Field Notes

by Stanley W. Harris

March 20 - April 29, 2001

Spring Migration in full swing, birds arriving and departing more or less on time with few surprises. Weather generally on dry side. Good weather for the Godwit Days festival at the end of the period. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; A-EB = Arcata-Eureka Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BE = Blessed Event; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EM = Expected Migrant; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MS = Monitored Species; SRB = Smith River Bottoms;

HIGHLIGHTS:

Del Norte’s small nesting colony of GREAT EGRETS (2-3 pairs) began to show activity 2 Apr (AB): CATTLE EGRET (MS): 1, AB, 5 Apr (P&VS, E&MRW): WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (ID): 1, HBNWR, 27 Mar (KR); 3, SRB, 29 Apr (AB): SNOW GOOSE (ID): 1, SRB; 24 Mar (RH): ROSS’S GOOSE (ID): 1, HBNWR, 27 Mar (KR); 1, AB, 5-28 Apr (P&VS, E&MRW, et al.): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FR): 1 male, AMP, 19-28 Apr (DF, et al.): Eurasian Green-winged Teal (FR): 1 male, Fay Slough, 26 Apr (DF); EURASIAN WIGEON (ID): 1 male, AB, 31 Mar-1 Apr (PS, SH, TL, MH); 2, HBNWR, 26 Apr (GB, et al.); 1, SRB, 29 Apr (AB): HARLEQUIN (FR): 3, MKSP; 21 Mar (DT); 17, Glass Beach, 21 Mar (DT); 13, Crescent City, 24 Mar (AB, RH); 6-8, MKSP, 28 Mar-23 Apr (DT); 1, King Salmon, 27 Apr (TMcK, et al.).

No more Oldsquaw

LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 2, Crescent City Harbor, 24 Mar (RH); 1, MKSP, 23 Apr (DT); 3, Smith River estuary, 29 Apr (AB): HOODED MERGANSER (FR): 1 female, Klopp Lake, 11 Apr (TR); at least 2 females in boxes on eggs near Big Lagoon late in Apr (BY): BALD EAGLE (MS): 8 reports of singles from So. Fork, Trinity River, Arcata Bay and Lanphere Spit, 7 Mar-27 Apr (mo): GOSHAWK (FR): 1, Blocksburg, 23-25 Mar (BC, RS); 1, Tish Tang Ridge, 21 Apr (PH): RED-TAILED HAWK (GW): Reported nesting for the 29th year in a row in her yard in Fortuna (RC): FERRUGINOUS HAWK (ID): 1, AB, 1 Apr (TL, SH); wintering bird last seen in Del Norte, 3 Mar (AB): ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (ID): 1, HBNWR, 27 Mar (KR); 2, south of Ferndale "along coast," 31 Mar (KR); 1, AB, 1-5 Apr (TL, SH, P&VS, E&MRW): RUFFED GROUSE (FR): 1, near Patricks Point State Park, 24 Apr (PH, et al.); 1, near Todd Ranch, 27 Apr (MW); 1 seen, 3 heard, near Hoopa, 29 Apr (MHi, BMcD, et al.): WILD TURKEY (FR): several gobbling, Blocksburg, 9-13 Mar; 23-25 Mar (both BC, RS): 1 female, Kneeland, 3 miles south of Lawrence Ck. Bridge, 5 Apr (BB, DVZ): COMMON MOORHEN (FR): 1, MKSP, 23 Apr (DT): SOLITARY SANDPIPER (FR): 1, HBNWR, 26 Apr (GB): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (EM, FR): 2, SRB, 29 Apr (MM): GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): 1 imm, Crescent City Harbor, 26 Apr (AB); ANCIENT MURRELET (FR): 1 flying south past Wedding Rock, 21 Apr (DF, JP): TUFTED PUFFIN (MS): Continued decline of this species indicated by only 1 at Green Rock, 27-29 Apr (GB, GL) and only 2 pairs (first seen 31 Mar) reported at nesting areas at Castle Rock this spring (AB).

