Saturday, February 26 - Palos Verde Escarpment and Redondo Canyon.
This 8 hour trip departs from Marina del Rey at 7:30 A.M. on the R/V
UCLA Seaworld. Birds seen on prior trips: Northern Fulmar;
Short-tailed, Black-vented, Sooty and Pink-footed shearwaters;
Pomarine and Parasitic jaegers; rocky shorebirds (5); Xantus's
Murrelet; Cassin's and Rhinoceros auklets. Rarity: Ancient Murrelet.
Gray whales and dolphins are often seen.

Leaders: Kimball Garrett, Todd McGrath and Jon Feenstra.

$50 - Save $5 with an early sign-up 60 days prior to trip

No galley, coffee & hot water available.

To sign up send SASE and payment to Los Angeles Audubon Society, 7377
Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046  323-876-0202

I just heard from Joe Morlan that the bird has returned
and many birders were able to get good looks at it.
Good luck this weekend.

Robbie Fischer
Pacifica
   -----Original Message-----
   From: scre@... [mailto:scre@...]
   Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 1:31 PM
   To: CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com;
peninsula-birding@yahoogroups.com
   Cc: countybirders@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: [CALBIRDS] Slaty-backed Gull continues!


   This morning at 9:30 Matt Brady briefly spotted the
continuing 3rd cycle SLATY-BACKED GULL at Venice Beach,
Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County.  Unfortunately after I
made a quick confirmation check that it was the same
bird as yesterday a passerby flushed the whole group of
birds and as of 11:30 we were unable to refind it.
Hopefully others that are present will be able to
relocate it.   We also had one GLAUCOUS GULL.  Feel
free to forward to other areas where appropriate.

   David Vander Pluym
   Santa Cruz


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

The apparent 3rd cycle Slaty-backed Gull was discovered at 4 p.m. today
at Venice Beach, Half Moon Bay, at the north end of the beach where it
was reported yestereday by Al Jaramillo and David Vander Pluym. It was
viewed and photographed by dozens of us. I have a few digiscoped shots
at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAlistSBGU.html
and a short discussion, but it does not really add much to what
Jaramillo has already posted. I hope others will post their photos as
well; mine show the tail okay but do not include a spread wing.

FWIW, the bird was not found despite much efforts earlier in the
afternoon, and was only located after a flight of "new" gulls appeared
overhead, possibly from an inland source (dump?), that circled and
landed during a time when all the thousands of gulls on the beach were
'rolling' north in short groups up the beach.

Don Roberson
Pacific Grove CA

Just a brief theroy on 2 days of seeing the SLATY-BACKED GULL.  Yesterday the
bird may have been there a while as Al Jaramillo and myself hadn't checked
that part of the flock before, today however it seems likely it arrived in the
north end of the flock in the afternoon.  The birds all flushed by I believe a
dog around 5.  Ok my theroy: the bird does feed someplace, maybe the dump and
then comes in the north end to hang out for a while and preen.  In the morning
it comes into the creek to bathe and drink.  So best times MIGHT BE in the
morning (9:30 today) when it comes to the creek to bathe or in the afternoon
(say 3:30or later) when it comes into the north end of the flock and preens and
sits.  This is just what I think it did these past couple days and what it
could do the next few days.  I noticed this morning that a number of birds seen
yesterday were in the same part of the flock this morning as I had last seen
them.  Also potentially a 5th Glaucous Gull was seen near the Slaty-backed but I
don't think anyone looked too hard at that bird, and some aspects of it
suggested some Glaucous-winged genes.  Good Gulling all

David Vander Pluym
Santa Cruz


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

Birders,

The Venice Beach Slaty-backed Gull appeared this afternoon around 2:30, stuck
around for 20-30 minutes, then disappeared. It was relocated around 4:50, but
was flushed after a few minutes and disappeared amongst the loafing gulls on the
beach.

This is the third consecutive afternoon the bird has been found at or near the
north end of the flock. Today it was watched at some length as it bathed in the
creek just below the bluff bulging with birders. Ahem. This particular spot is
about 100 meters S of the parking lot.

