Field Notes

by Stanley W. Harris

April 29 - August 26, 2001

As usual, after 4 months without a Sandpiper, I only have room for the highlights of the summer’s observations. Once again, I want to emphasize the importance of continuing to report migration dates, interesting numbers, unusual locations, etc., of the "expected" species as this kind of information all adds to our growing base of knowledge of the Northcoast’s birds. Please continue such reports even though you may not find them listed in this month’s Sandpiper for lack of space. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EL = Expected Location; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; FR= Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; ID = Interesting Date; IL = Interesting Location; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = Many Observers; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Report not confirmed by a second party; NR = Nest Record; PCSP = Prairie Creek State Park; SRB = Smith River Bottoms;

Observations

WHITE-FACED IBIS (FR): Continuing the pattern of wanderers in May established some years ago, 26 (a new record) flocks of 1-100± were reported from SRB, AB, AMP, Blue Lake, Freshwater Valley, HBNWR, ERWA, ERB, Shelter Cove, 10-mile River, 14-30 May (mo): LONG-TAILED DUCK (ID): 1, mouth, Elk River, 20 May (PH): HARLEQUIN (ID): 1 female, King Salmon, 30 Apr (BW); 4, Crescent City, 6 July (anon); 4, 1 Jun-11 Jul; 8, 12-31 Jul, both MKSP (DT): HOODED MERGANSER (NR): BY reported 4 females on nests in wood duck boxes (3 hatched successfully) at Big Lagoon and nearby Maple Creek this summer. This was the third known year for one female to nest there and the second known year for a second female: BALD EAGLE (MS): 11 reports of 1-2 from near Orleans, South Fork of Trinity River, Humboldt Bay, lower Eel River, near Alderpoint, 5 Mar (update)-1 Jul (mo).

Hawks in the mountains

GOSHAWK (FR): 1, 7 miles south of highway 299 along south fork of Trinity River, 3 Jun (MW): SWAINSON’S HAWK (GW, NC): 1, Fickle Hill (adequate phone description, nothing written received), 9 May (TMcK, F &JN): GOLDEN EAGLE (IL): 1, Cock Robin Island, 18 Aug (BS): PEREGRINE FALCON (MS): 7 (only) reports of singles from Blue Lake, AMP, North Spit, ERWA, 22 May-25 Aug (mo): RUFFED GROUSE (FR): 3 of 4 reports were from Big Hill or Hoopa Valley (MHi, DR, RH), the fourth from Strawberry Rock near Trinidad (5 Jul, MS): COMMON MOORHEN (FR): 1, MKSP, 23-29 Apr (DT): BLACK-NECKED STILT (FR): 2, Lanphere Road, 3 May (SL); 1, Klopp Lake, 31 May (G&RN); AMERICAN AVOCET (NR): about 20 adults, apparently nesting at HBNWR, 14-22 May (SL) had produced at least 2 broods by 4-7 Jun (MW); 1, 10 Mile River, 20 May (DT): SOLITARY SANDPIPER (FR): 1, Highway 299 x Mad River, 3 May (ST); 1 HBNWR, 2 May (SH): RED-NECKED STINT (GW, NC): 1 reported, good phone description, AB, 2 May (KI): SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (FR): 1, AMP, 21 Jul (KI); 1, Klopp Lake, 4 Aug (BMcI): BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (NC, FR): 1, no description of any kind!, ERWA, 25 Aug (MF): WILSON’S PHALAROPE (FR): 1, AMP, 20 May (RH, ST); 1, ERWA, 10 Aug (MW); 1, AOP, 16 Aug (SH).

Summer Gulls

LAUGHING GULL (FR, NC): 1 (reported as "second year"), Bracut, 7 May (RH, ST, PH, TMcK); 1 ("second year"), Crescent City Harbor, 18 Jun (AB, fide GL) (no oral or written reports received on either bird): FRANKLIN’S GULL (FR, NC): 1, Crescent City, 17, 18 Jun (AB, fide GL); 1 adult, Crescent City, 6 Jul (AB); 1, Clam Beach, 14 Aug (KR): MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 5 (only) reports of 2-"lots" from PCSP, offshore at Redwood Creek, North Jetty, MKSP, 8 May-21 Jul (EE, DF, BD, DT) XANTUS’S MURRELET (FR, IL, NC): 1, ("hypoleuca race" !) Crescent City Harbor, 8 Jul (CO): CASPIAN TERN (NR): 150-200, defending nesting site and carrying fish into grass on Sand Island, North Humboldt Bay, 10-13 Aug (DD) (the first confirmed nesting of this species at Humboldt Bay in more than 30 years!); TUFTED PUFFIN (MS): 1, 2 May (SH, et. al); 1, 12 May (MW, et. al), both Green Rock: WHITE-WINGED DOVE (FR): 1, Fieldbrook, 3 Jun (TD, reported by property owners to have been there about 2 weeks prior to 3 Jun): YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (GW, FR): 1 actively calling territorial calls, Singley Bar near Fernbridge, 30 Jun-10 Jul (SMcA, AT, TMcK, et al.): WESTERN SCREECH OWL (NR): at least 3 nests were reported in wood duck boxes on Simpson Land from Klamath to Big Lagoon (BY): BARRED OWL (FR): 1, 3 May (SH, RR, DR), 1, 6 May (RH, et. al), both Big Hill; 1, Freshwater Valley, 28 May (SP); 1, 15+ miles out Highway 36, 8 Jun (KR); 1, PCSP, 23 Jun (BD): SAW-WHET OWL (NR): 1 nested in wood duck box, Big Lagoon Mill Pond, (BY).

