I have had sightings of an Adult female Virginia's Warbler on
10/19/08
> and 11/13/08, and a first year Virginia's Warbler on 11/06/08 out in
> Pacifica where I live.

Murray Cherkas
Pacifica  CA

Hi Everyone,

Today I went on a trip to Bodega Bay with the Golden Gate Audubon
group led by Rusty Scalf. We met at 9:00 am at Doran Beach, hoping to
see some Snowy Plovers. Unfortunately, due to the large numbers of
people on the beach we were unable to spot any. Right in front of us
in the water, though, was a large flock of BRANT probably at least 80
birds strong. Farther out in the water I thought I saw a Yellow-
Billed Loon, but I was unable to find the bird again (only a couple
COMMON LOONS). On the opposite side of the road were large flocks
consisting of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, DUNLINS, SANDERLINGS, WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, and a few BLACK TURNSTONES. They were spooked by a male
NORTHERN HARRIER flying around for a bit. At the end of the road we
spotted RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, SURF SCOTERS, and a PEREGRINE FALCON
pursuing some shorebirds.

From there we drove down to the first marina at the end of Eastshore
Road (I forget what it was called!), where the famous YELLOW-BILLED
LOON was swimming around between the boats right in front of
everyone. That gigantic yellow bill is amazing to see in person, and
we were fortunate there was also a COMMON LOON swimming around right
in the same area so we could watch the two species side-by-side. The
Yellow-Billed Loon was not shy at all - several birders (myself
included) went down onto the docks to snap some photos, and the loon
couldn't have cared less. We saw it catch fish and even a clam, and
few times it surfaced less than 10 feet from us. In addition to the
two loons, there was also a CLARK'S GREBE hunting in this area as
well. In the bay nearby there was a large flock of WILLETS and
MARBLED GODWITS, with a few SURFBIRDS mixed in.

We drove down West Side Road a bit and parked on the side of the
street, where we saw a flock of LEAST SANDPIPERS, in addition to
Sanderlings, Dunlins and gulls. After that we drove all the way down
the road to the cliffs on Bodega Head (again, I can't recall the
specific name, sorry!). For the most part it was pretty quiet up
there... We saw PELAGIC and BRANDT'S CORMORANTS close together, so
that was a great opportunity for many birders to become experts at
telling the two species apart. We also saw a couple (maybe a pair?)
of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, hanging out on the exposed rocks and
periodically calling. Additionally, a small flock of seven Surfbirds
was walking around on the rocks (when I first saw them I thought they
were pigeons).

That pretty much sums up the trip, I believe. I didn't mention all
the birds so I'll post a complete list at the bottom (some people may
have seen things I didn't, so it might not be totally complete). Here
are the promised photos of the loon that got you to click this email
in the first place...

Yellow Billed Loon swallowing a clam:
http://i37.tinypic.com/2hnpcew.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/208xpxc.jpg

Yellow-Billed Loon close-ups:
http://i34.tinypic.com/jz9lra.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/kalbvb.jpg

My bird list:

Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Yellow-Billed Loon
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Brown Pelican
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Brant
Greater/Lesser Scaup (couldn't tell with my bins)
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-Breasted Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Black-Bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Sanderling
Dunlin
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Mew Gull
Ring-Billed Gull
Western Gull
Heermann's Gull
Black Phoebe
Song Sparrow

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Natalie McNear
Novato

All,

Today eBird released a major development that should make eBirding in groups
much easier. It is now possible to SHARE a checklist with birding friends.
Just enter your checklist and at the end you'll see a link to share your
observations. You can also go back through your old observations and share
those with friends. Your friends can then edit the list to delete the
species that they missed and add the ones that they saw. You can read the
full story on eBird here:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/new-feature-ebird-checklist-sharing.

For those of you that have not tried eBird yet, but are willing to give it a
try, ask a friend who does use eBird to share a checklist with you from one
of your joint outings. This will provide an email with a link to the
checklist and will prompt you for a sign in. Once you accept the checklist,
it will be permanently archived in your account. For those of you that
participate in or lead bird walks, consider appointing someone the eBird
list-keeper. That person can collect email address (or eBird usernames) for
anyone who wants a copy of the checklist, and can then keep track of the
list and share it at the end of the day. If you bird at multiple locations,
you can divide the workload as needed. This has the potential to introduce a
number of people to eBird and should make data entry less of a chore when it
is a team effort.

We are always hoping to get more data from anywhere and everywhere--remember
that EVERY SINGLE observation is of value in helping to describe the
birdlife around us. If you have not tried eBird recently, I encourage you to
give it another try. It has changed significantly from even a year ago and
provides many more features, better functionality, and a better user
interface. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need help
getting set up.


--
===========
Brian L. Sullivan
Pacific Grove, CA

eBird/AKN Project Leader
www.ebird.org
www.avianknowledge.net

Photographic Editor,
Birds of North America Online
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850

Photographic Editor,
North American Birds
American Birding Association
www.americanbirding.org

bls42@...
609-694-3280
-------------------------------


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

If any of the attendees at the Central Valley Birding Symposium left either a
blue jacket or cell phone at the event, please contact by email.

