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Updated on Wednesday, September 1 at 08:42 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Oriental Storks,©BirdQuest

1 Sep Jack Stone ponds, Kings Co. ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
31 Aug Atwell Island Birds ["Steve Laymon" ]
31 Aug Kings Co year to date 221 species all observers ["calexandrinus" ]
31 Aug Tulare Co year to date 255 species all observers ["calexandrinus" ]
30 Aug RE: American Robins ["Rob Hansen" ]
30 Aug American Robins ["bklowe60" ]
30 Aug Sanderling Kings Co ["calexandrinus" ]
30 Aug FYI Flooded Fields on 19th Ave, Kings Co. ["markstacybirds" ]
28 Aug Kings Hudsonian Godwit & Other Goodies ["markstacybirds" ]
24 Aug kings county [John Luther ]
22 Aug Hudsonian Godwit Pics ["markstacybirds" ]
22 Aug Kings Hudsonian Godwit ["markstacybirds" ]
21 Aug Baird's and Semi Sandpipers ["markstacybirds" ]
19 Aug New Checklist for Tulare and Kings posted to Files section ["calexandrinus" ]
16 Aug RE: Kings Stilt Sandpiper ["calexandrinus" ]
16 Aug Kings Stilt Sandpiper ["billjoanne" ]
16 Aug Mineral King to Sawtooth Peak area Tulare Co ["calexandrinus" ]
15 Aug Kings Stilt Sandpiper ["markstacybirds" ]
08 Aug Continuing Semipalmated Sandpipers in Kings ["markstacybirds" ]
08 Aug Solitary Sandpiper ["Gary L" ]
06 Aug Kings Tulare notes ["calexandrinus" ]
5 Aug Kings County Semi Sands []
4 Aug Semipalmated Sand. at Jack Stone ponds (Kings Co.) ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
3 Aug Willet at Tulare WTP ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
02 Aug Tulare Co 252 species reported as of Aug 1, 2010 all observers ["calexandrinus" ]
02 Aug Kings Co Year to date all Observers 217 ["calexandrinus" ]
20 Jul Unusal Sighting ["bklowe60" ]
19 Jul Atwell Island Birds ["Steve Laymon" ]
17 Jul Canyon Wren at Atwell Island ["Steve Laymon" ]
17 Jul Lake Success Indigo Bunting & Bell's Vireo ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
13 Jul Fwd: "alternate" site Tulare Co. Black-backed Woodpecker July 11, 2010 [Bob Barnes ]
10 Jul Kings Co. Migrants ["markstacybirds" ]
3 Jul Indigo Bunting at Lake Success ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
2 Jul Says Phoebe summer record ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
01 Jul Kings Co 215 species reported in 2010 as of June 30, 2010 by all observers ["calexandrinus" ]
01 Jul Tulare Co 244 species reported in 2010 as of June 30, 2010 by all observers ["calexandrinus" ]
29 Jun South West Tulare ["calexandrinus" ]
25 Jun Troy Meadow Soras [Bob Barnes ]
22 Jun Tulare Co.: 21 Jun 2010 Black-backed Woodpecker [Bob Barnes ]
17 Jun Red Knot continues at BLM Ton Tache Wetland ["calexandrinus" ]
10 Jun Atwell Island Red Knot ["carlagary" ]
9 Jun Atwell Island Red Knot ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
05 Jun Kings County Franklin's Gulls ["jeff67632003" ]
03 Jun Probable Kings Indigo Bunting ["markstacybirds" ]
03 Jun Tulare Co year to date 234 species ["calexandrinus" ]
03 Jun Kings Co year to date 213 species all observers ["calexandrinus" ]
01 Jun Yellow-breasted Chat photo ["Luv2bird" ]
29 May Late Kings Migrants ["markstacybirds" ]
29 May Late Kings Migrants ["markstacybirds" ]
24 May Cedar Waxwing ["bklowe60" ]
18 May Tulare Co.: 15 & 16 May 10 [Bob Barnes ]
15 May Hanford/Kent Ave birding ["pennys" ]
15 May Boggs Slough ["markstacybirds" ]
13 May RE: Hooded Warbler ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
13 May RE: Hooded Warbler [Kevin Enns-Rempel ]
13 May Hooded Warbler ["c-cain AT sbcglobal.net" ]
13 May Common Tern at Kent /Jersey Ave ponds Kings ["calexandrinus" ]
09 May Kings RUTU & COTE ["markstacybirds" ]
08 May Rudy Turnstone Continue at Nevada Ave Ponds Kings ["calexandrinus" ]
5 May Lake Success Bell's Vireos and Yellow-breasted Chats ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
05 May Yellow-breasted Chat back at Dry Creek Dr ["calexandrinus" ]
03 May 3 May 10: Scott's Oriole - Lower Sherman Pass Rd. [Bob Barnes ]
03 May All Day in Kings Co - Common Loon ["calexandrinus" ]
01 May Tulare Co year to date 203 species ["calexandrinus" ]
01 May Kings Co Year to date 203 species ["calexandrinus" ]
30 Apr kings wrong dates [John Luther ]
30 Apr Fw: eBird Report - Tar Canyon corral , 4/22/10 [John Luther ]
30 Apr Band-tailed Pigeon on valley floor Kings Co ["calexandrinus" ]
28 Apr Vaux's swifts and bank swallow at Deer Creek and Friant-Kern Canal on April 27, ["Robert" ]
27 Apr Tule River Refinding Solitary Sandpiper and Green-tailed Towhee continue ["calexandrinus" ]
26 Apr Kings Co. Tule R. migrants ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ]
26 Apr Some Kings Birds ["markstacybirds" ]
23 Apr Tar Canyon 4 Rare birds ["calexandrinus" ]
20 Apr Solitary Sandpiper @ Herbert Preserve Apr. 17; 2 Swainsons hawk nests Apr. 18 ["Robert" ]
20 Apr Tundra Swan location details ["calexandrinus" ]
20 Apr Tundra Swan Visalia Plaza Park ["calexandrinus" ]

Subject: Jack Stone ponds, Kings Co.
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 06:42:03 -0700
Yesterday (Tues. 8/31) at Jack Stone ponds there weren't many birds but with
those few birds there we still found four Whimbrels, one juv. Sanderling,
and one juv. Baird's Sandpiper.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Atwell Island Birds
From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:16:08 -0700
I had a Short-billed Dowitcher at the BLM Ton Tache Wetland south of Alpaugh in 
the late evening on Sunday (29 Aug) - it and the several hundred Long-billed 
Dowitchers were gone on Monday morning. There was a Marbled Godwit for a brief 
stay around noon on Monday (30 Aug). I also saw my first Savannah Sparrows (8 
total) for fall on Monday. 


Steve Laymon

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Kings Co year to date 221 species all observers
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:54:34 -0000
August 30, 2010 Kings Co 2010
221 species reported in 2010 as of August 30, 2010 by all observers

1 Accidental
Hudsonian Godwit Aug 22, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy CBRC bird

9 Casual
Greater Scaup Mar 6, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Wild Turkey Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Common Loon May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Ruddy Turnstone May 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Hansen Bothers
Ruff Mar 28, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds, Jeff Seay
Glaucous-winged Gull Jan 10, Blakely Canal, Jeff Seay
Common Tern May 8, Jackstone's Ponds, Mark Stacy
Green-tailed Towhee Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Indigo Bunting Jun 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy

26 Rare
Cackling Goose Mar 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy
Tundra Swan Jan 10, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds flyover, Jeff Seay
Common Goldeneye Jan 17, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Pacific Golden-Plover Feb 20, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Solitary Sandpiper Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Willet Mar 6, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Red Knot Jul 31, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Sanderling Jan 10, Jack Stone Ponds, Mark Stacy
Semipalmated Sandpiper Jun 29, Private Property Southern Kings, Jeff Seay
Baird's Sandpiper Jul 27, Private Property Southern Kings, Jeff Seay
Stilt Sandpiper Aug 15, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy
Short-billed Dowitcher Apr 18, Corcoran Reservoir, Mark Stacy
Franklin's Gull May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Least Tern May 28, Private Property Kings, Jeff Seay
Band-tailed Pigeon Apr 28, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Short-eared Owl Apr 25, Boggs Slough, Bob Brandriff
White-throated Swift Mar 28, Hwy 5 South of Avenal, Al DeMartini
Hairy Woodpecker Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Olive-sided Flycatcher Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Hutton's Vireo Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Swainson's Thrush May 11, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 28, Boggs Slough, John Luther
Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 18, Nevada and 14th Ave, Mark Stacy
White-throated Sparrow Known from 2009
Hooded Oriole Apr 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Lawrence's Goldfinch Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers

Yet unreported Abundant to Rare in 2010

5 Uncommon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Common Poorwill
Brown Creeper
Canyon Wren
Pine Siskin

19 Rare
Ross's Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle
Long-eared Owl
Black Swift
Costa's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Cassin's Kingbird
Steller's Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Varied Thrush
Sage Thrasher
Purple Finch

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Tulare Co year to date 255 species all observers
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:49:23 -0000
August 30, 2010 Tulare Co 2010
255 species reported in 2010 as of August 30, 2010 by all observers

6 Casual
Red Knot Jun, BLM Ton Tache Wetlands, Steve Laymon
Stilt Sandpiper Jan, BLM pond, John Lockhart
Franklin's Gull Apr, 4th and Ave 112 flooded field, John Lockhart
Common Tern Jun, BLM Restoration Pond, Steve Summers
Bell's Vireo May, Success Lake Tule River, Steve Summers
Indigo Bunting Jul, Success Lake, Steve Summers

22 Rare
Cackling Goose Jan, Springville, known from 2009
Tundra Swan Apr, Visalia, Plaza Park, Richard Norton
Eurasian Wigeon Feb, Pixley NWR, Steve Summers
Blue-winged Teal Mar, Tulare WTP, John Lockhart
Common Goldeneye Jan, Slick Rock, John Lockhart
Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Success Lake, known from 2009
Chukar May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trail, Steve Summers
Snowy Plover Jul, Ton Tache Wetlands, Steve Laymon
Solitary Sandpiper Apr, Herbert Preserve, Rob Hansen
Willet Aug, Tulare WTP, Steve Summers
Baird's Sandpiper May, Herbert Preserve, Rob Hansen
Short-eared Owl Feb, Pixley NWR, Alison Sheehey
Costa's Hummingbird Jan, Success Lake Campground, known from 2009
Black-backed Woodpecker Jun, near Boone Meadow, Jon Dunn
Willow Flycatcher May, St John's River Visalia, Mary Merriman
Purple Martin Apr, Dry Creek Dr, John Lockhart
Bank Swallow Apr, BLM Hunters Pond, John Lockhart
Swainson's Thrush May, Alpaugh City Park, John Lockhart
Black-throated Sparrow Jan, Holdridge Rd, known from 2009
White-throated Sparrow May, Creighton Ranch, Rob Hansen
Scott's Oriole May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trl, Bob Barnes
Pine Grosbeak Jul, Hockett Meadow, Mark Stacy

Yet unreported Aubundant to Rare

Tulare Co All Need 2010 14 Monday, August 30, 2010

4 Uncommon
Mountain Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
Allen's Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker

10 Rare
Ross's Goose
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Pacific Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-eared Owl
Red-naped Sapsucker
Sage Thrasher
Grasshopper Sparrow

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: RE: American Robins
From: "Rob Hansen" <hansenbio AT comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:13:07 -0700
Bruce,

Robins are year-round residents in almost all the fruit-growing
(orchard/vineyard) regions east of Highway 99.  I would think that if you
released your fledged juveniles in any landscaped park-like areas in Exeter,
just east and south of Mooney's Grove Park, or near the Tulare Cemetery that
they should quickly find "friends" in the area.

