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Updated on Thursday, November 19 at 11:11 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Cave Swallow,©Julie Zickefoose

19 Nov Lassen County Varied Thrush ["lovechild89507" ]
17 Nov Sierra Meadows Birdless []
15 Nov Northern Flickers in Truckee, Nevada County []
6 Nov Mono Co. - White-winged Scoters [Kathryn Parker ]
4 Nov S. Lake Tahoe CBC input needed [Will Richardson ]
04 Nov Tahoe Rim Trail and Truckee River []
03 Nov Sierra Valley Northern Shrike (otherwise, pretty slow) []
2 Nov Tahoe City ["Kirk Hardie" ]
2 Nov RE: Sierra County incl.FOS? Bald Eagle []
02 Nov Coldstream Canyon Near Truckee []
27 Oct South Lake Tahoe birds 10/27/09 [Steve Abbott ]
27 Oct Mono Lake and Yosemite NP ["Kirk Hardie" ]
26 Oct Drake Mallard x Northern Pintail hybrid - Upper Truckee ["Donald" ]
21 Oct North Lake Tahoe and Martis Valley, PLA [Bruce Webb ]
17 Oct Lake Forest and Tahoe City ["Kirk Hardie" ]
14 Oct "Collared" birds at Tahoe [Will Richardson ]
08 Oct Forgot the White-crowned Sparrow []
08 Oct No. Goshawk near Truckee []
06 Oct Re: Tahoe vagrants ["s_nebulosa" ]
5 Oct correction [Will Richardson ]
5 Oct Tahoe vagrants [Will Richardson ]
5 Oct great Tahoe birds ["John Sterling" ]
04 Oct "Sooty" Fox Sparrow at Glenshire (Nev. County east slope) []
02 Oct Birds in Lakes Basin []
29 Sep Bad weather? Good birds [Susan Stevenson ]
30 Sep Re: Vultures on the move!....Auburn, Placer County ["rossierran" ]
30 Sep Re: Vultures on the move!....Auburn, Placer County ["rossierran" ]
29 Sep Re: Vultures on the move!....Auburn, Placer County ["rossierran" ]
29 Sep Vultures on the move!....Placer County ["rossierran" ]
21 Sep Spooner Lake ["Kirk Hardie" ]
18 Sep photos of N Lake Tahoe Black-and-white Warbler - Placer Co [Bruce Webb ]
18 Sep Tahoe Birds-PLA Sabine's Gull and Sanderling [Steve Abbott ]
17 Sep Curious Grouse []
16 Sep Placer Black and White Warbler - Tahoe [Steve Abbott ]
17 Sep Black-and-white Warbler - Pomin Park, N Lake Tahoe ["s_nebulosa" ]
14 Sep Kern's S Sierra 11-13 Sep 09 [Bob Barnes ]
12 Sep Final Tahoe Rim Trail Sightings []
11 Sep Re: Jaeger-Lake Forest, Tahoe (PLA) ["rossierran" ]
11 Sep Jaeger-Lake Forest, Tahoe (PLA) ["rossierran" ]
10 Sep Sandhill Crane migration []
10 Sep Sandhill Cranes at Sierra Valley []
09 Sep 8 & 9 Sep 09: S Sierra, Plumbeous Vireo [Bob Barnes ]
08 Sep Martis Peak and Truckee Sightings []
8 Sep South Lake Tahoe ["Bob Hislop" ]
6 Sep Fw: Out of area request [Paul Miller ]
06 Sep Lassen NP ["judisierra" ]
04 Sep Tahoe Rim Trail Sightings []
3 Sep Sept. 1 KENTUCKY WARBLER - Mono Co. [Kathryn Parker ]
31 Aug Sa, 29 Aug 09 Common Poorwills Galore & More [Bob Barnes ]
28 Aug Warblers on the move! ["Ted Beedy" ]
27 Aug Bay-breasted Warbler in Nevada City ["Ted Beedy" ]
26 Aug Lake Forest Western Sandpiper - Siberian? [Will Richardson ]
24 Aug Tahoe shorebirds/Devil's Postpile Indigo Bunting [Will Richardson ]
21 Aug 20 Aug 09 S Fk Kern Watershed Birding [Bob Barnes ]
19 Aug Foresthill Costa's Hummingbird (PLA) ["Deren Ross" ]
14 Aug Tahoe shorebirds [Will Richardson ]
14 Aug Tahoe Solitary Sandpiper [Will Richardson ]
11 Aug S Lake Tahoe []
11 Aug Ansel Adams Wilderness report ["Steve Hampton" ]
06 Aug 31 Jul-5 Aug 09: S Sierra-Kern R Valley [Bob Barnes ]
5 Aug Re: Grosbeaks at Silver Lake August 2 [Chet ogan ]
5 Aug Re: Grosbeaks at Silver Lake August 2 [Doug Herr ]
4 Aug Grosbeaks at Silver Lake August 2 [David Wimpfheimer ]
4 Aug SL Tahoe Sanderling [Keith Slauson ]
04 Aug NAB reminder ["m_m_rogers" ]
03 Aug WF Ibis at Lake Almanor ["Steve Hampton" ]
01 Aug Tahoe Rim Trail Sightings []
30 Jul Th, 30 Jul 09 - Kelso Valley Rd & Piute Mtn Rd [Bob Barnes ]
28 Jul Tu, 28 Jul 09 - Canebrake Ecological Reserve [Bob Barnes ]
28 Jul Su, 26 Jul 09 - Greenhorn Mountains Transect (incl. southernmost Winter Wren) [Bob Barnes ]
25 Jul Sa, 25 Jul 09 - Kern YB Cuckoos & Bell's Vireo [Bob Barnes ]
28 Jul Re: Desolation Wilderness - breeding pipits [Kevin Spencer ]
28 Jul Desolation Wilderness - breeding pipits [Will Richardson ]
24 Jul Tahoe bunting/rare breeders [Will Richardson ]
24 Jul 23 Jul 09 - South Fork Kern River Valley, Southern Sierra Nevada [Bob Barnes ]
23 Jul Pine Grosbeaks Yosemite, Mariposa County ["David Vander Pluym" ]

Subject: Lassen County Varied Thrush
From: "lovechild89507" <battis AT frontiernet.net>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:10:50 -0000
An adult Varied Thrush just appear on my back fence--the first one I've ever 
seen in the Eastern Sierra. I hope the snowstorm that's arriving tomorrow 
doesn't do him in. 


Chris Battis
(Southernmost) Lassen County
Subject: Sierra Meadows Birdless
From: rccarl AT pacbell.net
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:31:24 -0800 (PST)
We had a pretty but nearly birdless afternoon at Sierra Meadows Nov. 16.  Only 
bird of notwas a Ferruginous hawk near the intersection of Heriot lane and hwy 
49.  We also had oen Swan farther north on Heriot.  NO ducks at all and one 
lone Goose.  Never had so few birds there. 


RCC

Richard Carlson

Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian

Part-time Economist

Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA

rccarl AT pacbell.net

Tucson 520-760-4935

Tahoe 530-581-0624

Kirkland 425-828-3819

Cell 650-280-2965

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Northern Flickers in Truckee, Nevada County
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:36:11 -0500
Yesterday while walking the Tahoe Donner Golf Course (closed for the 
season) we saw 6 Red Shafted Northern Flickers, 3 Red-breasted 
Nuthatches, 3 Mountain Chickadees, a Red-tailed Hawk and numberous 
Steller's Jays.  With quite a bit of snow on the ground the Robins 
appear to have left.  Andrea Oddo, Truckee Elevation 6600'
Subject: Mono Co. - White-winged Scoters
From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 20:20:25 -0800
This morning, Nov. 6,  at 11:00, there were 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on  
Bridgeport Reservoir near the dam. Looking at my Sibley, one looked  
like the picture of a 1st spring female, the other looked like an  
adult female. They were swimming and diving together. I was on Hwy 182  
driving east. Near the dam is a 40 mph curve sign. I pulled over here  
and the birds were across the lake, which is not very wide.
I looked for some of the birds reported by Al DeMartini. I did not  
find the Eurasian Wigeon or the Vermilion Flycatcher, but there were 5  
HOODED MERGANSERS, 3 males and 2 females, at Gull Lake near the boat   
ramp at the campground. There was another female on the south end of  
Grant Lake.

Kathy Parker
Los Gatos
Subject: S. Lake Tahoe CBC input needed
From: Will Richardson <t.will.richardson AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:49:54 -0800
Hey folks,
It's that time of year again.  I need to schedule the South Lake Tahoe  
CBC, and I'd love to get some input from any would-be participants  
that may have scheduling conflicts.  Typically, we like to hold it as  
early as possible, as the difference in snowpack from the beginning of  
CBC season to the end can be profound!  But, the whole weekday vs.  
weekend issue seems to be a constant debate.  I would like to propose  
either Monday Dec. 14 or Tuesday Dec. 15 if there is sufficient  
interest and manpower OR Saturday December 19 if I hear from enough  
weekend-only types.  Auburn and Woodfords are both that day, so I'd  
consider Sunday the 20th as well.  Reno and Carson are also usually  
the first Saturday and Sunday of the count period, respectively - more  
incentive to trying to do it earlier in the week.  All of this, of  
course is subject to change due to extreme weather, but I'd like to at  
least pencil in a tentative date.  Please email me ASAP if you're  
interested and have a scheduling preference.

Thanks!!

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
t.will.richardson AT gmail.com
Subject: Tahoe Rim Trail and Truckee River
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:52:17 -0500
Yesterday we hiked from Ward Creek to Tahoe City hoping to see the many 
woodpeckers reported earlier this week.  We did see one Hairy 
Woodpecker and heard a flicker but that was it.  At the start of the 
hike we saw a Red-tailed Hawk, then several Mountain Chickadees, 
Steller's Jays and 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches.  When we reached the 
Truckee River in Tahoe City we saw a pair of Mallards and 5 Hooded 
Mergansers.  My first hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail without seeing or 
hearing a Clark's Nutcracker or any Dark-eyed Juncos.  Andrea & Andy 
Oddo, Truckee
Subject: Sierra Valley Northern Shrike (otherwise, pretty slow)
From: martin AT sierrabirdbum.com
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:19:26 -0700
On this beautiful fall day, I took a drive through Sierra Valley. 
Sierraville to Sattley, up A23 to Dysan (Marble Hot Springs Rd), across
Dysan to Heriot (Harriet -- depends on which end of the road you are at
when you look at the sign), down Heriot to 49, over to Loyalton, up A24
to Dysan and east to 49, then north to 70.  (Eventually left the valley
going east on 70 to 395 and north to Red Rock Road, a location with the
nice feature of being able to see Juniper Titmouse in both California
and Nevada on one short walk.  But I digress...)

At the first 90 degree turn on Dysan (as you travel east from A23),
there was a young Northern Shrike.  (That's in Plumas.)  This is about a
week or so earlier than my usual first sighting for the species in the
area, but probably not unusually early.

Other than that, birding was quite slow.  The only waterfowl encountered
consisted of a flock of large Canada Geese and some Buffleheads at the
pond just west of Sierraville.  Raptor numbers were quite low.  I
spotted only 3 Red-tailed Hawks in Sierra County and 6 in Plumas. I've
had counts above 50 or several occasions in November (although usually a
bit later in the month.)  I saw only two Ferruginous Hawks (but it was a
wonderful sighting -- one light, one dark, circling together near
Loyalton.  Dark morph Ferruginous is one of my favorite raptors!)  A few
Northern Harriers and one American Kestrel completed the raptor list.  I
was surprised not to see a Rough-legged Hawk.  Other than that, some
Mountain Bluebirds, a few American Pipits, and the rest of the usual
suspects.

Martin

---------------
 Martin Meyers
 email: Martin  (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com
 Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com
 Truckee, CA

Subject: Tahoe City
From: "Kirk Hardie" <krhardie AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:34:54 -0800
Hello birders,

I hiked along the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe City to Ward Canyon yesterday.
It turned out to be a beautiful day to be on a hike. There was nothing
unusual, but there was a noticeable absence of one species: there were no
dark-eyed juncos seen. Woodpeckers were abundant though. There were at least
4 WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, at least 4 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, and even though no
FLICKERS were seen, many were heard. We also came across a snag that looked
like a pileated woodpecker had searched for food in. Here's the (short)
complete list:

 

White-headed Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (heard)

Steller's Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Evening Grosbeak (heard)

 

 

Kirk Hardie

Reno, NV

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts." 

   - From a sign in Albert Einstein's office at Princeton

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Sierra County incl.FOS? Bald Eagle
From: PAGPEG AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:47:53 EST
Greetings SIE - NEV Birders,

Yesterday, Sunday, 1 Nov. 2009, returning from Plumas Co. to the S.F.Bay 
Area via Hwy 89, my wife Pat and I stopped at the artificial pond along Hwy 89 
ca. 2 mi. north of Sierraville, SIE Co.  Among the 70 +/- Canada Geese 
(including 3+ very large, white breasted/bellied individuals) were one Greater 
White-fronted Goose and an adult and an immature Snow Goose (white forms).

An Adult Bald Eagle was conspicuously perched on a tree snag alongside of 
the Little Truckee River, just south of the Hwy 89 bridge below Little 
Truckee Campground (USFS), SIE Co. This is about 10 miles south of Sierraville 

(1/2 way to Truckee). A first, unexpected location for us in several decades 
of travel; although they regularly winter in Sierra Valley, PLU & SIE Cos, 
25+ miles away).

P.S. This morning our garbage can lid birdbath (Blairsden, PLU Co., 
4,800ft.) was visited by a female Williamson's Sapsucker (among the 8 
woodpecker 

species found here = "Woodpecker Woods").

Happy Fall Birding,

Phil & Pat Gordon
Hayward, ALA Co.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Coldstream Canyon Near Truckee
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:04:34 -0500
Yesterday while walking up Coldstream Canyon (in the railroad track horseshoe) 
we spotted 30 Common Mergansers in the ponds, 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 20 
Dark-eyed Juncos, 6 Red-breasted Northern Flickers, and 3 Steller's Jays. 
Andrea Oddo, Truckee= 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: South Lake Tahoe birds 10/27/09
From: Steve Abbott <papasula AT gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:59:40 -0700
Birders,

A few cold birds at the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe (El  
Dorado County) included:

2 AMERICAN AVOCETS
1 HERRING GULL
1 juv. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
1 LARK SPARROW

Some photos are posted on my blog at:

http://papasula.blogspot.com/2009/10/upper-truckee-marsh-102709.html

Good birding,

Steve Abbott
Cameron Park, CA

>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Mono Lake and Yosemite NP
From: "Kirk Hardie" <krhardie AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:23:54 -0700
Hello birders,

I took a quick trip to Bridgeport, Mono Lake and Yosemite last week
(10/20-10/22). I had planned to spend two nights in Yosemite, but ice on
Tioga Pass kept me in Lee Vining for a night until the Pass opened on the
21st. There was nothing out of the ordinary at Bridgeport Reservoir. I did
see a number of AVOCETS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS there. Mono Lake amazed me
with the sheer number of EARED GREBES. It appeared that the entire lake was
covered with a grebe per 20 square feet. Amazing! I also found a PRAIRIE
FALCON at Black Point on the lake and a juvenile COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at
South Tufa. Up at June Lakes, Grant Lake had a number of COMMON LOONS and
plenty of AM. COOTS. The highlight of Yosemite was seeing a PILEATED
WOODPECKER at Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley. I also picked up
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE and BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in the valley. I hiked up
to Sentinel Dome (near Glacier Point) where I saw well over a hundred
DARK-EYED JUNCOS in a single flock. I was amazed at they continued to come
out of the forest in wave after wave. I have never seen so many together. 

 

Here are the complete lists: 

Bridgeport Reservoir

Eared Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

Western Grebe

Clark's Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Canada Goose

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged Teal

Ruddy Duck

Northern Harrier

American Avocet

Greater Yellowlegs

Ring-billed Gull

Northern Flicker

Black-billed Magpie

Common Raven

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Song Sparrow

American Coot

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer's Blackbird

 

Lee Vining/Mono Lake

Yellow-rumped Warbler

White-crowned Sparrow

Eared Grebe (1000s)

Western Grebe

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

American Coot

California Gull

Dowitcher sp

Northern Flicker

Black-billed Magpie

Marsh Wren

Bewick's Wren

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Song Sparrow

Western Meadowlark

Prairie Falcon

European Collared-Dove

Lesser Goldfinch

Steller's Jay

Clark's Nutcracker

Common Raven

Killdeer

Horned Lark

Common Yellowthroat (juv)

Red-winged Blackbird

Great Egret

Northern Harrier

American Pippit

Brewer's Blackbird

Red-tailed Hawk

 

Yosemite NP

Red-tailed Hawk 

Hairy Woodpecker

White-headed Woodpecker

Steller's Jay

Clark's Nutcracker

Common Raven

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dark-eyed Junco 

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pileated Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

Bushtits

Band-tailed Pigeons

 

 

Kirk Hardie

Reno, NV

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts." 

   - From a sign in Albert Einstein's office at Princeton

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Drake Mallard x Northern Pintail hybrid - Upper Truckee
From: "Donald" <donh AT netfeed.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:42:48 -0000
Out at the Upper Truckee Marsh this morning - had a Mallard x Northern Pintail 
hybrid in the Upper Truckee just above the mouth. 