Frances Oliver
Lodi, CA

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

Greetings,

Grande's Nov 22 pelagic trip log and photos (Black-legged Kittiwake,
Short-tailed Shearwater, leucistic Black-vented Shearwater, Guy
McCaskie,, etc) are posted at:
http://www.socalbirding.com/nov_22_2008_los_coronados_trip_log

The next SoCal pelagic trip is the 25th annual NEW YEAR'S DAY PELAGIC
sponsored by the San Diego Field Ornithologists aboard the New
Seaforth from San Diego's Mission Bay.  We will depart at 8:00 a.m.
New Year's Day and arrive back at the dock by 12:30 p.m.  Details,
maps and $35 advance reservation information is at:
http://www.socalbirding.com/jan_1_2009_new_years_day_pelagic
or http://tinyurl.com/5679ck

Reservations are now being taken for the 3rd Annual SeaBirds,
Dolphins & Whales Pelagic sponsored by the Buena Vista Audubon
departing from Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside Harbor, on January
31.   Trip duration is 4.5 hours.  Advance reservations are $40.

http://www.socalbirding.com/jan_31_2009_oceanside_seabirds_dolphins__w
hales
or http://tinyurl.com/5r3kdn

Best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving,

--
W. Terry Hunefeld
Life is short.
Bird often.

Seabirding Trips From San Diego
Buena Vista Audubon Society
http://www.SoCalBirding.com
Los Coronados Islands
Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks
Cortes & Tanner Banks
Channel Islands

Birders,

The 11/26/08 updates to the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World has just
been posted on the Cornell website.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/corrections

yours,
Chuck Almdale

The Gray Catbird at Morro Rock was found within 30 seconds of getting
out of the car this morning. Drive as far as you can on the access road
that runs along the south side of the rock with the harbor entrance on
your left. When you come to the boulders that restrict further travel
park and look immediately to your right in the open 'alcove' like space
at the base of the rock. The bird moved around every few minutes and
perched in the open.

We all need one this easy every once in awhile!

ps:canyon, rock and Bewick's wren, pacific and common loon, a pair of
peregrines and more could be seen from the same spot!

Bird well,

Scott and Liam Huber
visiting Morro Bay
from Forest Ranch (near Chico) California

Hi all,

Just a heads up!!  A strange message has been sent out to numerous people on the
CalOdes Yahoo Group and I suspect it might show up on our birding groups as
well.  I sent the following post to CalOdes and have heard back from several who
got the same message.


I just got a message asking to be added to a new group. It may well be quite
legitimate......OR NOT! I would be extremely leary of clicking any links in the
message and suspect that everyone in CalOdes might be getting the same message.
That message raises every red flag there is for WRONG.

"We share the CalOdes group. I want to add you as a friend in Grouply so you can
see my profile with my pictures, my groups, and my favorite group messages."

    (!__!)
    (0V0)      HAPPY BIRDING
   {}~~{}        BOB MILLER
  ='''='''==

Southwest Birders
Brawley, CA. 92227
Imperial County
760-455-1413
http://www.southwestbirders.com
bob.miller@...

Hi there CalBirders,

If you are free to bird on Monday Dec 15, 2008 the Benicia CBC could
use your help. The Benicia CBC center is located about 1 1/2 mile
north of Pierce Lane on Hwy 680 near Benicia, CA. 1/3 of the habitat
is marsh or brackish water. For those county birders, we had 166
species (ranked tied for 34th if species is a criteria to rank CBCs),
and lead the nation in black rails, white-tail kites and violet-green
swallows last year.

Please contact Robin Leong at (707) 643-1287 or at the above e-mail
address to sign up. For those that volunteer, there is a free potluck
dinner at the end of the day.

Best birding,
Robin Leong
compiler, Benicia CBC

Liam and I, visiting our 'home-away-from-home'in Morro Bay had a number
of great birds this morning. Pulling off of Bayshore Blvd. between
Morro Bay and Los Osos we had a Peregrine perched in the dead
Eucalyptus trees on the hillside above us. Walking down to an overlook
of the back bay we had no less than five singing California Thrashers
perched on wires, bushes, running along the ground, acting like a pack
of velociraptors! Among a flock of a couple of dozen Black-Bellied
Plovers on the mud flats were thirty-one Red Knots in gray winter duds.
On another pond greater and lesser yellow-legs fed side-by-side.

In Arroyo Grande Cheryl Lish was kind enough to open her yard to us,
and after a 15 minute wait the Broad-Billed Hummingbird came in and
hung out for 10-20 minutes - to the great delight of the ten or so
birders assembled there. A Cassin's Kingbird munched a large insect on
the wire as we drove back down the hill from Cheryl's home.

A trip to the Pecho willows (Los Osos) finished out the morning nicely
as the Blue-Headed Vireo popped up right in front of us just 25 yards
in from Pecho Road (drive down Pecho Road toward the bay until the
willows start on your left. Park there and take the very first trail
into the cluster. At the first fork in the trail go left, walk five
steps and watch for movement in the tree-tops).

No better way to start a day!

Bird well,

Scott and Liam Huber
Visiting Morro Bay from Forest Ranch, Ca.

Birders

At about 10:35 this morning we (Shearwater Journeys) had a brief fly-by
Greater Shearwater about 5 miles of Pt. Lobos.  Scott Terrill spotted the
bird as it crossed the bow and headed off to the northeast.  I was able to
get my camera on it going away, and secured a few (pretty crappy) images!
They are identifiable nonetheless.  Here's the link:

http://briansullivanphotography.com/Galleries/MontereyGreaterShearwater11-08/ind\
ex.html

In the first image there's a Pink-footed Shearwater above and a Black-footed
Albatross in the background.  The dorsal shots show the whitish uppertail
coverts, black cap and white collar, while the ventral views show the dark
belly smudge quite nicely. Look for a full trip report from Debi.

