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11 May Rodeo Lagoon - Yellow-breasted Chat 5/11 [] 10 May Benicia White Pelicans ["Scott Restivo" ] 10 May Rodeo Lagoon, Marin Headlands - May 10th [] 10 May Another try - Bodega Bay 5-10-08 Red Knots! ["Tiffany Erickson" ] 10 May Additional birds 5-10-08 Bodega Bay ["Tiffany Erickson" ] 9 May Great-tailed Grackle ["Doug Shaw" ] 9 May 4 Lazuli Bunting, 6 (Singing) Grasshopper Sparrow: Novato [DANIEL EDELSTEIN ] 8 May Great-tailed Grackle - a first for Kenwood? ["Ruth Rudesill" ] 09 May Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels ["badebo2k" ] 08 May Bodega Bay - Shorebirds Bonanza! (with Photos posted) [Dave Kutilek ] 7 May Sightings [Ken Wilson ] 08 May Bodega Bay birds on the move ["dmfreid" ] 7 May Yellow-footed Western Gull - Follow-up ["Len Blumin" ] 7 May Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! [Floyd Hayes ] 07 May Re: Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! [Joseph Morlan ] 7 May Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! ["Len Blumin" ] 07 May Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! [] 7 May Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! [Floyd Hayes ] 07 May Red-necked Grebe ["Phil Persons" ] 6 May Bodega Bay - Shorebird panorama ["Len Blumin" ] 06 May Dusky? Hammond's? ["hofmannart" ] 06 May B. Bay Long-tailed duck ["dmfreid" ] 5 May Pt. Reyes National Seashore Bird Spp. and BOBCAT, Marin Co. [DANIEL EDELSTEIN ] 05 May Bodega Bay shorebird symphony ["dmfreid" ] 4 May RE: a first ["Widdowsons" ] 3 May a first ["Sharon Salisbury" ] 03 May lone Bonaparte's gull in Richardson's Bay, terns ["maineprairieboy" ] 2 May (Ongoing) Swainson's Thrush & Other Bird Spp. of Local-Phenological Interest [DANIEL EDELSTEIN ] 2 May East Marin - Las Gallinas and Shorebird Marsh ["Len Blumin" ] 1 May Shollenberger Park - the good, the bad and the ugly. ["Len Blumin" ] 01 May More Bodega Bay birds ["dmfreid" ] 30 Apr (Brief): Western Tanager/W.W. Pewee - Marin & Sonoma Co. [DANIEL EDELSTEIN ] 30 Apr Long-tailed duck plus other Bodega Bay birds ["dmfreid" ] 30 Apr Shollenberger Park Report ["newfieman2001" ] 29 Apr Phalaropes at Las Gallinas ["Len Blumin" ] 29 Apr Hawk Lecture in Sonoma (May 1 st - 7:30PM) ["torusert" ] 29 Apr Black Rail at China Camp, among others. ["wilcox_kerry" ] 27 Apr Rodeo Lagoon - April 27th [] 26 Apr Rodeo Lagoon - April 26th [] 26 Apr Bird Spp. Detected 4/24 & 4/25/08 in Marin & Sonoma Co. [DANIEL EDELSTEIN ] 21 Apr Tricolored Blackbirds ["Jon Winter" ] 20 Apr Re: Indian Valley Reservoir ["Brent Campos" ] 19 Apr Re: Indian Valley Reservoir [Maggie Rufo ] 19 Apr also in Napa RE: Swainson's seen in Sonoma ["JOHN STERLING" ] 19 Apr Swainson's seen in Sonoma ["peter_colasanti" ] 18 Apr Glaucous Gull at the Fish Docks ["Andrew Rush" ] 18 Apr Indian Valley Reservoir, 4/15 ["Brent Campos" ] 18 Apr Beautiful Crow? [krippens ] 17 Apr golden eagle (Sonoma Co.) ["Ken Burton" ] 17 Apr Hawk Lecture in Sonoma (May 1 st - 7:30PM) ["torusert" ] 17 Apr Beautiful Crow In Marin [] 17 Apr Stafford Lake & This Week's Fun With Aves.... [DANIEL EDELSTEIN ] Subject: Rodeo Lagoon - Yellow-breasted Chat 5/11 From: WGDLegge AT aol.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 13:56:24 -0400 I located a smart and loud Yellow-breasted Chat this morning at Rodeo Lagoon, Marin Headlands, singing from a dense clump of willows along Lagoon Trail, on the south side of Rodeo Lagoon. From the Headlands Visitor Center Car Park, take Lagoon Trail towards the beach, and the Chat was singing and reasonably viewable?in the dense clump of willows on the south side of the path, appoximately 50-75 yards from the car park.? Not too much else to report in the cold and overcast conditions, the best being: 1 female White-winged Scoter with Surfs off the beach 2 Red-throated Loon on the sea 3 Common Loon on the sea just off the beach A flock of 12 Bonaparte's Gulls heading N offshore (most appeared to be 1st summers) 4 Red-necked Phalarope on the main lagoon ?? William Legge Mill Valley, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Benicia White Pelicans From: "Scott Restivo" <srestivo AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 20:39:15 -0700 Seven White Pelicans in Southampton Bay, Benicia, seen from Benicia State Rec Area about 6 pm. They then took off and flew to the northwest, towards Vallejo. Scott R Benicia [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Rodeo Lagoon, Marin Headlands - May 10th From: WGDLegge AT aol.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 15:33:12 -0400 A two hour circuit of Rodeo Lagoon produced 63 species this morning.  Again nothing too exciting but a good selection of birds and my site year list inched forward to 125 for the year thus far.   Highlights were a 1st year male Black Scoter and female White-winged Scoter on the sea off the main beach with Surf Scoters.  Also 1 Red Phalarope was seen feeding on the sea c. 70 yards offshore with a single Red-necked Phalarope.   Best of the rest included:   6 Red-throated Loon offshore (4 of which were flying N), plus a seventh bird on the main lagoon 2+ Pacific Loon on the sea – although no movement of this species was noted this morning 1 Common Loon flew south offshore 1 Whimbrel a the beach 1 Spotted Sandpiper 5 Red-necked Phalaropes on the main and inner lagoons 3 Great Horned Owls including two mid-sized young 3 Cedar Waxwing 1 Fox Sparrow   Plus I had four River Otters today showing no interest in the birds today despite coming within striking distance of a Snowy Egret and Double-crested Cormorant   William Legge Mill Valley, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Another try - Bodega Bay 5-10-08 Red Knots! From: "Tiffany Erickson" <tiffymm AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:56:18 -0000 Based on the reports coming in from this week at Bodega Bay my husband and I went over after work yesterday. This didn't give us much time to bird (6-8pm)but it was well worth it.The RED KNOTS were gorgeous. There were too many to count!Also Dunlin, Sanderling, Short- billed Dowithcer, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Turnstone, Black-bellied Plover, Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers (Lots). Many of these birds were in alternate plumage. The Dunlin with black chests were especially striking. It was very windy so we were completely limited to car birding (luckily the tide was just going out so the birds were close in) and the white caps made it tough to spot birds on the open water but there were some highlights besides the Shorebirds. Red-necked Phaloropes were in decent numbers spinning around. We could not make out any Red Phalaropes but I bet they are out there. Most interesting bird for us was a Greater White Fronted Goose foraging with Coots in the channel along the Porto Bodega parking lot. Also in this area was a group of Bonaparte's Gulls with a few showing completely black heads. Best bird was an alternative plumage Red Throated Loon VERY close to shore. Also lots of Common and a few Pacific Loons in varying plumages in loose groups. One Pied-billed Grebe and a fair number of Western/Clarks resting. Still on the water were good numbers of Brant, Scaup and Surf Scoters. Unusual for us was NO Raptors or Terns. Probably the time and the wind. Get out there! Tiffany Erickosn Windsor, CA Subject: Additional birds 5-10-08 Bodega Bay From: "Tiffany Erickson" <tiffymm AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:40:08 -0000 I forget to mention in my previous post the high numbers of Semipalmated Plovers we saw. Every foraging group of Shorebirds we looked at had large numbers mixed in. I have never seen them