a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER singing at his house E of Willits. This is first inland spring report for 1999 and the earliest report ever for inland Mendocino County.
Sun, 07 Mar 1999 -- A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen in the morning on the rocks at Laguna Point (MacKerricher State Park). -- Dave Klauber. It was not found a few hours later. -- Kris, Richard, and Cynthia
Sat, 06 Mar 1999 -- A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was present on the west side of Hwy 1 in the fields immediately south of Irish Beach. -- Kris, Richard, and Dave Klauber
Sat, 06 Mar 1999 -- The first CLIFF SWALLOW was among the many Violet-green and Tree Swallows at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 06 Mar 1999 -- At 12:30PM two male CINNAMON TEAL and a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL were among the Shovelers and Mallards in the center pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. -- Geoff and Cheryl
Fri, 05 Mar 1999 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was in Arena Cove in the late afternoon. -- Dave Klauber
Thu, 04 Mar 1999 - Two ROCK SANDPIPERS were seen yesterday: one at Laguna Point and one 1/4 mile south of Laguna Point (MacKerricher State Park). -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin
Wed, 03 Mar 1999 -- Near the town of Clear Lake in Lake County, at least one male TUFTED DUCK was still on Borax Lake. Take Country Club Drive, which turns into Sulphur Bank Drive, to the west side of Borax Lake. From Route 20 take Sulphur Bank Drive east of Clear Lake Keys. -- John Luther [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Wed, 03 Mar 1999 -- The LEWIS'S WOODPECKER is still at the Kings'. I saw it on the east side of the road on the power poles, on the kestrel box pole, and in the oak to the north - all visable from the road. A N.ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was also among the other swallows at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 02 Mar 1999 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sleeping in Arena Cove at 11a.m. this morning. -- Kris and Richard
Mon, 01 Mar 1999 -- The LEWIS'S WOODPECKER returned about the 24th and was seen again on the 1st. It hangs around the power poles and the kestrel box above the county road. Slightly north of my driveway. -- Malcolm King
Mon, 01 Mar 1999 -- At 15:30 today Barbara Dolan and I found a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at the Bu-Shay Campground at Lake Mendocino. This is probably the same bird seen nearby from 28 Nov-9 Jan, but the plumage is now much brighter. It was seen further to the east than before in the deciduous and live oaks near campsite 32. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 27 Feb 1999 -- In Clear Lake, 3 TUFTED DUCKS, 2 adult males and a female, were seen on Borax Lake. Take Country Club Drive, which turns into Sulphur Bank Drive, to the west side of Borax Lake. -- Don Roberson [from the N.Calif.Birdbox]
Sat ,27 Feb 1999 -- Barbara Dolan reports two singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS in her yard in Ukiah. This is the first spring report of this species.
Fri, 26 Feb 1999 -- Hunter reported seeing the LAYSAN ALBATROSS on 23 Feb. Also reported from the Point Arena area were 2 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES on 24 Feb, and a SAY's PHOEBE, 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and 6 GRAY JAYS on 26 Feb. -- [from the Arcata Birdbox]
Thu, 25 Feb 1999 -- Today I relocated the male TUFTED DUCK found recently by Dave Woodward at Borax Lake near the town of Clear Lake in Lake County. It was sleeping in a large raft of scaups, and it took some patient scoping to find it. There was also an immature SNOW GOOSE and an adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Austin Park in Clear Lake. -- George Chaniot
Mon ,22 Feb 1999 -- Many BLACK SCOTER are still present at Ward Ave. in McKerricker State Park - Kris Carter and Richard Irvin
Mon, 22 Feb 1999 -- Today I saw 7 EVENING GROSBEAKS in Ukiah. I first saw them at the Civic Center parking lot as they flew into a tall (Mulberry ??) tree. That was at 9:15 AM. At 11:15 AM they were feeding in the same trees that Demian found them in...the ornamentals in front of the law office across from Alex Thomas Plaza on School Street. They would occasionally drop to the ground to feed on the dropped seeds on the sidewalk and lawn. Also saw the pair of ROCK WRENS at Coyote Dam just south of the pumping station ramp in the bigger rocks/star thistle. -- Bob Keiffer
