Field Notes

by Stan Harris

13 January - 26 February

Following the intense rainfall earlier in the season, January and February were cool and rather dry.  Wintering raptors and waterfowl are still in the region in high numbers.  Aleutian Canada Geese appeared in abundance by February, staging in dairy pastures. Bald Eagle reports indicated 2-3 around s.e. Humboldt Bay and (were some eagles the same?) near Arcata.  Again this winter, a few remarkably unseasonal Barn Swallows were encountered.  Few semi-hardy wintering songbirds have been reported. I thank Stan Harris for the opportunity to compile our sightings in his absence.  A correction to the last Sandpiper: The warbler found dead at Hydesville 17 June 2002, originally believed to be a Mourning Warbler, was reidentified at the time of specimen preparation as a MacGillivray’s.

Abreviations: AB- Arcata Bottoms;  AMP- Arcata Marsh Project;  AOP- Arcata oxidation ponds;  BSLP- Butcher Slough logpond at the AMP;  CR- College of the Redwoods;  ERWA- Eel R. Wildlife Area;  HBNWR- Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge;  LEWA- Lake Earl Wildlife Area and vic., Del Norte Co.;  MKSP- MacKerricher State Park, Mendocino Co.;  MRSWA- Mad R. Slough Wildlife Area;  m.ob.- many observers;  NJHB- north jetty Humboldt Bay;  m.- male, f.- female.

Birds Start Here

RED-NECKED GREBE:  1, Hookton Slough, 12 Jan (JP, DF);  2, King Salmon, 17 Jan (RF);  1, North Bay, 29 Jan (ST);  CLARK’S GREBE:  1, Butcher Slough, 21 Jan (PL) and on adjacent Klopp L., 25 Jan (KR);  1, Bracut, 11 Feb (DF);  BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 1, offshore Eureka, 8 Feb (HG); LAYSAN ALBATROSS: 1, offshore Eureka, 8 Feb (HG); NORTHERN FULMAR:  15/hr., n. Mendocino Co. coast, 22 Jan, with small numbers all through Feb (DT);  1, Wedding Rock, 2 Feb (RF, JW);  4, offshore Eureka, 8 Feb (HG); 4-5, off NJHB, 14 Feb (MW);  SOOTY SHEARWATER:  1, Wedding Rock, 2 Feb (RF, JW); 15, offshore Eureka, 8 Feb (HG); 14, off Mad R. mouth, 18 Feb (KR);  25, off NJHB, 14 Feb (MW);  SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER: 85, off Mad R. mouth, 18 Feb (KR);  SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER:  1, following boat off Clam Beach, 24 Feb (BD);  MOTTLED PETREL:  1, seen to fly in and crash-land on South Spit;  died later and specimen is at HSU (fide SH).     

BROWN PELICAN:  all of diminishing numbers present well into Jan throughout Humboldt Bay (m.ob.) had appeared to depart by early Feb.;  small numbers present along n. Mendocino Co. coast to 8 Feb (DT);    AMERICAN BITTERN:  1, MRSWA, 26 Jan (JH);  GREAT BLUE HERON:  had appeared at Table Bluff herony by 28 Jan (AT, SM);  CATTLE EGRET:  1, in night-heron roost at BSLP, 21 Jan (PL) and probably the same bird in AB, 26 Jan (KR);   GREEN HERON:  1, AOP, 21-23 Jan (JW, RF);  1, AMP, 17 Feb (MS).  GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE:  2, HBNWR, 17 Jan (RF);  2, LEWA, 6&9 Feb (KR);  1, Fort Bragg, 14 Feb (DT);  1, AB, 9-20 Feb (RLeV, DF, m.ob.);  SNOW GOOSE:  2, HBNWR, 17 Jan (RF);  1, AB, 26 Jan (KR);  SNOW/ROSS’S GOOSE:  2, HBNWR, 28 Jan (KR);  ROSS’S GOOSE:  1, Copenhagen Rd., 17 Jan (RF);  6-10, AB, 2-17 Feb (RF, m.ob., Humboldt record number--10 on 10 Feb, RLeV, county record—‘six and three in different fields and one single’);  3, AB, 20-22 Feb (DF, JP).

It’s a dead goose

EMPEROR GOOSE:  1, shot during Brant season (thus 11-9 to 12-10), s. Humboldt Bay, specimen privately held (fide SP);  BRANT:  30, just off Klopp L., 11 Feb (DF);  TUNDRA SWAN:  scarcer by a magnitude all season, with 40-50, Eel R. Bottoms, 15 Jan (SH) the high count; 16-35, AB, 26 Jan-17 Feb (KR, ST, FA) were in an area where not annually seen;  ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE:  Migration was revealed by counts in the AB of 700, 12 Jan (PS);  1275, 26 Jan (KR);  5000+, 7 Feb (DF);  and 3000, 22-23 Feb (DF, BD). In addition, 115 flying S opposite Mad R. mouth, 18 Feb (KR) and 500+ doing so opposite Patricks Pt., 25 Feb (KI) may have been birds responding to intense hazing by dairymen in the Fort Dick-Smith River area.  CACKLING CANADA GOOSE:  10, AB, 12 Jan (PS);  3, AB, 13 Jan (KR);  2, AB, 6 Feb (ST). 

