On December 12, I was visited by a beautiful buff-colored bird, that I
have been unable to identify.  I think it might have been what Feather
observed, an immature Oriole. I got a very good look at this bird, and
have been obsessing over it ever since. Any one have any ideas or
possibilites?  I counted 45 Great Egrets at the Garcia on Saturday.

Monday, December 24, A winter plumage Harris's Sparrow was identified by
Cheryl Heinecken at their feeder at Fern Canyon Drive/Fern Canyon Way south
of Talmage.  Geoff says the bird has been there for several days but was
unsure of its identity until Cheryl saw it.   This bird may hang around for
awhile.  Geoff & Cheryl's phone number is 462-4289.
Robert J. Keiffer
Principal Supt. of Agriculture
UC Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Road
Hopland, CA  95449
(707) 744-1424   FAX (707) 744-1040
HREC website:   http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/hopland/home_page.html

The female (immature? adult?) Bullock's Oriole that has been frequenting
my feeders is still here.

Generally, she shows up around 9:30 and stays til around 11 AM or so,
though she has been here later in the afternoons than that. She's eating
the peanuts and other nuts in my platform feeder which is attached to
the apartment window. She also drinks water droplets from the tops of
the other window feeders and has not yet utilized the oriole feeder I've
hung on the window.

She's got the typical olive-coloration with the eye-stripe and faint
wingbars that are as wide as a male's but much lighter in color, and an
olive-yellow tail, whitish undersides .

She chases the Pine Siskins off the feeders every chance she gets and
the Brewer's Blackbirds are  usually in abundance whenever she is
nearby. House Finches are fewer in number and the American Goldfinches
have disappeared altogether. An occasional European Starling makes an
appearance, and as of yet I have not seen a single House Sparrow. (*BIG
SMILE*)

So, to anyone who wants to cruise by and take a look:

From Main Street in Fort Bragg, if coming from the south, turn RIGHT on
Chestnut just before the Rite Aid. Go two blocks to South McPherson
(just past the Dodge dealership) and turn left. Go all the way down to
the end of the block and find a place to park. (The parking area in
front of my apartments are marked "Tenants Only" and should, of course,
be respected).

The apartment complex I live in are the dark brown ones that are set in
an "L" shape which is upside-down from that perspective. I am in the
apartment closest to the dumpster, on the lower left floor. It has bird
feeders on the outer window closest to the dumpster and my porch has the
most potted flowers. (*laughing*) There's a bush beneath the window
feeders that has a bird bath resting in the top of it. Hummingbird
feeders (three) are on my front porch; two attached to the main window
and one hanging beneath my neighbor's balcony.

Or, you can call me - 964-7023, e mail me, or whatever, if you want to
see this bird. I have attempted some photographs, but the film has not
yet been used up: I am waiting for the right moment. Today I plan to
clean the window (again) for tomorrow's sighting. The bird has been here
every day since the 17th of December, without fail.

Come see her!

Feather

Wednesday, 26 Dec. 2001, Brian Dick of Covelo reports that there are four
assumed Tundra Swans at the old LP Mill site on the north end of Round
Valley.  This may be the first report on file for swans in Round Valley.
Robert J. Keiffer
Principal Supt. of Agriculture
UC Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Road
Hopland, CA  95449
(707) 744-1424   FAX (707) 744-1040
HREC website:   http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/hopland/home_page.html

Hi!

I took the last photos of the roll yesterday, and wouldn't you know,
they were the ones that turned out the best. I am NOT a photographer by
any means, but here they are. The silouhette was taken while the bird
was in the bush below my feeders from inside my apartment (as all of
them were, in fact), and while she had a piece of nut in her beak.

Hope you enjoy them!

Feather


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

Hi, everyone.

I posted the photos to the album called "Feather's Bird Photos". It's
located on the website at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/

There are six photos in all.

Please do let me know what you think, and thanks, Mike, for all your
help!

