HI Feather,



It's a Pectoral Sandpiper. Nice shots.



Ron



From: Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Lisa Walker (Feather)
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 1:10 PM
To: mendobirds@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mendobirds] Sandpiper ID. . .





.. . .with short yellow legs at Glass Beach during a break in this
horrendous storm today. Shots at the Yahoo!Groups site.

Feather

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





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

Thanks to Chuck, Sean, Gary and Ron!! :)

You all confirmed it for me. And to think I was leaning towards Rock. LOL. .. .

Stay dry, everyone! I got soaked out there today!

Feather




--- On Tue, 10/13/09, Ron LeValley <ron@...> wrote:

From: Ron LeValley <ron@...>
Subject: RE: [Mendobirds] Sandpiper ID. . .
To: "'Lisa Walker (Feather)'" <feather7023@...>,
Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 1:43 PM













HI Feather,

   

It’s a Pectoral Sandpiper. Nice shots.

   

Ron

   





From:
Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lisa
Walker (Feather)

Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 1:10 PM

To: mendobirds@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [Mendobirds] Sandpiper ID. . .





   

 







.. . .with short yellow legs at Glass Beach
during a break in this horrendous storm today. Shots at the Yahoo!Groups site.



Feather



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















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

Monday - 13 October 2009 - I have received a very credible report that a
first-year Short-tailed Albatross was heading north along the coast SE of
Point Arena just yesterday.  It is probably continuing north today but it is
difficult to say how close to shore (or maybe it has already passed).  If
you live on the coast please keep a sharp-eye along our coast.   This
species has yet to be visually documented Mendocino County waters.   Good
birding.  Bob Keiffer



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

13 October 2009 -  I meant to say that the STAL was SW (not SE) of Point
Arena yesterday (based upon satellite tracking).



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

Wednesday - 14 October, 2009 - I apologize for the "cryptic" message about
the Short-tailed Albatross yesterday, and I am sure that it raised a few
questions.  This particular bird was observed off of Half Moon Bay on
October 11th.   A photo of the bird can bee seen on the Western Field
Ornithologist website http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/gallery
The bird, even though not apparent in the photograph, was banded and wearing
a satellite transmitter.   Further checking by observers located one of the
researchers involved with the banding project, and a map was provided
showing that when the bird was spotted it was on its way north along the
Northern California Coast.  On October 12th , based upon the satellite
tracking map, it was probably in Mendocino County waters, but directly west
(latitude-wise) from Northern Sonoma County (bird locations on the ocean are
measured to the nearest land point which for much of that area is Point
Arena).



Most interesting to me, however, is the satellite tracking map covers the
whereabouts from October 3 to Oct 12, 2009.   Prior to the sighting the bird
came DOWN (southward) along the Mendocino Coast, and it looks like it was
VERY close to shore along the Ten-Mile Beach to Fort Bragg section of our
coastline.    After it came down our coast it headed pretty far out to sea,
and then came back towards near-shore around the Monterey area .and then
headed north again (this is when the SFBBO Pelagic trip came across the bird
last Sunday).



I do NOT know if this STAL satellite-tracking info is available on any
particular website.



Good birding!  Bob Keiffer











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

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 -- Dorothy "Toby" Tobkin called that she saw a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Lake Cleone in MacKerricher SP late
morning.  The specific location is on the south side of the outflow
pond on the west side of the road going out to Laguna Point.  A
lot of berry bushes and lush grasses are just below the Haul Rd,
where a Black Phoebe inhabits the area.

For Dorothy Tobkin

(K Havlena)
North of Fort Bragg, CA




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

This guy is hanging out on the pier right off the Warming Hut in Crissy Field.
I'm guessing WEGU by the shape but maybe someone here knows better. Seems to be
in pretty good condition.

http://farallones.org/gull/WEGU_albino1.jpg

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 -- Late this morning I saw Toby's CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
by Lk Clone's outflow pond in the berry bushes below the Haul Rd, MacKerricher
SP.  I did the weekly SOS survey on Ten Mile beach earlier in the morning,
having
the most SNOWY PLOVERs I have seen this year totaling 27.  All of the SNPLs
are about 1/2 mile north of the ramp north of Ward Ave, Cleone.  The ONLY other
shorebird I had on the entire 4 1/4 mile walk was one Killdeer. 

