Birdingonthe.NetRecent Postings from
> Home > Mail |
Long-tailed Ground Roller,©BirdQuest |
|
09 May Will be gone ["awanderingbirder" ] 09 May Re: Fwd: Cave Swallow ["awanderingbirder" ] 8 May Redpoll on the Farallones [Jim Tietz ] 07 May Fwd: Cave Swallow ["awanderingbirder" ] 07 May Fwd Cave Swallow still at SESS ["awanderingbirder" ] 06 May FWD: Cave Swallow continues ["awanderingbirder" ] 02 May Fwd: Cave Swallow at the Salton Sea ["awanderingbirder" ] 28 Apr Re: Fwd: BLACK HAWK in Kern ["toddamcgrath" ] 28 Apr Fwd: BLACK HAWK in Kern ["awanderingbirder" ] 27 Apr N Cardinal in SBE ["awanderingbirder" ] 27 Apr BLACK HAWK in Kern ["awanderingbirder" ] 27 Apr The Searcher 5-day pelagic, June 2-6, 2008 [David Pereksta ] 27 Apr The Searcher 5-day pelagic, June 2-6, 2008 [David Pereksta ] 24 Apr Pterodroma, Parakeets, Albatross, Orca, Giant Squid. ORCA & GIANT SQUID??? ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 22 Apr Fwd: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes ["awanderingbirder" ] 22 Apr Fwd: Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels ["awanderingbirder" ] 22 Apr Re: Fwd: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes remembered [David Pereksta ] 21 Apr Fwd: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes remembered ["awanderingbirder" ] 19 Apr Fwd: Crested Caracara ["awanderingbirder" ] 19 Apr Fwd: Continuing Tricolored Heron in San Diego ["awanderingbirder" ] 17 Apr North American Monsoon System (NAMS) - ["Richard Cimino" ] 15 Apr Re: FW: Permission to bird Butterbredt? ["awanderingbirder" ] 14 Apr Eastern Alameda County birding ["Richard Cimino" ] 13 Apr Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Ventura [Oscar Johnson ] 13 Apr Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Ventura [Oscar Johnson ] 11 Apr Fwd: continuing Roseate Spoonbill and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Salton Sea ["awanderingbirder" ] 10 Apr Fwd: [LACoBirds] Final notice - May 3 SoCal deepwater pelagic trip ["awanderingbirder" ] 08 Apr Fwd: Roseate Spoonbill ["awanderingbirder" ] 07 Apr Herb Clark ["awanderingbirder" ] 07 Apr Yellow-billed Loon continues in SBE ["awanderingbirder" ] 5 Apr Alameda County ["Richard Cimino" ] 03 Apr Fwd: Dusky-capped Flycatcher in LA ["awanderingbirder" ] 03 Apr Murphy’s Petrel, Parakeet Auklet, Tristram’s Storm-petrel ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 03 Apr Fwd: C Black Hawk in Marin ["awanderingbirder" ] 03 Apr Re: Fwd: Yellow-throated Warbler in Orange ["awanderingbirder" ] 02 Apr PELAGIC BIRDING DREAM SEASON: Aug 25 - Sept 6 ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 01 Apr May 3 LAAS Deepwater Pelagic from Santa Barbara ["toddamcgrath" ] 31 Mar Re: Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte [Joseph Morlan ] 30 Mar Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte ["awanderingbirder" ] 30 Mar Fwd: Yellow-throated Warbler in Orange ["awanderingbirder" ] 29 Mar Fwd: [MBB] Fwd: [obol] Color-marked Western Sandpipers ["awanderingbirder" ] 28 Mar Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte ["Rob Fowler" ] 28 Mar Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte ["Ken Burton" ] 28 Mar Slaty-back Gull in Del Norte still and Goose Festival ["awanderingbirder" ] 28 Mar Re: Caracara still in Kern ["awanderingbirder" ] 28 Mar Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte ["awanderingbirder" ] 27 Mar Caracara still in Kern ["awanderingbirder" ] 25 Mar FW: Crested Caracara in Kern ["awanderingbirder" ] 21 Mar FW: Slaty-backed Gull and Little Blue Heron still in Del Norte ["awanderingbirder" ] 16 Mar San Diego Pelagic Trip Report - Los Coronados Islands ["Terry Hunefeld" ] 15 Mar FW: [nwcalbird] Slaty-b., Little Blue, and 2 species of caracara in Del Norte Co ["awanderingbirder" ] 15 Mar FW: Pine Warbler and Laughing Gull in San Diego ["awanderingbirder" ] Subject: Will be gone From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 20:34:01 -0000 Just letting people know that I am going to Maine (on Monday) for the summer field Season and will only have internet access about once a month. BirdingCalifornia will be in the very capable hands of our moderators. Please keep posting on any topic relating to birding in California. The only real way my leaving will affect people on the listserve is that I will no longer be able to alert you to messages of CBRC review species, but please keep posting this species. Good birding all! David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az (soon to be Maine) Owner BirdingCaliforniaSubject: Re: Fwd: Cave Swallow From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 20:15:57 -0000 Still there, details are on sialia.com. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az (for a couple more days) --- In BirdingCalifornia AT yahoogroups.com, "awanderingbirder"Subject: Redpoll on the Farallones From: Jim Tietz <jimtietz AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 12:25:56 -0700 (PDT) Hi all, Yet another new species for the island! Zach Coffman found and photographed a redpoll on Monday, May 6th. Here's Zach's email about finding it: "You're correct about the Coast Guard tree and it being photographed through the window (I guess that you have spent a little bit of time looking through it). I fortunately/unfortunately was the only person who saw the bird, though Pete (Warzybok) has been keeping his eyes out. As it was, I only saw it for maybe 3 minutes, just long enough for me to see the bird, realize that I had never seen anything like it, run and get my camera, snap a couple shots and then have it be gone for ever...For the identification of it, I initially thought Common Redpoll then spent the next hour contemplating it till I showed the photos to Pete, who also thought Common Redpoll...you were next in line. For a size comparison there were a couple of Myrtles and Audubon's at the same time and the Redpoll was very close to their size yet much more fluffy." Although this is a late date for Common Redpoll in California, one was collected in Humboldt on 22 May 1969. In addition, there are other late spring and summer records from Oregon and Nevada. Distinguishing this bird from a Hoary Redpoll is a little problematic because the key features (undertail coverts and flanks) were hidden behind a branch. Hopefully the bill shape is large enough to rule out Hoary. I have asked Guy McCaskie to post a photo on the CBRC website. I will also post a photo of it in this listserve's photo folder. Please feel free to make comments about this bird on this listserve or personally. There are currently four other potential new Farallon records being reviewed by the CBRC. If all those birds and the redpoll are accepted, the Farallon list would stand at 415. Jim James R. Tietz Shaver Lake, CA ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJSubject: Fwd: Cave Swallow From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 16:13:46 -0000 Matt Brady and John Sterling had the continuing Cave Swallow this morning in the usual spot at the South End of the Salton Sea. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Fwd Cave Swallow still at SESS From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 02:59:28 -0000 Details as always are on sialia.com David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az for another weekSubject: FWD: Cave Swallow continues From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 05:03:51 -0000 The Cave Swallow continues this morning at the SESS details as always are on sialia.com. Good Birding David Vander Pluym Flagtsaff, AzSubject: Fwd: Cave Swallow at the Salton Sea From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 17:22:20 -0000 Guy McCaskie found one this morning. Details are on inlandcounty birds here: http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=195164 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Re: Fwd: BLACK HAWK in Kern From: "toddamcgrath" <SKUA AT MSN.com> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:43:04 -0000 Dave, I was a little puzzled by the plumage as well, but upon getting home I looked in Wheeler's "Raptors of Western North America". In the account for Common Black Hawk, Wheeler indicates that birds stay in Juv Plumage for the first year with "first prebasic molt from Juvenile to subadult begins in May or early June." So it would appear that the birds molt shortly after returning to the breeding areas. Wheeler also indicates that the young birds return to the breeding areas in May or June, with the adults arriving earlier. (March to April). So it may be that arrival back at the breeding area triggers the molt. I haven't spent much time in AZ in Black Hawk country in May or June, but I hadn't seen this plumage except in the late summer. Todd McGrath SKUA AT MSN.COM Marina Del Rey CA --- In BirdingCalifornia AT yahoogroups.com, "awanderingbirder"Subject: Fwd: BLACK HAWK in Kern From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:33:19 -0000 I just sent this message but apparently yahoo had an internal error, sorry if you are receiving this twice. I am forwarding a message from Stan Gray. Also photos were posted on kerncobirding here: http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/Species/cobh_cbc.html I like the photo of the bird eating a fish, living in central Az now I've been seeing a number of these guys (but no birds in this plumage) and a couple days ago Lauren Harter and I watched one with a fish as well. Anther birder also had one a couple days later take a fish from a pond. We also saw a rehab bird that was fed rats (we felt bad for it), which it apparently loved and has been eating for a couple years (makes a meadowlark not seem out of the question. The plumage of this bird seems kind of interesting as C Black Hawks molt before they are about a year old into definitive plumage and the rehab bird I mentioned above is an SY and has molted into definitive plumage. Neither Lauren (in 4 years) nor I have seen a bird like this. Do C Black Hawks molt on the wintering grounds? As this seems likely it then seems likely that this bird wintered locally? Comments? David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az From Stan Gray: Dave, Please feel free to post this message: Those of us who saw the Common Black Hawk that Susan and Bob Steele found at Galileo this morning, sat and made numerous phone calls to try to get the word out to everyone. I watched this bird at several locations and waited a few hours for the second wave of birders. Many of them got to see it after Mike San Miguel and I re-located it near the parking lot early this afternoon. But the bottom line is that the bird was working all of the ponds, and by mid morning was photographed and observed taking at least two fish (Bob Steele). So it may not be SHARP this afternoon and could in fact move on. However to me, the bird looked very famished, and Todd McGrath thought that it might be too late in the day for it to move on, (this I generally agree on). In my opinion: The bird is not and adult- but clearly not like the hatch year birds that I've seen in Arizona--making it a (2nd year sub-adult). I believe there may be a good chance that this bird will be around tomorrow, if anyone is interested in chasing it. Note: My first impression this morning was that the bird was an immature Zone-Tailed Hawk, but one really has to see it fly to get the full impact. And one aspect of its feeding pattern seems to be that every now and then it will go over to the white fence by the shooting range and just set awhile. Good Luck to all and Thank Bob & Susan! Stan GraySubject: N Cardinal in SBE From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:30:55 -0000 I just got a phone call from Sean Fitzgerald who has been surveying the desert washes along the Colorado River. He told me that his boss yesterday in Chemehuevi Wash about 4 km east of Highway 95, had a female N Cardinal. The bird was apparently moving around a lot in the wash. Good Luck. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: BLACK HAWK in Kern From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:49:19 -0000 I got a call from Andrew Howe that Bob and Susan Steele found a young BLACK HAWK (presumed Common) this morning at Galileo Hill. The bird has been wandering around but typically near water. Remember that Galileo Hill and Silver Saddle Ranch are private property and they have graciously allowed birders to visit so be on your best behavior. Good Luck David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: The Searcher 5-day pelagic, June 2-6, 2008 From: David Pereksta <pereksta AT pacbell.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:07:55 -0700 (PDT) Hello Birders The next multi-day voyage of the Searcher is nearly a month away and we are still trying to fill the last spots on it. The Searcher has comfortable bunk rooms, great food (thanks to Chef "Lurch"), and a generous assortment of beverages (soda, coffee, beer, and wine); all of which are included in the price. This trip will have Todd Easterla, Jon Feenstra, and myself as leaders. This trip gives us the opportunity to get far offshore of southern California and spend a lot of time in places that one-day trips can only search briefly, if they can get there at all. The itinerary focuses on maximizing daylight hours in the most productive places for seabirds like the northern Channel Islands, San Juan Seamount, Cortez and Tanner Banks, and the banks off of San Diego. County listers can expect new "ticks" for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties. This trip is the first multi-day trip planned for June when the sea should be comfortable and the chance for mega-rarities should be high. A one-day exploration to the San Juan Seamount area in July 2007 had a Tristram's Storm-Petrel, an April 2007 day-trip had seven Parakeet Auklets between the San Juan and San Nicholas Island, and a short trip to the waters south of Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands in June 2007 had 250 Xantus's murrelets, 330 Cassin's Auklets, and a Flesh-footed Shearwater. Just imagine what we can find out there spending the hours we can on the Searcher... Spring/Summer trips to these waters have also regularly found Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, South Polar Skua, and numbers of other shearwaters, storm-petrels, jaegers, alcids, gulls, terns, and phalaropes. Rarities that have been found off southern California at this time of year that we will be searching diligently for include Cook's (very good chance of finding this one), Murphy's, and Dark-rumped Petrels; Short-tailed Albatross; and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel. Based on recent reports off the Pacific Coast, we are also hoping to find Parakeet Auklet and Horned Puffin again after their invasion last year. There are other birds that we dare even mention that we might have a chance at...look at the website for some of those. We never know what we will find out there, but there is always something that leaves indelible memories with all who have gone aboard. Check out the following link for more info on the searcher including price, expected/target species, and leader bios. http://www.socalbirding.com/ june_2-6_ 2008_searcher_ 5-day_expedition Hope to see you at sea... David Pereksta Ventura [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: The Searcher 5-day pelagic, June 2-6, 2008 From: David Pereksta <pereksta AT pacbell.