Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Shasta County

Updated on Wednesday, December 12 at 10:14 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Debby Dalely-Anderson and I were able to get a nice look at the 
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW that Red & Nancy Modeen had seen recently. It 
responded to a recording of it's call. It was at the gate as far as you 
can drive into Battle Creek WA. It appeared abt. 20 yds. east on the 
hillside opposite the gate in a bush just above a big boulder.
It was sighted at 3:45pm.

Along Millville Plains Rd. we observed 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, one an imm. 
and the other a light-phase adult.

Good Birding,

Claudia Lyons Yerion

Debbie Daley-Anderson, Ken Bachman and I Looked at Lema Ranch again 
this morning for the Bohemian Waxwing, with no success. We waited in 
the aforementioned area from 9:30-11am. Did not see any Waxwings.

There was a very vocal and visible GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE present in the 
area just up the hill before Hidden pond and also next to the north end 
of Secluded Pond.

Also at the north end of Secluded Pond was an AMERICAN BITTERN out in 
the open that Ken spotted for us.

Good Birding,

Claudia Lyons Yerion

The virus that was in above website seems to have been removed and the site now 
seems safe to enter. 


Bill Oliver

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

Hello all,

Bruce Deuel mentioned that Dave Dahnke sounded like the Red Bluff Count 
would be happening this year.

It usually occurs on Sunday following the Fall River Count at 7 am in 
the parking lot where Francisco II restaurant & Grocery Store & the 
Green Barn restaurant are on Main Street (I think) east a short distance 
off the main Red Bluff exit.

However, prospective counters for the Red Bluff Count should check both 
the Audubon CBC website & Nature Ally (Alison Sheehy) website to see if 
anything might be posted there.  But nothing may get posted judging by 
the past and you just have to show up and see.

That is all I know!

Bob

Oops!
There were no Cerulean Warblers seen at Lema Ranch today!
There were, however, 4-5 Cedar Waxwings.
Thanks, KEBU. My bad!
Debby Dailey-Anderson
Redding

While driving over the 44 bridge this afternoon around 3:30pm. I 
noticed one of the Bald Eagles in the tree about 20feet from the nest.  
There were a couple Caltrans workers with binoculars on it. Does anyone 
know how the Eagles are doing? 

Tim Boehme
Redding

Claudia Yerion and I tried for the BOWA today from . No BOWA. 
In fact, only had about 4-5 CEWA, but they were in that same area. Will 
try again tomorrow, a little later in the morning.
Debby Dailey-Anderson
Redding

Hello all,

Prior Bohemian Waxwing records that I have for the county are:

1.    5 & 6 in 1988 on two dates 1/23 & 1/ or 78 in 1994 on 12/26

Both in Fall River at the Island Road bridge area.

Bob

Hello counters,

Please add 4 more to the numbers.  So far the total is approximately 25 
people for the count with almost everyone planning to do breakfast.

Wine tasting at dinner on Friday, the evening before, at the Hotel for 
those who wish to attend.  Bring your own wine to share!

Bob & Carol

Hello all,

The Fall River Mills Christmas Count prospective counters so far are as 
follows. 


_If your name is NOT on the list or you are NOT wanting breakfast
reserved for you - please let me know._


Bob and Carol Yutzy 
Red and Nancy Modeen
Ken Bachman
Claudia Yerion 
George Horn 
Bill Oliver 
Don Marsh 
Ken Able 
Terry Hunt 
Lew Oring
Bruce and Kathy Deuel
Skip and Judy Sale
John Ranlett
Ed Pandolfino
Marta Sullivan & one other
Scott Huber

Add

Mike & Laurie Damoth (breakfast)
Carl Beck & friend (breakfast)

*
**Weather may be okay according to some of the weather reports but definitely 
cold! 


Bob & Carol*




 
Yahoo! Groups Links

Hello all,

The Fall River Mills Christmas Count prospective counters so far are as 
follows. 


_If your name is NOT on the list or you are NOT wanting breakfast
reserved for you - please let me know._


Bob and Carol Yutzy
Red and Nancy Modeen
Ken Bachman
Claudia Yerion
George Horn
Bill Oliver
Don Marsh
Ken Able
Terry Hunt
Lew Oring
Bruce and Kathy Deuel
Skip and Judy Sale
John Ranlett
Ed Pandolfino
Marta Sullivan & one other
Scott Huber
*
**Weather may be okay according to some of the weather reports but definitely 
cold! 


Bob & Carol*

Despite some pretty good searching - no waxwings were found at Lema 
Ranch or the neighboring housing development.  But it was really windy 
and difficult conditions.

Several will be trying again in the AM tomorrow.

Bob

Sorry, I didn't mean to disparage Bob, just wanted Dave Bogener to get 
whatever sliver of credit was due for first reporting these birds.

Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Red Bluff
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob & Carol Yutzy" 
To: "Bruce Deuel" 
Cc: 
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:53 PM
Subject: Mandarin Ducks escapees


> Hello all,
>
> Did I miss something???? Sorry I didn't spread the word about these pretty 
> birds.  I messed up, I guess.  But I know they aren't wild birds and are 
> not countable and are not that uncommon as escapees out there.  I also 
> thought that many people were seeing them and reporting them - so everyone 
> seemed to know about them.  Furthermore, I thought that most field guides 
> cover the introduced and escapee bit pretty well.
>
> Mea Culpa - I guess?
>
> Happy Holidays,
>
> Bob
>
>
> Bruce Deuel wrote:
>>
>> Just wanted to set the record straight. Dave Bogener found and 
>> photographed
>> these birds on or about November 25. I forwarded the pictures to Bob 
>> Yutzy
>> and asked him to spread the word, as I felt some folks would have been
>> interested in seeing them, even though they're not countable. I guess I
>> should have "spread the word" myself.:)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Bruce Deuel
>> Red Bluff
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Claudia Yerion" > >
>> To: > >
>> Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 8:55 PM
>> Subject: [shasta_birders] Mandarin Ducks probable escapees
>>
>> > Hi Everyone,
>> > I spoke to Ken Burton, and he said that the Mandarin Ducks are almost
>> > certainly escapees, and are never accepted by the Rare Birds Committee.
>> > It was still pretty exciting to see something different, and to have an
>> > open mind about what to 'expect' to see out there. Just goes to show
>> > you, study those field guides and sighting records so you look twice at
>> > what you think is just another wood duck or some other relatively
>> > common bird.
>> >
>> > Expect the unexpected,
>> > Claudia Lyons Yerion
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Yahoo! Groups Links
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > No virus found in this incoming message.
>> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: /1179 - Release Date:
>> > 12/9/2007 11:06 AM
>> >
>> >
>>
>> 
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 
> /1179 - Release Date: 12/9/2007 11:06 AM
> 

Just a short notice to remind all of you about the Wintu Audubon general 
meeting at Turtle Bay Visitor's Center tomorrow Tuesday at 7 PM. See below. 
Please plan on attending. Thanks. 

 
Mike Damoth
Palo Cedro, CA



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Mike Damoth 
To: Shasta Birders 
Sent: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 1:07:21 PM
Subject: Wintu Audubon Meeting - Tuesday Dec 11 at 7 PM


Hello Shasta Birders,
Please join us at the Wintu Audubon Meeting on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 7 PM for our 
Holiday Cake and Equipment Show. We will have a short meeting and then members 
and guests will be sharing their birding binoculars, scopes, cameras, 
electronics, books, and other assorted rare birding items. This will be a good 
chance to see birding equipment up close and personal and also to meet, 
socialize and tell stories with your birding friends. 

As always, we meet at the Turtle Bay Visitor�s Center and there is no charge 
for our meetings. Come and join us! Everyone is encouraged to bring something 
to share. 

Happy Birding,
Mike Damoth
Program Director
Wintu Audubon Society



Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Looking for last minute shopping deals?  
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shasta_birders/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shasta_birders/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:shasta_birders-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    mailto:shasta_birders-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    shasta_birders-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

This morning, Debby Dailey and I saw a 1st-winter BOWA with cedar 
waxwings at the trail junction on the west side of Hidden Pond at Lema 
Ranch Open Space in Redding.  The flock eventually flew northeast out of 
sight.

Ken Burton
McKinleyville 

Warning!!!
Do not enter the Wintu Audubon society website wintuaudubon.org! IT HAS A 
VIRUS. Fortunately up-to-date anti-virus programs seem to pick it up. But 
better play it safe. We will get the site cleaned up soon. 

Bill Oliver 

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

Hi All,

 Do we have any members living in Lake California? Lake California is a private 
gated community and we need permission to get into the area for the annual 
Christmas count. Last year, Cathy and I had combined zones, and we birded Lake 
California for only about three hours and had a wonderful bird list. Habitats 
included in this zone are the Sacramento River, a large lake, creek riparian, 
ranchlands, some urban, and oak woodlands. Let me know soon, as it would be a 
shame to not be able to count the 200 buffleheads that winter on that lake :-) 


Rob Santry
Anderson


P.S. Barbara Peck spotted some Great-tailed Grackles at Kent's Market, and that 
location is still in the count circle, so hopefully they stick around. 


P.P.S. We now have special permission to count at the Coleman Forebay. A 
Coleman Fish Hatchery employee will open the gates for us! 


P.P.P.S. We will again have access to the wonderful Balls Ferry Wetland 
property. I'd like to do a scouting trip to the property sometime early next 
week, so if anyone is interested in birding there, let me know. Also, fish and 
game has given us permission to do a few Wintu Audubon outings there . So, I 
foresee a spring outing and a fall outing for next year! 

Usually the bands have the code of the pigeon club on it.  "RAIN" for
example is the Mt. Rainier club.  If you google pigeon bands or some such
thing you should find a link to report the bird, as the clubs are usually
interested in where their wayward birds are currently being eaten by
raptors..

 

Michael Rogner

www.riverpartners.org 

  _____  

From: shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Claudia Yerion
Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 3:27 PM
To: shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [shasta_birders] Very friendly banded Rock Pigeons

 

Today at Kutras Lake, several of us were standng while chatting,and I 
noticed a Rock Pigeon that had climbed onto the hood of Bea Currie's 
car.
It had a pink band on it's leg that had the number 5 on it. It seemed 
unusually tame & very interested in us.(not uncommon since people feed 
the ducks and pigeons here)
When John Coon approached it closely, it flew up onto my shoulder and 
sat there, happily nibbling on my earing. (I have posted a photo)
When it eventually was urged to vacate my shoulder, it followed me to 
my car, along with a second Rock Pigeon, with a pink leg band with 
number 6 on it.
I wonder if anyone has any ideas about the origins of the bands/birds?

Good Birding!
Claudia Lyons Yerion
Redding

 



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

Hi all,

Once, while birding the San Luis NWR, I saw a strange duck that looked
strangely familiar.  I couldn't ID it, so I went out and bought a field
guide to the ducks, geese, and swans of the world.  Turned out to be a
Ringed Teal
(http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/NDG/Ducks/Teal/BRKRingTeal.html),
which has a very restricted range in central South America.  Obviously
an escapee; but it was fun there for a while.  I realized later why the
bird looked so familiar: I'd seen it in the tropical bird display at the
Chaffee Zoo in Fresno.

