Field Notes

by Stan Harris

30 August - 26 September 2004

Fall migration of land birds is in full swing.  My impression is that a few species arrived a few days earlier than normal.  Now that West Nile has arrived, do we need to monitor Corvids?  Humpbacked Whales continue to be sighted close to shore.  Typical summer weather.  Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CRI = Cock Robin Island; ED = Expected Date; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz report:   HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IIT = Interesting, if true; IN = Interesting Numbers;  MER= Mouth of Elk River; M = Migration record: MRC -Mouth of Redwood Creek; MRE = Mad River Estuary;  MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MRCP = Mad River County Park; MRWA = Mad River Slough Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species:  NC = Not Confirmed; ND= No details or description; OU = Origin Unknown.

 White-fronted Goose (ED): 1 flyby, MER, 18 Sep (CO); 35, flyby, BRR, 18 Sep (SMcA, KR): Aleutian Cackling Goose (ID):   4, AB, 11 Sep (BA): Northern Pintail (EM): 23, ERWA, 5 Sep (SC): Garganey (IIT, NC, ND): 1 “juv” reported from Hookton Channel (“look at face”), 5 Sep (DG):  Green-winged Teal (EM): x, ERWA, 5 Sep (SC): Harlequin (FR):  1 female, MER, 29 Aug (SC); up to 9, MKSP, summered over, present to at least to 12 Sep (DT): Hooded Merganser (FR): 3, MRC, 25 Sep (KI):  Ruffed Grouse (FR): 2, 6 miles west of Dinsmore, 8 Sep (TL); 1, 7 miles up Big Hill Road, 14 Sep (TL): Ring-necked Pheasant (OU, FR): 1 male, MRCP, 19 Sep (SC):  Red-necked Grebe (ID): 2-4, MKSP, 4-11 Sep (DT):  Pink-footed Shearwater (ED): 1, 4 miles off Humboldt Bay, 12 Sep (MC): Sooty Shearwater (ED): 3-20 seen from North/South Jetties and Wedding Rock 3-19 Sep (mo): Osprey (EL, ED): 1 each, mouth Willow Creek, Sandy Bar, both 3 Sep (TL): 1 each, Boulder Lake, Little Boulder Lake, Trinity Alps, 6000-6350 feet elevation, 1 Sep (DK).

Raptor’s Return

Bald Eagle (MS): 1 ad, Todd Ranch, 1 Sep (JL, fide TL): Sharp-shinned Hawk (EM): 4 reports of 1-2 apparent migrants from Douglas City, Westhaven, Fairhaven, BRR, 20 Aug-19 Sep (mo): Cooper’s Hawk (EM): 6 reports of apparent migrants from AB, Sunny Brae, Fairhaven, ERWA, BRR, 3-17 Sep (mo): Red-tailed Hawk (IN): 8, BRR, 9 Sep (SMcA):  Golden Eagle (MS): 1-2, BRR, 10, 17 Sep (SMcA, KR): Merlin (ID; EM): 1, AB, 4 Sep (BA): Peregrine (MS): 7 reports of 1-3 from MRWA, AMP, ERWA, BRR, 28 Aug-25 Sep (mo): Prairie Falcon (FR, ID): 1, BRR, 9 Sep (SMcA): CRESTED CARACARA (GW): 1, mouth of Jacoby Creek, AB, 4-6 Sep (RLeV, et al):  The first ever record for Humboldt County, likely the same bird reported last month for northern Mendocino County.  Only one other northcoast record, a bird in Del Norte in Apr 1989.  Common Moorhen (FR, NC, ND): 1, BSLP, 4 Sep (BA): Avocet (IL): 1, ERWA, 7 Sep (KI): American Golden Plover (FR, EM): 1, holdover from Aug,  Klopp Lake, 3-4 Sep (RF, FA); 1 “maybe this species,” ERWA, 6 Sep (SMcA); 1, ERWA, 10 Sep (KI):  Pacific Golden Plover (FR, EM): 1 adult, 2 juv, ERWA, 5-21 Sep (SMcA, BA, KI); 1 juv, CRI, 8 Sep (SMcA):  Lesser Yellowlegs (EM): 5 reports of 1-14 from Humboldt Hill Bottoms, ERWA, MKSP, 28 Aug-25 Sep (mo): Solitary Sandpiper (FR, EM): 1, ERWA, 6 Sep (KI): Red Knot (FR): 3, MER, 15 Sep (SC); “several,” ERWA, 25 Sep (ST, JW):  Semipalmated Sandpiper (FR, EM): 1, AB, 12 Sep (RF): Baird’s Sandpiper (FR, EM): 7 reports of 1-7 from MRE, HBNWR, CRI, MKSP, 26 Aug-10 Sep (RF, SC, MW, SMcA, DT):  Pectoral Sandpiper (EM): 7 reports of 1-4 from AB, ERWA, 7-25 Sep (mo): Dunlin (EM): 6, ERWA, 5 Sep (SMcA), increasing numbers after (mo):  Buff-breasted Sandpiper (FR, GW):   1, South Spit, 4-6 Sep (DZ, et al.): Ruff: 1, “juv female,” ERWA, 10 Sep (KI): Wilson’s Snipe (EM): 1-3, AB, 12-19 Sep (BA, ST): Wilson’s Phalarope (FR): 1, ERWA, 10 Sep (KI).

