Field Notes

by Stan Harris

30 August - 29 September, 2002

A smashing month full of surprises and old friends.  Bone dry weather, the north pond of the No Name Complex dried  completely up for the first time ever.  Pelagic trips out of Humboldt Bay (8 Sep), Crescent City (14 Sep), and Ft. Bragg (21 Sep) each recorded the expected species, such as 15-20 Black-footed Albatrosses, 5-75 Pink-footed Shearwaters, 1 to 30 Buller’s Shearwaters, 16 to 50 Sooty Shearwaters, 3-35 Cassin’s Auklets,  6-150 Rhinoceros Auklets and totals of only  2 Northern Fulmars,  8 Pomarine and 11 Parasitic Jaegers.  The “Wow” observations from these trips are detailed below.  Noteworthy mammals recorded this period included 2 Blue Whales (8 Sep), 4 Humpbacked Whales (8 Sep), 2 Gray Whales (14 Sep), 6 Right Whale Dolphins (21 Sep), 3-4 Risso’s Dolphins (8 & 14 Sep), 2-5 Dall’s Porpoise  (8 &21 Sep), 6 Pacific White-sided Dolphins (21 Sep), 2 Elephant Seals (14 Sep), 1 Northern Fur Seal (14 Sep) , 1 mink (at AMP, 2 Sep, SH), and 400-600 bats (Mexican Free-tailed?) departing a roost at the New Fortune Restaurant at 14^th and G., Arcata, 28 Sep (EE).

Abbreviations Used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond: BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CC = Crescent City; CGC = Coast Guard Cypress at base of North Spit; CRI = Cock Robin Island; ECP = Elk Creek Park (Crescent City); ER = Eel River; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FB = Fort Bragg; FR = Few Records:  IB = Interesting Behavior;   ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; IN= Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MRE = Mad River Estuary; mo = Many Observers; MS = Monitored Species; NBF = North Humboldt Bay Mud Flats; NC = Not Confirmed by a second party; PCSP = Prairie Creek State Park; TDAD = Trinidad.

HIGHLIGHTS:  FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER: 1, off ER 10-12 Miles, 8 Sep (SH, MC, et al.); 1 bird seen 3 times off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.): BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER: 6, off  FB, 21 Sep (RLeV, PP, SH, et al.): EURASIAN WIGEON:  1, near Rockport, 17 Sep (JH): HARLEQUIN:  up to 8, summered at FB to at least 20 Sep (DT):  SWAINSON’S HAWK (NC):  1 imm., AB, 21 Sep (JT,AC), possibly seen again on AB, 28 Sep (JK, fide KR): WOOD SANDPIPER (NC): 1, Lake Earl, 12 Sep (AB, JG):  RED-NECKED STINT (NC): 1, ERWA, 4 Sep (KI): SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER (NC): 1, MRE, 9 Sep (PW, fide MW): STILT SANDPIPER: 1 juv, ERWA, 27 Aug-4  Sep (KI, SMcA); 1 ad, ERWA, 28-31 Aug  (KI):  BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: 1, Lake Talawa, 7-8 Sep (JH, AB); 1, CRI, 9 Sep (SMcA): RUFF:  an outstanding year for this species with 16 reports representing at least 7 different individuals from MRE, AMP, NBF, ERWA, CRI, 28 Aug-25 Sep (mo): WILSON’S PHALAROPE: 1-3, ERWA, 25 Aug-4  Sep (KI, SMcA); 1, NBF, 1 Sep (PL):   SOUTH POLAR SKUA:  1, 20 miles west ER, 8 Sep (BMcD, SH, MC, et al.); 2, off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.); 2-3 off FB, 21 Sep (PP, RLeV, SH, et al.):  LONG-TAILED JAEGER: 1-4, off ER, 8 Sep (SH, et al.); 5, off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.); 50+, off FB, 21 Sep (PP, RLeV, SH, et al.): GLAUCOUS GULL (ID):  1 ad, present “off and on” at TDAD all of Aug, last seen, 31 Aug (MeH): SABINE’S GULL:  30 + , off ER, 8 Sep (SH, MC, et al.); 40, off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.); 5, off FB, 21 Sep (PP, RLeV, SH, et al.); 1 juv, Eureka Channel, 12 Sep (SG), 1 ad, AOP, 14-15 Sep (SM, SH, RH): THICK-BILLED MURRE:  1, CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.): XANTUS’S MURRELET: 2, off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.); 2, off  FB, 21 Sep (RLeV, SH, PP, et al.): TUFTED PUFFIN:  2, off  CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.); 1, off FB, 21 Sep (SH, RLeV, PP, et al.).

