Field Notes

by Stan Harris

21 April - 18 July, 2002

A rather quiet summer so far, this period was marked by the “normal” passage and arrival of late spring migrants and summer visitants.  Pelagic trips were conducted on 21 & 28 Apr and 12 May (out of Eureka), and 2 Jun (out of Ft. Bragg).  Beside the usual numbers of Black-footed Albatrosses, Pink-footed and Sooty Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Pomarine  (6 reported) and Parasitic (1 seen) Jaegers, Rhinoceros Auklets and Red-necked Phalaropes, special marine mammals noted on these trips were 2 ORCA, 12 May (JT, et al), 2 HUMP-BACKED WHALES , and 35-40  RIGHT-WHALE DOLPHINS,  both 28 Apr (SH, et al.).  Special pelagic birds seen on these trips are detailed below.

Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; anon = name not available; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CN = Confirmed Nesting; EL = Expected Location; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; ES? = Escape?;  FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; IB = Interesting Behavior; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN= Interesting Numbers; KR = Klamath River; KS = King Salmon; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers;  MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed; ND = No Description; SRB = Smith River Bottoms, TRV = Trinity River Valley. 

Pelagic Sightings

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER (FR): 1, offshore, Eureka, 12 May (KR, TMcKe): a MANX SHEARWATER (GW): 1 reported with strongly contrasting black upper parts and white underparts with definitely white undertail coverts, small size, off Ft. Bragg, 2 Jun (DT, et al.); 1 white-bellied, small shearwater, undertail coverts not noted, seen briefly with Sooty Shearwaters 800 m off Patricks Point, 10 Jul (EE): CATTLE EGRET (FR): 1, Indian Island, 5 May (TMcKe): GREEN HERON (MS): 10 reports of 1-8 from TRV (where 8 were reported 3-7 Jun), Blue Lake, BSLP, No Name Pond, HBNWR, Meyers Flat, 2 May-21 Jun (mo): WHITE-FACED IBIS (FR): 8 reports of flocks containing 1-31 from SRB, AB, HBNWR, ERWA, ERB, 16-30 May (TMcKe, DD, MW, BD, JH, SL): TURKEY VULTURE (CN): Observation of a flightless bird in juvenal plumage walking down a road near Mad River Fish Hatchery, 14 Jul (MW), provides one of the very few confirmed nesting records for this species locally: WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (ID): 1, Lake Cleone, through 3 Apr (update, DT); 1, HBNWR, 20 Apr (DF, SL, JP); 1  South Bay, 2 May (MW); 1, Salt River, 8-15 May (BS): MUTE SWAN (ES?): 1, Essex Pond (resident?), 2 May (RR, SH);  EURASIAN GREEN-W. TEAL (FR): 1 male, HBNWR, 19 Apr (DFx); 1 male (horizontal stripe only on right side, no vertical stripes), AMP, 26-29 Apr (SH): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (IN): 8 reports of 1-5 from SRB, lower Mad River, AMP, HBNWR and the Trinity River, 24 May-16 Jun (mo), were eclipsed by the 40 males and 10-15 females seen on SRB, 22 Jun (JH): EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 1, Hookton Road, 21 Apr (CO); 1, HBNWR, 29 Apr (KR): LESSER SCAUP (ID): 1 seen flying offshore at Clam Beach, 10 Jul (EE):  HARLEQUIN DUCK (FR): 1-2, KS, 20 Apr-5 May (DF, JP, CO, TMcKe); up to 14, Glass Beach, MKSP, 21 Mar-31 May (DT): LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 1, KS, 1-5 May (MW, TMcKe); 1, MKSP, 15 Mar-2 Apr (update, DT):   BLACK SCOTER (ID): 1, jetty channel, 15 Jun (PH).

Scoters in Peril?

OTHER SCOTERS (IN): The 1000's of Surf Scoters reported migrating past Elk Head, 22 Apr were expected, but only 30 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS seen at the same time gives cause for alarm (RN). This species seems to have suffered a drastic decline in numbers in recent years: HOODED MERGANSER (CN): 3 females on eggs in nest boxes (one for the 4^th year in a row) near Big Lagoon, 30 Apr (BY): BALD EAGLE (MS): 13 reports of 1-2 (mostly adults) from KR (where 3 active nests were reported (BY), Freshwater Lagoon, McKinleyville, Blue Lake, Arcata, AMP, AOP, TRV, 23 Apr-9 Jul (mo): WHITE-TAILED KITE (IL): 2 seen daily at Boye’s Prairie, 18 Feb-4 Jul and believed nesting (DFx et al.); 1, Cape Mendocino Ridge, 16 Jul (SH): RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (CN): pair nesting, Shay Park, 22 May (FA):  GOLDEN EAGLE (EL): 4 reports from Kellmar Road, (Del Norte Co.), TRV, Bear River Valley, near Ft. Seward, 28 Apr-10 July (JH, KR, MaM, GB, AO):  PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 7 reports of 1-3 from Elk Head, Azalea Park, AMP, HBNWR, South Spit, Garberville, 23 Apr-7 Jul (mo):  RUFFED GROUSE (FR): 3 drumming, Hennessey Ridge Road, 2 May (MH, SH); 1, acting broody, 1 mile no. Mill Creek, 26 Jun (GB): WILD TURKEY (FR): 1, Blocksberg Road, 24 Jun (GB):  AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (FR): 1, South Spit, 5 May (TMcKe): BLACK-NECKED STILT (FR, CN): 4, North Humboldt Bay, 21 Apr (SH, et al.); 2 (nesting, chicks eaten by ravens), HBNWR, 23 Apr-24 May (mo).

