Field Notes

by Stan Harris

27 April - June 2004

The more or less “official” number for the Aleutian Canada Goose population this spring was 70-75,000, quite a comeback from the 790 known to exist in 1973/74!  Typical summer weather, dull overcast most days, in the 60’s, generally calm with some afternoon wind, no rain after mid May.  Migration is over, many birds are already through nesting, the usual summer “swarms” of Selasphorus hummingbirds seem to have shown up  at feeders a few weeks earlier than normal and early fall migrant Willets, Least Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs and Short-Billed Dowitchers all appeared by at least 24 Jun.  Abbreviations used: AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BBHR = Base of Bald Hills Road; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EL = Expected Location; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; HO = Hold Over from previous report; ID = Interesting Date; InD = Incomplete Description; IIT = Interesting, if true; IL = Interesting Location; IP= Interesting Plumage;  MRSWA = Mad River Slough Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed by a second party; ND = No Description; SHCP = Southern Humboldt Community Park near Garberville; UD = Update Report.

Pacific Loon (ID): 1, King Salmon, 22 Jun (MW):  Leach’s Storm Petrel (IL): 1, Eureka Channel, 1 May (MC, et al.): White Pelican (FR):  1, Clam Beach flyover, 19 Jun (CW, JM); 1, AMP flyover, 22 Jun (MV): American Bittern (EL): 1, BSLP, 3 May (RR); 2, near Copenhagen Road, 29 May (KI): Green Heron (EL): Nest fledged 3 young by 21-24 May, Douglas City (DK); 1-2, possibly nesting, BSLP/ No Name Pond, 19 May-26 Jun (mo): White-faced Ibis (FR): only 1 report;  3, HBNWR, 21 May (MW):  Trumpeter Swan (UD, GW, IIT, NC, ND): 2-3  reported in flight over Eel River Delta , identification based on calls, later compared from memory to a tape, 27 Feb (BS): Eurasian Green-winged Teal (FR): 1 female, HBNWR, 7-8 May, (first thought to be “the garganey” reported 4-6 May; SH, et al. photos): Garganey (FR, InD, IIT): 1 female, HBNWR, 4-6 May (BSa, TMcK, RF): Blue-winged Teal (FR): 1-2, AMP,  27 Apr-9 May (mo); 1 pair, HBNWR, 8 May, 13 Jun (JT, et al.; JP et al.); 2 males, mouth, Redwood Creek, 24 Jun (KI):   Blue-winged Teal x Cinnamon Teal Hybrid (FR; NC, ND): 1, HBNWR, 5 May (BSa, TMcK): Eurasian Wigeon (ID): 1 male, HBNWR, 8-9 May (JT, DF, JP, et al.): Gadwall (GW): nest found, MRSWA, 13 May (JT).

More Ducky sightings

Tufted Duck (ID, NC, FR): 1 ad. male with scaup, HBNWR, 8 May (JT, RG, et al.): Harlequin (FR): 2 males, King Salmon, 30 Apr, (SH, RR); 1 male, King Salmon, 18-24 Jun (MW. MM): Long-tailed Duck (FR, NC, ND): 1 male, Big Lagoon, 29 Apr (RF, JH, AT): Hooded Merganser (FR): on 13 May BY reported that he had  females on eggs in 4 nest boxes at Big Lagoon, one of these for the 5^th year in a row!: Common Merganser (IP) 1 blond (estimate only 20 percent normal plumage color) female in fir tree along Van Duzen River, 15 Jun (ST):   White-tailed Kite (IL): 1, Horse Mountain, 12 Jun, (EMcB):  Bald Eagle (MS): 8 reports of 1-2 from Big Lagoon, Del Loma, South Fork of Trinity River, Elk Head, North Bay, Garberville, 1 May-27 Jun (mo): Sharp-shinned Hawk (ID): 1, Douglas City, 18 May, (DK): Cooper’s Hawk (ID): 1, “acting territorial,” Eureka, 15 May (G&LL): Red-tailed Hawk (GW): on 6 May, young fledged from the same nest (after new repairs to winter storm damage) in Fortuna for the 32^nd consecutive year! (RC): Golden Eagle (MS): 3 reports of 1-2 (plus 1 nest) from Island Mountain Ranch, Garberville, Dos Rios, 6-14 Jun (JS, KR): Peregrine Falcon (MS): 6 reports of singles from AMP, King Salmon, HBNWR, Garberville, 24 Apr-19 Jun (mo): Blue Grouse (EL): 1 Hatchet Creek Drainage near Trinity Lake, 21 May (DK): Ruffed Grouse (FR): 1, end of Norton Road, McKinleyville, 11 May (LL): Virginia Rail (ID): 2 calling, HBNWR, 13 Jun (JP): Common Moorhen (FR): 1, HBNWR, 8 May (JT, et al.).

