Field Notes

by Stan Harris

 April 17 - June 20, 2006

Spring Migration is over, summer nesting activities are in full swing or winding down, and, for some species, early fall flock formation is beginning (starlings). Unseasonable rains continued through parts of May and Jun. A pelagic trip conducted out of Eureka for Godwit Days 23 Apr had these marine mammal highlights (all fide GL; bird details below): White-sided Dolphin 600+, Right Whale Dolphin, 20+; Dall Porpoise, 1. In addition, the 4 Orcas seen from a kayak near Trinidad 11 Jun (MiMo) must have been thrilling. Barry Sauppe conducted a 5.5-hour seawatch at Patrick’s Point State Park (= PPSPSW) 3 May (details below). Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; ACF = Arcata Community Forest; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CCH = Crescent City Harbor; FWL = Freshwater Lagoon; HB = Humboldt Bay; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; HOP = Hayfork Oxidation Pond; HWCC = Humboldt Wildlife Care Center; JSSP = Jedediah Smith State Park; KS = King Salmon; mo = Many Observers; MKR, mouth of Klamath River; MRC = mouth of Redwood Creek; MRE = Mad River Estuary; MRFH = Mad River Fish Hatchery; MWC = mouth of Willow Creek; NHB = North Humboldt Bay; NC = Not Confirmed; ND = No Details; PCSP = Prairie Creek State Park; PPSP = Patrick’s Point State Park; SRB = Smith River Bottoms; TDAD = Trinidad.

Waterfowl

White-fronted Goose: 1, HBNWR, 22 Apr (RF); 1, V St. Loop, 20 May; 8, 18 Jun (EE, RF, RT). Black Brant: 600 (tight flock), KS, 1 May (MW). “Cackling” Cackling Goose: 5+, HBNWR, 1 May (DB). Aleutian Cackling Goose: Late reports included 380+, HBNWR, 1 May (DB); 103, Hufford Rd, 5 May (RF, LY); 1 flyby, MRC, 5 Jun (HB); 2, AOP, 10 Jun (SH). Western Canada Goose: At least 7 broods on AOP, 15 Jun (SH). Wood Duck: Besides the usual adults at AOP daily, 25+ were reported at HOP, 4 May (SGl, FO), the first brood was reported at AOP on 31 May (MA) where at least 4 broods had been seen by 13 Jun (SH, AL), and 1-2 broods at AMP by 16-19 Jun (SH, et al.). Gadwall: 1 pair, HOP, 4 May (SGl, FO). Eurasian Wigeon: 1, HBNWR, 22 Apr (RF). Mallard: 2, Denny, 12 Apr (LM); broods afloat all period with 3 counted on AMP units and 24 more on AOP on 7 Jun alone (SH). Blue-winged Teal: 1 male, AB, 26 Apr (DB); 1 male, AOP/ AMP, 24 May-2 Jun; 1 pair, AMP, 15-19 Jun (SH, JT, RF, PB, TiMcK); 1 pair, HBNWR, 1 Jun (RF). Cinnamon Teal: 5-6 pair, HBNWR, 1 May (DB); 1-2 pair, AMP/AOP, 19 Apr-19 Jun (mo); at least 3 broods, AMP, 23 May-20 Jun (SH). Eurasian Greenwinged Teal: 1, HBNWR, 22 Apr (RF). Eurasian x American Green-winged Teal intergrade: 1-2 seen almost daily, Butcher Slough, 17 Apr-3 May (SH). Green-winged Teal: Late birds: 1 male, Gearheart Marsh, 22 May; 1 female, Hauser Marsh, 5 Jun (both SH). Ring-necked Duck: Late reports: 1-2, AOP, 18- 26 Apr; 6 May (SH, EE, AL). 5-8 Scaup (some of both species) appear to be summering over at AOP (SH). Harlequin: 1 pair, HB, 23 Apr (GL); up to 13 present continuously, Virgin Creek and Glass Beaches, through at least 16 May (DT); 1, Shelter Cove, 1-2 Jun (EE). Black Scoter: 2, CCH, 4 May (KR, OH); x, off TDAD, 7 May (RH, TMcK); 1, KS, 2-20 May (MW). Long-tailed Duck: 1 male, 10-Mile River, 16-17 May (DT, KR).

