Howdy, Birders,

For the full report of the new, record setting San Benito County Big
Day of April 29, 2011 with Scott Terrill, Steve Rottenborn, Don
Doolittle and Debi Shearwater, please see:

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/05/san-benito-county-
winning-big-day.html

For some images of the "dry run" Big Day, please see:

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/05/san-benito-county-
birding-big-day-dry.html

Thank you. Corrections requested.

Happy Trails,
Debi Shearwater


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

SVALBARD: High Arctic Seabirds & Polar Bears, Walrus: 8-18 July 2012







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

Hi all,

   I am an avid birder/bird photographer in Anaheim this week for a conference. 
I have a car and am looking for possible birding within an hour's drive. Would
be absolutely delighted if anyone could send me some suggestions.  I have been
pleasantly surprised in the past at how many cool postings do come from this
area.

  Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Beth Hamel
Morgan Hill

Folks,



     This is absolutely the most off the wall sighting I have ever had, or
close to it at least. Today a group of 4 - 5 Sperm Whales..yes Sperm
Whales!!! Were just offshore in Half Moon Bay. I was walking my dog and
noticed some blows off to the south and assumed Grey Whales which I have
been seeing for the last couple of weeks. As they got closer something
seemed off, so I started looking at them to confirm that perhaps they were
the first Humpbacks of the season.but no, that was not it either. I was
looking hard and then it all hit - crap these are sperm whales! For one the
blow was really explosive, not mellow like a Humpback, but forceful and
intense and it went off at an angle to the side. I could see that the bodies
were black and the dorsal area was just long and flat, with this funny low
nub of a dorsal fin, well it wasn't a fin at all, just a funny nub where the
tail stock started. I watched and watched them come up and go down for about
5 minutes wondering if I was going crazy and they went far enough north that
they got into the sun glare. There was a bench there so I sat and waited
trying to talk myself out of what I was seeing. About ten minutes later they
moved far enough to the north that they were visible in good light again and
I could confirm all the marks. They also had a curious nature of blowing and
almost immediately showing the entire flat dorsal area to the "fin" it
wasn't like the blow happened and then there was a roll of a curved back and
a fin appeared; it was all at the same time with a very flat back. On one at
this point I saw it move the tailstock far enough up that I could seen knubs
like "knuckles" on the tail stock, like in a grey whale (but these guys were
big and black). Then the absolutely defining moment, one of them brought the
head out enough to see the classic "squared off" forehead of a Sperm Whale.
I still cannot believe that these animals were so close to shore, but they
were, and of course I did not have my camera with me. But I had good looks
and about 15 - 20 minutes of looking at them.

    There were a minimum of four animals, perhaps five. Two of them were
really big, and there was a calf that came up right next to what I assume
was a female; I saw the mom and calf several times and they always surfaced
nearly simultaneously, and very close to each other. There was a time I saw
two big ones up at the same time.so that adds up to four. But in watching
the pattern of surfaces, I think there was at least another single animal.
These guys were close!! Very close to shore, they were right inside Half
Moon bay on the inside of the navigation bouy, so I could get pretty good
looks at them. I doubt they were even 700meters out, but its hard to
estimate.



Sorry to fill this list with a whale sighting, but I know there are lots of
whale enthusiasts out there and frankly I did not know where else to post
this request. Does anyone recall a Sperm Whale sighting from shore in
California? I have yet to see one on a pelagic in this state, so this was
absolutely incredible. I have seen Sperm Whales before in the Caribbean
though. Any info on coastal sightings welcome. Also, anyone to the north of
here - be on the lookout!!



Good sightings!



Alvaro Jaramillo

chucao@...

Half Moon Bay, California



Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide

www.fieldguides.com





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

Text versions of the official CBRC list are online:

http://www.californiabirds.org/main_list.txt

http://www.californiabirds.org/supp_list.txt

Just save them as text files and import them into a spreadsheet application
such as Excel.  Or use the Excel web import feature directly with the above
URL's.
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA        jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu
SF Birding Classes start Apr 5     http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/

THANKS AL, for that amazing report.

One time (JUNE 1986) I scoped six Sperm Whales from the
Point Reyes Lighthouse observation deck. They were plowing
                      SSW towards Southeast Farallon.

After over 200 pelagic trips off California I have only seen one
Sperm whale at sea. That was an individual that herded with Humpbacks for
several weeks (or months) just west of the Farallons but still
      above the Continental Shelf.

                                                 RICH

From: CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Alvaro Jaramillo
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:49 PM
To: 'Calbirds'; 'pen-bird birds'
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Not birds - sorry. Sperm Whales!!