Summer Shorebirds

Pacific Golden Plover (ID, ND, NC): 1, HBNWR, 6 May (SMcA): Black-necked Stilt (ID): 1, MRSWA, 10 Apr (MJ, BZ); 1-2, HBNWR, 6-8 May (KR, JT, RG, et al): Avocet (ID): several present, at least 1 incubating, HBNWR, 8 May (JT); 2 broods of 3 young each, HBNWR, 13 Jun (JP, et al.): Lesser Yellowlegs (ID): 1, V. St. Loop, 3 May (RR, SH); 1, HBNWR, 6 May (KR): Solitary Sandpiper (FR): 1, Loleta Bottoms, 15 May (DF, DI): Surfbird (ID): 1, North Jetty, 30 Apr (RR, SH): Red Knot (ID): 8, breeding plumage, Vance Road, 19 May (SC); 8 breeding plumage + 4 winter plumage, Woodley Island, 21 May (DF): Pectoral Sandpiper (ID, NC, ND): 1, HBNWR, 5 May (BSa):  Wilson’s Phalarope (FR): 1, HBNWR, 21 May (MW); 1, AOP, 26 May (SH, photos): Parasitic Jaeger (ED): 1 ad, 14 miles offshore, 1 May (JT, et al); 1 ad, mouth of Eel River, 13 Jun (SC): Franklins’s Gull (FR): 1 subadult, off Ft. Bragg, 16 May (DT); 1 ad, breeding plumage complete with pink glow on breast, So. Spit/King Salmon, 24 Jun (MM, KR, SMcA): Heermann’s Gull (ED): 1, Entrance Bite, Humboldt Bay, 10 Jun (MW): Sabine’s Gull (EL, ED): 35-40, Off Eureka 15-24 miles, 1 May (JT et al.): Caspian Tern (EL): 61 on Sand Island, courtship, nest building, late Apr/early May (MC); 20 nests seen there on 6 Jun (MC), about 90 adults in Humboldt Bay, 11 Jun (MW).  Elegant Tern (ID): 3, King Salmon, 24 Jun (MM): Marbled Murrelet (MS): > 10 Apr, up to 30 detections daily at Boyes Prairie, SMcA), 19 on water off Dry Lagoon, 30 Apr (SMcA); 10-12, near mouth Humboldt Bay, 1 May (JT, MC, et al.); 2,  Entrance Bite, Humboldt Bay, 18 Jun (MW); “lots,” Prairie Creek State Park, 20 Jun (PH):  Rhinoceros Auklet (IL): 2, Green Rock on water, 30 Apr (RR, SH); 10-15 scattered at sea to 24 miles, 1 May (MC, et al.): Collared Dove (GW): 2, McKinleyville, 5 May (JH): 1, Pt. St. George, 20 May (AB, JG).

Common Nighthawk (MS): 1,  flying over Clam Beach, 10 Jun (JSe); 2, Trinidad, 19-20 Jun (KI); 2, Crannell, 24 Jun (KI); 1, Hiller Park, 26 Jun (KI): Common Poorwill (FR): 2, Ft. Jones, 3 May (MW, EMcB): Flammulated Owl (FR): 1, Ft. Jones, 4 May (MW, EMcB): Western Screech Owl (ED): 1, Eureka, 26 May (CO); 2, Ft. Jones, 3 May (MW, EMcB): Short-eared Owl (ID): 1, MRSWA, 5 May (JD): Black Swift (FR): 5 reports of 1-3 from MRSWA, AMP, Bayside, Azalea Hill, Trinidad, 13-29 May (JT, DF, LL, KI, anon); 1 reported from BBHR, 20 Jun (PH): White-throated Swift (EL): 3-4 at Wagner Bridge, 2 May and 6 June (SMcA, JS); 4, middle fork of Eel River on Covelo Road Bridge, 13 Jun (KR): Magnificent Hummingbird (HO): last seen at feeder on Pigeon Point Road, 17 May (DW): Costa’s Hummingbird (HO): the bird at the Fortuna feeder since last Sep was last seen on 22-23 Apr (BN, JN): Calliope Hummingbird (FR): 1, near Alderpoint, 4 May (BSa, TMcK); 1, near Miranda, 5 May (KK):

