Field Notes

by Stan Harris

30 November - 12 January

Our drought broke with a vengeance in early December, and the Christmas Counts were conducted in the rain or sandwiched between rainy periods with wet conditions underfoot and much lowland flooding that hampered access to many count areas. Consequently, count totals and total number of species seen were lower than average for most recent years.  Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP - Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EM = Expected Migrant; ES = Escape; FR = Few Records; GW= Gee Whiz Report;  HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; IB = Interesting Behavior; ID = Interesting Date;  IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MRCP = Mad River County Park; MRWA = Mad River Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species;  mo = Many Observers.
 

HIGHLIGHTS: UPDATE: MOURNING WARBLER (GW, FR): 1 bird flew into a window at Hydesville, 17 June 2002, the specimen was recovered (J &TS, fide W&IC, RC) and will be placed in the H.S.U. collection.  This represents the first-ever Northcoast specimen of this species.  RED-NECKED GREBE (IL): 1, off Wedding Rock, 6 Dec (EE, et al.); 1 Hookton Road, 12 Jan (JP, DF):  BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER(FR): 3, Laguna Point, 3 Dec (DT):  AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): 1, MRWA, 4 Dec (JT):1, AMP, 5-7 Dec (SH, JT): CATTLE EGRET (FR): 2, AMP, 7 Dec (KR, et al.): WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (FR): 1, Bald Hill (Ft. Bragg), 16 Dec (DT); 1, Willow Creek CBC, 21 Dec:  SNOW GOOSE (FR): 1, AMP/AOP, 5-7 Dec (mo); 2-3 Arcata CBC, 14 Dec;  36 (!) Eel River Delta, 18 Dec (BS); 2, AB, 19 Dec (KR); 3, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 8 reports of 1-3 from McKinleyville, AB, North Bay, Hookton Road, HBNWR, 7 Dec-12 Jan (mo): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FR): 10  reports of 1-3 at Alexandre Dairy (1 female, 15 Dec) (RH, et al),  and BSLP (throughout, up to 2 males and 1 female), (mo); 1 flushed from a cornfield (!) north of Willow Creek, 21 Dec (JT): EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (FR): 4 reports of single males at BSLP, AMP, AOP, Hookton Road, 7 Dec-1 Jan (mo) plus 1 intergrade with a muted vertical bar at AMP, 11 Dec (SP): HARLEQUIN (FR): up to 15, Glass Beach, 21 Nov-21 Dec (DT); 2 pair, Wedding Rock, 2 Dec (KI); 1 female, Wedding Rock, 6 Dec (EE, et al.); 1 imm. male, King Salmon, 19 Dec (MW: LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 2, Big Lagoon, 22 Dec (T & SL); 1, Cock Robin Island, 29 Dec (JP, DF, et al): BLACK SCOTER (FR): 2, vic. Ft. Bragg, 11 Jan (CO):  BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (FR): 1-2 (male, pair), lower Mad River, 1-14 Dec (mo): WHITE-TAILED KITE (IL, IN): 1, Willow Creek CBC, 21 Dec; 43 at roost, Cock Robin Island, 29 Dec (DF, JP, et al.): BALD EAGLE (MS, IN): 11 adults, 7 immatures, Willow Creek CBC, 21 Dec; 1 adult calling, Davison Road x Highway 101, 4 Jan (FA); ; 1, Elk River Valley, 29 Dec (JHe, et al.); 1 ad, Cannibal Isl. Road, 29 Dec (DF, JP, et al.);1 ad, Hookton Road, 12 Jan (JP, DF): GOSHAWK (FR): 1, Willow Creek CBC, 21 Dec:  FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FR): 4 reports of 1-3 from Alexandre Dairy, AB, Centerville CBC, vic Ft. Bragg, 21 Nov-21 Dec (mo) plus a rare dark-morph bird near Hoopa, 21 Dec (DF, et al.): ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (FR): 5 reports of 1-6 from AB, Crab Park, Centerville CBC, 26 Nov-29 Dec (mo): GOLDEN EAGLE (MS): 1, near Salyer, 21 Dec (KR, et al.); 1, near Centerville Beach, 29 Dec (KR, et al): PRAIRIE FALCON (FR): 1, Bald Hill, Ft. Bragg, 4 Dec (DT); 1, AMP, 30 Dec (PL): RUFFED GROUSE (FR, IL): 1, Jacoby Creek Canyon, 7 Dec (RS):    SANDHILL CRANE (FR): 1, South Spit flyby, 8 Dec (CB): SNOWY PLOVER (MS): 59, Centerville Beach, 29 Dec (KR, et al.): AVOCET (IN): 161, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec; 4-35, feeding in flooded pastures, AB, 31 Dec-2 Jan (KR, DF); 100, Hookton Road Unit, HBNWR, 12 Jan (JP, DF): RUFF (ID, FR): 1, North Spit, 14 Dec (KR, et al.); 1 male, AB, 2 Jan (DF); 1, King Salmon, 3 Jan (MW): HEERMANN’S GULL (ID): x, Arcata CBC, 14 Dec:  1-2, MKSP, 16-17 Dec (DT); GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): 1 second winter , Wedding Rock, 11 Dec (KI); 1, first winter, Smith River, 15 Dec (DF,JP,JT,PL.): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 7, Laguna Pt, 3 Dec (DT): 20, Wedding Rock, 2 Dec (KI): XANTUS’S MURRELET (ID, IL): 2, just off Wedding Rock, (1 seen to be caught by a Peregrine, remains salvaged), 30 Nov (KI): ANCIENT MURRELET (EM): 2, Wedding Rock, 2 Dec (KI); “lots,” just offshore along Humboldt coast, 21 Nov-7 Dec, BO’D fide EE); 1, Wedding Rock, 26 Dec (DF): RHINOCEROS AUKLET (ID): 30 seen in 1.5 hour seawatch from Laguna Point, 24 Nov (DT); 1, Wedding Rock, 30 Nov (KI): BURROWING OWL (FR): 1, HBNWR, 25 Nov (SL, fide EN); 1, Centerville Beach, 29 Dec (KR, et al.); 1, Mail Ridge, 31 Dec (GL): LONG-EARED OWL (FR): 1, MRWA, 30 Nov-3 Jan (KS, GB, et al.): COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD (GW): 1 male, Fortuna, still present from Nov through 29 Dec (B & JN, et al.); 1 male, present at Trinidad from Nov throughout Dec to 8 Jan (LK): YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (FR): 1 imm male, Freshwater, 1-7 Dec (SP, ST); 1 ad. male, Ft. Bragg. 9 Dec (DT); 1 female, Eureka, 14 Dec (GO’B); 1 female, Ferndale, 29 Dec (G&LL): SAY’S PHOEBE (FR): 1, McKinleyville Oxidation Pond, 25 Dec (KR, JR); 1, Centerville Beach, 29 Dec (KR, et al.): BARN SWALLOW (ID): 1, AOP, 27 Nov (SMcA): WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (IL): 1, High Divide, 15 Dec (GL): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR): 1, Azalea Park, 14 Dec (GL): TENNESSEE WARBLER (FR, ID): 1, Arcata, 7 Jan (EE): YELLOW WARBLER (ID): 1, AMP, 11-14 Dec (JT); 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 29 Dec (RLeV, et al.); 1, Arcata, 12 Jan (EE): WORM-EATING WARBLER (GW, FR, ID): 1, Aldergrove Pond, 27 Nov (MV): COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (ID): 2, Salt River, 29 Dec (TMcK):  WILSON’S WARBLER (ID): 1, Arcata CBC, 14 Dec: (CO) WESTERN TANAGER (ID): 1, Ferndale, 29 Dec (G&LL).