in high numbers before. There were also peeps - Western and Least in decent numbers. Tiffany Erickson Windsor, CA Subject: Great-tailed Grackle From: "Doug Shaw" <doug.shaw AT att.net> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 07:52:37 -0800 > Hi All, > > Ruth's post reminded me to post my sighting from yesterday. A very loud > male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE flew over my Santa Rosa yard near Larkfield / > Wikiup. The bird landed briefly on a telephone wire in the Redwood Mobile > Home Park then continued flying southeast towards Wikiup. Maybe the > grackle was headed towards the golf course in that area. This was a new > bird for my yard list. > > Good Birding, > > Doug Shaw > Santa Rosa, CA Subject: 4 Lazuli Bunting, 6 (Singing) Grasshopper Sparrow: Novato From: DANIEL EDELSTEIN <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 02:34:03 -0700 (GMT-07:00) 5/8/08 Novato, CA (Marin Co.) Mt. Burdell * Both in the a.m. and p.m., I enjoyed seeing and hearing LAZULI BUNTING (4 different songs heard in various areas, and three males seen) GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (6 individual songs heard throughout grassland habitats; perching singers seen as close as 70'-100' -- amazing) Other birds, also of local interest, worth noting: - HOUSE WREN (nesting cavity found; bird seen and heard singing) - ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: Great-tailed Grackle - a first for Kenwood? From: "Ruth Rudesill" <ruthier AT sonic.net> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 19:29:09 -0700 Last night while I was out in the yard , I heard unusual calls, a weird whistle, rattling. I didn't know what is was - and thought maybe a strange oriole??? Well, tonight I got home late (which is why I missed the RROS meeting) and walked my dogs later than I normally do. There was a large flock of Brewer's Blackbirds - more than I ever remember seeing in town and then this monster blackbird flies in and lands on wire, making strange calls. Its a male Great-tailed Grackle! Well, that settles the mystery calls, but what is he doing in Kenwood? This along Los Guilicos Ave between Cypress and Laurel, near the small creek that runs through town. I've also been enjoying the Spotted Towhee turf war in my yard - two males have been vying for one female and she has a nest (because I, unfortunately, found a nesting on the ground the other day.) They never stop calling! Still have Cedar Waxwings too. Good Birding, Ruth Rudesill Kenwood, Sonoma Valley Home of Blackbirdzilla! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels From: "badebo2k" <badebo AT pacbell.net> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 00:05:37 -0000 Given the recent sightings of large numbers of Whimbrels at Doran Park, I thought it might be useful to pass on this posting from the BorealBirder discussion group (apparently originally posted on AKBirding). Bud Debo San Rafael ------------------------------------------ Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels Over the last two years, we have been color-flagging Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits on Chilo� Island, Chile. Over 20,000 each of godwits and Whimbrels spend the boreal winter in the vicinity of Chilo�. Using a canon-net, we have marked 323 Hudsonian Godwits and 135 Whimbrels. These birds will be sporting a red flag (the color for Chile) that is engraved with a unique two-letter/number combination on their upper left leg (tibiotarsus). Flag letters/numbers are read like we read a book, from left to right. They will also have a combination of a metal band and a color ring on their upper right leg. For godwits, this combination will be yellow/metal for 2007 and orange/metal for 2008. Combinations should be read as yellow color band over a metal band. For Whimbrels, the combination will be blue/metal for 2007 and yellow/metal for 2008. Remember that anatomical directions are the way the bird is facing, not necessarily the way you are looking at the bird. Re-sighting of flagged birds will help us determine their migration routes. Please report any flag and color-band observations to Jim Johnson jim_a_johnson AT ... ; 786-3423 or 317-4032). Last year we had a re-sighting of a Hudsonian Godwit near King Salmon, AK and a Whimbrel in southern California. Colleagues in Colombia have also color-flagged Whimbrels this past spring in the Sanquianga National Park. They marked 38 individuals with the following combination: metal/orange or black on upper right leg, nothing on lower right, inscribed medium green flag/yellow flag on upper left leg, and nothing on lower left. Please report these birds to Richard Johnston (calidris AT ... or rjohnston AT ... ). Thanks in advance for the assistance. Jim Johnson Anchorage [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bodega Bay - Shorebirds Bonanza! (with Photos posted) From: Dave Kutilek <dave AT birdingpix.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 14:54:23 -0700 I drove up from Morgan Hill to Bodega Bay on Tuesday (May 6) based upon Dea Freid's posting about RED KNOTs... and I was not disappointed! The overcast cleared just before 12 noon and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in sunny skies with no wind... and a bonanza of breeding plumaged shorebirds. Early on I met Len Blumin as we observed the "Yellow-footed Western Gull"... although we were not exactly sure what it was at first sighting. Soon we met Dea Freid... and others... and we all enjoyed the shorebirds at the mud flats with the tide out. Thank you for all your wonderful help! The RED KNOTs were fantastic, as well as breeding plumaged DUNLIN, SANDERLING, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, WILLET, MARBLED GODWIT, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK TURNSTONE, and even a few SURFBIRDs. Another highlight was my first California observation of a RED-NECKED GREBE. PHOTOS are now posted online in my usual BIRD BLOG on my web site at www.BirdingPix.com Enjoy! And Thanks again to Len and Dea for a wonderful day. Dave Kutilek Morgan Hill, CA -- www.BirdingPix.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sightings From: Ken Wilson <ken AT talontours.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:59:05 -0700 Some additional sightings to those already mentioned by others were seen by Ian Morrison, Chris Wood, John kelly and myself yesterday. At the mouth of the Russian River a first or second year Glaucous Gull was present amongst the myriad gulls on the beach. At Duncans landing 4 breeding plumaged Wandering Tattlers were present. Later in the day there were 19 Red-necked Phalarope and 8 White-faced Ibis at Schollenberger Wetlands in Petaluma. Ken Wilson ken AT talontours.com www.talontours.com (707) 775-2558 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bodega Bay birds on the move From: "dmfreid" <lemuria AT sonic.