Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Kern County

Updated on Thursday, October 18 at 11:01 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Just a note to let others know that they are having a Renaissance Faire in 
Central Park on the 20th & 21st of Oct. Because of this, they have placed 
fencing around the entire southern & eastern part of the park, including the 
swimming pool and spot where the Mc Donnell's last found the scoter. One of the 
workers said that today was the last day for easy access to the lake 


Frances
Lodi, CA

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This morning, Kathy and I confirmed that the juvenile SURF SCOTER is still at 
the lake in California City's Central Park. To find it, park at the far east 
end of the main parking lot. Near the tan pavilion building, by the covered 
swimming pool, is a cement walk that extends in an easterly direction out over 
the lake. Walk to the end of this walkway and look east across the lake toward 
a large weeping willow tree near the apartments. Look to the right (south) of 
this tree, and you may find this diving duck among some coots. 


Dennis & Kathy McDonnell
Bakersfield

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,

AN OPPORTUNITY: This message concerns submission of Universal Access 
(handicapped accessible) birding locations information to Darlene 
Smyth (EZbirdingadventures AT comfortablebirdingforall.com) to add to 
the EZ birding adventures web site. I am hopeful members of the 
cawildlife and kerncobirding list servs and/or others can/will 
identify birding sites in California that have amenities favorable to 
Universal Access, write them up, and submit them to Darlene. I made a 
submission on the Public Access Trail at DFG's Canebrake Ecological 
Reserve in the South Fork Kern River Valley, Kern County (See my 
submission below as an example. Note: The level of detail was of my 
own choosing.).

An example of an a highly accessible and wonderful birding area is 
the Henderson Bird Viewing Area (Henderson, NV) due to its:
***Great birds
***Great birding amenities
***Indoor restrooms on site
***Paved access
***Several benches 100-150 yards/meters apart
***Wheelchair for loan
***Escort with golf cart when offered by staff
***Close proximity to lots and lots of tourist support services
***Close to a transportation hub (Las Vegas)

Following is the write up of the far more modest Universal Access 
amenities of the Canebrake Ecological Reserve that I sent to Darlene.

Bob Barnes
Bob Barnes & Associates
Kern River Valley Birding
P:

>Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:50:
>To: EZbirdingadventures AT comfortablebirdingforall.com
>From: Bob Barnes 
>Subject: Canebrake Ecological Reserve, California
>Cc: "Scott Yoo" 
>
>Hi,
>
>I read in the Jul/Aug 2007 issue of the American Birding 
>Association's Winging It newsletter your request for low-impact 
>birding locations where birders with restricted mobility or 
>endurance can continue to enjoy their hobby.
>
>The California Department of Fish & Game's Canebrake Ecological 
>Reserve (CER) is located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in 
>the South Fork Kern River Valley, Kern County, California. The CER 
>is part of the South Fork Kern River Valley Globally Important Bird 
>Area, one of the first ten Globally Important Areas recognized in 
>the United States by the American Bird Conservancy under the 
>auspices of BirdLife International. The CER is 67 miles east along 
>California State Highway 178 from the county seat of Bakersfield 
>(population of 400,000). The CER is at 3000' elevation below 
>close-in 5,000'-8'000' peaks. The nearest airports with commercial 
>air service and rental cars are Inyokern (30-40 minutes to the 
>east), Bakersfield (90 minutes to the west), Burbank (3-3.25 hours) 
>and Ontario (3-3.25 hours).
>
>The CER has a one mile long (two miles out and back) "Public Access 
>Trail" that was built for wheelchair access. I am confident it is 
>ADA compliant. This Public Access Trail affords stunningly beautiful 
>views of bordering Joshua tree woodland, Fremont cottonwood & red 
>willow riparian forest along Canebrake Creek, Canebrake Creek itself 
>(from a picturesque "foot" bridge), irrigated pasture, cattail & 
>tule marsh, rocky hillside, dry pasture, and mountains of the 
>southern Sierra Nevada. CAVEATS: 1) At present the trail does not 
>have frequent benches along the trail for those with limited walking 
>mobility. 2) although the Public Access Trail is fully wheelchair 
>accessible, the gate at the CER's entrance off Highway 178 leading 
>to the trail is NOT! This means a wheelchair user currently must 
>have a person along who is able to exit the vehicle and open that 
>entrance gate in order to access the wheelchair accessible Public 
>Access Trail. Thought is being given to rectifying this situation in 
>the future. 3) The closest publicly available restroom is a 
>universally accessible porta-pottie at the Onyx Emporium in Onyx 
>five miles to the west off Hwy. 178. This may also change in the future.
>
>Birding opportunities at the Canebrake Ecological Reserve are 
>described on pp. 131 & 132 of the 5th edition of ABA's "A Birder's 
>Guide to Southern California," March, 2007. Here is an expansion of 
>that information ... Although productive birding can be had year 
>round, mid-April through June is particularly productive. And, 
>spring migration may be particularly impressive on some days April 20-May 20.
>
>Resident nesting species which MAY be observed along the Public 
>Access Trail include: Mallard, Common Merganser, Chukar, Wild 
>Turkey, California Quail, Great Blue Heron, Cooper's Hawk, 
>Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, American 
>Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Virginia Rail, Sora, Wilson's Snipe, 
>Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, 
>White-throated Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, 
>Ladder-backed Woodpecker (in Joshua tree woodland), Nuttall's 
>Woodpecker (in riparian forest), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, 
>Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, 
>Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, 
>White-breasted Nuthatch, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, 
>Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Northern 
>Mockingbird, California Thrasher, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, 
>California Towhee, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song 
>Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird, Western 
>Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, and 
>House Sparrow.
>
>Nesting season only species which MAY be observed along the Public 
>Access Trail include: Turkey Vulture, Black-chinned Hummingbird, 
>Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Tree 
>Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff 
>Swallow, House Wren, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Summer 
>Tanager, Savannah Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, 
>Lazuli Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, Scott's 
>Oriole, and Lawrence's Goldfinch.
>
>Spring migrant species (and much less frequent, even rare, in fall 
>migration) which MAY be observed along the Public Access Trail 
>include: Swainson's Hawk, Vaux's Swift, Rufous Hummingbird 
>(July/August), Olive-sided Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Hammond's 
>Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Pacific-slope 
>Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Barn Swallow, Swainson's 
>Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-throated 
>Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's 
>Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Western Tanager, 
>Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, and Brewer's Sparrow.
>
>Wintering species (often late Sep/Oct through Apr/early May) which 
>MAY be observed along the Public Access Trail include: Green-winged 
>Teal, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Harrier, 
>Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Red-naped Sapsucker, 
>Red-breasted Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Bluebird, 
>Hermit Thrush, American Pipit, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped 
>(Audubon's) Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned 
>Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin, and 
>American Goldfinch.
>
>Resident, nesting season only, migrant, or wintering species which 
>MAY be observed along the Public Access Trail less dependably 
>include: Wood Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, White-tailed Kite, 
>Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Black Swift, Costa's Hummingbird, Calliope 
>Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Pinyon Jay, Horned 
>Lark, Brown Creeper, Townsend's Solitaire, Wrentit, Sage Thrasher, 
>Phainopepla, Northern Parula, Vesper Sparrow, Black-throated 
>Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, 
>Great-tailed Grackle, Hooded Oriole, Purple Finch, Cassin's Finch, 
>Red Crossbill, and Evening Grobeak.
>
>Bob Barnes
>Kern River Valley Birding
>1009 Las Cruces Avenue
>Ridgecrest, California 93555
>E: bbarnes AT lightspeed.net
>C:
>P:
>
>Cc: Scott Yoo, Reserve Manager, California Department of Fish & Game 
>- Canebrake Ecological Reserve