Dan Singer
Pacifica

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

Of the four newly recognized subspecies of Cackling Goose, California has
hosted at least three...(I'm not aware of any records of Branta hutchinsii
hutchinsii or sometimes called "Richardson's" Cackling Goose).  In all
probability, hutchinsii is definitely a bird to be looked for in the state.
Also, I'm not sure that there has been a documentation of the seven races of
Canada Goose.  Considering the fact that the AOU may not be finished with
the "white-cheeked" geese, it would be good to have as many id resources as
possible available to the filed observers in this state (where I began
birding almost 35 years ago and resided multiple times since), if for no
other reason than the numbers of geese that winter here.

During the past year (and before) there have been a number of intriguing and
informative discussions on "white-cheeked goose" subspecies identification
on various listservs, at first prompted by just natural "observation
curiosity" and lately spurred on by list splitting.  As an incurable
"brantaphile" I've tried to resist jumping in as much as possible while
continuing to learn from so many talented observers.  For some time now I've
been planning what I hope will be a "helpfully definitive" id piece that
might help us gather together much that has been learned and move on to
another level in this id challenge.

Far from a last word, this is rather a contribution from someone who has
been fascinated by this issue for many years.  I believe the use of "primary
identification indicators" as I use them in this article is something we
have all been doing for quite some time but just haven't put into a
systematized perspective.  If nothing else, I trust this will add that
perspective to what many of us do all the time and perhaps make us more
conscious of the fact.

I've just posted the latest installment of what, when completed, will
hopefully be a helpful and comprehensive article, with photos, on "Cackling
Goose - Canada Goose Subspecies Identification Indicators: The White-cheeked
Goose' Challenge with Pictures" dealing with all the currently recognized
eleven subspecies.

http://www.idahobirds.net/identification/identification.html

This new portion deals with the difficult parvipes vs. taverneri id problems
(that Bruce Deuel has done some good work on in his upcoming article in
Western Birds, Vol. 35, #3).  I also have a previously completed portion on
B. h. hutchinsii that should be especially useful to California birders, as
well as a now complete section on B. h. minima already posted on the site.
Eventually all 11 subspecies will be covered with photo illustrations of "id
indicators". (I think you will find the close-up picture of B.h. minima, B.
h. hutchinsii, and B. c. parvipes together in the wild at Moses Lake, WA
especially instructive.)

This is a work in progress, and I do invite comments (and photos) as you may
see fit to help us all better sort out this often thorny id challenge that
has "magically" risen to the forefront since this summer's AOU "split
decision"...while we continue to make everyone more aware of the wonderful
world of the subspecies.  I can definitely always use more close-up pictures
of B. h. taverneri, B. h. leucopareia, and the larger Canada's, B. c.
canadensis, B. c. interior, B. c. maxima, B. c. occidentalis, and B. c.
fulva.

Harry Krueger
Boise, ID
Secretary, Idaho Bird Records Committee
Regional Editor, Idaho-Western Montana Region, North American Birds





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

At 2:20 PM this afternoon, on Venice Beach just above Half Moon Bay in San Mateo
County, the Slaty-backed Gull was refound, spotted first by Dan Singer who
alerted us 30-some birders. The gull remained in the area for the next 20
minutes giving all of us excellent views, some as close as 30 yards as it walked
around, flew around, and bathed right below us in one of the large pools on the
inner beach.

Jim Lomax
Solitary Birder
from No Particular Place

"Well don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird,  b-bird's the word"

                                        The Trashmen

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

Hi Folks,
This info is useful for people who live outside of California or Los Angeles
County, who may desire to look for parrots that aggregate into evening roosting
flocks.  There are parrots all over southern California, especially the San
Gabriel Valley part of LA County.  Birdfinding guides (Schramm) and other
resources are available for finding parrot locations. We were led by Mr Lee
Swanberg of Pomona Valley Audubon Society.  We arrived at the park 1 hour or so
before sunset, and stared north, across the large grassy fields to see from
which directions parrots approach this neighborhood for the night.

