Sightings of note throughout Mendocino county are posted on the Yahoo group site Mendobirds.

For directions to most of the sites mentioned, see Kris Carter's excellent book A Guide to Finding Birds in Mendocino County (now out of print and hard to find), check the Places to Bird in Inland Mendocino County   page of this website, or contact the webmaster.

You can visit Peregrine Audubon's archives for a list of Mendocino bird sightings going back to Oct 1998. To facilitate searching this is in one large file of about 1.9 Mb.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 -- This afternoon at Ward Avenue, I spotted at least 6 LBCU flying north at an altitude of about 50 feet. There were at least three birds behind the lead 6. The noise was a racket. I figure I spent at least three minutes cursing and carrying on because I couldn't get my camera up and focused, plus another two minutes to fumble with my phone. According to the phone read-out, I called Karen Havlena at 3:08 p.m. and told her the birds were headed her way (Ten Mile River--approximatley 5 miles north). Karen later confirmed 7 LBCU and 4 MAGO at Ten Mile River (they flew north again shortly after that). After several calls back and forth, Karen and I decided to trust George Chaniot's superior mathematical abilities. Taking into account distance, speed, wind, and whatever else intelligence requires, he figured the birds were traveling at approximately 7.5 mph--thus satisfying our never-ending mission to find out how and how fast shorebirds get from point A to point B. -- Becky Bowen

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 -- Steve Stump reports an AMERICAN AVOCET on the south pond of the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. -- Cheryl Watson

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called that she saw an adult LARK SPARROW in the field adjacent to Caspar Pond (east of Hwy 1 along Fern Creek Rd). Unfortunately, the bird flew away at the time.  Also, Toby saw approx. 5-7 LESSER GOLDFINCH in the same area. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena

Tue,31 Aug 2010 -- Last mid-July it came to the attention of some local birders that a GRAY CATBIRD had been observed and photographed for about a week from June 26 - July 8, 2010. The observation and photos were by the landowners who are located in the Robinson Creek/Boonville Road area. An unsuccessful attempt was made, with permission by the landowners, by several local birders to relocate the bird on July 15th. Apparently the bird was not seen after July 8th. -- Bob Keifer

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 -- 6:15 p.m. Adult male CHUKAR was on the vineyard road north of the creek, between Sanford Ranch Rd & the private vineyard irrigation pond, on the south side of Sanford Ranch Road, just east of junction with Knob Hill Road. This is private land complete with no trespassing signs, but the nearby neighbors walk here frequently and I am unaware of any confrontations with the land owner so long as the grapes and pears are undisturbed. -- Cherie Foster

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 -- On the trail around Lake Cleone, August 28, 2010, 1;35 P.M. to 3:30, Cloudy skies, slight breeze. : Mallards, Brewer's blackbirds, 1 Osprey, 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Pied-billed grebe, Barn and Violet-green swallows, 3 Turkey vultures, 3 Common ravens, 1 marsh wren (heard), Western gulls, 1 Heerman's gull among the Western gulls on the lake (1st winter, brown, pale bill), 1 song sparrow, 1 male downy woodpecker, 40+ Cedar waxwings perched at top of dead pines near pumphouse, Chestnut-backed chickadees, 1 Western scrub jay, 1 male Wilson's warbler, 1 mourning dove, possibly 4 Band-tailed pigeons, Steller's Jays, 2 Vaux's swifts, 1 male Anna's hummingbird (heard others), and 1 Double-crested cormorant flying overhead. -- Fred Andrews

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 -- On Monday the 23rd there were 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS amongst a large flock of Surf Scoters at Ward Avenue. On Tuesday the 24th at the Garcia River estuary there were 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons and 4 ELEGANT TERNS. A Peregrine Falcon (I saw a total of 4 during the 2 days) kept chasing off the shorebirds, but 2 MARBLED GODWITS did land briefly. There was some evidence of land bird migration with a Townsend's Warbler on Miner Hole Road and Warbling Vireos, a Cassin's Vireo, and a Yellow Warbler at Windy Hollow. -- Jerry White

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 -- I was awakened at 03:30 this morning by what sounded like a group of geese calling in the moonlight. I went out on the deck to listen and instead I heard a LONG-EARED OWL calling about 150 yards away. It called four times in 15 minutes, or about once every five minutes. This was my third encounter here in 31 years. I never did figure out the goose thing - maybe a very distant group of coyotes yapping. -- George Chaniot

