Field Notes
by Stan Harris
29 March - 26 April 2004
Another new big day record for Godwit Days with 132 species recorded. A mixed month weatherwise, Wintering Oregon Juncos and Fox Sparrows have left feeders in the lowlands and have been replaced by Band-tailed Pigeons (Feathered Vacuum Cleaners!); a few Golden-crowned and White-throated Sparrows still linger at lowland feeders. Most spring migrants have arrived on or slightly before historic schedules, early broods of Mallards and Western Canada Geese are afloat, spring Wood Ducks have returned to the AOP, and we are moving into the nesting season with a vengeance. There is no Sandpiper scheduled for June, but one is planned for July, so please keep the reports coming in for the big July issue.
Abbreviations Used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; ECWMB = Edward C. Wagner Memorial Bridge (southern Humboldt County, Highway 101, also known as “Smith Point Bridge”); ED = Expected Date; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; EN = Expected Numbers; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; ES = Most Likely an Escaped Captive Bird; FR = Few Records; GW! = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; IL= Interesting Location; mo = Many Observers; MRWA = Mad River Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species; NB = Nesting Behavior; NR = Nesting Record; PP = Palmers Point, Patricks Point State Park; UD = Update Report.
PACIFIC LOON (ED, EN): “large flight,” “lots” migrating north past Trinidad and North Jetty, 11, 18 Apr (SC) 3440 counted flying past PP between 1200 and 1500 hours, 22 Apr (BF): RED-NECKED GREBE (EL): 1-4, Jetty Channel, King Salmon, 4-17 Apr (RF, BD, JG): CLARK’S GREBE (EN): 1, North Jetty, King Salmon, 27 Mar-10 Apr (MW, KR, RF, BD): BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (IL): 12 seen from tip of North Jetty, 18 Apr (SC): NORTHERN FULMAR (ID): 1, North Jetty, 4 Apr (RF): FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL (FR): 1 seen in Jetty Channel, 19 Apr (BF): BROWN PELICAN (ID): 5 flying north past Trinidad Head, 11 Apr (SC); 1, Humboldt Bay, 12 Apr (JM): AMERICAN BITTERN (FR): 1, Copenhagen Road, 17-18 Apr (RF, et al): GREAT EGRET (IL): 1 flying north 1 mile offshore, 27 Mar (MW, KR): GREEN HERON (FR): 1, No Name Pond, 31 Mar (DH); 1, Allen Marsh, 10-17 Apr (MaM, JG, SH, et al., TH, FG); 1, Mad River Fish Hatchery, 18 Apr (GD); 1-3, Douglas City, 31 Mar-23 Apr (DK):: WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (FR): 2-9, HBNWR, 15-17 Apr (GB, RF, et al.): ROSS’S GOOSE (FR): 1-4, with Aleutian Canada Geese, ERB, Herrick Road, AB, 27 Mar-16 Apr (KR, MW, PS, GB): TUNDRA SWAN (UD): 55, Ferndale Bottoms, 17 Mar (CW): EURASIAN WIGEON (FR): 1, Copenhagen Road, 3 Apr (RF); 2, HBNWR, 15-17 Apr (GB, JG, et al.): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FR): 1 male, HBNWR, 5-18 Apr (MW, JT); 1 pair, AMP, 5-17 Apr (KR, BD, JT); 1 male, Allen Marsh, 18-19 Apr (JT, BS): EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 27 Mar (JP); 1, AOP, 28 Mar (SC); 1, HBNWR, 17 Apr (JG): HARLEQUIN (FR): 1-2 males, King Salmon, 1-16 Apr (MM, BD, GB, SH, et al, PH); 3 male, 2 females, PP, 22 Apr (BF) up to 10, Glass Beach at MKSP, 21 Mar-20 Apr (DT): WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (MS): 5, North Jetty, 12 Apr (JM); 12,” off Luffenholtz, 17 Apr (RF): BLACK SCOTER (FR, EL): 30,” Pt. St. George, 27-28 Mar (RH, et al.): LONG-TAILED DUCK (FR): 1, off Luffenholtz, 15, 17 Apr (RF, JG); 1 with 346 Surf Scoters off PP, 22 Apr (BF): HOODED MERGANSER (MS; UD): 1, mouth of Mad River, 10 Apr (KR); 2 males, 4 females, ECWMB, all of Jan (JS).