Sun, 21 Feb 1999 -- Demian Ebert and I saw the pair (M,F) of EURASIAN WIGEON at the northern-most wastewater oxidation pond this am. In the same group of ducks was a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat, 20 Feb 1999 -- This am Geoff and Cheryl Heineken and I saw ~300 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE from the wastewater oxidation ponds. They were in 2 large "V"s flying north up the Russian River valley, several minutes apart. Geoff and Cheryl subsequently found the male EURASIAN WIGEON on the N pond. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sat ,20 Feb 1999 -- The Point Arena LAYSAN ALBATROSS came in today at 3:45 p.m. and was there probably for the night but at least through 4:45 p.m. in heavy rain. It was not reported at any time earlier in the day although several people had been looking for it. Our third try for this bird and we finally saw it! Also there were two PEREGRINE FALCONS cavorting over the cliffs to the South of the Point. About 200 TUNDRA SWANS were in the wet fields just North of Point Arena. -- Bob and Carol Yutzy, from Redding [from Calbird]
Fri ,19 Feb 1999 -- At least 1 of the HOUSE WRENS Bob Keiffer found on 12/8 at the Hopland Field Station is still there. Apparently it (they ?) have spent the winter. -- Chuck Vaughn
Mon, 15 Feb 1999 -- Today a GREEN HERON was along the red, Azolla -covered pond on the Mendocino College campus. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 14 Feb 1999 -- Near Point Arena, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was along Miner Hole Road, two miles north of town. It was feeding with kinglets in large alders 3/4 of a mile west of Highway 1. 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were with the hundreds of TUNDRA SWANS in the field north of Miner Hole Road. A TUFTED PUFFIN flew north with murres off Lighthouse Road, just south of Miner Hole Road. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen again in Point Arena Cove. -- Dorothy Tobkin [from the N.Calif.Birdbox]
Sat, 13 Feb 1999 -- TREE SWALLOWS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were foraging over the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, some of the first spring arrivals. On Lake Mendocino there was a single COMMON LOON, and an adult HERRING GULL, and a ROCK WREN was at the usual place on Coyote Dam near the intake tower. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 12 Feb 1999 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen on the 12th, between 1:30 and 2:30 PM. -- Gil Thompson [from the N.Calif.BirdBox]
Fri, 12 Feb 1999 -- A very brilliant "ruber" RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was at the Mesa Day-use Area near the horseshoe pits. This is probably the same bird seen by Chuck Vaughn on 9 Jan 1999. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 09 Feb 1999 -- From 11:15 to 12:00 at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant, the pair of EURASIAN WIGEON were still present. First observed on the southern most pond, they flew to the center pond as I walked the path. Of other interest at the ponds: A SAY'S PHOEBE near the buildings and first settling pond. 19 COMMON SNIPE were flushed from the marshy areas of the northern pond. A very dark-morph RED-TAILED HAWK (but not a Harlan's) was seen along the Russian River. -- Demian Ebert
Sun, 07 Feb 1999 -- In Point Arena, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen briefly off Point Arena Cove around noon, and flew into the cove finally at 2:10 PM. The bird was not seen on February 6th, when seas were very rough. A PEREGINE FALCON was also at the cove. 185 TUNDRA SWANS continued west of Highway 1 and north of Miner Hole Road, north of Point Arena. -- Phil Gordon [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Sun, 07 Feb 1999 -- Following 2.5 inches of rain, the fields at the end of Ford Road in Ukiah are flooding, and ducks, mostly wigeon, are moving in. There was also a GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the wet grass. At Lake Mendocino A PACIFIC LOON was off the south ramp, and another distant loon was probably a COMMON LOON. A Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, and California Gull were at the feeding area - unremarkable in any other winter than 1998/1999. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 07 Feb 1999 -- The pair of EURASIAN WIGEONS continue at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. This is a nice chance to see a definite female. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 29 Jan 1999 -- In Fort Bragg, a ROCK SANDPIPER was on the rocks just south of Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park, and 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Glass Beach. Also on the 29th, 200 TUNDRA SWANS, 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and 2 "CACKLING" CANADA GEESE were at the Garcia River flats, north of Point Arena. - [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Fri, 29 Jan 1999 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was present at Arena Cove on 1/29/99 at 2:30 to 4PM PST. -- Lynea Hinchman [from Calbird]