Folks,

This is absolutely the most off the wall sighting I have ever had, or
close to it at least. Today a group of 4 - 5 Sperm Whales..yes Sperm
Whales!!! Were just offshore in Half Moon Bay. I was walking my dog and
noticed some blows off to the south and assumed Grey Whales which I have
been seeing for the last couple of weeks. As they got closer something
seemed off, so I started looking at them to confirm that perhaps they were
the first Humpbacks of the season.but no, that was not it either. I was
looking hard and then it all hit - crap these are sperm whales! For one the
blow was really explosive, not mellow like a Humpback, but forceful and
intense and it went off at an angle to the side. I could see that the bodies
were black and the dorsal area was just long and flat, with this funny low
nub of a dorsal fin, well it wasn't a fin at all, just a funny nub where the
tail stock started. I watched and watched them come up and go down for about
5 minutes wondering if I was going crazy and they went far enough north that
they got into the sun glare. There was a bench there so I sat and waited
trying to talk myself out of what I was seeing. About ten minutes later they
moved far enough to the north that they were visible in good light again and
I could confirm all the marks. They also had a curious nature of blowing and
almost immediately showing the entire flat dorsal area to the "fin" it
wasn't like the blow happened and then there was a roll of a curved back and
a fin appeared; it was all at the same time with a very flat back. On one at
this point I saw it move the tailstock far enough up that I could seen knubs
like "knuckles" on the tail stock, like in a grey whale (but these guys were
big and black). Then the absolutely defining moment, one of them brought the
head out enough to see the classic "squared off" forehead of a Sperm Whale.
I still cannot believe that these animals were so close to shore, but they
were, and of course I did not have my camera with me. But I had good looks
and about 15 - 20 minutes of looking at them.

There were a minimum of four animals, perhaps five. Two of them were
really big, and there was a calf that came up right next to what I assume
was a female; I saw the mom and calf several times and they always surfaced
nearly simultaneously, and very close to each other. There was a time I saw
two big ones up at the same time.so that adds up to four. But in watching
the pattern of surfaces, I think there was at least another single animal.
These guys were close!! Very close to shore, they were right inside Half
Moon bay on the inside of the navigation bouy, so I could get pretty good
looks at them. I doubt they were even 700meters out, but its hard to
estimate.

Sorry to fill this list with a whale sighting, but I know there are lots of
whale enthusiasts out there and frankly I did not know where else to post
this request. Does anyone recall a Sperm Whale sighting from shore in
California? I have yet to see one on a pelagic in this state, so this was
absolutely incredible. I have seen Sperm Whales before in the Caribbean
though. Any info on coastal sightings welcome. Also, anyone to the north of
here - be on the lookout!!

Good sightings!

Alvaro Jaramillo

chucao@...<mailto:chucao%40coastside.net>

Half Moon Bay, California

Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide

www.fieldguides.com

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



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

Hi Birders


You are cordially invited to come see Lee Jones present: "The
Wildlife of Belize" at the Los Angeles Audubon Society's monthly
meeting next Wednesday, May 11, 2011.

**Note the change in venue**  The May 2011 monthly program
presentation will be held at the Audubon Center at Debs Park. 4700
North Griffin Avenue, Los Angeles, 90031. Directions: from Downtown
Los Angeles, take the 110 Fwy North to the Avenue 52 Exit. Take a
right, over the Arroyo, where Avenue 52 becomes Griffin Avenue. The
entrance to Debs Park is on the left, across from the Montecito
Soccer Fields. Start: 7:00 p.m. There is free parking on the premises.

Lee Jones, invites you to come along with him on a virtual tour of
Belize.  He will entice you with images of Belize’s stunning
countryside, its people, and some of its more provocative birds,
butterflies, and other exotic wildlife. With a population comparable
to that of Bakersfield, spread over a country the size of Kern
County, Belize is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the
world.  More than 40% of its land has been set aside as preserved
open space, with mile after mile of unspoiled tropical rainforests
blanketing the mainland. It has the world’s second longest coral reef
stretching the length of the country just off its coast.

Dr. Jones has been visiting and living part-time in Belize for 18
years.  He has written Birds of Belize,  © 2003-2010 University of
Texas Press, still the definitive guide to its birds.  He has
conducted countless birding workshops, bird study programs, and tour-
guide training sessions for the local people.

June 8, 2011 monthly meeting, back at Plummer Park in West Hollywood,
is Photo Night! Bring five of your favorite bird photos to show.
Mary and Nick Freeman will feature a talk on small owl identification
prior to the start of the regular meeting.

See you next week at Debs Park!

Mary Freeman
Program Chair and Fieldtrip Leader for Los Angeles Audubon Society
http://losangelesaudubon.org/index.php







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

Hello birders,



The former South San Francisco Bay salt pond where 23,000 California
Gulls nested in 2010 (pond A6) was restored to tidal action this past
December.  This year, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO)and
the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge are
attempting to determine if and where displaced California Gulls
establish new colonies.  We have been surveying the South San Francisco
Bay extensively for new colonies, but over the past few years California
Gulls have also begun nesting along the coast and in the Central Valley
at the Davis WWTP. SFBBO and the Refuge have limited coverage of these
areas, and we appreciate any help we can get from other researchers and
birders. If you see possible California Gull colonies in areas where
they have not previously nested, please either email me or call me at
the number below. Here is a link to a flyer about the nesting gulls:
http://www.sfbbo.org/docs/SFBBO_Report_Nesting_CAGU.pdf



Additionally, since 2008, SFBBO and the U.S. Geological Survey have
banded over 1000 California Gulls at A6 in order to track where their
movements. Each bird has a metal band on the right leg as well as a 3
digit alphanumeric band on the left leg. Please let me know if you see
any of them. For photos of the alphanumeric bands and information on how
and where to report them, please see the following link:
http://www.sfbbo.org/docs/SFBBO_Report_Banded_CAGU.pdf



I apologize for any cross-posting.