Nighthawks on the Beach

COMMON NIGHTHAWK (MS): 6 reports (including reports of 2 nests at Clam Beach!), from Ship Mountain, Lake Earl Drive, Clam Beach, near Meyers Flat, 5 May (!)-mid Jul (JS, TL, DLV, MC, CO): BLACK SWIFT (FR): 5 reports of 1-12 migrants from near Hurdy Gurdy Creek, mouth of Redwood Creek, Freshwater Lagoon, Azalea Hill, AB. 2-5 Jun (CO, DF, GL, PH): WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (FR): seen daily at Garberville, early May (JS); 1-4, Wagner Bridge south of Garberville, 12 May, 24 Jun (KR, DF, JP, MM, JS, MT, EE); found entering apparent nest crevices in bluffs at Holmes, Apr-May (LN): COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD (FR): 1 male, near A.W. Way Campground, Mattole Valley, 30 Jun-1 Jul (GL, LL); 1 male, McKinleyville, 15 Jul-19 Aug (J&DD, S &LH): WILLOW FLYCATCHER (MS): 11 reports of 1-2 from Klamath Glen, PCSP, near Patricks Point, Little River Valley, AOP, Eureka, Larabee, near Meyers Flat, 5 May-23 Aug (DF, KI, CO, JS, MT, EE, RH, LN, SH): GRAY FLYCATCHER (FR): 1, Davison Road Bridge, 31 May (KI).

WHITE-EYED VIREO (GW): The first, ever, Humboldt County Record and only the second North Coast record, a bird found 10 Jun at Elk Head (KI), remained until at least 30 Jun singing every day (mo): BLUE-HEADED VIREO (NC): 1, Blue Lake Bottoms, 24 May (KI): RED-EYED VIREO (NC): 1, Fairhaven, 23 Jun (KI): PURPLE MARTIN (IN): 8 reports of spring migrants, 3 May-4 Jun (mo), included an all time record count of 132 at AMP, 15 May (JT): ROCK WREN (FR): 1, Kneeland, 20 May (AD); 2, Ship Mountain, 7 Jun (TL): CANYON WREN (FR): 1, 3 miles downstream from Alderpoint, 1 Jul (GB): BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (FR): 2, near Alderpoint, 12, 21 May (KR, DF, JP, MM, GB); 1, 6 miles north Crescent City, 29 May (KR).

Great Warblers!

