Field notes Sept 2003

Field Notes

by Stan Harris

23 June - 24 August

Well, what I thought was a quiet, rather dull summer has picked up considerably lately. We’ve generally had a dry, hot (for us) summer with less than usual low overcast and fog and more than usual sunshine. The breeding season seems to have progressed pretty much as normal. Meanwhile, fall migration of shorebirds is well underway, local nesting land birds are completing nesting and leaving (local swallows almost gone already), a few fall migrant land birds are beginning, but get out there in the next month, crawl through the willow patches on the spit and enjoy the “silly season” when all manner of surprises show up! Some of the more notable mammal observations reported are: 3 weasels at Happy Camp Campground, east of Willow Creek, 22 July (TL); 3 gray whales off Stone Lagoon, one of them in a frantic breach mode, 13 Aug (MM), and FROM SHORE, DT, ON 4 AUG, saw 3 BLUE WHALES AND 2 HUMPBACK WHALES! That must have been a treat!

Abbreviations used: AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; ED = Expected Date; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; EN = Expected Numbers; FR = Few Records; GW= Gee Whiz Report: HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; IB = Interesting Behavior; ID = Interesting Date; IIT= Interesting, if true; mo = Many Observers; MS = Monitored Species; NC = Not Confirmed by a second party; ND = No Written Description yet seen: NR= Nesting Record.

HIGHLIGHTS: WHITE-FACED IBIS (FR, ID): 3, HBNWR, 25 Jun (EN); 1, AMP, 26 Jun (LL): BLUE-WINGED TEAL (ID): 2, AOP, 1 Jul (SH); 1, Allen Marsh, 15-20 Aug (SH): NORTHERN GOSHAWK (FR) 1, Friday Ridge Road, 19 Aug (TL): MERLIN (IIT, ID): 1, Smith River, 26 Jul (MW, EMcB): SORA (ID): a bird at AOP, 8, 9,11 July may have stayed all summer (SH); by 1 Aug, up to 3 a day responded vocally at AMP (SH): COOT (NR): evidence of a brood (at least 4 young seen) at AOP, 29 Jul-20 Aug (SH, et al.) and another youngster at Big Lake, near Willow Creek, 1 Aug (TL, et al.): AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (FR): 1, South Spit, 26-30 Jun (SMcA, KR): POSSIBLE RED-NECKED STINT (IIT, NC): 1 reported, thin description, foot of I street, Arcata, 21 Aug (KI): LAUGHING GULL (FR): 1, second year, ERWA, 23-24 Aug (SMcA, MW, KR): FRANKLIN’S GULL (FR): 1 imm. Eel River Delta, 8 Aug (SMcA): BLACK-HEADED GULL (FR):1 juv. Lake Earl, 2-16 Aug (AB, et al.): LEAST TERN (FR): 1, Virgin Creek Beach, 25 Jul (DT): HORNED PUFFIN (FR): 1, dead on Luffenholtz Beach, 6 Aug (RB):TUFTED PUFFIN (FR): 4, Castle Rock, 27 Jul (MW, EMcB): LONG-EARED OWL (FR): 2 calling at dusk, Groves Prairie, Humboldt County, 16 Aug (JH):WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (NR): young in nest under bridge, So. Hum. Community Park, Garberville, 11 Jul (DW, RS); 1 adult seen there, 25 Jul (RS): LEAST FLYCATCHER (GW, IIT, ND, NR): 1 ON A NEST, near Holmes, 2-3 Jul (TMcK, ST): EASTERN KINGBIRD (FR): 1, Crescent City, 12 Jul (MW): BANK SWALLOW (NR): New nesting colony discovered, along coastal bluff, 0.5 miles north of Prince Island, 50-70 birds seen, 150 holes in main colony plus 50 other scattered holes, 27 Jun (L&MB); 1 foraging, foot of Murray Road, 22 Jul (KR): WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (FR): 1, Lone Pine Ridge, 9 Aug (GB): CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (FR): 1, near Dry Lagoon, 26 Jun (KI): AMERICAN REDSTART (FR): 1, Bald Hills Road x Highway 101, 30 Jun (KI): OVENBIRD (FR): 1, singing, Titlow Hill Road x Highway 299 along pond edge, 9-18 Jul (KI, et al.): VESPER SPARROW (FR, ID): 1, Kneeland, 7 Jun (BB): TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (IL, FR): 1, Lagoon Creek Rest Stop, 12 Jul (RF): HOODED ORIOLE (FR): 1, 8^th and O, Eureka, 12 Jul (CO).

