Field Notes

by Stanley W. Harris

26 March -26 April 2000

Spring migration is in full swing, with new arrivals every day. Our wintering birds are rapidly disappearing and being replaced with breeders. Generally dry weather except for Godwit Days!

Abbreviations used: AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EE = Expected Event; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; EN = Expected Numbers; ES = Escape; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FR =Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IN = Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = many observers; MS = monitored species; NC = Not confirmed, details?;

Highlights: CATTLE EGRET (MS): 2-4, Lanphere Road, 15-18 Apr (mo): MUTE SWAN (ES): 1, AOP, mouth Jacoby Creek, 30 Mar (DF, JP): WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (MS): 10, AB, 7 Apr (PS): ROSS’S GOOSE (IN): 2, HBNWR, 30 Mar (SL); 3-19! (the largest single flock (17) ever recorded along the northcoast), AB, 28 Mar-14 Apr (PS, JD, RLeV, RH, DF); SNOW GOOSE (FR): 6, lower Eel River, 1-8 Apr (BS): CINNAMON X BLUE-WINGED TEAL HYBRID (FR): 1, Eel River Bottoms, 7 Apr (KI): EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 1 pair, Copenhagen Road, 9 Apr (KI): HARLEQUIN DUCK (FR): 2-5, MKSP, 29 Mar-10 Apr (DT): FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FR): 1, Mad River Bottoms, 5 Apr (DF): PRAIRIE FALCON (FR): 1, chasing shorebirds, Humboldt Bay, 23 Apr (MC).

Elusive Ruffed Grouse

RUFFED GROUSE (FR): 1, 13 miles up Bluff Creek Road, 5, 23 Apr (TL); 1, Tall Trees Road, 9 Apr (LB-O, DO); 1, Red Cap Road, 11 Apr (TL); 1, Bald Hills Road, 20 Apr (CO): BLACK-NECKED STILT (FR): 3, Fay Slough, 6 Apr (CB, SL, fide MK): SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 1, Orick, 22 Apr (DF): SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (FR, NC, ID): 1, ERWA, 31 Mar (KI); 1, AB, 19 Apr (KI): WESTERN SANDPIPER (IN): A major migration occurred at Humboldt Bay during the week of 20-27 Apr when up to 100,000+ were recorded on North Humboldt Bay plus several thousand others in South Humboldt Bay and Mad River Slough (MC, DF, KI, et al.): GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): 1 imm., 4 Apr (KN); 2 imm., Fernbridge, 3 Apr (SMc, AT): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): few to many early morning detections, Boyes Prairie, 4-18 Apr (DF); "few," Humboldt Bay Channel, 15 Apr (RLeV, BC); 7, off Manila, 19 Apr (DF).

No Auklets

CASSIN’S AUKLET (IN): NONE seen offshore, 15 Apr (RLeV): BARRED OWL (MS): 1-2 calling, Boyes Prairie, 4-18 Apr (DF): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (MS): 2-5, Smith Point Bridge, 26 Mar-20 Apr (JS, JW): WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (IL): 1, Davison Road, 2 Apr (KI): HORNED LARK (FR): 2, Bear River Ridge, 23 Apr (GB): GRAY JAY (FR): 2, lower end, Headwaters Trail, 28 Mar (PR); 2, east of Hydesville, 4-5 Apr (GL): PURPLE MARTIN (EM): 13-35, AMP, 16-18 Apr (SH, JP, DF, et al.): BANK SWALL0W(FR): 2, Elk Head, 16 Apr (SH): OAK TITMOUSE (FR, IL): 1, Bald Hills Road, 20 Apr (CO): NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (FR): 1, Garberville, 2 Apr (JS, MT); 1, Moxon Road, 20 Apr (PS): SAGE THRASHER (FR): 1, AB, 10 Apr (PH): BREWER’S SPARROW (FR): 1, Dry Lagoon, 2 Apr (KI): HARRIS’S SPARROW (FR): 1, Azalea Hill, 1-14 Apr (GL): POSSIBLE EASTERN MEADOWLARK (NC, GW): Based on songs heard over an extended period and compared to nearby, clear Western Meadowlarks, 1, west of Eel River at Salmon Creek, southern Humboldt County, 30 Mar (BW): GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (FR): 1 female, AMP, 5-30 Mar (JK, KN, SH, BA): HOODED ORIOLE (FR): 1 imm. male, Ft. Bragg, 15 Apr (DT); 1 pair, Arcata, 14th and I streets, 15 Apr (CW):

STATISTICAL SECTION: PACIFIC LOON (EM): several 100 migrating offshore, 15-16 Apr (RLeV, SH, et al.): CLARK’S GREBE (FR): 1-2, Butcher Slough and vic, 13-16 (Pl, SH, et al.); 1, Eureka Channel, 15 Apr (BC): RED-NECKED GREBE (FR): 5, King Salmon, 5 Apr (MW); 7, MKSP, 8 Apr (DT); 3, Entrance Bay, 26 Apr (KN): HORNED GREBE (EL): 2 (breeding plumage), Hookton Slough, 9 Apr (JP).

