Field Notes

by Stan Harris

27 September - 25 October 2004

One or more Humpback Whales in the entrance of Humboldt Bay gave residents a thrill this month, even if one was identified wrong in the newspaper!  On the FBP, mammal highlights were a Blue Whale, up to 400 Pacific White-sided Dolphins, up to 100 Right Whale Dolphins, 35 Dall’s Porpoises, 3 Northern Elephant Seals, and 2 Northern Fur Seals.  A family of 4 river otters at AMP was easily seen off and on.  One major winter rain brought welcome relief from the usual dry summer and another is brewing as I write this.  We are moving into the late fall migration period when the last of our ducks and our swans should be arriving, plus some landbird surprises.

 Abbreviations used: AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP= Arcata Oxidation Pond; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CRI = Cock Robin Island; EM=Expected Migrant; ERM = Expected Rare Migrant; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; ESC = Escaped Captive; FBP = Ft. Bragg Pelagic Trip, 25 Sep, all data fide DT; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; HO = Hold Over from last month; IB = Interesting Behavior; IAD = Inadequate Details; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; mo = Many Observers; MRCP = Mad River County Park; MS = Monitored Species: OFFE = Pelagic Trip 12 Miles offshore from Eureka, 25 Sep (BA): PPSP = Patricks Point State Park.

Egyptian Goose (GW, ESC): 1, Klopp Lake, 13 Oct (KR, GC):  White-fronted Goose (EM): Right on historic schedules, 9 reports of 1 to 600 passing SE overhead, Arcata, Eureka, Ft. Bragg, Orick,   27 Sep- 6 Oct (mo), and 4 reports of 1-3 on the ground at Shelter Cove, south Clam Beach, Copenhagen Road, and Lake Cleone, 9-24 Oct (DT, JT, KR, SMcA): Black Brant (EM): 30, FBP;  1, lower Mad River, 27 Sep (JK); “lots” flying north past Table Bluff, 23 Oct (SC):  Cackling Goose (FR): 1, Lake Cleone, 19 Oct (DT):  Aleutian Cackling Goose (EM): 8 reports of 1-500+ mostly in flight to the SE, mouth of Redwood Cr, Arcata, Eureka, Eel River Bottoms, 25 Sep-20 Oct (mo): Dusky Canada Goose (FR):   1, Copenhagen Road, 20 Oct (SMcA): Wood Duck (IL): 8, Trinity River, 27 Sep (AP):  Eurasian Wigeon (ERM): 10 reports of 1-5 (!) in American Wigeon flocks on duckweed mats at AMP, Hookton Overflow, 27 Sep-24 Oct (mo): Blue-winged Teal (FR): 5 reports of 1-3 at AMP, 27 Sep-14 Oct (mo): 4 reported in female plumage as this species (why not Cinnamon?), Trinity River, 27 Sep (AP): Canvasback (FR):   1-2, AOP, 3-5 Oct (RF, JW, ST, SH): Redhead (FR):  1, AMP, 23 Oct (JT):  Ring-necked Duck (EM): 1, AOP, 27 Sep (SC); 1, BSLP, 20 Oct; 5, Gearheart Marsh, 24 Oct (both SH): Harlequin (ERM): 2, King Salmon, 25 Sep-10 Oct (MW, SC, JK, AS), 4-15 Glass Beach, 8, 18, 25  Oct (DT):  Long-tailed Duck (ERM): 1, mo. Redwood Creek, 19 Oct (KM); 1, mouth Mad River, 20-21 Oct (JT, et al.): Surf Scoter (EM):   right on time, “100's” passing North Jetty, 1 Oct (BA, KR): Black Scoter (ERM): 1, King Salmon, 18 Oct (MW); 1 female, lower Mad River, 20-22 Oct (JT, RF, et al.); #? sea-watch from Table Bluff, 23 Oct (SC):  Bufflehead (EM): 1, Gearheart Marsh, 24 Oct (SH).