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Will do, as long as others comply with same request - Jim Greaves

--- In kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com, dgb613 AT ... wrote:
>
> I would like to see kernco birding used for birding , not for 
political
> speeches .
> Darrell Barnes
>

This morning, John Luther and I re-found the juvenile SURF SCOTER in with a 
flock of coots at Central Park in California City. It was found in the south 
part of the lake closest to the golf course. At first it was very well hidden 
by reeds, then floated into view. 

   
  Good Birding!
  Frances
  Lodi, CA


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Around 5 pm, John Luther had a PRAIRIE WARBLER in Hart Park. It was at the 
intersection of Lake & Levee Rd along the large lake. 


Frances (for John Luther)
Lodi, CA

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would like to see kernco birding used for birding , not for political
speeches .
Darrell Barnes

Thanks for the update; for those of us who get news regularly, this 
was no surprise. Since this has made the list, I suppose an opposing 
position is "allowed", and offer it. What is a surprise is that the 
Legislature and Governor, in their collective lack of wisdom, have 
yet to do ANYTHING about the ROOT cause of Condor decline: over-
population by humans, cleaning of EVERY scrap of dead animal we see, 
especially on beaches where Condors used to range freely, and no 
doubt had HUGE feeding piles when dead whales and other creatures 
washed ashore... Until the human population issue is resolved, lead 
removal from hunters' kits will continue to be among the LEAST 
effective recovery "tool". The Condor will not, and cannot, survive 
the human sprawl, being fed and promoted by "illegal alien" 
apologists and their supporters -- the population increase in 
California can be attributed SOLELY to ILLEGAL immigration, brought 
on by not closing the borders, something a few birders seem to 
oppose, while at the same time decrying pollution of such places as 
the Tijuana River and other "prime" birding sites all along our 
national southern border. Sorry, but I for one do not applaud the 
Governor on this one, as it will not prevent perpetual human 
intervention in the protection of the Condor, until it can only 
survive by being hand-fed - Jim Greaves

--- In kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com, "Ali Sheehey"  
wrote:
>
> Hi All,
> 
> For those who may not have heard Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 
821 -
> Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act late Friday October 12th. 
> 
> Assemblyman Pedro Nava's bill bans the use of lead ammunition in 
Condor
> Country. Read all about the California Condor on the Audubon 
California
> website at http://ca.audubon.org/california_condor.html 
> 
> Thanks to all of you who called the Governor's office for helping 
to make
> this happen.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Ali
> 
> P.S. Join Audubon's Kern River Preserve this weekend for a Cowboy 
Cleanup,
> where we will work to clean up the junk left on the Sprague Ranch. 
After
> there will be a potluck barbecue and hoedown. Bring your best 
western duds
> to change into after the work party. RSVP.
> 
> Alison Sheehey
> P.O. Box 153
> Weldon, CA 93283
>  
>
> *****************************
> http://natureali.org - "Sharing the magic of central California's
> biodiversity with the world."
>

Hi All,

For those who may not have heard Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 821 -
Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act late Friday October 12th. 