Avocets eaten by Ravens

AMERICAN AVOCET (CN): 8-9 pairs nested (the most ever) at HBNWR, first chicks seen on 3 May (DF),  but all chicks apparently were eaten by ravens (EN):  SOLITARY SANDPIPER (FR): 1, HBNWR, 20 Apr-3 May (DF, JP); 1, ERB, 4 May (KI): SPOTTED SANDPIPER (CN): 1 nest on levee at Orick, 1-6 Jul (KI): PECTORAL SANDPIPER (FR): 3, HBNWR, 8 May (MW); 11 (!), ERB, 11 May (KI): STILT SANDPIPER (FR): 1 (breeding plumage), ERWA, 11 May (KI): WILSON’S PHALAROPE (FR): 1-5, HBNWR, 3-13 Jun (MW, SL); 6, AOP, 13 Jul (MW): FRANKLIN’S GULL (FR): 1, Indian Island, 1 May (MM); 1, Crescent City, 4 May (JH); 1, near Trinidad, 17 May (SP): GLAUCOUS GULL (ID): 1, College Cove, 1-2 May (MHa, SH, RR):  SABINE’S GULL (IN):  80, offshore, Eureka, 12 May (JT, et al.):  BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (FR): 1, Crab Park, 3 May (TMcKe): ARCTIC TERN (FR): 1 offshore, Eureka, 12 May (JT, et al.): CASPIAN TERN (IN, IB): 50+ on ground defending apparent nest sites, Sand Island, early May (MC); 120 seen foraging and carrying fish toward Sand Island, 25 Jun (DF); these reports suggest near-certain reoccupation of Sand Island as a nest site; 80-100, South Spit, 16 Jul (MW). ELEGANT TERN: 6-100, Humboldt Bay, 30 Jun – 18 Jul (mo).