Ray Bruun
Shingletown/Redding

 
***************************************************************
 
Ray Bruun, P.E.
Associate Engineer
California Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Field Operations Branch
Valley District (No. 21)
415 Knollcrest Drive, #110
Redding, CA 96002
 
p:
f:
e: rbruun AT cdph.ca.gov
 

Hello all,

Did I miss something???? Sorry I didn't spread the word about these 
pretty birds.  I messed up, I guess.  But I know they aren't wild birds 
and are not countable and are not that uncommon as escapees out there.  
I also thought that many people were seeing them and reporting them - so 
everyone seemed to know about them.  Furthermore, I thought that most 
field guides cover the introduced and escapee bit pretty well.

Mea Culpa - I guess?

Happy Holidays,

Bob


Bruce Deuel wrote:
>
> Just wanted to set the record straight. Dave Bogener found and 
> photographed
> these birds on or about November 25. I forwarded the pictures to Bob 
> Yutzy
> and asked him to spread the word, as I felt some folks would have been
> interested in seeing them, even though they're not countable. I guess I
> should have "spread the word" myself.:)
>
> Cheers,
> Bruce Deuel
> Red Bluff
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Claudia Yerion"  >
> To:  >
> Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 8:55 PM
> Subject: [shasta_birders] Mandarin Ducks probable escapees
>
> > Hi Everyone,
> > I spoke to Ken Burton, and he said that the Mandarin Ducks are almost
> > certainly escapees, and are never accepted by the Rare Birds Committee.
> > It was still pretty exciting to see something different, and to have an
> > open mind about what to 'expect' to see out there. Just goes to show
> > you, study those field guides and sighting records so you look twice at
> > what you think is just another wood duck or some other relatively
> > common bird.
> >
> > Expect the unexpected,
> > Claudia Lyons Yerion
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: /1179 - Release Date:
> > 12/9/2007 11:06 AM
> >
> >
>
>  

Just wanted to set the record straight.  Dave Bogener found and photographed 
these birds on or about November 25.  I forwarded the pictures to Bob Yutzy 
and asked him to spread the word, as I felt some folks would have been 
interested in seeing them, even though they're not countable.  I guess I 
should have "spread the word" myself.:)

Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Red Bluff
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Claudia Yerion" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 8:55 PM
Subject: [shasta_birders] Mandarin Ducks probable escapees


> Hi Everyone,
> I spoke to Ken Burton, and he said that the Mandarin Ducks are almost
> certainly escapees, and are never accepted by the Rare Birds Committee.
> It was still pretty exciting to see something different, and to have an
> open mind about what to 'expect' to see out there. Just goes to show
> you, study those field guides and sighting records so you look twice at
> what you think is just another wood duck or some other relatively
> common bird.
>
> Expect the unexpected,
> Claudia Lyons Yerion
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: /1179 - Release Date: 
> 12/9/2007 11:06 AM
>
> 

Hi Everyone,
I spoke to Ken Burton, and he said that the Mandarin Ducks are almost 
certainly escapees, and are never accepted by the Rare Birds Committee.
It was still pretty exciting to see something different, and to have an 
open mind about what to 'expect' to see out there. Just goes to show 
you, study those field guides and sighting records so you look twice at 
what you think is just another wood duck or some other relatively 
common bird.

Expect the unexpected,
Claudia Lyons Yerion

Greetings:

This morning on the Millville Plains I saw a Red-tailed Hawk, a pair 
of American Kestrels, three Bald Eagles (two adult and one juvenile) 
and a Rough-legged Hawk.

Tim Kashuba
Redding, CA

Hi all,
This afternoon at around 3:30 pm I saw the Mandarin Ducks That Claudia
and Connie had found. Two males and a female were on the South side of
the river, in the backwater area just downstream from the Sundial Bridge.
They may be escapees, but they are beautiful birds none the less.

Ken Bachman
Anderson, CA

Hi Birders  --  The Mandarin Ducks reported by Claudia Yerion 
yesterday are still present as of 0920 this morning.  They are in 
almost the same spot reported.  At the launch area, walk about half 
way to the water and look upstream.  They were standing together on 
the third gravel bar from the south bank with Mallard and preening as 
we watched. Great photo op.

Also, directly out from the launch area, an immature Bald Eagle was 
having breakfast on an overripe salmon in brilliant sunshine.  On the 
way back across the Hwy 44 bridge, I saw a swan (sp.)in the corner 
behind the River Motel. No details at 55 mph, but definitely a swan.

Good Birding
Red Modeen
Redding
   

Hopefully, some of you can help us out.

As my wife an I walked around Mary Lake this morning, we observed three 
medium brown ducks that you might be able to help identify. I've looked 
in Peterson and the Audubon Encyclopedia, but wasn't able to find them. 
Maybe they're so common as to not need an entry; they were not unusual 
in any remarkable way. Two had small black dots covering the breast and 
neck, and all three had black beakes of ordinary size and shape. One of 
them had black spots that I can only best describe as leapord-like 
patches. All had black tail feathers, and all had almost 
stringy-looking rust-red feathers on their wings or possibly their 
backs; it was hard to tell.

If this helps at all, I'd like to get some input, or some ideas about 
what to look for if they're still hanging around tomorrow.