Don Harriman
South Lake Tahoe
Subject: North Lake Tahoe and Martis Valley, PLA
From: Bruce Webb <BruWebb AT surewest.net>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:05:30 -0700
This morning, Steve Abbott and I spent a couple of hours birding and 
photographing along the north shore of Lake Tahoe, in Placer County.  
Probably the biggest surprise were two approachable Mountain Quail under 
the aspens and willows at the parking lot at the end of Bristlecone 
Drive, Lake Forest.  A few minutes laster a covey of 20+ California 
Quail came into view in the same area.  It was the first time either of 
us have seen either quail at lake level. Photos of the Mountain Quail 
should appear soon in the photo album section.

One immature Bonaparte's Gull was flying close to shore and dipping over 
the Lake.  Two others were farther out on the lake.  The usual 
contingent of California Gulls and three Hooded Mergansers were seen 
from the Coast Guard boat launching platform.  A few Common Loons and 
Western Grebes and Common Mergansers were in the distance.

Other than low numbers of Mountain Chickadees and a few Audubon's 
Warblers and Song Sparrows, Pomin Park was quiet.

A Prairie Falcon perched for a photo on the willow patch near the end of 
the Lake Forest peninsula. 

Our stop at Martis Lake en route back to Roseville produced no ducks.  
Only four Pied-billed Grebes and six Am Coots were on Martis Lake - a 
definite all time low count for waterbirds  A fly-by Merlin passed 
through a flock of Horned Larks and emerged empty handed.  Later, a 
Prairie Falcon and a Golden Eagle cruised the sagebrush and willow area 
of Martis Valley.   Mountain Bluebirds seemed low, but have not left 
Martis Valley, yet.

-- 
Bruce Webb
Wildlife Computing, USA
Granite Bay, California 95746
Toll-free 1-866-BIRD-810  (1-866- 247-3810)
http://home.surewest.net/bruwebb/Pocket-PC.htm

Subject: Lake Forest and Tahoe City
From: "Kirk Hardie" <krhardie AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:38:12 -0700
Hello all,

I had the pleasure of joining John Muir Laws for a birding field trip
associated with the Sierra Nevada Alliance conference yesterday (10/16). He
was great at getting the group to not just appreciate various species, but
also the behavior of each individual bird. His knowledge of the Sierra
Nevada is amazing. He had us licking the abdomen of red ants at one point to
taste the formic acid (tasted like lemons) they use for defense. 

 

We started at Lake Forest near Tahoe City where the highlights were a
cooperative male YELLOW WARBLER and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. There was
also a lone EARED GREBE out on the lake. Our second stop was the Truckee
River Access on the west end of Tahoe City. The highlight there was an
AMERICAN DIPPER. 

 

Here's the complete list:

Eared Grebe

Mallard

American Coot

California Gull

Killdeer

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Pygmy Nuthatch

American Dipper

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Dark-eyed Junco

 

 

Kirk Hardie

Reno, NV

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts." 

   - From a sign in Albert Einstein's office at Princeton

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: "Collared" birds at Tahoe
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:21:14 -0700
I birded all over the lakefront hotspots today, hoping that the storm  
had deposited some good stuff.  This morning was mostly spent at N.  
Lake, which was COLD, WINDY, and lackluster for birds.  A single  
Greater White-fronted Goose at Commons Beach was nice, but otherwise  
it felt like the storm simply flushed everything out of the Tahoe  
Basin.  I had much better luck at the south end of the lake.  The pond  
at Rabe Meadows had my first Hooded Merganser of the season.  But the  
highlights for me were two new birds for my personal Tahoe list.  Best  
was definitely a Chestnut-collared Longspur at the Upper Truckee River  
Delta, working the large, low, flat area that's basically straight out  
in front of the marsh, associating mostly with Horned Larks but also  
some pipits.  Todd Easterla and John Sterling originally had distant  
looks of that bird earlier in the day from the Cove East side, but we  
all enjoyed great views up close in the afternoon.  A few other bits  
and bobs there: Merlin, Red-shouldered Hawk, Semipalmated Plover, Gr.  
Yellowlegs, lots of wigeon, three more Gr. White-fronted Geese  
including a handsome adult, at least 4 grackles today (2 males, 2  
female-type), and I nearly stepped on a Burrowing Owl across the canal  
at Cove East (found earlier in the day by Don and Lynn Harriman).   
Also, I finally got my Tahoe Eurasian Collared-Dove, a single bird  
flying across Hwy. 50, by Meeks Hardware.  In other news, Anna's  
Hummingbirds are still being reported at S. Lake feeders, even after  
that whopper of a storm!  I'll post a photo of the longspur.

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Forgot the White-crowned Sparrow
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:12:35 -0400
Saw a White-crowned Sparrow on our deck today (first of the season) and 
then spotted one later on my hike of the Tahoe Donner trails, Andrea 
Oddo, Truckee
Subject: No. Goshawk near Truckee
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:05:13 -0400
Today I hiked in the Tahoe Donner subdivision, west of downtown Truckee 
and north of Donner Lake.  I was on the Donner Lake Rim Trail part of 
the time and I saw many Dark-eyed Juncos and Mountain Chickadees, one 
Red-shafted No. Flicker, several American Robins, and I startled a No. 
Goshawk on the edge of the forest.  It circled over us, where we got a 
great look, and then flew downslope towards Donner Lake.  I was 
surprised NOT to see any Mountain Bluebirds on this trail as I have 
always seen them in this area.  Although I climbed to the top of Hawk's 
peak where we usually see several hawks, I only saw the one Goshawk.  
Andrea Oddo, Truckee
Subject: Re: Tahoe vagrants
From: "s_nebulosa" <Birder1 AT surewest.net>
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:27:06 -0000
Will Richardson just called and asked me to pass along that he photographed one 
of the Clay-colored Sparrows as first reported by Todd Easterla. It was in the 
large flock of sparrows found at the parking lot of Cove East. No shorebirds or 
gulls of note were seen at the lakefront, but there are large numbers of 
Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows were in the willows. 


Bruce Webb
Granite Bay, CA

--- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, Will Richardson  
wrote: 

>
> I just (10:45) got a call from Todd Easterla who's down at Cove East,  
> and just photographed a pair of Clay-colored Sparrows near the  
> trailhead.  He said there are TONS of sparrows and has never seen so  
> many birds together down there.  Yesterday, sounds like he experienced  
> a very birdy day amid the snowsqualls, describing a snipe running  
> across his foot and several birds landing on his head.  

Subject: correction
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 11:13:31 -0700
I just saw a simultaneous post from John Sterling, and I think I may  
have misheard the plover species, since John said Snowy.  Regardless,  
get out there if you can!
Will
Subject: Tahoe vagrants
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 11:10:43 -0700
I just (10:45) got a call from Todd Easterla who's down at Cove East,  
and just photographed a pair of Clay-colored Sparrows near the  
trailhead.  He said there are TONS of sparrows and has never seen so  
many birds together down there.  Yesterday, sounds like he experienced  
a very birdy day amid the snowsqualls, describing a snipe running  
across his foot and several birds landing on his head.  Yesterday's  
highlight was a probable Broad-winged Hawk at Lake Forest Beach.  I  
just spent all morning out there and at Pomin Park, both of which were  
quite birdy despite all the snow, but I was unable to find it.  Todd  
also had a pair of Semipalmated Plovers at the Upper Truckee River  
Delta yesterday, which are a bit late (although I do have records  
through the 8th of Nov.).  The winds are supposed to turn east this  
afternoon, so hopefully some of this stuff will stick around.
Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
Subject: great Tahoe birds
From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 11:03:19 -0700
Todd Easterla called me to report a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk yesterday at
Lake Forest Dr in north Lake Tahoe.  The bird disappeared and he was not
able to refind it after his initial views of the bird.  Today, he has two
Clay-colored Sparrows at the beginning of walk out to the south Truckee
River marshes-the Truckee Marina area.  He said that there are hundreds of
sparrows and quite a few shorebirds too, including two late Snowy Plovers.

 

John Sterling

VVVVVVVVVV

 

26 Palm Ave

Woodland, CA  95695

cell 530 908-3836

jsterling AT wavecable.com

 

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: "Sooty" Fox Sparrow at Glenshire (Nev. County east slope)
From: martin AT sierrabirdbum.com
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:35:43 -0700
I was out for a walk around my neighborhood (Glenshire is about five
miles east of Truckee) and encountered a Fox Sparrow on the southwest
side of the Glenshire Pond.  "Sierra" Fox Sparrows (i.e.,
"Thick-billed") are abundant breeders in the area, but this bird was not
one of those. Even ignoring bill size, the plumage was completely wrong
for "Sierra" or "Interior" (schistacea group) Fox Sparrows.  The back
and head were medium brown, not gray.  There was little contrast between
head and back, and little if any contrast between the back and wings.  I
never had a great look at the tail.  Face was very plain, with the only
obvious feature being a paler malar region.  No obvious streaks on head.
 Bill was mostly yellow, darker on culmen. Bill looked about the same
size as the bills on the nearby White-crowns.  Breast sides and flanks
marked with dark brown arrowhead-shaped spots.  The bird never faced me,
so I never got a look at the center of the upper breast.

The only Fox Sparrow type that matches what I saw is the northern
population of the "Sooty" group.  This is the first "Sooty" Fox Sparrow
I've seen on the east slope, but I have had a few in Nevada (state).

I'm heading back out with camera to see if I can find it again (before
the snow starts.)

Martin
---------------
 Martin Meyers
 email: Martin  (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com
 Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com
 Truckee, CA

Subject: Birds in Lakes Basin
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:40:54 -0400
Yesterday, drove through the Sierra Valley and spotted 3 Red-tailed 
hawks, numerous Black-billed Magpies and a covey of California Quail, 
then climbed Mt. Elwell in the Lakes Basin and saw one No. Harrier, one 
No. Goshawk, many American Robins, Steller's Jays, and one Lewis's 
Woodpecker. Great day with wonderful visibility all the way to Mt. 
Lassen.  At home in Tahoe Donner, the Rufous Hummingbirds are gone and 
only see a few Mountain Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Pine Siskins and 
Steller's Jays.  At Martis Peak lookout on Monday saw several Clark's 
Nutcrackers and one Red-breasted Nuthatch.  Andrea Oddo, Truckee, 
California 
Subject: Bad weather? Good birds
From: Susan Stevenson <sssfromslt AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:55:26 -0700 (PDT)
Tuesday moring  9/29 at the outlet of the Upper Truckee River in South Lake 
Tahoe: 

 
The winds were really gusting this morning at the South end of Lake Tahoe. Don 
and Lynn Harriman and I enjoyed watching the interactions between a mature bald 
eagle and a Northern Harrier (Harrier thinks it owns the Upper Truckee marsh 
area!)  Later watched a more agile Praire Falcon outflying the two 
Harriers...pretty intense confrontations. Then an unfamiliar call turned our 
heads, as a Sandhill Crane flew over the meadow, gaining elevation and heading 
northeast. 

 
Sue Stevenson
South Lake Tahoe
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Vultures on the move!....Auburn, Placer County
From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:35:32 -0000
Birders,

A final note on todays vulture migration through the foothills of Placer 
County. Additional reports were received from Penn Valley (Diane Marten), 
Meadow Vista (Barbara and Bill Tellman), and North Auburn (Mark Kephart,1st 
report). The average size of the migratory group numbered 150 birds. The 
migratory flock gathers upon a single thermal which appears as a loose tornado 
of vultures and after most of them are up, the bird at the top of the thermal 
will peel off, heading straight south with the other birds following in tow. 
It's a very cool site. 


With tomorrows expected winds out of the north-northwest, we may see more 
vultures moving along the sierra foothills. Not to mention the other good 
possibilities . 


Also, Dan Airola and I spoke via email today about the thermal activity (roads, 
development, delta-foothill geography) in Western Placer and Sacramento Area as 
a possible factor for the consistent pattern of migtratory vulutures in this 
area of the sierra foothills. Regular sightings of migrating White Pelicans 
over the same area give further credence to this idea. I've also wondered if 
the visual presence of the resident foothill vulture population might be a 
contributing factor. 


Thanks for the reports and comments.

Deren Ross
Auburn,Ca




--- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, "rossierran"  wrote:
>
> The vulture report came from north Auburn and I've spent the last hour 
looking without any success, until now. After the cold winds let up and the air 
warmed, from Newcastle, I counted approximately 200 Turkey Vultures gaining 
altitude over Auburn proper. 

> 
> Thought I missed them.  Apparently, the sat down for a time.
> 
> Deren Ross
> Auburn, Ca 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, "rossierran"  wrote:
> >
> > Birders,
> > 
> > Keep your eyes to the skies....just got word that several large groups of 
Turkey Vultures are moving throught the Auburn area and heading southward over 
the foothills. Surely, they're on their way to Kern. It's usually a one day 
event in this area, depending on the weather, in which to get a glimpse of the 
migration with anywhere from 50 to 1500 birds. Our local population, a.k.a. 
Auburn Airforce, are resident with an exception for some the younsters. 

> > 
> > Deren Ross
> > Auburn, Ca
> >
>

Subject: Re: Vultures on the move!....Auburn, Placer County
From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:34:55 -0000
Birders,

A final note on todays vulture migration through the foothills of Placer 
County. Additional reports were received from Penn Valley (Diane Marten), 
Meadow Vista (Barbara and Bill Tellman), and North Auburn (Mark Kephart,1st 
report). The average size of the migratory group numbered 150 birds. The 
migratory flock gathers upon a single thermal which appears as a loose tornado 
of vultures and after most of them are up, the bird at the top of the thermal 
will peel off, heading straight south with the other birds following in tow. 
It's a very cool site. 


With tomorrows expected winds out of the north-northwest, we may see more 
vultures moving along the sierra foothills. Not to mention the other good 
possibilities . 


Also, Dan Airola and I spoke via email today about the thermal activity (roads, 
development, delta-foothill geography) in Western Placer and Sacramento Area as 
a possible factor for the consistent pattern of migtratory vulutures in this 
area of the sierra foothills. Regular sightings of migrating White Pelicans 
over the same area give further credence to this idea. I've also wondered if 
the visual presence of the resident foothill vulture population might be a 
contributing factor. 


Thanks for the reports and comments.

Deren Ross
Auburn,Ca




--- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, "rossierran"  wrote:
>
> The vulture report came from north Auburn and I've spent the last hour 
looking without any success, until now. After the cold winds let up and the air 
warmed, from Newcastle, I counted approximately 200 Turkey Vultures gaining 
altitude over Auburn proper. 

> 
> Thought I missed them.  Apparently, the sat down for a time.
> 
> Deren Ross
> Auburn, Ca 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, "rossierran"  wrote:
> >
> > Birders,
> > 
> > Keep your eyes to the skies....just got word that several large groups of 
Turkey Vultures are moving throught the Auburn area and heading southward over 
the foothills. Surely, they're on their way to Kern. It's usually a one day 
event in this area, depending on the weather, in which to get a glimpse of the 
migration with anywhere from 50 to 1500 birds. Our local population, a.k.a. 
Auburn Airforce, are resident with an exception for some the younsters. 

> > 
> > Deren Ross
> > Auburn, Ca
> >
>

Subject: Re: Vultures on the move!....Auburn, Placer County
From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:49:29 -0000
The vulture report came from north Auburn and I've spent the last hour looking 
without any success, until now. After the cold winds let up and the air warmed, 
from Newcastle, I counted approximately 200 Turkey Vultures gaining altitude 
over Auburn proper. 


Thought I missed them.  Apparently, the sat down for a time.

Deren Ross
Auburn, Ca 



--- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, "rossierran"  wrote:
>
> Birders,
> 
> Keep your eyes to the skies....just got word that several large groups of 
Turkey Vultures are moving throught the Auburn area and heading southward over 
the foothills. Surely, they're on their way to Kern. It's usually a one day 
event in this area, depending on the weather, in which to get a glimpse of the 
migration with anywhere from 50 to 1500 birds. Our local population, a.k.a. 
Auburn Airforce, are resident with an exception for some the younsters. 

> 
> Deren Ross
> Auburn, Ca
>

Subject: Vultures on the move!....Placer County
From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:07:24 -0000
Birders,

Keep your eyes to the skies....just got word that several large groups of 
Turkey Vultures are moving throught the Auburn area and heading southward over 
the foothills. Surely, they're on their way to Kern. It's usually a one day 
event in this area, depending on the weather, in which to get a glimpse of the 
migration with anywhere from 50 to 1500 birds. Our local population, a.k.a. 
Auburn Airforce, are resident with an exception for some the younsters. 


Deren Ross
Auburn, Ca
Subject: Spooner Lake
From: "Kirk Hardie" <krhardie AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:13:13 -0700
Hello birders,

We took our puppy on a walk around Spooner Lake off of Highway 50 on the
east shore of Lake Tahoe on Saturday. It was much windier this time than
last Saturday, and thus there were fewer terrestrial birds. We did see 4
HORNED GREBES and a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE as the different birds this time
around. There may have been an eared grebe, but it went into the reflection
from the sun and never re-surfaced in an area to allow a good look. Here's
the whole list:

 

Horned Grebes

Canada Geese

Gadwall

Northern Shoveler

Ring-necked Ducks

Common Merganser

American Coot

Osprey

Northern Flicker

Western Wood-pewee

Steller's Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brewer's Blackbird

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

 

Kirk Hardie

Reno, NV

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts." 