NOTES FROM THE TRAVEL DESK AND MATERNITY WARD: RED-THROATED LOON (ID): 1, Entrance Bight, Humboldt Bay, 8 Jul (MW): PACIFIC LOON (ID): 4, Entrance Bight, Humboldt Bay, 8 Jul (MW): COMMON LOON (EM): a tight flock of 12 giving the appearance of new arrivals, Entrance Bight, Humboldt Bay, 30 Jul (SH, RR, CH): PIED-BILLED GREBE (NR): 1 on nest, Gearheart Marsh. 9-22 July, (SH, et al), nest hatched 4 chicks, 23 July (SH); 1 young, 2/3 grown, Allen Marsh, 25 July (SH); 2 broods afloat, HBNWR, early July (MW): RED-NECKED GREBE (ID): 2, Entrance Bight, Humboldt Bay, 8 Jul (MW): BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (ED; EN): 6, fly past North Jetty, 14 Jul (MW); 85, 10-15 miles west of Trinidad, 28 Jul (JM): PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (ED): 2 seen from North Jetty in 1 hour, 25 Jul (MW); 6, 10-15 miles west of Trinidad, 28 Jul (JM): SOOTY SHEARWATER (ED, EN): 1, near offshore rocks at Trinidad, 22 Jun (MM); 5, North Jetty, 19 July (MW); 100, seen from North Jetty in hour, 25 Jul (MW); 6, 10-15 miles west of Trinidad, 28 Jul (JM): GREEN HERON (EL; NR): 10 reports of 1-2 adults at AMP, 24 Jun-21 Aug (mo), including 1 perched for a few seconds on a telephone cable along South I Street before flying on, 27 Jun (SH), and 1 adult with 4 begging juv (still with down on heads), No Name Pond, 5 Jul (PL): CACKLING CANADA GOOSE (ID): 1, AOP, 29 Jul (SH, CH): WOOD DUCK (EL; NR): up to 6 broods at AOP, 1 at BSLP and 1 at Allen Marsh (mo): GADWALL (NR): At least 3 broods seen in June/July, AMP (SH): CINNAMON TEAL (NR): 2 broods, AMP, July (SH): PINTAIL (ED): 250, Lake Earl, 22 Aug (KR, JR, AB): HARLEQUIN (ID): 5, off Virgin Creek Beach, daily in June/July, 15 Aug (DT); 1, King Salmon, 30 July (SH, RR, CH): HOODED MERGANSER (FR): 6, Lake Earl, 22 Aug (KR, JR, AB): RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (ED): 1, Crescent City Harbor, 22 Aug (KR, JR, AB): BALD EAGLE (MS): 7 reports of 1-2 adults from Freshwater Lagoon, Humboldt Bay, McCann/Mail Ridge, Lone Pine Ridge, 25 Jun-9 Aug (mo) and 1 report of a juvenile drinking from a stock trough on Mail Ridge, 1 Aug (JG): SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (ID): 1, mobbing a Goshawk, Friday Ridge Road, 19 Aug (TL): COOPER’S HAWK (ID): reports of singles from Eureka, 3, 12 Jul (TL, CO) and Arcata, 24 Jul (FA): GOLDEN EAGLE (EL): 1, Titlow Hill Road, 15 Jul (RF, BMcD): KESTREL (IL): x, Boulder Lakes, Trinity Alps, 8 Aug (SL): PEREGRINE (MS): 17 reports (11 from AMP) of 1-3 from Patricks Point to Garberville, 25 Jun-22 Aug (mo): MOUNTAIN QUAIL (IL; NR): 1 brood, 800 feet elevation, Mail Ridge, 10 Aug (JG): VIRGINIA RAIL (ED): 8 reports of 1-3 per day at AMP/AOP, HBNWR, 28 Jun; 29 Jul-20 Aug (SH, DF, JP, et al.): AMERICAN AVOCET (NR): 3-4 young raised at HBNWR, 25-28 June (MW, EN); first fall migrants = 4 in high plumage, Butcher Slough,1-2 Aug (DH, SH), this had increased to 30-35 by 15 Aug.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS (EM): 6, Eureka, 1 July (PL); 40-50, Klopp Lake, 19 July (DF, JP): LESSER YELLOWLEGS (EM): 1, HBNWR, 27 Jun (MW): fall birds seen from 18 Aug (3, Mad River Est, KR, VL). On 23 Aug SMcA reported ratios of 5 Lesser:1 Greater at ERWA: WILLET (EM): 230 new arrivals, Klopp Lake, Butcher Slough, 24 June (SH, MV): RED KNOT(FR): 1, Entrance Bight Beach, 8 July (MW): SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (FR): 6 reports of 1-3 from Lake Earl, AMP, ERWA, 25 Jul-22 Aug (mo): WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS (EM, ED): increasing numbers seen from 28 June onward (mo): BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (EM, ED): 5 reports of 2 to 6 from Clam Beach to 10 Mile Beach, 17 Jul-21 Aug (mo): PECTORAL SANDPIPER (EM): 3, HBNWR, 7 Aug (MW); 1, Lake Talawa, 22 Aug (KR, JR, AB): DUNLIN (ID): 1, winter plumage, Klopp Lake, 29 June (EE); 1, mouth of Mad River, 7 July, (KR); 1, Lake Earl, 22 Aug (KR, JR, AB): RUFF (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 7 Aug (MeH); 1, narrows, Lake Earl, 10 Aug (RF, PH): LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (ID): 1, Butcher Slough, 20 Aug (SH); 5, Lake Earl, 22 Aug (KR, JR, AB): WILSON’S PHALAROPE (EM; ED): 8 reports of 1-11 from Lake Earl, mouth of Klamath River, mouth of Mad River, AOP, HBNWR, ERWA, 27-28 Jun; 29 Jul-6 Aug (mo): RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (EM): more than normal occurrence onshore from 24 Jul to 24 Aug, including 100-200 at AOP (mid Aug) and 1500+ at ERWA, 23 Aug (SMcA): MEW GULL (ID): 1 juv., AOP, 23 Aug (DF,JP, JT): ELEGANT TERN: 8, n. end Woodley I., 21 Aug (DF); MARBLED MURRELET (MS): 10 reports of 2 to 25 birds from Crescent City, Boyes Prairie, Trinidad, Clam Beach, Humboldt Bay, Juan Creek, 21 Jun-22 Aug (mo): RHINOCEROS AUKLET (FR): 6 reports of 1 to 12 from Trinidad to Ft. Bragg. 28 Jun-12 Aug (mo): COMMON NIGHTHAWK (MS): reports of singles from Onion Lake, Prairie Creek State Park, Grouse Mountain, and North Spit, 30 Jun-6 Aug (TL, KR, MM): WILLOW FLYCATCHER (MS): 1, west end, Crannell Road, 25 June (KI); 1, AOP (first fall), 14 Aug (RF); 1, Allen Marsh, north edge, 17 Aug (SH); 1 (first fall), Todd Ranch, 20 Aug (TL) :WESTERN KINGBIRD (IB): summer residents pigging out on grasshoppers, So. Hum. Community Park, 9-15 Aug (Woods): BANK SWALLOW: HBNWR, 10 Aug (DF): 1,PURPLE MARTIN (NR): 4 pairs nesting under Juan Creek Bridge near Westport, 16 Jun-8 Aug (DT); 2-25 seen in snags daily, Eureka, 20 Jul-9 Aug (DW, LC); 2, Eureka, 6 Aug (MM): DIPPER (FR): 1, Chezem Road x Redwood Creek, 26 Jul (FA); 1 in still wetland near Boulder Lakes, Trinity Alps, 8 Aug (SL): WESTERN BLUEBIRD (NR): second nesting in boxes at Hydesville well underway by 26 June (EN). At Kneeland, 1-6 seen on 21 days in June and 1-5 seen daily in July. At least 3 young in box by 20 June. For the entire summer, a total of 20 young were fledged from 2 boxes (2 nestings per box) at Kneeland (BB, DVZ). One of the young from a first nesting appeared to be helping with the second brood at one box: 2, Garberville, 29-29 Jun (JS); 6, Grouse Mountain, 22 Jul (TL): SWAINSON’S THRUSH (IL): 1, Happy Camp Campground, east of Willow Creek, 22 Jul (TL): NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (NR): 1 in juv. plumage, Southern Hum. Community Park, Garberville, 9 Aug (RS); 1, Arcata, 24 Jul (GB); 1, ERWA, 28 Jul (KR): GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (NR): 16 adults in nesting colony, So. Hum. Community Park, Garberville, 11 Jul (DW, RS); “numbers” there, 26 Jul (RS); adults carrying food there, 9 Aug (RS); 1, Kneeland 6,16, 22 Jun (BB).