Another WOW Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (GW, NC, IIT): 1 male (seen from 8 feet without binoculars at feeder, good description seems to rule out similars, Klamath River, Siskiyou Co., 9 Apr (B&PC)) if confirmed this would have been the first ever, Northcoast Record!: Selasphorus sp. (IP): 1 seen through scope, Trinidad Head appeared to have a reddish gorget on the right half, but a green gorget on the left half! (back not seen), 5 May (DoH):  Yellow-bellied/Red-naped type Sapsucker (FR): 1, Bayshore Mall, 12 May (TL): Olive-sided Flycatcher (23 May-4 Jun, SC, RC), Western Wood Pewee (18 May, TL), Dusky Flycatcher (14 May, DF, DI), Hammond’s Flycatcher (14 May, DF, DI), and Ash-throated Flycatcher (4 May-11 Jun, KK, KJ, GC) all were reported from normal locations and on expected dates (mo), but the Gray Flycatcher at Orleans, 12 May (BSa), and the Least Flycatcher at BBHR, 21 Jun (KI) were noteworthy to say the least!  Five reports of Willow Flycatchers from Crannell, the mouth of Redwood Creek, Davison Road, and Enderts Beach, 3-21 Jun (KI, AB, JG) and 4 reports of Western Kingbirds from the SHCP, Loleta, the V. St. Loop and Hufford Road, 5-23 May (MB, DoW, RS, DF, DI, SC) were more normal, but a Western Kingbird at mouth of Redwood Creek on 26 June seemed late for a migrant and the Eastern Kingbird on Trinidad Head, 19 Jun (MM) was definitely a surprise!! Yellow-throated Vireo (FR): 1 singing, BBHR 16-26 Jun (KI, et al.): Plumbeous Vireo (FR): 1, Vigo Street Marsh, 21 May (TL, SMcA, KR): Red-eyed Vireo (FR): 1, Patricks Point Drive, 22 Jun (KI); 1, Enderts Beach, 21-24 Jun (AB, JG, TL); 1, Elk Head, 27 Jun (KI): Gray Jay (MS): 1, Aldergrove Road, 3 May (RR, SH); 2 ad, 3 juv, Essex Lane, Jun (BP); 1, Onion Mtn, 22 Jun (CO): Scrub Jay (IL): 1, King Salmon, 20 May-1 Jun (MW): Clark’s Nutcracker (FR): 2, Onion Mtn, 22 Jun (CO): American Magpie (EL): 10+, Ft. Jones, 3-4 May (MW, EMcB).

Bank Swallows Increasing?

Bank Swallow (FR): 10 going into holes at colony north of Smith River, 26 May (JH): 1, Orick, 5 Jun (KI); 2 at bank downstream from Fernbridge, 16 Jun (KR): Oak Titmouse (EL): 30-35, Ft. Jones and vic, 3-4 May (MW, EMcB): White-breasted Nuthatch (EL): 2 Kneeland, 16 Jun (BB, DVZ):  Rock Wren (FR): 1, Kneeland, 24 May (BB, DVZ); 1, Island Mtn. Ranch, 14 Jun (KR): Canyon Wren (FR): 4, Island Mtn. Ranch, 14 Jun (KR): House Wren (IL): 1 nesting in a box, McKinleyville, 17-24 May (JaH): Gray Catbird (IIT, NC): 1, at a grain feeder!, Arcata, 6 May (GH), description sounds pretty good! Northern Mockingbird (FR): 1, Dos Rios, 13 Jun (KR):  Sage Thrasher (FR): 1, V St. Loop, 3-4 May (MeH, et al. photos); 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 3 Jun (KI); 1, Enderts Beach, 21 Jun (AB, JG): Northern Parula (FR): 1, Stagecoach Road, 13 Jun (KI); 1 Fish Hatchery Road, 16 Jun (KI):  Chestnut-sided Warbler (FR): 1, BBHR, 10-24 Jun (KI, et al.); 1 female, Enderts Beach, 27 Jun (AB):  Magnolia Warbler (FR): 1, near Crescent City, 14 Jun (AB); 1, Hiller Park, 24-26 Jun (KR, MaM, KI): Blackburnian Warbler (FR): 1, Orick, 18 Jun (KI): Yellow-throated Warbler (FR): 1, Little River Drive, 8 Jun (KI): Palm Warbler (ID): 1, AMP, 27 Apr (RF, SB): Bay-breasted Warbler (FR): 1, Elk Head, 19 Jun (KI): Black-and-white Warbler (FR): 1, AMP, 24 Apr (FA); 1, Fairhaven, 19 May (SC); 1, Patricks Point Drive, 22 Jun (KI): American Redstart (FR): 1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 18 Jun (TL, SMcA); 1, Dry Lagoon, (KI); 1, BBHR, 19-27 Jun (2 present on 24, 26 Jun, KI, et al.); 1, Bayshore Mall, 23 Jun (TL).