Thanks,

Pete O'Neill


On Dec 8, 2007, at 6:16 PM, Bob & Carol Yutzy wrote:

> Sounds like someone's pet racing pigeon has escaped from its coop.
>  Happens all the time according to my friend who used to keep racing 
> pigeons.
>
>  I understand they taste just like chicken or is it squab?
>
>  Bob
>
>  Claudia Yerion wrote:
>  > Today at Kutras Lake, several of us were standng while chatting,and 
> I
>  > noticed a Rock Pigeon that had climbed onto the hood of Bea Currie's
>  > car.
>  > It had a pink band on it's leg that had the number 5 on it. It 
> seemed
>  > unusually tame & very interested in us.(not uncommon since people 
> feed
>  > the ducks and pigeons here)
>  > When John Coon approached it closely, it flew up onto my shoulder 
> and
>  > sat there, happily nibbling on my earing. (I have posted a photo)
>  > When it eventually was urged to vacate my shoulder, it followed me 
> to
>  > my car, along with a second Rock Pigeon, with a pink leg band with
>  > number 6 on it.
>  > I wonder if anyone has any ideas about the origins of the 
> bands/birds?
>  >
>  > Good Birding!
>  > Claudia Lyons Yerion
>  > Redding
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Yahoo! Groups Links
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
> 
"And in the end, the love you take
is equal to the love you make."
   Lennon-McCartney




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

Hi All  --  Friday afternoon Nancy and I had a White-tailed Kite 
just off Airport Road across from Kent's Market about 1:30 PM. It 
was actually working over airport property in the grassy area just 
NE of the market.  We also had a few other birds on a loop drive out 
Dersch Road to Ash Creek Road then down to Parkville and north to 
Dersch again. 28 species in all.  Of note were:

3 Bald Eagle, 1 adult & 2 Im.
3 Red-shouldered Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Am. Kestrel, male
10+ Lewis's Woodpecker
1000+ Eur. Starling
2 Lark Sparrow
18 Savannah Sparrow 
200+ Tricolored Blackbird
and the rest the usuals.  The eagles were together along with over 
10 Turkey Vulture in the feed lot at the corner of Wildcat and Ash 
Creek Roads.  I suspect there may be some early calfing going on as 
those pastures are full of cattle now.

Good birding.
Red Modeen
Redding

Hello all,

Many have mentioned that it looks like it might be a good hawk year but 
we haven't seen much comparative data on it so we were excited to do our 
hawk count today.

We have last year's data from our 60 mile count route to compare to this 
year's same route except cut to 50 miles. 

On last year's 60 mile route we had 103, 140, 139 & 98 individuals from 
November, December, January & February.
On this year's 50 mile route on Dec. 8th, (today) we had 229 total birds!
That is somewhere around 1 & 1/2+ to 2+ times more individuals!

For example, last year's Red-tailed Hawks were 54, 89, 78, & 61 from 
November, December, January & February.
This year's December total was 124 Red-tailed Hawks!

Last year's Rough-legged Hawks for all 4 counts totaled 28 birds and 
this year's Dec. 8th count was 42!

WOW!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


It was a pretty cold day with off again and on again (some) sunshine, 40 
degrees or less, with a pretty husky wind in the afternoon.  Very light 
snow flurries came in the later afternoon.

Totals were:

Bald eagle 5 with 3 imm. & 2 adults
Northern Harrier 24 with 6 male, 7 female & 11 imm.
Cooper's Hawk 1 imm.
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 124 with 18 rufous phase & 3 dark phase
Ferruginous Hawk 8
Rough-legged Hawk 42 with 1 dark phase
Golden Eagle 2 adults
Am. Kestrel 8 with 7 males and 1 female (possibly means not that great 
Kestrel habitat or there would be more females)
Merlin 2 with 1 imm. male and 1 adult
Peregrine Falcon 1 adult
Prairie Falcon 7
Great Horned Owl 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1 adult
Northern Shrike 1 imm.

15 species, 229 individuals

It will be fun to see what other hawk counters get compared with last 
year's numbers.

Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, Ca

Hello all,

Many have mentioned that it looks like it might be a good hawk year but 
we haven't seen much comparative data on it so we were excited to do our 
hawk count today.

We have last year's data from our 60 mile count route to compare to this 
year's same route except cut to 50 miles. 

On last year's 60 mile route we had 103, 140, 139 & 98 individuals from 
November, December, January & February.
On this year's 50 mile route on Dec. 8th, (today) we had 229 total birds!
That is somewhere around 1 & 1/2+ to 2+ times more individuals!

For example, last year's Red-tailed Hawks were 54, 89, 78, & 61 from 
November, December, January & February.
This year's December total was 124 Red-tailed Hawks!

Last year's Rough-legged Hawks for all 4 counts totaled 28 birds and 
this year's Dec. 8th count was 42!

WOW!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


It was a pretty cold day with off again and on again (some) sunshine, 40 
degrees or less, with a pretty husky wind in the afternoon.  Very light 
snow flurries came in the later afternoon.

Totals were:

Bald eagle 5 with 3 imm. & 2 adults
Northern Harrier 24 with 6 male, 7 female & 11 imm.
Cooper's Hawk 1 imm.
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 124 with 18 rufous phase & 3 dark phase
Ferruginous Hawk 8
Rough-legged Hawk 42 with 1 dark phase
Golden Eagle 2 adults
Am. Kestrel 8 with 7 males and 1 female (possibly means not that great 
Kestrel habitat or there would be more females)
Merlin 2 with 1 imm. male and 1 adult
Peregrine Falcon 1 adult
Prairie Falcon 7
Great Horned Owl 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1 adult
Northern Shrike 1 imm.

15 species, 229 individuals

It will be fun to see what other hawk counters get compared with last 
year's numbers.

Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, Ca

Hello all,

Many have mentioned that it looks like it might be a good hawk year but 
we haven't seen much comparative data on it so we were excited to do our 
hawk count today.

We have last year's data from our 60 mile count route to compare to this 
year's same route except cut to 50 miles. 

On last year's 60 mile route we had 103, 140, 139 & 98 individuals from 
November, December, January & February.
On this year's 50 mile route on Dec. 8th, (today) we had 229 total birds!
That is somewhere around 1 & 1/2+ to 2+ times more individuals!

For example, last year's Red-tailed Hawks were 54, 89, 78, & 61 from 
November, December, January & February.
This year's December total was 124 Red-tailed Hawks!

Last year's Rough-legged Hawks for all 4 counts totaled 28 birds and 
this year's Dec. 8th count was 42!

WOW!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


It was a pretty cold day with off again and on again (some) sunshine, 40 
degrees or less, with a pretty husky wind in the afternoon.  Very light 
snow flurries came in the later afternoon.

Totals were:

Bald eagle 5 with 3 imm. & 2 adults
Northern Harrier 24 with 6 male, 7 female & 11 imm.
Cooper's Hawk 1 imm.
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 124 with 18 rufous phase & 3 dark phase
Ferruginous Hawk 8
Rough-legged Hawk 42 with 1 dark phase
Golden Eagle 2 adults
Am. Kestrel 8 with 7 males and 1 female (possibly means not that great 
Kestrel habitat or there would be more females)
Merlin 2 with 1 imm. male and 1 adult
Peregrine Falcon 1 adult
Prairie Falcon 7
Great Horned Owl 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1 adult
Northern Shrike 1 imm.

15 species, 229 individuals

It will be fun to see what other hawk counters get compared with last 
year's numbers.

Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, Ca

Sounds like someone's pet racing pigeon has escaped from its coop.  
Happens all the time according to my friend who used to keep racing pigeons.

I understand they taste just like chicken or is it squab?

Bob

Claudia Yerion wrote:
> Today at Kutras Lake, several of us were standng while chatting,and I 
> noticed a Rock Pigeon that had climbed onto the hood of Bea Currie's 
> car.
> It had a pink band on it's leg that had the number 5 on it. It seemed 
> unusually tame & very interested in us.(not uncommon since people feed 
> the ducks and pigeons here)
> When John Coon approached it closely, it flew up onto my shoulder and 
> sat there, happily nibbling on my earing. (I have posted a photo)
> When it eventually was urged to vacate my shoulder, it followed me to 
> my car, along with a second Rock Pigeon, with a pink leg band with 
> number 6 on it.
> I wonder if anyone has any ideas about the origins of the bands/birds?
>
> Good Birding!
> Claudia Lyons Yerion
> Redding
>
>
>
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>   

Sounds like someone's pet racing pigeon has escaped from its coop.  
Happens all the time according to my friend who used to keep racing pigeons.

Bob

Claudia Yerion wrote:
> Today at Kutras Lake, several of us were standng while chatting,and I 
> noticed a Rock Pigeon that had climbed onto the hood of Bea Currie's 
> car.
> It had a pink band on it's leg that had the number 5 on it. It seemed 
> unusually tame & very interested in us.(not uncommon since people feed 
> the ducks and pigeons here)
> When John Coon approached it closely, it flew up onto my shoulder and 
> sat there, happily nibbling on my earing. (I have posted a photo)
> When it eventually was urged to vacate my shoulder, it followed me to 
> my car, along with a second Rock Pigeon, with a pink leg band with 
> number 6 on it.
> I wonder if anyone has any ideas about the origins of the bands/birds?
>
> Good Birding!
> Claudia Lyons Yerion
> Redding
>
>
>
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>   

Hi all,

There are 4 Great-tailed Grackles at Kent's market on Airport Rd, (a little ESE 
of the Airport). Two are males and two are juveniles I believe. They were 
hanging out on the grassy patch today. Yesterday they were by the crab cooker. 
A good place for tidbits I guess. 


Barbara Peck
Anderson, CA (Shasta County)

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

Today at Kutras Lake, several of us were standng while chatting,and I 
noticed a Rock Pigeon that had climbed onto the hood of Bea Currie's 
car.
It had a pink band on it's leg that had the number 5 on it. It seemed 
unusually tame & very interested in us.(not uncommon since people feed 
the ducks and pigeons here)
When John Coon approached it closely, it flew up onto my shoulder and 
sat there, happily nibbling on my earing. (I have posted a photo)
When it eventually was urged to vacate my shoulder, it followed me to 
my car, along with a second Rock Pigeon, with a pink leg band with 
number 6 on it.
I wonder if anyone has any ideas about the origins of the bands/birds?

Good Birding!
Claudia Lyons Yerion
Redding

Hi Everyone,

Today at Turtle Bay, Connie Ward and John Coon and I witnessed 3 
Mandarin Ducks on the Sacramento River from abt. 11:15 am to 12pm.
There were 2 males and one female. They were loosely associating with a 
group of Mallards.
They were on the River, on the south side, about 15' from the bank in a 
sheltered area just south of the gravel spot where fishermen enter the 
river to wade. This is at the south end of the lawn below the stage, 
just below the new bathrooms by the parking area , just out from where 
the picnic tables are(a bit south of the sundial bridge)

I posted pics.

Good Birding!

