Field Notes

by Stan Harris

 November 28, 2005 - January 16, 2006

A period generally marked by rain, high winds, and tough birding conditions.  The period included Christmas Bird Counts as follows: Arcata (ACBC), 17 Dec, good weather, 177 species; Del Norte (DNCBC), 18 Dec, heavy wind and rain, 146  species:  Willow Creek (WCCBC), 24 Dec, some fog, generally good weather, 90 species; Centerville (CVCBC), 1 Jan, combination of monthly high tides, heavy rains the week before, and up to 100 m.p.h. winds the day before caused severe and widespread flooding; count day had 20-40 m.p.h. winds and rain in the a.m., clearing by about 1500 hours, 169 species; Etna (ECBC), 2 Jan, 86 species.  Many thanks to all who participated in the CBCs and who submitted reports; I regret that I do not have room to include them all. 

Abbreviations used:  AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; DL = Dry Lagoon; FB = Ferndale Bottoms; FWL = Freshwater Lagoon; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; KS = King Salmon; LC = Lake Cleone; LMR = lower Mad River, MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MRSWA = Mad River Slough Wildlife Area; NB = North Humboldt Bay; NJ = North Jetty; SB = South Humboldt Bay; SJ = South Jetty. 

White-fronted Goose:  11 reports of 1-35, Ft.  Bragg to AB, 4 Dec-14 Jan (mo).  Lesser Snow Goose (White form):   14 reports of 1-5, Ft Bragg to AB, WCCBC, 9 Dec-8 Jan (mo).  Lesser Snow Goose (Blue form):  1, V  St.  Loop, 4-7 Dec (RH, RF, JK, MI); 1, HBNWR, 7 Dec (DB, fide EN).  Ross’s Goose: 10 reports of 1-6, Ft Bragg to AB, 2 Dec-15 Jan (mo).  Black Brant:  Up to 2,610, SB, (CVCBC, et al).  Aleutian Cackling Goose:  2-70, AB; up to 3,000, HBNWR, 4 Dec-11 Jan (mo).  “Cackling” Cackling Goose:  1, LC, 22 Nov-10 Jan (DT); 1-2, AB, 7 Dec-4 Jan (mo); 81, CVCBC.   Tundra Swan:  8, ACBC; Only 200, CVCBC.  Wood Duck:  6, near Miranda, 14 Dec (KK); 31, Clam Beach Ponds, 3 Jan (KR).  Eurasian Wigeon: 6 reports of single males at FB, HBNWR, South Spit, Eureka Sewage Ponds, AMP, 30 Nov-15 Jan (mo).  Blue-winged Teal:  1-2, AMP, 9-23 Dec (SH, EE, JT), includes a female apparently paired to a male Cinnamon Teal; 1 male, HBNWR, 15 Jan (SC).  Northern Shoveler:  20, Lewiston Lake, 19 Dec (DK).  Eurasian Green-winged Teal:  8 reports of single males, FB, HBNWR, AMP, AOP, 3 Dec-11 Jan (mo).  Intergrade Eurasian x American Green-winged Teal:  1, AOP, BSLP, 8-13 Dec (SH).  Canvasback:  1, Tyee City, 11 Dec (SC); 22-43, Stone Lagoon, 22 Dec-11 Jan (KS, KR, AL, BS); 3 Klopp Lake, 13 Jan (EE).  Redhead:  288, CVCBC; 1, Tyee City, 11-17 Dec (SC, et al).  Harlequin:  5-16, Ward Ave,  Glass Beach, 27 Nov-5 Dec (DT); 1-4, KS, NJ, 7 Dec-1 Jan (mo); 2, mouth of Wilson Creek, 5 Dec (RR).  White-winged Scoter:  6 flyby, Laguna Point, 5 Dec (DT).  Black Scoter:  1-2, KS, 23 Dec-1 Jan (SC, MW, SH, et al); “several”, Pt.  St.  George, 11 Dec (RH); 9, Ward Ave, 27 Nov (DT).  Long-tailed Duck:  5 reports of singles from Ten Mile River, NJ, CVCBC, Klopp Lake, 15 Dec-10 Jan (KR, SC, RH, DT, et al).  Hooded Merganser:  11 reports of 1-13, from ECBC, Lewiston Lake, near Bayside, BRR, HBNWR, AMP, KS, AB, WCCBC; 3 Dec-14 Jan (mo). 