Jaegers harassing terns again

Pomarine Jaeger (EM):  1 ad., South Jetty, 5 Sep (SC); 1, South Jetty, 11 Sep (MW): Parasitic Jaeger (EM): 8 reports of 1-6 from Humboldt Bay, MER, King Salmon, North Jetty, South Jetty, MKSP, 4-25 Sep (mo): Black-legged Kittiwake (EM): 1, South Jetty, 11 Sep (MW): Caspian Tern (IN): 150, flying north past Wedding Rock, 3 Sep (KI): Elegant Tern (IL, IN):  6-8, MKSP, 31 Aug (DT); 700, flying north past Wedding Rock, 3 Sep (KI); 800-1000, South Spit & MER, 12 Sep (MW): Common Tern (EM): 1, Klopp Lake, 4 Sep (FA, SC, RF); 1, MKSP, 10 Sep (DT), both first year birds: Black Swift (FR): 1, Enderts Beach with Vaux’s Swifts, 12 Sep (CO): Pileated Woodpecker (EL): 1, Trinity Lake, 3 Sep (DK): Willow Flycatcher (MS): 14 reports of 1-3 from Douglas City, Sandy Bar, mouth of Willow Creek, Davison Road, AMP, Shay Park, Fairhaven, 23 Aug-22 Sep (mo):   Say’s Phoebe (FR): 1, Southern Humboldt Com. Park, 5 Sep (MT); 1 or 2 ?, Kneeland, 4-6 Sep (BB, DVZ, GB); 1, AB, 13 Sep (CJR); 1, Davison Road, 22 Sep (TL); 1 MRC, 25 Sep (KI): Ash-throated Flycatcher (EM): 1, Shay Park, 3 Sep (MM).

Royalty Arrives

Tropical Kingbird (FR):  1, King Salmon, 13 Sep (MW); 1, AMP, 18 Sep (PH); 1, South Spit, 25 Sep (ST, JW):  Cassin’s Vireo (EM): 1, Bayshore Mall, 9 Sep (TL): Warbling Vireo (EM): apparent migrants at Davison Road, Orick Dump, MRCP, Bayshore Mall, 30 Aug-22 Sep (TL, BA, KI): Philadelphia Vireo (FR, NC, ND): 1, Davison Road, 13 Sep (KI); 1, Orick Dump, 22 Sep (KI): Red-eyed Vireo (FR, NC, ND): 1, Orick Dump, 22 Sep (KI): Steller’s Jay (IL): 1, Fairhaven, 17 Sep (JT); 1, Lanphere Dunes, 19 Sep (JW):  Western Scrub Jay (IL): 1, King Salmon, 1-14 Sep (MW): Horned Lark (EL): 1, BRR, 3 Sep (SMcA): Violet-green Swallow (EM): “1000's, mostly this species,” AB, 19 Sep (ST): Bank Swallow (FR): 1 flyby, Lanphere Dunes, 29 Aug (JT): Dipper (FR): 2, Red Cap Bridge, south of Orleans, 14 Sep (TL).

