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07 Nov Grasshopper Sparrow at Tolay 2 ["peter_colasanti" ] 5 Nov Las Gallinas MAS walk [Len Blumin ] 5 Nov White-winged Scoters ["Rusty Scalf" ] 5 Nov Yellow Warbler ["Lisa Hug" ] 3 Nov RBAC shorebird survey, 11/5/2009, 2:00 pm [] 03 Nov First robins in the garden today ["Ctalcroft" ] 03 Nov Bodega Area, November 2, 2009 ["Ctalcroft" ] 2 Nov Friday evening visitors ["Ruth Rudesill" ] 01 Nov The Owl & The Woodpecker [Maggie ] 1 Nov Burrowing owl ["betty burridge" ] 02 Nov Tolay Lake, Sonoma Co., raptors ["bkeener52" ] 01 Nov Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park ["kleinhea" ] 01 Nov Saturday, October 31, Shollenberger Park, Ellis Creek, Las Gallinas ponds ["Ctalcroft" ] 01 Nov Rodeo Lagoon [] 30 Oct Major Bird Rescue Effort at IBRRC - Update 10/30 ["torusert" ] 29 Oct Volunteering to clean birds at IBRRC [David Wimpfheimer ] 29 Oct Kite Family ["newfieman2001" ] 29 Oct Re: Morphometric identification of mystery peep [Marjorie Siegel ] 29 Oct Morphometric identification of mystery peep [Floyd Hayes ] 29 Oct Cornell/Audubon chimes in on LTStint/Least Sandpiper ["MaryM" ] 29 Oct Bad news for birders: State Parks to close Campbell Cove Day Use Area in B. Bay ["dmfreid" ] 29 Oct Swamp Sparrow at Ellis Creek water treatment ponds (update) ["Ctalcroft" ] 28 Oct Eurasian collared Doves in Napa ["Denise and David Hamilton" ] 28 Oct Per LT Stint discussion: 1991 Palmdale Bird ["Rusty Scalf" ] 28 Oct BUOW @ Bodega Head... ["Bill Doyle" ] 28 Oct Re: LT STINT/Least Sandpiper??? [Floyd Hayes ] 28 Oct Ellis Creek Water Treatment Ponds ["Ctalcroft" ] 28 Oct Harlan's Hawk [Rich Stallcup ] 28 Oct Long-toed Stint *original photo link* ["pythonsrus" ] 28 Oct Bald Eagle takes Brant midair - Bolinas 10/27 [Noah Strycker ] 27 Oct LT STINT/Least Sandpiper??? ["MaryM" ] 27 Oct Bolinas BW Teal and Euro-wigeon [] 27 Oct more Stint stuff ["Lisa Hug" ] 27 Oct Limantour - Olema 10/26/09 [Dominik Mosur ] 27 Oct Stint video by Keith Hansen ["les_lieurance" ] 27 Oct Stint Video ["Mark Butler" ] 27 Oct Limantour Stint- comments from video [Ryan Terrill ] 27 Oct Hermit Warbler, Earthquake Trail ["rosita94598" ] 27 Oct Limantour Calidris [Noah Strycker ] 26 Oct Fw: Help save birds caught in deadly algae bloom! Hope this is o.k. to post here. Sharon Salisbury, Mill Valley ["Sharon Salisbury" ] 26 Oct Ring-necked Duck at Ellis Creek [Len Blumin ] 26 Oct molt terminology ["Lisa Hug" ] 26 Oct Re: Stintilating [] 26 Oct Stint Photos Consolidated ["Mark Butler" ] 26 Oct more stint static ["Sharon Salisbury" ] 26 Oct Stint-Piper not seen mid-day ["ed3de" ] 26 Oct Stintpiper - photos [Len Blumin ] 26 Oct Additional Stint Photos ["Mark Butler" ] 26 Oct Re: FW: mystery bird] [Siobhan Ruck ] 26 Oct FW: mystery bird [Rich Stallcup ] 26 Oct Re: stint [] 26 Oct Stintpiper ["Mark Butler" ] 26 Oct FW: stintpiper [Rich Stallcup ] 26 Oct FW: stintpiper [Rich Stallcup ] 26 Oct Stint Searching Weather ["ed3de" ] 26 Oct RE: stint ["Richard Kuehn" ] 26 Oct stint [Rich Stallcup ] 26 Oct Re:LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup - terminology clarification ["Ken Burton" ] 26 Oct IBRRC Treating Oregon Sea Birds - Help Needed ["torusert" ] 26 Oct Las Gallinas - geese ["rlewis0727" ] 26 Oct Marin Co. STINT 10/25 **Photos** [Noah Strycker ] 26 Oct 10/24, Point Reyes, Shollenberger Park ["Ctalcroft" ] 25 Oct 1) Rush Creek; 2) TN Valley's Beach; 3) Etc./Addendum From Yesterday's Abbott's Lagoon List [Daniel Edelstein ] 26 Oct Long-toed Stint Marin County CA ["ed3de" ] 25 Oct Re: LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup ["Todd Easterla" ] 26 Oct LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup [] 26 Oct Black Swan, Las Gallinas ["wilcox_kerry" ] 25 Oct Coast Guard Base (Two Rock Valley) - Cackling Goose (Sonoma County) ["edienrobert" ] 25 Oct Eagle [Ken Wilson ] 25 Oct Beautiful Day at Point Reyes - No vagrants ["mjstanleypls" ] 25 Oct Red-necked Grebe continues at Lake Hennessey in Napa County ["mjstanleypls" ] 25 Oct Re:Southern Marin Dark-eyed Junco ["Ken Burton" ] 25 Oct Occidental Ridge FOS WTSP ["mike.heffernon" ] 25 Oct Abbott's Lagoon: Birds of Seasonal-Local Inerest [Daniel Edelstein ] 25 Oct RED-NECKED GREBE continues at Lake Hennessey- Saturday [] 24 Oct Southern Marin Dark-eyed Junco ["masiegel3" ] Subject: Grasshopper Sparrow at Tolay 2 From: "peter_colasanti" <peter_colasanti AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:55:36 -0000 Hi birders, This morning I was doing a Tolay Creek Ranch (TRC) survey with Andy Lacasse, Len Nelson and Andy Compari and found a Grasshopper Sparrow. It popped up onto a downed branch for about 2˝ seconds. TCP is a relatively recent addition to Tolay Park, encompassing most of the rest of the valley of Tolay Creek down to the bay. It's not presently open to the public, but we started doing monthly surveys there in September. In case you haven't heard, Tolay Park is now open to the public on an interim basis on weekends. You need to be vetted by the county for entry during the interim by attending a class held at the Veteran's Hall here in town. Peter Colasanti Petaluma Subject: Las Gallinas MAS walk From: Len Blumin <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:36:41 -0800 14 intrepid birders dodged the rain today at the Las Gallinas ponds today and were rewarded with good looks at the usual raptors (Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel and White-tailed Kite) plus fleeting looks at a Merlin buzzing the Rock Pigeons and a distant Peregrine Falcon. Anseriformes included a juvenile Snow Goose staying close to the Canada and Cackling geese in the pasture, and somewhat disappointing numbers and diversity of ducks. Highlghts of the latter include a female Ring-necked Duck in (Pond #1) and a transient Eurasian Wigeon (also Pond #1). Shorebirds were sparse (mainly LB Dowitchers, Least SP). The water level in Pond #1 is quite low, and the prolonged levee project is finally near completion. No unsual passerine species were seen. Photo ops were good, including the juvenile Northern Harrier: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4079753510_e69bb0e1d2_o.jpg and an adult Red-Shouldered Hawk: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4079753470_af54b07088_o.jpg -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157614994688364/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: White-winged Scoters From: "Rusty Scalf" <rscalf AT sonic.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:07:12 -0800 There were 2 female White-winged Scoters just beyond the 'fish dock' at Pt Reyes this afternoon. These days it's comforting to see White-wings. It's a bird I've been worried about for years. Rusty Scalf [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow Warbler From: "Lisa Hug" <lisahug AT sonic.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:59:59 -0800 Hi Birders, This morning there was a YELLOW WARBLER at Lucchesi Park in Petaluma (Sonoma County). I don't know if it is a late migrant or a bird that will winter. Tuesday, I did a little sweep of West Sonoma County and found and/or saw a few interesting birds. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW- Monte Rio - the Park with the Community Center along the Russian River WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - off Duncan's Landing RED-NECKED GREBE - off Bodega channel PIGEON GUILLOMOTS - one off Bodega Head and one in the channel at Bodega (getting very late) WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Bodega Farm Pond (1 mile east of the town of Bodega) CACKLING GEESE - 5 at Bodega Farm Pond Lisa Hug Sebastopol [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RBAC shorebird survey, 11/5/2009, 2:00 pm From: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com Date: 3 Nov 2009 21:59:49 -0000 Reminder from: northbaybirds Yahoo! Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/northbaybirds/cal RBAC shorebird survey Thursday November 5, 2009 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. http://www.yahoo.com Privacy Policy: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us Terms of Service: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: First robins in the garden today From: "Ctalcroft" <ctalcroft AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:57:08 -0000 November 3, 2009. First robins in the garden this morning (Northeast Santa Rosa, Sonoma County). First flickers appeared on October 1. Subject: Bodega Area, November 2, 2009 From: "Ctalcroft" <ctalcroft AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:17:13 -0000 Spent the day out at Bodega today. Stopped first at the farm pond on Bohemian Highway (about 6 miles west of Sebastopol, on the way to Bodega Bay). There were many more ducks than there have been recently--although still not that many. Saw a pair of buffleheads among the Canada geese and mallards, a couple of female shovelers, a fair number of ring-necked ducks, and a lone duck different from the rest that looked like a Eurasian wigeon to me. The highlight was the ring-necked ducks, a new Sonoma County bird for me. At Porto Bodega, nothing out of the ordinary, but saw: House sparrows, turkey vultures, Western gulls, greater yellowlegs, Brewer's blackbird, double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, surf scoters, a lone marbled godwit, a Western grebe or two, and a couple of common loons. At the Tides, the usual flock of sandpipers was there, but also saw Western grebes, snowy egrets, a horned grebe, and a great blue heron. Nothing much at the rail ponds but yellow-rumped warblers. At the north end of Bodega Harbor, saw surf scoters, common loons, greater scaup (quite a few), ruddy ducks, Western grebes, great egrets, great blue herons, and six buffleheads. On my way home, passing the same location, there were 14 male buffleheads and about half that number of females. On the mud flats just past Spud Point marina, saw: Snowy egrets, brown pelicans, white pelicans, Western gulls, marbled godwits, willets, black-bellied plovers, black turnstones, ruddy turnstones, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, great egrets, and surf scoters. Further along, after Westside Park, saw: Western gulls, California gulls, and a single Bonapart's gull along with more herons, surf scoters, and white pelicans. On the way to Bodega Head there were many egrets, herons, Western gulls, and cormorants. At Campbell Cove it was more surf scoters, six more buffleheads, and more Western gulls. Saw nothing up on the cliffs above, except a good view of a Northern Harrier. At the hole in the head, there was little