Field Notes

by Stanley W. Harris

26 September - 21 October 2000

For a month in the middle of fall migration this seemed rather quiet as judged by the relatively few reports received. It is uncertain how much of this is because of the general unavailability of the bird box and how much is real. Birdathon efforts provided a few good records, but all in all, fewer than we expect for this time of year. Migration seems to be progressing normally, we have had, to date, only 2 days with any rain, so the generally dry summer weather still prevails.

Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms, AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EM = expected migrant; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FR = few records; IC = interesting concentration; ID = interesting date; IL = interesting location; IN = interesting numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MS = Monitored Species; NC = not confirmed; ND = no description;

HIGHLIGHTS

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (FR): 1, Pilot Ridge, 3 Oct (TL): FERRUGINOUS HAWK (FR, EM): 1, Azalea Hill, 30 Sep (GL); 1 ad., Bald Hill, near Ft. Bragg, 2 Oct (DT); 1 subad., AB, 10-15 Oct (KI, SH, DS); 1 ad., AB, 18 Oct (KI): COMMON MOORHEN (FR): 1, Pudding Creek Estuary, Ft. Bragg, 15-21 Oct (DT, JH): SANDHILL CRANE (FR, NC): 1, in flight very high with unknown geese over Ettersburg, identification based mainly on voice, 6 Oct (Woods): GOLDEN-PLOVER SP. (EM, FR): 1 with 2-note call, flying over Morgan Slough Road, identification based mainly on voice, 15 Oct (SMc, et al.): AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (FR, NC, ND): 1, mouth of Elk River, 23 Sep (ST); 1, Klopp Lake, 26 Sep (BMcD): PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (FR, NC, ND): 1-2, lower Mad River opposite School Road, 26 Sep, 15 Oct (KI): PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (ID): 1, BSLP, 15, 21 Oct (RH, PS, VS, BMcI): SAY’S PHOEBE (FR): 1, lower Van Duzen River, 25 Sep (MW); 1, 1.4 miles north Petrolia, 20 Oct (RH): TROPICAL KINGBIRD (FR): 1, AOP, 12 Oct (SH): BLUE-HEADED VIREO (FR, NC, ND): 1, "horse pasture," Fairhaven, 7 Oct (BMcI): RED-EYED VIREO (FR): 1-2, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (KI, DF): YELLOW-GREEN VIREO (FR, NC) : 1, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (KI): HORNED LARK (FR, IL): 2, near Glass Beach, Ft. Bragg, 13 -21 Oct (DT, JH): WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (IL, NC, ND): 1, Fieldbrook, 6 Oct (RG): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR): 1 (singing), "horse pasture," Fairhaven, 3 Oct (KM): PRAIRIE WARBLER (FR): 1, "horse pasture", Fairhaven, 7-12 Oct (BMcI, KI): PALM WARBLER (EM): 1, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (KI); 2, AB, 22 Oct (MW); 1-3, AMP/AOP, 13-22 Oct (BMcI, PS, VS, SH, TC, CM); 2, Camp Weott Road, 15 Oct (DF, et al.): BLACKPOLL WARBLER (FR): 1, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (KI): CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (FR): 1, lower Mad River, 26 Sep (KI): ORCHARD ORIOLE (FR, NC, ND): 1, BSLP, 2 Oct (DM).

STATISTICAL SECTION

RED-NECKED GREBE (EM, ED): 1-2, King Salmon, 10-16 Oct (mo); 5, lower Mad River, 15 Oct (KI): NORTHERN FULMAR (IL): 1 (sick?), floating in entrance channel with incoming tide, North Jetty, 15 Oct (SH, DS): DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (IN): Concentration of at least 1000 in a low tide channel just west of AMP, feeding with 30 Great Egrets and 10+ Brown Pelicans on a trapped school of fish, 10 Oct (SH): AMERICAN BITTERN (FR, EL): 1, AMP, 2-16 Oct (MV, DM, KR, CW): WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (FR): 45±, Ft. Bragg, 19 Sep (DT); 3-4, AB, 15-22 Oct (DSh, RH, et al.): ROSS’S GOOSE (FR): 1 adult, AB, 15-22 Oct (mo): ALEUTIAN CANADA GOOSE (EM): Major migration through area, week of 16 Oct (mo); examples: at least 7 flocks of 50-150 each recorded over Azalea Hill, 17-18 Oct (LL); 3 flocks totaling 600+ at AMP 18-19 Oct (SH); 2 flocks (possibly 4, identification by call in fog) at Orick, 19 Oct (KI): CACKLING CANADA GOOSE (IL): 2, Lake Cleone, MKSP, 14 Oct (DT): TUNDRA SWAN (ID): 2 in flight over Eureka, 2 Oct (CO); 1, AB, 14-22 Oct (this is probably the cripple that has been there for 2+ years) (MW): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (EL): 1 molting male, Pudding Creek estuary/Virgin Creek, 26 Sep-5 Oct (DT); 1 male, BSLP, 8-21 Oct (SH, P&VS, et al.); 1 female, BSLP, 12 Oct (SH); 1 female, AOP, 22 Oct (LG, et al.): CANVASBACK (FR, EM): 1 female, AOP, 12-13 Oct (SH): REDHEAD (FR, EM): 6, South Bay, 16 Oct (DF, et al.): RING-NECKED DUCK (EL): numbers at BSLP peaked at 50-60, week of 16 Oct, feeding on Sago Pondweed along with numbers of Coots, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwalls, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Mallards, and a few Scaup: GREATER SCAUP (EM): sudden increase of new migrants at AOP from only 2 seen all summer to 80 on 12-13 Oct (SH): SURF SCOTER (EM): major early A.M. migration past Table Bluff (400 in 40 minutes, DF, et al.) and North Jetty (600+ in 1 hour, SH, et al.), with many long strings still migrating in evening (MW), all 15 Oct.