Offshore sightings

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (IN): 200, 13 miles off Eel River, 15 Apr (RLeV, et al.): NORTHERN FULMAR (IN): 10, to 13 miles off Eel River, 15 Apr (RLeV, et al.), 1 seawatch from Manila, 19 Apr (DF): PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (EN): 4-5, to 13 miles off Eel River, 15 Apr (RLeV, et al.): SOOTY SHEARWATER (EN): 40-50, to 13 miles off Eel River, 15 Apr (RLeV, et al.): BROWN PELICAN (EM): 1 adult, Eureka Channel, 1 Apr (KN, BD); 1 adult migrating past Freshwater Lagoon, 23 Apr (DF); 1 adult, North Spit, 26 Apr (KN): DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (IL): 3, mouth Willow Creek, 30 Mar (TL); 1, Eel River at Cain Rock, 2 Apr (JS, MT); 1, Orleans, 10 Apr (TL): AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): 1, BSLP, 10 Apr (SH): GREEN HERON (FR): 2, Freshwater Valley, 14 Apr (BW): WESTERN CANADA GOOSE (EE): new broods afloat, 15-17 Apr, AMP, (mo): ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE (IN): Final population estimate for this spring= 35,500 (PS); 35, AB, 26 Apr (KI): REDHEAD (FR): 1 male, AMP, 13-19 Apr (mo): RING-NECKED DUCK (IL): 1 pair, AMP, 14-26 Apr (mo): BALD EAGLE (MS): 10 reports, 30 Mar-16 Apr, from mouth Willow Creek, HBNWR, Big Lagoon, Freshwater Lagoon, lower Eel River, lower Mad River, Humboldt Bay, Redwood Creek. Todd Ranch (mo): ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (ID): 1, AB, 4 Apr (DF): GOLDEN EAGLE (FR): 1 calling, Benbow, 26 Mar (JS); 2, upper Yager Creek, Kneeland, 3 Apr (BW); 1 adult, Alderpoint Road, 20 Apr (JW): MERLIN (MS): 4 reports, 4-15 Apr, from north Bay, AMP, AB, (mo): PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 3 reports, 14-18 Apr, from AMP, Elk Head (PL, SH, PS, TL): SNOWY PLOVER (ID): 2 nests, south Clam Beach, 31 Mar, both later abandoned (RLeV): AMERICAN AVOCET (EM): 1 (last date), AMP, 24 Apr (SH): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (EM): 1, HBNWR, 5 Apr (GB): RED KNOT (FR): 3-6, AMP, 14-23 Apr (Pl, MC, et al.); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 16 Apr (CO); 4, mouth Jacoby Creek, 20 Apr (KI): RUDDY TURNSTONE (ID): 1, mouth Elk River, 25 Apr (KN).

Shorebird Migration

Migratory flights of Whimbrels, Short-billed Dowichers, Dunlin, Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, in large numbers, 12-25 Apr (mo): BONAPARTE’S GULL (EM): 25, Humboldt Bay, 1 Apr (BD); 2, off Humboldt Bay, 15 Apr (RLeV): BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (FR): 1 winter adult on beach, MKSP, 3 Apr (DT): CASPIAN TERN (EM):  8 reports, of 2-135+ from AOP, AMP, Centerville Beach, mouth Mad River, South Humboldt Bay, Redwood Creek Estuary, Elk Head, 29 Mar-16 Apr (mo): RHINOCEROS AUKLET (FR): 2-"several", off Humboldt Bay, 15 Apr (RLeV, MW): WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (ED): 9 calling, Kneeland Road, 3 Apr (BW): SHORT-EARED OWL (ID): 1, Hookton Slough, 9 Apr (JP): VAUX’S SWIFT (EM): 2-few, AMP, Arcata, Eureka, HSU, Garberville, Smith Point Bridge, 12-20 Apr (mo): RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (EM): 1, Dry Lagoon, 2 Apr (BF); 2, Garberville, 2 Apr (JS, MT); 1, Elk Head, 16 Apr (SH, RC): PILEATED WOODPECKER (FR): 1, Dry Lagoon, 2 Apr (BF): PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (EM): 1 calling, Hydesville, 4 Apr (GL); several, southern Humboldt County and near Orick, 11-13 Apr (BW, DF): WESTERN KINGBIRD (EM): 1, AB, 19 Apr (KI): 2-5, Hufford Road, 22-26 Apr (DF): CASSIN’S VIREO (EM): 1 singing, mouth Little River, 7 Apr (KI, KN, GL) (first thought to be a Blue-headed, but consensus is that it was a bright Cassin’s); 1, Salmon Creek, southern Humboldt County, 11 Apr (BW): WARBLING VIREO (EM): several, southern Humboldt County and Orick, 11-13 Apr (BW, DF): ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (EM): 1-30, AMP, 15-16 Apr (PL, SH, et al.): CLIFF SWALLOW (EM): 20-25, AMP, 10 Apr (SH):HORNED LARK (EL): 1 pair, Bear River Ridge, 23 Apr (GBe): AMERICAN PIPIT (ID): 2, Bald Hills, 20 Apr (CO).