Live Oak Park, Temple City, CA 3:30 tp 5:30 pm:


1) 3 Yellow-chevroned Parakeets
2) 10 Mitred Parakeets
3) 200 Red-masked Parakeets
4) 2 Red-lored Parrots (Amazons)
5) 600? Red-crowned Amazons

The ratio of Mitred to Red-masked is tentative, as they were seen at dusk, and
the flock kept leaving one tree en masse, and settling in the next tree.  One
feature that field guides do not seem to show is that the red on Mitred
Parakeets is deeper, not bright red like on Masked Parakeets.

Tom

Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd., #C
Claremont, CA 91711
USA
home (909) 445-1456
cell    (626) 390-1935
work  (323) 226-7855

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

Birders,
     Before seeing the Slaty-backed gull this after
noon I found the Sedge Wren this morning about 11:00
which continues at the marsh near Colma Creek mouth.

Chet Ogan

I've posted some photos of the Half-Moon Bay Slaty-backed Gull taken this
afternoon (1-22-05).  There are also a few other photos taken at the same
location.
The url is:
         http://meyersm.home.mindspring.com/Half-Moon_Bay.html

**************************************************
*
*     Martin Meyers
*     CSUS Computer Science Department
*     Sacramento and Truckee, CA
*     website:  http://meyersm.home.mindspring.com
*     email: meyersm at csus.edu
*
*************************************************

I just got a call from Dan Singer that the 3rd cycle SLATY-BACKED GULL is
back at Half Moon Bay right now.

Good luck.

--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044  jmorlan (at) ccsf.org
Birding Classes in SF start Feb.8  http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee  http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/

I am so sorry.  This was a FALSE ALARM.  Dan's message was actually from
yesterday, not today!  The bird has not been seen yet today.

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:15:19 -0800, Joseph Morlan <jmorlan@...> wrote:

>I just got a call from Dan Singer that the 3rd cycle SLATY-BACKED GULL is
>back at Half Moon Bay right now.
>
>Good luck.


--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044  jmorlan (at) ccsf.org
Birding Classes in SF start Feb.8  http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee  http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/

Hi all,
There's a Blue Jay coming to a feeder in Redwood Valley in Humboldt County. The
resident's feeder that the BLJA is coming to left a message last evening on the
the Arcata bird box but not her number. The bird has been present for about 2
weeks but has only been consistently coming to the feeder for  the last 2 days.
I tracked down the number and got permission from the owners of the property to
come out and see it today. Jennifer Curtis and I saw the bird come to the
residents feeder about 6-7 times between 1:20-2:30. I got some decent photos
which I will send to Joe Morlan this evening. The owners of the house that the
bird is coming to are very nice people and are open to having people come look
at the bird but they want to think over about how they are going to allow access
since there is limited parking and such. So for the time being, until I find out
what they want to do, I have offered to be the middle man for people to contact
if they want to see the bird. Feel free to contact me via e-mail (off lists of
course) or call me at 826-0633. Once I find out more details and they figure out
how they want to grant access I will post an update to these lists.
Anyways....some good birds in the state right now, ehh? Slaty-backed yesterday
and Blue Jay today is definitely starting my 1st month of 2005 well!!! Good
birding to you all......

Rob Fowler
Arcata
Humboldt County

Birded with Scott and Linda Terrill and Matt Brady around the SF Peninsula
today.  This morning we had the SEDGE WREN in South San Francisco.

The Magnolia Warbler continued in SF at Pine Lake also present was a
Bullock's Oriole, 1-2 Nashville Warbler, and a Yellow Warbler.  2 Greater
White-fronted Geese were at Lake Merced.

