Field Notes
by Stan Harris

30 September - 27 October

Fall migration is winding down, but it has been a good fall with more than average numbers of “good” birds reported. Weather remains dry with no real rain yet, only a trace of drips and drops. WE NEED RAIN! BSLP is nearly dry from lack of seasonal rain and the fact that the city did not pump water into it this summer, the Bottoms are really dry, affecting the distribution of fall migrants. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms, AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EM = Expected Migrant; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Reports; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; IIT = Interesting, if true, but report not confirmed; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MS =Monitored Species; MRCP = Mad River County Park; NC= Not Confirmed, No Details.

Sightings from the field

Common Loon (IL): 1, Trinity Lake, 5 Oct (GH, JH): Pacific Loon (EM): 68 in the water at North Jetty 16 Oct (MW), and 1 in Klopp Lake, 26 Oct (DW, SH) represent expected migrants: Red-necked Grebe (EM); 7 reports of 1-3 from Trinidad Harbor, lower Mad River, North Jetty, King Salmon, near Westport, MKSP, 24 Sep-22 Oct (mo) reflect normal fall arrival: Pied-billed Grebe (IN): The tight raft of 13 seen at Fields Landing, 17 Oct (MM), probably represented new arrivals: Seeing a Northern Fulmar from shore, MKSP, 21 Oct (DT) must have been fun! Pink-footed Shearwater (IL): 1 seen from end of North Jetty, 7 Oct (SH, MP): Sooty Shearwaters continued to be seen from the end of North Jetty, 4-5 reported, 16 Oct and 10 reported 25 Oct (MW): Buller’s Shearwater (IL, ID): 1, seen from North Jetty, 25 Oct (MW): White Pelican (IIT): a second-hand report of 1 flying across Samoa Bridge into Humboldt Bay, 8 Oct (RW) was never confirmed: American Bittern (FR): 1, AMP, 6 Oct (BC): Cattle Egret (FR): 1, Shelter Cove, 19 Oct; 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 23 Oct (both DF): Snow Goose (FR): 1, AB, AOP, 13-18 Oct (JP, DF, FA, MZ, KR): Meanwhile, the resident Ross’s Goose on AB was reported 22-26 Oct (HB, SH, DW): White-fronted Goose (GW): This fall we had more reports than ever of birds seen on the ground, and of flocks seen or heard passing over, I received 23 reports of flocks of 1-170 from Gold Bluff Beach, Big Lagoon, Azalea Hill, AB, Little River, AOP, Fickle Hill, North Spit, HBNWR, near Ettersberg, near Whitmore, 10-mile River, 30 Sep-22 Oct (only 4 of the 23 reports were after 3 Oct) (mo): Western Canada Goose (IL): 100, Trinity Lake, 5 Oct (GH, JH).

Aleutian Geese not stopping

Aleutian Canada Goose (EM): While the historic migration of these birds has begun in mid October, this year we had reports of flocks passing southeast 1 Oct (up to 6 flocks), 5 Oct (Lake Earl), at least 5 flocks on 6 Oct, and 10+ flocks in the more normal 12-23 Oct time-period. PS tells me these birds are going straight down to the San Joaquin Valley without stopping at Lake Earl or near Colusa as has been the pattern in most past years: Cackling Canada Goose (FR, NC): 1, Trinity Lake, 5 Oct (GH, JH); 5, AB, 17 Oct (KR): Blue-winged Teal (FR): 1 male, BSLP, 9-27 Oct (SH, MW, HB, BMcD): Ring-necked Duck (EM): Arrived at BSLP right on time, 1 seen 20 Sep, increased to 25-30 by 8 Oct (mo): Harlequin (FR): 1-2, King Salmon, 10-27 Oct (MW, MM, BMcI): On an aerial waterfowl census conducted by Calif. Dept. F&G, 25 Oct, most of the Surf Scoters seen were within ½ mile of the beach just south of the Klamath River mouth (SH), but many flocks were reported passing North Jetty on 7 and 16 Oct (SH, MP, MW): Bald Eagle (MS): Only 3 reports received, 1 Redwood Creek, 21 Oct (GL); 1 immature, Freshwater Lagoon, 25 Oct (SH); 1, McKinleyville, 27 Oct (KS): Northern Goshawk (FR): 1 imm. migrating over Fickle Hill, 2 Oct (DF); 1, Elk Mountain (Dyerville Loop, said to be location of resident pair), 21 Oct (RS): Ferruginous Hawk (FR): 1, Bald Hill (Ft. Bragg), 17 Sep-21 Oct (DT); 1 adult, Tyee City, 9 Oct (KI); 1, Sandy Prairie, 17 Oct (RH, TMcK): Rough-legged Hawk (EM): 1 juv., Tyee City, 9 Oct (KI); 1, AB, 17-22 Oct (PH, HB, FA): Golden Eagle (FR): 1 pair carrying sticks to a known nest site, containing 1 juv?, near Whitmore, 21 Oct (RS): Merlin (MS): 11 reports of 1-3 from mouth of Willow Creek, McKinleyville, AB, AMP, Bayshore Mall, 10-mile River, MKSP, Bald Hill (Ft. Bragg), 22 Sep-27 Oct (mo): Peregrine (MS): 12 reports of 1-2 from AB, AMP, Eureka, Westport, near Ft. Bragg, 5-26 Oct (mo): Blue Grouse (FR): 1, Board Camp Mtn., 26 Oct (TL): Ruffed Grouse (FR): 1, near Bald Hills gate (above Orick), 21 Oct (GL): Sandhill Crane (IIT): 4 large “all gray” birds with long necks and long legs reported flying SW into Humboldt Bay, 12 Oct, may have been this species, but this observation has not been confirmed (TT): American Golden Plover (FR): “Some” of a flock of 5, AB, 3 Oct (MV, CW); 1, AB, 7 Oct (SH, MP): Pacific Golden Plover (FR): “Some” of a flock of 5, AB, 3 Oct (MV, CW); 1, Cock Robin Island, 25 Oct (DF): Snowy Plover (MS): 19, lower Eel River, 22 Oct (DF, JP): Mystery plover sp (IIT): A flyby, thought by the observer to be a Mountain Plover was reported at Cock Robin Island, 24 Oct (SMcA), but not confirmed later .Lesser Yellow-legs (EM): 2, Cock Robin Island, 16 Oct (DF): Long-billed Curlew (IL): 1, 10 mile Beach, 19 Oct (JH): Marbled Godwit (EM): The 3000 reported at Hookton Slough, 14 Oct (DF, JP) was noteworthy for its numbers.