Chickens - Rails

Blue Grouse: hooting birds reported from Denny, Hoopa, Kneeland, near Bluff Creek, 4 Apr-9 Jun (mo); hen and 1 chick, Terwer Creek, 13 Jun (KR); hen and 4 chicks, Bald Hills Road, 13 Jun (KR). Ruffed Grouse: 1-3, Hoopa, 18-21 Apr (JT); 1 near Orleans, 1 May (TL); heard at Laird Meadow, 9 Jun (CO); hen and 4 chicks, NE corner Hoopa Reservation, 13 Jun (TL). Wild Turkey: 1 female, Denny, 13 Apr (LM). Red-throated Loon: 232 (PPSPSW); 1-7, KS, 20 Apr-18 May (MW); Pacific Loon: 6,135 (PPSPSW); 1-2, KS, 1-19 May (MW). Common Loon: 148 (PPSPSW); 41, 33, 7, KS on 24, 29 Apr, and 11 May, respectively (MW). Red-necked Grebe: 3-5, KS, 20-29 Apr (MW); 2, CCH, 4 May (KR, OH). Eared Grebe: 250, HB, 22 Apr (DF, et al.). Clark’s Grebe: 1, KS, 20 Apr (TMcK); 1 TDAD, 19 Jun (TiMcK). Laysan Albatross: 1, 7.5 miles W of HB, 28 May (PR). Manx Shearwater: 1 (first-ever Humboldt County record), 10 miles W HB, 23 Apr (GL, ST). Brown Pelican: 1-4 from NHB, KS, MKR, 23 Apr-16 May (MW, RF); 17, NHB, 6 Jun (SH). Double-crested Cormorant: 15-16, MWC, 24 Apr, 1 May (TL). American Bittern: 1 seen 3 times, Allen Marsh, BSLP, 20 Apr- 27 May (EE, SH, PB); 1-2 regularly at HBNWR throughout (mo). Cattle Egret: 1, Hunt Pasture, 17 Apr (SH); 11 flyby, NHB, 27 Apr (DF). Green Heron: reports of 1-2 at BSLP, Douglas City, Ewing Reservoir near Hayfork, 28 Apr-16 Jun (mo). Bald Eagle: 19 reports of 1-2 from Rio Dell, HBNWR, KS, MRFH, Fay Slough, NHB, Ruth Lake, Denny, MWC, AMP, Agate Beach, 18 Apr-16 Jun (mo). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1, Kneeland, 25 May (BB, DVZ). Cooper’s Hawk: singles at MRC, AOP, Kneeland, 5 May- 6 Jun (BB, DVZ, SC, SMcA). Red-shouldered Hawk: 1, 4 miles E of Garberville on Alderpoint Rd, 28 Apr (BR). Rough-legged Hawk: 1, Kneeland, 9 Apr (AD). Golden Eagle: 1, Ruth Lake, 6 Jun (TL). Kestrel: 1, Denny, 3 May (LM). Merlin: 5 reports from AB, AMP, SRB, 18-21 Apr (SH, SC, RF, OH). Peregrine: 11 reports of 1-2 from AMP, MRC, Eureka, Cape Mendocino, KS, NHB, Kneeland, Eureka, 17 Apr-16 Jun (mo). Virginia Rail: 1-2 (normal and kicker calls), HBNWR, HOP, AMP, 4 May-19 Jun (DF, SGl, FO, SH). Sora: 2 calling, HBNWR, 14 May, 2 Jun (DF, RF, et al). Common Moorhen: 1 adult, Hauser Marsh, 23- 27 May (KS, et al.). Sandhill Crane (NC): 2nd-hand report of 1 “in a meadow, red on head, gray with brown overtones seen,” 5 miles S of Petrolia, 3 Apr (MMu, fide RA).