Claudia Lyons Yerion

I had the first Cedar Wax Wings of the year in my yard this afternoon.
There were about 12-15 of them enjoying the Toyon berries.  I posted
a picture. 
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/shasta_birders/photos/view/eff0?b=16

peace...brad

Hello Shasta Birders,
Please join us at the Wintu Audubon Meeting on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 7 PM for our 
Holiday Cake and Equipment Show. We will have a short meeting and then members 
and guests will be sharing their birding binoculars, scopes, cameras, 
electronics, books, and other assorted rare birding items. This will be a good 
chance to see birding equipment up close and personal and also to meet, 
socialize and tell stories with your birding friends. 

As always, we meet at the Turtle Bay Visitor�s Center and there is no charge 
for our meetings. Come and join us! Everyone is encouraged to bring something 
to share. 

Happy Birding,
Mike Damoth
Program Director
Wintu Audubon Society


 
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Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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Greetings Birders,

You are invited to participate in any or all of the three Christmas Bird Counts 
to be held in Shasta County this month. All skill levels are welcome. It can be 
an intensive learning experience for the beginning birder. No one will take a 
territory alone. If you don't feel up to the task of identification you can 
fill a critical role as recorder or driver. 




Also, you can count birds at your yard feeder or stroll the neighborhood and 
count the number of birds of each species you see. Call the call the count 
organizer to determine whether you reside within the count circle and to get 
specific directions. 






Fall River Mills Christmas Bird Count - Saturday, December 15  AT  7:00 am

Participants will meet at the Fall River Hotel in Fall River Mills for a 
family-style breakfast and assignments. From Redding, take HWY 299E for 
approximately 75 miles. After crossing the Fall River, take the first right and 
look for the hotel on the right. Every year, some birders spend the night at 
the quaint hotel (Phone:) and avoid the early morning drive. 
Eastern Shasta County birders are especially invited to participate. After the 
count, dinner and compilation will be in Redding at the Jade Garden Restaurant, 
2257 Hilltop Drive across from C.R. Gibbs. RSVP to Bob Yutzy  or 
Bill Oliver  so the hotel can be given the number they will be 
serving for breakfast. 


 

Anderson Christmas Bird Count - Saturday, December 22  AT  7:00 am

After a very successful "trial run" last year, this is the first year for an 
official count. Meet at the amphitheater parking lot in Anderson River Park for 
assignments. Rob Santry  and Bob Yutzy  are the 
organizers. 


 

Redding Christmas Bird Count - Saturday, December 29  AT  7:00 am 

Assignments will be given in front of the main entrance to the Redding 
Convention Center. Dinner and compilation will be in Redding at Lulu's 
Restaurant, 2230 Pine Street, at the corner of Market St. and Cypress Ave. 
across from Safeway, at 5:00 pm. For further information, contact Bill Oliver 
at . 




I hope you can attend, 



Bill Oliver, President

Wintu Audubon Society






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

Greetings Birders,
I just received this notice that will be of interest to all those that have 
enjoyed this unique area. The Pacific Forest and Watershed Stewardship Council 
requests that all attendees please register. 

Bill Oliver

MEETING NOTICE


The Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council is holding a meeting 
to discuss the McArthur Swamp Pilot Project. This meeting will take place in 
Redding from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2007. The purpose of 
this meeting will be to: 



� Bring interested-parties up-to-date on the plans for disposition of the lands 


� Increase understanding of how the Stewardship Council will depend on the 
collaboration of all interested-parties 


� Get input on ways that the Stewardship Council can support increased 
collaboration between interested parties 



This meeting will be open to the public, but we ask that anyone who would like 
to attend the meeting to pre-register by Wednesday, December 12. Once you 
register, we will email you by Friday, December 14 to confirm the meeting 
location. Please click on the link below to register for this meeting. Click 
here to register for this meeting! 



For additional information, please call , email 
info AT stewardshipcouncil.org, or submit written requests to: Pacific Forest and 
Watershed Lands Stewardship Council, 15 N. Ellsworth Ave, Suite 100, San Mateo, 
CA 94401. This notice is also posted at www.stewardshipcouncil.org. 



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

Hi everyone,

Checked Kutras today (monday) to see if the large number of Common 
Goldeneye reported yesterday were still present; I only counted 17 
males and 2 females.
Of note though, was a large number of Ruddy Duck: 444 were seen on the 
far side of the river. I did notice a lot of Ruddys along with the 
Goldeneye yesterday but did not count them, so these may have been here 
since Sunday, or more may have joined them during the storm on Monday.

Good Birding,
Claudia Lyons Yerion

There's a Red-breasted Nuthatch that is apparently wintering in my
neighborhood in Corning.  This is my first winter there, so unsure if this
is a repeat visitor.

 

Michael Rogner

www.riverpartners.org 

  _____  

From: shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of tjkashuba
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:23 PM
To: shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [shasta_birders] Irruptive Feeder Visitors

 

Greetings:

We have had some higher elevation visitors to our feeders this fall, 
namely three Red-breasted Nuthatches since October and today, two 
Stellar's Jays. We have not seen the Red-breasted Nuthatches for three 
winters and these are our first yard Stellar's Jays. We are at about 
the 950-foot elevation.

Tim and Melinda Kashuba
Redding, CA

 



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

I too have observed this behavior several times at Lake Shasta while
out fishing.  I have seen both the Eagle vs Osprey and the Osprey vs
Eagle.  They both seemed to have their way with each other.  I fished
numerous bass tournements on Shasta dating back to the early 80's. 
Last time I saw this behavior was in Little Squaw Creek last summer. 
Immature Eagle vs Osprey.  The Osprey won.

peace...brad

I don't have any specific dates, times, etc., however, I have observed this 
behavior several times at Shasta Lake. I suspect this behavior is somewhat 
"site specific". With 60+ pairs of Osprey and 20+ pairs of eagles at Shasta, 
one would suspect this is bound to happen. Where these two species are less 
common or abundant relative to one-another, it is likely that the behavior is 
less common. 


