Field Notes

by Stan Harris

26 October - 28 November 2004

Kind of a slow month, punctuated by a little longspur hysteria and a few good birds. Don’t forget to join one or more of the upcoming Christmas Counts. We need your help. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; anon = observer unknown, either missing or unintelligible on bird box or observation sheet; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP - Butcher Slough Log Pond; ED = Expected Date; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; EMSN = Expected Migrant in Small Numbers; ENLD = Expected Number, Location and Date; ES = Expected Straggler; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; HS = Hookton Slough; ID = Interesting Date; IIT= Interesting, if true; IL = Interesting Location; IM = Interesting Morph; IN = Interesting Numbers; mo = Many Observers; MRE = Mad River Estuary; MRSWA = Mad River Slough Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed by an independent party; ND= No details or description given; x = unknown number, not reported by observer.

Goose migration is pretty well over, a few stragglers remain: Examples: White-fronted Goose (ES): 3 imm., Lake Cleone, 25 Oct (DT); 1 ad, Bald Hill near Ft. Bragg, 16 Nov (DT): Lesser Snow Goose (EM): 95 in flight toward SE over Grove’s Prairie, 4 Nov (TL); (ES) 1, HBNWR, 11 Nov (JT, et al.); 1, Humboldt Bay flats, 17 Nov (JT, et al.); 1, Lake Cleone, 12-20 Nov (DT): Taverner’s Cackling Goose (FR): 4, mouth of Elk Creek, Crescent City, 13 Nov (RF, AB, reported as Dusky Canada Geese, but description given [“half way in size between Western and Cackler”] fits this species and form better): Eurasian Wigeon (EMSN): 5 reports of 1-3 males from McKinleyville OP, AMP, HS, 5-20 Nov (SC, KR, JT, et al.); Blue-winged Teal (EMSN): 1, BSLP, 6 Nov (JA); 1 pair, BSLP, 19 Nov (JT et al.); 1, Gearheart Marsh, 25 Nov (SC): Redhead (EMSN): 1-2, Allen Marsh, 10-19 Nov (FA, JT, et al., DD); “1 or more in just about every scaup flock”, South Humboldt Bay, 26 Nov (DB): KING EIDER (GW): 1 in female plumage, reported to be a “hatch-year” bird, was shot on South Humboldt Bay, 26 Nov (JTo), only the 8^th acceptable record for the northcoast, and the 4^th known specimen which will be privately mounted. Harlequin (EMSN):1 male or 1 pair at King Salmon or North Jetty, 8-16 Nov (EE, MW, JT, JW, EW): Black Scoter (EMSN): 1 female, on beach at South Spit on a “big seas” day, 26 Oct (SMcA); 2, Trinidad, 16 Nov (MH).