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 -- Garcia River & Manchester Beach : This morning, Rich Kuehn and I birded the beach from the end of Stonboro to the mouth of the Garcia River. There were good numbers of WESTERN SANDPIPERS, SANDERLINGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, along with a few LEAST SANDPIPERS, a WHIMBREL, and 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. In the lagoon at the mouth of the river there were 15 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, 2 MARBLED GODWITS, 3 WILLETS, KILLDEER, about a dozen BLACK TURNSTONES flew over, and 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Feels like migration has finally started in earnest ... Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 -- Clear skies, no wind. 13 AMERICAN AVOCETS flying over the lake and out to the ocean. Chestnut-backed Chickadees, House Finches, Steller's Jays, Anna's Hummingbirds (male and female), Song Sparrows, Wrentit, Mallards, Osprey, 4 Pied-billed Grebes, male Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Western Gulls, Brewer's Blackbirds, male and female American Goldfinch, Marsh Wrens, Great Blue Heron, immature Double-crested Cormorant, Mourning Doves, Common Ravens, Bushtits, Acorn Woodpeckers (males and females). -- Fred Andrews

Mon,23 Aug 2010 -- Last week while driving to Ukiah my wife spotted a tagged TURKEY VULTURE along Hwy 101 near the "Strawberry Stand" on the south side of Burke Hill. Unfortunately we did not have time to turn around to read the number on the patagial wing tag. This is one of the TUVU's banded by UC Davis researchers a couple years back, many of which were tagged at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. If anyway happens to see one of these birds, please try to read the number on the tag and either post the sighting or contact me directly. Thanks . and good birding. -- Bob Keiffer

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 -- Angela Liebenberg just saw 8 AMERICAN AVOCETS on Ten Mile beach, north of the Ward Ave ramp and the SNOWY PLOVERs fence.  The birds were together north of the SNPL hangout, but south of Fen Creek mouth, which is the wide, dry opening south of Inglenook Creek.  Just guessing, but it may be 1 1/2 miles walk north of the Ward Ave ramp. Angela said that 3 of the Amer Avocets were still in partial breeding plumage. -- For Angela Liebenberg, Karen Havlena

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 -- Garcia River mouth, Point Arena. This morning at 11:30 there were 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS with a large flock of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and SANDERLINGS at the mouth of the Garcia River. Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel

Fri-Sat, 20-21 Aug 2010 -- Toby Tobkin has noticed early ducks arriving with the N Shoveler at Caspar Pond (Sat) and a N Pintail at Hare Creek on Friday. Also, the Greater White-fronted Goose at the UWTP last week (CEV) seemed to be early. Maybe it summered in a somewhat local spot and is just now getting the urge to move on. Jim just arrived home from Minnesota, where he noted a lack of ducks for mid-August. He did see a pair of Eastern Kingbirds in West Minnesota three days ago (and they are supposed to be regular, early migrants). It is a different type of year.
      I talked with Becky about her 82 Caspian Terns flying south along Ten Mile beach. I saw at least half of them from my living room window. In just a few minutes Friday afternoon, I saw about 45 CATEs flying by heading south towards Becky. -- Karen Havlena

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 -- This morning there was a SEMPALMATED SANDPIPER on the sludge lagoon at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant. It was with three juvenile Western Sandpipers and tended to keep out of sight in the vegetation. On the north percolation pond there was a fly-by SEMIPALMATED PLOVER seen and heard well. -- George Chaniot

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 -- Today at Caspar Creek, Toby Tobkin observed a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. At Caspar Pond off Highway 1, she spotted a NORTHERN SHOVELLER. -- Becky Bowen for Toby Tobkin

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 -- Toady I birded along (actually _in_) the Eel River at Benmore Creek below Scott Dam in Lake County. I had a flock of 11 PURPLE MARTINS circling above the site, an AMERICAN DIPPER flying downstream, and an adult BALD EAGLE overhead. -- George Chaniot

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 -- On an SOS survey [today] at Ten Mile Beach (between 1-3 p.m.), I saw 82 CASPIAN TERNS flying in small groups, hunting in surf, and gathering in a large group near Ward Avenue. Conditions were sunny to foggy and stiff wind. There were more that I didn't count. They were all flying south and I could hear them flying by when I was shooting pictures. -- Becky Bowen