Assemblyman Pedro Nava's bill bans the use of lead ammunition in Condor
Country. Read all about the California Condor on the Audubon California
website at http://ca.audubon.org/california_condor.html 

Thanks to all of you who called the Governor's office for helping to make
this happen.

Thanks,

Ali

P.S. Join Audubon's Kern River Preserve this weekend for a Cowboy Cleanup,
where we will work to clean up the junk left on the Sprague Ranch. After
there will be a potluck barbecue and hoedown. Bring your best western duds
to change into after the work party. RSVP.

Alison Sheehey
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
 
*****************************
http://natureali.org - "Sharing the magic of central California's
biodiversity with the world."

Birders:  Of interest to some might be the PEREGRINE FALCON still 
hanging around near the Bakersfield WWTP.  Forgot to mention it.
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

Birders:  Super-traveling birder Gary File and I had three PECTORAL 
SANDPIPERS at the Bakersfield Waste Water Treatment Plant, south of 
Bakersfield off Mt. Vernon Avenue, this morning.  A few dowitchers 
linger with lots of LEAST SANDPIPERS and a few WESTERNS.  Duck numbers 
have increased dramatically.  Sifting through the thousands of NORTHERN 
SHOVELERS to find something unusual is the task of winter.  Nothing 
yet. 
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

Liga Auzins and I birded Galileo Saturday morning with Sandy Koonce, 
and Stan Gray, then continued on to Ridgecrest (Cerro Coso College)
with Sandy in the early afternoon.

Sandy had a cooperative Northern Waterthrush staked out when Liga and 
I arrived (stable lawn area across from main parking lot). It moved 
widely - later sightings in the tepee area behind the petting zoo and 
elsewhere. 

I spotted the adult Red-shouldered Hawk perched with a freshly killed 
Northern Flicker in its talons. Numerous piles of flicker feathers 
suggest that they are the prime prey item for the hordes of 
accipiters that pass thru in October. But, what goes around comes 
around as the saying goes  - two weeks ago I watched this same RSHA 
carry and consume an adult male Cooper's Hawk (but did not see it 
make the kill). Welcome to the killing fields.

Two Prarie Falcons sitting atop separate utility poles near the 
college in Ridgecrest and a third nearby was a good count for so 
localized an area.  

Sandy and I spotted a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the east end of the 
petting zoo where a large elm ovehangs the paved road (adult female: 
white throat fully framed in black, red forecrown, AHY plumage fully 
developed including black and white head pattern, black chest shield, 
and back broadly marked with off white spangles only narrowly 
separated along midline by vertical black line). Obviously, this is a 
differnt bird than the male YBSA reported mid week by John Luther.

Three Red-naped Sapsuckers at Galileo, each individually identifiable 
by differences in age and sex markings made for an interesting study 
(HY male and female, and an AHY male). The body molt of both HY birds 
was nearly complete as expected for this date, but both still lacked 
full black frame around red on throat, showed only ghost image of 
black chest shield, and belly and side color still lacked any hint of 
brilliant yellow.  Age of AHY male judged by near complete black 
frame around red throat (red overruns black frame in malar area), 
nearly solid black chest shield, and belly and sides yellow.

Interestingly, the color of the spangles on the backs of these RNSA 
was variable, ranging from golden hued on the HY female (color much 
as expected on YBSA - and more golden than on adult female YBSA that 
we saw!). Back spangle color on both males was dull, off white to 
buff, and definitely not golden hued. Regardless of color, the 
spangles on all three were confined to two narrow vertical rows with 
a wide black zone between in classic RNSA form.

Another RNSA was at Ridgecrest, a male, probably AHY, but we didn't 
study it enough to age with full confidence.
 
A continuing female Nuttall's Woodpecker, rarely seen on the desert 
floor away the larger communities of Mohave and Cal City, was seen 
and heard widely across Galileo, and will likely over winter.

The empidonax frenzy of the past month is over. Only one empid was 
sighted, a Willow Flycatcher, seen and heard (whit cal) only by Sandy 
and Stan.

Liga got us on a well marked Cassin's Vireo at the college, and 
confirmed two Golden Crown Kinglets at Galileo that I had heard but 
could not locate (our first of the season). The Red-breasted Nuthatch 
flight continues with a scattering of birds at Galileo and 
Ridgecrest. We found one Brown Creeper at the college in Ridgecrest.

At least 6 Townsend's Solitaires fed activly on the pyracantha 
berries at Galileo, and we saw one more in Ridgecrest.

Liga showed us a "Gray-headed" Junco behind the stables. "Slate-
colored" Juncos were well represented in the junco flocks, with 3+ 
well marked birds noted plus several other tweeners.

Sandy showed us 4 Pine Siskins feeding on the stable lawn and we 
heard several calling in flight here and at Ridgcrest later in the 
day.      


Cheers,

Tom Wurster and Liga Auzins
Monrovia, CA

llauzins AT yahoo.com
wurster AT earthlink.net 

The juvenile Surf Scoter first reported by Dan Guthrie yesterday was 
still present today at California City,Central Park,on the lake near 
the old motel as of 11:00a.m.
Gary File
Bakersfield

I saw the first of fall Ferruginous Hawk on territory outside the Kern River
Preserve along Hwy 178 in Weldon this afternoon. Normally several are seen
in migration in September, but the wintering birds are normally later. This
arrival date seems really late.