Sparkling Jewel Lost!

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (WOW!)  The first, ever, northcoast record, represented by an immature male at a feeder, Lanphere Dunes, 27-29 Sep (JT, KH, et al.): EASTERN KINGBIRD: 1, Tompkin’s Hill, 9 Sep (MW):  RED-EYED VIREO: 3 (!), Little River, 14 Sep; 1, MRE, 24 Sep (both KI):  ROCK WREN:  1, Kneeland, 14-15 Sep (BB, DVZ); 1, south fork, Trinity River, 22 Sep (MW); 1, beach rocks, Westport, 17 Sep (JH, et al.):  NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (IL): 1, Patterson Road, near Willow Creek, 9 Sep (Ann): BROWN THRASHER:  the bird reported last month was still present at CC 2 Sep (JG, AB, fide JH):  TENNESSEE WARBLER: 1, Enderts Beach, 7 Sep (AB); 1, ECP, 14 Sep (AB); 1, Fairhaven, 23 Sep (PL):  NORTHERN PARULA:  1, Lanphere Dunes, 12 Sep (KR); 1 imm male, CRI, 6 Sep (SMcA): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER: 1, CGC, 13 Sep (KR, FA); 1, Vance Road, 15 Sep (MW); 1, Fairhaven, 19 Sep (PL, BC, MW):  MAGNOLIA WARBLER:  1, CGC, 13 Sep (KR, FA); 1 imm., Glass Beach (FB), 12-14 Sep (DT):  PRAIRIE WARBLER:  1 imm male, Jacoby Creek Est., 13 Sep (DF); 1, Fairhaven, 24 Sep (KI); 1 (possibly the same) Fairhaven, 29 Sep (BA):  BAY-BREASTED WARBLER: 1, Stagecoach  Road, north of TDAD, 21 Sep (MeH):  BLACKPOLL WARBLER: 1, Fairhaven, 12 Sep (SG); 1, CGC, 13-14 Sep (FA, BA); 1, ECP, 21 Sep (CH, StH); 1, Bayshore Mall, 23 Sep (TL); 1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 25 Sep (TL); 1, Ferndale OP, 28 Sep (SMcA):  AMERICAN REDSTART: 1, Fairhaven, 12 Sep (SG); 1, CGC, 13 Sep (KR); 1, near Westport, 17 Sep (JH, et al.); 1, Fairhaven, 19 Sep (BC, PL, MW); 1, MRE, 24 Sep (KI):  PROTHONOTARY WARBLER: 1, ECP, 13 Sep (GH, et al., fide RH):  CLAY-COLORED SPARROW:  1, CRI, 13 Sep (SMcA); 1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 24-29 Sep (TL); 1, Bayside, 25 Set (DF); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Sep (SMcA, RLeV., AT, CMcA): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK:  1 imm. male, Lanphere Dunes, 20 Sep (JT):  BLUE  GROSBEAK:  1, Lanphere Dunes, 24 Sep (SC, HBe, fide PH):  INDIGO BUNTING: 1, Smith River Bottoms, 2 Sep (AB):  TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD: 75+, Bald Hill, near FB, 13 Sep (DT).

NOTES FROM THE TRAVEL DESK: ARRIVAL DATES OF WINTERING BIRDS: RED-NECKED GREBE: 4, King Salmon, 9 Sep (MW): EARED GREBE: 1, AOP, 13 Sep (SH): BLUE-WINGED TEAL: 1, AMP 17 Sep (BC): RING-NECKED DUCK:  1, BSLP, 13 Sep (SH): GREATER SCAUP:  1, Lake Cleone, 12-14 Sep (DT); 6, AOP, 15 Sep (SH).

