Summer is gone already, and fall migration is heating up. Because this report covers 4 months, I received many more reports than I have room for, so if your observation is not listed, please don’t think we are not interested; keep them coming. Failure of normal summer upwelling made pelagic trips out of Ft. Bragg, 22 May and 14 Aug, and out of Eureka, 19 Jun, 24 Jul, and 14 Aug, rather quiet without anything special reported. By far the most special critter reported was a sea otter video-taped off Humboldt Bay 4 Aug (EE, et al.) and resighted 5 Aug off Trinidad and Big Lagoon. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EDLN = expected date, location, numbers; EM = expected migrant; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; ESR = expected summer resident; FR = few records; GW = gee whiz report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; HO = hold over; I? = is it possible this bird was misidentified?; ID = interesting date; IL = interesting location; LMR = lower Mad River; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; mo = many observers; MS = monitored species; NBR = noteworthy brood record; NC = not confirmed; ND = no details; NLS = noteworthy late straggler or over-summering bird; SD = startling date; UD = update.

 

White-fronted Goose (NLS): 2, Shelter Cove, 6 May (RS); 1-3, Lake Cleone, 29 Apr-24 Jun (DT); “Cackling” Cackling Goose (NLS): 1, HBNWR, 22 May (SC, MW). Tundra Swan (NLS): 6, flyby, Pigeon Point, Eureka, 30 Apr (JK). Eurasian Wigeon (NLS): 2, AB, 30 Apr (JT). Harlequin (NLS, HO): Up to 13 present continuously, Virgin Creek Beach (through 21 Aug [DT]); 1-2, near South Jetty, King Salmon, mid-Jun through Jul (MW, RR). White-winged Scoter (NLS, IN): 300-400, off Gold Bluff Beach, 21 Jun (EE). Common Merganser (IL): 3-5, on bay at Fields Landing, ±22 May (MW). Ruffed Grouse (FR): 1, Redwood Valley, 3 Apr (ES, BS); 3, lower end of Titlow Hill Road, 2 May (SC); 1, Ship Mtn BBS route, 30 Jun (TL); near Korbell, 9 Aug (SCo).

Loony Sightings

Pacific Loon (EDLN): 895 counted in 2 hours passing Shelter Cove, 6 May (RS); 20, North Jetty, 1 May (SC); ±13 summering over in the Entrance Channel were joined by up to 69-151, 22 Jul-22 Aug (MW, RR); 45 off Gold Bluff Beach, 21 Jun (EE). Arctic Loon (GW, ND, NC): 1 reported, Shelter Cove, 6 May (RSu). Red-necked Grebe (NLS): 2, Jetty Channel, 19 Jun (MW). White Pelican (FR): I, Lake Earl/Talawa, 14-21 Aug (AB, et al.). American Bittern (FR): 1, Loleta Pond, 20 Jun (BS). White-faced Ibis (FR): 1, AB, 30 Apr (SC). Bald Eagle (MS): 20+ reports of 1-2 from Tompkins Hill (new nest site, LB), near King Salmon, Blue Lake, Humboldt Bay, Arcata, Willow Creek, Salmon Creek (near Miranda), Todd Ranch, Mattole River (mo). Goshawk (FR): 1, Horse Mountain, 21 Jun (JHe); 1, Maple Spring, Trinity Co., 2 Aug (TL). Merlin (SD, I?): 1, Mad River Fish Hatchery, 22 May (KR). Crested Caracara (GW): 1, Smith River Bottoms, 5-10 Jul (AB, LB, MB, et al.); 1, near Fernbridge, 19 Jul (ST, KB). Virginia Rail (ID): 3, heard giving the “kicker” call, Loleta Pond, 20 Jun (BS); species became vocally obvious generally again in early Aug. Sora (ID): 1 heard, HBNWR, 27 Apr (RLeV); 2, Marshall Pond, 21 May (KR). Common Moorhen (IN): 1, AMP, 28 Apr-2 May (MV, FA, EE); 1, HBNWR, 10 May (MW, BS); 1, Copenhagen Road, 10 May (MW, BS). Pacific Golden-Plover (ID): 15, Centerville Beach, 7 Mar; 1, Eel River Spit, 4 May (both SMcA); 6, ERWA, 24 May (JD); 1, “breeding plumage”, 26 Jul (Lake Talawa [RH]). Lesser Sand-Plover (GW): 1 ad, breeding plumage, Clam Beach, 10-12 Jul (ZN, CW, et al, photos; stunning bird). American Avocet (NBR): 2 on nests, HBNWR, 8 May (DF, JP). Black-necked Stilt (FR): 1-4, HBNWR, 7-22 May (mo); 3, Lake Cleone, 25 Apr (DT).