Wild Turkey:  6, ECBC.  Ruffed Grouse:  1, WCCBC.  Red-throated Loon:  3-15, KS, 12 Dec-1 Jan (MW, et al).  Pacific Loon:  2, CVCBC. Red-necked Grebe:  12 reports of 1-16 from Ward Ave, KS, Eureka Waterfront, Stone Lagoon, 27 Nov-11 Jan (MW, BS, DT, et al.).  Clark’s Grebe:  1, KS, 1-21 Dec (MW); 16, CVCBC.  Northern Fulmar:  1-2, Ward Ave, Laguna Point, 27 Nov, 3 Dec (DT); 5  (ACBC).  Short-tailed Shearwater:  3, off Centerville Beach, 6 Dec (MW, et al); 2, ACBC.  Leach’s Storm-Petrel:  1 off Pt.  Delgada, 6 Jan (RS).  Brown Pelican:  1 (ACBC).  Double-crested Cormorant:  14, Lewiston Fish Hatchery, 19 Dec (DK).  American Bittern:  1-2, AOP, BSLP, MRSWA, HBNWR, 3 Dec-13 Jan (mo).  Snowy Egret:  27 (1 flock); AB, 15 Dec (KR).  Cattle Egret:  1-3, AB, BSLP, 8 Dec-14 Jan (KR, RF, SH, et al).  Black-crowned Night-Heron:  1, WCCBC (new record).  Osprey:  10 reports of 1-2, MKSP, NJ, Big Lagoon, LMR, NB, FWL, DL, CVCBC, 22 Nov-11 Jan (mo). 

Bald Eagle:  2 ad, 3 juv, Lewiston Fish Hatchery, 19 Dec (DK); 20, ECBC; 7, WCCBC; 8, CVCBC; 11 reports of 1-2, HBNWR, H. Bay, Eureka, Hatchery Road/Korbel, Denny (mo).  Harlan’s Hawk:  1, Bayside Cutoff x Hwy 101, 3 Dec-9 Jan (EC, KB, et al).  Ferruginous Hawk: 12, ECBC; 7 reports of 1-2 from AB, CVCBC, BRR, Lake Earl, 4 Dec-6 Jan (mo).  Rough-legged Hawk: 10, ECBC; 9 reports of 1-4 from BRR, Bayside Cutoff, AB, 3 Dec-9 Jan (mo).  Golden Eagle:  6, ECBC; 2, Kneeland Tower, 17 Dec (anon); 2, Fountain Ranch, 24 Dec (AL, SH).  Merlin:  15 reports of 1-2 from AB, AMP, HBNWR, MRSWA, AOP, Crab Park, 30 Nov-11 Jan (mo); 9 CVCBC.  Peregrine:  18 reports of 1-2 from ECBC, AMP, AB, MRSWA, NJ, Big Lagoon, KS, mouth Elk River, SB, 4 Dec-9 Jan (mo); 16, CVCBC.  Prairie Falcon: 1, ECBC, 1, MRSWA, AMP, 10 Dec-7 Jan (RF, JK, SC, JAn); 1 FB, 29 Dec (SMcA).  Snowy Plover:  4, mouth, Lake Talawa, 18 Dec (JG); 5, Samoa Beach, 17 Dec (BS); 45, CVCBC.  American Avocet:  1, Ten Mile Beach, 22 Nov (DT); 166, CVCBC.  Lesser Yellowlegs:  2, HBNWR, 1 Jan (SH, RR, DR).  Wandering Tattler:  1, Fields Landing, 30 Dec (SH).  Whimbrel:  2, Eureka Waterfront, 31 Dec (AL).  Rock Sandpiper:  1-2, NJ, SJ, 7 Dec-1 Jan (MI, SC, MW, SMcA); 1-6, Laguna Point, 3 Dec-10 Jan (DT).  Red Knot:  10 reports of 1-3 from AMP, KS, CVCBC, 10 Dec-11 Jan (mo).  Wilson’s Snipe:  20 in open, Pudding Creek estuary, 5 Dec (DT).  Red Phalarope:  100s to 1,000s blown onshore by winter storms, appeared widespread in coastal lowlands from Ft. Bragg  to Smith River, 20 Dec-14 Jan (mo).  Pomarine Jaeger:  Singles at NJ, ACBC, FWL, 15 Dec-11 Jan (KR, BS).  Thayer’s Gull:  8 reports of 1-4 from AB, NJ, Hum Bay, Crescent City, mouth Redwood Creek, vic, Fernbridge, CVCBC, 4 Dec-14 Jan (mo).  Unconfirmed report of Kumliens’ Gull:   mouth of Redwood Creek, 28 Dec (JA, description sounds plausible).  Glaucous Gull: 11 reports of singles from Elk River Spit, KS, Eureka, AB, AMP, Fernbridge, mouth of Redwood Creek, 30 Nov-14 Jan (mo).  Caspian Tern: 1, KS, 23 Dec (MW, SH); 14, CVCBC.  Forster’s Tern:  2-35, AMP/AOP, 30 Nov-14 Jan (SH, KR, AL, JH, SC, ACBC); 6, mouth Jacoby Creek (ACBC); 1, Eureka (ACBC); 1, North Spit (ACBC); 8, mouth Elk River (ACBC); 1, Field’s Landing, 1 Jan (SH, RR, DR).   Ancient Murrelet:  1-2, NJ, 7-17 Dec (BS, MI); 3, Pt.  St.  George, 11 Dec (RH).  Cassin’s Auklet:  6, off Laguna Point, 14 Dec (DT).  Band-tailed Pigeon: 18, ECBC; 3, Sunny Brae, 6-9 Jan (SH).  Barn Owl:  Downy chicks in nest box, HBNWR, 15 Dec-1 Jan (SL, EN, et al.).  Burrowing Owl:  1-2, South Spit, 10 Dec-5 Jan (LK, CMcA, RLeV, MW, SMcA, KR, OH); 1, HBNWR, 12-13 Dec (SL), 2, Bald Hill (Ft.  Bragg), 20 Dec-10 Jan (DT). Chuck-wills-widow:  1 injured bird recovered, Crescent City 2 Dec (CB, fide GFr, photos, Humboldt Wildlife Care Center; only the second ever northcoast record).

