Mon, 21 Nov 2011 -- Today there are three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS coming to thefeeders at my house in Potter Valley - two tan-striped and one white-striped. They come in together and seem to be hanging out together away from the feeders. -- George Chaniot
Sun, 20 Nov 2011 -- Geoff and I found a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER this morning on the berm between the south and middle ponds of the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. -- Cheryl Watson
Fri, 18 Nov 2011 - Late report from last Friday 18th... Cheryl Watson, Geoff Heinecken, Ryan Keiffer, and I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to the high country of Mendocino County. We left Ukiah at about 8:45 AM and headed to Covelo. On Covelo Road we stopped at the Sandbanks cliffs (about milemarker 20.39 or 20.59 ... I don't have my notes with me) and checked out the cliffs ... a known Peregrine nest site. I absolutely did not expect to see the birds at this time of year, especially in the gloomy overcast weather, but after about two minutes of talking a peregrine begin to call from the nearest cliffs. Out flew an adult male PEREGRINE FALCON flying to the NE... he circled and flew back past the cliffs from which he emerged and landed on a small point on the side of the cliffs, about ¾ the way to the top. He was still sitting there as we left.
Once in Round Valley, A trip down Fairbanks to Dobie Lane and on produced one more adult PEREGRINE FALCON perched atop a decadent Valley Oak tree, and three FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. A large group of about 30 SAVANNAH SPARROWS were observed near a downed tree on the west side of Dobie. Other common species were seen. A group of about 25 CANADA GEESE were seen in a field to the NW of the casino. 9 Tule Elk were seen just before leaving Round Valley .
Once we left the Black Butte ranger station/campground we saw dramatic changes in the weather. As we reached about 5500' elevation the temperature dropped about 10 degrees and a few snow patches were around. By the time we reached Etsel Ridge it was 32-34 degrees, the wind was blowing, and wind-driven snow was packed onto every possible twig and branch. It was beautiful but visibility was less than 200 feet. We continued on into the winter wonderland all the way to Hull Mountain under the same conditions, with about 1" to 4" of snow on the road. At times it snowed and the temp dropped to 27 degrees. MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES were heard, one DOWNY WODPECKER was seen along with a few VARIED THRUSH, and a couple STELLER'S JAYS. That's it!
A drop down Boardman Ridge off of Hull Mountain (Lake County now) as we re-entered the conifers produced a lone TOWNSEND'S WARBLER at 2-feet off the ground ...showing a great display of the wing pattern. We ate lunch at 4:00 PM at Lake Pillsbury boat launch campground ... in the first comfortable spot we could find and in balmy weather of about 40 degrees. One adult BALD EAGLE was atop a distant nest, and several waterfowl species were on the lake. OAK TITMICE were at the campground. A large group of Tule Elk were on the south end of the airstrip, and two lone bulls were near Salmon Creek.
The next big storm will probably close the high elevation route for the winter ... so DO NOT ATTEMPT this route unprepared or without checking road conditions. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 -- Good Morning, Jeff and I saw 3 GOLDEN PLOVERS in the field behind the guest cabins at Point Arena Lighthouse on Thursday around 10 am. We saw 2 of them playing in the surf on Manchester Beach yesterday morning around 9 am. We'll go back again this week. Take care, -- Beth and Jeff Petit
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 -- First-year BONAPARTE'S GULL at Virgin Creek Beach 10:15 a.m. this morning on main beach in dry sand near mouth of estuary. Virgin Creek is jut north of Fort Bragg, CA. in MacKerricher State Park. -- Becky Bowen
Tue, 15 Nov 2011 -- I saw one [HOODED MERGANSER] at Lake Pennyroyal [today]. First of the year. -- Kate Marianchild
Tue, 15 Nov 2011 -- I went down to Beckstoffer's pond today. Present were 7 HOODED MERGANSERS, 4M & 3F. They were accompanied by a dozen RING-NECKED DUCKS. I have not been around for a month, so I did not know if this was common knowledge or how long they have been here. Hooded Mergansers have been a common resident in the winter of this pond for a few years now. For those that do not know, Beckstoffer's pond is on the west side of River Road just about a mile or so, south of the Talmage Rd./River Road intersection. -- Dave Bengston
Tue, 15 Nov 2011 -- A pair of male WOOD DUCKS are hanging about on the Noyo River near Dolphin Isle. Today they are sitting on a log on the north side of the river directly across from sites 43/44.
