This period was marked by two major storms, one in early December and one during the main Christmas Count period. In spite of the worst counting weather on record for the Arcata, Del Norte, and Centerville counts, respectable totals were achieved by intrepid souls who braved winds up to 70 mph and sideways rain to dig the birds out. Arcata and Del Norte each recorded totals in the mid 160's while the Centerville crew achieved an amazing 171. The only local counts with decent weather were the two inland counts, Willow Creek and Lewiston.
HIGHLIGHTS: Red-throated Loon: Lewiston CBC, 5 Jan (DF et al.): Emperor Goose: 1, 3-12 Dec, MacKerricher State Park (DT, et al.); 2, South Humboldt Bay, 20 Dec (JS, RLeV): Ross' Goose: 2, Lewiston School (RHw, JHLewiston CBC, 5 Jan: Ferruginous Hawk: 1, Hettenshaw Valley, 14 Dec (JH); 1, Hydesville, 14 Dec (GL); 1, Azalea Hill/Clam Beach vic, 20 Dec-1 Jan (GL, MH); 1, vic Loleta, 28-29 Dec (SMC): Wandering Tattler: 1, Fields Landing, 29 Dec (SH, D&DP): Heermann's Gull: 1, Eureka Waterfront, 17 Dec-8 Jan (GL, et al.): Long-eared Owl: 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (GH): Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1 female, Ferndale, 29 Dec (L&GL): Nuttall's Woodpecker: 1, Rush Creek, Lewiston CBC (RHw,JH), 5 Jan: White-headed Woodpecker: 1, Azalea Hill (!), 21 Dec (GL): Say's Phoebe: 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (RH); 1, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan: Northern Shrike: 1, Orick, 7 Jan (BF); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 8 Jan (BC, AD): Solitary Vireo: 1, Arcata CBC, 21 Dec.
Warblers in Winter
Yellow Warbler: 2, Cannibal Island Road, 16 Dec (DF,JP); 1, Arcata CBC, 21 Dec: Cape May Warbler: 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec-3 Jan (RLeV, SMC, BD, G&LL): Yellow-throated Warbler: 1, Ferndale, 29 Dec-6 Jan. (GL, BD, GH, MM): Black-and-white Warbler: 2, Del Norte CBC, 22 Dec: Common Yellowthroat: 2, Del Norte CBC, 22 Dec; 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (RLeV): Wilson's Warbler: 1 female, Samoa, 19 Dec (GL); 1 male, Ferndale, 29 Dec (L&GL): Chipping Sparrow: 1, Arcata Marsh Project (AMP), 4 Jan (KS): Clay-colored Sparrow: 1, McKinleyville, 14 Dec (RLeV); 1, Arcata, 21 Dec-6 Jan (RJA, GS, GH, CD, SH, et al.); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (RH): Lapland Longspur: 1, AB, 27 Dec (GH); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec, Centerville CBC: Chestnut-collared Longspur: 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (RLeV): Tricolored Blackbird: 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (CDu): Bullock's Oriole: 1 female, Loleta, 6 Dec (SMC); 1 male, Arcata, 21 Dec (LG); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 29 Dec (GH): Cassin's Finch: 1 male (singing), northeast of Salyer, 2 Dec (TL).
NOTABLE REPORTS OF MORE USUAL SPECIES:
Red-throated Loon: 60 (!) , Stone Lagoon, 6 Dec (DF); 1,: Pacific Loon: 20 (!), Stone Lagoon, 6 Dec (DF): Clark's Grebe: 8 (!), Stone Lagoon, 6 Dec (DF); 8, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel: 2, offshore, Crescent City, 22 Dec (CD): Brown Pelican: 1, Crescent City, 22 Dec (AB); 3-4, Eureka, 17-19 Dec (GL); 2, South Humboldt Bay, 29 Dec (mo): Cattle Egret: 16, AB, 5 Dec (DF); 8, Arcata CBC, 21 Dec; 12, AB, 22 Dec (GH); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 28 Dec (SMC); 13, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec; 14, AB, 9 Jan (GH): Tundra Swan: 1, Blue Lake (!), 2 Dec (TL): Greater White-fronted Goose: 3, Weaverville, 1 Dec (JH); 1, Arcata Bottoms, 13 Dec (KS); 3, Redwood Creek Est., 17 Dec (DG); 2, Humboldt Bay Natl. Wild. Refuge, 29 Dec (D&DP; SH, MW); 1, Willow Creek Golf Course, 4 Jan (RR, SH): Snow Goose: 1, Arcata Bottoms (AB), 3 & 21 Dec (GH, mo): Ross' Goose: 1-5, AB, 1-21 Dec (DG, GH, DF, SH et al.): Black Brant: 1, AB (!), 15 Dec (RJA): Aleutian Canada Goose: 50, AB, 12 Dec (SH); 2, AB, 15 Dec (PS); 8, HBNWR, 29 Dec (D&DP, SH, MW): Cackling Canada Goose: 3, Willow Creek Golf Course. 4 Jan (SH, RR): Taverner's Canada Goose: 2, HBNWR, 29 Dec (SH, D&DP, MW): Dusky Canada Goose: 1, HBNWR, 29 Dec (SH, D&DP, MW): Wood Duck: 25 (!); Willow Creek CBC, 29 Dec (SH, RR): Eurasian Wigeon: 1-3, AB, 12 Dec-3 Jan (mo); 1, South Humboldt Bay, 29 Dec (T&LH-H): Eurasian Green-winged Teal: 1, No Name Pond, 2-4 Jan (SH, DC, KS): Blue-winged Teal: 1, Marsh A, AMP, 9 Jan (SH): Redhead: 2, AMP, 3 Dec (EE, GG); 6, South Bay, 29 Dec (Centerville CBC): Canvasback: 4, Stone Lagoon, 6 Dec (DF); 4, HBNWR, 29 Dec (SH); 6-10, Klopp Lake, 30 Nov-10 Jan (mo): Common Goldeneye: 6, McKinleyville, 21 Dec (DG): Black Scoter: 10, ocean off Freshwater Lagoon, 18 Dec (MH): Hooded Merganser: 15 (!), Ferndale Bottoms, 10 Dec (MD); 2, AOP, 17 Dec (PL); 1, HBNWR, 29 Dec (D&DP); 1, AOP, 29 Dec-2 Jan (KMCC, CD,SH); 8, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan.