Rob Hansen
COS biology professor

-----Original Message-----
From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of bklowe60
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 8:33 AM
To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [tularekingsbirds] American Robins

Anyone know of a year round Robin population in the Visalia/Exeter/Tulare
area ? We have two fledged juveniles to release.

Bruce Lowe
Wildlife Rescue Volunteeer
Critter Creek WLS



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links
Subject: American Robins
From: "bklowe60" <bklowe1 AT verizon.net>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:32:30 -0000
Anyone know of a year round Robin population in the Visalia/Exeter/Tulare area 
? We have two fledged juveniles to release. 


Bruce Lowe
Wildlife Rescue Volunteeer
Critter Creek WLS
Subject: Sanderling Kings Co
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:13:08 -0000
Sunday, Aug 29, 2010

Dave Gaylor, Gary Lindquist, Mary Merriman and I birded Kings Co.

We passed a few Tulare ponds with nothing of note on the way to the Nevada Ave 
Ponds which had lots of birds. We couldn't find Mark's finds of the day before 
but we did find 1 Sanderling. We spent about 2 and half hours there. 


Location:     Nevada Avenue Ponds
Observation date:     8/29/10
Number of species:     39

Mallard     40
Cinnamon Teal     60
Northern Shoveler     20
Northern Pintail     2
Ruddy Duck     50
Pied-billed Grebe     2
Eared Grebe     5
American White Pelican     8
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Great Blue Heron     3
Great Egret     5
Snowy Egret     4
Black-crowned Night-Heron     12
White-faced Ibis     80
Turkey Vulture     2
Peregrine Falcon     1
American Coot     800
Black-bellied Plover     20
Semipalmated Plover     15
Killdeer     20
Black-necked Stilt     100
American Avocet     400
Spotted Sandpiper     1
Greater Yellowlegs     12
Lesser Yellowlegs     2
Long-billed Curlew     8
Marbled Godwit     14
Sanderling     1
Western Sandpiper     1200
Least Sandpiper     800
Long-billed Dowitcher     2000
Wilson's Phalarope     200
Red-necked Phalarope     50
Bonaparte's Gull     5
Ring-billed Gull     1
Tree Swallow     200
Marsh Wren     4
Red-winged Blackbird     200
Yellow-headed Blackbird     20

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


Kent and Jersey Ave Ponds had nothing unusual.

Jack Stone Ponds had few birds but some good ones. The Semipalmated Sandpipers 
and Baird's Sandpipers continue. 75 Snowy Plover and an American Bittern (in 
the canal getting to Jack Stone Ponds). 


Location:     Jack Stone Ponds
Observation date:     8/29/10
Number of species:     24

Wood Duck     4
Northern Shoveler     4
Pied-billed Grebe     1
American Bittern     1
Great Blue Heron     2
Green Heron     1
White-faced Ibis     6
Turkey Vulture     1
Peregrine Falcon     1
Common Moorhen     1
American Coot     5
Snowy Plover     75
Killdeer     4
Black-necked Stilt     40
Long-billed Curlew     40
Semipalmated Sandpiper     2
Western Sandpiper     15
Least Sandpiper     300
Baird's Sandpiper     3
California Gull     3
Caspian Tern     2
Mourning Dove     12
Black Phoebe     1
Red-winged Blackbird     30

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


West Hill College Marsh area is gone. The reeded area behind West Hills College 
is no more having been filled in. 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: FYI Flooded Fields on 19th Ave, Kings Co.
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:43:47 -0000
Some may remember all the flooded fields along Pueblo Ave last year. Most of 
Pueblo is planted with cotton this year. There's one flooded area about half 
way between 19th and 10th but that's it. On 19th a mile or so north of Pueblo 
there is a large area of flooded fields that have a lot of birds. I didn't see 
anything rare today but there were several hundred gulls, herons, egrets, 
shorebirds and swallows present so it's worth a check if you're in the area... 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Kings Hudsonian Godwit & Other Goodies
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:28:31 -0000
There's a juv. HUDSONIAN GODWIT at the Nevada Ponds, likely the same bird but 
who knows. Seconds after spotting it, it flew off and disappeared. Also present 
was a juv. STILT SANDPIPER. As I've said before, there are a lot of birds here 
and I probably missed something good. 


The Jersey/Kent Ponds had a juv. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER; Jack Stone Ponds 2 
juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS; Boggs Slough an early WILSON'S SNIPE. All together I 
had 21 species of shorebirds for the day. 


At Boggs Slough there were a few migrant flycatchers and warblers plus one 
PHAINOPEPLA. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: kings county
From: John Luther <aplomado-falcon AT att.net>
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:15:30 -0700 (PDT)
Hey Birders,

Sunday Aug 22 I went to Kings Co with hopes of seeing the Hudsonian Godwit 
found 

by Mark at the Nevada Ave ponds.  I arrived at about 5pm and at about 6:15 pm 
saw the Hudsonian Godwit in one of the many ponds there.  I was back again the 
next morning, Aug 23, with Jim Lomax and later Steve Summers, but we could not 
find the bird.  There were at least 9 Marbled Godwits there along with up to 10 

Black Terns and many shorebirds.  At the Tulare River trees south of Corcoran I 

found a few western migrants including 2 Yellow Warblers, 2 Orange-crowned 
Warblers, 2 Laz Buntings.  The trees along Utica Ave had a Black-headed 
Grosbeak.  The Jack Stone Ponds off Grangeville Road near Lemoore had many 
shorebirds including 2 Willets, 2 Baird's Sandpipers, 400+ Long-billed Curlews, 

and Snowy Plovers.  Driving north of the air station on Dickenson Ave just 
south 

of Mt Whitney Ave in Fresno Co there was a field with over 200 Long-billed 
Curlews and 30 Cattle Egrets.

John Luther
Oakland

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Hudsonian Godwit Pics
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:22:22 -0000
I posted 2 terrible photos of the bird to the shorebirds file.
Subject: Kings Hudsonian Godwit
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:20:29 -0000
Today at the Nevada Ave. ponds I found a juv. HUDSONIAN GODWIT. I watched it 
for about 10 minutes, getting a couple poor quality photos before it took off. 
Spent another hour trying to relocate it without success. However, it may still 
be around as there are many ponds here including some east of the main cells 
that are very difficult to get a look at without doing a lot of walking. 


It was with a small flock of Black-bellied Plovers, but flew off by itself. At 
least two Marbled Godwits are also at the ponds. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Baird's and Semi Sandpipers
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:11:45 -0000
Today Jack Stone and Jersey Ponds each had a juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. Jersey 
Ponds also had a juv. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. At the Nevada Ponds many of the 
dowitchers have left, though it remains pretty birdy. Two Bonaparte's Gulls 
continue there. 


Boggs Slough had a few migrants, the best being Nashville Warbler and Lazuli 
Bunting. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: New Checklist for Tulare and Kings posted to Files section
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:58:50 -0000
I followed the order used by the CBRC as much as possible and updated the list. 
If you find an error please inform me so I can correct. 


Our - Winter Wren is now Pacific Wren
Our - Whip-poor-will is now Mexican Whip-poor-will (tulare summer 1983)

A phylogenetic reordering from Stork to Herons
also from Wrens to Wrentit
with the big change being the longspurs put in their own family Calcaridae 
following the phainopepla. 


Please if you catch errors tel me.

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: RE: Kings Stilt Sandpiper
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:46:52 -0000
Sunday August 15, 2010

I was at the Nevada Ave Ponds when Mark called to say he had a seen a Stilt 
Sandpiper there. It didn't take long to find it knowing it was there. Last year 
we had some about this time of year in a comparable group of birds and we had 
the Stilt Sandpiper or Stilt Sandpipers numerous times over about a 3-week 
period. If you miss you will still probably have fun and you might find 
something better. 


Location:     Nevada Avenue Ponds
Observation date:     8/15/10
Notes:     from Northeast corner only many more birds in adjacent ponds
Number of species:     35

Mallard     8
Northern Shoveler     12
Redhead     6
Ruddy Duck     27
Pied-billed Grebe     2
American White Pelican     7
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Great Blue Heron     2
Great Egret     4
Snowy Egret     7
Black-crowned Night-Heron     6
American Coot     35
Black-bellied Plover     7
Snowy Plover     1
Semipalmated Plover     3
Killdeer     29
Black-necked Stilt     80
American Avocet     150
Greater Yellowlegs     4
Lesser Yellowlegs     2
Semipalmated Sandpiper     2
Western Sandpiper     800
Least Sandpiper     600
Stilt Sandpiper     1
Long-billed Dowitcher     3000
Wilson's Phalarope     120
Red-necked Phalarope     60
California Gull     1
Black Tern     1
Mourning Dove     1
Tree Swallow     30
Cliff Swallow     3
Red-winged Blackbird     20
Great-tailed Grackle     1
House Sparrow     8

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)
Subject: Kings Stilt Sandpiper
From: "billjoanne" <whzerd AT sonnet.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:14:04 -0000
I would appreciate a post if anyone finds the Stilt again at the location Mark 
Stacy found it. I may jump in the car and drive 145 miles for that lifer if its 
still there. 


Bill Zachman
Groveland, CA
Tuolumne County
Subject: Mineral King to Sawtooth Peak area Tulare Co
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:07:15 -0000
Tuesday August 10 - Saturday August 14, 2010

Debby, Julian, two others and I hiked from Mineral King to Columbine Lake over 
Sawtooth Pass and back. 


We hiked fairly quickly to above 10,000 feet and remained there most of the 
time. 


Below 10,000 feet was birdy in the shrubs
Sooty Grouse 5
Hairy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher 3
Dusky or Hammond's Flycatcher
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warbler
Rufus Hummingbirds (selasphorus)
Green-tailed Towhee
Western Tanager

Above 10,000 feet over 3 plus days we had
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Golden Eagle - just feet above us very near Sawtooth Peak
20 Rufus Hummingbirds (selasphorus)
2 Red-breasted Nuthatch
2 Rock Wren
6 Mountain Bluebird
1 American Robin
3 American Pipits
12 Dark-eyed Junco
3 White-crowned Sparrow
7 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings Stilt Sandpiper
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:13:57 -0000
Hi all,

The Nevada Ave. ponds are still very birdy. Today among the many dowitchers I 
found an adult STILT SANDPIPER molting into basic plumage. The 17 species of 
shorebirds present included LESSER YELLOWLEGS and MARBLED GODWIT. 2 adult basic 
BONAPARTE'S GULL were also of note. 


The Jersey Ave. and Jack Stone Ponds had nothing unusual.

Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Continuing Semipalmated Sandpipers in Kings
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:40:07 -0000
Two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS continued at the Jack Stone Ponds today. Both were 
juvenals as far as I could tell. Two WHIMBRELS made a flyby and an early SAY'S 
PHOEBE was also present. The Nevada Ponds have ALOT of birds, including several 
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, approx. 3000 Long-billed Dowitchers, 2 
PEREGRINE FALCONS and many others. 


Boggs Slough had an assortment of migrants including 1 juv. COOPER'S HAWK, 1 
WILLOW FLYCATCHER; ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE, YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS and 
several WESTERN TANAGERS. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Solitary Sandpiper
From: "Gary L" <birds_i_vue AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:49:55 -0000
David Gaylor and I birded wet areas west and south of Visalia this Sunday AM. 
Highlight was a Solitary Sandpiper in a shallow lagoon located on Palm Av about 
one mile north of Paige. This is due west of the Tulare Waste Water Treatment 
plant. The SoSa was in the lagoon closest to the west side of the road under 
the palm trees. 

Gary Lindquist
Subject: Kings Tulare notes
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:11:52 -0000
Aug 6, 2010

I have been gettting out sporadically but have had little time to post.

The pond at houston and road 48 mentioned in the previous post is known to 
locals as the Caldwell ponds (the name of the road you take out of Visalia that 
turns into Houston) is indeed wonderfull and the best shorebirding I have found 
in Tulare Co. 


The South Wilbur (kings) is drying up but has large concentrations of birds in 
the remaining water. 2000 pelicans, 250 grebes crammed together in a small 
pond. Few shorebirds in comparison but a good variety of birds all around. 


I had a few migrants on the tule river in both Kings and Tulare Co.

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings County Semi Sands
From: scre AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 23:37:15 -0400 (EDT)
 

 Many thanks to Steve Summers for directions to Jack Stone Ponds, Lauren Harter 
and I were able to see the juvie Semipalmated Sandpiper today and we also found 
a worn adult Semipalmated Sandpiper with it. Also present were two Whimbrels. 
We had less luck checking the Tulare STP and the Kent/Jersey Ave Ponds (though 
both had decent numbers of birds) or the Kings Row area (no migrants). 


Also a couple days ago we stopped at a pond on Houston Ave at Rd 48 which had a 
ton of birds though nothing rare its well worth checking. 


David Vander Pluym
Ventura Ca 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Semipalmated Sand. at Jack Stone ponds (Kings Co.)
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 19:44:31 -0700
This afternoon (8/4) I found a juv. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at the Jack Stone
ponds. There was a WHIMBREL there as well along with a nice variety of
regular shorebirds. 

Earlier in the morning I birded along the Kings Co. portion of the Tule
River and had several migrants: Rufous Hummingbird, Orange-cr., Nashville
and Yellow Warblers, Savannah Sparrow (early), Western Tanager, Lazuli
Bunting. At the Kent Ave. pond there were two Marbled Godwits, four
Red-necked Phalaropes and a Black Tern.

Looks like things are starting to move.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Willet at Tulare WTP
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:21:56 -0700
This morning (8/3) a juv. WILLET was in the northwest corner of the
southeastern most pond on the south side of Paige Ave. at the Tulare
Wastewater Treatment Plant. There were also five BLACK TERNS at the ponds.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Tulare Co 252 species reported as of Aug 1, 2010 all observers
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:29:33 -0000
Tulare Co 2010

252 species reported in 2010 as of August 1, 2010 by all observers

6 Casual
Red Knot Jun, BLM Ton Tache Wetlands, Steve Laymon
Stilt Sandpiper Jan, BLM pond, John Lockhart
Franklin's Gull Apr, 4th and Ave 112 flooded field, John Lockhart
Common Tern Jun, BLM Restoration Pond, Steve Summers
Bell's Vireo May, Success Lake Tule River, Steve Summers
Indigo Bunting Jul, Success Lake, Steve Summers

20 Rare
Cackling Goose Jan, Springville, known from 2009
Tundra Swan Apr, Visalia, Plaza Park, Richard Norton
Eurasian Wigeon Feb, Pixley NWR, Steve Summers
Blue-winged Teal Mar, Tulare WTP, John Lockhart
Common Goldeneye Jan, Slick Rock, John Lockhart
Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Success Lake, known from 2009
Chukar May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trail, Steve Summers
Snowy Plover Jul, Ton Tache Wetlands, Steve Laymon
Solitary Sandpiper Apr, Herbert Preserve, Rob Hansen
Short-eared Owl Feb, Pixley NWR, Alison Sheehey
Costa's Hummingbird Jan, Success Lake Campground, known from 2009
Black-backed Woodpecker Jun, near Boone Meadow, Jon Dunn
Willow Flycatcher May, St John's River Visalia, Mary Merriman
Purple Martin Apr, Dry Creek Dr, John Lockhart
Bank Swallow Apr, BLM Restoration Pond, John Lockhart
Swainson's Thrush May, Alpaugh City Park, John Lockhart
Black-throated Sparrow Jan, Holdridge Rd, known from 2009
White-throated Sparrow May, Creighton Ranch, Rob Hansen
Scott's Oriole May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trl, Bob Barnes
Pine Grosbeak, Jul, Hockett Meadow, Mark Stacy

Abundant - Rare yet unreported
Tulare Co All Need 2010 17 Sunday, August 01, 2010

5 Uncommon
Mountain Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
Allen's Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

12 Rare
Ross's Goose
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Pacific Golden-Plover
Willet
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-eared Owl
Red-naped Sapsucker
Sage Thrasher
Grasshopper Sparrow

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings Co Year to date all Observers 217
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:09:39 -0000
Kings Co 2010

217 species reported in 2010 as of August 1, 2010 by all observers

9 Casual
Greater Scaup Mar 6, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Wild Turkey Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Common Loon May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Ruddy Turnstone May 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Hansen Bothers
Ruff Mar 28, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds, Jeff Seay
Glaucous-winged Gull Jan 10, Blakely Canal, Jeff Seay
Common Tern May 8, Jackstone's Ponds, Mark Stacy
Green-tailed Towhee Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Indigo Bunting Jun 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy

23 Rare
Cackling Goose Mar 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy
Tundra Swan Jan 10, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds flyover, Jeff Seay
Common Goldeneye Jan 17, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Pacific Golden-Plover Feb 20, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Solitary Sandpiper Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Willet Mar 6, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Red Knot Jul 31, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Sanderling Jan 10, Jack Stone Ponds, Mark Stacy
Semipalmated Sandpiper Jun 29, Private Property Southern Kings, Jeff Seay
Short-billed Dowitcher Apr 18, Corcoran Reservoir, Mark Stacy
Franklin's Gull May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Band-tailed Pigeon Apr 28, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Short-eared Owl Apr 25, Boggs Slough, Bob Brandriff
White-throated Swift Mar 28, Hwy 5 South of Avenal, Al DeMartini
Hairy Woodpecker Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Olive-sided Flycatcher Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Hutton's Vireo Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Swainson's Thrush May 11, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 28, Boggs Slough, John Luther
Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 18, Nevada and 14th Ave, Mark Stacy
White-throated Sparrow Known from 2009
Hooded Oriole Apr 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Lawrence's Goldfinch Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers

Abundant to Rare yet unreported

Kings Co All Need 2010 27 Sunday, August 01, 2010

5 Uncommon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Common Poorwill
Brown Creeper
Canyon Wren
Pine Siskin

22 Rare
Ross's Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle
Baird's Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Least Tern
Long-eared Owl
Black Swift
Costa's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Cassin's Kingbird
Steller's Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Varied Thrush
Sage Thrasher
Purple Finch

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Unusal Sighting
From: "bklowe60" <bklowe1 AT verizon.net>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:44:28 -0000
Not that alot of you likely have any interest in Brown-headed Cowbirds due to 
their parasitic behavior, but Sunday my wife and I observed a male Brewers 
Blackbird feeding a fledged Brown-headed Cowbird in our back yard in Exeter. We 
thought this unique ! 


Bruce Lowe
Subject: Atwell Island Birds
From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:32:21 -0700
The Red Knot continues at Atwell Island, but is harder to find because there 
are now 1 - 2 thousand Long-billed Dowitchers rather than the 40 or 50 that 
summered. It was in the south pond today. Also, this afternoon there was a 
Snowy Plover in the slough just east of the parking area for the viewing 
platform. 


Steve Laymon

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Canyon Wren at Atwell Island
From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:04:17 -0700
This morning (17 July) there was a singing Canyon Wren at the BLM HQ at Atwell 
Island in SW Tulare Co. What a surprise - there are very few valley records for 
this species and mid-July seems like an especially odd time. 


Steve Laymon

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Lake Success Indigo Bunting & Bell's Vireo
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:48:23 -0700
Yesterday morning (7/16) Rob Hansen, Bobby Kamansky and I hiked out to the
Tule River willow forest at Lake Success to look for the Indigo Bunting
found earlier in the month. We had great success. In my July 3 post about
the initial finding of the male Indigo Bunting I failed to mention that a
female bunting of undetermined species was seen with the male then.
Yesterday we had very good close views of the female and she also is an
Indigo. It also appears that they are very probably nesting as the female
was observed carrying food into a dense bush and coming out without the
food. Both birds acted very territorial around that area.

After viewing the buntings we checked out the area where I had seen a pair
of Bell's Vireos in May and found one singing bird there. I think it is very
likely that they also are nesting in the area. There is also a Cooper's Hawk
family around the vicinity of the Bell's Vireo. Yesterday we saw one adult
and three juvs.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Fwd: "alternate" site Tulare Co. Black-backed Woodpecker July 11, 2010
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:23:46 -0700
PS for Bob Barnes
I am not a member of the Tulare/Kings Yahoo birding group.  Feel free 
to forward all or part to this group as you see fit.

>Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:06:00 -0700 (PDT)
>From: liga auzins 
>Subject: "alternate" site Tulare Co. Black-backed Woodpecker July 11, 2010
>To: Bob Barnes , Bob and Susan Steele, Janet Cupples,
>   Jean Brandt, Larry Sansone
>
>Hi all,
>
>After missing the Tulare Co. Black-backed Woodpecker in the 
>designated burn area east of Sherman Pass on FSR 22S20 (Boone Rd) 
>late Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, Liga insisted we check 
>the upper burn area accessed via FSR 22S38 before leaving the area.
>
>After reaching the burn area, we quickly located a male Black-backed 
>Woodpecker. This burn site is far uphill from, but continuous with 
>the burn area on FSR 22S20.
>
>Directions:
>
>from the Sherman Pass Vista Point, drive east 4.75 miles on the main 
>highway; turn right onto FSR 22S20/Boone Rd (a broad and smooth dirt 
>road)) and continue 0.7 miles to a minor fork in the road.
>
>You can continue to the right on FSR 22S20 (main road) for an 
>additional mile to reach to the burn area where all previous 
>sightings were made,
>
>OR
>
>Take the minor road straight ahead (left fork), signed FSR 22S38, 
>continue 0.9 miles to reach the burn area near the end of this road. 
>Park in the broad level area just before or as the road enters the 
>"plantation" of burned pine saplings.
>
>Note, FSR 22S38 is a minor road/trail and requires a high clearance 
>vehicle to negotiate the many "speed bumps" - foot high and taller 
>dirt mounds across the roadbed - and tall vegetation growing in the 
>middle of the roadbed.
>
>
>PS for Bob Barnes
>I am not a member of the Tulare/Kings Yahoo birding group.  Feel 
>free to forward all or part to this group as you see fit.
>
>
>Tom Wurster and Liga Auzins
>Monrovia, CA


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Kings Co. Migrants
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:31:58 -0000
Hi all,

This morning at Boggs Slough there were 3 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES and one juv. 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (I had another juv. in Lemoore on the 6th). 


