Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Tulare-Kings Co > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, November 20 at 07:32 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Tawny-tufted Toucanet,©BirdQuest

21 Nov Red-Necked Grebe at Corcoran Reservoir ["calexandrinus" ] 20 Nov 6th Ave [] 18 Nov Lesser Black-backed Gull died Tuesday, Nov 17 around 11:00 am ["calexandrinus" ] 17 Nov Lesser Black-backed Gull still present at the Kent Ave. Ponds in Kings County ["jeff67632003" ] 17 Nov NO Lesser Black-backed Gull ["markstacybirds" ] 16 Nov Corcoran Reservoir this morning ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 15 Nov Kings Co.Birds ["markstacybirds" ] 14 Nov Kings Short-eared Owl ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 15 Nov Kings Co - Red-breasted Merganser ["calexandrinus" ] 13 Nov GREATER ROADRUNNER ["Luv2bird" ] 09 Nov Kings Co Update ["calexandrinus" ] 08 Nov Kings White-th. Sparrow and Others ["markstacybirds" ] 01 Nov Tulare Co Year to Date 269 species all observers ["calexandrinus" ] 31 Oct SE Kings Co ["calexandrinus" ] 29 Oct Re: BBWO - Kern Plateau ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 28 Oct Another Kings Co. Lewis's Woodpecker ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 27 Oct Re: BBWO - Kern Plateau ["natureali" ] 26 Oct BBWO - Kern Plateau [Alison Sheehey ] 24 Oct Plumbeous Vireo & Glaucous-winged Gull Kings Co ["calexandrinus" ] 21 Oct First of Season Ferruginous Hawk ["calexandrinus" ] 18 Oct Hickey Park Lewis's Woodpecker ["calexandrinus" ] 17 Oct Al DeMartini finds Palm Warbler in Hickey Park Hanford ["calexandrinus" ] 16 Oct Kings County historical Condor records + info on Zoo hatched birds ["calexandrinus" ] 16 Oct SE KIngs SW Tulare ["calexandrinus" ] 11 Oct No HOGR or EUWI but Mountain Plover ["markstacybirds" ] 11 Oct Kings Co all day Eurasian Wigeon Horned Grebe ["calexandrinus" ] 10 Oct Swainson's Hawks ["Gary L" ] 10 Oct Swainson's Hawks ["Gary L" ] 09 Oct Continuing Kings Rarities ["markstacybirds" ] 07 Oct Swainson's Hawks ["Gary L" ] 07 Oct Kings Co Tuesday Oct 6 ["calexandrinus" ] 6 Oct Porterville Plumbeous Vireo ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 4 Oct Check out my photos on Facebook [Tino Galicia ] 04 Oct Swainson's Hawks ["Gary L" ] 01 Oct Two Solitary Sandpipers in Kings ["markstacybirds" ] 1 Oct Tule River in Kings Co. ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 30 Sep Kings ["John Luther" ] 01 Oct No Plumbeous Vireo ["markstacybirds" ] 30 Sep RE: Tulare Co year to date all observers 267 species [Kevin Enns-Rempel ] 30 Sep Tulare Co year to date all observers 267 species ["calexandrinus" ] 29 Sep Response received to banded Caspian Tern found in Kings co ["calexandrinus" ] 27 Sep Pacific-golden Plover, Stilt Sandpiper (2), + Kings Co ["calexandrinus" ] 27 Sep Kings County Luke Cole Memorial Birding ["jeff67632003" ] 25 Sep Stilt Sandpiper 9 Pectoral Sandpiper Kings ["calexandrinus" ] 22 Sep The Luke Cole Memorial Birding Challenge this weekend ["calexandrinus" ] 21 Sep White-winged Dove still there ["markstacybirds" ] 21 Sep RE: [CVBirds] fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa ["John Sterling" ] 21 Sep RE: fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa ["John Sterling" ] 21 Sep No White-winged Dove... ["markstacybirds" ] 20 Sep White-winged Dove Kings County ["calexandrinus" ] 18 Sep fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa ["John Luther" ] 18 Sep fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa ["John Luther" ] 18 Sep Another Kings Sabine's Gull ["monkletgimp" ] 18 Sep Sabine's Gull Kings Co. ["monkletgimp" ] 17 Sep Sanderlings continue at Tulare WTP on September 16, 2009 ["Robert" ] 16 Sep Tule River Kings Co migrants ["calexandrinus" ] 16 Sep Sanderling, Ruff, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tulare ["calexandrinus" ] 14 Sep Porterville Chimney Swift ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 14 Sep Common ground-dove continues east of Earlimart (on September 13, 2009) ["poouli" ] 11 Sep Bell's Vireo Tulare Co. ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 10 Sep Labor Day Weekend backpack - Pine Grosbeak ["calexandrinus" ] 10 Sep Kings County - Bank Swallow ["calexandrinus" ] 10 Sep Solitary Sandpiper at Caldwell ponds ["calexandrinus" ] 09 Sep 9 Sep 09: Kern Plateau - Blackrock, Troy, Kennedy [Bob Barnes ] 10 Sep Kings White-fronted Goose ["monkletgimp" ] 08 Sep 8 Sep 09: Chimney Creek CG - Plumbeous Vireo, Numerous Warblers [Bob Barnes ] 6 Sep Red knot [penny stewart ] 31 Aug mystery shorebird Kent Hanford WWTP [penny stewart ] 27 Aug NO Hudsonian Godwit this morning ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 31 Aug Tulare Co Year to date 263 species ["calexandrinus" ] 31 Aug SW Tulare Co ["calexandrinus" ] 31 Aug Kings Co Hudsonian Godwit Red Knot ["calexandrinus" ] 30 Aug RE: Hudsonian Godwit--YES Plus Franklin's Gull ["John Sterling" ] 31 Aug Hudsonian Godwit--YES Plus Franklin's Gull ["monkletgimp" ] 25 Aug Hudsonian Godwit in Kings Co. ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 30 Aug Least Tern continues ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] Subject: Red-Necked Grebe at Corcoran Reservoir From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:32:17 -0000 Friday Nov 20, 2009 I found a Red-Necked Grebe around 3:00 pm this afternoon in blustery conditions that gave me poor looks but I was about 80% sure and called Mark Stacy, Steve Summers, and Rob Hansen. The wind died down and I got good looks but probably poor photos, will have to wait to see. Mark and Steve got there very quickly and both confirmed the sighting all of getting good looks. 1st county record, Kings County bird 302 Rob has informed that a Northern Shrike should be added to the list from the 1980s. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: 6th Ave From: scre AT aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:24:35 -0500 At sunset this evening Lauren Harter and I drove along 6th Ave from the Kern County line to Utica Ave. There are a couple flooded fields about 4 miles south of Utica that had at least a thousand Dowitchers/Dunlin on them. Also at Utica and 6th the fields there had more shorebirds a small gull flock and 20 C Mergansers. A couple places worth checking if your in the area. David Vander Pluym Ventura, Ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull died Tuesday, Nov 17 around 11:00 am From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:53 -0000 The Gull was collected, apperently a first state speciemen record and is currently residing in Steve Summers freezer. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull still present at the Kent Ave. Ponds in Kings County From: "jeff67632003" <jseay AT harveyecology.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:19:58 -0000 Rob Hansen just called to say that the Lesser Black-backed Gull was still present at the Jersey/ Kent Ave ponds west of Highway 41. The bird was in the northwest portion of the southern most of the 3 ponds. The bird is listing somewhat and appears to be in poor health, so listers might hurry! Jeff Seay Fresno Subject: NO Lesser Black-backed Gull From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:25:19 -0000 I received a call about an hour before dark that Gary Woods had what he believed was a Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Jersey Ponds in Kings Co. today. I quickly checked all three cells and found ZERO gulls of any species. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Corcoran Reservoir this morning From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:19:14 -0800 I visited Corcoran Reservoir this morning to look for a couple of birds (Horned Grebe & Red-br. Merganser) that have been reported from here as of late. Both would have been county birds for me but no luck with either one. But I didn't come away empty handed. After diligently searching for the above species I was walking east on the south dike about mid-way when a ROCK WREN popped up seemingly quite happy amid the jumbled, broken-up concrete rip-rap substitute for his normal rocky habitat. Not only a first for me for Kings Co. but also my first San Joaquin Valley floor Rock Wren. That was a surprise. I then decided to walk up the east dike to try to get a closer view of the gull flock when a CACKLING GOOSE flew by (not a county bird for me). As I approached closer to the gull flock a flock of nine white birds started circling over them. They were white geese so I set my scope on them to see if I could pick out my county Ross's. The first one I scoped was a ROSS'S GOOSE, as was the second, and third thru ninth...yup a homogenous flock of Ross's Geese. Six of them settled down amid the gulls and three flew off to the west side of the reservoir. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Kings Co.Birds From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:39:25 -0000 Thanks to the hard work of John and Steve I was able to add 5 birds to my year list this weekend: Snow Goose: Jersey Ponds Western Screech-Owl: Kings Row Short-eared Owl: at the previously described location, though I saw it about 1/4 mile south of the harvesters Sage Sparrow: at the end of "County Line Road" west of 6th Ave Red-breasted Merganser: one female at the Corcoran Reservoir today Couldn't find any Mountain Bluebirds in the Avenal/Kettleman area... Year Total: 219 Thanks to John and Steve for all their help/posts! Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Kings Short-eared Owl From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:43:41 -0800 This late afternoon (11/14) Priscilla and I headed over to Kings Co. to look for Short-eared Owls. On our way we stopped by the Tulare Co. ground dove location east of Earlimart but had no luck with the doves, but we were there only briefly. We did however have four MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS along Rd. 168 just north of Ave. 56. Over in Kings Co. we looked for Short-eared Owls in the field west of the Poso Canal. We parked along the Homeland Canal and watched a beautiful sunset which included a very nice Green Flash. Shortly after 5pm a single SHORT-EARED OWL appeared briefly down near the ancient harvesters. If you plug the following lat/long into Google Earth you'll see where we parked: 35.869845 -119.556376 Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Kings Co - Red-breasted Merganser From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:15:01 -0000 Saturday, Nov 14, 2009 I started predawn at Kings Row and got a Western Screech-Owl I then birded around Jack Stone Pond - Sanderling continues, Bogg's Slough, Elgin Slough, Hickey Park - Lewis's Woodpecker continues. Went by Mark's and saw his White-throated Sparrow Kent and Jersey Ave had a nice selection of birds including a Snow Goose Heading over to Avenal I found Mountain Bluebird near the top of Skyline. I birded York/Piramid roads and found Sage Sparrow in the oil field. I came back over Kettleman City and went by the Nevade Ave ponds which are totally dry Corcoran Reservoir was full of birds. 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 2200 gulls, 1200 White-faced Ibis Location: Corcoran Reservoir Observation date: 11/14/09 Number of species: 20 Gadwall 8 Northern Shoveler 2 Northern Pintail 25 Canvasback 80 Red-breasted Merganser 8 Eared Grebe 20 Western Grebe 2 Clark's Grebe 110 American White Pelican 20 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 15 Snowy Egret 20 White-faced Ibis 1200 American Coot 20 American Avocet 2 Least Sandpiper 2 Ring-billed Gull 200 California Gull 2000 Herring Gull 10 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I was off to look for Short-eared Owl around 6th and Utica when my Jeep failed and had to AAA it home. 86 species on a great day of birding. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: GREATER ROADRUNNER From: "Luv2bird" <jillrucker AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:18:24 -0000 Yesterday's holiday was not the normal disappointment of doing laundry all day and watching mindless trash TV, thanks to the Fresno Audubon Society's Wednesday Walk group, and to Gary of the Tulare/Kings Audubon it was a great (or greater) day for surprises. I loved the trip to Yokohl Valley Rd. in Tulare County and seeing the beautiful black crest, and tail feathers of the GREATER ROADRUNNER. I will put photos in my Luv2bird album in the Fresno COunty Birders Yahoo Group of the Barn Owl and little Canyon Wren that knew how to run through an underground drainage pipe and perch on the other side of the road just for a photo op. That was one smart little wren, and that cuckoo was no chicken either. "Watch the birdie." Jill Rucker Fresno, CA Subject: Kings Co Update From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:14:01 -0000 Saturday, Nov 8, 2009 I came down through Tulare which is still dry. Dead Pig Stoil Alpaugh ID pond are basically birdless. Field at 4th and Tucson - has turned to mud many many birds but I couldn't find any rarities. Will soon be dry. Location: Field 4th and Tucson Observation date: 11/7/09 Number of species: 21 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 14 Snowy Egret 10 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Sandhill Crane 60 Killdeer 40 Greater Yellowlegs 10 Western Sandpiper 200 Least Sandpiper 1200 Dunlin 5000 Long-billed Dowitcher 4000 Ring-billed Gull 2 California Gull 4 Black Phoebe 2 Common Raven 2 Horned Lark 100 Tree Swallow 600 American Pipit 25 Savannah Sparrow 3 Western Meadowlark 6 Brewer's Blackbird 20 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Field 6th and Utica is full but slow. New field on 6th between Virgina and Homeland Canal. Starting to shape up. Went out across Utica and through Devil Den's to York with very few birds. Bumped into Mark out there whose highlight was 1 Vesper Sparrow. I came back through Avenal with nothing to report. Sunday Nov 9, 2009 With Debby and Mary Merriman we started at the Cartwright Reservoir, right of HWY 198 just east of Hanford. Worth checking nice duck selection but no rarities. Kings Row - Very birdy Location: Kings Row Observation date: 11/8/09 Number of species: 37 California Quail 16 Red-shouldered Hawk (California) 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 2 Rock Pigeon 35 Mourning Dove 2 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Acorn Woodpecker 4 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 3 Black Phoebe 2 Western Scrub-Jay 20 Common Raven 3 Tree Swallow 1 Bushtit 60 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 House Wren 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 Western Bluebird 3 American Robin 30 Northern Mockingbird 8 European Starling 140 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 80 Spotted Towhee 3 California Towhee 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 5 White-crowned Sparrow 80 Golden-crowned Sparrow 15 Dark-eyed Junco 7 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 House Finch 20 Lesser Goldfinch 10 House Sparrow 15 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Went along the Sportsman's club and Bogg's Slough Had 6 late Swainson's Hawk working a tractor ploughing a field. 