March is always a rather slow month; the winter birds gradually leave us and only a few early spring birds arrive: But look out early next month for an avalanche of new spring migrants! I sure do hope all you birders are taking advantage of the lifetime opportunity to study the brightest comet of the century. Hale-Bopp (not Hey Bob!) has been putting on a spectacular show each clear early evening and early morning all month!
BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 male, Arcata Marsh Project (AMP), 15-16 Mar (RJA, et al.): EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 1 male, AMP 11-21 Mar (DF, SH, JP); this bird was paired with a female of unknown genetic background on 21 Mar (SH): EURASIAN WIGEON: 2-7 males, 1 female, Arcata Bottoms (AB), 20 Feb-15 Mar (DD, JH, R& KG, SH, TL, SP, RJA, DA, SF, AD, Orn 1 class, et al.); 1 male, Hookton Slough, 23 Feb-9 Mar (CO, JP); 1 male, Vance Ave (North Bay), 23 Feb (RH): HARLEQUIN DUCK: 1-3, Ft. Bragg, 12 Feb-15 Mar (TL, SP, DT, et al.); 3-4, Crescent City Harbor, 2-4 Mar (RH, DG): OLDSQUAW: 1, mouth of Smith River, 2 Mar (RH); 2, Big Lagoon, 4 Mar (DG): NORTHERN GOSHAWK: 2, north of Covelo on Minah Road, 21 Feb (DG, BL); l adult (!) at a feeder (!), near Blue Lake, 2 Mar (LP): FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1, Round Valley, 16 Feb (JH, TL): PRAIRIE FALCON: 1, AB, 26 Feb (TL,SP): WANDERING TATTLER: 16 in one flock (!), Ft. Bragg, 8 Mar (PS): THAYER'S GULL: 1 (first year--very difficult identification!), AB, 28 Feb (GH & Orny 1 class): ICELAND GULL: 1 (third winter of Kumliens race--no details, also a very difficult identification!), Ft. Bragg, 17 Feb (RS, DT, et al., fide BK) (Only the second ever report for this species in the northcoast region): GLAUCOUS GULL: 1 adult !, Ft. Bragg, 17 Feb (DT); another adult !, Eureka, 4 Mar (GL) (These are only the fifth and sixth ever records for an adult Glaucous Gull for the northcoast region!--and one of the other 4 was from this winter also!); 1 (second winter); Crescent City Harbor, 2 Mar (RH); 1 (first winter), 10 Mile River north of Ft. Bragg, 7 Mar (PS): (A note of caution: There are many faded, nearly derelict first winter Glaucous-winged Gulls present now that seem to have white wing tips and easily can be misidentified as Glaucous Gulls--I saw 5-6 at Klopp Lake 18-21 Mar--be sure to check the bill to see if it is pale for the basal half to two thirds before calling these Glaucous Gulls; the faded Glaucous-winged Gulls with white wing tips have all black bills--SH): HORNED PUFFIN: (update): 1 flying by Ft. Bragg with 3 Surf Scoters, 13 Dec 1996 (DT): BURROWING OWL: an injured bird was delivered to Wildlife Care Center folks from the Clam Beach Parking Lot, 8 Mar and released into Arcata Bottoms 13 Mar (KP, fide JH); (UPDATE); KP also told JH of several second-hand (unconfirmed) reports of a Burrowing Owl standing beside a hole in AB during the summer of 1996 (Jun to Aug) that spread its wings in a territorial defense posture when approached. If this third-hand report is true, it is very significant because we have no other records of over summering, possibly nesting, birds in the northcoast region--if anyone has more details on this, please contact me. WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER: 1 male, wintering on Azalea Hill, 20 Feb-21 Mar (GL, RJA) (one of only 2 ever lowland records): LEWIS' WOODPECKER: 1, Blue Lake Fish Hatchery, 17 Mar (MS): SAY'S PHOEBE: 1, Willow Creek, 3-13 Mar (TL): RUFOUS-CROWNED= SPARROW: 1, Dos Rios, 16 Feb (JH,TL).