Thank you very much for your help,

Caitlin





Caitlin Robinson-Nilsen

Waterbird Program Director

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

524 Valley Way

Milpitas CA 95035

t: 408.946.6548

f: 408.946.9279





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

----- Forwarded message from Alan Barron <flockfinder@...> -----

> From: Alan Barron <flockfinder@...>
> Date: May 5, 2011 1:20:25 PM PDT
> To: NWCalbird <nwcalbird@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [nwcalbird] COMMON CRANE in Del Norte Co.
>
>
> Around noon I found a COMMON CRANE near the southeastern end of Lake Earl.
> Bird is easily seen from Lakeview Drive which turns off of Lake Earl Drive
about 3 miles north of Crescent City. On Lakeview, go to the last house on your
right before the lake. Just past this is a pasture between the house and a line
of Sitka Spruce along the lake edge. Bird foraging in this field. Photos taken.
> --------Alan D. Barron
>
>

FYI x 2.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John Sterling <jsterling@...>
Date: Thu, May 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Subject: [CB] Fwd: [nwcalbird] COMMON CRANE in Del Norte Co.
To: Countybirders <countybirders@yahoogroups.com>,
"Central_Valley_Birds@Yahoogroups. Com" <
central_valley_birds@yahoogroups.com>


fyi

John Sterling

26 Palm Ave
Woodland, CA 95695
530 908-3836
jsterling@...

www.sterlingbirds.com (photos, classes, tours, county birding)


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Alan Barron <flockfinder@...>
> Date: May 5, 2011 1:20:25 PM PDT
> To: NWCalbird <nwcalbird@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [nwcalbird] COMMON CRANE in Del Norte Co.
>
>
> Around noon I found a COMMON CRANE near the southeastern end of Lake Earl.
> Bird is easily seen from Lakeview Drive which turns off of Lake Earl Drive
about 3 miles north of Crescent City. On Lakeview, go to the last house on
your right before the lake. Just past this is a pasture between the house
and a line of Sitka Spruce along the lake edge. Bird foraging in this field.
Photos taken.
> --------Alan D. Barron
>
>



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



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links






--
Rob Fowler
McKinleyville, CA


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

Thought I'd add a little background to Common Crane occurrence in North America,
in case it is of any 'help' in people's decisions about chasing the Del Norte
County bird.  Most of the presumed "good" birds in the U.S. are spring migrants
with large concentrations of Sandhill Cranes in the middle of the continent
(mostly in Nebraska, also Kansas, NM) in March to very early April, which
involve Lesser Sandhills that migrate to and from and through there to breed in
Alaska and extreme northeast Russia. There is also a record or two from late
April/early May--so same time period as the current bird--from central Alaska
(Fairbanks area) also in flocks of migrant Lesser Sandhills that are presumably
heading back to w. Alaska and ne. Russia to nest. (The theory is that Common
Cranes get entrained with Sandhills in Russia and then follow the latter here to
spend the winter--and form mixed-pairs with Sandhills.) But I don't know of any
records in the interior
  West south of Alaska, except for a bird in late Sep/early Oct a few years ago
in ne. Nevada that was either a Common Crane or a hybrid involving a part-Common
Crane. Hybrid pairings are known a few times from eastern North America, where
mixed-family groups have been noted once each in Indiana and Quebec. A KNOWN
ESCAPE Common Crane from upstate NY set up shop for many years in New Jersey and
hybridized there with a Sandhill and raised hybrid young.

There has also been the recent Demoiselle Crane in CA and AK--of uncertain
origin--and a very recent known escape White-naped Crane in Idaho and nearby
states.

Seems slightly odd that this bird would be here in CA (and presumably by
itself?) still in early May, rather than following Lesser Sandhills out of the
state a month or two ago.  But maybe it just arrived, by itself, from a direct
cross-ocean flight across the Pacific--although this doesn't seem too likely! Or
perhaps.....

--Paul Lehman,  San Diego


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

Thanks to a generous contribution from Alan Barron, a photo of the COMMON
CRANE taken this evening can be seen on the WFO web site:

http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/

Click on thumbnail for larger images.

Enjoy!


On Thu, 5 May 2011 14:02:03 -0700, Christopher Taylor <calbird@...>
wrote:

>
>----- Forwarded message from Alan Barron <flockfinder@...> -----
>
>> From: Alan Barron <flockfinder@...>
>> Date: May 5, 2011 1:20:25 PM PDT
>> To: NWCalbird <nwcalbird@yahoogroups.com>
>> Subject: [nwcalbird] COMMON CRANE in Del Norte Co.
>>
>>
>> Around noon I found a COMMON CRANE near the southeastern end of Lake Earl.
>> Bird is easily seen from Lakeview Drive which turns off of Lake Earl Drive
about 3 miles north of Crescent City. On Lakeview, go to the last house on your
right before the lake. Just past this is a pasture between the house and a line
of Sitka Spruce along the lake edge. Bird foraging in this field. Photos taken.
>> --------Alan D. Barron
>>
>>
>
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA     jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu
Birding Classes start Sep 14    http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/

Hey birders,
John Sterling just informed me that the COMMON CRANE is being seen now in the
same location previously described. Below are Alan's directions from yesterday.