Enjoy.

Brian

--
===========
Brian L. Sullivan
Pacific Grove, CA

eBird/AKN Project Leader
www.ebird.org
www.avianknowledge.net

Photographic Editor,
Birds of North America Online
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850

Photographic Editor,
North American Birds
American Birding Association
www.americanbirding.org

bls42@...
609-694-3280
-------------------------------


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

The Rock Sandpiper reported on eBird and Monterey bay birds in Santa Cruz
was seen again today.
Located on the lower cliff area across from 1200 West Cliff Drive and 100
De La Costa Ave intersection.
The Rock Sandpiper was in a mixed groups of Black Turnstones, Sanderlings
and Surf Birds.



Richard Cimino
rscimino@...
Da Pacem Cordium

Hi,

John Schmitt called this evening to report YELLOW-BELLIED Sapsucker,
2 RED-NAPED Sapsuckers, and 3+ RED-BREASTED Sapsuckers today at c.
2600' Tillie Creek Campground in Wofford Heights on the west shore of
Isabella Reservoir at the east base of the Greenhorn Mountains in the
Kern River Valley, Kern County, Southern Sierra Nevada. John stated
that the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was his first for Tillie Creek
Campground, an area he has birded thoroughly for several years. He
further stated, "This is a good year for sapsuckers. I have had as
many as four Red-NAPED Sapsuckers in Tillie Creek Campground this
fall. Based on plumage characteristics and my field sketches there
are more than 3 Red-BREASTED Sapsuckers in the campground. But, I
only found 3 this morning." Other, expected woodpecker species
present were Acorn, Nuttall's, Downy, and Hairy.

Tillie Creek Campground is usually excellent for numbers of
Phainopepla. This year is exceptional, with 50-60 individuals present
this morning. "Their calling sounds are so prevalent they remind me
of a frog chorus in Costa Rica. There seems to be one on top of every
tree. Earlier it was virtually all gray birds. Adult males have now
shown up as well." "Purple Finches are down. There are only 10-15 in
the campground. Last winter was exceptional with 100-150 individuals
present with a few Cassin's Finches mixed in."

Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, and Cassin's Finch have not been
observed to date at Tillie Creek/Isabella Reservoir this fall by
John. Perhaps related, there have been no nights with low
temperatures near freezing in the Tillie Creek area thus far this fall.

For John Schmitt,

Bob Barnes
Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA


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

Celebrating the ecology of the unique owl species that reign over
Sonoma. Four live owls! Come and learn about their great value to us.
Our guest speaker Joe Mueller, is an expert on owl field biology and
has been teaching biology at the College of Marin for nearly 20 years.
Andrews Hall, 276 E. Napa St - Sonoma Comm. Center, 707-938-4626 x. 1
($5 Donation requested) visit - sonomabirding.org.

4th ANN. Sonoma Valley CBC - FRIDAY, JAN. 2 nd.

Celebrate Birding Sonoma Valley & the Petaluma Wetlands from Dawn to
Dusk! This is our 4th Annual Sonoma Valley CBC, ranked 23rd in species
count in the US.  A great tabulation celebration and pot luck dinner
begins at 5:00PM at the SCC. We field 30 + teams in ten areas.
Everyone is most welcomed!  Visit www.sonomabirding.org - Check out
the circle... pick an area and email us your fist and 2nd choices,
your address & phone number. We will contact you! Fee $5.00. Join our
great Birding Reunion!

"Celebrate Sonoma Valley's Good Nature!"
Tom Rusert, Sonoma CA.
http://www.sonomabirding.org/

Hello, Seabirders,

Shearwater Journeys' last trip of the year took place on November
29th, departing from Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey. It was a great
day for shearwaters, with a constant flow of shearwaters in view
throughout the entire day, except for a brief period when we went
over a shallow shelf that was loaded with CASSIN'S AUKLETS and quite
a few ANCIENT MURRELETS. In all, we tallied seven species of
shearwaters! (The one day world record is eight species, which
Shearwater Journeys holds from two different trips). Topping the
list, was a GREATER SHEARWATER spotted and identified by leader Scott
Terrill, simultaneously by leader Linda Terrill. The Great Shearwater
was not that close to the boat, but most everyone on board managed to
see it. I was in the cabin, along with leaders John Sterling and Clay
Kempf. I ran out to the stern, and had brief, but great views of the
shearwater as it flew away from us. It was a state and county bird
for county listing czar, John Sterling. Amazingly, Brian Sullivan
managed to get off some good shots with his awesome camera! This is
the fifth or sixth Great Shearwater that I have seen in California. I
believe that it is the first one that I've seen in November. Another
surprise was a single BULLER'S SHEARWATER, somewhat late (latest date
that I have seen one is December 1). A distant FLESH-FOOTED
SHEARWATER, single SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER, plenty of PINK-FOOTED
SHEARWATERS and many BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS were also found. Other
early winter specialties, ANCIENT MURRELETS and BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES made a nice showing, along with BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES.
Very few NORTHERN FULMARS were recorded. And, as is often the case,
few cetaceans, save a handful of PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS near
the end of the day, bow-riding. No phalaropes were found.