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 04:20:21 -0000 Besides making working conditions miserable, today's fierce winds brought some avian visitors. When I first got to work at Doran Park, I ran into Dan Nelson who said he had seen a lot of migrating Bonaparte's Gulls flying over. Several hours later, while en route to Westside Park, I saw a large flock of them in the harbor on the water. There is a small beach just past the Sport Fishing Center and they were in that vicinity. I estimated there were about 125 of them. Then, while at Westside Campground, in with a mixed flock of shorebirds were the most Whimbrels I have ever seen on the ground - about 125 of them! A migrating flock evidently decided to take a break and drop down. They were very skittish and difficult to approach. With that many birds to observe, I noted the variability in bill size. The largest one was about twice the size of the smallest. About 10 min after I arrived, most of them left. Over the next 1/2 hr I saw several more small flocks of Whimbrels flying over. As I was getting ready to leave, the mixed flock moved to their usual spot between Spud Pt and Westside. I stopped to observe and counted at least 30 Whimbrels still there plus at least 20 Ruddy Turnstones. Small groups of Bonaparte's Gulls were coming and going. I also saw a number of Red-necked Phalaropes in multiple areas- off Westside, before Spud Pt Marina, at the Sport Fishing Center and at Doran Park. Later that afternoon at Doran, I was driving by the marsh opposite Cypress Day Use area and saw a familiar phalarope form swimming in a wet area in the marsh. No one was behind me, so I slowed for a better look and then I saw a flash of red breast. Screeech! Binoculars. Yes, a Red Phalarope in full alternate plumage! I tried to get a few photos, but with the wind and no tripod, it was impossible. Lastly, around 4:30 pm, I went to the Jetty and saw only a few birds. One was a Surf Scoter, one was a Pigeon Guillamot and one pesky one kept diving before I could get a good look at it. While I was watching, a Red Phalarope flew in. I was finally able to get a look at the pesky diver and don't you know, it turned out to be the female Long-tailed Duck. I think the phalarope was the same bird I saw earlier because there was no longer one at the marsh when I checked. Dea Freid Sebastopol Subject: Yellow-footed Western Gull - Follow-up From: "Len Blumin" <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:49:13 -0700 Regarding the recent sighting at Doran Beach of what appeared to be a Western Gull with yellow legs, I wrote to Alvaro Jaramillo and sent him the photos. Alvaro wrote the following, which I'm sure he won't mind my sharingt with you. The bird I saw had the same remarkably orange-looking bill that he describes: " Indeed Western Gulls sometimes show yellow legs and feet. I see about 5-10 of these birds every year here in Half Moon Bay, primarily in the late winter and spring. Every single time, these birds also show a very deep yellow (orange basically) bill color. I have interpreted it as a pigment anomaly which occurs in some Western Gulls, and it probably is heightened during the breeding season when soft part colors typically become brighter. Your bird is not a Yellow-footed due to the bill being smaller than average for that species, and how pale the back coloration is, YF is pretty dark above. It is an odd situation, I wish I knew what caused it. " Alvaro Alvaro Jaramillo chucao AT coastside.net Half Moon Bay, California Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide www.fieldguides.com -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157602827745636/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! From: Floyd Hayes <floyd_hayes AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:53:22 -0700 (PDT) Identifying extralimital Yellow-footed Gulls appears to be quite a headache! Unfortunately my gull guides are at home, so I'm browsing the Internet trying to find more information. Some Western Gulls apparently have yellow legs, but are they always dull yellow or can they be bright yellow? I'm finding a dearth of information. The only photos I've been able to locate of a bird thought to be a yellow-legged Western Gull are from Doheny State Beach in 2005: http://members.cox.net/orcorba/Travis.jpg http://members.cox.net/orcorba/Joel.jpg Here are excerpts from a message posted by Stephen Mlodinow on the Frontiers of Field Identification website on 25 January 2004: "I have returned from Baja California... One of the fun experiences down there was a chance to see a fair number of Western and Yellow-footed Gulls side-by-side... We found three other differences [besides leg color]. "1) Yellow-footed Gulls had paler eyes. Almost all YFGUs we looked at had bright yellow-white irides. In the Westerns, though the irides were pale, they clearly had some dusky or brownish clouding by comparison. "2) The YF Gulls had brighter bills, almost orange-yellow. The Westerns had plainer yellow bills. "3) YF Gulls had larger bills with deeper gonydeal angles. "Some of these differences, esp bill color, may be a seasonal effect, though I can't say I remember Western Gulls in SoCal (back when I lived there) ever having such livid colored bills. "One thing we did not see was a difference in mantle color [but birds north of San Francisco would be paler]." Len's gull doesn't appear particularly dark-backed or bright eyed, which would be suggestive of Western Gull, but the bill and legs sure are bright! Are there any photos of NESTING Western Gulls with yellow legs? Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake, CA ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Re: Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 11:43:02 -0700 All, There's a very nice picture of a Yellow-footed Gull standing next to a Western Gull at: http://members.cox.net/orcorba/ On Wed, 7 May 2008 10:50:33 -0700, "Len Blumin" wrote: >Floyd and NNB'ers- > >I wish!! > >There severeal reasons why the gull shown in not a Yellow-footed Gull. > >Location of course makes Y-F Gull extremely unlikely. > >Mantle color not dark enough for Y-F Gull, but of course photos can be >very mis-leading in that regard. > >Howell and Dunn's "Gulls of the Americas" shows a adult breeding >Western Gull with yellow legs and feet and comments that some >individuals show this color in the spring (p. 221, photo 31.2). > >Didn't mention it in the post, but a near-by WEGU had legs that were a >combination of pink and yellow. > >Cheers, Len > >On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 10:10 AM, Floyd Hayes wrote: >> Buried in Len Blumin's report "Bodega Bay - Shorebird >> panorama" is an excellent description of a "Western" >> Gull with yellow legs. I just looked at his photos >> posted here: >> >> http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/northbaybirds/photos/browse/43ae >> >> I don't think it's an odd Western Gull. The bill is >> too stout, the iris too dark and the wings too short >> for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The mantle is too pale >> and the orbital ring too orangeish for a Kelp Gull. >> Why isn't it a Yellow-footed Gull?!?! >> >> Floyd Hayes >> Hidden Valley Lake, CA >> >> >> ____________________________________________________________________________________ >> Be a better friend, newshound, and >> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ >> -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044 jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu Birding Classes start Apr 1 in SF http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ Subject: Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! From: "Len Blumin" <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:50:33 -0700 Floyd and NNB'ers- I wish!! There severeal reasons why the gull shown in not a Yellow-footed Gull. Location of course makes Y-F Gull extremely unlikely. Mantle color not dark enough for Y-F Gull, but of course photos can be very mis-leading in that regard. Howell and Dunn's "Gulls of the Americas" shows a adult breeding Western Gull with yellow legs and feet and comments that some individuals show this color in the spring (p. 221, photo 31.2). Didn't mention it in the post, but a near-by WEGU had legs that were a combination of pink and yellow. Cheers, Len On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 10:10 AM, Floyd Hayes wrote: > Buried in Len Blumin's report "Bodega Bay - Shorebird > panorama" is an excellent description of a "Western" > Gull with yellow legs. I just looked at his photos > posted here: > > http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/northbaybirds/photos/browse/43ae > > I don't think it's an odd Western Gull. The bill is > too stout, the iris too dark and the wings too short > for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The mantle is too pale > and the orbital ring too orangeish for a Kelp Gull. > Why isn't it a Yellow-footed Gull?!?! > > Floyd Hayes > Hidden Valley Lake, CA > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157602827745636/ Subject: Re: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! From: scre AT aol.com Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 13:28:15 -0400 Floyd, all, To me this bird looks fine for a Western Gull with yellow legs.? The back doesn't look dark enough (on my computer monitor it doesn't look to dark to be occidentalis), the bill doesn't look quite bulbous enough either for Yellow-footed Gull. I've seen gulls like this before in southern California which got me going with Yellow-footed Gull as well.