Costa’s Hummingbird:  1 female, McKinleyville, 17 Dec (RLeV, et al.).  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker:  1, north Arcata, 14 Dec (KS); 1, Eureka, 17 Dec (TL, et al.).  Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker:  1, AB, 17 Dec (JD, TCC, HD).  Say’s Phoebe:  1, west side of Elk Ridge (near Miranda), 26 Nov (KK); 1, Ocean House, 8 Jan (KR); 1, Centerville Road and vic, 6 Dec-1 Jan (MM, MW, DD, JC); 1, Copenhagen Road, 1 Jan (SMcA); 1, Fortuna, 1 Jan (AD, AL); 1, Eureka, 16 Dec (RF); 1, MRSWA, 10 Dec (RF, JK); 1, Prairie Creek State Park, 11 Jan (BS).  Dusky-capped Flycatcher (hold over):  1, north Arcata, 30 Nov-11 Dec (GB, RF, JC, SC).   Tropical Kingbird:  1, AB, 4 Dec (SC).  Loggerhead Shrike:  2, ECBC.  Cassin’s Vireo:  1, FB, 8 Jan (RF, MW).   Western Scrub Jay:  2, mouth of Guthrie Creek, 13 Dec (DD).  Black-billed Magpie:  109, ECBC.  Horned Lark: 1, AB, 15 Dec (KR); 1-2, Big Lagoon beach, 15-22 Dec (RF, JK, TL).  Tree Swallow:  3, ACBC; 1-2, HBNWR, 20 Dec, 8 Jan (AL, DF); 3, Eureka, 17 Dec (LT); 1, AMP, 10 Jan (EE); 45 (!); Big Lagoon, 22 Dec (KS).  Violet-green Swallow:  1, HBNWR, 11 Dec (anon); 1, AMP, 9 Jan (SC, SH, AL).  Barn Swallow:  3, NJ, 15 Dec (KR); 5, Big Lagoon, 22 Dec (KS); 1-2, vic MKSP, 28 Dec-10 Jan (DT); 1-85, AMP and vic, 31 Dec-14 Jan (mo); 12-42, AB, 7-13 Jan (SC, RH); 3, FB, 8 Jan (RF, MW); 2, mouth Redwood Creek, 11 Jan (BS).  Oak Titmouse:  79, ECBC.  Pygmy Nuthatch:  9, ECBC.  Western Bluebird:  352, ECBC; 2-8 seen on 14 of 31 days in Dec, Kneeland (BB, DVZ); 26 (1 flock), Elk Ridge near Miranda, 26 Nov (KK); 35-40 feeding on mistletoe berries, Elk Ridge, 15 Dec (KK); 10, Douglas City, 19 Dec (DK); 10 flyby, AOP, 11 Jan (EE).  Mountain Bluebird:  1, Carruthers Cove, north end of Gold Bluff Beach on rocks, good description, 14 Dec (KM).  Northern Mockingbird:  1, Ferndale, 6 Dec (MW); 1, north Arcata, 16 Dec (KS); 1, Freshwater Corners, 2 Jan (RH).  American Pipit:  2 large flocks, BRR, 5 Jan (SMcA).  Cedar Waxwing:  75-100, east side of Elk Ridge, feeding on mistletoe berries, 15 Dec (KK); 10, Douglas City, 19 Dec (DK). 