> Bird is easily seen from Lakeview Drive which turns off of Lake Earl Drive
about 3 miles north of Crescent City. On Lakeview, go to the last house on
your right before the lake. Just past this is a pasture between the house
and a line of Sitka Spruce along the lake edge. Bird foraging in this field.









Good birding,
Daryl Coldren
Eureka





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

Greetings,

Just like last spring, last Saturday's April 30, 2011 pelagic trip aboard the
Condor Express from Santa Barbara saw a Murphy's Petrel.  Unlike last year (when
Mr. Murphy quickly blasted by) this year's bird made multiple passes of Condor
Express allowing great looks by all aboard and some awesome photos.

According to Mr. GPS, Matt Sadowski, the MUPE was seen at 34.160054°
-121.216308°  -  37.5 naut. miles from Rocky Point, which is close to Point
Arguello.

Matt's trip-track and the photos of the Murphy's and the Laysan Albie and the
myriad Black-footed Albies and the Sabine's Gulls, Arctic Terns, Pom Jaegers,
murrelets, etc are now posted at
http://socaltripreports.com/?p=167

Jon Feenstra's official eBird trip totals are posted there as well.

Mammal-wise we saw distant Blue Whales, Dall's Porpoise and close up looks at
multiple breaching Humpback Whales on the way back in to port.

The next SoCal trip is aboard Grande from San Diego on May 14, sponsored by the
Buena Vista Audubon Society.  All day to the Nine Mile and Thirty Mile Banks.
http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegomay142011.html

The next deep-water SoCal trip is aboard the most luxurious pelagic birding
live-aboard in North America - SEARCHER - from San Diego 28-30 May.
http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegomay28302011.html


W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas
Life is short.  Seabird often.
In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel
"Come on out with us to see what's out there."

Southern California Seabirding Trips
by: Buena Vista Audubon Society
http://www.SoCalBirding.com
Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank
all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf
http://socaltripreports.com/

Hi all,
The Common Crane (an immature) found by Alan Barron yesterday was still
present in the same pasture at the end of Lakeview Drive near Crescent City
between 0600 and at least 0900 this morning.

Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Red Bluff


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

Birders,

I have set-up an album with Some Murphy's photos as well as some other goodies
from our recent deepwater trip on the Condor Express. The pics are at:

http://www.facebook.com/SoCalPelagics

You can sign-up for our news feed and get all the latest news on our trips.

There are a number of trips coming up, including a 12 hour trip out of San Diego
May 14th, a two-day trip on the awesome Searcher also from San Diego, as well as
the annual Los Angeles Audubon trip to see the Island Scrub-Jay and pelagic June
4.

details for all these trips can be found at socalbirding.com

Our next petrel-hunting trip to the deepwater off Santa Barbara will be July
23rd. once again you can check socalbirding.com or call Sealanding at
888-77whale toll-free to sign-up.

One of the questions I am frequently asked is "What's the best trip to see
Hawaiian Petrel?" The answer is easy. Shearwater Journey's August Ft Bragg trips
are hands-down the best. I have seen 3 different Hawaiian's in 4 August weekends
with Debi out of Ft Bragg.
The Socal Pelagics Facebook page has some photos of last year's bird as well as
some of the other goodies from my two trips with Debi last August.

www.shearwaterjourneys.com will have all the details on Debi's four trips
scheduled this August. They are back-to-back and are worth a trip from anywhere.
Of course Debi will also be running her full summer and fall schedule from all
the usual places.

I hope to sea you at sea.

Good Seabirding,

Todd McGrath
skua@...
Calabasas, CA

Dear CalBirds:  I am viewing the common crane now at 0815 hrs on Sunday, May
8th.  The bird is by itself in the same pasture located past the last house near
the end of Lakeview Drive that it has used since it was first seen.  The bird is
about 100 yards past (west) of the last house and about 75 yards from the road. 
This is a really cool bird that I hope turns out to be countable.

Here are more detailed directions to the bird:

Proceed north on Highway 101 to Crescent City.  Drive through town until you
reach Northcrest Drive and turn left.  There is a Home Depot store on the left
at this intersection.  Proceed north on Northcrest Drive for about 3.4 miles
until you reach Lakeview Drive and then turn left.  Note:  Northcrest Drive
becomes Lake Earl Drive after about 2 miles.  Drive west on Lakeview Drive for
about 0.6 mile where you should see the bird to the north of the road.

Good luck seeing this bird and good bitding.

Gary Stacey
Redding, CA

Hello, Birders,

May 6th was a great day for birding in San Benito County. Highlights
included:

Paicines Reservoir: adult, female BALD EAGLE

Hollister Sewer Ponds: 4 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 7 SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER

Lone Tree Road: good selection of migrants: BLACK-THROATED GRAY,
TOWNSEND'S NASHVILLE, MYRTLE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, WARBLING
VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, WESTERN TANAGER, GRAY, ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, CHIPPING
SPARROW, LAZULI BUNTING, and more.

Santa Ana Valley Road: SWAINSON'S HAWK, intermediate, CASSIN'S KINGBIRD.