Charadriiformes

Pacific Golden Plover: 2 adults, flyby (PPSPSW). Semipalmated Plover: flocks of 8-200+ reported from NHB, HBNWR, AB, 1- 24 May (mo). Avocet: 4-5, HBNWR, through at least 14 May (JM, AL). Greater Yellowlegs: 2-20, Hunt Pasture, 19 Apr-9 May (SH). Lesser Yellowlegs: 1, HBNWR, 20 Apr (GBl); 1, Caspar Creek Estuary, 26 Apr (DT); 1, McKinleyville OP, 7 May (KR). Solitary Sandpiper: 1, Terwer Valley, 24 Apr (“Lucas”); 1-2, Davison Rd pond, 5-8 May (RF, LY, SC). Whimbrel: migrating flocks; 58, AB, 22 Apr (RF); 177, Hufford Rd, 27 Apr (DF). Marbled Godwit: 120, NHB, Klopp Lake, 20 Jun (SH). Ruddy Turnstone: 1-8, Klopp Lake and AOP dikes, 2-13 May (mo). Red Knot: 1-30, AMP, CCH, AB, 20 Apr-24 May (SH, SC, “Lucas”). Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1 (ND), V St. Loop, 23 May (DF). Peep migration in full swing 18 Apr-2 May with the following numbers reported daily from NHB (mo): Western Sandpiper, 50,000-300,000; Least Sandpiper, 3,000- 10,000; Dunlin, 20,000; Short-billed Dowitcher, 1,000-15,000. Wilson’s Snipe: Late bird at Fairhaven, 28 May (SC). Wilson’s Phalarope: 1, AB, 7-8 May (RH, TMcK, BB, DVZ); 3, HOP, 4-5 May (SGl, FO, JL, JW). Red-necked Phalarope: The usual late Apr-early May flight included 1 at HOP, 4 May (SG, FO, JL, JW). Parasitic Jaeger: 2 adults flyby (PPSPSW); 1 flyby, Pt. Delgada, 2 Jun (EE). Little Gull (ND): 1 adult flyby (PPSPSW). Bonaparte’s Gull: usual early May migration peaked with 1,468 (PPSPSW) and 250 flyby, TDAD, 8 May (SC). Heermann’s Gull: 1 adult, KS, 12 May (MW); 1, Shelter Cove, 1 Jun (EE); 1 FWL, 12 Jun (HB). Mew Gull: 1, AOP, 6 May (SH); 1, MRE, 24 May (KR). California Gull: Apparent migratory departure of 42 and 48 noted at sunset over Bayside, 21 May (DF). Glaucous Gull: 2nd-year birds mostly without details reported at Eureka, Gold Bluff Beach, and Indian Beach, 16, 24 Apr, and 7 May, respectively (SC, HB, MeH). Sabine’s Gull: 1, CCH, 1 May (“Lucas”); 8 flyby, PPSPSW, 12 Jun (BS); 1, MRE, 20 May (KR). Caspian Tern: 42, KS, 20 Apr (MW); 60, NHB, 2 May (DF); 175, including new scrapes and nests, Sand Island, 4, 20 Jun (MCo). Common Tern: 3, PPSPSW (BS). Black Tern: 1 flyby, PPSPSW, 12 May (BS). Pigeon Guillemot: 1, 8-11 May; 5, 17 May (all at KS, MW). Marbled Murrelet: 25 reports of 1-150+ at PCSP, TDAD, JSSP, Yager Creek, CCH, FWL, Dry Lagoon, MRE, Pt. Delgada, KS, 24 Apr-2 Jun (mo). Ancient Murrelet: 1, 12 miles off Eel River, 23 Apr (GL); 1, TDAD, 2 Jun (MiMo). Rhinoceros Auklet: 5, off Eureka, 23 Apr (GL); 6, CCH, 12 Jun (“Lucas”). Horned Puffin (Update, correction): The bird reported last month actually was picked up on Clam Beach and turned in to HWCC 13 Mar but lived only 3 weeks (fide AL).

Near-Passerines

White-winged Dove: 1, Eureka, 8-10 May (BS). Eurasian Collared Dove: The invasion continues: 15 reports of 1- 42(!) including one active nest, Ferndale Bottoms, Arcata, McKinleyville, Hoopa, Shelter Cove, 1 May-19 Jun (mo). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1 heard and seen, Cock Robin Island, 2-4 Jun (JC, LL, SMcA, AT); 1 heard, 3 and 3.5 miles E of Rio Dell, 5 Jun (CO); 1, seen, heard, photographed, BSLP, 12-15 Jun (SH, AL, DH, et al., photo by JP) plus reports of unconfirmed possible distant birds heard only at MRC (KI, 11 Jun) and Van Duzen x Eel Rivers (RF, 11 Jun). Barn Owl: 1, Hayfork, 4 May (SGl, FO, et al). Barred Owl: 1, ACF, 27 Apr (RM). Black Swift: 5 reports of 1-8+ migrating past Bayside, Azalea Hill, McKinleyville, and Orick, 19-24 May (DF, GL, KR). Common Nighthawk: 1, Hufford Rd, 25 May (LL). Poorwill: 1, PCSP, 7 Jun (DF). Rufous Hummingbird: 6 reports of 1-2 from BSLP, MRFH, Hoopa, Denny, 17 Apr-11 May (mo).