Shorebirds moving through

Pectoral Sandpiper (EM): 1, MKSP, 28 Sep; 1, Hare Creek (near Ft. Bragg), 11 Oct (both DT): Rock Sandpiper (FR): 2, North Jetty, 25 Oct (MW): Ruff (FR): 1 male, lower Eel River, 22 Oct (DF, JP): Long-billed Dowitcher (IL): The 5 reported at Trinity Lake, 5 Oct (GH, JH) were at a seldom-checked location: Common Snipe (EM): New arrivals were represented by 1 on North Bay Mudflats (!), 26 Sep (SH), 9 along Old Arcata Road, 14 Oct (TL), 1 at No Name Pond 15 & 23 Oct when it was being harassed by a Sora (SH), 1 on Hydrocotyle mat at BSLP, 16 & 27 Oct (SH, BMcD), and 2 at Blue Lake in Mad River 21 Oct (FA).

 Skua (FR): 1 seen from the air off Patrick’s Point, 3 Oct (BD): Pomarine Jaeger (EM): 1, MKSP, 29 Sep-1 Oct (DT): Parasitic Jaeger (EM): 1, North Jetty, 7 Oct (SH, MP); 1, MKSP, 29 Sep, 13 Oct (DT): Franklin’s Gull (FR): 1 first year (flyby), Patrick’s Point, 7 Oct (GB): Common Tern (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 10 Oct (SH): Forster’s Tern (EM): The wintering flock expected at AMP seems to be gathering, 3-4 seen 10 Oct, had increased to 14 by 23 Oct (SH): Marbled Murrelet (MS): 8-10, North Jetty, 16, 25 Oct (MW): Barred Owl (MS): 1, Ammon Ridge, 3 Oct (PH, EE): Pygmy Owl (FR): 2 at Ammon Ridge, 3 Oct (PH, EE) must have been a treat: Saw-whet Owl (FR): 1, Ammon Ridge, 3 Oct (PH, EE): Short-eared Owl (EM): 1, 15 Oct (MZ) was in a portion of the Mad River Wildlife Area that has become famous locally as a wintering area for raptors but is slated to be converted to a cordgrass monotype of little wildlife value(!); another was reported along Hookton Slough 14 Oct (JP, DF): Common Nighthawk (GW, ID): 1, sound shot only, calling “peent”, above fog Humboldt Bay, 20 Oct (RH): Lewis’s Woodpecker (FR): 1-3 (update), Kneeland, 8, 19, 21, 22 Sep (BB); 12, Bald Hills (near School House Peak), 27 Sep (KS); 3, Horse Mountain, 9 Oct (TL): Red-naped Sapsucker (FR) 1, Hookton Road, 19-21 Oct (SMcA, AT, MW, MZ, KR).