This afternoon in the front yard, Jim called out that the YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD had returned to the front yard.  She was missing since the rain
storm.

Karen Havlena
North of Fort Bragg, CA




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

Hi all,



This morning out on the Little River Headlands was a small Empidonax that I
am calling a Least Flycatcher. I apologize for not getting the word out
early, but I had computer user malfunction, and this bird was in a
neighbor's yard in a place that can't be viewed without upsetting people so
I couldn't have had people come to see it anyway.



I realize that this might be a first county record. I am uploading some
pictures to the Mendobirds Photo section. They should be there in a few
minutes. It was not close so they are not the best photos, but I think they
are identifiable.



It was a small flycatcher, very white below, with a large head, bright white
eye ring, bold white wing bars and only the slightest hint of yellow on the
abdomen. It was flycatching, and sitting for extended periods when it would
occasionally flick its tail up a tiny little bit. It did not dip the tail
down like a Gray, nor did it actively flick its tail like a Western. Never
did I see it flick it's wings. The bill was somewhat broad - broader than a
Dusky/Hammonds, but not as broad as a Western. The bill was dark brown above
and mostly pinkish-pale below with a hint of dark along the middle of the
lower mandible. I have a video clip of it sitting as well.



It only stayed around for about 30 minutes and then when I checked later it
was not there. It wasn't in a place that normally holds birds, I was
actually surprised it stayed as long as it did.



Hope one shows up someplace that others can see it!



Ron

Ron LeValley Photography
P.O. Box 332

Little River CA 95456

707/937-1742


Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery
301 North Main Street
Fort Bragg California USA 95437
Cell: 707/496-3326
Gallery: 707/964-4706

  <mailto:Ron@...> Ron@...



For a free natural history Picture of the Day in your e-mail, go to
<http://www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery/omw.php>
http://www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery/omw.php

For archives of past Picture of the Days, go to
<http://www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery> www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery









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

Are now in the folder called Ron LeValley. Here are the links.



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/album/1016897831/pic/1877294
208/view?picmode=
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/album/1016897831/pic/187729
4208/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc>
&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/album/1016897831/pic/2757270
54/view?picmode=medium
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/album/1016897831/pic/275727
054/view?picmode=medium&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc>
&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc



Ron

From: Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Ron LeValley
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 3:51 PM
To: 'Mendobirds'
Subject: [Mendobirds] Least Flycatcher





Hi all,

This morning out on the Little River Headlands was a small Empidonax that I
am calling a Least Flycatcher. I apologize for not getting the word out
early, but I had computer user malfunction, and this bird was in a
neighbor's yard in a place that can't be viewed without upsetting people so
I couldn't have had people come to see it anyway.

I realize that this might be a first county record. I am uploading some
pictures to the Mendobirds Photo section. They should be there in a few
minutes. It was not close so they are not the best photos, but I think they
are identifiable.

It was a small flycatcher, very white below, with a large head, bright white
eye ring, bold white wing bars and only the slightest hint of yellow on the
abdomen. It was flycatching, and sitting for extended periods when it would
occasionally flick its tail up a tiny little bit. It did not dip the tail
down like a Gray, nor did it actively flick its tail like a Western. Never
did I see it flick it's wings. The bill was somewhat broad - broader than a
Dusky/Hammonds, but not as broad as a Western. The bill was dark brown above
and mostly pinkish-pale below with a hint of dark along the middle of the
lower mandible. I have a video clip of it sitting as well.

It only stayed around for about 30 minutes and then when I checked later it
was not there. It wasn't in a place that normally holds birds, I was
actually surprised it stayed as long as it did.

Hope one shows up someplace that others can see it!

