Field Notes

by Stan Harris

 

December 3 - January 12, 2002

 

 

 

Christmas counts have come and gone and the winter season is well along. Some wintering birds should be leaving and early migrants arriving in the next few weeks.  Our generally rainy period continued throughout this period.  I only have room for the highlights because of the massive number of reports associated with Christmas Counts.  My apologies to those who submitted reports I was unable to include here, but your reports do add to our total knowledge and data base for the northcoast so please keep them coming.  Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; ACBC = Arcata Christmas Count, 15 Dec; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CC = Crescent City; CCBC = Crescent City Christmas Count, 16 Dec; CVCBC = Centerville Christmas Count, 30 Dec; E = Eureka; ECBC = Etna Christmas Count, 29 Dec; EL = Expected Location; ERB = Eel River Bottoms or Delta; FB = Ft. Bragg; FR = Few Records; GB = Glass Beach; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; IB= Interesting Behavior; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; KL =Klopp Lake; KS = King Salmon; LC = Lake Cleone; LCBC = Lewiston Christmas Count, 28 Dec; LMR = Lower Mad River; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MRWA = Mad River Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species; NB= North Humboldt Bay; NC = Not Confirmed; NJ= North Jetty; O = Offshore, Humboldt Bay; SB = South Humboldt Bay; SJ = South Jetty;  SRB = Smith River Bottoms; WCBC = Willow Creek CBC, 22 Dec.

 

Pacific Loon (IL, IN): 1-3, KL, 3-4 Dec (SH, DF, EE); 80, O, 30 Dec (GF):  Yellow -billed Loon (GW, NC, ACBC): 1, NB (KR,MW,et al.): Red-necked Grebe (IL EL): 1, KL, 3-4 Dec (MR, EE, et al.); 3-5, MKSP, 23 Nov-27 Dec (DT); 1-3, KS, SB, 30 Dec-7 Jan (SH, BD, KR, MW, RH) Black-f. Albatross (ID): 1, O, 15 Dec (GF); Short-tailed Shearwater (FR): 1, O. 15 Dec (GF): Brown Pelican (ID):11, CVCBC; 1, E, 27 Dec (T&LH-H); 2, South Spit, 28 Dec (T&L H-H, SH); 1, mouth Elk River, 1 Jan (SH): Brandt’s Cormorant (ID): 1, SJ, 28 Dec (SH, et al.):  American Bittern (FR): 1 (cripple), ERB, 2 Dec (BS): Cattle Egret (FR): 1-3, AB, BSLP, 6 Dec-3 Jan (JT,EE): White-fronted Goose (FR): 4 reports of 1-3 from WCBC, MRWA, KL, LC, 14 Dec-5 Jan (RR,DT,PL,JR): Emperor Goose (FR): 1, CC, 29 Dec (G&LS); 1 NC report ( “gray goose with zebra pattern on back, flying with brant”),  SB, 30 Dec (TH-H); 2, Klamath, 1-2 Jan (anon); 1, LMR, AB, 7-12 Jan (KR, HB, MC, et al.): Ross’s Goose (FR):   1, Lanphere Road, 2 Jan (EE): Lesser Snow Goose (FR): 1-2, AB, 6 Dec, 2 -12 Jan (JT,EE,BD); 1 SMB, 16 Dec (RH); 1 SB, HBNWR, 4 Jan (KR,MW,SH): Mute Swan (GW): 1, HBNWR, 2 Jan (DF): Tundra Swan (IN, CVCBC): 350-400 (only), ERB, HBNWR, 4 Jan (JD, SH); 6, AB, 4 Jan (SH); 0(!), SRB, 4 Jan (SH,JD): Eurasian Wigeon (IN): 1, AB, 6 Dec -10 Jan (mo); 2, NB, 15 Dec (MW); 1 female, HBNWR, 30 Dec (SH,et al.); 1, Salt River, 30 Dec (JT); 14 (!); SB, 4 Jan (KR,MW): Blue-winged Teal (FR): 1-3, BSLP, 15 Dec-6 Jan (JT,SH,RH): Eurasian Green-winged Teal (FR): 1, AOP, 19 Dec, 7 Jan (MW); 1, BSLP, 23 Dec (L&T H-H,EE); 1 ERB, 23-30 Dec (MW,JL,JT): Canvasback (IL): 2, ERB, 30 Dec (RLeV,et al.);4-8, SB, 3-4 Jan (MW,KR); x, KL, 5 Jan (JT): Redhead (IN): 300, SB, 4 Jan (MW,KR).