   - From a sign in Albert Einstein's office at Princeton

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: photos of N Lake Tahoe Black-and-white Warbler - Placer Co
From: Bruce Webb <BruWebb AT surewest.net>
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:11:24 -0700
The Black-and-white Warbler at Pomin Park (aka Tahoe Lake Forest Public 
Campground) on 9/16/09 was photographed by Jean Myers.

Two of her images are in the Warblers album.  

Also, that day a Gray Flycatcher was at Lake Forest Point.  A digiscoped 
photo is in the Flycatchers album,

Bruce Webb
Granite Bay, CA
Subject: Tahoe Birds-PLA Sabine's Gull and Sanderling
From: Steve Abbott <papasula AT gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:19:03 -0700
Birders,

I spent several hours yesterday at Lake Tahoe and below are a few  
highlights (pictorial version of this email at http://papasula.blogspot.com 
  ):

Placer County:

Pomin Park
	No sign of the previous day's black and white warbler though there  
was a lot of activity in the park.
	LAZULI BUNTING 1 juv male
	Empidonax sp.

	
Bristlecone St(?)
	At the park just north of Pomin and the Coast Guard station there was  
quite a bit of activity.  Several waves of birds came through the  
trees during my ~4 hr stay.
	SANDERLING 1 juv out at the point in the rocks
	MARBLED GODWIT 1 roosting at the point
	SABINE'S GULL 1 juv feeding approx 300 yds off the point with a  
Sterna tern that will remain unidentified
	FORSTER'S TERN 1 at the point
	VESPER SPARROW 1 in the grasses at the point
	YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD 1 imm male in the grasses at the point
	BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER 1 in the trees at the point
	MARSH WREN in the grasses
	Lots of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS
	COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

El Dorado County:

Tahoe Keys
	WHIMBREL 2 juv
	MARBLED GODWIT 1
	BREWER'S SPARROW several
	Lots of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
	RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 4 in the outlet of the river allowing close  
approach

Cheers,

Steve Abbott
Cameron Park, CA
	
Subject: Curious Grouse
From: rccarl AT pacbell.net
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:27:51 -0700 (PDT)
My yard group of Dusky Grouse continue their unpredictable ways.  They make 
themselves scarce in the Spring but are more common in the Fall.  At any 
season, you can't find them, they find you.  We just returned here to Tahoe and 
the Grouse showed up even before I started spreading bird seed.  They are 
normally pretty spooky, so we watch only from inside our home.  Yesterday we 
had 6 tree workers cutting down a dozen trees to create defensible space.  (We 
are cutting trees as fast as possible before the $%^&* Sierra Club lawsuit 
stops all cutting and forces us to back onto the Tahoe Funeral Pyre.) 


Anyhow, the noise and commotion were incredible.  So what do those spooky 
ghosts of the forest do?  Six of them line up 30 ft away from the workers like 
a group of baseball fans watching the action.  


RCC at 7,00o ft watching the sunset on Lake Tahoe.

Richard Carlson

Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian

Part-time Economist

Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA

rccarl AT pacbell.net

Tucson 520-760-4935

Tahoe 530-581-0624

Kirkland 425-828-3819

Cell 650-280-2965

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Placer Black and White Warbler - Tahoe
From: Steve Abbott <papasula AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:36:01 -0700
Birders,

Bruce Webb called and asked me to pass along that he found a BLACK AND  
WHITE WARBLER at Pomin Park in Lake Forest this afternoon.  I will try  
tomorrow for it and will post positive/negative report.

Best,

Steve Abbott
Cameron Park
Subject: Black-and-white Warbler - Pomin Park, N Lake Tahoe
From: "s_nebulosa" <Birder1 AT surewest.net>
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:26:36 -0000
This afternoon, 9-16-09, In north Lake Tahoe, I found a female/immature 
Black-and-white Warbler in the campground near the entrance station of Pomin 
Park. The campground is near the Lake Forest Coast Guard Station. This 
excellent landbird trap is in Placer County. The bird was foraging alone using 
the taller, more mature alder and willow trees inside the loop at the end of 
the campground loop. I was birding with Jeane Myers, who got photos of the 
warbler. Also in the campground were many Orange-crowneds, Wilson's and a few 
Yellow Warblers. Two Lazuli Buntings were in the meadow areas. A very gray 
"solitary" vireo was in the campground willows, but I did not get good enough 
views to call it to species. Presently, the campground is being prepared for 
new road and campsite construction, so lots of orange fencing is around. 


I scanned the distant waves and saw only one distant Sterna tern, no jaegers. 
Earlier in the day, a Gray Flycatcher, our only empid all day, was showing well 
near the parking area at the end of Bristlecone St. The willow clump was 
teeming with Orange-crowned warblers. One Lewis's Woodpecker flew over Lake 
Forest. 


Bruce Webb 
Granite Bay, CA
Subject: Kern's S Sierra 11-13 Sep 09
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:58:52 -0700
Hi,

11-13 Sep 09 was part of a continuing effort to visit a wide array of 
sites in the Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada region at 
least once each month during the calendar year regardless of 
pre-conceived birding quality.

COMMENTS:
    * MOUNTAIN QUAIL continued to be noisy and, therefore, able to be found...
    * TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES in numbers in the Greenhorn Mountains...
    * WARBLERS not singing, but chipping more vociferously than any 
previous visits in 2009...
    * GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES still present in the Greenhorn Mountains...
    * Overall DIVERSITY and NUMBERS of individuals appears to remain 
strong in the Greenhorns Mountains...
    * ISABELLA RESERVOIR continues to add diversity to area visits...
    * WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES just about gone for "winter"...
    * COMMON YELLOWTHROATS (absent during "winter" months) present in 
abundance...
    * Five total SUMMER TANAGERS at three Kern River Preserve 
locations... Last individuals usually detected into the first ten 
days of October...
    * HUMMINGBIRD NUMBERS remained strong at Kern River Preserve 
Headquarters feeders ... Numbers "should drop off the table" in the 
next few days...
    * Diversity (51 species) and numbers of individuals remained 
strong along Kern River Preserve's SIERRA WAY...
    * RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER continuing (from 2 Aug 09) in willows at 
Kern River Preserve's Prince's Pond...
    * At least two MARSH WRENS at Prince's Pond... Perhaps first to 
return for "winter" season... NOTE: This species has not  been found 
years in the Kern River Valley during June, July, and August...
    * Only one BLUE GROSBEAK detected in two days of surveys in prime 
nesting areas. Clearly, most have moved out for the winter .
    * GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES appear to have left for the "winter" from 
their Prince's Pond nesting area...
    * COMMON POORWILL still calling spontaneously along Sawmill Road 
in the Greenhorn Mountains.
    * Expected & Missed: Barn Owl, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch
The following five*** reports are based on those generated 
automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/)... 
***Greenhorn Mountains--FS 24S15; Isabella Reservoir--Kissack Cove; 
Kern River Preserve--Fay Ranch Road; Kern River 
Preserve--Headquarters; Kern River Preserve--Sierra Way...

Location:     Greenhorn Mountains--FS 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit to Tulare Co)
Observation time/day/date:     8am-10:30am, Friday, 9/11/09
Notes: 70.7F-75.6F; 33%-26% humidity; high thin clouds; 6 miles of FS 
24S15 from CA Hwy. 155 at Greenhorn Summit (6102') north for 6 miles 
to the Kern County/Tulare County line (7060');...
Species:     31
    * Mountain Quail     5
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     3
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * White-headed Woodpecker     2
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Warbling Vireo     1
    * Steller's Jay     28
    * Western Scrub-Jay     5
    * Violet-green Swallow     3
    * Mountain Chickadee     31
    * Red-breasted Nuthatch     16
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     6
    * House Wren     1
    * Western Bluebird     16
    * Townsend's Solitaire     9
    * American Robin     3
    * Wrentit     1
    * Orange-crowned Warbler     1
    * Yellow-rumped Warbler     4
    * Black-throated Gray Warbler     5
    * MacGillivray's Warbler     5
    * Wilson's Warbler     1
    * warbler sp.     7 (chips notes of all suggesting Townsend's, 
Hermit, and/or Black-throated Gray)
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Green-tailed Towhee     3
    * Spotted Towhee     2
    * Fox Sparrow     4
    * Dark-eyed Junco     27
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     3
    * House Finch     1
    * Pine Siskin     1

Location:     Isabella Reservoir--Kissack Cove
Observation time/day/date:     6pm-6:45pm, Friday, 9/11/09
Species:     12
    * Western Grebe     1
    * Clark's Grebe     1
    * Western/Clark's Grebe     160
    * American White Pelican     56
    * Double-crested Cormorant     12
    * Great Blue Heron     8
    * Prairie Falcon     1
    * Long-billed Curlew     1
    * California Gull     11
    * Caspian Tern     8
    * Common Raven     38
    * Horned Lark     78

Location:     Kern River Preserve--Fay Ranch Road
Observation time/day/date:     6:05am-8:30am, Saturday, 9/12/09
Notes:     57F-73.3F; 59%-45% humidity; 1.25 mile walk along Fay 
Ranch Road north from CA Hwy 178;...
Species:     39
    * Mallard     6
    * California Quail     58     41 in one covey
    * Red-shouldered Hawk     2
    * Red-tailed Hawk     2
    * American Kestrel     2
    * Killdeer     1
    * Mourning Dove     6
    * Great Horned Owl     1
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     8
    * Downy Woodpecker     2
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     5
    * Western Wood-Pewee     1
    * Empidonax sp.     1     Heard only ... "whitting" individual
    * Black Phoebe     5
    * Say's Phoebe     3
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     4
    * Common Raven     11
    * Horned Lark     2
    * Oak Titmouse     2
    * Bushtit     1
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Bewick's Wren     8
    * Western Bluebird     1
    * European Starling     18
    * Yellow Warbler     1
    * Common Yellowthroat     18
    * Summer Tanager     1
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * Lark Sparrow     1
    * Savannah Sparrow     2
    * Song Sparrow     24
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     1
    * Western Meadowlark     6
    * Brewer's Blackbird     19
    * House Finch     33
    * Lesser Goldfinch     15
    * House Sparrow     1

Location:     Kern River Preserve--Headquarters
Observation time/day/date:     9:25am-10:10am, Saturday, 12 Sep 09
Species:     16
    * California Quail     11
    * American Kestrel     1
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * Anna's Hummingbird     23     At six feeders at two 
Headquarters feeding stations... Based on prior years, this number 
reflects the tip of the iceberg.
    * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird     5     At six feeders at two 
Headquarters feeding stations...  Based on prior years, this number 
reflects the tip of the iceberg.
    * Northern Flicker     2
    * Black Phoebe     2
    * Say's Phoebe     1
    * Common Raven     3
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Bewick's Wren     1
    * Western Bluebird     4
    * Summer Tanager     2     Both singing...
    * Song Sparrow     8
    * House Finch     7
    * Lesser Goldfinch     18

Location:     Kern River Preserve--Sierra Way
Observation time/day/date:     5:55am-8:50am, Sunday, 13 Sep 09
Notes:     49.3F-67.4F; 67%-54% humidity;...
Species:     51
    * Wood Duck     4
    * Mallard     3
    * Ring-necked Pheasant     1
    * Pied-billed Grebe     1
    * Great Blue Heron     1
    * Turkey Vulture     1
    * Northern Harrier     1
    * Red-shouldered Hawk     3
    * Red-tailed Hawk     1
    * American Kestrel     2
    * Virginia Rail     1
    * Sora     1
    * American Coot     1
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * Western Screech-Owl     2
    * Great Horned Owl     4
    * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird     1
    * Red-breasted Sapsucker     1     Within a few feet of 2 Aug 09 
observation...
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     5
    * Downy Woodpecker     3
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     2
    * Western Wood-Pewee     1
    * Black Phoebe     6
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     2
    * Common Raven     5
    * Tree Swallow     4
    * Oak Titmouse     3
    * Bushtit     29
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     2
    * Bewick's Wren     8
    * House Wren     1
    * Marsh Wren     2
    * Western Bluebird     8
    * European Starling     54     Majority were in a single flock 
flying out from Prince's Pond.
    * Orange-crowned Warbler     2
    * Yellow Warbler     1
    * Common Yellowthroat     33     Still abundant.
    * Summer Tanager     2     Calling from two different directions. 
Then both flew over within a few seconds of each other from the same 
direction.
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * Lark Sparrow     11
    * Song Sparrow     48
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     1
    * Blue Grosbeak     1     Only one detected in two days of 
surveys in prime nesting areas. Clearly, most have moved out for the winter .
    * Lazuli Bunting     1
    * Red-winged Blackbird     656     Fly-out from Prince's Pond
    * Western Meadowlark     3
    * Brewer's Blackbird     5
    * House Finch     9
    * Lesser Goldfinch     11

Additional species observed elsewhere in Kern River Valley area 11-13 Sep 09:
    * White-tailed Kite (1) - 12 Sep 09 - Kern River Preserve--East Unit
    * Eurasian Collared-Dove - 13 Sep 09 - Southlake
    * Greater Roadrunner (1) - 13 Sep 09 - Southlake
    * Common Poorwill (1) - 7:30pm, 11 Sep 09 - Greenhorn 
Mountains--Sawmill Road
    * Canyon Wren (1) - 7:15pm, 11 Sep 09 - Greenhorn Mountains--Sawmill Road
    * Northern Mockingbird (1) - 11 Sep 09 - Southlake
    * Chipping Sparrow (4) - 11 Sep 09 - Greenhorn Mountains--FS 25S17 West

Continued Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Final Tahoe Rim Trail Sightings
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:03:30 -0400
Yesterday I completed the final segment of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim 
Trail. We hiked from Richardson lake to the Velma Lakes area then 
turned off at the Eagle Falls Trail.  As usual we saw (and heard) 
several Clark's Nutcrackers, numerous Dark-eyed Juncos and Mountain 
Chickadees. Just above Eagle Lake, we startled a pair of Blue Grouse. 
One flew off but a female sat beside the trail and just stared at us. 
Although the rim trail does not have an abundance of birds it has 
spectacular scenery, wonderful wildflowers and if you are interested in 
Clark's Nutcrackers this is the place to be!
At home in Tahoe Donner a pair of White-headed Woodpeckers arrived 
today having been absent since early summer.  Andrea Oddo, Truckee 
Subject: Re: Jaeger-Lake Forest, Tahoe (PLA)
From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:41:27 -0000
Parasitic Jaeger Light-morph, Juvenile. 

Deren Ross
Auburn, CA

--- In sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com, "rossierran"  wrote:
>
> An immature Jaeger was seen flying low overLake Forest this morning..9am. 
Will confirm species after kayaking. 

> 
> Deren Ross
> Auburn, CA
>

Subject: Jaeger-Lake Forest, Tahoe (PLA)
From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:25:40 -0000
An immature Jaeger was seen flying low overLake Forest this morning..9am. Will 
confirm species after kayaking. 


Deren Ross
Auburn, CA
Subject: Sandhill Crane migration
From: rccarl AT pacbell.net
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:30:42 -0700 (PDT)
I remember reading somewhere that the Sandhill cranes tend to fly over the N 
Sierra passes near the October full moon. 


Any tips re best location & timing.  

Richard Carlson

Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian

Part-time Economist

Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA

rccarl AT pacbell.net

Tucson 520-760-4935

Tahoe 530-581-0624

Kirkland 425-828-3819

Cell 650-280-2965


	 
	
	








	


	
	

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sandhill Cranes at Sierra Valley
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:06:17 -0400
Drove through the Sierra Valley this morning, saw lots of Cliff 
Swallows, Barn Swallows, numerous Song Sparrows and other sparrows I 
could not ID, many Brewer's Blackbirds, 2 Great-blue Herons, a Great 
Egret, a Western Meadowlark, several American Kestrels, two Red-tailed 
Hawks, and finally a pair of Sandhill Cranes flew over us. Only the 
main water channel was flowing so did not see any ducks.
Yesterday at Salmon Lake and Sardine Lake (in the Lakes Basin area) saw 
an Osprey at each site.  Also saw several Common Mergansers and 
Mallards at Salmon Lake.  Andrea Oddo, Truckee
Subject: 8 & 9 Sep 09: S Sierra, Plumbeous Vireo
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:53:59 -0700
Hi,

In the 1970s, the late Ned Johnson discovered and wrote in Western 
Birds on the range extension of Plumbeous Vireo into the southern 
Sierra Nevada in southeastern Tulare County.  Several pairs of this 
species (former subspecies) has been found in the BLM Chimney Creek 
Campground and vicinity every year since.

My first ever September visit to Chimney Creek CG (10:35am-11:35am on 
the Tuesday the 8th) was highlighted by two singing Plumbeous Vireos.

During the traditional May and June visits to Chimney Creek CG 
Yellow-rumped Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler are usually the 
only warbler species detected. So, it was fun to see migrant warblers 
using the area on September 8th with 17 individuals of five species 
in three separate groups along the one mile long campground road: 3 
Orange-crowned Warblers, 5 Nashville Warblers, 3 Black-throated Gray 
Warblers, 2 MacGillivray's Warblers, and 4 Wilson's Warblers. 5 more 
Black-throated Gray Warblers were seen along Chimney Peak National 
Back Country Byway above the campground.

