Field Notes
by Stan Harris
21 April - 22 June
Because I have to squeeze 2 months’ observations into 1 report, I only have room to list the highlights of the season. We had only 1 pelagic trip this period, 4 May, out of Ft. Bragg, which turned up the usual suspects for that time of year. Weather was rain, rain, rain for the last 10 days of April and then the rain gods turned off the water and we are into what looks like another dry summer. Interesting mammals reported were a Gray Whale spy-hopping seen from the beach off Klamath River, 22 April (RN); 1-2 Steller Sea Lions at the same place and date; and an Orca seen from the tip of North Jetty 13 May (RF, JW). Our usual spring migrants arrived right on time, matching historic patterns. Nesting is well underway and we are awaiting the arrival of our first fall migrants, due in early July.
Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; CB = Confirmed Breeding; ED = Expected Date; EL = Expected Location; EN = Expected Numbers; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IIT = Interesting, if True; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MRWA = Mad River Wildlife Area; mo = Many Observers; NB = North Humboldt Bay; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed: ND = No Description
PACIFIC LOON (ID): 2, Entrance Bite of Humboldt Bay, 7-12 June (MW): PIED-BILLED GREBE (CB): 1 adult feeding a young, HBNWR, 7 June (MW): EARED GREBE (ID) 1 in breeding plumage, King Salmon, 12 June (MW): RED-NECKED GREBE (ID): 1, North Jetty, 3 May (KR): SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS (IIT): a 3rd hand rumor of one off Eureka sometime during the period by the crew of the “Dandy Bill” has not been confirmed. LAYSAN ALBATROSS (FR): 2, offshore, Ft. Bragg, 4 May (DT): BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (IL): 2, seen from shore, just off North Spit, 9 May (DF): GREAT EGRET (IL): The nesting/roosting status of 25 seen up in trees east of Fay Slough Wildlife Area, 2 June remains undetermined (CB, fide JD): AMERICAN BITTERN (EL): 3 heard pumping at Essex Pond, 1 May (RR, DR, SH), and 1 at Copenhagen Road, 5 May (KI) were at known locations: GREEN HERON (ED, EL): 15 reports of 1-2 birds from Stone Lagoon, Essex Pond, Junction City, AMP, Vance Road, Woodley Island, near Fortuna, 1 May -19 June (mo): WHITE-FACED IBIS (FR): 2, ERB, 3 May, BK; 15, AMP/MRWA, 22 May (ST, JB): LESSER SNOW GOOSE (ID) 2, HBNWR, 21-30 Apr (SL, RR, PS, SH): WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (ID): 1, ERB, 9 May (RF, JW): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (EN, EL, ED): 13 reports of 1-3 from AMP, AOP, HBNWR, ERB, 5 May-18 Jun (mo): EURASIAN WIGEON (IN, ID): 1-6 (!) reported at NB and HBNWR, 26 Apr-9 May (mo) included a count of 6 (out of only 30 total wigeon) at HBNWR on 4 May (SMcA)! HARLEQUIN (IN, ID): up to 13 were present constantly at Virgin Creek Beach through 22 May when males were seen in eclipse plumage (DT)
OSPREY (IN): DF and JP counted 11 foraging over Humboldt Bay 1 May and 7 over Eureka Channel 2 May to give an idea of size of our local population: BALD EAGLE (EL): 13 reports of 1-3 from Blue Lake, NB, Elk River, ERB, Alderpoint, AOP, ERWA, Piercy , 26 Apr-8 Jun (mo): COOPER’S HAWK (FR): 1 scolding bird at Big Hill, 1 May (MH, SH) probably represented a nesting territory. NORTHERN GOSHAWK (FR): single birds were reported at Grouse Mountain, 8 June (MW, PH) and Brush Mountain, 10 June: (TL): RED-TAILED HAWK (GW): RC reports that young were “born” into the nest in her yard at Fortuna for the 31st consecutive year! MERLIN (ID): 1 reported at Clam Beach, 13 May (KR) seems late: PEREGRINE FALCON (MS) only 9 reports received of 1-2 from Lake Talawa, Arcata, AMP, MRWA, Bayside, HBNWR, near Orleans, 1 May-18 Jun (mo): RUFFED GROUSE (FR, EL): 2, Hoopa Reservation, 1 May (MH, et al.); 1 drumming, Tall Trees Trail, 25 May (RF); 1, 5 miles north Orleans, 31 May (DF, JP); COMMON MOORHEN (FR): 1, AMP, 26 Apr-9 May (RF et al), the first record in Humboldt County since 1994.
PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER (FR): 2, AB, 21 Apr (KI); 4-5, mouth of Eel River, 28-30 Apr (JD, SMcA, SH, RR, PS);1, Alexandre Dairy, 4 May (BD): SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (IN): 100 seen at mouth of Elk River, 29 Apr (SH, RR, PS): 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS and up to 30 AVOCETS are summering at HBNWR, where some are nesting (mo): SOLITARY SANDPIPER (FR): 1, Alexandre Dairy, 2 May (AB, JG): RUDDY TURNSTONE (ID): 1, HBNWR, 30 May (RR, TR): RED KNOT (FR): 3-9, AB, mouth of Elk River, 29 Apr-10 May (KR, RF): SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (IIT; ND, NC): 1, foot of I Street, Arcata, 21 Apr (KI) and 1, Butcher Slough, 6 May (PL) were both without descriptions or details or confirmation by a second party–there are only 7 previous spring reports: LAUGHING GULL (FR): 1 off Ft. Bragg, 4 May (RLeV, DT,) , only the 7th Northcoast record: MEW GULL (ID): 6 at mouth of Eel River, 30 Apr (SH, RR, PS) and 1 at 10 Mile Beach, 9 May (DT) are among the latest spring records ever. Suspected reoccupation of the historic breeding site on Sand Island by CASPIAN TERNS (UPDATE) was confirmed for 2002 when details were received that downy young were seen there on 26 July 2002 (JM, NK): BLACK TERN (FR): 2, Lake Earl, 11 June (L&BB): COMMON MURRE (IL): “several hundred,” Kibesillah Rock, south of Westport, 21 Apr, apparently represents a new nesting (?) location (DT): PIGEON GUILLEMOT (IL): 2 at the base of South Jetty and entrance channel to South Bay, 24 May-4 Jun (MW): MARBLED MURRELET (IL; IN): 28, King Salmon/Entrance Bay, Humboldt Bay, 4 Jun (MW, DF).
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (FR): 1, Fairhaven, 31 May-1 June (SaH): BLACK SWIFT (FR): 2-5 reported migrating over Bayside and Eureka, 22-26 May were at expected times and places (DF, CO): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (FR): 2 “nesting under the bridge,” over So. Fk, Eel River at Southern Humboldt Community Park, 20 June (DW): CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (FR): 1 male, Azalea Hill, 25 Apr (LL, DL): LEWIS’S WOODPECKER (FR): 1, Hiouchi, 7 May (MR); 1, base of Bald Hills Road, 14 June (KI): ACORN WOODPECKER (IL): 1, North Spit, Humboldt Bay, 28 May (GL); 5, Shelter Cove, 20 June (KR, MW): WILLOW FLYCATCHER (MS): 1, Big Lagoon, 19 May (KI); 1 vic. Weaverville, 20 May (RF, BMcD); 1, Davison Road, 23 May (KI); 1, Hufford Road, 23 May (KI); 1 singing, mouth Van Duzen River, 22 Jun (PH): MYSTERY FLYCATCHER (IIT): a bird singing an aberrant Pacific Slope Flycatcher type call, thought to resemble the call of CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER was found near the base of Bald Hills Road, 11-13 June (KI, RF). Given the extreme difficulty of separating this from the Pacific Slope Flycatcher, the variability of the calls of both species, and the fact that we are so far removed from the normal breeding range of the Cordilleran Flycatcher, any such reports must be viewed with skepticism. It would be really nice if someone could come up with a fool-proof way to separate them.: GRAY FLYCATCHER (FR): 2, Orleans Bar, 21 April (BCl); 1, near Alderpoint, 27 Apr (DF, JT, et al.); 1, Junction City, 2 May (RR, DR, SH); 1, 5 miles north of Red Mountain Creek, 7 May (TL); 1, Orleans Bar, 10 May (KS): CASSIN’S KINGBIRD (IIT, NC): 1 in the top of a spruce tree, Patricks Point State Park, 13 May (KI) certainly was out of habitat but the brief phone description given seems plausible; this would be only the 4th Northcoast record! LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (FR): 1, King Salmon, 3 May, (MW) 1, ERB, 5 May (KI).