Great Spotting!

BLACK SCOTER:  1, mouth Redwood Creek, 29 Sep (SMcA, AT, RLeV, CMcA): FERRUGINOUS HAWK: 1 imm., College of the Redwoods, 25 Sep (KR): ROCK SANDPIPER: 1, Elk Head, 20 Sep (MeH): DUNLIN: 1 adult in breeding plumage, ERWA, 25 Aug (KI): 1 in winter plumage, ERWA, 4 Sep (SMcA, AT, DF, JP:  HERRING GULL: 1, off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.): LEWIS’S WOODPECKER:  2-16 , near Junction City, 21-28 Sep (KR, MM); 2, Black Lassic, 20 Sep (TL):  RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET: 1, Hookton Road, 12 Sep (SMcA): MYRTLE WARBLER: 4, AOP, 24 Sep (SH): PALM WARBLER: 1, Elk River Wildlife Area, 23 Sep (TL): FOX SPARROW: 1, Enderts Beach, 7 Sep (JH): LINCOLN’S SPARROW: 1, Mail Ridge, 10 Sep (JG):  GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW: 3, Mail Ridge, 10 Sep (JG); OREGON JUNCO:  1, Sunny Brae, 14 Sep (SH):  :   

NOTES FROM THE TRAVEL DESK: PASSAGE BIRDS: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: The largest flight ever recorded was a week earlier than normal when I received reports of at least 16 flocks of 30-300 + passing overhead, mostly going southeast or east, 20-22 Sep (mo); of interest were reports of birds passing east up Smith (EE), and Trinity (KR, MM) Rivers and southeast up Eel River (RLeV, JG).  SNOW GOOSE: 2 in a flock of White-fronted Geese at CC, 21 Sep (CO, JH):  GOLDEN-PLOVER SP.:  1-5 , CRI, ERWA, 12-13 Sep (PL, BC): AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER; 1, CRI, 9 Sep (SMcA), 1 juv, MRE, 15 Sep (KI):  PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER: 2, MRE, 15 Aug (KI); 1, MRE, 28 Aug (KI); 1, Mouth Jacoby Creek, 1 Sep (KI); 2, CRI, 13 Sep (SMcA); 1, ERWA, 13 Sep (PL, BC); 1, MRE, 15 Sep (KI); 1 CRI, 28 Sep (SMcA):  SOLITARY SANDPIPER: 1, No Name Pond, 2-4 Sep (MV, AMcG, SH):  RED KNOT:  7 reports of 1-12 from AMP, NBF, Mouth Jacoby Creek, ERWA, Crab Park, 31 Aug-22 Sep (KI, BA, KR, PL):  SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER:  1 juv. ERWA, 25 Aug (KI):  BAIRD’S SANDPIPER:  10 reports of 1-30+ (!) from MRE, ERWA, CRI, 24 Aug-13 Sep (KI, SMcA, AT, PL, KR, BC):  PECTORAL SANDPIPER: 1, ERWA, 1-4  Sep (DF, JP, SMcA, AT); 1, MRE, 3 Sep (DF); 1, near Westport, 17 Sep (JH); 5 W. end of Lanphere Road 29 Sep (RLeV, SMcA, AT, CMcA):  COMMON TERN: 1, AMP, 14 Sep (SH, PL); 4, off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.):  WILLOW FLYCATCHER:   8 reports of 1-2 from near CC, Blue Lake, South Fork of Trinity River, North Fork of Eel River, Westport, MKSP, 30 Aug-19 Sep (T&SL, JH, AB, DT, ST):  SAY’S PHOEBE: 1-2, Kneeland, 12-14 Sep (BB, DVZ); 1, Bald Hill near FB; 17 Sep (DT); 1, near Lewiston, 28 Sep (KR):  SCRUB JAY:  1, near CRI, 12 Sep (SMcA):  YELLOW WARBLER:   many reports including one of 200(!) along lower Jacoby Creek 13 Sep (DF), represented our normal September movement of this species.  September also marked the passage of numerous COMMON YELLOWTHROATS which were everywhere in suitable habitat for most of the month.  LARK SPARROW:  1, Smith River Bottoms, 2 Sep (AB); 1, CRI, 13 Sep (SMcA); 1, ECP, 14 Sep (AB), 5 Hettenshaw Valley, 19 Sep (TL);  BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 1, 15 miles at sea off ER, 8 Sep (mo); 300, AB, 28 Sep (SH): 