Brown-eyed Owls

BARRED OWL (MS): 2, Prairie Creek State Park, 6-26 Apr (RH, et al.): SPOTTED OWL (MS): 1, Blocksburg, 23-25 Mar (BC, RS); 1, Kneeland, 27 Apr (PH): NIGHTHAWK SP. (ID): 1, studied for some time as it flew at 10-Mile River near Ft. Bragg, 19 Apr (DT), thought to be possibly a Lesser, based on the early date, narrow white bar near tip of wing, and buffy ("orange" according to one casual observer) cast to body plumage; seen as it flew without vocalizing, and was not seen perched; was not found later despite attempts. WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (FR): 5-6, Scotia Bluffs, 27 Mar (GL): LARGE DARK SWIFT SP. 1, Pigeon Point Road, Eureka, reported as "possible Chimney," 21 Apr (DW), but "all dark, larger than Vaux’s with slow wing beat, much gliding" certainly does not rule out Black Swift, far more likely. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (FR, ID): 1 male, well seen and described over phone, Kneeland, 30 Mar (BB, DVZ); 1, Azalea Hill, 22 Apr (GL): WILLOW FLYCATCHER (FR,ID): 1, Bayside Road, 28 Apr (TMcK, JeS); 1 reported singing at BSLP, 28 Apr (no details): HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER (IL, FR): 1, Shay Park, 29 Apr (DF, JP): NORTHERN SHRIKE (FR,): 1, Pacific Shores, 24 Mar (AB, only Del Norte record for the winter): PLUMBEOUS VIREO (FR): 1, BSLP, 20 Apr (SH, only about the 10th documented record): CLARK’S NUTCRACKER (GW): 1, flying south past Big Lagoon, 21 Apr (TMcK): GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (FR): 1 singing, Davison Road Bridge, 25-26 Apr (DF, KR): INDIGO BUNTING (FR): 1, Moonstone Heights, 26-27 Apr (LV): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1 (only), Cannibal Road, 27 Mar, RH, TMcK): BALTIMORE ORIOLE (FR): 1 male, singing 6-23 Apr (EE, et al., seen by many observers; the first record for the northcoast since 1996 and only about the 20th record ever): HOODED ORIOLE (FR, IL): 2 at a sugar feeder, Orick, 16-17 Apr (GC, fide KR): LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH (IL, FR): 1 male, singing, north Arcata, 21 Apr (KR).

Other Interesting Reports of Migrants, Etc

RED-THROATED & PACIFIC LOONS (EM): "low numbers" Wedding Rock, 21 Apr (DF, JP): RED-NECKED GREBE(ID): 3, MKSP, 23 Apr (DT); 3, Humboldt Bay, 29 Apr: CLARK’S GREBE (FR):1, Arcata Bay, 10-27 Apr (JT, et al.): BROWN PELICAN (ID, EM): 1, Ft. Bragg, 16-22 Apr (DT): 2, flying north past Wedding Rock, 21 Apr (DF, JP); 1, Elk Head, 27 Apr (GB): BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (EM): 5, Eel Canyon, 15 Apr (HG); 150, offshore Eureka, 28-29 Apr (RLeV, TMcK): SOOTY SHEARWATER (EM): 5, Eel Canyon, 15 Apr (HG); 40, offshore Eureka, 28-29 Apr (RLeV, TMcK): AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): 1, BSLP, 6 Mar, 12 Apr (BMcI, ST); 1 "booming" in plain view, AMP, 18 Apr (EE): GREEN HERON (EM, FR): 1, Mad River Road, 5 Apr (P&VS, E&MRW): 1, mouth of Redwood Creek, 17 Apr (anon, please give your name when you put reports on the bird box!); 1, College of the Redwoods, 18 Apr (KR); 2, Blue Lake riparian, 21 Apr (DF, JP): WESTERN CANADA GOOSE (BE): First new brood of the season hatched from the east island of Klopp Lake (7 goslings) by at least 9 Apr (SH, et al); by the end of the period at least 3 other broods had been reported: ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE (EM): x, HBNWR, 27 Mar (KR); 3000, AB, 5 Apr (KR); not seen in AB after mid-Apr, but at least 2000 still present on Smith River Bottoms in mid Apr (AB): WOOD DUCK (EM): have returned to AOP as usual in spring where 2-12 have been seen regularly since 28 Feb (many reports, MA, et al.): MALLARD (BE): first broods seen at AOP and Gearheart Marsh, 19-20 Apr (SH): GADWALL (IN): 20 (10 pairs), Arcata Bay near AOP, 19 Apr; 5-6 pairs, AMP, 19-29 Apr (mo): RING-NECKED DUCK (IL): 1-5, AMP, 26 Mar-27 Apr (mo); 1 pair, Mad River at Blue Lake, 20 Apr (KR, MM); 1, Fay Slough, 19 Apr (DF); 2, SRB, 29 Apr (MM).

