Field Notes

by Stan Harris

21 March - 20 April

Generally nice weather interspersed with RAIN.  Aleutian Goose Days at the beginning of the period and Godwit Days at the end of the period, some highlights from those trips included.  Pelagic trips were conducted for Godwit Days on 19 and 20 April and for the H.S.U. Ornithology Class on 19 April, details below: This period was marked by the expected arrivals of spring migrants and breeders and the gradual departure of wintering birds, some of which still lingered through the end of the period.  Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms, 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; FR = Few Records;   GW = Gee Whiz report;  HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MS = Monitored Species, NC = Not Confirmed; ND = No Details; SRB = Smith River Bottoms.

Notable mammals reported: Gray Whale: 1, North Jetty, 29 Mar (MW); 1 North Jetty, 19 Apr (JLy, et al.); 1, Eureka Channel at Coast Guard Station, 19 Apr (JLy, et al.): Hump-backed Whale: 1, northwest of Humboldt Bay, 19 Apr (TMcK, et al.):   Dall’s Porpoise: 3 groups reported offshore, 19 April (TMcK, et al.,  JLy et al.).

BIRDS: Red-necked Grebe (FR, ID): 3, seen from South Jetty, 20 Apr (RLV, et al.): Short-tailed Albatross (GW): Only the 3^rd ever record for the northcoast, an immature “with a big pink bill” was reported 21.5 miles west of Table Bluff, 6 Apr(TP, fide EE), very likely the same bird reported last month off the Humboldt/Del Norte County line: Laysan Albatross (FR): 1, northwest of Humboldt Bay, 19 Apr (TMcK, et al.); 1, 22 miles west of Table Bluff, 19 Apr (JLy, SH, et al.), almost certainly 2 different birds: Black-footed Albatross (EL): Up to 20 at bait stations beyond 8 miles from shore, 19 Apr (JLy, SH, TMcK, et al): Northern Fulmar (IN): Only 12 in scattered groups of 1-6, off  Table Bluff , 9-23 miles, 19 Apr (JLy, SH, et al.)  Pink-footed Shearwater (EN): Only 2 to 4 seen all day off Table Bluff, 18-22 miles (JLy, SH, et al.): Short-tailed Shearwater (NC, ND): 2 reported northwest of Humboldt Bay, 19 Apr (TMcK, et al.): Brown Pelican (ID): 1, North Jetty, 29 Mar (MW); 15, fly past Dry Lagoon, 15 Apr (GB); 1, Off-Trinidad Rock, 18 Apr (DF, JP); 1, Humboldt Bay, 19 Apr (SH, et al.): American Bittern (FR): 1, BSLP, 11 Apr (PL); 1, near Ferndale, 13 Apr (JW, et al.); 1, Dry Lagoon, 15 Apr (GB); 2, near Loleta, 20 Apr (RLV et al.):  Green Heron (FR): 1, BSLP, 11 Apr (PL); 1, AOP, 2 Apr (DH); 1, Hookton Road (sitting in top of a tree!), 20 Apr (RLV, et al). 

White-fronted Goose (FR): 1, SRB, 23 Mar (RH); 3-12, V.St. Loop, 12-13 Apr (FA, DF); 1, SRB, 12 Apr (KR): Snow Goose (FR): 2, HBNWR, 17 Apr (DF):  Ross’s Goose (FR):  1, SRB, 12 Apr (KR): Western Canada Goose (EE): new broods seen since 4 Apr (SH, et al.): Aleutian Canada Goose (EM): Numbers at Castle Rock declined from 9650 on 11 Apr to 1215 on 19 Apr (KR): Brant: 1 light bird reported on South Humboldt Bay, 13 Apr, may have been a partial albino from the description given (JW, et al.): Wood Duck (IN): up to 17 at AOP (17 Apr, MW), throughout period (mo); 5, near Smith River, 12 Apr (KR): Gadwall (IN): 150, Hookton Overflow Pond, 13 Apr (DF, JP et al.):  Eurasian Wigeon (FR): 10 reports of 1 to 3 from near Crescent City, AB, North Humboldt Bay, HBNWR, 25 Mar-20 Apr (mo): Mallard (EE): first brood reported for the season, AMP, 10 Apr (DF):  Blue-winged Teal (FR): 2, near Loleta, 13 Apr (JW, et al.); 1 pair, Lake Earl, 12 Apr (KR); 1 pair, AB, 20 Apr (JW, et al.): Northern Shoveler(IN): besides the usual 75 to 150 at AOP, the concentration of 2000 at HBNWR, 25 Mar had declined to 300 by 19 Apr (DF). Northern Pintail (IN): 600, HBNWR, 25 Mar (DF); 200+, North Humboldt Bay, 29 Mar (SH):   Eurasian Green-winged Teal (FR):   1 Allen Marsh, 11, 15 Apr (ST, SH); 1 intergrade, BSLP, 12 Apr (JW): Harlequin (FR) (UPDATE): 6-8, Virgin Creek Beach, 22 Feb-2 Mar, (DT): 1, Fields Landing, 2 Apr (KR): Black Scoter (FR): 1, off South Jetty, 20 Apr (RLV, et al.):  White-winged Scoter (MS): 14, North Jetty, 29 Mar (MW); 1, Wedding Rock, 8 Apr (JW); 4, North Jetty, JL, SH, et al.): Long-tailed Duck (FR):   2, Crescent City Harbor, 22 Mar (fide, RH); 1, Lewiston Lake, 31 Mar (RF, BMcD); 1, Smith River, 3-18 Apr (KR); 1, mouth, Klamath River, 6-15 Apr (RF, et al.): Hooded Merganser (FR):  1, near Crescent City, 22 Mar (fide RH); 4, Clam Beach Ponds, 31 Mar (KR); 1, near Ferndale, 13 Apr (JW).