We birded Moss Beach but it was slow.  At Princeton Harbor the 2 LT Ducks
continued.  At the outfall near the buildings was a Glaucous Gull (looked like
one of the Half Moon Bay birds).  At Venice Beach in the afternoon were very few
gulls and so no Slaty-backed Gull. Had forgotten that the dump is closed on
Sunday and the gulls often do not form the big flock.  We did however have the
small dark Glaucous Gull and the big pale one.  Apprently another one was
there earlier in the day and as we drove up Scott Terrill spotted one flying
around.  Steve Howell spotted a probable GL x Herring as well. Even when there
are
very few gulls something new is still found!  Good Birding

David Vander Pluym
Santa Cruz


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

Calbirders,

On a Whittier Audubon field trip yesterday, 23 January, we found a Horned
Grebe and a Mew Gull at the Lake Evans end of the Buena Vista Aquatic Rec.  Area
in Kern County.
The Horned Grebe was in the channel at the Lake Evans end of the  public area
and the Mew Gull was in the dirt parking lot for Lake Evans. As you  enter
the park, drive down the road all the way to the end. Make no left turns  into
parking lots, campgrounds, boat launch sites etc. until you see the Lake  Evans
sign.
The Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area is near the intersection of Inter.  5
and Highway 119. Check your map for precise directions.


Larry Schmahl
Whittier Ca.


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

I have slowly been working on a section of the StanislausBirds website that
includes Birding Activities for Young Birders. There's a page for school
activities, one for home activities, one for encouraging young birders and
an online resources page. The encouraging young birders page has a bunch of
tips sent to me back in October when I sent out an email asking for ideas on
how to encourage my son to get involved with birding.



The online resources page is a bit thin (actually blank at the moment). My
thinker is thunk out and I could use some input from folks with fresher
minds than I. If you have any suggestions, know of more resources or have
any kind of comments about any part of the activities for kids pages, I
would greatly appreciate hearing from you.



Look under the Activities Menu

http://www.stanislausbirds.org/default.htm





Thanks

Jim Gain

Modesto



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

Forwarded by request:


To: Joe Morlan <jmorlan@...>
Subject: SBGu today
From: Kevin McKereghan
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 19:55:20 -0800

Hello Joe, I have been trying to post to Calbirds all day, if you could
pass on the fact that the SBGU was seen at 10am, by myself and several
other birders for about 10 minutes. I would appreciate it. I got a couple
of shots off, nothing particularly good, but identifiable.
--
Kevin McKereghan
Black Boxes,
a division of BBI Engineering, Inc.
241 Quint Street
San Francisco CA 94124-1441

--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044  jmorlan (at) ccsf.org
Birding Classes in SF start Feb.8  http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee  http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/

Some of you may already know about or have visited the upper Midwest
(n. MN and n. WI) to enjoy seeing various owl species that appear to
be exhibiting irruptive behavior............If you're still planning
on going to witness this spectacle, here's one posting from a
respected birder/professional biologist.

He documents the locations where birders saw irruptives and other
interesting birds.........BELOW.........

(Interestingly, the birder mentions that one observer saw 35
GREAT GRAY OWLs in one day...............)

Daniel Edelstein, Novato, CA

*

To: "Wisconsin Birding Network" <wisbirdn@...>
X-Original-Message-ID: <20050124162540.72261.qmail@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:25:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Andy P <andypaulios@...>
Subject: [wisb] Douglas County/Burnett County Owls, etc.
X-ELNK-AV: 0

Hi Folks,

A group of us ventured north on Friday to do some
owling. We ended up seeing 16 Great Gray Owls, 3
Northern Hawk Owls, and a bunch of other cool birds.
Here is the breakdown:

Great Gray Locations:
- 1 mile east of HWY 35 and Pioneer Road
- 5 GGOW in on HWY 35 in and around the Chaffey/Belden
Swamp area (seen in a driving snowstorm even)
- 2 GGOW east of HWY 2/53 on HWY 13.  This road is
very productive for GGOW.
- 3 GGOW along HWY 2/53 east of WI Point.
- 3 GGOW at Landfill and WI Point
- 1 GGOW at JCT of W and C near railroad tracks
(missed GGOWs along rest of W/C/105 but probably not
driven at correct time of day)
- 1 GGOW in Burnett County!!! at JCT of U and Lake
Road sitting at the entrace to Fort Folle Avoine!
This is 1/2 mile from my cabin as the crow flies.