The Jack Stone Ponds had a decent collection of waders, the best being 3 LESSER 
YELLOWLEGS and one BONAPARTE'S GULL. 


At the Jersey Ponds good shorebird habitat is limited to the sw corner of the 
north pond. On the southern pond there was a male LESSER SCAUP. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Indigo Bunting at Lake Success
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 16:56:22 -0700
This morning (7/3) I and Jon Dunn hiked out to the location at Lake Success
where I had two Bell's Vireos in May to see if they were still there. No
luck with that. We did however have a very cooperative singing adult male
INDIGO BUNTING. Jon got some nice digi-scoped photos of it which I'll post
in this groups photo album when he sends them to me. There were also about
three YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS still about out there and 8-10 BLUE GROSBEAKS.
We stumbled upon an unexpected SAVANNAH SPARROW on the hike back. It seems
way too early for a fall migrant so it's possible this bird is summering.
They are not known to breed in this area.

After that we visited the Ton Tache Wetlands south of Alpaugh where we
successfully found the RED KNOT that has been summering there along with 90
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. In addition to the knot there were two WHIMBRELS in
with 160 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and two LEAST SANDPIPERS.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Says Phoebe summer record
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 14:41:18 -0700
This morning (7/2), while on a walk in my neighborhood in Porterville, there
was a SAY'S PHOEBE flycatching in the ball fields at Burton Middle School. I
believe this is an unusual summer record for the San Joaquin Valley portion
of Tulare Co., at least I've never seen them here in the summer. Does anyone
else out there have other valley (especially east side) summer records of
this species?

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Kings Co 215 species reported in 2010 as of June 30, 2010 by all observers
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:55:25 -0000
No new birds reported in June the 2 additional birds since May were reports of 
May birds after my posting. 


Kings Co 2010
215 species reported in 2010 as of June 30, 2010 by all observers

9 Casual
Greater Scaup Mar 6, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Wild Turkey Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Common Loon May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Ruddy Turnstone May 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Hansen Bothers
Ruff Mar 28, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds, Jeff Seay
Glaucous-winged Gull Jan 10, Blakely Canal, Jeff Seay
Common Tern May 8, Jackstone's Ponds, Mark Stacy
Green-tailed Towhee Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Indigo Bunting June, Lemoore, Mark Stacy

21 Rare
Cackling Goose Mar 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy
Tundra Swan Jan 10, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds flyover, Jeff Seay
Common Goldeneye Jan 17, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Pacific Golden-Plover Feb 20, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Solitary Sandpiper Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Willet Mar 6, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Sanderling Jan 10, Jack Stone Ponds, Mark Stacy
Short-billed Dowitcher Apr 18, Corcoran Reservoir, Mark Stacy
Franklin's Gull May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Band-tailed Pigeon Apr 28, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Short-eared Owl Apr 25, Boggs Slough, Bob Brandriff
White-throated Swift Mar 28, Hwy 5 South of Avenal, Al DeMartini
Hairy Woodpecker Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Olive-sided Flycatcher Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Hutton's Vireo Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Swainson's Thrush May 11, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 28, Boggs Slough, John Luther
Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 18, Nevada and 14th Ave, Mark Stacy
White-throated Sparrow Known from 2009
Hooded Oriole Apr 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Lawrence's Goldfinch Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers

Abundant to Rare yet unreported or found
Kings Co All Need 2010 29 Wednesday, June 30, 2010

5 Uncommon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Common Poorwill
Brown Creeper
Canyon Wren
Pine Siskin

24 Rare
Ross's Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Least Tern
Long-eared Owl
Black Swift
Costa's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Cassin's Kingbird
Steller's Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Varied Thrush
Sage Thrasher
Purple Finch

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Tulare Co 244 species reported in 2010 as of June 30, 2010 by all observers
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:45:18 -0000
Tulare Co 2010
244 species reported in 2010 as of June 30, 2010 by all observers

A couple of Casual June records and a non-hiking to find Black-backed 
Woodpecker were the highlights 


5 Casual
Red Knot Jun, BLM Restoration Pond, Steve Laymon
Stilt Sandpiper Jan, BLM pond, John Lockhart
Franklin's Gull Apr, 4th and Ave 112 flooded field, John Lockhart
Common Tern Jun, BLM Restoration Pond, Steve Summers
Bell's Vireo May, Success Lake Tule River, Steve Summers

18 Rare
Cackling Goose Jan, Springville, known from 2009
Tundra Swan Apr, Visalia, Plaza Park, Richard Norton
Eurasian Wigeon Feb, Pixley NWR, Steve Summers
Blue-winged Teal Mar, Tulare WTP, John Lockhart
Common Goldeneye Jan, Slick Rock, John Lockhart
Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Lake Success, known from 2009
Chukar May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trail, Steve Summers
Solitary Sandpiper Apr, Herbert Preserve, Rob Hansen
Short-eared Owl Feb, Pixley NWR, Alison Sheehey
Costa's Hummingbird Jan, Lake Success Campground, known from 2009
Black-backed Woodpecker June, near Boone Meadow, Jon Dunn
Willow Flycatcher May, St John's River Visalia, Mary Merriman
Purple Martin Apr, Dry Creek Dr, John Lockhart
Bank Swallow Apr, BLM Restoration Pond, John Lockhart
Swainson's Thrush May, Alpaugh City Park, John Lockhart
Black-throated Sparrow Jan, Holdridge Rd, known from 2009
White-throated Sparrow May, Creighton Ranch, Rob Hansen
Scott's Oriole May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trl, Bob Barnes

Abuntant to Rare yet unreported or unfound
Tulare Co All Need 2010 24 Wednesday, June 30, 2010

10 Uncommon
Mountain Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Black Tern
Flammulated Owl
Allen's Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Winter Wren
Varied Thrush
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

14 Rare
Ross's Goose
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Pacific Golden-Plover
Snowy Plover
Willet
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-eared Owl
Red-naped Sapsucker
Sage Thrasher
Grasshopper Sparrow
Pine Grosbeak

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: South West Tulare
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:36:11 -0000
Saturday, June 26 - Sunday June 27 ,2010

With Dave Gaylor, Penny, and Mary Merriman we crossed the boarder into Tulare 
at 11:24 Am at the Lamont Trailhead on the Chimney Peak Scenic Byway. We had 
spent the morning enjoying most of the specialties near the Kern Preserve in 
Kern Co. 


We birded along the road picking up a few birds but the first good stop was the 
Chimney Creek Campground 


Location:     Chimney Creek Campground
Observation date:     6/26/10
Number of species:     10

Western Wood-Pewee     3
Gray Flycatcher     1
Plumbeous Vireo     3
Steller's Jay     1
Mountain Chickadee     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     2
Bewick's Wren     1
Chipping Sparrow     1
Western Tanager     1
Black-headed Grosbeak     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


We birded along the road up to Troy Meadows arriving about 4:00 pm. With the 
late snow, many of the offroad trails were still closed so the campground 
didn't look and sound like pit row so we stayed good thing we did. 


Northern Saw-whet Owl right in our campsite with decent looks for all. Thus 
ending Dave's 30 year quest for more then a glimpse of this bird. 

Bob's Sora in the meadows. Plus 3 White-faced Ibis. The Soras called for well 
over 2 hours straight. Just the first part, not the last part of their 
vocalizations. We had to walk out there with flashlights to make sure but when 
played a recording they did their whole call. 

Crossbills so close and perched so nicely I had to step back on low power to 
fit it in my scope view. 

Nesting Mountain Bluebirds bringing food to their young.
Pygmy Nuthatches - just 2 I presume nesting in the snag with Mtn Bluebirds.
Sparrows - many of the not normally seen subspecies for Tulare Co
We heard all the Common Nighthawk sounds but never got a look.

Location:     Troy Meadows
Observation date:     6/26/10
Number of species:     28

Mallard     1
Sora     3
Northern Saw-whet Owl     1
Common Nighthawk     3
Red-breasted Sapsucker     2
White-headed Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     1
Western Wood-Pewee     1
Gray Flycatcher     1
Warbling Vireo     1
Steller's Jay     1
Clark's Nutcracker     2
Cliff Swallow     3
Mountain Chickadee     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     2
American Robin     5
Yellow-rumped Warbler     3
Green-tailed Towhee     1
Chipping Sparrow     2
Vesper Sparrow     4
Song Sparrow     2
White-crowned Sparrow     1
Dark-eyed Junco     3
Western Tanager     1
Red-winged Blackbird     4
Brewer's Blackbird     4
Cassin's Finch     2

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


Location:     Troy Meadows
Observation date:     6/27/10
Number of species:     36

White-faced Ibis     3
Red-tailed Hawk     2
Sora     3
Common Nighthawk     1
hummingbird sp.     1
Northern Flicker     1
Western Wood-Pewee     6
Warbling Vireo     1
Steller's Jay     1
Clark's Nutcracker     5
Common Raven     1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     1
Cliff Swallow     3
Mountain Chickadee     7
Pygmy Nuthatch     2
Mountain Bluebird     2
Townsend's Solitaire     1
American Robin     8
Yellow Warbler     7
Yellow-rumped Warbler     2
Green-tailed Towhee     1
Chipping Sparrow     3
Vesper Sparrow     3
Savannah Sparrow     20
Song Sparrow     5
White-crowned Sparrow     7
Dark-eyed Junco     20
Western Tanager     1
Red-winged Blackbird     4
Tricolored Blackbird     1
Brewer's Blackbird     15
Brown-headed Cowbird     3
Cassin's Finch     8
House Finch     2
Red Crossbill     6
Pine Siskin     4
Lesser Goldfinch     2

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


We tried the Black Rock Ranger Station but it wasn't very birdy and then we 
tried the road but didn't find any of the nice wildflower displays where we 
usually bird due to the late winter. 


We got to the Boone Meadow Road about 11:30 and spent a couple hours there with 
no luck. 

There where also people from all over the state there who arrived just as we 
were leaving but we thought with all those eyes we would stay. 

The birding was unremarkable but the people were fun.
One birders spouse said, "Is this another of those mythical birds we spend 
hours looking for and never finding. 

I also met southern California Surfer Dude birder. "Those Willies really 
wrangle with the black-backs..." "Cartwright rocks for Black-backed. He told me 
he thought Tulare was a burly county to bird. What fun. 