Blue Grouse (FR):   1, 10 miles west Dinsmore, 20 Oct (TL): Ruffed Grouse (FR): 1, Del Norte G-O Road, 29 Sep (TL); 1, near Fish Lake, 6 Oct (TL); 1 seen drumming, at Elk Creek, near Happy Camp, 21 Oct (EE): Horned Grebe (EM): 1-3, Klopp Lake, 21-23 Oct (SH): Red-necked Grebe (ERM): 1-2, Trinidad Harbor, 26 Sep, 15 Oct  (MH, MM); 2, King Salmon, 23 Oct (SC); 2, Shelter Cover, 22 Oct (RS): Eared Grebe (EM): 2, Elk River Slough, 6 Oct (SC) + others later: Clark’s Grebe (ERM): 1, Eureka Channel, 20 Oct (SC): Black-footed Albatross (EM); 1, OFFE; 5 only, FBP: Northern Fulmar (EM): 4, FBP: Pink-footed Shearwater (EM): 10, OFFE; 25, FBP; Buller’s Shearwater (EM): 10, FBP; 5, OFFE; #?, 2 miles off Eureka, 2 Oct (ST); #?, seen from Table Bluff, 9 Oct (SC):  Sooty Shearwater (EM): 50, FBP; 8, OFFE; 1, seen from North Jetty, 1 Oct (BA, KR): Ashy Storm-Petrel (FR):15, FBP:  American White Pelican (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 5 Oct (KL, LK, fide, ST, RF); 1 (same?) flying north, later south, past Wedding Rock, 12 Oct (BS): American Bittern (FR): 1, AMP, 14, 24 Oct (FA, RF, JT): Green Heron (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 24 Oct (JT, RF): Bald Eagle (MS): 1 ad, Orick, 29 Sep (KI); 1 juv., mouth Redwood Creek, 25 Sep (JK): 1 ad, Trinity River, near No. Fork, 27 Sep (AP); Ferruginous Hawk (ERM): 1, BRR, 7-8, 14 Oct (SMcA, RLeV); 1, Cape Ridge, 7 Oct (SMcA, RLeV); 1-2, Ft. Bragg Bald Hill, 18-22 Oct (DT); 3 along Highway 1 between Westport and Ten Mile River, 24 Sep (DT): Golden Eagle (MS): 2 ad; BRR, 1, 14 Oct,  (SMcA); 2 subad, BRR, 7 Oct (SMcA, RLeV); 2 ad, 1 imm, Garberville, 3 Oct (JS): Merlin (EM): 1, King Salmon, 23 Oct (SC): Peregrine Falcon (MS): 18 reports of 1-4 from mouth of Mattole River, Garberville, mouth of Elk River, North Jetty, ERWA, Table Bluff,  AMP, lower Mad River, 28 Sep-23 Oct (mo): Prairie Falcon (FR): 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 1, BRR, both 8 Oct (SMcA).

Common Moorhen (FR): 1, BSLP, 2-25 Oct (SH, JW): Pacific Golden-Plover (ERM): 1, South Spit, 1 Oct (TL); 1-3, CRI, 6-24 Oct (SMcA, MM, BA, KR, SC); 1, mouth of Lake Talawa, 20 Oct (L): Snowy Plover (MS):  on CRI mudflats, 8 Oct (1, MM), 20 Oct (36 SMcA): Lesser Yellowlegs (EM): 21, MER, 25 Sep (MW); 1, Pudding Creek estuary, 23 Sep-22 Oct (DT): Bar-tailed Godwit (GW, FR, records of only 12 previous birds ever for the northcoast): 1 large female type, Klopp Lake, 25 Sep (JA), probably the same bird at CRI, 5-15 Oct (good photos show it to be the race baueri, SMcA, mo): Red Knot (MS): 1-2, CRI, 6-15 Oct (SMcA, MM, SC); 2, mouth Elk River, 20 Oct (SC): Pectoral Sandpiper (ERM): 1, ERWA, 27 Sep (DF); 2, King Salmon, 7 Oct (MW); 1, Crab Park, 9 Oct (SC); 2, mouth Mattole River, 9 Oct (JK, AS): Rock Sandpiper (EM): 1, Glass Beach, 2, Laguna Point, both 25 Oct (DT): Ruff (ERM): 1 imm. male, ERWA, 27 Sep (DF); 1-2, CRI, 10-24 Oct (BA, KR, SMcA, RF, SC, JK): Wilson’s Phalarope (FR): 1, King Salmon, 27 Sep (MW): Red-necked Phalarope (EM): 10, FBP; Red Phalarope (EM): 30; 1, OFFE; small flocks passing Table Bluff, 9, 23 Oct (SC); South Polar Skua (FR, IAD): 1, 2 miles off Eureka, 2 Oct (ST); 1, sea watch from PPSP, 12 Oct (BS): Pomarine Jaeger (EM):  2, FBP; 1, OFFE; 1 mile off Eureka, 2 Oct (ST): Parasitic Jaeger (EM): 15, FBP; 1-2, Humboldt Bay entrance, 27 Sep-9 Oct (mo); 1, sea watch, Table Bluff, 23 Oct (SC): Long-tailed Jaeger (EM): 2, FBP; 1 full adult plumage, directly over North Jetty, 1 Oct (BA, KR): Sabine’s Gull (EM): 2, FBP; 5, OFFE; 2, 2 miles off Eureka, 2 Oct (ST): Elegant Tern (IB): chasing and grabbing tail streamers of a Parasitic Jaeger, King Salmon, 25 Sep (MW): Common Tern (EM): 4, FBP; 1 imm., MRCP, 27 Sep (SC): Forster’s Tern (EM): 16, AOP, 21 Oct (SH): Pigeon Guillemot (ID): 1 in winter plumage, Trinidad, 15 Oct (MM); 4, Shelter Cove, 22 Oct (RS): Band-tailed Pigeon (MS): 35, near Fish Lake, 6 Oct (TL); 50, Mail Ridge, 9 Oct (JG); 75-200 attracted to outstanding madrone berry crop, near Miranda, 5-25 Oct (JK): European Collared-Dove (GW): 1, Eureka, 15 Oct (GL): N. Pygmy Owl (FR): 1 hooting, Davison Road pond, 21 Oct (TL): Selasphorus Hummingbird sp.  (ID): 1, Lanphere Dunes, 19 Oct (JT).

