FIELD TRIPS
S
The
Redwood Region Audubon Society
Carpooling to and on RRAS field trips is strongly
encouraged. It’s economical, it’s fun, and it’s the right thing
to do! Impromptu carpools to trips meet in the following
parking lots at the times indicated in the trip announcements:
Trinidad (Park & Ride, Main Street exit, west side of Hwy
101), HSU (northwest corner of Harpst and Rossow streets,
opposite Student Services), Eureka (Park & Ride, Herrick
Avenue exit), and Fortuna (Park & Ride, Kenmar Road exit).
Be there a few minutes early, and see if anyone else is there
for ridesharing. If you would like to prearrange a carpool, try
using the RRAS listserv. Please offer your driver some gas
money.
Every Saturday: Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.
These are our famous rain-or-shine field trips at the marsh;
take your binocular(s) and have a great morning birding! Meet
NOVEMBER PROGRAM
Bats
& Golden Eagle, Horned Lark, and Western Bluebird. Last
Windmills
Join us for this exciting talk by Joe Szewczak,
PhD, of Humboldt State University. In
collaboration with other experts from New
Zealand, Texas, and Arizona, Szewczak
created a computing system to monitor the
identifying vocal patterns of different species
of bats. Szewczak has been conducting work
This program will be held on
Friday, November 14, starting at 7:30 p.m.
at the Humboldt County Office of Education
near the Burre Center at Myrtle and West in Eureka.
Bring a mug (or purchase one there) and enjoy shade-grown coffee.
Thank you for ensuring that our meetings are fragrance-free.
andpiper
NOVEMBER 2008
in the Klopp Lake parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Call Kerry Ross
([707] 496-0764) for more information. Carpools: Trinidad
8:10 a.m., Eureka 8:05 a.m., Fortuna 7:45 a.m. X
Sunday, November 9: Humboldt Bay National Wildlife
Refuge. This is a wonderful, 2- to 3-hour trip for people
wanting to learn the birds of the Humboldt Bay area. It takes a
leisurely pace with emphasis on enjoying the birds! Beginners
are more than welcome. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center at 9
a.m. Call Jude Power or David Fix ([707] 822-3613) for more
information. Carpools: Trinidad 8:10 a.m., HSU 8:25 a.m.,
Eureka 8:45 a.m., Fortuna 8:45 a.m.
X Sunday, November 16: Southern Humboldt Community
Saturday, November 15: Del Norte County. We will explore
many of the local hot spots for birding in and around Crescent
City and the Smith River bottoms. Meet the group to carpool
at 8:00 a.m. in front of Espresso 101 in Arcata (please park
to understand and develop solutions to the
problem of bat mortality at wind turbines.
He will describe his work with Ed Arnett at
Bat Conservation International, supported by
the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative, that
has contributed to methods for monitoring
wildlife at wind energy facilities.
www.rras.org
on the street, not in the lot) or at 9:30 a.m. on Anchor Way
in Crescent City. Contact Keith Slauson ([707] 839-9056 or
kslauson@fs.fed.us) for further details.
Sunday, November 16: Eureka Marsh. These monthly walks
offer some great birding in downtown Eureka. We spend an
hour or two on a flat loop that takes us through a variety of
habitats from bay and mudflat to riparian and marshland. Meet
in the parking lot at the west end of West Del Norte Street
at 8:30 a.m. Call Pablo Herrera ([707] 845-8166) for more
information. Carpools: Trinidad 7:55 a.m., HSU 8:10 a.m.,
Fortuna 8:05 a.m.
Park. Jay Sooter ([707] 444-8001) and Robert Sutherland
lead this monthly walk. All ages and experience levels are
encouraged to participate and revel in the beauty of the park
and its avian inhabitants on this easy 2- to 3-hour walk.
Binoculars are not provided, and dogs are not allowed; field
guides are usually available, but please provide your own if
possible. Steady rain cancels. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot
on Kimtu Road in Garberville. Carpools: Trinidad 7:00 a.m.,
HSU 7:20 a.m., Eureka 7:35 a.m., Fortuna 7:55 a.m. X
Saturday, November 29: Bear River Ridge. Tour the open
prairies and forest edges in search of Rough-legged Hawk,
year’s trip produced Clark’s Nutcracker! Dress in layers, and
expect to return between 1 and 2 p.m. Meet across from the
Fernbridge Market at 8:30 a.m. Rob Fowler ([707] 822-5095)
will be the leader. Carpools: Trinidad 7:40 a.m., HSU 7:55
a.m., Eureka 8:15 a.m.
Saturday, December 6: Loleta/Ferndale Raptor Survey.
This will be the second year of this survey that is part of
the Hawk Migration Association of North America’s winter
monitoring program. The 30-mile route runs through the Loleta
and Ferndale Bottoms and last year produced Ferruginous
Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and many other species. Meet project
coordinator Ken Burton ([707]-825-1124) at the beginning
of Ranch Road (near the Hookton Road exit) at 8 a.m. We’ll
finish by 2 p.m. Participants should expect to help record data.
Carpools: Trinidad 7:15 a.m., HSU 7:30 a.m.
