I had my very first male BH Grosbeak about 10 mins ago today. He
crammed in along side about 5 Evening Grosbeaks on the feeder. I ams
till getting about 30-60 Evening Grosbeaks in the mornings and a little
less in the afternoons and evenings.

I also saw one Male Bullocks at my humming bird feeders about 30 mins
ago. I was kinda shocked and stodd up really fast which, scared him
away since all my hummer feeders hand on my windows...will post if I
see more. Have put the hummingbird food in a few small bowls ont he
deck for them.

I also still have a few Rufous male hummingbirds buzzing through in the
evenings.

Jamie Mullin
Groveland, CA
2pm 84 degrees

Birders,

As a long-term member of Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society (SMBAS), it's news to
me that the BLM or anyone else is asking about permission to enter Butterbredt
Spring.
As our chapter has paid for fences, signs, cattle-watering troughs, etc. for the
spring for well over 20 years, and as it's this stuff that has been vandalized
in the past and continues to periodically cost us money, I can't say that I
personally find such BLM questioning wholly unwelcome.

What Bob Barnes says below coincides with the facts as I know them. The spring
and the surrounding property belongs to Onyx Ranch. It's their land that gets
torn up by ORV people and it's the wildlife on their property that gets shot by
hunters wandering around looking for something to shoot and it's their cattle
that suffer when people mess with the gates or the watering systems.

I personally have full faith that birders treat the spring and the structures
around it with consideration and respect. To my knowledge, no one in our chapter
has ever had any objection to any birder/birders visiting the spring, and I
doubt that any such objection has ever crossed the mind of any of us. I think
it's considerate that BLM should be watching out for the property and equipment
of Onyx Ranch or SMBAS. As B.Barnes says, just tell them that you're there to
observe/count birds, and you should be OK. The fact that you're wearing a shady
hat and binos rather than a visored helmet and armored body suit and standing
astride a smokin' 'cycle should clue the BLM people as to what sort of activity
you're up to.

Meanwhile, I will check with the other members of the chapter to see if anything
has changed that I don't know about and I'll notify you'all know if it has.

Chuck Almdale
SMBAS Field Trip Chairman

At 08:39 AM 4/12/2008, bewickwren wrote:
>Forwarding the below for Bob Barnes
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bob Barnes
>Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 7:55 AM
>
>I suspect we will find out about be challenge of BLM when going to bird
Butterbredt with the spring birding season at Butterbredt upon us. Keith Axelson
has covered Butterbredt via a chapter in ABA's A Birder's Guide to Southern
California for the past several editions. Keith was the prime mover in getting
Onyx Ranch to work with Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society to get the area to be
called a sanctuary. Keith has never mentioned in person or in writing about the
need for any kind of justification for BIRDING Butterbredt.
>
>The Butterbredt property, at least the main spring (and numerous acres
checker-boarded around it), is private (Onyx Ranch). BLM would almost surely
have no authority to regulate use of the land belonging to Onyx Ranch. That
would be up to Onyx Ranch. Onyx Ranch folks reportedly strongly dislike OHVs due
to their negative impacts on the area. There are round signs all over the place
along Kelso Valley Road stating words to the effect of "No ORVs." Those are all
on Onyx Ranch property. In his chapter in the ABA SoCal guide Keith tells
readers "Butterbredt Spring is included within the largest Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC) administered by BLM. All vehicle travel within
Butterbredt Canyon is restricted to Butterbredt Canyon Road (SC123) and Gold
Peak Road (SC124). There are no designated motorcycle trails, apart from the
roads, through this fragile environment. A letter from you to the BLM,
Ridgecrest Resource Area, 300 South Drummond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, in
favor of continued motorcycle closure will help to keep it this way."
>
>Based on the above, I think birders are not only welcome to bird, but are seen
as "de facto" overseers of the health of Onyx Ranch property in and around
Butterbredt Spring ... which clearly has happened when birders have reported
prohibited OHV use in the area.
>
>If birders are stopped by BLM personnel at Butterbredt this spring, I suggest
that they take a minute to explain that they are there to witness (and catalog)
spring migration as it is a known area for witnessing spring migration and has
been publicized as such in ABA's "A Birder's Guide to Southern California" for
years and years. I am glad BLM is present to protect the integrity of
Butterbredt Canyon. They likely come in with a black and white attitude
regarding enforcement. It is up to us to show them the shades of gray which
separate birders use of the area from that of OHV users.
>
>Bob Barnes      Ridgecrest, Kern County


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

All,

An adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found this morning by Robert and Allison
McMorran at the Ventura River Mouth in the city of Ventura. Details are posted
on the venturacobirding listserve:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/venturacobirding/ and sialia.com

It was seen as late as around 3 pm today, and photos are posted in the photos
section of Venturacobirding.