Flycatchers - Warblers

Olive-sided Flycatcher: 4 reports of 1-5, MRFH, College of the Redwoods, North Spit, 21 Apr-19 May (SC, LB, DF). Western Wood-Pewee: 4 reports, MRFH, Orick, McKinleyville, BSLP, 6- 23 May (SC, HB, KR, SuC). Willow Flycatcher: 7 reports of 1-3 from Blue Lake, BSLP, Orleans, Gold Bluff Beach, MRC, Miranda, 21 May-14 Jun (mo) were eclipsed by reports of 32 and 36 in two patches of riparian cover at Hoopa, 24 May (JT)! Hammond’s Flycatcher: 2, Hoopa, 21 Apr (JT); 1 each singing, MRFH, Kneeland, Van Duzen x Eel River, 22, 27 Apr, 11 Jun, respectively (SC, DF, BS, RF). Gray Flycatcher: 1, Willow Creek, 22 Apr (JH). Red-eyed Vireo: 1, BSLP, 12-14 Jun (DF, et al.). Gray Jay: x, mobbing a Barred Owl, ACF, 27 Apr (RM). Western Scrub Jay: 1, Fieldbrook, 6 May (TC). Crow: “small flock” recorded 2x in Apr at Elk Prairie in a seldom-used location (DF). Horned Lark: several, BRR, 5 Jun (CO). Purple Martin: 18 reports of 1-31 from Crescent City, McKinleyville, Lanphere Dunes, AMP, Bayside, HBNWR, 17 Apr-14 Jun (mo). Tree Swallow: nesting in 3 boxes at Denny, 14 May (LM). Bank Swallow: 15-20 seen at Smith River Colony, 19 Apr (OH). Blackcapped Chickadee: 1 singing (apparent first county record for Trinity County), Lowden Ranch, 3 miles WSW Lewiston, 20 Jun (EE). Pygmy Nuthatch (ND): x reported at Blue Mountain Creek, 9 Jun (CO). Rock Wren: 1, Gold Bluff Beach, 4 May (HB). House Wren: x at box, Denny, 3 May (LM); checking boxes, Douglas City, 2nd week of May (DK). Dipper: 2, Lost Man Creek bridges, 22 Apr (DF); 1, Big French Creek, 20 Apr (JaB, et al.). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1, Kneeland, 3 May (BB, DVZ); 1 male, 10-Mile River, 16 May (DT). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 1, Blue Lake Bottoms, 21, 29 Apr (PH, SC); 1, Elk Head, 22 Apr (DF, et al.); 1, MRC, 6 Jun (SMcA). Western Bluebird: resident birds at Kneeland in 3 boxes, May (BB, DVZ). Mockingbird: 6 reports of singles at Freshwater Lagoon spit, Arcata, and North Spit, 12 May-12 Jun (EE, SC, DF, HB, MCo). Brown Thrasher: 1 at feeder on Kneeland “since before Christmas” to at least 29 Apr (MD, fide AD, et al, photos); 1, Arcata, 10-15 Jun (RF, et al). California Thrasher: 1, Rifle Range Road, Weaverville, 5 May (JLo). American Pipit: 1, Davison Road, 8 May (SC). Northern Parula: 1, Big Lagoon School, 14 May (KI); 1, MRC, 6-13 Jun (SMcA, KR, JP, photos); 1, Lanphere Dunes, 16 Jun (LT). Yellow Warbler: 38 along 0.25 mile of riparian cover, Hoopa, 24 May (JT); 32 more recorded in 2.75 hours in a 2nd riparian patch at Hoopa, 24 May (JT): Myrtle/Audubon’s Warbler: Sudden increase (>1,000%) in numbers noted at AMP, MRFH, 17-19 Apr (SH, SC, et al.). Townsend’s Warbler: 2 pair, Miranda, 15 Apr (KK); 1, AMP, 24 Apr (MM, et al). Townsend’s x Hybrid Warbler hybrid (presumed): 1, partly described, Redway, 30 May (DG). Palm Warbler: 1-3, AMP, 17 Apr-1 May (mo). Black-and-white Warbler: 1, Dry Lagoon, 9 Jun (KI). Yellowbreasted Chat: Among the usual reports, JT reported 5 along 0.25 mile of riparian cover at Hoopa and 11 in another patch of riparian cover there in 2.75 hours, 24 May.