Mark Your Calendars:
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Plan to take part in the 109th Christmas Bird Count, the
worldwide birding extraganza. Don’t miss out on this
fun citizen-science survey of winter bird populations.
Keep these dates open, and look for further details in the
December Sandpiper on the count circles and on contacting
the compilers for each count.
Sunday, December 14: Del Norte Count; co-
compilers Alan Barron and Gary Lester
Saturday, December 20: Arcata Count; compiler
Kerry Ross.
Saturday, December 27: Willow Creek Count;
compiler Gary Lester.
Sunday, January 4, Centerville Beach to King
Salmon Count; compiler Gary Lester.
 CHAPTER LEADERS
OFFICERS
President— Pablo Herrera..........................845-8166
President-Elect-- Ken Burton......................825-1124
Secretary—Adam Brown............abrown@prbo.org
Treasurer—Sam Price..................................499-9450
DIRECTORS
Susan Calla ..........................................465-6191
Sean McAllister ............................................496-8790
Lew & Judie Norton.....................................445-1791
Kerry Ross ..........................................839-4365
C.J. Ralph ..........................................822-2015
Jay Sooter ..........................................444-8001
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Arcata Marsh Docents—Kerry Ross..........839-4365
Conservation—Chet Ogan ............442-9353
Education ...............HELP........................................
Field Trips—Ken Burton ...........................839-5179
Historian—John Hewston ...........................822-5288
Membership—Lew & Judie Norton...........445-1791
NEC Representative—C.J. Ralph...............822-2015
Observations—Stan Harris ............822-3802
Programs—C.J. Ralph.................................822-2015
Publicity—Sue Leskiw.................................442-5444
Sandpiper—Jan Andersen ............444-3501
—Gary Bloomfield ............822-0210
Volunteer Coordinator
—Jennifer Tompkins......443-6959
Lake Earl Branch—Sue Calla.....................465-6191
Birds in the Balance—Rob Hewitt..............269-0271
RRAS Web Page...................................www.rras.org
Arcata Bird Alert ...................822-LOON (822-5666)
The Sandpiper is published ten times each year by
Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502.
Thinking of Joining the
National Audubon Society?
If so, please use the coupon below. By sending in your
membership on this form, rather than replying to solicita-
tions from National Audubon, $20 is sent directly to RRAS.
This is how NAS rewards local chapters for recruiting
national members. (Otherwise, the RRAS dues share per
new member is only a couple of dollars.) Thank you.
Chapter Membership Application
Yes, I’d like to join.
Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon
Society and of my local chapter. Please send
AUDUBON magazine and my membership card to the
address below.
My check for $20 is enclosed. (Introductory offer)
NAME_______________________________
ADDRESS___________________________
CITY _______________________________
STATE____________ZIP______________
email _______________________________
Local Chapter Code: C24 7XCHA
Please make checks to the National Audubon Society.
Send this application and your check to:
National Audubon Society
Chapter Membership Data Center
P.O. Box 51001
Boulder, Colorado 80322-1001
--------------LOCAL CHAPTER-------------
REDWOOD REGION AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 1054
EUREKA, CA 95502
We’re 40 Years Old!
By John Hewston
In late 1968 some local members of National Audubon At a January 1969 meeting, officers and board
Society (NAS) decided to find out if there was enough members were elected, the constitution and by-laws
interest to form a local chapter on California’s north coast. adopted, and other business taken care of. Most of the
They held a meeting attended by such members, other new officers had served on the previous committees. Four
conservation-oriented folks, and professionals from state offices were created, 2 of which were for 2 years and 2 for
and federal natural resource agencies. At least 60 members 1 year so that officers would not all be leaving in the same
were required to start a local chapter. The turnout at that year. Beginning the next year, all positions would be for
first meeting indicated enough people and interest. 2 years. The first president was Chuck Kennedy (the one
At the time, several conservation issues were who was with the U.S. Forest Service; there were 2 Chuck
stewing in the region. The first battle to preserve the Kennedys in the area then), vice president was yours truly,
old-growth redwoods had resulted in the establishment Colette Van Fleet was secretary, and Mrs. George Peterson
of Redwood National Park. Plans were in the making to was treasurer. The 3 board members, each elected for 2-
establish a national wildlife refuge on Humboldt Bay. Talk year terms, were Frances (Moose) Mathews, Ted Trichilo,
of dams being built on streams on Round Valley and Butler and Darlene Whiting. Five years later, the constitution was
Valley was making the rounds. People were discussing the changed to add 3 more board members, making sure their
protection of bird-nesting rocks along the coast and the terms did not all expire at the same time. Also, the vice
urgent need to support the U.S. Fish and Game’s attempt president position was eliminated and became president-
to get a proposed bridge across Humboldt Bay rerouted. elect. The immediate-past-president position was also
The highway department planned to build a bridge from added to the board.