Good birding,

Oscar Johnson
Santa Barbara



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

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

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hello Everyone,
Last night, I was kicking back in the yard taking it easy in a lounge  chair.
At one point, I looked up and saw this big, beautiful old barn owl  swooping
up over the building behind our house and coming towards me.
He seemed to be going in slow motion and his wings did not make a  sound.  He
flew in a straight line  above my fence and went up into the giant palm tree
next to our  house.
We have lived here about 10 years, and I have never seen him  before.
We are only one block north of downtown in San Clemente, California, so I
was a little surprised to see him.
Also, I have been noticing that Wikipedia has some great bird articles
lately with excellent photos.  I  figured that I would pass that along also.
That is it from here…
Have an Excellent Week,Sean  Surlow in San Clemente, California



**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money &
Finance.      (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolcmp00300000002850)


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

Maggie Smith and I walked up the Cerro Alto C G Road, up to the ridge, north to
the Boy Scout Trail and back to the parking lot this morning (see SLO County
Birdfinding Guide (http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/mbsloguide.htm) section
B-6). Very cool, but the winds were not as bad as we anticipated. Some bird
highlights:

Sixspecies of WARBLERS along the riparian area, including HERMIT,MACGILLIVRAY'S
and NASHVILLE. Two OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS at the southend of the AT&T
Road/Trail. A sub-adult BALD EAGLE.

Only 2 (silent) "BELL'S" SAGE SPARROWS. I included a picture of one in the NEW
PICS section of my Flickr site. It is interesting to note how similar they are
to the canescens racefound at TheCarrizo Plain. They seem almost as pale, and
many, likethis one, have a streaked back, although admittedly not as streaked
asthose at Carrizo.

About a dozen FOX SPARROWS. One by voice andlooks we judged to be a
"THICK-BILLED". The remainder appeared to besome subspecies of "SLATE-COLORED".
We are not sure what subspeciesthey represent. They were very red, but had an
unstreaked backs and nowingbars. The lack of back streaking would eliminate 
zaboria. Neither did they look like altivigans, lackingwingbars and at least a
little back streaking. Birds looking like thisonly have appeared in that habitat
in the past few weeks. We theorizethat they are perhaps migrating through here
and were not among ourmany wintering Fox Sparrows on the ridge. I have posted
several photosof today's birds on NEW PICS set on my Flickr site. We are
interested in opinions as to subspecies and where they may have over-wintered.

As an extra treat there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the parking lot at the
base.


Alan Schmierer
Morro Bay, CA
PHOTOS AT:
  www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets




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

Join us this evening, April 16th, for a great program about the Western
Snowy Plovers and Least Terns, presented by Peter Knapp, photographer.
Peter has some great photos which show the breeding biology of both
species, taken right here in Orange County.  The program begins at 7:00
p.m.  Everyone interested in these birds, OR, those who just want to see
some great bird pictures, is invited to attend.

This gathering is our first of the season get together for volunteer
monitors at Huntington State Beach where the CA Least Terns and Snowy
Plovers congregate every spring and nest.  David Pryor, State Parks
Environmental Biologist, will explain all about the project and the need
for volunteers to help protect these birds during this critical nesting
period.  (The beach where they nest is heavily used during the late
spring and summer.)

For more information on the Least Tern & Snowy Plover monitoring
project, visit the following page on the Sea & Sage Audubon website:
http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/Conservation/SnowyPlovers/SNPL.htm

We hope to see you there.  The program will be held at the Huntington
State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters.  (Enter off PCH at Magnolia.)  Tell
them at the entrance kiosk where you are going and they will let you in
free.


Nancy Kenyon
Irvine

Birders,
Here is a follow-up to my previous response on this topic, forwarded to me by
another member of SMBAS.
Chuck Almdale
Santa Monica Bay Audubon Soc.

Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 3:16 PM
Subject: [kerncobirding] Butterbredt Spring Access

The following is from Kathy Sharum, a BLM biologist regarding the recent
incident where a birder was asked for ID:

I did a little investigating and spoke with a couple of BLM biologists for this
area. They told me there has been some recent vandalism to some of the fences.
They also said there had been a couple of rangers from somewhere else working
there on assignment as well as a couple of non-law enforcement rangers that may
not have been familiar with the setup at Butterbredt Spring. Word has been sent
to the lead ranger to make sure everyone understands that this area is open to
birders. The biologists were not aware of any written permission requirement,
the spring is on private land and there is an agreement between the landowner
and Audubon who maintains the spring/trough to allow birding/birders. This
spring is under the jurisdiction of the Ridgecrest BLM Office, you can call
there if you have questions. I would ask for a law enforcement person or a
biologist. If I learn of anything else, I will post it.
Kathy Sharum
Carrizo Plain National Monument
Posted by
Mike Stiles
Los Osos, CA
******************************

Birders,
As a long-term member of Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society (SMBAS), it's news to
me that the BLM or anyone else is asking about permission to enter Butterbredt
Spring.
As our chapter has paid for fences, signs, cattle-watering troughs, etc. for the
spring for well over 20 years, and as it's this stuff that has been vandalized
in the past and continues to periodically cost us money, I can't say that I
personally find such BLM questioning wholly unwelcome.