Ali

Alison Sheehey
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
 
*****************************
http://natureali.org - "Sharing the magic of central California's
biodiversity with the world."

In addition to the continuing ross goose and tundra swan there was a 
surf scoter on the lake nearest the old motel this noon.  

At galileo there was a continuing (?) n. water thrush and both red 
naped and yellow bellied sapsucker.   dan guthrie

Greetings, today at CCCC in Ridgecrest Bob and I had a few highlite birds -- 
Evening Grosbeak, Brown Creeper, and two White-throated Sparrows. 

The complete list is below.

Susan
Inyokern, CA

      Creeper, Brown 
      Dove, Mourning 
      Finch, House 
      Flicker, Northern 
      Goldfinch, Lesser 
      Grosbeak, Evening 
      Hawk, Cooper's 
      Hummingbird, Anna's 
      Junco, Dark-eyed 
      Kinglet, Ruby-crowned 
      Mockingbird, Northern 
      Nuthatch, Red-breasted 
      Phoebe, Black 
      Raven, Common 
      Sparrow, Chipping 
      Sparrow, Lark 
      Sparrow, Lincoln's 
      Sparrow, Savannah 
      Sparrow, White-crowned 
      Sparrow, White-throated 
      Thrush, Hermit 
      Verdin 
      Warbler, Orange-crowned 
      Warbler, Yellow-rumped 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Today, Thurs., Oct. 11th. 11:30 a.m.  Red shouldered hawk feeding on a 
crawfish on the bank of Mirror Lake in Hart Park.
Richard & Linda Greene

At Silver Saddle Resort Wed, Oct 10, Jim Lomax and I saw a male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near the skeet shooting area and a male Red-naped
Sapsucker near the nw corner of the pond north of the stable.

John Luther
Oakland

Today, Tuesday, 10/9/07, we walked along the canal  to the east end of Hart 
Park. We then proceeded south on the dirt trail that is  next to the Kern 
River. After walking a short distance to the area that has a tire swing over 
the 

river, we saw a Yellow-breasted Chat. We also  saw saw a MacGillivray's 
Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 
Red-breasted 

Sapsucker, and a Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher in this same general area.
                                                              Ken and Brenda 
Kyle
                                                              Bakersfield



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,

In recent yeas Kern County has a considerable Tricolored Blackbird 
nesting population including major nesting colonies (up to 100,000 
pairs) in the vicinity of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge and 
smaller colonies such as those found annually in the Kern River 
Valley (up to 1500 pairs in a colony). Following is information on 
the 2008 Tricolored Blackbird Survey including a call for volunteers

>From: "KELSEY, Rodd" 
>To:
>Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 19:00:
>Subject: 2008 Tricolored Blackbird Survey
>
>Greetings 2005 Tricolored Blackbird Survey Volunteers:
>
>We are in the midst of planning for the next statewide survey of 
>tricolored blackbird colonies, to take place in April 2008. As you 
>know this is a critically important undertaking that is our best way 
>of understanding and tracking the current status of this declining 
>species in California.
>
>Your efforts in 2005 were a great success and we are hoping that you 
>will be interested and able to also volunteer for the 2008 survey.
>
>I will be coordinating the 2008 survey and my first step is to get 
>as many volunteers committed as possible. This will once again be 
>organized primarily around counties. So, if you will be willing to 
>do surveys this coming April could you please respond to me 
>indicating the county or counties that you would be interested in 
>helping to survey.
>
>Also, please feel free to forward the names and contact information 
>of others that you think might be interested in helping with this 
>effort. The more dedicated volunteers we have the better 
>understanding of this species' status and distribution we will have.
>
>Once I have all the volunteers organized, I will be helping 
>coordinate with you where to survey and will provide all of the 
>training, maps, data sheets and instructions that will be needed. 
>The data collected will all be entered online for those that have 
>access to a computer and the internet. For those who do not, the 
>data can be submitted in hard copy.
>
>Thank you and I am looking forward to working with you for the 2008 survey.
>
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Rodd Kelsey
>Ecologist/Ornithologist
>Landowner Stewardship Program
>Audubon California
>
>http://ca.audubon.org/LSP
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Th, 4 Oct 07
***Galileo Hill ... Red-shouldered Hawk (adult), Nuttall's 
Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher (female), 
Townsend's Solitaire, nine small sparrow species ... Jan Nordenberg, 
Palomar Audubon Society

Fr, 5 Oct 07
***Galileo Hill ... Red-shouldered Hawk (adult), Nuttall's 
Woodpecker, ... Bob Barnes, Jan Nordenberg, Palomar Audubon Society
***California City - Ross's Goose, Tundra Swan ... Palomar Audubon Society
***Inyokern (Middlemiss property) - LeConte's Thrasher (3 observers), 
Lawrence's Goldfinch (female) ... Palomar Audubon Society

Sa, 6 Oct 07
***Tillie Creek Campground in Wofford Heights - Phainopepla 
(abundant!), Western Tanager (female), Purple Finch (back for winter) 
... Palomar Audubon Society

Su, 7 Oct 07
***Kern National Wildlife Refuge - Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, 
Bufflehead, Greater Roadrunner, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing, 
Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, 
Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat 
... Palomar Audubon Society

FYI: The Palomar Audubon Society field trip went to the Pixley 
National Wildlife Refuge in nearby southwestern Tulare County Friday 
evening, October 5th (5pm-7:30pm). The numbers of White-faced Ibis 
dropping in for the night numbered in the several thousands 
(5,000-10,000). The number of swallows foraging over the wetlands 
numbered in the thousands as well. After sunset (c. 7pm) wave after 
wave after wave of Sandhill Cranes came in for the night. Although 
not specifically counted, the numbers of cranes were estimated in the 
low thousands ... . Whatever the number, it was an awesome sight.