Eureka across to the Samoa Peninsula that would go right At our next meeting, in February, we received
through a large grove of trees on Indian (Gunther) Island our provisional charter as an official chapter of NAS. The
that was used as a nesting area by egrets and other water chapter leaders and members then appointed committees
birds. This became a local battle around which to form a and immediately began taking on projects and activities,
new conservation group. fighting conservation battles, and conducting field trips
The coordinating committee became the organizing and education programs. And we’ve been at it for 40 years
committee and scheduled a second meeting. Paul Howard this winter. We received our permanent charter as an NAS
was invited over from the NAS office in Sacramento to chapter 2 years later.
inform those assembled about details and requirements About that bridge battle: Perhaps you’ve noticed
to form and maintain a local chapter. The organizing as you drive across the bridge from Eureka to Samoa that
committee then became the nominating committee to find the bridge does not go straight across. It heads to the right
prospective officers and board members for the proposed end of Indian Island, then makes a slight jog to the left
chapter and to come up with a name, constitution and by- before continuing on to the peninsula. Bowing to pressure
laws, and meeting dates and locations. from the newly formed RRAS chapter, the local Sierra
One of the first activities in which the forming Club chapter, and others, the highway department altered
chapter took part as a group was the Centerville Beach its plans so that the bridge bypassed the egret rookery in the
to King Salmon Christmas Bird Count, originated by the tree clump by 800 feet. Also, construction crews were not
Anderson and Crane families of Ferndale. Dr. Stan Harris permitted to work during the egret nesting period on that
led that task and has been doing it ever since [Editor’s portion of the bridge that rested on the island. The highway
note: See the notice elsewhere that, after nearly 40 years, department received an award for “environmental design”
Dr. Harris will no longer be compiling this count]. for that bridge.
Monitoring the Night Sky:
Migrant Birds in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion
By John D. Alexander, Executive Director, Klamath Bird States, Mexico, and Central and South America. During
Observatory a mid-September evening, more than a bird per second,
flying over the Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory, were
A new age in bird “watching” has been unveiled being recorded. These migrants included long-distant
with our ears to the sky. The Klamath Bird Observatory migrant Swainson’s Thrushes.
(KBO) and U.S. Forest Service’s Redwood Sciences To learn more about this new nocturnal migrant
Laboratory (RSL) long-term efforts to monitor birds in monitoring partnership, log onto the Klamath-Siskiyou
northern California and southern Oregon have taken on eBird (http://www.eBird.org/Klamath-Siskiyou). Klamath-
a new and exciting aspect in the form of white buckets Siskiyou eBird is a tool for birders in our region that was
affixed to the top of our facilities. These buckets are developed by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and
actually nocturnal bioacoustics monitoring devices (i.e., the KBO–RSL Avian Data Center and sponsored by the
microphones) designed to record the calls of migratory Redwood Regional Audubon Society in cooperation with
birds as they fly through our bioregion moving south other Audubon Chapters throughout the Klamath-Siskiyou
toward their wintering habitats in the southern United Bioregion.
Keep Up-to-Date Mark Your Calendars for Godwit Days
April 16-22, 2009
Through
PETE DUNNE, KEYNOTE SPEAKER
RRAS Listserv
Be reminded about field trips and programs Godwit Days seeks board members!Wednesdays.
If you Interested persons should
and learn about upcoming meetings, contact
have enjoyed Godwit Days activities in the board members Alex Stillman at
public hearings, and symposia of interest
to RRAS members and other concerned past and are interested in helping out, (707)the822-2269 (alexandrastillman@sb
nature lovers. Subscribe in 1 of 2 ways: organization is seeking applicationscglobal.net)
from or C.J. Ralph at (707) 822-
through a Web page link at http://groups. community members to serve on its Board 2015 of
(theralphs@humboldt1.com).
yahoo.com/group/rras or by e-mail to rras- Directors. It is a terrific event that was started Pete Dunne, well-known
subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Postings by the City of Arcata. The board meets birderatand popular author, will be the
keynote
should have complete information. This Rookery Books in downtown Arcata from speaker this year. Go to http://
listserv is not for posting bird sightings. www.godwitdays.com for information
8:30 to 10:00 a.m. As we start getting prepared
for the next event, we meet twice a monthaboutonthe festival.
 Ecological Literacy: Why Does It Matter?
In the end we will conserve only what
we love. We will love only what we
understand. We will understand only
what we are taught.
--Baba Divum
The young woman, a cashier, attempts to speak but can’t
find the words. I’ve just told her that the display in the
museum where she works has wrongly labeled a Barn
Swallow as a Cliff Swallow. When her words finally
come, they are fragments of thought, trailing off… “But
we do have swallows… near the estuary… I see them
there sometimes.”
Yes, you do have swallows under the bridge, I
assure her. Probably Cliff Swallows. I see the confusion
in her face, so I repeat myself. The point I was trying to
make is that the color illustration in the museum is that of
a Barn, not a Cliff, Swallow. Because she is the cashier,
not the museum curator, I suggest that she tell someone
associated with the scientific aspect of the museum of
the error. Again her eyes glaze over—from disbelief or
apathy, it’s hard to tell. I know I should chill, but it ticks
me off that she’s unwilling to correct a wrong.