What Bob Barnes says below coincides with the facts as I know them. The spring
and the surrounding property belongs to Onyx Ranch. It's their land that gets
torn up by ORV people and it's the wildlife on their property that gets shot by
hunters wandering around looking for something to shoot and it's their cattle
that suffer when people mess with the gates or the watering systems.

I personally have full faith that birders treat the spring and the structures
around it with consideration and respect. To my knowledge, no one in our chapter
has ever had any objection to any birder/birders visiting the spring, and I
doubt that any such objection has ever crossed the mind of any of us. I think
it's considerate that BLM should be watching out for the property and equipment
of Onyx Ranch or SMBAS. As B.Barnes says, just tell them that you're there to
observe/count birds, and you should be OK. The fact that you're wearing a shady
hat and binos rather than a visored helmet and armored body suit and standing
astride a smokin' 'cycle should clue the BLM people as to what sort of activity
you're up to.

Meanwhile, I will check with the other members of the chapter to see if anything
has changed that I don't know about and I'll notify you'all know if it has.
Chuck Almdale
SMBAS Field Trip Chairman
*********************************************
At 08:39 AM 4/12/2008, bewickwren wrote:
>Forwarding the below for Bob Barnes
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bob Barnes
>Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 7:55 AM
>
>I suspect we will find out about be challenge of BLM when going to bird
Butterbredt with the spring birding season at Butterbredt upon us. Keith Axelson
has covered Butterbredt via a chapter in ABA's A Birder's Guide to Southern
California for the past several editions. Keith was the prime mover in getting
Onyx Ranch to work with Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society to get the area to be
called a sanctuary. Keith has never mentioned in person or in writing about the
need for any kind of justification for BIRDING Butterbredt.
>
>The Butterbredt property, at least the main spring (and numerous acres
checker-boarded around it), is private (Onyx Ranch). BLM would almost surely
have no authority to regulate use of the land belonging to Onyx Ranch. That
would be up to Onyx Ranch. Onyx Ranch folks reportedly strongly dislike OHVs due
to their negative impacts on the area. There are round signs all over the place
along Kelso Valley Road stating words to the effect of "No ORVs." Those are all
on Onyx Ranch property. In his chapter in the ABA SoCal guide Keith tells
readers "Butterbredt Spring is included within the largest Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC) administered by BLM. All vehicle travel within
Butterbredt Canyon is restricted to Butterbredt Canyon Road (SC123) and Gold
Peak Road (SC124). There are no designated motorcycle trails, apart from the
roads, through this fragile environment. A letter from you to the BLM,
Ridgecrest Resource Area, 300 South Drummond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, in
favor of continued motorcycle closure will help to keep it this way."
>
>Based on the above, I think birders are not only welcome to bird, but are seen
as "de facto" overseers of the health of Onyx Ranch property in and around
Butterbredt Spring ... which clearly has happened when birders have reported
prohibited OHV use in the area.
>
>If birders are stopped by BLM personnel at Butterbredt this spring, I suggest
that they take a minute to explain that they are there to witness (and catalog)
spring migration as it is a known area for witnessing spring migration and has
been publicized as such in ABA's "A Birder's Guide to Southern California" for
years and years. I am glad BLM is present to protect the integrity of
Butterbredt Canyon. They likely come in with a black and white attitude
regarding enforcement. It is up to us to show them the shades of gray which
separate birders use of the area from that of OHV users.
>
>Bob Barnes      Ridgecrest, Kern County


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

Now entering its 26th year of raptor monitoring in the Marin
Headlands, the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory is looking for a few
dozen avian-astute, tree-hugging, responsible, and on-time
volunteers to make up our 2008 apprentice class.  If you've ever
wanted to move beyond Redtails and TV's, and live near the Bay Area,
then this is your best chance.  With nineteen species of raptors
regularly appearing each autumn over the Golden Gate -- and with
many ages, sexes, and morphs of the hawks -- this is a great way to
learn the whole range of plumages of western US hawks, kites,
falcons, eagles, vultures, and osprey.

Our only 2008 Recruitment Classes are April 29 & 30, 7 to 930 pm,
and May 3rd, 10 am to 1230, held at Upper Ft Mason in San Francisco,
at Bldg 201, GGNRA Headquarters.  Enter the fort at Franklin and
Bay.  Come to one of these, or call us if you can't make any but
still want to volunteer.

The fine print: The GGRO volunteer commitment is one field day every
other week from August through early December; we need weekenders
and weekdayers.  Volunteers can opt to train as hawk counters or
banders.  Training provided in June and July.  Must provide own
transportation to the Marin Headlands.  GGRO is a program of the
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in cooperation with the NPS.