 

Duck with a pony tail

Tufted Duck (GW, FR): 1 male, SB, 30 Dec (D&RR); 1 male, LMR, 8 Jan (DV): White-winged Scoter (IN): 80, SB, 4 Jan (KR,MW): Harlequin (FR): 18, vic CC, early Dec (AB,fide PS); 1, NJ, 24 Dec, 9 Jan (MW,BMcD); 1-2, KS, 26-31 Dec (mo); up to 20, GB, 23 Nov-27 Dec (DT): Long-tailed Duck (FR): 1, CC, early Nov-3 Dec (AB); 1 ERB, 30 Dec (GB,et al.): Black Scoter (FR): 5, CVCBC; up to 10, MKSP, 23 Nov-27 Dec (DT): Barrow’s Goldeneye (FR, IN): 1 male, LMR, 11-15 Dec (mo); 8(!), LCBC: Common Goldeneye (EL, IN): 1-3, LMR, 11 Dec-8 Jan (mo); 1-2, AMP, 18 Dec-9 Jan (FA,KR,MW,P&VS); 15, SB, 30 Dec (SH,RR,et al.); 3, ERB, 30 Dec (GB,et al.); 181 (!), LCBC: Hooded Merganser (MS):14 reports of 2-45 (!) from South Fork of Smith River, Mad River Fish Hatchery, KL, ERB, WCBC, ECBC, LCBC (mo): Osprey (ID): 4 reports of 1-4 from Klamath Glen, Freshwater Lagoon, AMP, NB, 15 Dec-2 Jan (CD,DF,KR,FA,JT): White-tailed Kite (IL): 3, Bald Hills, 21 Dec (MiMo); 1-2, Kneeland, 22 days in Dec (BB); 2, vic Benbow, 5 Jan (JS); 1, Mail Ridge, 3 Jan (JG); 2, Briceland, resident, through Dec (NW):  Bald Eagle (MS): WCBC (7 birds);  LCBC (6); ECBC (ll); ACBC (1); CVCBC (1); plus 9 other reports of 1-5 from SMB, Orick, Trinity River Valley, Mad River Fish Hatchery, McKinleyville, AB, HBNWR, ERB, Benbow, 8 Dec-6 Jan (mo): Goshawk (FR): 1, WCBC, 1, LCBC:  Ferruginous Hawk (FR): 4, ECBC; plus 6 reports of singles at SRB, AB, ERB, Bald Hill near FB, 11 Dec-2 Jan (mo): Rough-legged Hawk (ED): 16, ECBC; plus 11 reports of 1-2 from AB, AMP, Kneeland, KS, ERB, 6 Dec-6 Jan (mo): Merlin (MS): 10, CVCBC; plus 8 reports of 1-3 at ECBC, WCBC, AB, Arcata, KL, ERB, 6 Dec-5 Jan (mo): Peregrine Falcon (MS): 20 (probably includes some duplicate counts), CVCBC; 5, WCBC; plus 12 reports of 1-2 from Hoopa, AB, MRWA, AMP, KS, MKSP, 3 Dec-11 Jan (mo).

 