Location:     Sequoia NF--Boone Meadow
Observation date:     6/27/10
Number of species:     13

Williamson's Sapsucker     2
White-headed Woodpecker     1
Western Wood-Pewee     3
Steller's Jay     1
Clark's Nutcracker     2
Mountain Chickadee     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     3
Brown Creeper     1
Rock Wren     1
Western Bluebird     4
Yellow-rumped Warbler     2
Fox Sparrow     1
Western Tanager     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


The birding really slowed down coming down Sherman Road.

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Troy Meadow Soras
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:02:10 -0700
Status and Distribution Note:

I have birded 7800' elevation Troy Meadow every year for at least 
thirty-five years since the early 1970s; often several times a year. 
I never had detected Sora until this past June 11, 2010, when I had 
FIVE (two visual) Soras with participants on a Los Angeles Audubon 
Society-sponsored field trip to the Kern River Valley and Southern 
Sierra Nevada. A very brief revisit with Jon Dunn's Kern/S Sierra 
WINGS tour group on June 11, 2010, yielded TWO individuals ... enough 
to satisfy Jon's curiosity. The short wetland grass in the relatively 
shallow pond formed by a beaver dam is evidently the attraction.

Of course, many of the usual suspects were also detected at Troy 
during one or both visits including: Williamson's Sapsucker, Clark's 
Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, "Mountain" 
White-crowned Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, and Yellow-bellied Marmot.

Continued Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County

Bob 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Tulare Co.: 21 Jun 2010 Black-backed Woodpecker
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:13:34 -0700
Hi,

Monday, 21 June 2010
As part of his WINGS trip to the Kern River Valley and Southern 
Sierra Nevada, Jon Dunn found a male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER 
(subsequently observed by trip participants and me) yesterday morning 
(21 June 2010) on Boone Rd. where Alison Sheehay, Susan Steele and 
Shelley Ellis found this species last October 2009.

The location is in a small burn area bisected by Boone Rd. (FSR22S20) 
in Sequoia National Forest in southeastern Tulare County. Dirt Boone 
Rd. is reached off paved Sherman Pass Rd. about 4.75 miles easterly 
into the South Fork Kern River watershed from the vista point at 
9200' Sherman Pass. It is about 1.7 miles westerly down dirt Boone 
Rd. from Sherman Pass Rd. to the burn area where the observation was 
made. Jon noted that virtually every tree used by this woodpecker 
yesterday morning was marked for logging.

Thanks to Steve Summers for providing the directions from a 29 
October 2009 Tulare-Kings Birds list serv posting.

The Boone Rd. location in southeastern TULARE COUNTY is still the 
SOUTHERNMOST KNOWN for this species in California, although there 
have been unverified reports/rumors from the large burn area in the 
Piute Mountains of KERN COUNTY should anyone wish to take the time to 
explore for a may be present , may be not "needle in a haystack" in 
what is part of the North American Birds Southern California reporting region.

FYI: A SOOTY GROUSE was found later yesterday morning west of Sherman Pass.

Continued Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Red Knot continues at BLM Ton Tache Wetland
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:54:46 -0000
Wednesday June 16, 2010

I finally got some time to bird so went down toward Alpaugh.

Lots of water around

Toledo Pits - nice water levels
Dead Pig Pond - Waterfowl water levels

I stopped by the Tule River near ave 144 and Hwy 43 
and I stopped by Alpaugh city park where I took the pictures of the Green Heron 
chicks. They were really cool running around the branches near their nest. I 
posted photos. 


I was surprised to find the Red Knot happily enjoying Tulare's newest wetlands.

Location:     BLM Restoration Pond
Observation date:     6/16/10
Number of species:     23

Gadwall     4
Mallard     30
Cinnamon Teal     20
Green-winged Teal     4
Snowy Egret     7
Cattle Egret     5
White-faced Ibis     3
Northern Harrier     1
American Coot     4
Killdeer     12
Black-necked Stilt     25
American Avocet     45
Greater Yellowlegs     1
Red Knot     1
Long-billed Dowitcher     53
Wilson's Phalarope     1
Mourning Dove     6
Horned Lark     8
Cliff Swallow     5
Red-winged Blackbird     120
Western Meadowlark     2
Yellow-headed Blackbird     3
Great-tailed Grackle     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Atwell Island Red Knot
From: "carlagary" <garycarlafile AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:26:35 -0000
The Red Knot was still present this morning at the Atwell Island project south 
of Alphauph. First posted yesterday by Steve Summers. 

Gary File
Bakersfield
Subject: Atwell Island Red Knot
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 17:50:10 -0700
Yesterday (6/8) Steve Laymon found a winter (basic) plumaged RED KNOT on his
Atwell Island project. The bird was on the newly created Ton Tache Wetlands.
This afternoon I visited this area after picking Steve up and we easily
found the bird with 34 LONG-DOWITCHERS. Besides the fact that just June
dowitchers is a rare find for the county the Red Knot seems amazing. Then to
add to this there were also five GREATER YELLOWLEGS, another amazing June
record for Tulare Co. As we kept birding we found even more unheard of June
records for the county when we encountered a first summer plumaged COMMON
TERN and two WHIMBRELS.

Steve has done a great job in creating these wetlands. They remind me very
much of portions of Kings Co. directly to the west where all of these birds
would not be quite as rare. A beautiful observation platform has been built
here (see
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsbytes/2010/430xtra_atwell_wildlife.html
).
 
As long as the Atwell Island project can secure water I would say stayed
tuned for more great bird records from the Ton Tache Wetlands and Steve keep
up the good work in creating Kings Co-like wetlands in Tulare Co.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Kings County Franklin's Gulls
From: "jeff67632003" <jseay AT harveyecology.com>
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2010 21:30:50 -0000
On June 4th I had 6 Franklins Gulls on private property south of Corcoran.

Jeff Seay
Fresno, CA
Subject: Probable Kings Indigo Bunting
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:31:42 -0000
Today at work in Lemoore I had what I'm 95% sure was a male Indigo Bunting. I 
didn't have binoculars and the encounter was very brief but here are the 
details: 


On breaks I walk around the block and have found many good birds in the last 5 
years. Today I heard a "chip" I didn't recognize. I thought it could be a 
warbler at first, but not one of our western warblers. It was too harsh and 
loud to be a Yellow-rumped, Townsend's or Hermit though similar in some 
respects. The bird flushed and looked sparrow size and all dark. I followed it 
and it flew off again. I never saw any blue but "bunting" immediately came to 
mind. I tried to follow it and it flew off never to be seen again. I'm sure 
it's long gone by now as I rechecked the area several times afterward. When I 
got home I listened to Indigo Bunting calls ( I knew it wasn't a match for 
Lazuli) and they were very similar. I'm going to submit this as a male Indigo 
Bunting, knowing full well the details are scant at best. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Tulare Co year to date 234 species
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:49:37 -0000
Tulare Co

234 species reported in 2010 as of June 3, 2010 by all observers

3 Casual
Stilt Sandpiper Jan, BLM pond, John Lockhart
Franklin's Gull Apr, 4th and Ave 112 flooded field, John Lockhart
Bell's Vireo May, Success Lake Tule River, Steve Summers

16 Rare
Cackling Goose Jan, Springville, known from 2009
Tundra Swan Apr, Visalia, Plaza Park, Richard Norton
Eurasian Wigeon Feb, Pixley NWR, Steve Summers
Blue-winged Teal Mar, Tulare WTP, John Lockhart
Common Goldeneye Jan, Slick Rock, John Lockhart
Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Lake Success, known from 2009
Solitary Sandpiper Apr, Herbert Preserve, Rob Hansen
Short-eared Owl Feb, Pixley NWR, Alison Sheehey
Costa's Hummingbird Jan, Lake Success Campground, known from 2009
Willow Flycatcher May, St John's River Visalia, Mary Merriman
Purple Martin Apr, Dry Creek Dr, John Lockhart
Bank Swallow Apr, BLM Restoration Pond, John Lockhart
Swainson's Thrush May, Alpaugh City Park, John Lockhart
Black-throated Sparrow Jan, Holdridge Rd, known from 2009
White-throated Sparrow May, Creighton Ranch, Rob Hansen
Scott's Oriole May, Sherman Pass Rd and Rincon Trl, Bob Barnes

Still not reported in the Abundant - Rare categories 

2 Common
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Clark's Nutcracker

14 Uncommon
Mountain Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Black Tern
Flammulated Owl
Common Nighthawk
Common Poorwill
Allen's Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Winter Wren
Varied Thrush
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Red Crossbill
Evening Grosbeak

16 Rare
Ross's Goose
Chukar
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Pacific Golden-Plover
Snowy Plover
Willet
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-eared Owl
Red-naped Sapsucker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Sage Thrasher
Grasshopper Sparrow
Pine Grosbeak

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings Co year to date 213 species all observers
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:44:14 -0000
Kings co

213 species reported in 2010 as of June 3, 2010 by all observers

8 Casual
Greater Scaup Mar 6, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Wild Turkey Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Common Loon May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Ruddy Turnstone May 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Hansen Bothers
Ruff Mar 28, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds, Jeff Seay
Glaucous-winged Gull Jan 10, Blakely Canal, Jeff Seay
Common Tern May 8, Jackstone's Ponds, Mark Stacy
Green-tailed Towhee Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers

21 Rare
Cackling Goose Mar 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy
Tundra Swan Jan 10, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds flyover, Jeff Seay
Common Goldeneye Jan 17, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Pacific Golden-Plover Feb 20, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Solitary Sandpiper Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Willet Mar 6, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Sanderling Jan 10, Jack Stone Ponds, Mark Stacy
Short-billed Dowitcher Apr 18, Corcoran Reservoir, Mark Stacy
Franklin's Gull May 2, Private Property Southern Kings, Rob Hansen
Band-tailed Pigeon Apr 28, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Short-eared Owl Apr 25, Boggs Slough, Bob Brandriff
White-throated Swift Mar 28, Hwy 5 South of Avenal, Al DeMartini
Hairy Woodpecker Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Olive-sided Flycatcher Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Hutton's Vireo Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Swainson's Thrush May 11, Lemmore, Mark Stacy
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 28, Boggs Slough, John Luther
Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 18, Nevada and 14th Ave, Mark Stacy
White-throated Sparrow Known from 2009
Hooded Oriole Apr 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Lawrence's Goldfinch Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers

Still not observed yet this year in the Abundant - Rare catagories are

6 Uncommon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Common Poorwill
Cassin's Vireo
Brown Creeper
Canyon Wren
Pine Siskin

24 Rare
Ross's Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Least Tern
Long-eared Owl
Black Swift
Costa's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Cassin's Kingbird
Steller's Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Varied Thrush
Sage Thrasher
Purple Finch

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Yellow-breasted Chat photo
From: "Luv2bird" <jillrucker AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:21:45 -0000
Kudos to John Lockhart for the Yellow-breasted Chat photo. Gorgeous!