Two days later, while looking for antiques, I
come across a set of carved wooden knickknacks. One
depicts a kookaburra, the other a lyrebird. Although I’ve
never seen either bird in the flesh, it’s obvious that the
labels have been switched because the bird with a stout,
kingfisher-like bill is labeled “lyrebird,” whereas the one
Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Review by Ken Burton
The Smithsonian Institution is the latest organization to
jump onto the North American bird guide bandwagon. The
Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America by Ted
Floyd (it’s tempting to call it “Floyd’s Boids”), published this
year by Collins, is now at least the 7th comprehensive North
American bird guide on the market. The selection is beginning
to seem as bewildering as that of birding optics, especially
to the first-time buyer. So, is this the one to buy? Is it worth
adding to one’s collection?
Perhaps most significant is that this is a photographic
guide. It is arranged with no more than 3 species to a page,
usually only 1 or 2. Each species account consists of an
assortment of photos of various sizes with lengthy captions
discussing more-or-less visible features; some additional
text summarizing range, habitat, sounds, measurements, and
behaviors; and a range map. The photos take up about half of
each page. There is little blank space, making the book visually
“busy” and giving the impression of a lot of information to
sift through. The book’s introductory sections are perfectly
adequate and describe the layout and content well. I especially
like the “parts of a bird” section, which has photographs of
various birds mirrored by line drawings labeling the feather
tracts. The book, at 8 x 5-3/4 x 1-1/4 inches, weighs 2.1
pounds (smaller than the original Sibley guide but bigger than
National Geographic’s).
While the quality of the photos is generally
excellent, and great effort has been made to portray variation
within species, no amount of digital wizardry can overcome
the basic limitations of the medium. Photographs represent
single individuals at a particular instant, and any experienced
birder knows that such glimpses are not always representative.
Further, one has to question some of the editorial decisions
made here in the selection of photos. Some problematic
examples are Arctic Tern, in which leg length is an important
field mark but not clearly visible in any of the photos;
dowitchers, which often can be distinguished by foraging
posture, a feature not depicted or mentioned at all; and several
of the swallows, which aren’t even shown in flight. There is
no substitute for good paintings representing composite birds
with the showy, fanned tail is marked “kookaburra.”
A few minutes later, I ask the proprietor to unlock
a case so I can examine an object. The cost is prohibitive,
so I say no thanks and start to move on. Seizing the
moment, I ask her to follow me to the mislabeled wooden
carvings. She’s appreciative that I’ve taken the time to
point out the error. Because she is asking the same amount
for each carving, she switches their labels. I disclose to
her that birders like me can be a particular lot, some of us
even keeping lists of biogeographic anomalies, such as the
maniacal call of a kookaburra occurring in a movie that
takes place in southern California.
The proprietor’s husband overhears our
conversation. “Sure, I remember the song, ‘Kookaburra sits
in the old gum tree…’” The store owners’ knowledge—and
willingness to incorporate my suggested changes—contrasts
starkly with my Barn vs. Cliff Swallow episode of several
days before. I’m immensely relieved, perhaps more than
is warranted, which prompts several questions: Why does
any of this matter? What was it about the cashier’s attitude
at the museum that bothered me so?
To illustrate: suppose the American Kennel Club
advertised a show featuring Jack Russell terriers, but the
dogs involved were greyhounds? Wouldn’t aficionados
of either breed be offended—or, at a minimum, find the
sponsor’s lack of knowledge alarming? Suppose we read
in an encyclopedia—on-line or otherwise—that giraffes
occur in the wild in Oregon? Shouldn’t such an inaccuracy
cast doubt on the rest of the publication’s assertions?
Maybe my frustration lies in the fact that we
live in increasingly ecologically illiterate times. A recent
survey found that most American school kids are able to
absent the vagaries of lighting and posture. Sibley’s original
guide got it right with its spare, clean illustrations, without
distracting backgrounds, arranged to show similar birds side-
by-side in like poses. With so many people taking digital
photos nowadays and the plethora of photo enhancement
software available, photographic guides are undoubtedly
cheaper and easier to produce, but they risk misleading novice
birders.
Taxonomic groups are introduced by single-page
essays that are more about the natural history and conservation
than the identification of their members. Orders and families
are treated inconsistently, with the result that essays address
everything from single families to multiple orders, which
is bound to offend purists. The book isn’t quite in current
taxonomic order, but it comes close. Given that there obviously
was editorial leeway in the arrangement of species, some of the
decisions are questionable; for instance, some tricky species
pairs (such as Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Short-
and Long-billed Dowitchers, and Blue-headed and Cassin’s
Vireos) aren’t on the same or even facing pages, making direct
comparison impossible. Clark’s Nutcracker is jarringly placed
right in the middle of the crows.
This book includes many more vagrants to North
America than does Sibley but not as many as does the latest
National Geographic guide. I’m still waiting for someone
to do a guide to the vagrants, with similar North American
species included for comparison.
The range maps are fine but are essentially the same
as those in the Sibley East and West guides, although with
different color arrangements and no accidental records. Being
the newest guide on the market, this is the most current and
shows ranges of newly recognized species (e.g., Cackling
Goose and Dusky and Sooty Grouse) that are lacking in older
books.