Hawk Owl Locations:
- 1 NHOW on Cty Road T west of Cozy Corner approx. 1
mile.
- 1 NHOW west of Ashland on HWY 2 just east of HWY
137.  Sitting atop a tree watching a sheriff pull over
a speeder!
- 1 NHOW at the house just east of the airport on HWY
112/K/Sanborn.

Other "good" birds seen included a Northern Shrike
along HWY 35 in Douglas County. Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Siskins, 40+ Redpolls at the Lookout
Bar/Restaurant.  Sharp-tailed Grouse in a tree on W
just north of JCT with BB in Douglas County.  3
Sharp-tailed Grouse in the Namekagon Barrens along
Town Line Road.  Red Crossbill singing (and recorded)
along Cty Road P just south of Stone Chimney Road
along Brule River.  Lots of Redpolls at feeders and
scattered flocks of Pine Grosbeaks along BB and W.
Pine Grosbeaks seemed to be a little more local than
earlier in the year.  We also had one flyover Northern
Goshawk at a private feeder east of Superior.

A Superior birder had 35 GGOwls in one day on
Thursday, other good roads include Conner's Point in
Duluth, CTY Road E north of Solon Springs, CTY Road A,
etc.  You can't miss em'.  There is also supposed to
be a Hawk Owl on Pioneer Road and on L NW of Solon
Springs.  This same birder also had Bohemian Waxwings
along 28th ST in Superior and there are also Bohemians
in and around Grantsburg.

To see GGOWs stay off of the real dry Jack Pine/Oak
areas and focus on northern Douglas County and Western
Douglas County.  I suspect that more will be pouring
into Burnett County from MN as food supplies dwindle.

Good birdin'

Andy Paulios
Janesville, WI

Birders,



The festival circuit turns to Chico this weekend, the Snow Goose festival,
please support if you wish.



Down the road there is San Diego Feb 5th and Salton Sea Feb 12th.



I would also like to announce that the Godwit Days web page is now live and
it provides an easy sign up registration on line.

The Tabloid is also out for the paper sign up.  If people want me to send
them that please drop me a line.



Robert W. Hewitt

Wildlife Biologist - LBJ Enterprises

Eureka, California

(w) 707-442-0339, (cell) 707-845-3189, (fax) 707-269-0632



Chairman, Godwit Days Steering Committee

www.godwitdays.com

April 15-17, 2005

Keynote Speaker: Ken Able





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

Birders:



The California Bird Records Committee has recently accepted two new
species for the California list:



Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis

Monterey Bay MTY 29 Oct 2003

[Placed after Black-vented Shearwater on the checklist]



Common Eider, Somateria mollissima

Crescent City DN 5-18 Jul 2004

[Placed between King Eider and Harlequin Duck on the checklist]



The addition of these two species brings the state list to 626 species.
The Committee is aware of the taxonomic issues surrounding the
Little/Audubon's Shearwater complex, but acceptance of the Monterey Bay
bird as a Little Shearwater by current taxonomic treatment was
unanimous.



More CBRC news will be coming next week, following the Committee's
annual meeting in Camarillo, 28-29 January.



Kimball



Kimball L. Garrett

Ornithology Collections Manager

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

900 Exposition Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90007

(213) 763-3368

(213) 746-2999 FAX

kgarrett@...





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

Birders:



Steve Shunk of Oregon had trouble posting this and asked me to forward
it to CalBirds.

[Editorial comment added:  Bear in mind that TX has stricter standards
for acceptance of a species to the state list; I believe that CA has at
least three species on the state list not supported by either specimens
or photos: Bridled Tern, White-collared Swift, and White-winged
Crossbill -- these would not qualify for the TX list]



> From: Steve Shunk <steve@...>

> Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:19 PM

> To: Kimball Garrett <kgarrett@...>, calbirds@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Two species added to California state list

>

> CALBIRDERS,

> I just returned from an annual visit to the Bay Area and talked to

> lots of birders while I was down there (I presented six slide shows to


> about 350 folks). I was surprised to hear how few California birders

> realized that California surpassed Texas last year for the length of

> its state bird list (according to the American Birding Association).