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:07:55 -0700 (PDT) Hello Birders The next multi-day voyage of the Searcher is nearly a month away and we are still trying to fill the last spots on it. The Searcher has comfortable bunk rooms, great food (thanks to Chef "Lurch"), and a generous assortment of beverages (soda, coffee, beer, and wine); all of which are included in the price. This trip will have Todd Easterla, Jon Feenstra, and myself as leaders. This trip gives us the opportunity to get far offshore of southern California and spend a lot of time in places that one-day trips can only search briefly, if they can get there at all. The itinerary focuses on maximizing daylight hours in the most productive places for seabirds like the northern Channel Islands, San Juan Seamount, Cortez and Tanner Banks, and the banks off of San Diego. County listers can expect new "ticks" for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties. This trip is the first multi-day trip planned for June when the sea should be comfortable and the chance for mega-rarities should be high. A one-day exploration to the San Juan Seamount area in July 2007 had a Tristram's Storm-Petrel, an April 2007 day-trip had seven Parakeet Auklets between the San Juan and San Nicholas Island, and a short trip to the waters south of Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands in June 2007 had 250 Xantus's murrelets, 330 Cassin's Auklets, and a Flesh-footed Shearwater. Just imagine what we can find out there spending the hours we can on the Searcher... Spring/Summer trips to these waters have also regularly found Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, South Polar Skua, and numbers of other shearwaters, storm-petrels, jaegers, alcids, gulls, terns, and phalaropes. Rarities that have been found off southern California at this time of year that we will be searching diligently for include Cook's (very good chance of finding this one), Murphy's, and Dark-rumped Petrels; Short-tailed Albatross; and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel. Based on recent reports off the Pacific Coast, we are also hoping to find Parakeet Auklet and Horned Puffin again after their invasion last year. There are other birds that we dare even mention that we might have a chance at...look at the website for some of those. We never know what we will find out there, but there is always something that leaves indelible memories with all who have gone aboard. Check out the following link for more info on the searcher including price, expected/target species, and leader bios. http://www.socalbirding.com/ june_2-6_ 2008_searcher_ 5-day_expedition Hope to see you at sea... David Pereksta Ventura [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Pterodroma, Parakeets, Albatross, Orca, Giant Squid. ORCA & GIANT SQUID??? From: "Terry Hunefeld" <sdbirdlover AT fastmail.fm> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:57:20 -0000 It's getting to be that time of year when there's no telling what you'll find out in the Pacific Ocean. Last June I was with Dave Povey and Pete Ginsburg 6 miles offshore San Diego when we spotted an enormous feeding frenzy of gulls and terns. We motored over to find an amazing spectacle: several acres of suction-cupped tentacles protruding 18 – 24 inches above the surface of the sea, waving back and forth, surfacing for 2 seconds then submerging, only to reappear a second later – a surreal Alice In Wonderland spectacle of hundreds of reddish-brown "tentacle bushes" waving in the wind. Neither Dave nor Pete had ever witnessed such an event in their combined 50 years at sea. These were probably Humboldt Squid – also known as Flying Squid – that typically inhabit depths of 2,000 feet but had evidently driven/followed a school of bait fish to the surface – and the birds were having a field day. These are the types of mind-boggling scenes you find only by being "OUT THERE." Four exciting pelagic trips are upcoming in SoCal: Sat, May 3. Deep water trip towards the San Juan Seamount with the Los Angeles Audubon on the Condor Express http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CALBIRDS/message/7166 Sat, May 10. A 3/4 day trip to the Nine-mile bank and Coronados Islands off San Diego http://www.socalbirding.com/may_10_2008_booby_adventure_34_day Sat, Sun, May 10 & 11. 1.5 day trip to deep water off San Diego http://www.socalbirding.com/may_10-12_continental_shelf_deep_water And, the deep water Granddaddy of them all: The Searcher 5 day expedition June 2 – 6. A week of birding the Channel Islands and the deep waters of the Continental Shelf. http://www.socalbirding.com/june_2-6_2008_searcher_5-day_expedition WHAT'S OUT THERE? The Southern California Bight is brimming with life. The 3 deep water pelagic trips will explore submarine trenches and canyons along the Continental Shelf – some or all will strike it rich. Last year everyone on the May Condor Express trip witnessed amazing spectacles: a thousand SABINE'S GULLS, a pod of ORCA, seven PARAKEET AUKLETS. During the first two weeks of April on the NOAA ship Miller Freeman off the coast of Washington and Oregon I saw dozens of PARAKEET AUKLETS. Will they be in SoCal in May? We won't know till we go. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS is frequent in May and June, and we should see LAYSAN'S on most or all deep water trips. MURPHY'S PETREL is a rare but routine spring visitor in these waters over the continental shelf mid-April through early June. 11 of 14 accepted state records for HAWAIIAN PETREL are June-September, the remaining 3 records are spring – April & May. Dozens of COOK'S PETRELS were seen by Searcher crew on fishing trips in June 2007 in deep water off the Baja and San Diego Coast. The endemic ASHY STORM-PETREL, one of the rarest storm-petrels in the world, are fairly common this time of year, mostly in the northern Channel Islands, where The Condor Express and Searcher explore. BLACK STORM-PETRELS are common in June. We have great odds at seeing both white-rumped and dark-rumped LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS. All deep water trips will be in RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD waters, e.g. one seen 19 May 2007 near San Clemente Island. We'll most likely see SOUTH POLAR SKUA, POMARINE JAEGERS, PARASITIC JAEGERS and SABINE'S GULL. XANTUS'S MURRELETS will be plentiful. A TUFTED PUFFIN was seen in the Channel Islands May, 2002 and a HORNED PUFFIN was seen 17 May 2007 between Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands. 4 trips. 4 adventures. What will we find? We don't know, but it will be something good. Like Dave Povey says about seabirding, "It's like prospecting for gold. Sometimes you come up with nothing, but then you strike it rich. The thrill is in the anticipation." W. Terry Hunefeld Life is short. Bird often. http://www.SoCalBirding.com Pelagic Seabirding Trips From San Diego to: 9-mile Bank Los Coronados Islands Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel IslandsSubject: Fwd: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:17:28 -0000 Forwarded from LACoBirds. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az Hi all, Services for Loren Hayes: Celebration of Life Service Friday, April 25, 2008 at 1:00 PM Huntington Beach Central Park 18000 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA Use library entrance. Park in library parking lot. Walk into park and meet at the bandstand (behind Library). Seating will be setup. All are welcome. Mike San Miguel Arcadia CASubject: Fwd: Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:48:24 -0000 As this is of a national interest along with state wide I am forwarding this from the AZ/NM listserve (its also a bit more relevant to our area). David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az Dear Birders - Although not common in our area, please be aware of color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits, Whimbrels, and any other shorebird species which you notice have color bands. I am forwarding this note from the national USFWS Shorebird Coordinator.... Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels Over the last two years, we have been color-flagging Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits on Chilo� Island, Chile. Over 20,000 each of godwits and Whimbrels spend the boreal winter in the vicinity of Chilo�. Using a canon-net, we have marked 323 Hudsonian Godwits and 135 Whimbrels. These birds will be sporting a red flag (the color for Chile) that is engraved with a unique two-letter/number combination on their upper left leg (tibiotarsus). Flag letters/numbers are read like we read a book, from left to right. They will also have a combination of a metal band and a color ring on their upper right leg. For godwits, this combination will be yellow/metal for 2007 and orange/metal for 2008. Combinations should be read as yellow color band over a metal band. For Whimbrels, the combination will be blue/metal for 2007 and yellow/metal for 2008. Remember that anatomical directions are the way the bird is facing, not necessarily the way you are looking at the bird. Besides banding the birds, we collected blood, took measurements, assessed molt, and collected samples for Avian Influenza (taken by the Chilean agency, Servicio Agr�cola y Ganadero). The blood will be used in a genetics study to determine the origin of the Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels wintering on Chilo� Island. Re-sighting of flagged birds will help us determine their migration routes. There are tentative plans to attached satellite transmitters to Whimbrels next year. Please report any flag and color-band observations to Jim Johnson (jim_a_johnson AT fws.gov; 907-786-3423) or Brad Andres (brad_andres AT fws.gov; 303-275-2324). Last year we had a re-sighting of a Hudsonian Godwit in Alaska and a Whimbrel in southern California. Colleagues in Colombia have also color-flagged Whimbrels this past spring in the Sanquianga National Park. They marked 38 individuals with the following combination: metal/orange or black on upper right leg, nothing on lower right, inscribed medium green flag/yellow flag on upper left leg, and nothing on lower left. Please report these birds to Richard Johnston (calidris AT calidris.org.co or rjohnston AT calidris.org.co.). Thanks in advance for the assistance. Dave Krueper Ass't. Nongame Migratory Bird Coordinator US Fish and Wildlife Service PO Box 1306 Albuquerque, NM 87103 (505) 248-6877 dave_krueper AT fws.govSubject: Re: Fwd: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes remembered From: David Pereksta <pereksta AT pacbell.net> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:09:39 -0700 (PDT) There will be a memorial service for Loren Hays on Friday (April 25) at 1 pm at the bandstand below the library in Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach. That is all the details I have for now, but I will post more when it becomes available. Sincerely David Pereksta Ventura awanderingbirderSubject: Fwd: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes remembered From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:50:53 -0000 This was posted on LACoBirds today. I saddened to have heard this news. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az LA County birders, I am very sorry to report that our friend, fellow birder and dedicated conservationist Loren Hayes passed away on Friday afternoon from the effects of a heart attack the previous Wednesday. We will remember him for his efforts to protect habitats and endangered species in Orange County. He was passionate about the birds of western Mexico, particularly Sinaloa, where he visited dozens of times. A celebration for Loren are pending and I will advise when arrangements have been made. Mike San Miguel Arcadia CASubject: Fwd: Crested Caracara From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:16:54 -0000 Guy McCaskie had the Crested Caracara in the TRV San Diego that has been seen off and on since 2006. Details as always are on sialia.com http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=192068 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Fwd: Continuing Tricolored Heron in San Diego From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:42:24 -0000 Tricolored Heron continues in San Diego, details on sialia.com http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=191854 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: North American Monsoon System (NAMS) - From: "Richard Cimino" <rscimino AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:41:40 -0700 FYI, for birders with interest an the Monsoon season and it's impacts on southern California Habitats . Rich Cimino Alameda County North American Monsoon System (NAMS): Ecohydrology of Seasonally-Green Desert Landscapes Presented by Enrique R. Vivoni Candidate for the Ecohydrology faculty position, with joint appointment as Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment MONDAY, APRIL 21st, 2008 12:15 - 1:15 PM Yang & Yamazaki Environment & Energy Bldg. Room 111, Red Atrium 473 Via Ortega Enrique Vivoni is Associate Professor of Hydrology in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. This special seminar features a candidate for faculty position potentially in CEE, EESS, or EcoEvo, with the Woods Institute for the Environment. The seasonality of ecohydrological processes in arid and semiarid regions is a critical source of temporal variability primarily induced through changes in precipitation. In water-limited monsoon regions, fairly rapid hydroclimatic transitions can lead to a seasonally-green desert landscape during the summer period. Little is currently known on ecohydrological processes in these settings and their potential role in land-atmosphere interactions, ephemeral runoff production and alluvial basin recharge. In this talk, we discuss the North American Monsoon System (NAMS) and its impact on seasonal changes in precipitation, soil moisture, vegetation and streamflow response in regions characterized by complex terrain. In our analysis, we utilize data sets obtained from intensive field campaigns, a long-term hydrometeorological and flux tower network, remotely-sensed observations, and analysis from numerical modeling of atmospheric and watershed processes. Our studies illustrate the strong seasonal and interannual variability of ecohydrological processes, the concurrent effects of land surface vegetation on precipitation recycling, the topographic controls on hydrologic conditions and ecosystem processes and the relations between precipitation pulses, plant dynamics and surface heat fluxes. We then discuss the implications of ecohydrological interactions on regional climate and water resources along the US-Mexico border. The dramatic latitudinal gradient in NAMS provides an organizing principle for future studies on the distribution of seasonally-varying ecohydrological processes in southwestern North America. ----- Original Message ----- From: Tammy M. Frisby To: westcolloquia AT lists.stanford.edu;weststudents AT lists.stanford.edu;westadvisors AT lists.stanford.edu Sent: 4/17/2008 7:43:42 PM Subject: Vivoni on North American Monsoon System (NAMS) - Monday, April21st, 12:15 pm North American Monsoon System (NAMS): Ecohydrology of Seasonally-Green Desert Landscapes Presented by Enrique R. Vivoni Candidate for the Ecohydrology faculty position, with joint appointment as Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment MONDAY, APRIL 21st, 2008 12:15 - 1:15 PM Yang & Yamazaki Environment & Energy Bldg. Room 111, Red Atrium 473 Via Ortega Enrique Vivoni is Associate Professor of Hydrology in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. This special seminar features a candidate for faculty position potentially in CEE, EESS, or EcoEvo, with the Woods Institute for the Environment. The seasonality of ecohydrological processes in arid and semiarid regions is a critical source of temporal variability primarily induced through changes in precipitation. In water-limited monsoon regions, fairly rapid hydroclimatic transitions can lead to a seasonally-green desert landscape during the summer period. Little is currently known on ecohydrological processes in these settings and their potential role in land-atmosphere interactions, ephemeral runoff production and alluvial basin recharge. In this talk, we discuss the North American Monsoon System (NAMS) and its impact on seasonal changes in precipitation, soil moisture, vegetation and streamflow response in regions characterized by complex terrain. In our analysis, we utilize data sets obtained from intensive field campaigns, a long-term hydrometeorological and flux tower network, remotely-sensed observations, and analysis from numerical modeling of atmospheric and watershed processes. Our studies illustrate the strong seasonal and interannual variability of ecohydrological processes, the concurrent effects of land surface vegetation on precipitation recycling, the topographic controls on hydrologic conditions and ecosystem processes and the relations between precipitation pulses, plant dynamics and surface heat fluxes. We then discuss the implications of ecohydrological interactions on regional climate and water resources along the US-Mexico border. The dramatic latitudinal gradient in NAMS provides an organizing principle for future studies on the distribution of seasonally-varying ecohydrological processes in southwestern North America. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: FW: Permission to bird Butterbredt? From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:51:16 -0000 A call was placed to BLM about this and the result was posted in a message on the SLOco listserve and can be read here. http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=191032 Good Birding all David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az --- In BirdingCalifornia AT yahoogroups.com, David Vander PluymSubject: Eastern Alameda County birding From: "Richard Cimino" <rscimino AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:09:28 -0700 This morning 20 birders assembled off of HY 580 and El Charo Road in Pleasanton to visit three different habitats . Zone 7 water district; There two bridges over Las Positas Creek on El Charo used by Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallows for nesting. When Jim Ross and I arrived B4 8 AM we found no Swallows feeding which I found odd. A few second laters Jim spotted a Merlin ( richardsonii) on the wooden pole closest to the bridge over looking the nesting area. At 8:45 the Merlin launched himself the pole. As 20 of us viewed, he launched himself with swift sudden speed and acrobat moves directly in front of the mud nest attached to the bridge. The Swallows panicked and bolted from their nest. At our eye level, to close for scopes the Merlin made several spectacular passes and then grabbed a swallow in flight. He returned the pole and had breakfast. Larry Thompson of Livermore was on the trip with his DSLR 500 mm lenses and snapped some fine photo's. On to Patterson Pass. We arrived later than I perfected 10AM. Birding was slow until road marker 5.80 when a Chipping Sparrow appeared along with Bullocks Oriole-nest building, Lark Sparrows, Orange crown, Audubon's and Myrtle Warblers and Bewick's Wren. At road marker 6.04 in the willows for well over a half hour we viewed five warblers, Orange-crowned, Wilson's, Common Yellowthroat, MacGillivray's and NASHVILLE Warbler. The NASHVILLE Warbler was very cooperative and appeared often fully on exposed in twig ends. We probably had twenty minutes watching the NASHVILLE Warbler. There was speculation among several birders that there may have also been a Red-eyed Vireo in the willows or for sure a Vireo species. I didn't see the bird myself. But Larry Thompson had a few shots of the bird which he'll circulate later. We concluded Patterson Pass with a single Burrowing Owl. Missing today was the Spotted Towhee, Yellow and Black-throated Gray Warblers which had been seen on Saturday. Also typically the Blue Grosbeaks' return to Patterson Pass on or close to April 16th, today the 13th no Blue Grosbeaks were seen or heard. On to Springtown Preserve in north Livermore, where we joined with Native California Plants Society Biologist Heath Bartosh to learn about the alkali plant community present in the preserve. **Google: Springtown Preserve for recently launched web site and bird list, plus conservation data bits.** Western Kingbirds, Golden Eagle, and 60+ Long-billed Curlews in flight. I'm not going to list the expected birds such as - meadowlarks, blackbirds, red-tail hawks, etc,etc.. However the total trip count for the three habitats is 51. Regards Rich Cimino Ohlone Audubon trip leader Pleasanton ABA94566 Richard Cimino Pleasanton, Alameda County, Cal.Subject: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Ventura From: Oscar Johnson <henicorhina AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:33:26 -0700 (PDT) All, An adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found this morning by Robert and Allison McMorran at the Ventura River Mouth in the city of Ventura. Details are posted on the venturacobirding listserve: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/venturacobirding/ and sialia.com It was seen as late as around 3 pm today, and photos are posted in the photos section of Venturacobirding. Good birding, Oscar Johnson Santa Barbara __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Ventura From: Oscar Johnson <henicorhina AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:33:26 -0700 (PDT) All, An adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found this morning by Robert and Allison McMorran at the Ventura River Mouth in the city of Ventura. Details are posted on the venturacobirding listserve: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/venturacobirding/ and sialia.com It was seen as late as around 3 pm today, and photos are posted in the photos section of Venturacobirding. Good birding, Oscar Johnson Santa Barbara __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Fwd: continuing Roseate Spoonbill and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Salton Sea From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:42:14 -0000 Guy McCaskie had continuing Roseate Spoonbill and Lesser Black-backed Gull at the South end of the Salton Sea. Details are on sialia as usual http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=one_list;id=70 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Fwd: [LACoBirds] Final notice - May 3 SoCal deepwater pelagic trip From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:42:24 -0000 Birders, My apologies for this advertisement, but if all goes well, future rare bird reports will result. This is the final call for people to sign up for Los Angeles Audubon Society's May 3 deep-water pelagic trip out of Santa Barbara. The trip is in danger of being cancelled without further participants and it would be a particular shame for this proven exciting trip. This is one of the few single-day opportunities to explore waters above and beyond the continental shelf. Previous trips to the vicinity of the San Juan Seamount and the neighboring 2000 fathom waters southwest of Pt Conception at this time of year have produced Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses, and Murphy's Petrels. Last year we encountered Black-footed Albatross, Flesh-footed Shearwater, a flock of about 1000 Sabine's Gulls, a pod of Orca, and seven Parakeet Auklets. According to recent communications from Terry Hunefeld riding a NOAA boat off Oregon, Parakeet Auklets are again being seen well offshore in a seeming echo of last year's invasion. We're hoping that they once again make it down our way. Again, this boat gets us all the way out to the contintal shelf and back in a single day. Because of the normal difficulty in reaching such environs on a birding trip, little is known about the status of seabirds out there, and a surprise is certainly possible. Please act now. Registration information is below. For questions about the boat or the birds, feel free to email me at feenstra AT alumni.caltech.edu Jon Feenstra Los AngelesSubject: Fwd: Roseate Spoonbill From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:03:53 -0000 Guy McCaskie had a Roseate Spoonbill at the South End of the Salton Sea. Details on sialia.com Good birding David Vander Pluym FlagstaffSubject: Herb Clark From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:34:49 -0000 As most of you have heard by now Herb Clark passed on a couple days ago. Information on services for him are here: http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=188914 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Yellow-billed Loon continues in SBE From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:31:46 -0000 Greetings, Birded the Lake Havasu area today with Lauren Harter and Sean Fitzgerald (an excellent birder from the East whos going to be doing point counts for the next month along the Colorado River). Our highlite was the continuing YELLOW-BILLED LOON on Lake Havasu viewable from the Site Six spot on the Arizona side. We had the bird from about 6PM to 6:45 PM when we left it. The bird was across the way firmly in California. Also present was the continuing RED-THROATED LOON which kept flying around and also spent time close to the Arizona shore (but was seen on both sides). A Common Loon was present as well. A check of this area in the morning produced no loons. We also had a Peregrine Falcon which took a Pied-billed Grebe off the water. Most of the day was spent on the Arizona side but at Parker Dam we had 15 Greater Scaup of which equal numbers were above and below the dam. We passed by here later in the day and had none. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Alameda County From: "Richard Cimino" <rscimino AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 10:31:01 -0700 Alameda County has an Eastern Alameda County Conservation Strategy planning group in place. I'm representing the Audubon Society in the planning group. The committee is establishing a conservation strategy for open lands east of HY 680 using a matrix of land cover and wildlife species. Land and wildlife under consideration include special status, threaten and endangered - we as citizen birders can have an input adding species data. So Burrowing Owl and Golden Eagle are listed in the early documents. Land cover includes all the possible eastern Alameda County land cover ( habitat), except what went missing is the riparian land cover. The steering committee will move to formally add riparian land cover and consider new species also. May I ask that if you have population trends that you may have charted and - or specific historical sighting records for the following birds please e mail me. Your information is critical for adding species for evaluation which professional wildlife managers are missing data. 1. Red-shoulder Hawks 2. Song Sparrows 3. Great Horned Owl 4. Sharp-shinned Hawk 5. Flycatcher species ( Willow?) 6. want to add a comment on another species, feel free to do so. Also missing for grassland species evaluation is the White-tailed Kite and Prairie Falcon. Also recent Kite Fox sightings east of HY 680. There is a two week window to assemble new information for submission. Thanks for reading this long message. Regards Richard Cimino rscimino AT earthlink.net Ohlone Audubon Conservation Chair Pleasanton, Alameda County, Cal. Richard Cimino Pleasanton, Alameda County, Cal.Subject: Fwd: Dusky-capped Flycatcher in LA From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:55:05 -0000 The wintering Dusky-capped Flycatcher is still in the LA area. http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=188095 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Murphy’s Petrel, Parakeet Auklet, Tristram’s Storm-petrel From: "Terry Hunefeld" <sdbirdlover AT fastmail.fm> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:10:08 -0000 Greetings, Adventure Lovers I just learned by email that the May 3 Los Angeles Pelagic Trip from Santa Barbara on Condor Express is in danger of being cancelled because of insufficient deposits. We can't let that happen! This is the ONLY pelagic trip that runs to the San Juan Seamount, an underwater "mountain" with a substantial life-zone around it attracting all sorts of seabirds. No, we won't see all the birds listed in the subject line in this one trip. But the only way to see any of them is to be on the Condor Express May 3, because that's how they're seen. Do you have Murphy's Petrel checked on your list yet? How will you get it with out going with us to deep water? The spring Condor Express pelagic trip has a record for finding rarities. For example: seven PARAKEET AUKLETS were enjoyed by dozens of birders on 21 Apr 2007 thanks to this trip. Amazingly, less than 3 months after a TRISTRAM'S STORM-PETREL was captured and photographed on Southeast Farallon Island 22 April 2007, we saw one from The Condor Express July 21, 2007. The only way to have seen this super-mega-rarity was to be on that boat that day. Led by Todd McGrath and his gang, there is not a better way put yourself in line with a rarity than to be on the Condor Express on May 3 and go with us to the San Juan Seamount. Todd knows how to SNIFF OUT BIRDS. I know because I've been there. I've watched him. He is a magician. In fact, he is so good, I offered him double the salary that the L.A. Audubon pays him (and his gang) to lead the deep- water pelagics out of San Diego. I will be on-board the Condor Express on May 3, having mailed my payment last week for both Condor Express trips. I hope you're there, too. If you've been procrastinating, please don't hesitate any longer, or we could lose this wonderful, comfortable, one-day rarity-finding trip. If you read the trip policy below, you'll see that the trip could be cancelled 4 weeks prior to the trip if there is not enough interest. We are running out of time! Please call the Audubon today at 323.876.0202 or email peltrip AT laaudubon.org and let them know you are sending your check. Here is the link to the LA Audubon Pelagic Trip Page with full details: http://tinyurl.com/25yt4v Mail your check for Reservations and note: 1) The trip desired 2) Names of people in your party 3) Phone numbers: (a) usual and (b) evening before event, in case of cancellation. 4) Separate check (no cash please) to LAAS for exact amount for each trip. 5) Self-addressed stamped envelope for confirmation and associated trip information. Send to: Los Angeles Audubon - Reservations PO Box 931057 Los Angeles, CA 90093-1057 If there is insufficient response, the trip will be cancelled four weeks prior to the scheduled date. You will be so notified and your fee returned. Your cancellation after that time will bring a refund only if there is a paid replacement. Please call Audubon House at 323.876.0202 or email peltrip AT laaudubon.org Terry Hunefeld, San Diego currently on board NOAA research ship Miller Freeman off the coast of Washington & Oregon counting birds, what else is there? Life is short. Seabird often. http://www.SoCalBirding.com Pelagic Seabirding Trips From San Diego to: 9-mile Bank Los Coronados Islands Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel Islands THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD DAY AT SEASubject: Fwd: C Black Hawk in Marin From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:40:55 -0000 a Common Black Hawk was photographed today in Marin County. Details are on NBB (as well as the photos) and here: http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=one_list;id=60 I wonder if this is the returning Sonoma bird? David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Re: Fwd: Yellow-throated Warbler in Orange From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:09:31 -0000 The bird is still present. See: http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=187934 David Vander Pluym Flagstaff AzSubject: PELAGIC BIRDING DREAM SEASON: Aug 25 - Sept 6 From: "Terry Hunefeld" <sdbirdlover AT fastmail.fm> Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:35:12 -0000 Greetings With the SoCalBirding July Deep-Water trip sold out, we added another trip in late August -- one of the best times of year to find both Cook's and Hawaiian Petrel (11 of 14 accepted records of Hawaiian Petrel in the state are June - September, and one was seen from Searcher in these waters 6 Sep 2006). THE SOCAL PELAGIC BIRDING DREAM SEASON: Aug 25 - Sept 6 There is wonderful 2-week pelagic birding "window" in Southern California this autumn - perhaps the first ever. Three excellent trips go out in 2 weeks. Rarities and very possibly mega-rarities will be seen on 1, 2 or all 3 of these trips. (1) Aug 25-27 SoCalBirding 1.5 day Tubenose Deepwater http://www.socalbirding.com/aug_25-27_2008_deep-water_tubenoses or http://tinyurl.com/2ca34w (2) Sep 1-5 5 Day Deep Water Expedition on Searcher http://www.socalbirding.com/sep_1-5_2008_searcher_5-day_expedition or http://tinyurl.com/28d8hf (3) Sep 6 Deep Water on Condor Express from Santa Barbara (Los Angeles Audubon) This trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor at 7:00 a.m. on the fast catamaran Condor Express and returns approximately at 8:00 p.m. Birds expected: Northern Fulmar; Cook's Petrel was seen in 2005; Ashy and Leach's storm-petrels; South Polar Skua; Parasitic, Pomarine and Long-tailed jaegers; Sabine's Gull; Arctic Tern. Red-billed Tropicbirds