Field Notes

by Stan Harris

 June 21 - August 22, 2006

Fall migration is well under way (shorebirds) or beginning (land birds). A period of "typical" summer north coast weather: no rain, overcast, foggy, cool mornings, clearing with NW winds in afternoon on the coast, and hot inland. Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; ACF = Arcata Community Forest; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; AOP = Arcata Oxidation Pond; BBS = Breeding Bird Survey; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; CRI = Cock Robin Island; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; KS = King Salmon; MER = mouth of Elk River; MJC = mouth of Jacoby Creek; MLR = mouth of Little River; MKR = mouth of Klamath River; MKSP = MacKerricher State Park; MLT = mouth of Lake Talawa; mo = many observers; MRC = mouth of Redwood Creek; MRCP = Mad River County Park; MRE = Mad River Estuary; MRFH = Mad River Fish Hatchery; NC = not confirmed; ND = no details; NHB = North Humboldt Bay; NJ = North Jetty, Humboldt Bay; SRB = Smith River Bottoms.

Critter highlights: Orca: 10 seen from Table Bluff, 8 Aug (MW, RF); Gray Whale: 1 off tip of NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR). White-fronted Goose: 1, V St. Loop, 9 Jul (EE, GZ). Wood Duck: maximum of 29-32 on AOP (grown young included), 12-16 Aug (SH, AL). Gadwall: no broods reported this summer. Mallard: maximum of 450 on AOP, 4 Aug (SH). Blue-winged Teal: 2-6, Allen/Gearheart marshes, 28 Jun-17 Jul (when molt made them unidentifiable) (SH, et al.): Cinnamon Teal: 3-5 broods, Allen/Gearheart marshes, throughout, maximum of 23 birds seen 4 Aug (SH). Scaup: 1-3 of each species summered over at AOP (SH). Harlequin: 2-3, Virgin Creek Beach, 10, 20 Jul (DT). Surf Scoter: 11, KS, 29 Jun (MW); 300, MKR, 19 Jul (KR, ABr). White-winged Scoter: 6, Freshwater Beach, 30 Jun (HB); 800 (!), MKR, 19 Jul (KR, ABr). Black Scoter: 2, MKR, 19 Jul (KR, ABr); 1 female, Eureka Channel (old seaplane ramp), 8 Aug (SC). Long-tailed Duck: 1 male (holdover), 10-Mile River; 6, 12 Jul (DT). Hooded Merganser: 6 in winter or juvenile plumage, MLR, 19 Aug (RF, KR, DC). Red-breasted Merganser: 1 female summered over, Klopp Lake (mo). Sooty Grouse (note change of name; Blue Grouse recently split into Sooty (coastal) and Dusky (Rocky Mountains): 1-2 from expected locations, Laird Meadow, Bald Hills, Terwer Road, Kneeland, Titlow Hill Road, south of Grouse Mountain (mo), plus 1 from 4 miles W of Honeydew (!), 25 Jun (GL). Ruffed Grouse: 1, Jacoby Creek (ACF property), 29 Jun (SS, MS, fide GL); 1 near Bridge Creek, road to Tall Trees from Bald Hills Road, 29 Jul (KL). Wild Turkey: 3, Alderpoint BBS, 7 Jul (KR). Red-throated Loon: 1, KS, 1 Aug (MW). Pacific Loon: 1-9, KS, 2 Jul-17 Aug (MW); 1 off Table Bluff, 9 Jul (SC); 8, NJ, 10 Aug (KR, RF). Common Loon: 20-30 present at KS continuously (MW).