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow-footed Gull in Sonoma County?!?! From: Floyd Hayes <floyd_hayes AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:10:31 -0700 (PDT) Buried in Len Blumin's report "Bodega Bay - Shorebird panorama" is an excellent description of a "Western" Gull with yellow legs. I just looked at his photos posted here: http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/northbaybirds/photos/browse/43ae I don't think it's an odd Western Gull. The bill is too stout, the iris too dark and the wings too short for a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The mantle is too pale and the orbital ring too orangeish for a Kelp Gull. Why isn't it a Yellow-footed Gull?!?! Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake, CA ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Red-necked Grebe From: "Phil Persons" <ppersons AT sonic.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 01:47:14 -0000 On May 5, one, in breeding plumage, off Campbell Cove, Bodega harbor. Subject: Bodega Bay - Shorebird panorama From: "Len Blumin" <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 17:28:07 -0700 Dea Freid's recent post about the migrating shorebirds at Bodega Bay prompted a number of us to dare the blustery forecast, and we were not disappointed. Dave Kutilek came all the way from Morgan Hill, and others present included Jean Richmond's group. All were thrilled with the birding. Highlight for most was 15+ Red Knots, almost all of them in full alternate plumage. The bay was thick with Marbled Godwits, about 5% of them showing bright orange at the base of the bill where we normally see pink, and this was associated with a lighter face. Many hundreds of Sanderlings, some with color, hundreds of Dowitchers with pumpkin breasts (?SB sp.), scores of Willets and Black Turnstones, about a dozen Ruddy Turnstones, a few Surfbirds, and a scattering of Western and Least Sandpipers (only the Western in full alternate plumage). All these at Doran Beach, noon-1pm, on the mudflat north of the Cypress Parking Lot (first large paved lot on the left after you drive in). Oh, there were others too. Jean's group found a Wandering Tattler from Hole-in-Head lot, and I saw a male RN Phalarope in a mixed flock on the point near the Marine Lab, along with more Western Sandpipers. In closing, I'd like to report a strange Western Gull on the beach near the boat launch just past the Coast Guard Station on the Doran side. Western Gull by size and dark gray back. This handsome bird not only had a bright yellow-orange bill, but his leg color was the same bright yellow-orange, with nary a trace of pink. Assume this is one end of the bell curve of leg color in breeding Westerns, but would appreciate some enlightenment. Anearby Western had pink/orange feet, but other had the normal pink feet. Will post some photos on NBB site, under Bluheron Birds album. Cheers, Len Blumin -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157602827745636/ Subject: Dusky? Hammond's? From: "hofmannart" <art AT sonic.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 23:14:14 -0000 I heard a new song yesterday and today on my usual Channel Drive walk (eastern Santa Rosa) and spotted a flycatcher. I watched for a fairly long time and listened, both days. At home, I looked at my books, looked them up on the computer and compared songs. I'm going with Dusky right now. Bill was quite yellow/orangish... Art Hofmann Subject: B. Bay Long-tailed duck From: "dmfreid" <lemuria AT sonic.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 05:48:55 -0000 Saw the female LTDU again today behind the ranger station at Doran Park at 11:50 am. She is molting and looking rather ratty: some of her tail feathers were naked vanes. In yesterday's post I forgot to mention there were lots of Dunlins around. Guess that's what happens when you are tired and trying to write a post on the commercial breaks of a Star Wars movie. I think by then my mind was more on Master Yoda... Dea Freid Sebastopol Subject: Pt. Reyes National Seashore Bird Spp. and BOBCAT, Marin Co. From: DANIEL EDELSTEIN <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 01:03:03 -0700 (GMT-07:00) 5/4/08, various Pt. Reyes National Seashore locations, ~Olema, CA, Marin Co. CA Highlights of local interest and phenological/seasonal intrigue appear below (four locations). My spirited Merritt College class (“Bird Song Ecology”) students enjoyed and detected the following bird species (below) and other interesting #Animalia/Felidae (e.g., BOBCAT!) and Insecta/Lepidoptera 1. Earthquake Trail (~Bear Valley Visitor Center) - SWAINSON’S THRUSH (1, heard, one kind of call note only; no song) - ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (3, males, including “wing-whrrr” sounds of their courtship flights followed by sightings of males perched on wires and tree limb perches near the “Red Barn”) (i.e., all 3 males possessed field marks of classic Allen’s definitive adult males: rusty flanks/sides with rusty rectrices and lower mantle transitioning into green mantle/back through the lower neck/lower nape) - Honorable mentions worth sharing and telling: - WILSON’s WARBLER (5 seen, among which 2 song variants heard; intra species behavior/interaction included chasing behavior of one male individual with another male) - ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (2 seen and heard, with the rare privilege of the orange-crown present in one individual) - OSPREY (1, seen initially by Harv Wilson) 2. Woodpecker Trail (~near the beginning of the Bear Valley Trail next to the gravel parking lot south of the Visitor Center) - GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS (7, calls and songs heard from high above in the upper canopy of Douglas Fir trees) - WINTER WREN (1, initially heard singing, then seen by the group) 3. Olema Marsh - OSPREY (1, flyover ~150’ directly above the group) * #(Fascinating) Animalia sighting: - BOBCAT on the edge of the northeastern portion of the marsh (initially spotted by Yvonne McHugh); individual seen was 370' from the group and it remained in view while sitting upright for four minutes before disappearing downslope toward the marsh). 