Lots of Harlequins at Glass Beach!

HARLEQUIN DUCK (FR, IN): 4, False Klamath Cove to Enderts Beach, 24 Sep (MM); 1-2 females, King Salmon, 4-15 Oct (MM, SMc, DF, et al.); 3-21 (8 males), Glass Beach, Ft. Bragg, 18-21 Oct (JH, DT): HOODED MERGANSER (FR): 2 female plumage, AOP, 12-14 Oct (SH, BD): RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (EM): 2, lower Mad River, 15 Oct (KI); 10, King Salmon, 16 Oct (SH, DS): OSPREY (ID): 1, Eureka Channel, 1, lower Mad River, both 15 Oct (SH, DS): AGAIN, ANOTHER MONTH WITH NO (!) BALD EAGLE REPORTS (!): ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (ID): 1, Schoolhouse Peak, 4 Oct (KS); 1 AB, 22 Oct (ST, MW): MERLIN (MS): 8 reports from Big Lagoon, AOP, AMP, Eureka, King Salmon, 25 Sep-22 Oct (mo): PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 15 reports from Freshwater Lagoon, Trinidad Head, AMP, AOP, North Humboldt Bay, Fernbridge, 25 Sep-22 Oct (mo).

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (IN): 30, Manila Beach, 11 Oct (HB): AMERICAN AVOCET (IL): 12-24, ERWA, 6-7 Oct (KI); 105, Hookton Overflow Pond, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 16 Oct (SH): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (EM): 1, lower Mad River, 15 Oct (KI): LONG-BILLED CURLEW (IN): 15, mouth Jacoby Creek, 23 Sep (KI): RED KNOT (IN): 10, mouth Jacoby Creek, 23 Sep (KI): SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (FR): 1, ERWA, 6 Oct (KI): BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (ID): 1, MKSP, 20 Sep, 9 Oct (DT); 1, opposite School Road, lower Mad River, 26 Sep-15 Oct (KI); 1, ERWA, 25 Sep (KI): PECTORAL SANDPIPER (FR): 1, Glass Beach, Ft. Bragg, 20 Sep, 9 Oct (DT); 5, ERWA, 25 Sep; 1-19, lower Mad River, 26 Sep-15 Oct; 9, AB, 15 Oct (all KI).