Inland Solitary

Solitary Sandpiper (FR): 1, heard only, flyby; 1 mile south of junction of Blue Creek and Klamath River, 21 Jul (DF); 1, Lake Earl, 19 Jul (Lucas). Pectoral Sandpiper (ID): 1, mouth of Lake Talawa (Lucas). Stilt Sandpiper (FR): 1, Vigo Street Marsh, 17-18 Aug, BS, et al, photos); 1-2, Lake Cleone, 14-19 Aug (DT, RLeV, et al., photos). Wilson’s Phalarope (EM): 1-11, AOP, AB, BRR, LMR (12-28 Jul (mo). Pomarine Jaeger (EM): 1, on Clam Beach, 1 Jul (KR); 1, LMR, 18 Aug (RF). Franklin’s Gull (FR): Groups of 1, 2, 1, flyby, Patricks Point, 24 May (BS). Glaucous Gull (FR): 1, base of Table Bluff, 7 May (MaMo); 1 second year, Manila Gun Club area, 11 May (JW); 1, mouth of Eel River, 10 May (MW, BS); 1, on Cape Beach inshore from Steamboat Rock 26 Jun (GL). Black Skimmer (GW): 1, Clam Beach, 19 Jul (KR, photo). Pigeon Guillemot (IL): 9, Entrance Bight, Humboldt Bay, 19 Jun (MW). Marbled Murrelet (MS): 208 counted in groups of 1-5 (mostly less than 5) off Freshwater Lagoon in a patch of water about 1 km by 1.5 km in size, many in less than full breeding plumage (DF); 32 counted in the same place, 23 May (KR); Humboldt Bay Entrance, 13 on 22 May and 55 on 19 Jun (both MW); 19 (copulation seen), Crescent City Harbor, 21 May (KR); 99 detections, early a.m. murrelet watch, Prairie Creek State Park, 9 Jun (DF); 5, off South Spit 19 Jun (RLeV, SMcA); 2-70, Entrance Bight, 2 Jul-13 Aug (MW). Tufted Puffin (MS): 1 emerged from a hole on Green Rock, 3 May (MH); 1 flyby Patricks Point southbound, no visible food being carried, 24 May (BS). Eurasian Collared Dove (MS): 1, HBNWR, 8 May (DF, JP); 1, McKinleyville, 18 May (KR); 1, Vigo Street Marsh, 10 Jun (TL); 1, South Broadway, Eureka, 13 Aug (BS).

Going Cuckoo?

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (GW, FR): 1 heard calling between Rio Dell and mouth of Van Duzen River, 4 Jun (CO); 1 (same?), heard, seen, recorded, photographed, along Eel River near Fortuna, 6 Jun (SMcA); 1 (same?) at BSLP, heard and seen 19 Jun (EE, et al.) and heard 20 Jun (SH, DH); 1 said to have been heard (same?) at Sandy Prairie Bar, 6 Jul (JT): Burrowing Owl (ID, GW): 1, Mtn View Road, Kneeland, 19 Jul (BS) (only Jul record ever). Common Nighthawk (MS): 1, Trinidad, 12 May (MH), 27 Jun (KI); 1 calling over Eureka, 20 May, 9 Jun (BS). Black Swift (FR): 2, flyby, Arcata, 16 May (SC); 11, base of Bald Hills Road, 16 May (BS); 1, Lone Pine Ridge, 12 May (CO); 1, HBNWR, 22 May (BD, MW); 2, foraging over Patricks Point, 24 May (BS); 5, flyby, Manila, 29 May (SC); 1 flyby, McKinleyville, 14 Aug (KR). Vaux’s Swift (IL): 6, Douglas City, 22 May (DK). White-throated Swift (FR): 2, over north end of Elk Head, 13 May (MH); 5, Wagner Bridge, 20 May (MW, BS); 8, Scotia Bluffs, 25 May (GL). Calliope Hummingbird (FR): 1, Blue Lake Fish Hatchery, 27 Apr (RF); 1, Denny, week of 20 May (LM). Lewis’s Woodpecker (ID): 1, Horse Mountain Ridge, 12 Jul (JHe). Olive-sided Flycatchers (EM): 4 reports of 1-3 apparent migrants singing at Blue Lake, Shay Park, above Little River and at Manila, 28 Apr-11 May (SC, MH, JW). Willow Flycatcher (MS): 11 records of 1-2 singing birds from Blue Lake riparian cover, cutover forest land between Korbell and Maple Creek, Boyes Prairie, Davison Road, mouth of Redwood Creek, AMP, Endert’s Beach, Klamath Glen, 19 May-26 Jun (mo) 2, Todd Ranch, 16 Aug (TL). Gray Flycatcher (FR): 1, near Orleans, 30 Apr (BS).

Last of the Blue Jay

Blue Jay (HO, ID): last seen at feeder in Redwood Valley, 25 May (KH). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (FR): 1, near Honeydew, 12 Aug (BF). Bank Swallow (FR): 1, AMP, 23 Jul (EE, GZ). Oak Titmouse (FR, EL): 1-3, near Alderpoint, 20 May (BS, MW); 5 Jun (KR, MW). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (FR, EL): 2-5 at Union Hill near Douglas City, 2-5 Apr (DK); 2, near Alderpoint, 20 May (MW, BS); 3 along lower Friday Ridge Road, 2 Jun (TL); 30± (!), near Ant Point, 27 Jul; 1 south of Kettenpom, 2 Aug (both TL). Western Bluebird (MS): 12 reports of birds present or nesting at Denny, Bear River Ridge, Kneeland, Union Hill (Douglas City); above Miranda, Alderpoint, Blue Lake, BRR, Ant Point, Shower’s Pass, Lassics, 2 Apr-5 Aug (mo). Mountain Bluebird (FR): 1 female with 1 Juv., Spruce Grove, 13 Jul (AM, fide JH). Gray Catbird (GW, FR): 1, Blue Lake riparian, 21 Aug (SC, KR).