Orange-crowned Warbler:  2, McKinleyville, 14 Dec (LD); 1, Eureka, 29 Dec (HB); 3 (only), CVCBC; 1 (“eastern type”), Ft.  Bragg, 16 Dec (DT).  Nashville Warbler:  1, Eureka, 16 Dec (RF); 2, AMP, 17 Dec (EE); 1, Arcata, 19 Dec (EE); 1, Willow Creek, 24 Dec (GL); 2, Eureka, 29 Dec (HB, LB-O); 3, CVCBC; 1, HBNWR, 15 Jan (SC).  Yellow Warbler:  1, north Arcata, 2 Dec (RF, JC); 1, AMP, 17 Dec, 8 Jan (EE, SC).  Tennessee Warbler:  1, Ferndale, 1 Jan (GL).  Palm Warbler:  6-7 (1 flock), AMP, 8-9 Dec (EE); 2, AMP, 2 Jan (KR, OH); 1, Arcata, 19 Dec (EE); 3, Ferndale, 1 Jan (GL); 1, FB, 1 Jan (SMcA).  Black-and-white Warbler: 1, BSLP, 3 Dec (SH); 2, ACBC; 1, BSLP, 14 Jan (EE).  Northern Waterthrush:  1, Arcata Community Center, 6 Dec (TMcK); 1, Salt River, 1 Jan (SMcA); 1, BSLP, 17 Dec-12 Jan (RF).  Common Yellowthroat:  1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 15 Dec (RH); 2, ACBC.  Yellow-breasted Chat:  1, McKinleyville, 14 Dec (LD).  California Towhee:  1-3, Douglas City, 1-22 Dec (DK); 4 ECBC.  Clay-colored Sparrow:  1, Ferndale, 1 Jan (GL).  Lark Sparrow:  1, McKinleyville feeder, 9-11 Dec (KR); 1, McKinleyville (different location than above), 17 Dec (GFr). Rusty Fox Sparrow:  1, Bayside, 15-17 Dec (DF, CD).  Swamp Sparrow:  1, HBNWR, 4 Dec (DF, et al); 8, ACBC; 1, mouth of Willow Creek, 24 Dec (GL, first for WCCBC); 1-2, AMP, 2-13 Jan (KR, OH, EE); 1, mouth, Janes Creek, 8 Jan (EE); 1, mouth, Redwood Creek, 11 Jan (BS).  Slate-colored Junco:  1, BRR, 5 Jan (SMcA).  Lapland Longspur:  2-9, AB, 10 Dec, 9 Jan (RF, JK, SC); 2, Elk River Wildlife Area, 26 Dec (JK, AS).  Snow Bunting:  3, Big Lagoon Spit, 12-17 Dec (TL, RS, BY, RF, JK, JA).  Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1, Hookton Road, 1 Jan (RH, et al.).  Tricolored Blackbird:  1 pair, Douglas City, 21-22 Dec (M & DK); 1, Alexandre Dairy, 18 Dec (KS); 50, ECBC.  Western Meadowlark:   75+, west side of Elk Ridge near Miranda, 27 Nov (KK).  Yellow-headed Blackbird:  1, Moxon Road, 15 Dec (KR).  Baltimore Oriole:  1 ad male (with another, unidentified “northern” type oriole, Eureka, 4 Dec (TL).   Bullock’s Oriole:  1 (photos), Fortuna, 4 Dec-1 Jan (DM, et al.).  Red Crossbill:  4, Hammond Trail, 24 Dec (MM); 8-12, Sunny Brae, 7-9 Jan (SH); 25, Prairie Creek State Park HQ, 11 Jan (BS).