Bitterwater Dry Lake (south of Pinnacles Nat'l Monument); SOLITARY
SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

Coalinga Road: VAUX'S SWIFT.

More details and some photos at:

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/search?updated-
min=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00%3A00%
3A00-08%3A00&max-results=10

Happy Trails,
Debi Shearwater

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

SVALBARD: High Arctic Seabirds & Polar Bears, Walrus: 8-18 July 2012







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

Hi All,

My wife and I have just returned to the UK after a highly enjoyable two-week
trip through southern California. The trip was very successful, locating 247
bird species, 72 of them ticks (or life birds as you call them in the US).

We saw several birds that may be of interest to those on this list and I wanted
to check where and to whom we should submit our records formally.

These species included:

ELF OWL
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER
MURPHY'S PETREL

I've seen photos of the Murphy's Petrel in question posted on the web (Condor
Express pelagic from Santa Barbara on 29th April), but I would like to ask if
anyone managed to obtain photos of the pale phase Wedge-tailed Shearwater that I
pointed out to several on board later during the same trip?

At the time I had no idea it was such a rare bird in CA and assumed the lack of
response when I bellowed out its name and pointed it out to those on the lower
deck, then shouted out to the upper deck there was a Wedgie behind the boat was
due to it being a common occurrence. In retrospect, I can see that an 'outsider'
bellowing out the name of an extreme rarity is almost inevitably going to be
dismissed offhand, but I am exceedingly familiar with this species, having seen
literally 1000s off Australia although relatively few of them pale phase birds,
the latter of which I have mostly seen in waters off Fiji and Hawaii.

The Elf Owl I am concerned about giving away its precise location. I managed to
tape record the bird and we obtained extremely close range (10 ft) views of it
in a torch beam. I would be happy to submit full details to the appropriate
authority. [The same applies to making public details about where we located a
pair of Spotted Owls].

Good birding to all.

Regards
Richard

Dr Richard Thomas
Global Communications Co-ordinator
TRAFFIC International
E: richard.thomas@...
W: www.traffic.org
T: +44 (0) 1223 279068

Richard,

In case no one has responded off-list, the authority that reviews
records is the California Bird Records Committee,
http://californiabirds.org/.  The owl and the shearwater are current
review species.

Ken Burton
Arcata

----- Original Message -----
From: "RichardT" <richard.thomas@...>
To: <CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 10:00 PM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Where to submit CA records


Hi All,

My wife and I have just returned to the UK after a highly enjoyable
two-week trip through southern California. The trip was very successful,
locating 247 bird species, 72 of them ticks (or life birds as you call
them in the US).

We saw several birds that may be of interest to those on this list and I
wanted to check where and to whom we should submit our records formally.

These species included:

ELF OWL
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER
MURPHY'S PETREL

I've seen photos of the Murphy's Petrel in question posted on the web
(Condor Express pelagic from Santa Barbara on 29th April), but I would
like to ask if anyone managed to obtain photos of the pale phase
Wedge-tailed Shearwater that I pointed out to several on board later
during the same trip?

At the time I had no idea it was such a rare bird in CA and assumed the
lack of response when I bellowed out its name and pointed it out to
those on the lower deck, then shouted out to the upper deck there was a
Wedgie behind the boat was due to it being a common occurrence. In
retrospect, I can see that an 'outsider' bellowing out the name of an
extreme rarity is almost inevitably going to be dismissed offhand, but I
am exceedingly familiar with this species, having seen literally 1000s
off Australia although relatively few of them pale phase birds, the
latter of which I have mostly seen in waters off Fiji and Hawaii.

The Elf Owl I am concerned about giving away its precise location. I
managed to tape record the bird and we obtained extremely close range
(10 ft) views of it in a torch beam. I would be happy to submit full
details to the appropriate authority. [The same applies to making public
details about where we located a pair of Spotted Owls].

Good birding to all.

Regards
Richard

Dr Richard Thomas
Global Communications Co-ordinator
TRAFFIC International
E: richard.thomas@...
W: www.traffic.org
T: +44 (0) 1223 279068

I recently wrote my old friend George Archibald about this sighting.
Here was his response from China, where he is currently in the field:


Dear Deb,

  Who knows if it [the Eurasian Crane] escaped or came down from Russia with
Sandhills as sometimes happens in Nebraska.

Love on Mothers Day from China where I am near 3800 Sibes [Siberian cranes,
another very rare species of white crane. Would that our whooping canres could
show such a robust recovery! DV]

[As to the white iris in the bird]: White is unusual but can happen.

  XXOO

George
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A white iris is merely an unusual form, not an indication of a immature bird.
Not sure if it is found more frequently in the wild or in captive, inbred
situations.

Brown feathering on the head and neck is a plumage indication of an immature
crane. I don't see that in this bird. As to the "apparent" lack of a red
crown...the red skin and its obviousness is controlled by the bird. A freaked
out bird (lost, escaped, lacking its compatriots) would not be signaling, either
for sexuality or aggression, two compelling reasons to flash that crown. Flight
feathers in the wings are the same for both juveniles and adults (National Geo
Guide to Birds, 5th Edition). Cranes also paint their feathers sometimes, altho
generally when nesting.