Ron

Ron LeValley Photography
P.O. Box 332

Little River CA 95456

707/937-1742

Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery
301 North Main Street
Fort Bragg California USA 95437
Cell: 707/496-3326
Gallery: 707/964-4706

<mailto:Ron@... <mailto:Ron%40LeValleyPhoto.com> >
Ron@... <mailto:Ron%40LeValleyPhoto.com>

For a free natural history Picture of the Day in your e-mail, go to
<http://www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery/omw.php>
http://www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery/omw.php

For archives of past Picture of the Days, go to
<http://www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery> www.levalleyphoto.com/gallery

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





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

18 October 2009
Point Arena / Manchester

Hello -

This morning at about 8:30a my wife, Nancy, and I saw a Tropical Kingbird on
North Windy Hollow Road about 50 meters from the end of the road.  I have
uploaded a few pictures -- sorry about the quality.

We then went to Barnegat Road off Stonboro Road and saw a Yellow-headed
Blackbird in the large blackbird flock that was working the dairy which borders
the north side of the lake (reached from trail off the north end of Barnegat). 
Several Tricolored Blackbirds were also in the flock.  Also seen from that same
spot were 27 Greater White-fronted Geese.

Good Birding,

Rich (and Nancy) Trissel

Sun, 17 Oct, 2009 -  This morning, I saw a minima Cackling Goose
with eight White-fronted Geese on the beach at Howard Creek.  This
is along Hwy 1 north of Westport a few miles.

There were almost no land birds at the creeks.

Jim Havlena
Ocean Meadows
Fort Bragg, CA




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

Howdy, Seabirders,

The full trip report for Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip from Fort
Bragg on October 18, 2009 is at:

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2009/10/trip-report-18-
october-2009-fort-bragg.html

Highlights included a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, over 1000 CASSIN'S
AUKLETS, and two ANCIENT MURRELETS (new county bird for me). Lots of
krill near shore, with 2 BLUE and 2 HUMPBACK WHALES feeding along
with all of the Cassin's Auklets.

We are coming to the end of the fall pelagic season. A few spaces
remain on the Saturday, October 24 trip departing from Half Moon Bay,
as well as on the Sunday, October 25 trip departing from Monterey
Bay. Please see the link below for more information regarding the
October 24th trip.

http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2009/10/chasing-seabirds-
october-24-from-half.html

Come on and roll the dice with me!
Debi

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

South Georgia: Where No Road Goes
October 18- November 4, 2010







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

Wednesday - 21 October 2009 - An adult female Horned Lark has been a "road
bird" for the last two days at the UC-Hopland Research & Extension Center.
I got a glimpse of the bird yesterday as it flew off but was unable to
identify it to species then .however from vocalizations I knew it was
"pipit-like".  This morning it was (assumed same bird) back at the exact
same spot and I was able to get a good binoc-look at it.   Horned Larks are
rather rare in the interior of the county with best chances at the Ukiah
Sewage Treatment Plant.  Even on the coast, fall migration produces singles
or small flocks which usually do not stick around for long and luck has to
be on your side to see the species.   Good Birding.   Bob Keiffer.



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

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 -- This morning at about 09:30 I saw a juvenile COMMON
MOORHEN on the east end of the south pond at the Ukiah Sewage Treatment
Plant.   It was associating with coots and staying mostly hidden in the
emergent vegetation.  This species seem to be becoming more abundant in
recent years in Mendocino County.  This year I believe I have seen about
seven individuals in four different locations.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

American Wigeon   3,   Northern Pintail   4,   Mallard   60,   Cinnamon Teal
2,   Northern Shoveller   150,   Green-winded Teal   40,   Ring-necked Duck
10,   Greater Scaup   2,   Bufflehead   1,   Ruddy Duck   3,   Pied-billed
Grebe   1,   Eared Grebe   1,   Snowy Egret   1,   Turkey Vulture   1,
American Coot   50,   COMMON MOREHEN   1,   Killdeer   15,   Least Sandpiper
2,   Dunlin   4,   dowitcher sp   2,   Wilson's Snipe   5,   Northern
Flicker   1,   Black Phoebe   2,   Western Scrub-Jay   2,   American Crow
4,   Common Raven   1,   Long-billed Marsh Wren   1,   Northern Mockingbird
1,   European Starling   20,   American Pipit   3,   Cedar Waxwing   10,
Audubon's Y-r Warbler   3,   Song Sparrow   3,   Lincoln's Sparrow   1,
White-crowned Sparrow   10,   Golden-crowned Sparrow   5,   Brewer's
Blackbird   5,   House Finch   1.