Bald Eagle (MS): 12 reports of 1 to 3 from Smith River, Trinidad Head, Blue Lake, Fay Slough, North Bay, Todd Ranch, HBNWR, 22 Mar-19 Apr (mo): Ferruginous Hawk (ID): 1, AB, 24 Mar (RS), 1, AB, 1 Apr (DF): Golden Eagle (EL): 1, So. Fk. Trinity R., 18-19 Apr (GOB); 1, Chezem Road, 18 Apr (GOB):  Merlin (MS): 6 reports of 1-2 from AB, AMP, HBNWR, 28 Mar-19 Apr (mo): Peregrine Falcon (MS): 13 reports of singles from Prince Island, Trinidad, AB, AMP, North Hum. Bay, Blue Lake, King Salmon, HBNWR, 23 Mar-20 Apr (mo): Prairie Falcon (FR): 1, Bald Hills near Schoolhouse Peak, 30 Mar (MB): Blue Grouse (EL): 1, Double A Ranch, 17 Apr (TL); 1, Titlow Hill Road, 19 Apr (GOB).

Snowy Plover (MS): 6, Clam Beach, 31 Mar (KR): Semipalmated Plover (IN): 84, Clam Beach, 31 Mar (KR): Avocet (IN): 40, HBNWR, 19 Apr (DF): Lesser Yellowlegs: 1-2, AB, 12-20 Apr (FA, DF, JW); 1, near Ferndale, 13 Apr (JW, et al.); 2, HBNWR, 19-20 Apr (DF, RLV, et al.):Ruddy Turnstone (ID): 1, Elk Head, 20 Apr (PH):  Red Knot (EN): 6, Klopp Lake, 9 Apr (PL); 1, Klopp L., 17 Apr (DF); 1 Cock Robin Island, 20 Apr (CO, et al.): Rock Sandpiper (FR) (UPDATE): 1-3, Laguna Pt, 22 Feb-21 Mar (DT); 2, North Jetty, 31 Mar (DF, JP); 1, North Jetty, 5 Apr (JW); 2, South Jetty, 13 Apr (JW): Heermann’s Gull (ID) (UPDATE): 2 adults (breeding plumage), Laguna Point, 26 Feb (DT); 1, Woodley Island, 17 Apr (RF), 2, Eureka Channel, 19 Apr (SH): Thayer’s Gull (FR): 1, mouth Mad River, 19 Apr (RN): Glaucous Gull (FR): 4 reports of first year birds from Laguna Point, Fernbridge, Crescent City Harbor, Trinidad, 17 Mar, 5, 6 Apr (DT, SMcA, GB, DF): Black-legged Kittiwake: 11, North Jetty, 29 Mar (MW); 150, mouth Klamath R., 6 Apr (RF); 6, Elk Head, 19 Apr (MW); 2 imm., 20 miles off Table Bluff, 19 Apr (SH, et al.): Caspian Tern (IN): 35, east island, Klopp Lake, 17 Apr (DF, DP): Pigeon Guillemot (ID): 40, Trinidad Harbor, 24 Mar (DF):  Marbled Murrelet (FR) (UPDATE): 6, Laguna Pt., 6 Mar (DT); 1, North Jetty, 29 Mar (MW), 4, Humboldt Bay Entrance and vic., 19 Apr (JL, SH, et al.); 4, Luffenholtz Cove, 20 Apr (RLV):  Ancient Murrelet (FR): 2, nw. of Humboldt Bay, 19Apr (TMcK, et al.): Tufted Puffin (MS): 8, Castle Rock, 19 Apr (AB).