Oldsquaws in Danger

Long-tailed Duck (EMSN): 1-2, MRE, 20-25 Nov (SC, JoP, RSa): Common Goldeneye (EMSN, EL): 1-3, MRE, 20-25 Nov (SC): Hooded Merganser (EMSN): 1 pair, south end, Clam Beach, 31 Oct (BA); 1 female, MRE, 21 Nov (SC): Ruffed Grouse (FR): 1, Grove’s Prairie, 4 Nov (TL): Red-necked Grebe (EMSN): x, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Black-footed Albatross (ENLD): 5, up to 15 miles off Eureka, 30 Oct (BA): Northern Fulmar (ENLD): 45 (only 4 white ones), up to 15 miles off Eureka, 30 Oct (BA); x, seen from shore at Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.); 1, seen from North Jetty, 16 Nov (JW, EW): Pink-footed Shearwater (ED): 1, up to 15 miles off Eureka, 30 Oct (BA);,1, seen from shore, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (ID) (RS, et al.): Buller’s Shearwater (ID): 7, up to 15 miles off Eureka, 30 Oct (BA); (IL), 1 seen from shore, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Short-tailed Shearwater (GW, ND, NC): 35, seen from shore, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.); 6 seen from North Jetty, 20 Nov (SC): Black-vented Shearwater (GW, ND, NC): 20 reported from shore, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Brown Pelican (IN): 400 “flying north” past Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Cattle Egret (FR): 5, Front Street Park, Crescent City, 9 Nov (AB, EC); 1, AMP, Klopp Lake, 13-18 Nov (JT, et al.): Green Heron (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 17 Nov (JT, et al.): Crested Caracara (GW): 1, with Turkey Vultures, Ferndale Bottoms, 28 Nov (CD): Osprey (ID): 1, AMP, 19 Nov (JT, et al.): White-tailed Kite (IN): 5, HBNWR, 7 Nov (RC): Bald Eagle (MS): 3 imm., Fish Hatchery, Blue Lake, 21 Nov (SC); 2 ad, Willow Creek, 19 Nov (MC, et al.); 1 ad, near Junction City, 19 Nov (MC, et al.): Goshawk (FR, ND, NC): 1, Waterman Ridge, 14 Nov (KI): Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 banded bird seen, Old Arcata Road, 7 Nov (LT): Red-tailed Hawk (IN, IM): 6, BRR, 13 Nov (SMcA); 1 dark morph, near Freshwater School, 7 Nov (LT): Ferruginous Hawk (EMSN): 1, Big Lagoon, 21 Nov (KI); 1, Mad River Bottoms, 28-30 Oct (RF, DM, EMcK); 1 near Fortuna, 14 Nov (SC); 1, BRR, 5 Nov (SMcA); 1-3 Cape Ridge, 4-14 Nov (SMcA); 1, Bald Hill at Ft. Bragg 25 Oct (DT): Rough-legged Hawk (ED): 1, end Cannibal Road, 6-7 Nov (DF, JP); 1 dark subad, 1 other, BRR, 11 Nov; 2, BRR, 13 Nov; 1, Cape Mendocino, 13 Nov (all SMcA); 1, Bald Hills, 21 Nov (KI): Golden Eagle (FR): 1-2, BRR, 5-13 Nov (SMcA); 2, Waterman Ridge, 14 Nov (KI): Merlin (MS): 12 reports including 1 dark suckleyi from Trinidad, Crannell Road, AMP, MRE, MRSWA, HS, Fortuna, 26 Oct-25 Nov (mo): Peregrine Falcon (MS): 16 reports of 1-2 birds from Blank Rock, MRSWA, AMP, Blue Lake Fish Hatchery, Pigeon Pt. Road, south Eureka, HBNWR, HS, King Salmon, South Jetty, BRR, Bunker Hill Road, Cape Mendocino, and 10 miles at sea, 30 Oct-24 Nov (mo).

Raptors on the Ridge

Prairie Falcon (FR): 1, Cape Ridge, 4 Nov; 1, end of BRR, 12 Nov (both SMcA): Snowy Plover (MS): 2, mouth of Lake Talawa, 13 Nov (RF, AB): Spotted Sandpiper (EM): 2, Trinidad, 16 Nov (MH): Wandering Tattler (ID): 1, Glass Beach, 2-22 Nov (DT, at site where one wintered last year): Red Knot (FR): 2, Klopp Lake Isl, 26 Nov (SC): Rock Sandpiper (FR): 10 reports of 1-5 from Pt. St. George, Trinidad, North Jetty, King Salmon, Field’s Landing, Shelter Cove, Glass Beach, Laguna Point/Virgin Beach, 25 Oct-20 Nov (mo): Red-necked Phalarope (IIT, ND, NC): 5 reported, no details given on identification, offshore, 30 Oct (BA) latish for this species: Red Phalarope (EM): 2, MRE, Humb. Bay, 20 Oct (SC): Parasitic Jaeger (ID): 1, chasing a Mew Gull, south end of Clam Beach, 25 Nov (SC): Herring Gull (FR): x, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.); 2, Trinidad, 16 Nov (MH): Thayer’s Gull (FR, NC, ND): first year, mouth Mattole River (SMcA); x, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.); 1, AMP, 20 Nov (SC): Glaucous Gull (FR): Trinidad Pier, 28 Nov (MH): Black-legged Kittiwake (EM): 2, off Eureka, 30 Oct (BA); 1, MRE, 12 Nov (KR); 15-20, North Jetty, 16-20 Nov (JW, EW, SC): Caspian Tern (ID): 1, King Salmon, 10 Nov (JT, et al.); 2, HS, 11 Nov (JT, et al.); 1, mouth Elk River, 16 Nov (SC): Elegant Tern (ID): 1, Eureka Channel, 31 Oct (BA): Forster’s Tern (ED): 21, AMP, 13 Nov (JT, et al.): Marbled Murrelet (FR): 4, nearshore, 30 Oct (BA): Cassin’s Auklet (IN): 1 (only), to 15 miles offshore, 30 Oct (BA): Rhinoceros Auklet (EM): 25, offshore to 15 miles, 30 Oct (BA): Tufted Puffin (MS, FR): 1, offshore to 15 miles, 30 Oct (BA): White-winged Dove (FR): 1, feeder, south Eureka, 20-27 Nov (DJ, et al.): Great Horned Owl: 1, hooting, Fortuna, 12 Nov (RC): Burrowing Owl (FR): 1, Bald Hill at Ft. Bragg, 20 Oct-21 Nov (DT): Barred Owl (FR): 1, eating a shrew, photographed, Arcata Comm. Forest, 9 Nov (BC); 1, Trinidad, 14 Nov (KI): Short-eared Owl (EM): 1, Bald Hill, Ft. Bragg, 7 Nov (DT); 2-4, MRSWA, 20-23 Nov (JT, RG): Pileated Woodpecker (MS): 1, McKinleyville, 11 Nov (RD): Tropical Kingbird (EMSN): 1, Copenhagen Road, 29 Oct (RH); 1, AB, 16 Nov (ST, RF, et al.); 1, McKinleyville, 12 Nov (KR): Northern Shrike (EMSN): 1, AB (V st. loop), 18-20 Nov (RF, JT, RG): Cassin’s Vireo (ID): 1, Bayshore Mall, 29 Oct (TL): Horned Lark (FR): 2, mouth, Lake Talawa, 4 Nov (AB); 3-7, Cannibal Road, 29 Oct-7 Nov (SMcA, RH, KR, et al.); 5, BRR, 22 Nov (SMcA); x, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Western Bluebird (MS): 8-10, Salmon Creek near Miranda, 3 Nov (KK): Northern Mockingbird (EMSN): 1, north Arcata, 26-28 Nov (JH, MH): Orange-cr. Warbler (ID): 1, AMP, 20 Nov (SC): Nashville Warbler (FR): 1, Ft. Bragg, 6 Nov (DT); 1, AMP, 11-25 Nov (mo): Yellow Warbler (ID): 1, AMP, 5-19 Nov (SC, JT, EE).