>

> I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but this is a pretty

> big deal and may be the first time it has happened. You all should be

> very proud of this stature. I will be doing slide shows in TX in

> February and will have fun ribbing the locals about slacking off down
there.

>

> Those of you who live in San Diego County can now say you live in the

> birdiest county in the birdiest state in the U.S.!

>

> Thanks for the warm hospitality. I shall see you again soon.

> Steve Shunk

>

> --

>

> Stephen Shunk

> Paradise Birding: Tours for Bird Lovers http://www.paradisebirding.com
<http://www.paradisebirding.com/>

> Sisters, OR

>

> 541-549-8826 (home)

> 541-408-1753 (cell)

> 541-549-8937 (fax)

>

> VISIT THE OREGON CASCADES BIRDING TRAIL

> http://www.oregonbirdingtrails.org/





Kimball L. Garrett

Ornithology Collections Manager

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

900 Exposition Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90007

(213) 763-3368

(213) 746-2999 FAX

kgarrett@...





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

I wouldn't call it "stricter", but they are different in the way they review
records.  The California Committee is very conservative.  I believe Arizona
also requires a photo or specimen for a first state record.  I lost out on
such a record because of that rule at sometime past.

Jon Winter
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kimball Garrett" <kgarrett@...>
To: <calbirds@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 2:21 PM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Forward from S. Shunk re: Two species added....


>
> Birders:
>
>
>
> Steve Shunk of Oregon had trouble posting this and asked me to forward
> it to CalBirds.
>
> [Editorial comment added:  Bear in mind that TX has stricter standards
> for acceptance of a species to the state list; I believe that CA has at
> least three species on the state list not supported by either specimens
> or photos: Bridled Tern, White-collared Swift, and White-winged
> Crossbill -- these would not qualify for the TX list]
>
>
>
> > From: Steve Shunk <steve@...>
>
> > Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:19 PM
>
> > To: Kimball Garrett <kgarrett@...>, calbirds@yahoogroups.com
>
> > Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Two species added to California state list
>
> >
>
> > CALBIRDERS,
>
> > I just returned from an annual visit to the Bay Area and talked to
>
> > lots of birders while I was down there (I presented six slide shows to
>
>
> > about 350 folks). I was surprised to hear how few California birders
>
> > realized that California surpassed Texas last year for the length of
>
> > its state bird list (according to the American Birding Association).
>
> >
>
> > I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but this is a pretty
>
> > big deal and may be the first time it has happened. You all should be
>
> > very proud of this stature. I will be doing slide shows in TX in
>
> > February and will have fun ribbing the locals about slacking off down
> there.
>
> >
>
> > Those of you who live in San Diego County can now say you live in the
>
> > birdiest county in the birdiest state in the U.S.!
>
> >
>
> > Thanks for the warm hospitality. I shall see you again soon.
>
> > Steve Shunk
>
> >
>
> > --
>
> >
>
> > Stephen Shunk
>
> > Paradise Birding: Tours for Bird Lovers http://www.paradisebirding.com
> <http://www.paradisebirding.com/>
>
> > Sisters, OR
>
> >
>
> > 541-549-8826 (home)
>
> > 541-408-1753 (cell)
>
> > 541-549-8937 (fax)
>
> >
>
> > VISIT THE OREGON CASCADES BIRDING TRAIL
>
> > http://www.oregonbirdingtrails.org/
>
>
>
>
>
> Kimball L. Garrett
>
> Ornithology Collections Manager
>
> Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
>
> 900 Exposition Blvd.
>
> Los Angeles CA 90007
>
> (213) 763-3368
>
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Steve Shunk wrote: "I was surprised to hear how few California birders
realized that California surpassed Texas last year for the length of its
state bird list (according to the American Birding Association)."