The list of species observed during 9.5 total hours of searching on 
September 8 & 9 in the southern Sierra Nevada area where Inyo County, 
Kern County, and Tulare County meet were: Chukar, California Quail, 
Mountain Quail, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, American Kestrel, 
Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Calliope 
Hummingbird, Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Acorn 
Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed 
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, 
Plumbeous Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, 
Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, 
Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, 
Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, Wrentit, California Thrasher, 
Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, 
Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's 
Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Chipping 
Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, 
and Lesser Goldfinch.

Continued Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Martis Peak and Truckee Sightings
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:08:12 -0400
Yesterday volunteered all day at Martis Peak Lookout overlooking most 
of Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas at an altitude of 8600'. Saw 
numerous Dark-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, American Robins, one 
Red-shafted No. Flicker, three Clark's Nutcrackers, one Audubon's 
Warbler  and one Northern Harrier. She was diving but did not see her 
prey. Also saw one Turkey Vulture.
Here in Tahoe Donner, elevations 6800', the Mountain Chickadees, 
Dark-eyed Juncos and Steller's Jays are feeding hungrily along with the 
Cassin's Finches. Just spotted a Brown Creeper eating its way up a 
lodge pole pine.  Andrea Oddo, Truckee
Subject: South Lake Tahoe
From: "Bob Hislop" <rhislop AT astound.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:42:29 -0700
Yesterday, while camping at Richardson's Resort in S. Tahoe, i saw a 
White-headed Woodpecker and a Williamson's Sapsucker in the same tree as I was 
making coffee (got a picture of the former sighting). And, later in the day, 
saw a Mountain Bluebird in the Hope Valley (south of Tahoe). 


Bob Hislop
Concord

   
Subject: Fw: Out of area request
From: Paul Miller <paulbug AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 15:26:31 -0700 (PDT)
Hello birders!
I will be visiting the area and am hoping to see a few birds--actually, I'd be 
thrilled to see one or two new ones. 

I'll be staying at the Young Life Mountain Lodge near 80 off the Soda Springs 
exit.  Are there good birding locations close to that area (I won't be going 
too far afield, as I don't have too much time) that you would recommend 
visiting?  Or is there a website that describes sites, with directions to them? 


-these are the birds I haven't seen, but I'd be happy seeing anything.
Northern Goshawk
Sooty Grouse (is that the right name for it now?)
Spotted Owl
Pinyon Jay
Rock Wren
Rufous crowned Sparrow (? not sure the range)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Evening Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeak
(Flammulated owl?  all gone?)

Thanks so much!
Paul Miller
Scotts Valley, CA

831 334 4138 cell

831 335 4138 home




      


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Lassen NP
From: "judisierra" <judisierra AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:33:07 -0000
Highlights from Golden Gate Audubon's 29th annual backpacking trip to Snag Lake 
led by David Rice and Robin Pulich Aug. 28-31- A 2nd trip/park record sighting 
of a Western KINGBIRD, actually not just one but two together. BALD EAGLE pair 
with at least one of two fledges. LEWIS, WHITE-HEADED, BLACK-BACKED, 
WOODPECKERS.GRAY JAY (heard). Diminished numbers of Swallows, Nighhawks and 
bats as well as Empid variety. We did see several of the expected Willow 
Flycatcher. 68 speicies total including 8 expected warbler sp. 

Judi Sierra
Oakland, CA
Subject: Tahoe Rim Trail Sightings
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:53:15 -0400
Yesterday, between Echo Lakes and Dick's Pass saw several birds not spotted 
before on my Tahoe Rim Trail hikes. At a high elevation spotted a Black-backed 
Woodpecker, ?three Blue Grouse and an Osprey.? ?As usual saw at least 10 
Clark's Nutcrackers, flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos, several Mountain Chickadees, 
one White-breasted Nuthatch and one American Goldfinch. Earlier in Echo Lake 
saw one Mallard and two Canada Geese. There was still lots of water on the 
trail and for the first time I saw a wildflower, the gorgeous Explorer's 
Gentian. They are worth seeing but quite a hike to get to them. They were high 
up on the slope leading to Dick's Pass, elevation 9,000+. Andrea Oddo, Truckee? 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sept. 1 KENTUCKY WARBLER - Mono Co.
From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:00:06 -0700
On Sept. 1, 2009 about 8:00 AM, there was a first winter KENTUCKY  
WARBLER in the riparian area on the south side of Convict Lake in Mono  
Co. It was in the company of a first winter MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER.  
The birds were feeding in low bushes and I was able to follow them for  
about 5 minutes at a distance of 15 to 20 feet. The birds were very  
cooperative in that when I pished, they would pop up to the top of the  
bush and give me lengthy, clear views.
The Kentucky Warbler was about the same size as the MacGillivray's  
Warbler, but was very short-tailed, especially when compared to the  
MacGillivray's Warbler. The top of the head and face to below the eye,  
neck, back, wings, rump and tail were all a dull olive color. The  
underparts were bright yellow. The bird had bright yellow spectacles  
that did not quite go entirely around the eye. The bill was a drab,  
mostly light color and the legs were bright pink.

Kathy Parker
Los Gatos
Subject: Sa, 29 Aug 09 Common Poorwills Galore & More
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:34:29 -0700
Hi,

Spent all day and part of the night on Saturday, August 29 searching 
the Kern River Valley and Greenhorn Mountains for bird species not 
yet reported via eBird in Kern County during August 2009 while 
tallying other species and numbers along the way for eBird data entry.

Added White-tailed Kite, Sora, Western Screech-Owl, Common Poorwill, 
Townsend's Warbler, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow to the August Kern list.

Started at Canebrake Ecological Reserve where the highlights were: 9 
Virginia Rails (2 visual), 1 Sora, 1 Barn Owl , 1 Western Screech-Owl 
(my 1st for this location), 4 Wrentits (2 from new specific 
locations), and a roost of 450 Tricolored Blackbirds (counted during 
morning flyout).

Next up was Fay Ranch Road and an off-limits portion of the Kern 
River Preserve where the highlights were two White-tailed Kites, an 
Acorn Woodpecker in an unexpected location, and a flock of 25 Horned 
Larks foraging in a pasture (my first for this location).

Paul's Place produced the first Bewick's Wren for that location.

Then it was off to the Greenhorn Mountains where highlights were: 1 
immature Golden Eagle, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Golden-crowned 
Kinglet, 6 Townsend's Solitaires, and a mixed flock of 12 Mountain 
Chickadees, 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Black-throated Warbler, 1 Townsend's 
Warbler, 1 Wilson's Warbler, and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos.

After 2 hours off from the 100F heat Isabella Reservoir's Kissack 
Cove (right below the community of Mountain Mesa) produced 36 
American White Pelicans.

Then it was off to 10.2 mile long Sawmill Road (leading west off CA 
Hwy 155 from the west shore of Isabella Reservoir to the north to 
south crest of the Greenhorn Mountains) for the late afternoon, 
evening, and night where highlights were 11 Common Poorwills (1 
visual)!, 148 Violet-green Swallows, and 2 Rufous-crowned Sparrows.

Owling along Sawmill Road was a bust this time around as neither 
Spotted Owls nor Saw-whet Owls were detected nor any lingering 
Flammulated Owls.

Full context follows...


The foundations of the following reports were generated automatically 
by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/)...


TIME/DAY/DATE: 6am-7:45am, Saturday, August 29, 2010; LOCATION: 
California Department of Fish & Game Canebrake Ecological Reserve, 4 
mi. east of Onyx, Kern County, California; GPS: N 35 43' 34.4", W 118 
10' 09.5"; ELEVATION: 2850'; TEMPERATURE: 57F-64.2F; HUMIDITY: 
47%-48%; WIND: 1.2-4.5 kph; PURPOSE: The purpose of the visit was to 
survey for Sora which had not been reported from the Kern River 
Valley and surrounding Southern Sierra Nevada during this summer nesting season
Species:     34
    * Mallard     22
    * California Quail     1
    * Red-shouldered Hawk     2
    * Virginia Rail     9     2 visual, 4 voluntarily calling, then 3 
more in response to Sora recorded vocalization.
    * Sora     1     Responded at 7:28am to recorded Sora 
vocalization ... Several inconclusive short utterances eventually 
followed by one full whinney call.
    * American Coot     2
    * Mourning Dove     5
    * Barn Owl     1     Visual - flushed from red willow strip
    * Western Screech-Owl     1     First time for this 
location...Called numerous times during twilight.
    * Anna's Hummingbird     3
    * hummingbird sp.     1
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     4
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     2
    * Black Phoebe     4
    * Western Scrub-Jay     6
    * Common Raven     1
    * Oak Titmouse     3
    * Bushtit     20
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Rock Wren     1
    * Bewick's Wren     7
    * Western Bluebird     5
    * American Robin     1
    * Wrentit     4     Most number of individuals recorded for this 
location. Two were in new locations.
    * European Starling     5
    * Common Yellowthroat     11
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * California Towhee     2
    * Song Sparrow     12
    * Red-winged Blackbird     1
    * Tricolored Blackbird     450     Roosting at pond. They were so 
noisy with their awful, wonderful "Waaaah" calls that only one 
Red-winged Blackbird call could be heard within the din. Count of 
individuals was made when the morning flyout took place ... several 
flocks of 25+ individuals...
    * House Finch     1
    * Lesser Goldfinch     1


TIME/DAY/DATE: 8:05am-8:30am, Saturday, August 29, 2009; LOCATION: 
Fay Ranch Road, South Fork (Kern River Valley), Weldon, Kern County, 
California; GPS: N 35 39' 57.7", W 118 17' 23.7"; ELEVATION: 2661'; 
PURPOSE: Searching for White-tailed Kite for August; HIGHLIGHTS: 
Acorn Woodpecker (in riparian forest at bridge), Horned Lark (first 
time detected at this location);...
Species:     20
    * California Quail     1
    * Turkey Vulture     1
    * Red-tailed Hawk     2
    * American Kestrel     2     A pair
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     1
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Downy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     2
    * Western Wood-Pewee     1
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     1
    * Common Raven     1
    * Horned Lark     25     First time at this location
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Western Bluebird     2
    * Common Yellowthroat     1
    * Lark Sparrow     3
    * Song Sparrow     3
    * House Finch     3


TIME/DAY/DATE: 8:30am-8:45am, Saturday, August 29, 2009; LOCATION: 
Kern River Preserve--East Unit, South Fork (Kern River) Valley, 
Weldon Kern County, California; GPS: N 35 40' 42.0", W 118 16' 40.7"; 
ELEVATION: 2670'; PURPOSE: To secure August 2009 White-tailed Kite 
record in Kern County;...
Species:     10
    * White-tailed Kite     2 together
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Downy Woodpecker     1
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Black Phoebe     1
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     1
    * Song Sparrow     2
    * House Finch     31
    * Lesser Goldfinch     2


Location:     Mountain Mesa--Kissack Cove
Observation date:     8/29/09
Species:     4
    * Western/Clark's Grebe     2
    * American White Pelican     36
    * Double-crested Cormorant     12
    * Great Blue Heron     4


Location:     Greenhorn Mountains--FS 25S17 West
PURPOSE: Searching unsuccessfully for August 2009 Northern Goshawk 
and Pileated Woodpecker record for Kern County
Species:     5
    * Steller's Jay     1
    * Mountain Chickadee     3
    * Red-breasted Nuthatch     2
    * Townsend's Solitaire     1
    * Dark-eyed Junco     4


TIME/DAY/DATE: 10:40am-12pm, Saturday, August 29, 2009; LOCATION: 
Forest Service Road 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit to Kern County/Tulare 
County line), Greenhorn Mountains, Sequoia National Forest, Kern 
County, California; GPS (at CA Hwy 155): N 35 44' 19.8", W 118 33' 
22.6; ELEVATION: 6102'-7060'; PURPOSE: Searching for montane species 
not yet found in August 2009; HIGHLIGHTS: 1 immature Golden Eagle, 1 
Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5 Townsend's 
Solitaires, five warbler species (Nashville, Yellow-rumped, 
Black-throated Gray, Townsend's, Wilson) in mixed flock with 12 
Mountain Chickadees, 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches, and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos.
Species:     23
    * Golden Eagle     1
    * hummingbird sp.     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     2
    * Pileated Woodpecker     1     0.5 mi. n. of Greenhorn Summit
    * Steller's Jay     16
    * Western Scrub-Jay     6
    * Mountain Chickadee     20
    * Red-breasted Nuthatch     14
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Golden-crowned Kinglet     1
    * Western Bluebird     6
    * Townsend's Solitaire     5
    * American Robin     2
    * Nashville Warbler (Western)     1
    * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     1
    * Black-throated Gray Warbler     1
    * Townsend's Warbler     1     Fall migrant in female plumage in 
a mixed flock consisting of 12 Mountain Chickadees, 6 Red-breasted 
Nuthatches, 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 
Black-throated Gray Warbler, the subject Townsend's Warbler itself, 1 
Wilson's Warbler, and 2 Dark-eyed Juncos.
    * MacGillivray's Warbler     2
    * Wilson's Warbler     1
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Dark-eyed Junco     4
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     2
    * Purple Finch     1


Location:     Mountain Mesa--Kissack Cove
Observation date:     8/29/09
Species:     4
    * Western/Clark's Grebe     2
    * American White Pelican     36
    * Double-crested Cormorant     12
    * Great Blue Heron     4


TIME/DAY/DATE: 6:15pm-9:30pm, Saturday, August 29, 2009; LOCATION: 
Sawmill Road off west side of CA Hwy 155, Greenhorn Mountains, Kern 
County, California; PURPOSE: To search for species not yet reported 
for Kern County in August 2009. HIGHLIGHTS: 11 Common Poorwills (1 
visual), 148 Violet-green Swallows, 2 Rufous-crowned Sparrows;...
Species:     14
    * California Quail     2
    * Mourning Dove     3
    * Great Horned Owl     1
    * Common Poorwill     11     One visual plus ten others heard 
along a 2-3 mile stretch of Sawmill Road from 7:40pm-8:10pm. Sawmill 
Road is a known road to take visiting birders to find Common 
Poorwill. But, this total of 11 individuals is the highest number 
recorded for this road on a single evening, far surpassing the prior 
high of 6 individuals (all of which were seen) on one evening.
    * Western Scrub-Jay     6
    * Common Raven     2
    * Violet-green Swallow     148     All flying up canyon into the 
Greenhorns while waiting at the first Common Poorwill spot 3.1 mi. 
west up Sawmill Road from CA Hwy 155.
    * Oak Titmouse     1
    * Canyon Wren     1
    * Wrentit     4
    * California Thrasher     1
    * Spotted Towhee     3
    * California Towhee     8
    * Rufous-crowned Sparrow     2     Two individuals ... one each 
side of Sawmill Road 0.7 mi. west up Sawmill Road from CA Hwy 155. A 
known location provided  by N John Schmitt...

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Warblers on the move!
From: "Ted Beedy" <tbeedy AT comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:19:08 -0700
I went out three different times this morning (between 0600-1030) trying to
relocate and photograph the Bay-breasted Warbler I saw in our yard yesterday
(8/27), but no luck. Our property is about 2 acres of mature black oak,
ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and incense cedar forest, with a nice stand of
large dogwoods and a lush understory of California blackberry shrubs lining
our creek and our ~1/4-acre, creek-fed pond. We live at about 3,200' on
Banner Mountain, just outside Nevada City, Nevada County.

On my first three searches I only saw a couple of our local warblers, but a
Pileated Woodpecker working the dogwoods and hanging like a nuthatch eating
dogwood berries, and a Red-shouldered Hawk strafing the Mallards, Wood
Ducks, and one Northern Pintail (all wild birds) on our pond were a treat.
At about 4:30 I heard the Bushtits moving through our yard again (uncommon
around here, and mostly in the fall) and when I started looking it seemed
that every tree had at least a couple of warblers flitting around (>40
altogether), most that I couldn't see well or fast enough to identify. Of
those I did, here's my approximate tally from about a half hour of standing
near my horseshoe pit (based on relative locations and plumage differences
of the birds I could ID): 4 Orange-crowned, 5 Nashville's, 2 Yellow's, 6
Yellow-rumps, 3 Black-throated Gray's, 1 Townsend's, 1 Hermit, and 3
Wilson's--all the warbler species (until yesterday) that I've ever seen here
in 13+ years, except for MacGillivray's that I've only seen in our yard a
couple of times in fall migration. Then, they were all gone and it was
quiet, save the resident jays, robins, nuthatches, and creepers and a couple
of ravens flying overhead.

I'm having fun "birding my own patch," letting the birds come to me instead
of driving long distances to try to find birds others have already found. I
encourage other Sierra birders to find their own patches (preferably a nice
patch of habitat somewhere near your house that you can walk or ride a bike
to), to search them frequently year-round, and keep good notes on what
you've seen (e.g., at least dates, times, species, and approximate #s)--or
to come to my patch if you live anywhere near here--all are welcome!