One More Scoter

BLACK SCOTER (ID): 4, MKSP, 23 Apr (DT): COMMON GOLDENEYE (FR): 1 female, Klopp Lake, 4-25 Apr (mo): RUDDY DUCK (GW): 1 male with an all dark head, AOP, 24-26 Apr (SH, MA): OSPREY (EM): 7 reports of 1-3 from Arcata Bay, Blue Lake, Fortuna, and north spit near Manila where a new nest was occupied, 21 Mar-27 Apr (mo): WHITE-TAILED KITE (IL): 1, Blue Lake, 4 Apr (CW, MV): MERLIN (MS. ID): 11 reports of singles from Elk Prairie, Lanphere Dunes, AB, AMP, Arcata Bay, HBNWR, Fernbridge, 21 Mar-28 Apr (mo): PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 17 reports of 1-2 from SRB, Klamath Glen, Espa Lagoon, Davison Road, mouth of Redwood Creek, AB, AMP, AOP, Eureka, HBNWR, 27 Mar-29 Apr (mo): RING-NECKED PHEASANT (GW): Singles seen on six occasions near Elk River Road exit, 14 Mar-10 Apr (MJ, KR) were probably recent releases from captivity: VIRGINIA RAIL (ID): 1, No Name Pond, 5, 23 Apr (SH); 1, BSLP, 10 Apr (CO): SORA (ID): 3, AMP, 10 Apr (JT); 1, No Name Pond, 16, 18 Apr (SH): SNOWY PLOVER (MS): 1, Clam Beach, 31 Mar (CW, MV); 7 Clam Beach, 28 Apr (SMcA, AT):: AVOCET (IL): 4, HBNWR, 27 Apr (GB): WHIMBREL (EM): 1, Klopp Lake, 7 Apr (MS); 16-25, near Orick, 17-23 Apr (anon, DF): RED KNOT (FR): 2, AMP, 21 Apr (BC); 1, Woodley Island, 27 Apr (TMcK): ROCK SANDPIPER (ID): 1, MKSP, 22 Mar (DT): SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (EM): first identified 21 Mar, Klopp Lake (BMcI), common by end of period: BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (ID):  15, Crab Park, 10 Apr (TMcK): CASPIAN TERN (EM): 2, Klopp Lake, 21 Mar (BMcI); 40, lower Mad River, 31 Mar (PS); 30, migrating as singles past Stone Lagoon, 1000-1100, 31 Mar (SH): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 2, Eel Canyon, 15 Apr (HG); 2, MKSP, 23 Apr (DT); x, offshore, 29 Apr (TMcK); "regular numbers," dawn flights, Elk Prairie, all month (mo): Only 4 RHINOCEROS and 6 CASSIN’S AUKLETS, reported on Godwit Days boat trip 28 Apr (RLeV). PYGMY-OWL (FR): 1-2 calling, Prairie Creek State Park, 3-26 Apr (RH, et al.): SHORT-EARED OWL (ID): 1, HBNWR, 27 Mar (KR); 6 (!), Hookton Slough, 8 Apr (MS, DF, JP); 4, Hookton Slough, 18 Apr (JD); JD reported that, in spring 2000, sometime before 1 July, he saw an "obvious" family unit group of 5 at Hookton Slough Trail of HBNWR, so a male and female displaying over the same area on 29 Apr (RLeV, SMcA) was notable; 1-3 reported "flushed from tree roost," Kneeland, 22-23 Mar (AD), could these have been Long-eared Owls?: SAW-WHET OWL (FR): 1, Blocksburg, 23-25 Mar (BC, RS); 1, Kneeland, 27 Apr (PH): RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (EM): Additional, usual, reports of these were received; example: 1 seen on 12 days, 11-31 Mar at Kneeland (BB): ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (EM): Became well established at feeders throughout region and period, example: 1-2 seen on 21 days, 9-31 Mar at Kneeland (BB): HAIRY WOODPECKER (GW):  1 pure white (dark eye) bird reported near Trinidad, 30 Mar (MeH); PILEATED WOODPECKER (FR): 4 reports of 1-2 from Todd Ranch, Elk Head, Arcata Community Forest, Horse Mountain, 25-28 Apr (mo): GRAY JAY (MS): 1, Klamath Glen, 17 Apr (EE): MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (IL): 1-5, Elk Head, 23-28 Apr (MeH, STu). DIPPER (FR): 2, Lost Man Creek, 24-28 Apr (GB, et al.): RED CROSSBILL (BE): MeH reported 2 pairs of adults with 3 and 5 juvenal-plumage young near Trinidad, 22-23 Apr. Timely reports of other expected migrants were as follows: Wandering Tattler, 29 Apr, North Jetty; Vaux’s Swift, 17 Apr, Freshwater (RH); Olive-sided Flycatcher, 24 Apr, Monument Creek (GL); Pacific-slope Flycatcher, 2 Apr, Elk Valley (GL).

