Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Kern County > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Wednesday, September 1 at 06:01 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Hooded Merganser,©John Schmitt

01 Sep Black-and-white Warbler, Indigo Bunting [Bob Barnes ] 30 Aug 30 Aug 10: Galileo Hill & California City [Bob Barnes ] 26 Aug SFWA Ticks (the bug); 26 Aug10: Cerro Coso College [Bob Barnes ] 24 Aug YB Cuckoo Still Present; Greenhorn Mtns. Warblers [Bob Barnes ] 19 Aug Galileo Hill Update & Today's Birds [Bob Barnes ] 18 Aug No Subject [Jimmy McMorran ] 18 Aug 8/17/10: Kern R. Valley/Greenhorn Mtns. [Bob Barnes ] 16 Aug 16 Sep 10: Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest [Bob Barnes ] 11 Aug Prior Early FOF Townsend's Warblers [Bob Barnes ] 11 Aug Record Early FOF Townsend's Warbler? [Bob Barnes ] 05 Aug A work in progress - Kern, Inyo, Tulare birding map ["natureali" ] 03 Aug Cerro Coso Community College , 8/3/10 [Bob Barnes ] 02 Aug Seasonal reports are due ["kernkel" ] 01 Aug fall migrants - CER ["eremico" ] 01 Aug Fall Migrants: Ridgecrest's Cerro Coso College [Bob Barnes ] 23 Jul 07/23/10: Ridgecrest Red Crossbill [Bob Barnes ] 23 Jul No Subject [] 22 Jul Kern NWR: 7/21/10 [Bob Barnes ] 15 Jul Fwd: [CALBIRDS] Tragic news [Bob Barnes ] 09 Jul August Overnight Deepwater Pelagic ["Barbara" ] 06 Jul 6 Jul 10: Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway--Kern Co. [Bob Barnes ] 06 Jul 3 & 4 Jul 10: Kern River Valley Area Birds & Butterflies [Bob Barnes ] 30 Jun No Subject [] 27 Jun Black-chinned Sparrows ["woodshots" ] 24 Jun 24 Jun 10: Piute Mtns - Saddle Springs Rd. [Bob Barnes ] 24 Jun 24 Jun 10: Piute Mtns Black-chinned Sparrow [Bob Barnes ] 23 Jun Juvenile Burrowing Owls in Central Valley ["wflydecker" ] 21 Jun Rose-breasted Grosbeak and more [Matthew Dodder ] 16 Jun Burrowing Owls ["rogercoley" ] 14 Jun SE Kern - 6/14 [Andrew Howe ] 14 Jun Common Loon, Lake Isabella ["wanderfalken_tim" ] 11 Jun Butterbredt-6/10/10 – Addendum ["vernonhowe" ] 10 Jun Butterbredt-6/10 [Andrew Howe ] 10 Jun 9 Jun 10: Greenhorn Mtns, Kern Co. [Bob Barnes ] 10 Jun Birding Galileo Hill Park 6/9/10-nothing unexpected ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 9 Jun RE: Butterbredt report: Yellow-throated and Worm-eating Warblers ["Koonce, Sandy" ] 9 Jun Butterbredt report: Yellow-throated and Worm-eating Warblers ["Koonce, Sandy" ] 08 Jun yahoo stuff, apology ["Michael" ] 29 Apr New to Kern Co. Birding ["sherrel333" ] 03 Jun Sandhill Crane, Kern Preserve ["wanderfalken_tim" ] 26 May Female Hooded Warbler just west of Mojave ["jaegermaestro" ] 03 Jun Sandhill Crane, Kern Preserve ["wanderfalken_tim" ] 24 May Galileo Hill, 5/22 ["themrbubby00mjf" ] 06 Jun Butterbredt and Galileo 4-6 May (13 Warbler species) ["AJSearcy" ] 5 Jun RE: Butterbredt Springs Saturday Morning ["Koonce, Sandy" ] 5 Jun Butterbredt Springs Saturday Morning ["richardjnorton AT dslextreme.com" ] 3 Jun Butterbredt Spring Thur. morn 6/3 ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 03 Jun 3 Jun 10: Kern River Valley Sandhill Crane [Bob Barnes ] 02 Jun Fwd: 5/30/10 Kern Co. Pileated Woodpecker [Bob Barnes ] 01 Jun 5/30/10 plus other recent Kern River Valley Observations [Bob Barnes ] 01 Jun Seasonal reports are due ["kernkel" ] 31 May Eastern Kern co. May 24-28 [Mike Tyner ] 31 May Butterbredt & Galileo, 5/29 Highlights (and 5/30 dips) [] 28 May Summary: Bakersfield Feral Cat Symposium [Bob Barnes ] 28 May Information Request: Central Valley nesting White-faced Ibis [Bob Barnes ] 27 May May 26-27 Galileo, Butterbredt, Kelso Cr. Sanctuary ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 27 May Birding Galileo Hill 5/27/10 (nothing unusual) ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 26 May Baby Great Horned Owls at Galileo Hill Park [Matt Brady ] 24 May Galileo Hill Sunday May 23 ["monterey90254" ] 22 May Butterbredt Spring [Robert McMorran ] 20 May Kentucky Continues ["brooks_hart" ] 17 May Bakersfield Feral Cat Symposium [Bob Barnes ] 16 May Kentucky Warbler @ Galileo Hills ["Doug" ] 16 May Northern Waterthrush still at Galileo Hill ["monterey90254" ] 14 May Northern Waterthrush at Galileo Hill 5/14/10 ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 11 May Re: Galileo and Cal. City migrants ["Tom Miko" ] 11 May Galileo and Cal. City migrants ["Tom Miko" ] 10 May Galileo last weekend of 5/8 and 5/9? ["Tom Miko" ] 8 May Butterbredt 5/8 [Andrew Howe ] 07 May Birding Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle Ranch 5/7/10 (nothing unusual) ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 05 May Water in Kern River in 2800 Acres and elsewhere along Kern River Parkway ["wflydecker" ] 04 May Kern ABC: Seven More Species! [Bob Barnes ] 03 May Two Peregrine Falcons at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge 5/2/10 ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 03 May ABC Monday AM Update [Bob Barnes ] 02 May Kern Birdiest: Sunday PM Update [Bob Barnes ] 02 May Sa, 5/1/10 Inyokern Orchard Oriole photos [Bob Barnes ] Subject: Black-and-white Warbler, Indigo Bunting From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:56 -0700 Hi, Passing along some eastern Kern County desert oases sightings from San Bernardino area birder Dave Goodward who is working a couple of days a week in eastern Kern County. He tried posting to kerncobiriding yesterday, but for unknown reasons it didn't go through. "...I have started to get to know the famous Kern Co. traps I have heard about for so long. I tried posting to Kerncobirding yesterday, but for unknown reasons it didn't go through...I had a couple of low level but interesting vagrants late in the afternoon of the 30th at California City Central Park, a Black and White warbler and an Indigo bunting, female-type. Both were in the eucalyptus at the north end of the park, which have a light infestation of lerps. Other common warblers and a Lazuli bunting were searching the eucs as well. An adult Peregrine flew over. Butterbredt on the morning of the 31st was quiet, with a Red-breasted nuthatch the only bird of note. A complete list for both locations is at Ebird. Dave Goodward" Posting for Dave Goodward... Bob Bames, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 30 Aug 10: Galileo Hill & California City From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:32:03 -0700 Hi, Susan Steele and I birded Galileo Hill followed by California City this morning. An enjoyable diversity and number of fall migrants. FOF (first of fall) Cedar Waxwings at both locations. eBird lists for each location follow below. Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County Location: Galileo Hill--Silver Saddle Ranch and Club Observation date: 6:05am-8:40am, 8/30/10 Observers: Bob Barnes, Susan Steele Coverage: 80 acres. Number of species: 47 (including 150+ individual migrants not counting the 35 Turkey Vultures) * Gadwall 3 * Mallard 4 * teal sp. 1 * Chukar 20 * Great Blue Heron 1 * Great Egret 1 * Turkey Vulture 35 * Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Adult... * Red-tailed Hawk 1 * Peregrine Falcon 1 * Spotted Sandpiper 2 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 10 * Mourning Dove 15 * Great Horned Owl 1 * Ladder-backed Woodpecker 2 * Western Wood-Pewee 8 * Willow Flycatcher 5 * Black Phoebe 6 * Say's Phoebe 1 * Western Kingbird 1 * Loggerhead Shrike 3 * Warbling Vireo 25 * Common Raven 3 * Horned Lark 130 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 * Rock Wren 2 * House Wren 3 * Northern Mockingbird 1 * European Starling 30 * Cedar Waxwing 1 FOF... * Orange-crowned Warbler 3 * Nashville Warbler 4 * Yellow Warbler 20 * Black-throated Gray Warbler 6 * Townsend's Warbler 1 * MacGillivray's Warbler 7 * Wilson's Warbler 6 * Chipping Sparrow 1 * Brewer's Sparrow 1 * Lark Sparrow 7 * Black-throated Sparrow 10 * Western Tanager 35 * Black-headed Grosbeak 40 * Lazuli Bunting 2 * Brewer's Blackbird 11 * Bullock's Oriole 1 * House Finch 35 * House Sparrow 40 Location: California City Central Park Observation date: 9am-10:20am, 8/30/10 Observers: Bob Barnes, Susan Steele. Number of species: 41 (including 50+ individual migrants not counting 6 Turkey Vultures and 75 Brown-headed Cowbirds) * Ross's Goose 2 Continuing... * Mallard 2 * Pied-billed Grebe 4 * Double-crested Cormorant 1 * Great Blue Heron 1 * Snowy Egret 2 * Green Heron 2 * Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Adult... * Turkey Vulture 6 * American Coot 12 * Killdeer 1 * Rock Pigeon 1 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 6 * Mourning Dove 5 * Anna's Hummingbird 1 * Rufous Hummingbird 3 * hummingbird sp. 1 * Western Wood-Pewee 4 * Willow Flycatcher 2 * Black Phoebe 2 * Warbling Vireo 1 * Common Raven 4 * Horned Lark 1 * Verdin 1 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 * Marsh Wren 1 * Cedar Waxwing 2 * Yellow Warbler 4 * Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 * Common Yellowthroat 1 * Wilson's Warbler 10 * Lark Sparrow 3 * Song Sparrow 1 * Western Tanager 6 * Black-headed Grosbeak 12 * Lazuli Bunting 1 * Red-winged Blackbird 2 * Brown-headed Cowbird 75 * Bullock's Oriole 3 * House Finch 2 * Lesser Goldfinch 1 * House Sparrow 3 The above reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: SFWA Ticks (the bug); 26 Aug10: Cerro Coso College From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:15:42 -0700 Hi, TICKS (the bug) Ticks proved to be a problem for a birder searching for Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the South Fork Wildlife Area behind KOA in Weldon a few weeks ago. For whatever reason, I detected none during or after my Mo, 23 Aug 10 visit to the same location. Regardless, it is advisable to check oneself/yourself within a few hours of visiting the area to make sure no ticks have made their way onto one's/your body or clothes. CERRO COSO COLLEGE Location: Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest, Eastern Kern County Observation time/date: 6:30am-8:25am, Th, 8/26/10 Notes: Eastern half of campus to include part of campus on east side of main road up from Ridgecrest to include sculpture garden, classroom area, maintenance yard, solar field, palm grove, pine groves, poplar grove,... * Chukar 1 Calling from hills to the east of campus... * Eurasian Collared-Dove 4 * Mourning Dove 5 * Costa's Hummingbird 2 * hummingbird sp. 6 * Loggerhead Shrike 1 * Common Raven 3 * Verdin 6 * House Wren 3 * Northern Mockingbird 3 * European Starling 9 * Yellow Warbler 1 * Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 * Wilson's Warbler 2 * Black-throated Sparrow 2 * Sage Sparrow 12 * Western Tanager 2 * Black-headed Grosbeak 1 * Lazuli Bunting 3 * Bullock's Oriole 2 * House Finch 7 * Lesser Goldfinch 1 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: YB Cuckoo Still Present; Greenhorn Mtns. Warblers From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:27:14 -0700 Hi, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO Has a few inquiries as to whether or not Yellow-billed Cuckoo is still present in the South Fork Wildlife area along the South Fork Kern River. So, I checked early yesterday morning (6am-6:25am). The species was still present as of then. Drove to CA Hwy. 178 mile marker 54.50 in Weldon to park at the outside west end of the KOA campground front wall. Went through the walk through gate along the outside west edge of the KOA toward the riparian forest to the north. Halfway between the NW end of the KOA chain link boundary fence and the forest, a very short distance, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard repeatedly giving the "coo, coo, coo, coo, coo" (with a little bit of a long "u" quality mixed into the "oo"). No "kalp" calls were given. This bird was a quarter mile or less from Hwy. 178 along the path. It was in a single large willow to the right of the path in the meadow just beyond the first strip of trees. Upon approaching the tree, the cooing stopped ... at about 50'75' fro the tree. When I turned and walked away, the cooing began again as soon as I re-entered the tree line out of the meadow. The cuckoo could be heard giving the five note cooing sound until my ears could no longer hear it - near the KOA campground NW corner. eBird list below. GREENHORN MOUNTAINS: EVANS FLAT STATIONARY COUNT WARBLERS An 8:25am-9:25am stop at Evans Flat Meadow (4040') in the Greenhorn Mountains to check for the continued presence of Lincoln's Sparrow yielded a bonus of surrounding nearby trees being alive with two Cassin's Vireos, eight species of Warbler, and numerous other species observed over a period of an hour ... and from with 50' of a single point! An exhilarating hour of birding! eBird list below. Location: South Fork Wildlife Area--KOA Access Observation date: 6am-6:25am, 8/23/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Notes: Elevation of 2600'+. Number of species: 18 * Mallard 9 * California Quail 2 * Red-shouldered Hawk 1 * Red-tailed Hawk 2 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 * Mourning Dove 1 * Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Repeatedly giving coo, coo, coo, coo, coo call. No kalp calls. * Great Horned Owl 1 * Northern Flicker 1 * Loggerhead Shrike 1 * Common Raven 3 * Bewick's Wren 3 * European Starling 6 * Yellow Warbler 2 Still singing... * Brewer's Blackbird 6 * House Finch 3 * Lesser Goldfinch 3 * House Sparrow 2 Location: Greenhorn Mtns.--Evans Flat Observation time/date: 8:25am-9:25am, 8/23/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Notes: One hour stationary count (observation within 50' of single point involving walking around single tree to get 360 degree views). Drove up to "Lincoln's Sparrow" pull-off at edge of Evans Flat Meadow (6040'). Upon approaching there was a small flock of Chipping Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos foraging on the ground right at the pull-off. The trees all around with pull-off were alive with birds including a diverse flock of eight warbler species and two Cassin's Vireos. Number of species: 26 * Acorn Woodpecker 1 * Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 * Hairy Woodpecker 1 * Northern Flicker 1 * Western Wood-Pewee 1 * Cassin's Vireo 2 * Steller's Jay 5 * Mountain Chickadee 2 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 4 * White-breasted Nuthatch 1 * Brown Creeper 1 * House Wren 6 * Western Bluebird 2 * Orange-crowned Warbler 2 * Nashville Warbler (Western) 5 * Yellow Warbler 1 * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 2 * Townsend's Warbler 1 Adult female. In with mixed warbler flock. Observed at close range (20'-30') in closest tree. * Hermit Warbler 1 * MacGillivray's Warbler 2 * Wilson's Warbler 2 * Chipping Sparrow 8 * Fox Sparrow (Thick-billed) 1 * Lincoln's Sparrow 2 * Dark-eyed Junco 6 * Black-headed Grosbeak 1 The above reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Galileo Hill Update & Today's Birds From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:08:05 -0700 Hi, Arrived this morning to bird Galileo Hill-Silver Saddle Ranch and Club from 6:15am-8:50am. A maintenance worker quickly drove up to tell me, "You know you have to sign a liability release form." I told him I knew. He said, "The office is closed." I told him birders were told they could arrive at daybreak to start birding followed by signing the liability release form after office staff arrived. He said, "OK." So, away I went to go birding on the grounds. I never did sign a release form as the office was not yet open when I left. Galileo Hill appeared to be in very good shape. The lawns were green. The trees appeared to be thriving. Most of the ponds were full of water or had at least some water in them. The stream had flowing water. There were lots of pools of water formed by irrigation of individual trees. The nursery was in good shape with water under several of the trees. Exceptions: Both inside-the-petting zoo ponds were bone dry and the fence defining the petting zoo was gone. All the marsh vegetation formerly filling the pond above the