For more info, please call us at 415-331-0730 , surf www.ggro.org,
or email us at ggro@.... Thanks for your time.

Good birds --

Allen Fish

I'm not sure of the ranges of this dove. We saw one at the south bound
rest stop,north of Paso Robles CA on the 101 freeway. It flew before we
located the camera. good birding, Rick Near-Simi Valley.ps, this
happened April 18, about noon.

My Wife Kathleen just called me at work to tell me that she went
outside to investigate some noises and found a PILEATED WOODPECKER in
the bare crown of a cedar tree next to our home in Forest Ranch (15
miles east of Chico, elev. app. 2500'). Aside from the CANVASBACK flock
fly-over this winter this is our best yard-bird to date!

This past weekend at Godwit Days in Arcata, of 129 species that my son
Liam, Tim Ruckle and I observed, the highlights were: female LONG-
TAILED DUCK and BLACK SCOTER at King Salmon, an apparent BLACK SCOTER X
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER HYBRID (subject to further review) near the coast
guard station on the west side of the bay, a second year GLAUCOUS GULL
in a parking lot on the bay behind the mall in Eureka, and my first of
season WARBLING VIREOS at Blue Lake Riparian area. Also my FOS
MCGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at a pullout along the Trinity River in Trinity
County.

Bird well,

Scott Huber

Scott,

Doc Harris had a look at that potential hybrid scoter and determined
that it's a 2nd-cycle male white-wing with a nasal tag.  Sorry!

Ken Burton
McKinleyville

----- Original Message -----
From: "bigbirderscott" <bigbirderscott@...>
To: <CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 9:28 AM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] ARBOREAL JACK-HAMMERING


My Wife Kathleen just called me at work to tell me that she went
outside to investigate some noises and found a PILEATED WOODPECKER in
the bare crown of a cedar tree next to our home in Forest Ranch (15
miles east of Chico, elev. app. 2500'). Aside from the CANVASBACK flock
fly-over this winter this is our best yard-bird to date!

This past weekend at Godwit Days in Arcata, of 129 species that my son
Liam, Tim Ruckle and I observed, the highlights were: female LONG-
TAILED DUCK and BLACK SCOTER at King Salmon, an apparent BLACK SCOTER X
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER HYBRID (subject to further review) near the coast
guard station on the west side of the bay, a second year GLAUCOUS GULL
in a parking lot on the bay behind the mall in Eureka, and my first of
season WARBLING VIREOS at Blue Lake Riparian area. Also my FOS
MCGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at a pullout along the Trinity River in Trinity
County.

Bird well,

Scott Huber

Hi All,

I'm forwarding this message from Mike San Miguel with sad news about
the passing of Loren Hayes. I know I will miss Loren's friendliness,
sense of humor, and his commitment to birding and to conservation.

>From: sanmigbird@...
>Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:56:57 EDT
>Subject: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes remembered
>
>LA County birders,
>
>I am very sorry to report that our friend, fellow birder
>and dedicated conservationist Loren Hayes passed away
>on Friday afternoon from the effects of a heart attack the
>previous Wednesday. We will remember him for his efforts
>to protect habitats and endangered species in Orange
>County. He was passionate about the birds of western
>Mexico, particularly Sinaloa, where he visited dozens of
>times. A celebration for Loren are pending and I will advise
>when arrangements have been made.
>
>Mike San Miguel
>Arcadia CA
>


Good birding,

Steve Sosensky,
SoCA Bird Guides <steve at sosensky.com>     www.sosensky.com/guides
Nature Photos                      www.sosensky.com/nature_photos.htm
Optics4Birding <steve at optics4birding.com>  www.optics4birding.com
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656       949-269-2161     33.56485 N, 117.72205 W

*Enjoy the Outdoors with the Whole Family!*

The Ventana Wildlife Society’s 15^th Annual Big Sur Ornithology Lab
Birdathon Fundraiser, April 26, 2008

This year our Birdathon will open with a Birdathon Big Day on April 26,
2008. *Tickets on sale now *at Wild Bird Center of Monterey,
831-373-1000, in Del Monte Center next to Whole Foods Market or by
contacting Ventana Wildlife Society at 831-455-9514. Also visit our
website for more information, www.ventanaws.org
<http://www.ventanaws.org/> and click on “2008 Birdathon.” Kids under 12
free for most tours. All proceeds benefit wildlife conservation on the
central coast! Enjoy exclusive full-day and half-day eco-experiences led
by local experts:

*VWS open house full day event - 9AM – 3PM (40 max). $70/person…*Visit
Big Sur Ornithology Lab and see live wild birds in the hands of VWS
ornithologists, go on an expertly guided bird walk at Andrew Molera
State Park, and search for California Condors along the most
breathtaking cliffs on Hwy 1 in Big Sur. This exclusive tour is offered
only once a year! Lunch included.

