Field Notes

by Stanley W. Harris

26 April - 25 August 2000

Gleanings from the bird grapevine this summer have been pretty difficult, and I am grateful to those who made special efforts to report their observations even though the Arcata Bird Box has been out of commission since early June. We never realize how much we depend on something until we have to do without. Let’s hope the Bird Box will be up and running again in time for the ‘silly season.’ Pelagic trips were conducted out of Eureka on 6 May and out of Ft. Bragg on 20 May, 30 July, and 19 August.

Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; A-EB Arcata-Eureka Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; 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; IL = Interesting location; IN = Interesting Numbers; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MRCP = Mad River County Park; MS = Monitored Species; NC/ND = Not Confirmed/No Details: PPSP = Patricks Point State Park.

Since this report covers 4 months, I only have room for the Highlights this time, but please do continue to report observations of more mundane things such as early and late dates for migrants, out of habitat occurrences, etc., as these all add to our collective knowledge about local bird distributions and population changes.

LAYSAN ALBATROSS (IN): 2, off Eureka, 6 May (MJ): 4-6, (up to 10?), off Ft. Bragg, 20 May (mo): DARK-RUMPED PETREL (GW!): 1, well seen, photographed, 8 miles west Ft. Bragg, 19 Aug (RLeV, mo), represents only the second, ever, (and the first confirmed) report for this species in Northcoast waters: BLACK-VENTED/MANX TYPE SHEARWATER (GW, NC): 1, nearshore off McKinleyville, 5 Jul (EE) (we still need a confirmed record for Humboldt Co.): WILSON’S STORM-PETREL (NC/ND): 1, 3-4 miles west Ft. Bragg, 30 Jul (PP, ST) (still looking for the first confirmed report for the Northcoast): ASHY STORM-PETREL (FR): 10-20, 30 Jul; 50-100, 19 Aug, both 10-30 miles west Ft. Bragg (mo): MARKHAM’S STORM-PETREL (GW, NC): 1, 28 miles wnw Ft. Bragg, 19 Aug (RLeV, mo): CATTLE EGRET (FR, MS): 1-4 AB, 3-20 May (S&LH, B&MW); 3, near Loleta, 12 May (present since at least Nov 1999, KI): BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (IL): first confirmed nesting at BSLP, 4 new fledglings seen together, 1-2 Aug (SH, DH): WHITE-FACED IBIS (FR, ID): outstanding spring flight through the Northcoast, 17 reports of 1 to 75 (!), near Ft. Bragg, Ferndale Bottoms, HBNWR, Fay Slough, A-EB, AB, Blue Lake, Crescent City, Lake Earl, 12 May-8 Jun (mo); 1, AMP, ±9 Jul (PL): : LESSER SNOW GOOSE (FR): 2 white, 3 blue, HBNWR, South Humboldt Bay, 19 May (SL, MW); 1 white, 1 blue, HBNWR, 2 Jun (SL): LIGHT-BELLIED BRANT (FR): 1 (flyby), Shelter Cove, 3 May ("Woods"): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (FR): 16 reports of 1-46 (!) from Ft. Bragg, ERWA, HBNWR, Fairhaven, AOP, AMP, near Gasquet, Smith River Bottoms (includes a single flock of 46, the most ever seen together on the Northcoast, 7 Jun, AB), 29 Apr-29 Jun (mo): NORTHERN SHOVELER (ID): first positive nesting report since 1993, 1 female with 4 half-grown young, AOP, 21 Jul (SH): HARLEQUIN DUCK (FR, ID): 3-5 males, 1-2 females, MKSP, 29 Mar through Jul (DT, MM); 1 pair, Pt. St. George, 10 Aug (AB): NORTHERN GOSHAWK (FR):1 imm., Horse Mountain, 29 Apr (KN, GG): AMERICAN KESTREL (IL): 1 pair, nesting (very rare event for the lowlands), Lake Earl Wildlife Area, 15 Jun (AB): SORA (ID,EM): 1, McLaughlin Pond, 3 Jul (AB); 1, BSLP, 20 Jul (C&GK), 1, No Name Pond, 21 Jul (SH): PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (ID): 1, breeding plumage, Lake Talawa, 15 Jul (AB, EC): BLACK-NECKED STILT (FR): 1, AB, 4 Jun (BM): SURFBIRD (ID): 1 (full breeding plumage); MKSP, 29 Jun (DT): BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (ED): 7, mouth Elk River, 27 Jul (KI): RED KNOT (ID): 19, AB, 13 May (KI); 1, MKSP, 21 May (DT), 1-2, Klopp Lake, 2 Jun, 16 Jun, 2 Aug (anon, SH, CM): SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (ED): 1, Orick, 7 Jul (KI); 1, ERWA, 2, 27 Jul (DF, JP, KI): RUFF (FR) 1 male, molting, 24-28 Jul, mouth Butcher Slough, Jacoby Creek, (SY, KI); 1 female, ERWA, 31 Jul (KI): COMMON SNIPE (ID): 1, Lake Talawa, 15 Jul (AB, EC): WILSON’S PHALAROPE (FR): 2, Smith River Bottoms, 4-7 Jun (AB); 6, ERWA, 22 Jul (SMc); 2, MKSP, 2 Jun (JeW, KC, RI): SOUTH POLAR SKUA (FR): 1-3 (?), off Ft. Bragg, 19 Aug (RLeV, et al.): LONG-TAILED JAEGER (FR): 3, off Ft. Bragg, 20 May (mo); 15-20, off Ft. Bragg, 19 Aug (RLeV, et al.): ELEGANT TERN (ID/N): rather common at Humboldt Bay this summer, but only 1 report for Crescent City, 7 on 23 Jul (AB): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 25-50 visual and audio detections were usual at Boyes Prairie 8-10 May (DF); from shore, 6, near North Jetty, 7 May (MW), at least 8 north of Westport, 13 May, 24 Jun (DT); at-sea surveys in Jul-Aug revealed none south of Table Bluff, 60-100 from Orick to Klamath River, and 45 from Pt. St. George to the Oregon border (EE): LONG-BILLED MURRELET (GW, NC): 1 reported, off Crescent City, 14 Jul; another (different plumage), off Lake Earl, 5 Aug (both EE): ANCIENT MURRELET (FR): 1, off Capetown, 5 Jul (BO): TUFTED PUFFIN (MS): maximum number seen at Castle Island= 6 at 3 burrows 5 Jul, when one burrow was still being dug, late?, (AB); 2 at nest hole, Green Rock, 18 Jun (MeH); 1 at sea west of Ft. Bragg, 19 Aug (RLeV, et al.); Jul-Aug surveys in nearshore waters = 2 flyby Big Lagoon (July?), maximum count of 5 in water near Castle Island (EE): MOURNING DOVE (IN): 33 (!), 15-16 May; 7-15 daily in Jun and Jul, Kneeland (BB): YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (FR, GW, NC): 1, near Cock Robin Island, responded to tape, seen and heard, 25 Jun (GFa): FLAMMULATED OWL (FR): 1, Spruce Grove, Etsel Ridge, 24 Jun-1 Jul (CV,GC, BD, MaM, JH, SR, et al.): SHORT-EARED OWL (NC): 2-3 (apparent family group), Kneeland, 14-15 Jul (BB, JP, et al., reported as Long-eared Owls, but written description supports Short-eared): COMMON NIGHTHAWK(MS): 1, (identification not confirmed) Ft. Bragg, 19 May (PP); 1, Arcata, 14 Jun (EE); 2, Lake Earl, 24 Aug (EE); Lack of urban records indicates continuing decline of lowland population: POORWILL (FR): 1, near Hettenshaw Valley, 30 Apr (SP): BLACK SWIFT (EL, FR): 2, Grizzly Falls, 15 Jul (TL, JH): VAUX’S SWIFT (IN): 420 (actual count), entering a chimney, 14th and I, Arcata, 11 May (EE, GZ, LD): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (FR): 3, early Apr; 6, 16 Jun (both Scotia Bluffs, LH): 1, near "Sandbank Cliff," Covelo Road, 3 Jun (CV, MaM); 5 ± going into holes, Wagner Bridge, so. Humboldt Co., 17 Jun, 10 Jul (MW, DF, JP); 2, near Dos Rios, 1 Jul (JH, SR); 1, Cooks Valley (so. Hum. Co.), 18 Jul (MWi): CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (FR): 1, Willits feeder, 2 May (ScH); 1 male, Etsel Ridge, 7 Jun (SG); 1, 1 mile no. Grouse Mountain, 4 Jul (MW): RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (ID): last spring migrant at Kneeland, 3 May, returned, 16-19 July (BB): ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (ID): 1 bright male, Crescent City, 25 Aug (AB): WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (EL): 1, near Horse Mountain, 29 Apr (KN, GG); 1, near Grouse Mountain, 4 Jul (MW); 2, Onion Camp, 8 Aug (TL): WILLOW FLYCATCHER (FR): 1 singing, Junction City, 5 May (MH); 1, near Fortuna along Eel River, 29 May (RH); 1 singing, mouth Redwood Creek, 15 Jun (KI); 3, near Todd Ranch, 15 Aug; 2, Willow Creek, 22 Aug; 3, Sandy Bar, 24 Aug (all TL): EASTERN KINGBIRD (FR): 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 15 Jun (KI): 1, Monument Ridge, 30 Jun (LN): LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (FR): 1, Ferndale Bottoms, 19 May (SMc, MC): PLUMBEOUS VIREO (FR): 1 singing, Azalea Hill, 20 May-15 Jun (GL, DF, JP, BD, et al.): RED-EYED VIREO (FR): 1, Arcata, 4 Jul (EE): 1, AB (Canal School), 1-8 Jul (KI); 1, Bayshore Mall willows, 5-6 Jul (TL): CLARK’S NUTCRACKER (FR): 1, Snow Camp Road near Maple Creek Road junction, 25 Jun (CW, MV): PURPLE MARTIN (EM): 13 reports of 1-12, AMP, mouth Van Duzen