teepee village was gone. Basically, there was very little marsh vegetation left standing anywhere on site. The seasonal pond next to the soccer field was also dry, which was not unusual in the past either. To me, the birding was very pleasant, especially for this time of year. Birds were most active from 6:15am-7:30am. Light breezes commenced at 8am, making picking out birds among moving leaves difficult for my challenged eyes. It was still comfortable when I left at 8:50am despite some progress toward afternoon high temperatures predicted to be over 100 F. It was in the low 70s with no wind when I stated birding at 6:15am. Location: Galileo Hill--Silver Saddle Ranch and Club Observation time/date: 6:15am-8:50am, 8/19/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Notes: A Nuttall's Woodpecker call was heard at various times during the visit. But, the bird was never seen to determine if it was a pure Nuttall's or a possible Ladder-backed x Nuttall's Woodpecker hybrid. * Great Blue Heron 1 * Snowy Egret 1 * Turkey Vulture 55 ... over half sitting on the hillside above the stables * Red-shouldered Hawk 1 * Swainson's Hawk 1 ... light-phase... * Killdeer 1 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 5 * Mourning Dove 15 * Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 ... aural and visual * Ladder-backed/Nuttall's Woodpecker,sp. 1 ... heard only - making Nuttall's call * Northern Flicker 1 * Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 * Western Wood-Pewee 1 * Willow Flycatcher 3 * Empidonax sp. 1 ... heard only, making "whit" call which was different in comparison with the three "whitting" Willow Flycatchers (which were all visually identified as well) * Black Phoebe 8 * Say's Phoebe 1 * Loggerhead Shrike 1 * Warbling Vireo 4 * Common Raven 4 * Horned Lark 40 * swallow sp. 1 ... quick flyover while deep in thought about Costa Rica! * Verdin 3 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 ... in large pines where expected * European Starling 45 * Orange-crowned Warbler 1 * Nashville Warbler 2 * Yellow Warbler 3 * MacGillivray's Warbler 1 ... nursery (where this species is often found) * Wilson's Warbler 1 * Black-throated Sparrow 4 * Western Tanager 6 ... seem to love the Eucalyptus trees! * Black-headed Grosbeak 7 * Lazuli Bunting 1 * Brewer's Blackbird 15 * Brown-headed Cowbird 2 * House Finch 12 * Lawrence's Goldfinch 1 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: No Subject From: Jimmy McMorran <bigshell53 AT msn.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:46:24 -0500 http://nogeheme.t35.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 8/17/10: Kern R. Valley/Greenhorn Mtns. From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:32:06 -0700 Hi, Spent most of 8/17/10 birding the Kern River Valley and Greenhorn Mountains above the west side of the valley. Following are the day's itinerary. total species list for the day, then eBird reports for those wishing to know the where and how many for each species. Itinerary: South Fork Wildlife Area-KOA Access (10 min.); Greenhorn Mtns.-CA Hwy 155 from Wofford Heights west to Greenhorn Summit (18 min.), Sequoia National Forest road FS 24S15 from Greenhorn Summit north c. 6 mi. to the Tulare County line (4 hrs., 10 min.), Evans Flat (10 min.), Sawmill Rd. (1 hr.); Lake Isabella-Kissack Cove (30 min.), South Fork Wildlife Area-South (33 min.), Kern River Preserve-Headquarters (30 mn.), South Fork Wildlife Area-Hanning Flat (10 min.)... Total Species List: Gadwall, Mountain Quail, California Quail, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Spotted Sandpiper, California Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Western Kingbird, Cassin's Vireo, Steller'sJay, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Western Bluebird, Towsend's Solitaire, American Robin, Wrentit, California Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow,... 6:07am-6:17am, 8/17/10, South Fork Wildlife Area--KOA Access off CA Hwy 178 in Weldon Number of species: 10 California Quail 3 Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Western Kingbird 1 Common Raven 2 Bewick's Wren 1 Yellow Warbler 1 House Finch 3 House Sparrow 1 6:55am-7:13am, 8/17/10, Greenhorn Mtns. - east slope via CA Hwy 155 Number of species: 16 California Quail 2 American Kestrel 1 Mourning Dove 8 Acorn Woodpecker 4 Black Phoebe 1 Steller's Jay 2 Western Scrub-Jay 6 Common Raven 4 Oak Titmouse 3 Western Bluebird 2 Wrentit 7 California Thrasher 1 Phainopepla 1 California Towhee 31 House Finch 3 House Sparrow 15 7:15am-11:25am, 8/17/10, Greenhorn Mountains--FS 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit to Tulare Co): Number of species: 42 Mountain Quail 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 2 Mourning Dove 6 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Calliope Hummingbird 1 Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 5 hummingbird sp. 10 Acorn Woodpecker 10 Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 White-headed Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 Western Wood-Pewee 6 Dusky Flycatcher 3 Cassin's Vireo 3 Steller's Jay 21 Western Scrub-Jay 8 Violet-green Swallow 28 Mountain Chickadee 21 Red-breasted Nuthatch 17 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 8 Western Bluebird 18 Townsend's Solitaire 5 American Robin 4 Wrentit 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler (Western) 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 7 MacGillivray's Warbler 3 Wilson's Warbler 2 Green-tailed Towhee 1 Spotted Towhee 2 Fox Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco 30 Western Tanager 11 Black-headed Grosbeak 6 Purple Finch (Western) 4 Cassin's Finch 2 Lesser Goldfinch 3 12:07pm-12:17pm, Greenhorn Mtns.--Evans Flat Number of species: 7 Northern Flicker 1 Steller's Jay 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 House Wren 1 Western Bluebird 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 12:20pm-1:20pm, 8/17/10, Greenhorn Mtns.--Sawmill Rd. Number of species: 10 California Quail 15 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Acorn Woodpecker 1 Black Phoebe 1 Steller's Jay 4 Western Scrub-Jay 10 Common Raven 2 Mountain Chickadee 3 Oak Titmouse 1 1:45pm-2:15pm, 8/17/10, Lake Isabella--Kissack Cove Number of species: 13 Gadwall 12 Eared Grebe 2 Western Grebe 1 Clark's Grebe 3 Western/Clark's Grebe 12 Great Blue Heron 4 Great Egret 2 Osprey 1 Spotted Sandpiper 3 California Gull 20 Greater Roadrunner 1 Common Raven 23 Horned Lark 10 Brewer's Blackbird 17 2:25pm-2:58pm, 8/17/10, South Fork Wildlife Area--South Number of species: 7 Western/Clark's Grebe 3 Turkey Vulture 1 Osprey 1 Prairie Falcon 1 Mourning Dove 5 Western Kingbird 1 Common Raven 7 House Finch 1 3:10pm-3:40pm, 8/17/10, Kern River Preserve--Headquarters Number of species: 19 California Quail 11 Turkey Vulture 1 Black-chinned Hummingbird 4 Anna's Hummingbird 10 Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 9 hummingbird sp. 6 Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 1 Black Phoebe 1 Western Kingbird 1 Common Raven 1 Bewick's Wren 1 American Robin 7 Yellow Warbler 2 Lark Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 2 Black-headed Grosbeak 1 House Finch 2 Lesser Goldfinch 9 3:27pm-3:37pm,8/17/10, South Fork Wildlife Area--Hanning Flat Number of species: 6 American White Pelican 5 Double-crested Cormorant 18 Osprey 1 American Kestrel 1 Western Kingbird 1 Common Raven 2 Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 16 Sep 10: Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:58:59 -0700 Location: Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest, Eastern Kern County Observation time/date: 6:10am-8:10am, 8/16/10 Notes: Eastern half of campus (acreage east of entrance road from Ridgecrest)... Highlights: Four hummingbird species, scattering of fall migrants, desert species (for those of you out of the desert) * California Quail 5 * Cooper's Hawk 3 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 * Mourning Dove 2 * Greater Roadrunner 1 * Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 * Anna's Hummingbird 1 * Costa's Hummingbird 5 * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 1 * hummingbird sp. 8 * Empidonax sp. 1 Gave "whit" call several times. When I turned my attention to where the whitting was coming, it ceased calling and I could not locate the bird to determine if it was a Dusky, Gray, or Willow. * Black Phoebe 1 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 3 * Loggerhead Shrike 2 * Warbling Vireo 2 * Verdin 8 * Northern Mockingbird 5 * European Starling 20 * Yellow Warbler 4 * MacGillivray's Warbler 1 * Wilson's Warbler 1 * Chipping Sparrow 1 * Black-throated Sparrow 1 * Sage Sparrow 2 * Hooded Oriole 1 * House Finch 7 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Prior Early FOF Townsend's Warblers From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:50:30 -0700 Hi, Susan Steele kindly emailed me prior FOF Townsend's Warbler records for August 6-Walker Pass (Susan Steele), August 11-Inyokern (anonymous ... for the purposes of this posting), and August 17-Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest (anonymous ... for the purposes of this posting). The above puts this morning's August 11 observation in the Greenhorn Mountains in better context. Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Record Early FOF Townsend's Warbler? From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:51:24 -0700 Hi, This morning, August 11, 2010, I observed an unexpected First of Fall Townsend's Warbler in a small, mixed flock of Orange-crowned, Nashville, and Hermit Warblers between Greenhorn Summit on the south and the Tulare County line located about 6 miles to the north along FS 24S15. Matt Heindel's East Kern book shows an early date of September 2nd for east Kern desert oases. eBird shows a Townsend's Warbler from along FS 24S15 which I observed and reported for August 29, 2009. Unless someone else has an earlier record, which I welcome, this moves the early FOF date for Townsend's Warbler in Kern County up by eighteen days. Complete list of bird species and numbers observed during four hours and ten minutes of birding FS 24S15 (Sequoia National Forest road) this morning follows next: Location: Greenhorn Mountains--FS 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit to Tulare Co) Observation time/date: 6:55am-11:05am, 8/11/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Notes: Six miles of FS 24S15 from Greenhorn Summit north to the Tulare County line. Number of species: 41 * Mountain Quail 2 * Anna's Hummingbird 1 * Rufous Hummingbird 2 * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 5 * hummingbird sp. 10 * Acorn Woodpecker 4 * Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 * Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 * Hairy Woodpecker 1 * White-headed Woodpecker 2 * Northern Flicker 2 * Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 * Western Wood-Pewee 12 * Dusky Flycatcher 6 * Steller's Jay 14 * Western Scrub-Jay 2 * Common Raven 2 * Violet-green Swallow 9 * Mountain Chickadee 19 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 11 * White-breasted Nuthatch 4 * House Wren 11 * Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 * Western Bluebird 8 * Townsend's Solitaire 5 * American Robin 1 * Wrentit 6 * Orange-crowned Warbler 6 * Nashville Warbler (Western) 4 * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 4 * Townsend's Warbler 1 * Hermit Warbler 2 * MacGillivray's Warbler 1 * Green-tailed Towhee 1 * Spotted Towhee 2 * Fox Sparrow 4 * Dark-eyed Junco 27 * Western Tanager 6 * Black-headed Grosbeak 3 * Lazuli Bunting 1 * Purple Finch 2 * Pine Siskin 2 * Lesser Goldfinch 1 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: A work in progress - Kern, Inyo, Tulare birding map From: "natureali" <natureali AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:14:47 -0000 Hi all I am working slowly in my spare time on a birding map for the tri-county area of Kern, Tulare and Inyo County's. If you would like to add places to the map, please send a description and info. If you are interested in just adding directly to the map, I can add you as a collaborator. Please email me privately and if you are not one of the regular county birders please tell me about yourself. Visit the Google map at: As I said a work in progress, so much to share, so little time to do it. Ali Sheehey Weldon, CA P.S. I am working on wildlife/flora checklists for Butterbredt Springs if anyone has a personal checklist that is not uploaded to ebird, I would be so grateful if you would share. Subject: Cerro Coso Community College , 8/3/10 From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:04:19 -0700 Location: Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest Observation date: 8/3/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Notes: 7:10am-9:40am. Coverage of entire campus (c. 100 acres). Number of species: 22 Highlights: FOF Northern Flicker, FOF Red-breasted Nutuatch, FOF Bullock's Oriole, plus 1 Costa's Hummingbird, 14 Verdins, 1 Black-throated Sparrow, 1 Sage Sparrow...compete list follows... * California Quail 22 * Turkey Vulture 1 * Cooper's Hawk 1 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 * Mourning Dove 5 * Anna's Hummingbird 3 * Costa's Hummingbird 1 * hummingbird sp. 4 * Northern Flicker 1 * Black Phoebe 4 * Say's Phoebe 1 * Loggerhead Shrike 1 * Common Raven 3 * Verdin 14 Three in a nest bush (creosote) including a fledged young being fed, plus three juveniles in a foraging flock along the east edge of the palm grove, plus individuals and pairs at six other locations. * Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 FOF. Foraging in sculpture garden pine grove... * Northern Mockingbird 4 * European Starling 5 * Black-throated Sparrow 1 adult Singing... * Sage Sparrow 1 adult * Western Tanager 7 Mix of females and males... * Bullock's Oriole 1 FOF. Female... * House Finch 11 * Lesser Goldfinch 4 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California P: 760-382-1260 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Seasonal reports are due From: "kernkel" <kkheindel AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:34:09 -0000 The Nesting Season (1 June, 2010 – 31 July, 2010) has ended, and it is time to compile a report detailing the significant sightings that took place in Kern County. Please forward to me reports of interest including unusual species, late/early migrant dates, out of season records, high or low numbers, notable absences etc…. Please include written descriptions, photographs, recordings, sketches, etc. to support and add to the value of your finds. Reports posted online that do not include supportive details are not included. It is very helpful when reports are submitted in taxonomic order and include supporting details and/or links to where relevant information may be found online. Thanks for your help. Kelli H. Levinson KKHeindel AT ... Subject: fall migrants - CER From: "eremico" <eremico AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:53:40 -0000 This morning, while conducting our final bird banding session for the season at Canebrake Ecological Reserve, we observed FOF Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon). On July 3, we captured a juvenile Rufous Hummingbird. Denise LaBerteaux Weldon Subject: Fall Migrants: Ridgecrest's Cerro Coso College From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:32:39 -0700 Hi, Fall waterbird, hummingbird, and swallow migration has been underway for several days. At Ridgecrest's Cerro Coso Community College (CCCC) this morning (9:45am-11am) migrant Western Wood-Pewee (1), Western Tanager (1 adult male), and Black-headed Grosbeak (3 ... including one adult male) joined the front runners of the fall migration parade. East Kern desert oases (CCCC, California City Central Park, Galileo Hill) are audibly starting to beckon birders to visit to witness 2010's fall migration as it progresses from now into November. Other bird species detected at CCCC this morning included: Verdin - 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 Black-throated Sparrow - 3 Continued Happy & Productive Birding, Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California Cell Phone Number: 760-382-1260 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 07/23/10: Ridgecrest Red Crossbill From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:32:56 -0700 Hi, The highlight of 5:45am-08:30am birding this morning was a red RED CROSSBILL on a pine cone at the top of a pine tree in a grove of pine trees on the campus of Cerro Coso Community College (situated on the slope above the south end of Ridgecrest in eastern Kern County). Although size is hard to determine in many, if not most, cases (It had to have been XXX because it was so big!), this individual appeared to be on the large end of the range in size of Red Crossbills. Two of the resident population of several VERDINS were also detected during thirty-five minutes of birding on a small portion of the campus. Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California P 760-382-1260 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: No Subject From: GWPOTT AT aol.com Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:22:29 -0400 http://bi1.deals-health.com Subject: Kern NWR: 7/21/10 From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:19:30 -0700 Location: Kern NWR Observation date: 7:40am-10:10am, 7/21/10 Notes: c. 21 miles diving refuge dikes (12.5 mi. on Auto Tour Route. 8.5 mi. w. refuge staff member) ... scattered small areas with water ... most water along first portion of Auto Tour Route... Number of species: 44 Highlights: American Bittern 1 (overall scarce species in Kern County), White-tailed Kite 1 (few Kern Co. locations this year), Swainson's Hawk 2, Greater Roadrunner 3. * Gadwall X * Mallard X * Cinnamon Teal X * Northern Shoveler X * Redhead X * Ruddy Duck X * duck sp. 150 * Ring-necked Pheasant 4 * Pied-billed Grebe 1 * American Bittern 1 * Great Blue Heron 5 * Great Egret 25 * Snowy Egret 20 * Black-crowned Night-Heron 40 * White-faced Ibis 40 * White-tailed Kite 1 * Northern Harrier 1 * Swainson's Hawk 2 * Red-tailed Hawk 1 * Common Moorhen 1 * American Coot 15 * Killdeer 4 * American Avocet 1 * Greater Yellowlegs 20 * Lesser Yellowlegs 10 * Least Sandpiper 7 * Long-billed Dowitcher 40 * Mourning Dove 200 * Greater Roadrunner 3 * Barn Owl 2 * Great Horned Owl 1 * Black Phoebe 2 * Western Kingbird 12 * Loggerhead Shrike 8 * Common Raven 1 * Tree Swallow 1 * Barn Swallow 2 * Cliff Swallow 20 * Marsh Wren 4 * Song Sparrow 2 * Blue Grosbeak 1 Singing male... * Red-winged Blackbird 200 * Tricolored Blackbird 2 * Great-tailed Grackle 2 * House Finch 30 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fwd: [CALBIRDS] Tragic news From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:44:26 -0700 >From: "Kimball Garrett" >Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:09:11 -0700 >Subject: [CALBIRDS] Tragic news > >Birders, > >News is now getting out of a terrible tragedy. Mike San Miguel was >killed yesterday evening in a fall down a steep cliff while >performing owl surveys in the San Gabriel Mountains. He was 70 years old. > > >This is incredibly difficult to write, because I'm writing about the >loss of a good friend as well as a beloved fixture in the birding >community. The very early call this morning from Jon Feenstra should >have been about a really good bird, but instead it brought >devastating news. And somehow it isn't any comfort to know that Mike >died working hard doing one of the things he loved most - birding >with a purpose. > >Most of you are familiar with Mike's accomplishments in the world of >field ornithology. He was a long-time bird bander with a bug for >gathering good bird data. He was an extraordinary connoisseur of >rare birds, finding a great many of them and enjoying trips all over >California to chase them. His experience and talent earned him a >place for several years on the California Bird Records Committee, >and he was one of the best ambassadors the Committee ever had. He >served Western Field Ornithologists in many important capacities, >culminating in a several year stint as President during which the >organization gained new vibrancy and scope. He had an important role >in the production of the CBRC's book "Rare Birds of California" and >published several papers in WFO's journal Western Birds. He embraced >eBird with unbridled enthusiasm (...he did so much with unbridled >enthusiasm) and has entered more eBird data from California (4245 >checklists) than almost any other individual as well as editing >submissions from several counties. He did a heroic amount of field >work and paperwork for the Los Angeles Breeding Bird Atlas and other >large-scale data gathering projects. In short, Mike was not only >about the most active birder I have ever known, but he was also the >most enthusiastic birder - he loved being in the field whether alone >or with his many friends, and he enjoyed learning something new every outing. > >But I can hardly think about Mike the birder right now, because >birding was only his second passion. Mike was the consummate family >man, and the love he and Gayle showed so openly and generously for >each other was nothing short of inspirational. His son Michael (also >one of California's most accomplished birders) and daughter Lisa >were everything to Mike, and if he wasn't the world's greatest >grandfather he was certainly in the running for that title. Many >birders don't realize that Mike virtually stopped birding for many >years to be the best possible father to his growing children, and >even after he resumed birding with more zeal and passion than ever >he was always talking about his children and, eventually, grandchildren. > >Those who knew Mike well, and a great many who didn't, were keenly >aware of Mike's tireless work for bird and wildlife habitat >conservation. We all try to be good conservationists, and we're all >keenly aware of the problems birds and their habitats face. On my >countless wonderful trips in the field with Mike the conversation >would inevitably turn, and pretty quickly, to the inexorable loss of >bird habitats as urban areas continued to grow and consume the >places we enjoyed going. I would gripe and curse and feel generally >pessimistic about everything, but Mike had a different and much more >effective approach - he got involved. If he enjoyed birding in an >area, he felt it was his responsibility to work as hard as he could >to make sure it was preserved or restored for birds and birders. His >career working in environmental work for Southern California Edison >no doubt had a positive impact on southern California habitats. His >efforts for bird habitat at Piute Ponds, the San Gabriel River, and >so many other areas we take for granted have been heroic. His >battles with agencies that were damaging habitat were fought with >fervor but also with grace - even the Army Corps of Engineers must >have had great respect for Mike. When Mike had a conservation >mission he was almost unstoppable, and the world is much better for >that passion of his. > >We've lost so many birding friends to tragic accidents over the >years, but this one is almost unbearable. I knew Mike for forty >years, and I've rarely enjoyed anybody's company as much as his. To >Gayle, and to Michael and Lisa, and to Jake and Alex, I can't >imagine the pain you're going through now and I hope these few >thoughts bring you at least some comfort. To Jon Feenstra - you were >such a great friend to Mike and I hope the weight of the tragedy >that happened while you and Mike were doing your owl surveys is >lessened slightly by knowing you were there as a friend and >performed an incredible service in dealing with a horrific situation. > >Mike loved so many good things in life - as well as good people - >that I'll be reminded of him constantly. Watching the hummingbirds >in my yard, following the annual demise of the Dodgers, hearing >about that next rare bird, seeing the trees and shrubs he has >nurtured in so many places mature and thrive, enjoying a meal. How >could I not think of Mike. And right now, Mike's passion for really >good wine seems like an appropriate way to honor him - I think I'll >open a good one from Paso Robles and toast one of the most generous >and enjoyable people I have ever met. I'll miss you, Mike! > >Kimball L. Garrett >Section of Ornithology >Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County >900 Exposition Blvd. >Los Angeles, CA 90007 >213-763-3368 >kgarrett AT nhm.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: August Overnight Deepwater Pelagic From: "Barbara" <barbarac2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:41:00 -0000 There will be a double-overnight pelagic trip to deep water aboard "The Grande" out of San Diego from 7AM on Monday, August 16, to 7AM on Wednesday, August 18. The trip will visit inshore San Diego County waters on Monday morning, then continue out to deeper San Clemente Basin waters (Los Angeles County) later that day, and finally to truly deep water (also "in" Los Angeles County) on Tuesday well to the southwest of San Diego, where U.S. territorial / ABA Area waters extend well to the south. The cost of the trip is $285 (before July 30), $315 (after July 30). TO ENSURE THAT THE TRIP HAS ENOUGH PARTICIPANTS PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE TRIP BY JULY 29. Mid-August is a great time of year for Cook's Petrels well offshore, and it is near-peak for Red-billed Tropicbirds. The latter is almost "guaranteed" (as much as any uncommon pelagic species can be). Laysan Albatrosses (likely from the breeding population on Guadalupe Island to the south) are seen regularly in these waters. This is also an excellent time of year and an excellent area for Least Storm-Petrel, Craveri's Murrelet, and the hypoleucus subspecies of Xantus's Murrelet (a possible taxonomic split). Speaking of possible taxonomic splits, this will also be an excellent trip for studying several different forms of Leach's Storm-Petrel, including the distinct form(s) which nest on Guadalupe Island. South Polar Skua is quite possible, and we should see such returning northern migrants as Sabine's Gull, Arctic Tern, and Long-tailed Jaeger. Inshore species should include Black-vented Shearwater and Black Storm-Petrel. Ashy Storm-Petrel is a possibility. And anytime we venture far offshore, who knows what rarity lurks just behind the next (small) swell: August is the peak month for Hawaiian Petrel (although most records are from farther to the north), and birding in these southernmost ABA Area Pacific waters in late summer is perhaps one's best chance for finding additional Mexican and sub-tropical species. For further information, see: www.socalbirding.com/trips --Paul Lehman, San Diego Subject: 6 Jul 10: Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway--Kern Co. From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:59:22 -0700 Hi, A nice mix of Southern Sierra Nevada species was observed during a visit to the Kern County portion of the Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway which was abbreviated in distance and time by a nail entering the right rear tire. Location: Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway--Kern Co. Observation date: 4:50am-6:33am, 7/6/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Notes: First 3.2 miles of Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway. Number of species: 19 * California Quail 2 * Chukar 5 * Mourning Dove 11 * Greater Roadrunner 2 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 9 * Western Kingbird 4 * Loggerhead Shrike 2 * Western Scrub-Jay 10 * Cactus Wren 7 * Rock Wren 2 * Canyon Wren 1 Singing... * Bewick's Wren 1 * Wrentit 3 * California Thrasher 1 * Spotted Towhee 2 * California Towhee 5 * Black-throated Sparrow 1 Singing... * Scott's Oriole 1 Singing... * House Finch 2 The above report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 3 & 4 Jul 10: Kern River Valley Area Birds & Butterflies From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:49:47 -0700 Hi, For the list of the 77-79 butterfly species observed on the 3 Jul 10 Giant Sequoia National Monument- South Butterfly Count and comments go to Ken Davenport's 5 Jul 10 postings at: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/SOWL.html For the list of the 45 butterfly species observed by Bob Barnes, Lori Conrad, Mark Conrad, Fred Heath (count party leader), and Paul Levine in Wofford Heights and Greenhorn Mountains during the 4 Jul 10 North Fork Ken River Valley Butterfly Count contact me off list via bbarnes AT lightspeed.net. FYI: Twelve additional species were observed among the 41 species tallied by the count party consisting of Paul Johnson, Kim Kuska, Jim Murphy, and Liam O'Brien. The overall count total was 57 species. Bird species and numbers observed in Kern County by Bob Barnes, Lori Conad, and Mark Conrad during the 4 Jul 10 butterfly count follows here: The following reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Location: Lake Isabella--North Fork (riparian area at edge of Isabella Reservoir below Wofford Heights Park) Observation date: 7/4/10 Notes: 8:45am-9:45am. Observers: Bob Barnes, Lori Conrad, Mark Conrad. Number of species: 29 * Mallard 1 * California Quail 2 * Red-shouldered Hawk 1 * Mourning Dove 2 * Anna's Hummingbird 4 * Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 * Downy Woodpecker 1 * Northern Flicker 1 * Western Wood-Pewee 6 * Black Phoebe 2 * Say's Phoebe 1 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 * Western Scrub-Jay 1 * Common Raven 1 * Oak Titmouse 2 * Bewick's Wren 1 * House Wren 1 * Western Bluebird 1 * Northern Mockingbird 1 * Yellow Warbler 1 * Yellow-breasted Chat 1 * Lark Sparrow 2 * Blue Grosbeak 1 * Lazuli Bunting 8 * Red-winged Blackbird 1 * Great-tailed Grackle 1 * Bullock's Oriole 1 * House Finch 23 * House Sparrow 7 Location: Greenhorn Mtns.--Old State Rd. Observation date: 7/4/10 Notes: 9:58am-2:33pm. Old State Road from Wofford Blvd. westward and up mountain to CA Hwy. 178 just below Greenhorn Summit. Observers: Bob Barnes, Lori Conrad, Mark Conrad. Number of species: 37 * Mountain Quail 2 * California Quail 22 * Mourning Dove 4 * Acorn Woodpecker 4 * Downy Woodpecker 1 * Hairy Woodpecker 3 * Northern Flicker 3 * Western Wood-Pewee 5 * Dusky Flycatcher 1 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 5 * Western Kingbird 1 * Steller's Jay 5 * Western Scrub-Jay 5 * Common Raven 15 * Mountain Chickadee 1 * Oak Titmouse 5 * Bushtit 3 * Bewick's Wren 1 * House Wren 3 * Townsend's Solitaire 1 * Wrentit 7 * Northern Mockingbird 1 * Phainopepla 3 * Orange-crowned Warbler 1 * MacGillivray's Warbler 1 * Spotted Towhee 5 * California Towhee 4 * Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1 * Fox Sparrow 2 * Dark-eyed Junco 1 * Western Tanager 3 * Black-headed Grosbeak 4 * Brown-headed Cowbird 1 * Purple Finch (Western) 1 * House Finch 1 * Lesser Goldfinch 5 * House Sparrow 2 Location: Greenhorn Mtns.