Feather

We have been feeding a mature Red-tailed Hawk the last couple of
days. He/she does not appear to be injured, but may be ill or simply
malnourished.  It stays mostly on the ground or low perches and is
pretty mellow about being approached.
This is the second hawk in the last few weeks in Potter Valley with
this behavior, the other having died after a few days of care in
captivity.  We hope to keep this guy alive without the trauma of
capture.
Any ideas about caring for this bird or other instances of RTH's in
this condition would be helpful.
Jim Armstrong

"Our" RT Hawk moved around a bit overnight, made a flight of about 50
feet this morning, then disappeared in the area of a large, safe
field.  I'll keep looking for it. We got it to eat a window-kill
quail, some beef and some beef heart, about a half pound in all;
hopefully this was the nutrition it needed.
I did talk to Kathy Ortiz, Penny Seaman's Willits counterpart, and to
a lady here in Potter who has worked some with Penny (hence the beef
heart).
We'll probably never know what happened, but I am comfortable with
not capturing the bird; flying away was what we wanted anyway.

Sun, 30 Dec 2001 -- Dorothy Tobkin reports an immature GLAUCOUS GULL at
Lake Cleone today - white with brown vermiculation. There was also a single
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. At Laguna Point at high tide there were four
ROCK SANDPIPERS which were rousted by a Peregrine Falcon, and at Glass
Beach south of the main walkway were 23 HARLEQUIN DUCKS.

Made a trip to Round Valley today (Mon Dec 31) to try and find one last
new bird for 2001.  Nothing new, but birds of interest were four
FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, one PRAIRIE FALCON, seven LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, and
five TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS (in a mixed blackbird flock).  On the way
back through Willits I made a detour on the Reynolds Hwy and found an
additional FERRUGINOUS HAWK.

Happy New Year
- Matthew Matthiessen

6 Jan 02

Hello to all our Mendocino Co friends.  I'm so glad to discover your
e-group!  Today I'm sitting in my office waiting-out an amazing and
rare snow storm in Istanbul, Turkey. Halle, Quintin and I have been
living\working here since August, and will probably be here for
another couple of years.

Birding here has been quite productive.  This fall a couple hundred
thousand hawks and eagles passed within a few miles of here on their
way south.  The Bosphorus, just down the hill, is packed with gulls
and shearwaters.

Our son Matt is now attending school at UC Santa Cruz and is rabid
birder.

Next month we will have semester break.  We will take advantage of the
low air fares and fly to Kenya for two weeks.  $600 RT, you can't beat
it.  Should be good for a couple hundred lifers.

If any of you would like to correspond we can be reached at
mbrady@...

Happy New Year and Good Birding, Mike

Greetings from 2002
         In the last few days I've seen some interesting raptors in Potter
Valley: On Jan.3 I saw a PRAIRIE FALCON hunting ground squirrels in the
grasslands N of Burris Lane, and on Jan 4 there was an adult FERRUGINOUS
HAWK E of East Road near Mid-Mountain Road.
                                         George Chaniot

This morning there was an adult male Tufted Duck in Clear Lake seen
from mile marker 18.67 on Hwy. 20 just east of Lucerne. The duck has
a moderately long and quite evident tuft about half the length of the
back of the head. It was associated with a group of about 150 scaup
that were just offshore. It is likely this is the same Tufted Duck
that has spent a portion of the last two winters near this location.
     Dave Woodward

Greetings Mendobirders:  Toby Tobkin reports the following birds from Lake
Mendocino on Sat, Jan 12, all seen from the N end of the lake:  an adult
Western Gull off of Pomo A, a Common Loon on the Lake not far from the
inlet, and 8 Hooded Mergansers (4f, 4m) just up the inlet from the lake.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chuck and Barbara Vaughn
1550 Deerwood Drive
Ukiah, CA  95482

This morning (Sun, Jan 20) Gary and Judy Maddox and I had a RED-NECKED
GREBE along the north shore of Lake Mendocino.  The bird was just off
shore from the Kyen Campground (between the north boat ramp and the Pomo
A picnic area).  When we first saw the bird it was feeding among some
Mallards within five feet of shore.  It eventally moved a little further
out but was never further than 100 feet from shore.

Also in the Kyen Campground was an adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.  On
the east side of the lake just south of the Mesa was an adult BALD
EAGLE.

- Matthew Matthiessen

Greetings Mendobirders:  Yesterday Demian Ebert, Shiela Ryan and I went
down to Sonoma County to look for the Common Grackle.  We found it at about
830 in the Post Office parking lot directly N of the Safeway Parking lot in
Guerneville.  We decided to come back up the coast to Mendocino County.  We
stopped at Point Arena Cove and saw the Laysan Albatross right below the
pier.  At Glass Beach in Fort Bragg there were 8 Harlequin Ducks loafing on
a rock N of the main path to the beach.  We saw 3 Rock Sandpipers on the
rocks at Laguna Point during a very mediocre high tide at 2:30.  By then
the wind was blowing so hard out of the WNW that it was nearly impossible
to see through our scopes so we came home.

