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 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 about1300K.

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 -- 4/6/08 9 to Noon.
Hwy 1, South of Cleone: Tree Swallows, Mourning Doves, White-crowned Sparrows, 1 male California Quail,6 Band-tailed Pigeons, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, 3 Turkey Vultures, 1 Scrub Jay, 4 Mallards, 10 Common Ravens.
Green Acres: Brewer's Blackbirds, 1 Song Sparrow,3 American Robins, 2 House Finches
Coast south of Laguna Point: 2 Canada Geese, Black Oystercatchers, Western Gulls, 30+ Pelagic Cormorants, Several Black Turnstones, 2 Killdeer, 1 Whimbrel
Headlands: 1 Osprey, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 1 White-tailed Kite
Lake Cleone and Vicinty: 6 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Double-crested Cormorants, 6 American Coots, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 Steller's Jay -- Fred Andrews

Fri, 04 April 2008 A WHITE-WINGED DOVE flew past me near the County buildings on south Franklin Street this morning.

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 -- We are seeing a similar surge in species at my house in Northern Redwood Valley. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, but no Calliope yet. :( We are seeing seeing B:ACL-HEADED GROSBEAKS at the feeders :) Cheers -- Bruce Gove

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 - It looks like Karen is experiencing the same surge of migrating hummingbirds that we are seeing inland. In my yard it has been an audible rise and fall of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS like this: 28 Mar 2
29 Mar 3
30 Mar 3
31 Mar 14
1 Apr 7
2 Apr 4
3 Apr 5
4 Apr 3 -- George Chaniot

Thu, 03 April 2008 - Today at there were only 2 hummingbirds that I saw at Ocean Meadows/Ten Mile area. For the past 5 days, there have been several male Rufous and numerous Allen's, plus the female Calliope.
Alas, poor "Cal" the California Towhee has been singing more often, and louder than ever around the house. It breaks my heart, knowing that he is all alone over here.
Also, for arrival dates, there were 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS on 3/31. Today, Jim spotted a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT near the house. 4/2 there were 4 Savannah Sparrows in the yard. -- Karen Havlena

Wed, 02 April 2008 -- A female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visited here late this afternoon in the yard at Ocean Meadows Circle- Ten Mile area, north of Fort Bragg and the Ten Mile River. I watched her feed at some electric blue, low-growing plants for a couple of minutes. Then, a female Allen's/selasphorus hummer came up and challenged the Calliope. Both spread their tails, and I could see the Calliope's tail well, as she was facing away There was little, or no, rufous visible at the basal halves of the retrices (it was not apparent). A really neat addition to the yard list. -- Karen Havlena

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 -- There's a fungal infection (Fusarium moniliforme) that hummers spread from fuchsia to fuchsia and other prized garden plants. . .this might be it. If not, it looks suspiciously like scaly face mites. Also of consideration: candida, caused by either dirty hummingbird feeders or people feeding honey instead of sugar/water mixed to the correct ratio. -- Feather Forestwalker

Wed 02, April 2008--I need some opinions on a ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD picture I just posted. Obviously there's a problem with the bill. I've done some searching of the internet and can find no definitive answer as to the cause. Things that are mentioned are Avian Pox, knemidocoptes mites, bacterial infection, and hopefully, "sticky nectar and pollen".
The hummingbird seems to be healthy and currently is the alpha male. I'm getting more hummingbirds (Anna's, Allen's and Rufous)at my feeder then usual. The Anna's that wintered here didn't have this problem. Any ideas? -- Richard Hubacek

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin reports seeing two LONG-TAILED DUCKS, along with six HARLEQUIN DUCKS (and Scoters), today from the bluff west of the Haul Road parking lot. They are in heavy molt - no long tails. The Haul Road parking lot is just north of Pudding Creek, just north of Fort Bragg. The birds were readily visible from the bluffs directly west of the parking lot.