One nice feature of the book is that it indicates each
species’ molt strategy, using terminology introduced within
the past five years. It is helpful, for example, to see that Ring-
billed and Mew Gulls lose their juvenal plumage during the
first cycle while the other “white-headed” gulls lose theirs at
the end of the cycle. Also presented is the number of adult molts
identify by sight 500 corporate logos but not 10 local
trees. Not that naming is necessarily knowing, but, for
instance, identifying a madrone tree can be a crucial
first step toward ecological literacy. Later, learning that
madrone leaves are shed in May and June rather than
October, an observer’s curiosity might lead him or
her to investigate climatology… or how various plant
and animal species interact to form communities. I’m
reminded of Baba Divum’s words on the link between
teaching, conservation, love, and understanding—
pursuits and traits that can never be too abundant.
May 2008 Epilogue: A number of years ago, USDA
Forest Service partnered with the nonprofit group Quail
Unlimited to launch a program entitled “Answer the
Call,” the goal being to raise awareness of the ecological
niches filled by the 6 species of quail native to the United
States. Because Sue is fond of quail, I’m matting and
framing the Answer the Call poster for her as a present.
Although the poster was produced several years ago,
I’ve never looked at it critically before today. I study
the illustrations, comparing them with the captions/brief
species accounts. I can’t believe it! They’ve mislabeled
Mountain Quail as Gambel’s Quail and vice versa. Moral
of the story: we laypersons also occupy an important
ecological niche: keeping the experts honest.
Tom Leskiw
April 30, 2007
per year, information inferred by the molt strategy and thus
completely redundant. Another novel feature is the American
Birding Association’s status code for each species, the utility
of which in a book such as this is not readily apparent to me.
A feature that would be useful is the standard 4-letter alpha
code; including this would go a long way toward familiarizing
the birding community with these useful codes.
One of the book’s main selling points is a DVD that
resides in a poorly designed envelope attached to the inside
back cover. This DVD contains MP3 files of 138 species, each
represented by 2 to 10 files. Although there are several calls,
such as the immature Song Sparrow’s zeee, not found on other
commercial recordings, most species are not included at all,
and I suspect that the typical user of this guide would benefit
more from having fewer sounds of more species. The species
selection is also puzzling. It has Red-eyed but not Philadelphia
Vireo, Tree but not Violet-green Swallow, Swainson’s but not
Hermit Thrush, etc.; but we have Plumbeous, Blue-headed,
and Cassin’s Vireos and Eastern and Spotted Towhees. The
book claims that species were selected to showcase the variety,
complexity, and beauty of bird sounds. Each species on the
DVD is accompanied by a photo (taken from the book) that
is supposed to appear as “album art” while the file is playing;
depending on your software settings, this may not happen
automatically, and the DVD does not work at all in stand-alone
DVD players (at least not mine). It comes with a small insert
folder that lists the files and gives the book’s corresponding
page number for each species along with a thumbnail of the
above-mentioned photo. Being a DVD, it cannot be read by
iTunes and thus cannot be loaded easily into an iPod. A CD
would have been more versatile and useful.
The true test of a field guide is to see whether it
enables you to identify unfamiliar species. I suspect that I
would have a harder time making some of the more-difficult
identifications with this guide than with some others. I still
prefer the Sibley guides, especially the small versions, and I
can find no compelling reason to recommend the Smithsonian
guide instead. However, some formats work better for some
people and not as well for others, and this is arguably the best
photographic guide available.
Field Notes
Fall (26 Sep-23 Oct)
One day had showers, but otherwise they were typical fall days,
some overcast, but many sunny afternoons with NW winds. One
pelagic trip was conducted off Eel River by Redwood Region
Audubon Society, 27 Sep, thanks to Gary Lester and David Fix
for the results, cited in the following as RRAPT. Michael Morris
conducted a minipelagic outing by kayak off Trinidad to 6 miles, 19
Oct (MMPT in this report). In the darn-we-all-missed-it category,
a subadult (early immature) WANDERING ALBATROSS was
photographed off Newport, Ore., 13 Sep, and rephotographed off
Monterey, Calif., 9 days later, which means it must have passed
through north coast waters en route. Do you suppose we could
classify it as a “presumed accidental” (surely must have been here
but seen by no one--boo hiss!) in our region? Oh, well, better luck
next time!
Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh
Project; BBHR = base of Bald Hills Road (junction of Hwy
101 and Bald Hills Road); BLR = Blue Lake riparian; BSLP =
Butcher Slough log pond; CG = Chadbourne Gulch; CRI = Cock
Robin Island; EP = Entrance Patch, Fairhaven; GW = Gee Whiz
report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge;
HC = Hardy Creek; IIT = Interesting If True; KL = Klopp Lake;
KS = King Salmon; LB = Loleta Bottoms; LC = Lake Cleone;
LD = Lanphere Dunes; MMR = Mouth of Mad River; mo =
many observers; MRCP = Mad River County Park; NC = Not
Confirmed by a 2nd party; ND = No Details, No Description; OD
= Orick Dump; PPSP = Patrick’s Point State Park; SD = Scenic
Drive south of Trinidad; TH = Trinidad Head; TMR = Ten-Mile
River estuary; TPPL = slope above Trinidad Pier Parking Lot;
UCB = Usal Creek/Beach
Greater White-fronted Goose: Right on historic schedules, 9,
mostly southbound flocks, of 1-140 were reported from LC, AMP,
Arcata, AB, MRCP, OD (mo). Snow Goose: 3, HBNWR, 21 Oct
(SL). “Cackling” Cackling Goose: 1, AB, 4 Oct (SC). Aleutian
Cackling Goose: 6 reports (8 flocks) of 1-480 from near Ten-Mile
River, HBNWR, AB, near OD, 4-21 Oct (SC, HB, KM, DT, KI,
RF, SL). Fulvous Whistling Duck (NC, GW, IIT): 1 was reported
from the Klamath River estuary, intriguing, incomplete description,
5 Oct (WD, fide JH). Gadwall: 2, LC, 13-14 Oct (DT, KAHv, JM);
125, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Eurasian Wigeon: up to 4 females, AMP,
14-20 Oct (RF, SH). Eurasian x American Wigeon hybrid: 1
male (poor photos), AMP, 16 Oct (RF) (only 3 previous records,
1 in Del Norte and 2 in Humboldt counties). American Wigeon:
407, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). American Green-winged Teal: 406,
AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Harlequin Duck: 4-6, Glass Beach, 11,14 Oct
(DT); 1 male, KS, 21 Oct (MW). Hooded Merganser: 8, AMP,
4 Oct (SC). Sooty Grouse: 1 each, Titlow Hill, south of Horse
Mountain, 2, 6 Oct, respectively (both TL); x, Smith-Etter Road,
King Range, (where said by observer to be regular), 12 Oct (RB).
Red-necked Grebe: CRI Bridge, 19 Oct (BC). Clark’s Grebe:
2 offshore at Fairhaven, 16 Oct (KB). Black-footed Albatross:
60, RRAPT; 5, MMPT. Northern Fulmar: 3, RRAPT; 3, MMPT.
Pink-footed Shearwater: 50, RRAPT; 50, MMPT. Buller’s
Shearwater: 6, RRAPT; 5, MMPT. Sooty Shearwater: 90,
RRAPT; 50, MMPT. Brown Pelican: “Thousands” between Big
Lagoon and Trinidad, 16 Oct (MeH). White-faced Ibis: 1 flyby,
AMP, 5 Oct (LP, et al.). Osprey: 1, AB, 20 Oct (KB). Northern
Goshawk: 1, south of Horse Mountain, 6 Oct (TL). Bald Eagle:
1 ad., MMR, 12 Oct (GL); 1 ad., lower Redwood Creek, 14 Oct
(KI); 1 ad., CRI Bridge, 19 Oct (BC). Crested Caracara: 1, Smith
River bottoms, 28 Sep (KS). Peregrine: 6 reports of 1-2 from AB,
BBHR, AMP, HBNWR, foot of Hillfiker Lane, 5-21 Oct (mo).
Merlin: 1, Arcata, 8 Oct (L&AP); 1, HBNWR, 1 Oct (DF, JP, et
al.). Virginia Rail: 6, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Sora: 1-2, LC, 13-14 Oct
(DT, KAHv, JM). Sandhill Crane: 1, “probably a lesser,” Southern
Humboldt County Park, 11 Sep (JayS, RS, JG, FB, ZC); 1 flyover,
V St. Loop, 21 Oct (ZL, et al.). American Golden-Plover: 1, LB,
19 Oct (RF, MW). Pacific Golden-Plover: 1, KL, 19 Oct (SC);
1, Virgin Creek Beach, 19 Oct (AM, DJ, ScH); 16, LB, 19 Oct
(RF, MW). American Avocet: 185, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Greater
Yellowlegs: 23, KL, 16 Oct (RF). Lesser Yellowlegs: 2, AB, 20
Oct (KB). Black Turnstone: 18, KL, 16 Oct (RF); 1, LB, 19 Oct
(RF, MW). Red Knot: 1-2, KL, 2, 4 Oct (DF, SC, respectively);
5, LB, 16 Oct (RF, MW). Semipalmated Sandpiper: 2, Westport,
28 Sep (JW). Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Westport, 28 Sep (JW); 4,
AMP, 4 Oct (SC); 1, Glass Beach, 6 Oct (RHu). Stilt Sandpiper:
1, Alexandre Dairy, 28 Sep (LB). Ruff: 1,Elk River estuary, 16
Oct (SC). Red-necked Phalarope: 1, HBNWR, 12 Oct (DF, JP, et
al.). Glaucous Gull: 1, Hammond Bridge, 18 Oct (BC). Sabine’s
Gull: 4, RRAPT. Caspian Tern: 2, HBNWR, 12 Oct (DF, JP,
et al.). Common Tern: 1, flying past North Jetty, 12 Oct (SC).
Arctic Tern: 2 reported, no details, UCB, 30 Sep (JS, JL, RLV).