Watch for Turkeys

Wild Turkey (FR): 4-5 resident, Briceland, Dec (NW); 19, WCBC; 39, ECBC: Pacific Golden-Plover (FR): 20, ERB, 30 Dec (RLeV, et al.): Snowy Plover (MS): 13, CVCBC; 22, Centerville Beach Parking Lot, 6 Jan (JD): Black Oystercatcher (IL): 1-6, NJ, SJ, 1-30 Dec (KR, MW, T&L H-H, SH, GO, CH); 3, flyby, mouth Mad River, 7 Jan (KR, HB):  Rock Sandpiper (EL): 1-5, NJ, 8 Dec-9 Jan (mo); 6, CVCBC; 3, MKSP, 23 Nov-27 Dec (DT): Pomarine Jaeger (ID): 1 flyby, Mad River Beach, 15 Dec (RLeV): Heermann’s Gull (ID):  1-2, E, 22 Dec-6 Jan (T&LH-H,PR,RH): Herring Gull (IN): 1147(!), CVCBC: Thayer’s Gull (FR): 2, Lewiston Fish Hatchery, 2 Nov-5 Jan (JH); 3, CVCBC; 1, lower Elk River, 7 Jan (RH): Glaucous-winged Gull (IL): 1, LCBC: Caspian Tern (ID): 1-2, Humboldt Bay, 7 Dec-6 Jan (mo): Forster’s Tern (EL):9-19, AMP, AOP, 3 Dec-11 Jan (MR, SH, JT): Marbled Murrelet (MS): 1-4 , O, 15, 30 Dec (GF); 2, MKSP, 22 Dec (DT): Ancient Murrelet (ED): 1, O, 15,30 Dec (GF): Band-tailed Pigeon (IN): 363(!), WCBC; 24, LCBC; 12, CVCBC; 2 flocks of 50-75 each, Kneeland, 8 Dec (BB); 2-15, Sunny Brae, 24 Dec-12 Jan (SH): Burrowing Owl (FR): 1-2, AOP, 7 Dec-11 Jan (mo); 1, South Spit, 14-31 Dec (MK,et al.): Barred Owl (FR): 1, Headwaters Trail, 30 Dec (L&TH-H,GG,CH): Short-eared Owl (EL): 3-5, MRWA, 6 Dec-3 Jan (JT, EE, PL, JD); 1, Arcata, 5 Dec (CO); 2, CVCBC: Saw-whet Owl (FR): 1, Headwaters Trail, 30 Dec (L&TH-H,CH,GG): White-throated Swift (ID): 19, foraging high over Scotia Bluff, 4 Dec (LN): Selasphorus Hummingbird sp (ID): 1, Ferndale, 4 Dec (T McK): Lewis’s Woodpecker (FR): 10-24, Bald Hills, 29 Nov-21 Dec (WW, RH, fide, AB, MiMo): Acorn Woodpecker (EL): 10, Bald Hills, 21 Dec (MiMo):   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (FR): 1, Elk River Valley, 30 Dec (T&SL); 1-2, Ferndale, 30 Dec-6 Jan (G&LL, et al.): Red-naped Sapsucker (FR): 1, LCBC: Yellow-shafted Flicker (FR): 1, Arcata, 2 Jan (GB): Pileated Woodpecker (EL): 1 near Trinidad, 11 Dec (MH); 1, vic Willow Creek, 21 Dec (TL); 1, WCBC; 1, Kneeland, 31 Dec (BB): Eastern Phoebe (GW): 1, ERB, 30 Dec 7th Humboldt County Record, (GB,JE,BS,EE,GZ): Say’s Phoebe (FR): 1, Centerville Beach, 30 Dec (KR, MM): Solitary Vireo sp(ID): 1, E, 8 Jan (RH): Gray Jay (EL): 10, Patricks Point (MH); 6, Centerville Beach Road, 23 Dec (MW); 8, Ferndale Cemetery, 23 Dec (MW); 77 CVCBC:  Tree Swallow (ID): 1-2, AMP, 15-19 Dec (ACBC,JT).

 

Early Barn Swallows

Barn Swallow (ID): 5, SMB, 16 Dec (RH); plus 8 reports of 1-11 from AMP, 11 Dec-11 Jan (mo): Black-capped Chickadee (IL): 1, Hoopa, 22 Dec (JT): Western Bluebird(MS): 277 (about normal numbers for there), CCBC; 8, LCBC; 17, WCBC; 4, ACBC; plus 6 reports of 1-25 from Bald Hills, Trinidad, McKinleyville, Kneeland, HBNWR, 6 Dec-31 Dec (mo): Mountain Bluebird (GW, FR): 1 female, well described, Patricks Point, 14 Dec (MH): Swainson’s Thrush (GW, ID): 1 caught, measured, and banded, Lanphere Dunes, 9 Jan (BF): Mockingbird (FR): 1, WCBC; 1, Arcata, 7-15 Dec (JT, EE); 1, E, 14 Dec (JD); 1, Loleta, 23 Dec (MW); 1-2, Garberville, 28 Dec-5 Jan (JS, MT): American Pipit (GW, IB): 10-12, feeding on “shrimp” with Western Sandpipers, beach at Mad River mouth, 24 Dec (WB): Cedar Waxwing (IN): x, Aldergrove Pond, 6 Dec (JT); x, ACBC; 100 feeding on madrone berries, Miranda, 16 Dec (KS); 2, Tompkins Hill, 30 Dec (MW, PH): Orange-crowned Warbler: 30, ACBC; 31, CVCBC: Nashville Warbler: 15+, ACBC; 5, CVCBC:  Tennessee Warbler (FR): 1, E, 15 Dec-6 Jan  (T&SW): Yellow Warbler (ID): 1-2, AMP, 7 Dec-11 Jan (JT, EE); 1 Samoa Blvd, 19 Dec (EE): Black-throated Blue Warbler (GW, FR, ID):   1 male, Ferndale, 30 Dec-4 Jan (G&LL, et al.): Black-throated Gray Warbler (ID): 1, AMP, 7 Dec-11 Jan (JT, EE, et al.): Hermit Warbler (ID): 1, ERB, 30 Dec (JL, et al.): Palm Warbler: 9, CVCBC; 1. ACBC; plus 4 reports of singles from SMB, AB, AMP, 7 Dec-5 Jan (JT,RH): Black-and-white Warbler (FR): 1, ACBC; 1, CVCBC: Northern Waterthrush (FR): 1, AMP, 24 Dec (PL); 1, AOP, 9 Jan (MW): Common Yellowthroat (ID): 3, CVCBC; 1-2, AMP, 7-15 Dec (JT, EE): Wilson’s Warbler (ID): 1, Klamath Glen, 29 Dec (FA); 1, AMP, 9 Jan (KR).