Ted Beedy
530-274-7232

P.S. I've only seen a few "vagrant" warblers in 45+ years of birding the
Sierra a lot, and two (the Bay-breasted yesterday, and a spring male
Blackpoll Warbler on the South Fork Kern two years ago) were at least
somewhat associated with Bushtit flocks. I've read and heard reports of
others observing this possible association, but I'd be curious to know what
others have seen.
Subject: Bay-breasted Warbler in Nevada City
From: "Ted Beedy" <tbeedy AT comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:41:45 -0700
This morning at 1015 I encountered a large flock of about 50 migrant birds
in our yard at 12213 Half Moon Way, Nevada City. Among them were about 5
Nashvilles, 3 Orange-crowns, about 30 Bushtits, 5 Chestnut-backed
Chickadees, 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 3 Brown Creepers, and a fall male
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. I saw this bird for about a minute at close range at
almost eye-level and noted the following characteristics: greenish/brownish
back and cap, rusty or buffy flanks, strong white wingbars, dark legs, no
streaking below, and a relatively short tail--it did not vocalize. I tried
to follow the bird around our pond but soon lost it and have not seen it
since, so I'm not sure if I can show it to anyone else-but you're welcome to
try! Note: the bird I saw looked almost identical to the photo in Dunn &
Garrett "Warblers" p. 382.

Ted Beedy
530-274-7232

P.S. I've seen this species in fall plumage several times at Pt. Reyes and
many times in the eastern U.S.
Subject: Lake Forest Western Sandpiper - Siberian?
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:05:58 -0700
I just heard back from Nils Warnock, who informed me that the lt. blue  
flags on the Western Sandpiper that's been at Lake Forest Beach for  
the last several days, suggest that the bird was originally banded at  
North Chukotka, Siberia.  I believe that the small breeding population  
of Western Sandpipers found in eastern Siberia winters in the Americas  
anyway, but it's still pretty cool for one to turn up at Lake Tahoe.   
Could also be that somebody's not following protocol, but he's going  
to look into it.  I'll follow up if a final verdict is reached. In the  
meantime, that bird was still present yesterday if anybody wishes to  
get a glimpse of a sandpiper that spent its summer in Siberia.
Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
Subject: Tahoe shorebirds/Devil's Postpile Indigo Bunting
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:25:04 -0700
Yesterday (8/23), once the rains stopped (mid-morning), I birded a few  
beaches around Lake Tahoe.  The mudflats at the Upper Truckee Delta  
were well-stocked with shorebirds, including well over 100 Western  
Sandpipers and ~ 50 Semipalmated Plovers.  Also present were both  
dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Red-necked Phalaropes, a single dead  
Willet, many Least Sandpipers, a few ibis, Great Egret, one  
Sanderling, and one Semipalmated Sandpiper (I'll post a photo after I  
brighten/sharpen it up - it was quite gloomy yesterday).  I also got  
to watch a young harrier repeatedly pouncing on a pine cone on the  
beach - looked like play.

Today (8/24), while mist-netting at Devil's Postpile National  
Monument, we captured a second-year male Indigo Bunting in  
supplemental plumage.

At Lake Forest Beach, both yesterday and this evening, has been a  
color-banded adult Western Sandpiper (Light Blue, Light Blue/ 
Silver,Red).  Can't wait to find out where that bird was originally  
captured.

I've also been impressed at the numbers and ubiquity of Black-throated  
Gray Warblers in the Tahoe Basin over the last week.  They're  
everywhere!

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
Subject: 20 Aug 09 S Fk Kern Watershed Birding
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:47:31 -0700
TIME/DAY/DATE: 5;10am-11:45am, Th, 20 Aug 09

LOCATIONS: South Fork Kern River watershed, Southern Sierra Nevada, 
Kern County, California

WEATHER: 60.5F-80.9F, 53%-15% humidity; 0-7.8 kph wind

ELEVATION: 2340'-6400'

E-BIRD: Based on reports generated automatically by eBird v2 
(http://ebird.org/california/)

HIGHLIGHTS: Chukar (1 site), Mountain Quail (2 sites), Pinyon Jay (3 
sites), Common Raven roost (125+ individuals), Green-tailed Towhee (1 site)

FALL MIGRANTS: Western Kingbird, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak

OBSERVER: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co, CA

SPECIES:  c. 45


KRP HQ  Entrance at Hwy 178 (5:10am-5:15am)
    * Barn Owl     1
    * Great Horned Owl     2

Fay Ranch Rd (5:20am-5:30am)
    * Barn Owl     4

Kelso Valley Rd - 1st 0.25 mi. (5:30am-5:35am)
    * Great Horned Owl     2

Kelso Valley Rd - 6 mi fr Hwy 178 (5:40am-5:45am)
    * Common Raven     125

Rocky Point (5:45am-5:55am)
    * Chukar     2
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     2
    * Red-winged Blackbird     1

Frog Spring (6:10am-7:20am)
    * California Quail     3
    * Mourning Dove     3
    * Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1 adult male
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Say's Phoebe     1
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     2
    * Pinyon Jay     1     Passing through Frog Spring area going up 
canyon with stops on Joshua trees. Called only once at closest 
observation on Joshua tree.
    * Common Raven     2
    * Cactus Wren     1
    * Rock Wren     1
    * Bewick's Wren     5
    * California Thrasher     1
    * Phainopepla     1
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * California Towhee     3
    * Sage Sparrow     9
    * House Finch     4

Kelso Creek Sanctuary (7:20am-7:30am) to check for Brown-crested 
Flycatcher (not present this visit and 30 Jul 09 visit, last known in 
late June a this site)
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Common Raven     1
    * Oak Titmouse     1
    * Bewick's Wren     2
    * House Finch     1

Mile 18/Tunnel Spring (7:40am-8:15am)
    * California Quail     46
    * Mourning Dove     2
    * hummingbird sp.     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     3
    * Pinyon Jay     3
    * Rock Wren     1
    * Bewick's Wren     6
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Spotted Towhee     3
    * California Towhee     2
    * Sage Sparrow     8
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     2

Piute Mtn Rd - 5.5 mi w of Kelso Valley Rd (8:40am-8:45am)
    * Mountain Quail     9 (no adult males)
    * Steller's Jay     1     Imcidental to Mountain Quail observation

Piute Mtn Rd - Landers Mdw (8:50am-10:00am)
    * Red-tailed Hawk     1
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Western Wood-Pewee     4
    * Black Phoebe     1
    * Western Kingbird     1
    * Steller's Jay     2
    * Pinyon Jay     1     At least one heard calling repeatedly. 
There may have beenmre in this known high use area. But, this species 
was not pursued this visit.
    * Mountain Chickadee     10
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     5
    * Pygmy Nuthatch     16
    * Rock Wren     1
    * Western Tanager     3
    * Green-tailed Towhee     1
    * Chipping Sparrow     2
    * Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     3
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     1

Piute Mtn Rd - 6.1 mi w of Kelso Valley Rd (10:10am-10:15am)
    * Mountain Quail     4     4 adults crossing Piute Mountain Road 
c. 6.1 miles uphill from Kelso Valley Road.
    * Steller's Jay     1     Incidental to Mountain Quail observation...
    * Bewick's Wren     1     Incidental to Mountan Quail observation...

Kern River Preserve HQ (11:15am-11:45am)
    * Killdeer     1
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * Anna's Hummingbird     7
    * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird     14
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     1
    * Common Raven     1
    * Oak Titmouse     2
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Bewick's Wren     1
    * Western Bluebird     7
    * Yellow Warbler     3     Two adult males still singing ... 
albeit at an infrequent rate and more quietly than during peak of 
singing earlier in the breeding/nesting season
    * Common Yellowthroat     2
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Song Sparrow     3
    * House Finch     4
    * Lesser Goldfinch     11

Bob Barnes. Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Foresthill Costa's Hummingbird (PLA)
From: "Deren Ross" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:26:19 -0000
Hello Birders,

Over the last two weeks, an immature male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD has been visting 
a feeder at a private residence in Foresthill(Placer Co.). 

The report just recently came to my attention and has been confirmed. A photo, 
courtesy of Gloria Marie, will be posted. 


Deren Ross
Auburn, Ca 
Subject: Tahoe shorebirds
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:36:30 -0700
I ran down to S. Lake this afternoon (8/14) to see if I could find the  
Solitary Sandpiper.  Much to my surprise, it was right where it had  
been reported.  I had great scope views and took a few distant photos  
(one posted to the Tahoe page) before it retreated back into the marsh  
proper.  Tons of good shorebird habitat down there right now.

Some notable stuff:
Lots of Least and Western Sandpipers, the latter including one tiny  
male adult that was still largely in breeding plumage
Singles of Long-billed Dowitcher, Sanderling, and Herring Gull
A dozen or so Semipalmated Plovers
Several Ibis
8 Caspian and 15+ Forster's Terns
The grackles are still busily feeding their young, still in the same  
clump of willows as the nest.  They may possibly still be in the nest,  
but it's been 10 days, and they were shuttling impressively large  
loads of food on 24 July which led me to believe they were pretty far  
along at the time.
Two female-type Bufflehead back in the marsh and several young Wood  
Ducks.  Seems I've seen Wood Ducks back there every time I look this  
summer, which is curious, since there's no wood.

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
Subject: Tahoe Solitary Sandpiper
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:22:09 -0700
Just got some great photos of a Solitary Sandpiper, found by Lynn  
Harriman, this morning at S. Lake Tahoe.  The bird was at the Upper  
Truckee Marsh/Delta, in the pond near the break in the fence, that's  
on the lake side of the fence.  Should make sense to anyone who's  
familiar with that fenceline right now.  I'm headed down to see if  
it's still there.
Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
Subject: S Lake Tahoe
From: scre AT aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:29:46 -0400
Lauren Harter and I stopped by the Upper Truckee River delta/Tahoe Keys area on 
our way east today.? 


We had 
White-faced Ibis-3
Killdeer-12
Semipalmated Plover-6
Spotted Sandpiper-6
Greater Yellowlegs-1
Willet-1
Marbled Godwit-2
Western Sandpiper-~70 all but 2 were juvies
Least Sandpiper-8
Long-billed Dowitcher-1
Wilson's Phalarope-2
Great-tailed Grackle-1 heard from the Tahoe Keys area

Good birding
David Vander Pluym
Currently living on the road


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Ansel Adams Wilderness report
From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:38:39 -0700
I just returned from 5 days of backpacking out of Mammoth.  

Route: Agnew Meadows to Shadow Lake to Lake Ediza (elev. 9200), with side trips 
to Iceberg Lake (at the base of the Minarets) and the tarn at the base of 
Ritter/Banner Peaks and to nearby Nydiver Lakes. All in Madera County. 


Dates:  Aug 6-10

Common Merganser  - w/ ducklings at Shadow and Ediza
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Osprey
Spotted Sandpiper - at Shadow and Ediza
California Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Dusky Flycatcher - begging juvs at Ediza
Warbling Vireo
Violet-green Swallow - begging juvs at Ediza
Steller's Jay
Clark's Nutcracker
Common Raven
Rock Wren
American Dipper - juvs at Iceberg and tarn under Ritter/Banner
Mountain Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Golden-cr Kinglet
American Pipit - one near tarn below Ritter/Banner
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Townsend's Solitaire
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Orange-cr Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
White-cr Sparrow
Thick-billed Fox Sparrow - in SJ Valley below Shadow Lk
Dark-eyed Junco
Cassin's Finch - begging juvs several places
Gray-cr Rosy-Finch - juvs at Iceberg and tarn below Ritter/Banner

good birding, 




Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax
Subject: 31 Jul-5 Aug 09: S Sierra-Kern R Valley
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:39:57 -0700
Hi,

31 Jul through 5 Aug 09 birding produced information on non-prime 
time of year bird species and numbers occurrence at locations in the 
Kern River Valley and Kern County portion of the surrounding Sierra 
Nevada. All of the following data was submitted to eBird v2 
(http://ebird.org/california/).


HIGHLIGHTS:
    * Species diversity and numbers along Sierra Way, Weldon; e.g.: 
FORTY-NINE Common Yellowthroats (see 2 Aug 09)...
    * EIGHT GREATER ROADRUNNERS in thirty minutes in the South Fork 
Wildlife Area and along Paul's Place, Weldon (see Su, 2 Aug 09); plus 
numbers of Western Grebes and Clark's Grebes plus their respective 
young of the year in a range of sizes...
    * Kern River Preserve Headquarters feeders attracting impressive 
hummingbird numbers and the grape arbor attracting Summer Tanager, 
Western Tanager, and other species as they do every early August (see 
Su, 2 Aug 09)...
    * The Kern County portion of Chimney Peak National Backcountry 
Byway hosting a diversity of species, albeit a small number, of 
likely high interest to out-of-state, out-of-species range birders 
... highlighted by a "bring them in close" scope view of a CHUKAR and 
a MOUNTAIN QUAIL within 10' of each other on a single large boulder 
... plus Greater Roadrunner, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, 
Hairy Woodpecker, Western Scrub-Jay, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Cactus 
Wren, Rock Wren, Wrentit, California Towhee, Black-throated Sparrow, 
and Sage Sparrow ... all observed within a mile of each other (see 
Tu, 4 Aug 09)...
    * A Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and American Dipper within a few feet 
of each other along the Kern River between CA Hwy 155 and Isabella 
Reservoir's main dam as accessed from Main Dam Campground just north 
of CA Hwy 178 the community of Lake Isabella (see Tu, 4 Aug 09)...
    * A better understanding of the early August species diversity 
possible at Tiger Flat (centered on an abandoned campground) and this 
portion of the Greenhorn Mountains in general (see 31 Jul 09 and 5 Aug 09)...
    * Additional verification of the mountainside community of 
Wofford Heights as providing reliable BAND-TAILED PIGEON locations...

TIME/DAY/DATE:     8:15am-10:20am, Fr, 31 Jul 09
LOCATION:     Sequoia National Forest, FS 24S15--Greenhorn Summit 
north to Tulare Co. line
HABITATS:     Mixed conifer, deciduous oaks, dense shrubbery in old burn areas
OBSERVER:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., California
WEATHER:     65.7F-77.7F, 53%-37% humidity; occasional breezes to 4.1 kph
ELEVATION:     6000'-7000'
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     31
    * Mountain Quail     4     Foraging in old burn areas grown to 
dense, thick shrubs
    * Mourning Dove     2
    * hummingbird sp.     7
    * Acorn Woodpecker     4     In old burn areas
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     2
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * White-headed Woodpecker     2
    * Olive-sided Flycatcher     2
    * Western Wood-Pewee     27     Ubiquitous calling, flying, fussing, etc.
    * Dusky Flycatcher     6
    * Warbling Vireo     2
    * Steller's Jay     8
    * Western Scrub-Jay     2     In recovering burn areas with dense shrubs
    * Mountain Chickadee     14
    * Red-breasted Nuthatch     19     Vocalizing commonly
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     3
    * House Wren     4
    * Western Bluebird     3
    * Townsend's Solitaire     4
    * American Robin     6
    * Wrentit     1     Calling from dense shrubbery in recovering 
burn area...
    * Orange-crowned Warbler     1
    * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     1     Seemingly very low 
number ...  this species was not vocalizing nor in-your-face.
    * Western Tanager     4
    * Green-tailed Towhee     2
    * Chipping Sparrow     4
    * Fox Sparrow     5
    * Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     5
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     18     Very vocal and widespread...
    * Purple Finch     5
    * Lesser Goldfinch     1
    * NOTE: Additional species Brown Creeper 1 and Spotted Towhee 1 
were noted on a brief, 20 minute survey of a portion of the same 
route on 5 Aug 09.

TIME/DAY/DATE:     5am-8:30am, 2 Aug 09
LOCATION:     Kern River Preserve--Sierra Way, Weldon, Kern Co.
HABITATS:      Fremont cottonwood & red willow riparian strips and 
woodland, freshwater marsh & pond, native grassland/shrubs, open 
pasture (some actively grazed and some not)
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA and Bill 
Lydecker, Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
WEATHER:     65F at 7am; 74.8F at 8:30am
ELEVATION:     2630'-2650'
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     50
    * Mallard     148     May have been the tip of the Prince's Pond 
early morning flyout iceberg...
    * Ring-necked Pheasant     2
    * Pied-billed Grebe     3
    * Great Blue Heron     4
    * Green Heron     1     This species has been found on the Kern 
River Preserve in June, July, and now August. This seems 
unprecedented ... heard several times; also seen in flight
    * Black-crowned Night-Heron     4
    * Turkey Vulture     1
    * Osprey     1     Flyover carrying a fish over Sierra Way
    * Red-shouldered Hawk     2
    * Red-tailed Hawk     1
    * American Kestrel     2
    * Virginia Rail     3     Great to have these calling 
spontaneously from Prince's Pond marsh as this species is usually 
only detected in the South Fork Kern River Valley at the California 
Department of Fish & Game's Canebrake Ecological Reserve located ten 
miles to the east.
    * Killdeer     1
    * Spotted Sandpiper     1
    * Eurasian Collared-Dove     3
    * Mourning Dove     12
    * Great Horned Owl     1
    * Red-breasted Sapsucker     1     In willows at edge of Prince's 
Pond. This species has been encountered unexpectedly at several 
lowland locations this summer.
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     3
    * Downy Woodpecker     3
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     4
    * Western Wood-Pewee     7
    * Willow Flycatcher     2     Federally Endangered Southwestern 
(extimus) subspecies
    * Black Phoebe     7
    * Ash-throated Flycatcher     9
    * Western Kingbird     1
    * Common Raven     7
    * Tree Swallow     1
    * Violet-green Swallow     6     Foraging low and repeatedly over 
Prince's Pond in excellent light to the extent that the violet on the 
rump was observable on one individual...
    * Northern Rough-winged Swallow     1     Not an immature Tree Swallow
    * Cliff Swallow     3
    * swallow sp.     1
    * Oak Titmouse     4
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     6
    * Bewick's Wren     5
    * House Wren     1
    * American Robin     1
    * European Starling     50     May have been the tip of the 
Prince's Pond early morning flyout iceberg...
    * Yellow Warbler     14
    * Common Yellowthroat     49     Ubiquitous...
    * Summer Tanager     1
    * Savannah Sparrow     1
    * Song Sparrow     42     Spotty ... most encountered in a few 
large groups of 8-10 individuals...
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     3
    * Blue Grosbeak     7
    * Red-winged Blackbird     100     May have been the tip of the 
Prince's Pond early morning flyout iceberg
    * Great-tailed Grackle     4
    * Brown-headed Cowbird     1
    * blackbird sp.     200     May have been the tip of the Prince's 
Pond early morning flyout iceberg...
    * House Finch     26
    * Lesser Goldfinch     10
    * NOTE: Additional species Cinnamon Teal 1, White-faced Ibis 13, 
and Spotted Towhee 1 were noted during a brief survey of a portion of 
the same route on 31 Jul 09.