to see except a black phoebe and various sparrows I couldn't identify, along with many yellow-rumped warblers. Again nothing much out of the ordinary, but I enjoyed seeing the ring-necked ducks, all the buffleheads, the Bonapart's gull, and the Harrier. At the hole in the head there was also a juvenile raptor that I couldn't figure out. I've posted pictures of this bird and a sparrow I'm wondering about in my picture album here. Any thoughts much appreciated. The raptor pictures are terrible because of the great distance, but the sparrow is clear. Thanks Colin P.S. Just saw Ruth's post. Must have been a Halloween thing. While trick or treating with my son, we heard a screeching in the oak trees around us and the stench of skunk. It was too dark to see what was going on, but heard wingbeats and saw something fly off. I think a big owl had just killed a skunk. Subject: Friday evening visitors From: "Ruth Rudesill" <ruthier AT sonic.net> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 18:17:30 -0800 This post is a few days late as I was out of town this weekend. There was a rather loud Halloween party in our usually very quiet neighborhood but I thought I could hear owls over the din. I went out to my deck, and yes, two Western Screech-Owls were calling back and forth in my live oak trees! This is the first time I have ever heard screech-owls in my yard. Years ago, some kids found an injured screech-owl in my field, but other than that I have never known them to be in my yard. Ruth Rudesill Kenwood CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: The Owl & The Woodpecker From: Maggie <magwhls AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:59:56 -0800 Hi Birders, The title of this message is also the title of a wonderful book by Paul Bannick, photographer and author. Paul will be speaking this coming week at GG Audubon and Mt. Diablo Audubon. His talks, and photos, are truly outstanding and Paul has an amazing ability to capture bird behaviors that you don't see in most books or presentations. Each one of his talks is different because he adds new photos all the time. I saw him speak this past summer at Madrone Audubon and it was probably the best birding-related natural history presentation I've seen. I highly recommend attending one of Paul's talks! You can get details at www.paulbannick.com and then click on Tour Dates. If you cannot make it to a talk, then get a copy of the book if you can! Maggie Rufo Novato "...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" - Emerson Subject: Burrowing owl From: "betty burridge" <bburridge AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 20:54:31 -0800 Earlier today, Sunday Nov 1st, Link van Cleve and two others found a Burrowing Owl on the Shell Beach - Pomo Campground trail, about one mile east of Hwy l near some big rocks. It was first seen when the group was within 10 feet of the bird. It flew about 6 feet, then another 6 feet, and allowed a lengthy viewing. It seemed quite tame. Interesting is the fact that a 'tame' Burrowing Owl first reported on Bodega Head last week was apparently seen only once, even though it has been looked for each day since. Same bird? Shell Beach is south of Goat Rock and north of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County Link gave me permission to post his sighting. Betty Burridge [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Tolay Lake, Sonoma Co., raptors From: "bkeener52" <keener.bill AT epamail.epa.gov> Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:22:06 -0000 On Sunday, Tolay Lake Regional Park in Sonoma County was great for raptor-viewing. We observed 9 species: White-tailed Kites (6), Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk (1), American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon (1). Tolay Lake is located at the end of Cannon Lane (off Lakeville Highway), but despite being a Sonoma County Regional Park, access is currently limited. See http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_tolay.htm for more information. Good Birding, Bill Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park From: "kleinhea" <andy_kleinhesselink AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:32:52 -0000 Hi All, I've been birding the riparian area along Copeland Creek as it runs through the Sonoma State campus since I started school here this fall. Today I heard a sapsucker call, went to find it and discovered it was NOT a Red-breasted! I took a long look at it and chased it from one sapsucker hole tree to the next for a while. It had very wide areas of white markings on the back, had a white mark above and behind the eye and a white mark from the malar that connected with white running down the sides of the neck to the breast. The bird overall was fairly smudgy and not crisply marked. I did not note any red on the back of the head. Unfortunately I couldn't get a great look at the throat and breast but it appeared to have a pale throat with no bright red color and no distinct black breast marking. I don't have a guide with me here but I think it best matches a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker over a Red-naped. To find it go to the northeastern corner of the big lake on campus, there are some large spruce trees just off the path with a lot of sapsucker holes in them. I saw the bird move between these trees and an oak tree about 30 yards north of there across the trail from the propagation shade house on the north side of the native plant garden. Maps of SSU can be seen here: http://www.sonoma.edu/university/maps.shtml I'm on campus today, e-mail me if you want me to come show you were I saw it--I may be able to get away from homework for a moment to help you find it. Good luck, Andy Kleinhesselink Subject: Saturday, October 31, Shollenberger Park, Ellis Creek, Las Gallinas ponds From: "Ctalcroft" <ctalcroft AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:54:04 -0000 Visited Shollenberger park in the morning on Saturday. Saw the family of white-tailed kites that has been there the past few days, on the Adobe Creek side of the area. Also saw: Black phoebe, coots, black-necked stilts, northern shovelers, killdeer, Western meadowlark, red-winged blackbirds, mallards, song sparrow, Western sandpiper, and willets. At the other end of the park, saw: Shovelers, avocets, black-necked stilts, marbled godwits, coots, Canada geese, dowitchers (probably long-billed), Western gulls, ring-billed gulls, turkey vultures (drying their wings, sitting among the gulls), plovers (probably black-bellied), and a few blue-winged teals. Then drove over to the Ellis Creek ponds. Saw: Red-winged blackbirds, Anna's hummingbird, cedar waxwings, Canada geese, scrub jay, and house finches right in the parking lot. In and around the ponds, I saw: Cinnamon teal, coots, black-necked stilts, northern shovelers, Canada geese, greater yellowlegs, mallards, pied-billed grebe, killdeer, a Wilson's snipe, dowitchers again, yellow-rumped warblers, great egret, black phoebe, blue-winged teal, a kestrel, a marsh wren, and what looked like a female lesser scaup, but I'm still working on identifying that one. Finally, ran down to the Las Gallinas sewage treatment ponds. I actually found them this time. Saw: Snowy egrets, great egrets, black phoebe, northern harrier, shovelers, avocets, crow, Canada geese, willets, black-necked stilts, white pelicans, northern pintails, green-winged teals, dowitchers, American wigeons, gadwalls, Western grebes, bushtits, yellow-rumped warblers, and a white-crowned sparrow. Nothing unusual, but I hope these day lists help people keep up to date on what's where. I know I appreciate it when people post them. Hoping to see both of the goldeneyes this season. Anyone seen any yet? Colin Subject: Rodeo Lagoon From: WGDLegge AT aol.com Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:38:01 -0500 Encountered thick fog on both my Saturday and Sunday early morning circuits of Rodeo Lagoon in the Marin Headlands this weekend, which severely limited the species count given the inability to see more than 50 yards offshore. Consequently the best I could manage were 4 Bufflehead, including a fine male, the first of the Fall on the main lagoon. Also floating around are 2-3 1st winter Bonaparte’s Gulls. An adult female Northern Harrier seems to have taken up residence and obligingly flushed 4 Wilson’s Snipe up from the lagoon shoreline that I would have otherwise missed. Best of the rest: 4 Green-winged Teal (Saturday) – which circled and left into the fog and presumably out to sea 1 female Surf Scoter on the smaller inner lagoon – an odd place for one! 1 juvenile White-tailed Kite (Saturday) 1 female Nuttall’s Woodpecker (only my second of the year at this site) 1 Townsend’s Warbler 1 Savannah Sparrow American Robins were more in evidence this morning suggesting they were on the move last night. That’s about it! William Legge Mill Valley, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Major Bird Rescue Effort at IBRRC - Update 10/30 From: "torusert" <sonomabirding AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:16:06 -0000 Oregon and Washington wildlife rescue centers are overwhelmed with epidemic numbers of wet, cold, and dying sea birds soiled by unusual sea slime. The first group of 150 of the slimed sea birds were driven Saturday from Portland, Oregon by van to International Bird Rescue's (IBRRC) Fairfield, CA bird center for treatment. On Monday the U.S. Coast Guard lent a hand. Using a C-130 a crew flew an additional 305 harmed seabirds birds from Astoria, Oregon to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. Because of the shear number of casualties, IBRRC is treating this emergency as an oil spill, with one significant difference â€" there is no oil. This means that there is no responsible party and therefore no financial support for our rescue effort. Here is the latest update - http://www.ibrrc.org/algae-slime-response-2009.html The birds being treated at IBRRC include the following: Grebes, Murres Red Throated Loons, Pacific Loons, Common Loons and Scoters. Individuals and organizations wishing to assist the effort should contact. Anyone wishing to assist the effort please call our volunteer line at 707-207-0380 ext. 109. Tom Rusert Community Outreach ibrrc.org Subject: Volunteering to clean birds at IBRRC From: David Wimpfheimer <ceruleanswift AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:32:33 -0700 (PDT) Yesterday I volunteered at the International Bird Rescue Research Center at Cordelia. I spent most of the day holding western grebes, red-throated loons and common murres while the