"Watch the birdie."
Jill Rucker
Fresno, CA
Subject: Late Kings Migrants
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 22:56:14 -0000
Nothing outrageous, just some tardy birds this week:

May 23: 2 DUNLIN at Jersey Ponds (one alt., one basic)
        3 VAUX'S SWIFT at Boggs Slough

May 26: 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH in Lemoore

May 29: 2 basic SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at Jersey Ponds
        1 basic DUNLIN at Jersey Ponds
        1 GRAY FLYCATCHER at Boggs Slough
        1 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at Boggs Slough (my 5th this spring,   
          last year I only had one)
Also about a dozen WILLOW FLYCATCHERS at the slough today made for a good 
showing... 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore




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Subject: Late Kings Migrants
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 22:56:14 -0000
Nothing outrageous, just some tardy birds this week:

May 23: 2 DUNLIN at Jersey Ponds (one alt., one basic)
        3 VAUX'S SWIFT at Boggs Slough

May 26: 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH in Lemoore

May 29: 2 basic SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at Jersey Ponds
        1 basic DUNLIN at Jersey Ponds
        1 GRAY FLYCATCHER at Boggs Slough
        1 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at Boggs Slough (my 5th this spring,   
          last year I only had one)
Also about a dozen WILLOW FLYCATCHERS at the slough today made for a good 
showing... 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore




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Subject: Cedar Waxwing
From: "bklowe60" <bklowe1 AT verizon.net>
Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 16:28:18 -0000
I volunteer for Critter Creek WLS. Another rescue/rehab volunteer in Tulare has 
taken in a Cedar Waxwing ( window strike ) which she believes can be released. 
I know these birds migrate, but don't know the schedule. Anyone know their 
schedule and where locally a flock was sighted lately ? I can be reached on my 
cell at 559-799-6774. 

Many Thanks,
Bruce Lowe
Subject: Tulare Co.: 15 & 16 May 10
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 15:01:52 -0700
Hi,

Saturday, 15 May 2010
***A male Pileated Woodpecker at Redwood Meadow


Sunday, 16 May 2010
***A male Williamson's Sapsucker at Blackrock Ranger Station and 
another male at Troy Meadow...

***A pair of Plumbeous Vireos making nest exchanges at Chimney Creek 
Campground...

***Red-breasted Nuthatch 3, White-breasted Nuthatch 1, and Pygmy 
Nuthatch 1 at Troy Meadow...

***A female Hermit Warbler at Chimney Creek Campground...

***The following at the Williams' residence off Kennedy Meadows Road...

Location:     Kern Plateau--Kennedy Meadow. Rd (Williams)
Observation date:     5/16/10
Notes:     11am-12pm.
Number of species:     17

Mourning Dove     1     Passing through yard...
Black-chinned Hummingbird     1 adult male     At hummingbird feeders...
Anna's Hummingbird     5     At hummingbird feeders...
Costa's Hummingbird     1 adult male     At hummingbird feeders...
Calliope Hummingbird     3 (2 adult females, 1 adult male)     At 
hummingbird feeders...
Hairy Woodpecker     1     Passing through yard...
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1     Passing through yard...
Steller's Jay     2     At ground seed feeders...
Western Scrub-Jay     2     At ground seed feeders...
Pinyon Jay     3     At ground seed feeders...
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     1     At ground seed feeders...
Red-winged Blackbird     1     At ground seed feeders...
Brown-headed Cowbird     16     At ground seed feeders...
Cassin's Finch     2     Coming to seed feeders...
House Finch     2     Coming to seed feeders...
Pine Siskin     4     Coming to thistle seed feeders...
Lesser Goldfinch     2     Coming to thistle seed feeders...

This 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: Hanford/Kent Ave birding
From: "pennys" <flamowl AT att.net>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 23:32:28 -0000
Did a loop today from Hanford sewage plant, to Tule River, and then Kent Jersey 
Ave ponds. Hanford ponds were too full but had best bird of the day - blue male 
grosebeak feeding in a weedy field in West area of plant. Tule river had 
migrants mostly many Wilson's warblers nothing terribly interesting, and Jensen 
Ave pond was only decent pond for shorebirds with the usual suspects, and one 
Caspian tern's. There were both Wilson's and Red Necked phalaropes. It was 
worth the trip for the snowy plover chick. Little white specks with legs 
running around. Be careful I nearly got nailed for no seat belt going from one 
pond to the other on HWY 41. I often see CHPs here. I was able to talk the very 
nice officer out of the ticket as I told him about all the wonderful birds 
there.
Subject: Boggs Slough
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 18:58:34 -0000
It was pretty birdy at the slough this morning. 2 birds were firsts at that 
location for me: DOWNY WOODPECKER and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE. Other good finds 
were a FOS WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 20+ SWAINSON'S THRUSH and a MACGILLIVRAY'S 
WARBLER. Later at the West Hills College slough I was surprised at hear an 
AMERICAN BITTERN. 


Earlier in the week I had my FOS SWAINSON'S THRUSH in Lemoore on the 11th and a 
late DARK-EYED JUNCO there on the 13th. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: RE: Hooded Warbler
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 15:58:55 -0700
As far as I know there are no Hooded Warbler records for either Tulare or
Kings Co. If this is a Hooded Warbler female hopefully a photo was taken. As
stated by Kevin, has a female Wilson's Warbler been ruled out? Wilson's
Warblers are migrating through the area right now in good numbers.

Steve Summers

Porterville 

-----Original Message-----

From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com [

mailto:tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kevin Enns-Rempel

Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 11:25 AM

To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com

Subject: RE: [tularekingsbirds] Hooded Warbler

I can't speak to the question of previous Tulare/Kings County sightings.
Have you ruled out Wilson's Warbler? The females are similiar, and the
Wilson's would be vastly more likely.

Kevin Enns-Rempel

Fresno, CA

________________________________

From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com [

mailto:tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of c-cain AT sbcglobal.net

Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 8:09 AM

To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com

Subject: [tularekingsbirds] Hooded Warbler

 

 

I believe I sited a female hooded warbler at a backyard water fountain. Has
there been other sitings in the Tulare/Kings area?

Charles Cain

Visalia

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Hooded Warbler
From: Kevin Enns-Rempel <kennsrem AT FRESNO.EDU>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 11:24:40 -0700
I can't speak to the question of previous Tulare/Kings County sightings. Have 
you ruled out Wilson's Warbler? The females are similiar, and the Wilson's 
would be vastly more likely. 


Kevin Enns-Rempel
Fresno, CA

________________________________
From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com 
[mailto:tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of c-cain AT sbcglobal.net 

Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 8:09 AM
To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [tularekingsbirds] Hooded Warbler



I believe I sited a female hooded warbler at a backyard water fountain. Has 
there been other sitings in the Tulare/Kings area? 

Charles Cain
Visalia





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Hooded Warbler
From: "c-cain AT sbcglobal.net" <c-cain@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 15:09:02 -0000
I believe I sited a female hooded warbler at a backyard water fountain. Has 
there been other sitings in the Tulare/Kings area? 

Charles Cain
Visalia
Subject: Common Tern at Kent /Jersey Ave ponds Kings
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 04:58:10 -0000
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Went out after work.

Burris Park/Kings Row was nice but slow

We discovered a point of interest near Kings Row. Heading back south toward Hwy 
198 take the first right onto Denver Ave and head west until it dead ends into 
8th Ave. To your right is a quarter mile of bottle brush. While finding no 
rarity's there yet I did count 30-40 Black-chinned Hummingbird. 


Jack Stone's Ponds where very slow.

Kent and Jersey Ave ponds had 2 Common Tern and a good assortment of shorebirds 
but not in great numbers . 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings RUTU & COTE
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 09 May 2010 22:43:06 -0000
At least one Ruddy Turnstone continues at Nevada Ave ponds. Yesterday the Jack 
Stone ponds had a single Common Tern. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Rudy Turnstone Continue at Nevada Ave Ponds Kings
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 08 May 2010 20:53:04 -0000
Friday, May 7, 2010

Rob called me Friday afternoon to tell me about his best day birding every in 
the Central Valley with his brother Kieth, mostly on the Creighton Ranch 
Preserve. 

He also said they found 2 Rudy Turnstone at the Nevada Ave ponds. I was able to 
refind these birds at about 7:00 pm Friday. 


Very birdy, 8 Black Tern, 1 Willet

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Lake Success Bell's Vireos and Yellow-breasted Chats
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 14:50:15 -0700
This morning I hiked into the willow riparian area where the Tule River
enters into Lake Success. I started from the Gill Cove Unit at the end of
Holdridge Dr. This was a little over a four mile round trip hike.

I found two BELL'S VIREOS in a dense willow thicket. They appeared to be a
pair, one bird singing and chasing a none singing bird. When I pished they
both approached to within 15 ft. of me giving me very good close looks at
the singing bird, actually while singing. The assumed female of the pair was
more secretive but seen well enough.

I also saw three YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. Two were a courting pair with the
male seen in courtship flight chasing a presumed female. Another individual
was a singing bird.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Yellow-breasted Chat back at Dry Creek Dr
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, 05 May 2010 05:36:51 -0000
Tuesday, May 4, 2010

An evening of birding.

Woodlake WTP and Bravo were very slow

Dry Creek Drive was fun and birdy
Yellow-breasted Chat, Lawrence's Finches and Purple Martin

The Lake Kaweah headquarters entrance had 12 Bullocks Oriole. I would of 
reasonable guessed more but 12 is safe. 


Location:     Dry Creek Dr Hwy 216 to Homer Ranch
Observation date:     5/4/10
Number of species:     24

Pied-billed Grebe     1
Turkey Vulture     4
American Kestrel     1
American Coot     1
Acorn Woodpecker     1
Nuttall's Woodpecker     2
Ash-throated Flycatcher     1
Western Kingbird     3
Purple Martin     1
Tree Swallow     10
Violet-green Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     1
Oak Titmouse     2
House Wren     2
Western Bluebird     1
American Robin     1
European Starling     3
Yellow-breasted Chat     1
Lark Sparrow     1
Black-headed Grosbeak     1
Bullock's Oriole     2
House Finch     4
Lawrence's Goldfinch     4
American Goldfinch     3

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: 3 May 10: Scott's Oriole - Lower Sherman Pass Rd.
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Mon, 03 May 2010 16:57:37 -0700
Hi,

OBSERVERS: Bob Barnes (Ridgecrest, Kern Co.), Ed Sickles (San 
Francisco, CA), Dale Sickles (San Francisco, CA).

8:35am, Monday, May 3, 2010 - While searching for Black-chinned 
Sparrow at 2.6 mi. up Sherman Pass Rd. from the North Fork Kern 
River, I heard a SCOTT'S ORIOLE sing one song. A few minutes 
later,  I heard a "blackbird" chatter from a roadside edge bush right 
across the road from where we were standing. In a few second's a male 
Scott's Oriole popped up to the top of this bush, then flew away ... 
heading up canyon (up the Rincon Trail corridor). This is the first 
time I have observed Scott's Oriole this far west in Tulare Co. and 
in the North Fork Kern River watershed in Tulare County. Ed Sickles 
also got on the bird. Dale did not.

John Lockhart, et. al. Have any of you had Scott's Oriole in this 
vicinity ... well west of and below Sherman Pass?

Several minutes later, we did have two BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWs farther 
up Sherman Pass Rd. ... close to the 5000' sign. The GPS reading for 
the first (and upper) individual was: N 35 58' 36.4", W 118 26' 
48.3". I marked the area of this first observation with blue and 
yellow flagging with the first flagging at a convenient vehicle 
pull-out just a few yards below the actual observation area.  This 
area is located 0.9 mi. up Sherman Pass Rd. from where the Rincon 
Trail (33E23) crosses Sherman Pass Rd.