The morning started out auspiciously for me, waking to a dream of a
running mountain lion, followed by a real earthquake, and then "pink
sky in the morning" on my drive to Monterey. So, it was one of those
days where I just "had a feeling." We went south from Point Pinos to
the Big Sur Lighthouse, staying mostly 3-4 miles offshore the entire
day. I haven't been that far south in a long time. The coastline was
just magnificent. There was a northeast wind in the morning of about
10 knots, which laid down completely in the afternoon. Heading south
was a great idea, as it turned out.

This trip completes our 2008 year of pelagic trips in California. We
would like to thank all of the birders who came from near and far to
see the splendors of our special marine life off the California
central coast. We hope to see you in the coming year. The leaders on
the November 29 trip were: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Clay Kempf,
John Sterling, Jennifer Green, Brian Sullivan, and Debra Shearwater.

Start off the New Year with our January 17th pelagic trip from
Monterey. Please note, Debra Shearwater will only be available by
email during the month of December.

The complete species list for NOVEMBER 29, 2008 follows:

RED-THROATED LO0N-1
PACIFIC LOON- 225
COMMON LOON- 10
EARED GREBE- 15
WESTERN GREBE- 15
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 21
NORTHERN FULMAR- 5
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 125
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER- 1
**GREATER SHEARWATER- 1
BULLER'S SHEARWATER- 1
SOOTY SHEARWATER- 27
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER- 1
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER- 1250
BROWN PELICAN- +
BRANDT'S CORMORANT- +
PELAGIC CORMORANT- 3
SURF SCOTER- 140
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER- 3
BRANT- 9
BLACK TURNSTONE- 1
POMARINE JAEGER- 9
BONAPARTE'S GULL- 1
HEERMANN'S GULL- 200
MEW GULL- 4
CALIFORNIA GULL- 150
HERRING GULL- 4
THAYER'S GULL- 2
WESTERN GULL- 200
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 15
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED- 3
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE- 26
COMMON MURRE- 20
ANCIENT MURRELET- 33
CASSIN'S AUKLET- 320
RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 145
PEREGRINE FALCON- 1, on the radio tower on Cannery Row
SEA OTTER- 8
CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 50
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN- 30
BLUE SHARK- 1

Wishing you a joyful holiday season,

Debra

Debra Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys, Inc.
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024
831.637.8527
debi@...
www.shearwaterjourneys.com

*Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010*
Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive Charter






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

Dear NAB Contributors,



I'm posting this request on behalf of Guy McCaskie, who is currently
experiencing internet problems.



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@...




The Fall Season (1 August through 30 November) has ended, and we
solicit reports for inclusion in the Southern California Region of NORTH
AMERICAN BIRDS.  Reports should be arranged with species in the
taxonomic
order followed by the American Ornithologists Union (Check-List of North
American Birds 1998 and supplements) and the American Birding
Association (6th edition of
the ABA Checklist, 2002).  Reports of species included on the California
Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review list (Field List of California
Birds
2005, obtainable through Western Field Ornithologists at 1359 Solano
Drive,
Pacifica, CA  94044  www.wfo.cbrc.org <http://www.wfo.cbrc.org> ) must
be accompanied by documentation
(written description, photographs, etc.).  Similar documentation should
also
accompany reports of species unusual for the location or season.  Full
names, with all initials, should be used in the reports (this reduces
the
potential for different observers having the same initials, and makes it
simpler to acknowledge contributors).

Reports should be sent to the appropriate County Coordinators (listed
below)
or directly to Guy McCaskie.  Reports for this season must be received
prior
to 15 December 2008.  NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS can not exist without your
input.

David Compton (Santa Barbara County)
736 Cieneguitas,  # F
Santa Barbara, CA  93110
davcompton@... <mailto:davcompton@...>

Tom M. Edell (San Luis Obispo County)
46  8th Street
Cayucos, CA  93430
tedell@... <mailto:tedell@...>

John F. Green (Riverside County)
3120 Mount Vernon Ave.
Riverside, CA  92507-3140
bewickwren@... <mailto:bewickwren@...>

Kimball L. Garrett (Los Angeles County)
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
kgarrett@... <mailto:kgarrett@...>

Tom and Jo Heindel (Inyo County)
PO Box 400
Big Pine, CA  93513
tjheindel@... <mailto:tjheindel@...>

Alexander E. Koonce (San Bernardino County)
1357 Paige Lane
Redlands, CA  92373-6878
sandy_koonce@... <mailto:sandy_koonce@...>

Guy McCaskie (Imperial County)
954 Grove Avenue
Imperial Beach, CA  91932
guymcc@... <mailto:guymcc@...>

Oscar Johnson (Ventura County)
P.O. Box 21903
Santa Barbara, CA  93121
henicorhina@... <mailto:henicorhina@...>

Douglas R. Willick (Orange County)
236 S Batavia St #E
Orange CA 92868
Doug.Willick@... <mailto:Doug.Willick@...>



John C. Wilson (Kern County)
1425 Alta Vista Drive
Bakersfield, CA  93305
jcwilson@... <mailto:jcwilson@...>

We thank you in advance for your time and effort to contribute to NAB.

Guy McCaskie
954 Grove Avenue
Imperial Beach, CA  91932

Kimball L. Garrett
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007





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

Hi Birders

You are cordially invited to attend Los Angeles Audubon's monthly
meeting, 7:30pm, Wednesday December 10, 2008 in Plummer Park, 7335
Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, room 6 in the Community
Hall.  Refreshments will be served after the presentation. Start your
holiday shopping now as the book store will be open before and after
the meeting. We feature great bird field guides, bird finding books,
optics and more!!  The book store will feature sales and clearance on
certain items. This coming Saturday, 12/6/08, the store will be open
for your shopping enjoyment!