Barred Owl (FR): 1, Walker Road, 22 Mar (RH); 1 pair, Boyes Prairie, 14 Apr (DF, et al.): Vaux’s Swift (EM): 1, Arcata, 4 Apr (BC); 1, Bayside, 11 Apr (DF): Calliope Hummingbird (FR): 1, Kneeland, 14 Apr (BB); 1, S. Brae, 19 Apr (KK, GF): Pacific Slope Flycatcher (EM): 1, Arcata, 8 Apr (RF): Say’s Phoebe (FR): 1, Eureka, 25-26 Mar (GL): Western Kingbird (EM):  1, Alexandre Dairy, 11-12 Apr (KR): Loggerhead Shrike (FR): 1, AOP, 3 Apr (MW); 1, Crescent City, 11 Apr (KR, AB): Warbling Vireo (EM): x, Shay Park, 21 Mar (FA):  Purple Martin (EM): 1, Arcata, 5 Apr (BC):  Rough-winged Swallow (EM):  1, AMP, 30 Mar (DF): Cassin’s Vireo (EM): x, Todd Ranch, 16 Apr (TL): Dipper (FR): 1, Lost Man Creek, 15, 19 Apr (GB, DF): Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (FR): 1, Blue Lake Riparian, 20 Apr (J &MM):  Townsend’s Solitaire (EL): 1 singing, near Swim Ridge, 17 Apr (TL): Palm Warbler (IN): 8 reports representing 4 birds from Crescent City (1), HBNWR (1) and AMP (2), 31 Mar-19 Apr (mo): Wilson’s Warbler (EM): x, Eureka, 8 Apr (PL): Common Yellowthroat (EM): 6 reports of 1 to 6 from SRB, AMP, Redwood Creek, HBNWR, 11-18 Apr (mo): California Towhee (IL): 1, Redwood Creek, 19 Apr (FA): Chipping Sparrow (EM): 1, Eureka, 10 Apr (PH); 4, Todd Ranch, 16 Apr (TL): Vesper Sparrow (FR): 1, Lake Earl, 30 Mar (KR):  Swamp Sparrow (FR, ID): 1, AMP, 8 Apr (RF); 2, AMP, 18 Apr (TMcK et al.): Slate-colored Junco (FR):  1, Cummings Road, Eureka, 31 Mar (TL):  Black-headed Grosbeak (EM): 1, south Arcata, 5 Apr (fide EE): Common Grackle (FR): 1, Smith River Bottoms, 26 Mar-19 Apr (KR, AB, et al.); 1, Crescent City , 8-19 Apr (AB, et al.):  Red Crossbill (EL): 4 reports of up to 30, 29 Mar-19 Apr from Boye’s Prairie, Patrick’s Point State Park, and Cummings Road, 29 Mar-19 Apr (TL, DF): Evening Grosbeak (EM): 4-5, Azalea Hill, 18-19 Apr (GL, et al.).

Many thanks to the following who contributed to this report: Trail Acacia, Brian Acord, Frank Anderson, Alan Barron, Gary Bloomfield, Melissia Bukosky, Barbara Burek, Bryon Cariss, Lina Carro, Eileen Cooper, Jeff Dayton, Duke Diehl, Elias Elias, David Fix, Gwen Foe, Rob Fowler, Gary Friedrichsen, Joe Gartland, Godwit Days Board, Melody Hamilton, Stan Harris, Pableo Herrera, Denise Homer, Rob Hewitt, Ken Kaufmann, “Kati,” J. L. Kellermann, Michelle Knoff, Tom Leskiw, Gary Lester, Ron LeValley Paul Lohse, John Luther, Jim Lyons, John Mahan, Sean McAllister, Brooke McDonald, Tristian McKee, John and Marsha Mello, Mark Morrissette, Russ Namitz, Steve Norman, Chet Ogan, Jane Patrick, Tim Peretti, Diane Pettey, Jude Power, Darcy Pryor, Kerry Ross, Mary Severdia, Paul Springer, Roy Sunstrom, Dorothy Tobkin, Steve Tucker, Matt Wachs, Don Wattenbarger, Jared Wolfe.

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.