Was this bird seen with lesser sandhills? Were there other sandhills in the
area? Pretty unlikely that this bird came over here on its own, or ditched the
other members of its "flock"...have folks checked local zoos and avicultural
collections?

I am skeptical that this is a wild and lost bird.

Debbie Viess





--- In CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com, "newtster24" <gbstacey70@...> wrote:
>
> Dear CalBirds:  I am viewing the common crane now at 0815 hrs on Sunday, May
8th.  The bird is by itself in the same pasture located past the last house near
the end of Lakeview Drive that it has used since it was first seen.  The bird is
about 100 yards past (west) of the last house and about 75 yards from the road. 
This is a really cool bird that I hope turns out to be countable.
>
> Here are more detailed directions to the bird:
>
> Proceed north on Highway 101 to Crescent City.  Drive through town until you
reach Northcrest Drive and turn left.  There is a Home Depot store on the left
at this intersection.  Proceed north on Northcrest Drive for about 3.4 miles
until you reach Lakeview Drive and then turn left.  Note:  Northcrest Drive
becomes Lake Earl Drive after about 2 miles.  Drive west on Lakeview Drive for
about 0.6 mile where you should see the bird to the north of the road.
>
> Good luck seeing this bird and good bitding.
>
> Gary Stacey
> Redding, CA
>

fyi

John Sterling

26 Palm Ave
Woodland, CA 95695
530 908-3836
jsterling@...

www.sterlingbirds.com (photos, classes, tours, county birding)


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Alan Barron <flockfinder@...>
> Date: May 9, 2011 11:54:20 AM PDT
> To: NWCalbird <nwcalbird@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [nwcalbird] COMMON CRANE - Not seen today so far
>
>
> As of noon, despite many people searching, the crane has not been sighted
today.
> Yesterday it was seen soaring and calling a good bit and it was clear last
night.
> I will post immediately if it is refound.
> Alan D. Barron
>



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

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Terry" <RiverRockCobs@...>
To: <CalBIRDSr@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:07 AM
Subject: Help with rare bird ID ?


>
>
> Hello,
> I just joined this group because I have a pair of what I believe may be
> rare (at least for here) birds that have just arrived here and I can't
> figure out what they are. Hoping someone on this list may be able to help.
> I am in the Yuba County foothills near the Yuba River. The two birds flew
> around here for a while and then perched in a tall dead oak. They are the
> size of medium to large hawks but they have beaks similar to a ravens-
> quite large and completely straight and with a sleek head. They have dark
> brown or graphite colored wings and ruddy breasts with maybe some barring.
> Sitting in the tree with there backs to me they would often turn their
> heads to the side resembling a Kingfisher outline but much larger. When in
> flight they were fairly quick in their movements. While sitting they were
> upright in their posture resembling a hawk.
> Anyone have any idea what they are or how I might find out? I looked at
> every picture I can find online and I still don't even know what family
> they're in.
> Thanks,
> Jean Terry,
> Browns Valley
>
>

Jean,

Even a poor photo would be a great help.

Ken Burton
Arcata

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Terry" <riverrockcobs@...>
To: <CalBirds@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:09 AM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jean Terry" <RiverRockCobs@...>
> To: <CalBIRDSr@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:07 AM
> Subject: Help with rare bird ID ?
>
>
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>> I just joined this group because I have a pair of what I believe may
>> be
>> rare (at least for here) birds that have just arrived here and I
>> can't
>> figure out what they are. Hoping someone on this list may be able to
>> help.
>> I am in the Yuba County foothills near the Yuba River. The two birds
>> flew
>> around here for a while and then perched in a tall dead oak. They are
>> the
>> size of medium to large hawks but they have beaks similar to a
>> ravens-
>> quite large and completely straight and with a sleek head. They have
>> dark
>> brown or graphite colored wings and ruddy breasts with maybe some
>> barring.
>> Sitting in the tree with there backs to me they would often turn
>> their
>> heads to the side resembling a Kingfisher outline but much larger.
>> When in
>> flight they were fairly quick in their movements. While sitting they
>> were
>> upright in their posture resembling a hawk.
>> Anyone have any idea what they are or how I might find out? I looked
>> at
>> every picture I can find online and I still don't even know what
>> family
>> they're in.
>> Thanks,
>> Jean Terry,
>> Browns Valley
>>
>>
>
>

Because the Del Norte Common Crane has pale eyes Gary A. Bloomfield
(nwcalbird 07 May 2011) alerted readers to an article proposing Common
Cranes in the Javakheti region in Georga and in the Kars district in Turkey
be considered a new subspecies Grus grus archibaldi. These cranes evidently
lacks a red patch on the back of the head, have black skin papillae that
stretches from the base of the bill to the top of the head, and have a
different eye color which is bright yellow. However, Bloomfield also
illustrates the fact that at least some Common Cranes else ware in Asia have
pale eyes, linking to a photo taken in India of a Common Crane with pale
eyes.