Continued Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,

I received the following e-mail from Cat Waters regarding the 
publishing and availability of Rare Birds of California. I purchased 
my copy at the 26-29 Sep 07 Western Field Ornithologists Conference 
in Las Vegas. It is terrific! Numerous records from Kern County are 
in the book and there are several Bob Steele photos of Kern County rarities.

Those of you who love seeing rarities in Kern County or anywhere else 
in California will surely treasure owning this book. Those of you who 
are interested in status and distribution, including those species 
whose occurrence in California no longer requires review by the 
California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) will also find this book very useful.

BOTTOM LINE: If you like/love birds and birding in Kern County and/or 
California, this book should find its way to your hands and eyes.

Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes

>From: "robcatwaters AT earthlink.net" 
>To: rarebirdsofcalifornia AT yahoo.com
>Subject:  WFO/CBRC's Rare Birds of California now available
>Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 17:02:
>
>Rare Birds of California is now available! Price $54.00 for WFO 
>members and $59.99 for nonmembers.  Scientific, artistic, and 
>inspirational, this 600-page book synthesizes the work of the 
>California Bird Records Committee from 1970 through 2006, putting 
>every vagrant to California in its geographical and historical 
>context.  It is generously illustrated with color and black and 
>white photography, including the best photographs ever taken in 
>California of rare birds.  Maps and charts depict spatial and 
>temporal distributions, and the interpretive text adds value far 
>beyond the lists of records.  Rare Birds of California  can be 
>sitting in your library within a few short days!  A discount of 10% 
>is available for every copy sold to a WFO member or for every order 
>of ten books or more.  Shipping and handling are an additional $6.00 
>per copy.  California sales tax is 8.25% per copy.   Including tax , 
>shipping and handling the total amount per copy for members is 
>$64.46 or $70.95 for nonmembers.    Please see the WFO website, 
>www.wfo-cbrc.org for order information or 
>contact 
>rarebirdsofcalifornia AT yahoo.com 
>with any questions.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Today, Thursday, 10/4/07, we saw a female Hairy  Woodpecker at Hart Park in 
Bakersfield. This Hairy Woodpecker was seen at the  east end of Hart Park.
 
     This morning we birded Galileo Hill. There was a  small flock of 
Yellow-rumped Warblers, one Orange-crowned Warbler, a Common Yellowthroat, a 
Cedar 

Waxwing, and a few Dark-eyed Juncos. The weather  was great for birding this 
morning, but about 11:00 am Galileo became  very windy.
 
                                                  Ken  and Brenda Kyle
                                                   Bakersfield
 



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


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Yesterday morning, Oct 1, I birded Silver Saddle Resort at Galileo Hill.
Nothing exciting to report, but new birds I have not heard about recently
were a White-throated Sparrow between the east most small pond and the
soccer field and a Hermit Warbler near the south most teepee east of the
large round pond.

John Luther
Oakland

Reminder from: kerncobirding Yahoo! Group
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/cal

Tule Elk State Reserve (Kern Audubon Society)
Tuesday October 2, 2007
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Kern Superintendent of Scools at 17th and L Streets (Bakersfield)

Notes:
October 2, 2007. Meeting at 7PM. Bill Moffat, Supervisor of the Tule Elk 
Reserve, will feature a presentation on efforts to preserve the herd of Tule 
Elk housed on the reserve just west of Interstate 5. A field trip will follow 
to the reserve on Sat. October 6th. 




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Today, 10/1/07, we saw a Red-breasted  Sapsucker in the upper picnic ground 
east of Lake Ming. This is the first  Red-breasted Sapsucker we have seen this 
fall season.
 
                                                         Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                        Bakersfield



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Birders:  The Silver Saddle Resort at Galileo Hill continued to be 
exciting birding, this morning.  A WINTER WREN working in the trees 
north of the stables was an interesting find.  And in the same area, a 
PLUMBEOUS VIREO was present all morning.  Dozens of migrants were 
moving through that area in waves.  To make the morning even more 
interesting, many birders whose names are synonymous with birding 
excellence were there.  Thanks to all who post bird sightings to 
kerncobirding.
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

Greetings: 

I apologize for the non-sighting post, and to those of you who
subscribe to multiple lists and are seeing this twice. 

I am trying to recruit volunteers for a relatively new project
organized by the Hawk Migration Assoc. of North America. This
organization compiles raptor migration data from across the continent
and is initiating a winter monitoring program. Apart from CBCs, little
quantitative data on winter raptor populations is available. The
Antelope Valley is one locale from which we would love to get good
data (I realize it's not technically in Kern, but close). I'm sure
there are more good spots in the area.  

These surveys are driving routes done once per month from late
November through early March (for southern california, Dec-Feb is more
realistic). We are leaving the choice of routes up to volunteers in
each area with local knowledge of raptor concentrations and road
access. If anyone is interested, protocols and a datasheet can be
found at www.hmana.org/wrs.php. 