Thu, 28 Jan 1999 -- The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was seen at Arena Cove in the afternoon -- [from N.Calif.Birdbox]
Sat ,30 Jan 1999 -- Today we saw a male and a female EURASIAN WIGEON at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. In the orchard to the south there was a pair of CHIPPING SPARROWS, unusual for January. A MERLIN was seen several times flying. On Low Gap Road we found a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW singing softly in the same area mentioned below on 18 Dec 1998. [For reference this location is 3.9 miles from Bush Street and 0.3 miles beyond the first cattle guard] A MEW GULL was at the south boat ramp at Lake Mendocino, breaking the six-week gull drought. -- George Chaniot and Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 24 Jan 1999 -- I observed a probable BEWICK'S SWAN, subspecies of the Tundra Swan, on Sunday Jan 24, 1999. The swan was on the Stornetta ranch. I observed the swan about 1/3 mile west of Hwy 1 on Minor Hole Road, Point Arena. The swan was about 300 yards distant from me, and north of Minor Hole Road. -- Rod Hug
Sun, 24 Jan 1999 -- Barbara Dolan and I saw 3 BARN SWALLOWS at the Ukiah wastewater treatment plant this am. Recent rains have put a lot more water in the middle pond, and there were several hundred mallards there. Among them were 8 NORTHERN PINTAILS and a striking, male, red-headed wigeon! [=EURASIAN WIGEON -- GEC]-- Chuck Vaughn
Fri, 22 Jan 1999 -- Jim Armstrong reports a PILEATED WOODPECKER on Main Street in Potter Valley.
Thu ,21 Jan 1999 -- In Point Arena, the LAYSAN ALBATROSS flew into Point Arena Cove at 4:30 PM. It was not present that morning. 9 ANCIENT MURRELETS, 3 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and a POMARINE JAEGER were off the lighthouse, and 200 TUNDRA SWANS, 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and 2 "CACKLING" CANADA GEESE were at Arena Wells[?]. In the Fort Bragg area, 3 RED-NECKED GREBES were off Laguna Point, and 8 HARLEQUIN DUCKS at Glass Beach. -- Graham Etherington [from the N.Calif.Birdbox]
Thu ,21 Jan 1999 -- Three EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen on School Street near Alex Thomas Plaza. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 20 Jan 1999 -- There are at least five WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS coming to the feeder at my home in Potter Valley, three white and two tan. They outnumber Golden-crowned Sparrows. What is happening here?! -- George Chaniot
Mon, 18 Jan 1999 -- An AM. DIPPER and a BALD EAGLE were seen around Van Arsdale Dam on the Eel River near Potter Valley today. -- Alan Grass
Mon, 18 Jan 1999 -- The NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen today in the row of poplars east of the sprinklers at the end of Ford Road in Ukiah. Bob Keiffer reports seeing it on the 16th. At the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant there were four N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, possibly only the second winter record for inland Mendocino Co. An AM. DIPPER was found easily at the quarry area along Potter Valley Road (mm 0.88), and both a GOLDEN EAGLE and a BALD EAGLE were hanging around the pond on Burris Lane. A RIVER OTTER was eating a fish the same place.-- Chuck Vaughn and George Chaniot
Sat ,16 Jan 1999 -- At sunset today I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON at the pond on Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It's probably the same individual seen on 23 Dec, but a BALD EAGLE in the vicinity has kept the ducks roving from pond to pond. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 15 Jan 1999-- There was a special on RED-TAILED HAWKS at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant today. About eight birds and each one different: one was all chocolate brown with a red tail, the darkest of the dark morphs I've seen. Another was very white on the back with a pale pink tail - almost like Krider's. MERLINS were sititng all over: an adult "columbarius" at Perkins and Bryant in Ukiah, an immature at USTP, an immature on Lake Mendocino Drive, and an adult "suckleyi" on Route 20 at Redwood Valley [ I just noticed that the Merlin races are mislabeled in the Western Peterson 3rd Edition]. The HOODED MERGANSERS are still at the inlet to Lake Mendocino - a nice photo opportunity for someone with the right equipment. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 14 Jan 1999 -- Toby found a 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL at Van Damme State Park. She saw the gull around 3:30 p.m. when the tide was low.