We have also started seeing GREEN WINGED TEALs on the river. They have been in the vicinity of Blue's Hole which is about 75 yards up river from the A&W Logging Road Bridge. A female HOODED MERGANSER has been around lately as well. Best of days, -- Cate Hawthorn
Mon, 14 Nov 2011 -- A MERLIN attacked a group of birds across Hwy 1 this afternoon. Perhaps, it was the same bird I saw on 11/12. Also this afternoon, a "tan-striped" WHITE-THROATED SPARROW came to feed outside the kitchen window. I believe this is a returning bird (adult with yellow lore spot only on the right side). Now, nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are hanging around the neighborhood (up from five). Also, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD has been here for a few days. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 14 Nov 2011 -- Hi all, Today on the Little River Headlands there was a CHIPPING SPARROW at our
feeder most of the day. Yesterday I saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD fly over Caspar Pond and another fly
over Headlands Drive just west of Highway 101 (Headlands Drive is just north of Van Damme Beach).
And some belated sightings: On 25 October there were two SOOTY GROUSE on a private logging road just west of Irmulco Road north of Highwy 20. And once in September and once in October (dates dim in my memory I am sorry) I saw and heard an AMERICAN DIPPER along Little River in Van Damme State Park. Cheeps -- Ron LeValley
Mon, 14 Nov 2011 -- Yesterday Cuck Vaughn and I found a BURROWING OWL again in the same general area as before sitting out on a rock at about 11:00. Today I saw the bird on the same rock at about 15:00. The rock in question
is a pointed, triangular rock about 1/2 mi to the NNE. Needless to say, a scope is necessary.
Today the GOLDEN EAGLE landed on a grassy hillside close to a group of Tule Elk. The elk alerted on it and began to move away quickly. That was a surprise to me.
On Pine Avenue a PRAIRIE FALCON made a low pass overhead near the creek bridge. -- George Chaniot
Sat, 12 Nov 2011 -- Jeannette Knight and myself saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES on Diener Drive off Hwy 29 in Lake County this morning at 10:30 am. They were sitting on the far fence of the apple orchard that is just past the white farm house that is .7 mile from the intersection of Hwy 29 with Diener Drive. The apple orchard is on the right hand side of the road as you are driving on Diener from the intersection. This is the same apple orchard where the Red-naped Sapsucker was seen last December. -- Darlene Hecomovich
Sat, 12 Nov 2011 -- So far, five flocks of Cackling Canada/Aleutian Canada Geese have been flying high, southwards, in the last couple of hours or so over Fort Bragg......seems like there was one flock every five minutes or so. I slept in so it was neat waking up to their calls.....got to see at least two of the five flocks.... -- Lisa Walker
Fri, 11 Nov 2011 -- I did a complete survey of Lake Mendocino today. Western/Clake's Grebes topped the list with about 622 birds. American Coots were next with 353, and there was an unusual number of Double-crested Cormorants, 182. Of particular interest was a first-winter THAYER'S GULL at the south marina, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and a SNOW GOOSE at the Oak Grove Parking Lot, and some COMMON GOLDENEYES near the boat-in campground.
On the return trip to Potter Valley I found, alas, a roadkilled RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW along Potter Valley Road. -- George Chaniot
Thu, 10 Nov 2011 -- Today I found an obviously injured DUNLIN dragging a broken leg. It was painful to watch. At first I thought it was a breeding plumage adult but that didn't make any sense. After looking at the pictures (I've uploaded one to the site) I've believe it to be a juvenile Dunlin in mostly juvenal plumage. Both Sibley and "The Birds of North America-Online" state that this plumage is rarely seen away from the breeding grounds. Any comments to the contrary are welcome. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 10 Nov 2011 -- Chuck Vaughn reports five LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant this morning.