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 -- Recent arrivals on Middle Ridge, Albion, elevation 400 ft, 3/4 mile east of Highway 1:
March 30: First 3008 sighting of a Violet-Green Swallow, checking out potential nest sites in a dead redwood snag.
March 28: First 2008 sighting of (male) American Goldfinch on thistle sock.
March 30: After disappearing for over a week, the Acorn Woodpeckers are back.
April 1: Eurasian Collared Dove in front yard.
In the last week or so we have had a big influx of Allen's Hummingbirds, perhaps two dozen or so around the house. Males are displaying everywhere. No Rufous yet.
Now for the question: Janet in Anchor Bay reported Pine Siskins arriving on March 27 - but we have had a small flock of PS here pretty much all winter. Are they generally resident here, or was this unusual? They seem to have mostly moved on recently. We had a Purple (?) Finch as well, around the same date, but it didn't stay. Cheers -- Tim

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 -- In the last week I have visited all of the locations in Lake and Mendocino Counties where I know Tricolored Blackbirds have nested in recent years, and I have discovered a new colony on Highland Springs Road. Tricolors are present at most of these areas and song, display, nest building, and copulation are under way already. Here's a summary of what I've found. All of the numbers estimates are preliminary and conservative. The best places for watching or photographing are probably the Adobe Creek and Highland Springs Road sites:
MacGuire's Pond/Camp 19 on Route 20: At least 9 males displaying.
Wilson's Pond, Burris Lane, Potter Valley: At least 35 males.
Christmas Star Vineyard, Potter Valley: None present. Blackberry hedge where they nested once has been nuked.
Fetzer's Valley Oak Center pond: Males present, singing, displaying, no number estimate yet.
Lyons Creek Wetland: None present.
Adobe Creek Reservoir: At least 34 males in the NW corner, and another group of at least 21 males on the east side. Nest-building, copulation. 2 Yellow-headed Blackbirds on territory in the NE corner.
6495 Highland Springs Road: At least 95 males displaying in a blackberry patch right along the road near the driveway. Nest building, copulation. Foraging in the vineyards to the east.
I am going to be the coordinator for Mendocino and Lake Counties of the statewide Tricolored Blackbird survey this spring. If you have any observations of tricolors in Lake and Mendocino between now and July please contact me - particularly nesting information. -- George Chaniot

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 -- For the last couple of evenings I have heard a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK singing, but couldn't find him. This morning about 0800, I heard him again and finally saw the boy perched atop a conifer about 50 yards to the north of my house, one mile up Tomki Rd. in Redwood Valley.. Happy Birding!! -- Bruce Gove

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 -- A great day for birding at MacKerricher State Park. 10:15 to 12:15. On and around Lake Cleone I identified 25 bird species including: 1 Osprey with a fish, 1 Great Blue Heron, Many Chestnut-backed Chickadees, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, Heard several Marsh Wrens, 2 red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 Hermit Thrush, And possibly 1 Pine Sisken. I have never seen one before!, Good Birding to all. -- Fred Andrews

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 -- On Saturday the 29th, two SHORT-EARED OWLS hunted leisurely at Anderson Marsh from 5:55 to 6:55 pm. I was hiking with my family and did not observe them the entire time, but nearly every time I scanned the open marsh/fields one (rarely two) was easily visible as it flew back and forth across the area. They began at the south end near the buildings and methodically worked their way northward. On one occasion an owl flew upward a few hundred feet and chased an unidentified raptor (rear views only) for a few hundred yards, then it returned and landed in the field. I think it was the first time I had ever seen an owl chase a hawk. I assume these were the same owls first found by Jerry White on the evening of the Clear Lake CBC. I had searched for them several times at dawn but had only a brief glimpse of one, and had never searched for them at dusk. Perhaps dusk is a much better time for viewing them. -- Floyd Hayes Hidden Valley Lake

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 -- Greetings Mendobirders- Barbara and I watched a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD as it visited our feeders this afternoon from 4:30 until at least 7:30 when it became too dark to see anything. It was a bright, pleasant surprise on this gloomy afternoon. -- Chuck Vaughn

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 -- I see that the HOODED ORIOLE at our feeder right now represents the earliest record for Mendo interior. One day earlier than the previous record. -- Happy birding, David Smith-Ferri

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 -- Joanne Haller and I birded the north coast Thursday from Ten Mile River to Navarro River. It was a beautiful, clear day with an onshore wind, but not very birdy. The most interesting bird we found was a 1st winter GLAUCOUS GULL sitting with a group of Western Gulls on the beach by the parking lot at Laguna Point. -- George Chaniot