Willow Flycatcher (EM): 1, Lake Cleone, 24 Sep (DT); 1, Southern Humboldt Comm. Park, 26 Sep (JS); 2, mouth Redwood Creek, 27 Sep (KI): Say’s Phoebe (FR): 1, Bald Hill, FT. Bragg, 23 Sep (DT); 1, mouth Mattole River, 9 Oct (JK, AS); 1, Hettenshaw Valley, 20 Oct (TL); 1, Orick, 21 Oct (KS): Ash-throated Flycatcher (EM): 1, Shay Park, 27-29 Sep (RF): Tropical Kingbird (EM): 6 reports of singles from Shelter Cove, near Crab Park, ERWA, Copenhagen Road, Hookton Road, mouth of Widow White Creek, 28 Sep-24 Oct (JT, SMcA, RF, MW, PH, BO’D, KR): Cassin’s Vireo (EM): 1, mouth Mattole R., 9 Oct (JT et al.): Warbling Vireo  (EM): #?, 29 Sep, Trinidad, (MH): Gray Jay (MS): 1, Elk Head, 27 Sep (SC); 1, Sunnybrae, 6 Oct (MM):  Horned Lark (IL): 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 27 Sep (KI):   Violet-green Swallow (ID): 45, Dry Lagoon, 10 Oct (TL); 7, 150, 70, 75, AMP, Lanphere Dunes, MRCP, 19-23 Oct (JT et al.): Bank Swallow (FR): 1, King Salmon, 25 Sep (MW):  Barn Swallow (ID): 1, AMP, 24 Oct (JT, RF et al.): American Dipper (FR):   #?, near Shelter Cove, 10 Oct (JT et al.); 1, South Fork, Smith River, at mile post 13, 21 Oct (TL): American Pipit (EM): “large flocks”, mouth Mattole R, 10 Oct (JT et al.); 80, BRR, 22 Oct (SMcA); sev 100, Cannibal I. Road, 23 Oct (DF, JP): Cedar Waxwing (ID): 30-40 on Madrone berries, near Miranda,  5-24 Oct (KK): Orange-cr. Warbler, gray headed (FR): 1, Fairhaven, 9 Oct (SC): Nashville Warbler (EM): 2, Trinidad, 24 Sep (MH): Yellow Warbler (ID): 1, Allen Marsh, 24 Oct (JT, RF et al.): Chestnut-sided Warbler (FR): 1 banded, Lanphere Dunes, 28 Sep (CJR): Audubon Warbler (ID, IL): 1 still up on snowy Mt. Lassic 20 Oct (TL): Black-throated Gray Warbler (EM):   1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 1 Oct (TL): Prairie Warbler (FR): 1, AOP, 3-4 Oct (JK, ST); 1, Fairhaven, 3 Oct (RF, JC); 1, ERWA, 24 Oct (SMcA): Palm Warbler (EM): 16 reports of 1-3 from Ft. Bragg, Shelter Cove, Capetown, Cape Ridge, Camp Weott Road, 7-mile Slough Road, CRI, ERWA, HBNWR, mouth of Elk River, North Spit, AOP, AMP, BSLP, Hufford Road, 2-25 Oct (mo): Blackpoll Warbler (FR): 1, Trinidad, 24 Sep (MH): Black-and-white Warbler (ERM): 1, King Salmon, 7 Oct (MW); 1, Allen Marsh, 24 Oct (JT, RF et al.): American Redstart (ERM): 1, Fairhaven, 3 Oct (RF, JW): Northern Waterthrush (ERM): 1 banded, Lanphere Dunes, 15 Oct (JW); 1, AOP, 1-23 Oct (DF, RF, JW, BC); 1, BSLP, 23-24 Oct (BC, JT, RF et al.); 1, Allen Marsh, 24 Oct (JT et al.); 1, Eureka Sewage Marshes, 7 Oct (SMcA, RLeV): Common Yellowthroat (ID): 9 reports of 1-2, Luffenholtz Creek, MRCP, Lanphere Dunes, AMP, AOP,  Vigo St. Marsh, Hilfiker Lane, CRI, Shelter Cove, 1-24 Oct (TL, JT, SMcA, JW).