Wed, 13 Jan 1999 -- At the inlet to Lake Mendocino at 14:30 a male HOODED MERGANSER was foraging in the upstream most end of the lake, just below the Hwy 20 bridge. An immature SNOWY EGRET was foraging in the mud flats near the last turnout before the access road heads to the Mesa Campground area. -- Demian Ebert
Wed, 13 Jan 1999 -- Today I covered the Eel River from Van Arsdale Dam to Trout Creek. Birds of note were a PILEATED WOODPECKER near Oat Gap Road, an adult BALD EAGLE at the Pioneer Bridge, and an AMERICAN DIPPER at the dam. Allan Grass says dippers can be seen there most any day. The WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE which first appeared as a juvenile in Sep. 1997 is still there and has long since become a respectable, adult "speck". According to Alan, the Egyptian Goose which appeared in Dec 1997 began visiting a pond on Oat Gap Road and then disappeared altogether in the fall of 1998. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 12 Jan 1999 -- A singleton adult ROSS'S GOOSE was in the field by the Masonite sprinklers on Ford Road in Ukiah. -- George Chaniot
Tue, 12 Jan 1999 -- About ten BELL'S SAGE SPARROWS were evident today along the first mile of the Valley View Trail in North Cow Mountain. Two RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS were also found close to the Mill Creek trailhead. This is the most reliable public-access location for this species that I have found locally, so here are some tips: About 100 yards up the trail is an iron post with the number 2 on it. Shortly beyond is a fallen oak, the trail leaves the oaks, and there is an area of burned chamise with lots of grass. Leave the trail here and work upslope through the old burn. The Rufous-crowned Sparrows are in here. They pish up with the Golden-crowned Sparrows and often follow their movements. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 11 Jan 1999 -- This afternoon (3:00-3:15) I found the HORNED LARK on the large midden to the south of Virgin Creek Beach. There was also a "semi-wild" SNOW GOOSE at the Caspar Pond. Hanging out with all those mutant ducks and geese...what is it thinking? -- Demian Ebert
Bob Keiffer adds: "I know that Toby occasionally sees Horned larks in fall migration, but birders should not take this bird lightly. It took Jerry White and myself many, many years to finally add this bird to our county lists. It looks like this bird will hang around for a while since it has been there since Toby found it Dec. 26th, 1998. If it is not on the shell-mound (sometimes hard to locate), then it has been found south along the coastal prairie edge in short grass (not the rank "duffy" areas where the Savannah Sparrows are)."
Sat, 09 Jan 1999 -- I refound the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at the Mesa Day-use Area at about 4:30. It was foraging in the pines that are just to the west of where the road to the mesa splits and part heads off west around the circle. It was definitely working its way towards the oaks around the rings area. Also saw a really bright, deep-red RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER which I assume was a "ruber"- far brighter than any I ever have seen at Hopland or elsewhere inland here. It was in live oaks by horseshoe pits and "meowing" frequently. -- Chuck Vaughn
Thu, 07 Jan 1999 -- It was a good day on the Mendocino coast today. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was sleeping in Point Arena cove at 09:30 and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were close to the pier. ANCIENT MURRELETS were off the Point Arena lighthouse. A SNOW GOOSE was among the domestics at Caspar Pond, and the ROSS'S GOOSE was among the gulls at Laguna Point parking lot. A first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL was among the gulls on the beach there. ANCIENT MURRELETS were off Laguna Point and Ward Avenue, and at Ward Avenue a ROCK SANDPIPER, an OLDSQUAW, a handsome pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and ten BLACK SCOTERS were seen while we were eating lunch. The HORNED LARK was found on the sandhill south of Virgin Creek.-- George Chaniot, Bob Keiffer, and Chuck Vaughn
Wed, 06 Jan 1999 -- Just before sunset today I saw the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at the Mesa in the same deciduous oak near the rings where it was seen 18 Dec. There are some fresh, deep holes in the upper branches which it was visiting. It flew off to the east through the live oaks.- George Chaniot
Tue, 05 Jan 1999 -- Lake County. Today I found a PHAINOPEPLA along the Glen Eden trail west of Scotts Valley. It was about 1.5 miles from the trailhead at about 2400 feet elevation and eating toyon berries in dense chaparral. BELL'S SAGE SPARROWS were also found at several locations along this trail. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 03 Jan 1999 -- Bob Keiffer reports a BEWICK'S form of the TUNDRA SWAN in the group of swans at the Garcia Flats. Also, there is a lone, immature swan, about 1/4 mile west of the main swan group, which we would like good observations and photos on because there is a slight possibility that it is a TRUMPETER SWAN.