Forster’s Tern: 2, Humboldt Bay near KL, 28 Sep (LM). Elegant
Tern: 50, UCB, 30 Sep (JS, JL, RLV); 10, RRAPT. Pomarine
Jaeger: 1 ad., MMPT. Jaeger sp.: 4, RRAPT. Common Murre:
1 (sick?) in Humboldt Bay at KL, 2 Oct (DF); 50, RRAPT; 100+/-
, MMPT. Marbled Murrelet: 2, RRAP. Cassin’s Auklet: 140,
RRAPT; 100, MMPT. Rhinoceros Auklet: 7, RRAPT; 2, MMPT.
Barred Owl: 1, Ruth Lake, 30 Sep (SMcA). Black Swift: 2, TH,
26 Sep (MeH). Lewis’s Woodpecker: 1, Kneeland, 23 Sep (BB,
DVZ); 1, 4, Kneeland, 8, 14 Oct, respectively (BB, DVZ). Pileated
Woodpecker: 1, Fruitland Ridge, 28 Sep (JG); 1, Cummings
Road, Eureka, 4-5 Oct (TL); 2, south of Horse Mountain, 6 Oct.
Western Wood-Pewee: 1 ad. feeding 1? fledgling, BLR, 18 Sep
(KI). Willow Flycatcher: 1, Ft. Bragg, 21 Sep (DT); 2, south side
of Redwood Creek estuary, 28 Sep (KI); 1, CG, 29 Sep (BK, CV).
Pacific-slope Flycatcher: 1 ad. feeding fledglings, BLR (KI);
1, Arcata, 6 Oct (GB). Say’s Phoebe: 1, Westport, 30 Sep (J &
KAHv); 1, Kneeland, 28 Sep-3 Oct (BB, DVZ); 1, Ruth Lake, 3
Oct (SMcA). Ash-throated Flycatcher: 1, MacKerricher State
Park, 22 Oct (FF). Tropical Kingbird: 1, KS, 20-21 Oct (MW, et
al.). Northern Shrike: 1 imm., CRI, 19 Oct (BC). Cassin’s Vireo:
1, TPPL, 26 Sep (MeH). Hutton’s Vireo: 1, CG, 29 Sep, 13 Oct
(BK, CV; J&KAHv, respectively). Warbling Vireo: 1, SC, 29 Sep
(TL). Philadelphia Vireo: 1 “bright” (dark lore mentioned), vic.
OD, 27 Sep (KI). Clark’s Nutcracker: 2, near lower Canyon
Creek, Trinity Alps, 21 Sep (LM). Horned Lark: 4, Bear River
Ridge, 12 Oct (KB). Barn Swallow: 2, North Spit, 12 Oct (SC).
Bewick’s Wren: 1 singing, Salmon Creek, near Miranda, 19 Sep
(KK). American Dipper: 2, HC, 28 Sep (JW); 2, Three-Mile Bar,
south of Scotia, 6 Oct (KB). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1, CG, 29
Sep (BK, CV); 7 at AMP by 16 Oct (RF). Western Bluebird: 1-4
seen on 5 days in Sep, Kneeland (15 on 2 Sep), (BB, DVZ); 6,
south of Horse Mountain, 6 Oct (TL); 17, Mail Ridge near Ft.
Seward Road, 16 Oct (JG). Swainson’s Thrush: 1, Arcata, 5 Oct
(LM); 1 banded, LD, 19 Oct (KB). Northern Mockingbird: 1,
Westport, 30 Sep (JL, RLV); 1,Trinidad, 16 Oct (MeH); 1, Shay
Park, 18 Oct (LM). Red-throated Pipit (partial description): 1,
Hufford Road, 30 Sep (KI). Cedar Waxwing: 1 flock, CG, 29 Sep
(BK, CV); “lots,” BSLP, 2 Oct (DF); 40, south of Horse Mountain,
6 Oct (TL); 250, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Tennessee Warbler: 1 imm.;
Pink-footed Shearwater © Ron LeValley
1 ad., TPPL, 26 Sep (MeH); 1, BBHR, 5 Oct (KS); 1, TH, 16 Oct
(MeH). Nashville Warbler: 1, TMR, 28 Sep (KAHv); 1 CG, 30
Sep (JL, JS, RLV); 1, Ft. Bragg, 13 Oct (DT); 1, Shay Park, 18 Oct
(LM). Virginia’s Warbler: 1, CG, 29, 30 Sep (JW, JL, JS, RLV).