2 White-tailed Kite We went by Jackstone pond - quiet Kent and Jersey Ponds - Nice late - Wilson's Phalarope 1 40-50 Bonaparte's Gull Nice shorebird viewing no rarities found. We went by Mark's to try for the sparrow but will have to try again. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Kings White-th. Sparrow and Others From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:56:35 -0000 My White-throated Sparrow has returned. If anyone wants to try for it, I live at 105 Champion Street in Lemoore. You're welcome to walk around the south side of the house to the back. The sparrows come to feed beneath the large pomegranate tree along the south fence line. The Jack Stone ponds have one Sanderling. Two Horned Grebes continued at the Jersey Ponds yesterday. The Hickey Park Lewis's Woodpecker was still there last weekend. The park is now closed but it may be visible from the southwest corner of the park if still present. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Tulare Co Year to Date 269 species all observers From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:29:42 -0000 Oct 31, 2009 We only added Chukar, Oct, Bald Mountain: Alison Sheehey, Sussan Steele Year totals: 2006 274 2007 283 2008 270 We still need. 6 Rare Tundra Swan Horned Grebe Pacific Golden-Plover Red-naped Sapsucker Sage Thrasher Grasshopper Sparrow All of which are possible this winter. I have found 2 of these birds in Kings Co in the last 2 months this year. Tulare Co 2009 269 October 31, 2009 All Observers Exceptional 17 Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Success Lake: known from 2008 Common Loon Mar, Success Lake: John Lockhart Rough-legged Hawk Feb, Alpaugh Allensworth fields Snowy Plover May, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Ruddy Turnstone Aug, Visalia WTP: John Lockhart Sanderling Sep, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Semipalmated Sandpiper Sep, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Stilt Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Ruff Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: John Lockhart Franklin's Gull Aug, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Thayer's Gull Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: Steve Summers Glaucous-winged Gull Jan, Porterville Dump: known from 08 Common Ground-Dove Aug, Avenue 64 near Road 168: Ali Sheehey Chimney Swift Sep, Tule River Porterville: Steve Sumers Bell's Vireo Sep, Tule River Porterville: Steve Sumers Summer Tanager Jun, Parker Pass Rd: Steve Summers Indigo Bunting Jun, Generals Hwy Ampatheater Pt area: John Harshman 21 Rare Ross's Goose Jan, Pixley NWR: Steve Summers Cackling Goose Jan, Bravo Lake: known from 08 Eurasian Wigeon Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Blue-winged Teal Mar, Hwy 43 Road 64 Pond: John Lockhart Common Goldeneye Jan, Bravo Lake: John Lockhart Chukar Oct, Bald Mountain: Alison Sheehey, Sussan Steele Solitary Sandpiper Aug, Visalia WTP: Rob Hansen Willet Aug, Stoil Pond: Steve Summers Baird's Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh ID Pond: Steve Summers Short-billed Dowitcher Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Long-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Short-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Costa's Hummingbird May, Kennedy Meadow Road, Jeff Seay Black-backed Woodpecker Jul, Seville Lake Trl SNF/SNP: Kevin Enns-Rempel Willow Flycatcher May, BLM Headquarters Alpaugh, Steve Laymon Purple Martin Mar, Dry Creek Dr: John Lockhart Bank Swallow Aug, Tulare WTP: Steve Summers Swainson's Thrush ?,?, Steve Summers Black-throated Sparrow May, Sherman Pass Rd: John Lockhart White-throated Sparrow Jan, Hwy 99 Ave 24 N of Delano, Dominick Mosur Pine Grosbeak July, Weaver Lake Jennie Lake trail crossing, John Lockhart John Lockhart Visalia Subject: SE Kings Co From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:58:03 -0000 Saturday 31 October 2009 I started predawn looking for but not finding Short-eared Owl on Utica between 6th and 4th. I found a dead one in the road there about a week ago. 4th and Tucson ponds are still going strong Location: field 4th and Tucson Observation date: 10/31/09 Number of species: 25 Mallard 11 Northern Shoveler 80 Bufflehead 3 Eared Grebe 8 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 8 Snowy Egret 12 White-faced Ibis 300 Northern Harrier 2 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 American Coot 12 Killdeer 20 Greater Yellowlegs 120 Least Sandpiper 400 Dunlin 300 Long-billed Dowitcher 20 Ring-billed Gull 300 California Gull 40 Herring Gull 1 European Starling 2 American Pipit 12 Savannah Sparrow 5 Brewer's Blackbird 30 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I found Tricolored, Yellow-headed and Red-winged black bird at the dairy at 6th and Utica. I then went to the Atwell Island area between 6th and the Homeland Canal. The Poso Canal, dry, goes south off the Homeland Canal here. I took this just south of the Turkey Farm. Mountain Plover Location: Poso Canal South Observation date: 10/31/09 Number of species: 5 Mountain Plover 40 Loggerhead Shrike 2 Horned Lark 500 Savannah Sparrow 10 Western Meadowlark 10 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) On private land in Southern Kings Co 60, yes sixty, Willet, amazing, I am not sure how rare this many is at this location but I sure wasn't expecting it. 1 Sanderling John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Re: BBWO - Kern Plateau From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:12:12 -0700 I had a successful visit with a male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER this morning (10/29) on Boone Rd. found a few days ago by Ali Sheehay, Susan Steele and Shelley Ellis. There were several Hairy and a couple of White-headed Woodpeckers as well. Boone Rd. (FSR22S20) is about 4.75 miles from the Sherman Pass Vista and then the burn is about 1.7 miles down Boone Rd. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Another Kings Co. Lewis's Woodpecker From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:06:48 -0700 A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was along the Tule River off of 6th Ave. this morning. Other birds of interest to me were a Swainson's Hawk, Cedar Waxwings and a Myrtle Warbler. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Re: BBWO - Kern Plateau From: "natureali" <natureali AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:14:55 -0000 P.S. I will lead a chase on Sunday, November 1st if anyone wants to go. Email me offline. Ali --- In tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com, Alison Sheehey wrote: > > Hi All, > > Went birding with Susan Steele and Shelley Ellis specifically to find > the much sought after but always missed Black-backed Woodpecker on the > Kern Plateau. > We found three birds in a small burn on Boone Meadow Road several miles > off of Sherman Pass Road. > This made the 62nd life bird for the year and the 406th bird on my big > year. > I visited Bald Mountain and as I was leaving I saw a juvenile Northern > Goshawk. > I will post some photos in the TK birds album later. > > Ali Sheehey > Weldon, CA > Subject: BBWO - Kern Plateau From: Alison Sheehey <natureali AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:13:25 -0700 Hi All, Went birding with Susan Steele and Shelley Ellis specifically to find the much sought after but always missed Black-backed Woodpecker on the Kern Plateau. We found three birds in a small burn on Boone Meadow Road several miles off of Sherman Pass Road. This made the 62nd life bird for the year and the 406th bird on my big year. I visited Bald Mountain and as I was leaving I saw a juvenile Northern Goshawk. I will post some photos in the TK birds album later. Ali Sheehey Weldon, CA Subject: Plumbeous Vireo & Glaucous-winged Gull Kings Co From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:42:14 -0000 Friday Oct 23, 2009 Corcoran Reservoir - getting birdier with lots of gulls now Flooded field - SE of Utica and 6th - Canada Geese a few shorebirds but might get better Flooded field - NW Tucson (not marked or paved here) and 4th Glaucous-winged Gull Location: field 4th and Tucson Observation date: 10/23/09 Number of species: 21 Canada Goose 40 Gadwall 10 Mallard 15 Northern Shoveler 400 Northern Pintail 30 Ruddy Duck 35 Eared Grebe 15 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 5 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 30 Black-necked Stilt 1 American Avocet 17 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Least Sandpiper 80 Long-billed Dowitcher 40 Ring-billed Gull 10 California Gull 15 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Horned Lark 40 American Pipit 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) BLM Atwell Island - Plumbeous Vireo second county record The exact location is on the dirt road between the canal and the historic harvesters for those that know the area. From Alpaugh drive west out of town and turn south down the canal pass the power lines and take the first tree lined, 5 trees, road. From 6th going south of Virgina take the canal to the east and turn south on the first road. There are just a few trees a couple of tamarisks and a couple of mulefat bushes for the bird to hide in if it stays. I got a quick look went to get my camera and lost it for 15 minuets but then got good looks and called Mark Stacy and Steve Summers. It was to late to chase but Steve called Steve Laymon, whose house can probably be seen from this spot and he came out and we found the bird again confirming my find. Location: Atwell Island BLM Kings Observation date: 10/23/09 Notes: Steve Laymon came and saw the Plumbeous Vireo Number of species: 15 Great Egret 1 Mourning Dove 3 Black Phoebe 1 Plumbeous Vireo 1 Common Raven 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 14 Savannah Sparrow 5 Song Sparrow 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 7 White-crowned Sparrow 15 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Red-winged Blackbird 3 Western Meadowlark 5 House Finch 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) John Lockhart Visalia Subject: First of Season Ferruginous Hawk From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:47 -0000 Oct 20, 2009 I spent a liitle time birding in Kings and Tulare Tueaday afternoon without much to report except First of Season First of Season Ferruginous Hawk John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Hickey Park Lewis's Woodpecker From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:09:02 -0000 Saturday, October 17, 2009 I went early am to look for the Palm Warbler, we couldn't find it. Lots of fog until 11:30. Park opens at 10:00 AM (fee) Mark Stacy showed up around 9:00 we birded the perimeter until it opened and walked around the park a couple of times until about 12:30 - 1:00. Lewis's Woodpecker a very good Kings Co bird looked to be very content near the front left hand corner of the park. It was in the same place every time we went to observe it over 2-3 hours. If you walked a 100 yards or so down the left hand (west) fence line on the outside of the park you would be right where we found it. Location: Hickey Park Observation date: 10/17/09 Notes: with Mark Stacy 75% of the time Number of species: 28 American White Pelican 2 Red-shouldered Hawk (California) 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Mourning Dove 2 Anna's Hummingbird 2 Lewis's Woodpecker 1 Acorn Woodpecker 2 Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 4 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 Black Phoebe 3 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 18 American Crow 3 Bushtit 20 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 American Robin 40 Northern Mockingbird 8 European Starling 60 Cedar Waxwing 200 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 80 Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 Spotted Towhee 4 White-crowned Sparrow 25 Golden-crowned Sparrow 5 House Finch 20 House Sparrow 10 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I then went and spent about an hour on Kings Row. Lawernce's Goldfinch continue. Location: Kings Row Observation date: 10/17/09 Number of species: 21 California Quail 22 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Kestrel 1 Mourning Dove 1 Acorn Woodpecker 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Black Phoebe 2 Common Raven 2 Bushtit 10 House Wren 1 American Robin 5 Northern Mockingbird 4 Yellow Warbler 10 Spotted Towhee 3 White-crowned Sparrow 15 Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 House Finch 10 Lawernce's Goldfinch 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Al DeMartini finds Palm Warbler in Hickey Park Hanford From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:46:15 -0000 This is a first county record. bird 299 Al posted on Countybirds and I pasted it here. originally posted 5 pm Friday Oct 16. Hickey Park, 16850 Flint Avenue, Hanford, ca Flint and 17th Hey All, Early this afternoon (~1:30ish?) I stopped briefly (~ 5 min )at Hickey Park. Crazily there was a Palm Warbler sharing a