Tue, 08 Nov 2011 -- Tuesday morning there was a BURROWING OWL sitting on a rock north of the knoll at the end of Burris Lane in Potter Valley. It was at a distance, and it took a scope to distinguish it from the kestrels, groundsquirrels, and meadowlarks which also like these perches. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE appeared close overhead, but it took it 20 minutes to appear rather than the 15 minutes which I have promised before. -- George Chaniot
Mon, 07 Nov 2011 -- I am reporting this just to establish a "baseline" goose count at the Crofoot Ranch along Highway 101 (east side with white fence and cattle and llamas) between Hopland and Ukiah. This is a favorite pasture for Canada Geese to use throughout the winter/spring daytime hours. Yesterday (7th) there were 65 CANADA GEESE of the Great Basin subspecies (Branta Canadensis moffitti) and 3 CACKLING GEESE of the Aleutian subspecies (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia). The Canada Geese tend to be a resident population that breeds mostly near farm ponds in the local area .... but the flock tends to draw in occasional migratory birds such as the Cackling, Snow, Ross's, and Greater white-fronts... or other forms of the Canada Goose. So, it is worth watching throughout the winter. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 -- [A HOODED MERGANSER and a BUFFLEHEAD] were hanging out near Liquid Fusion Kayaking on the Noyo River [today]. we hope to see them again today. cheers, -- Jeff Laxier
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 -- This morning at 9 a.m., we saw two VARIED THRUSH in the treetops on the Enchanted Trail between Highway 1 and Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg (State Parks trailhead on turnout on west side of Highway 1 just north of Three Rivers Charter School). First hint was the song. Also two HAIRY WOODPECKERS in the dead treetops with distinctive bright yellow outer tail feathers first described by Ron LeValley. -- Becky Bowen
Tue, 01 Nov 2011 -- Before the wind got too blustery, I saw one MARBLED and one ANCIENT MURRELET between Hardy and Juan Creeks about mm 83.xx on Hwy 1. A PALM WARBLER was at the west end of the village of Westport. One RHINOCEROS AUKLET was just offshore in the cove by the Laguna Point parking lot, MacKerricher SP (far west end of Mill Ck Drive).
The five GTR WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are still grazing near our house at Ocean Meadows Circle. Our house remodel begins tomorrow (noise), so I wonder if they will tolerate the activity. Perhaps a rare palindrome of tomorrow's date, 11022011, will bring both the geese and us good luck. -- Karen Havlena
Mon, 31 Oct 2011 -- We had a VARIED THRUSH in our yard on the ridge in Point Arena at 10 am on Halloween. Beautiful. -- Beth and Jeff Petit
Sat, 29 Oct 2011 -- Been seeing numerous AMERICAN COOTS on the Noyo River surrounding Dolphin Isle. This is a new one for me and numerous others, that is on the Noyo River. Also seeing Salmon running up river, well when they can get passed the guards (harbor seals). Best of birding today -- Jeff Laxier
Fri, 28 Oct 2011 -- There was a fairly early ROCK SANDPIPER at Point Cabrillo this morning. It was one cove north of the Lighthouse with Surfbirds and Black Turnstones. This was the first one I've seen at this location. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 28 Oct 2001 -- Toby Tobkin called to report a sighting around noon of a LAPLAND LONGSPUR on the Mendocino Headlands near the monument. There was a Savannah Sparrow nearby and some American Pipits were calling. For Toby Tobkin. -- Carolyn Kinet
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 -- When I got home there was a phone message from Mel Smith. Thursday mid-day he was driving towards Manchester when he saw a SANDHILL CRANE just off Highway One by the Garcia River Flats. I wonder if it is one the birds I photographed dancing in front of my home in Anchor Bay last fall. Best -- Jeanne Jackson
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 -- This morning there was a "very late" first year RED KNOT just south of the end of Ward Ave on the flat rocks that jut out into the ocean. It had molted most of it's juvenile feathers. -- Richard Hubacek
