Field Notes

by Stan Harris

1 December 2003 - 10 January 2004

“Normal” winter weather, some rain, but a few nice days.  The annual Christmas Count Madness is over, Arcata CBC (20 Dec) recorded a near record 180 species on a nice day.  Del Norte CBC (14 Dec) had 153 species on an OK day, Willow Creek CBC (27 Dec) recorded a respectable 79 on a marginal day with fog, snow flurries, mist, and clear periods, Centerville CBC (4 Jan) recorded 178 on a very nice day. 

Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; ACBC = Arcata CBC; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CvCBC = Centerville CBC; DNCBC = Del Norte CBC; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FR = Few Records; ID = Interesting Date; IIT = Interesting, if true; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MRWA = Mad River Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed; ND = No Description or Details; SRB = Smith River Bottoms; WCCBC = Willow Creek CBC.

ARCTIC LOON (IIT, ND, NC):   1, Shelter Cove, 21 Dec (RS): RED-NECKED GREBE (MS): 1 King Salmon, 10 Dec (JS, et al.); 3, CvCBC; 8, MKSP, 21 Nov (DT): NORTHERN FULMAR (IN): seen all along the coast in nearshore waters from northern Mendocino County, “few to many; 19 Nov-20 Dec” (DT); to North Jetty, “3, 8 Dec” (SC), 1, 30 Dec (PR) and Wedding Rock, “few,” 27 Dec (MW, EMcB); ACBC 205, CvCBC , 177: PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (ID): x, ACBC: SOOTY SHEARWATER (ID):  x, ACBC:  DARK SHEARWATER SP: 6, CvCBC: BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER (FR, NC, ND):   1-7, Shelter Cove, 21-22 Dec (RS): AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): singles reported from MRWA, 2 Dec (RB, JT); ACBC; AMP, 22 Dec (SH); CvCBC: CATTLE EGRET (FR): only 1 bird known to be frequenting the area, reported 5 times 6-30 Dec from AB, AMP (mo): GREEN HERON (FR): 1, AOP, 20 Dec (PL, et el.): FRIGATEBIRD sp (ND, NC, IIT, ID): 1 reported, third hand, in Eureka Channel,  “hovering over sail boat; all 4 adults on board agreed it was a Frigatebird.”  Reported to be large with a long forked tail and a white head, 21 Dec (MH, et al., fide TL); if true, this would be the latest seasonal  record by 35 days.

Winter Geese

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (FR): 5 reports of 1-6 from Lake Cleone, CvCBC, WCCBC, ACBC, AB, 19 Nov-5 Jan (mo): LESSER SNOW GOOSE (FR): 6 reports of 1-2 from AB, 3 Dec-1 Jan (mo): ROSS’S GOOSE (FR): 3 reports of 2-3 from Eel River Bottoms or HBNWR, 10 Dec-4 Jan (mo): ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE (EM): 1, Ft. Bragg, 5-7 Dec (DT); 76, AB, 3 Dec (PS) had declined to 12 by 20 Dec (RR, JL, SH); birds seen on ERB, 10-11 Dec had increased to 2000+ by 4 Jan (EN, RH, et al.; 3233 tallied on CvCBC probably included some duplicate counts between field parties): CACKLING CANADA GOOSE (FR): 4, Bald Hill near Ft. Bragg, 26 Nov (DT):  TUNDRA SWAN (EM): 13 early birds along Centerville Road , 2 Dec (CW) had increased to a total of 530 for the entire CvCBC circle: EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 6 records of 1-7 from Alexandre Dairy, AMP, AB, CvCBC, 1 Dec-4 Jan (mo): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FR): 1 male or 1 pair, BSLP, 3 Dec-6 Jan (SH, JT, RG); 1 male, Standard Veneer Pond, 14 Dec (PS, FA, et al.): EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (FR): 9 reports of 1-2 males from BSLP or Allen Marsh, 20 Dec-10 Jan (mo); 1, CvCBC; 1, Alexandre Dairy, 7 Jan (AB):   TUFTED DUCK (FR): 1 male, AMP, seen almost daily, 6 Dec-6 Jan (mo): BLACK SCOTER (MS): 55, Pt. St. George, 27 Dec (MW, EMcB): LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 1, King Salmon, 4 Jan (BD): BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (FR): 1 female, King Salmon, 4-9 Jan (SH, SMcA); 1 female, Salt River, 4 Jan (GL, et al.): HOODED MERGANSER (FR): 7 reports of 1-12 from Lagoon Creek Pond, Gambi Pond, Fountain Ranch, Little River Estuary, Trinity River, ACBC, CvCBC, 3 Dec-4 Jan (mo): OSPREY (ID): 1, AMP, 7 Dec (JT); 1, Freshwater Lagoon, 7 Jan (KS): BALD EAGLE (MS): 13 reports of 1-5 from Prairie Creek State Park, Freshwater Lagoon, Trinity River at Willow Creek and Salyer, AB, AMP, Jacoby Creek mouth, ERB, Benbow 7 Dec-4 Jan (mo): FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FR): 1 ad, AB, 10-20 Dec (BC, BD, RF, SH, JL, RR); 3, CvCBC: ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (IN): 4 reports (only) of 1-3 from ERB, Arcata-Eureka Bottoms, 15 Dec-4 Jan (DF, JP, RF, MW, EMcB, et al.): MERLIN (MS): 10 reports of singles from Manila, AMP, AB, ERB, Fortuna, 30 Nov-10 Jan (mo), plus 15 reported on CvCBC: PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 13 reports of 1-2 from Gold Bluff Beach, MRWA, AMP, Benbow, 3 Dec-10 Jan (mo) plus 18 reported on CvCBC: PRAIRIE FALCON (FR): 1, MRWA, 3-8 Dec (JT, KR, RLV, SC); 1, Airport Road, Fortuna, 12 Dec (anon): RUFFED GROUSE (FR): 1, 1 mile east of Trinidad, 25 Dec (SN): MOUNTAIN QUAIL (IL): “small group,” Jed Smith State Park, 22 Dec (MR).