birds were fed, cleaned and rinsed. I now have a much fuller awareness and appreciation for the tremendous work that is done at the center. And in the future when I read about the number of birds killed or rescued in oil spills I will not just see numbers, like casualties in a battle, but I will remember these living, breathing, calling and biting birds. Volunteers are still needed to help with this effort. I encourage anyone interested to contact Cheryl Reynolds at clapperail AT comcast.net or Gail at buteau_migration AT yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kite Family From: "newfieman2001" <nrdyer AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:50:01 -0000 At Shollenberger this morning near Adobe Creek there were three juvenile White-tailed Kites and one adult. Photo under Docent Bob shows buffy wash that will soon fade. Docent Bob, Shollenberger Park, Petaluma Subject: Re: Morphometric identification of mystery peep From: Marjorie Siegel <masiegel3 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:40:18 -0700 (PDT) Are these measurements fully comparable, i.e. museum specimen vs digital image of a live bird? A statistical test might help here, too. Marjorie SIegel, Mill Valley --- On Thu, 10/29/09, Floyd Hayes wrote: From: Floyd Hayes Subject: [NBB] Morphometric identification of mystery peep To: "North Bay Birds" Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 5:36 PM   While visiting several major American museums back in 1992, I took measurements of 37 Long-toed Stints and 37 Least Sandpipers at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Suspecting that fairly accurate ratios of bill / tarsus length and bill / middle toe length could be obtained from photos and compared with specimens (and hoping one day I could measure ratios in Jonathan Alderfer's outstanding photos of the Palmdale peep), I came up with the following ranges in specimens: Bill / middle toe length: 0.66-0.85 in Long-toed Stint, 0.80-1.02 in Least Sandpiper Bill / tarsus length: 0.75-0.96 in Long-toed Stint, 0.88-1.14 in Least Sandpiper. I measured the ratios in four of Noah Strycker's outstanding photos using a caliper on my monitor and using the same measurements that I used with the specimens, and came up with the following averages: Bill / middle toe length: 1.04 Bill / tarsus length: 0.99 Based on my morphometric data, the mystery peep appears to be a Least Sandpiper. Can anybody help me access the closeup photos of the Palmdale peep in the CBRC archives? Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Morphometric identification of mystery peep From: Floyd Hayes <floyd_hayes AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:36:51 -0700 (PDT) While visiting several major American museums back in 1992, I took measurements of 37 Long-toed Stints and 37 Least Sandpipers at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Suspecting that fairly accurate ratios of bill / tarsus length and bill / middle toe length could be obtained from photos and compared with specimens (and hoping one day I could measure ratios in Jonathan Alderfer's outstanding photos of the Palmdale peep), I came up with the following ranges in specimens: Bill / middle toe length: 0.66-0.85 in Long-toed Stint, 0.80-1.02 in Least Sandpiper Bill / tarsus length: 0.75-0.96 in Long-toed Stint, 0.88-1.14 in Least Sandpiper. I measured the ratios in four of Noah Strycker's outstanding photos using a caliper on my monitor and using the same measurements that I used with the specimens, and came up with the following averages: Bill / middle toe length: 1.04 Bill / tarsus length: 0.99 Based on my morphometric data, the mystery peep appears to be a Least Sandpiper. Can anybody help me access the closeup photos of the Palmdale peep in the CBRC archives? Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake, CA Subject: Cornell/Audubon chimes in on LTStint/Least Sandpiper From: "MaryM" <perfect53 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:08:55 -0000 Oct 26 (2 days ago) mary morrison Hi, Can you help ID this bird? Thanks. | Cornell Birds to me show details 6:04 AM (2 hours ago) Dear Mary, I sent your photos to Brian Sullivan of our eBird team and a very experienced birder. In his opinion the bird is a juvenile Least Sandpiper that looks pretty typical for the species. Hope this helps and that you'll be willing to post this sighting at eBird, a joint checklist of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, at www.ebird.org. You might like to explore eBird on your own and learn yet more about what this online checklist has to offer. You might even decide to enter your own sightings at eBird. That way you'll have them in one location but they will also be available to other birders and scientists alike. Anne Hobbs Public Information Specialist Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://www.birds.cornell.edu Interpreting and conserving the earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Won't you consider supporting our feathered friends by becoming a member of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology? We help birds and other wildlife through research, education, citizen science, and conservation. To join or to learn more about us please visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call 1-800-843-2473. Subject: Bad news for birders: State Parks to close Campbell Cove Day Use Area in B. Bay From: "dmfreid" <lemuria AT sonic.net> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:29:00 -0000 from this Monday to June 30!! I was shocked to read this in today's Press Democrat (the Santa Rosa paper). Campbell Cove, also known as Hole in the Head is one of the primary stops for birders in Bodega Bay. The only facility there is an outhouse type restroom so they can't be saving much money by closing it. Maybe birders can write to state parks asking for it to stay open. I'd be willing to give up the outhouse to keep the park open. Here's the list of other Sonoma Coast day use areas to be closed from Monday to June 30: Bodega Head East South Salmon Creek Bodega Dunes South Goat Rock Blind Beach Russian Gulch Vista Point Jenner visitor center and public restroom They will start charging an $8 parking fee at Shell Beach and Goat Rock. I will try to find out in the next few days if they will allow people to park outside of Campbell Cove and walk in or if it will be totally off limits. Sadly, Dea Freid Sebastopol Subject: Swamp Sparrow at Ellis Creek water treatment ponds (update) From: "Ctalcroft" <ctalcroft AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:36:13 -0000 Sorry to start a new topic on this, but I couldn't figure out how to reply to my own initial post. Just to update things: 1. The ID: I initially thought that this was either a Lincoln's Sparrow or a Swamp Sparrow, based solely on field guides and my photos. Judging from twenty or thirty photos I found on the Internet, I've decided this is a Swamp Sparrow, but that's just my (non-expert) opinion. Four people have looked at the photos and replied to me. Three have said they think it's a Swamp Sparrow, one has suggested it's a Lincoln's Sparrow. So, the consensus for the moment is Swamp Sparrow. I'd be interested in any other opinions. 2. Location: A couple of people wanted better location info. I have uploaded a view of the area that another birder eager to see this bird marked and sent me. I saw the bird very close to the point marked B on this map, in the open area well beyond the ponds, with the tall eucalyptus stand to the left and somewhat behind me (with the ponds at my back) and Shollenberger Park in the far, far distance to the right. There is a long pathway that leads away from the ponds, makes a sharp turn and then dead-ends in a broad sandy area, clearly visible in the photo, but the bird was much closer to the start of this trail, hiding in brush along the ditch with the wire fence. From what I've read, this shy behavior is consistent with a Swamp Sparrow. 3. Other Photos: Several people asked if I have other photos. I posted all four I was able to take (it was very windy, making it hard to hold the camera still, and the bird was rather shy. I had to flush him out four or five times. He kept ducking back under the brush until he finally landed on the wire fence), but I have posted a larger version of the best of the four pictures. 4. Yellow lower mandible: A number of people have suggested a yellowish lower mandible is an important identifier. In the photo you can see that the lower mandible is a trifle yellowish. I just wanted to say that I have not altered the color of the photo on the computer in any way. My feeling as a photographer (not of birds, necessarily) of more than 30 years is that the light in this photo has made the lower part of the bill look lighter than it probably is. My judgment is that the lower mandible is probable somewhat more yellow than it appears here. That's just my opinion, for what it's worth. Hope this helps anyone who cares. Colin Subject: Eurasian collared Doves in Napa From: "Denise and David Hamilton" <napabirders AT att.net> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:50:08 -0700 Hello Birders, Bad news?? After seeing one and two EC Doves in our neighborhood over the past year, we now can report SEVEN coming down into our yard for seed and water!! Not sure if we should be chasing them out of the yard or not. They are very skittish at the moment and if they see us, they are out of here. Best birding, Denise & David Hamilton Napa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Per LT Stint discussion: 1991 Palmdale Bird From: "Rusty Scalf" <rscalf AT sonic.net> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:33:19 -0700 Here is a photo of the bird Floyd Hayes mentioned, taken Sept 1991 bird at the Palmdale wastewater treatment ponds. The video Floyd mentions would be interesting to see. http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/pelagics/MYSTERIES.html At the time Mitch Heindel said this bird walked like a Jacana. Rusty Scalf [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BUOW @ Bodega Head... From: "Bill Doyle" <bill.doyle AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:10:41 -0700 My son Dan, who works for State Parks at the coast, just called to report a Burrowing Owl at Bodega Head. It was at the front of its burrow, and he "nearly stepped on it". His description of the location is..."at the center of the Head, near the high point, where nobody ever goes." They are building a new trail in that area. Bill Doyle Santa Rosa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: LT STINT/Least Sandpiper??? From: Floyd Hayes <floyd_hayes AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:58:40 -0700 (PDT) For me, looking at the video was deja vu. Back in September 1991, Mitch Heindel and others reported a Long-toed Stint at the sewage palms at Palmdale. During the next couple of days I managed to relocate it a few times and showed it to Jonathon Alderfer, who took excellent photos, and my birding buddy Bill Baker, who took a video (but not nearly as closeup as the Limatour video) of its distinctive walking posture. The plumage of the bird was unremarkable; it looked pretty much indistinguishable from the 50+ Least Sandpipers present, which made it difficult to pick out among the Least Sandpipers when it was standing still or foraging. But as soon as it walked the bird stood out from all the others by having an upright neck and head, resembling a Tringa more than any Calidris I had ever seen (before or since).   