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (FR, GW): 1 trapped, banded, photographed, Lanphere Dunes, 7 June (KH, et al.), present nearby at least until 12 June (CJR); this is only the 5th Northcoast record: RED-EYED VIREO (FR): 1, near Orick, 6-11 June (KI, DF): BANK SWALLOW (FR): 1, AMP, 3 May,(JT, et al.): OAK TITMOUSE (FR): 1, Alderpoint, 27 Apr (JT): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR): 1, Orleans Bar, 21 Apr (BCl); 1, Freshwater, 28 Apr (RH); 1, near Alderpoint, 27 Apr (DF, JT, et al); 1 pair, 5 miles north of Red Mountain Creek, 7 May (TL); TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (IL): 1, Coast Guard Cypress, North Spit, 4 June (MW): NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (FR): 1, King Salmon, 4 June (MW); 1, Eureka, 1-7 May (DH): SAGE THRASHER (FR): 1, near Orleans, 8 May (KS): CALIFORNIA THRASHER (FR): 1 reported along Redwood Creek at edge of a meadow, 21 May (BA) seems out of habitat and range; 1 singing and seen, 6 miles up Kings Peak Road, then 4 miles up Saddle Mountain Road, southern Humboldt County and 1 singing by the store at Shelter Cove, both 20 June (KR, MW) were in known locations: GRAY CATBIRD (FR): 1, mouth of Redwood Creek, 13 June (KI, KR, MW); this is only the 4th Northcoast record: NORTHERN PARULA (FR): 1, Big Lagoon, 11 May (KI); 1, Pound Road, south Eureka, 27 May (DF); 1, Trinidad, 3 June (KI); 1, Enderts Beach Road, 14 June (AB); 1, Bald Hills Road x 101, 15 June (BF): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (FR): 1, Fernbridge, 8 June (KR): BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (FR): 1, Patricks Point Drive, 18 June (KI): BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (FR): 1 singing, near mouth of Klamath River, 15-17 June (BF, KI): YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (FR): 1, Scenic Drive, 18 June (KI): PALM WARBLER (ID): 1-2, BSLP, 22 Apr-9 May (DC, BC, ST, MW, RR): BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (FR): 1 singing, Patricks Point State Park, 9 June (KI): BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (FR): 1, King Salmon, 30 May (MW); 1, Bald Hills Road, 19 June (KI); 1, mouth of Van Duzen River, 22 June (PH): AMERICAN REDSTART (FR): 1, Manila, 8 June (KI); 1, Bayshore Mall, 12 June (TL); 1, 1 mile south of the mouth of Klamath River, 17 June (KI); 1, Davison Road, 19 June (KI): OVENBIRD (FR): 1, Branscomb Mountain Road, 22 June (RRo, JC, SS, GF); CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (IL): 1, Blue Lake Bottoms, 1 May (RR, DR); 1, Arcata, 12 May (JT); 1, Fortuna where they are a regular breeder, 16 May (RC); 1, Cooper Gulch, Eureka, 24-25 May (CO); 1, McKinleyville, 25 May (RLV); 2 singing, Hatchery Road, 25 May (KI): RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (FR, EL): 1, south end, Cain Rock Trestle, 27 Apr (DF, et al.): VESPER SPARROW (FR): 2, AB, 5 May (KI); 1, Kneeland, 7 June (BB): GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (FR): 