Christmas Rail

VIRGINIA RAIL (IL): we expect numerous wintering birds, but one in a load of Christmas Trees, Fortuna, 9 Dec (RC) is a bit much!  COMMON MOORHEN (FR): 1 juv, Allen Marsh 10 Dec-10 Jan (mo): SANDHILL CRANE (FR; NC): 1 flyby, Essex Pond, 7 Jan (BA): PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER (FR): 14-19, Cannibal Road, 10-11 Dec (JS, RF, MW, KR, et al.); 1, AB, 14 Dec (PL); 18, Pt. Kenyon Road, 4 Jan (RLV, et al.): SNOWY PLOVER (MS): 3 banded birds seen, Lake Tolawa Beach (DNCBC); 32, Centerville Beach, (CVCBC): AMERICAN AVOCET (IL, IN): 2, Mad River Slough at Lanphere Bridge, 20 Dec (SH, JL, RR); 218 ! CvCBC:   LESSER YELLOWLEGS (ID): 5 reports of  2-10 from AB, ERB, 11 Dec-4 Jan (mo): RUDDY TURNSTONE (FR): 3, DNCBC; 2, Fields Landing, 10 Dec-4 Jan (JS, et al, RR): RED KNOT (FR): only 3 reports of 1-15, AMP, AB, 7-20 Dec (JT, RF, PL): ROCK SANDPIPER (EL): 1-2, North Jetty, 6-20 Dec (ST, SC, ACBC); 3, Laguna Point, 19Nov-20 Dec (DT); x, Shelter Cove, 21 Dec (RS): RED PHALAROPE (EM): 1-2, ACBC, CvCBC: PARASITIC JAEGER (ID): 1, North Jetty, 8 Dec (SC): HEERMANN’S GULL (ID): 4 (2 with all white heads), Laguna Point, 20 Dec (DT): GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): 1, Lake Tolawa; 1, mouth, Smith River (both DNCBC): CASPIAN TERN (ID): 1, ACBC; 9, CvCBC: FORSTER’S TERN (EM): up to 32, AOP/AMP, 20 Dec-10 Jan (mo); 1, Jetty Channel, 4 Jan (MC): MARBLED MURRELET (MS):  6, Wedding Rock, 27 Dec (MW, EMcB); 2, North Jetty, 30 Dec (MW, EMcB, G & LS), 2, CvCBC,  (GF): ANCIENT MURRELET (FR): 3, CvCBC (GF): XANTUS’S MURRELET (TYPE):  2, Shelter Cove, 21-22 Dec, underwing not seen (RS): RHINOCEROS AUKLET (IL): x, ACBC (GF): WHITE-WINGED DOVE (FR): 1, Ft. Bragg, early Nov, early Dec-20 Dec (HB, DT, CV, GC): BURROWING OWL (FR): 1, Laguna Point, 25 Nov (DT); 1, South Spit, Humboldt Bay, 17-18 Dec (MK, RF), this bird apparently flooded out by Dec HIGH tides.