Yellow-billed Loon: 1, base of South Jetty, 13-19 Aug (CB, CP, et al.), good photos. Red-necked Grebe: 1, MKSP, 6 Jul (DT); 1 off tip of NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR). Manx Shearwater(!): 1 seen and well described from tip of NJ for only the second ever Humboldt County record, 10 Aug (KR, RF). Brown Booby (!): 1 seen at Bear Harbor for only the second ever north coast record, 8-9 Aug (JW, VW). Brown Pelican: massive numbers in and near Humboldt Bay, mostly immatures, throughout the period included 1,600 off NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR), and 800-1,000 well inside NHB in a feeding frenzy in the Janes Creek Channel, 11 Aug (SH, LH). Brandt’s Cormorant: 120, NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR). Pelagic Cormorant: 80, NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR). American Bittern: 1, Dry Lagoon, 27 Jun (JHe). Green Heron: reports of singles at BSLP, Dry Lagoon, MRC, Benbow Lake, 27 Jun-16 Aug (AL, JHe, KR, ABr, JSo, MT). White-tailed Kite: 1 on BRR was at a seldom-used location, 3 Aug (DF). Bald Eagle: 15 reports of 1-2 from KS, Bayshore Mall, Eureka, NHB, AMP, Klamath River, Denny, 20 Jun-4 Aug (mo) included 2 harassing egrets at Indian Island, 31 Jul (MiM). Cooper’s Hawk: 1. Kneeland, 11 Jul (BB, DVZ). Northern Goshawk: 1 imm., BRR, 22 Aug (DF). Golden Eagle: 1 along New River, 19 Jun (LM); 1 along Klamath River, 13 Jul (DuD); 1, BRR, 3 Aug (DF)--all in expected locations. Crested Caracara (a Gee Whiz report): 1, South Spit & ERWA, 13-14 Jul (BA, SMcA, PH, JWa). Merlin: startlingly early reports of singles at Clam Beach, 19 Jul (KB, LLeV); Eureka Waterfront, 23 Jul (TMcK); Azalea Hill, 25 Jul (GL); and Southern Humboldt Community Park, 12 Aug (RS) are among the very few July/August reports ever! Peregrine: 7 reports of 1-2 from CRI, Alton, KS, Elk Head, and Big Lagoon 23 Jun-6 Aug (mo). Virginia Rail: 1-2 (normal and kicker calls), AMP, 23 Jun-12 Aug (SH, et al.).