This is an ambitious project that can only work with the help of
skilled volunteers. 

If you are interested in helping, please email me and download forms
from the HMANA website mentioned above. 

Thank you. 

Zach Smith
Davis, Ca.

Sorry if a cross post, but:

Christopher Taylor just called with a Northern Parula warbler this 
morning, 9/29, at Galileo Hills northeast of California City.  Found 
near the bridge where the stream empties into the large lake, just off 
the parking lot area.

Monte Taylor
Orange County, CA
somewhere near LA

Phone number should read  

3 sabines gulls being ovserved now at Kissack Cove in Mountain Mesa
on Lake Isabella.  3:45 pm.  Call for details.  In the area for a few
more minutes.

Please keep all posts bird-related.
Michael McQuerrey
moderator, kerncobirding

-- kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com wrote:
Reminder from: kerncobirding Yahoo! Group Title: Tule Elk State Reserve (Kern 
Audubon Society) Date: Tuesday October 2, 2007Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Next 
reminder: The next reminder for this event will be sent in 2 days, 4 
minutes.Location: Kern Superintendent of Scools at 17th and L Streets 
(Bakersfield)Notes: October 2, 2007. Meeting at 7PM. Bill Moffat, Supervisor of 
the Tule Elk Reserve, will feature a presentation on efforts to preserve the 
herd of Tule Elk housed on the reserve just west of Interstate 5. A field trip 
will follow to the reserve on Sat. October 6th. 

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Fourteen Bear Cubs from Den 1, Pack 436 spent time hiking with Kern 
Audubon co-chair Dr. Ted Murphy in the floodplain and river bed of the 
Bakersfield Studies Area (BESA) north of CSUB.  The Studies Area is a 
440 acre parcel set aside by the City of Bakersfield in 1987 to allow 
studies of plants and wildlife.  The boundaries of the area are 
Stockdale Bridge, Coffee Road, the Crossvalley Canal and the bike path.

The Bear Cubs saw mourning doves, turkey vultures, black phoebes, red 
tail hawks, dragonflies, stink beetles, side-blotch lizards and signs 
of coyote, kit fox and rabbits.  They learned to identify willow, 
cottonwood, and sycamore trees and saw mulefat bushes, cattails, water 
hyacinths, Jimson weeds, saltbush, tarweed, and cockleburs.

Reminder from: kerncobirding Yahoo! Group
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/cal

Tule Elk State Reserve (Kern Audubon Society)
Tuesday October 2, 2007
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
(The next reminder for this event will be sent in 2 days, 4 minutes.)
Location: Kern Superintendent of Scools at 17th and L Streets (Bakersfield)

Notes:
October 2, 2007. Meeting at 7PM. Bill Moffat, Supervisor of the Tule Elk 
Reserve, will feature a presentation on efforts to preserve the herd of Tule 
Elk housed on the reserve just west of Interstate 5. A field trip will follow 
to the reserve on Sat. October 6th. 




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 http://www.yahoo.com

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Today at Galileo the NORTHERN PARULA from last weekend continued on
the stable lawn.  Tom Wurster and Liga Auzins had the continuing
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH last night in the cane at the east end of the
large lake, but it had not been reported today by the time that I left
at noon.  John Luthor reported seeing six RED CROSSBILLS fly out from
the park over the desert. 

Am amazing sight was over 1000 TURKEY VULTURES flying around over the
park at dawn and then massing over the hill before heading south.

Other birds of interest included a GRAY-HEADED JUNCO near the teepees,
a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER on the stable lawn, and several VAUX'S SWIFTS. 
There were many accipiters and NORTHERN FLICKERS, as well as evidence
that some individuals of these two groups had met, with dire
consequences for the latter.

Sandy

Sandy Koonce
Department of Mathematics
University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373
sandy_koonce AT redlands.edu

From 16 Sept 2007, Galileo Hill Silver Saddle resort, some images from 
that morning/afternoon:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res1u8vm/LEFLandNOWA.html

Sorry for late post - Jim and Lark, Santa Barbara CA

"Preserving Another California Legacy--The Tule Elk" will be the topic
for the gathering of Kern Audubon Society on Tuesday, October 2nd, 7:00
p.m., at the Kern Superintendent of Schools building (17th & L Streets).
Bill Moffat, Park Ranger and Preserve Manager will bring his expertise,
experience and enthusiasm for preserving Tule Elk populations of our
state, especially the herd at the Tule Elk Reserve just west of
Interstate 5 in Kern County.  Bill has over 25 years of service as a
state park ranger.  He is currently the Supervising Ranger of the Tule
Elk Reserve, Tejon and Allensworth State Historic Parks and the Mojave
Desert State Park.  Prior to coming to the Bakersfield area in 2001,
Bill served as a ranger at Big Sur State Park and Carnegie State
Vehicular Recreation Area near Livermore, and was a volunteer
firefighter. Bill Moffat is a lifelong birder as well as a professional
photographer.  We are looking forward to excellent visuals as part of
his program.  Please join us!