Len Lindstrand III, CWB
Fisheries/Wildlife Biologist,
Terrestrial Biology Program Manager
North State Resources, Inc.
5000 Bechelli, Suite 203
Redding, CA 96002
#15 office
 fax
e-mail: lindstrand AT nsrnet.com
web: www.nsrnet.com
________________________________
From: shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com] On 
Behalf Of Bob & Carol Yutzy 

Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 4:30 PM
To: Shasta Birders
Subject: [shasta_birders] Bald Eagles harassing Ospreys


Hello Shasta Birders,

This is a request for information from your extensive, collective,
memory database. Have you ever observed a Bald Eagle harassing an
Osprey, trying to steal its prey/food/fish?

I ask because Jack Connor wrote an article in "Living Bird" magazine,
Autumn 2007, postulating that this pirating behavior is not nearly as
common as we all assume it is. The author requested information on
anyone's observation of this. We emailed the information from last
winter's hawk watch in Fall River where an adult Bald Eagle was
harassing a Prairie Falcon for a time.

So I thought I would ask the group how many folk have observed this
pirating behavior by Bald Eagles on Ospreys?

Keep Lookin' Up!

Bob



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

Hi Everyone,
Thought I'd see if the storm front dropped any birds on Kutras Lake 
Suday, and there were over 200 Common Goldeneye. The majority were 
females.

Good Birding!
Claudia Lyons Yerion

I, too, have seen this behavior, but it would take me forever to go through 
my years of notes to document exactly when, assuming, that is, that I wrote 
it down.  I think folks would find it interesting to know that, on Shasta 
Lake, the Ospreys have been known to kleptoparasitize the Bald Eagles!  Or 
so I've been told by Forest Service biologists.

Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Red Bluff
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth Able" 
To: "Shasta Birders" 
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 5:51 PM
Subject: [shasta_birders] Bald Eagles harassing Ospreys


> My birding life is now way too long for me to remember how many times I 
> have seen this behavior.  I would guess that I have seen it between ten 
> and twenty times over 50 or so years, but during much of that time I did 
> not live in places where I regularly saw eagles or saw the two species 
> together.  I saw the behavior this fall on Hat Creek just below Power 
> House #2 and it was a successful attempt on the part of the eagle.  The 
> local people who would really have a handle on this are Grainger and Terry 
> Hunt, who have studied Bald Eagles for years along the Pit River and in 
> other areas up here.  I don't think they monitor Shasta Birders regularly, 
> so someone would have to contact them directly.  I am sure that the 
> kleptoparasitic behavior is more frequent in some places than in others 
> (at minimum it requires the presence of both species at the same place and 
> time), and I don't know whether one would call it "common", but I think it 
> is likely a regular component of eagle behavior
> when the opportunity presents itself.
>
> Kenneth P. Able
> Bob's Creek Ranch
> 535-000 Little Valley Road
> McArthur, California 96056
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: /1165 - Release Date: 
> 12/2/2007 8:34 PM
>
> 

Bob,
 The first time was at Deer Creek about 25 years ago where a Bald Eagle 
successfully made the Osprey drop his fish and the the Eagle took it up into a 
tree for himself. When we lived on the Sacramento River we observed it twice 
from our yard. There were many other times when we heard the Osprey screaming 
and screaming as it went up and down the river and each time we did not have to 
look very far to see a Bald Eagle near by. Some times the Eagle was in the 
large tree across the river from our house with the fish and the Osprey was 
circling the tree telling the eagle all about it. 

  Randy

Bob & Carol Yutzy  wrote:
          Hello Shasta Birders,

This is a request for information from your extensive, collective, 
memory database. Have you ever observed a Bald Eagle harassing an 
Osprey, trying to steal its prey/food/fish?

I ask because Jack Connor wrote an article in "Living Bird" magazine, 
Autumn 2007, postulating that this pirating behavior is not nearly as 
common as we all assume it is. The author requested information on 
anyone's observation of this. We emailed the information from last 
winter's hawk watch in Fall River where an adult Bald Eagle was 
harassing a Prairie Falcon for a time.

So I thought I would ask the group how many folk have observed this 
pirating behavior by Bald Eagles on Ospreys?

Keep Lookin' Up!

Bob


                         


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

My birding life is now way too long for me to remember how many times I have 
seen this behavior. I would guess that I have seen it between ten and twenty 
times over 50 or so years, but during much of that time I did not live in 
places where I regularly saw eagles or saw the two species together. I saw the 
behavior this fall on Hat Creek just below Power House #2 and it was a 
successful attempt on the part of the eagle. The local people who would really 
have a handle on this are Grainger and Terry Hunt, who have studied Bald Eagles 
for years along the Pit River and in other areas up here. I don't think they 
monitor Shasta Birders regularly, so someone would have to contact them 
directly. I am sure that the kleptoparasitic behavior is more frequent in some 
places than in others (at minimum it requires the presence of both species at 
the same place and time), and I don't know whether one would call it "common", 
but I think it is likely a regular component of eagle behavior when the 
opportunity presents itself. 


Kenneth P. Able
Bob's Creek Ranch
535-000 Little Valley Road
McArthur, California 96056

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

Hi Bob and the group,

Yes, I've observed such on at least one occasion.  In the early 1980s,
I was birding Avacado Lake in Fresno County and observed a mature Bald
Eagle chasing an Osprey. The Osprey, which had a fish, kept climbing
higher and higher, until the eagle gave up.