*Monterey** Bay** Boat Trip - 7AM – 10AM (48 max). $40/person…*A guided
tour of Monterey Bay to look for pelagic seabirds and marine mammals of
all sorts. Now is a perfect time to view gray and killer whales in the
rich near shore waters of Monterey Bay! Tour starts from Fisherman’s
Wharf in Monterey. Leaders: Roger Wolfe, Steve Bailey and Richard
Ternullo The boat trip will be short one and very suitable for first
time pelagickers and those who can't commit to an all day outing on the
bay.

*Pinnacles Condor half-day bird walk, east side - 9:30AM – 12PM (20 max)
$30/person* … A guided bird walk to look for the majestic California
Condor. Pinnacles National Monument in collaboration with VWS has been
releasing condors since 2003 and now co-manages 17 condors in the wild
at the Pinnacles. Leader: Pinnacles Wildlife Biologist

*Carmel** River** Mouth half-day bird walk - 9AM – 11AM (20 max).
$30/person…*An easy guided birdwalk overlooking Carmel Lagoon and river
mouth- a perfect place to see and hear songbirds. Leader: Karen Shihadeh

*Point Lobos Ranch half-day bird walk - 9AM – 11AM (50 max)
$30/person…*A guided birdwalk in a restricted-access area to find
resident songbirds and unusual vagrants. Leader: Ranger Chuck Bancroft
and Point Lobos Docents.

*Elkhorn** Slough half-day bird walk – Time 9AM – 11AM (10 max).
$30/person* …Perfect for beginning birders! A guided bird walk for
shorebirds, waders, waterfowl, songbirds, and sea birds. Leader: Kathryn
Hannay

*Wildflower walk – - 9AM – 11AM (20 max)…$30/person* …This is the
perfect time of year to discover and learn the wildflowers of Fort Ord.
Spring is in bloom! Leader: Cheryl McCormick

The Birdathon pledge period will continue through June 15 and in that
time, you have the opportunity to bird anywhere in the world in any
24-hour period to raise money for the Big Sur Ornithology Lab. On _July
12, 2008_, the Birdathon Awards Dinner featuring prominent environmental
speaker, John Moir, and a silent auction will be held. Prizes will be
given for most money raised in the following categories: Young Birder
Award (up to age 16), Individual Birder Award, Family and Friends Team
Award, Community Group Award, Audubon Chapter Award, and Business Team
Award. So form a pledge team today to win great prizes- including optics
and travel packages! For more information about the 2008 Birdathon,
please visit our website at /www.ventanaws.org and click on _2008
Birdathon_.

Big Sur Ornithology Lab, located on California’s central coast, has
operated since 1992 and in that time we have spread the message of bird
protection to thousands. Help us raise money for bird conservation and
provide hope for wildlife and people to thrive.


Cheers,
Roger Wolfe
Soquel, CA

The Mexican Parrots are back…

Hello Everyone.

I saw a flock of seven Mexican Parrots this morning circling and
swooping around our neighborhood in San Clemente, California, for the
first time this year.

I usually see them in the spring around here and cannot miss their
color or hear the loud ruckus that they make when flying overhead.

Have a Good Week Everyone.
Sean Surlow
San Clemente, California

There will be a memorial service for Loren Hays on Friday (April 25) at 1 pm at
the bandstand below the library in Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach. 
That is all the details I have for now, but I will post more when it becomes
available.

   Sincerely

   David Pereksta
   Ventura


Steve Sosensky <mobile@...> wrote:
           Hi All,

I'm forwarding this message from Mike San Miguel with sad news about
the passing of Loren Hayes. I know I will miss Loren's friendliness,
sense of humor, and his commitment to birding and to conservation.

>From: sanmigbird@...
>Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:56:57 EDT
>Subject: [LACoBirds] Loren Hayes remembered
>
>LA County birders,
>
>I am very sorry to report that our friend, fellow birder
>and dedicated conservationist Loren Hayes passed away
>on Friday afternoon from the effects of a heart attack the
>previous Wednesday. We will remember him for his efforts
>to protect habitats and endangered species in Orange
>County. He was passionate about the birds of western
>Mexico, particularly Sinaloa, where he visited dozens of
>times. A celebration for Loren are pending and I will advise
>when arrangements have been made.
>
>Mike San Miguel
>Arcadia CA
>

Good birding,

Steve Sosensky,
SoCA Bird Guides <steve at sosensky.com> www.sosensky.com/guides
Nature Photos www.sosensky.com/nature_photos.htm
Optics4Birding <steve at optics4birding.com> www.optics4birding.com
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 949-269-2161 33.56485 N, 117.72205 W