WOOD DUCK:  20-25, Clam Beach ponds, 24 Jan (KR);  EUR. GREEN-WINGED TEAL:  1 m., BSLP, 23 Jan-22 Feb (JW, SC, m.ob.);  1 m., Hiller Park, McKinleyville, 18 Feb (KR);  EUR. X AM. GREEN-WINGED TEAL:  1 m., AMP, 17 Jan-14 Feb (JW, SN, JW, SH, DF);  BLUE-WINGED TEAL:  2-3, BSLP, 20-26 Jan (PL, JW, SH);  EURASIAN WIGEON (all m.):  1, HBNWR, 17 Jan (RF);  1-2, ‘V St. Loop’, s. AB, Jan-Feb (m.ob.);   4, HBNWR, 2 Feb (PH, RH);  1, LEWA, 6 Feb (KR);  1, AMP, 6 Feb (ST);  and 1, Hookton Slough, 9 Feb (DW, DF, JP, RF, m.ob.);  CANVASBACK:  200-300, LEWA, 15 Jan (aerial, SH);  1 m., Klopp L., 28 Jan (FA);  HARLEQUIN DUCK:  8, Glass Beach, to 22 Jan (DT);  1, Fields Landing, 27 Jan-10 Feb (MW);  1, NJHB, 14 Feb (MW);  2, Crescent City harbor, 16 Feb (KR);  8, Virgin Ck. Beach, 18 Feb (DT);  BLACK SCOTER:  6, Fort Bragg, to 22 Jan (DT);  SURF SCOTER:  ~9000, Cape Mendocino to s. Crescent City, 15 Jan (aerial, SH);  HOODED MERGANSER:  pr., near Somes Bar, 30 Jan (AW);  5, mouth Smith R., 9 Feb (KR);  6, n. end MRSWA, 9 Feb (SC);  5, n. end MRSWA, 10 Feb (RF). 

OSPREY:  1, North Bay, early Jan-10 Feb (DF, JP);  1, AMP, 7 Feb (FA, MA);  1, ERWA, 9 Feb (RF).

More and more eagles

BALD EAGLE:  Fourteen reports of 1-4 birds from Humboldt Bay to Smith River, summed as: 1 ad., outer Eel R. Bottoms, 15 Jan (SH); 1-2 ad. and imm., s.e. South Bay, 12 Jan-5 Feb (m.ob.); detailed below; 1 imm., Tall Trees trail, 20 Jan (GL); 2 imms., Elk Head, 21 Jan (KR); 2 ads., , Blue Lake, 23 Jan (MM); 1 ad., Smith R. Bottoms, 15 Jan (SH); 2 ads., 1 imm., LEWA, 6&16 Feb (KR); and 2 ad., 2-3 imms., Arcata area, 6-10 Feb (DJ, m.ob.);  FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1, Fernbridge, 21 Jan (RLeV); imm., Bald Hill near Fort Bragg, to 31 Jan (DT); 1 ad., n. AB, 29 Jan (KR); 1, s. AB, 26 Jan (JH); ad., Ten Mile R., 8 Feb (DT); 1 ad., LEWA, 9&16 Feb (KR);  PEREGRINE FALCON:  Thirteen reports of 1-3 birds from Fortuna, Humboldt Bay, and Lake Earl/Smith R. Bottoms, 26 Jan-23 Feb (m.ob.); PRAIRIE FALCON: 1, AB, 2 Feb (RF).

AMERICAN AVOCET: 375, Jacoby Cr. mouth, 28 Jan (DF); 180, HBNWR, 12 Jan (DF, JP); LESSER YELLOWLEGS: 2, AB, 5 Feb (KR); 3, ERWA, 9 Feb (RF); WHIMBREL: 5, AB, 26 Jan (KR);  1, Eureka, 16 Feb (RC); MARBLED GODWIT: 2200, Butcher Slough and Klopp L., 28 Jan (DF); RUDDY TURNSTONE: 2-3, Fields Landing, 29 Jan-9 Feb (KR, RF); 4, Crescent City harbor, 16 Feb (KR); RED KNOT: 1, Butcher Slough, 22 Feb (PeS); ROCK SANDPIPER: 2, NJHB, 13 Jan-8 Feb (RF, MW, ST); up to 5, MKSP, to 28 Jan (DT); RUFF: 1 m., among surfbirds and turnstones, NJHB, 19 Jan (MW).