Chuck

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chuck and Barbara Vaughn
1550 Deerwood Drive
Ukiah, CA  95482

Sun, 20 Jan 2002 -- Last seen on 28 Jun, an AMERICAN  DIPPER is back under
the old bridge on Potter Valley Road. There is also fresh dipstuff on the
rocks just below the bridge and at the quarry site near milemarker 0.86.
The nests under the old bridge where two broods were raised last spring are
in decrepit state, but hopefully the dippers will nest there again this
year.
         The bridge is on Potter Valley Road about 1/4 mile north of Route
20 just before the new bridge.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, CA

Friday 25 January - Emily Turula reports a probable Slate-colored Junco
coming to her feeder in her backyard.   Emily is 90% sure that it is a
slate-colored rather than a dull dark-eyed, and she is hoping that someone
can take a look to verify this.  It is best if you call ahead 462-0706 so
that she can schedule appropriate (bird) feeding times.   Her address is
825 North Oak Street, Ukiah.    It is best to park on the street as there
is limited turn-around room on the long, narrow driveway.   The driveway
leads to the east side of North Oak Street.  At least one White-throated
Sparrow is also present.
Robert J. Keiffer
Principal Supt. of Agriculture
UC Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Road
Hopland, CA  95449
(707) 744-1424   FAX (707) 744-1040
HREC website:   http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/hopland/home_page.html

Yesterday (Sun Jan 27) I spent the morning birding from Fort Bragg to
MacKerricher.  Saw the usual suspects but nothing unexpected.  At Laguna
Point were three ROCK SANDPIPERS, one RED-NECKED GREBE, and one first
year THAYER'S GULL.  At the end of Ward Ave were 10-12 BLACK SCOTERS and
another RED-NECKED GREBE.  Finally, at Glass Beach were 18 HARLEQUIN
DUCKS roosting on their favorite rock at the south end of the beach.

- Matthew Matthiessen

Hello Mendo County Birders
      Today on the way home from work at about 3:30 there was a
Ferruginous Hawk on Pine Ave. just north of the mailboxes.  It was
perched the large oak tree behind the house adjacent to these
mailboxes.  There was also a Juev. Coopers Hawk in the same tree.
     When I arived home there was a Slate colored Junco at my feeder.
That's all for now
Good luck and Good birding.
Justin Ward

Vishnu viewed in very transparent air from the north end of the dam at Lake
Mendocino Tuesday afternoon 5 male Common Goldeneye and an un-numbered flock
of very handsome male and female Common Mergansers.  An adult bald eagle
perched for awhile in a tree on the island/peninsular just east of the dam.

  In the non-avian arena and vying with the birds for my interest was a water
skier crossing the wake doing huge flying leaps; once completing a 360* turn
in the air and another time  a vertical flip.
Also a Corps Ranger reported that the dam would be opened to birders (and
other pedestrians)  as soon as they receive clearance from the United States
Department of Defense in Washington, D.C.

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 -- The HARRIS'S SPARROW at Geoff and Cheryl Heinecken's
feeders, last reported on 24 Dec., reappeared early this morning. Geoff,
Vishnu, and I saw it again between 9:30 and !0:00. The bird is in winter
adult plumage. For a moment I had all four Zonotrichia species in my
binoculars at once! The location is on Fern Canyon Way south of Talmage.
Geoff & Cheryl's phone number is 462-4289.
         On the way home I checked out Lake Mendocino and saw two
CANVASBACKS, a SNOWY EGRET, and a COMMON LOON from Pomo A, adding a little
variety to the low diversity on the lake this winter. Another unusual thing
at Lake Mendocino this winter is the great predominance of Greater Scaup
over Lesser Scaup, about 98:2  Usually at this time of year the ratio is
more like 20:80.
         An AMERICAN DIPPER was also under the old bridge on Potter Valley Road.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, CA

Weds Jan 30 at about 11 a.m. I saw one Rock Sandpiper with Surfbirds on
the rocks north of Laguna Point. It was most clearly viewed from the top
of the stairs between the 2nd and 3rd observation platforms from the
end. At 10 a.m. I saw 6 male and 6 female Harliequin Ducks at the cove
south of Glass Beach after a nice birder from Arcata showed me to look
on the rocks near the water line. 3 trips to Van Damme produced no Gray
Jays, but a ranger told me that one joined her for lunch on the 30th at
one of the picnic tables opposite the visitor center. (which is not
open)