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Birders:  Jim Moore and Jim and Janet Cupples (apologies for the 
misspelling in earlier posts) report having seen an early VARIED 
THRUSH, along with a NORTHERN PARULA and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.  Jim 
also reported that the group had decided the possible Prairie Warbler 
was actually a PALM WARBLER.  Thanks to the Southwest Bird Study Club 
for their reports.
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield,California

Hi All, 

Anyone who can get over to the Kern River Preserve tomorrow morning between
7:30-9 a.m. will experience 4 to 5 thousand Turkey Vultures lifting off from
the headquarters area around the Kern River Preserve. 

I have never seen this many birds in one drop-in!!!

It was absolutely amazing!

Ali

Alison Sheehey
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
 
*****************************
http://natureali.org - "Sharing the magic of central California's
biodiversity with the world."

Hi All, 

Anyone who can get over to the Kern River Preserve tomorrow morning between
7:30-9 a.m. will experience 4 to 5 thousand Turkey Vultures lifting off from
the headquarters area around the Kern River Preserve. 

I have never seen this many birds in one drop-in!!!

It was absolutely amazing!

Ali

Alison Sheehey
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
 
*****************************
http://natureali.org - "Sharing the magic of central California's
biodiversity with the world."

Hi All, 

Anyone who can get over to the Kern River Preserve tomorrow morning between
7:30-9 a.m. will experience 4 to 5 thousand Turkey Vultures lifting off from
the headquarters area around the Kern River Preserve. 

I have never seen this many birds in one drop-in!!!

It was absolutely amazing!

Ali

Alison Sheehey
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
 
*****************************
http://natureali.org - "Sharing the magic of central California's
biodiversity with the world."

Birders:  Janet Couples called from Galileo Hill, today, to report the 
presence of a PALM WARBLER and a possible PRAIRIE WARBLER.  She also 
reported the continuing presence of an OVENBIRD and a BLACKPOLL 
WARBLER.   
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

Sorry for the confusion.....after grading essays for five hours my brain goes 
comatose. White Tailed Kite. I was thinking about the Cooper's Hawk that is 
helping itself to the birds at my feeder.... 

  Barb

Barb Walls <_jestergirl AT yahoo.com> wrote:
 An interesting weekend in Ridgecrest: Yesterday the Cooper's Hawk sat on my 
fence. My husband spotted him, but I couldn't find the camera. This morning 
there was a White-Tailed Hawk in my pine. That's a new one for me. Of course, 
I've seen Turkey Vultures soaring. 

The Lesser Finches have disappeared from the feeder, but I have an array of 
others. This evening a Yellow-Rumped Warbler had no fear of me. He wanted the 
water from the fountain by the door. One of a dozen hummingbirds antagonized 
him. This evening there were Annas, Black-Chins, Costas and Rufous at the 
feeders. 

Friday at Burroughs High School, I saw five Yellow-Headed Blackbirds in a flock 
of blackbirds. 


Barb Walls in Ridgecrest, across from Upjohn Park

---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

An interesting weekend in Ridgecrest: Yesterday the Cooper's Hawk sat on my 
fence. My husband spotted him, but I couldn't find the camera. This morning 
there was a White-Tailed Hawk in my pine. That's a new one for me. Of course, 
I've seen Turkey Vultures soaring. 

 The Lesser Finches have disappeared from the feeder, but I have an array of 
others. This evening a Yellow-Rumped Warbler had no fear of me. He wanted the 
water from the fountain by the door. One of a dozen hummingbirds antagonized 
him. This evening there were Annas, Black-Chins, Costas and Rufous at the 
feeders. 

 Friday at Burroughs High School, I saw five Yellow-Headed Blackbirds in a 
flock of blackbirds. 

   
  Barb Walls in Ridgecrest, across from Upjohn Park

       
---------------------------------
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Check out fun summer activities for kids.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

this morning had ovenbird, blackpoll, least flycatcher, all on the 
main "lawn>"  dan guthrie

Birders:  Galileo was eerily quiet in terms of birds, this morning.  A 
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was the only interesting bird, among the dozens of 
WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and a few PACIFIC SLOPES.  Warblers were no-shows.
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

We just returned home from birding Galileo Hill.  We saw the following birds 
this week at Galileo Hill.
    
     On Monday, 9/17/07, we  saw a Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-throated Gray 
Warbler (2),  Townsend's Warbler, Yellow Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, 
Wilson's  Warblers, MacGillivray's Warblers (2), Common Yellowthroats, 
Yellow-rumped Warblers(Audubon's), and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (5), Western 
Tanagers, 

Cedar Waxwing, Black-headed Grosbeak(2), probable Cassin's  Vireo, probable 
Plumbeous Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Townsend's Solitaire, White-crowned Sparrows, 

Olive-sided Flycatcher, Spotted  Sandpiper, Green Heron, Barn Swallow, and 
many empidonax  flycatchers.
 
     On Tuesday, 9/18/07, we saw a Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  Blackpoll 
Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Red-breasted 
Nuthatch, 

and few Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We also  saw a Red-shouldered Hawk doing battle 
with a Red Racer snake. It was  a wild battle which the Red-shouldered Hawk 
won. After looking at a photo of the battle, a friend told us that the snake 
was 

a Red Racer. In  addition, we saw many of the same birds we saw on Monday.
 
     On Wednesday, 9/19/07, we saw a Fox Sparrow,  Green-tailed Towhee, 
Black-necked Stilts, Red-shafted Flicker, and a few of the same western 
warblers 

previously reported in this report.
 