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

Please Report Color-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels

Over the last two years, we have been color-flagging Whimbrels and
Hudsonian Godwits on Chiloé Island, Chile.  Over 20,000 each of
godwits and Whimbrels spend the boreal winter in the vicinity of
Chiloé.  Using a canon-net, we have marked 323 Hudsonian Godwits and
135 Whimbrels.  These birds will be sporting a red flag (the color
for Chile) that is engraved with a unique two-letter/number
combination on their upper left leg (tibiotarsus).  Flag
letters/numbers are read like we read a book, from left to right.
They will also have a combination of a metal band and a color ring
on their upper right leg.  For godwits, this combination will be
yellow/metal for 2007 and orange/metal for 2008.  Combinations
should be read as yellow color band over a metal band.  For
Whimbrels, the combination will be blue/metal for 2007 and
yellow/metal for 2008.  Remember that anatomical directions are the
way the bird is facing, not necessarily the way you are looking at
the bird.  Besides banding the birds, we collected blood, took
measurements, assessed molt, and collected samples for Avian
Influenza (taken by the Chilean agency, Servicio Agrícola y
Ganadero).  The blood will be used in a genetics study to determine
the origin of the Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels wintering on
Chiloé Island.  Re-sighting of flagged birds will help us determine
their migration routes.  There are tentative plans to attached
satellite transmitters to Whimbrels next year.  Please report any
flag and color-band observations to Jim Johnson
(jim_a_johnson@...; 907-786-3423) or Brad Andres
(brad_andres@...; 303-275-2324).  Last year we had a re-sighting
of a Hudsonian Godwit in Alaska and a Whimbrel in southern
California.

Colleagues in Colombia have also color-flagged Whimbrels this past
spring in the Sanquianga National Park.  They marked 38 individuals
with the following combination: metal/orange or black on upper right
leg, nothing on lower right, inscribed medium green flag/yellow flag
on upper left leg, and nothing on lower left.  Please report these
birds to Richard Johnston (calidris@... or
rjohnston@....).

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

Hi all,

Services for Loren Hayes:
 
Celebration of Life Service
Friday, April 25, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Huntington Beach Central Park
18000 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, CA
 
Use library entrance. Park in library parking lot. Walk into park and meet at
the bandstand (behind Library). Seating will be setup. All are welcome.

Mike San Miguel


**************
Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for
U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)


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

Hooray,hooray. For the first time in over a month, the bird box(818-952-5502)
was finally used. I guess my efforts were not in vain after all. Now if more
people would make use of it.

   Good Birding
   John Small
   Torrance,CA


---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.

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

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for some useful plans to build some practical birdhouses
over the summer with my 9-year-old son.  I am more interested in ones
that will be used as opposed to decorative ones.

We live in South Orange County, California.
If anyone has some useful suggestions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Sean Surlow

Although bird house building may be outside of the accepted topics for
Calbirds.... I suggest to Sean that he might want to join the Bluebird group
in Orange County which puts up (and builds?) birdhouses for that species.
Because of their efforts, the range of the Western Bluebird in the County
has expanded dramatically.

See:
http://www.socalbluebirds.org/

Joel Weintraub
Dana Point, CA

It's getting to be that time of year when there's no telling what
you'll find out in the Pacific Ocean.  Last June I was with Dave
Povey and Pete Ginsburg 6 miles offshore San Diego when we spotted an
enormous feeding frenzy of gulls and terns.  We motored over to find
an amazing spectacle: several acres of suction-cupped tentacles
protruding 18 – 24 inches above the surface of the sea, waving back
and forth, surfacing for 2 seconds then submerging, only to reappear
a second later – a surreal Alice In Wonderland spectacle of hundreds
of reddish-brown "tentacle bushes" waving in the wind.

Neither Dave nor Pete had ever witnessed such an event in their
combined 50 years at sea.  These were probably Humboldt Squid – also
known as Flying Squid – that typically inhabit depths of 2,000 feet
but had evidently driven/followed a school of bait fish to the
surface – and the birds were having a field day. These are the types
of mind-boggling scenes you find only by being "OUT THERE."

Four exciting pelagic trips are upcoming in SoCal:

Sat, May 3.  Deep water trip towards the San Juan Seamount with the
Los Angeles Audubon on the Condor Express
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CALBIRDS/message/7166

Sat, May 10.  A 3/4 day trip to the Nine-mile bank and Coronados
Islands off San Diego
http://www.socalbirding.com/may_10_2008_booby_adventure_34_day

Sat, Sun, May 10 & 11.   1.5 day trip to deep water off San Diego
http://www.socalbirding.com/may_10-12_continental_shelf_deep_water

And, the deep water Granddaddy of them all:  The Searcher 5 day
expedition June 2 – 6.  A week of birding the Channel Islands and the
deep waters of the Continental Shelf.
http://www.socalbirding.com/june_2-6_2008_searcher_5-day_expedition

WHAT'S OUT THERE?