Minor Royalty also arrives

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (EM): 1, Fairhaven, 17 Sep (JT); Western Bluebird (MS): 2, Grouse Mountain, 3 Sep (TL): 6, 6 miles north of Box Camp, 14 Sep (TL); 8, BRR, 3 Sep (SMcA): Townsend’s Solitaire (ID, IL): 1, Blue Lake Fish Hatchery, 12 Sep (MP, JMi): Swainson’s Thrush (GW, M): 100's heard passing over in pre-dawn darkness, Arcata, 12 Sep (ST); 100's for at least 3 hours heard passing over King Salmon after dark, evening of 12 Sep (MW, EMcB): American Pipit (EM): 3, ERWA, 6 Sep (KI); 15, BRR, 10 Sep (SMcA):   Tennessee Warbler (FR): 1, Davison Road, 13 Sep (KI):  Northern Parula (FR): 1, MRC, 25 Sep (KI): Chestnut-sided Warbler (FR): 1, MRC, 25 Sep (KI):  Myrtle Warbler (EM): 1 each, MRCP, AMP, 24 Sep (RF); 1, BSLP, 25 Sep (SS, SH): Townsend’s Warbler (EM): 4 reports of singles, from Cummings Road, North Spit, Westhaven, Davison Road, 6-22 Sep (TL, FA): Hermit Warbler:  1, Davison Road, 22 Sep (TL): Prairie Warbler (FR): 1 AOP trail, 9 Sep (JB): Palm Warbler (EM): 1, MRC, 25 Sep (KI):  Black-and-white Warbler (EM): 1. AMP Interp. Center, 20 Sep (GC): American Redstart (FR): 1, Bayshore Mall, 30 Aug (TL): Ovenbird (FR):   1, banded, Lanphere Dunes, 20 Sep (fide, CJR): Northern Waterthrush (FR):  1 reported (second hand) banded, upper Jacoby Creek, 7 Sep (fide, JW); 1, Manila, 22 Sep (GL): MacGillvray’s Warbler (ID): x, MRCP, 6 Sep (BA); 1, Box Camp, 14 Sep (TL): Canada Warbler (FR): 1 banded, Lanphere Dunes, 22 Sep (fide, CJR).  The usual fall swam of Yellow Warblers and Common Yellow-throats were here in Sep.  Western Tanager (EM): 1, Shay Park, 29 Aug (SC): Black-headed Grosbeak (ID): 1, Douglas City, 3 Sep (DK); 1 banded, Lanphere Dunes, 16 Sep (JW):  Lazuli Bunting (ID): last of up to 30 summering at Kneeland seen on 27 Aug (BB, DVZ).

Sparrows aplenty

Chipping Sparrow (EM): 1, Tyee City, 19 Sep (ST): Clay-colored Sparrow (EM, ID): 1, ERWA, 6 Sep (KI); 1, AOP, 24 Sep (DF): Vesper Sparrow (EM): 1, AB, 9 Sep (KR): Lark Sparrow (EL): 1 juv, last seen at Kneeland, 29 Aug (BB, DVZ); 2, BRR, 3 Sep (SMcA):  Black-throated Sparrow (FR):  1, Davison Road, 26 Sep (RF, KI, Kr, SM):  Savannah Sparrow (EM): 3, foot of I. St., Arcata, 31 Aug (GC): Grasshopper Sparrow (EL): 1-3 seen on 14 Days in Aug, last on 22 Aug, Kneeland (BB, DVZ): Sooty Fox Sparrow (EM): 1 each, Shay Park, MRCP, 6 Sep (BA): Lincoln’s Sparrow (EM): 1, AMP, 4 Sep (SC); Golden-crowned Sparrow (ID): 1 adult banded, Orleans, 2 Sep (EE): 3, AMP, 15 Sep (SH): Lapland Longspur (EM): 4-7, South Spit, 25 Sep (RF, ST, JW): Yellow-headed Blackbird (FR): 1, AOP, 6 Sep (BA).

Many thanks to all who shared observations with us this month.  Little by little, knowledge of our bird distribution and seasonality accumulates through the efforts of many people, and I thank you all.  Keep up the good work.  Contributors this month: Brian Acord, Frank Anderson, Stephen F. Bailey, Jay Bishop, Gary Bloomfield, Barbara Burek, Scott Carey, Greg Crites, Elias Elias, Rob Fowler, Steven Gurley, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Jessie Hollman, Denise Homer, Ken Irwin, Jhermie Kellerman, Jack Lahr, Tom Leskiw, Gary Lester, Ron LeValley, Dale and Margie Kuhn, John Mahan, Sean McAllister, Erica McBride, Tristan McKee, Jen Millard, Stephanie Morrissette, Michael Morris, Chet Ogan, Mike Palladini, C. J. Ralph, Kerry Ross, Lacy Rotta, Jay Sooter, Shana Stearn, Margaret Taylor; Gwen Thole, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Steve Tucker, Matt Wachs, Jared Wolfe, Derek Zane, Dan Van Zile. 

Send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif 95521; phone them to me at (707) 822-3802, or to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666, or write them on the observation sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, South G. Street, Arcata