At the time I was convinced it was a Long-toed Stint, but a lot of skepticism was expressed by the experts and the CBRC rightfully rejected it almost unanimously, based on its plumage. In retrospect I'm still not convinced it was a Least Sandpiper, but neither am I convinced it was a Long-tailed Stint. I would love to see the photos again, but the few times I requested to see copies of them I never got a response.   One CBRC member who sent me a copy of his report suggested that it was an arthritic Least Sandpiper. However, the bird was a juvenile, as is the current Limantour bird, and it seems unlikely that arthritis can develop within just a few months of hatching. I recall a poster on arthritis in birds presented at the AOU meeting in Santa Barbara several years ago; the author told me that arthritis was frequent in Calidris shorebirds. I can't remember if I inquired about juveniles.   I suspect that both the Palmdale and Limatour birds are the same taxon. If they are Least Sandpipers, there must be something pathological--presumably congenital--causing the upright posture. If they are Long-toed Stints, there must be something unusual about their plumage. And as suggested here by MaryM, perhaps they were hybrids?   Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ellis Creek Water Treatment Ponds From: "Ctalcroft" <ctalcroft AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:38:45 -0000 Visited the Ellis Creek water treatment ponds in Petaluma (3890 Cypress Drive) for the first time yesterday. I had no idea the area was so big--at least as big again as the Shollenberger Park area. Nothing unusual to report, although a group leaving as I arrived said they had just seen a sora. I saw mute swans (very impressive in flight at close range; one buzzed me), coots, black-necked stilts, mallards, Canada geese, gadwalls, northern shovelers, a pair of American wigeons, and cinnamon teals. The gadwall was a first sighting for me. In the grassy and marshy areas, saw savannah sparrows, marsh wren, redwing blackbirds, yellow-rumped warblers (about 15), and great egrets. There was a sparrow I was unable to identify. I've uploaded a photo of it to the site. Would appreciate knowing which one this is. I'm sure it's something ordinary, but I can't decide which one. Thanks Colin Subject: Harlan's Hawk From: Rich Stallcup <rstallcup AT prbo.org> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:36:45 -0700 GOOD MORNING NORTHBAY BIRDERS- Yesterday I found a dark-morph HARLAN'S HAWK at the junction of Highway One and Bodega Avenue/ Valley Ford Road. This junction is about a mile east of the town of Valley Ford in Sonoma County and the bird perched in willows along Estero Americano in the SW corner. I went to Doran then asked my birding group back to the area and we all had fine looks at the bird soaring. It was under nearly constant assault by a Red-shouldered Hawk, two kites and/or two ravens. It had a pale blue cere and the rectrices were brown and barred, above and quite white below thus, I'm thinking it was (is) a hatch-year individual. It is a stunningly dark and is rangier than other young "red-tailed hawks". There were two White-winged Scoters in Duncan Cove, different Red Knots at Doran and Porto Bodego and two adult Peregrines on the peregrine perches at Doran. Some fresh Brant have arrived...Buffleheads, too...Herring and Mew Gulls. Yesterday late afternoon, there were seven Blue-winged Teal with 52 Cinnamons at the Rush Creek Wetlands. On an off-topic, I want to apologize for my "armchair birder's" comment concerning the stint at Limantour. I did not mean for that to go public and hope noone's feelings were hurt. I think we all get a little edgy when our reports are under siege. SORRY! THANKS, RICH [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-toed Stint *original photo link* From: "pythonsrus" <pythonsrus AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:10:45 -0000 Saturday at Limantour. A bird walk from the Farallone Marine Sanctuary Association led by Rich Stallcup. http://www.mojoscoast.com/102409/ Subject: Bald Eagle takes Brant midair - Bolinas 10/27 From: Noah Strycker <birdboy AT bkpix.com> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:31:51 +1300 Hi birders, This afternoon I was pleased to pick out a single BRANT in a resting flock of several hundred wigeon and pintail on the Bolinas lagoon, from Pine Gulch park. Imagine my surprise when, about a minute and a half later, the Brant was dead in the talons of an adult Bald Eagle! As I watched with increasing disbelief, the waterfowl flock took flight; the Brant separated from the ducks and flew hard toward the mouth of the lagoon. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an eagle appeared, stooped and banked from above, and hit the goose midair and mid-flight - smack! The Brant dropped like a stone about fifty feet, landing in deep water, and, after a couple missed approaches, the eagle grabbed it from the water's surface, Osprey-style, and carried its prize to shore. A second adult Bald Eagle showed up, and, after a brief tussle, they tore the thing apart, while a Peregrine Falcon watched appreciatively from nearby. So much for that Brant. Also at Pine Gulch, an unidentified grosbeak - either Black-headed or Rose-breasted; didn't get a great look. Late for a migrant. Good birding - Noah Strycker Subject: LT STINT/Least Sandpiper??? From: "MaryM" <perfect53 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:56:32 -0000 Forgive my ignorance.....but.....Why isn't this bird a HYBRID Long-toed stint/Least Sandpiper??? Subject: Bolinas BW Teal and Euro-wigeon From: dwbirdster AT aol.com Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:24:05 -0400 Hi B- Forgot to mention yesterday that on the way back from looking at the LOST-peep I stopped along Bolinas Lagoon. From a pullout near the southeast corner of the lagoon there were two Blue-winged Teal and one Eurasian Wigeon among a large mixed flock. Dave Weber, Milpitas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: more Stint stuff From: "Lisa Hug" <lisahug AT sonic.net> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:53:43 -0700 Hi Birders, I can't get a thing done. Every time I sit down I find more interesting information and opinions about the Limantour bird. I did not see the bird, but I'm loving everything that is coming out of the discussion. In response to Ryan's question about the "broken tips on the secondary coverts" Field mark. I believe that Joe was referring to the interrupion of the pale-fringed pattern on the coverts, not literal broken tips (Joe can correct me if I am wrong). Martin Reid discusses this feature on a bird from Texas in 2002 at this site. http://www.martinreid.com/Main%20website/calidris.html Lisa Hug Sebastopol [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Limantour - Olema 10/26/09 From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:27:28 -0700 (PDT) Yesterday morning Josiah Clark and I drove out to Limantour to see the mystery peep. There's really not much to add about the birds physical appearance that hasn't already been written up by birders far more experienced with rare shorebirds as well as displayed in the great photos/video by Noah Strycker, Keith Hansen and others. However while observing the bird Josiah and I did happen to hear the bird in question call several times at one point. The sound to our ears was very similar to the mellow "cree" that we have grown accustomed to hearing from Least Sandpipers. Of course we don't have any experience with calls that maybe shared between the two species in question so that observation may very well be useless. Besides the great lesson in peep study we also managed to see some cool birds at Limantour: WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (3, pointed out in flight by Keith), RED-NECKED GREBE, SNOWY PLOVERS, the 3 expected loon species among others. On the way back to the city we stopped to bird the east part of Olema marsh that lies along Highway 1 between Pt. Reyes Station and the town of Olema. The highlight was seeing a juv. FERRUGINOUS HAWK flying over the pastures east of 1 as well as kicking up several WILSON'S SNIPE in the marsh itself. Good birding, Dominik Mosur San Francisco Subject: Stint video by Keith Hansen From: "les_lieurance" <leslie AT petrels.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:51:36 -0000 Here is the link to Keith Hansen's superb close-up video of the Limantour stint http://thebloggerhead.