TIME/DAY/DATE:     8:35am-10:10am, Su, 2 Aug 09
LOCATION:     South Fork Wildlife Area--South, South Lake, Kern 
County, California
HABITATS:      Grassland (short), mudflat, open water (large 
reservoir), rocky point, willow riparian strips,...
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA and Bill 
Lydecker, Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
WEATHER:     81.4F, 36% humidity at 10:00am
ELEVATION:     2630'
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     29
    * Mallard     18
    * Western Grebe     9     Close enough to identify easily
    * Clark's Grebe     59     Close enough to identify easily
    * Western/Clark's Grebe     301     Too far to identify easily
    * American White Pelican     31
    * Double-crested Cormorant     11
    * Great Blue Heron     12
    * Great Egret     2
    * Turkey Vulture     3
    * Osprey     3     Three individuals in sight at one time
    * Red-tailed Hawk     1
    * American Kestrel     1
    * American Coot     3
    * Killdeer     6
    * Spotted Sandpiper     4
    * California Gull     22
    * Caspian Tern     2
    * Mourning Dove     4
    * Greater Roadrunner     7     All in short grassland area of 
South Fork Wildlife Area. Counted one-by-one along first one mile of 
road from Isabella Reservoir shoreline to CA Hwy 178 ... one 
additional individual seen a few minutes later along Paul's Place in Weldon
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Black Phoebe     2
    * Say's Phoebe     1
    * Loggerhead Shrike     4
    * Common Raven     17
    * Rock Wren     3
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Song Sparrow     2
    * Blue Grosbeak     3
    * Red-winged Blackbird     31
    * House Finch     6

TIME/DAY/DATE:     10:25am-11:45am, Su, 2 Aug 09
LOCATION:     Kern River Preserve--Headquarters, Weldon, Kern Co., CA
HABITATS:     Fremont cottonwood & red willow riparian forest, 
pasture, rural residential yard
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA and Bill 
Lydecker, Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA
WEATHER:     81.4F, 36% humidity at 10:00am
ELEVATION:     2645'
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     25
    * California Quail     3
    * Turkey Vulture     1
    * Red-shouldered Hawk     1
    * Killdeer     1
    * Eurasian Collared-Dove     2
    * Mourning Dove     3
    * Black-chinned Hummingbird     3
    * Anna's Hummingbird     12
    * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird     4
    * hummingbird sp.     20     Three 6-port hummingbird feeders at 
one feeding station; four 6-port hummingbird feeders at a second 
feeding station at Kern River Preserve Headquarters. Based on prior 
year's banding and sugar water consumption rates, the 20 hummingbird 
sp. is almost surely a very conservative number.
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Western Wood-Pewee     2
    * Black Phoebe     1
    * Western Kingbird     3
    * Oak Titmouse     2
    * Western Bluebird     4
    * American Robin     4     at grape arbor
    * European Starling     42
    * Yellow Warbler     2
    * Common Yellowthroat     3
    * Summer Tanager     1     at grape arbor
    * Western Tanager     1     at grape arbor
    * Song Sparrow     3
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     1     at thistle seed feeder
    * Red-winged Blackbird     20
    * Lesser Goldfinch     6     at thistle seed feeder

TIME/DAY/DATE:     5:50am-9:40am, Tu, 4 Aug 09
LOCATION:     Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway, off the north 
side of CA Hwy 178 eight miles east of Onyx, Kern Co., CA
HABITATS:     Desert scrub, granite cliffs, gray pine woodland, 
Joshua tree woodland (with silver cholla in the mix), live oak-filled 
draws, open hillsides with rocks and rock outcroppings, and pinyon 
pine woodland all in close proximity to each other
OBSERVER:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA
WEATHER:     68.4F-82.8F, 29%-15% humidity, 6.2 kph max-7.9 kph max
ELEVATION:     3285'-5530'
COVERAGE:     6.3 mi. of Chimney Peak NBCB from CA Hwy 178 north to 
pass at Kern County/Tulare County line at Lamont Peak Trail tralihead
MISSED "TARGET" SPECIES:     Loggerhead Shrike, Canyon Wren, Scott's Oriole
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     19
    * Chukar     4     May have been many more ... lots of calling 
from different points
    * Mountain Quail     8     Count of single flock running across 
boulder ... may have missed front of flock
    * Mourning Dove     6
    * Greater Roadrunner     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     1
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     2
    * Hairy Woodpecker     4
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     11
    * Oak Titmouse     3
    * Bushtit     16     Single flock
    * Cactus Wren     5
    * Rock Wren     4
    * Bewick's Wren     4
    * Wrentit     2
    * Western Tanager     1
    * California Towhee     4
    * Black-throated Sparrow     4
    * Sage Sparrow     8     Single perched flock

TIME/DAY/DATE:     10:35am-11:25am, Tu, 4 Aug 09
LOCATION:     Hwy 155--Sequoia National Forest's Main Dam Campground 
off the north side of CA Hwy 155 north of CA Hwy 178, Lake Isabella, 
Kern Co., CA
ELEVATION:     2500'
GPS READING:     N 35 38' 29.6", W 118 29' 02.3"
OBSERVER:      Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA
WEATHER (at start):     84.9F, 19% humidity-15%, 6.8kph maximum wind
COVERAGE:      Kern River at Main Dam Campground from CA Hwy 155 
upriver 0.3 mile to Isabella Reservoir's Main Dam
HIGHLIGHTS:      TARGET BIRDS - CANYON WREN and AMERICAN DIPPER, plus 
Rock Wren all within a few feet of each other along Kern River
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES:     8
    * Red-tailed Hawk     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     2
    * Common Raven     2
    * Northern Rough-winged Swallow     3
    * Oak Titmouse     1
    * Rock Wren     1
    * Canyon Wren     1     In addition to calls, this individual 
gave a handful of full songs.
    * American Dipper     1

TIME/DAY/DATE:     6:00am-8:20am, We, 5 Aug 09
LOCATION:     Tiger Flat, Greenhorn Mountains, Sequoia National 
Forest, Kern County, Southern Sierra Nevada, California
GPS READING:     N 35 46' 38.1", W 118 34' 07.2"
ELEVATION:     6400'
HABITATS:     Mixed conifer with open areas and some deciduous oaks; 
plus dense shrubbery in old burn area
WEATHER:     68.4F-82.8F, 29%-15% humidity, 6.2kph-7.9kph maximum wind
OBSERVER:      Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA
COVERAGE:      Abandoned campground and 0.4 mile of FS 24S15 
bordering campground
HIGHLIGHTS:     Thirty-three species ... likely due to impressive 
habitat diversity in this relatively small area...
MISSED "TARGET" SPECIES:     Red-breasted Sapsucker, Cassin's Vireo, 
Golden-crowned Kinglet
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     33
    * Cooper's Hawk     1
    * Mourning Dove     3
    * Anna's Hummingbird     1
    * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird     1
    * hummingbird sp.     11     Penstamon blooming profusely ... 
hummingbirds chasing each other all about at several patches...
    * Acorn Woodpecker     1
    * White-headed Woodpecker     2
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Olive-sided Flycatcher     1
    * Western Wood-Pewee     3
    * Dusky Flycatcher     3
    * Warbling Vireo     2
    * Steller's Jay     2
    * Violet-green Swallow     1
    * Mountain Chickadee     5
    * Red-breasted Nuthatch     3
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     2
    * Brown Creeper     1
    * House Wren     6
    * Western Bluebird     8
    * Townsend's Solitaire     2
    * American Robin     2
    * Orange-crowned Warbler     6
    * Yellow Warbler     2
    * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     4
    * MacGillivray's Warbler     1
    * Western Tanager     4
    * Green-tailed Towhee     1
    * Fox Sparrow (Thick-billed)     5
    * Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     5
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     4
    * Purple Finch     3
    * Pine Siskin     1
    * Lesser Goldfinch     2

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Grosbeaks at Silver Lake August 2
From: Chet ogan <chet_ogan AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 07:10:57 -0700 (PDT)
Group:    Last year I also found PINE GROSBEAKS and EVENING GROSBEAKS at East 
Silver Lake Campground and PINE GROSBEAKS along the old immigrant trail between 
caples Lake and Kirkwood Ski Area. 

 Chet

Chet Ogan

chet_ogan AT yahoo.com

707-442-9353

--- On Wed, 8/5/09, Doug Herr  wrote:

From: Doug Herr 
Subject: Re: [SierraNevadaBirds] Grosbeaks at Silver Lake  August 2
To: sierra-nevadabirds AT yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 4:57 AM












 
 




    
                  David Wimpfheimer wrote:



> Although I have birded along Highway 88 many times, August 2nd was the first 
time I did so at 


> the west end of Silver Lake. 

> If my sightings were any indication I will certainly do so again in the

> future. 



Last August while hiking the trails just east of Silver Lake I found a few Pine 
Grosbeaks, so I suspect your sighting was not an isolated incident. 




http://wildlightpho to.com/birds/ fringillidae/ pigr00.jpg



Doug Herr

Sacramento

http://www.wildligh tphoto.com




 

      

    
    
	
	 
	
	




	




	
	


	
	
	



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Grosbeaks at Silver Lake August 2
From: Doug Herr <wildlightphoto AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 07:57:18 -0400 (EDT)
David Wimpfheimer wrote:

> Although I have birded along Highway 88 many times, August 2nd was the first 
time I did so at 

> the west end of Silver Lake. 
> If my sightings were any indication I will certainly do so again in the
> future. 

Last August while hiking the trails just east of Silver Lake I found a few Pine 
Grosbeaks, so I suspect your sighting was not an isolated incident. 


http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/pigr00.jpg

Doug Herr
Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com

Subject: Grosbeaks at Silver Lake August 2
From: David Wimpfheimer <ceruleanswift AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 21:32:59 -0700 (PDT)
Although I have birded along Highway 88 many times, August 2nd was the first 
time I did so at the west end of Silver Lake. 

If my sightings were any indication I will certainly do so again in the
future.  I followed the signs to Plasse's Resort off Hgy. 88.  Most of
the birding I did was very close to the Chapel at Silver Lake.  In a
small group of lodgepole pines adjacent to a patch of willows a beautiful male 
PINE GROSBEAK called 

and allowed close views.  Many Cassin's Finches were nearby, some were
juveniles being fed. I then heard and soon saw three EVENING GROSBEAKS in an 
isolated pine tree. Other species in the area included; RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, 
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, MOUNTAIN 
CHICKADEE, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE 
AND FOX SPARROW. I would be happy to see the grosbeaks anywhere in the Sierra. 
I suspect the location in Amador County may be of interest to more than a few. 


David Wimpfheimer
Point Reyes, CA



      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: SL Tahoe Sanderling
From: Keith Slauson <kmslauson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 11:57:04 -0700 (PDT)
Greetings-
 
  This morning around 10 am I saw a single juvenile Sanderling at the Upper 
Truckee 

River Delta accesses from the Tahoe Keys marina in South Lake Tahoe.  The bird 
was foraging alone and associated with ~12 western sandpipers on the extreme 
western edge of the northernmost sand spit.  In addition to giving good views 
while foraging, the bird vocallized several times and flew revealing its bold 
white wing sptripes. 

 
  Also present were:
2 Northern harriers (juv/female types at a distance)
14 white-faced ibis
6 semipalmated plovers
12 least sandpipers
 
Keith
McKinleyville,
Humboldt County


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: NAB reminder
From: "m_m_rogers" <m.m.rogers AT comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:21:16 -0000
Dear North American Birds Contributors,

The summer season has come to a close so please submit your noteworthy records 
from the Northern California Region for the period 1 June – 31 July to the 
appropriate Subregional Editors (see below) or to the Regional Editors by 10 
August. 


THERE ARE SEVERAL NEW NAMES ON THE LISTS BELOW, INCLUDING A NEW REGIONAL 
EDITOR, SO PLEASE CHECK THEM BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR RECORDS. 


Please pay special attention to the format example given at the end of this 
message. Reports that are formatted properly make our job far easier. In 
particular, it is important to note the order in which we would like to receive 
details of the record and that there is a single tab between each piece of 
information (species, date, etc.). 


PLEASE use Subregional Editors for the counties that have them. These SREs 
painstakingly keep track of records within their counties and are in most cases 
THE source of information on the birds of their counties. By sending your 
records to the SREs, you are helping to contribute to their county files as 
well as to North American Birds. If you wish to send copies to the Regional 
Editors, we welcome them, but please send records through the SREs as well. If 
you have a noteworthy winter sighting from a county without a Subregional 
Editor, please send records to the Regional Editors below. 


Records of loons-frigatebirds and larids-alcids go to Steve Rottenborn at:
H.T. Harvey & Associates
983 University Ave., Bldg. D
Los Gatos, CA 95032
srottenborn AT harveyecology.com


Records of waterfowl through quail and herons through shorebirds go to Mike 
Rogers at: 

499 Novato Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086        
m.m.rogers AT comcast.net


Records of doves through thrushes/Wrentit go to Jeff Davis at:
7815 N. Palm Ave., Suite 310
Fresno, CA 93711                          
jdavis AT harveyecology.com


Records of thrashers to finches go to Ed Pandolfino at:
5530 Delrose Court
Carmichael, CA 95608
erpfromca AT aol.com
        
        


SUBREGIONAL EDITORS

Alameda                                                         
Bob Richmond                                           
24650 Amador St. #15                              
Hayward, CA 94544                            
Brichmond94544 AT earthlink.net
        
Alpine, Calaveras, Modoc & Yolo
John Sterling 
29 Palm Ave.
Woodland, CA 95695
jsterling AT wavecable.com

Amador & El Dorado
Tim Steurer        
4042 Bancroft Dr.
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762-6933
tsteurer AT hotmail.com

Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama, & Yuba
Bruce Deuel
18730 Live Oak Road
Red Bluff, CA 96080
bdeuel AT wildblue.net

Contra Costa                                                        
Steve Glover                                        
5108 Shelly Ray Rd.
Keller, TX 76244                                   
countylines AT sbcglobal.net

Fresno
Gary W. Potter
2183 Walton Ave
Sanger, CA 93657 
gwpott AT aol.com

Humboldt
Rob Fowler
2277 Heather Lane, Apt. D
Arcata, CA 95521
migratoriusfwlr AT gmail.com


Kings
Jeff Seay
7815 N. Palm Ave., Suite 310
Fresno, CA 93711                                                  
jseay AT harveyecology.com

Lake
Jerry R. White
P.O. Box 113
Kelseyville, CA 95451
grwhite AT jps.net

Lassen
Ken Able
Bob's Creek Ranch
535-000 Little Valley Road
McArthur, CA 96056
kenable AT hughes.net

Madera
Jeff N. Davis
7815 N. Palm Ave., Suite 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jdavis AT harveyecology.com

Marin
Ryan Terrill
1619 El Dorado Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
enicurus AT yahoo.com

Mariposa
David Vander Pluym
1683 Buena Vista St. 
Ventura, CA 93001  
scre AT aol.com

Mendocino                                        
Bob Keiffer                                                
P. O. Box 354                                                
Hopland CA 95449                                        
rjkeiffer AT ucdavis.edu

Merced & San Benito
Kent Van Vuren
26 Vista Dr.
Salinas, CA 93907
vanvurenk AT aol.com

Mono
Kristie Nelson
P.O. Box 402        
Lee Vining, CA 93541
storm_petrel AT hotmail.com

Monterey                        
Don Roberson                        
282 Grove Acre                        
Pacific Grove CA 93950                
831-373-2566fax                        
creagrus AT montereybay.com

Napa 
Murray Berner
210 Monte Vista
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 224-5897
vireocity AT hotmail.com

Nevada
Rudy Darling
12143 Big Blue Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
rdarling AT sbbmail.com

Placer
Ed Pandolfino
5530 Del Rose Court
Carmichael, CA  95608
erpfromca AT aol.com

Plumas & Sierra
John "Mac" McCormick
1230 Dog Leg Dr.
Chico, CA 95928
macmc94123 AT earthlink.net

Sacramento
Chris Conard
2405 Rio Bravo Circle
Sacramento, CA  95826
conardc AT gmail.com

San Francisco (mainland)                
The City: Mark Eaton 
1524 36th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
mweaton AT pacbell.net 

San Francisco (Farallones)
Jim Tietz
P.O. Box 751
Arcata, CA, 95518
jmtietz AT yahoo.com

San Joaquin
Frances Oliver
1817 Songbird Place
Lodi, CA  95240
Hummer52 AT sbcglobal.net

San Mateo
Peter J. Metropulos
2940 Turk Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94118
pjmetrop AT pacbell.net

Santa Clara                        
William G. Bousman                
321 Arlington Way                
Menlo Park CA 94025                
barlowi AT earthlink.net

Santa Cruz
David Suddjian and Steve Gerow
801 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Stephengerow AT aol.com

Shasta                                                        
Bob Yutzy                                                
P. O. Box 990237                                
Redding CA 96099                                
boby AT c-zone.net
        
Siskiyou 
Ray Ekstrom
2209 Delphic Rd.
Montague, CA 96064

Solano
Robin Leong
336 Benson Ave.
Vallejo, CA 94590-3027
robin_leong AT netzero.net

Sonoma
Ruth Rudesill
P.O. Box 371
Kenwood, CA 95452
ruthier AT sonic.net

Trinity
John E. Hunter
P.O. Box 4483
Arcata, CA 95518
jhunter323 AT aol.com

Tulare
Steven Summers
2553 W. Michelle Ln.
Porterville, CA 93257
summers AT ocsnet.net

Tuolumne
Steven Umland
15818 Parkridge Ave.
Sonora, CA 95370
sumland AT skywayusa.net


The Reporting Deadlines are:
                           Spring      Summer      Fall       Winter

Season ends         May 31      July 31     Nov 30     Feb 28

Observer reports to Subregional Editors (SREs)
                          June 10     Aug 10      Dec 10     Mar 10

Observer reports to Regional Editors (if not sent to SRE)
                           June 10     Aug 10      Dec 10     Mar 10

SRE reports to Regional Editors
                           June 20     Aug 20      Dec 20     Mar 20

Regional Editors final text to ABA office
                           July 10     Sep 10       Jan 10      Apr 10

PLEASE meet your deadlines so that we can meet our deadlines!