While we accept Steve's congratulations, they are premature, as the Texas
Bird Records Committee added South Polar Skua to the Texas list on December
20, 2004, bringing that state's total list to 627.  The California list,
with the additions announced today, is 626.  There are three potential first
state records currently being considered by the Committee (Crested Caracara,
Oriental Turtle-Dove, and Siberian Stonechat), so more announcements from
the CBRC may be forthcoming shortly.

Luke

Luke Cole
Chair, California Bird Records Committee
San Francisco

The Common Black Hawk was seen this morning at Stockton.  It apparently
roosted in a big spruce tree in the backyard of 3926 Five Mile Drive.  I
arrived at 6:40 and it was still pretty dark.  Several of us saw it fly
across Five Mile Drive about 6:50 this morning.  It then perched in a bare
tree through which we had views through the telescope.  It stayed for
several minutes and then dropped down behind the house to the lake and had
not been relocated before I left.

Also, I saw the Slaty-backed Gull at 9:50am on Wednesday at Venice Beach.
It was bathing in the water.  There were at least 2 Glaucous Gulls in the
area as well.

Good luck,

Jim Holmes
Sacramento, CA

Astute Calbirders have reminded me that there at least two (perhaps more) other
species currently under review by the California Bird Records Committee that, if
accepted, would be first state records:  Slaty-backed Gull and Parkinson's
Petrel.  My oversight.

Luke

Luke Cole
Chair, California Bird Records Committee

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

The Common Black Hawk was seen around 110 pm today by Roy Carlson and myself
at North Lake in Stockton, CA.. I first spotted it flying up the lake toward
us. Then it flew to a perch in a bare tree (birch?) on the east side of the
lake. It stayed long enough for us to get scope filled views. Then it turned
around sat briefly again and then flew to another tree out of sight.

Good birding,
Frances
Lodi, CA

Hello all,
The Common Black-Hawk was seen the morning at North Lake in Stockton, San
Joaquin County. It flew in from somewhere northwest and continued low across the
lake, before landing in a tree. That was at 9:25 am. It was watched for about
15 minutes before it flew to the se corner of the lake where we couldn't see
it.
As I was leaving on Five Mile Drive I refound the bird in a bare tree behind
a house at the corner of Five Mile and Fort Donelson south. I got a few pretty
good photos, one of which should be in the Calbirds photo album under
"raptors" in the next few minutes.
To get there from I-5 in Stockton take the Benjamin Holt offramp west. Turn
right on Five Mile Drive. The first left turn for Fort Donelson will be on the
left (and this is where I later saw it) but the prime viewing area is a left
on the second Fort Donelson. Once you have made this turn it is the first house
on the left. The homeowner now has a sign on the garage inviting us into the
backyard, a spot which allows a view of nearly the entire lake.
Good luck,
Steve Glover
Dublin


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

Birders,

An hour and a half after arriving at the northeast corner of North Lake
in Stockton, San Joaquin County, Pat spotted the COMMON BLACK-HAWK
flying in from the south at 12:40 pm today. It landed in a European
White Birch in the backyard of 4111 Five Mile Drive. The bird stayed
there for 20 minutes and then flew to a Liquid Amber behind 4149 Five
Mile Drive where it spent the next 30 minutes. From there it briefly
moved to a tree at the southwest corner of the lake and then back to
the east side to the "Egret Tree." When we left at 1:50 pm the hawk was
leaning into a west wind and weathering the heavy rain.

Dennis and Patricia Braddy
San Ramon
Contra Costa County

Dear Calbirds,

I will be in the San Francisco and Monterrey area over the
president's day weekend.  I would appreciate any ideas on viewing
pelagic species (I don't see any scheduled seabird trips for this
weekend) as well as recommendations for locating Tricolored
Blackbird and Yellow-billed Magpie.

Thanks,

Jonathan Heller
Lancaster, PA

Hello, Seabirders!