Kimball Garrett presents:

BUT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THE ONE IN THE BOOK!!!

We’ve all been perplexed as to the identity of many birds we see in
the field.  It should be easy – just look at the bird and match it
with a picture in your field guide!  But of course it doesn’t work
that way, and the “match-the-picture” approach to field
identification can sometimes get you in lots of trouble.  So why
doesn’t the bird we see look “just like the one in the book”?  Is the
problem with the bird? With the book? With the birder?  Or with the
world in general? Kimball Garrett will explore the art of identifying
birds in the field by examining why birds so rarely look exactly as
depicted in field guides.  He’s been at it for over 40 years, mainly
here in southern California.  When not in the field, he resides with
the bird collections at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
County where he has served as Ornithology Manager since 1982.
Garrett is co-author of several bird books, including the recent
Birds of the Los Angeles Region, Birds of Southern California: Status
and Distribution, and the Peterson Field Guide to Warblers.

Please join upcoming Christmas counts sponsored by Los Angeles
Audubon Society:

Sunday, December 14
Malibu Christmas Bird Count
Contact compiler Larry Allen at:  larryallen@... to
participate

Saturday, December 20

Lancaster Christmas Bird Count
Contact compiler Nick Freeman by replying to this message to be
placed on a team or be given an area.

Sunday, January 4, 2009
Los Angeles Basin Christmas Bird Count
Contact compiler Dan Cooper at:  dan@...

I hope to see you at the monthly meeting.  A great way to close out
your birding year!

Mary Freeman
Los Angeles Audubon Society
President and Program Chair
Glendale, CA
Join us in celebrating our Centennial in 2010
http://losangelesaudubon.org



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

I am sending this post on behalf of Clark Winchell.  If you have questions,
please contact Clark (not me).  He can be reached at: 760-431-9440 x275.

(and sorry for any cross postings)

The Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office is seeking bird surveyors and field
botanists for temporary employment.  These are good, entry-level field jobs
surveying for California Gnatcatchers and Cactus Wrens in San Diego County,
California.  A couple of botanists are also wanted.  Additionally, a couple
of GS-7s (crew chiefs) positions are also available.  Please spread the
word.  The deadline to apply is Monday, December 8th.  (Sorry for the short
notice.)


GS-5 bird survey (announcement # R8-09-216726-KJ):
<http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=77721104&AVSDM=2008%2D12%2D01+00%\
3A03%3A01&Logo=0&q=R8-09-216726-KJ&FedEmp=N&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&\
SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0>

GS-5 botany (announcement # R8-09-217777-KJ):
<http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=77701249&AVSDM=2008%2D11%2D25+00%\
3A03%3A01&Logo=0&q=carlsbad+fish+and+wildlife&paygrademin=5&paygrademax=7&FedEmp\
=N&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=66&SUBMIT1.y=13>

GS-7 (announcement # R8-09-215878-KJ): <
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=77658541&aid=77093525-24118&WT.mc_\
n=MKT000125
>

If the long URLs above don't work, go to USA Jobs <http://www.usajobs.gov/>
and use the announcement numbers (listed above) or the website's built-in
search options.


There are more GS-5 positions than GS-7s.  You may apply for both (provided
you meet the qualifications).  See announcements for details on
qualifications and how to apply.

Good luck.

Cheers,
-Gj

====================================
  Gjon C. Hazard
  Fish and Wildlife Biologist
  Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office
  6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101
  Carlsbad, CA 92011 USA
  Voice: 760/431-9440x287
  FAX: 760/918-0638
  E-mail: Gjon_Hazard<.at.>fws.gov
  http://carlsbad.fws.gov/
====================================

Audubon Assembly at Asilomar in Monterey Bay is coming up March 15-
17,2009.

There will be three days of workshops, events and field trips for
Audubon members including a pelagic trip on Monterey Bay led by Todd
McGrath and Jon Feenstra, birdwatching on Carmel River led by Don
Roberson, and a trip to view Condors led by Ventana Wildlife Society.

Register before Dec. 11 and save $50

Details http://ca.audubon.org/assembly.php

Garry George
Audubon California
323-951-9620x104
ggeorge@...

December 1, 2008

Dear North American Birds Contributors,

The fall season has already come to a close so please send your noteworthy
records from the Northern California Region for the period 1 August – 30
November to the appropriate Subregional Editors (see below) or to the Regional
Editors by 10 December.


Please pay special attention to the format example given at the end of this
message. Reports that are formatted properly make our job far easier. In
particular, it is important to note that there is a single tab between species,
date, etc.

PLEASE use Subregional Editors for the counties that have them.  These SREs
painstakingly keep track of records within their counties and are in most cases
THE source of information on the birds of their counties.  By sending your
records to the SREs, you are helping to contribute to their county files as well
as to North American Birds.  If you wish to send copies to the Regional Editors,
we welcome them, but please send records through the SREs as well.  If you have
a noteworthy winter sighting from a county without a Subregional Editor, please
send records to the Regional Editors below.

Records of loons-frigatebirds and larids-alcids go to Steve Rottenborn at:
                 H.T. Harvey & Associates
                  983 University Ave., Bldg. D
                  Los Gatos, CA 95032
   	      srottenborn@...


Records of waterfowl through quail and herons through shorebirds go to Mike
Rogers at:
499 Novato Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
m.m.rogers@...