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 -- Yesterday a huge group of PINE SISKINS arrived. At one point over thirty of them were clinging to our thistle feeder. Another visitor arrived to join the noisy party - a male PURPLE FINCH. -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 -- To all; the SLATE-COLORED JUNCO came on 3-21-08 at 7:30AM. Not seen 22nd or this AM, 23rd. I have had 1 PINE SISKIN on 22nd and 23rd. Lots happening in those trees, a PURPLE FINCH sang for 3 hours today. -- Barbara Dolan, Ukiah

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 -- There was a single male HARLEQUIN DUCK upstream from the Noyo Harbor (visible from the parking lot at the boat ram on the south side of the river) today.
OSPREYS were making a lot of noise as well and there was a group of 15 COMMON RAVENS floating about the Osprey nest area.
Last Sunday, the 16th, there was a singing PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and at least 5 singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS along Ten Mile River about 3 miles upstream from the Highway 1 Bridge. Spring is here... -- Cheers, Ron LaValley

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 -- Hi All, Yesterday my husband, Rick, spotted a male AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. We put out the thistle feeder and this afternoon six, male and female, were at the feeder. Yea! -- Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 -- At noon today, there were about 125 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, plus a few SURF SCOTERS just off Ten Mile River mouth, north of MacKerricher SP. They were flying then landing, over and over, in a large oval where the fresh water and the salt water mix together. -- Karen Havlena

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 -- Yesterday I had a new bird at my seed feeder, which sent me scurrying for the binoculars. I definitely have not seen one of these guys here before, the bright red would be impossible to miss. His mate was here with him. I am familiar with House Finches, though they don't come around our house. I used my Thayer birding program to try to be sure of his identity, and concluded that I would not be able to distinguish a Purple Finch from a Cassin's Finch, so I'm going with the PURPLE FINCH on the basis of likely habitat. (I'm at a low elevation, creekside, mixed conifers at the edge of a small orchard) Anybody have any suggestions?
Our BAND-TAILED PIGEONS have recently returned, I counted 11 yesterday. In summertime we have had as many as 30. -- Becky Stenberg, Glen Blair

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 -- Hello - The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW I reported last week is still here (corner of Ford and Little Lake in Mendocino) and was last seen at 6p this evening (Tuesday) around the Blair House.
The sparrow flock has grown and now includes 3 FOX SPARROWS, a SPOTTED TOWHEE, 2 HOUSE SPARROWS, a few SONG SPARROWS as well as the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS mentioned previously -- a veritable sparrow convention! Good Birding, -- Rich Trissel

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 -- Al [the LAYSAN ALBATROSS] hasn't been seen for a while. Point Arena's famous visitor may be gone. On a happier note, OSPREYS have returned to our road in Anchor Bay where they have successfully nested for more than twelve years. -- Jeanne Jackson

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 -- I have some long-overdue reports. One WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near Pomo CG at Lake Mendocino about two weeks ago; two SOOTY GROUSE west of Willits south of Hwy 20 right at the peak of the Willits Grade, and one SOOTY GROUSE on Ridgewood Ranch, reported by Marigold Klein. And one HOODED MERGANSER in the hidden lagoon immediately west of Rodman Slough along the Nice-Lucerne cut-off. -- Kate Marianchild

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 -- Today at Big River near the rivermouth and along the haul road: 1 Osprey, 5 White-crowned Sparrows, 14 Turkey Vultures, 30+ Common Ravens, 1 male and female Common Mergansers, non-breeding, 2 adult non-breeding Common Loons, 6 American Coots, 10 Western Gulls, 3 Steller's Jays, 5 Buffleheads, 1 Song Sparrow, 1 large hawk, unable to identify, possibly a juvenille Red-tailed Hawk -- Fred Andrews

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 -- 3-15-08 The female SLATE-COLORED JUNCO is still around and it looks very beautiful. The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was seen last on 3-9-08 and still looked a little tattered. -- Barbara Dolan

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 -- Roger Foote found and photographed a female LONG-TAILED DUCK this morning about 200 yards north of Virgin Creek mouth. The bird was near the long, flat rock where Harlequin Ducks sometimes rest. (No Harlequins were there today). If you are on the Haul Rd, the spot is off the bluff, west of the small, decorative lighthouse by the road. Virgin Creek is just north of the Fort Bragg city limit, west of Hwy 1. It is a part of MacKerricher SP. -- Karen Havlena for Roger Foote

Last revised April 7, 2008
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