Field Notes

by Stan Harris

24 October - 27 November 2005

The failure of the Arcata Bird Box has seriously curtailed the reports I have to share this month. Many thanks to Rob Fowler, Matt Wachs, and Kerry Ross for their efforts to keep me informed. Until the box is up and running again, I ask observers to phone me directly (707-822-3802, or e-mail me at my son’s site: mhharris@quik.com) with any reports you care to share. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; FR = Few Records; GD = Good Description; GW = Gee Whiz report; HO = Hold Over from last month; ID = Interesting Date; IIT = Interesting, If True; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; LMR = Lower Mad River; mo= Many Observers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed by a second party; ND = No Description or Details; OP = Oxidation Pond. .

Returning Geese

White-fronted Goose (EM): 2-3,  V St. Loop with domestic geese, 25-26 Oct (RF, KR). Snow Goose (FR): 1 ad., Lake Cleone, Oct-13 Nov (DT); 1, AB, 25 Nov (KR). Ross’s Goose (EM): 1, flyover, north Arcata, 27 Nov (BD, SC). Black Brant (EM): 400 ±, King Salmon, 27 Oct (MW). Taverner’s Cackling Goose (FR); 24, AB, 26 Nov (SH). Aleutian Cackling Goose (EM): 1, Allen Marsh, 2 Nov (SH); 2,  V St. Loop with domestic goose flock, 25 Oct (RF); 1, AB, 26 Nov (SH). Western Canada Goose (EL): 1, Denny, 9 Nov (LM). Tundra Swan (EM): 12, AB, 8 Nov (DD); 1, flyover, AOP, 10 Nov (JK). Wood Duck (EL): 3, Ferndale OP, 25 Nov (MW). Gadwall (IN): 50-180+, feeding on duckweed, Allen Marsh, 24 Oct-10 Nov (SH). Eurasian Wigeon (EM): 1 male,  V St. Loop, 19-26 Nov (SC, KR); 1 imm. male, Allen Marsh, 24 Nov (SH). Eurasian Green-winged Teal (FR): 1 male, Butcher Slough, 24-26 Nov (SH). Eurasian Green-winged x American Green-winged Teal intergrade (FR): 1, AOP, 23-24 Nov (SH, et al). Canvasback (FR): 1, AOP, 23 Oct; 1, LMR, 27 Nov (both SC). Redhead (FR): 2, King Salmon, 18 Nov (MW). Ring-necked Duck (IL, IN): up to 12 AOP, 27 Oct-12 Nov (SH). Harlequin (EM): up to 19, Glass Beach, 22 Oct-20 Nov (DT); 2-4, King Salmon, 30 Oct-27 Nov (RH, SC, MW). White-winged Scoter (EM): 20, King Salmon, 16 Nov (MW); 55 flying north past North Jetty, 19 Nov (SC).  Black Scoter (FR): 1, North Jetty, 29 Oct-25 Nov (SC, KR); 1, King Salmon, 30 Oct-21 Nov (RH, MW). Long-tailed Duck (FR): 1-2, King Salmon, Field’s Landing, 30 Oct-27 Nov (RH, MW, JT). Common Goldeneye (EM): 1,  V St. Loop, 13 Nov (RF); 1, 23 Oct; 3, 15 Nov, both King Salmon (MW); 1-2, Klopp Lake, 19-26 Nov (SC, SH, et al). Hooded Merganser (FR): 1 female, AOP, 23 Oct (SC); 2 females, mouth of Little River, 9 Nov (KS); 6, King Salmon, 15 Nov; 3 Field’s Landing, 27 Nov (both MW); 1, LMR, 27 Nov (SC). Red-breasted Merganser (EM): 16-21, King Salmon, 27 Oct-29 Oct (MW).

Wild Pheasant?