 

Fancy Fringillids

Rufous-crowned Sparrow (FR, IL): 2, near Benbow, 31 Dec (MT, JS): Clay-colored Sparrow (FR, ID): 1, Trinidad, 9 Dec (MH): Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow (FR): 1, mouth Jacoby Creek, 15-16 Dec (CD, DF, JP, JH, et al.): Swamp Sparrow (IN): 9 reports of 1-7 from Willow Creek (!), AMP, AOP, mouth Jacoby Creek, NB, 4 Dec-11 Jan (mo): Rose-breasted Grosbeak (FR, ID): 1, Lanphere Dunes, week of 12 Dec (CR); 1 female, Briceland, 28 Dec-2 Jan (NW); 1 male, Garberville, 5 Jan (JS): Yellow-headed Blackbird (FR): 1, SMB, 3-16 Dec (AB, RH); 1, AB, 15-21 Dec (ACBC, MiMo): Bullock’s Oriole (ID):  1, Arcata, 29 Dec (HB); l dull female , E, 6 Jan (Mi Mo).

 

Many thanks to all the participants of the Christmas Bird Counts. You all deserve medals for sticking it out in the rain and wind.  Additional thanks to the following who made individual reports for this issue: Art Barab, Tom Allen, Frank Anderson, Alan Barron, Gary Bloomfield, Heather Brown, William Buchanan, Barbara Burek, Bryon Cariss, Mark Colwell, Jeff Dayton, Anthony Desch, Bruce Deuel, Colin, Angie, and Henry Dillingham, Carol Dunning, Elias Elias, Jane Epperson, Sam Fitton, David Fix, Bob Frey, Gary Friedrichsen, John Gaffin, Jim and Thea Gast, George Green, Melody Hamilton, Christine Harris, Stan Harris, Larry and Tonna Harris-Haller, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, John Hewston, Rich Hiser, Matt Hinton, Carol and Ernie Howard, John Hunter, Mary Kuehner, Sue and Tom Leskiw, Lauren and Gary Lester, Ron LeValley, Paul Lohse, Joan Loitz, Brooke McDonald, Sean McAllister, Bryan McIntosh, Tristin McKee, Michael Morris, Mark Morrissette, Russ Nimitz, Laura Nelson, Chet Ogan, Vic Oteri, Aida Parkinson, Wayne and Carol Pembroke, Jude Power, Carol Ralph, Don and Richard Ridenhour, Kerry and Morgan Ross, Paul Roush, Gordon and Lori Schremp, Kyle Seebring, Mary Severdia, Bruce Slocum, Jay Sooter, Paul and Virginia Springer, “Susan,” Margaret Taylor, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Doug Versteeg, Matt Wachs, Jim Watkins, Nancy Wilson, Tom and Sheryl Wrigley, Gretchen Ziegler, Marcus Ziehm.  Please mail future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, California, 95521, phone them directly to me at (707) 822-3802, phone them to the Arcata Bird Box (707) 822-56566, or to the Eureka Bird Box (707) 442-5666, or write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Project Interpretive Center.