Thursday - 22 October 2009 - Two Lewis's Woodpecker's were seen along the
LAK/MEN just to the southeast fo the UC-Hopland Research & Extension Center.
These birds are not really chasable by the public, however, I wanted to give
a "heads-up" to everyone to keep an eye out in this species' regular haunts
such as Covelo/Round Valley and the Old River Road between Talmage and
Hopland.   Last winter of 2008/2009 there was only one single LEWO reported
in the county, and that was the one on the King Ranch on the Old River Road.
Perhaps there will be a better winter showing for the species in MEN county
for 2009/2010.

Another unusual sighting that I had was watching 7 American Crows fly from
Sanel Valley up and over the Mayacmas Mountains (at about 2800' elevation)
into LAK County heading towards Clear Lake.  Even though our local crow
flocks are primarily resident, I wonder how much genetic interchange takes
place from immigation/emigration between the main valleys and populations?

Good birding.   Bob Keiffer


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

Hi Birders.  This evening, I rode my bike up to the pond at the end of Burris
Lane, in Potter Valley (Mendocino County).  I found it to be rather more birdy
than the past few times I have been up there.  The clear highlight was a LEWIS'S
WOODPECKER, frequenting some oaks at the top of the hill overlooking the pond. 
On the pond were 32 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 American Wigeon and 8 Mallards, but
only 4 Coots and no Pied-billed Grebes, at least that I saw.

Good birding,

Matt Brady
Potter Valley, MEN





Location:     Potter Valley--Burris Ln. pond
Observation date:     10/24/09
Number of species:     29

American Wigeon - Anas americana     2
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     8
Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris     32
California Quail - Callipepla californica     8
Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii     1
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius     2
American Coot - Fulica americana     4
Lewis's Woodpecker - Melanerpes lewis     1     My first for this location in a
very, very long time.
Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivorus     4
Nuttall's Woodpecker - Picoides nuttallii     2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [cafer Group]     9
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans     2
Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya     1
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) - Aphelocoma californica californica     3
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     2
Common Raven - Corvus corax     6
Oak Titmouse - Baeolophus inornatus     6
White-breasted Nuthatch (Pacific) - Sitta carolinensis [aculeata Group]     3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula     3
Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana     2
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     80
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris     200
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) - Dendroica coronata auduboni     20
Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus     1
California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis     1
White-crowned Sparrow (Puget Sound) - Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis     10
Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla     45
House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus     5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)





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

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 -- At 12:12 p.m. today Paul Hawks found a male PHAINOPEPLA
on Burris Lane in Potter Valley.  It was in some small oaks along the lane
about 100 feet west of mailbox 12000.  This is in the level section along
the vineyard and beyond the barn. He saw it fly off to the north to an oak
in the vineyard and return to the same tree along the road.
    I ran in to Paul shortly afterwards and went back to look for it.  I
refound it easily at about 12:35 in the same tree. It was making the
characteristic, upward-inflected call note repeatedly, which led me right to
it.  While I was watching, it flew south across the lower pasture and into
the oaks along the creek, where I lost it.  I looked again about 1:30 p.m.
and scoped the trees to the south to no avail. Perhaps someone with better
hearing could pick it up at that distance.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

Mon Oct 26, 2009--I observed 2 juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on the Noyo
River at around 2:30 PM today. The location was the Dolphin RV Park and Marina
which is as far as you can drive up the Noyo off the Highway 20 entrance. David
Jensen told me about the BCNH roost at this location last month. BCNHs are
listed as rare in Mendocino County with no nesting records. David thinks that he
may have seen juveniles at that location this last summer. He is going to talk
to the owner of the kayak company located at the marina to see if she has
pictures and dates of juvenile BCNHs from earlier in the year.