Ring-necked Pheasant (FR): 1, near Pelican Bay Prison, 13 Nov (BH). Red-throated Loon (EM): 5-136, King Salmon, 26 Oct-23 Nov (MW, JT); southward movements noted all month (MW). Pacific Loon (ED): 2, North Jetty, 24 Nov (MW, JT). Horned Grebe (EM): 13, King Salmon, 23 Oct (MW). Red-necked Grebe (EM): 5-14, King Salmon, 27 Oct-15 Nov (MW); 2, Freshwater Lagoon, 7 Oct (AL). Northern Fulmar (IL): 3, from Wedding Rock, 26 Nov (MW, JT). Short-tailed Shearwater (FR): 1, off North Jetty, 29 Oct (SC), 24 Nov (MW). Brandt’s Cormorant (ID): 1, North Jetty, 25 Nov (MW, JT). American Bittern (FR): 1 BSLP, 27 Oct (SH). Cattle Egret (FR): 1-3,  V St. Loop, Moxon Road, 13-27 Nov (RH, KR, SH, BD, et al.). Osprey (ID): 1, mouth of Eel River, 27 Oct (DD); 1, MKSP, 9 Nov (DT).  Bald Eagle (MS): 1 adult, junction of Trinity and South Fork, 31 Oct (SC); 1 adult, 6-10 Nov, Douglas City (DK); 1 adult, Cannibal Island, 25 Nov (MW, JT). Goshawk (FR): 1 adult, Douglas City, 11 Nov (MK). Rough-legged Hawk (ID): 2, Capetown, 12 Nov (SMcA); 1, AB, 13-27 Nov (RH, TCC, JD, et al.). Merlin (EM): 1, Klopp Lake, 30 Oct (RF); 1, King Salmon, 28 Oct (MW); 1, Moxon Road, said to be race richardsoni, 26 Nov (KR). Peregrine Falcon (EM): 1, mouth of Eel River, 27 Oct (DD); 1, King Salmon, 28 Oct (MW); usual pair at AMP, off and on most of month (mo); 1,  V St. Loop, 27 Nov (TCC, JD, et al.). American Golden-Plover (FR, ID): 1 Crab Park, 2 Nov (second latest seasonal record ever) (SMcA). Pacific Golden Plover (HO): 1, Foster Road, AB, 25 Oct (RF). American Avocet (IN): Many fewer than expected at AMP, Klopp Lake, Butcher Slough, with only 30-100, all month (SH); 1, King Salmon (maybe the first ever record for that specific location, 10 Nov (MW). Greater Yellowlegs (IN): 55, LMR, 26 Nov (SH). Lesser Yellowlegs (ID): 1, AB, 25 Nov (KR). Red Knot (ID): 1-16, King Salmon, 28 Oct-15 Nov (MW). Dunlin (EM): 5000±, roost on breakwater, King Salmon, 10 Nov (MW). Pectoral Sandpiper (HO) 1, AB, 25 Oct (KB). Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (FR): 1, AB, 16 Nov (SC). Rock Sandpiper (EM): 2-4, North Jetty, 9-25 Nov (KS, MW, JT, KR, SC); 1, MKSP, 31 Oct, 19 Nov (DT). Ruff (FR, HO): 1 “reeve,” AB, 25 Oct (RF); 1 AB, 16 Nov (SC).