--Rancheria Rd. (FS 25S15) Observation date: 7/4/10 Notes: 2:35pm-4:35pm. Rancheria Rd. from 6102' Greenhorn Summit south to Alta Sierra Ski Resort/7100' Shirley Peak. Observers: Bob Barnes, Lori Conad, Mark Conrad. Number of species: 20 * Band-tailed Pigeon 1 * White-headed Woodpecker 1 * Northern Flicker 1 * Warbling Vireo 1 * Common Raven 1 * Mountain Chickadee 5 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 * Brown Creeper 1 * House Wren 1 * Western Bluebird 1 * Townsend's Solitaire 1 * American Robin 1 * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 2 * Green-tailed Towhee 1 * Fox Sparrow 2 * Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 3 * Western Tanager 1 * Purple Finch (Western) 2 * Cassin's Finch 1 * Pine Siskin 1 Location: Greenhorn Mountains--FS 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit to Tulare Co) Observation date: 7/4/10 Notes: 4:35pm-5:05pm. Observer: Bob Barnes. Number of species: 8 * Northern Flicker 1 * Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 * Western Wood-Pewee 3 * Dusky Flycatcher 1 * Western Bluebird 2 * Townsend's Solitaire 1 * Fox Sparrow 5 * Western Tanager 1 Continued Happy & Productive Birding (& Butterflying), Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: No Subject From: GWPOTT AT aol.com Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:35:00 -0400 http://www.jnf0.10-health.com Subject: Black-chinned Sparrows From: "woodshots" <woodshots AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:13:17 -0000 On Friday morning I followed Bob Barnes' directions and went looking for Black-chinned Sparrows on the Piute Mtn. Saddle Springs Road and had great luck. From Hwy 178 I took the Bodfish exit and turned right. I went 4.4 miles through Bodfish on Lake Isabella Blvd and took the dirt road to the left at the top of the hill which is signed 27S02. I had 9 full-sized Mt. Quail running ahead of me at the 'welcome to Sequoia National Forest' sign. After 5.5 miles of rocky dusty road I pulled off at Bob's spot at 7 am and immediately had two juvenile BCSP chasing an adult around. I saw an additional adult carrying food later(paler bird) plus Lazuli Buntings galore, Lawrence's Goldfinches, Wrentits and an adult and juvenile Sage Sparrow. I went 0.6 miles farther and found a female Lazuli Bunting with a grasshopper in her beak. While I waited to see where her nest might be another male Black-chinned Sparrow appeared nearby. I followed it downhill about 30 yards and found a second adult carrying food to a fledgeling. I heard another male calling way down below and another calling to the southeast and I located that bird 0.2 miles farther down the road. There were a pair of bear prints fresh in the road (adult and cub). I tied a pink with black polkadots flagging tape on a post at the middle location where the bunting nest was at. I also added a couple of pictures to the sparrows photo file. Thanks Bob! Gary Woods-Fresno Subject: 24 Jun 10: Piute Mtns - Saddle Springs Rd. From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:34:16 -0700 Location: Piute Mtns.--Saddle Springs Rd. (27S02) Observation date: 7am-12:35pm, 6/24/10 Observer: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA Notes: Saddle Springs Rd. from Bodfish-Caliente Rd. up mountain c. 16.5 miles to Piute Mountain Rd. Number of species: 48 * Mountain Quail 5 * California Quail 2 * Red-tailed Hawk 1 * Mourning Dove 1 * White-throated Swift 3 * Anna's Hummingbird 1 * hummingbird sp. 2 * sapsucker sp. 1 Sapsucker tapping pattern heard. Never saw to determine Williamson's or Red-breasted. * Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 * Hairy Woodpecker 6 * Northern Flicker 1 * Olive-sided Flycatcher 6 Nice number. All along upper portion of route. * Western Wood-Pewee 11 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 4 * Steller's Jay 18 * Western Scrub-Jay 3 * Common Raven 4 * Violet-green Swallow 2 * Mountain Chickadee 14 * Oak Titmouse 3 * Bushtit 2 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 12 * White-breasted Nuthatch 4 * Rock Wren 1 * Bewick's Wren 16 * Brown Creeper 1 * Western Bluebird 3 * Townsend's Solitaire 6 * American Robin 1 * Wrentit 12 * Northern Mockingbird 1 * California Thrasher 2 * Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 * Green-tailed Towhee 12 * Spotted Towhee 15 * California Towhee 7 * Chipping Sparrow 6 * Black-chinned Sparrow 1 8:30am. 6100'. N 35 32' 26.1"; W 118 28' 11.2" * Sage Sparrow 7 * Fox Sparrow 10 * Dark-eyed Junco 10 * Western Tanager 15 * Lazuli Bunting 6 * Black-headed Grosbeak 3 * Purple Finch 3 * Cassin's Finch 4 * House Finch 8 * Lesser Goldfinch 4 * Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 The above is based on reports generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 24 Jun 10: Piute Mtns Black-chinned Sparrow From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:02:46 -0700 8:30am, 24 Jun 10: Piute Mountains BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW LOCATION: Saddle Springs Rd. (27S02) c. 5.3 miles up from Bodfish-Caliente Rd where road goes from Kern River Valley side of ridge to Havilah/Breckenridge Mtn. side... Prominent pull-offs on right and left. GPS LOCATION: N 35 32' 26.1"; W 118 28' 11.2" ELEVATION: c. 6100' PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: Due to low vegetation height - observation was made at eye-level or lower on the right side of the road and eye-level or just a bit higher on the left side of the road. Point blank, eye-level views as close as 10'. COMMENT: Many birders observe their first Kern County Black-chinned Sparrow in migration in a "come across" manner. Kern County breeding grounds are not well known. Here's one. Continued Happy & Productive Birding, Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California Subject: Juvenile Burrowing Owls in Central Valley From: "wflydecker" <blydecker AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:30:27 -0000 Numerous juvenile Burrowing Owls are now present around Burrowing Owl nest locations in the southern Central Valley. I have observed in the last two days at four of five locations where I saw Burrowing Owls, 9 to 12 individuals. If you want to know where some of those locations are in Kern County, use the mapping function in ebird narrowing the search to the 2010 June-July period. I am sure there are other locations in Kern County where juvenile Burrowing Owls are now present. Because there are so many juvenile owls present at nest locations, it is now hard to miss where Burrowing Owls are located. It would be helpful if you were to post your observations of Burrowing Owl locations to ebird to document their presence and inform others of the location. Many of these locations are in areas subject to development. If the locations are carelessly developed, Burrowing Owls will at best be displaced or at worst, killed. Please help document the natural environment around us. Thank you, Bill Lydecker Bakersfield, CA Subject: Rose-breasted Grosbeak and more From: Matthew Dodder <mdodder AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:59:26 -0700 All, A group of Bay Area birder visited Terri Middlemiss' home this morning around 7:00A. Among the expected species such as COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD, VERDIN and BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, we also had a nice surprise. An immature male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK appeared at the feeders. Other highlights of our 4-day tour of KRV: Saturday: (Kern River Preserve, Chimney Peak Byway, Chimney Peak Campground, Kennedy Meadows) WHITE-FACED IBIS, GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, LAWRENCES'S GOLDFINCH, BLACK- THROATED SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK, WILLOW FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO in South Fork Wildlife Area. An additional WILLOW FLYCATCHER was along the entrance road to the Kern River Preserve, and SUMMER TANAGER was easily found in the grove behind the buildings. Heading up the Chimney Peak Back Country Byway we had additional BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS, CANYON and ROCK WRENS. At the Chimney Peak Campground we found GRAY FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, CHIPPING SPARROW and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. Next we went over to Kennedy Meadows in search of PINYON JAY, which we found at a private residence, along side both WESTERN SCRUB and STELLER'S JAYS. CASSIN'S FINCHES were also visiting the feeders here. Heading down Nine MIle Canyon we found SCOTT'S ORIOLES at a large turnout. We spotted PHAINOPEPLA along the south edge of Lake Isabella on our way back to the lodge in Kernville. Sunday: Kelso Valley Road was very productive with more SCOTT'S ORIOLES found in two patches of joshua trees. CACTUS WREN, LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS were very exciting finds as well for us northerners. We enjoyed being able to compare Ladder-backed and Nuttall's in one day. A flock of 2 dozen or more CHUKARS was found at about mp 18 near the small pond below the road. An after dinner trek up Sawmill Road produced several heard-only COMMON POORWILL, and one or two brief looks at in-flight birds. Monday: Morning visit to Terri MIddlemiss' home in Inyokern (see Bob Barne's chapter in "A Birder's Guide to Southern California" regarding this great destination (page 148). Here we found the expected birds including breeding VERDIN, COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW and a surprise ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK near the feeders. Other stops in the southern portion of Inyokern produced LE CONTE'S THRASHER, SAGE SPARROW and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. Back home now. Still dizzy from such a great trip. . . . Matthew Dodder Mountain View, CA http://www.birdguy.net http://www.zazzle.com/mdodder [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Burrowing Owls From: "rogercoley" <rcoley AT bak.rr.com> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:42:13 -0000 This morning I saw 10 burrowing owls (including 4 young) in the vacant lot on the southeast cornor of the intersection of Cottonwood Rd. and East Belle Terrace. Most of the birds were on the south side of Belle Terrace 150 yards east of the intersection (right accross the street from the county building). I have just posted 4 photos under the file"Birds-R.Coley". Roger Coley Subject: SE Kern - 6/14 From: Andrew Howe <howe395 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:57:59 -0700 (PDT) Vernon Howe and I birded eastern Kern this morning. Butterbredt Spring was quite slow, with very few migrants. The only notable birds were a very late female HERMIT WARBLER (new spring late date), and a pair of CINNAMON TEAL. A warbler singing briefly high over the main spring was felt to be either an American Redstart or a Chestnut-sided Warbler, but was never seen. An hour spent at Cal City produced only a single migrant: a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Best, Andrew Howe Riverside, CA howe395 AT yahoo.com Subject: Common Loon, Lake Isabella From: "wanderfalken_tim" <tsnieder AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:32:27 -0000 Greetings, Today (June 13) we took a boat out from the french gulch marina and found and photographed a common loon near the shore at around 7:30 pm. The weird thing about this thing was that it was in non-breeding plumage. To view it from the shore I would recommend driving down Daedrich Ranch Road (off hwy 155) until you get to then end of a little peninsula, which the loon was floating just out from, and scanning. If you look on google maps the peninsula is pretty much straight northeast of the marina. It is the best viewing point. I'm not sure how rare a common loon is this time of year but if anyone would like to personally email me some comments I would be quite gratefull. In other news, cuckoos are back on the preserve, heard and seen behind the KOA campground, in the large willows back there. An adult peregrine falcon flew over Sierra Way (Prince Pond) heading west on June 11. Good birding! Tim Snieder Southern Sierra Research Station Subject: Butterbredt-6/10/10 – Addendum From: "vernonhowe" <vhowe AT lasierra.edu> Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:00:54 -0000 I went back to Butterbredt Springs midafternoon. The wind was MUCH worse than in the morning. Of the good birds from the am could only relocate one American Redstart. New birds were an Ovenbird, a male Indigo Bunting and two youngish looking Orange-crowned Warblers. At Butterbredt in the am and pm saw a total of ten warbler individuals: 2 American Redstarts, 1 Worm-eating Warbler, 1 Tennessee Warbler, 1 Ovenbird, 2 Yellow Warblers, 1 Wilson's Warbler and 2 Orange-crowned Warblers. Short on quantity but pretty good on quality. Good luck and good birding, Vernon Howe Riverside, CA vhowe AT lasierra.edu Subject: Butterbredt-6/10 From: Andrew Howe <howe395 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:38:13 -0700 (PDT) I just spoke to Vernon Howe, who reports this morning (June 10) from Butterbredt Spring. He, Stan Gray, and Bill Deppe were at the springs this morning, where the weather was fairly pleasant and the wind not as bad as predicted. No sign of the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER seen yesterday, but they had a very nice morning: a WORM-EATING WARBLER, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, and two AMERICAN REDSTARTS. All of these birds were singing throughout the morning. The WORM-EATING was just up from the main seep, and the TENNESSEE spent time high in the tall cottonwoods above the main spring. Good birding, Andrew Howe Riverside, CA howe395 AT yahoo.com Subject: 9 Jun 10: Greenhorn Mtns, Kern Co. From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:46:58 -0700 Time/Date: 5:45am-11am, June 9, 2010 Coverage: Greenhorn Mountains, Kern County - Five minute point count 0.7 miles west up Sawmill Rd. from CA Hwy 155, then driving route with widows down and periodic stops for observing outside the car (plus one extended walk) along Evans Rd. (CA Hwy 155) west for 7.4 miles from Wofford Blvd. in Wofford Heights to 6102' Greenhorn Summit, followed by a 2hr., 6 min. walk north along Sequoia National Forest road 24S15 for c. one mile from Greenhorn Summit to the junction with the road to Black Mountain Saddle and back, then a driving route with stops along Old State Rd. from Greenhorn Summit east from CA Hwy 155 just east of Greenhorn Summit to Wofford Blvd. in Wofford Heights just across from Tillie Creek Campground. Elevation Range: 2700'-6200' Habitats: chaparral, deciduous oak, live oak, mixed conifer, rural residential Observer: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County Highlight: Pileated Woodpecker calling repeatedly and making two flyovers from along FS 24S15 just a few hundred meters/yards north of Greenhorn Summit. Comments: Following species and numbers count. Species and Numbers Count for Context: Mountain Quail 9 California Quail 16 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove 3 Mourning Dove 5 Acorn Woodpecker 6 Red-breasted Sapsucker 4 Downy Woodpecker 1 White-headed Woodpecker 3 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 21 Dusky Flycatcher 5 Black Phoebe 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher 5 Steller's Jay 15 Western Scrub-Jay 18 Common Raven 2 Mountain Chickadee 18 Oak Titmouse 2 Bushtit 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 11 Brown Creeper 3 Canyon Wren 1 Bewick's Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Western Bluebird 1 Townsend's Solitaire 1 American Robin 9 Wrentit 9 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 3 Nashville Warbler 12 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 6 MacGillivray's Warbler 1 Spotted Towhee 16 California Towhee 28 Rufous-crowned Sparrow 2 Chipping Sparrow 4 Fox Sparrow 19 Dark-eyed Junco 13 Western Tanager 12 Black-headed Grosbeak 19 Lazuli Bunting 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Bullock's Oriole 1 Purple Finch (Western) 12 House Finch 6 Lesser Goldfinch 4 Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 House Sparrow 35 Comments: Only one Lazuli Bunting was detected in what seemed like extensive, hospitable habitat. Concentrated effort in pursuit of target Hutton's Vireo, Winter Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Hermit Warbler was unsuccessful. Other "misses" included Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle, White-throated Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Phainopepla, Orange-crowned Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, and Pine Siskin. Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County 760-382-1260 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Birding Galileo Hill Park 6/9/10-nothing unexpected From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:28:03 -0000 Today, Wednesday, 6/9/10, we birded Galileo Hill Park. We saw a femalish American Redstart at the Skeet Shooting Range. The American Redstart was singing loudly. We also saw the following birds at Galileo Hill Park: Great Egret(2), Snowy Egret(2), and the four juvenile Great Horned Owls. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: RE: Butterbredt report: Yellow-throated and Worm-eating Warblers From: "Koonce, Sandy" <sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu> Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 10:25:59 -0700 Just to be clear: Andrew is reporting from this morning (June 9). Sandy Sandy Koonce Department of Mathematics University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373 sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu ________________________________________ From: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com [kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Koonce, Sandy [sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 8:56 AM To: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [kerncobirding] Butterbredt report: Yellow-throated and Worm-eating Warblers Andrew Howe reports a fantastic morning at Butterbredt Spring, in spite of (or perhaps because of) very strong winds. A WORM-EATING WARBLER showed up at the overlook for about 45 seconds. Also, a white-lored YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was hanging around the overlook, mostly in the willows just upstream. Also present were a SY AMERICAN REDSTART, a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and an ACORN WOODPECKER. Sandy Sandy Koonce Department of Mathematics University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373 sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu ------------------------------------ To post a message to the group, email: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and files can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirdingYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: kerncobirding-digest AT yahoogroups.com kerncobirding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: kerncobirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Butterbredt report: Yellow-throated and Worm-eating Warblers From: "Koonce, Sandy" <sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu> Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 08:56:43 -0700 Andrew Howe reports a fantastic morning at Butterbredt Spring, in spite of (or perhaps because of) very strong winds. A WORM-EATING WARBLER showed up at the overlook for about 45 seconds. Also, a white-lored YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was hanging around the overlook, mostly in the willows just upstream. Also present were a SY AMERICAN REDSTART, a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and an ACORN WOODPECKER. Sandy Sandy Koonce Department of Mathematics University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373 sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu Subject: yahoo stuff, apology From: "Michael" <macbirder1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:36:09 -0000 Hello, birders. Apparently, yahoo has suddenly put everyone on moderated status. I'm in the process of changing everyone back, but it will take some time. My apologies to the membership. Michael McQuerrey moderator, kerncobirding Subject: New to Kern Co. Birding From: "sherrel333" <shermusic3 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:24:05 -0000 We just joined this group having come from a similar group in Yakima, WA. Can anyone recommend a place to get good birding maps for Kern County or the Antelope Valley. Are there preferred places for birding? We live in Rosamond, CA. We have already visited the Audubon preserve up on Walker Pass - wonderful! Thanks so much, Bruce and Sherrel Hailstone Subject: Sandhill Crane, Kern Preserve From: "wanderfalken_tim" <tsnieder AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:44:47 -0000 Howdy, At 11:00 this morning I found a sandhill crane foraging on Prince Ranch, adjacent to the Kern Preserve in Weldon. The best spot to view this bird is to park on Sierra Way about 300m north of where it meets the 178 (if you're coming on the 178, turn at the big "Kernvile" sign). Park by the sign that says "Hoffenfeld ranch/350 Sierra Way" and look west onto the big field of prince ranch. It was foraging along a fence in the middle of the field, near a Great Egret. Don't go into prince ranch, the view from Sierra Way is just as good. Good birdn' Tim Snieder Southern Sierra Research Station Subject: Female Hooded Warbler just west of Mojave From: "jaegermaestro" <jaegermaestro AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 01:16:56 -0000 This morning just before 10am I had a female HOODED WARBLER in creosote along the transmission line running south from Oak Creek Road. This location is west of Mojave along the dirt road between the line of tall electrical towers a little over two miles east of the aquaduct. My views were rather brief but excellent. The bird had a nice olive cowl but no black in the neck or head. She gave me a good look at the white inner webs of her retrices a couple of times. Honestly this is probably not a very chasable bird due to the vast expanse of creosote not being a migrant trap whatsoever. Migrants are really moving through this area in great numbers right now. I have seen many Wilson's, Yellows, and MacGillivray's in the last couple of days as well as Swainson's Thrushes, wood-pewees, and other birds everyone seems to be seeing right now. I wasn't able to get photos of this bird, but I can provide a written description and sketches to the proper Kern Co. ornithological council. Dan Williams Sacramento (currently Tehachapi) Subject: Sandhill Crane, Kern Preserve From: "wanderfalken_tim" <tsnieder AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:53:02 -0000 Howdy, This morning at 11:00 I found a sandhill crane on prince ranch, adjacent to the Kern Preserve. Fellow observers were Mary Whitfield and Nick Schmedding. The best spot to view the bird is from Sierra Way. Park on the side of the road about 300m north of hwy 178 (if you're coming on the 178, turn north at the big "Kernville" sign. A good vantage point is near the entrance of Hoffenfeld Ranch/350 Sierra Way which has a distinctive sign. Look west onto the big field of prince ranch. The crane was foraging in the middle of the field along a fence, near a great egret. Don't go into the prince ranch, the view from Sierra Way is just as good. Good birdn' Tim Snieder Southern Sierra Research Station Subject: Galileo Hill, 5/22 From: "themrbubby00mjf" <jonathan.james AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 17:02:08 -0000 Sorry for the late-ish post. My wife and I birded some desert areas in Kern County on Saturday the 22nd. At Galileo Hill we saw the continuing Kentucky Warbler, but I wanted to add that we also had a male Baltimore Oriole near the Equestrian Center. Jonathan and Libby Rowley -Whittier, CA Subject: Butterbredt and Galileo 4-6 May (13 Warbler species) From: "AJSearcy" <serpophaga AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:34:31 -0000 Hello, Here are some sightings from the last few days in Eastern Kern: 4 JUNE California City Central Park was slow, a handful of Willow Flycatchers and one Warbling Vireo being the only migrants. The Tundra Swan foolishly continues in the appalling heat. Galileo had a few western migrants around as well as a singing male INDIGO BUNTING and a late Gambel's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. A BLACK-NECKED STILT and 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were taking advantage of the new shorebird habitat around the margins of the receding lake. 5 JUNE See Dick Norton's post from this date. (There were also several late-ish AUDUBON'S WARBLERS present at Butterbredt). 6 JUNE Stan Gray and I had Butterbredt to ourselves this morning and birded from 0530 to 1000 am. An SY male AMERICAN REDSTART was singing near the seep, and was being answered by another SY male near the pond. These two birds were singing and wandering around the spring all morning. At one point there may have been three AMREs singing, but I only visually confirmed two. A male HOODED WARBLER gave a few notes of song and then disappeared for about an hour, finally turning up again in the car-crash willows, singing and preening (could have represented a different bird with the pace of current turnover; alternatively, it could have been the same bird from the previous day). A female MAGNOLIA WARBLER was at the overlook from about 0615 to 0700. A female NORTHERN PARULA was seen several times through the morning. A late male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER flew in above the seep, stopped briefly, and was not seen again. A MACGILLAVRAY'S WARBLER was seen near the seep. A lone CEDAR WAXWING was in the trees of heaven at about 0530 and soon departed. A very pale RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH flew in mid-morning and stuck around until we left, occasionally 'honking' and alerting us to its continued presence. Finally; I seem to recall the question of Orange-crowned Warbler breeding at Galileo coming up in the past. Saturday there was at least one HY Orange-crowned Warbler, and today there were two, all in the trees of heaven. Are these southbound migrants/dispersers or local breeders? I had fledged OCWA's along the coast over a month ago, so the former does not seem out of the question. Cheers, Adam Searcy Camarillo Subject: RE: Butterbredt Springs Saturday Morning From: "Koonce, Sandy" <sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu> Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 16:49:56 -0700 In addition to the birds that Dick is reporting, there was also a late Gambelli WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW at Butterbredt. Later, as we were leaving Galileo, the Howes and I saw a late SWAINSON'S HAWK get up off the ground and soar around. Sandy Sandy Koonce Department of Mathematics University of Redlands, Redlands, CA sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu ________________________________________ From: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com [kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of richardjnorton AT dslextreme.com [richardjnorton AT dslextreme.com] Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 4:43 PM To: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [kerncobirding] Butterbredt Springs Saturday Morning This morning Butterbredt had a singing Hooded Warbler, at least one American Redstart, and a Painted Redstart. All were seen well by the eight birders present. Wind was strong. The birds did not stay very long. Both redstarts were last seen in the trees northwest of the car parking area, likely on their way up the mountains. Dick Norton Topanga, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To post a message to the group, email: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and files can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirdingYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: kerncobirding-digest AT yahoogroups.com kerncobirding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: kerncobirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Butterbredt Springs Saturday Morning From: "richardjnorton AT dslextreme.com" <richardjnorton@dslextreme.com> Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 16:43:08 -0700 This morning Butterbredt had a singing Hooded Warbler, at least one American Redstart, and a Painted Redstart. All were seen well by the eight birders present. Wind was strong. The birds did not stay very long. Both redstarts were last seen in the trees northwest of the car parking area, likely on their way up the mountains. Dick Norton Topanga, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Butterbredt Spring Thur. morn 6/3 From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2010 16:54:21 -0700 I spent most of this morning sitting quietly at a couple of spots around Butterbredt Spring. There were not large numbers of birds but things kept moving through and showing up all morning. Among the seven species of warblers seen were a male and female NORTHERN PARULA (seen about an hour apart), a late dull female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and a late breeding plumaged male AUDUBON'S WARBLER. Three ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS all had wing bars and were likely juvs. A male SUMMER TANAGER moved through about mid-morning. An ACORN WOODPECKER flying through the desert and landing briefly on a large boulder next to a Joshua Tree above the spring seemed a bizarre sight. After about an hour of sitting both CALIFORNIA and MOUNTAIN QUAIL got up the nerve to bring their young into the oasis. All together I probably saw about 60+ quail chicks! Another advantage to sitting quietly for so long was that I was able to watch a Red Racer (that's a snake) for quite a while as he hunted through the vegetation just below me. It felt like he was hunting the birds that were moving low through the brush but I didn't see any success on his part. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: 3 Jun 10: Kern River Valley Sandhill Crane From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:25:41 -0700 Hi, Just a few minutes ago I received an in-the-field phone call from Mary Whitfield. She and a Southwestern Willow Flycatcher research field assistant were looking at a Sandhill Crane on the west side of Sierra Way a few hundred meters/yards north of CA Hwy 178 (2600', Weldon, South Fork Valley, Southern Sierra Nevada, Kern County). Her field assistant was busy documenting the sighting while Mary and I talked. I just finished making a quick phone call to Alison Sheehey. She is going over to Sierra Way in the attempt to be an additional observer of this out of season, even out of place occurrence of Sandhill Crane. This is the first modern (1977 through today) Kern River Valley record of Sandhill Crane. Wonders never cease - thankfully! Bob Barnes Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA 760-382-1260 Subject: Fwd: 5/30/10 Kern Co. Pileated Woodpecker From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:50:30 -0700 Kern Co. Birders: On Sunday, May 30, there was a pileated woodpecker at Evans Flat Campground (Sequoia N.F. land accessed off Rancheria Road). Specifically it was seen a little west of site 7, which is also a little west of the main loop. Also while at the campground there was a flyover of a bird identified as a Northern Goshawk. After dark, Evans Flat Meadow and Sawmill Road were also places that we birded in an attempt to hear owls, but no luck. (In fact, Sawmill Road was so dark and so quiet that it was spooky). Donna Bray, Norwalk, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 5/30/10 plus other recent Kern River Valley Observations From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:54:07 -0700 General species specific comments followed by 5/30/10 eBird reports for Sierra Way and Canebrake Ecological Reserve (designed to give a feeling of overall presence/absence for general and/or out of area birder use). 5/30/10 observers: Bob Barnes, Henry Selinger, Loretta Selinger. WOOD DUCK - Being observed in vicinity of the Sierra Way bridge over the South Fork Kern River and along Sierra Way from there south to Hwy. 178. WESTERN GREBE and CLARK'S GREBE - Year round residents on Isabella Reservoir. The degree of nesting success (as evidenced by young on adults' backs) may vary due to inopportune, fluctuating reservoir levels. OSPREY - Four known nesting pairs with nests. Two interrupted in mid-nesting in the past week or so by apparent human interference as adults are no longer present based on several checks and nest structures have several newly placed streamers formed by blue and red plastic flagging hanging down. The illegality or legality of this is being investigated. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO - No detections reported as yet. Several years of observations reveal most first arrival dates as being in the June 10-20 range with best chances for observing in July and early August. VERMILION FLYCATCHER - Only one known site the past three years (including this year). Unfortunately, this site is NOT in a publicly accessible or viewable area at this time. BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - One known individual at the Kelso Creek Sanctuary. Observed as recently as 12:05pm-12:15pm this past Sunday, May 30th. CAUTION: At least one pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers is present, too. The estimated 12-18 Brown-crested Flycatcher pairs found in the South Fork Kern River Valley riparian forest as recently as a few years ago were not detected in 2008 and 2009 during point counts (vs. being found in the past ... resulting in the 12-18 pairs estimate). No reports of nesting pairs thus far in 2010. SUMMER TANAGER - Widespread in South Fork Kern River riparian forest. Reliable locations include the area just beyond the footbridge at the Canebrake Ecological Reserve and in the restoration site trees flanking the parking lot on the north and west sides of the Kern River Preserve Headquarters parking area. BLUE GROSBEAK - No where near as common as ten years ago when 200+ were counted (same for Lazuli Bunting ... decline from several hundred to the tens of individuals). Thus far this year this species is being reliably observed along the Canebrake Ecological Reserve's Public Access Trail, along the flat, floodplain portion of Fay Ranch Rd. from Hwy 178 north to the Southern Sierra Research Station, and along Sierra Way from Hwy 178 to the bridge. INDIGO BUNTING - No personal knowledge of any South Fork Kern River Valley reports this year to date. TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD - Reliable in numbers observed from the Public Access Trail at the Canebrake Ecological Reserve. Also found being along Sierra Way from Hwy 178 north to the Sierra Way bridge over the South Fork Kern River. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH - Widespread. Has been reliable in numbers at Kern River Preserve Headquarters and from along the ranch road leading west from the HQ parking area. NOTE: Numbers decline rapidly mid-June through July with none detected most Augusts. The following reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Location: Kern River Preserve--Sierra Way Observation time, date: 5:25am-6:55am, 5/30/10 Observer: Bob Barnes Number of species: 42 * Wood Duck 4 * Mallard 3 * California Quail 2 * Ring-necked Pheasant 1 * Pied-billed Grebe 1 * Great Blue Heron 1 * Sora 1 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 * Mourning Dove 9 * Nuttall's Woodpecker 4 * Downy Woodpecker 2 * Hairy Woodpecker 1 * Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2 * Western Wood-Pewee 3 * Black Phoebe 1 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 3 * Common Raven 8 * Tree Swallow 3 * Oak Titmouse 4 * White-breasted Nuthatch 1 * Rock Wren 1 * Bewick's Wren 4 * House Wren 1 * Western Bluebird 4 * American Robin 3 * European Starling 33 * Yellow Warbler 10 * Common Yellowthroat 11 * Savannah Sparrow 4 * Song Sparrow 12 * Western Tanager 3 * Blue Grosbeak 3 * Lazuli Bunting 2 * Red-winged Blackbird 24 * Tricolored Blackbird 36 * Western Meadowlark 4 * Brewer's Blackbird 7 * Great-tailed Grackle 3 * Brown-headed Cowbird 9 * Bullock's Oriole 4 * House Finch 5 * Lesser Goldfinch 6 * Lawrence's Goldfinch 9 Location: South Fork Valley--Canebrake Ecological Reserve Observation date: 7:33am-10:30am, 5/30/10 Observers: Bob Barnes, Henry Selinger, Loretta Selinger Number of species: 38 * California Quail 2 * Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 * Mourning Dove 5 * Anna's Hummingbird 2 * Nuttall's Woodpecker 4 * Downy Woodpecker 1 * Hairy Woodpecker 1 * Northern Flicker 2 * Western Wood-Pewee 1 * Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 * Western Kingbird 4 * Western Scrub-Jay 8 * Common Raven 2 * Oak Titmouse 2 * Bushtit 1 * Rock Wren 2 * Bewick's Wren 1 * House Wren 1 * Western Bluebird 6 * California Thrasher 1 * European Starling 20 * Yellow Warbler 1 * Common Yellowthroat 4 * California Towhee 2 * Song Sparrow 4 * Summer Tanager 1 * Western Tanager 1 * Black-headed Grosbeak 2 * Blue Grosbeak 3 * Lazuli Bunting 1 * Red-winged Blackbird 5 * Tricolored Blackbird 60 * Western Meadowlark 1 * Brown-headed Cowbird 2 * Bullock's Oriole 2 * House Finch 2 * Lesser Goldfinch 2 * House Sparrow 1 Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Seasonal reports are due From: "kernkel" <kkheindel AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:18:53 -0000 The Spring Season (1 March – 31 May) has ended, and it is time to compile a report detailing the significant sightings that took place in Kern County. Please forward to me reports of interest including unusual species, late/early migrant dates, out of season records, high numbers, notable absences etc…. Please include written descriptions, photographs, recordings, sketches, etc. to support your report and add to the value of your finds. Reports posted online that do not include supportive details are not included. It is very helpful when reports are submitted in taxonomic order and include supporting details and/or links to where relevant information may be found online. Thanks for your help. Kelli H. Levinson KKHeindel AT ... Subject: Eastern Kern co. May 24-28 From: Mike Tyner <mtyner AT charter.net> Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 19:30:13 -0700 Just a quick post on vagrants in eastern Kern county last week. I birded Butterbredt spring for a few hours each day Monday-Friday. Monday evening had an OVENBIRD. Tuesday-Friday just had the singing male HOODED WARBLER. The Ovenbird apparently left sometime Monday evening. Missed the Indigo bunting. Very few, if any, migrants came up the canyon Thursday and Friday mornings. Quick checks along Kelso creek and Frog Spring off Kelso valley road on Thursday didn't produce any Brown-crested Flycatchers or anything unusual. Mid-day Tuesday at Galileo Hill had the KENTUCKY WARBLER, a NORTHERN PARULA singing from Eucalyptus near the horse stables, and Jon Dunn reported seeing a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER near the camping trailers. Good birding, Mike Tyner Big Sur [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Butterbredt & Galileo, 5/29 Highlights (and 5/30 dips) From: KatBirdCA AT aol.com Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 02:38:01 EDT Butterbredt: The HOODED WARBLER reported earlier in the week was observed for about 45 minutes by me and others (Janet Cupples, Jean Brandt, Kelli Levinson) at the seep, drinking, foraging, and singing. After my cohorts left, I found a female-type NORTHERN PARULA. Galileo: Later in the day, Janet Cupples and I saw an OVENBIRD along the fenceline at the tennis courts. Despite the efforts of numerous birders today (5/30), none of the above-mentioned birds were seen. Highlights at Butterbredt this morning were a female Mountain Quail with around eight chicks at the seep, and two/three MacGillivray's Warblers, including a singing male. Good birding, Kathy Robertson Hayward, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Summary: Bakersfield Feral Cat Symposium From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 09:35:51 -0700 Hi, I attended the 1st Annual Feral Cat Symposium in Bakersfield last Saturday, May 22. The negative impacts of cats on native birds was stated clearly by the keynote speaker. If you want my event summary, including solutions feral cat lovers support, send an email to bbarnes AT lightspeed.net. Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co. Subject: Information Request: Central Valley nesting White-faced Ibis From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 08:26:28 -0700 Hi, For those of you who do NOT subscribe to the Central Valley Birds list serv... HI CVBirders, if anyone has information on nesting White-faced Ibis in the central valley, please contact Rob Doster below. The email also describes the project and request for information by the USFWS. You can also request a spreadsheet from Rob to input your data. Thank you, Dawn Garcia Paradise In 2009, with the cooperation of many state partners, the Service's Migratory Bird Program began the Western Colonial Waterbird Survey (WCWS), a three-year initiative to identify information on distribution and abundance of colonial waterbirds in the western U.S. This survey is designed to determine the status of 17 species of waterbirds so as to identify conservation issues and refine conservation actions for these birds. This project also has the goals of production of an atlas of these waterbird colonies and establishing a baseline for long-term monitoring of waterbirds in the west. (For more information, see: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/birds/western_colonial/index.html) In 2010 we are focusing a portion of this effort on the nesting White-faced Ibis in California's Central Valley. I'm requesting your assistance in identifying any active ibis colonies in the Central Valley this year. If you know of White-faced Ibis colonies and have information on their location(s), size, and nesting success, I would appreciate your cooperation in providing these data to help with the overall effort. For your use, you may request from me a spreadsheet that is being used in the WCWS. Use of this spreadsheet is optional. If you would simply prefer to send me data via e-mail, I'll enter it into the spreadsheet. At a minimum I would request that you submit to me coordinates of colonies (UTM, NAD 83 preferred), the approximate size of the colony (direct nest count, if possible, and number of individual birds observed), and the conditions associated with your observations (date, time, and weather conditions). I may need to follow up with you for more information later as I compile the submissions. Finally, if you can also suggest anyone else working in your area that may know the whereabouts of nesting ibis, please share their contact information with me. If you have any questions regarding my request, please let me know. Many thanks for your help in this effort. Regards, Rob Doster ======================== Robert H. Doster, Ph.D. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region Migratory Bird Program 752 County Road 99W Willows, CA 95988 530-934-2801 rob_doster AT fws.gov ======================== [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: May 26-27 Galileo, Butterbredt, Kelso Cr. Sanctuary From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 17:44:47 -0700 Late Wed. afternoon (5/26) I birded Galileo Hill. It was quite windy and the birds were quite. The only bird out of the ordinary was a very nice male BALTIMORE ORIOLE in the trees above the horse stables. I then went to Butterbredt Springs to spend the night. Another birder was there from Big Sur and he had seen a male HOODED WARBLER about an hour before. He said he had also seen the bird a couple of days ago. Maybe this is the same Hooded Warbler reported on 5/20. I was unable to locate the bird before dark. This morning (5/27) the Hooded Warbler was singing and well seen. Later in the morning, around 8am, a male INDIGO BUNTING came through. After Butterbredt I drove over to the Audubon Kelso Creek Sanctuary. I did not find any Brown-crested Flycatchers. I did however see an Empidonax that I believe could have been an eastern "Traill's Flycatcher". The bird unfortunately was silent. If it was indeed an eastern "Traill's Flycatcher" I believe it most likely to have been an Alder Flycatcher. It had a definite thin white eyering and bright white wingbars. It had a dark gray face and a grayish breast band that contrasted strongly with a very white throat . The rest of the underparts were whitish. It had a moderate to longish primary projection and a bill slightly shorter than the western Willow Flycatchers that were there. It was quite unlike any of our western Empids, which I really tried to turn it into, and the size of the bird and primary projection, among other things, eliminated Least Flycatcher for me. So for what it's worth I'm reporting this bird. Steve Summers Porterville, CA Subject: Birding Galileo Hill 5/27/10 (nothing unusual) From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 22:53:12 -0000 Today, Thursday, 5/27/10, we birded Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle Ranch on the eastern Kern desert. We saw the following birds: Green Heron(1), Osprey(1), Black-necked Stilt(5), Spotted Sandpiper(2), White-throated Swift(6), Anna's Hummingbird(2), Western Wood-Pewee, Western Kingbird(2), Swainson's Thrush(6+), Yellow-rumped Warbler(Audubon's)1, Wilson's Warbler(1), and Western Tanager(4). Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: Baby Great Horned Owls at Galileo Hill Park From: Matt Brady <podoces AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 08:27:28 -0700 (PDT) Hello all. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned them on here yet, but on both Saturday and Sunday we saw a pair of fuzzy baby Great Horned Owls at Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle Resort. They were in the northwest corner of the park, sitting in a less-leafy tree. They were pretty cute, and quite accommodating. Matt Brady [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Galileo Hill Sunday May 23 From: "monterey90254" <lconrad AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 16:29:27 -0000 Hi all I dislike reading posts that begin: Sorry for the late post, but here it is. Sorry for the late post, but we didn't get home until late last night. Yesterday morning around 10 AM at Galileo Hill, we watched the Kentucky Warbler hopping around in the small cactus garden by the row of trailers, singing sporadically. We then walked over towards the skeet range & heard a warbler chipping in one of the windblown cottonwoods. It turned out to be a male Black-throated Blue Warbler! It came out on a low branch for a few seconds, then took off like a bullet towards the lake. We ran up the bank to see where it went, but never saw it again, despite searching the entire property for the next 3 hours. I think the strong wind might have blown it clear into the next county! Lori & Mark Conrad Hermosa Beach Subject: Butterbredt Spring From: Robert McMorran <rdm92544 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 19:01:36 -0700 (PDT) Birders, Slipped over to Butterbredt with Allison Alvarado on Thursday (5/20/10) arriving at 1700.  It was very windy, but quite a few birds were present including a male HOODED WARBLER.  eBird list below. The following morning (5-21-10) was again windy, but the various chip notes of passing birds overhead greeted us at first light.  Birds were definitely on the move with a thousand or so birds moving through in the first hour of light.  