Sparrows - Finches

Green-tailed Towhee: 1, Big Hill, 31 May (JT); 1 singing, near Sandy Prairie, 1-2 May (KB). California Towhee: 1, Blue Lake, 19 May (SC). Vesper Sparrow: 1, Arcata Airport, 19 Apr (JeB); 1, AB, 21 Apr (GBl). Lark Sparrow: 1, Douglas City, 5-6 May (DK); 2, TDAD, 7 May (MeH); 1, Monument Road, 5 Jun (Co). Black-throated Sparrow: 2, High Bluff Point, 4-5 May (GH, RF, LY, et al.) (photos); 1, Luffenholtz Point, 20-21 May (CC, GL, SC, et al) (photos). Sage Sparrow: 5 near Hayfork, 14 May (JLo). Grasshopper Sparrow: 1, Kneeland, 27 Apr (BB, DVZ); 1, Monument Road, 5 Jun (CO). Sooty Fox Sparrow: latest report, TDAD, 6 May (MeH). Lincoln’s Sparrow: latest report, Clam Beach, 28 Apr (AL). White-throated Sparrow: latest report, Sunny Brae, 19 May (SH). Golden-crowned Sparrow: latest report, Glendale, 29 May (KB). Chestnut-collared Longspur: 1 singing male in breeding plumage, Kneeland, 22-30 Apr (fide, AD, et al., photos, SC). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 female, TDAD, 7 May (MeH); 1 male, Arcata, 15 May (SC); 1 male, Westhaven feeder, 1 Jun (TiMcK); 1 male, Dow’s Prairie Road, 5 Jun (COl). Blue Grosbeak: 1, Mad River Station, 11 May at feeder (TC, fide MW). Indigo Bunting: 1 male, Shay Park, 28 May (SC). Western Meadowlark: 1 singing, Fay Slough Wildlife Area, 21 May (EE). Hooded Oriole: 1, Stagecoach Road, 7 May (MeH); 1 pair, Arcata, 15 May (SC, AL). Baltimore Oriole: 1 male, near Junction City, 19 Jun (EE). Lawrence’s Goldfinch: 1-2, Fieldbrook feeder, 28 May-10 Jun (BSi, et al). European Goldfinch: 1, McKinleyville, 19 Jun (JaH). Evening Grosbeak: 1, Sunny Brae feeder, 3 May (GH); 4, Cutten, 10 May (GL).

Contributors

Many thanks to the following who shared their reports with us this month: Please accept my apologies for not having space to include all of the interesting reports turned in. Marge Adams, Frank Anderson, Ray Azevedo, Dominic Bachman, Louise Bacon-Ogden, Stephen F. Bailey, Bill Becker, David Bigger, Gary Bloomfield, Joy Bockius, Jay Bogiatto, Jeff Bouton, Laura Bringhurst, Pat Britton, Heather Brown, George Burchette, Ken Burton, Barbara Burek, Susan Campbell, Scott Carey, Joe Ceriani, Jeanne Charles, Tom Cockle, Chris Collins, Mark Colwell, Gary Crites, Mike Cunha, Jennifer Curtis, Anthony Desch, Marty Dodd, Elias Elias, David Fix, Gigi Floyd, Rob Fowler, Chris Frolking, Steve Gellman, Steve Glover, George Green, David Gurley, Melody Hamilton, Stan Harris, Owen Head, Gesila Hennessy, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, Kim Hollinger, Holly & Ron, Greg Holm, Denise Homer, Jake Houck, Sandra Hunt-Van Arb, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, Kyle Keegan, Robert Kelly, Coleen Kelly-Marks, Dale Kuhn, Alexandra Lamb, Carol Lawrence, Laurie Lawrence, Amy Leach, Tom Leskiw, Amy, Dana, Lauren, & Gary Lester, Paul Lohse, Jim Lomax, “Lucas,” “Lucy,” John Luther, Sean McAllister, Cheryl McGuire, Tim McKay, Tristan McKee, Fred Meyers, Bill Miller, Ray Mine, Jennifer Morey, Michael Morris, Mark Morrissette, Mike Mullen, Linda Munk, Chet Ogan, Francis Oliver, Carol Ollivier, John Pelafigue, CJ&C Ralph, Bruce Riley, Cameron Rognan, Kerry Ross, Paul Roush, Barry Sauppe, Fern Schneider, Jay Seeger, Bob Sizoo, Keith Slauson, Carin Sorisio, Paul Springer, Ryan Terrill, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Lauren Tompkins, Amber Transou, Steve Tucker, Dan Van Zile, Matt Wachs, Catherine Walling, Ruth White, Jared Wolfe, Lowell Young, Please call future reports to the Arcata Bird Box (707) 822-5666, to me at (707) 822-3802, send them to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, 95521, or write them on the observation board at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center.