Sun, 03 Jan 1999 -- Chuck Vaughn and I found 3 CANVASBACKS among the scaup in the north end of Lake Mendocino. There were also several beautiful HOODED MERGANSERS in the inlet, easily seen at close range from the road. --George Chaniot
Sun, 03 Jan.1999 -- Toby reports finding 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS a little bit south of Ward Ave. on a big rock during an incoming high tide, as well as 2 RED-NECKED GREBES and the OLDSQUAW a little bit north of Ward Ave. At high tide, she saw 1 ROCK SANDPIPER off Laguna Point on a shorebird roosting rock. HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 3 RED-NECKED GREBES were also seen at Laguna Point, as well as the ROSS'S GOOSE in the parking lot.
Sat 2 Jan 1999 -- Martin Byhower saw the LAYSAN ALBATROSS at 7:30 a.m.. He also found a ROCK SANDPIPER at Ward Ave. and reported that the ROSS'S GOOSE is still at Laguna Point.
Sat, 02 Jan 1999 -- Chuck Vaughn, Bob Keiffer, and Jerry White found 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the mouth of the Garcia River. They flew off upstream and were not seen by Kris and Richard on 3 Jan.
Fri, 01 Jan 1999 -- Today there was an adult BALD EAGLE terrorizing the coots on Burris Lane Pond in Potter Valley. Jim Armstrong tells me he has seen it there over a period of weeks. Also present was an adult GOLDEN EAGLE. Nice comparison of their voices.-- George Chaniot
Thu, 31 Dec 1998 -- Richard and I saw a SNOW GOOSE and two "minima" CANADA GEESE at Caspar Pond in the afternoon. The ROSS'S GOOSE was still at the Laguna Point parking area.-- Kris Carter
Wed, 30 Dec 1998- - The HORNED LARK was found again by Bob Keiffer just south of Virgin Creek at about 1:30 pm, but was not seen by two observers an hour earlier.
Tue, 29 Dec 1998 -- The OLDSQUAW is still present at Ward Ave., along with Black Scoters. The HORNED LARK on the midden just south of Virgin Creek was present this afternoon-- Kris and Richard.
Mon, 28 Dec 1998 --Toby reports an OLDSQUAW off of Ward Ave. since 24 December, a HORNED LARK on 26 Dec. at a midden site just south of Virgin Creek Beach, and ANCIENT MURRELETS in several locations on the coast over the holidays. She found a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL at Laguna Point today.
Thu, 24 Dec 1998 -- We saw a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, ruber subspecies, in the large Monterey Cypress with the tree-house at Jim and Bev Thompson's Heather Garden home yesterday ~11:30 AM. The LAYSAN ALBATROSS was at the Point Arena cove, often just 10-12 feet offshore yesterday from 12 Noon till we left the area at 1:30 PM-- Richard Kuehn
Wed, 23 Dec 1998 --Toby found a ROCK SANDPIPER in a flock of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones on the rocks below the bluffs 5-10 minutes walking time north of the northmost part of Virgin Creek Beach. The tide was low, but rising.
Wed, 23 Dec 1998 --This evening at sunset I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON on the Burris Lane pond in Potter Valley. Among the five other wigeon with it was a very rufous female, possibly also a Eurasian Wigeon, but with the waning light and my inexperience, I was not sure. This is the first occurence in Potter Valley to my knowledge. Also present today was the mostly-albino AMERICAN COOT, and Friday 18 Dec I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON to the north of the knoll. --George Chaniot
Tue, 22 Dec 1998 -- Richard and I saw an adult BALD EAGLE in Covelo, west of Dobie Road and south of the creek. --Kris Carter
Tue, 22 Dec 1998 -- The RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER at the Hopland field station was last seen at 11:45 yesterday am. May have left the immediate area. --Chuck Vaughn
section of archive missing. -GEC
27 Nov. 1998-- Duck day in Mendocino: Hooded Mergansers at Casper Pond, Harlequin Ducks at Glass Beach, Wood Ducks at Lake Cleone, Surf Scoter and Black Scoter at Ward Ave. Kris, Brucie, and Duncan Carter.