INTERESTING REGULAR REPORTS, NOTES FROM THE TRAVEL DESK, ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES, ETC:
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 21 ( a rather high number for mid winter close to shore), seen following a fishing boat just offshore at Ft. Bragg, 17 Feb (LL, fide BK): RED-NECKED GREBE: 2, offshore at Westport, 2 Mar (TL,SP); 1, Woodley Isl. Channel, 9 Mar (RJA, DA); 4, King Salmon, 9 Mar (BD): EARED GREBE: 1, Hookton Slough, 9 Mar (JP); 1-2, AMP, 13-21 Mar (SH): CLARK'S GREBE: 1, North Jetty, Humboldt Bay, 8-12 Mar (SP, GH, Orn 1 class): BROWN PELICAN: 2, Crescent City Harbor, 4 Mar (DG): DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 1-3, Willow Creek, 13 Feb-13 Mar (TL--not many inland records in our region for this species!) : AMERICAN BITTERN: 1, AMP, 15 Mar (Maggie--sorry, Maggie, I didn't get your last name down!): GREAT BLUE HERON: 2, Willow Creek, 13= Mar (TL--our inland correspondent strikes again!): CATTLE EGRET: 1, AB, 27 Feb (Orn 1 class); 8, at AMP roost in evening, 11 Mar (SH): GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 140 (!), Smith River Bottoms, 22 Feb (MF); 1, Willow Creek Golf Course, 24 Feb (TL): ROSS' GOOSE: 1, Smith River Bottoms, 18-22 Feb (MF): ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE: High count of 21,000 on Smith River Bottoms, 22 Feb (MF, who reports them roosting at night on Castle Rock, Prince and Goat Islands): WOOD DUCK: 1, MacKerricher SP, 16 Feb (Anon); 2 females, Arcata Oxidation Pond, 20 Feb (SH); 1 pair, Big Lake (north of Willow Creek), 24 Feb (TL); 15, near Bayside, 3 Mar (MW); x, Clam Beach Lagoons, early Mar (PR); 1 pair, AOP/AMP, 19 Mar (SH): GADWALL: our usual resident pairs have arrived at AMP again, 2-8 seen there, 10-21 Mar (GG, SH, et al.): BLACK SCOTER: 1 female, North Jetty, 23 Feb-12 Mar (RH, Orny I); 1 female, mouth of Smith River, 2 Mar (RH) 1 female, North Jetty, 16 Mar (MM, SMc): COMMON GOLDENEYE: 1, Eel River Wildlife Area, 23 Feb (CO): BUFFLEHEAD: 1, Big Lake, 24 Feb (TL, there goes our inland correspondent again!): HOODED MERGANSER: 8, Big Lake, 24 Feb (TL); 1 male, 4 females, Clam Beach Lagoons, 11 Mar (PR); 1 male, Clam Beach Lagoons, 17 Mar (AA): COMMON MERGANSER: 8, Willow Creek, 13 Mar (TL):
OSPREY: 1, Arcata, 2 Mar (JB); 1, Elk River, 9 Mar (JB, ER); 2, Woodley Island Channel, 9 Mar (RJA,DA); 2, building a nest, near Redwood Acres, 9 Mar (CK): BALD EAGLE: 2, 6 miles east of Weaverville, 15 Feb (JHo); 1, McKinleyville, 18 Feb (SS); 1 adult, Mad River and Highway 299, 20 Feb (DG); 1, AMP, 24 Feb (RHu); 1 immature, Lower Mad River, 27 Feb (Orn 1 class); 1 immature, mouth of Klamath River, 27 Feb (SB): 2 adults, Kneeland, 1 Mar (SB); 1 adult, McKinleyville, 2 Mar (CF); 1, mouth of Smith River, 2 Mar (RH); 1 imm, Big French Creek and highway 299, 3 Mar (RHa); 1 ad., Willow Creek, 5 Mar (TL); 1 ad, 1 imm, Tompkins Hill Road, 12 Mar (MW); 1 ad., Freshwater Lagoon, 14 Mar (DF): GOLDEN EAGLE: 2, Kneeland, 1 Mar (SB); 2, Bald Hills, 8 Mar (BF); 2, Mail Ridge, 14 Mar (JG): MERLIN: 1, Manila, 16 Feb (JHo): 1, north of Covelo on Minah Road, 21 Feb (DG, BL); 1, Big Lagoon, 22 Feb (RHu); 1, AMP, 26 Feb-21 Mar (many observers); 1, Bald Hills, 8 Mar (BF); 1, AB, 13 Mar (PRa); 1, McKinleyville, 20 Mar (TL): PEREGRINE FALCON: 1, Ocean House, 8 Feb (TL); 1, Redwood NP visitor center, 14 Feb (TL); 1, Loleta Bottoms, 23 Feb (LB-O): WILD TURKEY: 1, 5 miles south of Garberville, 2 Mar (TL,SP): VIRGINIA RAIL: 2, Skunk Cabbage Trail Pond, 8 Mar (TL,SP): AMERICAN COOT: 1, Big Lake, 24 Feb (TL): SNOWY PLOVER: 8-25, Clam Beach, 10-12 Mar (SH); 3, north spit of Eel River, 15 Mar (CO): BLACK OYSTERCATCHER: 1, North Jetty, 23 Feb-14 Mar (RH, SH, Orn 1 class): SPOTTED SANDPIPER: 1 (here since at least mid Dec), Butcher Slough, AMP, 3-16 Mar (GG, SH, et al.): WHIMBREL: 2, AB, 22 Mar (DF, JP): RUDDY TURNSTONE: 2, Elk Head, 22 Feb (GL): ROCK SANDPIPER: 1, Ft. Bragg, 20 Feb (DT); 1, Elk Head, 22 Feb (GL); 3-5, North Jetty, 10-14 Mar (SH, Orn 1 class--the 5 seen together on 14 Mar by the Orn 1 class is the largest concentration there in many years): CASPIAN TERN: 2-7, AMP, 20 Mar (SH, RB); 12, mouth of Mad River, 21 Mar (TL) Spring Migration strikes again!: FORSTER'S TERN: 1-3, AMP, 16-20 Mar (SH): MARBLED MURRELET: +2, North Jetty, 16 Mar (SMc, MM), 2, Westport, 2 Mar (TL,SP); 2, Ft. Bragg, 2 Mar (TL,SP); 4-6, North Jetty, 12 Mar (Orn 1 class): BAND-TAILED PIGEON: 23, Azalea Hill, 10-20 Feb (DG); This species now common throughout area at food sources: NORTHERN PYGMYOWL: 1, Skunk Cabbage Trail, 8 Mar (TL,SP):