Valley Oak with a male Blk-thrt Gray Warb! (right after you pass the Kiosk park & walk north to the big oaksjust south of /at the edge of the lawn depression.) The patchy fog/cloud cover paid off I guess whereas earlier at San Luis Ck(O'Neill Forebay Merced) I had high hopes (due to the Fog etc) but nothing better than 2 Yellow Warbs & 2 late Cliff Swallows. Now off to tortoise work for a couple weeks or so, Cheers, Cheers, Al I am going to go look tomorrow, Saturday, morning John Lockhart Visaia Subject: Kings County historical Condor records + info on Zoo hatched birds From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:56:13 -0000 Kings Co - 298 species I have been looking for a countable Kings Co Californai Condor Record I had little luck on my own so I made a request on CALBIRDS a yahoo group site like this one covering all of Californai. I got a lot of great responces and leads the best of them being from Niel Clipton Hi John, The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto has a California Condor specimen collected in 1897 from Avenal, Kings County. I'm not sure if this meets your definition of "countable", but if so, might be worth looking into to see if more detail on location is available. -Neil I emailed the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and recieved this confirmation Hi: The specimen is a juvenile Male collected 1987 May 1 at Avenal, Kings County, California. It was purchased by James Henry Fleming of Toronto from William F. Rosenberg a Natural History specimen dealer in London, England. Even though he dealt in specimens Rosenberg had his own small collection(s). This is from his personal collection that Fleming purchased from him along with other birds in 1913. Sorry, no collector on the specimen or noted in Fleming's collection register. Brad Millen Natural History-Ornithology/Database Royal Ontario Museum 100 Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5S 2C6 also was from Jeff Davis WILBUR, S. R. 1978. The California Condor, 1966-76: a look at its past and future. N. Am. Fauna, No_ 72, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Serv. It includes the following on page 58: Kings County 1970, near Avenal: 3 Sept., 2U (J. Traub). Jeff I haven't actully seen the book yet but am searching for a copy. There are 3 wild hatched "countable" birds in Big Sur this year if they follow the the movements of the 4 zoo hatched birds, see below, then there is a fair chance in the future that many of us will have California Condor on our Kings Co list. I hear they are equipped with tracking devices so maybe just a quick flyby would be recorded and we can add them to all observer year lists in the future once they get up and start moving. The map on P21 is really worth checking out. These are all Zoo hatched birds. http://www.ventanaw s.org/pdf/ about_research/ HTharveyreport_ finalNov07. pdf p 21 that has a nice range map, GPS satellite, of zoo hatched birds based out of Pinnacles NM, 306, 307, 312, and 313 showing that most have entered Kings Co airspace. I also have the following narrative from the Pinnicales NPS site 307 During the October 2004 release event, 307 delighted the crowd with her graceful flight away from the release pen. She was hatched at the LA Zoo on 5/5/03. Equipped with a GPS transceiver, she continued to be one of the most adventurous condors in the flock and was always expanding her range which included San Benito, Monterey, Merced, Fresno, Kings and San Luis Obispo Counties. She underwent multiple rounds of chelation and was released back into the wild. Unfortunately, she was found dead of unknown causes in May of 2007. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: SE KIngs SW Tulare From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:13:12 -0000 Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 I got off about 1 and birded until dark with no rarities to report Visalia WTP - one pond dry one too full very few birds Stockyard - Dry Tulare WTP - Full ponds - duck diversity still low, 600 Black-bellied Plover Corcoran Resivior - grebes and mallards Tule River Kings - very slow 10th and Utica - has dried up almost totally still quite a few birds in remaining water but very far out there. Wood Duck - I've seen them at pixley NWR and places like that but this is really out in the open. BlM Atwell Island Kings - decently birdy but no rarities Stoil - Dry just a little around the edges Alpaugh ID - Dry just a little around the edges Dead Pig pond - Dry John Lockhart Visalia Subject: No HOGR or EUWI but Mountain Plover From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:03:45 -0000 I spent 3 hours searching for the Eurasian Wigeon. There's thousands of ducks to look through, though. At least 100 Am. Wigeon. While there a lone Mountain Plover flew past and disappeared in the sea of dirt to the north. Scoped for an hour at Corcoran reservoir with no Horned Grebe to be found... Yesterday the Tule R. had a female Costa's Hummingbird and 2 Vesper Sparrows. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Kings Co all day Eurasian Wigeon Horned Grebe From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:10:58 -0000 Saturday 10 October 2009 I started predawn at the Sportsman's Club Location: Sportsman's Club Observation date: 10/10/09 Number of species: 28 Wood Duck 5 Great Egret 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 American Kestrel 1 Common Moorhen 1 American Coot 1 Killdeer 5 Black-necked Stilt 60 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 12 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Least Sandpiper 80 Long-billed Dowitcher 5 Mourning Dove 3 Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 3 Black Phoebe 1 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 3 Tree Swallow 120 American Robin 3 Northern Mockingbird 6 European Starling 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Song Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 15 Red-winged Blackbird 100 Western Meadowlark 3 Brewer's Blackbird 20 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Next was the Jersey Avenue Ponds - Willet Fairly good numbers and assortment of birds Ring-necked Duck I then thought I might get some winter sparrows and birds of prey and went out to 41 and York Ave the extreme southwest corner of the county but basically just ended up exploring with very few birds. What I described in my last report as 10th and Utica is better described as 10th and Tucson although Tucson is not paved or signed. Wow - the ducks are in. 4000 Western Sandpiper, Greater White-fronted Goose continues, and Eurasian Wigeon. Probably wont last long, water is going down. Scouting hunters fired in the air and the birds filled the sky. Location: Field 10th and Tucson Ave Observation date: 10/10/09 Number of species: 29 Greater White-fronted Goose 10 Canada Goose 120 Gadwall 30 Eurasian Wigeon 1 American Wigeon 20 Mallard 60 Northern Shoveler 1000 Northern Pintail 400 Green-winged Teal 5 Canvasback 60 Redhead 30 Ring-necked Duck 4 Eared Grebe 3 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 7 Snowy Egret 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 American Coot 80 Sandhill Crane 5 Black-bellied Plover 60 Killdeer 4 American Avocet 40 Western Sandpiper 4000 Least Sandpiper 500 Dunlin 60 Ring-billed Gull 7 California Gull 1 Common Raven 2 Brewer's Blackbird 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) The Tule River was very quiet Corcoran Reservoir - Horned Grebe a well defined perfect example Location: Corcoran Reservoir Observation date: 10/10/09 Number of species: 17 Gadwall 3 Mallard 220 Northern Shoveler 40 Ruddy Duck 40 Horned Grebe 1 Eared Grebe 40 Western Grebe 1 Clark's Grebe 60 Great Egret 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 American Coot 30 Ring-billed Gull 9 California Gull 12 Black Phoebe 1 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow 200 Cliff Swallow 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I had a Golden Eagle in the fields along 6th near the Corcoran Reservoir. Thought it was a stray dog, wrong Kingdom, turned around for a look and it was hopping around eating a snake. I took 10th back to Hanford and there were a few irrigated fields. Some had many birds but no rarities. I ended at Kings Row Location: Kings Row Observation date: 10/10/09 Number of species: 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 Mourning Dove 3 Great Horned Owl 1 hummingbird sp. 2 Acorn Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 2 Black Phoebe 1 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 12 House Wren 1 American Robin 25 Northern Mockingbird 2 Cedar Waxwing 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Spotted Towhee 1 White-crowned Sparrow 25 Red-winged Blackbird 10 House Finch 10 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Swainson's Hawks From: "Gary L" <birds_i_vue AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:47:32 -0000 I posted some photos of Swainson's Hawks from Visalia Roost. Gary Subject: Swainson's Hawks From: "Gary L" <birds_i_vue AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:36:23 -0000 Showed up at the Swainson's Hawk roost between Green Acres Rd and Sunset Rd at 8:30 AM on October 10. No birds in the air on arrival. Took oppertunity to photograph perched hawks. Mix of Dark, intermediate and ligth forms present. Turkey Vultures left the roost first this morning, around 9:10 AM. By 9:15 the first SwHa were airborne. At first, just some short flights by the SwHa to a differnt tree after a few shallow circles. By 9:20 with a temperature of 58 degrees, the hawks began leaving to the west with very little circling to gain height. I drove to McDermot park along Mineral King to try and count the hawks as they strung out into single file. The birds this AM were going too far to the north to count from my first location. I drove about 1 mile to the west and 1/2 mile to north to Willow Glen school on Akers Av. Here I was able to get a good unobstructed view of the horizon to the north and south. Over the next 30 minutes (9:40 to 10:10) I tallied 231 birds. I stayed at the area for 10 minutes after the last hawk tallied. Due to the glare and whiskey colored skies, I was not able to tally the different color forms or immatures. I next traveled to Grangeville Rd west of Goshen and found the flock scattered over three different fields between 3 and 4 miles west of Hwy 99. Some hawks (about 30)were going after insects over a silage chopping operation. In a fallow dry field, about 80 were arranged like pieces on a chess board not obviously pursuing anything. The remainder were over 1/2 mile to the north following a tractor plowing a field. These hawks were quite successfully catching mice in the most recently plowed furrows. Gary Lindquist Subject: Continuing Kings Rarities From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:24:11 -0000 One Solitary Sandpiper is still at the Elgin Ave. Sportsman's Club, usually on the north side of the road. 30-40 Lawrence's Goldfinches continue at Kings Row. The past few days I've had 3 small flocks of cranes and one Gr. White-fr. Goose flock heading south. Many of the wintering passerines have moved in as well. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Swainson's Hawks From: "Gary L" <birds_i_vue AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:19:24 -0000 This late afternoon, returned to Sunset one block north of courthouse. Had over one hundred Swainson's Hawks in kettle overhead. Estimate over 200 hawks came into roost in about 45 minutes. Gary Subject: Kings Co Tuesday Oct 6 From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:06:04 -0000 Tuesday Oct 6, 2009 I got back from travels with an extra vacation day so I birded Kings Co. Tule River - Costa's Hummingbird continues. Birdy feels like something else really good might show up. Location: Tule River Kings Co Observation date: 10/6/09 Number of species: 41 Mallard 1 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 4 Great Egret 20 Snowy Egret 20 Black-crowned Night-Heron 40 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Common Moorhen 2 American Coot 6 Killdeer 3 Eurasian Collared-Dove 3 Mourning Dove 3 Great Horned Owl 1 Anna's Hummingbird 4 Costa's Hummingbird 1 hummingbird sp. 4 Belted Kingfisher 1 Northern Flicker 3 Black Phoebe 8 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 12 Common Raven 3 Tree Swallow 5 House Wren 5 Marsh Wren 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 European Starling 25 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 10 Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Lark Sparrow 20 Savannah Sparrow 120 Lincoln's Sparrow 5 White-crowned Sparrow 80 Red-winged Blackbird 100 Western Meadowlark 2 Brewer's Blackbird 300 Brown-headed Cowbird 3 House Finch 1 House Sparrow 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) 6th and Seattle is totally dry now. Found new water a field northwest of 10th and Utica. 4 or so fields, luckily the closest to the road, easy easy access, had nice birds including 19 Greater White-fronted Goose. Location: Field 10th and Utica Observation date: 10/6/09 Number of species: 16 Greater White-fronted Goose 19 Canada Goose 80 Gadwall 5 Mallard 80 Northern Shoveler 100 Northern Pintail 20 Redhead 12 Great Egret 2 Black-bellied Plover 60 Marbled Godwit 2 Western Sandpiper 150 Least Sandpiper 100 Dunlin 4 Long-billed Dowitcher 400 California Gull 7 Herring Gull (American) 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I had a lot of gulls at the Tule River(Canal) and 10th including 5 Herring Gulls but no rarities. I went out to the western end of Pueblo and drove out a field on the dirt. Wow, I've never seen so many Western Sandpiper out side of the Salton Sea. Endless. I couldn't find any rarity but birds kept cycling due to 2 Peregrine Falcon. Kent and Jersey was about as expected with 1 Willet I then explored around the northwest corner of the county finding and getting familiar with the Huntclub, Elgin Slough, and Jackstone ponds but finding no rarities. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Porterville Plumbeous Vireo From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:40:19 -0700 A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was along Porter Slough at Veterans Park in Porterville this morning (10/6). It was a nice bright gray and white bird with no greenish or yellow tones to it and had a very nice sharp head to throat contrast. It's interesting that two years ago on Oct. 1 I saw a singing Plumbeous Vireo at this very same location only about 0.2 miles farther up the trail. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Check out my photos on Facebook From: Tino Galicia <tinogalicia AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:44:11 -0700 I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile. Thanks, Tino To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=100000317415114&k=Z6E3Y5TZRZ6B5C1JPB63QTRQZ4JFZY4NUWEUEJWAUW&r tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com was invited to join Facebook by Tino Galicia. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click on the link below to unsubscribe. http://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=065c71&u=100000329895542&mid=1331459G5af324240e76G0G8 Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Swainson's Hawks From: "Gary L" <birds_i_vue AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:31:53 -0000 Kettle of Swainson's Hawks are roosting in PM coming in around dusk with large numbers of Turkey Vultures. Leaving roost around 9:30 AM and heading west to feed. Roost in well known Turkey Vulture roost one block north of Main just north of courthouse. This AM had well over one hundred Swainson's leaving roost over period of half an hour. Followed them to freshly fallow field 1/2 mile northeast of Kansas Ponds in Kings County. Gary Subject: Two Solitary Sandpipers in Kings From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:40:04 -0000 There are now 2 Solitary Sandpipers at the Lemoore Sportsmans' Club area on Elgin between 23rd & 24th. They stayed together the whole time I was there. At the corner of Elgin and 23rd was a ratty-looking Western Kingbird. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Tule River in Kings Co. From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:38:27 -0700 I went back out to the Kings Co. portion of the Tule R. this morning (10/1) to try again for yesterday's Plumbeous Vireo. No luck. The White-winged Dove was also a no show. I did however see an adult male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD, which I'm assuming is the same bird reported yesterday from there. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Kings From: "John Luther" <aplomado-falcon AT worldnet.att.net> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:10:43 -0700 Hey Birders, John Sterling already reported on the first county record of Plumbeous Vireo and the 46 White-fronted Geese that I found this morning along the south side of the Tule River east of 6th Ave in Kings Co. Then farther east along the south side of the river I found a Brewer's Sparrow which Steve Summers was able to refind in the middle of the day. Unfortunately last I heard he had not refound the vireo. The flooded field at the NW corner of 6th and Seattle had at least 10 Pectorals Sandpipers. The Solitary Sandpiper continued this morning along Elgin Ave just east of 24th Ave where reported by others in the northwest part of the county. It was along the shore of the large pond south of Elgin and along the edge of the water in the slough on the north side of Elgin. Happy Birding!! John Luther Oakland Subject: No Plumbeous Vireo From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:36:21 -0000 Went out this afternoon and couldn't find it. Did have 7 Sandhill Cranes, 1 Vaux's Swift, 1 COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD and 1 Willow Flycatcher though. While there I talked to a guy I assume is the landowner. He said it's okay to bird there. He wanted to know if I'd seen any beavers as he's tried to prevent them from damming the river over the years... In the future it's probably not necessary to enter this area from the west. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: RE: Tulare Co year to date all observers 267 species From: Kevin Enns-Rempel <kennsrem AT FRESNO.EDU> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:07:51 -0700 On July 5, 2009, I had a female Black-backed Woodpecker along the trail between the Rowell Meadow trailhead and Seville Lake. I saw it shortly after crossing the trail summit into Kings Canyon National Park and beginning the descent toward the lake. -- Kevin Enns-Rempel Fresno, CA ________________________________________ From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com [tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of calexandrinus [j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net] Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 7:58 PM To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [tularekingsbirds] Tulare Co year to date all observers 267 species Highlight for September was Tulare's first Chimney Swift seen over Porterville by Steve Summers bring Tulare's species list to 342. We still need records in 2009 for the following NonExceptional birds Tulare Co All Need 2009 Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8 Rare Tundra Swan Chukar Horned Grebe Pacific Golden-Plover Red-naped Sapsucker Black-backed Woodpecker Sage Thrasher Grasshopper Sparrow Tulare Co 2009 267 September 29, 2009 All Observers Exceptional 17 Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Success Lake: known from 2008 Common Loon Mar, Success Lake: John Lockhart Rough-legged Hawk Feb, Alpaugh Allensworth fields Snowy Plover May, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Ruddy Turnstone Aug, Visalia WTP: John Lockhart Sanderling Sep, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Semipalmated Sandpiper Sep, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Stilt Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Ruff Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: John Lockhart Franklin's Gull Aug, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Thayers Gull Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: Steve Summers Glaucous-winged Gull Jan, Porterville Dump: known from 08 Common Ground-Dove Aug, Avenue 64 near Road 168: Ali Sheehey Chimney Swift Sep, Tule River Porterville: Steve Summers Bell's Vireo Sep, Tule River Porterville: Steve Summers Summer Tanager Jun, Parker Pass Rd: Steve Summers Indigo Bunting Jun, Generals Hwy Ampatheater Pt area: John Harshman Rare 19 Ross's Goose Jan, Pixley NWR: Steve Summers Cackling Goose Jan, Bravo Lake: known from 08 Eurasian Wigeon Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Blue-winged Teal Mar, Hwy 43 Road 64 Pond: John Lockhart Common Goldeneye Jan, Bravo Lake: John Lockhart Solitary Sandpiper Aug, Visalia WTP: Rob Hansen Willet Aug, Stoil Pond: Steve Summers Baird's Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh ID Pond: Steve Summers Short-billed Dowitcher Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Long-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Short-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Costa's Hummingbird May, Kennedy Meadow Road, Jeff Seay Willow Flycatcher May, BLM Headquarters Alpaugh, Steve Laymon Purple Martin Mar, Dry Creek Dr: John Lockhart Bank Swallow Aug, Tulare WTP: Steve Summers Swainson's Thrush ?,?, Steve Summers Black-throated Sparrow May, Sherman Pass Rd: John Lockhart White-throated Sparrow Jan, Hwy 99 Ave 24 N of Delano, Dominick Mosur Pine Grosbeak July, Weaver Lake Jennie Lake trail crossing, John Lockhart John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Tulare Co year to date all observers 267 species From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:58:41 -0000 Highlight for September was Tulare's first Chimney Swift seen over Porterville by Steve Summers bring Tulare's species list to 342. We still need records in 2009 for the following NonExceptional birds Tulare Co All Need 2009 Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8 Rare Tundra Swan Chukar Horned Grebe Pacific Golden-Plover Red-naped Sapsucker Black-backed Woodpecker Sage Thrasher Grasshopper Sparrow Tulare Co 2009 267 September 29, 2009 All Observers Exceptional 17 Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Success Lake: known from 2008 Common Loon Mar, Success Lake: John Lockhart Rough-legged Hawk Feb, Alpaugh Allensworth fields Snowy Plover May, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Ruddy Turnstone Aug, Visalia WTP: John Lockhart Sanderling Sep, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Semipalmated Sandpiper Sep, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Stilt Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Ruff Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: John Lockhart Franklin's Gull Aug, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Thayers Gull Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: Steve Summers Glaucous-winged Gull Jan, Porterville Dump: known from 08 Common Ground-Dove Aug, Avenue 64 near Road 168: Ali Sheehey Chimney Swift Sep, Tule River Porterville: Steve Summers Bell's Vireo Sep, Tule River Porterville: Steve Summers Summer Tanager Jun, Parker Pass Rd: Steve Summers Indigo Bunting Jun, Generals Hwy Ampatheater Pt area: John Harshman Rare 19 Ross's Goose Jan, Pixley NWR: Steve Summers Cackling Goose Jan, Bravo Lake: known from 08 Eurasian Wigeon Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Blue-winged Teal Mar, Hwy 43 Road 64 Pond: John Lockhart Common Goldeneye Jan, Bravo Lake: John Lockhart Solitary Sandpiper Aug, Visalia WTP: Rob Hansen Willet Aug, Stoil Pond: Steve Summers Baird's Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh ID Pond: Steve Summers Short-billed Dowitcher Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Long-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Short-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Costa's Hummingbird May, Kennedy Meadow Road, Jeff Seay Willow Flycatcher May, BLM Headquarters Alpaugh, Steve Laymon Purple Martin Mar, Dry Creek Dr: John Lockhart Bank Swallow Aug, Tulare WTP: Steve Summers Swainson's Thrush ?,?, Steve Summers Black-throated Sparrow May, Sherman Pass Rd: John Lockhart White-throated Sparrow Jan, Hwy 99 Ave 24 N of Delano, Dominick Mosur Pine Grosbeak July, Weaver Lake Jennie Lake trail crossing, John Lockhart John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Response received to banded Caspian Tern found in Kings co From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:53:21 -0000 On Sunday Sept 20, 2009 Justin Ward and I found a banded juvenile Caspian Tern near the Homeland Canal and 6th Ave in Kings Co which I reported. Below is the responce. Thank you very much for your report of the banded tern to our website. http://www.birdresearchnw.org/ Assuming the code on the right leg is correct and there were probably two small dark blue bands (it might have looked like one tall band) over the metal band on the left leg - the bird had been banded in mid-July at East Sand Island in the Columbia River estuary near Astoria, OR when it was still a chick. It is great to learn the bird fledged successfully and traveled this far south already. Is Homeland Canal close to the Alpaugh Irrigation District Pond where you saw an adult banded tern from East Sand Island last year? Please let us know if you see the same bird again or other banded terns in your area. Thank you again for the report! Yasuko Yasuko Suzuki Oregon Cooperative Fish and wildlife Research Unit Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University 104 Nash Hall Corvallis, OR 97331 (503)791-8799 yasuko.suzuki AT oregonstate.edu John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Pacific-golden Plover, Stilt Sandpiper (2), + Kings Co From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:38:21 -0000 Saturday, Sept 26 2009 I basically did the same trip with Tulare County Audubon yesterday but it was very hot. Sunday, Sept 27, 2009 I was going to stay home recovering from heat stroke but Frances Oliver emailed We popped the ebird filter 7 times for the day. 6th and Seattle - the water is going out and won't last long. We met the owner of the field, a very nice man that looked through our scopes, talked birds, and walked away with a couple of Kings Co bird lists. The field had been flooded to kill diseases in the soil. 2 Stilt Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 4000 Long-billed Dowitcher. Location: Field NW 6th and Seattle Observation date: 9/27/09 Notes: With Frances Oliver Number of species: 32 Northern Shoveler 400 Ruddy Duck 20 Eared Grebe 15 Clark's Grebe 1 American White Pelican 5 Great Egret 1 White-faced Ibis 350 Northern Harrier 1 American Coot 300 Black-bellied Plover 30 Semipalmated Plover 4 Killdeer 2 Black-necked Stilt 350 American Avocet 20 Greater Yellowlegs 40 Lesser Yellowlegs 20 Marbled Godwit 7 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 1500 Least Sandpiper 300 Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Dunlin 3 Stilt Sandpiper 2 Long-billed Dowitcher 4000 Wilson's Phalarope 10 Red-necked Phalarope 300 Ring-billed Gull 7 California Gull 5 Caspian Tern 2 Tree Swallow 1200 Savannah Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 800 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Tule River Kings Co - was just okay Black-throated Gray Warbler was the best bird Pueblo Ave fields - eastern section is dry - western still has many birds but most are very distant. Hundreds of American White Pelican. 1 Sandhill Crane. Many gulls but mostly at a distance. Field 15th and Nevada Ave - Pacific Golden-Plover I had found this field Saturday but the heat waves had killed my vision. Frances picked out the Pacific Golden-Plover. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Kings County Luke Cole Memorial Birding From: "jeff67632003" <jseay AT harveyecology.com> Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:19:29 -0000 Rob Hansen, Carol Coombs and I spent a little more than half a day taking part in the Luke Cole Memorial Challenge. We started at Kings Row near Burris Park and were surprised to find approximately 50 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES. We also had a few migrants there including warbling vireo and orange-crowned, yellow, and HERMIT WARBLERs. On private property in the south part of the valley we had a 1st year SABINE'S GULL and what we thought were a surprising total of 30 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Jeff Seay Fresno, CA Subject: Stilt Sandpiper 9 Pectoral Sandpiper Kings From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:49:40 -0000 Thursday, September 24, 2009 I visited a few other places and spent time looking for the White-winged Dove in Tulare Co but I spent 75% of my time at the 6th and Seattle flooded field. First of season Dunlin (2) 2500 dowitchers Great views many birds are at a distance but many are very comfortable with very close viewing. A lot of fun and great light in the evening. Location: Field NW 6th and Seattle Observation date: 9/24/09 Number of species: 30 Mallard 10 Northern Shoveler 400 Northern Pintail 8 Ruddy Duck 50 Eared Grebe 8 Great Egret 12 Snowy Egret 6 American Coot 300 Black-bellied Plover 60 Killdeer 4 Black-necked Stilt 120 American Avocet 8 Greater Yellowlegs 50 Lesser Yellowlegs 15 Long-billed Curlew 8 Marbled Godwit 15 Western Sandpiper 500 Least Sandpiper 200 Pectoral Sandpiper 9 Dunlin 2 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Long-billed Dowitcher 2500 Wilson's Phalarope 20 Red-necked Phalarope 200 Ring-billed Gull 1 Caspian Tern 5 Tree Swallow 1200 Cliff Swallow 3 Savannah Sparrow 8 Red-winged Blackbird 800 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Subject: The Luke Cole Memorial Birding Challenge this weekend From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:52:43 -0000 Luke Cole was and avid Kings Co birder known to locals for his guide to birding Kings Co and getting stuck in the mud at the Dead Pig Pond in Tulare Co. He contributed greatly to birding in California. The Luke Cole Memorial Birding Challenge is set for this coming Saturday & Sunday, 26 & 27 Sep 09. This challenge has been organized by Mark Eaton, Steve Glover, Alan Hopkins, and Brent Plater. A goal of 400 species observed throughout California during this coming Saturday and Sunday... There is an opportunity for those who might wish to additionally make a pledge to support continuation of Luke Cole's non-profit work: http://www.markeaton.org/lukeColeChallenge.html Birders are already going birding in at least 37 California counties as part of this effort. I will be taking the Tulare County Audubon Society out on Saturday to valley floor wet areas and migrant areas. I plan on birding Kings Co, Luke's adopted birding county, on Sunday. Taken and modified from Bob Barnes post on Kern Co birding John Lockhart Visalia Subject: White-winged Dove still there From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:49:24 -0000 I'd all but given up this morning when it flew from near the originally described location. It seems most of the time the doves are feeding in nearby fields making them hard to spot. Thanks to John and Steve for finding and reporting this bird! The Jersey Ponds now have 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, all on the north pond. The flooded fields to the west of Tulare Lake Canal between Pueblo and Newton Ave have several thousand dowitchers along with impressive numbers of Black-bellied Plover, yellowlegs, gulls and others. I was able to pull 2 Short-billed juvs out of the mix. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: RE: [CVBirds] fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:56:26 -0700 As far as I know, that Western Sandpiper is a first record for Mariposa County! John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Luther Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:42 PM To: Fresno County Birders; tularekingsbirds; countybirders; Central Valley Birds Subject: [CVBirds] fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa Hi Birders, I made a quick trip into the San Joaquin Valley yesterday and today. Some of what I consider my more interesting sightings follow. Sure is hot out there compared to Oakland. Sep 17 Fresno Co - I birded the Fresno Sewage Ponds (you need to call ahead - usually a day ahead - to get in) (599 621-5100) Sep 17 in the early afternoon - in the first pond south of North Ave I saw a Red Knot, 2 Franklin's Gulls, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, 1 Caspian Tern, 1 Marbled Godwit and at least 2 Pectoral Sandpipers along with many other shorebirds. Tulare Co - 2 Sanderlings continued at the Tulare Sewage Ponds. Take Paige Ave west from highway 99 to Road 92. At this corner drive south on the dirt road that goes along the east ponds and turn west at the south end of the last pond. This southeast pond is (as far as I know) the only pond that the Sanderlings have been seen in. I saw them along the east shore of this pond. Common Ground Dove - I saw one bird in the location described by others about 0.5 mile east of Rd 160 on Ave 64. This about 5 miles east of highway 99 at Earlimart. The dove flew by the large pile of old grape plant piled in and around what looked like it used to be a pond as there was a small amount of green water at the northern edge of this "pond". The trees along Deer Creek going east and west from Rd 160 north of Ave 64 had many western migrants including W Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow, Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers and Lazuli Bunting. Sep 18 Tulare Co Stoil Pond (which is a few miles north of Ave 56 along highway 43). On the west side of the road look for some palm trees just before crossing Deer Creek. Then park on the west side of the road south of where 43 crosses the creek and walk over the railroad tracks to see the ponds. They are very dry now, but still have some water. This morning there was a Ruff, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, about 40 Least Sandpipers and some Killdeer there. A Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warbler were in the trees by the creek. Madera Co The Chowchilla Sewage ponds (go north on Road 16 from highway 152 a few miles and look for the ponds on your left). You can drive the dirt road into the ponds. One of the south ponds has good mud that had a Snowy Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper. Mariposa Co To reach the "best" (which is horrible in every other county in Calif) shorebird pond in the county go east from highway 99 to Le Grande and continue east on Le Grande Rd to White Rock Rd. Go north on White Rock Rd which eventually turns east and enters Mariposa Co. Continue a few miles to the first visible pond on your left. This is "the" shorebird spot in Mariposa Co. Today there was a large flock of shorebirds (14 birds) for Mariposa Co. There were 8 Killdeer, 5 Least Sandpiper (hard to find in this county) and one WESTERN SANDPIPER which was a first for me in Mariposa. This was my 58th county for Western Sandpiper. Are there other records for Mariposa Co? Also on and around the pond were 18 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, a Wood Duck, 2 Great Blue Heron and a few thousand bullfrogs. Happy Birding! John Luther Oakland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:56:26 -0700 As far as I know, that Western Sandpiper is a first record for Mariposa County! John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Luther Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:42 PM To: Fresno County Birders; tularekingsbirds; countybirders; Central Valley Birds Subject: [CVBirds] fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa Hi Birders, I made a quick trip into the San Joaquin Valley yesterday and today. Some of what I consider my more interesting sightings follow. Sure is hot out there compared to Oakland. Sep 17 Fresno Co - I birded the Fresno Sewage Ponds (you need to call ahead - usually a day ahead - to get in) (599 621-5100) Sep 17 in the early afternoon - in the first pond south of North Ave I saw a Red Knot, 2 Franklin's Gulls, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, 1 Caspian Tern, 1 Marbled Godwit and at least 2 Pectoral Sandpipers along with many other shorebirds. Tulare Co - 2 Sanderlings continued at the Tulare Sewage Ponds. Take Paige Ave west from highway 99 to Road 92. At this corner drive south on the dirt road that goes along the east ponds and turn west at the south end of the last pond. This southeast pond is (as far as I know) the only pond that the Sanderlings have been seen in. I saw them along the east shore of this pond. Common Ground Dove - I saw one bird in the location described by others about 0.5 mile east of Rd 160 on Ave 64. This about 5 miles east of highway 99 at Earlimart. The dove flew by the large pile of old grape plant piled in and around what looked like it used to be a pond as there was a small amount of green water at the northern edge of this "pond". The trees along Deer Creek going east and west from Rd 160 north of Ave 64 had many western migrants including W Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow, Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers and Lazuli Bunting. Sep 18 Tulare Co Stoil Pond (which is a few miles north of Ave 56 along highway 43). On the west side of the road look for some palm trees just before crossing Deer Creek. Then park on the west side of the road south of where 43 crosses the creek and walk over the railroad tracks to see the ponds. They are very dry now, but still have some water. This morning there was a Ruff, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, about 40 Least Sandpipers and some Killdeer there. A Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warbler were in the trees by the creek. Madera Co The Chowchilla Sewage ponds (go north on Road 16 from highway 152 a few miles and look for the ponds on your left). You can drive the dirt road into the ponds. One of the south ponds has good mud that had a Snowy Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper. Mariposa Co To reach the "best" (which is horrible in every other county in Calif) shorebird pond in the county go east from highway 99 to Le Grande and continue east on Le Grande Rd to White Rock Rd. Go north on White Rock Rd which eventually turns east and enters Mariposa Co. Continue a few miles to the first visible pond on your left. This is "the" shorebird spot in Mariposa Co. Today there was a large flock of shorebirds (14 birds) for Mariposa Co. There were 8 Killdeer, 5 Least Sandpiper (hard to find in this county) and one WESTERN SANDPIPER which was a first for me in Mariposa. This was my 58th county for Western Sandpiper. Are there other records for Mariposa Co? Also on and around the pond were 18 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, a Wood Duck, 2 Great Blue Heron and a few thousand bullfrogs. Happy Birding! John Luther Oakland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: No White-winged Dove... From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:57:34 -0000 Spent about an hour this evening looking for it. Will try again tomorrow. Jersey ponds had a Pectoral and Baird's Sandpiper. Jack Stone ponds now have 2 Sanderlings Here's my phone number for anyone who'd like to share their sightings with me: (559) 924-1769. Feel free to send me yours if you'd like an immediate contact for any high-caliber birds I may come across. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: White-winged Dove Kings County From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:59:49 -0000 Sunday, September 20, 2009 Steve Summers found this bird, Justin Ward and I were their a minute or so later after Steve called us. 2nd county recored Tule River, enter from 6th Avenue. From Corcoran go south, cross the Tule River bridge and go imeadetly east on a dirt road. The bird was in a snag at the start of the trees. If anyone knows Mark's number give him a call. Justin and I went and staked out the county line on the Tule river hoping it would fly that way for a Tulare Co first but no such luck. Justin and I had been birding the area when Steve came to check out the area. We had sporadic migratns including Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellow-throat, Blue-gray Gnatcachter, and a few others. Steve also had some other good birds before he left. Calliope Hummingbird among others Justin and I also had a Brewer's Sparrow on the Kings Co Atweel Island BLM land. The flooded field at 6th and Seattle is okay and now has dowitchers and godwits but needs to have a little lower water to become really good. John Lockhart Visalia John Lockhart Visalia Subject: fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa From: "John Luther" <aplomado-falcon AT worldnet.att.net> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:41:59 -0700 Hi Birders, I made a quick trip into the San Joaquin Valley yesterday and today. Some of what I consider my more interesting sightings follow. Sure is hot out there compared to Oakland. Sep 17 Fresno Co - I birded the Fresno Sewage Ponds (you need to call ahead - usually a day ahead - to get in) (599 621-5100) Sep 17 in the early afternoon - in the first pond south of North Ave I saw a Red Knot, 2 Franklin's Gulls, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, 1 Caspian Tern, 1 Marbled Godwit and at least 2 Pectoral Sandpipers along with many other shorebirds. Tulare Co - 2 Sanderlings continued at the Tulare Sewage Ponds. Take Paige Ave west from highway 99 to Road 92. At this corner drive south on the dirt road that goes along the east ponds and turn west at the south end of the last pond. This southeast pond is (as far as I know) the only pond that the Sanderlings have been seen in. I saw them along the east shore of this pond. Common Ground Dove - I saw one bird in the location described by others about 0.5 mile east of Rd 160 on Ave 64. This about 5 miles east of highway 99 at Earlimart. The dove flew by the large pile of old grape plant piled in and around what looked like it used to be a pond as there was a small amount of green water at the northern edge of this "pond". The trees along Deer Creek going east and west from Rd 160 north of Ave 64 had many