Richard Hubacek
Little River

Spent 2 hours on Burris Lane this morning looking and listening for a
Phainopepla. Did not find it. Did however, see 4 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS
to the north of Burris Lane while scanning treetops.

Kathy Parker
Los Gatos

28 October 2009, 1:45pm
Gualala

Hello -

A juvenile Sooty Grouse ran into one of our living room windows and then flew
into a redwood across our driveway.  This happened about 40 minutes ago
(1:05pm).  The bird is still perched in the redwood.  If anyone is interested in
VERY good looks of Sooty Grouse please feel free to call me at 884-9973.

I'll post an update again shortly and I'll post some photos.

Rich Trissel
Gualala (Fish Rock Road)

2:05p

Hello -

The Sooty Grouse is still here but has moved out of the redwood and is walking
across the property towards the thick brush.

Good Birding,

Rich

There appear to be 2 colonies of black-crowned night herons on the lower
portion of the Noyo River.  I have been watching them for 3 years now
from a kayak and from shore.  The one colony is in the "magic corner" of
the Noyo River by the former launch ramp of Dolphin Isle Marina.  The
other is across the river from the main mooring basin.

Lately some of the BCNH's have been active in the mid to late afternoon,
but typically they become active around dusk.  Morning birders may catch
glimses of the BCNH's before they tuck into the fir trees for the day.
During the day, we consistently see them in their roosts from kayaks in
the river.

I suspect that they are nesting on the Noyo and have a couple of ideas
where their nests are but have not seen an actual nest.  Here is a link
<http://www.examiner.com/ExaminerSlideshow.html?entryid=502747&slide=2>
to a photo that a visitor took of a juvenile during one of our sunset
bird paddles this summer.

Best of days,

Cate

Liquid Fusion Kayaking <http://www.liquidfusionkayak.com/>








--- In Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com, "richhubie" <richhubie@...> wrote:
>
> Mon Oct 26, 2009--I observed 2 juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on
the Noyo River at around 2:30 PM today. The location was the Dolphin RV
Park and Marina which is as far as you can drive up the Noyo off the
Highway 20 entrance. David Jensen told me about the BCNH roost at this
location last month. BCNHs are listed as rare in Mendocino County with
no nesting records. David thinks that he may have seen juveniles at that
location this last summer. He is going to talk to the owner of the kayak
company located at the marina to see if she has pictures and dates of
juvenile BCNHs from earlier in the year.
>
>
> Richard Hubacek
> Little River
>




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

28 October 2009 - The topic of Black-crowned Night Herons in Mendocino
County is of great interest concerning the archived records.  In the past
decades, this species was always considered rather unusual and somewhat of a
"target bird" for those who took their Mendocino County year list seriously.
In the last decade more communal roosts have been discovered thus making
this bird easier to find during the late summer/fall/winter.   The recent
posts have brought a couple of these communal roosts to the forefront, and
though known to individuals, these roosts had never been "documented" before
in county bird records.   This is great.



Breeding is suspected in the county as immatures have been seen many times
during the fall and winter periods . however, keep in mind that these
immatures are quite capable of arriving from elsewhere (immigration).   But,
they are probably local resident birds.



To my recollection, I don't believe that we have any documentation of actual
nests, eggs,  or juveniles (young before they can fly) in the county.   Yet,
this species most probably does nest here.  Nesting however, will not occur
at the fall/winter communal roost areas, and of course happens in spring and
early summer.



Good birding.  Bob Keiffer



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

Just for the record, I have a White -throated sparrow in my hedgerow
this morning, 10/29 in GlenBlair.  His markings are bright and bold.
I'd like to think it's the little fellow who spent last winter here,
hoping he'll stay.