Photos of Common Cranes at Lake Hornborga in Sweden by Sture Traneving and
Francisco Marquez on pages 69 and 72 in Volume 3 of the Handbook of the
Birds of the World (Josep del Hoyo et. al) show adult Common Cranes with
white eyes. Within the species account for Common Crane in The Handbook of
the Birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa (BWP) - Volume 2, pages
618-626 (Stanley Cramp), it is stated that coloration of the eyes on adults
are bright red, chestnut, hazel, or pale yellow, apparently irrespective of
age, sex, or season. As such I conclude eye color is variable.  Also Plate
72 in the same volume of BWP illustrate a "1st imm spring" Common Crane
without red on the crown, so I conclude that first-summer Common Cranes may
lack red on the crown. I therefore believe the Common Crane at Lake Earl DN
is a first-summer bird with pale eyes.



Guy McCaskie

Secretary CBRC

guymcc@...





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

What about juvenile Northern Shrikes? Or even a Northern Flicker (straight beak)
or a  Long-billed Thrasher.........I know their beaks aren't at all like a
Ravens, nor is the size nearly at all indicative of a raptor, but sizes of birds
according to surroundings can be difficult to assess unless there is something
of relatively known size nearby (telephone pole, etc). Their posture is very
raptor-like.....and the barring and coloring suggested juvenile shrike or
juvenile flicker,  to me....but if a raptor, well, could have been anything -
except for the beaks....straight beaks and the size of the birds seem to suggest
something else entirely, and I'm with Ken; any photo, even a bad one, would be
helpful :) Even a raven's beak is more 'roman-nosed' and has a down-curved
point.....

.....and a question: was the river wide, deep and calm in the location or was it
rapid and narrow? Juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons often perch in
trees.....hmmmmmm





--- On Mon, 5/9/11, Ken Burton <shrikethree@...> wrote:

From: Ken Burton <shrikethree@...>
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?
To: CalBirds@yahoogroups.com, "Jean Terry" <riverrockcobs@...>
Date: Monday, May 9, 2011, 2:26 PM







 









       Jean,



Even a poor photo would be a great help.



Ken Burton

Arcata



----- Original Message -----

From: "Jean Terry" <riverrockcobs@...>

To: <CalBirds@yahoogroups.com>

Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:09 AM

Subject: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?



>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Jean Terry" <RiverRockCobs@...>

> To: <CalBIRDSr@yahoogroups.com>

> Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:07 AM

> Subject: Help with rare bird ID ?

>

>

>>

>>

>> Hello,

>> I just joined this group because I have a pair of what I believe may

>> be

>> rare (at least for here) birds that have just arrived here and I

>> can't

>> figure out what they are. Hoping someone on this list may be able to

>> help.

>> I am in the Yuba County foothills near the Yuba River. The two birds

>> flew

>> around here for a while and then perched in a tall dead oak. They are

>> the

>> size of medium to large hawks but they have beaks similar to a

>> ravens-

>> quite large and completely straight and with a sleek head. They have

>> dark

>> brown or graphite colored wings and ruddy breasts with maybe some

>> barring.

>> Sitting in the tree with there backs to me they would often turn

>> their

>> heads to the side resembling a Kingfisher outline but much larger.

>> When in

>> flight they were fairly quick in their movements. While sitting they

>> were

>> upright in their posture resembling a hawk.

>> Anyone have any idea what they are or how I might find out? I looked

>> at

>> every picture I can find online and I still don't even know what

>> family

>> they're in.

>> Thanks,

>> Jean Terry,

>> Browns Valley

>>

>>

>

>






















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

Jean,
Ditto on the picture, but lacking that...
How about an immature or 1-year-old Black-crowned Night-Heron?
Chuck Almdale
North Hills, Ca.

At 02:26 PM 5/9/2011, Ken Burton wrote:
>Jean,
>Even a poor photo would be a great help.
>Ken Burton
>Arcata
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jean Terry"
<<mailto:riverrockcobs%40succeed.net>riverrockcobs@...>
>To: <<mailto:CalBirds%40yahoogroups.com>CalBirds@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:09 AM
>Subject: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?
>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jean Terry"
<<mailto:RiverRockCobs%40Succeed.Net>RiverRockCobs@...>
>> To: <<mailto:CalBIRDSr%40yahoogroups.com>CalBIRDSr@yahoogroups.com>
>> Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:07 AM
>> Subject: Help with rare bird ID ?
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I just joined this group because I have a pair of what I believe may
>>> be
>>> rare (at least for here) birds that have just arrived here and I
>>> can't
>>> figure out what they are. Hoping someone on this list may be able to
>>> help.
>>> I am in the Yuba County foothills near the Yuba River. The two birds
>>> flew
>>> around here for a while and then perched in a tall dead oak. They are
>>> the
>>> size of medium to large hawks but they have beaks similar to a
>>> ravens-
>>> quite large and completely straight and with a sleek head. They have
>>> dark
>>> brown or graphite colored wings and ruddy breasts with maybe some
>>> barring.
>>> Sitting in the tree with there backs to me they would often turn
>>> their
>>> heads to the side resembling a Kingfisher outline but much larger.
>>> When in
>>> flight they were fairly quick in their movements. While sitting they
>>> were
>>> upright in their posture resembling a hawk.
>>> Anyone have any idea what they are or how I might find out? I looked
>>> at
>>> every picture I can find online and I still don't even know what
>>> family
>>> they're in.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Jean Terry,
>>> Browns Valley
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>


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

The possibility of immature night-heron occurred to me also.