Shearwater Journey's January 30, 2005 pelagic trip from Monterey was a
resounding success! It was a beautiful day, with the seas flattening out to
a Beaufort 0. Highlights included five species of shearwaters, awesome views
of 19 ANCIENT MURRELETS, eight species of gulls, and thousands of RHINOCEROS
AUKLETS in alternate plumage.

A MERLIN flew over the dock, as I was giving the introductory announcements.
This was soon followed by a MALE HARLEQUIN DUCK in the harbor, and a
PEREGRINE FALCON on top of one of the stacks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Lots of SURF SCOTERS, EARED GREBES,  BRAND'TS and PELAGIC CORMORANTS, and
loons were along Cannery Row. Two PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were off China Point. At
Point Pinos, the first three ANCIENT MURRELETS were spotted, along with a
few BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS. We headed out to the North Rim of the Monterey
Submarine Canyon, where thousands of mixed species flocks of seabirds were
feeding on schools of fish that were being chased by mackeral and sardines.
I could even smell the mackeral! Great clouds of gulls were in hot pursuit
of these balls of fish. Mixed in with the gulls we found a scattering of
shearwaters, including two different FLESH-FOOTS (unusual at this time of
year, although we did see three on the January 2004 trip, as well),
SHORT-TAILEDS, SOOTYS, and PINK-FOOTEDS. The day seemed to be eclipsed by
the sheer numbers of Rhinoceros Auklets ‹4500-5000+. Several BLACK-FOOTED
ALBATROSSES made passes at the boat, and ate chum that we threw over
(anchovies). It does not appear to be a big winter, at least so far, for
either NORTHERN FULMAR or BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, although we did see a few
of each. Again, CASSIN'S AUKLETS were nearly absent from Monterey Bay, as
had been the case for the entire fall season. I wonder if they are still
concentrated at the Cordell Bank. Humboldt Squid had been reported in the
bay, but we did not see any.

The sea surface temperature was 56-57F, slightly warmer than normal. The
seas were calm for the day. The sun was out, and most of the "regulars"
remarked that this January trip was much warmer than some August trips! The
usual marine mammals filled in the day, along with a Blue Shark and some
Moon Jellies. It was truly a wonderful day to be at sea.

Leaders for this trip were Sophie Webb, Jennifer Green, Alvaro Jaramillo,
and Debi Shearwater. Chummers were Matt Brady and John Hiles. A darn good
time was had by all.

Upcoming Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trips from Monterey include: April 15;
May 27; August 12, 21, and 28; from Fort Bragg: May 29; August 14, 26, and
27; from Bodega Bay: August 16, and 29. You can make reservations by
contacting Debi Shearwater, see below.

The Trip List for January 30, 2005 follows:
RED-THROATED LOON-3
PACIFIC LOON-70
COMMON LOON-22
EARED GREBE-23
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-8
NORTHERN FULMAR-9
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-5
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER-2
SOOTY SHEARWATER-2
SOOTY/SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-3
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER-5
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER-9
BROWN PELICAN-32
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-275
PELAGIC CORMORANT-10
HARLEQUIN DUCK-1 MALE
SURF SCOTER-37
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER-3
CANADA GOOSE-6
NORTHEREN PINTAIL-8
BLACK TURNSTONE-4
RED PHALAROPE-3
WILLET-25
POMARINE JAEGER-6
HEERMANN'S GULL-36
MEW GULL-2
CALIFORNIA GULL-500
HERRING GULL-80
THAYER'S GULL-9
WESTERN GULL-2000+
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-145
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL-+
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE-3
COMMON MURRE-14
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-2
ANCIENT MURRELET-19
CASSIN'S AUKLET-2
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-4500-5000+
MERLIN-1
PEREGRINE FALCON-1
SEA OTTER-14 +2 PUPS
CALIFORNIA SEA LION +
NORTHERN FUR SEAL-1
HARBOR SEAL +
GRAY WHALE-9 + 1 CALF
BLUE SHARK-1
MOON JELLIES +

Shearwaters forever,
Debi Shearwater
---
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com
Debi Shearwater <debiluv@...>
Shearwater Journeys
P.O. Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024
831-637-8527