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/interesting-sandpiper-has-birders-talking-learning-considering/ Les Lieurance San Francisco Subject: Stint Video From: "Mark Butler" <ibis800 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:58:26 -0000 This is in response to Ryan Terrill's previous post. There is a photo by Jack Sutton in the folder labeled "Point Reyes Stint 10/26" that shows the primaries, and only the last appears white shafted. When I observed the bird on 10/25 I noted a weak wing stripe ending at the secondaries and only one white shafted primary (the last). My apologies if this post is duplicated, but my previous reply did not seem to get through. Mark Butler Inverness Subject: Limantour Stint- comments from video From: Ryan Terrill <enicurus AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:18:07 -0700 (PDT) Hi everyone- I just had a chance to review Keith Hansen's video (posted to his blog) of the Calidris from Limantour. I have had the chance to study quite a few (maybe around 100) Long-toed Stints in Thailand, and the one main point that seemed to stick out about these birds was the behavior. Every Long-toed Stint I saw had a bobbing, crake-like walk, which is, as far as I can tell, quite unique among Calidris. Long-toed Stints seem to jut out their head with each step, often looking stikingly like a little Common Sandpiper. After looking at the video, this bird does seem to show this behavior. Of course, ID marks should be combined, but this was the biggest thing that jumped out at me consistently as a difference between the two species. Some of the photos I have seen seem to show a pale base to the mandible (especially in Noah's excellent photos), and, as far as I can tell, all of the photos seem to show a dark smudge right in front of the eye, with a pale smudge in front of that. This all seems to jive with Long-toed Stint. I'm not sure I understand Joe's comments about the retained Juvenile coverts that should be broken at the tip in LTST but not in LESA. Could anybody clarify this for me? I have been studying bird molt for a few years now and I can't remember ever seeing any bird with broken tips to secondary coverts. Broken tips tend to occur in rectrices and outer primaries, and are associated with poor diet during feather growth. Where did this "ID mark" come from? As to the terminology question, it is acceptable to call this bird either in Formative plumage or Basic plumage, since there is not yet consensus in the molt terminology community as to what this plumage should be called. Also, calling it a juvenal bird (not to be confused with juvenile plumage) is fine, since that simply refers to the first year of life, although the term "Hatch-year" is generally preferred. Also, If anyone can find pictures that show the color of the shafts of the outer primaries, they should be dark in LTST, and pale in LESA (Pyle 2008), maybe this could help clear things up I hope this helps, and I look forward to hearing more comments. Ryan Terrill Santa Cruz [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hermit Warbler, Earthquake Trail From: "rosita94598" <rosita94598 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:55:46 -0000 Being one of those who arrived about 2 hours late yesterday to see the Long-toed Stint, I took some consolation in finding a Hermit Warbler on the Earthquake Trail at the Olema Visitor's Center. It was in the first big Bay Tree behind the bathrooms if one were to walk the trail the "wrong" direction. Hugh B. Harvey Walnut Creek Subject: Limantour Calidris From: Noah Strycker <birdboy AT bkpix.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:40:06 +1300 Hi birders, For anyone wondering, my images of the Limantour Calidris are posted at: http://www.noahstrycker.com/photos/700/longtoedstint.htm I chased this bird unexpectedly yesterday without a field guide, and uploaded images quickly considering its inherent ID challenges and potential rarity. In Oregon (my home state), several Long-toed Stints have been reported over the past few years, all of which eventually turned into Least Sandpipers (though there are a couple of valid older records). The same seems to be true in California: nearly all potential Long-toed Stints have not been accepted. Any reported stint should be examined very carefully and independently by all observers. After studying the images, and taking a variety of advice, I think this bird is a Least Sandpiper. Thanks to all who contributed to the discussion, especially Joe Morlan, for helpful descriptions. Thanks also to Rich Stallcup for getting the word out promptly. I certainly have learned a lot from this peep ;) Good birding, Noah Strycker Subject: Fw: Help save birds caught in deadly algae bloom! Hope this is o.k. to post here. Sharon Salisbury, Mill Valley From: "Sharon Salisbury" <daisy44 AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:58:56 -0700 IBRRC Urgent Appeal: Help us save seabirds caught in deadly algae bloom ----- Original Message ----- From: International Bird Rescue To: daisy44 AT comcast.net Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 7:01 PM Subject: Help save birds caught in deadly algae bloom! October 26, 2009 Your help needed to save seabirds caught in deadly algae bloom! Dear friends, A loon is stranded by deadly sea foam along Oregon coast. Larger image (Photo: P. Chilton) I am contacting you to ask for your urgent help. Thousands of seabirds are dying along the coast of Oregon and Washington state, soiled by an unusual sea slime caused by algal blooming. Hundreds more birds, still fighting for their lives, have washed up on nearby beaches. International Bird Rescue (IBRRC) is in a race against time to save Red-throated Loons and other sensitive migratory birds from this catastrophe and to relieve overwhelmed local wildlife groups. Nearly two hundred seabirds have already been transported to California where our experienced team has the best chance of saving them. Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard hundreds more will arrive by plane later today. Read update Because of the shear number of casualties, International Bird Rescue is treating this emergency as an oil spill, with one significant difference – there is no oil. This means that there is no responsible party and therefore no financial support for our rescue effort. We have mobilized our experienced team but we need your help to save these beautiful birds. We need to find $50,000 to pay for their care - medication, food for the birds and other supplies and equipment. We can only do this with your help. Please donate online now or send a check and help us reach this financial goal. Your generosity will truly make a world of difference. With heartfelt thanks, Jay Holcomb, Executive Director International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Home | Volunteer | Donate | Partnerships | Success stories | Membership | Blog AT 2009 International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) — All Rights Reserved Having issues viewing this e-news? Click: http://www.ibrrc.org/update/urgent-appeal-10-09.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IBRRC 4369 Cordelia Road Fairfield, CA 94534 (707) 207-0380 http://www.ibrrc.org Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ring-necked Duck at Ellis Creek From: Len Blumin <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:41:13 -0700 Sorry for the delayed post. A group of PRBO supporters visited Ellis Creek Sunday afternoon and marveled at the way this area has been developed. A flock of American Pipets flitted about in the open areas, settling often for good viewing. Best duck was a juvenile Ring-necked Duck, making shallow dives in the large western-most pond, in the company of dabbling American Wigeons. The lack of a white ring on the bill, and a brown iris, both point to "juvenile", and probably a female. Check here for a photo: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4047804873_881d728180_o.jpg 4 days ago we saw a similar young Ring-necked duck on pond #3 at Las Gallinas. -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157614994688364/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: molt terminology From: "Lisa Hug" <lisahug AT sonic.net> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:35:00 -0700 Hi Birders, Ken Burton posted some interesting comments concerning the molt terminology of the bird at Limantour. "I wish to point out that the plumage terminology being used here is misleading. "Juvenile in basic plumage" is technically a redundancy but in this case is a contradiction. A juvenile bird is a bird in juvenal plumage, which is now considered the first basic plumage. Once it has molted out of this plumage, it is no longer a juvenile. The bird in question appears to be molting into formative (1st-winter, NOT basic) plumage". What I found interesting is that the feathers on the mantle (which are the newest feathers in formative plumage) are showing more wear than the coverts (in juvenile, synonymous with first basic plumage). I don't understand why this is - they should look duller in color, but fresher in wear pattern. I have just spent 2 years making an interactive educational CD about the topic of feather topography and molt terminology. It explains these terms like basic and formative, etc. This shoud be available in the next 2 weeks or so. You too can talk "BIRDNERD" If you want to know more about this CD, Reply to me directly through this post (not to the listserv). . This message has been approved by the List Moderator. Lisa Hug Sebastopol [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Stintilating From: Rrarik AT aol.com Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:25:21 EDT Has anyone considered whether least sandpipers are attracted to these clumps of kelp? I have not noticed so would guess not.. These things tend to attract flies and many of those tiny crustaceans that hop all over and bury very fast. Hope to get out there soon, on general principles. Rich. In a message dated 10/26/2009 2:07:27 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, ibis800 AT hotmail.com writes: Rich Stallcup received three photos from Jack Sutton and one from Jason Thompson which he asked me to add to the folder 'Point Reyes Stint 10/26'. They should be there now. Navigating through this site for the first time, I inadvertently created an additional folder labeled LT stint. A photo has been added to that folder by another poster, and so it is too late to delete it. My apologies for any confusion, but both are public and anyone with with photos should add away. Mark Butler Inverness [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Stint Photos Consolidated From: "Mark Butler" <ibis800 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:37:15 -0000 Thanks to the poster that moved his photo, all shots are in 'Point Reyes Stint 10/26'. Subject: more stint static From: "Sharon Salisbury" <daisy44 AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:33:07 -0700 I did find Jason's beautiful photo and 6 great photos from, I believe, Mark, but where are the photos from Noah and Jack Sutton and where is the video? Tad confusing trying to read through all the posts and put them in chronological order, who's who, where are the photos etc. Would love to see the video. On a much more mundane note...if you can't make it out to see the stint/piper...the fields at Las Gallinas had a bazillion Canada Geese with 2 Greater White-Fronted Geese tucked in amongst them. On the ponds, more geese, many beautiful Cinnamon Teals, Green-Winged Teals, Gadwalls, a motley crew of Shovelers, Greater Yellow-legs, LB and SB Dowitchers, White Pelicans, Stilts, Western Grebes, DC Cormorant, at least one Pintail. I only made it around the first pond but did pass the west end of the second