Returning Warblers

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (EM): several, southern Humboldt Co., Arcata and vic, 11-23 Mar (BW, GL, et al.): NASHVILLE WARBLER (EM): 1, Aldergrove Pond, 16 Apr (BW): BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (EM): 1, Salmon Creek Road, 11 Apr (BW); 4, Elk Head, 15 Apr (TL): TOWNSEND’S WARBLER (ID): 4, Dyerville loop, 13 Apr (BW); 1-2, Elk Head, 16 Apr (SH, et al.): HERMIT WARBLER (EM): 1, Dyerville loop, 13 Apr (BW); 1, Elk Head, 15 Apr (Godwit Days folks); 1, north of Orick, 19 Apr (DF, HB): PALM WARBLER (ID):1-3, AMP, 31 Mar-24 Apr (SH, BZ, MV): MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER (EM): 1 singing, Bayside, 6 Apr (DF); 1, near Orick, 19 Apr (DF, HB); 1, Essex Lane, 23 Apr ("Brian"): COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (EM): 1, Cain Rock, 2 Apr (JS, MT); 1, mouth Little River, 2 Apr (BC); 1 pair, Old Samoa Road, 23 Apr (DA): WILSON’S WARBLER (EM): 1 singing, east of Hydesville, 4 Apr (GL); 1, Elk Head, 15 Apr (TL); 3, Aldergrove Pond, 16 Apr (BW): YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (EM):1, Eel River near Miranda, 19 Apr (JG): WESTERN TANAGER (EM): x, Dry Lagoon, 2 Apr (BF): CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (EL): 1, Fortuna, 22 Apr (KW): CHIPPING SPARROW (EM): 1, Bayside, 30 Mar (DF); 1, AB, 2 Apr (BC); 2, Dyerville Loop, 13 Apr (BW); 1, Arcata, 20 Apr (KN); 1, BSLP, 21 Apr (SH): LARK SPARROW (EL): 3, Dyerville Loop, 13 Apr (BW): RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (MS): continuing at Cain Rock, 2 Apr (JS, MT): LINCOLN’S SPARROW (ID): 1 singing, Shay Park, 9 Apr (BA); 1, AB, 16 Apr (SH, et al.); 1, Eureka, 19 Apr ("Brian"): WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (ID): 3 still at Sunny Brae, 27 Apr (SH): BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (EM): 1 singing, Goat Rock, Van Duzen River, 19 Apr (BW): TRICOLORED BLACKKBIRD (MS): None found at Drake Hill Road nesting site, 24 Apr (JP, DF), does anyone have any records for this year?: BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (EM): 1, Arcata, 18 Apr (BC); 1, Todd Ranch, 23 Apr (JL).

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 rare bird sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center or on the rare bird sheet outside of room 230, the Wildlife Building, H.S.U. campus. Many thanks to the following who shared observations with us this month: Brian Acord, David Anderson, Louise Bacon-Ogden, Pamela Baker, Cheryl Bartlett, Charles Barttolotta, Glen Beshears, Gary Bloomfield, Heather Brown, Bryon Cariss, Mark Colwell, Ruth Crane, Stephanie Davis, Jonas Day, Bruce Deuel, Duke Diehl, David Fix, Brad Freeman, John Gaffin, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Ken Irwin, Josh Koetke, Mary Kuehner, Gary Lester, Tom Leskiw, Ron LeValley, Steve Lewis, Sean McAllister, Mark Morrissette, Kristie Nelson, David Ogden, Jude Power, Paul Rouch, Bruce Slocum, Jay Sooter, Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Margaret Taylor, Matt Wachs, Catharine Walling, Kevin Westfall, Bud Widdowson, Margaret Widdowson.