TREE SPARROW (FR): 1, AMP, 7 Dec-3 Jan (KR, CO): CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (ID, FR): 1, AMP, 26-30 Nov (JT): “EASTERN” FOX SPARROW (FR): 1, remaining at Sunnybrae throughout (SH, et al.); 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 29 Dec (RLeV): SWAMP SPARROW (FR): 4 reports of 1-8 (!) from AMP, Bracut Marsh, Arcata CBC, Centerville CBC, 7 Dec-31 Dec (KR, DF et al.):  LAPLAND LONGSPUR (FR): 7, MRCP, 28 Nov (KS, et al.); 1-4, Crab Park, 29 Nov-4 Dec (KS, KR, et al.); 1, Ferndale, 29 Dec (GL); 1, Eureka, 23 Dec (GL): SNOW BUNTING (FR): 1, MRWA, 28 Nov-4 Dec (KS, et al., JT, et al.): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR, ID): 1 winter  male (good description). Fortuna, 4 Dec (MP): BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (ID): 1 female, Trinidad, 2 Jan (GK): BLUE GROSBEAK (FR):  1, Trinidad, 21 Dec (GK, MW): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1, Alexandre Dairy, 15 Dec (RH, et al.); YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1, Alexandre Dairy, 15 Dec (RH, et al.): ORCHARD ORIOLE (FR, ID):  1 McKinleyville, 22 Dec (JH).
 