pond and was amused to see about 25 Snowy Egrets all standing around a pump that was emptying water from the first pond to the second. I assume there were lots of fish flying out of the pipe. Thanks to everyone for all the excitement, passion and photos, Sharon Salisbury Mill Valley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Stint-Piper not seen mid-day From: "ed3de" <ed.debell AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:12:18 -0000 I just spoke with Gary Deghi who was out at the stint location midday and he and others could not locate the bird. Ed DeBellevue Subject: Stintpiper - photos From: Len Blumin <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:12:28 -0700 A group of birders watched the unusual stintpiper at Limantour today from 8:30 to 10 am, at which point he took off and flew high and then over the dunes to the estuary side. The bird was fun to observe, and acted like no Least Sandpiper most of us had seen in the past. I have had difficulty with the Yahoo NBB site and have not been able to view any photos. I tried adding my rather average photos to the LT Stint album and got repeated error messages (I place one photo there). I have uploaded my photos to Flickr, and you can see them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/4047288065/in/set-72157622545155625/ I'm pretty sure this is the bird observed by Rich Stallcup, Keith Hansen and many others. I would dearly love to hear that it is a Long-toed Stint. Photos were digi-scoped at about 8 meters, minimally post-processed, cropped, etc. I can send original 4MB files, or smalled jpegs to any that wish them. -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157614994688364/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Additional Stint Photos From: "Mark Butler" <ibis800 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:06:51 -0000 Rich Stallcup received three photos from Jack Sutton and one from Jason Thompson which he asked me to add to the folder 'Point Reyes Stint 10/26'. They should be there now. Navigating through this site for the first time, I inadvertently created an additional folder labeled LT stint. A photo has been added to that folder by another poster, and so it is too late to delete it. My apologies for any confusion, but both are public and anyone with with photos should add away. Mark Butler Inverness Subject: Re: FW: mystery bird] From: Siobhan Ruck <siobhanruck AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:01:59 -0700 Rich, Yahoo strips attachments from messages to the group (helps protect against spreading viruses). You have to post the photos to a folder on the Yahoo group page. Siobhan Ruck, SF Rich Stallcup wrote: > > > MORE PIX > > These from Jack Sutton who was with me and Shannon Lyday when we > first encountered the Limantour peep. > > Hope these make it to NBB. > > > RICH > > ____________ ____________________ > From: Jack Sutton [mailto:jsutton AT hrmusic.com > ] > Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:54 AM > To: Rich Stallcup > Subject: mystery bird > > Hi Rich, > > I've attached 3 pictures of the mystery bird from yesterday. > Thanks for the bird walk, I had a great time. Hope you can identify > our least friend. > > Jack Sutton > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > _ > > > Subject: FW: mystery bird From: Rich Stallcup <rstallcup AT prbo.org> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:26:30 -0700 MORE PIX These from Jack Sutton who was with me and Shannon Lyday when we first encountered the Limantour peep. Hope these make it to NBB. RICH ________________________________ From: Jack Sutton [mailto:jsutton AT hrmusic.com] Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:54 AM To: Rich Stallcup Subject: mystery bird Hi Rich, I've attached 3 pictures of the mystery bird from yesterday. Thanks for the bird walk, I had a great time. Hope you can identify our least friend. Jack Sutton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: stint From: mdodder AT sbcglobal.net Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:13:15 -0700 (PDT) Is there a link to the video Rich referred to? Thanks,Matthew Dodderhttp://www.birdguy.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Stintpiper From: "Mark Butler" <ibis800 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:57:01 -0000 The 2 pics referenced by Rich Stallcup are in a folder labeled Pt Reyes Stint 10/26. My apologies for the resolution as these were taken with a point and shoot. Mark Butler Inverness Subject: FW: stintpiper From: Rich Stallcup <rstallcup AT prbo.org> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:43:27 -0700 ________________________________ From: Mark Butler [mailto:mark AT rockridgepartners.net] Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 1:12 PM To: Rich Stallcup Subject: RE: stintpiper Rich, I've been slammed today, but I did take a quick look in the a.m., and was not surprised. Noah's photos are somewhat misleading as they look so good but are all of one side of the bird, and overexposed enough to perhaps create a false impression about feather centers. It would be good to see if anyone got photos of the spread wing as my impression was of a weak stripe not extending much or at all past the secondaries and white contrasting edge on only the last primary. Hayman, Marchant and Prater illustrate this difference from Least. I've attached cropped pics for what they are worth, and will transcribe a description tonight or tomorrow morning depending on how the work mess shapes up. Mark From: Rich Stallcup [mailto:rstallcup AT prbo.org] Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 12:10 PM To: Mark Butler Subject: stintpiper HEY, MARK- It appears that I have once-again stirred-up controversary and inuendo from the armchair birder group. See sialia.com I'm sending you three mire pix of the bird. THANKS, RICH [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FW: stintpiper From: Rich Stallcup <rstallcup AT prbo.org> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:41:13 -0700 HI NBBers Here are more pix of the peep at Limantour from Mark Butler who used his pocket point- and-shoot to get these. One shows the dark crown spilling down between the eyes to the base of the culmen and another , more what the dark covert centers were like in life....wide. More to come THANKS, RICH ________________________________ From: Mark Butler [mailto:mark AT rockridgepartners.net] Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 1:12 PM To: Rich Stallcup Subject: RE: stintpiper Rich, I've been slammed today, but I did take a quick look in the a.m., and was not surprised. Noah's photos are somewhat misleading as they look so good but are all of one side of the bird, and overexposed enough to perhaps create a false impression about feather centers. It would be good to see if anyone got photos of the spread wing as my impression was of a weak stripe not extending much or at all past the secondaries and white contrasting edge on only the last primary. Hayman, Marchant and Prater illustrate this difference from Least. I've attached cropped pics for what they are worth, and will transcribe a description tonight or tomorrow morning depending on how the work mess shapes up. Mark From: Rich Stallcup [mailto:rstallcup AT prbo.org] Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 12:10 PM To: Mark Butler Subject: stintpiper HEY, MARK- It appears that I have once-again stirred-up controversary and inuendo from the armchair birder group. See sialia.com I'm sending you three mire pix of the bird. THANKS, RICH [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Stint Searching Weather From: "ed3de" <ed.debell AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:22:25 -0000 Gusty north-northwest winds are expected to develop Tuesday over Marin Co. Predictions are for gray skies, with peak winds 25-40 mph and possible higher gusts expected near mid day on Tuesday. Lighter winds are expected Wednesday. No rain is expected with this event. Will it move the bird out or make viewing difficult on Tuesday? Good Birding Ed DeBellevue Subject: RE: stint From: "Richard Kuehn" <windnsea AT hughes.net> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:42:20 -0700 Is there a link to Keith$B!G(Bs video which you mention? TIA-Rich Richard Kuehn WindandSea at The Sea Ranch N 38$B!k(B45'02" W 123$B!k(B 31'27" HTTP://ourlives-at-windandsea.info TSR Wave n Sheep Logo Life is NOT a dress-rehearsal! From: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rich Stallcup Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 10:52 AM To: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [NBB] stint HI BIRDERS- Before all of you who have boarded the Least Sandpiperwagon get entirely comfortable, you may want to see Keith$B!G(Bs video of the bird in motion or, maybe even go look at the live bird in the field. It acts like a Tringa and I said that before looking at the Paulson text. Except when crouching in the stranded kelp, it always has its neck extended and stands tall. The throat is unmarked white. The dark centers of the coverts are blotchy, covering over 50% of each feather not streaky (there will be better pictures of that). The dark of the crown does spill down between the eyes to the base of the culmen and the middle toe is as long as the tarsus. There is an olive spot at the base of the lower mandible that contrasts the rest of the black bill. The bird sometimes walks on tall legs seeming to stumble a bit reminiscent of a Ruff or a Buff-breasted Sandpiper trying to walk. The other motions are mostly running, like a Spotted Sandpiper with the head and bill high and forward. When standing, not crouching, the neck is usually extended like a Pectoral Sandpiper. I (we) were troubled some by the bill. I wanted it to be smaller and less droopy but I do not know what the limits are. Do $B!j(Bs have bigger bills than $B!i(Bs ?... So I think my brain went through every hybrid possibility and found nothing. In closing, I (and other highly experienced birders there) have seen many thousands of Least Sandpipers and carefully watched a few hundred of them$B!D(Bnone had the structure or movement behavior as that Limantour bird. I missed catching it by three inches with the one swipe of my bytterfly net. I would love to take a few measurements. THANKS, RICH [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: stint From: Rich Stallcup <rstallcup AT prbo.org> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:51:52 -0700 HI BIRDERS- Before all of you who have boarded the Least Sandpiperwagon get entirely comfortable, you may want to see Keith$B!G(Bs