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 -- At Wages Creek, I saw a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and a "Rocky Mtn" (orestera) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER** with a gray head. An OSPREY flew south. At mm 73.00 by Hwy 1, a flock of 80 "Aleutian" CACKLING GEESE grazed in a pasture. Back at Ocean Meadows, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK flew over the pasture across Hwy 1 at mm 70.32. The 5 imm. GTR WHITE-FRONTED GEESE continue in some of the yards, and 12 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were coming to our seed today. -- Karen Havlena
Wed, 26 Oct 2011 -- Greetings Mendobirders- This morning I saw an adult male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in a California Coffeeberry tree at the UC Hopland R&E Center. This tree is visited regularly by wintering Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and we have seen a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker previously in the same tree (2007), and also a male Red-naped Sapsucker (1998,99). It must produce sufficient sap suitable for sucking. -- Chuck Vaughn
Sun, 24 Oct 2011 -- Steve Grams and I saw a Townsend's Solitaire in a low-elevation oak woodlands habitat at Lake Pennyroyal on Round Mountain Ranch. We were able to watch it for about 10 minutes as it alternately flew and perched on foliage bordering an inlet of the lake. -- Kate Marianchild
Sun, 23 Oct 2011 -- This morning I was surprised by a SWAMP SPARROW along the Trex section of the boardwalk (SE part). Near the NE part of the boardwalk, just north of crossing Mill Creek, an imm. NASHVILLE WARBLER briefly showed itself, but it called a few time. Lake Cleone is in the main section of MacKerricher SP, north of Fort Bragg, west of Hwy 1.
There were also 3 (minima) CACKLING GEESE by the Lake Cleone parking lot (Dorothy Tobkin). Also today, 23 Oct, 2011.
The 5 imm GTR WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are still feeding happily in the yards of Ocean Meadows, north of Ten Mile River. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 21 Oct 2011 -- This afternoon there was a COMMON GALLINULE in the cattails of the Red Post Vineyard pond across the road from my home in Potter Valley. On the 18th I heard an odd call from the same cattails which I thought might be a gallinule, and today I got a visual. It was not in view very long.
Today there is a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER visiting a very perfect array of holes that it has made in the bark of a silver maple. -- George Chaniot
Fri, 21 Oct 2011 -- Early this afternoon, a Western-type PALM WARBLER was at the Monterey Pine and cypress forest NW of the Vista Point parking area on Hwy 1, approximately near mm 74.00. There were several chickadee flocks with Orange-crowned, Townsend's and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, but the Palm Warbler was at the western edge of the forest where the pines are fairly short. -- Karen Havlena
Fri, 21 Oct 2011 -- Now there are 5 imm. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the Ocean Meadows neighborhood. They have been here since at least 14 October. While they were in an adjacent yard, a flock of about 45 GWFG flew south, but the young geese did not seen interested in joining the migrants. We have a resident flock of Canada Geese that go back and forth between Ten Mile river mouth and a stock pond across Hwy 1, and these young geese have not associated with them, either. -- Karen Havlena
Thu, 20 Oct 2011 -- Today a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW showed up at my feeders in Potter Valley - the first of the season. It was an adult, tan-striped individual. Golden-crowned Sparrows are around the neighborhood, but they are not coming to the feeders in any numbers yet. -- George Chaniot
Wed, 19 Oct 2011 -- A somewhat late ad. CASPIAN TERN flew by calling while it headed south. -- Karen Havlena