The Southern California Bight is brimming with life.  The 3 deep
water pelagic trips will explore submarine trenches and canyons along
the Continental Shelf – some or all will strike it rich.  Last year
everyone on the May Condor Express trip witnessed amazing spectacles:
a thousand SABINE'S GULLS, a pod of ORCA, seven PARAKEET AUKLETS.
During the first two weeks of April on the NOAA ship Miller Freeman
off the coast of Washington and Oregon I saw dozens of PARAKEET
AUKLETS.  Will they be in SoCal in May?  We won't know till we go.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS is frequent in May and June, and we should see
LAYSAN'S on most or all deep water trips.  MURPHY'S PETREL is a rare
but routine spring visitor in these waters over the continental shelf
mid-April through early June. 11 of 14 accepted state records for
HAWAIIAN PETREL are June-September, the remaining 3 records are
spring – April & May.  Dozens of COOK'S PETRELS were seen by Searcher
crew on fishing trips in June 2007 in deep water off the Baja and San
Diego Coast.

The endemic ASHY STORM-PETREL, one of the rarest storm-petrels in the
world, are fairly common this time of year, mostly in the northern
Channel Islands, where The Condor Express and Searcher explore.
BLACK STORM-PETRELS are common in June.  We have great odds at seeing
both white-rumped and dark-rumped LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS.

All deep water trips will be in RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD waters, e.g.
one seen 19 May 2007 near San Clemente Island. We'll most likely see
SOUTH POLAR SKUA, POMARINE JAEGERS, PARASITIC JAEGERS and SABINE'S
GULL. XANTUS'S MURRELETS will be plentiful.  A TUFTED PUFFIN was seen
in the Channel Islands May, 2002 and a HORNED PUFFIN was seen 17 May
2007 between Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands.

4 trips.  4 adventures.  What will we find?  We don't know, but it
will be something good.   Like Dave Povey says about
seabirding, "It's like prospecting for gold.  Sometimes you come up
with nothing, but then you strike it rich.  The thrill is in the
anticipation."

W. Terry Hunefeld
Life is short.
Bird often.

http://www.SoCalBirding.com
Pelagic Seabirding Trips From San Diego to:
9-mile Bank
Los Coronados Islands
Cortes & Tanner Banks
Channel Islands

Hi all,

I just got a call from John Sterling who reports a
near alternate plumaged Glossy Ibis at the Piute
Road dairy ponds east of Daggett this afternoon.
The bird was apparently with a group of White-
aced Ibis. He got photos of the bird but won't
know how they turned out until he gets them on
a computer

Mike San Miguel
Arcadia CA


**************
Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S.
used car listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)


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

Hello Birders

   The next multi-day voyage of the Searcher is nearly a month away and we are
still trying to fill the last spots on it.  The Searcher has comfortable bunk
rooms, great food (thanks to Chef "Lurch"), and a generous assortment of
beverages (soda, coffee, beer, and wine); all of which are included in the
price.  This trip will have Todd Easterla, Jon Feenstra, and myself as leaders.

   This trip gives us the opportunity to get far offshore of southern California
and spend a lot of time in places that one-day trips can only search briefly, if
they can get there at all.  The itinerary focuses on maximizing daylight hours
in the most productive places for seabirds like the northern Channel Islands,
San Juan Seamount, Cortez and Tanner Banks, and the banks off of San Diego. 
County listers can expect new "ticks" for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles,
and San Diego Counties.

   This trip is the first multi-day trip planned for June when the sea should be
comfortable and the chance for mega-rarities should be high.  A one-day
exploration to the San Juan Seamount area in July 2007 had a Tristram's
Storm-Petrel, an April 2007 day-trip had seven Parakeet Auklets between the San
Juan and San Nicholas Island, and a short trip to the waters south of Santa Cruz
and Anacapa Islands in June 2007 had 250 Xantus's murrelets, 330 Cassin's
Auklets, and a Flesh-footed Shearwater.  Just imagine what we can find out there
spending the hours we can on the Searcher...

   Spring/Summer trips to these waters have also regularly found Black-footed and
Laysan Albatrosses, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, South Polar Skua,
and numbers of other shearwaters, storm-petrels, jaegers, alcids, gulls, terns,
and phalaropes.  Rarities that have been found off southern California at this
time of year that we will be searching diligently for include Cook's (very good
chance of finding this one), Murphy's, and Dark-rumped Petrels; Short-tailed
Albatross; and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel.  Based on recent reports off the
Pacific Coast, we are also hoping to find Parakeet Auklet and Horned Puffin
again after their invasion last year.  There are other birds that we dare even
mention that we might have a chance at...look at the website for some of those.

   We never know what we will find out there, but there is always something that
leaves indelible memories with all who have gone aboard.

   Check out the following link for more info on the searcher including price,
expected/target species, and leader bios.
http://www.socalbirding.com/ june_2-6_ 2008_searcher_ 5-day_expedition

Hope to see you at sea...