THICK-BILLED MURRE (GW): interesting videos of 4 separate birds 10-12 miles off Eel River, 12 May (EE, JT, DFx,RN,BC,, KR) were the 3^rd-6^th ever seen on the north coast: LONG-BILLED MURRELET (FR, ND): 1, 1600 m. west of Clam Beach, 10 Jul (EE): TUFTED PUFFIN (MS): Continued near-catastrophic declines of this species is indicated by only 3 at Castle Rock, 21 Apr (AB, et al.), and only 1 report of a single bird at Green Rock, 22 Apr (fide RN): YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (GW): 1, calling, downstream from Fernbridge, 5 Jul for the third summer (SMcA, AT): FLAMMULATED OWL (FR): 1, Island Mtn. Road, 11-12 May (MW, TL); 1, end of Go Road, Del Norte Co., 7 Jun (JH): WHIP-POOR-WILL (GW, NC): 1 reported calling above Yager Creek, 23 May (DJ); attempts to confirm 2 nights later failed: POORWILL (FR): 6 calling, Hull Mtn on Mendocino/Lake County line, 14 Jun (JH): BLACK SWIFT (FR): 3, Centerville Beach, 10 May (TMcKe); 4, Lewiston, 3-7 Jun (MM, KR); 1, Fernbridge, 13 Jul (AO): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (FR): 10, Wagner Bridge, 11 May (DF, JP): CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (FR): 1, Arcata, 17 Apr (SW, fide BB); 1, Kneeland, 23 Apr (BB); 1, Azalea Hill, 27 Apr-1 May (GL, LL): PILEATED WOODPECKER (CN): 2, Arcata, early Jun (NI); a nest at Big Lagoon, active 27-28 May, had fledged 2 young by 4 Jun (KI):  WILLOW FLYCATCHER (MS, CN): 12 reports of 1-3 from Enderts Beach, Davison Road, Orick, Crannell, Fairhaven, middle fork of Trinity River, Blue Lake, vic of Fernbridge/Van Duzen River, 10 Jun-14 Jul (TL, KI, KR, MM, AO, RH), included a female caught and banded that had a brood patch and a detectable egg in the oviduct, 24 Jun (AO): HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER (IL): 1, Sandy Prairie, 19 May (TMcKe): EASTERN KINGBIRD (FR): 1, Freshwater Lagoon, 6 Jun (KI); 1, Cape Mendocino vic., 22 Jun (GL): LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (FR, ID): 1, Humboldt Hill, 21 May (MW):   RED-EYED VIREO (FR): 1, Van Duzen x Eel R., 8 Jul (TMcKe): GRAY JAY (MS): 7 reports from Lost Man Creek, Trinidad, Aldergrove Road, Arcata, Catfish Lake (where the bird was imitating an Osprey, MW), 24 Apr-16 Jul (mo) included reports of 4 fledglings at Arcata, 6 Jun (NI): PURPLE MARTIN (IN): 10 reports of 1-100+(!) from Crescent City, AMP, North Spit, HBNWR, ERWA, Shelter Cove, Juan Creek, 1 May-12 June (mo): OAK TITMOUSE (FR):  4, Island Mtn Road, 11-12 May (MW, TL): ROCK WREN (FR): 1, Stevens Creek Bridge, Smith R., 8 Jun (DFx, JCP): CANYON WREN (FR): 1, Eel River near Ft. Seward, 23 Jun (GB): RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (ID): 1, Ten Mile River, 23 May (DT): CALIFORNIA THRASHER (FR, EL): 3, Shelter Cove, 30 May (TL): NORTHERN PARULA (FR): 1, Elk Head, 18 Jun; 1 Hookton Road, 19 Jun; 1 Tyee City, 24 Jun (all KI); 1, Caspar, 27 Jun (JH): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (FR): 1, Crannell Road, 14 Jun; 1, Pt. Kenyon Road, 19 Jun; 1 Crannell (town), 22 Jun (all KI); 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 24 Jun (RC, fide GL): TOWNSEND’S WARBLER (IL, ID):  1, 10 miles at sea, 12 May (JT, et al.); 1 faded  bird that may have been some kind of hybrid, mouth Redwood Creek, 13 Jun  (KI):  PALM WARBLER (ID, NC):  1, near Fernbridge, 30 Apr (RH); 1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 31 May (FA):   BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (FR): 1, Elk Head, 17-18 Jun; 1, Crannell (town), 27 Jun (both KI): AMERICAN REDSTART: 6 reports of singles from Fairhaven, North Spit, mouth Redwood Creek, AB, Salt River, 10-29 Jun (all KI): OVENBIRD (FR): 1 (heard only), Trinidad, 1 Jun (KI); 1 (heard only), Lanphere Dunes, 11 Jun (fide EE, no details)

Towhees at the northern edge

CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (IL): 1, Blue Lake Riparia, 28 Apr-2 May (MM, RR), later seen carrying food, 20 Jun (MV, CW); 9, TRV, 3-7 Jun (KR, MaM) were in a more expected location: RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (FR): 2, upstream from Alderpoint, 11 May (DF, JP, et al); 2, downstream from Alderpoint, 23 Jun (GB): BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (FR): 1, Windy Point, Hull Mtn, 14 Jun (JH):  BREWER’S SPARROW (FR): 1, Sandy Prairie, 19 May (TMcKe): VESPER SPARROW (FR): 1, Davison Road, 24 Apr (DF): LARK SPARROW (IL): 1, Davison Road, 24 Apr (DF); 4 (copulation seen), Mail Ridge, 5 May (JG); 1, Sandy Prairie, 19 May (TMcKe): GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: 9 reports of 1-6 from Blue Lake, Kneeland, Table Bluff, Bear River Ridge, Island Mountain Road, Mail Ridge, 11 May-11 Jul (MW, TL, GB, BB, KI, CO): SWAMP SPARROW (ID) 1 (singing), Pt. Kenyon Road, 19 Jun (KI): LINCOLN’S SPARROW: 1, AB, 4 May (BD); 1-2 singing, Spruce Grove, Hull Mtn., 14 Jun (JH): LAPLAND LONGSPUR (ID): 1, south spit, 3 May (TMcKe): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR): 1, west Azalea Hill, late May-14 Jul (DK, GL); 1, Patricks Point, 25 Jun (RG): INDIGO BUNTING (FR): 1, AB, 12 Jun (KI); 1, near Carlotta, 18-20 Jun (CL, RH); 1, 2 miles west Petrolia, 22 Jun (GL): COMMON GRACKLE (NC): 1 reported, Shelter Cove, 25-26 May (GS, fide BD) was not confirmed despite a search by KI and TL on 30 May:  EVENING GROSBEAK:   8 reports of 1-6 from Big Lagoon, Jacoby Creek, Freshwater, Eureka, CR, Catfish Lake, Ferndale, 1 Apr-29 May (mo): LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH (FR): 1 pair, middle fork, Trinity River, 12-14 Jun (KR, MaM); 1 pair, Hayfork Airport, 25 Jun; 1 male singing, Hayfork water treatment plant, 25 Jun (both GL).