western migrants including W Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow, Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers and Lazuli Bunting. Sep 18 Tulare Co Stoil Pond (which is a few miles north of Ave 56 along highway 43). On the west side of the road look for some palm trees just before crossing Deer Creek. Then park on the west side of the road south of where 43 crosses the creek and walk over the railroad tracks to see the ponds. They are very dry now, but still have some water. This morning there was a Ruff, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, about 40 Least Sandpipers and some Killdeer there. A Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warbler were in the trees by the creek. Madera Co The Chowchilla Sewage ponds (go north on Road 16 from highway 152 a few miles and look for the ponds on your left). You can drive the dirt road into the ponds. One of the south ponds has good mud that had a Snowy Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper. Mariposa Co To reach the "best" (which is horrible in every other county in Calif) shorebird pond in the county go east from highway 99 to Le Grande and continue east on Le Grande Rd to White Rock Rd. Go north on White Rock Rd which eventually turns east and enters Mariposa Co. Continue a few miles to the first visible pond on your left. This is "the" shorebird spot in Mariposa Co. Today there was a large flock of shorebirds (14 birds) for Mariposa Co. There were 8 Killdeer, 5 Least Sandpiper (hard to find in this county) and one WESTERN SANDPIPER which was a first for me in Mariposa. This was my 58th county for Western Sandpiper. Are there other records for Mariposa Co? Also on and around the pond were 18 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, a Wood Duck, 2 Great Blue Heron and a few thousand bullfrogs. Happy Birding! John Luther Oakland Subject: fresno, tulare, madera, mariposa From: "John Luther" <aplomado-falcon AT worldnet.att.net> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:41:59 -0700 Hi Birders, I made a quick trip into the San Joaquin Valley yesterday and today. Some of what I consider my more interesting sightings follow. Sure is hot out there compared to Oakland. Sep 17 Fresno Co - I birded the Fresno Sewage Ponds (you need to call ahead - usually a day ahead - to get in) (599 621-5100) Sep 17 in the early afternoon - in the first pond south of North Ave I saw a Red Knot, 2 Franklin's Gulls, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, 1 Caspian Tern, 1 Marbled Godwit and at least 2 Pectoral Sandpipers along with many other shorebirds. Tulare Co - 2 Sanderlings continued at the Tulare Sewage Ponds. Take Paige Ave west from highway 99 to Road 92. At this corner drive south on the dirt road that goes along the east ponds and turn west at the south end of the last pond. This southeast pond is (as far as I know) the only pond that the Sanderlings have been seen in. I saw them along the east shore of this pond. Common Ground Dove - I saw one bird in the location described by others about 0.5 mile east of Rd 160 on Ave 64. This about 5 miles east of highway 99 at Earlimart. The dove flew by the large pile of old grape plant piled in and around what looked like it used to be a pond as there was a small amount of green water at the northern edge of this "pond". The trees along Deer Creek going east and west from Rd 160 north of Ave 64 had many western migrants including W Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow, Wilson's and Orange-crowned Warblers and Lazuli Bunting. Sep 18 Tulare Co Stoil Pond (which is a few miles north of Ave 56 along highway 43). On the west side of the road look for some palm trees just before crossing Deer Creek. Then park on the west side of the road south of where 43 crosses the creek and walk over the railroad tracks to see the ponds. They are very dry now, but still have some water. This morning there was a Ruff, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, about 40 Least Sandpipers and some Killdeer there. A Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warbler were in the trees by the creek. Madera Co The Chowchilla Sewage ponds (go north on Road 16 from highway 152 a few miles and look for the ponds on your left). You can drive the dirt road into the ponds. One of the south ponds has good mud that had a Snowy Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper. Mariposa Co To reach the "best" (which is horrible in every other county in Calif) shorebird pond in the county go east from highway 99 to Le Grande and continue east on Le Grande Rd to White Rock Rd. Go north on White Rock Rd which eventually turns east and enters Mariposa Co. Continue a few miles to the first visible pond on your left. This is "the" shorebird spot in Mariposa Co. Today there was a large flock of shorebirds (14 birds) for Mariposa Co. There were 8 Killdeer, 5 Least Sandpiper (hard to find in this county) and one WESTERN SANDPIPER which was a first for me in Mariposa. This was my 58th county for Western Sandpiper. Are there other records for Mariposa Co? Also on and around the pond were 18 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, a Wood Duck, 2 Great Blue Heron and a few thousand bullfrogs. Happy Birding! John Luther Oakland Subject: Another Kings Sabine's Gull From: "monkletgimp" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:20:49 -0000 Went out to the Jersey Ponds later and found an ADULT Sabine's Gull near some Ring-bills and Caspian Terns on the southern pond. Will post some cruddy pics of the adult and juvenile later. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Sabine's Gull Kings Co. From: "monkletgimp" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:42:56 -0000 There's a juv. Sabine's Gull on the southern Jack Stone Pond (1 mile s. of Grangeville along the west side of the Kings River just before the Naval Air Station gate). Also one juv. Sanderling there. Boggs Slough had a singing Purple Finch and several FOF birds for me. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Sanderlings continue at Tulare WTP on September 16, 2009 From: "Robert" <hansenbio AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:18:05 -0000 Even though this sandpiper is common during winter along almost all of California's beaches, they do not typically show up with peeps and other short-legged shorebirds on freshwater mudflats in the Central Valley. Most sanderling records in Kings County are from agricultural tailwater evaporation ponds where the salty water chemistry and food sources are more similar to those at the edge of the ocean as compared with the edge of a freshwater marsh or pond. During ten years (1994-2004) of shorebird surveys at evaporation ponds in Kings County, I saw between 1 and 42 sanderlings per day on 148 days during this species' 46-week long "winter" stay in the Tulare Basin between late July and early June. The highest daily sanderling total (42 individuals/day) was recorded in both late December and late February; the mean daily total on those 148 days was 7.55 individuals/day. It seems odd that with such numbers of sanderlings changing from day to day and presumably travelling regularly between these ponds in Kings County and coastal beaches, that they don't "stray" over into Tulare County more often. All I know is that until yesterday, I have been birding on hundreds of days in Tulare County since 1980 (including 3 years as the resident manager at Creighton Ranch at the west edge of Tulare County where I birded nearly every day) and I had never seen a sanderling east of Kings County until yesterday. After hearing about the 2 sanderlings John Lockhart found at Tulare WTP yesterday, I decided to try my luck and see if I could add this "beachin" sandpiper to my Tulare County life list. Even yesterday, it took 2 tries. I went to the Tulare WTP at about1:30 pm and scanned the edges of the southeast "cell" west of the Road 92 alignment south of Paige Avenue where John Lockhart and Steve Summers had seen them on September 15. The only shorebirds I saw among about 1,300 northern shovelers were a few killdeer, about 15-20 peeps, and a single spotted sandpiper. I called John later yesterday afternoon to get more details about where he had seen the sanderlings in that cell. He mentioned that the sanderlings were seen along the west side of the cell, on a small island near the southwest corner of the cell, and even walking among the shoveler flocks that lined the edge of the pond. I returned just before 7:00 pm armed with this new information and within a few minutes, while viewing from near the island at the southwest corner of the cell, I was able to find these very white "larger-than-peep" sandpipers (with black leading edges on their wings) foraging along the east levee of the southeast cell among northern shovelers at 7:00 pm. When I drove quickly around to the east side of the pond just as the sun was setting, the sanderlings took off, flew north, circled the northeast cell (the one that fronts on Paige Avenue) then came back and landed near the water's edge along the north side of the southeast cell. I watched and videotaped the birds as the light faded and last saw them flying southwest in the cell, presumably towards the island where John saw them on Tuesday. Many thanks to John Lockhart for spreading the word about this sandpiper that had for so long eluded me in Tulare County. Rob Hansen Subject: Tule River Kings Co migrants From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:53:10 -0000 Tuesday Sept 15, 2009 The flooded field at 6th and Seattle is still too high for good shorebirding. The Tule River had some migrants. Location: Tule River Kings Co Observation date: 9/15/09 Number of species: 26 Great Egret 2 Snowy Egret 1 White-faced Ibis 120 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 2 Killdeer 2 Mourning Dove 5 Great Horned Owl 2 Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 hummingbird sp. 3 Belted Kingfisher 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Black Phoebe 3 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 4 swallow sp. 2 Northern Mockingbird 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 MacGillivray's Warbler 2 Lark Sparrow 10 Savannah Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 80 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Sanderling, Ruff, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tulare From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:41:48 -0000 Tuesday Sept 15, 2009 I started at about 1:30 at the Tulare WTP - 2 Sanderling I called everyone and Steve Summers came and saw them also. The water is up in all the ponds with little shore bird habitat. Location: Tulare WTP Observation date: 9/15/09 Number of species: 17 Mallard 10 Northern Shoveler 1500 Ruddy Duck 50 Eared Grebe 10 Turkey Vulture 2 Northern Harrier 1 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 50 Black-bellied Plover 150 Killdeer 4 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Sanderling 2 Least Sandpiper 80 Long-billed Dowitcher 20 Cliff Swallow 3 Red-winged Blackbird 20 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Dead Pig Pond also had birds but nothing unusal but worth a stop. Alpaugh ID Pond is pretty much dry mud Stoil Pond is fantastic. The middle pond is perfect with birds everywhere. Another Sanderling, Ruff, and Semipalmated Sandpiper. The birds are scattered over the whole middle pond great views on whatever side you are on but a long way to the opposite side. I left very happy but feeling there was probably something I was missing. Location: Stoil Pond Observation date: 9/15/09 Number of species: 32 Mallard 10 Cinnamon Teal 3 Northern Shoveler 20 Clark's Grebe 1 American White Pelican 1 Great Blue Heron 6 Great Egret 20 Snowy Egret 30 Black-crowned Night-Heron 60 White-faced Ibis 20 White-tailed Kite 1 Northern Harrier 2 American Kestrel 1 American Coot 20 Semipalmated Plover 10 Killdeer 6 Black-necked Stilt 40 American Avocet 80 Greater Yellowlegs 14 Lesser Yellowlegs 4 Long-billed Curlew 30 Sanderling 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 Western Sandpiper 100 Least Sandpiper 2000 Ruff 1 Long-billed Dowitcher 800 Ring-billed Gull 200 Caspian Tern 20 Black Phoebe 2 Red-winged Blackbird 30 Brewer's Blackbird 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I checked Alpaugh Park for migrants with out luck but only very quickly. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Porterville Chimney Swift From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:03:01 -0700 This morning (9/14 AT 8:40a) while birding at Veteran's Park in Porterville I saw four swifts with Violet-green Swallows that I'm pretty confident were CHIMNEY SWIFTS. Basically they were appreciably larger than the swallows, all dark above and quite dark below from the breast to the vent with a contrasting grayish throat. Their flight was slower than a Vaux's (they seemed to lack that twinkling alternating wing beat of the Vaux's) but now as slow as a Black Swift. They also soared quite a bit. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Common ground-dove continues east of Earlimart (on September 13, 2009) From: "poouli" <hansenbio AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:05:06 -0000 I arrived at the small farm pond located about 5 miles east of Earlimart (0.55 mile east of Road 160 on the south side of Avenue 64) this morning (Sunday, 13 September 2009) at 6:59 am (sunrise today was at 6:38 am). The first birds I saw there were barn swallows flying south just above the pond, 2 vocal black phoebes, and a calling male California quail perched near the top of the vineyard prunings piles along the south side of the pond. At 7:02 am I noticed a single common ground-dove sitting on the ground on the west side of the pond in the shade of the stacked vineyard prunings. I guess 2 out of 3 isn't bad – it was a dove and it was on the ground (but it was not common)! There is a utility pole standing just north of the pond's northeast corner. When I saw the ground-dove, it was sitting almost exactly 100 feet south-southwest of that pole. One feature I noticed (that shows up very clearly in Alison Sheehey's photo on the Tularekingsbirds home page) that the field guides don't make a point of is that the bird's bill angles down from its face at a noticeable angle. The eye is subtly different from that of a mourning dove in that: (1) it lacks the mourning dove's powder blue orbital ring; (2) it has a lighter iris (not as black as mourning dove); and the ground-dove has an interesting eye shape (nearly a vertical elipse rather than the more round eye of mourning dove). The ground-dove also lacks the small black spot located below and behind the eye which is visible as the "third black spot on the face" (in addition to the bill and the eye) present on adult mourning doves of both sexes. Another point of comparison (in addition to its small size . . . the length and wingspread of the ground-dove is only about half that of a mourning dove) is that the black spots on the ground dove's wings (when folded at rest) start at the bend of the wing just behind the bird's breast while there are no spots on the anterior 1/3 of a mourning dove's wing. The ground-dove this morning only stayed in view for about a minute and then flew southwest into a young (trees about 6 feet tall) pistachio orchard before I could get a scope view or record any videotape. This represented my personal first Tulare County record for common ground-dove. I was with Bob Barnes, Alison Sheehey, and Jeff Seay at the same location at sunset on August 30 but I did not get a clear look at any of the ground-doves that evening. I tried again yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 12 September 2009) with Visalia birder, Shelby Fetterman from 7:15 (sunset was at 7:09 pm) to about 7:45 without success. On the first evening visit, there were still several western kingbirds in the area and we saw 2 lark sparrows nearby (neither species was present there this morning. On both of my evening visits (August 30 and September 12) we saw a great horned owl perched on a utility pole about a half hour after sunset on the west side of Road 168 0.3 mile south of Avenue 64. The most noteworthy other bird I saw this morning while on my common ground-dove quest was a vesper sparrow. This is a fairly normal return date for this species at the beginning of its winter stay on the Valley floor in this part of the southern San Joaquin Valley but it was in an atypical habitat. I'm accustomed to seeing vesper sparrows in grassland habitat (like along the edges of Yokohl Valley road among the more numerous savannah sparrows) but after flying up from grass along the roadside where mourning doves had been feeding about a half mile west of the ground-dove pond, this vesper sparrow landed in a small pistachio tree and proceeded to fly to a second and third tree before it flew out of view. My first impression when I saw the bold pattern on this bird's face was that it was a juvenile lark sparrow (because we saw a couple of lark sparrows in the area on August 30) but this bird had a noticeable eye ring and bold streaking on the breast and flanks typical of vesper sparrow. I was able to shoot a little videotape before it got out of range. Here is a tally of all the bird species I saw this morning between 6:53 am and 8:30 am in the five mile stretch from Highway 99 to Road 168 from Avenue 56 south for a mile to Avenue 56: California quail - 1 male great egret - 1 flew west fairly high up to the south of the ground- dove pond northern harrier – 1 female flew just above a vineyard red-tailed hawk – 1 perched individual American kestrel – 10 (this was more kestrels than I would have expected in an area which is nearly all orchards and vineyards – very little weedy roadside cover). killdeer – 8 Eurasian collared-dove – 3 (these birds were along Avenue 64 just east of Road 152). There was a small patch of unplowed native grassland/scrub habitat on the north side of Avenue 64 at that location I'd never noticed before. mourning dove – 45 (some shots from dove hunters were heard in the area) great horned owl (see note in the third paragraph above) northern flicker – 1 on a utility pole black phoebe – 7 (especially at farm ponds) western kingbird – several on August 30, one on September 12, but none were noted this morning western scrub-jay - 1 each on August 30 and September 12 in the area but none noted this morning American crow – 10 barn swallow – 60 (most of these diurnal migrants were heading south as they foraged just above the orchards and vineyards) American robin – 150 northern mockingbird – 2 (both were in the single tree at the ground dove pond) European starling – 10 vesper sparrow – 1 (see details above) lark sparrow – 2 (on August 30) red-winged blackbird – 200 (most were in large south-bound flocks this morning) Brewer's blackbird – 200 (most were perched in flocks on utility wires) house finch - 10 Rob Hansen Subject: Bell's Vireo Tulare Co. From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:10:17 -0700 A singing Bell's Vireo was along the Tule River in Porterville this morning (9/11). I first got glimpses of it a few times in a patch of sandbar willow and was in the mental process of beginning to think it might be a Bell's when it broke out into song. I did get a couple of fairly decent looks at the bird after that. I videoed the bird but you can't see it in the picture but you can hear the song. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Labor Day Weekend backpack - Pine Grosbeak From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:55:43 -0000 Saturday - Monday Sept 5 - 7, 2009 Mary Merriman, Debby, Julian and I hiked to Seville Lake from the Rowell Meadow trailhead in the Big Meadows area and came back over the Sugar Loaf trail. We also day hiked to Lost Lake from our camp at Seville Lake. Most of the time was spent in Sequoia NP. The birding was off and on but it was really nice sometimes. Our pair of Pine Grosbeak were just feet off the trail at eye level between Seville Lake and the trail junction. At a small meadow on the way to Lost Lake we had a great repeated looks at Townsend's (2) Hermit (3) and Black-throated Gray Warbler (2). My main birding goal was to try for Black-backed Woodpecker in areas where I had them 2-years ago. No luck this time. We had a pretty good list by the time we came back. I made ebird lists but am having problems with my email. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Kings County - Bank Swallow From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:30:37 -0000 Wednesday, September 9, 2009 I continued into Kings and found a large swallow flock at Utica and 6th 1000 Tree Swallow, 3 Bank Swallow, 20 Cliff Swallow, and 3 Violet-green Swallow. the 6th and Seattle field is still too deep it has birds but not masses. I went over to 10th and Pueblo were there are many flooded fields. There were lots of birds but many were very far out in the fields and hard to see. I ended up on Kings Row that had a few birds but nothing unusual. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Solitary Sandpiper at Caldwell ponds From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:11:49 -0000 Wednesday, Sept 9, 2009 Visalia WTP Dry Caldwell Pond - Solitary Sandpiper, quite a few birds Stockyard pond - dry Tulare WTP is just okay but water is being moved around Dead Pig - nice water quite a few birds Alpaugh ID pond - looked like great mud but few birds Stoil pond - 200 Ring-billed Gull but few other birds I checked a few migrant areas with nothing to show for it. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: 9 Sep 09: Kern Plateau - Blackrock, Troy, Kennedy From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:04:39 -0700 Hi, A 10am-1:30pm drive and bird along Kennedy Meadows Road and Beach Meadows Road in southeastern Tulare County from the Inyo County line to Blackrock Ranger station produced: * California Quail 1 * Red-tailed Hawk 1 * American Kestrel 1 * Mourning Dove 2 * Belted Kingfisher 1 At bridge over S Fk Kern River at Kennedy Meadows... * Anna's Hummingbird 1 Coming to hummingbird sugar water feeder at Blackrock visitor center... * Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 1 Coming to hummingbird sugar water feeder at Blackrock visitor center... * White-headed Woodpecker 1 * Loggerhead Shrike 1 * Steller's Jay 11 * Western Scrub-Jay 7 * Pinyon Jay 28 In vicinity of bridge over S Fk Kern River at Kennedy Mdws... * Clark's Nutcracker 5 At four locations * Common Raven 2 * Mountain Chickadee 13 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 * White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Rapid call suggests tenuissima (Great Basin) subspecies which is known to be found with aculeata (Pacific Coast) in southeastern Tulare County... * Pygmy Nuthatch 16 * American Robin 1 * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 3 * Wilson's Warbler 2 * Chipping Sparrow 4 * Lark Sparrow 1 * Sage Sparrow 1 * Dark-eyed Junco 7 * House Finch 11 Continued Happy & Productive Birding, Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kings White-fronted Goose From: "monkletgimp" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:49:04 -0000 I was quite surprised to find an adult White-fronted Goose at the Jersey Ponds this afternoon. Also present were 2 continuing Willets, 1 juv. Baird's Sandpiper and 2 juv. Short-billed Dowitchers. All birds were on the middle pond. Kings Big Year to Date: 205 Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: 8 Sep 09: Chimney Creek CG - Plumbeous Vireo, Numerous Warblers From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:13:55 -0700 Hi, This morning I birded Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway from CA Hwy 178 in northern Kern County north to Kennedy Meadows Road in southeastern Tulare County. Chimney Creek Campground was reached at 10:35am and birded until 11:35am. Nothing in particular was expected. The intention was/is to just check the area at least once each month of the year it is reachable ... not just during currently known prime times of year. I can't recall ever birding the campground before in September. I am glad I did this morning, even though too briefly and relatively late in the morning. Front widows of the car were down all along the Byway to listen for birds. As soon as the engine was turned off at the campground entrance, before getting out of the car, a Plumbeous Vireo was heard singing. It was checked out thoroughly to make sure it was not a migrant Cassin's Vireo. Excellent views revealed it to be about as clean a Plumbeous Vireo as possible. The first of several small, mixed warbler flocks was encountered in close proximity to the Plumbeous Vireo. The decision was made to see if more vireos and warblers were to be found during a slow drive along the one mile long campground road. Another singing Plumbeous Vireo (at the end of the campground road) was found along with three more pockets of warblers ... in all - 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, 5 Nashville Warblers, 3 Black-throated Gray Warblers, 2 McGillivray's Warblers, 4 Wilson's Warblers, plus at least a handful of warblers I could not get on clearly enough to identify to species. I arrived at the campground late and birded only an hour. I definitely left the campground area wondering what I would have tallied had I arrived 2-3 hours earlier and thoroughly walked the area for 3-4 hours instead of a one hour driving survey with four stops to get out and bird when I heard a warbler from inside the car. NOTE: All four audible, small warbler flocks were found where gray pines, live oaks, pinyon pines, and willows were in close proximity to each other alongside the campground road. Preferences were, in order, live oaks, willows, pines ... all were used. Also, 5 more Black-throated Gray Warblers were observed during the drive between Chimney Creek Campground and Kennedy Meadows Road (punctuated by a lengthy conversation about birding the area and a few other topics with a BLM employee). The complete eBird list for Chimney Creek Campground follows immediately. and thereafter by the other three eBird lists generated along the 15 mile length of the Byway. These reports were generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) TIME/DAY/DATE: 10:35am-11:35am, Tuesday, September 8, 2009; LOCATION: Chimney Creek Campground, SE Tulare County, California; GPS: N 35 50' 20.1", W 118 02' 35.1"; ELEVATION: 5625'; SKY: Cloudless; TEMPERATURE: 74.8F-83F; HUMIDITY: 25%-18%'; OBSERVER: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California; HIGHLIGHTS: 4 Mountain Quail, 2 Plumbeous Vireos still present & singing, 17 individual warblers in several small groups (3 Orange-crowned Warblers, 5 Nashville Warblers, 3 Black-throated Gray Warblers, 2 McGillivray's Warblers, 3 Wilson's Warblers); NOT DETECTED: Western Wood-Pewee, Gray Flycatcher;... SPECIES: 18 * Mountain Quail 4 In willow strip along Chimney Creek * Red-tailed Hawk 1 * Anna's Hummingbird 1 * Plumbeous Vireo 2 Still present ... both singing ... one at junction of Chimney Peak Nat. Back Country Byway and campground road ... second at end of campground road (one mile from Byway)... 