     On Thursday, 9/20/07, we saw the  Chestnut-sided Warbler, Townsend's 
Solitaire, Sharp-shinned Hawk, male Vermilion  Flycatcher, Osprey, Belted 
Kingfisher, and some of the same  western warblers. 
 
    Today, Friday, 9/21/07, we were delighted to see a  Northern Parula which 
had been seen by Jim Lomax on Thursday, 9/20/07.  Other birders told us that 
today they saw a Chestnut-sided  Warbler, a Hermit Warbler, and an Ovenbird.
 
      We want to say "thank you" to Michael  McQuerrey, kerncobirding 
moderator, for posting the sighting of the Chestnut-sided Warbler on 
kerncobirding 

on Tuesday, 9/18/07.
 
    In a few days we will post a few photos of this trip  onto kerncobirding. 
We will place the photos in the Miscellaneous Album in the  photo section. We 
will be sure to place a photo of the WILD battle between the  Red-shouldered 
Hawk and the Red Racer.
 
                                                       Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                       Bakersfield



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On Saturday, September 29th, the Kern Audubon Society will host a field 
trip to the Turkey Vulture Festival.  The festival will be held at 
Audubon's Kern River Preserve in Weldon.  The Kern River Valley has the 
largest known turkey vulture migration over a single point north of 
Mexico.  Join us in watching flocks of vultures drop-in and lift-off. 
We will meet to carpool at the parking lot of the Shell Service Station 
located at Union Avenue and Brundage Lane, 6:45 a.m.  Bring your 
binoculars, some sunscreen, snacks and water. For more information, 
call  or check www.Audubon-ca.org.kernriverpreserve.

Birders:  I received a call from Ken and Brenda Kyle reporting a 
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER at Galileo Hill today, 9/18/2007.  If you need 
to report a bird to kerncobirding but don't have access to a computer, 
feel free to call me at .  I'll forward it to the group.  
Michael McQuerrey
moderator, kerncobirding
Bakersfield, California

Thanks Michael -- My directions were off by 180 degrees for NORTHERN 
WATERTHRUSH; look in NORTH side yard of Pavilion, where many birds feed 
in morning shade... back porch and steps facing main resort. It is 
possible the bird went out the south side of the building, as I last 
saw it UNDER the west end of the building, feeding on bugs, probably 
hiding from us as well. Also, there were NO Gray Flycatchers, unless 
someone says otherwise -- my photos show obvious Western Wood-pewees 
(see my post; my apology to any who went in search), and I should have 
known by their behavior. Was Pac-slope ever confirmed? -- Jim Greaves

--- In kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com, "Michael McQuerrey" 
 wrote:
>
> From Jim Greaves:  Lark Chadwick discovered a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH 
> yesterday, at Galileo Hill, in the desert of eastern Kern County.  
The 
> bird was discoverd near the Pavilion on the south side of the resort, 
> in the small yard at the "back porch and scrub edge."  Thank you to 
Jim 
> and Lark for this report.
> Michael McQuerrey
> moderator, kerncobirding
> Bakersfield, California
>

From Jim Greaves:  Lark Chadwick discovered a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH 
yesterday, at Galileo Hill, in the desert of eastern Kern County.  The 
bird was discoverd near the Pavilion on the south side of the resort, 
in the small yard at the "back porch and scrub edge."  Thank you to Jim 
and Lark for this report.
Michael McQuerrey
moderator, kerncobirding
Bakersfield, California

Lark found a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH [photo] at Pavilion side yard on
Sunday 16 Sept 2007, Silver Saddle Ranch and Club resort outside of
California City.

Empids we saw: LEAST [ph] 1;  Willow [ph][many]; suspected, Pacific-
slope 1

About 50 species we saw:
Northern pintail [ph], with quasi-wild mallards, parking lot ponds
Cooper's hawk [ph] [also possible Sharp-shinned, squared tail, small]
Green heron [ph] 1 immature, at ponds next to main parking lot
Great blue heron 2
Spotted sandpiper [ph] 1-2
Vaux's swift
Belted kingfisher
Nuttall's woodpecker [ph], sub-adult
Western wood-pewee [ph]
Say's [ph] and Black [ph] phoebes
Barn swallow
House wren, in grapes at Pavilion
Verdin [ph]
Red-breasted nuthatch [ph], at trailer park area
Phainopepla, female or juvenile at equestrian corral
Hermit thrush [ph], at maintenance bldg east of main park lot
Yellow [ph], Wilson's [ph], Black-throated gray [ph], and Yellow-
rumped, MacGillivray's, Orange-crowned warblers, and C yellowthroats
[ph] [no American redstart seen by, or reported to us]
Western tanager [ph]
Black-headed grosbeak [ph]
Lazuli bunting [ph], juvenile at Pavilion, then near skeet area
Brewer's [ph], Chipping [ph], Vesper [ph], Savannah [ph], Sage, Song,
Lincoln's [ph] [at Pavilion], and White-crowned sparrows [we missed
Black-throated, if any were seen on Sunday]
Western meadowlark [ph]
Brown-headed cowbird, juvenile w/House sparrows in petting zoo [ph]
Lesser goldfinch

MODO, AMCO, RTHA, TUVU, CORA, BRBL, RWBL, ORJU, HOFI, ROPI, HOSP, EUST

Jim and Lark, Santa Barbara