River, North Jetty, Pigeon Pt. Road, Westhaven, MKSP, near Dos Rios, near Juan Creek, 28 Apr-14 Jul (mo): BANK SWALLOW (FR): 1, AMP, 5 May (DF); 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 15 Jun (KI); 1 Fernbridge, 29 Jun (SMc, DLV): OAK TITMOUSE (FR): 4, near Cain Rock, 6 Aug (MW, LN): PYGMY NUTHATCH (FR): 3, end of "GO" Road (near Doctor Rock, only the second record for Del Norte Co.) 30 Jul, (AB, PS, et al.): ROCK WREN (FR): 3, near Cain Rock, 6 Aug (MW, LN): CANYON WREN (FR): 1, Highway 162, Eel River Canyon, Covelo Road, 7 Jun (SG): TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (IL): 1, ½ mile east Trinidad, 4-5 Jul (KI): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR):1, Big Trees Parking Lot, 4 May (PH); 2 Red Mountain Trail (near Ant Point, Trinity Co.), 18 Jun (TL); 2, near Cain Rock, 6 Aug (MW, LN): SAGE THRASHER (FR): 1, Ft. Dick, 5, 16 May (AB, RT): CALIFORNIA THRASHER (EL): 2, Red Mountain Trail near Ant Point, 18 Jun (TL), 1 Hull Mountain, 1 Jul (JH, SR): GOLDEN-WINGED (TYPE) WARBLER (FR): 1 Blue Lake Bottoms, 25-26 May (anon, KI): VIRGINIA’S WARBLER (FR, NC): 1, Fairhaven, 26 Jun (KI): NORTHERN PARULA (FR): 1, Freshwater Lagoon, 3 May (SP); 1, PPSP, 6 Jun, 18 Jun (KI); 1, west end Crannell Road, 18 Jun, 1 Jul (KI); 1, Fairhaven, 23 Jun (KI); 1 apparent "Sutton’s" type Parula x something or other? (hybrid), Fairhaven, 30 Jun (KI): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (FR): 1, PPSP, 6 Jun (KI); 1 singing, west end Crannell Road, 18 Jun (KI); 1, Scenic Drive south of Trinidad, 18 Jun (KI); 1, Arcata, 5 Jul (KR): MAGNOLIA WARBLER (FR): 1, Big Lagoon School, 16 May, 30 Jul (KI): TOWNSEND’S WARBLER (ID): 1 male, Grizzly Flat, Etsel Ridge, 24 Jun (CV, MaM): AMERICAN REDSTART (FR): 1-2 males singing, Blue Lake Bottoms, 29-31 May , 10-11 Jun (KI, RH,EE); 1 MRCP, 25 Jun (KI): OVENBIRD (FR, NC/ND): 1, ½ mile east Trinidad, 2 Jun (KI); 1, Orick Dump, 11 Jul (KI): HOODED WARBLER (FR): 1 female, Holmes Flat, Eel River, 14 Jul (PH): RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (FR): 1-2+, along Covelo Road, 7 Jun, 14 Jul (SG, RK); 3, near Cain Rock, 6 Aug (MW, LN): BREWER’S SPARROW (FR): 1, Lagoon Creek Trail, Del Norte Co., 13 May (AB): BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (NC/ND): x, Ant Point, ± 11 Jun (JB, fide TL): VESPER SPARROW (FR): 1, Ten Mile River, 19 May (JeW): SAGE SPARROW (FR): 1, Hull Mountain, 25 Jun (CV, GC, MaM): GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (FR): 1, Covelo, 22 May (DS, JL); 1, Bear River Ridge, 9 Jun (CO); 24, Bald Hills, 11 Jun (AB); 6, 7 miles east of Garberville, 2 Jul (MW); 1, 2 mi west Laytonville, 14 Jul (RK); 1 singing, Kneeland, 17, 20 Jul (BB); 1 singing, Table Bluff Dump site, 31 Jul (KI): WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (EM): last seen, feeder (bum leg), Sunny Brae, 18 May (SH): GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (EM): last seen, feeder (blind in one eye), Humboldt Hill, 1 Jun (PeS): HARRIS’S SPARROW (FR): last seen, feeder (healthy!), Azalea Hill, 21 Apr (GL): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR): nine reports, Ft. Bragg, Fortuna, Azalea State Reserve, Azalea Hill, Trinidad, Klamath River Road, 11 May-12 Aug (mo): INDIGO BUNTING (FR): 1, Blue Lake Bottoms, 26 May-11 Jun (KI, GL, RH, KS, EE); 1, mouth Van Duzen River, 5 Jun (BW); 1, Sunny Brae, 1-3 Jul (G&JF); 1, Arcata, 10 Jun-10 Jul (KR, SM): DICKCISSEL (FR): 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 28 May (GL): BOBOLINK (FR): 2, AOP, 19 Aug (MV): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (FR): 5, Drake Hill Road, 1 May (JS); 12± , McQuire Hill Pond, east Ft. Bragg, nesting, 20 May (AM, fide RK); 1 singing (NC/ND), Freshwater Lagoon, 1-5 Jul (PW): HOODED ORIOLE (FR): 1 male, Bayside, 30 Apr, 5 Jun (DF, JP); 1 male, 14th and I st., Arcata, 4 May (SH, PS); 1 pair nested, Ft. Bragg, 7 Apr-27 May-7 Jul-22 Jul (feeding fledglings on 22 Jul) (DT, RK): CASSIN’S FINCH (FR, EL): 1 singing, Black Lassic, week of 17 Apr (SP);1 female, south Horse Mountain, 29 Apr (KN, GG).