video of the bird in motion or, maybe even go look at the live bird in the field. It acts like a Tringa and I said that before looking at the Paulson text. Except when crouching in the stranded kelp, it always has its neck extended and stands tall. The throat is unmarked white. The dark centers of the coverts are blotchy, covering over 50% of each feather not streaky (there will be better pictures of that). The dark of the crown does spill down between the eyes to the base of the culmen and the middle toe is as long as the tarsus. There is an olive spot at the base of the lower mandible that contrasts the rest of the black bill. The bird sometimes walks on tall legs seeming to stumble a bit reminiscent of a Ruff or a Buff-breasted Sandpiper trying to walk. The other motions are mostly running, like a Spotted Sandpiper with the head and bill high and forward. When standing, not crouching, the neck is usually extended like a Pectoral Sandpiper. I (we) were troubled some by the bill. I wanted it to be smaller and less droopy but I do not know what the limits are. Do $B!j(Bs have bigger bills than $B!i(Bs ?... So I think my brain went through every hybrid possibility and found nothing. In closing, I (and other highly experienced birders there) have seen many thousands of Least Sandpipers and carefully watched a few hundred of them$B!D(Bnone had the structure or movement behavior as that Limantour bird. I missed catching it by three inches with the one swipe of my bytterfly net. I would love to take a few measurements. THANKS, RICH [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re:LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup - terminology clarification From: "Ken Burton" <brdnrd AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:20:23 -0700 Whatever the identity of this bird (and I happen to think it's a Least Sandpiper), I wish to point out that the plumage terminology being used here is misleading. "Juvenile in basic plumage" is technically a redundancy but in this case is a contradiction. A juvenile bird is a bird in juvenal plumage, which is now considered the first basic plumage. Once it has molted out of this plumage, it is no longer a juvenile. The bird in question appears to be molting into formative (1st-winter, NOT basic) plumage. Ken Burton Arcata Subject: IBRRC Treating Oregon Sea Birds - Help Needed From: "torusert" <sonomabirding AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:45:03 -0000 Many of you may already know about the incident that is going on along the Oregon / Washington coast right now. A massive rescue effort is under way to save birds caught up in a toxic algae bloom that's proven fatal to hundreds of birds off the coast. Oregon and Washington wildlife rescue centers are overwhelmed with epidemic numbers of wet, cold, and dying sea birds soiled by unusual sea slime. To help, yesterday about 150 of the sea birds were transported from Portland, Oregon via van to International Bird Rescue's (IBRRC) Northern California bird center for treatment.The birds being treated at IBRRC include the following: 38 Grebes, 51 Murres, 40 Red Throated Loons,1 Pacific Loon, 5 Common Loons ,12 Scoters. Hundreds more are expected. Anyone wishing to help contact - ibrrc.org or phone the hospital line at 707-207-0380 x110.http://www.ibrrc.org/algae-slime-response-2009.html Tom Rusert IBRRC- Outreach Fairfield, CA Subject: Las Gallinas - geese From: "rlewis0727" <bob AT wingbeats.org> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:15:30 -0000 Yesterday Rusty Scalf led the Albany Adult School group to Las Gallinas water treatment facility, where he noted a Cackling Goose and two White-fronted Geese in the large Canada Goose flock. Today I was there with the other half of the AAS group, and we had 4 Cackling Geese - 2 minima and 2 leucopareia, 3 White-fronted, and one Black Swan - very pretty in flight, and I failed to look for a leg band. We also had all three falcons. A very pleasant day Bob Lewis Berkeley Subject: Marin Co. STINT 10/25 **Photos** From: Noah Strycker <birdboy AT bkpix.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:56:27 +1300 Hi birders, Thanks to a timely call from Rich Stallcup, Natalia Ocampo and I were able to relocate the apparent LONG-TOED STINT at Limantour Beach late this afternoon. A few good PHOTOS are posted here: http://www.noahstrycker.com/photos/700/longtoedstint.htm I haven't had much time to study this bird with sources in hand, but I think the images should be carefully examined. Meanwhile, kudos and thanks to Rich for getting the word out! Happy chasing, Noah Strycker Subject: 10/24, Point Reyes, Shollenberger Park From: "Ctalcroft" <ctalcroft AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:50:58 -0000 Spent the day yesterday out at Pt. Reyes and then stopped at Shollenberger Park, in Petaluma, on my way home. There wasn't a lot to see at Pt. Reyes. At the light house there were a couple of Common Murres in the water, saw a Savannah Sparrow on the way up to the light house, along with a lot of White-crowned Sparrows, but that was about it. I did bump into a geology class, however, and very much enjoyed listening to the teacher explain the very interesting swirls of sandstone and conglomerate at the point. Always wondered about the formations there. On the Chimney Rock side of the point, I saw a lot of Surf Scoters, Western Grebes, and Eared Grebes. Saw a Brown Pelican, four Pacific Loons, a Golden-crowned Sparrow in the trees by the residence, Crows, a Turkey Vulture or two, and, more interestingly, a Western Meadowlark on the drive out again. There were many raptors around. The only one I could identify was a Red-tailed Hawk. There were several smaller birds, all motionless, expertly using the updrafts from the coast to stay still while searching the ground for prey. They had brown heads, were pale underneath, but had a tracing of brown under the wings and speckles at the "wingpit." The tips of the wings were very dark. I got a very good look at the birds, but could find nothing in the books that seemed right. Closest was a Ferruginous Hawk, but, the book says they should have distinctly dark legs, which these didn't and that their heads should not have been brown. Another interesting feature was apparent from above. The last third of the wing (but not the primaries) had an almost transparent look. Very frustrating not to know what this was. Still, it was fun to watch them hunt. At Shollenberger Park, saw Black Phoebes, Greater Yellowlegs, Coots, Ring-billed Gulls, Western Gulls, Mallards, a single Canada Goose, Black-necked Stilts, Avocets, four Long-billed Curlews, a Marbled Godwit or two (I think--they were very far away), and Northern Shovelers in large numbers--perhaps 200 of them--males and females, and juveniles, with black heads, going from juvenile plumage to winter plumage. Other birds were mostly in their confusing winter plumages, but I believe them to have been long-billed dowitchers. Also saw many Black-bellied Plovers in winter plumage. Subject: 1) Rush Creek; 2) TN Valley's Beach; 3) Etc./Addendum From Yesterday's Abbott's Lagoon List From: Daniel Edelstein <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:17:21 -0400 (EDT) 1) Rush Creek, Novato, Marin Co. 10/25/09 Seeing a male and female BLUE-WINGED TEAL was a highlight at Rush Creek. (across from the 6th power pole north of the trail access gate on Binford Rd./access road parallel to High. 101) This species' status is designated as "rare" at this time of year in Marin Co. (A Checklist of the Birds of Marin Co., CA, third edition, 2009).....and perhaps equally intriguing this species was once an irregular, former, or unconfirmed breeder in Marin Co. 2) TN Valley's Beach, Marin Co., 10/25/09 Nothing too unusual to report, but interesting to see three gull species interacting at the surf/beach: - HEERMAN's - WESTERN - RING-BILLED 3) Abbott's Lagoon, Pt. Reyes NS, Marin Co. 10/24/09 Forgot to mention some other seasonal birds/birds of local interest on my post from yesterday: - 3 gull species on pond and/or at beach: WESTERN CA RING-BILLED - On the Lagoon: MARBLED GODWIT (1) - Raptors I saw one WHITE-TAILED KITE and its significance is headlined with an asterisk because I saw its rusty/orange-ish upper breast that indicated the individual is a juvenile. Tom Rusert, who was present for the bulk of the field trip, left a note on my windshield that he saw a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on his way back to the parking lot. Nice sighting of a non-breeding resident, Tom (!) I noticed a common to abundant species, a RED-TAILED HAWK, that is worth mentioning because it was a dark morph (i.e., black petagial marks were not present, but other obvious diagnostic field marks were observed). Other common raptors seen: AMERICAN KESTREL (female) and NORTHERN HARRIER (2 adults). The other birds seen on the Marin Audubon Society trip were posted by me yesterday, 10/24/09. Good birding, Daniel Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com My two blogs: http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) http://danielsmerrittclasses.blogspot.com (my blog focused on classes I teach at Merritt College in Oakland, CA, including my next one that begins in 11/09) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: Long-toed Stint Marin County CA From: "ed3de" <ed.debell AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:10:09 -0000 I was able to view the Stallcup Long-toed Stint at Limantour Beach Pt. Reyes Nat. Seashore Marin Count at 5:00pm today. According to Rich Stallcup's audio post on NoCal Bird Box he found the bird yesterday and returned today to photograph it. When I arrived the sun was out and light was good. The bird was alone and not associating with the Sanderings running on the beach. There were five other birders they looking at the bird from about 15 feet away when I arrived. The bird was very approachable. It was feeding in washed-up dried-out kelp strands on the dry beach sand about 15 feet toward the ocean from the grasses growing on the dunes. So it was not feeding on the wet sand but in the dry sand area. The bird is in basic plumage and looks much like a Least Sandpiper. To my eye the bird was browner than a western basic and grayer that a Least basic. The bill was longer than a Least more like a Western Sanpiper bill and curved down. The leg and toe color is strikingly different being yellow-green (chartreuse) and uniform throughout. The legs from the ankles to the toes were long and the toes were very long and tipped with black claws. Chin and throat was white and had white under-wings and a white