Sun, 16 Oct 2011 -- A "tan-stripe" WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER were along the Ten Mile logging road on the south side of Ten Mile River this morning. Prior to leaving Ocean Meadows neighborhood, 5 imm GRATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were trying to sit down on the road. I nudged them aside. I also walked a short way east on the Skunk RR Tracks, where only Steller's Jays made their presence known. Then, I went to the Mendocino Headlands SP to look for longspurs, but only Savannah Sparrows were around. Better luck next time. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 15 Oct 2011 -- This morning there was a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at the Little River Airport. It was near the marshy drainage area north of the West end of the runway. I could find few records of coastal TOSO's in Mendocino County using Ebird and Mendobirds but I'm sure there are some old dusty records somewhere. -- Richard Hubacek
Fri, 14 Oct 2011 -- I was riding my bike on Sanford Ranch Rd about 5:15 pm today (Friday) and I saw a CHUKAR crossing the road from east to west into Beckstoffer's Vineyard. This is directly north of the Talmage Post Office by about 1/4 mile. There is no doubt in my mind at all that this bird was released by the Buddhists, but it is still a very neat and pretty bird to see. The bird is a little wary if you try to see it and it stays on the ground. -- Dave Bengston
Fri, 14 Oct 2011 -- Both Aleutians and White-fronted are going by now. I've seen flocks of each species during the past week. This is actually pretty normal for this time of year. But still fun to see! -- Ron LeValley
Thu, 13 Oct 2011 -- This morning at 8 a.m., October 13, 2011 we saw another flock of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE (some 25 birds) at Ten Mile River north of Fort Bragg. Again, lots of cackle noise. -- Becky Bowen
Wed, 12 Oct 2011 -- Just after 2 p.m., SOS suveyor David Wolf heard a racket and saw a flock of 150+ southbound ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE fly by at an altitude of about 200 m. They were above the bluffs at Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA. Will post two photos. -- Becky Bowen
Wed, 12 Oct 2011 -- Two flocks of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, each with roughly 150 birds, flew over the coast this afternoon. The first flock flew south over Virgin Creek at about 2:10 pm, and keep going south, heading down the coast, while the second flock headed south over 10 Mile Beach, then hung a sharp left just south of the Ward Avenue access area and headed inland (to the Sacramento NWR complex?) approximately 30 minutes later. Anyone else see them? -- Susan Tubbesing [Yes, I saw the same flock. Was sitting out on the deck with a friend and they stopped conversation they were so loud. Magnificent. Spotted about 5:00 pm here in Little River and headed south in the direction of Point Areana last I saw. They seemed to be calling that this might be a good place to pull over for the night.-- Rick Harris]
Tue, 11 Oct 2011 -- I saw a smaller flock [of ALETIAN CACKLING GEESE] on Tuesday that contained what appeared to be a single SNOW GOOSE, flying in the same location. My photo is extremely blurry....but I can post it if folks would like..... -- Lisa Walker
Mon, 10 Oct 2011 -- I thought I saw one yesterday, so I looked for it today and verified a bright female WESTERN TANAGER eating my figs. I think it might be the same one that I had last year. Unfortunately, for Christy & I, there is lots of competition from Starlings and Jays. Something else that has showed up are the BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, which always start coming to the feeders when the rains start. And yesterday there were 8 and today 10 Eurasian-collared Doves. I have never had more than a couple. -- Dave Bengston
Fri, 07 Oct 2011 -- I've always wondered what actually eats turkey vultures and might have gotten an answer today. For some reason (things were slow), I was watching a turkey vulture trying to catch a thermal over the ridge by Big River today when a brown blur shot down out the sky and barely missed the vulture. It was a red-tailed hawk in a full wings folded stoop which barely missed and only a side slip a the last moment by the vulture saved a bone crunching collision. It seemed to come from nowhere and surprised me almost as much as it did the vulture. This could have been an instance of a bored or irritated red-tailed hawk hassleing a vulture, but it looked pretty serious to me and I think the bird was actually going for the vulture.