POMARINE JAEGER: 1, NJHB, 29 Jan (ST);  LAUGHING GULL: 1, first-winter, L. Cleone, 1-16 Feb A&JC, DT);  BONAPARTE’S GULL: up to 15 at AOP, mid-Jan (m.ob.,); 80, Jacoby Cr. mouth, 21 Feb (DF); HEERMANN’S GULL: 1 dead, Little R. beach, 23 Jan (SN); HERRING GULL: 5, Moonstone Beach, 23 Jan (RN); THAYER’S GULL: 1 first-winter, Moonstone Beach, 23 Jan (RNa); 1 ad., 1 imm. flying over Arcata Plaza, 27 Jan (JT); 1, FW, NJHB,.

Returning Terns?

 29 Jan (ST); BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: 2-30, NJHB, 29 Jan (ST) to 14 Feb (MW); 10, from Wedding Rock, 2 Feb (RF, JW); 6, offshore Westport, 4 Feb (DT); 13-17, Mad R. mouth, 17-18 Feb (KR); CASPIAN TERN: 2, Hookton Slough, 12 Jan (JP, DF); 1, Hookton Slough, 17 Jan (RF); 4, mouth Jacoby Creek, 22 Feb (DF- early N migrants?); FORSTER’S TERN: 5-20 seen, n.e. North Bay, mid-Jan (SH, DF, SN); 24, AOP, 20 Feb (DF); COMMON MURRE: 3000 on Off-Trinidad Rock and 300 on Tower Rock, 15 Jan (SH); 12,000, Castle Rock, 6 Feb (KR); MARBLED MURRELET: 3, MKSP, 17 Jan (DT); 2, Wedding Rock, 2 Feb (RF, JW); 2, off NJHB, 14 Feb (MW). ANCIENT MURRELET: 3, MKSP, 10&16 Feb, and 8 there, 14 Feb (DT).

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL: 1, Elk Head, 15 Jan & 11 Feb (MH); 1, CR, 28 Jan (KR); 1, HSU campus, 12 Feb (JW); BURROWING OWL: 1, s. point of North Bay levee, 17 Jan (BC); SHORT-EARED OWL: 7, MRSWA, 26 Jan (JT, JH); COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD: m. at Fortuna seen to 14 Jan (BN); it or another in Fortuna 26 Feb (JTh fide EE).

First of the Spring!

RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD: 1 f., Fort Bragg, 21 Jan (DT); 1, Arcata, 1 Feb (JT); RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: 1, West End Rd., 3 Feb (EE); ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD: 1, 7 Feb, Cummings Rd. (TL); PILEATED WOODPECKER: 1, just n.e. of BSLP, 12 Feb was a rare visitor in the vicinity of the Arcata Marsh (GG); SAY’S PHOEBE: 1, n. of Singley Cr. mouth, 25 Feb (RH); TREE SWALLOW: 6, AMP, 21 Jan (PL); BARN SWALLOW: 4, Lake Cleone and 1, MKSP, 15 Jan (DT); 5, MRSWA, 26 Jan (JT) and 28 Jan (DF); 11, Elk R. mouth, 29 Jan (KR); 12, AMP, 1 Feb (DF, JP); NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD: 1, South G St., Arcata, 23 Jan (EE); WESTERN BLUEBIRD: 2-5 on 13 of 31 days, Kneeland, Jan (BB, DV); TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1, 141 South G Street, Arcata, 15-16 Jan (EE, BC, KR, JW); NASHVILLE WARBLER: 1, BSLP, observer’s first-ever in ten years (DF); YELLOW WARBLER: 1, 9^th and J, Arcata, 12 Jan (EE); PALM WARBLER: 1-3, AMP, 15-23 Jan (m.ob.); 1, e. side ‘V St. Loop’, 2 Feb (FA).

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1, AMP, 15-23 Jan (CO, JW); SWAMP SPARROW: 1-2, AMP, 14-23 Jan (JW, RF); 1, Jacoby Cr. mouth, 28 Jan (DF); ‘RED’ FOX SPARROW: 1, Sunny Brae, 8-24 Jan (SH); 1, Arcata, 18 Feb (SK); SLATE-COLORED JUNCO: 1, to 18 Jan, Patricks Ct., Arcata (RF); 1, Arcata, ‘all winter’ to 1 Feb (EE); LESSER GOLDFINCH: 1, Elk Head, 21 Jan, was a bit out of place (KR).

Submit reports to Stan Harris, 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata CA 95521, phone them to Stan at (707) 822-3802 or to the Arcata Bird Box at 822-5666, or write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center.