4. Limantour Road turnoff on flatland before road rises (and adjoining trail that goes by the Miwok Village area) - chasing interaction between HUTTON’S VIREO (1, seen) and WARBLING VIREO (1, seen; call heard) is not, of course, remarkable in terms of the bird species present (both common nesters in the County). The interesting point here is the 3-minute bout of “shree” calling continuously by the WARBLING VIREO as it pursued the HUTTON’S and chased it. * INSECTA APPENDIX: 5 Lepitopteran spp. seen - LORQUIN’S ADMIRAL, ANISE SWALLOWTAIL, CABBAGE WHITE, SARA ORANGETIP, and FIELD CRESCENT Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: Bodega Bay shorebird symphony From: "dmfreid" <lemuria AT sonic.net> Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 05:43:52 -0000 Sunday morning was a wonderful time to be out at Doran Park watching shorebirds. As I entered the park I saw a Red-necked Phalarope in the creek before the entry station. The bird was in the marsh side of the creek. It was not visible a lot of the time but would pop out periodically as it industriously searched for food. My heart always sings when I see one of these beautiful birds. I never tire of watching them. After entering the park a little after 9 am, I went to the mud flats opposite Cypress Day Use area. There were tons of birds to view. First I saw 9 Bonaparte's Gulls. Then, amongst the other birds, I began to see Red Knots. By the time I finished counting them, there were 11 Red Knots! One was still in basic plumage. I don't think ID guides do justice to how beautiful they look in breeding plumage. Besides these, there were abundant Sanderlings, Dowitchers, Willets, Marbled Godwits, Semi-palmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, a few Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones (hope I didn't forget a species). Someone else posted about how nice they look in breeding plumage and I agree. Even the most frequently seen species are fresh and handsome in their new garb. I was admiring how nice the Sanderlings look now. Shortly before I had to start work, I saw a Forster's Tern in alternate plumage in among the Caspians. It was a great morning and the wind was quiet while I was birding. A few hours later I also saw 2 Long-billed Curlews in the same general area. Finally, on Sat a flock of 30 RNPH landed briefly at the entry station pond. Dea Freid Sebastopol Subject: RE: a first From: "Widdowsons" <widdowson AT saber.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 09:48:03 -0700 Sharon, Are you sure it wasn't a Nuttalls? They are more likely than a Hairy in Mill Valley, depending on your neighborhood, and also give a rattle-like call. You would have noticed the ladder pattern on its back. Either way it will probably be back. Congratulations on the new yard bird. Cheers, Bud Widdowson Shasta Lake, CA From: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sharon Salisbury Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 4:31 PM To: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SPAM][NBB] a first I heard an unusual call at my feeder and was thrilled to see a Hairy Woodpecker first tapping at the posts of the feeders, then flew up to the suet feeder and stuffed his beak then flew off with a clatter. I have seen Acorn Woodpeckers here in my garden, but never a Hairy. Is it unusual for them to come to feeders? Made my day. Sharon Salisbury Mill Valley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: a first From: "Sharon Salisbury" <daisy44 AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 16:31:25 -0700 I heard an unusual call at my feeder and was thrilled to see a Hairy Woodpecker first tapping at the posts of the feeders, then flew up to the suet feeder and stuffed his beak then flew off with a clatter. I have seen Acorn Woodpeckers here in my garden, but never a Hairy. Is it unusual for them to come to feeders? Made my day. Sharon Salisbury Mill Valley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: lone Bonaparte's gull in Richardson's Bay, terns From: "maineprairieboy" <maineprairieboy AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 07:31:36 -0000 Friday about 6 pm I saw a single BONAPARTE'S GULL in alternate plumage near the border between the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and The Cove Apts. CASPIAN and FORSTER'S TERNS have been present for weeks although not numerous. Forster's terns have been a bit sporadic recently. Shorebirds are scarce except for 20-40 MARBLED GODWITS. In the low single digits recently I've seen BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, WILLETS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and the ever-present BLACK-NECKED STILTS. The best vantage points are on the bayside path accessed from Harbor Cove Way behind the Strawberry Point School. Harbor Cove Way is 0.3 miles along E. Strawberry Drive from Tiburon Blvd. Bob Hinz Strawberry/Mill Valley Subject: (Ongoing) Swainson's Thrush & Other Bird Spp. of Local-Phenological Interest From: DANIEL EDELSTEIN <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 14:49:22 -0700 (GMT-07:00) 5/2/08, Marin & Sonoma Co. Of local interest and seasonal-phenological interest, the species I detected today at: STAFFORD LAKE area, Novato, Marin Co. - SWAINSON'S THRUSH (2, heard; call ONLY (the initial *one heard in the rendition from "Bird Songs of CA" (Geoffrey A. Keller, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2003; www.americanbirding.org or libnatsounds AT cornell.edu) (* = To date, in the Bay Area, I've heard this sp. for ~ three weeks, but only two of its call patterns; no song has filled my airwaves yet, but I expect the Earthquake Trail this weekend (or soon after) could be an option for hearing a male sing -- among, of course, many other suitable habitat areas.) - BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (2 heard singing) - WARBLING VIREO (1, singing) - PURPLE FINCH (seen = 1 male and 4 females = five individuals in total; which is the singer is difficult to suggest, given Dr. Donald Kroodsma has written in the Cornell Lab of Orn. publications that females in this species sing) - BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (1 heard calling and another singing) - ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (1, singing) * SHILOH RANCH REGIONAL PARK, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co. - ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (1, singing) - WILSON'S WARBLER (1, seen) (Incidental Lepidopteran distraction there: near fallout of Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly.......along with plenty of Lorquin Admiral and Orange Sulfur individuals.) Good birding, Daniel Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: East Marin - Las Gallinas and Shorebird Marsh From: "Len Blumin" <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 12:09:25 -0700 Las Gallinas treatment pond #1 the past week has been good for shorebirds. Yesterday and today we saw many Dowitcher sp. in their striking alternate plumage (Jim White thought he heard vocalization of both LB and SB), many Western SP's in alterante plumage, a large flock of Marbled Godwits (some with bright orange-based bill), and a few Semipalmated Plovers and Least SP's. Best for me were several Dunlin in breeding plumage, with their red backs and black bellies. Will try to post photo in Bluheron Birds album. And of course the omnipresent and beautiful American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts. The shorebirds are feeding furiously, and probably won't stay long. I hesitate to mention it but I'm 90% sure I saw a Great-tailed Grackle fly by today, trailing its long wedge-shaped tail as it disappeared around the island in the end of pond #1. Shorebird Marsh (highway 101, north of Nordstrom's lot): The flock of alternate plumaged Forster's Terns number 40+ (not unusual for there to be 100 at the peak). Didn't see any nesting yet. Some of the terns, presumably the females, sit on the mud bars and cry out to the birds circling above, perhaps trying to attract a meal from a good potential mate. The Foster's Terns were joined by 2 Caspian Terns and 2 Bonaparte's Gulls. Further out at the north end there were scores of Semipalmated Plovers. Good birding, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157602827745636/ Subject: Shollenberger Park - the good, the bad and the ugly. From: "Len Blumin" <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 19:00:22 -0700 Quick survey at Shollenberger Park today. Always a great place to visit. The good: Best were close views of Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets on nests, seen well from the path directly out from PRBO Conservation Science at the south end of the pond. Beautiful eggs, too. A group of 10 Bonaparte's Gulls were loafing on the mud bar just north, and showed the full range of adult plumage from winter to full black-headed alternate. 