Yellow Warbler: 1, SD, 29 Sep (TL); x, BSLP, 29 Sep (DF); 1
CG, 29 Sep (BK, CV); 1, near Ruth Ranger Station, 12 Oct (SC);
1, CG, 13 Oct (J&KHAv); 1, TH, 16 Oct (MeH). Chestnut-sided
Warbler: 1, HC, 15, 28 Sep (JW); 1 male, EP, 26 Sep (DF, DP);
1, Centerville x Poole Road, 26 Sep (TL, MW); 1, vic. OD, 27 Sep
(KI); 1, TMR, 28 Sep (KA&JHv); 2, CG, 30 Sep (KAHv, DT); 1,
PPSP, 2 Oct (DC); 1, BBHR, 5 Oct (KS); 1, Bayshore Mall, 10 Oct
(TL); 1, TH, 16 Oct (MeH). Magnolia Warbler: 1, HC, 19 Sep
by Stan Harris
(JW); 1, TMR, 29, 30 Sep (JL, JS, RLV); 1, EP, 7 Oct (KS). Black-
throated Blue Warbler: 1 female (no details), 29 Sep (KAHv); 1
male, CG, 12 Oct (JHv). Black-throated Gray Warbler: 1, CG,
29 Sep (BK, CV); 1, SD, 29 Sep (TL); 1, Bayshore Mall, 1, 3 Oct
(TL); 1, BSLP, 4 Oct (GK). Hermit Warbler: 1, vic. OD, 27 Sep
(KI.: Blackburnian Warbler: 1, EP, 4 Oct (SC). Palm Warbler:
1, vic. OD, 27 Sep (KI); 3, Westport, 30 Sep (J&KAHv); 1, Arcata,
19 Oct (BC). Bay-breasted Warbler: 1, PPSP, 2 Oct (DC).
Blackpoll Warbler: 1, CG, 15 Sep (JW); 1, TPPL, 26 Sep (MeH);
1, Cypress Patch, North Spit, 26 Sep (DF, DP); 1, Allen Marsh, 27
Sep (DF); 1, BSLP, 28 Sep (LM); 1, BBHR, 5 Oct (KS). Black-
and-white Warbler: 1, MRCP, 19 Sep (BC); 1, HC, 28 Sep (JW);
1, LC, 30 Sep (JS, JL, RLV); 1 UCB, 3 Oct (JW). American
Redstart: 1, CG, 21 Sep (BK, CV); 1, Little River Drive, 5 Oct
(LM); 1, LC, 4-6 Oct (JW, DT). Prothonotary Warbler: 1
banded, LD, 6 Oct (CJR, LP, et al.). Northern Waterthrush: 1,
BSLP, 28 Sep-16 Oct (BZ, SC, RF); 1 banded, LD, 11 Oct (DC).
Summer Tanager: 1 male, BBHR, 5 Oct (KI). Western Tanager:
3, TH, 16 Oct (MeH). Green-tailed Towhee: 1, UCB, 27 Sep
(JW). Clay-colored Sparrow: 1, HC, 28 Sep (JW); 1, Westport,
30 Sep (DT); 1, AB, 5 Oct (KB). Vesper Sparrow: 1, vic. OD, 27
Sep (KI); 1, Virgin Creek Beach, 2 Oct (DT, KAHv). White-
throated Sparrow: 1, Bayshore Mall, 1 Oct (TL); 1 AMP, 8 Oct
(L&AP); 1, Kneeland, 12 Oct (BB, DVZ); 1, Ft. Bragg, 15 Oct
(DT). Lapland Longspur: 10 reports of 1-150+ from open fields
at OD, lower Redwood Creek, McKinleyville, AB, North Spit, Eel
River Bottoms, LB, 27 Sep-20 Oct (RF, KI, KS, KB, MW).
Chestnut-collared Longspur: 1 (“I think,” based on call), AB, 16
Oct (KI). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 male, window kill
(specimen to HSU), vic. Sunny Brae, 21 Oct (GF). Lazuli
Bunting: 1, Westport, 30 Sep (DT). Tricolored Blackbird: 1
female (no details on how identified), AB, 17 Oct (RF). Orchard
Oriole (ND, NC): 1, NE corner of KL (names on bird box
uncertain, sounded something like “Lauren and Jim”). Evening
Grosbeak: 3, OD, 28 Sep (KI).
Lapland Longspur © Ron LeValley
Many thanks to the following who shared observations
with all of us this month: Fred Bauer, Gary Bloomfield,
Rick Botzler, Heather Brown, Lucas Brug, Barbara Burek,
Ken Burton, Brent Campos, Scott Carey, Zoe Chapman,
Daryl Coldren, “Dale”(?), Walt Duffy, David Fix, Gary
Friedrichsen, Feather Forestwalker, Rob Fowler, John Gaffin,
Garry George, Melody Hamilton, Stan Harris, Jim Havlena,
Karen Havlena, Robert Hewitt, Scott Huber, Richard
Hubocek, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, David Jensen, “Jim,” Red
Jioras, Bernice Jorgansen, Kyle Keegan, Bob Keiffer, George
Kiniski (spelling?), “Lauren,” Tom Leskiw, Gary Lester, Ron
LeValley, Steve Lewis, Zac Lowman, John Luther, Kyle
Mack, Larry Maurin, Sean McAllister, Art Morley, Michael
Morris, Jessica Morton, Dianne Petty, Larry & Aurora Pitts,
Jude Power, Leslie Pucci, C.J. Ralph, Sandy, John Sterling,
Keith Slauson, Jay Sooter, Robert Sutherland, Tim, Dorothy
Tobkin, Chuck Vaughn, Matt Wachs, Jerry White, Dan Van
Zile, Ben Zyla.
Please call future reports to the Arcata Bird Box (707)
822-5666, to me at (707) 822-3802, e-mail them to me at
swharris@arcatanet.com, send them to me at 1595 Charles
Ct., Arcata, 95521, or write them on the observation board at
the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center.