1st individual extremely well seen (to rule out possible migrating Cassin's Vireo) with white streaks in primaries, white undersides, gray uppersides, no trace of yellow on sides or in primaries... * Steller's Jay 6 * Western Scrub-Jay 2 * Mountain Chickadee 9 * Oak Titmouse 1 * White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Both giving "aculeata" subspecies call * Bewick's Wren 1 * Orange-crowned Warbler 3 In mixed flocks with Nashville Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Wilson's Warblers * Nashville Warbler 5 Migrants ... Not known to nest in area... * Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 * MacGillivray's Warbler 2 * Wilson's Warbler 4 Migrants ... Not known to nest in area... * Western Tanager 1 * Spotted Towhee 1 * Chipping Sparrow 3 TIME/DAY/DATE: 6:50am-9:50am, Tuesday, September 8, 2009; LOCATION: Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway--Kern County; GPS: N 35 44' 55.7", W 118 06' 44.7" (at CA Hwy 178), N 35 47' 16.4", W 118 04' 19.0" (at county line a Lamont Peak Trail trailhead); ELEVATION: 3285'-5530'; OBSERVER: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California; SKY: Cloudless; TEMPERATURE: 57.4F-70F; HUMIDITY: 53%-39%; WIND: 0-6.5 kph; HIGHLIGHTS: Chukar, Band-tailed Pigeon, Calliope Hummingbird, California Thrasher return,... NOT DETECTED: Black-throated Sparrow SPECIES: 25 * Chukar 4 * California Quail 3 * Band-tailed Pigeon 9 Single flock * Mourning Dove 3 * Anna's Hummingbird 1 Female plumage * Calliope Hummingbird 1 New for this area ...feeding a flowers in draw ... very small, buffy sides, short bill, short tail, appeared chunky (like Costa's Hummingbird) perhaps due to short tail (primary tips even with tail tip) ... nearest known nesting season area is along Chimney Creek in Chimney Creek Campground c. 5 air miles to the north;... * Acorn Woodpecker 1 Continuing... * Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 * Hairy Woodpecker 1 * Say's Phoebe 1 * Western Scrub-Jay 14 * Oak Titmouse 1 * White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Both making "aculeata" subspecies call * Cactus Wren 1 * Rock Wren 4 * Canyon Wren 2 * Bewick's Wren 6 * Wrentit 2 * California Thrasher 3 Detected in this formerly known area for the first time in two years. * Wilson's Warbler 1 In willows at "spring" c. 2 miles up from CA Hwy 178... * Spotted Towhee 2 * California Towhee 9 * Lark Sparrow 1 * Sage Sparrow 32 Including 19 counted working their way north up canyon just before Tulare County line ... the second time this year this movement has been noted at this location... * House Finch 8 TIME/DAY/DATE: 9:50am-10:35am, Tuesday, September 8, 2009; LOCATION: Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway--Tulare County (5 miles from Kern County line north to Chimney Creek Campground); GPS: N 35 47' 16.4", W 118 04' 19.0" (at Kern County/Tulare County line at Lamont Peak Trail trailhead), N 35 50' 20.1", W 118 02' 35.1" (at Chimney Creek Campground entrance); ELEVATION: 5530'-5625'; OBSERVER: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California; SKY: Cloudless; TEMPERATURE: 70F-74.8F; HUMIDITY: 39%-26%; WIND: 0-6.5 kph; HIGHLIGHT: Mountain Quail;... SPECIES: 13 * Mountain Quail 2 * Mourning Dove 2 * Northern Flicker 1 * Steller's Jay 2 * Western Scrub-Jay 9 * Oak Titmouse 2 * Bewick's Wren 4 * Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 * Wilson's Warbler 1 * Spotted Towhee 3 * California Towhee 2 * House Finch 2 * Lesser Goldfinch 3 TIME/DAY/DATE: 11:35am-12:10pm, Tuesday, September 8, 2009; LOCATION: Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway--Tulare County (from Chimney Creek Campground entrance north to Kennedy Meadows Road); HIGHLIGHTS: Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5 Black-throated Gray Warblers;... Number of species: 6 * Steller's Jay 2 * Western Scrub-Jay 11 * Mountain Chickadee 2 * Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Uncommonly found in this pinyon pine woodland (with occasional live oaks) * White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Making "aculeata" subspecies call * Black-throated Gray Warbler 5 2 in male plumage, 2 in female plumage, 1 unknown Continued Happy & Productive Birding, Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red knot From: penny stewart <flamowl AT att.net> Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 23:43:02 -0700 (PDT) Today at the Jersey Ave ponds I had one red knot at the middle pond. It was on the north side of the island in this pond. It hung out by some branches that looked like an old broken down Christmas tree. There were also two willits. No other unusual birds there, or at Hanford WWTP, which had little shorebird habitat left. I checked out an area on ave 19 that Gary Woods said was flooded about a week ago. It is completely dry now. I would appreciate hearing about any good shorebird fields or ponds. Thanks! Penny [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: mystery shorebird Kent Hanford WWTP From: penny stewart <flamowl AT att.net> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:50:49 -0700 (PDT) Today at the Hanford WWTP I had a small shorebird that was about western size but hanging out with leasts. The bird had a western type bill that seemed a littler thicker, with the same slight droop at the end. The bird was in grayish winter plumage. It was smaller with different proportions than some Wilson's Phalaropes that were adjacent. I had only a brief view of the bird sitting, as a train came by and the bird flew. What was notable was that when it flew it had a completely white rump with a strong demarcation between back and rump. I can not tell you if the wings were longer than the tail, or what was on the breast. The bird looked like it flew to an adjacent pond but went out of sight below a levy and I did not see if it landed. I could not re-find the bird. Many peeps were far from scope view and I may have missed it. If there were a longer winged bird I think I would have been able to see it though. I had no luck with any other rarities there or at Jersey Ave., including the least tern. I had only a few black turns there, briefly. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NO Hudsonian Godwit this morning From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:34:31 -0700 I searched this morning (8/31) for yesterdays Hudsonian Godwit at 6th and Seattle Aves. in Kings Co. with no luck. In fact most of the shorebirds reported from yesterday were gone (e.g. 650 BbPl yesterday-3 today, 150 LbDo yesterday-4 today, 90 peeps yesterday- none today). No Red Knots either. I'm guessing the water level may be a little higher. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Tulare Co Year to date 263 species From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:01:01 -0000 August was a great month for Tulare Co Bird 341, new county species, Common Ground-dove and Ruddy Turnstone, 32 years since the last record, were the best of many great August sightings Tulare Co year total 263 as of August 30, 2009 All Observers Exceptional 13 Red-breasted Merganser Jan, Success Lake: known from 2008 Common Loon Mar, Success Lake: John Lockhart Rough-legged Hawk Feb, Alpaugh Allensworth fields Snowy Plover May, Tulare WTP: John Lockhart Ruddy Turnstone Aug, Visalia WTP: John Lockhart Stilt Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Ruff Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: John Lockhart Franklin's Gull Aug, Stoil Pond: John Lockhart Thayer's Gull Jan, Alpaugh Irrigation Pond: Steve Summers Glaucous-winged Gull Jan, Porterville Dump: known from 08 Common Ground-Dove Aug, Avenue 64 near Road 168: Ali Sheehey Summer Tanager Jun, Parker Pass Rd: Steve Summers Indigo Bunting Jun, Generals Hwy Ampatheater Pt area: John Harshman Rare 19 Ross's Goose Jan, Pixley NWR: Steve Summers Cackling Goose Jan, Bravo Lake: known from 08 Eurasian Wigeon Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Blue-winged Teal Mar, Hwy 43 Road 64 Pond: John Lockhart Common Goldeneye Jan, Bravo Lake: John Lockhart Solitary Sandpiper Aug, Visalia WTP: Rob Hansen Willet Aug, Stoil Pond: Steve Summers Baird's Sandpiper Aug, Alpaugh ID Pond: Steve Summers Short-billed Dowitcher Aug, Alpaugh Id Pond: John Lockhart Long-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Short-eared Owl Jan, Lake Success: known from 08 Costa's Hummingbird May, Kennedy Meadow Road, Jeff Seay Willow Flycatcher May, BLM Headquarters Alpaugh, Steve Laymon Purple Martin Mar, Dry Creek Dr: John Lockhart Bank Swallow Aug, Tulare WTP: Steve Summers Swainson's Thrush ?,?, Steve Summers Black-throated Sparrow May, Sherman Pass Rd: John Lockhart White-throated Sparrow Jan, Hwy 99 Ave 24 N of Delano, Dominick Mosur Pine Grosbeak July, Weaver Lake Jennie Lake trail crossing, John Lockhart We still need the following to complete the nonExceptional list 8 Rare Tundra Swan Chukar Horned Grebe Pacific Golden-Plover Red-naped Sapsucker Black-backed Woodpecker Sage Thrasher Grasshopper Sparrow John Lockhart Visalia Subject: SW Tulare Co From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:07:58 -0000 Aug 30, 2009 Tulare WTP - Snowy Plover the mudflats are becoming too dry Location: Tulare WTP Observation date: 8/30/09 Number of species: 23 Mallard 40 Cinnamon Teal 10 Northern Shoveler 600 Redhead 2 Ruddy Duck 120 Eared Grebe 20 Great Egret 1 White-faced Ibis 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 40 Black-bellied Plover 60 Snowy Plover 1 Killdeer 20 Black-necked Stilt 80 American Avocet 20 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Western Sandpiper 400 Least Sandpiper 300 peep sp. 150 Long-billed Dowitcher 80 Wilson's Phalarope 400 Red-necked Phalarope 80 Mourning Dove 4 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) I then went to Kings Co and came back into Tulare near Alpaugh Stoil Pond - mud flats now grass - had the Greater Roadrunner again Location: Stoil Pond Observation date: 8/30/09 Number of species: 31 Mallard 10 Cinnamon Teal 8 Northern Shoveler 60 Northern Pintail 2 Pied-billed Grebe 1 American White Pelican 7 Great Blue Heron 4 Great Egret 4 Snowy Egret 5 Black-crowned Night-Heron 40 White-faced Ibis 20 White-tailed Kite 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Western) 1 American Coot 10 Killdeer 4 Black-necked Stilt 20 American Avocet 40 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Western Sandpiper 100 Least Sandpiper 600 Red-necked Phalarope 10 Ring-billed Gull 150 Rock Pigeon 10 Greater Roadrunner 1 Great Horned Owl 1 Black Phoebe 3 Loggerhead Shrike 2 Common Raven 2 Tree Swallow 5 Marsh Wren 2 Yellow-headed Blackbird 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Homeland and Hwy 43 Pond - Swallows and lots of them including Bank Swallow Location: Hwy 43 & Homeland Canal Ponds Observation date: 8/30/09 Number of species: 14 Green-winged Teal 4 Great Egret 1 Common Moorhen 1 American Coot 4 Killdeer 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Least Sandpiper 9 Burrowing Owl 5 Tree Swallow 1500 Bank Swallow 3 Cliff Swallow 8 Barn Swallow 1 Red-winged Blackbird 50 Yellow-headed Blackbird 10 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) Dead Pig pond is looking up, not much mud but Pectoral Sandpiper and it had become a Cattle Egret roost. Location: Dead Pig Pond Observation date: 8/30/09 Number of species: 19 Mallard 40 Cinnamon Teal 20 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 8 Snowy Egret 11 Cattle Egret 900 Black-crowned Night-Heron 5 White-faced Ibis 100 Common Moorhen 1 American Coot 110 Killdeer 4 Black-necked Stilt 70 Greater Yellowlegs 10 Lesser Yellowlegs 6 Least Sandpiper 200 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Long-billed Dowitcher 150 Red-winged Blackbird 200 Yellow-headed Blackbird 40 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Kings Co Hudsonian Godwit Red Knot From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:24:01 -0000 Aug 30, 2009 I left in the afternoon and birded Tulare and Kings I entered Kings at the Corcoran Reservoir - Increasing numbers of birds but nothing special Flooded field NW of 6th and Seattle I had to call Steve Summers 3 times. First, I asked if the 2 Red Knot were worth calling people about. It is still a bird many people need for Tulare Co. Next I found what I thought might be a Hudsonian Godwit but it was my first so I asked for pointers. Lastly, I called to say yes most definitely a Hudsonian Godwit get the word out. I posted 6 pictures witch leave little doubt to Kings Co 2nd Hudsonian Godwit. 650 Black-bellied Plover plus lots of good birds but still few peeps as the water is too deep. Location: field NW 6th and Seattle Observation date: 8/30/09 Number of species: 24 Mallard 40 Cinnamon Teal 10 Northern Shoveler 200 Northern Pintail 40 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 16 Snowy Egret 5 Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Black-bellied Plover 650 Killdeer 5 Black-necked Stilt 40 American Avocet 50 Greater Yellowlegs 40 Long-billed Curlew 10 Hudsonian Godwit 1 Marbled Godwit 15 Red Knot 2 Western Sandpiper 40 Least Sandpiper 50 Long-billed Dowitcher 150 Red-necked Phalarope 80 Ring-billed Gull 25 Herring Gull (American) 1 Caspian Tern 5 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/) When I found the Hudsonian Godwit it was associating mostly with Greater Yellowlegs. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: RE: Hudsonian Godwit--YES Plus Franklin's Gull From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:04:42 -0700 Let us know if it is still there tomorrow morning!! Please. John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of monkletgimp Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 7:54 PM To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [tularekingsbirds] Hudsonian Godwit--YES Plus Franklin's Gull Rushed out as soon as I saw the post. The Hudsonian was with about a dozen Marbled Godwits in the sw corner of the pond. There aren't many waders to search through, mostly ducks and some gulls which included one Franklin's. Mark Stacy Lemoore [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hudsonian Godwit--YES Plus Franklin's Gull From: "monkletgimp" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:54:25 -0000 Rushed out as soon as I saw the post. The Hudsonian was with about a dozen Marbled Godwits in the sw corner of the pond. There aren't many waders to search through, mostly ducks and some gulls which included one Franklin's. Mark Stacy Lemoore Subject: Hudsonian Godwit in Kings Co. From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:01:02 -0700 I just got a call from John Lockhart (5:00p, 8/30) asking me to post that he is looking at, and has photographed, a HUDSONIAN GODWIT in a flooded field at 6th (Dairy Ave.) and Seattle Ave. in Kings Co. Steve Summers Porterville Subject: Least Tern continues From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:04:12 -0700 The LEAST TERN at the Hanford WTP was there around 11:35a this morning (8/30). I had been birding there for an hour and had given up and started to walk back to my car when all of a sudden it appeared flying over the southeastern most pond and landed on the mud. It was still sitting there when I left at 11:55. Steve Summers Porterville, CA