2 nearby Caspian Terns had blood-red bills and made Bonnie's look tiny. A few scattered Western and Least Sandpipers in alternate plumage added to the mix. The bad: Canada Geese chicks everywhere! This fecund species is going to take over the planet. One pair of adults had a flotilla of 20 chicks motoring along between them. The ugly: 42, count'em, 42 Mute Swans. I admit these birds are magnificent creatures, but the sight is rather jarring. Looked like about 4 adult Mute Swans were sitting tight on nests, and I was told of some young cygnets in the channel. -- Cheers (?), Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157602827745636/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: More Bodega Bay birds From: "dmfreid" <lemuria AT sonic.net> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 17:44:46 -0000 O happy day!! On Wed at 12:30 I saw my first Red-necked Phalarope of the season on the creek before the entrance to Doran Park. When I went back a few hours later, it had gone. That evening, around 6:30 PM I was at the Sports Fishing Center where I saw a small group of sleeping dowitchers. As I looked, I noticed one seemed a bit brighter than the others and the red coloration extended a bit farther into the face. Its back looked a bit grayer too. When it woke up and I could see its bill, my suspicians were confirmed: it was a Red Knot that had partially molted into alternate plumage. In its present state, the differences are subtle and it looks much like the dowitchers it is with when its bill is obscured. I forgot to mention in my previous post that on Tue we saw a group of 6 whimbrels land on the beach at Pinnacle Gulch at 2:30 pm. Dea Freid Sebastopol Subject: (Brief): Western Tanager/W.W. Pewee - Marin & Sonoma Co. From: DANIEL EDELSTEIN <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:04:09 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Marin & Sonoma Co., 4/28 and 4/29/08 Of local interest and phenological/seasonal intrigue*: (* = no rare/vagrant/casual visitor observations to mention) - WESTERN TANAGER (1, heard calling with "tslitt" notes), Pacheco Valle area, Novato, Marin Co. - WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (1, heard, Slusser Rd. (near 1 mile north of River Rd.), Fulton/S. Rosa, Sonoma Co. * Related side notes - American Robin begins singing between 5:20 - 5:35 am the past week (in our back lot) - Newborn deer born a week ago in our back lot stood up and walked away within four hours of its birth Happy Spring, Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: Long-tailed duck plus other Bodega Bay birds From: "dmfreid" <lemuria AT sonic.net> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:40:25 -0000 After not seeing a LTDU for about 6 wks and no one reporting one for about 3 wks, I thought they had left the area. Yesterday (Tue) at about 7:30 am I saw an interesting looking bird as I drove by just before the Jetty Day Use area at Doran Park. I pulled over to check it out and was quite surprised to see it was a female LTDU! Don't know if it's the same one that has been around for so long. This one seemed to have more white on its head but no white on the scapulars so it wasn't a male. Anyway, it was a welcome sight. Some other sightings: dowitchers stopping off on their northward migration for about 3 wks. No vocalizing, but I think they are Shortbilled. Many Caspian Terns also, and last week one Long-billed Curlew at the Sports Fishing Center (Porto Bodega). Have spent a lot of time at Pinnacle Gulch lately and Sun and Tue heard an Orange-crowned Warbler plus seen on Sun- perhaps there's a nesting pair or at least a male looking for a mate? Saw an Osprey outside Westside Park carrying a giant Starry Flounder. Each day I look and hope for phalaropes but haven't seen one yet. Saw the post on Los Gallinas so maybe they'll be up my way soon. Dea Freid Sebastopol Subject: Shollenberger Park Report From: "newfieman2001" <nrdyer AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:58:54 -0000 For the last three days, two Semipalmated Plovers have been working the mudflats in the central pond near the weirs at the end of the left freshwater channel. A photo has been uploaded under Docent Bob. There are still a few migratory duck at the park. This morning this included Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Cinnamon Teal and one Common Goldeneye female. Senior Docent Bob Dyer Srhollenberger Park, Petaluma Subject: Phalaropes at Las Gallinas From: "Len Blumin" <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:28:38 -0700 Today at Las Gallinas Michael Stevenson and I counted 70+ Red-necked Phalaropes in breeding plumage, foraging in pond one. They stayed for 20 minutes in a nervous tight flock, both on the water and in the air, and then left heading south about 11 am, perhaps disturbed by several crows in the area. Also present were good numbers of alternate plumage Western Sandpipers, Dowitcher sp, LBGodwits, plus a few basic Least Sandpipers and alernate Dunlin. Have posted a picture of a portion of the RN Phalarope group (see Bluheron birds album) on the NBB site. -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157602827745636/ Subject: Hawk Lecture in Sonoma (May 1 st - 7:30PM) From: "torusert" <sonomabirding AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:15:32 -0000 The Valley of the Moon Nature Lectures presents Hawks of San Francisco Bay Area - Celebrating Two Decades of Research with guest speaker Allen Fish, Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Conservatory for the past 23 years. The public lectures is geared for all ages. Thursday, May 1st at 7:30PM in Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center - 276 E. Napa St. Phone - 707-939-4626 x1. There is a $5.00 donation. The presentation will focus on the research gathered over the past two decades related to California's species of hawks, kites, eagles, osprey, falcons, vultures, and harriers. Visit - http://www.sonomabirding.org/ for upcoming classes and events. Tom Rusert Sonoma, California Subject: Black Rail at China Camp, among others. From: "wilcox_kerry" <kwilcox AT audubon.org> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:10:31 -0000 Sunday (4/27) morning around 6am, Meryl Sundove, Karen Velas and I heard a BLACK RAIL calling in the marsh just east of Chicken Coop Hill in China Camp State Park. The bird made its "kee-kee-joo" call about ten times before quieting down. We were standing at the gate to Miwok Meadows and the bird seemed to be about 100 feet out in the marsh. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go look for it! Other species seen that morning in the Miwok Meadow day use area: PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, WARBLING VIREO, HUTTON'S VIREO, OAK TITMOUSE, AMERICAN ROBIN, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (all singing), WHITE- THROATED SWIFT, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, TREE SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. Great place to be right now if you're a bird or a birder! Kerry Wilcox Richardon Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary Tiburon Subject: Rodeo Lagoon - April 27th From: WGDLegge AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:26:20 -0400 Another reasonably good morning at Rodeo Lagoon (Marin Headlands) with all three species of Scoter being seen.   The White-winged Scoter continues its lonely vigil on the main lagoon, while I managed to pick out a female Black Scoter on the sea amongst the numerous Surf Scoter.   New shorebirds present today included a Semipalmated Plover and 2 Dunlin at the western end of the main lagoon, while the 2 Whimbrel continue at the beach.   Very little seemed to be moving offshore today on contrast to Saturday – some loons way off on the horizon, but far to far away to identify, plus a single impressive flock of 69 Brown Pelicans flying north: it would seem they are back in big numbers.  2 Red-throated Loons (one slightly oiled) and 1 Common Loon (in fine breeding plumage) just off the beach.   1 Eurasian Collared Dove seen in flight again near the Visitor Center, suggests an individual has taken up temporary residence at this location, while I also had 40+ Cedar Waxwing, a single Golden-crowned Sparrow and 3 Fox Sparrows today – getting late for both species.   Great Horned Owls have bred successfully and Northern Harriers are suspected of the same ‘somewhere’ up the Valley.     Finally the River Otters made a re-appearance today with 4 swimming and feeding at the western end of the main lagoon first thing this morning - no doubt eagerly awaiting the return of the Pelicans!    Good birding,   William Legge Mill Valley, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Rodeo Lagoon - April 26th From: WGDLegge AT aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:02:37 -0400 59 species logged in two hours at Rodeo Lagoon (Marin Headlands) this a.m. – a real mixed bag reflecting the change in seasons.   A 30 minute sea watch from the beach produced a trickle of loons heading northward – of those close enough to identify I logged 13 Red-throated, and 27 Pacific.  Also had 25 Brown Pelican, 5 Snowy Egrets, 2 Green-winged Teal and several unidentified flocks of peeps flying N as well.  Still an impressive raft of 500+ Surf Scoter offshore and Bird Island was covered in Brandt’s Cormorant and Common Murre.   Best of the rest included:   1 scruffy female White-winged Scoter on the main lagoon 1 male Northern Harrier 2 Hudsonian Whimbrel – at beach 5 Least Sandpiper – western shore of the lagoon 1 Eurasian Collared Dove – near the Visitor Center 1 Great Horned Owl – quarry 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Hutton’s Vireo 1 Hermit Thrush 2 Swainson’s Thrush 3 Fox Sparrows 1 1st year male Bullock’s Oriole – Visitor Center Eucalyptus trees     William Legge Mill Valley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bird Spp. Detected 4/24 & 4/25/08 in Marin & Sonoma Co. From: DANIEL EDELSTEIN <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:10:46 -0400 (EDT) Bird Detected, 4/24 & 4/25/08, Marin Co. & Sonoma Co. (Note: none of the below species are vagrants/accidentals and/or casual visitors, but all qualify for reporting in terms of local interest and seasonal/phenological angles): 1. 4/24/08 - Stafford Lake area LINCOLN’S SPARROW (3; interestingly, this sp. is still here) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (1, also a malingering truant) PURPLE FINCH (1, singing) BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (6, calling and singing) WILSON’S WARLBER (3, singing, including alternate song variant rendition) WESTERN KINGBIRD (1, singing) PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (interestingly, heard singing & calling) ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (1, wing-wheer sound heard from flyover 25’ away) - Santa Rosa Creek (on Willowside near Guernville Ave.) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (2, singing) 4/25/08 - Santa Rosa Creek (on Willowside near Guernville Ave.) BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (1, singing) YELLOW WARBLER (1, singing) Good birding to all, Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: Tricolored Blackbirds From: "Jon Winter" <wint AT tdl.com> Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:42:42 -0700 Has anyone seen Tricolored Blackbirds in Sonoma County in the past two years? If so, please contact me so that I can look and see it the colony is still extant. I will be doing a survey this weekend. Thank you- Jon Winter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Indian Valley Reservoir From: "Brent Campos" <brentrout AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:15:57 -0000 Indian Valley Reservoir is on the eastern edge of Lake County, north of Hwy 20 between Clear Lake and the town of Williams. The link below provides directions from Williams/I-5 to the abandoned establishment of Barkerville which is along the North Fork of Cache Creek where it flows into Indian Valley Res, right where I saw the majority of the Purple Martins and the Wandering Tattler. The last quarter of this drive is on a dirt road that is neglected by BLM -- who manages is it- -, but is easily passable in a low clearance vehicle. http://maps.google.com/maps? f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Williams,+ca&daddr=barkerville,+ca&jsv=107&sl l=39.153825,-122.557297&sspn=0.031881,0.062056&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11 Some people have provided some skepticism on my id of the tattler, suggesting it was likley a Solitary Sandpiper. The plumage, call and behavior were right on for tattler. I would not mistake the two species. Wandering Tattlers do breed inland on rocky streams; this bird likley just moved inland too soon. Sweet Birding, Brent Campos San Jose, CA --- In northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com, Maggie Rufo wrote: > > Where is Indian Valley Reservoir, please? Is this Indian Valley in Novato, > Marin County? > > Maggie > > Posted by: "Brent Campos" brentrout AT ... brentrout > Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:51 am (PDT) > While fishing Indian Valley Reservoir on Tuesday I came across a couple > species of interest. Perched around the many snags exposed due to low > water levels were 10 PURPLE MARTINS, both males and females, at the > northern end of the reservoir and the southern end. A few of the males > were inspecting cavities. Where the North Fork of Cache Creek enters > the reservoir a WANDERING TATTLER was foraging alongside a Spotted > Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs. > > Good birding, > Brent Campos > San Jose, CA > Subject: Re: Indian Valley Reservoir From: Maggie Rufo <magwhls AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:47:05 -0700 Where is Indian Valley Reservoir, please? Is this Indian Valley in Novato, Marin County? Maggie Posted by: "Brent Campos" brentrout AT yahoo.com brentrout Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:51 am (PDT) While fishing Indian Valley Reservoir on Tuesday I came across a couple species of interest. Perched around the many snags exposed due to low water levels were 10 PURPLE MARTINS, both males and females, at the northern end of the reservoir and the southern end. A few of the males were inspecting cavities. Where the North Fork of Cache Creek enters the reservoir a WANDERING TATTLER was foraging alongside a