Black-bellied Plover: small numbers of over-summering (?) birds present in July suddenly increased to 60-200, NHB, 2-3 Aug (JT), and "large flock," CRI, 6 Aug (SC). Pacific Golden Plover: 1, CRI, 6 Aug (SC), described as "warm and golden" appearance. Snowy Plover: 6 on South Spit, 3 Aug (KR), and 1-2 at MLT, 12 Aug (RF, KR, AB), were in "normal" habitat, but 1 at MJC, 18 Aug (RF), most definitely was not! Semipalmated Plover: flocks of 19-120 reported from AB, MLT, Mad River Beach, MJC, 23 Jul-19 Aug, represented fall migrants (RR, SC, Lucas, EE, PH). Black-necked Stilt: 1, 19-22 Aug, V St. Loop (KI, SC, DF). Avocet (early migrants): 3, Lake Earl, 25 Jun (AB); 1, MLT, 12 Aug (RF, KR, AB); 2, Gannon Slough flats, 12 Aug (SH). Greater Yellowlegs: augmenting 16 reports of 1-8 from Vigo Street Marsh, AMP, V Street Loop, KS, NHB, 29 Jun-12 Aug (mo), were 27 at Klopp Lake and 30 at Hunt Pasture, all or mostly all adults molting out of breeding plumage, 18 Jul (SH). Lesser Yellowlegs: 2-9, Klopp Lake, V St. Loop, 4 Jul-15 Aug (RT, SC, KR). Solitary Sandpiper: 1, Hiller Park, 18-19 Aug (KR); 1, Clam Beach, 19 Aug (RF, KR, DC). Willet: reports of 2-25 early migrants (presumed) at Cape Mendocino, 25 Jun (GL), and Klopp Lake, 26 Jun (RF), were eclipsed by 600 on the flats of NHB, 9 Aug (DF). Wandering Tattler: a bird on Clam Beach (if only momentarily), 19 Aug (RF, KR, DC) was unexpected. Whimbrel: 40+ at Virgin Creek Beach, 14 Jul (DT). Marbled Godwit: the usual summer of numbers of 100-300 at Humboldt Bay increased to 630 by 6 Jul at KS (MW); 500-600, NHB by 7 Jul (SH); and 900 NHB, 2 Aug (JT). Ruddy Turnstone: 4 reports of 1-"several" at CRI, MJC, MLT, 3-12 Aug (mo). Red Knot: 2, MJC, 3 Aug (JT, EE, PH). Semipalmated Sandpiper: 7 reports of 1-3, MJC, V St. Loop, MLT, 3-18 Aug (mo). Least and Western Sandpipers were represented by hundreds to low thousands on NHB by 3 Jul (mo). Red-necked Stint: 1, "faded breeding plumage," MLT, 11 Aug (Lucas, Gee Whiz report--video said to exist). Little Stint (GEE WHIZ): 1, MLT, 20 Aug (Lucas–video said to exist, phone description incomplete, NC). Baird’s Sandpiper: 7 reports of 1-4 from MLT, Clam Beach, MER, V St. Loop, South Spit, 7-20 Aug (mo). Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Teal Point (Lake Earl), 18 Aug (Lucas); 1, V St. Loop, 19 Aug (SC). Dunlin: adults in breeding plumage on South Spit, 21 Jun (KR), and V St. Loop, 1 Jul (SC), were unexpected. Short-billed Dowitcher: up to 6 present on NHB from at least 26 Jun (RF) increased to more than 150 by 17 Jul (SH). Wilson’s Phalarope: 1-3, Virgin Creek Beach, 25 Jun (DT); 1-3, V St. Loop, Klopp Lake, Butcher Slough estuary, 1-7 Jul (SC, EE, GZ, SH, AL). Red-necked Phalarope: right on historic schedules, with 16 reports of 5 to "100’s" at many coastal shore sites, 29 Jul-21 Aug (mo). Red Phalarope: 2, MLT, 18 Aug (Lucas). Parasitic Jaeger: 2 flyby off Table Bluff, 30 Jun (EE, AMcG, MMo); 1, flyby, NJ, 18 Aug (MW). Heermann’s Gull: the 1-11 usually seen at KS on 25-27 Jun had increased to estimates of 1,000-1,500, 23-24 Jul (all MW); 9,600 on South Spit, 3 Aug (KR), and 1,900 at NJ, 10 Aug (KR, RF)! California Gull: the first juvenile reported at NHB, 18 Jul (DF), was followed by 400-600 (ages not stated) at South Spit and NJ, 3-10 Aug (KR, RF). Western Gull: 1,800, South Spit, 3 Aug (KR); 350, NJ, 10 Aug (KR, RF). Elegant Tern: maximum count of 1,034, Eureka Channel, 11 Aug (KR). Common Tern: 1, NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR). Common Murre: 200-2,000+, KS, 12-27 Jul (MW); 4,500, NJ, 10 Aug (RF, KR). Marbled Murrelet: 45 reports of 1-88, KS, 23 Jun-18 Aug (MW); 60 detections, 0.5 mile above Bridge Creek near Tall Trees, 29 Jul (GL&KL). Ancient Murrelet: 1, NJ, 8 Aug (SC); 1, KS, 13-14 Aug (MW). Rhinoceros Auklet: 16 reports of 1-4 off tip of NJ or at KS, 8 Jul-14 Aug (MW, KR, RF).

Band-tailed Pigeon: 89 & ~700 at 2 locations near Ferndale, 3 Jul (DF). Eurasian Collared Dove: 9 reports of 1-7, SRB, MRE, Hookton Road, Ferndale Bottoms, Fortuna, Manila, Shelter Cove, 25 Jun-9 Aug (mo). Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 6 reports of 1-3 heard and/or seen, CRI, 9 Jul-13 Aug (CR, JW&VW, EE, GZ, RT, RF, KR, GF). Flammulated Owl: 1, Grouse Mountain, 19 Jul; 1, junction to Board Camp Mountain, 20 Jul (both BS). Barred Owl: 1, 17.7 miles S Horse Mountain, 20 Jul (BS). Common Nighthawk: 1, Mill Creek (Del Norte), 19 Jun (HB); 2, Horse Mountain, 19 Jul (BS); 1, Klamath River x Hwy 101, 18 Aug (SC). Vaux’s Swift: x, east of Weitchpec, 28 Jun (TL). Rufous Hummingbird: single males, Kneeland, 24-25 Jun (BB, DVZ), and Denny, 10, 15 Jul (LM). Selasphorus sp. (update): 45 (!), Kneeland, 10 Jun (BB, DVZ).

