Field notes
by Stan Harris
October 25 – December 2, 2001
The rains have returned, fields are flooding, fall migration is pretty well over, and Christmas Counts are nearly upon us. A generally routine month birdwise. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FD = Few Details; FOP = Ferndale Oxidation Pond; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IIT = Interesting, if true; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MRWA =Mad River Wildlife Area; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MS = Monitored Species; ND = No Details, Not Confirmed
HIGHLIGHTS: ARCTIC LOON (IIT, FD): 1, off Palmers Point, 30 Nov (KI): PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (ID): 6, off Wedding Rock, 9 Nov (DF): BULLER’S SHEARWATER (ID, IL, IN): 50 (!), North Jetty , 28 Oct (MW, KR): SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (IN): 150±, I mile off Wedding Rock, 9 Nov (DF): SNOW GOOSE (FR): 1-2, AB, 11-26 Nov (mo): ROSS’S GOOSE (FR): 1, AB, 27 Nov (SH, W&EH): WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (ID): 2, AB, 16 Nov (KR): CACKLING/ALEUTIAN GOOSE (ID): 1-6, AB, North Humboldt Bay, 14-21 Nov (KR, SH): WOOD DUCK (IL): These become scarce in the lowlands in winter so the following reports are of interest: 1, No Name Pond, 27 Nov (MA, SH); 6, Ferndale Oxidation Pond, 18 Nov (SMcA): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (EL): 1 male, BSLP, 31 Oct-27 Nov (mo): 3 females (How Identified, details?), AOP, 9 Nov (JT): 1 male , FOP, 18 Nov (SMcA): EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 1 male Mad River Lagoon, 11 Nov (G&LL); 1 Gearheart Marsh, 17 Nov (MM); 1, AB, 26 Nov (W&EH): LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 1, flying past Patricks Point, 30 Oct (DF): HARLEQUIN (FR): 1-2, King Salmon, 27 Oct-29 Nov (DF, JP, MW, GB); up to 16, Glass Beach, Ft. Bragg, 23 Oct-20 Nov (DT): HOODED MERGANSER (FR): 1 near Fernbridge, 31 Oct-4 Nov (RH, MA); 1, AOP, 9 Nov (JT); 1 FOP, 18 Nov (SMcA); 1, Mad River Fish Hatchery, 17 Nov (MM): NORTHERN GOSHAWK (FR): 1, Mail Ridge, 5 Nov (JG): HARLAN’S HAWK (FR, ND): 1, mouth Van Duzen River, 7 Nov (TMcK): FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FR): 1 ad, ERB, 15-29 Nov (TMcK, PH, LN); 1, Bear River Ridge, 11 Nov (PH); 1, Arcata/AB, 12-22 Nov (EE, FA): PRAIRIE FALCON (FR): 1 imm, Garberville, 29 Oct (JS); 1, Bear River Ridge, 3-11 Nov (DF, JP, JT, PH, LN); 1, BSLP, 20 Nov (SH): PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (FR): 1, AB, 3 Nov (DF, JP, JT): ELEGANT TERN (ID): 1, Eureka Channel, 19 Nov (MW).
Last of the Guillemots
PIGEON GUILLEMOT (ID): 2, 7 Nov; 1 imm, 8 Nov (both MKSP, DT): ANCIENT MURRELET (FR): 2, off North Spit, 1 Nov (DF): LONG-BILLED MURRELET (GW, FD, IN): 3 (!), off Wedding Rock, 13 Nov (KI): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 1, King Salmon, 27 Oct (DF, JP); 7-8, North Jetty, 28 Oct (KR, MW); 2, North Jetty, 4-18 Nov (BD, MW, KR); 2, off Wedding Rock, 9 Nov (DF): BURROWING OWL (FR): 1-2, North Dike, Humboldt Bay, AOP, Klopp Lake Dikes, 2-25 Nov (mo): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (ID, IL, GW): 1 found dead, H.S.U. Campus, 26 Nov (LP, fide TD): LEWIS’S WOODPECKER (FR): 12, Bald Hills, 25 Nov (MH): SAY’S PHOEBE (FR): 1, Azalea Hill, 17-25 Nov (G&LL): ROCK WREN (FR): 1, near Westport, 9 Nov (DT): SWAINSON’S THRUSH (ID): 2 (1 with a radio attached), Lanphere Dunes, 30 Oct (JT): BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (FR): 1, Manila, 3-13 Nov (JN, DA): CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (FR): 1, Westport Recycling Center, 9 Nov (DT); 1, Ferndale Oxidation Pond, 21 Nov (KR, MW); 1, Bayside, 27 Nov (DF): FOX SPARROW (RED MORPH)(FR): 1, caught and banded, Orleans, 2 Nov (AO): SWAMP SPARROW (FR): 1, Eureka, 2 Nov (DF); 1, AMP, 6 Nov (EE, JT): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (FR; IN): “at least” 200, Bald Hill near Ft. Bragg, 2, 11 Nov (DT):