Please send reports in our database format: species, date(s) [including year], 
locale separated by a space from county abbreviation, number of birds, and 
observers, and then, on a second line, any comments. Please separate these 
sections by a "tab" (except just a space between locale and county 
abbreviation) on electronic versions submitted. Here's an example of the 
correct format: 


Grace's Warbler 12/13/98-2/20/99 Jacks Peak MTY 1 RFT, mob 

 A second record for the Region (the first was 6/26/91 at Deer Spring, Glass 
Mt. MNO) which wintered with a large flock of Townsend's & Hermit warblers at 
the very top of Jacks Peak in Jacks Peak Regional Park. Details by Tintle and 
others are enclosed. 


Many observers and Subregional Editors have been submitting their reports by 
e-mail. PLEASE submit electronic reports if possible. We are trying to maintain 
an electronic database of at least recent records, and we hope to be able to 
have all old data entered eventually so that the entire database will be easily 
accessible to anyone who wants it. Electronic submission of records in the 
format described above makes it much easier for us maintain this electronic 
database. 


We've heard questions about, comments on, and criticism of our regional reports 
from several observers and SREs. We really appreciate this feedback, as it 
helps us to better represent what is going on in the Region as a whole. Please 
help us correct any factual errors we make, and don't hesitate to let us know 
what you think of the reports. 


Many thanks to all the contributors and Subregional Editors who make these 
reports possible! 


Sincerely,


Mike Rogers, Jeff Davis, Ed Pandolfino, and Steve Rottenborn

(Northern California Regional Editors)


Subject: WF Ibis at Lake Almanor
From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov>
Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:39:01 -0700
All, 

Just got back from Lake Almanor. Forest Rd 10 northeast of Chester was very 
birdy, with Cassin's Vireo, Dusky Flycatcher, Hermit, Nashville, Orange-cr, and 
Yellow-rumped Warbler common. Most interesting (according to Helen Green and 
Dan Airola's checklist on-line at http://fog.ccsf.org/%7Ejmorlan/alchk197.htm) 
were 3+ WF Ibis north of the causeway near Chester. 


good birding, 



Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax
Subject: Tahoe Rim Trail Sightings
From: aaagolfers AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:56:26 -0400
Two weeks ago hiked the Mt. Rose section of the Tahoe Rim Trail.  Saw 
very few birds except for Clark's Nutcrackers, Dark-eyd Juncos, one 
White-breasted Nuthatch, a hummingbird (Rufous I believe)  and one Rock 
Wren.  This last week hiked Armstrong Pass to Big Meadow and saw many 
more birds:  Clark's Nutcrackers, White-headed Woodpecker, American 
Robin, Dark-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees.  Back at Tahoe Donner 
still have the family of Hairy Woodpeckers, too many Steller's Jays, 
Mountain Chickadees, pine Siskin, Cassin's Finch, Black-headed and 
Evening Grosbeaks and a Red-tailed Hawk.  Kayaking on the Truckee River 
we saw three Common Mergansers with tiny babies which scampered on to 
the Mother's back as we paddled past.  Also saw one Belted Kingfisher 
and lots of Mallards.  
Andrea Oddo, Truckee
Subject: Th, 30 Jul 09 - Kelso Valley Rd & Piute Mtn Rd
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:36:27 -0700
Hi,

Another slow late-July birding morning in the southern Sierra Nevada 
... c. 40 species in all.

6am-10:45am, Th, 30 Jul 09 - Kelso Valley Rd and Piute Mtn Rd

HIGHLIGHTS: MOUNTAIN QUAIL; SAY'S PHOEBE at a new location; PINYON 
JAY: A flock of 51 at Landers Meadow; LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE widespread; 
some fall, southbound migrants (PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, WESTERN 
TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK)

MISSED TARGET SPECIES: Gray Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, 
Plumbeous Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, 
Brewer's Sparrow

FOUND SPECIES LISTS:
Location #1:     Kelso Valley Rd--Frog Spring
Observation date:     7/30/09
Notes:     LOCATION: Frog Spring; TIME/DATE: 6am-6:50am, Th, 30 Jul 
09; WEATHER: 55.5F, 63% humidity, breeze to 2.5 kph;...
Number of species:     19
Mountain Quail     2
California Quail     9
Mourning Dove     3
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1     In Joshua tree woodland. ID based 
on call. Hybrid making Ladder-backed call not ruled out.
Nuttall's Woodpecker     1     In riparian woodland at spring. ID 
based on call. Hybrid making Nuttall's call not ruled out.
Western Wood-Pewee     1
Black Phoebe     1
Loggerhead Shrike     1
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal)     1
Cactus Wren     1
Bewick's Wren     7
American Robin     1
Northern Mockingbird     1
California Thrasher     1
California Towhee     1
Sage Sparrow (Interior)     23
Black-headed Grosbeak     1
Bullock's Oriole     1 adult male
House Finch     1

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



Location #2:     Kelso Valley Rd--Kelso Creek Sanctuary (while 
listening for Brown-crested Flycatcher continuing presence ... no detection)
Observation date:     7/30/09
Notes:     Kelso Creek Sanctuary; 6:55am-7:10am, Th, 30 Jul 09; 
Elevation: 3850';...
Number of species:     5

California Quail     1
Mourning Dove     1
Loggerhead Shrike     1
Bewick's Wren     2
California Towhee     3

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



Location #3:     Kelso Valley Rd--Tunnel Spring
Observation date:     7/30/09
Notes:     Tunnel Spring (Mile 18); 7:15am-7:50am, Th, 30 Jul 09; 
66.1F, 42% humidity; Elevation: 4300'
Number of species:     16

Chukar     3
California Quail     16
Cooper's Hawk     1
Ladder-backed Woodpecker     1
Western Wood-Pewee     1
Pacific-slope Flycatcher     1     ID based on "see-ip" call.
Ash-throated Flycatcher     1
Loggerhead Shrike     1
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal)     2
Rock Wren     1
Bewick's Wren     2
American Robin     2
Northern Mockingbird     2
California Towhee     4
Sage Sparrow (Interior)     14
Black-headed Grosbeak     2

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



Location #4:     Piute Mountain Road-East
Observation date:     7/30/09
Notes:     Piute Mtn Rd from Kelso Valley Road west to the first 
Pacific Crest Trail crossing. 7:55am-10am, Th, 30 Jul 09; Elevation: 
4020'-6680'
Number of species:     24

Mountain Quail     4     Visual - all together
California Quail     40     Single flock
Red-tailed Hawk     3
Mourning Dove     20     Includes one flock of 17 individuals
Nuttall's Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     2
Western Wood-Pewee     7
Loggerhead Shrike     2
Steller's Jay     5
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal)     10
Mountain Chickadee     1
Oak Titmouse     3
White-breasted Nuthatch     7
Pygmy Nuthatch     4
Rock Wren     1
Bewick's Wren     3
Western Bluebird     3
American Robin     1
Wrentit     2
Spotted Towhee     2
California Towhee     4
Sage Sparrow (Interior)     4
House Finch     2

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



Location #5:     Piute Mtn Rd--Landers Meadow
Observation date:     7/30/09
Notes:     Lander's Meadow; 10am-10:45am, Th, 30 Jul 09; Elevation: 6400'
Number of species:     13
Western Wood-Pewee     4
Black Phoebe     1
Say's Phoebe     1     First observation of this species for this location...
Steller's Jay     3
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal)     1
Pinyon Jay     51     Flock counted while flying from far side of 
Landers Meadow to the observer's near side...
White-breasted Nuthatch     3
Pygmy Nuthatch     6
Western Bluebird     4
Western Tanager     1
Chipping Sparrow     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     1
Black-headed Grosbeak     1

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



Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Tu, 28 Jul 09 - Canebrake Ecological Reserve
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:01:08 -0700
Hi,

Computer trouble and a dead DSL line for four days (while waiting for 
repair staff arrival) led to the tardiness of this report. Phone land 
line still dead.

LOCATION:     Public Access Trail, California Department of Fish & 
Game's Canebrake Ecological Reserve, Kern County, Southern Sierra 
Nevada, California
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     5:20am-8am, Tu, 28 Jul 09
OBSERVER:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA
GPS READING: N 35 43' 34.4" W 118 10' 09.5" (at junction of CA Hwy 
178 and CER entrance); N 35 44' 03.0", W 118 09' 46.9" (at Public 
Access Trail's end)
ELEVATION:     2850' (at junction of CA Hwy 178 and CER entrance); 
2900' (at Public Access Trail's end)
COVERAGE:     Public Access Trail
HIGHLIGHTS: Six VIRGINIA RAILs calling spontaneously; WRENTIT (2 
individuals) observed in the riparian habitat restoration site for 
the first time
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES:     39
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Mallard     3
    * California Quail     5
    * American Kestrel     1
    * Virginia Rail     6
    * Mourning Dove     5
    * Greater Roadrunner     1
    * Great Horned Owl     1
    * hummingbird species       6
    * Acorn Woodpecker     1
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     5
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     2
    * Black Phoebe     6
    * Ash-throated Flycatcher     2
    * Western Scrub-Jay     5
    * Common Raven      1
    * Oak Titmouse     3
    * Bushtit     29   (single flock)
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     2
    * Cactus Wren     1
    * Rock Wren     1
    * Bewick's Wren     7
    * House Wren     1
    * Western Bluebird     6   (single flock)
    * American Robin     3
    * Wrentit     3
    * European Starling     2
    * Yellow Warbler     1
    * Common Yellowthroat      14
    * Summer Tanager     1   (adult male)
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * California Towhee     6
    * Lark Sparrow     17
    * Song Sparrow     6
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     3
    * Blue Grosbeak      6   (2 adult females, 4 adult males)
    * Red-winged Blackbird     25
    * Tricolored Blackbird     27
    * blackbird species     115
    * House Finch     31

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Su, 26 Jul 09 - Greenhorn Mountains Transect (incl. southernmost Winter Wren)
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:01:08 -0700
Hi,

Computer trouble and a dead DSL line for four days (while waiting for 
repair staff arrival) led to the tardiness of this report. Phone land 
line still dead.


5:35am-10:15am, Su, 26 Jul 09 - CA Hwy 155 Transect: Tillie Creek 
Campground on the west shore of Isabellla Reservoir to 0.8 mile west 
on FS 25S17 (6388'), Kern County, Southern Sierra Nevada, California


HIGHLIGHTS:
    * Location #1: Two low elevation RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS at 
Tillie Creek Campground
    * Location #6: A vociferously singing WINTER WREN in Alta Sierra 
at the southern limits of its nesting season range in the Sierra Nevada

LOCATION #1:     Sequoia National Forest's Tillie Creek Campground on 
the west edge of Isabella Reservoir, Wofford Heights
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     5:35am-7:20am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVER:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA
WEATHER:     71.8F-72.3F, 38%-51% humidity, no wind
GPS READINGS:     N 35 42' 05.4", W 118 27' 34.1" (at CA Hwy 155 at 
Tillie Creek CG entrance road); N 35 41' 57.9", 118 27' 28.9" (at 
bridge storage facility parking area)
ELEVATION:     2650' (at CA Hwy 155 at Tillie Creek CG entrance 
road); 2620' (at bridge storage facility parking area)
COVERAGE:     Tillie Creek Campground...
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     37
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * California Quail     21
    * Western Grebe     2
    * Clark's Grebe     3
    * Western/Clark's Grebe     281
    * Great Blue Heron     2
    * Turkey Vulture     3
    * California Gull     1
    * Eurasian Collared-Dove     3
    * Mourning Dove     8
    * Anna's Hummingbird      14
    * Black-chinned Hummingbird     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     2
    * RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER     2
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     2
    * Downy Woodpecker     1
    * Black Phoebe     2
    * Ash-throated Flycatcher     7
    * Western Kingbird     2
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     8
    * Common Raven     16
    * swallow species     2
    * Oak Titmouse     8
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     2
    * Bewick's Wren     2
    * House Wren     2
    * Northern Mockingbird     9
    * California Thrasher     4
    * European Starling     1
    * Phainopepla     7
    * Western Tanager     1  (female)
    * California Towhee     12
    * Lark Sparrow     4
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     2
    * Blue Grosbeak     1
    * House Finch     16
    * Lesser Goldfinch     2
    * House Sparrow     4


LOCATION #2:     CA Hwy 155--Sequoia National Forest entrance sign
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     7:30am-7:40am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County
GPS READING:     N 35 43' 15.0", W 118 29' 56.8"
ELEVATION:     3900'
COVERAGE: Point Count from next to Sequoia National Forest 
entering/leaving sign
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     18
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * California Quail     3
    * Band-tailed Pigeon     2
    * Mourning Dove     2
    * Anna's Hummingbird     1
    * Acorn Woodpecker     4
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Western Kingbird     2
    * Western Scrub-Jay     6
    * Common Raven     1
    * Oak Titmouse     2
    * Canyon Wren     1
    * Wrentit     3
    * Phainopepla     3
    * California Towhee     3
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     2
    * Bullock's Oriole     3
    * House Finch     4
    * Lesser Goldfinch     1


LOCATION #3:     Metal & wood gate leading to dirt road into 
chaparral and live oaks located on south side of CA Hwy 155 at upper 
end of large, long pull-out
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     7:45am-7:55am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County
GPS READING:     N 35 43' 20.7", W 118 31' 17.2"
ELEVATION:     4625'
COVERAGE: Point Count from next to gate
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     12
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Mourning Dove     3
    * Acorn Woodpecker     2
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Western Wood-Pewee     2
    * Ash-throated Flycatcher     1
    * Western Scrub-Jay     1
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Wrentit     3
    * Bewick's Wren      1
    * Phainopepla     2
    * California Towhee     3
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     2


LOCATION #4:     Sequoia National Forest's FS 25S17 from Rancheria 
Road just south of 6102' Greenhorn Summit west for 0.8 mi. to short 
road to logging landing
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     8:05am-9:25am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVER:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA
WEATHER:     69.4F-76.8F, 41%-35% humidity, no wind
GPS READINGS:     N 35 42' 05.4", W 118 27' 34.1" (at CA Hwy 155 at 
Tillie Creek CG entrance road); N 35 41' 57.9", 118 27' 28.9" (at 
bridge storage facility parking area)
ELEVATION:     6102' (CA Hwy 155 at Rancheria Road); 6390' (at FS 
25S17 and road to logging landing)
COVERAGE:     See location
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     25
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Red-breasted Sapsucker     1
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * White-headed Woodpecker     1
    * Dusky Flycatcher     2
    * Steller's Jay     3
    * Common Raven     3
    * Mountain Chickadee     18
    * Red-breasted Nuthatch     12
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Brown Creeper     1
    * House Wren     4
    * Golden-crowned Kinglet     2
    * Western Bluebird     2
    * American Robin     1
    * Orange-crowned Warbler     3
    * Yellow-rumped Warbler     2
    * MacGillivray's Warbler     3
    * Western Tanager     7
    * Green-tailed Towhee     3
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * Chipping Sparrow     3
    * Fox Sparrow     1
    * Dark-eyed Junco     11
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     1
    * Purple Finch     1


LOCATION #5:     Dirt road on north side of CA Hwy 155 at 5570'
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     9:45am-9:55am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County
GPS READING:     N 35 43' 46.3", W 118 32' 09.1"
ELEVATION:     5570'
COVERAGE: First 100m/100 yds of dirt road
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     3
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
Western Scrub-Jay     1
Wrentit     3
Lesser Goldfinch     1



LOCATION #6:     Alta Sierra, Greenhorn Mountains
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     10:00am-10:15am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County
GPS READING:     N 35 43' 42.1", W 118 33' 03.4"
ELEVATION:     5815' (at junction of Alta Sierra Drive and Old State Road)
COVERAGE: First 100m/100 yds of dirt road
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     6
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Western Wood-Pewee     1
    * Common Raven     1
    * Steller's Jay     1
    * WINTER WREN 1 (at 5785' at N 35 45' 50.1", W 118 33' 02.7" - 
below junction of Willow and Alta Sierra Drive)
    * Western Tanager     1
    * Purple Finch     1


LOCATION #7:     Paul's Place, Weldon
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     11:25am-11:30am, Su, 26 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County
GPS READING:     N 35 39' 26.1", W 118 19' 06.2"
ELEVATION:     2640' (at junction of CA Hwy 178 and west end of 
Paul's Place, Weldon)
COVERAGE: 0.7 mile long Paul's Place
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     1
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Downy Woodpecker     1


Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sa, 25 Jul 09 - Kern YB Cuckoos & Bell's Vireo
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:27:50 -0700
Hi,

Computer trouble and a dead DSL line for four days (while waiting for 
repair staff arrival) led to the tardiness of this report. Phone land 
line still dead.