Ray Bruun
Shingletown







--- In shasta_birders AT yahoogroups.com, Bob & Carol Yutzy  wrote:
>
> Hello Shasta Birders,
> 
> This is a request for information from your extensive, collective, 
> memory database.  Have you ever observed a Bald Eagle harassing an 
> Osprey, trying to steal its prey/food/fish?
> 
> I ask because Jack Connor wrote an article in "Living Bird" magazine, 
> Autumn 2007, postulating that this pirating behavior is not nearly as 
> common as we all assume it is.  The author requested information on 
> anyone's observation of this.  We emailed the  information from last 
> winter's hawk watch in Fall River where an adult Bald Eagle was 
> harassing a Prairie Falcon for a time.
> 
> So I thought I would ask the group how many folk have observed this 
> pirating behavior by Bald Eagles on Ospreys?
> 
> Keep Lookin' Up!
> 
> Bob
>

Hello Shasta Birders,

This is a request for information from your extensive, collective, 
memory database.  Have you ever observed a Bald Eagle harassing an 
Osprey, trying to steal its prey/food/fish?

I ask because Jack Connor wrote an article in "Living Bird" magazine, 
Autumn 2007, postulating that this pirating behavior is not nearly as 
common as we all assume it is.  The author requested information on 
anyone's observation of this.  We emailed the  information from last 
winter's hawk watch in Fall River where an adult Bald Eagle was 
harassing a Prairie Falcon for a time.

So I thought I would ask the group how many folk have observed this 
pirating behavior by Bald Eagles on Ospreys?

Keep Lookin' Up!

Bob

Birders  --  An hour or so along Panorama Point Road, Lone Tree 
Road, and Coleman Road on Thursday, the 29th, turned up some 
unexpected numbers and interesting birds as follows:

8  Canada Goose
6  Mallard
1  Northern Pintail (female)
3  Pied-billed Grebe
34  Great Egret (in twos trees NE of Panorama X Lone Tree)
20  Turkey Vulture 
1  Bald Eagle (adult)
1  Cooper's Hawk (Driven off by a Kestrel  along Panorama)
3  Red-shouldered Hawk
2  Red-tailed Hawk
3  American Kestrel (all males)
4  Common Moorhen
60+  Am. Coot
15+  Killdeer
40+  Wilson's Snipe
2  Rock Pigeon
3  Mourning Dove
4  Anna's Hummingbird
1  Nuttall's Woodpecker
5  Northern Flicker (Red shafted)
2  Black Phoebe
3  Western Scrub Jay
4  American Crow
2  Common Raven
1  White-breasted Nuthatch
7  Western Bluebird
1500+  European Starling
8  American Pipit
1  Rufous-crowned Sparrow ( AT  barrier end of Coleman Road)
15+  Savannah Sparrow
1  Lincoln's Sparrow
60+  White-crowned Sparrow
30+   Golden-crowned Sparrow
40+   Dark-eyed Junco (OR.)
4  Red-winged Blackbird
25+  Brewer's Blackbird

Good raptor activity along Panorama Point Road.  Most of the 
Starling were on power line stanchions in that area.  Lone Tree Pond 
is as low as I've ever seen it with mud flats visible and only a few 
real wet areas.  All the Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe were there, as 
were the pipit.  The Rufous-crowned Sparrow responded to its call 
played once, came in to about 20 feet and stayed there in the 
sunlight giving it's call for several minutes before leaving.  The 
ponds at Battle Creek WA have been watered and a few birds were 
present including the solo pintail.  The Bald Eagle was in this 
area. 

Red Modeen
Redding

Greetings:

We have had some higher elevation visitors to our feeders this fall, 
namely three Red-breasted Nuthatches since October and today, two 
Stellar's Jays. We have not seen the Red-breasted Nuthatches for three 
winters and these are our first yard Stellar's Jays. We are at about 
the 950-foot elevation.

Tim and Melinda Kashuba
Redding, CA

Hi Everyone,
Wed., Nov 28, Debby Anderson and I visited Lake McCumber.
Debby spotted a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL in flight. It landed near the top 
of a 60' conifer at the SE edge of the lake and we were able to 
observe it for about 10 minutes. Neat bird!

Also of note were 43 WILSON's SNIPE at the north end of the 
shoreline. Seems unusual to have that may Snipe together at once.

Birds seen:
1 Northern Pygmy-Owl
43 Wilson's Snipe
1 Bufflehead
1 Common Merganser (male)
2 Hooded Merganser (female)
1 Tundra Swan
2 Common Goldeneye (male & female)
3 American Wigeon
15 American Pipit
24 Killdeer
4 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
4 Common Raven
1 Stellar's Jay
1 Northern Flicker
1 Accipiter Sp.
Debby noted that the waterfowl numbers were a bit unusual; one or 2 
of the various species, not groups.

Good Birding!
Claudia Lyons Yerion

Hi all,

Tim Kashuba, Mike Damoth, Rob Santry, and I were at Kutras today at the
lunch hour.  Interesting birds included 14 CACKLING GOOSE on the Kiddie
Pond, with an immature Greater White-fronted Goose and a brief but
spectacular flyby of a Merlin.  The Merlin was motoring along at a good
clip chasing some blackbirds.  It flew from left to right, coming within
50 feet of the chain-link fence, before disappearing around the backside
of a building.

Ray Bruun
Shingletown/Redding

 
***************************************************************
 
Ray Bruun, P.E.
Associate Engineer
California Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Field Operations Branch
Valley District (No. 21)
415 Knollcrest Drive, #110
Redding, CA 96002
 
p:
f:
e: rbruun AT cdph.ca.gov