Statistical Section
RED-THROATED LOON (EM): 100, off North Jetty, 28 Oct (KR, MW): PACIFIC LOON (EM): 600-700 off North Jetty, 28 Oct (MW, KR), 14, fly south past Patricks Point, 30 Oct (DF); 100’s, migrating past North Jetty, 4 Nov (BD): COMMON LOON (EM): 50, King Salmon, 27 Oct (JP, DF): RED-NECKED GREBE (EM): 1, King Salmon, 27 Oct (DF, JP); 1, North Jetty, 11 Nov (JT); 1, Cock Robin Island, 15 Nov (KR): CLARK’S GREBE (EM): 1, King Salmon, 28 Oct (anon); 3, North Jetty, 11 Nov (JT): NORTHERN FULMAR (IL) 1 (white), off North Spit, 1 Nov (DF): SOOTY SHEARWATER (IN; IL): 70-80, off North Jetty, 28 Oct (KR, MW); 600±, off Wedding Rock, 9 Nov (DF): AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): 1, BSLP, 12 Nov (anon): TUNDRA SWAN (EM): 13, HBNWR, 18 Nov (SMcA):SURF SCOTER (EM): 400, North Jetty, 28 Oct (MW, KR): WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (EM): 9 (only), North Jetty, 28 Oct (MW, KR): OSPREY (ID): 1, Ft. Bragg, 16 Nov (DT); 1, Cock Robin Island, 17 Nov (SMcA): BALD EAGLE (MS)1 ad, Freshwater Lagoon, 15 Nov (FA); 1, near Hawkins Bar, 16 Nov (MC, et al.), 1 imm, mo. Van Duzen River, 29 Nov (LN); 1 ad, Upper Larabee Creek, 29 Nov (LN): ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (EM): 6 reports of 1-4 from AB, Cock Robin Island, Bear River Ridge, 2-17 Nov (mo):GOLDEN EAGLE (EL): 1, Bear River Ridge, 3, 11 Nov (DF, JP, JT, PH, LN): MERLIN (MS): 5 reports of 1-2 from AB, AMP, Fay Slough, 6-23 Nov (mo): PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 15 reports of 1-3 from Wedding Rock, AB, AMP, near Fernbridge, Bear River Ridge, 28 Oct-27 Nov (mo): BLUE GROUSE (EL): 5, Friday Ridge Road, 28 Oct (TL); 1, Brannon Mountain, 30 Oct (T&SL): MOUNTAIN QUAIL (IL): “some” at 600-1200 feet elevation along South Fork, Trinity River road, 30 Oct (TL): BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (IN): 900, Cannibal Road, 2 Nov (DF).
Spots in the tide wrack
SNOWY PLOVER (MS): 26, north end, Centerville Beach, 2 Nov (DF): BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (IL): 3, base of North Jetty, 9-16 Nov (MW): SPOTTED SANDPIPER (EL): 1, Willow Creek, 16 Nov (SH): RUDDY TURNSTONE (EL): 1, King Salmon, 27 Oct (DF, JP); 1, Elk River mouth, 27 Oct (DF, JP); 1-4, Fields Landing, 1-26 Nov (KR, W&EH): SURFBIRD (EM, IL): 1, King Salmon, 17 Nov (MW): RED KNOT (EM): 1-12, Klopp Lake, Fields Landing, 29 Oct-12 Nov (mo): ROCK SANDPIPER (EM): 1, Fields Landing, 3 Nov (DF, JP, JT); 2, MKSP, 1, 14 Nov (DT); 1-2, North Jetty, 14-26 Nov (KR, MW, W&EH): PARASITIC JAEGER (ID): 1, (+ 1 P/P) North Jetty, 28 Oct (KR, MW); 1, North Spit, 1 Nov (DF): BONAPARTE’S GULL (EM): 30, North Jetty, 28 Oct (MW, KR): THAYER’S GULL (NC): 1 immature (how identified?), AMP, 6 Nov (EE): BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (EM): 20, North Jetty, 28 Oct (KR, MW); 1, North Spit, 1 Nov (DF); 1, North Jetty, 4 Nov (BD); 8, Wedding Rock, 9 Nov (DF): RHINOCEROS AUKLET (IL): 2, Wedding Rock, 9 Nov (DF): CASPIAN TERN (ID): 1, King Salmon, 27 Oct (DF, JP); 3, Crab Park, 2 Nov (DF): FORSTER’S TERN (EM): The wintering flock on North Bay had increased to about 30 by mid Nov (SH): BAND-TAILED PIGEON (ID, IN): 3 flocks (20, 