LUCY’S WARBLER (GW, NC): 1 seen and heard singing, near Patricks Point, 5 May (KI): NORTHERN PARULA (FR, NR): 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 22 May (KI); 1, Lower Lake Drive, 30 May (AB); 1, Hookton Road, 31 May (there for the third year in a row) (KI); 1, Azalea Hill, 2 Jun (GL); 1, Lanphere Dunes, 27-28 Jun (CJR); 1 pair nested , Patricks Point Drive, and fledged at least 2 young, 16 Jun-17 Jul (KI), seen by mo 28 Jun-12 Jul: BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (FR): 1 singing, McKinleyville, 31 Jul (SMcA, RLV): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (FR): 1 male singing, Scenic Drive, 11 Jun; Canal School, 12 Jun (both KI); BSLP, 13 Jun (SH): MAGNOLIA WARBLER (FR, NC): 1, near Patricks Point, 5 May (KI): CAPE MAY WARBLER (FR, NC): 1, Scenic Drive, 20 Jun (KI): AMERICAN REDSTART (FR): 1 imm. male, MKSP, 6 Jun (DT); 1 singing male, Patricks Point, 10 Jun (KI); 1 male singing, Cock Robin Island, 15 Jun (DF, JP, GFa): OVENBIRD (FR): 1 seen and heard, Dedrick Turnoff, north of Junction City, Trinity County, 9 Jun (TMcK): NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (FR): 1, Salt River, 30 Jun (DF); 1 caught and banded, Yager Creek, 25 Aug (AO): HOODED WARBLER (FR): 1, Scenic Drive, 16 Jun (KI): CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (IL): 1 singing, H.S.U. CAMPUS, 25 Jun (AD): RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (EL): 2-4, near Cain Rock, 12, 21 May (KR, MM, DF, JP, GB); 2, 3 miles downstream from Alderpoint, 1 Jul (GB): BREWER’S SPARROW (FR): 1 singing, Crescent City, 21-22 May (AB): GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (EL): 9 reports of 1-8 from near Orleans, Blue Lake, Kneeland, ERB, near Bridgeville, Bear River Ridge, Cape Mendocino Beach, east of Dyerville, 12 May-30 Jun (mo): HARRIS’S SPARROW (ID): 1, Eureka, 4 May ("been here a month") (DB): ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (FR): 1 male, Elk Head, 26-28 May (BC, et .al); 1 male, MKSP, 24 May (DT); 1 male, Azalea Hill/Park, 21-22 Jun (GL, KR); 1 male, Eureka, 3-4 Jul (BCL): INDIGO BUNTING (FR): 1, Highway 101 x Mad River, 25 May-1 Aug (KR); 1, 1 mile north Queens Peak, 13 Jun (anon): DICKCISSEL (FR): 1 male singing, Happy Camp, 2 May (TC): BOBOLINK (FR): 1 male singing, near Crescent City, 27-28 May (AB): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1 pair, Bear River Ridge pond, 15 Jun (CO); 3-12, SRB, 12 Jun-11 Jul (AB, JG): YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (FR): 1, ERB, 30 Jun (fide BS): GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (FR): 1, SRB, 10-11 Jul (KR, AB, JG): ORCHARD ORIOLE (NC): 1 imm male, Fairhaven, 21 Jun (KI): BALTIMORE ORIOLE (FR): 1 male, AMP, 25 Apr (MA); 1 male singing, Lanphere Dunes, 2 Jun (CJR): HOODED ORIOLE (EL): 1 male, Trinidad, 3, 24 May (MHa, KI); 1, Eureka, 31 May (nesting in palm) (anon); 1 imm male, Mendocino Botanical Gardens, 1 Jun (DT); 2, Stewart St., Ft. Bragg, 1 Jun (DT); 3, Arcata, 26-28 Jul (RM); 1 male, Arcata, 4 Aug (BMcI): LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH (FR): 1 male, Kneeland, 20 May (BB, DVZ, JP, DF).

Many Thanks to the following who submitted observations this summer: Marge Adams, David Anderson, Frank Anderson, Art Barab, Jane Barrett, Alan Barron, Dick Bermuda, Gary Bloomfield, Rachael Brilbeck, Heather Brown, Barbara Burek, Susie Bulger, Dennis, Kevin, and Pam Cahill, Bryon Carris, Barbara Clark, Bob Claypole, Tracy Cline, Mark Colwell, Jessie Conklin, John Cully, Tamar Danufsky, Lindsay Dembosz, Anthony Desch, Bruce Deuel, Duke Diehl, Joe Dobbs, Jeff Dunk, David and Jean Durbin, Elias Elias, Gary Falxa, F. Ferguson, Margaret and Pat Field, Mike Feighner, David Fix, Faith Freeman, Gary Friedrichsen, Isabel Gaasch, John Gaffin, Frank Garrison, Joe Gartland, Melody Hamilton, Lorie and Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Rob Hewitt, Mark Higley, Tony Hocking, Denise and Steve Homer, Doug Horning, Fred Hummel, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, Gail Kenny, Carol Lawrence, Jim Lawrence, Barry Lee, Sue and Tom Leskiw, Gary and Lauren Lester, Ron and Dylan LeValley, Steve Lewis, Lori, Ryan Mathis, Sean McAllister, Bryan McIntosh, Tristan McKee, Cara Millsap, Mark and Stephanie Morrissette, Mildred Mossman, Natasha, Joyce and Fred Neighbor, Laura Nelson, Greg and Rene Nesty, Chet Ogan, Andrew Orahoske, Steve Pagliughi, Jude Power, Chris Rall, Carol and C. J. Ralph, Don and Richard Ridenhour, Bill Rodstrom, Dominic Romano, Kerry and Megan Ross, Ruth Ann, Kristin Schmidt, Misha Schwartz, Mary Severdia, Dottie Simmons, Bruce Slocum, Victor Smith, Jay Sooter, Paul Springer, Sara Starr, Jenny Taylor, Margaret Taylor, Jim Tietz, Dorothy Tobkin, Amber Transou, Steve Tucker, Matt Wachs, Catharine Walling, Don Wattenbarger, Bud Widdowson, S. Wrigley, Sue Van Stu, David Van Zile, Margaret Varga, Brian Yost, Marcus Ziehm.

Please send future reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct., Arcata, 95521, call them to me at (707) 822-3802, call them to the Arcata Bird Box (707) 822-5666, or the Eureka Bird Box (707) 442-5666, write them on the observations sheet at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, or on the sheet in "Ornithology Hall", the Wildlife Building, Humboldt State University Campus.