Sa, 25 Jul 09 - Kern River Preserve & South Fork Wildlife Area, 
Weldon, Kern County, Southern Sierra Nevada, California


HIGHLIGHTS:
    * Two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOs (an individual in South Fork Wildlife 
Area forest behind KOA and a second individual in the South Fork 
Wildlife Area forest using the Watchable Wildlife access west of the 
sand and gravel processing plant west of KOA...)
    * A single BELL'S VIREO in the red willows at southwest corner of 
the Kern  River Preserve Headquarters parking area...
    * A single PINE SISKIN flyover of KRP HQ parking area (2nd July 
record for KRP HQ)
    * Four LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes (three individuals in South Fork 
Wildlife Area-KOA, one individual in South Fork Wildlife Area-South)
    * Three MULE DEER BUCKS side-by-side west of KRP HQ (TWO SIX 
POINT bucks and ONE SEVEN POINT buck ... the biggest Mule Deer bucks 
I have ever seen by far!)

LOCATION:     Kern River Preserve Headquarters (KRP HQ)
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     5:35am-7:45am, Sa, 25 Jul 09
OBSERVER:     Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA
WEATHER:     58.8F-63.7F, 68%-79% humidity, no wind
GPS READING:     N 35 39' 50.7" W 118 18' 17.8" (at CA Hwy 178 
and  KRP HQ entrance road):
ELEVATION:     2645' (at CA Hwy 178 and KRP HQ entrance road);
COVERAGE:     Kern River Preserve Headquarters road from CA Hwy 178 
to the HQ parking area, KRP HQ grounds, dirt road leading west from 
SW corner of KRP HQ parking area for 0.75 mile to second north-south 
fence line...
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     42
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * California Quail     107  (includes coveys of 20, 37, 15, 11, 
and 24 individuals)
    * Red-shouldered Hawk     2
    * Red-tailed Hawk     2  (1 adult, 1 immature)
    * American Kestrel     2
    * Mourning Dove     9
    * Barn Owl     1
    * Anna's Hummingbird     11
    * Black-chinned Hummingbird     4
    * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird     4
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     5
    * Downy Woodpecker     1
    * Hairy Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     7
    * Western Wood-Pewee    9
    * Willow Flycatcher     2 (Federally Endangered 
Southwestern/extimus subspecies)
    * Black Phoebe     4
    * Say's Phoebe     1
    * Ash-throated Flycatcher     5
    * Loggerhead Shrike     1
    * BELL'S VIREO     1  (6:25am-6:33am)
    * Western Scrub-Jay     1
    * Common Raven     6
    * Tree Swallow     2
    * Oak Titmouse     3
    * Bushtit     62  (3, 6, 17, 36)
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Bewick's Wren     7
    * House Wren     1
    * Western Bluebird     7
    * American Robin     7
    * European Starling     32
    * Yellow Warbler     7
    * Common Yellowthroat     16
    * Summer Tanager     4  (2 males, 1 female, 1 unknown)
    * Spotted Towhee     1
    * Song Sparrow     12
    * Black-headed Grosbeak     4
    * Blue Grosbeak     3
    * Red-winged Blackbird     6
    * House Finch     16
    * PINE SISKIN    1
    * Lesser Goldfinch     17


LOCATION:     South Fork Wildlife Area--KOA
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     8:15am-10:15am, Sa, 25 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes plus nine Kern Audubon Society field trip attendees
GPS READING:     N 35 39' 16.5", W 118 20' 36.9" (at start of trail 
at CA Hwy 178)
ELEVATION:     2645'
COVERAGE: Trail from CA Hwy, 178 at mile marker 54.50 (located at 
southwest corner of KOA property on highway side of retaining wall) 
north to first cross fence; then east for 400m/400 yds or less; then 
return to CA Hwy 178
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     20
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Turkey Vulture     6
    * Red-tailed Hawk     1
    * Eurasian Collared-Dove     1
    * Mourning Dove     5
    * YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO     1  (individual giving kalp, kalp, 
kalp, kalp call 7X to 10X over 1.25 hrs. ... otherwise just one quick 
glance of a bird in flight)
    * Nuttall's Woodpecker     1
    * Northern Flicker     1
    * Western Wood-Pewee     9
    * Ash-throated Flycatcher     2
    * Common Raven     1
    * Oak Titmouse     1
    * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
    * Bewick's Wren     8
    * Yellow Warbler     8  (6 males, 1 female, 1 unknown)
    * Common Yellowthroat     2
    * Brewer's Blackbird     4
    * Brown-headed Cowbird     1
    * House Finch     4
    * Lesser Goldfinch     1
    * LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH     3


LOCATION:     South Fork Wildlife Area--South
OBSERVATION TIME/DAY/DATE:     10:20am-11am, Sa, 25 Jul 09
OBSERVERS:     Bob Barnes plus seven Kern Audubon Society field trip attendees
WEATHER: 87F, 33% humidity (at end of observation period)
GPS READING:     N 35 39' 08.6" W 118 21' 11.3" (at turn-off from CA Hwy 178)
ELEVATION:     2630'
COVERAGE: Trail from South Fork Wildlife Area parking lot north to 
first grove of trees; then through first grove of trees to edge of 
second grove of trees then return to parking lot
NUMBER OF SPECIES:     8
SPECIES & NUMBERS:
    * Turkey Vulture     1
    * Mourning Dove     1
    * YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO     1  (individual giving loud coo/cue 
call repeatedly plus occasional kalp, kalp, kalp call; seen in flight 
and/or perched by all present during overall twenty-five minute 
observation period; photographed)
    * woodpecker species     1
    * Bewick's Wren     1
    * Yellow Warbler     1
    * House Finch     2
    * LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH     1

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Desolation Wilderness - breeding pipits
From: Kevin Spencer <rriparia AT charter.net>
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:16:30 -0700
---- Will Richardson  wrote: 
Has anybody else found pipits breeding in the Desolation area (or  
elsewhere around Tahoe) before?

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA

Last Summer while backpacking in the Yosemite Wilderness Area, I observed 3-5 
AMERICAN PIPIT at the headwaters of Piute Creek, just west of and below Burro 
Pass, between Burrow and Mule Passes. The date: August 8, 2008. The elevation 
there was near 9K Ft. I couldn't get an exact count on the birds as they were 
very active, and I thought at the time that it might have been a family with 
young birds. It seemed like the bird in the lead was always being chased, as if 
the following bird was young and begging for food. I was not aware of their 
breeding status in the Sierras at the time and thought it was unusual for 
breeding at that location. However, according to DISCOVERING SIERRA BIRDS, 
Beedy and Granholm, 1985, it appeared that nesting, at least in the Yosemite 
area had historical observations. It did not mention nesting further north than 
Yosemite. The habitat where I observed the birds occurs further north beyond 
the Yosemite region of the Sierras. The habitat where I observed the birds was 
alpine, treeless, with wet meadows, mud edges to ponds, adjacent to low growing 
vegetation, some mosses, and clumps of grasses. 

 I would be interested in reading a description of the habitat, water 
conditions, and elevation, where the observed birds were seen in the Desolation 
Wilderness. 

The timing of their presence there seems to support possible nesting.

Kevin Spencer
Klamath Falls, Oregon




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

Subject: Desolation Wilderness - breeding pipits
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:55:58 -0700
Yesterday, I heard from John Sproul, who reported that his brother  
Malcolm recently (7/22) found a pair of American Pipits with a recent  
fledgling, on a bench south of Mt. Price at about the 9,000-foot  
elevation on the east slope of the Crystal Range.  I haven't seen any  
pipits up there in the summer, nor am I aware of any prior mid-summer  
records, but to be perfectly honest I've barely spent any time in that  
neck of the woods during the summer.  Miller and Green (1987) report a  
Pyramid Peak record from late August, but that's not exactly mid- 
summer.  I have found Horned Larks to be breeding in the same sorts of  
habitats, and I've definitely been wondering if pipits were regular  
breeders (yet?) this far north.  Owen Knorr (2000) found them breeding  
on Mt. Rose in 1979 and 1981.  In the past several years, I've spent a  
fair bit of time in appropriate habitat in the Relay-Houghton-Rose  
area, and never seen a pipit in mid-summer, so perhaps they're just  
sporadic breeders in the greater Tahoe area.  It's perhaps notable  
that I had a feeling earlier this spring that I'd never seen so many  
pipits at Tahoe in the spring before.  They were still widespread and  
common on the beaches during the first week of May, including a full  
breeding-plumaged male at the Upper Truckee River Delta on 3 May, that  
was singing and aggressively chasing off everything in sight in the  
middle of a rainstorm.

Has anybody else found pipits breeding in the Desolation area (or  
elsewhere around Tahoe) before?

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA

Knorr. 2000.  Great Basin Birds 3: 7-9
Miller and Green. 1987. Condor 89:788-797


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Tahoe bunting/rare breeders
From: Will Richardson <trichard AT unr.nevada.edu>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:49:19 -0700
The Indigo Bunting that I found on 6/19 seems to be working its way  
south and west through the Angora Burn.  It remained on its  
"territory" for at least a couple of weeks, but then was gone by mid- 
July.  Then, on 7/12, Rick LeBaudour found a singing male along Tahoe  
Mtn. Road, and then today (7/24), I found one in the large cleared-out  
area between Elk Pt. Dr. (best access) and Boulder Mountain Dr.   
Anyhow, I have to assume that it's the same bird, as these sightings  
are all relatively close and form a sensible trajectory, spatially and  
temporally.  Also in the burn, yesterday, I found a Hatch-Year Red- 
Shouldered Hawk eating what appeared to be a Western Jumping Mouse,  
along Angora Creek.

In breeding bird news, today, in the Upper Truckee Marsh, I witnessed  
the female Great-tailed Grackle make one food delivery and take away  
fecal sacks twice.  I tried my best to find the actual nest, which was  
in a thick clump of overhead willows, in knee-deep water, but after  
spending a fair bit of time "swamp-crawling" I decided that I'd caused  
enough stress to the birds and I should just get out of there.  The  
adults are very skittish if you're anywhere in the greater vicinity of  
the nest.  Anyhow, be on the lookout for fledglings soon.  The nest is  
near the far northeast corner of the marsh, and you should be able to  
see the adults coming and going from the nest area from the trail that  
follows the fenceline.  Also, anyone who's familiar with that  
fenceline will know the one conspicuous clump of tules in the marsh.   
That clump held several recently-fledged Marsh Wrens today!  I even  
managed a few photos.  This is a species that is believed to have been  
extirpated from the Tahoe Basin following the destruction of Rowlands  
Marsh for the development of the Tahoe Keys.  I think I first started  
hearing Marsh Wrens actually singing in the Upper Truckee River Marsh  
in mid-August 2005, and over the last 5 years, I've noticed a major  
increase as well as wrens arriving earlier in season.  I've been  
poking around in every cattail marsh I can (which are few and far  
between at Tahoe!), looking for nests, for the last several years.  If  
you've spent any time in cattail marshes with Marsh Wrens in them,  
you'll know that the males typically build many, many nests, so  
they're almost impossible to not find.  I still haven't found any  
Marsh Wren nests in Tahoe, but today I finally found confirmation that  
this species is attempting to recolonize the area.  I'd also love to  
hear of any mid-summer Marsh Wrens from elsewhere in the Basin.  Maybe  
it's time to recheck that marsh next to the Tahoe City SaveMart.   
Also, I might as well mention that I've been searching for Swainson's  
Thrush nests up at that Ward Canyon group.  I haven't found any active  
nests, but a few contenders from previous seasons, and there are  
definitely 3-4 pair, possibly more, breeding at that location.  Very  
encouraging!

The delta was pretty lackluster for shorebirds today:  8 Least  
Sandpipers, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 13 curlew, 2 scruffy-looking juv.  
ibis.  However, the habitat looks great, especially on the east side  
of the canal, and I expect August to bring in some pretty good birds.

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
Subject: 23 Jul 09 - South Fork Kern River Valley, Southern Sierra Nevada
From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:42:00 -0700
Hi,

The bases for the following Fay Ranch Road and Isabella 
Reservoir-South Fork Wildlife Area reports were generated 
automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/). All 
observations made by Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County.

HIGHLIGHTS: Several hundred Western Grebes and Clark's Grebes 
including numerous young on Isabella Reservoir; abundance of singing 
male Blue Grosbeaks along Fay Ranch Road, and the challenge a slow birding day.

Location:     Kern River Preserve - Fay Ranch Road, Weldon, Kern 
County, Southern Sierra Nevada
Observation date:     7/24/09
Notes:     4:40am-8:05am, Th, 24 Jul 09 - Fay Ranch Road from 
junction w. CA Hwy 178 (GPS: N 35 39' 57.7", W 118 17' 23.7") north 
for 1.1 miles; 56.5F-74F, 67%-47% humidity, 0.0-1.3kph wind; 2660' 
elevation; tough birding conditions due to much reduced vocalizations 
vs. earlier in the nesting season. Western Wood-Pewee, Common 
Yellowthroat, Blue Grosbeak numbers detected due to continued vocalizations.
Number of species:     47
Wild Turkey     1
California Quail     61     Includes coveys of 21 and 37 individuals
Great Blue Heron     1
Green Heron     1
Red-shouldered Hawk (California)     1
Red-tailed Hawk (Western)     3
Killdeer     2
Mourning Dove     6
Barn Owl     2
Great Horned Owl     1
Nuttall's Woodpecker     5
Downy Woodpecker     4
Northern Flicker     3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1
Western Wood-Pewee     12
Black Phoebe     6
Say's Phoebe     1
Ash-throated Flycatcher     6
Western Kingbird     7
Loggerhead Shrike     2
Common Raven     11
Tree Swallow     3
Cliff Swallow     5
Oak Titmouse     1
Bushtit     16
Bewick's Wren     2
House Wren     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Western Bluebird     7
American Robin     4
European Starling     5
Yellow Warbler     4
Common Yellowthroat     17     all calling individuals ... none singing
Lark Sparrow     3
Savannah Sparrow     1
Song Sparrow     8
Black-headed Grosbeak     1
Blue Grosbeak     14     Still conspicuous and singing up a storm...
Lazuli Bunting     2
Red-winged Blackbird     6
Western Meadowlark     2
Brewer's Blackbird     11
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Bullock's Oriole     2
House Finch     27
Lesser Goldfinch     12
House Sparrow     2


Location:     South Fork Wildlife Area--South, Kern River Valley, 
Kern County, Southern Sierra Nevada
Observation date:     7/24/09
Notes:     8:20am-9:25am
Number of species:     36
Gadwall     2
Mallard     11
Cinnamon Teal     1
duck sp.     9
Western Grebe     4
Clark's Grebe     13
Western/Clark's Grebe     592     33 juveniles noted were not 
assigned to species. 592 arrived at on a one by one count across 
visible South Fork Wildlife Area part of Isabella Reservoir.
American White Pelican     11
Great Blue Heron     15     One by one count.
Great Egret     3
Osprey     3
White-tailed Kite     1
Northern Harrier     1 immature
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     2
American Coot     4
Killdeer     1
Spotted Sandpiper     1
California Gull     6
Caspian Tern     1
Mourning Dove     3
Say's Phoebe     2
Ash-throated Flycatcher     1
Loggerhead Shrike     4
Common Raven     12
Horned Lark     31
Rock Wren     1
Bewick's Wren     2
House Wren     2
Yellow Warbler     2
Blue Grosbeak     1
Red-winged Blackbird     20
Western Meadowlark     2
Great-tailed Grackle     1
House Finch     7
Lesser Goldfinch     1

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Pine Grosbeaks Yosemite, Mariposa County
From: "David Vander Pluym" <scre AT aol.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:07:51 -0000
Lauren Harter and I went up to Yosemite NP (July 22) with Laurens mom and 
brother to do a 

little sightseeing.? We also managed to bird a little and had a family of SOOTY
GROUSE at Glaicer Pt, they were right by the concession stand and didn't care
about the hordes.? We also had 3 PINE GROSBEAKS on the trail to McGurk Meadow
along with just a lot of birds.? Going to go back on friday and try for Great
Gray Owl any tips would be appreciated.? Good birding

David Vander Pluym
Wandering around California currently