Continued Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: All Day in Kings Co - Common Loon
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 03 May 2010 05:15:54 -0000
Sunday, May 2, 2010

Justin Ward and I started predawn with a Western Screech-Owl on Kings Row.

a little after dawn we birded private property in southern Kings Co with Rob 
Hansen and spent some time trying for birds in Kern Co at the time, with the 
list we had, we added Franklin's Gull, Black Tern, and Sanderling for the 
birdiest county. 


Back in Kings
Common Loon - breeding plumage and at one point less then 50 feet from Kern Co.
Black Tern 35-40 
Franklins's Gull 4
Good diversity of shorebirds

We then went looking for migrants starting at 10th and Utica
Rufous Hummingbird
Nashville Warbler

After leaving Rob we headed to the the Tule River
Blue Grosbeak
Townsend Warbler
Solitary Sandpiper - right on 6th almost under the bridge

Next was Corcoran Reservoir which was fairly quiet 

The Nevada Ave ponds were fairly birdy the migrant corner was not

Kent and Jersey Ave were slow

Boggs Slough was fairly birdy but no rarities

We ended at Burris Park
Hermit Warbler

Justin and I ended up with about 125 species for the day

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Tulare Co year to date 203 species
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 01 May 2010 04:30:11 -0000
April 30, 2010

Tulare Co 2010
203 species reported in 2010 as of April 30, 2010 by all observers

2 Casual
Stilt Sandpiper Jan, BLM pond, John Lockhart
Franklin's Gull Apr, 4th and Redding flooded field, John Lockhart

12 Rare
Cackling Goose Jan, Springville, known from 2009
Tundra Swan Apr, Visalia, Plaza Park, Richard Norton
Eurasian Wigeon Feb, Pixley NWR, Steve Summers
Blue-winged Teal Mar, Tulare WTP, John Lockhart
Common Goldeneye Jan, Slick Rock, John Lockhart
Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Lake Success, known from 2009
Solitary Sandpiper Apr, Herbert Preserve, Rob Hansen
Short-eared Owl Feb, Pixley NWR, Alison Sheehey
Costa's Hummingbird Jan, Lake Success Campground, known from 2009
Purple Martin Apr, Dry Creek Dr, John Lockhart
Bank Swallow Apr, BLM Restoration Pond, John Lockhart
Black-throated Sparrow Jan, Holdridge Rd, known from 2009

Abundant to Rare species not yet recorded in 2010

Tulare Co All Need 2010 62 Friday, April 30, 2010

18 Common
Wilson's Phalarope
Forster's Tern
Hairy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Hammond's Flycatcher
Dusky Flycatcher
Plumbeous Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Clark's Nutcracker
Yellow Warbler
Hermit Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lazuli Bunting

24 Uncommon
Wild Turkey
Northern Goshawk
Peregrine Falcon
Mountain Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Black Tern
Flammulated Owl
Common Nighthawk
Common Poorwill
Black Swift
Allen's Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Gray Flycatcher
Winter Wren
Varied Thrush
Yellow-breasted Chat
Black-chinned Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Red Crossbill
Evening Grosbeak

20 Rare
Ross's Goose
Chukar
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Pacific Golden-Plover
Snowy Plover
Willet
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-eared Owl
Red-naped Sapsucker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Sage Thrasher
Grasshopper Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Scott's Oriole
Pine Grosbeak

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings Co Year to date 203 species
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 01 May 2010 00:53:54 -0000
April 30, 2010

Wild Turkey recorded as a new introduced species Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John 
Luther for bird 304 


Kings Co 2010
203 species reported in 2010 as of April 30, 2010 by all observers

5 Casual
Greater Scaup Mar 6, South Wilbur, John Lockhart
Wild Turkey Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Ruff Mar 28, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds, Jeff Seay
Glaucous-winged Gull Jan 10, Blakely Canal, Jeff Seay
Green-tailed Towhee Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers

18 Rare
Cackling Goose Mar 7, Nevada Ave Ponds, Mark Stacy
Tundra Swan Jan 10, Kent-Jersey Ave Ponds flyover, Jeff Seay
Common Goldeneye Jan 17, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Pacific Golden-Plover Feb 20, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Solitary Sandpiper Apr 26, Tule River, Steve Summers
Willet Mar 6, Jack Stone Ponds, John Lockhart
Sanderling Jan 10, Jack Stone Ponds, Mark Stacy
Short-billed Dowitcher Apr 18, Corcoran Reservoir, Mark Stacy
Band-tailed Pigeon Apr 28, Tar Canyon, John Luther
White-throated Swift Mar 28, Hwy 5 South of Avenal, Al DeMartini
Hairy Woodpecker Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Olive-sided Flycatcher Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers
Hutton's Vireo Apr 29, Tar Canyon, John Luther
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 28, Boggs Slough, John Luther
Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 18, Nevada and 14th Ave, Mark Stacy
White-throated Sparrow Known from 2009
Hooded Oriole Apr 3, Lemoore, Mark Stacy
Lawrence's Goldfinch Apr 22, Tar Canyon, Steve Summers

Still missing from the non Casual, Accidental list is.

Kings Co All Need 2010 37 Friday, April 30, 2010

2 Common
Sora
Western Screech-Owl

8 Uncommon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Common Poorwill
Willow Flycatcher
Cassin's Vireo
Brown Creeper
Canyon Wren
Townsend's Warbler
Pine Siskin

27 Rare
Ross's Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Franklin's Gull
Least Tern
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Black Swift
Costa's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Cassin's Kingbird
Steller's Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Swainson's Thrush
Varied Thrush
Sage Thrasher
Purple Finch

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: kings wrong dates
From: John Luther <aplomado-falcon AT att.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:29:17 -0700 (PDT)
Sorry my last email had wrong dates for Kings Co adventures.  I was there 28 
and 29 April and not 21 and 22. 


John Luther

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Tar Canyon corral , 4/22/10
From: John Luther <aplomado-falcon AT att.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:18:30 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Birders,

I had a fun two days in Kings Co April 21 and 22.  Highlights for me included 
on April 21 a YB Chat (as well as Nashville, Orange-crowned, BT Gray, Yellow, 
Wilson's, Audubon and Myrtle Warblers) at Boggs Slough, a Gray Flycatcher at 14 
1/2 Ave and Nevada Ave, a Blue Grosbeak at Tule River just east of 6 th Ave 
(along with a Steve Summers that I birded with there).  I then picked up the 
key to Tar Canyon and went to the corral for a couple hours of evening 
birding.  Highlights there were 3 Band-tailed Pigeons that flew by over the 
oaks west of the corral and 4 Lawrence's Goldfinch.   

 
April 23 I started my hike from the Tar Canyon corral at 6:50 AM when it was 
still a cool 39 degrees.  With broken cloud cover all day and an occasional 
cool breeze it was a pleasant day for walking.  My body complained alot, but as 
long as it did not shut down I guess I can take the complaining and aches along 
the way (and this morning when I got up).  Hairy Woodpecker was a delight in 
the first pines along the road (I missed the turnoff to the pines where John 
and Steve had Hairy Woodpecker and Olive-sided Flycatcher a few days ago).  I 
did not miss the rain that they had then.  The road was dry and even dusty in 
places.  W Bluebirds and a Hutton's Vireo were on road (Line Pole Rd according 
an old sign out there) going north on west side of Little Avenal Creek as were 
most of the Phainopepla that I saw.  Then the road curved west and started to 
climb.  Hermit Warbler was in pines at my turn around spot at about 2400 feet 
elevation and the 2 

 Vaux's Swift flew by going north as I walked back to Little Avenal Creek from 
there.   

 
Lowlights were a sow and 4 piglets and two "wild" turkeys.  Neither had I seen 
before in the county and I was hoping (wishful thinking) that they had not yet 
invaded Kings Co.   

 
Back to the corral by 3:50 PM and then returned the key.  There were strong 
winds (which I did not have in the hills) around Avenal and Kettleman City.  I 
called Frances and heard about her Band-tailed Pigeon at Boggs Slough.  Windy 
all the home to Oakland. 

 
John Luther
Oakland  


Location:    Tar Canyon corral
Observation date:    4/22/10
Notes:    Walked about 14 miles from Tar Canyon corral to Little Avenal Creek 
and then north on Line Pole Rd (dirt ranch road) along creek and then up to 
about 2400 feet in oaks and pines and manzanita. 

Number of species:    56

Wild Turkey    2
California Quail    18
Turkey Vulture    3
Red-tailed Hawk    8
Golden Eagle    4
American Kestrel    2
Killdeer    1
Band-tailed Pigeon    3
Mourning Dove    40
Greater Roadrunner    1
Vaux's Swift    2
Anna's Hummingbird    3
Acorn Woodpecker    4
Nuttall's Woodpecker    3
Hairy Woodpecker    1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)    3
Ash-throated Flycatcher    50
Western Kingbird    24
Loggerhead Shrike    8
Hutton's Vireo    1
Warbling Vireo    1
Western Scrub-Jay    20
Common Raven    20
Horned Lark    8
Violet-green Swallow    2
Oak Titmouse    20
Bushtit    2
Rock Wren    2
Bewick's Wren    2
House Wren    1
Western Bluebird    6
Wrentit    4
Northern Mockingbird    1
California Thrasher    3
European Starling    20
Phainopepla    12
Orange-crowned Warbler    2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)    3
Hermit Warbler    1
Common Yellowthroat    1
Western Tanager    10
Spotted Towhee    4
California Towhee    12
Lark Sparrow    8
Savannah Sparrow    2
White-crowned Sparrow    1
Golden-crowned Sparrow    3
Black-headed Grosbeak    4
Lazuli Bunting    1
Red-winged Blackbird    8
Western Meadowlark    40
Brewer's Blackbird    12
Bullock's Oriole    16
House Finch    30
Lesser Goldfinch    2
Lawrence's Goldfinch    4

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Band-tailed Pigeon on valley floor Kings Co
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:05:17 -0000
Thursday, April 29, 2010

Frances Oliver called me midday to tell me of her find at Bogg's Slough.