Red Phalarope (ED): 1, from Wedding Rock, 26 Nov (MW, JT). Bonaparte’s Gull (EM:): 30, Crab Park, 5 Oct (SC); 8-79, mouth of Mad River, 6 Oct-9 Nov (SC, KS); 6-30, North Jetty, 29 Oct-19 Nov (SC). Thayer’s Gull (FR): 1, along beach, 0.25 miles south of mouth of Little River, 24 Oct (KB); 1, Klopp Lake, 19 Nov (SC); 1, North Jetty, 25 Nov KR). Glaucous Gull (FR): 1 first year bird, AOP, 9 Nov (SH). Black-legged Kittiwake (EM): 3-75, North Jetty, 29 Oct-24 Nov (SC, MW, JT). Forster’s Tern (EM): 2-12, AMP/AOP, 27 Oct-24 Nov (SH). Pigeon Guillemot (ID): 1, winter plumage, King Salmon, 2 Nov (MW, HB); 1 off Todd’s Point, 31 Oct; 1, off Laguna Point, 4 Nov (both DT). Marbled Murrelet (MS): 5-20, North Jetty, 29 Oct-24 Nov (SC, MW, JT). Ancient Murrelet (FR): 1-3, North Jetty, 29 Oct, 24 Nov (SC, MW, JT). Rhinoceros Auklet (IL): 4 seen from North Jetty, 19 Nov (SC). Horned Puffin (IIT, ND, NC): 1 flyby, Manila Beach, 8 Nov (JoK). Tufted Puffin (FR): 1, winter plumage, seen from North Jetty, 24 Nov (MW, JT). Burrowing Owl (FR): 1, South Spit, 24 Nov (MW, JT). Saw-whet Owl (FR): 1, Denny, 8, 15 Nov (LM). Nuttall’s Woodpecker (GW, GD): 1, Douglas City, 5 Nov (D & MK). Dusky-capped Flycatcher (GW): 1, north Arcata, 23-27 Nov (KS, SMcA, et al.). Tropical Kingbird (FR): 1, Vance Road, north spit, 30 Oct (MS); 1, AB, 4, 13 Nov (RF); 1, Mad River Road, 27 Nov (SC). Cassin’s Vireo (GD, ID): 1, Shay Park, 30 Oct (SC). Plumbeous Vireo (FR):1, Arcata, 12 Nov (JK, AS, RF, photos). Barn Swallow (ID): “at least 10,” MKSP, 16 Nov (DT). Gray Jay (EL): up to 7 off and on regularly, Greenwood Heights (JC); 3, Centerville Beach Bluff, 7 Nov (DD). Scrub Jay (IL): 1, Greenwood Heights, 29 Oct (JC). Horned Lark (IL, IN): 5, dunes near mouth of Mad River, 9 Nov (KS); 1-2, King Salmon, 18-21 Nov (MW).

Only one Varied Thrush?

Varied Thrush (IL): 1, northern Trinity Alps, 7, 18 Oct (DK). Mockingbird (FR): 1, AB, 13 Nov (RF). American Pipit (IN): 200±, cornfield at Crab Park, 2 Nov (MW). Orange-crowned Warbler (ID): 1, Arcata, 19 Nov (SC); 1, Lake Cleone, 19 Nov (DT). Nashville Warbler (EM): singles at Fairhaven and Arcata, 29 Oct-21 Nov (SC, RF, GB), and 2 at Bayshore Mall willows, 9 Nov (TL). Yellow Warbler (ID): 1, north Arcata, 23-27 Nov (BS, BD, et al). Palm Warbler (EM): 1,  V St. Loop, 9 Nov (KS); 1, AMP, 4-11 Nov (AL, BD). Black-and-white Warbler (FR): 1, AMP, 30 Oct-20 Nov (RF, AL); 1, Arcata, 12-19 Nov (RF, SC). Common Yellowthroat (ID): 1, AOP, 12 Nov (DF, JP). Wilson’s Warbler (ID): 1, Moxon Road, 17 Nov (BS). Clay-colored Sparrow (FR): 1, AMP, 8-10 Nov (AL, JK, AS). “Rusty” Fox Sparrow (FR): 1, Arcata, 13 Nov (RF); 1 Arcata, 20 Nov (JHe). Swamp Sparrow (EM): 1, AMP, 29 Oct-26 Nov (KB, RF, SC, BD). Slate-colored Junco (EM): 1, Ft. Bragg, 11-13 Nov (DT). Lapland Longspur (EM): 15, 5 Oct (SC), 5, 2 Nov; 20±, 25 Nov (MW, JT), all observations in the cornfield at Crab Park; 1, King Salmon, 8 Nov (MW). Chestnut-collared Longspur (FR): 1 heard in flight, cornfield at Crab Park, 2 Nov (MW); 5, Bear River Ridge, 12 Nov (SMcA). Yellow-headed Blackbird (FR): 1, Moxon Dairy, 17-26 Nov (KR). Baltimore Oriole (FR, ND): 1 imm male, sugar feeder, Azalea Hill, 11-12 Nov (L & G L).