Spotted Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs. Good birding, Brent Campos San Jose, CA Subject: also in Napa RE: Swainson's seen in Sonoma From: "JOHN STERLING" <ani AT cal.net> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:34:43 -0700 Last Monday I saw the returning pair of Swainson's Hawks flying over the Hwy 29 bridge over the Napa River in south Napa. John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 ani AT cal.net From: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of peter_colasanti Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 1:45 PM To: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [NBB] Swainson's seen in Sonoma Hi Folks, Just finished the monthly Tolay Park survey with a spirited crew. We found a total of 69 species by noon including 2 Swainson's Hawks. The one seen well by me was a real dark morph; Len Nelson got a nice photo of it. Other species tallied today that were new to the Tolay counts were Western Wood-pewee and a Purple Finch. Tolay is a new county regional park east over the ridge from Lakeville in southern Sonoma County. It's currently in development and won't be open to the public for a year or so. Peter Colasanti [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Swainson's seen in Sonoma From: "peter_colasanti" <peter_colasanti AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:44:57 -0000 Hi Folks, Just finished the monthly Tolay Park survey with a spirited crew. We found a total of 69 species by noon including 2 Swainson's Hawks. The one seen well by me was a real dark morph; Len Nelson got a nice photo of it. Other species tallied today that were new to the Tolay counts were Western Wood-pewee and a Purple Finch. Tolay is a new county regional park east over the ridge from Lakeville in southern Sonoma County. It's currently in development and won't be open to the public for a year or so. Peter Colasanti Subject: Glaucous Gull at the Fish Docks From: "Andrew Rush" <arush AT berkeley.edu> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:37:43 -0700 Hi, I don't know if people are already aware of this, but there was a first winter Glaucous Gull on shore with the elephant seals below the Fish Docks in outer Pt. Reyes this morning. There were also a couple of Eurasian Collared Doves around too. Andrew Rush [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Indian Valley Reservoir, 4/15 From: "Brent Campos" <brentrout AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:51:17 -0000 While fishing Indian Valley Reservoir on Tuesday I came across a couple species of interest. Perched around the many snags exposed due to low water levels were 10 PURPLE MARTINS, both males and females, at the northern end of the reservoir and the southern end. A few of the males were inspecting cavities. Where the North Fork of Cache Creek enters the reservoir a WANDERING TATTLER was foraging alongside a Spotted Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs. Good birding, Brent Campos San Jose, CA Subject: Beautiful Crow? From: krippens <krippens AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:36:45 -0700 I live on a hill in Terra Linda. We see the daily crow flight, towards the bay in the morning, and away from the bay at dusk, often hundreds of crows at a time. For the past few weeks one of these crows has had a significant amount of white on its flight feathers. I'll see if I can get a closer look at it. Karen Jo Rippens Terra Linda - - - - - - -- - - - - - - 3. Beautiful Crow In Marin Posted by: "noblebill AT aol.com" noblebill AT aol.com noblebill_aol_com Date: Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:01 pm ((PDT)) At a little after noon today, flying low over Delano's Market on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Fairfax, Marin County, was a solitary crow -- the most beautiful plumage variant I've seen in a lifetime. The basal three-quarters of every primary and secondary was snow white. It's worth keeping an eye out for! Bill Noble, San Anselmo Subject: golden eagle (Sonoma Co.) From: "Ken Burton" <brdnrd AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:12:33 -0700 Around noon today an adult GOLDEN EAGLE was soaring over Shollenberger Park in Petaluma. Ken Burton McKinleyville Subject: Hawk Lecture in Sonoma (May 1 st - 7:30PM) From: "torusert" <sonomabirding AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:46:33 -0000 The Valley of the Moon Nature Lectures presents - Hawks of San Francisco Bay Area - Celebrating Two Decades of Research with guest speaker Allen Fish, Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Conservatory for the past 23 years. The public lecture is at Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center - 276 E. Napa St. Phone - 707-939-4626 x1. There is a $5.00 donation. The presentation will focus on the research gathered over the past two decades related to California's species of hawks, kites, eagles, osprey, falcons, vultures, and harriers. For upcoming lectures, birding classes and Kids Summer Bird Camp information visit - http://www.sonomabirding.org/ Tom Rusert Sonoma CA. Subject: Beautiful Crow In Marin From: noblebill AT aol.com Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:01:22 EDT At a little after noon today, flying low over Delano's Market on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Fairfax, Marin County, was a solitary crow -- the most beautiful plumage variant I've seen in a lifetime. The basal three-quarters of every primary and secondary was snow white. It's worth keeping an eye out for! Bill Noble, San Anselmo **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Stafford Lake & This Week's Fun With Aves.... From: DANIEL EDELSTEIN <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:32:18 -0700 (GMT-07:00) 4/17/08 Stafford Lake Area, Novato, Marin Co. (ALL bird observations that follow are of local and/or phenological-seasonal interest..........i.e., no rare or accidental/vagrant spp. to report) - WESTERN KINGBIRD - (perhaps most interesting in terms of song dynamics): BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (female, singing, as I saw her on a perch and noticed her singing in full song) (i.e., I have read the scientific literature in the past that suggested female BULLOCK ORIOLE individuals sing, but had never documented this behavior in the field until today when both modalities were confirmed: sight and sound. The citation for this behavior is from the U. of Mass's Dr. Donald Kroodsma, the author of the Singing Life of Birds) - ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (2 individuals heard) - RING-NECKED DUCK (still here, interestingly; still on Stafford Lake) - GREATER SCAUP (still here, interestingly; still on Stafford Lake) - LINCOLN'S SPARROW (still here, interestingly; our winter resident will soon be outta here stage right) (I saw 2 individuals in separate areas.) 4/16 Mt. Burdell, Novato, Marin Co. - GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - WILSON'S WARBLER - BULLOCK'S ORIOLE - HOUSE WREN * Incidentally, my target birds of the day were not heard/seen by me (yet): - Lazuli Bunting (has been reported to date elsewhere in the Bay Area) - Swainson's Thrush (other than Nick Whelan's excellent report 4-6 weeks ago, I have not yet seen another report of this neotropical migrant showing up yet in the NBB area; I typically here its call before song, by the way, like others of you, I'll bet.) * Other orders and classes of Kingdom Animalia fun to report: - five spp. of butterflies seen - juvenile southern alligator lizard seen - gray fox hole found * Good birding, enjoy the weather everyone.......Daniel Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax)