The Redwood Region Audubon Society
Field Notes
- October 20 to November 30, 1996
- Winter has arrived with our usual rain and blustery
weather. After an outstanding fall, things have settled
down in to a more normal early winter pattern:
- HIGHLIGHTS: BLUE WHALE! 2, 15-18 miles off Pt. Gorda, 10
Nov (RLeV, et al.): FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER: 1, off Pt.
Gorda, 10 Nov (RLeV, et al.): STILT SANDPIPER: 1, Arcata
Bottoms (AB), 27-28 Oct (RH, SMc, DF): NUTTALL'S
WOODPECKER: 1 female, Weaverville, 9 Nov (JH, GS):
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: 3-5, Trinity Lake, 19-21 Oct (GH, JH,
TL); 1 female, AB, 29 Oct (SMc, GH); 1 male, Bear River
Ridge, 4 Nov (DF, JP): SAY'S PHOEBE: 1, Ocean House, 4
Nov (DF, JP); 1, Ship-a-shore, 20 Nov (DF): EMPIDONAX sp.
(POSSIBLE LEAST): 1, Arcata Marsh Project (AMP), 11 Nov
(KN): TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1, Bayshore Mall, 21 Oct; 28 Nov
(DF; CO): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: 1 female, AMP, 22 Oct
(SH); 1 male, 28 Nov, Fieldbrook (NR): CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW: 1, North Spit, 29 Oct (RLeV): 1, Cock Robin
Island, 3 Nov (DF, JP); 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 9 Nov (SMc):
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR: 1, AB, 28 Oct-1 Nov (sound
shots, DF, SMc, RLeV); 1, Bear River Ridge, 2 Nov (TL):
SNOW BUNTING: 1, Clam Beach, 28 Oct (NC); 2, Mouth Eel
River, 2 Nov (GH); 1, Mouth Mattole River, 4-10 Nov (DF,
JP, V&A H, CO, RP, et al): CASSIN'S FINCH: 1 heard
calling, Del Norte Landfill Dump, 27 Nov (GL; one of very
few lowland records):
Travel Desk
- NOTES FROM THE TRAVEL DESK: COMMON LOON: 1, Lewiston
Lake, 9 Nov (JH, GS); 3, Ruth Lake, 23 Nov (JH): PACIFIC
LOON: 1, Lewiston Lake, 9 Nov (JH, GS); major migration
past North Jetty and offshore, 10 Nov (DJ, KD, RLeV, et
al.): WESTERN GREBE: 1, Ruth Lake, 23 Nov (JH): CLARK'S
GREBE: 1, Little River, 31 Oct (KI); 1, South Jetty, 15
Nov (SMc): HORNED GREBE: 1, Ruth Lake, 23 Nov (JH): EARED
GREBE: 1, Ruth Lake, 23 Nov (JH): RED-NECKED GREBE: 1,
King Salmon, 27 Oct (BD); 1, HBNWR, 31 Oct (KN, BC):
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 2 (only), to off Pt. Gorda, 15-18
miles, 10 Nov (RLeV, et al.): PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER: 4,
seen from North Jetty, 23 Oct (EE): AMERICAN BITTERN: 2,
AMP, 17 Nov (GS); 1, Mill Street Pond (Bayshore Mall), 22
Nov (CO); 1, Bayshore Mall pond, 28 Nov (CO); 1, AMP, 30
Nov (PSP): CATTLE EGRET: 1, end of Camp Weott Road, 20
Oct (BC, KN, BS); 4-8, AB, 26 Oct-15 Nov (RLeV, PS, DA):
TUNDRA SWAN: 1, AB (with domestic geese--has been there
at least 2 years), 2 Nov (P&VS); 14+, HBNWR, (new
migrants), 2 Nov (DF, JP); 8, HBNWR, 6 Nov (KD); 9,
HBNWR, 23 Nov (JP, SMc); 1, AMP, 23 Nov (GL); 9, ERWA, 9
Nov (DD): BLACK BRANT: 40+, North Jetty, 10 Nov (DJ, KD).
Canda Geese Varieties
- SMALL CANADA GEESE: "several", AB, 25 Oct (GH);
13, AMP, 26 Oct (EE); 50 (probably Aleutians), HBNWR, 22
Nov (SMc): CACKLING CANADA GOOSE: 1, AB, 2-14 Nov
(V&PS, BK, DG); 1, HBNWR, 12 Nov (SMc): ALEUTIAN
CANADA GOOSE: 6, HBNWR, 6 Nov (PSC); 2, HBNWR, 12 Nov
(SMc); 10+, HBNWR, 22 Nov (SMc): TAVERNER'S CANADA GOOSE:
1, HBNWR, 12 Nov (SMc): CANADA GOOSE (RACE UNKNOWN): 3,
Hyampom, 8 Nov (JH, GS): LARGE (PROBABLY WESTERN) CANADA
GOOSE: "several flocks", AB, 25 Oct (GH):
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 1, AMP, 26 Oct (KN, EE); 2, Hyampom,
8 Nov (JH, GS); 2, Lewiston Lake, 9 Nov (GS, JH): SNOW
GOOSE: 1, Manila and AB, 12 Nov (GH); 4, AB, 21 Nov (KI);
5, AB, 24 Nov (JP): WOOD DUCK: 1-3, AMP; 21-26 Oct (SH,
G&KS): EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 1, AMP, 24 Nov
(DH): BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1 male, AMP, 21-29 Oct (SH):
GADWALL: 5-10+, AMP, 26-29 Oct (KN, SH): EURASIAN WIGEON:
1, HBNWR, 22 Oct-12 Nov (EE, SMc); 1, Lower Mad River, 16
Nov (RLeV): REDHEAD: 1, AMP, 22-23 Oct; 30 Nov (SH, EE);
1, AMP, 14 Nov (DG, BK); 87, South Humboldt Bay, 23 Nov
(JP, SMc): RING-NECKED DUCK: 2-5, AMP, 11-14 Nov (KN, BK,
DG):HARLEQUIN DUCK: 1 male, King Salmon, 21 Oct (SMc); 1
male, Wilson Creek, Del Norte Co., 2 Nov (J&KH): 1
male, North Jetty, 10 Nov DJ, KD); 6 males, 2 females,
Glass Beach, Ft. Bragg (DT): COMMON GOLDENEYE: 5 females,
South Humboldt Bay, 23 Nov (JP, SMc): OLDSQUAW: 1, Wilson
Creek, 2 Nov (J&KH); 1, Mad River Est., 9-16 Nov
(RLeV); 2, Lower Mad River, 24 Nov (G&SS): BLACK
SCOTER: 1, North Jetty, 23 Oct (EE); 1, South Jetty, 15
Nov (SMc): HOODED MERGANSER: 5, AMP, 27 Oct (SH); 7,
Beatrice Slough, 2 Nov (DF, JP); 1 female, AMP, 7 Nov
(JS); 1, Lower Mad River, 16 Nov (RLeV); 1 Ruth Lake, 23
Nov (JH); 1, HBNWR, 23 Nov (JP, SMc); 5, Willow Creek, 26
Nov (TL): RUDDY DUCK: major migratory arrival at AMP/AOP,
27-29 Oct (1000+ on AOP on 29 Oct) (SH): OSPREY: 1,
HBNWR, 22 Oct (EE); 1, AMP, 23 Oct (EE); 1, Willow Creek,
25 Oct (LB-O): BALD EAGLE: 2-"several", Trinity
Lake, 19-21 Oct (GH); 1, AB, 1 Nov (DF, JP); 1 ad,
Trinity Center, 8 Nov (GS, JH); 1, Smith River Bottoms,
20 Nov (DF); 1, Ruth Lake, 23 Nov (JH); 1 imm, HBNWR, 29
Nov (RP, TL): NORTHERN GOSHAWK: 1, ERWA, 9 Nov (DD):
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: 1, Hayfork, 29 Oct (JH); 2, Hyampom,
8 Nov (JH, GS): FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1, HBNWR, 22 Oct (EE);
1, AB, 26 Oct-8 Nov (RLeV, RC); 1, Hayfork, 8 Nov (JH,
GS); 1, Smith River Bottoms, 20 Nov (DF): ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK: 1-2, Eel River Bottoms, 20 Oct (BC, KN, JK, PM) 2,
Eel River Bottoms, 10 Nov (JK, MH); 1, Eureka/Arcata
Bottoms, 26 Nov (SMc): NORTHERN HARRIER: 1, Hettenshaw
Valley, 23 Nov (JH): GOLDEN EAGLE: 1, Mouth of Mattole
River, 4 Nov (DJ); 1, Hayfork, 8 Nov (JH, GS).
Falcons,
Falcons, Falcons
- MERLIN: 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 20 Oct (JK, PM); 2, HBNWR,
22 Oct (EE); 1, AB, 28-29 Oct (RLeV); 1, Hayfork, 8 Nov
(JH, GS); 1, Trinity Center, 8 Nov (JH, GS); 1, AB, 16
Nov (DA); 1, Smith River Bottoms, 20 Nov (DF): PEREGRINE
FALCON: 2, Trinidad Head, 27 Oct (G&KS); 1, AB, 28
Oct (RLeV); 1, Patrick's Point, 7 Nov (Anon); 1, HSU, 10
Nov (CC); 1, Ruth Lake, 23 Nov (JH): PRAIRIE FALCON: 1,
Eel River Bottoms, 25 Sep (BS); 1, Hayfork, 29 Oct-8 Nov
(JH, GS): RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 1 female, AB, 31 Oct (VS,
MB): PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER: 1, HBNWR, 22 Oct (EE); 1,
North Jetty, 28 Oct (DF); 1, MacKerricher State Park, 12
Nov (DT); 1, Crab Park, 22 Nov (SMc): SNOWY PLOVER: 9,
South Spit, 15 Nov (SMc); 53, Mouth Eel River, 15 Nov
(SMc); 5 (1 with colored leg band), Clam Beach, 16 Nov
(GS); 1, Mouth Lake Talawa, 30 Nov (RH): WHIMBREL: 1,
AOP, 31 Oct (SH, MP): RED KNOT: 'several', AB, 26 Oct
(RH); 17, Mouth Elk River, 16 Nov (SM); 1, Crab Park, 22
Nov (SMc): PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1, north of Hayfork, 18
Oct (GH); 1, Ruth Lake, 18 Oct (GH); 1-3, AB, 22 Oct-1
Nov (GH, DF, JP); 1, AMP, 23 Oct (EE); 5, Lanphere Road,
27 Oct (DF, JP); 2 at nearly 14,000 feet just south of
Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina, 3-15 Nov (SH, BC): ROCK
SANDPIPER: 1-3, North Jetty, 23 Oct-10 Nov (EE, KN, DF,
RLeV, DJ, KD): RED PHALAROPE: 1, North Jetty, 23 Oct
(EE): BONAPARTE'S GULL: 1, Trinity Lake, 19-21 Oct (GH,
JH, TL); 1, Little River, 8 Nov (TL): RING-BILLED GULL:
1, Hyampom, 29 Oct (JH): CALIFORNIA GULL: 200, Mattole
River Mouth, 4 Nov (DF, JP): HERRING GULL: 1, Trinity
Lake, 19 Oct (GH); 7, Trinidad Harbor, 31 Oct (KI); 15,
Mouth of Mattole R, 4 Nov (DF, JP); 1, Houda Point, 22
Nov (KI): THAYER'S GULL: 1, AMP, 26 Oct (RH); 1 (first
year), Trinidad, 3 Nov (KI); 1 (first year), Mouth
Mattole, 4 Nov (DF, JP); 1 (first year), AMP, 12 Nov
(DF); 1 (second year), AMP, 12 Nov (DF); 1 (first year),
Crab Park, 22 Nov (SMc): BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: 2-10,
Jetties, Humboldt Bay, 23 Oct-15 Nov (EE, DF, JP, SMc);
20, ERWA, 3 Nov (DF, JP); 8-9, Mouth Smith River, 30 Nov
(RH): CASPIAN TERN: 1, Mouth Mad River, 27 Nov (TL):
RHINOCEROS AUKLET: 3, North Jetty, 23 Oct (EE); 1, King
Salmon, 16 Nov (SMc): ANCIENT MURRELET: 50, 15-18 miles
off Pt. Gorda, 10 Nov (RLeV, et al.): MARBLED MURRELET:
1, Big Lagoon Spit, 16 Nov (TL); 2, South Jetty, 15 Nov
(SMc).
Screech, Hoot
- BARN OWL: 1, Blake Mtn.. Burn, 30 Oct (GS): NORTHERN
PYGMY-OWL: 1, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, 24 Oct (JG):
SHORT-EARED OWL: 1-5, AB, 1-21 Nov (PM, MM, KI); 1, Mouth
Eel River, 2 Nov (JH); 1, Fay Slough Wildlife Area, 8 Nov
(TL); 1, Centerville, 23 Nov (JP, SMc); 1, ERWA, 29 Nov
(RP, TL): LONG-EARED OWL: 1, AB, 9-12 Nov (MM): BURROWING
OWL: 1, near Mad River (town, at 3300 feet elevation); 30
Oct (GS); 1, Elk River Spit, 11 Nov (Anon):
RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD SP.: 1, McKinleyville, 15 Nov
(TL): YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER: 1, Arcata, 16 Nov (DG):
PILEATED WOODPECKER: 1, Long Ridge, 4 Nov (TL); 1,
Waterman Ridge , 5 Nov (TL): TROPICAL KINGBIRD: 1,
Manila, 28 Oct (GH); 1, HBNWR, 30-31 Oct (PS, RL, KF, BC,
KN, KS); 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 9 Nov (SMc); 1, AMP, 11-16
Nov (GH, KN, EE); 1, AB, 28 Nov (GB): HORNED LARK: 1-10,
Mt. Trashmore, 26-27 Oct (G&KS, SH); 1, Trinidad
Head, 27 Oct (G&KS); 2, AB, 2 Nov (P&VS); 1,
Little River Beach, 6 Nov (TL); 1, Dry Lagoon, 9 Nov
(TL): VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW: 12-20, AMP, 26 Oct (MM): BARN
SWALLOW: 1, AB, 1 Nov (DF, JP): GRAY JAY: 3, near
Trinidad, 22 Nov (KI): CLARK'S NUTCRACKER: 5, Grouse
Mountain, 2 Nov (MMax): CHICKADEE MADNESS: 3 species
reported at RLeV's feeders in McKinleyville 9-16 Nov;
additional MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES as follows: 1, Azalea
Hill, 7-13 Nov (DG); 1, Arcata, 18 Nov (JHEW):
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 3, Freshwater Valley, 30 Nov
(RH): RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 4-5, McKinleyville, 1-7 Nov
(JHouck): MARSH WREN: 8, Lewiston Lake, 9 Nov (JH, GS):
WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 1, Willow Creek, 25 Oct (LB-O):
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD: 1-3, Hydesville, 22-24 Oct (IC); 1,
Fortuna, 24 Oct (RC); 1, Arcata, 13 Nov (EE); 1, AB, 22
Nov (DG): NORTHERN SHRIKE: 1, mouth Eel River, 2 Nov
(GH); 1, AMP, 11-17 Nov (BF, GS); 3, Smith River Bottoms,
26-30 Nov (AB): BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: 1, Arcata,
26 Oct (KN); 1, Hettenshaw Valley, 28 Oct (JH): PALM
WARBLER: 1, Eel River Bottoms, 20 Oct (BC, KN); 1, AB, 21
Oct (GH); 2, Mt. Trashmore, 27 Oct (RH); 1, mouth Mad
River, 31 Oct (KI); 1, AB, 11 Nov (RJA); 1, AMP, 12 Nov
(GH): WESTERN TANAGER: 1, Arcata, 24 Oct (KN).