15, 13) Mail Ridge, last half of Oct; 70, Mail Ridge, 5 Nov (both JG): GREAT HORNED OWL (FR): 1, MRWA, 6, 26 Nov (SH, BC): SHORT-EARED OWL (EM): 3 (chasing a Great Horned Owl, MRWA, 6 Nov (EE); 2, ERWA, 11 Nov (MA); 12, MRWA, 16 Nov (JT): WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (EL): 1, Friday Ridge Road, near Board Camp Mountain, 28 Oct (TL): PILEATED WOODPECKER (EL): 1, Surprise Valley, near Willow Creek, 5 Nov (TL); 1, east side, Freshwater Lagoon, 17 Nov (FA); 1, Mail Ridge, 25 Nov (JG):SCRUB JAY (IL): 1, one mile east of Blue Lake, Highway 299, 5 Nov (TL): RAVEN (IN): 100, soaring with 6 Turkey Vultures, 1 mile south Blue Lake, 17 Nov (MM): HORNED LARK (EL, IL): x, Bear River Ridge, 11 Nov (PH, LN); 4, Bald Hill near Ft. Bragg, 11 Nov (DT): VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (ID): 2, AMP, 14 Nov (JT): BARN SWALLOW (ID): 1 juv., Lanphere Road, 7 Nov (JT): DIPPER (FR): 4, Coon Creek x South Fork, Trinity River, 5 Nov (TL); 4, Willow Creek x Trinity River, 16 Nov (MC, et al.); 1 up Freshwater Creek 3 miles from mouth, 26 Nov (TR): WESTERN BLUEBIRD (MS): “lots,” Friday Ridge Road, 28 Oct (TMcK); x, Bear River Ridge, 11 Nov (PH, LN); 5, west of Azalea Hill, 17 Nov (GL): TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (EL): 3 (2 singing), Friday Ridge Road, 28 Oct (TL): NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (FR): 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 29 Oct (TMcK); 1, AMP and vic, 7-17 Nov (AMcG, SH, EE); 1, Loleta Bottoms, 17 Nov (SMcA).
Still Some Warblers
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (ID): 4, ERB, 18 Nov (SMcA); 1 (“eastern type”), Ft. Bragg, 8 Nov (DT): NASHVILLE WARBLER (ID): 1, Camp Weott Road, 18 Nov (SMcA); 1, Arcata, 29 Nov (GB): YELLOW WARBLER (ID): 1, Camp Weott Road, 18 Nov (SMcA): BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (ID): 1, AOP, BSLP, 9-15 Nov (FA, JT): PALM WARBLER (EM): 5 reports from AB, AMP, AOP, near Fernbridge, 31 Oct-10 Nov (RH, EE, JT, BMcI): COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (ID): 1, Arcata, 8 Nov (JT): WILSON’S WARBLER (ID): 1 caught and banded, Orleans, 2 Nov (AO): CHIPPING SPARROW (ID): 1, Mad River and Highway 101, 19-22 Nov (KR, MM): WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (EM): 13 reports of 1-5, from Orleans, AB, Arcata, AMP, Fay Slough, Ferndale, Ft. Bragg, 2-30 Nov (mo): SLATE-COLORED JUNCO (FR): 1, Arcata, 20-21 Nov (EE): LAPLAND LONGSPUR (EM): 1, Eel River Bottoms, 28 Oct (TMcK); 1, AB, 4 Nov (BD); 5, Lanphere Road, 13 Nov (JT).
Many thanks to the following who shared reports this month: Marge Adams, David Anderson, Frank Anderson, Marcus Ziehm, Gary Bloomfield, Barbara Burek, Bryon Cariss, Mark Colwell, Tamar Danufsky, Bruce Deuel, Elias Elias, David Fix, John Gaffin, Cara Gore, Warren & Ellie Harrington, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, Matt Hinton, Ken Irwin, Tom & Sue Leskiw, Gary & Lauren Lester, Sean McAllister, Aaron McGregor, Bryan McIntosh, Tristan McKee, Mark Morrissette, Bob Murphy, Laura Nelson, Gerald Nusbaum, Andy Orahosoke, Lisa Perronne, Jude Power, Terry Roelofs, Kerry Ross, David Rowe, Paul & Virginia Springer, Jay Sooter, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Matt Wachs. Please call future reports to me at (707) 822-3802, to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666, or to the Eureka Bird Box at (707) 442-5666. You can also mail them to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, CA, 95521, or write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center.