Becky Stenberg
GlenBlair

TOP CALIFORNIA EXPERT ON PEREGRINE FALCONS TO SPEAK IN UKIAH

The peregrine falcon, sometimes referred to as "master of the hunt," is the
fastest bird on earth. Capable of diving at speeds up to 273 miles per hour and
cruising horizontally at up to 68 miles per hour, this raptor hunts other birds,
often killing them during a high-speed dive with a single blow of its balled-up
talons. Once common in North America, peregrines were virtually extinct in the
East by 1965; by 1975 western populations had fallen by 90%. The culprit? DDT
and other environmental toxins.

Thanks to hard-working scientists and amateur bird lovers, these noble birds of
prey have made a spectacular recovery in the west. In fact, it is now possible
to see them regularly in Mendocino County, where we have more nesting pairs than
any other county in the nation. Dr. Monte Kirven, a key figure in California's
peregrine falcon success story, will give a slide presentation in Ukiah on
Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m., at the Ukiah Civic Center. Dr. Kirven helped pass
the federal legislation that banned DDT and spent many years studying the
peregrine population in Mendocino County.

This Peregrine Audubon Society presentation is free to the public, but donations
are welcome. For more information please go to www.peregrineaudubon.org.

The question of the lack of breeding records for Black-crowned Night
Herons in Mendocino County has puzzled me for a number of years over here on
the western edge of the county.  On 11 May 2005 a fresh juvenile with a
little clinging down showed up in my Potter Valley yard next to the Red Post
Vineyard pond.  This seems pretty early in the year for it to have dispersed
very far from the nesting area, and it started me wondering if there could
be local nesting - perhaps along the Russian River in Potter Valley.
      The closest nesting area that I am aware of is in Lake County along
Scotts Creek near the intersection of Route 20 and Scotts Valley Road.
There was a sizeable nesting colony there in at least 2007 and 2008.  This
is 3.2 mi. from the Mendocino line and about 11 miles from my home.  It
could be the source of juveniles seen here and at Lake Mendocino, but local
nesting seems more likely to me.
      If our Mendobirds members are sensitized to this issue, maybe we can
nail the question down in the next breeding season.  If they are nesting in
the county, they seem to have slipped under the radar so far.  We should
report all spring and summer records of this species.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

It took me years to find night-herons in Clear Lake area, but I now see them
a lot.  Could it be that the species is increasing its range/population?
Any evidence for an increase?



John Sterling

VVVVVVVVVV



26 Palm Ave

Woodland, CA  95695

cell 530 908-3836

jsterling@...





From: Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of George Chaniot
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 3:31 PM
To: Mendobirds
Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Black-crowned Night Heron comment





The question of the lack of breeding records for Black-crowned Night
Herons in Mendocino County has puzzled me for a number of years over here on
the western edge of the county. On 11 May 2005 a fresh juvenile with a
little clinging down showed up in my Potter Valley yard next to the Red Post
Vineyard pond. This seems pretty early in the year for it to have dispersed
very far from the nesting area, and it started me wondering if there could
be local nesting - perhaps along the Russian River in Potter Valley.
The closest nesting area that I am aware of is in Lake County along
Scotts Creek near the intersection of Route 20 and Scotts Valley Road.
There was a sizeable nesting colony there in at least 2007 and 2008. This
is 3.2 mi. from the Mendocino line and about 11 miles from my home. It
could be the source of juveniles seen here and at Lake Mendocino, but local
nesting seems more likely to me.
If our Mendobirds members are sensitized to this issue, maybe we can
nail the question down in the next breeding season. If they are nesting in
the county, they seem to have slipped under the radar so far. We should
report all spring and summer records of this species.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA





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Floyd Hayes just called. He has found a FRANKLIN'S GULL on the roof of Wal Mart
in Clearlake.
He estimates there are a 1000 gulls there at this time. This is the 3rd county
record.

                                                                           Jerry
White for Floyd Hayes

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Sat Oct 31, 2009--Most of the reported HOODED MERGANSERS have been in the inland
area. I had 5 this morning on a small pond just west of the Little River
Airport. One breeding plumage male and 4 females. Will post a couple of pictures
shortly.

Richard Hubacek
Little River