Western Tanager (IN): ~ 30 in mixed flock on Cascara, Trinidad, 24 Sep (MH): Chipping Sparrow (EM): 1, McKinleyville, 29 Sep (JH); 1, Kneeland, 30 Sep (BB, DVZ): Clay-colored Sparrow (ERM): 1, Davison Road, 1, mouth Redwood Creek, both 29 Sep (KI);  1, Ft. Bragg, 20 Oct (DT): Vesper Sparrow (FR): 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 27-29 Sep (KI); 1, BRR, 14 Oct (SMcA): Lark Sparrow (EM):  1, AMP, 11-13 Oct (GC); 1, King Salmon, 7 Oct (MW); 1, Shelter Cove, 10 Oct (JT): Black-throated Sparrow (FR, HO): 1, Davison Road, 29 Sep (KI):  Fox Sparrow (Gray-headed race, yellow bill) (FR): 1, Cummings Road, Eureka, 3 Oct (TL): Lincoln’s Sparrow (IN): ca 35, Mt. Trashmore, 27 Sep (RF): Swamp Sparrow (EM): 1, MRCP, 12 Oct (ST, RF, JW); 1, Klamath, 14 Oct (KI); 1, Trinidad, 14 Oct (KI); 1, AMP, 19 Oct (JT); 1, AOP, 23 Oct (SC): White-throated Sparrow 2, downtown Crescent City, 10 Oct (RLeV):  1, 15 miles down river from Happy Camp, 22 Oct (EE) + others on usual schedules: Slate-colored Junco (ERM): I, AMP, 25 Oct (JW):  Lapland Longspur (EM, IN):  6 reports of 1-200+ from BRR, Cannibal I. Road, King Salmon, North Jetty, North Spit, 1-24 Oct (SMcA, RF, DF, JP, SC, JK, MW): Chestnut-collared Longspur (FR):   1, BRR, 22 Oct (SMcA); 1, Cannibal I. Road, 23 Oct (DF, JP):  Black-headed Grosbeak (EM): 1, Sunnybrae, 4-6 Oct (SH):  Dickcissel (FR): 1, Cannibal I. Road, 24 Oct (RF): Western Meadowlark (IN): 20, Mail Ridge, 5 Oct (JG): Yellow-headed Blackbird (FR): 1, Arcata Bottoms, 12 Oct (KR): Orchard Oriole (FR):  1, AMP, 24 Oct (JT, RF, et al.): Pine Siskin (IN): after a year with few, this is shaping up pretty good, 50, Del Norte G-O Road, 29 Sep (TL); 250, near Orick, 1 Oct (KI); total of 1200 at 27 of 31 stops between Klamath and Trinidad, 14 Oct (KI); “many,” BRR, 7 Oct; 500 on 10 stops along BRR, 14 Oct (both SMcA): “large flocks,” Miranda, 5-25 Oct (KK).