MORE MUNDANE ITEMS OF INTEREST: PACIFIC LOON (IB, EM): singles recorded in flooded pastures, tipping up with ducks (!), AB, 29-31 Dec (FA, MeH); “1000's” migrating past Wedding Rock, 6 Dec (EE, et al.):   SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER SP (EM): 1, Wedding Rock, 26 Dec (DF); 4, seawatch, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: NORTHERN FULMAR (EM): 1 to 50 + seen from shore along the northern Mendocino coast (DT) and at Wedding Rock, mid-Nov-26 Dec (KI, DF, EE, et al): BROWN PELICAN (ID): 2-15, Big Lagoon, Arcata & Centerville CBC, Klopp Lake, 14 Dec-7 Jan (mo): ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE (EM): 80-89, AB, mo. Jacoby Creek, 31 Dec (KR, DF); 700, AB, 12 Jan (PS): CACKLING CANADA GOOSE (FR): 1, Bald Hill, Ft. Bragg, 16 Dec (DT); 3, AB, 31 Dec (KR); 10, AB, 12 Jan (PS):  TUNDRA SWAN (IN): 6 (first report, late), HBNWR. 7 Dec (SMcA); 131 (low count), Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: MUTE SWAN (ES): 1, Blue Lake OP, 15 Dec (MH); 1, Centerville Beach, 29 Dec (KR, et al.): CANVASBACK (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 30 Dec (PL); 2, Fields Landing, 2 Jan (MW): REDHEAD (IN): 244, Fields Landing, 3 Jan (MW): HOODED MERGANSER (MS): 2, Lower Mad River, 29 Nov (MeH); 2, Blue Lake, 10 Dec (CL); 23, Willow Creek CBC, 21 Dec; 12, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: OSPREY (ID): 1, Big Lagoon, 22 Dec (T&SL); 1, Arcata CBC, 14 Dec: KESTREL (IB): 1 seen going to roost at Hammond Bridge, 6 Dec (EE, et al.):   PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 9 reports of 1-12 from Willow Creek CBC, AB, Humboldt Bay, Crab Park, AOP, AMP, Wedding Rock, Salt River, Centerville CBC, 3-29 Dec (mo): MERLIN (MS): 5 reports of 1-13 from Willow Creek, Arcata, Centerville CBCs, AMP, Bayshore Mall, 4-29 Dec (mo): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (FR): 1-3, AB, 31 Dec-2 Jan (KR, DF); 5, Centerville CBC: RED KNOT (FR): x, Arcata CBC: ROCK SANDPIPER (FR): 4, Laguna Pt., 3 Dec (DT); 1, North Jetty, 29 Nov-14 Dec (KS, et al.): RED PHALAROPE (IN): storms forced numbers on shore throughout the region, 10-31 Dec when 1-100+ were seen (mo): PARASITIC JAEGER (ID): 1, Wedding Rock, 6 Dec (EE, et al.): POMARINE JAEGER (ID): 2, Wedding Rock, 11 Dec (KI); 1, North Spit, 14 Dec (KR, et al.): HERRING GULL (EM): 20, Wedding Rock, 6 Dec (EE, et al.); x, AMP, 7 Dec (KR, et al.); 25 (mostly adults), Wedding Rock, 26 Dec (DF): THAYER’S GULL (FR):   6 reports of 1-3 from Wedding Rock, lower Mad River, AB, AMP, Fields Landing, Centerville CBC, 6 Dec-2 Jan (mo): BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (IN): 5, Laguna Pt, 25 Nov (DT); x, Ft. Bragg 11 Jan (C); 50, Wedding Rock, 6, 26 Dec (EE, et al., DF): CASPIAN TERN (ID): 1-2, Arcata Bay, Elk River Wildlife Area, 14 Dec-7 Jan (TL, PL, et al.); 1 ad, 1 juv, Hookton Road, 12 Jan (JP, DF): BAND-TAILED PIGEON (ID): 17, Willow Creek CBC, 21 Dec; 5, Sunnybrae, 3-7 Jan (SH): PILEATED WOODPECKER (IL): 1, McKinleyville, 8 Dec (KR): WESTERN  BLUEBIRD (EL): 12, Harris, 12 Jan (CO):  AMERICAN PIPIT (IL): 2, vic Hoopa, 21 Dec (DF): NASHVILLE WARBLER (ID):   1, Trinidad, 31 Dec (MeH); 5, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: PALM WARBLER (EM): 3 (only) reports of 1-10 from AMP, Eureka, Centerville CBC, 26 Nov-29 Dec (mo): WESTERN MEADOWLARK (IN): 25-75, Mail Ridge, 11 Nov-7 Dec (JG): RED CROSSBILL: 2, Trinidad, 31 Dec (MeH); 4, Eureka, 31 Dec (T&SL):  EVENING GROSBEAK (FR): 6, Catfish Lake, 18 Dec (MW).