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE:  BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (IL):  1, near Lewiston , 27 Sep (KR): SMALL FORM CANADA GOOSE: 50 over King Salmon, 29 Sep (SMcA, AT, RLeV, CMcA):  HOODED MERGANSER (IL): 1-2, AOP, Klopp Lake, 4, 14 Sep (SH, PL, MS): BALD EAGLE (MS):   1 juv, Big Lagoon., 11 Aug (KI); 1 ad, Hayden Flat, 7 Sep (KL); 2, Lewiston to Junction City, 28 Sep (KR):  GOLDEN EAGLE (MS): 1-2, Lewiston to Junction City, 22, 28 Sep (KR, MM); 1, South Fk, Trinity River, 22 Sep (MW):  PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 1, offshore CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.); 1, AOP, 13 Sep (SH); 2, AMP, 27 Sep (SH); 2, ERWA, 1 Sep (DF, JP): ):  RUFFED GROUSE (FR, IL): 1, west side of Larabee Valley, 11 Sep (TL); 1 Bald Hills (above Orick), 29 Sep (SMcA, AT, RLeV, CMcA):  BLUE GROUSE (FR, IL): 3, Black Lsssic, 20 Sep (TL): SNOWY PLOVER (IL): 14, south side of CRI, 5 Sep (SMcA):  AMERICAN AVOCET (IL, IN):  20, CRI, 13 Sep (SMcA):  LESSER YELLOWLEGS (IN): 40-42, ERWA, 25-27 Aug (KI); 4, ERWA, 1 Sep (DF, JP); 2, ERWA, 4  Sep (KI); 1, MKSP, 1 Sep (DT); 4, Fortuna River Walk, 23 Sep (RC):  RED PHALAROPE (IL): 2, AOP, 15 Sep (SH).

Must have been hungry!

CALIFORNIA GULL (IB):  1-4 juvenile birds walking along south I street in Arcata, plucking and eating BLACKBERRIES from low roadside bushes, 9-12 Sep (SH):  ELEGANT TERN (IB) :  600+ milling and circling high over the center of North Humboldt Bay in a “chimney flight,” 8 Sep (MC, SH, et al.):  MARBLED MURRELET (MS):   1 off South Spit, Humboldt Bay, 8 Sep (BMcD); 8 off CC, 14 Sep (JH, et al.):  PYGMY-OWL (FR): 1, PCSP, 4 Sep (EE); 1, South Fork. Trinity River, 22 Sep (MW):  BARRED OWL (MS): 1 calling at 0300 hours, PCSP, 4 Sep (EE):  DIPPER (FR): 1, North Fork., Eel River, 11 Sep (TL):  WESTERN BLUEBIRD (MS):  7, Hettenshaw Valley, 19 Sep (TL):  EVENING GROSBEAK (FR):  2 at Catfish Lake, 9 Sep,  had increased to 24 by 28 Sep (MW).   MW checked the seldom-visited Bracut Willows and reported 1 Hutton’s Vireo and 4 Black-capped Chickadees, 18 Sep.  TL reported many species hawking flying insects (probably ants or termites) at Black Lassic, 20 Sep. Among these were 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker, 2 Lewis’s Woodpeckers, an Olive-sided Flycatcher, 25 Mountain Chickadees, 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 12 Western Bluebirds, and 3 Audubon’s Warblers. At AMP/AOP Red-winged Blackbirds and Starlings occasionally were seen feeding on Spartina seed in the adjacent salt marshes in early Sep (SH).