Raptors
Osprey: 1, mouth Redwood Creek, 6 Dec (DF); 1, Big Lagoon, 17 Dec (DG); 1, Arcata CBC, 21 Dec; 1, Lake Earl, 10 Jan (SH): White-tailed Kite: 1, vic. Willow Creek, 4-8 Jan (RR, SH, TL): Bald Eagle: 1, Highway 299 & MP 4, 10 Dec (RF); 1 imm., HBNWR, 10-Dec (KF); 1 imm, Willow Creek, 16 Dec (TL); 1, near Loleta, 21 Dec (MW); 2 ad, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec; x, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan; 3 ad, 1 imm, HBNWR, 2-3 Jan (KF); 1 imm, Willow Creek, 8 Jan (TL); 1 imm, So. Fork Trinity River, 9 Jan (TL): Rough-legged Hawk: 1, Mad River Campground (Trinity Co.), 14 Dec (JH): Merlin: 1, Fairhaven 29 Nov (TL, CO, RP); 1, Arcata Bottoms, 30 Nov (KS); 1-3 AMP, 17 Dec-3 Jan (DF, MH): x, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan; 5, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec.
Peregrine Falcon: 1, McKinleyville, 25 Nov-9 Dec (TL); 1, AB, 1 Dec (DG); 1, AB, 16 Dec (KS); 2, Big Lagoon Spit, 9 Dec (TL); 1, Gold Bluff Beach, 18 Dec (MH); 8, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec; x, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan: Prairie Falcon: 1, Elk River Road & Highway 101, 14 Dec (SMC): Chukar (escape): 1, Eureka, 17 Dec (LW): Ruffed Grouse: 1, vic Willow Creek, 17 Dec (TL): Pacific Golden-Plover: 1, AB, 3 Jan (MM): Snowy Plover: 15, Clam Beach, 18 Dec (TL); 6, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: Black Oystercatcher: 5, North Jetty, 12 Dec (DF, EE); 4, South Jetty, 29 Dec (T&L H-H): Avocet: 8, Hookton Slough, 29 Dec (TR): Greater Yellowlegs: 175 (!), 12 Dec (DF, EE): Lesser Yellowlegs: 1, AB, 5-15 Dec (DF, EE, PS); 1, Loleta Bottoms, 16 Dec (DF, JP); 1, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: Whimbrel: 5, AB, 15 Dec (RJA, DA); 3, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: Long-billed Curlew: 82 (!), AB, 15 Dec (RJA, DA); 120 (!), HBNWR, 25, Table Bluff, 450 (!), near Loleta, all 29 Dec (SH, MW, RW, DW, DF, JP): Ruddy Turnstone: 1, Fields Landing, 16-29 Dec (DF, JP, SH, et al.): Red Knot: 1-3, AB, 10 Dec-3 Jan (DF, MM): Rock Sandpiper: 1, Glass Beach (Ft. Bragg), 6 Dec (DT); 1, North Jetty, 29 Dec (KMCC); 1, South Jetty, 29 Dec (T&LH-H): Herring Gull: 1, Lewiston, 1 Dec (JH); 1, Del Norte CBC, 22 Dec; 68 (!), Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: Thayer's Gull: 1, Arcata, 11 Dec (DF); 7 (!), Centerville CBC, 29 Dec: Glaucous Gull (all imm. or second winter plumage): 1, Klopp Lake, 3-5 Dec (EE); 1, Smith River Bottoms, 29 Dec (AB); 1, Eel River Bottoms, 28 Dec (SMC); 1, AB, 29 Dec (KMCC); 2, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec, 1, Klopp Lake, 2 Jan (CD): Black-legged Kittiwake: 2, mouth Redwood Creek, 6 Dec (DF); 1, mouth Eel River, 28 Dec (SMC): Caspian Tern: 4, HBNWR, 29 Dec (MW, D&DP, SH): Band-tailed Pigeon: 1, McKinleyville, 28 Dec (G,L, & KL); 5, Sunny Brae, 8 Jan (SH): Diamond Dove (escape): 1, Sunny Brae, 3 Jan (A&CD, SH, et el.): Northern Pygmy-Owl: 1, Patricks Point Road, 16 Dec (JK); 1, Stone/Dry Lagoon, 5 Jan (TL, SP); 1, Weaverville (RHw, JH), Lewiston CBC, 5 Jan: Saw-whet Owl: 1, Eureka, 5 Dec (DFU); 1, Elk Head, 19 Dec (TL); 1 fresh road kill, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan
Hummingbirds
Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird: 1 female, Bayside, 20 Dec (DF); 1 female, Azalea Hill, 20 Dec (RR): Yellow-shafted Flicker: 1, Azalea Hill, 12 Dec (PZ); 1, McKinleyville, 28-31 Dec (KS): Pileated Woodpecker: 1, Willow Creek, 21 Dec (TL); 1, Elk Head, 3 Jan (DG): Tree Swallow: 2, Del Norte CBC, 22 Dec; 1 Table Bluff, 29 Dec (DW): Violet-green Swallow: 1, Del Norte CBC, 22 Dec: Barn Swallow: 1, Freshwater Lagoon, 20 Dec (JS); 1, AMP, 4 Jan (KS): Mountain Chickadee: 1, Bayside, 2 Dec (CR); 1, Bayside, 19 Dec (DF); 1-2, Azalea Hill, 15-21 Dec (RR, GL,DG): Pygmy Nuthatch: 1, Weaverville (DFx, JP), Lewiston CBC, 5 Jan: Rock Wren: 1, Lewiston, 1 Dec (JH): Western Bluebird: 5, Azalea Hill, 13-21 Dec (GL, DG); 4, Tompkins Hill, 10-18 Dec (MW); 23, Centerville CBC, 29 Dec; x, Willow Creek CBC, 4 Jan; 2, Bayside, 8 Jan (DF); 6, So. Fork Trinity River, 9 Jan (TL): Northern Mockingbird: 1, AB, 5 Dec (SG); 1, Willow Creek, 17 Dec (TL); 1, Loleta, 30 Dec (JP); 1, Arcata, 7 Jan (GB): Nashville Warbler: 1, singing, Arcata, 9 Dec (KN); x, Arcata and Centerville CBCs, 21 &29 Dec: Palm Warbler: 1, AMP, 3 Dec (EE); 1, AB, 15-16 Dec (KS); 1, Fortuna, 19 Dec (RC, IC), x, Arcata and Centerville CBCs, 21 & 29 Dec: Swamp Sparrow: 1, AOP/AMP, 10-21 Dec (BC, et al.): Slate-colored Junco: 1, Willow Creek, 11 Dec (TL); 1, McKinleyville, 21 Dec (DG); 1, McKinleyville, 31 Dec (GL); 1, AMP, 4 Jan (KS); 1 (with small white dots along wing bars), Arcata, 7 Jan (JH); 1, Willow Creek, 8 Jan (TL): Red Crossbill: 8, HSU, 9 Dec (DJ,KD); 13, McKinleyville, 21 Dec, Arcata CBC: Evening Grosbeak: 1, Azalea Hill, 13-20 Dec (GL, RR); 1, Trinidad, 6 Jan (MH):
Many thanks to all the bold, wet, and bedraggled observers who stuck it out for the coastal Christmas Bird Counts this year--you deserve medals for duty above and beyond the call! The following persons submitted observations for this report: R. J. Adams, David Anderson, Alan Barron, Gary Bloomfield, Bryon Cariss, Irene Crane, Ruth Crane, Angie and Colin Dillingham, Anthony Desch, Bruce Deuel, Kathleen Dickson, Carol and Michael Dunning, Elias Elias, David Fix, Brad Freeman, R. Frey, David Fuller, Kevin Foerster, Dan Garrison, Luke George, Sam Giannandrea, George Green, Stan Harris, Tonna and Larry Harris-Haller, Gjon Hazard, Rob Hewitt, John Hewston, Matt Hinton, Richard Hoyer, John Hunter, Dave Juliano, J. Kidd, Tom Leskiw, Gary, Lauren and Kelsey Lester, Ron LeValley, Paul Lucy, Sean McAllister, K. McCarrigan, Claudia Meyers, Michael Morris, Kristy Nelson, Chet Ogan, Susan Petersen, Doug and Donna Pomeroy, Jude Power, C. Reynolds, Richard Ridenhour, Terry Roelofs, Kristin and Greg Schmidt, Jay Seegar, Keith Slauson, Paul Springer, Pete Spruance, John Sterling, Dorothy Tobkin, Matt Wachs, Leon Warriner, Roger and David Weiss, Pat Zwartyes. Please continue to send in reports to me at 1595 Charles Ct, Arcata, CA., 95521, call them to me at (707) 822-3802, write them on the rare bird sheet outside of Room 204, the Wildlife Building, HSU campus, or call them in to the Arcata Bird Box, (707) 822-5666.
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