Records of doves through thrushes/Wrentit (in the new AOU order that includes
vireos and shrikes) go to Steve Glover at:
                  6526 Conestoga Lane
                  Dublin, CA 94568
                 countylines@...


Records of thrashers to finches go to Ed Pandolfino at:

5530 Delrose Court
Carmichael, CA 95608
erpfromca@...




SUBREGIONAL EDITORS

Alameda
Bob Richmond
24650 Amador St. #15
Hayward, CA 94544
Brichmond94544@...

Alpine, Calaveras & Modoc
John Sterling
29 Palm Ave.
Woodland, CA 95695
jsterling@...

Amador & El Dorado
Tim Steurer
4042 Bancroft Dr.
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762-6933
tsteurer@...

Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama, Yuba
Bruce Deuel
18730 Live Oak Road
Red Bluff, CA 96080
bdeuel@...

Contra Costa
Steve Glover
6526 Conestoga Lane
Dublin CA 94568
countylines@...

Del Norte
Alan D. Barron
1093 Hwy 101 N. #18
Crescent City, CA 95531
flockfinder@...

Fresno
Gary W. Potter
2183 Walton Ave
Sanger, CA 93657
gwpott@...

Humboldt
Rob Fowler
2277 Heather Lane, Apt. D
Arcata, CA 95521
migratoriusfwlr@...

Kings
Luke Cole
561 Hill Street
San Francisco, CA  94114
luke@...

Lake
Jerry R. White
P.O. Box 113
Kelseyville, CA 95451
grwhite@...

Lassen
Brad Stovall
Stovall Associates
P.O. Box 4413
Chico, CA 95927
Bmspi1@...

Madera
Jeff Davis
11238 N Via Trevisio Way
Fresno, CA 93730
jndavis@...

Marin
Ryan Terrill
1619 El Dorado Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
enicurus@...

Mariposa
David Vander Pluym
1683 Buena Vista St.
Ventura, CA 93001
SCRE@...

Mendocino
Bob Keiffer
P. O. Box 354
Hopland CA 95449
rjkeiffer@...

Merced and San Benito
Kent Van Vuren
26 Vista Dr.
Salinas, CA 93907
vanvurenk@...

Mono
Kristie Nelson
P.O. Box 402
Lee Vining, CA 93541
storm_petrel@...

Monterey
Don Roberson
282 Grove Acre
Pacific Grove CA 93950
831-373-2566fax
creagrus@...

Napa
Murray Berner
210 Monte Vista
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 224-5897
vireocity@...

Nevada
Rudy Darling
12143 Big Blue Road
Nevada City, CA 95959
rdarling@...

Placer
Ed Pandolfino
5530 Del Rose Court
Carmichael, CA  95608
erpfromca@...

Plumas & Sierra
John "Mac" McCormick
1230 Dog Leg Dr.
Chico, CA 95928
macmc94123@...

Sacramento
Chris Conard
2405 Rio Bravo Circle
Sacramento, CA  95826
conardc@...

San Francisco (mainland)
The City: Mark Eaton
1524 36th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
mweaton@...

San Francisco (Farallons)
Jim Tietz
P.O. Box 751
Arcata, CA, 95518
jmtietz@...

San Joaquin
Frances Oliver
1817 Songbird Place
Lodi, CA  95240
Hummer52@...

San Mateo
Peter J. Metropulos
2940 Turk Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94118
pjmetrop@...

Santa Clara
William G. Bousman
321 Arlington Way
Menlo Park CA 94025
barlowi@...

Santa Cruz
David Suddjian and Steve Gerow
801 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
DSUDDJIAN@...
Stephengerow@...

Shasta
Bob Yutzy
P. O. Box 990237
Redding CA 96099
boby@...

Siskiyou
Ray Ekstrom
2209 Delphic Rd.
Montague, CA 96064

Solano
Robin Leong
336 Benson Ave.
Vallejo, CA 94590-3027
robin_leong@...

Sonoma
Ruth Rudesill
P.O. Box 371
Kenwood, CA 95452
ruthier@...

Stanislaus
Harold Reeves
birder@...

Trinity
John E. Hunter
P.O. Box 4483
Arcata, CA 95518
jhunter323@...

Tulare
Steven Summers
2553 W. Michelle Ln.
Porterville, CA 93257
summers@...

Tuolumne
Steven Umland
15818 Parkridge Ave.
Sonora, CA 95370
sumland@...

Yolo
Roger Adamson
2213 Catalina Dr.
Davis, CA 95616
rhadamson@...

The Reporting Deadlines are:
                   	 Spring      Summer      Fall       Winter

Season ends         May 31      July 31     Nov 30     Feb 28

Observer reports to Subregional Editors (SREs)
                  	 June 10     Aug 10      Dec 10     Mar 10

Observer reports to Regional Editors (if not sent to SRE)
                   	 June 10     Aug 10      Dec 10     Mar 10

SRE reports to Regional Editors
                   	 June 20     Aug 20      Dec 20     Mar 20

Regional Editors final text to ABA office
                   	 July 10     Sep 10       Jan 10      Apr 10

PLEASE meet your deadlines so that we can meet our deadlines!


Please send reports in our preferred order: species, date(s) [including year],
locale, co. abbrev., number of birds, and observer, and then, on a second line,
any comments.  Please separate these sections by a "tab" (except just a space
between locale and county abbreviation) on electronic versions submitted. 
Again, here's an example of the correct format:

Grace's Warbler 12/13/98-2/20/99   Jacks Peak MTY   1 RFT, mob
    A second record for the Region (the first was 6/26/91 at Deer Spring, Glass
Mt. MNO) which wintered with a large flock of Townsend's & Hermit warblers at
the very top of Jacks Peak in Jacks Peak Regional Park. Details by Tintle and
others are enclosed.