Karen Peterson
Berkeley

Decided to get an early start on my Superbowl celebrations this morning
(Sun Feb 3) by doing some owling up Low Gap Rd.  It was rather foggy but
still ended up being a productive morning.  Best bird was a LONG-EARED
OWL at 1.5 miles above Pine Ridge Rd (all mileages will be from Pine
Ridge Rd).  Unfortunately the bird only called three times.
Surprisingly, the first owl of the morning was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL I
coaxed into responding to my whistles (1.0 mile).  As is often the case
with saw-whets, it took a while to get started, but once warmed up there
was no stopping it.  I think it was still calling as I drove away.  Had
my first WESTERN SCREETCH-OWL at 1.5 miles (with the LEOW).  At 1.7
miles I had another NSWO and WESO).  At 2.5 miles I heard my one and
only NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL.  The morning was capped off with a PILEATED
WOODPECKER calling just below the gap shortly after dawn (not an owl but
we'll still count it).

Good Owling
Matthew Matthiessen

Tuesday, 5th February, one GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen between Ukiah
and Hopland along the Hwy. 101.   This bird has been there for at least two
weeks and hangs out with a large group of Mallards that feed in a wet
pasture.  The pasture is located on Crowfoot's property.... look for a
white fence and stylish "Crowfoot" sign on the east side of Hwy. 101...
about 1/2 mile north of Jepson Winery.
There is a paved side-road that you can turn onto to view the birds.   A
group of Canada Geese (B.c.moffitti) frequent the area also.
Robert J. Keiffer
Principal Supt. of Agriculture
UC Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Road
Hopland, CA  95449
(707) 744-1424   FAX (707) 744-1040
HREC website:   http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/hopland/home_page.html

Sat, 9 Feb 2002 -- Dorothy Tobkin saw several LONG-TAILED DUCKS in the surf
north of Ward Avenue in Cleone. There was also one ROCK SANDPIPER at Laguna
Point at a not particularly high tide.  Yesterday, while scoping to sea
from a pullout near Juan Creek north of Westport, she saw numbers of
BLACK-LEGGED KITIWAKES.

You might notice the plural in the Subject.  Yesterday (Monday) at
about 3:30, I watched two Dippers dipping (no Partridge) at the
location of their (?) first nest of last year on the old Potter
Valley bridge (see George's post of 1/21).  This is on the north or
upstream side of the bridge on the west column with a great viewing
site by the little gulch on the east bank.  They were working on the
same ledge where they had a complete nest with two or three young
last year before it blew, or was knocked, off.  A subsequent nest was
located further under and higher on the same column and resulted (we
think) in a second family.
Yesterday they alternated bringing mossy material to the ledge, but
hadn't made much of a structure yet; they greet one another with a
series of dips.  At each dip, a white eyelid or membrane covers their
eyes.
The water is still so murky, it is hard to believe they are feeding
on the aquatic insects they rely on later.
Check 'em out.
Jim Armstrong

Tue, 12 Feb 2002 -- This morning I did a run on Pine Avenue, Potter Valley
and saw a PRAIRIE FALCON on lower Pine Avenue. After flying over, it landed
in the large oak on the open knoll to the north. Several weeks ago I saw
one sitting in the same tree.  Several days ago I had another sighting
looking north from Burris Lane. There was also a distant FERRUGINOUS HAWK
south of the emus, and on upper Pine Avenue, a MERLIN eating a junco. At
the pond on Burris Lane, there were two GOLDEN EAGLES up close and
personal. Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, a Sharp-shined Hawk, and
an American Kestrel made it a pretty good raptor day.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

Sun, 17 Feb 2002 -- This afternoon Dorothy Tobkin was looking at the swans
in the Garcia R. bottoms from along Miner Hole Road. Among the Tundra Swans
were two immatures distinctly larger than the adult Tundras. This raises
the possibility that they might be immature Trumpeter Swans or Mute Swans,
and she would like some other people to take a look at them and see what
they think.

Mon, 18 Feb 2002 -- Toby and several other people have restudied the large
immature swans among the Tundra Swans on the Garcia R. bottom land and have
decided that they are immature Mute Swans. There appears to be three of
them. Does anyone know where they may have come from?