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called to say that a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was at Hare Creek mouth, just south of the intersection of Hwy 1 and Hwy 20, at the south edge of Fort Bragg. There were also other Western and Least Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Plover or two around. The current access is from the south side of the Hare Ck bridge. Turn west on Cypress and veer right again. Look for a fence with a break. The trail is narrow and wet, due to a seep or spring. Use extreme caution navigating this trail. -- For Dorothy Tobkin, Karen Havlena

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 -- Meandering along the Caspar Frontage Road (turn left at the end of the main street - you can't miss it!) Wednesday early afternoon, found a WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on a power line above the grassy field along the north side of the road. Sharing the wire were apparent juvenal Western Bluebirds in various stages of disheveled molts. They were having great luck getting grubs and larvae from the field below them. -- Jessica Morton

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- I birded the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. I could not refind the 3 White-faced Ibis that Steve Stump reported yesterday. However, I did find a juv SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on the S edge of the N pond. It was with about 15 Least Sandpipers, foraging along the thin exposure of mud there. That is presently the only mud out there! There were also 5 NORTHERN SHOVELERS and 1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, all first of fall birds for me. -- Chuck Vaughn

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 -- Kelly Austin reports a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW singing in Redwood Valley. This is a very early arrival date!

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Steve Stump reports that there were 3 WHITE-FACED IBIS at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant oxidation ponds at 1 pm today (5 minutes ago). The birds were on the dike bordering the south edge of the middle oxidation pond. They were with the Mallards and Double-crested Cormorants beyond the sprinklers. -- Chuck Vaughn for Steve Stump

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 -- Cheryl Watson and Geoff Heinecken report three WILSON'S PHALAROPES at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment Plant.

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 -- On Sunday the 15th, Doug and I canoed to the large grebe colony at Anderson Marsh. We saw an AMERICAN BITTERN and two COMMON MOORHENS at the south end of the island at the south end of Clear Lake. At the grebe colony we saw four adult (two male, two female) with four downy young RUDDY DUCKS, providing one of the few breeding records for the county. In the afternoon we canoed to the large colony of nesting grebes on floating mats of algae at the north end of the lake, near the mouth of Rodman Slough. A juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was standing alone on a thick mat of algae a few hundred yards from shore, allowing us to approach amazingly close. We also scoped Borax Lake from the road, spotting a single DOWITCHER (species unidentified) and a bunch of peeps, but nothing else unusual.
      If you're wondering why we're spending so much time out on the lake, it's because we're contracted by the Redbud Audubon Society to study nesting Aechmophorus grebes. While studying the grebe colonies we encountered a few oddities that may interest some of you. A PIED-BILLED GREBE chick was alone and appeared to be abandoned in a nest within the midst of the Aechmorphorus grebe colony at Rodman's Slough on Friday the 13th, and on Sunday the 15th we noticed two smaller eggs among three much larger eggs in a nest in the Anderson Marsh colony. We suspect the eggs were dumped by PIED-BILLED GREBES and the chick was abandoned after it had hatched.
      Finally, we have a bizarre ornithological mystery to contemplate: on Sunday the 15th, we found a dead juvenile CALIFORNIA GULL beside an Aechmophorus grebe nest with 11 entire, unbroken eggs at the edge of the colony on floating algal mats at the north end of the lake. We wondered how the 11 eggs got to the nest, whether a gull could carry them without breaking them, and whether the gull had been fatally speared from beneath by grebes defending their nests. Any thoughts? -- Floyd Hayes

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 -- Hi all, Some of you have heard, but I thought I would let others know. [On the 15ty] we had a possible RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD at our feeder in Little River. Some of the pictures look pretty interesting, but I was not able to see or photograph the primaries of the suspect bird. Peter Pyle reviewed the photos last night and is not entirely convinced. I am attempting to see the bird and photograph it again today, but have not been successful in seeing the bird. It is not helping that our deck is being power washed at the moment. They'll be done in a couple of hours and then I will spend some time trying to get another look. If it shows up again, I'll let you all know. -- Ron LeValley

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 -- While crossing the Ten Mile R. bridge today, I spotted a large group of gulls and terns on the sandy, south shore west of the bridge. With my scope I counted (3 times) a total of 44 CASPIAN TERNS, and over 60 CALIFORNIA GULLS. That is the largest group of Caspian Terns I have seen in Mendocino County. That is probably not a record number of CATEs for MEN, but it's more than I usually see on Ten Mile (river & beach). I checked carefully, but there were only the two species present in the group. -- Karen Havlena

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 -- On Friday the 13th, Doug Weidemann and I joined Brad and Kathy Barnwell at Lakeport and we canoed (Doug and I) or kayaked (Brad and Kathy) on Clear Lake south to Corinthian Bay. At Manning Creek we found a juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE swimming out on the lake. At Rumsey Slough we found two LEAST BITTERNS and a female NORTHERN SHOVELER. We also encountered 19 scattered nests of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, mostly at Rumsey Slough. In the afternoon Doug and I saw another LEAST BITTERN--our third for the day--at Rodman Slough.