Lots of Owls

SHORT-EARED OWL (MS): an outstanding concentration of 24 birds, MRWA, 20 Dec (JT) emphasizes the importance of the tall perennial grass cover at this location for raptors, a vital habitat, to say the least:  WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (ID): 1, Benbow, 15 Dec (JS): COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD (FR):  1 male at feeder, Fortuna, seen continuously from mid Sep to at least 4 Jan (BN, KB, EC, et al.); 1 female, Jacoby Creek Farms, 15-20 Dec (DF, JP): LEWIS’S WOODPECKER (FR): 4, Snow Camp Road, 16 Dec (KJ): ACORN WOODPECKER (IL): 1, lower elevations of Fickle Hill, 20 Dec (MM): YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (FR): 1, Elk River Valley, 4 Jan (T&SL): SAY’S PHOEBE (FR):  1, Orick, 10 Dec-7 Jan (KS); 1, Hydesville, 4 Jan (EN); 1, Ft. Bragg, 19 Nov (DT): NORTHERN SHRIKE (FR):  1, AB, 2-8 Dec (JK, SC): GRAY JAY (IN): 114 (a new all time record), CvCBC: HORNED LARK (IL): 1, running with Sanderlings (!), Centerville Beach, 4 Jan (KR, MM), only the second record ever for the CvCBC: VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (ID): 1, Yontucket Slough, 14 Dec (EE, et al.): BARN SWALLOW (ID):  8 seen by 4 parties, ACBC; 1, AMP, 30 Dec-7 Jan (MW, EMcB, G&LS, SH, RH, JK); 1, CvCBC; 8, Alexandre Dairy, 7 Jan (AB): WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (FR): 2, near Berry Summit Vista Point, 27 Dec (PL, BC):  AMERICAN DIPPER (FR): 1, Jacoby Creek, 20 Dec (JP):  BLUE-GRAY GNATCATHER (FR):  1, ERB, 11 Dec (RF, MW, KR): NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (MS):  1, Lake Earl, 1-8 Dec (AB); 1, Arcata, 13-15 Dec, (JW, EE); 3, CvCBC: TENNESSEE WARBLER (FR): 1, AMP, 7 Dec (PL, JT); 1, Salt River, 4 Jan (SMcA, AT): NASHVILLE WARBLER (ID): 1, AMP, 30 Dec-6 Jan (MW, EMcB, G&LS, JK); 3, CvCBC: YELLOW WARBLER (ID): 1, AMP, 20 Dec-10 Jan (JT, DF, JP, BC): BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (ID):  1, Ferndale, 4 Jan (GL, LL): HERMIT WARBLER (ID): 1, Eureka, ACBC:   PALM WARBLER (EM):  11 reports of 1-10 from SRB, AMP, ERB, Fortuna, Shelter Cove, 6 Dec-4 Jan (mo): BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (FR): 1, BSLP, 8-18 Dec (SH, EE); 4, ACBC (3 parties):   AMERICAN REDSTART (ID): 1 female, Arcata Cemetery, 1-5 Dec (SC, RF): COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (ID): 10 reports of singles from SRB, Lake Earl, AMP, Eureka, ERB, ERWA, 8 Dec-7 Jan (mo): WILSON’S WARBLER (ID):  1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 10 Jan (BA):  CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (FR): 3, CvCBC; 1, Arcata, 6-7 Jan (GB, RH, et al.).

Sparrow of the year

LECONTE’S SPARROW (FR):  1, MRWA, 2-30 Dec (RG, JT, mo), only the second, ever Humboldt County record and the first one that has been chaseable: “EASTERN” (RUSTY) FOX SPARROW (FR): 1, Arcata, 30 Nov-6 Jan (GB, et al.): SWAMP SPARROW (FR): 6 reports of 1-3, from Lake Earl, AMP, ERB, 3 Dec-4 Jan (mo): LAPLAND LONGSPUR (FR):  2-20, ERB, 10-11 Dec (JS, et al., RF, et al.); x, MRWA, 20 Dec (JT); 1, Whaler Island, 14 Dec DNCBC: SNOW BUNTING (FR): 1, Whaler Island, 12 Dec (AB, EC):   ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR): 1, King Salmon, 1 Dec (MW):   DICKCISSEL (FR): 1, Arcata, 2-10 Jan , seen daily (PK, BK, et al.): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (FR):  2-4, AB, 2-11 Dec (KR, RF, Pl, MeH): YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1, AB, 6 Dec (KR, Pl, ST); 1, Alexandre Dairy, 30 Nov (AB): COMMON GRACKLE (FR):  1, AB, 2 Dec-3 Jan (mo); 1, SRB, 30 Nov-7 Jan (AB, JG, et al.): BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (ID):  1 female, Arcata, 2-10 Jan (EE, et al.): EVENING GROSBEAK (ID): 1 heard only, Arcata Cemetery, 1 Dec (SC).