line running down the upper wing. Clear white belly and UTCs. There was a birder from PRBO taking close up photos so those and Rich's should be posted soon. The bird bobbed it's tail slightly (not as much as a Tattler or a Spotted), ran between the kelp strands holding its rump slightly up, walked when feeding sticking its bill deep into the sand and every so often cleaning it bill with its long toes. From the main parking lot walk across the new brdige as if you were walking towards the beach. Make a right turn before the dunes and walk about a quarter mile (to one-half mile) until you reach some 30-40 foot high Monterey Cypress (last ones) . At the last Monterey pine, turn left towards the beach. Walk through the dunes to the beach itself. There is some bull kelp up around the dunes, Keep going. The bird was 50 yards further where north. Some times hiding in the kelp strands. Hope it stays a few more day so many of you can get to see this extraordinary vagrant. Ed DeBellevue San Francisco Subject: Re: LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup From: "Todd Easterla" <teasterla AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:19:46 -0700 Lets see some photos!!!! Todd Easterla ----- Original Message ----- From: cdlou37 AT comcast.net To: northbaybirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 6:50 PM Subject: [NBB] LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup From the North Cal BirdBox Marin Co. --------- On Oct 24-25, a juvenile LONG-TOED STINT in basic plumage was seen at Limantour Beach (1:00pm). From the main parking lot walk across the new brdige as if you were walking towards the beach. Make a right turn before the dunes and walk about a quarter mile (to one-half milr) until you reach some 30-40 foot high Monterey pines. At the last Monterey pine, turn left towards the beach. Walk through the dunes to the beach itself. There is some bull kelp up around the dunes, Keep going. The bird was 50-100 yards further where volunteers were doing work. (Rich Stallcup) The bird was re-found by others later. The bird seemed to like the grass area up near the dunes. (Ed DeBellevue) Transcribed by Calvin Lou SF [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: LONG-TOED STINT- Limantour Beach found by Rich Stallcup From: cdlou37 AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:50:36 +0000 (UTC) From the North Cal BirdBox Marin Co. --------- On Oct 24-25, a juvenile LONG-TOED STINT in basic plumage was seen at Limantour Beach (1:00pm). From the main parking lot walk across the new brdige as if you were walking towards the beach. Make a right turn before the dunes and walk about a quarter mile (to one-half milr) until you reach some 30-40 foot high Monterey pines. At the last Monterey pine, turn left towards the beach. Walk through the dunes to the beach itself. There is some bull kelp up around the dunes, Keep going. The bird was 50-100 yards further where volunteers were doing work. (Rich Stallcup) The bird was re-found by others later. The bird seemed to like the grass area up near the dunes. (Ed DeBellevue) Transcribed by Calvin Lou SF Subject: Black Swan, Las Gallinas From: "wilcox_kerry" <kwilcox AT audubon.org> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:42:00 -0000 Surely a fugitive, but beautiful to see it in person! Was in the first treatment pond, west side at 5pm Sunday. Kerry Wilcox Corte Madera Subject: Coast Guard Base (Two Rock Valley) - Cackling Goose (Sonoma County) From: "edienrobert" <edienrobert AT att.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:02:02 -0700 There were a large number of geese on the Rec Pond this afternoon. Over 120 total Canada gesse with 4 Cackling and 2 Aleutian mixed in with the others. There was also a nice flock of American Pipits and a Western Meadowlark in the outer fields. The farming contractor is disking and planting hay/grass seed this weekend. That work is bringing in dozens of Crows and mixed Blackbird Flocks. I also saw a Cooper's Hawk near the campground. Robert Jackson Petaluma, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Eagle From: Ken Wilson <ken AT talontours.com> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:22:51 -0700 Today Becky and I watched an adult Golden Eagle hunting on the hillside along Hwy 101 on the Petaluma side of the Cotati Grade. On Friday I had a brief look at what I thought was an eagle in the same area, possibly the same bird. Ken Ken Wilson ken AT talontours.com www.talontours.com (707) 775-2558 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Beautiful Day at Point Reyes - No vagrants From: "mjstanleypls" <mjstanleypls AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:56:58 -0000 Yesterday (Saturday, the 24th), Nick Shepherd and I spent the entire day at Point Reyes. We found 59 species, which isn't too bad for us advanced-beginners. Highlights included: Two Peregrines harrassing a flock of Starlings near the Fish Docks. The two roosting Great-horned Owls. At least two White-throated Sparrows at the Mendoza Ranch. Several Golden-crowned Kinglets with numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers at the ranch with no building (perhaps the F Ranch?). Three Snowy Plovers at Abbott's Lagoon. A Ferruginous Hawk sitting on a power pole at the first ranch south of the trailhead to Abbott's Lagoon. Mike Stanley Napa, CA Subject: Red-necked Grebe continues at Lake Hennessey in Napa County From: "mjstanleypls" <mjstanleypls AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:01:28 -0000 Today I easily found the Red-necked Grebe that has been reported for the last week or two at Lake Hennessey. The flotilla of grebes was in the Conn Creek arm of the lake around noon today, easily visible with a scope from the large turn-out opposite the "Boat Ramp - 400 feet sign". The Red-neck was associating with a group of over a hundred(mostly)Clark's and Western Grebes, with a few Pied-bills thrown in for good measure. Several gulls were swimming with the others, as well as at least one Double-crested Cormorant. Closer to the near shore, perhaps two dozen Buffleheads lazed about on a very pleasant autumn day. A Merlin thought to harrass one of the larger flying gulls, but without any noticeable affect. Mike Stanley Napa, CA Subject: Re:Southern Marin Dark-eyed Junco From: "Ken Burton" <brdnrd AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:15:14 -0700 Marjorie, Since no one has responded publicly, I'll do so. According to my sources, you are in an intergrade zone between a migratory subspecies (thurberi, which winters in New Mexico and Mexico) and a resident subspecies (pinosus). If "your" breeders are truly resident (and how do you know that?), they would appear to be behaving more like the latter. They are joined in winter by up to three other subspecies (oreganus, simillimus, and shufeldti) that breed collectively from Alaska to Montana and Oregon. Ken Burton Arcata [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Occidental Ridge FOS WTSP From: "mike.heffernon" <mheff AT sonic.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:14:17 -0000 I've been looking since the white-crowneds and golden-crowneds showed up in the last week of Sept. The first white-throat is with them this morning, cruising the lower feeders. Mike Heffernon Taylor Lane Occidental Subject: Abbott's Lagoon: Birds of Seasonal-Local Inerest From: Daniel Edelstein <edelstein AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:43:05 -0400 (EDT) Abbott's Lagoon: Birds of Seasonal-Local Inerest, Point Reyes NS, Marin Co., 10/24/09 Volunteering to be with a fun group of Marin Audubon Society folks yesterday, I enjoyed seeing with them the following spp. of season-local interest (and NONE are vagrants and/or casual visitors, if that matters to you and your ensuing reading interest level......:-) ...): - WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER (7, at the beach, 80 yards inland and directly in the path on the way to the beach from where you enter it via the Lagoon) - AMERICAN PIPIT (4 at the beach in the same area, 100-120 yards inland from the surf) - BROWN PELICAN (3 flyovers) On the Lagoon: - RUDDY DUCK (~25) - EARED GREBE (6) - SURF SCOTER (3 female, 1 male) - GREATER YELLOWLEGS (2) - SANDERLING (22) On the trail near the parking lot (1st bird of the day (!) ): - FOX SPARROW (1) - YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (8, all Audubon's subspecies, now one of only four in the species, according to the latest taxonomy that is DIFFERENT and updated from Dunn and Kimball's otherwise-excellent "Field Guide to the Warblers") Surf's up there with beautiful vistas worth the walk, if you head out there.....Enjoy, Daniel Edelstein Novato, CA (Bay Area) & Ellison Bay, WI http://www.warblerwatch.com My two blogs: http://warblerwatch.blogspot.com (my blog devoted to wood-warblers) http://danielsmerrittclasses.blogspot.com (my blog focused on classes I teach at Merritt College in Oakland, CA, including my next one that begins in 11/09) 12 Kingfisher Court Novato, CA 94949-6628 USA 415-382-1827 (voice & DSL fax) Subject: RED-NECKED GREBE continues at Lake Hennessey- Saturday From: cdlou37 AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:13:41 +0000 (UTC) Hi ALL, The RED-NECKED GREBE continues at Lake Hennessey in Napa Co. At 840am, I started at the Conn Creek Road side of the lake. The vast majority of grebes seemed at the time to be closer to the opposite side along Sage Canyon Rd (Hwy 128). At 910 am, I drove to the south side of the lake along Hwy 128. In the meantime, I ran into Les and Cindy Lieurance and George Griffeth on Conn Creek Road. It wasn't until 1045am that I was able to see the RED-NECKED GREBE. I was at the pullout just past the large pullout. There is an survey marker there , but the grebe could be seen better from the boat launching area. I saw the group on the other side and tried to get their attention but I think I wasn't able to get a connection by cell phone until after I left the area. Sorry guys. Calvin D Lou San Francisco Subject: Southern Marin Dark-eyed Junco From: "masiegel3" <masiegel3 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:46:38 -0000 At my feeder near Richardson Bay, Mill Valley, I usually see a group of ~ 25 Dark-eyed Juncos arrive each Oct/Nov, and leave ~March. Also a few year-round pairs that breed. I'm wondering where the migrants most likely go for the summer, and what if any, connection to the year-round local local residents? I don't observe any distinct differences, although the winter group has included 1-2 Slate-coloreds for the past few years. Thanks for info! Marjorie Siegel