Field Notes

by Stanley W. Harris

November 25, 2000- January 14, 2001

A generally dry, rather warm period, except for early January. There wasn’t much bird movement recorded, continuing disability of the Arcata Bird Box hampered communication between observers. Christmas counts completed as follows: 16 Dec, Arcata, 173 species; 17 Dec, Del Norte, 162 species; 23 Dec, Willow Creek, 79 species (rain!); 29 Dec, Lewiston, 81 species; 30 Dec, Etna, 75 species, Centerville, 31 Dec, 185 species. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; A-EB = Arcata-Eureka Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EM = Expected Migrant; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed, No Details.

Highlights:

BULLER’S SHEARWATER (ID): 1, off Crescent City, 17 Dec (KS, BW); 1, off North Jetty, 1 Jan (KN): SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (FR): 3, working off Wedding Rock, 3 Dec (DF, JP): BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER (NC, GW): 1 reported dead on beach, Samoa, 9 Dec (HB): CATTLE EGRET (FR): 5, Arcata CBC; 3, BSLP, 4 Jan (BMcI); HARLEQUIN DUCK (FR): 1, King Salmon, 22 Nov-30 Dec (BM, MM, MW); up to 14, Glass Beach, 26 Nov-31 Dec (DT): LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 2, King Salmon, 22 Nov (BM); 2, Lake Talawa, 17 Dec (PS): HARLAN’S HAWK (FR, NC): 1, South Spit, 5 Dec (KI): PRAIRIE FALCON (FR): 1, AB, 17 Dec (BMcI); 1, Centerville CBC; 2, Etna CBC: RUFFED GROUSE (FR): 1, Willow Creek CBC, 23 Dec (GL): PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (FR): 7, Centerville CBC: WANDERING TATTLER (FR, ID): 1, South Jetty, 31 Dec (KR, MaM): CASPIAN TERN (ID): 4, Centerville CBC: ANCIENT MURRELET (FR): 15-120, Wedding Rock, 3-4 Dec (DF, JP); 1, Pt. St. George, 17 Dec (RH, KS, BW); 6-20, Laguna Point, MKSP, 28 Nov-24 Dec (DT); 2, North Jetty, 5 Jan (EE, BC): HORNED PUFFIN (UPDATE, FR): 1, Glass Beach; 1, flying south with Surf Scoters, Laguna Pt. (both 17 Nov, GC): BURROWING OWL (FR): 1, Showers Pass Road, 30 Nov (GF); 1, South Spit, 5-31 Dec (KI, MK, et al.); 1, Washington St., Eureka, 10-31 Dec (CO, DW, LC): LONG-EARED OWL (FR): 1, Fortuna, 31 Dec (AD): RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (ID): 1 male, well described, Fortuna, 31 Dec (JB): WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER (FR): 1, Cold Springs Camp, 30 Dec (DN): YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (FR): 1, Elk River Valley, 31 Dec (T&SL); 1, Ferndale, 31 Dec (GL); RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (NC, GW): 1, Cutten, 31 Dec ("Jonathan"): SAY’S PHOEBE (FR): 1, Arcata CBC; 1, Azalea Hill, 25 Dec (LL); 1, Ferndale, 31 Dec (GL): NORTHERN SHRIKE (FR): 1, North Spit, 31 Dec (DW, LC); 1, Fortuna, 31 Dec (AD, SF).

Swallows are back!

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (ID): 2, AMP, 13 Jan (JB): ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (GW, ID): 1, AMP, 13 Jan (JB): BARN SWALLOW (ID): 1, AMP, 13 Jan (JB): HOUSE WREN (GW, ID): 1, base of Table Bluff, 31 Dec (JW): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR, ID): 1, Eel River near Fernbridge, 31 Dec (DJ): SWAINSON’S THRUSH (GW, ID): 1 SPECIMEN picked up dead under a window, H.S.U. Campus, 2 Jan (AD): MOCKINGBIRD (FR): 1, Arcata, 15 Dec (EE): 1, Garberville, 1 Jan (JS): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (FR, ID): 1, lower Jacoby Creek, 16 Dec (DF, JP, CD): BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (ID): 1, Smith River, 17 Dec (AB); 1-2, AOP/AMP, 26 Dec-4 Jan (mo): HERMIT WARBLER (ID): 1, Crescent City, 17 Dec (AB): WILSON’S WARBLER (ID): 1, Fernbridge, 11 Jan (GH, RH); 1, North Spit, 13 Jan (JB): TREE SPARROW (FR): 1, AOP, 29 Dec (DF); 1, Bayside (different bird!), 20-22 Dec (DF, JP, KR): CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (FR): 1, Eureka, 6 Dec (LB-O); 1, mouth Jacoby Creek, 4 Dec (EE): LARK SPARROW (ID): 1, Arcata CBC: SWAMP SPARROW (FR): 2, Arcata CBC; 2, Centerville CBC: HARRIS’S SPARROW (FR): 1, north Arcata, 4-17 Dec (KR, et al.): LAPLAND LONGSPUR (IN): 1-90, AB (in new burn, Mad River Wildlife Area), 4-24 Dec (mo): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR): 1 Garberville, 11 Dec-7 Jan (JS); 1, Lanphere Road, 16 Dec (Arcata CBC); 1, Trinidad, 1 Jan (TMcK): ORCHARD ORIOLE (NC): 1, Arcata CBC: BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (ID): 1, Fortuna, 31 Dec (KN, AD, SF): COMMON REDPOLL (GW, NC): 1 reported at a feeder at Orick, 24-27 Dec, (CM, GC).