Many thanks to the following who shared observations for this report: Without your continuing cooperation, this kind of summary would not be possible: Brian Acord, Frank Anderson, Art Barab, Gary Bloomfield, Laura and Mike Bradley, Rachael Brilbeck, Heather Brown, Barbara Burek, Matt Clinton, Eileen Cooper, David Couch, Melanie Dabill, Colin Dillingham, Marshall Iliff, Elias Elias, David Fix, Rob Fowler, John Gaffin, Melody Hamilton, John Hammond, Christy Harris, Lorie Harris, Stan Harris, Pablo Herrera, Denise and Steve Homer, Fred Hummel, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, Jeremy Kellerman, Tom Leskiw, Sharon Levy, Linda Long, Vanessa Loverti, John Mahan, Brooke MacDonald, Sean McAllister, Erica McBride, Tristan McKee, Jim Moon, Michael Morris, Eric Nelson, Chet Ogan, Sarah Ogdan, Nancy and Louis Pointer, Jude Power, Richard Ridenhour, Kerry Ross, Lee Schlesinger, Philip Smyser, Jay Sooter, Robert Sutherland, Jim Teitz, Dorothy Tobkin, Steve Tucker, Dan Van Zile, Margaret Varga, Matt Wachs, Kevin Walsh, Doug Wallace, Jared Wolfe, Summer Woods. I’ve had welcome reports from interior locations that are seldom covered, and while most were of expected species, even information on “normal species” helps fill in gaps in our geographic and seasonal knowledge about the interior and is most welcome. I especially thank Sharon Levy, Barbara Burek, Dan Van Zile, Doug Wallace and Robert Sutherland for these reports. Dorothy Tobkin deserves special mention for her faithful monthly reports for northern Mendocino County. My thanks to all who are willing to share their observations with us. Please continue to report your observations to me at (707) 822-3802, mail them to me at 1595 Charles Court, Arcata, 95521, call them to the Arcata Bird Box at (707) 822-5666, or write them on the observation sheet at the Interpretive Center at the Arcata Marsh Project.