Willow Flycatcher: 8 reports of 1-2 from MRC, MLR, MRFH, near Lord Ellis Summit, CRI, mouth of Willow Creek, 22 Jun-15 Aug (mo). Eastern Kingbird 1, MRC, 23 Jun (photo; KR, JT). Loggerhead Shrike: 1, ERWA, 13 Jul (RT, RF). Purple Martin: male delivering food to nest hole, Blue Lake riparian, 1 Jul (SC); 2, AMP, 5 Jul (AL); 1, Clam Beach, 8 Jul (KR); 4, BRR, 3 Aug (DF). Tree Swallow: fledged young (Jun) and renested (19 Jul) in 3 boxes at Denny (LM). Bank Swallow: 2, MLT, 12 Aug (RF, KR, AB). Oak Titmouse: 1, Island Mountain Road in oak habitat, 12 Jul (GL). White-breasted Nuthatch: besides birds in expected habitat near Alderpoint, 7 Jul (KR) and Harris, 16 Jul (GL), birds in oak woods on Elk Ridge near Gilham Butte in mid-July were one of the few records west of Hwy 101 (KK). Pygmy Nuthatch (ND): 2 heard, Blue Creek Mountain, 28 Jun (CO). Rock Wren: were singles recorded on Alderpoint BBS, 7 Jul (KR), and on Mail Ridge E of Garberville, 12 Jul (GL), the same bird? Dipper: 2, New River at Denny, 2 Jul (LM). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 1 in willow habitat, Island Mountain Road, 12 Jul (GL); 1, Nickle Creek near Endert’s Beach, 17 Aug (HB). Western Bluebird: first nesting attempts in 3 boxes at Kneeland all failed in June, but at least 1 fledged in July (BB, DVZ); 4, Titlow Hill Road, 29 Jun (JHe). Mockingbird: 1 singing, Samoa, 27 Jun (JPa); 1, Hookton Road, 5 Jul (LMi, RT). California Thrasher: 1, Shelter Cove Store; 1, King Peak Road, both 14 Jul (GL). European Starling: reported nesting on Mail Ridge at 3,000-ft elevation, early Jun (JG). Cedar Waxwing: pair nesting at AMP Interpretive Center, 9-22 Aug (AL, DH). Tennessee Warbler: 1 male, Eel River downstream from Rio Dell, 9 Jul (KR). Nashville Warbler: migrants at Bayshore Mall, 31 Jul, 14 Aug (TL), and MRCP, 19 Aug (SC). Northern Parula: 1, Blue Lake riparian, 20 Aug (SC). Black-throated Gray Warbler: migrants at AMP, 18 Aug (ArB), and Blue Lake riparian, 20 Aug (SC). Blackpoll Warbler: 1 singing male, Smith River, 25 Jun (AB). American Redstart: 1 first-year male, SRB, 29 Jun (SMcA). Common Yellowthroat: 2 fledglings being fed by adult, Orick, 21 Aug (HB). California Towhee: 1, Lighthouse Ranch, Table Bluff, 1 Aug (SMcA). Grasshopper Sparrow: reports of singing/nesting birds from S side of BRR, Kneeland, Alderpoint BBS, and North Elk Ridge near Gilham Butte, 29 Jun-mid Jul (BB, DVZ, DF, KR, KK). White-crowned Sparrow: 3, Forest Service Route 1, S of Horse and Grouse mountains, 20 Jun (TL). Oregon Junco: 1 new fledgling, Azalea Hill, 28 Jun (GL). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: the 2006 invasion continues, with males reported on Azalea Hill, 28 Jun, 14 Jul, 9 Aug (GL, RR); McKinleyville, 28 Jul (AMB); and Hwy 299 x Mad River, 12-13 Aug (SG, RF, SH), this last bird said to have been feeding begging young "earlier in the month" (SG); plus a bird described as a hybrid "like Black-headed, but nearly all white below with underwing partly pink and partly yellow," Azalea Hill, 11 Jul (anon from bird box). Western Meadowlark: "singing all over Mail Ridge," early Jun (JG). Great-tailed Grackle (ND): male reported at KS, 19 Jul (MW). Baltimore Oriole: 1 male (holdover) near Junction City, 29 Jun (PH).