Many thanks to the following who shared their observations with us over the summer: My apologies in advance if I fracture the spelling of your name, please do call and correct me! David Anderson, Mark Azine, Pamela Baker, Alan Barron, Mark Baumann, Gary Bloomfield, Heather Brown, Rachael Brunke, Joelle Buffa, Barbara Burek, Bryon Cariss, Lena Carro, Kris Carter, George Chaniot, Mark Colwell, Sarah Colvig, Eileen Cooper, Brent Critch, Leigh Detwiler, Bruce Deuel, Duke Diehl, Colin Dillingham, Barbara Dolan, Elias Elias, Gary Falxa, Gary and Jan Friedrichsen, David Fix, Brad Freeman, Steve Glover, Greg Gray, Melody Hamilton, Lorie and Stan Harris, Scott Harris, Gisela Hennessey, Pablo Herrera, Mark Higley, Denise Homer, Gretchen Horness, John Hunter, Ben Hurd, Richard Irvin, Ken Irwin, "Jane", Alvaro Jaramillo, Matt Johnson, Deborah Kallish, Gail Kenny, Robert Kieffer, Mary Kuehner, C & G Kuttner, Gary Lester, Dylan LeValley, Ron LeValley, Steve Lewis, Paul Lohse, Jim Lomax, "Lucas", Scotty Mateu, Matthew Matthiesson, Sean McAllister, Brooke McDonald, Bryon McIntosh, Cara Millsap, Art Morely, Michael Morris, Mark Morrissette, Stephanie Morrissette, Brennan Mulrooney, Kristie Nelson, Laura Nelson, Brit O’Brien, Chet Ogan, Steve Pagliughi, Ed Pandalfino, Marion Perry, Jude Power, Peter Pyle, C. J. Ralph, Richard Ridenhour, Kerry and Megan Ross, Steve Rovell, Debi Shearwater, Keith Slauson, Bruce Slocum, Jay Sooter, Paul Springer, Pete Spruance, Peggy Stebbins, Althea Taylor, Margaret Taylor, Scott Terrill, Richard Tryon, Margaret Varga, Chuck Vaughn, Matt Wachs, Catharine Walling, Justin Ward, Don Wattenbarger, Phil Wedge, Chris and Jim Welsh, Kevin Westfall, Jerry White, Bud and Margaret Widdowson, Nancy Wilson, "Woods", Shuzo Yochihara, Gretchen Ziegler. Please mail future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, Calif. 95521, phone them to me at (707) 822-3802, write them on the rare bird sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, or on the rare bird sheet in "Ornithology Hall" on the second floor of the Wildlife Building, Humboldt State University Campus, or if the Arcata bird box ever gets up and running again, call them to (707) 822-5666.

A personal note to all my friends on the Northcoast. I am more grateful than I can tell you for the outstanding gift some of you are responsible for. The new binoculars already have a substantial year and life list, and were given their own name by one of my new friends when we were on Komodo Island recently. They are now officially known as "Oh Wows". I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, whoever you are!