Sparrows
- CHIPPING SPARROW: 1, AB, 27 Oct (DF, JP): VESPER SPARROW:
1, AB, 28 Oct (GH): LARK SPARROW: 1, King Salmon, 21 Oct
(SMc); 1, AB, 25 Oct, GH); 1, HBNWR, 2 Nov (DF, JP):
LINCOLN'S SPARROW: 1, HBNWR, 31 Oct (KS): SWAMP SPARROW:
1, AMP, 4-23 Nov (EE, GS, HG, GL): WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW: Many reported from usual places 20 Oct-30 Nov
(many observers): "SLATE-COLORED" JUNCO: 1,
Ferndale Bottoms, 9 Nov (SMc); 1, AB, 11 Nov (RJA); 1,
Azalea Hill, 13 Nov (DG); 1, McKinleyville, 16 Nov (GS);
1, AMP, 20 Nov (RJA); 1, Brown's Camp (Trinity Co); 23
Nov (JH): LAPLAND LONGSPUR: 1, HBNWR, 23 Oct (EE); 2+,
AB, 27 Oct-1 Nov (RH, DF, RLeV, JP, SMc); 2, ERWA, 3 Nov
(DF, JP, SMc); 13, Ferndale Bottoms, 9 Nov (SMc); 3,
Mouth Eel River, 15 Nov (SMc): RED CROSSBILL: 3, AMP, 23
Oct (EE); x, Azalea Hill, 24 Oct (DG); x, HSU, 31 Oct
(CO); 15, Azalea Hill, 7 Nov (DG); 2 flocks, Ft. Bragg,
11 Nov (DT); 7, AB, 11 Nov (RJA): EVENING GROSBEAK: 11,
HSU, 25 Oct (GH).
Many thanks to all who shared their reports with us this
month. Keep up the good work. Call your reports to the Arcata
Bird Box, (707) 822-5666; call them to me at (707) 822-3802; mail
them to me at 1595 Charles Court, Arcata, 95521; or write them on
the rare bird board outside of room 204, the Wildlife Building,
Humboldt State University Campus: The following observers
submitted reports for this month: R. J. Adams, David Anderson,
Louise Bacon-Ogden, Alan Barron, Gary Bloomfield, Muriel
Bramwell, Richard Candis, C. Campbell, Bryon Cariss, Nola Chow,
Irene Crane, Ruth Crane, Bruce Deuel, K. Dickson, Dick Diehl,
Elias Elias, David Fix, Kevin Foerster, Brad Freeman, John
Gaffin, Dan Garrison, Helen Green, Stan Harris, Gjon Hazard, Rob
Hewitt, John Hewston, M. Hostetter, Doug Hubbard, Vernon and
Andrew Howe, Jake Houck, John and Kim Hunter, Ken Irwin, Dave
Juliano, J. Kidd, Brent Kritch, Tom Leskiw, Ron LeValley, Gary
Lester, Rich Lewis, Matthew Marshall, M. Maxwell, Sean
McAllister, Paul Morey, Michael Morris, Kristy Nelson, Chet Ogan,
Mark Phillips, Roy Poucher, Jude Power, Nikki Rosa, Greg,
Kristin, and Sam Schmidt, Pete Schmidt, Jay Seegar, Keith
Slauson, Bruce Slocum, Paul and Virginia Springer, D. Tobkin.
Record your observations on the Arcata Bird Box, (707)
822-LOON (822-5666), call them directly to me, (707) 822, 3802,
mail them to me at 1595 Charles Ct, Arcata, 95521, or write them
on the rare bird board outside of Room 204, The Wildlife
Building, Humboldt State University Campus.
Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502
Last updated December 1996