OSPREY (ID): 1, Douglas City 31 Mar, 16 Apr (DK): WHITE-TAILED KITE (IL): 1, Salmon Creek, near Miranda, 18 Apr (KK): BALD EAGLE (MS): 6 reports of 1-2 from Eel River Bottoms, King Salmon, Blue Lake Fish Hatchery, South Fork of Trinity River, 4-18 Apr (SC, MW, GD): RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (NR): 1 on nest, Shay Park, 28 Mar (RF, SC): GOLDEN EAGLE (MS): 1 subadult flyby, Shay Park (“golden nape, white tail with terminal band”), 7 Apr (SC); 1 with nesting material, Benbow, 21 Mar (JS, DW); 1 pair, Mail Ridge, 31 Mar (RF, JC); 1 pair, Salmon Creek, Southern Humboldt, 16Apr (KK): MERLIN (MS): 1, Hookton Road, 1, Cannibal Road, both 18 Apr (GD): PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 10 reports of 1-2 from Garberville, Cannibal Road, HBNWR, College of the Redwoods, King Salmon, AMP, 28 Mar-18 Apr (mo): RUFFED GROUSE (EL): 1 drumming, 1 miles up Titlow Hill Road, 4 Apr (SC); 1, Hennessy Ridge Road, 18 Apr (RH, et al.): BLUE GROUSE (EL): 1 near Bridgeville, 9 Apr (MaM): MOUNTAIN QUAIL (EL): “several,” 1 mile up Titlow Hill Road, 4 Apr (SC); calling, Salmon Creek (southern Humboldt); 16 Apr (KK): COMMON MOORHEN (FR): 1, Hauser Marsh, 7, 14-15 Apr (FF, SH, et al., TC); 1 Lake Cleone, MKSP, 20 Apr (DT).
PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER (ID): 1 with Black-bellied Plovers, AB, 19 Apr (JT): BLACK-NECKED STILT (FR): 4, 2, HBNWR, 5, 10 Apr (MW): AMERICAN AVOCET (NB): 2, copulating, HBNWR, 10 Apr (MW): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (ID): 6, HBNWR, 12, 15 Apr (DF, GB); 1, mouth of Elk River, 17 Apr (BD): SOLITARY SANDPIPER (FR): 1, McKinleyville OP, 10 Apr ( KR, SM): SPOTTED SANDPIPER (EM): 2, McKinelyville OP, 10 Apr (KR, SM): WHIMBREL (IL): 100, McKinleyville Middle School grounds, 14 Apr (BA, CR): MARBLED GODWIT (IL): 300, McKinleyville Middle School grounds, 14 Apr (BA, CR): RUDDY TURNSTONE (EL): 1, Fields Landing, 31 Mar, 18 Apr (PS, JT): SURFBIRD (EL): 2, Elk Head, 15 Apr (JG, et al): RED KNOT (FR): 4-5, Klopp Lake, 16 Apr (RF); 24 breeding plumage, flyby, PP, 22 Apr (BF): ROCK SANDPIPER (EL, ID): 1 (breeding plumage), North Jetty, 16-24 Apr (SS, RF, SC): POMARINE JAEGER (ID): 1 adult light phase, PP, 22 Apr (BF): FRANKLIN’S GULL (FR): 1 flyover, Eureka, 24 Apr (BF): GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): 1 immatures, Centerville Beach, 5 Apr (SMcA): SABINE’S GULL (ID): 6, 6 miles off Humboldt Bay, 12 Apr (JM): CASPIAN TERN (EM): 147, mouth of Mad River, 10 Apr (KR); 15,” mouth of Elk River, 15 Apr (SH, et al.): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 6-7 off North Jetty, 4 Apr (RF); 25 visuals, Boyes Prairie, 12 Apr (DF); 2, off Luffenholtz, 17 Apr (RF); 20 visuals, Boyes Prairie, 17 Apr (G & B O’B, et al.); 2, 4-5 off North Jetty, 18, 24 Apr (SC); 4, PP, 22 Apr (BF)
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (IL): 10, 20, Douglas City, 31 Mar (DK): BURROWING OWL (FR) 1, MKSP, 9 Apr (DT): PYGMY OWL (FR): 1 heard, Hennessy Ridge Road, 18 Apr (RH, et al.): SHORT-EARED OWL (EL): 1, MRWA, 16 Apr (KS): COMMON NIGHTHAWK (ID, NC): 1, ID by call only, Arcata, 13 Apr (nearly the earliest record ever!) (SM): VAUX’S SWIFT (EM): 3, Smith Point Bridge, 11 Apr (JS); 3, Mad River x 101, 11 Apr (SC); 2, 18 Apr; 100's, 21 Apr, both Douglas City (DK): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (EL): 5, ECWMB,11 Apr (JS).