Feeling Thrashed

California Thrasher (EL): 1, Shelter Cove, 4 Jun (BS). Phainopepla (FR): 1, pair, well described, Denny, week of 20 May (LM). Northern Parula (FR): 1, Trinidad, 31 May (KI); 1, vicinity of Bald Hills Road, 14 Jun (BS); 1 pair, North Bank Road, 27 Jun-30 Jul (KI, et al., adults seen carrying food ± 26-27 Jul). Chestnut-sided Warbler (FR): 1, Dry Lagoon, 9 Jun (KI); 1, Big Lagoon, 13-14 Jun (KI, RF); 1, west end Crannell Road, 19 Jun (KI); 1, south end of Centerville Beach Road extension, 20 Jun (BS); 1 “female,” Blue Lake Riparian, 25 Jul (ST). Townsend’s Warbler (ID): 1, at sea 10-13 miles, 14 Aug (RF, et al.); 1, Blue Lake riparian, 21 Aug (SC). Palm Warbler (ID): 1 singing, AMP, 25 Apr-1 May (BA, JT). Blackpoll Warbler (GW, ID): 1 singing (very few spring records), Fairhaven, Airport Willows, 21 Jun (GL). Black-and-white Warbler (FR): 1, singing, Big Lagoon, 30 May-1 Jun (KI, et al.); 1, Dry Lagoon, 8-9 Jun (KI). American Redstart (FR): 1 singing under Fernbridge, 8 Jun (SMcA). Field Sparrow (GW): 1, Blue Lake Bottoms, 11-17 Jul (KB, RF, ST, et al., 1 photo; first Northcoast record). Lark Sparrow (IL): 1, Lakeview Drive, Lake Earl, 20 Jun (Lucas). Grasshopper Sparrow (FR): 1-4, Hettenshaw Valley, 25-27 Jul (TL); 1-2, Kneeland, 26-31 Jul (BB, DVZ). Thick-billed Fox Sparrow (EL): Apparent migrants reported at Douglas City, 11 Apr (DK); and singing, apparently breeding birds reported at Titlow Hill Road, Horse and South Fork mountains, 5 Jun-4 Jul and 16 miles up Del Norte Go Road, 20 Jun (KR, MW, Lucas). White-throated Sparrow (ID): 1, Azalea Hill, 11 Jun (GL).

Bumper Grosbeaks

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (FR): a bumper crop this year, as follows: 1 male, Lanphere Dunes, 10 Jun (KH); 1 male, 3-G’s, at Hwy 299 x Mad River 14 Jun (SG); 1 male, Moonstone Beach, 16 Jun (GD); 1 male, Quarry Road, middle Jacoby Creek, 24 Jun (SW); 1 male, Fieldbrook, 28 Jun (TC, CL); 1 male singing, Azalea Hill, 3-10 Jul (GL, et al.,); 1 male near Ferndale, 25 Jun (TR); 1, Korbel, 2 Aug (SCo). Indigo Bunting (FR): 1 male singing, Blue Lake, 23 Jun (BS); 1 Fountain Ranch, 2-9 Jul (RS, RF). Great-tailed Grackle (FR): 1 female, Greenhorn Park, Yreka, 2 Jun (ST). Hooded Oriole (MS): Fewer than normal reports, 1 male along Stagecoach Road, 4 May (MH); 1, Bayside, ± 5 May (DF). Bullock’s Oriole (IB): KK reported birds nesting inside mistletoe clumps in white oak trees above Salmon Creek near Miranda, 19 May. Baltimore Oriole (FR): 1 male singing, Stagecoach Road, 15 Jun (BS); 1 ad. male, singing, AMP, 1 Jul (SH). Cassin’s Finch (EL): Singing birds reported from Grouse and South Fork mountains, west of Dinsmore, Trailhead to Youngs Peak, and 16 miles up the Del Norte Go Road, 21 May-19 Jul (BS, SC, KR, Lucas, TL). Red Crossbill (IN): Widespread throughout area, good numbers reported of pairs with and without begging juveniles, plus flocks of up to 50 from Titlow Hill Road, Bayside Golf Course Road, Klopp Lake Parking Lot; Sunny Brae, near Miranda; King Crest Trail, Azalea Hill, 24 Apr-21 Aug (mo). Lawrence’s Goldfinch (FR): 2 females or immatures, Showers Pass Road, 4 Aug (BS). Evening Grosbeak (FR): 15-20, Bayside Golf Course Road, 24 Apr (RF, MP, JM); 1 female feeding on ground under a feeder, Douglas City, 27 May (DK).