   David Pereksta
   Ventura



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

----- Original Message -----
From: "awanderingbirder" <awanderingbirder@...>
To: <BirdingCalifornia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:49 AM
Subject: [BirdingCalifornia] BLACK HAWK in Kern


>I got a call from Andrew Howe that Bob and Susan Steele found a young
> BLACK HAWK (presumed Common) this morning at Galileo Hill.  The bird
> has been wandering around but typically near water.  Remember that
> Galileo Hill and Silver Saddle Ranch are private property and they have
> graciously allowed birders to visit so be on your best behavior.  Good
> Luck
>
> David Vander Pluym
> Flagstaff, Az
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Hi Birders,



Here are a few photos of Susan's Common Black-Hawk from today at Galileo
Hill.



http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/Species/cobh_cbc.html



Bob Steele

Inyokern, CA



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

Since I have received a few inquires lately, I felt justified in
cluttering all your mailboxes with one item of non-bird news...

The May 3 Los Angeles Audubon trip from Santa Barbara to the Continental
Shelf and environs on the Condor Express is a GO.

However, there are spaces available and a few more will need to be filled
to ensure that LA Audubon breaks even on the trip and has motivation for
doing this again in the future.

See:
http://www.laaudubon.org/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=125&op=page&SubMenu\
=
for trip descriptions and some amazing highlights from previous trips.

Or, feel free to contact me via email with questions.

The LA Audubon trip to Santa Cruz Island and surrounding waters on June 7
could also use some more birders. Great chance to get right up to Xantus's
Murrelets (hundreds last year), plus the Island Scrub-Jay. Last year also
produced a Flesh-footed Shearwater. The year before, we had a Tufted
Puffin. Always a good time.

Jon Feenstra
Los Angeles

All,

We watched to Black hawk soar high into the sky and head off about
2ish. I walked the grounds again over the next hour or so and did not
relocate the bird. Other birders were there later in the day and did
not find it. Galileo is a big place, but I suspect the bird has moved
on. Thanks to Susan Steele for finding the bird, and getting the word
out.

Todd McGrath
SKUA@...
Marina Del Rey, CA

The Valley of the Moon Nature Lectures presents:

Hawks of San Francisco Bay Area - Celebrating Two Decades of Research
  with guest speaker Allen Fish, Director of the Golden Gate Raptor
Conservatory for the past 23 years. The public lectures is geared for
all ages. Thursday, May 1st at 7:30PM in Andrews Hall, Sonoma
Community Center - 276 E. Napa St. Phone - 707-938-4626 x1.  There is
a $5.00 donation. The presentation will focus on the research gathered
over the past two decades related to California's species of hawks,
kites, eagles, osprey, falcons, vultures, and harriers. Visit -
sonomabirding.org for June classes and events.

Tom Rusert
Sonoma,CA.

All,

The May 3rd LAAS Pelagic trip has been cancelled due to weather. The
forecast is for 20-25 knots of wind and 9-11 ft seas. The forecast is
bad all the way through Monday, so there is little or no chance it will
lay down enough for us to get well offshore.

Typically we would not cancel this early, but wanted to give people a
chance to make other plans, as the forecast is so poor.

Spring trips off CA can be a little iffy, and we have had good weather
the last 3 years, so I guess we were due.

LAAS will refund monies according to their usual practice.

Todd McGrath
SKUA@...

Greetings

For those of you feeling a wave a pelagic deprivation in light of
Saturday's Condor Express trip being cancelled, there are 6 spaces
available for the double overnight deepwater trip on May 10 out of
San Diego.  Point Loma Landing will be increasing the price from $175
to $200 tomorrow.

http://www.socalbirding.com/may_10-12_continental_shelf_deep_water

or

www.socalbirding.com and click on Edge Of The Continental Shelf
Deep Water Mega-Rarity Expedition

W. Terry Hunefeld
Life is short.
Bird often.

http://www.SoCalBirding.com
Pelagic Seabirding Trips From San Diego to:
9-mile Bank
Los Coronados Islands
Cortes & Tanner Banks
Channel Islands

http://www.SeaBreeze-Inn.com
SeaBreeze Inn Bed and Breakfast
Lovely rooms with ocean views
and soft sea breezes from $90
Across Hwy 101 from Moonlight Beach
Encinitas, North County San Diego


--- In CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com, "toddamcgrath" <toddamcgrath@...>
wrote:
>
>
> All,
>
> The May 3rd LAAS Pelagic trip has been cancelled due to weather.
The
> forecast is for 20-25 knots of wind and 9-11 ft seas. The forecast
is
> bad all the way through Monday, so there is little or no chance it
will
> lay down enough for us to get well offshore.
>
> Typically we would not cancel this early, but wanted to give people
a
> chance to make other plans, as the forecast is so poor.
>
> Spring trips off CA can be a little iffy, and we have had good
weather
> the last 3 years, so I guess we were due.
>
> LAAS will refund monies according to their usual practice.
>
> Todd McGrath
> SKUA@...
>