First Grassland Royalty

Western Kingbird, 19 Apr, Arcata (DF): Warbling Vireo, 23-25 Mar, Blocksburg, (BC, RS); Purple Martin, 7 Apr, AMP (MV, CW, MS); Cliff Swallow, 26 Mar, AMP (SH); Rough-winged Swallow, 24 Mar, Smith River mouth (PS); Western Bluebird, 2 seen on 16 days in Mar at Kneeland, where they are known to nest in boxes (BB); Swainson’s Thrush, 23 Apr, Orick (DF); Northern Mockingbird, 14 Apr, So. G. Street, Arcata (DF, JP); AMP, 17 Apr (BMcI); Townsend’s Warbler, 4-5 still present, 18 Apr, Cummings Road, Eureka (T&SL); Hermit Warbler, 29 Mar, Redwood Science Lab (CO); 14 Apr, Azalea Hill (GL); Black-throated Gray Warbler, (wintering bird last seen at AMP, 9 Mar (AB); obvious spring migrant present 20 Apr, Blue Lake riparian (KR, MM); Palm Warbler, wintering bird(s) still at AMP, 29 Apr (anon): MacGillvray’s Warbler, 21 Apr, Miranda (JS); Common Yellowthroat, common at AMP/AOP after 26 Mar (SH); Wilson’s Warbler, 26 Mar, Sunny Brae (SH), many after early April (mo); Yellow-breasted Chat, 27 Apr, Blue Lake (RH): Western Tanager, 10 Apr, HBNWR (TMcK): Chipping Sparrow, 31 Mar, Azalea Hill (GL); Vesper Sparrow, 24 Mar, Trinity Center (JH, JS); Black-headed Grosbeak, 17 Apr, Eureka (HG); Lazuli Bunting, 29 Apr, Hoopa (BMcD); Bullock’s Oriole, 15 Mar, Crescent City (AB); Evening Grosbeak, 1-8 seen in Eureka 1-10 Apr (BS).

Many thanks to the following who shared observations with us this month: Marge Adams, Keith Anderson, Alan Barron, Art Barab, Gary Bloomfield, Heather Brown, Barbara Burek, Bryon Cariss, Gene Cox, Ruth Crane, Brent Critch, Anthony Desch, Joe Dobbs, Elias Elias, David Fix, Greg Frankfurter, Hal Genger, Melody Hamilton, Michael Harris, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, Mark Higley, Denise Homer, Gretchen Hoiness, John Hunter, Matt Johnson, Josh Koepke, Dale Kuhn, Carol Lawrence, Sue & Tom Leskiw, Gary Lester, Ron LeValley, Tracy Lloyd, Sean McAllister, Brooke MacDonald, Bryon McIntosh, Tristan McKee, Mark Morrissette, Brit O’Brien, Chet Ogan, Patrick Oliver, Steve Paghiugli, Aida Parkinson, Jude Power, Terry Roelofs, Kerry Ross, Danielle Saylor, D. Solis, Rosalie Schele, Jennifer Schramm, Bob Seammen, Mary Severdia, Maureen & Melo Shaubsoto, R. Smith, Jay Sooter, Paul & Virginia Springer, Sara Starr, John Sterling, Steve Strom, S. Tareen, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Steve Tucker, Dan Van Zile, Margaret Varga, Lucille Vineyard, Matt Wachs, Catherine Walling, Don Wattenbarger, Ed & Mary Ruth Weir, Hiero Whitmore, Brian Yost.

Please report future observations to me at (707) 822-3802, mail them to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif., 95521, call them to the Eureka Bird Box (707) 442-5666, or to the Arcata Bird Box (707) 822-5666, or write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Project Interpretive Center or on the sheet in "Ornithology Hall," second floor, the Wildlife Building, H.S.U. campus. The next Sandpiper will be published in early September 2001 and the deadline for including observations in that issue will be about 20 August.