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 -- On Tuesday the 10th, Doug Weidemann and I explored Long Tule Point along the west shore of Clear Lake by canoe. Although we didn't find any grebe nests, we saw a LEAST BITTERN, a juvenile WILLET (found by Doug) in an unusual habitat--standing at the edge of the reeds--and a MARBLED GODWIT (found by Doug) flying overhead.
      At Borax Lake we were joined by Nick Shepherd and saw six WILSON'S PHALAROPES, two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and two LESSER YELLOWLEGS. We couldn't relocate the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER but didn't have much time to look at the peeps, because a gentleman who owned the land politely asked us to leave so we couldn't sue him if we got injured. It was the first time in dozens of visits that I had ever been asked to leave, so be aware that it might happen to you if you hike out to the shore of the lake. Luckily Nick found a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER in the morning and showed me some excellent photos that he had taken. -- Floyd Hayes

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 -- Virgin Creek Beach north of Fort Bragg has good birding right now--in spite of a large sea lion carcass that has been on the beach for about a week. Today after 1 p.m. (at the north end of the beach), we spotted another PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER, and a large number of Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, a Spotted Sandpiper, Marbled Godwits, Surfbirds and 21 Least Sandpipers as well as other shorebirds. Don't be discouraged by fog or the carcass. -- Becky Bowen

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 -- New weekend hours for the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant are 7AM to 10AM.
Chuck and Barbara Vaughn, Matt Brady, Geoff Heinecken, and I saw a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE resting with a flock of CANADA GEESE on the bank of the north pond this morning. -- Cheryl Watson

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 -- Purple Martins have been seen consistently along University Road east of Hopland throughout this summer period (June, July) and into early August. PUMA have been at this location in late summers/fall in prior years, but this year we have confirmed at least two active nests. I saw one another power pole has a probable nest confirmed by the female dive-bombing me. We actually suspect possible second-nesting (this season) in the one cavity. There have been as many as 10 birds confirmed at one time. It is great to have this species nesting in the inland part of the county with the only other past inland nestings that I know of were at 1) a power pole on the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center, and 2) near the Eel River Bridge near Van Arsdale Dam. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 -- Dear Birders, Today I counted 15, and possibly 17, PURPLE MARTINS on the telephone wire and on a lowland fir snag next to my house. They obviously had success raising young in the cavities built into the new Ten Mile Bridge for martins and bats. This is great news since I counted only 6 birds last year. -- Erica Fielder

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 -- On Friday the [6th], Doug Weidemann and I joined the Barnwells to check up on two large nesting colonies of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES at Rodman Slough--one a few hundred yards north of the bridge in the slough, the other on floating mats of algae on the lake several hundred yards south of the mouth of Rodman Slough. Karen Barnwell pointed out to us a LEAST BITTERN about 100 yards north of the bridge at Rodman Slough.
      Later in the day Doug and I birded Borax Lake where we saw 17 CINNAMON TEAL (one with a slightly shorter bill and more contrasting face may have been a BLUE-WINGED, but we weren't convinced), one SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, seven WILSON'S PHALAROPES and 11 hungry AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS.
      Doug and I found another large colony of nesting grebes in Anderson Marsh. Between Redbud Park and Anderson Marsh we saw two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in a novel habitat--standing on floating mats of algae in the middle of the lake! Four CASPIAN TERNS were flying around the area. -- Floyd Hayes

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 -- There was a single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER with a few WESTERN SANDPIPERs south of Fen Ck mouth and north of the (9) SNOWY PLOVERS fenced area. Today was surely different from Tuesday, having less species diversity. Tuesday's birds included RUDDY TURNSTONES & BLACK TURNSTONES, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER and WILLET, but none of them were around here this morning.
      A WANDERING TATTLER and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER were on the rocky (north) side of Ten Mile river mouth. SANDERLINGs are looking quite beautiful in half-molt between breeding and basic plumage, showing silver, black and white on their backs and wings. -- Karen Havlena