OTHER INTERESTING REPORTS: RED-THROATED LOON (EM): 30 flyby, Wedding Rock, 4 Dec (DF, JP): PACIFIC LOON (EM): 300, flyby, Wedding Rock, 4 Dec (DF, JP): NORTHERN FULMAR (EM, IN): 350 flyby in 3 hours, Wedding Rock 29 Nov (KI); 2-6 (only), Wedding Rock, 3-4 Dec (JP, DF); 40+, Pt. St. George, 17 Dec (RH, et al.); SOOTY SHEARWATER (IN): 650 seen working-3 hours--off Wedding Rock, 29 Nov (KI).

Herons Make News!

AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): 1, AB, 7 Dec (MJ); 1, HBNWR, 13 Dec (KR); 1, Arcata CBC; 1, AMP, 4 Jan (BMcI): GREEN HERON (FR): 2, Willow Creek CBC; 1, Fortuna, 31 Dec (AD, SP): GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (FR): 1-10, AB, 4-16 Dec (mo); 12-16, Smith River Bottoms, 17 Dec-3 Jan (mo); 12, ERWA, 31 Dec (RH, et al.); 1, Willow Creek Golf Course, 23 Dec (SH, RR); 30, Etna CBC: LESSER SNOW GOOSE (FR): 1, AB, 26 Nov-13 Jan (mo); 1, Smith River Bottoms, 17 Dec-3 Jan (mo); 8 (includes 1 Blue-phase bird), Centerville CBC: ROSS’S GOOSE (FR): 1, AB, 26 Nov-13 Jan (mo); 1, Ft. Dick, 17 Dec (RH, et al.): ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE (ID): 200, AB, 11 Jan (PS): CACKLING CANADA GOOSE (FR): 70, AB, 11 Jan (PS): BLACK BRANT (EM): 60+ fly south past Laguna Point, 28 Nov (DT); 905, South Humboldt Bay, 31 Dec (PS, et al.): MUTE SWAN (!): 1, HBNWR. 28 Dec (DS): TUNDRA SWAN (IL): 2, Trinity River near Willow Creek, 23 Dec (TL, GL); 1, on seastack, Trinidad, 29 Nov (MH): EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 6+ reports of 1-4 from Ft. Dick, Lake Talawa, AB, A-EB, Centerville CBC, 6 Dec-11 Jan (mo): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FR): 1-2, BSLP, 19 Dec-5 Jan (mo); 1 male, Ft. Bragg, 26 Nov, 2 Dec (DT).

Ducks are Diving

REDHEAD (IN): 44 (only), South Humboldt Bay, 31 Dec (SH): RING-NECKED DUCK (EL): 20, BSLP, 13 Dec-5 Jan (SH, CW); 35-40, Stafford Pond, 25 Dec (MW); 81, Lewiston CBC: COMMON GOLDENEYE (IN): 32, Centerville CBC: HOODED MERGANSER (IN, IL): 1, King Salmon, 1 Dec (MW); 8, HBNWR, 6 Dec (SL); 19 (!), Willow Creek CBC; 17, Lewiston CBC: OSPREY (ID): 1, Ft. Bragg, Pudding Creek, 30 Nov, 19 Dec (DT); 1, Mad River, Arcata, North Bay, 1-27 Dec (mo): WHITE-TAILED KITE (IL): 2, Briceland, 6 Dec (NW); 1, Kneeland, 12-14 Dec (BB); 1, Willow Creek Golf Course, 23 Dec (RR, SH): BALD EAGLE (MS): 8 reports of 1-9 from Lewiston (CBC), South Fork Trinity River, Willow Creek (CBC); Smith River Bottoms, Big Lagoon, lower Eel River, Benbow, 1 Dec-31 Dec (mo): FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FR): 1-2, AB, 28 Nov-16 Dec (mo); 1, Fay Slough, 6 Dec (MV, CW); 6, Etna CBC; 4 Centerville CBC: ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (IN): 1-6, AB, 26 Nov-11 Jan (mo); 3-5, Fay Slough, late Nov-16 Dec (mo); 24, Arcata CBC; 27 (!), Centerville CBC; 1, Lewiston CBC; 20, Etna CBC: MERLIN (MS): 6 reports of singles from AB, North Spit, Willow Creek, Scott Valley + 11 on the Centerville CBC and 9 on the Arcata CBC, 7-31 Dec: PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 7 reports of 1-2 from Wedding Rock, AB, Humboldt Bay, HBNWR, AMP, 4 Dec-4 Jan (mo) + 13 on the Centerville CBC, 11 on the Arcata CBC and 3 on the Willow Creek CBC: BLUE GROUSE (FR): 2, Cold Springs Camp, 30 Dec (DN).