In other sightings: First yellow-rumped warbler of the season! Welcome home YRWA. -- Rick Harris
Fri, 07 Oct 2011 -- Today, an adult YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD has been feeding outside our house and around the neighborhood with other blackbirds. This is the 4th Y-H Blackbird seen from the house since May, 2009. Also, this bird is Karen's 7th seen in Mendocino County. -- Jim Havlena
Thu, 06 Oct 2011 -- Three imm GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE have been feeding around our house and nearby neighbors' homes in Ocean Meadows -- Jim Havlena
You just reminded me: the other night a gal called from the tennis courts at Bainbridge park and then e mailed me photos of what appeared to be a Greater White-fronted Goose. She was worried that it wouldn't fly away (it was almost dark). I told her to herd it in some way to the bushes (the photos did not seem to show a bad wing or other injury), and to check on it in the morning; the bird had flown away at first light, apparently :) -- Lisa Walker
Tue, 04 Oct 2011 -- Anchor Bay: This morning at 7:45a and again at 9:30a there was a first fall NORTHERN WHEATEAR found on private property north of Anchor Bay. The bird was originally found, and tentatively identified, by Pat Kirkpatrick on Sunday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon she sent me an email with her ID but due to the storm we did not attempt to re-find it to confirm the ID. This morning the weather was clear and Pat, Nancy and I arrived at the location at 7:45a and the bird was immediately re-found. I confirmed the ID but the bird flew before photos could be taken. At this point I called Rich Kuehn and after about 90 minutes he re-found the bird and took some great photos (see folder on MENDOBIRDS). -- Good Birding, Rich Trissel, Gualala
Mon, 03 Oct 2011-- Had my first Fall/Winter WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at my feeders today at 2:15PM. -- Richard Hubacek
Sun, 02 Oct 2011 -- This morning the weather seemed perfect for a walk on the railroad tracks along Pudding Creek. A male MacGillivray's Warbler made his "tic" call about 100 meters east of Rose Memorial Park. Down in the reeds of Pudding Creek, a single Sora called and 8 Virgina Rails called loudly along the approx. 1.25 miles I walked when clapping occasionally. At the bend where Otis Johnson Park comes down to meet the tracks, 2 Western Tanagers, a Wilson's and a Townsend's Warbler played tag with the numerous Steller's Jays. One of the jays mimicked a Red-shouldered Hawk after a RHHA flew over the creek. -- Karen Havlena
Sat, 02 Oct 2011 -- There seems to be a BLACK PHOEBE irruption at Mendocino Coast Botanic Gardens. On the monthly Beginning Birder walk on Saturday, Oct. 1, we saw and heard Black Phoebes everywhere, from the tops of the dead Redwoods to low-lying coastal bluffs to distant fence posts and all areas in between. My estimate (no official count) was about 12 birds in a 2 + hour walk. The usual count on a bird walk is 3 - 4. -- Carolyn Kinet
Sat, 01 Oct 2011 -- Dorothy Tobkin called to list birds she saw Saturday at Lake Cleone & Ward Ave. Five GTR WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Lake Cleone as were a number of duck species that were definitely new arrivals: Greater Scaup, Americcan Wigeon, 4 Wood Ducks, and Northern Shovelers. At Ward Ave, scoping from the bluff, Toby saw the continuing HARLEQUIN DUCK and RED-NECKED GREBE, as well as a new arrival, 1 HORNED GREBE. Over her home in Fort Bragg, 150 Greater White-fronted Geese flew over moving south. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena
Sat, 01 Oct 2011 -- It was an interesting day at the Little River Airport this morning. First off was a calling SAY'S PHOEBE near the terminal(sic) building and hangers. This was a new bird for the airport list and since I consider the airport my backyard also a new yard bird. A little later a single VAUX'S SWIFT flew over. It's getting late for them to be here. This was only the second record for them at the airport. A few winter birds showed up, a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. On the way back the 20% chance of rain started. While getting wet I found a small flock of birds that included a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE(getting late in the season for them)that was a first Fall record. At that moment 150 plus GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over. -- Richard Hubacek
Sat, 01 Oct 2011 -- At low tide this morning, Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg, CA, we spotted the first DUNLIN we've seen this fall foraging on rocks with Sanderlings and a Black Turnstone. Also saw a group of some 13-15 Dunlins flying south over the estuary. Will post a shot in photo album of MacKerricher Park shorebirds. -- Becky and Win Bowen
Sat, 01 Oct 2011 -- Fellow birders: My daughter and I heard a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL this morning about 7am on our property south of Willits. It quit after about a minute of calling and I have had no luck seeing or hearing it since. This one addition makes a total of eight species of owls seen or heard on Shafer Ranch Road and seven for our "yard birds". Good birding, -- Mike Curry
Last revised November 21, 2011.