27 Nov. 1998-- Further on at the flat above the Eel R. on the W. side, just before the new bridge, were Western Bluebirds. The Eel River Work station and multi-road junction is just on the E. side of the bridge. Proceeding up FH7 between the work station and Mendocino Pass were American Goldfinches (not a real good look) and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. North of Mendocino Pass on M4 you could drive to the junction of the Anthony Peak/Wells Cabin Cmpgrd. road and the Cattle Ridge road. At about the 6000 foot level as we were walking to the peak there were numerous Mountain Chickadees. Snow level was about 5200 feet. On the way down there was a Cooper's Hawk out Board Ridge road. Malcolm and Janet King
27 Nov. 1998 -- 12:30, Bu-Shay Campground at Lake Mendocino, Site 163. Geoff and I saw a male WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER working the pine trees. Thanks to George for the web-site posting. Cheryl Heinecken
25 Nov. 1998 -- 0930 this am we found a male WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER in Mesa Campground on the east side of Lake Mendocino. It was foraging in pines; sometimes as low as eye level on the main trunks and at other times in the mid horizontal branches. The bird was at campsite 133. A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was about 100 yds above Eastside road (Potter Valley) in the oaks, just north of mile marker 7.2. A Peregrine Falcon was flying and calling around a large rock face(1630 pm) which can be seen 1/2 to 3/4 mile east of this same general road area. Malcolm and Janet King
17 Nov. 1998 -- Greg Grantham and Toby report a Ross's Goose on the 'lawn' at the Laguna Point parking lot at MacKerricher. Another birder suspects it is a hybrid because of it's size and 'lip' color. It is also said to be quite tame.
16 Nov. 1998 -- Chuck has discovered a Passerella iliaca zaboria [Yukon Fox Sparrow, subspecies of Red Fox Sparrow, according to Rising, -kc] coming to his feeder at the Hopland Research and Extension Center. Bob Keiffer says that it is important that we try to separate and document our wintering subspecies of Fox Sparrows...so spread the word. Rumor has it that Fox Sparrows will be split in the near future. [An excellent book that shows the Fox Sparrows as they are likely to be split is A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada, by James D. Rising, Academic Press, 1996. This is a superb reference for identifying sparrows - I can't recommend it enough. I'm told the author even publishes errata and updates on a website. -kc]
13 Nov. 1998 -- 09:00 a.m. Lake Mendocino, Bu-Shay Campground, campsites 160-164. Today I relocated the White-headed Woodpecker in exactly the same area that it was discovered on 28 Oct. It was working on pine cones and also pecking rather noisily on redwood trunk bark. Although I couldn't pin it down, I suspect there may be two individuals, both male. This is a chance to see this species locally without mounting an expedition to higher elevations. George Chaniot.
14 Nov. 1998 -- The South Coast search for raptors turned up Red-tailed Hawks (including a dark morph) and American Kestrels in abundance. At least 3 Peregrine Falcons were seen, and one Merlin. A Ferruginous Hawk was seen in the fields south of Elk (see 3 Nov.). If I get a trip report, I'll post it.
13 Nov. 1998 -- Toby saw a PALM WARBLER today, in the vicinity of Caspar Pond.
12 Nov. 1998 -- Rusty Namitz saw 2 adult Ferruginous Hawks near the Albion Store, between 11 a.m. and 12 noon.
11 Nov. 1998 -- Today I refound a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER at the Mesa campground at Lake Mendocino. It was a male in the pines near the ampitheater, campsite 92. It was working industriously on pine cones. This is the third time that I'm aware of it (they?) has been seen over a fifteen day period ( 28 Oct,31 Oct, 11 Nov ). George Chaniot.
10 Nov. 1998 -- The class and I saw 4 WILSON'S SNIPES and 3 HOODED MERGANSERS (including 2 gorgeous males) at the Caspar crossroads pond this A.M. -- Greg Grantham.
08 Nov. 1998 -- This weekend, Justin and Kelly drove out Hwy 162 to Covelo, and spotted a BALD EAGLE on top of a huge rock face cliff, on the righthand side (Mile marker ~15.5) just past the turnoff to Dos Rios.
03 Nov. 1998 -- Greg Grantham saw a Ferruginous Hawk in the cow pastures a few miles north of Alder Creek (at the sign which threatens "VICIOUS BULL").