Plover News!

SNOWY PLOVER (MS): 16. Stone Lagoon Beach (lagoon side), 20 Dec (TR); 75!, mouth Eel River, 12 Jan (SMcA, AT): AMERICAN AVOCET (IN, IL): 140 (actual count); Hookton Slough Overflow, 31 Dec (SH): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (ID): 1, AB, 4 Dec-11 Jan (EE, PS); 5, Loleta Bottoms, 28 Dec (DF, JP); 4, Centerville CBC; 13, Arcata CBC: ROCK SANDPIPER (EM): 1-4, Laguna Point, 26 Nov-31 Dec (DT); 1-10 (!), North Jetty, 16 Dec-5 Jan (Arcata CBC, BD, EE, BC, PR); 1, South Jetty, 31 Dec (KR, MaM): GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): singles (all first year) from Smith River, Eureka, lower Mad River, 14 Dec-1 Jan (EE, DF, BMcI): FORSTER’S TERN (MS): 6-20, AMP/North Bay, 12 Dec-5 Jan (SH): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 2, off Wedding Rock, 4 Dec (JP, DF); 13, off Pt. St. George, 17 Dec (RH); 2, off Table Bluff, 30 Dec (DF): GRAY JAY (IN): 108 (!), Centerville CBC: DIPPER (IN): 11, Willow Creek CBC: TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (FR): 1, Horse Mountain, 23 Dec (GL): AMERICAN ROBIN (IN): 53,196, Willow Creek CBC: YELLOW WARBLER (FR): 1, King Salmon, 6 Dec (DL); 1, AMP, 27 Dec-13 Jan (BMcI, JB): PALM WARBLER (EM): 9 reports of 1-6 from AMP, south Eureka, Eel River Bottoms, 8 Dec-13 Jan (mo): COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (ID): 1, Salt River, 31 Dec (JT): CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (IL): 1, Willow Creek CBC: RED CROSSBILL (IN): 185, Trinidad to Patricks Point, 24 Nov (KI); 60-65, Big Lagoon, 6 Dec (KI); 96, Centerville CBC; 66, Arcata CBC.

Please send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, California, 95521, phone them to me at (707) 822-3802, phone them to the Arcata Bird Box (707) 822-5666, phone them to the Eureka Bird Box (707) 442-5666, write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, or on the Bulletin Board in "Ornithology Hall", second floor of the Wildlife Building, Humboldt State University Campus. Many thanks to all the participants of the various Christmas Bird Counts and especially to the following who made special efforts to report observations: Louise Bacon-Ogden, Gwen Baluss, Jim Barnes, Alan Barron, Gary Bloomfield, Jim Booker, Heather Brown, Barbara Burek, Bryon Cariss, Lina Carro, George Chaniot, Mark Colwell, Gene Cox, Anthony Desch, Duke Diehl, Colin Dillingham, Rick Dimick, Larry Eifert, Elias Elias, Eva Farnes, Sam Fitton, David Fix, Gary Friedrichsen, Doug Frink, John Gaffin, Dan Garrison, Melody Hamilton, Lorie Harris, Stan Harris, Rob Hewitt, Gretchen Hoiness, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, Matt Johnson, Josh Jones, David Juliano, Mary Kuehner, Dick Laursen, Gary Lester, Lauren Lester, Steve Lewis, Coleen Marks, Sean McAllister, Brooke McDonald, Scott McHew, Bryon McIntosh, Tim McKay, Michael Morris, Mark Morrissette, Stephanie Morrissette, Kristie Nelson, Laura Nelson, Dick Norton, Chet Ogan, Aida Parkinson, Barbara Parks, Jude Power, Richard Ridenhour, Terry Roelofs, Kerry Ross, Paul Roush, Danielle Saylor, Mary Severdia, Keith Slauson, Jay Sooter, Paul Springer, Dale Swanson, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Margaret Varga, Matt Wachs, Catharine Walling, Jim Watkins, Don Wattenbarger, Bud Wilson, Nancy Wilson.