Many observers and Subregional Editors have been submitting their reports by
e-mail.  PLEASE submit electronic reports if possible.  We are trying to
maintain an electronic database of at least recent records, and we hope to be
able to have all old data entered eventually so that the entire database will be
easily accessible to anyone who wants it.  Electronic submission of records in
the format described above makes it much easier for us maintain this electronic
database.

We've heard questions about, comments on, and criticism of our regional reports
from several observers and SREs.  We really appreciate this feedback, as it
helps us to better represent what is going on in the Region as a whole.  Please
help us correct any factual errors we make, and don't hesitate to let us know
what you think of the reports.

Many thanks to all the contributors and Subregional Editors who make these
reports possible!

Sincerely,


Ed Pandolfino, Mike Rogers, Steve Rottenborn, and Steve Glover

(Northern California Regional Editors)

Hi,

Following are essential details on the rescued Death Valley Christmas
Bird Count...

Sunday, December 28, 2008 - Death Valley Christmas Bird Count
Compiler: Linda Manning, Wildlife Biologist, Death Valley NP, E:
linda_manning@..., P: 760-786-3252
Meet: 7 am - Furnace Creek Golf Course parking lot
Dinner/Compilation: Afterwards at Cafe at Furnace Creek (usually mid
to late afternoon)
Coverage: Furnace Creek Golf Course, Furnace Creek Inn gardens,
Furnace Creek Wash, Furnace Creek sewage ponds (Rusty Blackbird last
CBC), housing and motel area at Furnace Creek, Cow Creek housing
Background: My name is Linda Manning, and with the much missed Vicki
and Gerry Wolfe having left Death Valley for southern Arizona; I'm
now the Christmas Bird Count coordinator... I hope many of you will
be able to join us for the Christmas Bird Count on Dec 28. As my
birding skills are just average, we can really use some help here in
Death Valley, especially with tricky species (remember the rusty
blackbird last year?)...

For Linda Manning...
Bob Barnes
Ridgecrest, Kern County, California









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

On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:21:04 -0800, "Brian Sullivan"
<heraldpetrel@...> wrote:

>At about 10:35 this morning we (Shearwater Journeys) had a brief fly-by
>Greater Shearwater about 5 miles of Pt. Lobos.

Thanks to a generous contribution from Emmanuel Roy, another photo of the
Greater Shearwater can be seen at:

http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/gallery.htm

Enjoy!

--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044   jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu
S.F. Birding Classes start Oct 28   http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee   http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/

Hi,

About 60,000 acres of Onyx Ranch (including Butterbredt Spring,
numerous springs in the Southern Sierra, and the ranch's South Fork
Kern River Valley headquarters) has been sold to an energy
development company.

Following is a message from Audubon's Sean Rowe asking for bird use
information in the Southern Sierra, especially in Butterbredt
Canyon/Butterbredt Spring, Jawbone Canyon, Kelso Valley, "Kelso Creek
Valley" (from Kern River Preserve Headquarters in Weldon south
through the Kelso Creek watershed to the pass above Kelso Valley),
and numerous springs important to birds throughout  the Souther
Sierra Nevada. FYI: Sean is Land Steward with Audubon California's
Kern River Preserve and co-originator of the Kern River Valley Turkey
Vulture Watch.

RSVP to Sean (srowe@...) if you have information which you
think might be useful.

I am hopeful you are as thankful as I am that Sean is working on this
issue and can/will assist him as you are able.

Thank you,

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County

>From: "ROWE, Sean" <srowe@...>
>Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 19:37:54 -0500
>Subject: Bird use and wind energy in Kelso Valley area
>
>All,
>
>We are concerned about the impact of wind farm development in the
>Southern Sierra on birds and other wildlife. Many developments have
>been placed and new ones are coming.  I am looking for information
>on bird use of the Kelso Valley, Butterbredt, Jawbone Canyon
>areas.  Particularly helpful would be any summary reports or data
>that you could share of bird use in the area.  I have fall Turkey
>Vulture and raptor data from the Kern River Valley Vulture
>Watch.  This area is heavily birded and important to a wide variety
>of species.  Our goal is to develop a quantitative understanding of
>bird use to allow us to effectively gauge potential impacts and
>promote best management practices.
>
>Any data, info, or reports you could provide would be greatly
>appreciated.  Are there others who I might contact?  Any suggestions
>for trying to hunt down reports specific to the area?
>
>I'd like to call to discuss.  Please let me know when it might be
>good to reach you.  Much thanks for you time.
>
>
>Sean Rowe
>Land Steward
>Audubon California - Kern River Preserve
>P.O. Box 1662
>18747 Hwy 178
>Weldon, CA 93283
>p/f 760.378.2531
><http://kern.audubon.org>http://kern.audubon.org


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

Dear members,

I am a researcher from UC Berkeley. One of my goals is to describe
the genetic structure of the Black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis
coturniculus) in California in general and around the Bay Area in
particular. As you may know, this species is enlisted as threatened
in California. In order to understand the impact of human alterations
on Black rail distribution, I want to compare its past and actual
genetic composition based on old museum specimens and actual blood
samples. While numerous museum specimens are available, I have
troubles to find accurate informations about the actual distribution
of the Black rails. Indeed, I used several sources to identify
potential locations where we could capture Black rails, but most of
them are either inaccurate or imprecise. Since this species is quite
difficult to capture, we are looking for locations known to have at
least moderate rail density. I would especially appreciate to have
geographic coordinates (even approximated) of such locations. If you
have such information, I would be pleased to receive them at
pgirard@.... If you have any worry about the bird
treatment, be aware that we only take small blood samples. All the
birds are released afterward.

Thanks a lot. I would sincerelly appreciate your help.

=====
Philippe Girard, Ph.D
pgirard@...
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Division of Ecosystem Sciences
University of California
Berkeley, CA

Greetings,

Reservations are now being taken for the 25th Annual New Year's Day
Pelagic sponsored by the San Diego Field Ornithologists departing
from San Diego's Seaforth Sportfishing on Mission Bay.

60 particpants are currently signed-up.  There are only 15 spots
left.

Trip duration is 4.5 hours.
Advance reservations: $35 or $50 the day of the trip.

Trip information and photos of famous San Diego birders are posted
at:
http://www.socalbirding.com/jan_1_2009_new_years_day_pelagic
or http://tinyurl.com/5679ck

--
W. Terry Hunefeld, San Diego
Life is short.
Bird often.

Seabirding Trips From San Diego
Buena Vista Audubon Society
http://www.SoCalBirding.com
Los Coronados Islands
Nine-mile, Thirty-mile, Sixty-mile Banks
Cortes & Tanner Banks
Channel Islands

Inn at Moonlight Beach
http://www.InnAtMoonlightBeach.com
Ocean view rooms & suites from $115
Encinitas, North County, San Diego

The Benicia CBC needs a few birders to ride the California Sunset from
the Martinez Marina on Dec 15 at 7:30 AM to count birds in the
Carquinez Strait down to Benicia and possibly Southhampton Bay, around
Roe and Ryer Islands, Grizzly Bay (where the Snowy Owl was seen a
couple of years ago), Montezuma Slough and the Mothball fleet.
It will be an all day affair so you need warm clothes, food and
liquids. It will cost you the $5 CBC fee(donations for gas gladly
accepted). If interested please reply directly to Robin.

For those interested, the boat will be in Solano and Contra Costa
Counties.

Best birding,
Robin Leong
Vallejo
Compiler of the Benicia CBC

Bald Eagle Behavior Note from John Schmitt
Isabella Reservoir, Wofford Heights, Kern County

"I have observed my first Bald Eagle of the season; an adult eagle
has been observed on 10 and 11 DEC in the North Fork Delta. The first
observation was eventful! I observed it catch a sizable fish in a
manner that I haven't observed since April of 1975. After circling
twice low over the water, it made a slow, controlled, feet first
plunge into the water. It
floated on the water's surface like a goose for the next one or two
minutes before swimming to a large log beached in shallow water. It
swam by employing its wings in a slow and ponderous rowing motion. In
this fashion it crossed about 50ft to the log in about 5 min. where
it hauled itself and a thickset 12 to 15 inch fish(carp?) up onto the
log. Here, with a company of gulls wheeling about, and a pair of
ravens sharing the log, the eagle set to eating its fish."

YB & RN Sapsucker Update

"Just a quick update for the "Tillie Creek Campground Bird
Scene".  Three species of sapsucker are still being seen regularly. I
am now able to locate the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER on an almost daily
basis; the bird has been tending sap wells in the live oaks in
campsite #75, opposite the fish cleaning tables. Two RED-NAPED
SAPSUCKERs still present; one bird is pretty reliably located on a
daily basis, while the other proves elusive."





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

Today  from 9-10 AM the Worm-eating Warbler continued it's presents in San
Francisco -Ferry Park near The Embarcadero on Ferry Park between Clay and
Davis (near Washington St.).
The Black-throated Grey and Townsend's Warbler's  also continued.


Richard Cimino
rscimino@...
Da Pacem Cordium

Hi birders,
A group of 3 Mountain Plovers initially found 12/7/08 at the Montague Airport by
a group of birders (including Steve Nelson, Jim Flett, and Ray Ekstrom) were
refound today at the same location by multiple birders including me.  This is
just north of Montague, which is a few miles from Yreka, further north than they
are usually found.  Reportedly Mountain Plovers have been seen in the county
about 5 different times.  They will likely not remain in the area once a good
snowfall comes, which was supposed to happen this weekend but so far has not.
Eddie Mundall
Yreka CA
 




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

The three Sonoma County CBC's and the birds would appreciate your
participation for this one day per year "Citizen Science" effort.  We
all need college students taking birding classes, experienced adult
birders of all ages and volunteers to make this important 109 year old
event be successful. It takes nearly 100-150 birders for each of the
15 mile diameter CBC circles to be sustainable. Last years combined
results can be see on the home page of sonomabirding.org.

Here are the dates and contacts to sign up:


DEC. 21st -(RROS)  Santa Rosa CBC -
"Ruth Rudesill" <  ruthier@...,

Jan 2nd Sonoma Valley CBC
Tom Rusert & Darren Peterie
http://www.sonomabirding.org/

Jan 4th.-  Madrone Audubon CBC
  Veronica Bowers
http://audubon.sonoma.net/BCount/BCount1.html



Tom Rusert,Veronica Bowers & Ruth Rudesill
CBC Compilers
Sonoma,CA.