Lingering Warblers

Black-throated Gray Warbler (ID): 1, Bayshore Mall, 28 Oct (TL); 1, Eureka, 2 Nov (LB-O): Palm Warbler (ED): 10 reports of 1-3 from AMP, King Salmon, 5-25 Nov (mo): Black-and-white Warbler (FR): 1, AMP, 17 Nov (JT, et al.): Northern Waterthrush (FR): 1, BSLP, 26 Nov (MH): Common Yellowthroat (ID): 1, AMP, 16-20 Nov (JW, EW, SC): Lark Sparrow (FR): #, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Swamp Sparrow (FR): 1-3, AMP, 13-21 Nov (JT, et al.): Harris’s Sparrow (FR): 1, AMP, 3 Nov (PL); 1, Eureka, 27 Nov (RF): Lapland Longspur (FR): 80 ± Cannibal Road, 26 Oct-15 Nov (mo); 2, BRR, 22 Nov (SMcA); 3-10, MRSWA, 20-23 Nov (JT, et al.); 1, V St. Loop, 28 Nov (SC): 2, Pt. St. George, 13 Nov (RF, AB); 8, mouth Lake Talawa, 4 Nov (AB): Chestnut-collared Longspur (FR): 7, BRR, 22 Nov (SMcA): 1, Cannibal Road, 7-14 Nov (RF, SMcA, et al.); 1-2 mouth Lake Talawa, 2-10 Nov (AB, JG): Snow Bunting (FR): 5 together, Pt. St. George, 30 Oct (AB), 1 still there, 5 Nov (AB); 1, mouth, Lake Talawa, 4 Nov (AB); 1, end of Kellogg Road, 13 Nov (AB, RF); 1, Mad River Beach, 27 Oct (MK); 1, Shelter Cove, 6 Nov (RS, et al.): Possible Painted Bunting (NC): 1 possible, Bridgeville, 4-5 Nov (DB), described over phone as “small finch, all green with greenish yellowish underparts, about size of house finch or junco, no marks of any kind, no wing bars or eye rings, or streaks–coming to grain feeder” No photos, darn: Dickcissel (FR): 1, Cannibal Road, 29 Oct-7 Nov (RF, KR, KI, et al., photos): Tricolored Blackbird (FR): 100 ± males only, Bald Hill, Ft. Bragg, 25 Oct (DT): Orchard Oriole (FR): 1 female, AMP, 26 Oct-18 Nov (JK, JT, et al.): Red Crossbill (IN): flocks described variously as 20-270, from BRR, Bald Hills, Groves Prairie/Waterman Ridge, Miranda, 4 Nov-27 Nov (mo); KI reports more than 1 song type in these flocks.