5, Bear River Ridge, 7 June (CO); 2, Southern Humboldt Community Park, 20 June (DW): WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (ID): the last of the wintering birds lingered at a feeder in Sunny Brae until 2 June (SH): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR): 1 male, Willow Creek, 14 May (JM); 1, Patricks Point State Park, 19 May (KI); 1 female, Hilfiker Unit, Elk River Wildlife Area, 27 May (DF); 1, near Orick, 6 June (KI); 1, Crescent City, 7-8 June (JG): INDIGO BUNTING (FR): 1, Fountain Ranch, near Salyer, 19-25 May (RF, BMcD, JH); 1 near Crescent City, 10 June (AB, JG); 1, AOP trail, 11 June (DF): YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1, Alexandre Dairy, 26 Apr (AB): COMMON GRACKLE (FR): 1 male displaying, Smith River Bottoms 22 Apr-11 May (AB, et al.); 1 male displaying, Crescent City, 22 Apr-4 May (AB et al) These are only the 8th and 9th records for the Northcoast, all but 1 in Del Norte County! HOODED ORIOLE (FR): 1 pair, vic. 14th x I street, Arcata, 26 May-1 June (KS, DF, BMcD); 1 pair, north of Manila, 28 May (KR, MR):
Many thanks to the following who submitted reports or made observations this period. Please keep the reports coming: Brian Acord, Frank Anderson, Jan Andersen, Art Barab, Alan Barron, Charles Bartolotta, Larry and Betty Bebee, Jeff Black, Gary Bloomfield, Helen Brown, Barbara Burek, Christine Cahill, Dennis Cahill, Tracy Campbell, Bryon Cariss, Bob Claypole, Don Cook, Jim Cotton, Ruth Crane, Jeff Dayton, Bruce Deuel, Elias Elias, Barry Sauppe, David Fix, Rob Fowler, Fred (sorry Fred, I couldn’t make out the rest of your name from the observation sheet), Gary Friedrichsen, Brad Freeman, Jeremy Froland, Joe Gartland, Rebecca Green, Melody Hamilton, Stan Harris, Sandy Haux, Bernice Hensell, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, Mark Higley, Kim Hollinger, Denise Homer, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, Neil Kalson, Barbara Kanann, Dick Laursen, Sue Leskiw, Tom Leskiw, Dana Lester, Gary Lester, Lauren Lester, Ron LeValley, Steve Lewis, John Mason, Brooke MacDonald, Sean McAllister, Jerry McCollum, Kate McKay, Tristan McKee, John Mello, Mark Morrissette, Stephanie Morrissette, Russ Namitz, J. Nusbery (sp.?), Chet Ogan, Jude Power, C. J. Ralph, Don Ridenhour, Richard Ridenhour, Terry Ridenhour, Richard Rowlett, Kerry Ross, Megan Ross, Martha Roy, Cecila Seccor, Jay Seegar, Scott Sinclair, Keith Slauson, Bruce Slocum, Phil Smyson (sp?), Paul Springer, Peter Starr, Roy Sunstrom, Jim Tietz, Dorothy “Toby” Tobkin, Steve Tucker, Dan Van Zile, Margaret Varga, Matt Wachs, Doug Wallace, Don Watenbarger, Jim Welsh, Jared Wolfe, Christine Woods, Summer Woods, Marcus Ziehm. Please send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif, 95521, call them to me at (707) 822-3802, or to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666 or write them on the bird observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary Interpretive Center.