are usually seen on this trip. Rarities seen: Black-footed Albatross; Buller's Shearwater; Least Storm-Petrel and Craveri's Murrelet. http://tinyurl.com/25yt4v or http://www.laaudubon.org/ This is also the time of year that Ringed and Wedge-rumped Storm- petrels have been seen in SoCal waters. The only North American record for Ringed Storm-petrel was photographed on 2 Aug 2005, 40 km ssw of Santa Rosa Island. Least Storm-petrels show up in August. Late summer is the "sweet spot" for Craveri's Murrelet as well as the hypoleucas sub-species of Xantus's. 6 of the 9 records for Cal of Greater Shearwater are from Aug-Sep. Mega-rarties? A Streaked Shearwater was seen in SoCal waters near Santa Cruz Island on September 7, 2002. Most Cal Wedge-tailed Shearwater sightings are from August - December. A Tristram's Storm-petrel was seen in SoCal deep water last summer on July 21, 2007. Ten records of Red-footed Boobies have been accepted in SoCal, most from July - Oct. Terry Hunefeld, San Diego on board NOAA research ship Miller Freeman off the coast of Washington & Oregon Life is short. Bird often. http://www.SoCalBirding.com Pelagic Seabirding Trips From San Diego to: 9-mile Bank Los Coronados Islands Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel IslandsSubject: May 3 LAAS Deepwater Pelagic from Santa Barbara From: "toddamcgrath" <SKUA AT MSN.com> Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:14:38 -0000 Birders, There are still spaces left on The Los Angeles Audubon spring deepwater trip. Last year's trip featured Parakeet Auklets, and past trips have produced rarities like Murphy's and Dark-rumped Petrels. This is one of my favorite trips of the year, and early May is a fine time to be sabirding in Southern California. Xantus's Murrelets are breeding on the Chaneel Islands, and we are likely to encounter them in numbers are we proceed out to sea. All 3 Jaegers are possible, and spring is an excellent time to look for Albatrosses (Laysan can be present is small numbers, and Black-footed is seen every year). This trip will make a special effort to locate Murphy's Petrels, which are not present every spring, but can be present in small numbers. Our vessel is the ultra-fast, extremely comfortable Condor Express. This catmaran features a spacious and comfortable cabin, full galley, and excellent viewing from both the upper and lower decks. We will be adequately supplied with popcorn, fish, squid, beef suet, and cod liver oil, to try and bring the birds in close. I hope you can join us on what is always a memorable trip. Please e- mail me if you have any questions. The information on signing-up is listed below, the price is $198. Please act soon, as this trip has sold out the last several years. Todd McGrath SKUA AT MSN.COM Marina Del Rey, CA Saturday, May 3 A deep water trip toward the San Juan Seamount. This trip departs from the Santa Barbara Harbor on the fast catamaran Condor Express at 7:00 a.m., and will return approximately by 8:00 p.m. We will cruise along the deep water shelf by the San Juan Seamount. Birds previously seen: Laysan and Black-footed albatross; Northern Fulmar; Sooty and Pink-footed shearwaters: Parasitic, Pomarine and Long-tailed jaegers; Ashy, Leach's and Fork-tailed storm- petrels; Pigeon Guillemot; Xantus Murrelet; Cassin's and Rhinoceros auklets; Tufted Puffin. Rare possibilities are Murphy's Petrel and Red-billed Tropicbird. Leaders: Todd McGrath, Jon Feenstra, Kimball Garrett, Dave Compton and David Pereksta. $198. There is a complete galley that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. PELAGIC RESERVATION POLICY AND PROCEDURE Please call Audubon House at 323.876.0202 or email peltrip AT laaudubon.org questions or concerns. 2008 PELAGIC SCHEDULE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Reservations will be accepted ONLY if ALL the following information is supplied: 1) Trip desired 2) Names of people in your party 3) Phone numbers: (a) usual and (b) evening before event, in case of cancellation. 4) Separate check (no cash please) to LAAS for exact amount for each trip. 5) Self-addressed stamped envelope for confirmation and associated trip information. Send to: Los Angeles Audubon - Reservations PO Box 931057 Los Angeles, CA 90093-1057 If there is insufficient response, the trip will be cancelled four weeks prior to the scheduled date. You will be so notified and your fee returned. Your cancellation after that time will bring a refund only if there is a paid replacement. REFUND POLICY FOR PELAGIC TRIPS If a participant cancels 31 days or more prior to departure, a $5 service charge will be deducted from the refund. There is no participant refund if requested fewer than 30 days before departure, unless there is a paid replacement available. Call LAAS for a possible replacement. Please do not offer the trip to a friend as it would be unfair to those on the waiting list. All pelagic trips must be filled 35 days prior to sailing. Please reserve earlySubject: Re: Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:25:57 -0700 On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:00:50 -0700, "Rob Fowler"Subject: Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:25:03 -0000 Sorry all I sent this out yesterday but apparently I accidentally only sent it to Rob, so here it is again. The bird is still present along with a Crested Caracara and Little Blue Heron. Again details are on nwcalbird or sialia.com Checking the archives the 2nd cycle bird from last year in question bird was found March 30th and continued through at least April 6th and was seen by at least 5 people. A photo of it is on Joe Morlans most excellent webpage: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/gallery.htm (see the 2007 highlites), while intriguing this photo does not appear diagnostic, a shame if only it was submitted. Other than this bird the next latest record I could find for California is March 21, 2005 at Half Moon bay and found by Al Jaramillo. Otherwise it seems most Slaty-backs have left the state by March 9th. Good birding all. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az --- In BirdingCalifornia AT yahoogroups.com, "Rob Fowler"Subject: Fwd: Yellow-throated Warbler in Orange From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:20:20 -0000 The wintering Yellow-throated Warbler in Orange continues, details are on orangcobirding or on sialia.com Good Birding David Vander Pluym FlagstaffSubject: Fwd: [MBB] Fwd: [obol] Color-marked Western Sandpipers From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:55:41 -0000 Since is is of a state wide interest. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az Dear MBBers Given the quantities of peeps that pass through the bay area, this may be of interest to some of you and help to the researchers. Best wishes & Good birding, Blake Matheson Carmel California & Portland Oregon Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. Attached Message From: Roy LoweSubject: Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte From: "Rob Fowler" <migratoriusfwlr AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:00:50 -0700 Hi all, I believe that the 2nd-winter bird that Ken is talking about was not accepted by the CBRC. I think the only documentation submitted for that bird was an apparently undiagnostic photo, unfortunately. Hope a March Slaty-backed Gull is in your future...... Rob Fowler Arcata, CA On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 3:02 PM, Ken BurtonSubject: Re: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte From: "Ken Burton" <brdnrd AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:02:32 -0700 There was a 2nd-winter bird in Del Norte at this time last year. Ken Burton Arcata ----- Original Message ----- From: "awanderingbirder"Subject: Slaty-back Gull in Del Norte still and Goose Festival From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:32:38 -0000 Just wanted to let people know that the Slaty-back Gull is still in Del Norte along with the Little Blue heron. Again I believe this is the latest record of a Slaty-back for California. Also wanted to let people know the the Aleutian Goose Festival is going on this weekend up there so if you are already headed up there or needed an excuse to go, this is it! Check out http://aleutiangoosefestival.org/ David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Re: Caracara still in Kern From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:28:23 -0000 Yup its still present, again details are on kerncobirding. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff AzSubject: Slaty-backed Gull still in Del Norte From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:13:10 -0000 The Slaty-backed Gull is still in Del Norte County (see sialia.com or nwcalbirds). As I recall the latest record for California is mid March. Is this indeed the latest record of a Slaty-backed Gull in California? David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: Caracara still in Kern From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:34:22 -0000 Kern's first Crested Caracara is still present, see details on Kerncobirding or on sialia.com David Vander Pluym Flagstaff AZSubject: FW: Crested Caracara in Kern From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:38:39 -0000 Details are here http://sialia.com/s/calists.pl?rm=message;id=185808 David Vander Pluym FlagstaffSubject: FW: Slaty-backed Gull and Little Blue Heron still in Del Norte From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:37:27 -0000 Details are on the NWCALBIRDS may be last chance till Dec to see a Slaty-back in Cali. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, AzSubject: San Diego Pelagic Trip Report - Los Coronados Islands From: "Terry Hunefeld" <sdbirdlover AT fastmail.fm> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:18:20 -0000 Greetings No sooner were we out of San Diego harbor than 60 participants watched a Parasitic Jaeger pursue a tern up, down , sideways and upside down in an amazing display of aerial acrobatics. By all accounts, Saturday's maiden pelagic-birding charter on Grande was a smashing success featuring 5 flavors of tubenoses, 3 species of alcids, nearly two-dozen boobies, 14 Gray Whales, 8 species of gulls, both jaegers (putting on shows), hundreds of Common Dolphin and dozens of Pacific White-sided Dolphin. No sooner did we pull away from the Point Loma Sportfishing landing than – holy cow! – a White-winged Scoter. Grande zig-zagged eleven miles out to sea to the Nine-mile Bank, following feeding frenzies along the way. Throughout the morning we enjoyed close-up looks at multiple Northern Fulmar, Pink-footed, Sooty, Black-vented and Short-tailed Shearwaters. Full-spooned Pomarine Jaegers were in abundance. Following the bank down into Mexico and south across Coronado Canyon we found our first Xantus's Murrelets. The aromatic scents of the Chum-O-Matic coaxed more shearwater, fulmar and a booby to the boat even before we reached the Coronados Islands where we found 20 more Brown Boobies and 22 oystercatchers (including one hybrid). On the return trip from the islands, the popcorn-gorging gull flock lured a Brown Booby to within 3 miles of the U.S. border. Highlight of the day included: A booby repeatedly pacing the boat 10 to 15 feet above delighted onlookers on the stern. A Gray Whale that surfaced unexpectedly 15 feet off the starboard side of Grande. Incredible close-up views of Pink-footed Shearwaters. Rhino auklets everywhere. Three fulmar at a time circling the boat (they could SMELL that Chum- O-Matic chum and WANTED IT). Hundreds of Common Dolphin completely surrounding the boat, leaping out of the water. The biggest mola-mola that many of us had EVER seen. Multiple Short-tailed Shearwater twisting and banking. The weather was warm, breezy and sunny. Many participants made use of Grande's generous outdoor seating, enjoying the fresh breezes and sunshine. Others lounged in Grande's comfortable salon enjoying the mouthwatering hamburgers and burritos being served up by the galley. The next two Grande trips (nearly half sold already) sail on May 10 (a double-header). We expect to add multiple species of Storm-petrels into the mix plus tropicbirds, albatross and pterodroma on the deep water portion. And the Cory's Shearwater? The Masked Booby? The Blue- footed Booby? The adventure continues in May. http://www.socalbirding.com/home Early-bird prices in effect until March 31 for the May trips. The June 5-day expedition on Searcher offers the best opportunity for rarities and mega-rarities on the west coast because we'll be out for four solid days (more than 50 daylight birdable hours) in both the Channel Islands and in deep water at the edge of the continental shelf. More info at http://www.socalbirding.com/ THE USA (SAN DIEGO) LIST 12 Brant 190 Surf Scoter 1 White-winged Scoter 4 Pacific Loon 4 Common Loon 10 Western/Clark's Grebe 6 Northern Fulmar 1 Pink-footed Shearwater 2 Sooty Shearwater 1 Short-tailed Shearwater 2 Black-vented Shearwater 115 Brown Pelican 75 Brandt's Cormorant 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Wandering Tattler 1 Black Turnstone 15 Bonaparte's Gull 5 Heermann's Gull 2 Mew Gull 1 Ring-billed Gull 15 California Gull 350 Western Gull 2 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Caspian Tern 12 Forster's Tern 5 Royal Tern 18 Elegant Tern 5 Pomarine Jaegers 3 Parasitic Jaegers 3 Pom/Par Jaegers 32 Rhinoceros Auklets THE MEXICO (BAJA NORTE) LIST 4 Surf Scoter 7 Northern Fulmar 3 Pink-footed Shearwater 4 Sooty Shearwater 3 Short-tailed Shearwater 4 Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater 21 Brown Booby 750 Brown Pelican 1100 Brandt's Cormorant 1 Double-crested Cormorant 5 Pelagic Cormorant 1 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Red Phalarope 21 Black Oystercatcher 1 Hybrid Am/Black Oystercatcher 2 Bonaparte's Gull 3 Heermann's Gull 1 Mew Gull 2 American Herring Gull 10 California Gull 1500 Western Gull 2 Glaucous-winged Gull 6 Elegant Tern 2 Pomarine Jaegers 9 Xantus's Murrelet 2 Cassin's Auklet 35 Rhinoceros Auklets 1 House Finch W. Terry Hunefeld, Leucadia Life is short. Bird often. http://www.SoCalBirding.com Pelagic Seabirding Trips From San Diego to: 9-mile Bank Los Coronados Islands Cortes & Tanner Banks Channel IslandsSubject: FW: [nwcalbird] Slaty-b., Little Blue, and 2 species of caracara in Del Norte Co From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:49:28 -0000 From Mar 14 Hello Birders, Yesterday, Jeff Dayton saw Humboldt County's long present escape YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA here in Del Norte County along Lake Earl Drive at pastures just to the south of the Lake Earl Wildlife Area's Brush Creek trail. Today 14 March, the long present adult SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen by Lucas Brug along Moseley Road near Fort Dick. Lucas also saw our CRESTED CARACARA today soaring over Pelican Bay Prison near Fort Dick and then saw the YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA at the Alexandre Dairy in the Sitka Spruce grove at the north end if the big pond along Lower Lake Road. And I saw the adult LITTLE BLUE HERON (see photo at http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/gallery.htm ), was also at the Alexandre Dairy, at it's traditional spot in the pasture on the east side Lower Lake Road just past the rows of white calf enclosures. --------- Alan D. BarronSubject: FW: Pine Warbler and Laughing Gull in San Diego From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:48:35 -0000 From Mar 14 All, I spent 2:30-3:30 this afternoon looking for the PINE WARBLER at Friendship Park in Chula Vista. I heard the bird singing from the pines on the north edge of the park soon after I arrived, but I couldn't find it. Just before I left I finally found it feeding on some low (~2 ft high) vine on the north edge of the library, from where it flew to the roof of the library and then to a nearby eucalyptus. Ironically it never landed in a pine while I watched it. A quick check of Robb Field yielded the continuing alternate plumaged LAUGHING GULL sitting by itself near the flock of pelicans. No sign of the Tricolored Heron. Also present were about 15 Brant, 2 Horned Grebes, 2 Blue-winged Teal, and an adult Smithsonian Gull. Good birding, Oscar Johnson Santa Barbara/Ventura |