Ovenbird (FR): 1, South Fork Mountain, 19 Jun (PH): Canada Warbler (FR): 1, Scenic Drive, near Trinidad, 19 Jun (KI): Summer Tanager (FR): 1, Stagecoach Road, 16 Jun (KI, MeH, TL): Green-tailed Towhee (FR, EL): x-10+. Horse Mtn, 14 May (DF, DI); 12 Jun (MW, EMcB, PH, et al.): Rufous-crowned Sparrow (EL; FR): 2, Cain Rock Trestle, 2 May (SMcA); 2 Middle Fork, Eel River at Dos Rios, 13 Jun (KR): Clay-colored Sparrow (FR): 1, Alexandre Dairy, 28 Apr (AB, JG); 1 singing, MRSWA, 13 May (JT ): Lark Sparrow (EL): 1, Fortuna, 27 Apr (RC); 5, near Alderpoint, 15 Jun (KR): Grasshopper Sparrow (EL): 18-20, SHCP, 14 May (DW, RS); 3, Copenhagen Road, 29 May (KI); 3, Garberville, 14 Jun (KR); 4, Alderpoint, 14 Jun (KR): Thick-billed Fox Sparrow (FR): 1-x, singing, Horse Mtn,  White Mtn, 14 May, 12 Jun (DF, DI, PH): White-throated Sparrow (ID): last date at Sunnybrae feeder, 21 May (SH): Harris’s Sparrow (FR):  1 ad, Lanphere Dunes, 1-5 May (Ph, RF, photos): White-crowned Sparrow (IL): Singing birds were recorded at Bayshore Mall, 20 Jun (SH) and north of Grouse Mountain, 22 Jun (TL):  Rose-breasted Grosbeak (FR): reports from Ft. Dick, Patricks Point Drive, Elk Head, Trinidad, Arcata, Ferndale Bottoms, 5 May-24 Jun (mo): Indigo Bunting (FR) (all males): 1, Blocksberg, 3 Jun (BSa); 1, Crescent City, 4 Jun (AB); 1, Patricks Point Drive, 21-22 Jun (KI); 1, AMP, 22-27 Jun (DM, MW, EMcB, SC,  SH, photos): Painted Bunting (GW, FR): 1 imm male, good description, Red Mountain southeast of Piercy, County, 2 May (RS, ZC, JHe, et al) (only the third documented northcoast record!): Hooded Oriole (FR): 4 reports from Arcata, Lanphere Dunes, AMP, Bayside, 26 Apr-8 May (EE, SB, RF, DF).

That’s all I have room for: Many thanks to all who shared observations with us this month, sorry I didn’t have room to include them all: Frank Anderson, Louise Bacon-Ogden, Steve Bailey, Art Barab, Mary Barber, Alan Barron, Charles Bartolotta, Gary Bloomfield, Kristin Brown, Barbara Burek, Scott Carey, Brit Carlson, Lena Carroll, Zoe Chapman, Anna Cherokovsky, Bob and Patti Claypole, Mark Colwell, Eric Concannon,  Ruth Crane, Gary Crites, Jeff Dayton, Bruce Deuel, Elias Elias, David Fix, Rosalle Foeger, Rob Fowler, Joe Friedman, Joe Gartland, Rebecca Green, Melody Hamilton, Joey Harris, Stan Harris, Jeff Hedin, Donna Heim, Pablo Herrera, Jake Houck, Denise Homer, Greg Hummel, John Hunter, David Irons, Ken Irwin, Ken Jarvela, Matt Johnson, Kyle Keegan, Siddig Kilkenny, Dale Kuhn, David Lancaster, Carol Lawrence, Sue and Tom Leskiw, Gary and Lauren Lester, Ron LeValley, Vanessa Loverti, Yalu Lozada, Dan Maxwell, Sean McAllister, Erica McBride, D. McClure, Tristian McKee, Jason Meyer,  Michael Morris, Mark Morrissette, Beverly and Jim Neal, Eric Nelson, Barbara Parke, Aida Parkinson, Jude Power, Richard Ridenhour, Kerry Ross, Barry Sauppe, Jay Seeger, Bruce Slocum, Jay Sooter, Paul Springer, Seiko Sudo, Robert Sutherland, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Richard Tryon, Steve Tucker, Dan Van Zile, Margaret Varga, Matt Wachs, Doug Wallace, Don Watenbarger, Carol Wilson, Miriam Yates, Bryan Yost, Bill Zielinski.

My apologies to Barry Sauppe for misspelling his name previously; chalk it up to age-related declines in discriminating between  “F” and “S” sounds over the bird box phone!   I would appreciate a call from anyone whose name is misspelled in these lists. It is not always easy to determine even the name, let alone the spelling, on the bird box messages. 

Please send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif, 95521, phone them to me at (707) 822-3802, or to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666, or write them on the bird observation board at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center.