Awesome! Lots of western tanagers, warbling vireos, Wilson's warblers and empids made up the majority of western migrants, while an AMERICAN REDSTART and an OVENBIRD made brief appearances for the eastern migrants. eBird list below. It's always cool seeing different birds, but I most enjoy the phenomenon! Good Birding, Robert McMorran Ventura, CA Location:    Butterbredt Springs Observation date:    5/20/10 Notes:    wind - 6 cloud - 1 Number of species:    27 California Quail    5 Red-tailed Hawk    2 Mourning Dove    10 Costa's Hummingbird    4 Olive-sided Flycatcher    2 Western Wood-Pewee    10 Willow Flycatcher    2 Pacific-slope Flycatcher    15 Empidonax sp.    25 Ash-throated Flycatcher    1 Western Kingbird    1 Cassin's Vireo    1 Warbling Vireo    1 Bewick's Wren    5 Swainson's Thrush    7 Yellow Warbler    4 Townsend's Warbler    1 MacGillivray's Warbler    3 Hooded Warbler    1 Wilson's Warbler    80 Western Tanager    5 California Towhee    6 White-crowned Sparrow (Mountain)    2 Black-headed Grosbeak    4 Lazuli Bunting    8 Red-winged Blackbird    1 Bullock's Oriole    1 House Finch    15 =================================== Location:    Butterbredt Springs Observation date:    5/21/10 Notes:    Wind - 5 Cloud - 1 estimating 1600 additional passerines went unidentified. Number of species:    43 California Quail    20 Mourning Dove    16 White-throated Swift    3 Black-chinned Hummingbird    3 Anna's Hummingbird    2 Costa's Hummingbird    10 Ladder-backed Woodpecker    1 Olive-sided Flycatcher    3 Western Wood-Pewee    25 Willow Flycatcher    6 Hammond's/Dusky Flycatcher    20 Pacific-slope Flycatcher    5 Pacific-slope/Cordilleran Flycatcher (Western)    15 Ash-throated Flycatcher    3 Western Kingbird    2 Loggerhead Shrike    1 Cassin's Vireo    10 Warbling Vireo    200 Common Raven    1 swallow sp.    1 Bewick's Wren    6 Swainson's Thrush    40 Hermit Thrush    1 Cedar Waxwing    60 Orange-crowned Warbler    2 Nashville Warbler (Western)    1 Yellow Warbler    20 Townsend's Warbler    8 American Redstart    1 Ovenbird    1 MacGillivray's Warbler    9 Wilson's Warbler    250 Yellow-breasted Chat    2 Western Tanager    125 Green-tailed Towhee    1 California Towhee    5 Sage Sparrow    5 Lincoln's Sparrow    1 White-crowned Sparrow    3 Black-headed Grosbeak    45 Lazuli Bunting    35 Red-winged Blackbird    3 Bullock's Oriole    15 Scott's Oriole    1 House Finch    50 Lesser Goldfinch    15 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kentucky Continues From: "brooks_hart" <brooks_hart AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 17:53:14 -0000 What it lacks in tail it makes up for in song. Seen this morning at 0600 in Oleanders that divide RV spaces, singing its heart out. Subject: Bakersfield Feral Cat Symposium From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 17:21:32 -0700 Hi, Posted due to known and/or thought negative impacts of feral cats on native birds and birding... From the Kern River Valley Revitalization 5-15-2010 KRVR UPDATE E-MAIL compiled by Richard Rowe... Feral Cat Symposium May 22, 2010 9:00am - 4:00pm, Bakersfield 1st Annual Feral Cat Symposium Hosted by the Cat Coalition Sessions include community solutions to feral cats and managing feral cat populations. Kern Agricultural Pavilion, 3300 E. Belle Terrace, Bakersfield. Sign-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration is $10; day-of cost is $20. Admission includes lunch. Pre-register by calling the Bakersfield SPCA at (661) 323-8353 x14 or http://www.bakersfieldspca.org/ContactUs.asp Bob Barnes [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kentucky Warbler @ Galileo Hills From: "Doug" <doug AT basiclink.com> Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 19:38:04 -0000 Steve Sosensky asked me to forward this information. He and his party have found a Kentucky Warbler at Galileo Hills in Kern County. Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com Subject: Northern Waterthrush still at Galileo Hill From: "monterey90254" <lconrad AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 01:13:24 -0000 Hi all The Northern Waterthrush, assuming it's the same bird, is still at Galileo Hill. It was working the mud in the partially dry creek by the picnic area. Otherwise, there were several Willow Flychasers & W. Wood-peewees, an Olive-sided Flychaser, Vermillion FC, a couple of BH Grosbeaks, a Warbling Vireo & a late Yellow Rump. We were there late in the afternoon, after viewing the 2 Hudsonian Godwits at Piute Ponds. Lori & Mark Conrad Hermosa Beach Subject: Northern Waterthrush at Galileo Hill 5/14/10 From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 21:45:53 -0000 Today, Friday, 5/14/10, we saw a Northern Waterthrush at Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle Ranch on the eastern Kern desert. We first saw the Northern Waterthrush in a tree next to the creek that is across from the hotel. A few minutes later, it was walking along the mud in the creek. It was well camouflaged as it walked in the mud. Along with the Northern Waterthrush, there was a variety of western migrants in small numbers. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: Re: Galileo and Cal. City migrants From: "Tom Miko" <thomas.miko AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 20:52:30 +0000 I forgot to mention the numerous W Wood Pewees at both locations, and the adult male Myrtle Warbler. Tom Thomas Geza Miko -----Original Message----- From: "Tom Miko" Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 18:29:06 To: Kern County Bird List Cc: Dave Moody Subject: [kerncobirding] Galileo and Cal. City migrants Galileo: 10 Wilson's Warblers 1 Audubon's Warbler 1 Dusky Flyc 1 Hammond's Flyc 1 Virginia Rail 2 Lazuli Buntings 1 Green-tailed Towhee 1 Rock Wren (okay, they live here) 50(?) Swainson's Thrushes 1 Wh Br Nuthatch (!) 1 Osprey up to his usual tricks 30+ Spotted Sandpipers 1 W Kingbird California City: 4 Y H Blackbirds 10 Audubon's W 40 Wilson's W 1 W Vireo 1 Pac Slope Flyc Birds I expected, but did not see: Olive S Flyc Willow Flyc Red Crossbill MacGillivray's Warbler Thomas Geza Miko [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Galileo and Cal. City migrants From: "Tom Miko" <thomas.miko AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 18:29:06 +0000 Galileo: 10 Wilson's Warblers 1 Audubon's Warbler 1 Dusky Flyc 1 Hammond's Flyc 1 Virginia Rail 2 Lazuli Buntings 1 Green-tailed Towhee 1 Rock Wren (okay, they live here) 50(?) Swainson's Thrushes 1 Wh Br Nuthatch (!) 1 Osprey up to his usual tricks 30+ Spotted Sandpipers 1 W Kingbird California City: 4 Y H Blackbirds 10 Audubon's W 40 Wilson's W 1 W Vireo 1 Pac Slope Flyc Birds I expected, but did not see: Olive S Flyc Willow Flyc Red Crossbill MacGillivray's Warbler Thomas Geza Miko Subject: Galileo last weekend of 5/8 and 5/9? From: "Tom Miko" <thomas.miko AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 19:45:53 +0000 Hi Did no one boird Galileo this weekend, or were there just no birds there? Tom Thomas Geza Miko Subject: Butterbredt 5/8 From: Andrew Howe <howe395 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 19:14:19 -0700 (PDT) An amazing morning at Butterbredt Spring saw an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 migrants stream up canyon, the bulk of the movement between 5:40am and 6:30am, when watchers concluded that an average of ten migrants were flying by every single second. WILSON’S WARBLERS, WESTERN TANAGERS and, surprisingly, WARBLING VIREOS were the primary migrants, although most expected species were observed. Overall, it was a pretty amazing spectacle! Particular species of interest included an ACORN WOODPECKER, a very early WILLOW FLYCATCHER (sang in the Trees of Heaven near the cars, and the Car Crash Willows all throughout the morning), a VARIED THRUSH, a female TENNESSEE WARBLER, and an INDIGO BUNTING. A check of the Jawbone DWP pump house produced another ACORN WOODPECKER. Best, Andrew Howe Riverside, CAhowe395 AT yahoo.com Subject: Birding Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle Ranch 5/7/10 (nothing unusual) From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 07 May 2010 23:09:32 -0000 Today, Friday, 5/7/10, we saw the following birds at Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle Ranch on the eastern Kern desert: Spotted Sandpiper(3), Solitary Sandpiper(1),Phainopepla(1),Olive-sided Flycatcher(1), Wood Pewee(2), Western Kingbird(2), Empid species(2), Townsend's Solitaire(2)-flying together, Cassin's Vireo(1), Yellow-rumped Warbler-Audubon's(1), MacGillivray's Warbler(1), Common Yellowthroat(2), Wilson's Warbler(8+), Western Tanager(12), Black-headed Grosbeak(1), Green-tailed Towhee(1), and one White-crowned Sparrow. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: Water in Kern River in 2800 Acres and elsewhere along Kern River Parkway From: "wflydecker" <blydecker AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 05 May 2010 22:14:52 -0000 Today I rode my bicycle from Allen Rd to Enos Ln (Hwy 43) and noted that water has been allowed to flow in the Kern River all the way to Highway 43. I saw 37 species more or less in a few hours. Other locations along the Kern River Parkway are also showing the benefits of water flow. With the introduction of water to the Kern River, a walk or bicycle ride along the Kern River Parkway anywhere from Hart Park to Highway 43 will yield interesting bird observations. Bill Lydecker Bakersfield, CA Subject: Kern ABC: Seven More Species! From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 04 May 2010 04:15:18 -0700 Hi, NEW TO FRIDAY-SUNDAY LIST: White-tailed Kite, Northern Goshawk, Sanderling, Franklin's Gull, Black Tern, Barn Owl, Magnolia Warbler,... The total currently stands at 242 species (including rare species not yet documented and/or reviewed). STILL "MISSING" - Greater White-fronted Goose (observed Thursday), Brant (observed Thursday), Canvasback, Red-breasted Merganser, Least Bittern (observed Thursday), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Snowy Plover, Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher, Herring Gull, Flammulated Owl, Short-eared-Owl, Calliope Hummingbird, Williamson's Sapsucker, Clark's Nutcracker, Yellow-billed Magpie, Vesper Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow (observed Thursday), Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, and unexpected birds EXCEPT BROWN THRASHER, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, and ORCHARD ORIOLE. NOTE: Harris's Sparrow has been removed from the list because it was observed Thursday NOT Friday. THANK YOU to all who participated! Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California Additional observers added as well... OBSERVERS/REPORTERS: Bob Barnes, Vera Brechbiel (Virginia), Mary Brooks, David Chilton, Dave Clendenon, Sherryl Clendenon, Barbara Coley, Roger Coley, Madi Elsea, Ernie Flores (Los Angeles Co.), Scott Frazer, Mary Freeman (Los Angeles Co.), Nick Freeman (Los Angeles Co.), Wes Fritz (Santa Barbara Co.), Rob Hansen (Tulare Co.), Ron Holland (Riverside Co.), Cher Hollingworth (Santa Barbara Co.), Andrew Howe (Riverside Co.), Vernon Howe (Riverside Co.), Liam Huber (Butte Co.), Scott Huber (Butte Co.), Lois Kaufman, (Maryland), Louise Knecht, Sandy Koonce (San Bernadino Co.), Debby Kroeger, Jeremy Kroege, Brenda Kyle, Ken Kyle, Denise La Berteaux, John Lampkin (New York), Rod Lee, Kelli Levinson, John Lockhat (Tulare Co.), Jim Lowery, Bill Lydecker, Tom Maloney, Marilyn McCune, Ken McGary (San Francisco Co.), Terri Middlemiss, Thomas Miko (Los Angeles Co.), Bill Moffat, Jean Moore, John Newman, Sean Rowe, Celeste Royer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Jim Royer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Tim Ruckle (Butte Co.), Natalie Schaefer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Ross Schaefer (San Luis Obispo Co.), John Schmitt, Jeff Seay (Fresno Co.), Alison Sheehey, Dale Sickles, Ed Sickles, Brad Singer (San Bernardino Co.), Maggie Smith (San Luis Obispo Co.), Christine Sparks, Richard Sparks, Cindy Stiles (San Luis Obispo Co.), Mike Stiles (San Luis Obispo Co.), Bill Sweetman and his tour group (Michigan), Barb Walls, Justin Ward (Tulare Co.), Pamela Williams, Steve Williams, Marcia Wolfe,... REPORTED TO NOW (242 species): * Snow Goose * Ross's Goose * Canada Goose * Tundra Swan * Wood Duck * Gadwall * American Wigeon * Mallard * Blue-winged Teal * Cinnamon Teal * Northern Shoveler * Northern Pintail * Green-winged Teal * Redhead * Ring-necked Duck * Lesser Scaup * Bufflehead * Common Merganser * Ruddy Duck * Chukar * Ring-necked Pheasant * Wild Turkey * Mountain Quail * California Quail * Common Loon * Pied-billed Grebe * Eared Grebe * Western Grebe * Clark's Grebe * American White Pelican * Double-crested Cormorant * American Bittern * Great Blue Heron * Great Egret * Snowy Egret * Cattle Egret * Green Heron * Black-crowned Night-Heron * White-faced Ibis * Turkey Vulture * California Condor * Osprey * White-tailed Kite * Bald Eagle * Northern Harrier * Cooper's Hawk * Northern Goshawk * Red-shouldered Hawk * Swainson's Hawk * Red-tailed Hawk * Golden Eagle * American Kestrel * Peregrine Falcon * Prairie Falcon * Virginia Rail * Sora * Common Moorhen * American Coot * Black-bellied Plover * Semipalmated Plover * Killdeer * Black-necked Stilt * American Avocet * Greater Yellowlegs * Lesser Yellowlegs * Solitary Sandpiper * Spotted Sandpiper * Whimbrel * Long-billed Curlew * Marbled Godwit * Sanderling * Western Sandpiper * Least Sandpiper * Dunlin * Long-billed Dowitcher * Wilson's Snipe * Wilson's Phalarope * Red-necked Phalarope * Bonaparte's Gull * Franklin's Gull * Ring-billed Gull * California Gull * Caspian Tern * Black Tern * Forster's Tern * Rock Pigeon * Band-tailed Pigeon * Eurasian Collared-Dove * Spotted Dove * Mourning Dove * Common Ground-Dove * Greater Roadrunner * Barn Owl * Western Screech-Owl * Great Horned Owl * Northern Pygmy-Owl * Burrowing Owl * Spotted Owl * Long-eared Owl * Northern Saw-whet Owl * Lesser Nighthawk * Common Poorwill * Vaux's Swift * White-throated Swift * Black-chinned Hummingbird * Anna's Hummingbird * Costa's Hummingbird * Rufous Hummingbird * Belted Kingfisher * Lewis's Woodpecker * Acorn Woodpecker * Red-breasted Sapsucker * Ladder-back Woodpecker * Nuttall's Woodpecker * Downy Woodpecker * Hairy Woodpecker * White-headed Woodpecker * Northern Flicker * Pileated Woodpecker * Olive-sided Flycatcher * Western Wood-Pewee * Willow Flycatcher * Hammond's Flycatcher * Dusky Flycatcher * Gray Flycatcher * Pacific-slope Flycatcher * Black Phoebe * Say's Phoebe * Vermilion Flycatcher * Ash-throated Flycatcher * Brown-crested Flycatcher * Cassin's Kingbird * Western Kingbird * Loggerhead Shrike * Bell's Vireo * Plumbeous Vireo * Cassin'sVireo * Hutton's Vireo * Warbling Vireo * Steller' Jay * Western Scrub-Jay * Pinyon Jay * American Crow * Common Raven * Horned Lark * Purple Martin * Tree Swallow * Violet-green Swallow * Northern Rough-winged Swallow * Bank Swallow * Cliff Swallow * Barn Swallow * Mountain Chickadee * Oak Titmouse * Verdin * Bushtit * Red-breasted Nuthatch * White-breasted Nuthatch * Pygmy Nuthatch * Brown Creeper * Cactus Wren * Rock Wren * Canyon Wren * Bewick's Wren * House Wren * Winter Wren * Marsh Wren * American Dipper * Golden-crowned Kinglet * Ruby-crowned Kinglet * Blue-gray Gnatcatcher * Western Bluebird * Mountain Bluebird * Townsend's Solitaire * Swainson's Thrush * Hermit Thrush * American Robin * Wrentit * Northern Mockingbird * Brown Thrasher * California Thrasher * Le Conte's Thrasher * European Starling * American Pipit * Cedar Waxwing * Phainopepla * Orange-crowned Warbler * Nashville Warbler * Virginia's Warbler * Yellow Warbler * Magnolia Warbler * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's and Myrtle) * Black-throated Gray Warbler * Townsend's Warbler * Hermit Warbler * MacGillivray's Warbler * Common Yellowthroat * Hooded Warbler .. * Wilson's Warbler * Yellow-breasted Chat * Summer Tanager * Western Tanager * Green-tailed Towhee * Spotted Towhee * California Towhee * Rufous-crowned Sparrow * Chipping Sparrow * Brewer's Sparrow * Black-chinned Sparrow * Black-throated Sparrow * Sage Sparrow * Savannah Sparrow * Grasshopper Sparrow * Fox Sparrow * Song Sparrow * Lincoln's Sparrow * White-crowned Sparrow * Golden-crowned Sparrow * Dark-eyed Junco * Black-headed Grosbeak * Blue Grosbeak * Lazuli Bunting * Red-winged Blackbird * Tricolored Blackbird * Western Meadowlark * Yellow-headed Blackbird * Brewer's Blackbird * Great-tailed Grackle * Brown-headed Cowbird * Orchard Oriole * Hooded Oriole * Bullock's Oriole * Scott's Oriole * Purple Finch * Cassin's Finch * House Finch * Pine Siskin * Lesser Goldfinch * Lawrence's Goldfinch * American Goldfinch * House Sparrow Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Two Peregrine Falcons at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge 5/2/10 From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 03 May 2010 17:23:09 -0000 Sunday, 5/2/10, we saw two Peregrine Falcons at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge in Delano. As you start to exit the tour route there is a one-way bridge. Just before the bridge there is a moderate size tree without leaves off to the left side of the road. Both of the Peregrine Falcon's were in this tree. Later in the day, we saw a female Wood Duck with 8 ducklings/hatchlings in the large lake at Hart Park in Bakersfield. They were on the north side of the lake. We will place photos of the Peregrine Falcons in the kerncobirding photo section into the album labeled 01Birds this evening.We will also place a photo of the female Wood Duck and her ducklings into this album. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: ABC Monday AM Update From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Mon, 03 May 2010 04:44:23 -0700 Hi, No species additions, two observer additions, awaiting Tejon Ranch results. Final official results to follow... THANK YOU to all who participated! Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California The total currently stands at 235 species. STILL "MISSING" - Greater White-fronted Goose (observed Thursday) Brant (observed Thursday), Canvasback, Red-breasted Merganser, Least Bittern, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk (reportedly hanging around Magill CG on Mt. Pinos), Merlin, Snowy Plover, Willet, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitcher, Franklin's Gull, Herring Gull, Black Tern (observed Thursday), Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Short-eared-Owl, Calliope Hummingbird, Williamson's Sapsucker, Bell's Vireo, Clark's Nutcracker (Mt. Pinos), Yellow-billed Magpie, Vesper Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow (observed Thursday), Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, unexpected birds EXCEPT BROWN THRASHER, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, and ORCHARD ORIOLE. NOTE: Harris's Sparrow has been removed from the list because it was observed Thursday NOT Friday. OBSERVERS/REPORTERS: Bob Barnes, Vera Brechbiel (Virginia - met at California City and Galileo Hill), David Chilton, Dave Clendenon, Sherryl Clendenon, Barbara Coley, Roger Coley, Madi Elsea, Ernie Flores (Los Angeles Co.), Scott Frazer, Mary Freeman (Los Angeles Co.), Nick Freeman (Los Angeles Co.), Wes Fritz (Santa Barbara Co.), Ron Holland (Riverside Co.) Cher Hollingworth (Santa Barbara Co.), Andrew Howe (Riverside Co.), Vernon Howe (Riverside Co.), Liam Huber (Butte Co.), Scott Huber (Butte Co.), Lois Kaufman, (Maryland - birding with Vera), Louise Knecht, Sandy Koonce (San Bernadino Co.), Debby Kroeger, Jeremy Kroege, Brenda Kyle, Ken Kyle, Denise La Berteaux, John Lampkin (New York), Rod Lee, Kelli Levinson, Jim Lowery, Mary Lowery, Bill Lydecker, Marilyn McCune, Ken McGary (San Francisco Co.), Terri Middlemiss, Thomas Miko (Los Angeles Co.), Jean Moore, John Newman, Sean Rowe, Celeste Royer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Jim Royer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Tim Ruckle (Butte Co.), Natalie Schaefer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Ross Schaefer (San Luis Obispo Co.), John Schmitt, Jeff Seay (Fresno Co.), Alison Sheehey, Dale Sickles, Ed Sickles, Brad Singer (San Bernardino Co.), Maggie Smith (San Luis Obispo Co.), Christine Sparks, Richard Sparks, Cindy Stiles (San Luis Obispo Co.), Mike Stiles (San Luis Obispo Co.), Bill Sweetman and his tour group (Michigan), Barb Walls, Pamela Williams, Steve Williams, Marcia Wolfe,... REPORTED TO NOW (235 species): * Snow Goose * Ross's Goose * Canada Goose * Tundra Swan * Wood Duck * Gadwall * American Wigeon * Mallard * Blue-winged Teal * Cinnamon Teal * Northern Shoveler * Northern Pintail * Green-winged Teal * Redhead * Ring-necked Duck * Lesser Scaup * Bufflehead * Common Merganser * Ruddy Duck * Chukar * Ring-necked Pheasant * Wild Turkey * Mountain Quail * California Quail * Common Loon * Pied-billed Grebe * Eared Grebe * Western Grebe * Clark's Grebe * American White Pelican * Double-crested Cormorant * American Bittern * Great Blue Heron * Great Egret * Snowy Egret * Cattle Egret * Green Heron * Black-crowned Night-Heron * White-faced Ibis * Turkey Vulture * California Condor * Osprey * Bald Eagle * Northern Harrier * Cooper's Hawk * Red-shouldered Hawk * Swainson's Hawk * Red-tailed Hawk * Golden Eagle * American Kestrel * Peregrine Falcon * Prairie Falcon * Virginia Rail * Sora * Common Moorhen * American Coot * Black-bellied Plover * Semipalmated Plover * Killdeer * Black-necked Stilt * American Avocet * Greater Yellowlegs * Lesser Yellowlegs * Solitary Sandpiper * Spotted Sandpiper * Whimbrel * Long-billed Curlew * Marbled Godwit * Western Sandpiper * Least Sandpiper * Dunlin * Long-billed Dowitcher * Wilson's Snipe * Wilson's Phalarope * Red-necked Phalarope * Bonaparte's Gull * Ring-billed Gull * California Gull * Caspian Tern * Forster's Tern * Rock Pigeon * Band-tailed Pigeon * Eurasian Collared-Dove * Spotted Dove * Mourning Dove * Common Ground-Dove * Greater Roadrunner * Western Screech-Owl * Great Horned Owl * Northern Pygmy-Owl * Burrowing Owl * Spotted Owl * Long-eared Owl * Northern Saw-whet Owl * Lesser Nighthawk * Common Poorwill * Vaux's Swift * White-throated Swift * Black-chinned Hummingbird * Anna's Hummingbird * Costa's Hummingbird * Rufous Hummingbird * Belted Kingfisher * Lewis's Woodpecker * Acorn Woodpecker * Red-breasted Sapsucker * Ladder-back Woodpecker * Nuttall's Woodpecker * Downy Woodpecker * Hairy Woodpecker * White-headed Woodpecker * Northern Flicker * Pileated Woodpecker * Olive-sided Flycatcher * Western Wood-Pewee * Willow Flycatcher * Hammond's Flycatcher * Dusky Flycatcher * Gray Flycatcher * Pacific-slope Flycatcher * Black Phoebe * Say's Phoebe * Vermilion Flycatcher * Ash-throated Flycatcher * Brown-crested Flycatcher * Cassin's Kingbird * Western Kingbird * Loggerhead Shrike * Bell's Vireo * Plumbeous Vireo * Cassin'sVireo * Hutton's Vireo * Warbling Vireo * Steller' Jay * Western Scrub-Jay * Pinyon Jay * American Crow * Common Raven * Horned Lark * Purple Martin * Tree Swallow * Violet-green Swallow * Northern Rough-winged Swallow * Bank Swallow * Cliff Swallow * Barn Swallow * Mountain Chickadee * Oak Titmouse * Verdin * Bushtit * Red-breasted Nuthatch * White-breasted Nuthatch * Pygmy Nuthatch * Brown Creeper * Cactus Wren * Rock Wren * Canyon Wren * Bewick's Wren * House Wren * Winter Wren * Marsh Wren * American Dipper * Golden-crowned Kinglet * Ruby-crowned Kinglet * Blue-gray Gnatcatcher * Western Bluebird * Mountain Bluebird * Townsend's Solitaire * Swainson's Thrush * Hermit Thrush * American Robin * Wrentit * Northern Mockingbird * Brown Thrasher * California Thrasher * Le Conte's Thrasher * European Starling * American Pipit * Cedar Waxwing * Phainopepla * Orange-crowned Warbler * Nashville Warbler * Virginia's Warbler * Yellow Warbler * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's and Myrtle) * Black-throated Gray Warbler * Townsend's Warbler * Hermit Warbler * MacGillivray's Warbler * Common Yellowthroat * Hooded Warbler .. * Wilson's Warbler * Yellow-breasted Chat * Summer Tanager * Western Tanager * Green-tailed Towhee * Spotted Towhee * California Towhee * Rufous-crowned Sparrow * Chipping Sparrow * Brewer's Sparrow * Black-chinned Sparrow * Black-throated Sparrow * Sage Sparrow * Savannah Sparrow * Grasshopper Sparrow * Fox Sparrow * Song Sparrow * Lincoln's Sparrow * White-crowned Sparrow * Golden-crowned Sparrow * Dark-eyed Junco * Black-headed Grosbeak * Blue Grosbeak * Lazuli Bunting * Red-winged Blackbird * Tricolored Blackbird * Western Meadowlark * Yellow-headed Blackbird * Brewer's Blackbird * Great-tailed Grackle * Brown-headed Cowbird * Orchard Oriole * Hooded Oriole * Bullock's Oriole * Scott's Oriole * Purple Finch * Cassin's Finch * House Finch * Pine Siskin * Lesser Goldfinch * Lawrence's Goldfinch * American Goldfinch * House Sparrow Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kern Birdiest: Sunday PM Update From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 02 May 2010 20:17:50 -0700 Hi, Here is the Kern Birdiest Inland County list with one more species added preceded by species added since last night's email, still "missing" species, and observers/reporters. The total currently stands at 235 species. The next update will be sent out early tomorrow morning (Monday) with the official species and participant list sent out by the end of May. ADDITIONAL SPECIES REPORTED since this morning: Common Merganser, California Condor, Western Screech-Owl, Spotted Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Brown Thrasher, Hooded Warbler, Black-chinned Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow,... STILL "MISSING" - Greater White-fronted Goose (observed Thursday) Brant (observed Thursday), Canvasback, Red-breasted Merganser, Least Bittern, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk (reportedly hanging around Magill CG on Mt. Pinos), Merlin, Snowy Plover, Willet, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitcher, Franklin's Gull, Herring Gull, Black Tern (observed Thursday), Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Short-eared-Owl, Calliope Hummingbird, Williamson's Sapsucker, Bell's Vireo, Clark's Nutcracker (Mt. Pinos), Yellow-billed Magpie, Vesper Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow (observed Thursday), Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, unexpected birds EXCEPT BROWN THRASHER, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, and ORCHARD ORIOLE. NOTE: Harris's Sparrow has been removed from the list because it was observed Thursday NOT Friday. OBSERVERS/REPORTERS: Bob Barnes, Vera Brechbiel (Virginia - met at California City and Galileo Hill), David Chilton, Dave Clendenon, Sherryl Clendenon, Barbara Coley, Roger Coley, Madi Elsea, Ernie Flores (Los Angeles Co.), Scott Frazer, Mary Freeman (Los Angeles Co.), Nick Freeman (Los Angeles Co.), Wes Fritz (Santa Barbara Co.), Ron Holland (Riverside Co.) Cher Hollingworth (Santa Barbara Co.), Andrew Howe (Riverside Co.), Vernon Howe (Riverside Co.), Liam Huber (Butte Co.), Scott Huber (Butte Co.), Lois Kaufman, (Maryland - birding with Vera), Louise Knecht, Sandy Koonce (San Bernadino Co.), Brenda Kyle, Ken Kyle, Denise La Berteaux, John Lampkin (New York), Rod Lee, Kelli Levinson, Jim Lowery, Mary Lowery, Bill Lydecker, Marilyn McCune, Ken McGary (San Francisco Co.), Terri Middlemiss, Thomas Miko (Los Angeles Co.), Jean Moore, John Newman, Sean Rowe, Celeste Royer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Jim Royer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Tim Ruckle (Butte Co.), Natalie Schaefer (San Luis Obispo Co.), Ross Schaefer (San Luis Obispo Co.), John Schmitt, Jeff Seay (Fresno Co.), Alison Sheehey, Dale Sickles, Ed Sickles, Brad Singer (San Bernardino Co.), Maggie Smith (San Luis Obispo Co.), Christine Sparks, Richard Sparks, Cindy Stiles (San Luis Obispo Co.), Mike Stiles (San Luis Obispo Co.), Bill Sweetman and his tour group (Michigan), Barb Walls, Pamela Williams, Steve Williams, Marcia Wolfe,... REPORTED TO NOW (235 species): * Snow Goose * Ross's Goose * Canada Goose * Tundra Swan * Wood Duck * Gadwall * American Wigeon * Mallard * Blue-winged Teal * Cinnamon Teal * Northern Shoveler * Northern Pintail * Green-winged Teal * Redhead * Ring-necked Duck * Lesser Scaup * Bufflehead * Common Merganser * Ruddy Duck * Chukar * Ring-necked Pheasant * Wild Turkey * Mountain Quail * California Quail * Common Loon * Pied-billed Grebe * Eared Grebe * Western Grebe * Clark's Grebe * American White Pelican * Double-crested Cormorant * American Bittern * Great Blue Heron * Great Egret * Snowy Egret * Cattle Egret * Green Heron * Black-crowned Night-Heron * White-faced Ibis * Turkey Vulture * California Condor * Osprey * Bald Eagle * Northern Harrier * Cooper's Hawk * Red-shouldered Hawk * Swainson's Hawk * Red-tailed Hawk * Golden Eagle * American Kestrel * Peregrine Falcon * Prairie Falcon * Virginia Rail * Sora * Common Moorhen * American Coot * Black-bellied Plover * Semipalmated Plover * Killdeer * Black-necked Stilt * American Avocet * Greater Yellowlegs * Lesser Yellowlegs * Solitary Sandpiper * Spotted Sandpiper * Whimbrel * Long-billed Curlew * Marbled Godwit * Western Sandpiper * Least Sandpiper * Dunlin * Long-billed Dowitcher * Wilson's Snipe * Wilson's Phalarope * Red-necked Phalarope * Bonaparte's Gull * Ring-billed Gull * California Gull * Caspian Tern * Forster's Tern * Rock Pigeon * Band-tailed Pigeon * Eurasian Collared-Dove * Spotted Dove * Mourning Dove * Common Ground-Dove * Greater Roadrunner * Western Screech-Owl * Great Horned Owl * Northern Pygmy-Owl * Burrowing Owl * Spotted Owl * Long-eared Owl * Northern Saw-whet Owl * Lesser Nighthawk * Common Poorwill * Vaux's Swift * White-throated Swift * Black-chinned Hummingbird * Anna's Hummingbird * Costa's Hummingbird * Rufous Hummingbird * Belted Kingfisher * Lewis's Woodpecker * Acorn Woodpecker * Red-breasted Sapsucker * Ladder-back Woodpecker * Nuttall's Woodpecker * Downy Woodpecker * Hairy Woodpecker * White-headed Woodpecker * Northern Flicker * Pileated Woodpecker * Olive-sided Flycatcher * Western Wood-Pewee * Willow Flycatcher * Hammond's Flycatcher * Dusky Flycatcher * Gray Flycatcher * Pacific-slope Flycatcher * Black Phoebe * Say's Phoebe * Vermilion Flycatcher * Ash-throated Flycatcher * Brown-crested Flycatcher * Cassin's Kingbird * Western Kingbird * Loggerhead Shrike * Bell's Vireo * Plumbeous Vireo * Cassin'sVireo * Hutton's Vireo * Warbling Vireo * Steller' Jay * Western Scrub-Jay * Pinyon Jay * American Crow * Common Raven * Horned Lark * Purple Martin * Tree Swallow * Violet-green Swallow * Northern Rough-winged Swallow * Bank Swallow * Cliff Swallow * Barn Swallow * Mountain Chickadee * Oak Titmouse * Verdin * Bushtit * Red-breasted Nuthatch * White-breasted Nuthatch * Pygmy Nuthatch * Brown Creeper * Cactus Wren * Rock Wren * Canyon Wren * Bewick's Wren * House Wren * Winter Wren * Marsh Wren * American Dipper * Golden-crowned Kinglet * Ruby-crowned Kinglet * Blue-gray Gnatcatcher * Western Bluebird * Mountain Bluebird * Townsend's Solitaire * Swainson's Thrush * Hermit Thrush * American Robin * Wrentit * Northern Mockingbird * Brown Thrasher * California Thrasher * Le Conte's Thrasher * European Starling * American Pipit * Cedar Waxwing * Phainopepla * Orange-crowned Warbler * Nashville Warbler * Virginia's Warbler * Yellow Warbler * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's and Myrtle) * Black-throated Gray Warbler * Townsend's Warbler * Hermit Warbler * MacGillivray's Warbler * Common Yellowthroat * Hooded Warbler .. * Wilson's Warbler * Yellow-breasted Chat * Summer Tanager * Western Tanager * Green-tailed Towhee * Spotted Towhee * California Towhee * Rufous-crowned Sparrow * Chipping Sparrow * Brewer's Sparrow * Black-chinned Sparrow * Black-throated Sparrow * Sage Sparrow * Savannah Sparrow * Grasshopper Sparrow * Fox Sparrow * Song Sparrow * Lincoln's Sparrow * White-crowned Sparrow * Golden-crowned Sparrow * Dark-eyed Junco * Black-headed Grosbeak * Blue Grosbeak * Lazuli Bunting * Red-winged Blackbird * Tricolored Blackbird * Western Meadowlark * Yellow-headed Blackbird * Brewer's Blackbird * Great-tailed Grackle * Brown-headed Cowbird * Orchard Oriole * Hooded Oriole * Bullock's Oriole * Scott's Oriole * Purple Finch * Cassin's Finch * House Finch * Pine Siskin * Lesser Goldfinch * Lawrence's Goldfinch * American Goldfinch * House Sparrow Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sa, 5/1/10 Inyokern Orchard Oriole photos From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 02 May 2010 19:49:34 -0700 All, Here's the link to Linda Pittman's photos of Saturday's (5/1/10) adult male Orchard Oriole on Ed and Terri Middlemiss's property in Inyokern. http://lsp.smugmug.com/Photography Linda Pittman Wilton, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]