I passed the info on to Mark Stacy and he had the Band-tailed Pigeon all staked 
out for me when I got there. 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Vaux's swifts and bank swallow at Deer Creek and Friant-Kern Canal on April 27,
From: "Robert" <hansenbio AT comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:43:58 -0000
Here is a list of birds seen by Rob Hansen, Bobby Kamansky, and Carole Combs on 
April 27, 2010 between 3:45 and 6:15 pm at the DEER CREEK/TULE RIVER AUTHORITY 
CONJUNCTIVE USE RECHARGE BASINS where Deer Creek crosses the Friant-Kern Canal 
(just east of Road 208 X Avenue 104). This is private property; the birders 
were monitoring revegetation plots as part of habitat enhancement work at the 
site. 


gadwall  2
mallard   20
cinnamon teal  3
redhead  2
ruddy duck  6  
pied-billed grebe  3
great egret  8
cattle egret 65 (including at least 2 that caught western fence lizards at the 
edge of the northwest pond - the lizards appeared to have been displaced by the 
rising water as it filled the pond) 

black-crowned night heron  2
turkey vulture  2
red-tailed hawk  6
American coot 65 (many exhibited aggressive displays while establishing nest 
territories) 

killdeer  8
black-necked stilt  1
least sandpiper  17
long-billed dowitcher  2
Wilson's snipe  1
rock pigeon  1 (flyover)
mourning dove  8
Vaux's swift 10 (flew WNW - as low as 50 feet up - under dark cloudy skies at 
5:55 pm) 

black-chinned hummingbird  1
black phoebe  2
western kingbird  7
American crow  15
common raven  4
northern rough-winged swallow  2
bank swallow 1 (flew W - as low as 55 feet up - under dark cloudy skies at 6:05 
pm) 

cliff swallow  70
barn swallow  6
northern mockingbird  3
golden-crowned sparrow  2
blue grosbeak  2 males
red-winged blackbird  55
yellow-headed blackbird  6
Brewer's blackbird  4
great-tailed grackle  5
Bullock's oriole  3
house finch  10
lesser goldfinch  2
American goldfinch  1 

40 species (3 new species for the site checklist which now stands at 152 
species). The newly added species were rock pigeon, Vaux's swift, and bank 
swallow. 


Another noteworthy bird record on this same day (April 27, 2010) was a 
loggerhead shrike nest at Sequoia Riverlands Trust's Herbert Wetland Prairie 
Preserve. All 7 eggs in the nest (discovered earlier this spring) have hatched 
and there are 7 shrike nestlings (a little over half grown) in the nest. This 
is the maximum size clutch for loggerhead shrike (according to Harrison's Field 
Guide to Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds).
Subject: Tule River Refinding Solitary Sandpiper and Green-tailed Towhee continue
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:11:52 -0000
Monday, April 26, 2010

I was already going to go there after work to look for the American Bittern 
Mark reported on Sunday. When Steve called with his finds I was off. I was able 
to get there a little after 2:00. The migrant rush was over but I found the 2 
goodies. 


From north to south it goes fields, dirt road, Tule River, dirt road, 
irrigation ditch 1, irrigation ditch 2, fields. You can't get from north to 
south with out going to 6th. You need to come in from 6th south side of first 
bridge south of the Corcoran prison. 


The Solitary Sandpipers (2 for sure maybe 3) are in the irrigation ditches. 
They go in the low lying vegetation and can be hard to see but are sometimes on 
the bare banks. 


The Green-tailed Towhee is in the area where a dirt "bridge" connects the 2 
irrigation ditches. I got a great look but could not rerefind to take a 
picture. I spent about 3 hours there. 



Location:     Tule River Kings Co
Observation date:     4/26/10
Number of species:     40

Mallard     2
Cinnamon Teal     2
Double-crested Cormorant     4
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret     3
Green Heron     1
Black-crowned Night-Heron     10
Turkey Vulture     17
Swainson's Hawk     2
Red-tailed Hawk     2
Common Moorhen     2
American Coot     4
Killdeer     3
Solitary Sandpiper     2
Mourning Dove     20
Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
Anna's Hummingbird     1
Acorn Woodpecker     1
Nuttall's Woodpecker     2
Western Wood-Pewee     1
Black Phoebe     2
Ash-throated Flycatcher     8
Western Kingbird     12
Western Scrub-Jay     5
American Crow     3
Tree Swallow     2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     2
Cliff Swallow     3
Bushtit     3
House Wren     3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
European Starling     3
Yellow-rumped Warbler     20
Western Tanager     2
Green-tailed Towhee     1
White-crowned Sparrow     7
Red-winged Blackbird     8
Brown-headed Cowbird     4
House Finch     4
House Sparrow     8

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


I went out to Nevada Ave Ponds - FOS Black Tern

Nevada Ave and 14th and 1/2 Ave - had a few migrants but nothing special.

I tried Corcoran City Parks with little luck

The Corcoran Reservoir was pretty slow

John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Kings Co. Tule R. migrants
From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:32:23 -0700
This morning I birded for a little over two hours on the Kings Co. stretch
of the Tule R. between 4th & 6th Aves. Highlights were: one SOLITARY
SANDPIPER, one GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, and one BREWER'S SPARROW. Probably the
most unexpected bird was an ACORN WOODPECKER, far from any oaks. Migrants
were fairly numerous with seven species of warblers and 20+ Western
Tanagers. Flycatchers, other than Western Kingbirds and Ash-throated
Flycatchers, were scarce with only one each of Western Wood Pewee, Gray
Flycatcher and Western Flycatcher.

Steve Summers
Porterville
Subject: Some Kings Birds
From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:11:37 -0000
Nothing outstanding but:

At Boggs Slough yesterday I had a flyby Willet, new for that location. My 
cumulative total for Boggs Slough is now 167 (I've spent a lot of time there). 


Today: 95 species in 4 hours at Nevada Ponds migrant spot, Tule River and 
Corcoran Reservoir. Not a whole lot of migrants about. Highlights for me: 
American Bittern and a rather late Merlin at Tule River, approx. 20 
Semipalmated Plover at Corcoran Reservoir. 


Mark Stacy
Lemoore
Subject: Tar Canyon 4 Rare birds
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:01:05 -0000
Thursday, April 23, 2010

before meeting Steve I tried
Nevada and 14 1/2 ave with little in the way of migrants

Then I tried the Kettleman City RV park on a hint from Mark Stacy
Hooded Oriole

Steve Summers and I picked up the key to Tar Canyon at 8:00 am and headed up 
birding the road until about 10:00 am with the best birds being a Mountain 
Bluebird and a Phainopepla. 


We then hiked a little over 9 miles round-trip from the green corral to the top 
of a gray pine covered hill top just over 2400 feet. It was raining on the way 
and quiet but we found a California Thrasher. 


Once in the pines we had
Hairy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Lawrence's Goldfinch

and FOS Lazuli Bunting

Location:     Big Tar Canyon 2400 ft peak
Observation date:     4/22/10
Number of species:     28

Turkey Vulture     3
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     2
Golden Eagle     1
Mourning Dove     8
Anna's Hummingbird     3
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Olive-sided Flycatcher     1
Ash-throated Flycatcher     2
Western Kingbird     3
Loggerhead Shrike     2
Western Scrub-Jay     2
Common Raven     3
Oak Titmouse     1
Western Bluebird     6
Wrentit     2
California Thrasher     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     2
California Towhee     1
Chipping Sparrow     2
Lark Sparrow     4
Savannah Sparrow     5
White-crowned Sparrow     15
Golden-crowned Sparrow     1
Dark-eyed Junco     1
Lazuli Bunting     1
Western Meadowlark     5
Lawrence's Goldfinch     2

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


When we got back to the Green Corral it was very birdy with migrants in the 
willows and we had many first of spring arrivals. 


Location:     Big Tar Cyn Corral
Observation date:     4/22/10
Number of species:     35

California Quail     7
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     4
Rock Pigeon     1
Mourning Dove     7
Western Wood-Pewee     1
Pacific-slope Flycatcher     1
Say's Phoebe     1
Ash-throated Flycatcher     3
Western Kingbird     6
Loggerhead Shrike     4
Warbling Vireo     1
Western Scrub-Jay     2
Common Raven     2
Horned Lark     3
Rock Wren     4
House Wren     1
Mountain Bluebird     1
European Starling     3
Phainopepla     1
Orange-crowned Warbler     2
Nashville Warbler     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     7
Black-throated Gray Warbler     2
California Towhee     2
Vesper Sparrow 1
Lark Sparrow     20
Savannah Sparrow     65
Lincoln's Sparrow     1
White-crowned Sparrow     25
Red-winged Blackbird     10
Western Meadowlark     35
Brewer's Blackbird     5
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
Bullock's Oriole     2
House Finch     12

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Solitary Sandpiper @ Herbert Preserve Apr. 17; 2 Swainsons hawk nests Apr. 18
From: "Robert" <hansenbio AT comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:15:59 -0000
An April 18 posting noted "Mary Merriman had already reported FOS black-headed 
grosbeak from the Mineral King Road". I'm not sure what day Mary saw the 
grosbeak but Rob Hansen heard a singing male in his back yard in Visalia on 
April 11, 2010. 


Rob Hansen and Maryann Hodge saw one solitary sandpiper at the Herbert Preserve 
at about 2:30 pm on Saturday, April 17, 2010. They first noted the bird when it 
called, flew in, and landed near a greater yellowlegs at the edge of a large 
vernal pool at the southwest corner of the Preserve. It stayed only briefly 
before flying east-northeast over mima mound terrain past an active burrowing 
owl nest to the next wet vernal pool. Both observers tried to take advantage of 
the "hogwallow" topography and tall grass to "sneak up" for a better look at 
the bird but it flew from the second pool to another pool even further east. We 
finally got a scope view of the bird in that third pool just as it walked 
behind a greater yellowlegs. In contrast to the greater yellowlegs, the 
solitary sandpiper was smaller, browner, had a shorter straighter bill, darker 
(brownish green) legs, and a more prominent eye-ring. After having a chance to 
watch the bird for about 30-seconds, it flew one more time to another pool even 
further east. Late April must be a good time to watch for this rare [in Tulare 
and Kings Counties] sandpiper; the only other solitary snadpiper record from 
the Herbert Preserve was of two birds in irrigation runoff along the east side 
of the Preserve on April 25, 2002. 


Another Herbert Preserve bird highlight is an active loggerhead shrike nest 
(only the third nest of its kind documented on the Preserve) containing 7 eggs 
( a large clutch) on April 6. 


Rob Hansen, Eric Curiel, and Kenny Kennard found a new Swainson's hawk nest in 
the third pecan tree east of Road 44 on the south side of Highway 198 on 
Sunday, April 18, 2010. Both adults, perched nearby, appeared to be dark morph 
individuals. Another Swainson's hawk nest in a pecan tree was discovered about 
1 mile further east in Tulare County in 2007. These same 3 observers also found 
a Swainson's hawk nest on April 18, 2010 in a part of Kings County where this 
species has not been documented nesting before. This newly documented nest is 
located in a solitary Fremont cottonwood tree along the northwest side of the 
Avenal Cutoff (less than 1 mile from the Kings-Fresno County line) in an area 
where young pistachio trees grow along both sides of the Avenal Cutoff. This 
individual, seen preening atop a pistachio tree after flying from the nest, 
appeared to be a second year (subadult) individual with dark brown & white 
spotting on its belly, breast, and wing linings.
Subject: Tundra Swan location details
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:50:28 -0000
I forgot to add location details on the Visalia Tundra Swan

It is actually in the golf courses very near Plaza Park. I looked through the 
fence with the race track just behind me. You could throw a stone into Plaza 
Park from were I viewed the swan. 


John Lockhart
Visalia
Subject: Tundra Swan Visalia Plaza Park
From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:41:45 -0000
Monday, April 19, 2010

Reported on Ebird on April 18, 2010 by Richard Norton. 

I went to see it a lunch time but it was a little far away for binoculars so I 
returned with a scope after work and sure enough it was clearly a Tundra Swan. 


John Lockhart
Visalia