x, College of Redwoods, 18 Feb (DG); 1-2, Sunnybrae, 20-22 Feb (SH,PS); 1, Bayside, 21 Feb (DF): RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male, McKinleyville, 21 Feb (TL); 1 male, Arcata, 22 Feb (DA); 1 male, Ferndale, 23 Feb (DA, RJA); 1 male, Elk Head, 8 Mar (M&PZ): 1 male, Sunnybrae, 11-20 Mar (SH): ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD: 1 male, 23 Feb, Azalea Hill (GL); 1 male, Sunnybrae, 24 Feb (SH), now common: YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER: 1, Ft. Bragg, 18 Feb (DT); 1 female, Sunnybrae, 15 Mar (SH): Red-Shafted Flicker (melanistic) 1 female, Mad River Fish Hatchery, `6 Mar (MM< SMc): PILEATED WOODPECKER: 1, Azalea Hill, 19 Feb (DG); 2, Skunk Cabbage Trail, 8 Mar (TL,SP): TREE SWALLOW: 100, Ocean Ranch, 25 Feb (PM); 50, AMP, 26 Feb (SH); 1, AB, 26 Feb (GH); 2, AB, 27 Feb (Orn 1 class); 100's, AMP, 11 Mar (DF,JP); 2, Friday Ridge Road and Highway 299, 12 Mar (TL): VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW: 4, AMP, 26 Feb (SH); x, Arcata, 2 Mar (DF); 100's, AMP, 11 Mar (DF,JP); 4, HSU, 12 Mar (MMM): ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW: 2, AMP, 26 Feb (earliest ever spring record) (SH): BARN SWALLOW: 1, AMP, 20 Mar (SH): GRAY JAY: 1, Poole Road, 23 Feb (DA, RJA); 1, Arcata Community Forest, 24 Feb (BC): BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1, AMP, 13 Mar (SH): PLAIN TITMOUSE: 7, near Covelo along Minah Road, 23 Feb (DG): WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 6-10, McKinleyville, 3 Mar (BQ): NORTHERN SHRIKE: 1, AB, 10 Mar (DA); 1 ad, AMP, 16 Mar (SH): PALM WARBLER: 1, AB, 15 Mar (KS); 1, AB, 28 Feb (Orn 1 class): NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1, Ft. Bragg, through Feb (DT): LARK SPARROW: 30, Round Valley, 16 Feb (JH, TL): SLATE-COLORED JUNCO: 1, Azalea Hill, 10-20 Feb (DG); 1, Arcata, 16 Mar (BR); 1, Azalea Hill, 14-17 Mar (GL): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD: 30, Round Valley, 16 Feb (JH,TL); 13 males, 7 Mar (PS), 4 males, 5 females, 12 Mar (TL,SP), these last 2 reports both at the Drake Hill Road nesting site south of Fortuna: RED CROSSBILL: 40, Bayside, 26 Feb (DF); x, Arcata, 22 Mar (GB): EVENING GROSBEAK: 20-40, Azalea Hill, 10 Feb-19 Mar (DG, GL); 6, Bayside, 26 Feb= (DF):
Many thanks to the following who submitted observations for this month's report.. R. J. Adams, David Anderson, Anthony Alstart, Louise Bacon-Ogden, Roger Bert, J. Bisson, Gary Bloomfield, Seth Bunnell, Bryon Cariss, Bruce Deuel, Anthony Desch, Duke Diehl, Cindy Farn, Mark Fisher, Sam Fitton, David Fix, Brad Freeman, John Gaffin, Dan Garrison, George Green, R. and K. Gutierrez, R. Harmon, Stan Harris, Gjon Hazard, Rob Hewitt, J. Holley, Matt Horns, R. Huddleston, John, Kim, & Liberty Hunter, Bob Kieffer, Chris Kiel, Tom Leskiw, Gary Lester, Bret Lovelace, Sean McAllister, Paul Morey, Mark Morrissette, Chet Ogan, Steve Pagliughi (many thanks to Steve for sending me the proper spelling of his name--my apologies for fracturing it last month!), Linda Parkinson, Marion Perry, Susan Petersen, Kathy Pollard, Jude Power, Bob Quinsey, P. Ransdell, Bill Rodstrom, E. Rose, Paul Rouch, Mike Shultz, Sarah Singer, Keith Slauson, Paul Springer, Rich Stallcup, Dorothy Tobkin, Matt Wachs, Michele & Pat Zwartyes.
Please send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Court, Arcata, CA., 95521, phone them to me at (707) 822-3802, phone them to the Arcata Bird Box (707) 822-LOON, or write them on the rare bird sheet outside of room 204, the Wildlife Building Humboldt State University Campus.
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|