02 Nov. 1998 -- Richard and I saw a Yellow-shafted Flicker at Alder Creek this afternoon. It was working up and down the dirt bank on the north side of the creek. Kris Carter
01 Nov. 1998 -- Evelyn Wadsworth and Grace Steuer saw a Redhead and a Canvasback at Hunter's Lagoon today.
01 Nov. 1998 -- Toby saw a Horned Lark, very yellow, at the south parking lot of the Mendocino Headlands, near the monument. Richard and I saw the Rock Sandpiper at Glass Beach, in the small cove north of the main trails, a couple of hours after high tide. Sooty Shearwaters could be seen from Laguna Point today.
30 Oct. 1998 -- Clay-colored Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow were seen in Potter Valley at George Chaniot's home.
30 Oct. 1998 -- Toby saw several Tricolored Blackbirds at Bald Hill Farm.
30 Oct. 1998 -- Toby saw an American Avocet at Ten Mile River, on the south shore, in the shallow part closer to the beach than the bridge. Richard and I will go look for it tomorrow. Kris.
30 Oct. 1998 -- Doug of the Tyrannus Trio from Arcata, spotted a Redhead at Hunter's Lagoon this morning. It was in the channel that runs south between Barnegat Rd. and the Perkins' house. Rich, Dean, Richard, Justin, Pablo, and I all saw it as well. Early afternoon, Richard and I saw a Rough-legged Hawk cruising south over Alder Creek.
Oct. 29, 1998 -- Toby saw a Horned Lark at Glass Beach at the end of the dirt road around 9:30a.m.
On 28 October, several birders searched for the Red-naped Sapsucker at Lake Mendocino without success. Richard and I saw a White-headed Woodpecker in the same campground, site #160, in the small redwood trees, around 4:15pm.
Oct. 27 1998 -- Two White-throated Sparrows are coming to our birdbaths on Navarro Ridge. Kris Carter and Richard Irvin.
Tu 27 Oct 1998 -- The Red-naped Sapsucker was back in the English walnut near campsite 152. I saw it from 08:30-08:40 and it was still there when I left. -- George Chaniot
Oct. 26 1998 -- A White-throated Sparrow appeared at our birdbath on Navarro Ridge. We saw a Ferruginous Hawk in the fields south of Navarro Ridge Rd., west of the Martin ranch (which is at mile marker 2.0).
Sun 25 Oct 1998 -- Barbara Dolan and George Chaniot found a Red-naped Sapsucker at the "Mesa" Campground on the NE side of Lake Mendocino (formally - near campsite 152, Little Bear Group Area, Bu-Shay Campground) about 15:30 in the afternoon.
24 Oct. 1998 -- Toby Tobkin reported a Rock Sandpiper, seen in the morning on a rising tide, at the small cove at the north end of Glass Beach (where the seaweed piles up) and a possible Clay-colored Sparrow at the southwest end of the dirt road at Glass Beach. Richard Irvin, Kris Carter, and Art Morley saw the Rock Sandpiper in the afternoon. Art Morley identified a Clay-colored Sparrow.
23 Oct. 1998 -- Tina Fabula reports 3 Gray Jays came to bathe at the Navarro River Banding Station.
19 Oct. 1998 -- Chuck Vaughn found a male Prothonotary Warbler at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center at noon today. We could not relocate it ...but we suspect it is still in the hardwood forest sidehill above the natural lakes. Bob Keiffer. [The bird has not been re-found. -kc]
17 Oct. 1998 -- Rusty Namitz saw a Glaucous Gull at Virgin Creek Beach around noon today, and a Black-throated Gray Warbler at Lake Cleone.
07 Oct. 1998 -- Tina Fabula reports a flock of 60 Evening Grosbeaks at the Navarro River banding station between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m.. They were not seen later in the day.
06 Oct. 1998 -- Richard Irvin and I saw a Pectoral Sandpiper at Glass Beach this afternoon, about half an hour after high tide. Kris Carter.
04 Oct. 1998 -- Ginny Rorby and friend found a possible Rock Sandpiper at Glass Beach.
03 Oct. 1998 -- Rusty Namitz re-found the Clay-colored Sparrows at Glass Beach at 11:20 a.m. Saturday, 3 Oct.. He also saw 3 male and 1 female Harlequin Duck at Glass Beach on the same day---sounds like they are back for the winter.
01 Oct. 1998 -- Rusty Namitz found an AMERICAN AVOCET at Virgin Creek Beach (late report).
Last revised August 06, 2023.