Last of the Sandpipers arrives

DUNLIN (IL): 11, Virgin Creek Beach, Ft. Bragg, 21 Oct (JH, DT): RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (ID): 1, Vigo Street Marsh, 13-16 Oct ( RC, JS, SH, DS); 1, Ferndale Oxidation Pond, 15 Oct (DF, et al.): PARASITIC JAEGER (EM): 1, North Jetty, 1 Oct (RH); 2, King Salmon, 9 Oct (MM): POMARINE JAEGER (IL): 1, MKSP, 23 Sep (DT): HEERMANN’S GULL (IN): 20 migrating past Wedding Rock during a 2-hr. seawatch, 20 Oct (KI): MEW GULL (EM): 3, Wedding Rock, 20 Oct (KI): CALIFORNIA GULL (EM): 16 passed by Wedding Rock in 2 hours, 20 Oct (KI): HERRING GULL (FR): 3-4, Wedding Rock, 20 Oct (KI): THAYER’S GULL (FR): 1 (first year), MKSP, 14 Oct (DT); 2 adults, Wedding Rock, 20 Oct (KI): GLAUCOUS GULL (FR): 1 (first winter), Wedding Rock, 20 Oct (KI): BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (IL): 1 (first year), offshore Todds Pt., Ft. Bragg, 23 Sep (DT): COMMON TERN (FR): 3, offshore, Todd’s Pt, 23 Sep (DT): FORSTER’S TERN (EM): 1, Bayshore Mall Channel, 20 Sep-3 Oct (TL); 1-11, AMP, 10-22 Oct (SH, TC): PIGEON GUILLEMOT (ID): 4, False Klamath Cove to Enderts Beach, 24 Sep (MM): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 2, offshore, Westport, 22 Sep (DT); 36, False Klamath Cove to Enderts Beach, 24 Sep (MM); 16, False Klamath Cove to mouth, Klamath River, 25 Sep (MM): RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (ID): 2 (at least), Ft. Bragg Botanical Gardens, 17 Oct (DT): GRAY JAY (IL): 2, Sunnybrae, 1-18 Oct (MiM, SH); 7, Patricks Point State Park, 11 Oct (GL); 2, Azalea Hill, 12 Oct (GL, LL): MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (IL): 1, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (DF): NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (FR): 1, near mouth Van Duzen River, 4 Oct (RH); 1, AB. 22 Oct (MW): AMERICAN PIPIT (EM): 100 flyover, Fairhaven, 30 Sep (KI): OUTSTANDING BLACKBERRY CROP THIS YEAR, MUCH APPRECIATED BY CEDAR WAXWINGS, STARLINGS, VARIOUS SPARROWS, ETC. EXAMPLE: 220-250 Cedar Waxwings at AMP, 5-10 Oct (mo); 100+, Aldergrove Pond, 6 Oct (SH): NASHVILLE WARBLER (ID): 1, "Horse Pasture," Fairhaven, 15 Oct (MW): YELLOW WARBLER (ID): 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 15 Oct (DF, et al.); 1, AOP, 15 Oct (SH, DS): BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (IC): 20-30, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (KI): TOWNSEND’S WARBLER (IC): 20-60, Orick Dump, 28 Sep (KI, DF); 12-20, Orick Dump, 13 Oct (KI): WESTERN TANAGER (IN, ID): 12, Orick Dump, 29 Sep (DF).

White-throateds arriving

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (EM): 4 reports from Azalea Hill, North Spit, Van Duzen x Eel River, 3-18 Oct (G&LL, RH, SH): SLATE-COLORED JUNCO (EM): 1, Azalea Hill, 19-21 Oct (G&LL): LAPLAND LONGSPUR (EM): 1-4, Fairhaven, 12 Oct (KI); 1, near Glass Beach, 20 Oct (DT): BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (ID): 1 imm. male, Mad River at Highway 299, mid Sep (SG): EVENING GROSBEAK (FR): 2, Trinidad, 5 Oct (GL); 8 near Trinidad, 6 Oct (KI); 40, Tompkins Hill, 5 Oct (MW): AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, A "MYSTERY BIRD" SEEN AT AMP BEGINNING 16 OCT (BMcD, MS, MD, AF) resembling a blackbird with orange cheek patches and a crest, is now thought to be a diseased immature male Red-winged Blackbird with cancerous-like growths on the cheeks and under the crown skin.

In the Gee Whiz, Wow, category we have the following from DC--a GREEN STURGEON seen porpoising in Arcata Channel past the old Wharf Ruins on 1 Oct! Also the sight of a Humpbacked Whale seen breaching from the beach, 23 Sep near Ft. Bragg must have been fun (DT).

Many thank to the following who shared observations with us this month: Louise Bacon-Ogden, Alice Baird, Heather Brown, Susie Bulger, Tom Cockle, David Couch, Ruth Crane, Mike Day, Bruce Deuel, Elias Elias, Annie Feldman, David Fix, Luke George, Sam Giannandrea, Rocky Gutierrez, Stan Harris, Robert Hewitt, Denise Homer, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, Alan Laurent, Dick Laursen, Tom Leskiw, Gary and Lauren Lester, Scott Mateu, Sean McAllister, Brooke McDonald, Bryon McIntosh, Tim Meehan, Cara Millsap, Karley Moore, Michael Morris, Mildred Mossman, Derek Muschalek, Todd Newburger, Chet Ogan, Jude Power, Kerry Ross, Daniell Saylor, Kristin Schmidt, Mary Severdia, Don Shuford, Jay Sooter, Paul and Virginia Springer, Wendi Steffen, Don Stoecker, Robert Sutherland ("Woods"), Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Steve Tucker, Margaret Varga, Catherine Walling, Margaret Widdowson. Keep the reports coming! Send them to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif. 95521, call them to me at (707) 822-3802, call them to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666 (we can -with difficulty- get them off there--tis better to have them there than not at all!), write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, or on the sheet in "Ornithology Hall" on the second floor of the Wildlife Building, Humboldt State University Campus.