World Series Outfielders

Say’s Phoebe (FR): 1 (update), Kneeland, 6, 12, 13, 15 Sep (BB); 1, Ammon Ridge, 3 Oct (PH, EE): Ash-throated Flycatcher (ID): 1, BSLP, 29-30 Sep, 6 Oct (MS, SB, DF, JP) created a stir from the not so typical call it was making: Tropical Kingbird (EM): 1-2, Ferndale Bottoms, 4-15 Oct (GaH, MW, TMcK); 1, AB, 8, 16 Oct (KI, SB); 1, MKSP, 11 Oct (DT): Eastern Kingbird (FR): 1, Pacific Shores, 2 Oct (AB, JoG): Blue-headed Vireo (FR): 1, Shay Park, 3-6 Oct (DF, et al.): Cassin’s Vireo (ID): 1, Eureka, 19 Oct (DF) was toward the end of their migration period: Philadelphia Vireo (FR, NC): 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 2 Oct (KI): Red-eyed Vireo (FR; NC): 1, Aldergrove Swamp, 8 Oct (GrL): Horned Lark (IL): x, Bear River Ridge Pond, 19 Oct (DF); 1 flyover in pipit flock, Azalea Hill, 20 Oct (GL); 1, Ten-mile Beach, 19 Oct (DT): Violet-green Swallow (IN): records of migrants as follows: 30 at Ammon Ridge, 4 Oct (PH, EE); 700 (in 30 minutes, 1100 in 50 minutes), Grouse Mountain, 5 Oct, 250 there, 15 Oct, but only 1 on 26 Oct (TL): Other somewhat late season swallows were a Rough-winged at Ft Bragg, 9 Oct (DT), and a Barn at AMP, 23 Oct (SH): Pygmy Nuthatch (FR, GW): heard calling along Centerville Road, 15 Oct (TMcK); and at Hiller Park, McKinleyville, 27 Oct (JH); have these invaded the lowlands this fall? Dipper (FR): 1, Home Creek, Prairie Creek State Park, 23 Oct (DW): Ruby-crowned Kinglet (EM): First noted at AOP, 20 Sep (SH), these had become regular by mid Oct in suitable habitat: Western Bluebird (MS): 8-20, Grouse Mountain, 5-26 Oct (TL); 4, Fickle Hill, 23 Oct (DF): The Swainson’s Thrush reported at Bayshore Mall, 5 Oct (TL) was on the late side: Northern Mockingbird (FR): 1 “resident,” Garberville, singing, 27 Oct (JS): American Pipits had arrived in large numbers by 3 Oct when DF reported 400 in one field on AB: As usual, the blackberry crop at BSLP attracted 250 + Cedar Waxwings 1-15 + Oct (mo).

Misoriented Warblers

Blue-winged Warbler (GW, FR): 1, Shay Park, 6 Oct (G &LL, DF, JP, RN): Tennessee Warbler (FR): 1 imm. Lanphere Dunes, banded, 1 Oct (SB); 1, MRCP, 3-5 Oct (KI): Virginia’s Warbler (FR): 1, MRCP, 3-5 Oct (KI):A somewhat late Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported at Bayshore Mall, 5 Oct (TL): Prairie Warbler (FR): 1, MRCP, 5-6 Oct (KI, RN): Palm Warbler (EM): 11 reports of 1-2 from AB, AMP, Fickle Hill, Lanphere Dunes, Bayshore Mall, Cock Robin Island, Westport, 10 mile Beach, MKSP, 4-25 Oct (mo): Bay-breasted Warbler (FR): 1, lower Van Duzen River, 1 Oct (SP): Blackpoll Warbler (EM): 1 adult banded, Lanphere Dunes, 1 Oct (SB); 1, Orick Dump, 2 Oct (KI); 1, Fairhaven (airport willows), 8 Oct (KI); 1, Tyee City, 9 Oct (KI): Black-and-white Warbler (EM): 1, Orick Dump, 20 Oct (JP); 1, Bayshore Mall, 16-25 Oct (TL); 1, King Salmon, 23-25 Oct (DF, KR): Northern Waterthrush (FR): 1, AOP, 3 Oct (VS); 1, Weaverville, 5 Oct (GH, JH): Mourning Warbler (GW, FR, NC): 1, AMP, 5 Oct (DF): Canada Warbler (FR, NC): 1 female, near Trinidad, 3 Oct (MeH): Western Tanager (ID): 1, Shay Park, 6 Oct (AT, SMcA, et al.): Chipping Sparrow (ID): 1, BSLP, 30 Sep (BC): Clay-colored Sparrow (FR): 1, Eel River Bottoms, 30 Sep (DF, JP., et al.); 1, Elk Head, 5 Oct (GL); 1, Fay Slough, 16 Oct (MM); 1, Vigo St. Marsh, 21 Oct (PH, et al.); 1, Freshwater Valley, 27 Oct (RH): Swamp Sparrow (FR): 1, Mt. Trashmore, 9, 25 Oct (JT, BC); 1, Eureka Sewage Marshes, 16 Oct (DF); 1, Hookton Slough, 14 Oct (JP, DF): Slate-colored Junco (FR): 1 banded, Lanphere Dunes, 10 Oct (SB); 1, Jacoby Creek Canyon, 25 Oct (DW): Chestnut-collared Longspur (FR): 1, AB, 3 Oct (DF): Longspur sp: 1 (?) with Horned Larks, Bear River Ridge Pond, 19 Oct (DF): Bobolink (FR) 1, Eel River Bottoms, 30 Sep (DF, JP, et al.); 1, Pacific Shores, 2 Oct (AB, JoG): Yellow-headed Blackbird (FR): 1 female, Moxon Road (AB), 3 Oct (CW, MV); 1, AB, 8 Oct (KI); 1, Eureka Sewage Marshes, 16 Oct (DF); Orchard Oriole (NC, GW, FR); 1, Shelter Cove, 19 Oct (DF): Lawrence’s Goldfinch (FR, GW): 1 male at feeder, Ferndale, 7 Oct (TMcK, MW).