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (GW!): 1 female, (THE FIRST, EVER, NORTHCOAST RECORD!, PHOTOS); Pigeon Pt. Road, Eureka, 8-18 Apr (LC, DW, et al.): COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD (FR): 1 male, Cummings Road, Eureka, 2 Apr (TL); 1 male, Fortuna, 13 Apr (BN): CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (FR): 1 male, Kneeland, 2 Apr (BB, DVZ): LEWIS’S WOODPECKER (FR): 1 (UD), Snow Camp Road, mid March (DJ); 1, 4 miles west of Lord Ellis Summit, 7 Apr (CO); 1, Blue Lake Riparian, 16-17 Apr (GD): WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (EL): 2, Horse Mountain, 4 Apr (SC): PILEATED WOODPECKER (EL): 1, Boyes Prairie, 17 Apr (G &BO’B): WESTERN KINGBIRD (EM): 1st seen, Douglas City, 3 Apr (DK): NORTHERN SHRIKE (FR): 1 Ferndale Bottoms, 27-31 Mar (KR, MW, BF): PURPLE MARTIN (EM): up to 50, AMP, 16-22 Apr (TMcK, JT, RF); up to 40, HBNWR, 17-18 Apr (GD, JT): BANK SWALLOW (FR): 1, AMP, 18 Apr (JT): ROCK WREN (EL): 1, Mail Ridge, 31 Mar (RF, JC): DIPPER (EL): 1, ECWMB, 11 Apr (JS): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR): 1, Cain Rock area, 31 Mar (RF, JC); 1+, Douglas City, 5 Apr (DK): TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (IL, EL): 1, Lanphere Dunes, 9 Apr (ST); 1 singing, Horse Mountain, 4 Apr (SC): MOCKINGBIRD (FR): 1, north of Capetown on Petrolia Road, 17 Apr (GB); 1, Douglas City, 21 Apr (DK): AMERICAN PIPIT (ID): 12, Stiener Flat, 18 Apr ( DK): PALM WARBLER (ID): 1-4, AMP, 2-22 Apr (RF, FA, GB, M, JT); 1, mouth of Elk River, 18 Apr (GL): BLACK-AND–WHITE WARBLER (FR): 1, AMP, 2 Apr (RF); COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (IL): 1-2, Douglas City, 1-5 Apr (DK): CHIPPING SPARROW (EM): 1, Clam Beach, 17 Apr (GB); 1, Douglas City, 18 Apr (DK): VESPER SPARROW (FR): 1, Gold Bluff Beach, 10 Apr (GL): LARK SPARROW (EL): 2, Mail Ridge, 31 Mar (RF, JC): WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (EM): larger than normal numbers at feeders suggested a migratory pulse as follows: 5-7, Sunnybrae, 15-19 Apr (SH); 4, Garberville, 20 Apr (JS); 8 (7 white phase birds), Bayside, 24 Apr (JP): LAZULI BUNTING (ID): 1, “early April,” near Bridgeville (DJ): HOODED ORIOLE (FR): 1 male, Bayside, 21 Apr (DF); BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (ID): 1, Douglas City, 24 Apr (DK): EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (GW, ES): 1 male, McKinleyville, 15 Apr (BM); 1 male, west Arcata, 16 Apr (JP).
And Last but not Least, the sight of a live MOUNTAIN LION on a trail north of Requa must have given KL and AL not only a thrill but a few butterflies! Boy would I like to see one of those just once!
Many thanks to David Fix for filling in for me last month when I was out of town: Many thanks to the following who shared observations with us this month: Brian Acord, Marge Adams, Frank Anderson, Ode Bernstein, Gary Bloomfield, Barbara Burek, Scott Carey, Lena Carroll, Jim Clark, Tracy Cline, Jennifer Curtis, Bruce Deuel, Doyle, Barry Sauppe, Fred Ferguson, David Fix, Rob Fowler, Jim Gain, Flip Garrison, The Godwit Days Observation Board (GB), Gorgon and Tammy Haag, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, Denise Homer, David Juliano, Kyle Keegan, Dale Kuhn, Tom Leskiw, Amy Lester, Kelsey Lester, Gary Lester, John Mahan, Sean McAllister, Tristan McKee, Sheri Miller, Bill Moore, Michael Morris, Mark Morrissette, Stephanie Morrissette, Mortz, Beverly Neal, Chet Ogan, Francis Oliver, L. Pollard, Jude Power, Judith Putman, Crystal Rogers, Kerry Ross, Bill Scoggins, Mary Severdia, Kieth Slauson, Jay Sooter, Steve Sosinsky, Paul Springer, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Steve Tucker, Matt Wachs, Doug Wallace, Catharine Walling. Don Watenbarger. Even though your sighting may not be listed individually, please know that your efforts are deeply appreciated. Everyone’s reports are copied into the regional notebooks maintained for decades. Please send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif, 95521, phone them to me at (707) 822- 3802, phone them to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666, or write them on the observation board at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, South G. Street, Arcata.