Ken
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lisa Walker (Feather)" <feather7023@...>
To: "Ken Burton" <shrikethree@...>; <RiverRockCobs@...>
Cc: <CalBirds@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?



What about juvenile Northern Shrikes? Or even a Northern Flicker
(straight beak) or a Long-billed Thrasher.........I know their beaks
aren't at all like a Ravens, nor is the size nearly at all indicative of
a raptor, but sizes of birds according to surroundings can be difficult
to assess unless there is something of relatively known size nearby
(telephone pole, etc). Their posture is very raptor-like.....and the
barring and coloring suggested juvenile shrike or juvenile flicker, to
me....but if a raptor, well, could have been anything - except for the
beaks....straight beaks and the size of the birds seem to suggest
something else entirely, and I'm with Ken; any photo, even a bad one,
would be helpful :) Even a raven's beak is more 'roman-nosed' and has a
down-curved point.....

.....and a question: was the river wide, deep and calm in the location
or was it rapid and narrow? Juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons often
perch in trees.....hmmmmmm

We're going for these birds to be 1st summer Green Herons:
x   Size: medium to large hawk size
x   Location: near watery place on the edge of northern Central Valley
of CA.
x   Perching: in trees
x   Flight wing beat: fairly quick movements
x   Beak shape & size: large (relative to body) and completely straight
x   Sleek head: feathers lay close on head
x   Posture: upright
x   Coloring: dark brown/graphite wings/shoulders; ruddy breasts
(possible barring denoting juvie)
x   Kingfisher type silhouette (with neck not extended)
x   Posture upright
?   Leg length & color (not noted by observer)

One of our favorite birds to watch.
Delores & William Jenisch
Chandler, AZ



  > Hello,
  > I just joined this group because I have a pair of what I believe may be
  > rare (at least for here) birds that have just arrived here and I can't
  > figure out what they are. Hoping someone on this list may be able to
help.
  > I am in the Yuba County foothills near the Yuba River. The two birds flew
  > around here for a while and then perched in a tall dead oak. They are the
  > size of medium to large hawks but they have beaks similar to a ravens-
  > quite large and completely straight and with a sleek head. They have dark
  > brown or graphite colored wings and ruddy breasts with maybe some
barring.
  > Sitting in the tree with there backs to me they would often turn their
  > heads to the side resembling a Kingfisher outline but much larger.
When in
  > flight they were fairly quick in their movements. While sitting they were
  > upright in their posture resembling a hawk.
  > Anyone have any idea what they are or how I might find out? I looked at
  > every picture I can find online and I still don't even know what family
  > they're in.
  > Thanks,
  > Jean Terry,
  > Browns Valley
  > Re: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?

WOW Thanks Everyone for all the replies ") !

YES, I'm now thinking it has to be the Night Heron!
Everything fits really really well but the color. I'm guessing maybe they're
two year old's with in between coloring as they don't fit the adult or the
juvenile pictures? These definitely have some reddish coloring that is not
in any of the online pics.
I had also just plain overlooked 'Herons' generally because these guys are
so stout and not long and leanish like all other Herons i recognise.
That, and I didn't see the long Heron type legs while in flight or when they
landed on the tree.
The Night Heron's body is exactly like the birds here but what really
clinched it for me was the recording of it's call.
Funny I've never seen one of these birds before but they are 'night' birds
so that's likely why.
Thank You Thank You Guys again for all your inputs,
Jean Terry
Browns Valley


----- Original Message -----
From: "Wim van Dam" <wim.van.dam@...>
To: "Jean Terry" <riverrockcobs@...>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Help with rare bird ID ?


Dear Jean,

Could they be (juvenile) Black-crowned Night-Herons? See here for some
photos:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-crowned_Night-Heron/id

- Wim





On May 9, 2011, at 11:09 AM, Jean Terry wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jean Terry" <RiverRockCobs@...>
> To: <CalBIRDSr@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:07 AM
> Subject: Help with rare bird ID ?
>
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> > I just joined this group because I have a pair of what I believe
> may be
> > rare (at least for here) birds that have just arrived here and I
> can't
> > figure out what they are. Hoping someone on this list may be able
> to help.
> > I am in the Yuba County foothills near the Yuba River. The two
> birds flew
> > around here for a while and then perched in a tall dead oak. They
> are the
> > size of medium to large hawks but they have beaks similar to a
> ravens-
> > quite large and completely straight and with a sleek head. They
> have dark
> > brown or graphite colored wings and ruddy breasts with maybe some
> barring.
> > Sitting in the tree with there backs to me they would often turn
> their
> > heads to the side resembling a Kingfisher outline but much larger.
> When in
> > flight they were fairly quick in their movements. While sitting
> they were
> > upright in their posture resembling a hawk.
> > Anyone have any idea what they are or how I might find out? I
> looked at
> > every picture I can find online and I still don't even know what
> family
> > they're in.
> > Thanks,
> > Jean Terry,
> > Browns Valley
> >
> >
>
>
>

Folks,

Perhaps of interest to some, I've posted a few short videos and a photo from
7 May 2011 of the Common Crane here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/conardc/

All the best,

Chris Conard
Sacramento


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