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 --[This] evening Doug Weidemann and I saw one SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, two juvenile SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, nine WILSON'S PHALAROPES and an adult BALD EAGLE at Borax Lake. -- Floyd Hayes

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 -- A molting PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER has been at Virgin Creek beach for a week (since 28 Jul), but somehow it never got reported to this listserv. The bird was found by Sal Salerno of Stanislaus County. The bird has been seen and photographed by several local birders. Toby Tobkin called to tell me that it is still here. Now, it will probably leave tonight..... For Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin, Karen Havlena

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 -- Sad to say I found a dead Rhinoceros Auklet on Caspar beach. Aug 1 Is any one, or a group, taking records of coastal moralities? -- Gunn --[As I recall there used to be a group recording coastal moralities, but they were able to discover so few that they abandoned the endeavor within a few weeks. It was found that moralities tend to be a bit higher here on the north coast than in southern California, but this was finally and reluctantly attributed simply to climatic variations. Skinny-dipping here in our tidal pools, for example, tends to be both quite cold and uncomfortably abrasive, and thus is seldom practiced. It is certainly something that many birders will want to be on the look-out for - coastal morality, that is. -- Vishnu]

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 -- 31 July 2010 - Greg Giusti reports getting a very close and good look at a LEAST BITTERN on Quercus Point while bass fishing. He said that he was able to get very close to it before it descended back into the tules. Good Birding. -- Posted for Greg by Bob Keiffer.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 -- 29 July 2010 - While collecting native grass seeds for a researcher in one of the ungrazed units of the UC-Hopland Research and Extension Center I happened across a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW nest with about 1-week old nestlings. I discovered the nest by seeing one of the adults leave the nest. Even though nesting has been confirmed in the past by several observers watching adults feed fledged young, this is only the second actual nest ever documented in Mendocino County. The first was also at UC-HREC last year, but at a much lower elevation.
      The nest is in an area dominated by blue oaks with broken canopy and mainly a grass understory of native bunch grasses and exotic annual grasses. Within 10 feet in any direction the understory is 100% coverage mainly dominated by annual grasses, but where the nest actually occurs is within a small area of maybe 20% ground cover, and that is comprised of spsarse native bunch grass clumps. The nest is tucked under the edge of one of those clumps. Aspect is WSW (hot exposure) and slope is about 35% and elevation 2100'. Good birding. -- Bob Keiffer

Tue 27 Jul 2010 -- Hello all. I, too, visited the USTP today, though between 11:10 and 12:20. I did NOT see the Ibis, which is unfortunate, as it would still be a Mendocino County bird for me. However, I did note seven (7) Least Sandpipers, one (1) Western Sandpiper, one (1) Spotted Sandpiper, one (1) Long-billed Dowitcher, one (1) Lesser Yellowlegs and one (1) BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. All were along the edge of the north pond, and all were, as far as I could tell, adults still mostly in alternate plumage. Also of note were three (3) Green Herons, one (1) Yellow-breasted Chat (still singing) and one (1) Pacific-slope Flycatcher calling along the Russian River. -- Matt Brady, Potter Valley

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 -- A WHITE-FACED IBIS was found this morning at the Ukiah Treatment Ponds by Paul Hawks. The bird was still there this afternoon at the "entrance pond ". There was also a Golden Eagle seen flying high over the ponds. This morning there were 4 Least Sandpipers, a Long-billed Dowitcher and the continuing Lesser Yellowlegs. -- Jerry and Nikki White

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 -- Birded at Borax Lake today in Lake Co. The lake is a short distance north of the town of Clearlake. During two visits to Borax Lake today I saw 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, KILLDEER and about 50 LEAST SANDPIPERS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. These birds were all at the south end of the lake on the peninsula that goes north into the lake. -- John Luther, Oakland

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 -- Sal Salerno, Stanislaus Audubon, and wife Barbara joined the Save Our Shorebirds survey late this morning at Virgin Creek Beach just north of Fort Bragg. We saw six RUDDY TURNSTONES and large numbers of SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES as well as WESTERN SANDPIPERS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SANFERLINGS, BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and a few HEERMANN's GULLS. It's a good time to be out there. -- Becky Bowen

Last revised Sep 1, 2010
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