Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Point Reyes Birding & Nature
Festival to be held April 27-29.  Visit
http://www.pointreyesbirdingfestival.org/site/ .  The events and
registration-links may be found by clicking the day of the festival
(Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday).
Please direct any questions to Amy Trainer, Executive Director of the
Festival at amy@... .
Will WilsonCorte Madera


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Thanks to Rich Kuehn's phone call, I saw several large flocks of Canada Geese
flying northward yesterday. One flock had 400+ birds. It was interesting to see
the large V followed by a long single line of these Geese. As they passed by
Fish Rocks, which is near Anchor Bay, the birds dipped down and flew lower, just
above the ocean. Yes, Canada Geese are on the move. An interesting note, perhaps
- Rich saw the largest group passing by his Sea Ranch home at 11:35 am. I saw
them off of Anchor Bay at 11:53 am.

And Beth Petit reported that Al, our favorite Laysan Albatross, returned to the
waters off the Point Arena Pier Tuesday between 1 pm and 4 pm.

Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay

Al was not at the cove yesterday - Wednesday or today as of noon.  We'll check
again this afternoon. 

 
Good Birding,
Beth and Jeff

________________________________
From: jackson_us <jackson2@...>
To: Mendobirds@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 1:57 PM
Subject: [Mendobirds] Canada Geese on the move! And Al returned on Tuesday
afternoon


 
Thanks to Rich Kuehn's phone call, I saw several large flocks of Canada Geese
flying northward yesterday. One flock had 400+ birds. It was interesting to see
the large V followed by a long single line of these Geese. As they passed by
Fish Rocks, which is near Anchor Bay, the birds dipped down and flew lower, just
above the ocean. Yes, Canada Geese are on the move. An interesting note, perhaps
- Rich saw the largest group passing by his Sea Ranch home at 11:35 am. I saw
them off of Anchor Bay at 11:53 am.

And Beth Petit reported that Al, our favorite Laysan Albatross, returned to the
waters off the Point Arena Pier Tuesday between 1 pm and 4 pm.

Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay




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I've been watching very tired, distressed juvenile male SURF SCOTER in the
shallows by the picnic tables in Lake Cleone in MacKerricher park for the past
several days. Mostly he just slept. The good news is that yesterday he was
diving and and hunting. He seemed to be able to handle the 2 foot warm calm
water which must be a nice break from that pounding surf on the ocean. I think
he is going to make it.

Also two female teals were seen which I tentatively identified as BLUE-WINGED
TEALS, but don't hold me to it.

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 -- About noon today I had a FERRUGINOUS HAWK over my yard
in Potter Valley.  It was about treetop level when I picked it up, but it
spiraled up on a thermal almost out of sight and the glided out far to the
north.  I think this is only the second time I've seen one from the yard
since 1978.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

Sat, 25 February 2012 -- Bob and Ryan Keiffer birded along Hwy 101 at
the re-named Frog Woman Rock.  Three WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS
were seen flying and chattering.  Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were on
the rock.  Two AMERICAN DIPPERS (beautifully singing) were below
on the Russian River.  Also on the river was a male HOODED MERGANSER
and COMMON MERGANSERS. 

For Bob and Ryan Keiffer


(K Havlena)

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25 Feb 2012 -- I neglected to give a location for Frog Woman Rock in
the post for Bob and Ryan Keiffer's White-throated Swifts.  The huge
rock along Hwy 101 used to be known as Squaw Rock.  It is a few
miles north of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line near Commiskey
Station Rd and Pieta Creek.  This area is south of Hopland, but I
don't know a specific mile marker (guessing around mm 8).  Sorry
that I can't be more specific, but the renamed Frog Woman Rock
is huge -- you can't miss it.

K Havlena

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Monday February 27, 2012 - We have had both male and female Selasphorus
here pretty steadily through the last half of the month, whenever I have
had time to check for them.  Mostly we have had one or two male Allen's
and one or two female S. sp.  Today however there is a bright orange
male Rufous Hummingbird, who has taken over a feeder (displacing the
Allen's who previously held that territory), and at least three
different male Allen's, along with an undetermined number of female
Selasphorus.

It looks like the Allen's may be here to stay - at least one of these
males appears to have been holding the same territory for several days
now.  It will be interesting to keep track of the Rufous and see when
the last one leaves.

Cheers,
Tim Bray
Middle Ridge, Albion


On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 7:40 PM, K A Havlena <kahavlena@...
<mailto:kahavlena@...>> wrote:

     I have already seen a male ALLEN'S HUMMER.  North of us, they are
     beginning
     to see RUFOUS Hummers, too.  Please report to Mendobirds ASAP if you see
     a hummingbird with ORANGE sides, especially in February.
     Thanks,
     Karen Havlena (per eBird request of Chuck Vaughn).

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 -- Bird numbers are changing along the coast.  Our wintering
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS had dwindled to 1, but today there are 8 males
and a couple of females in the yard.  Two male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS
are around the neighborhood.  The wintering (3rd yr) N MOCKINGBIRD is still
at Ocean Meadows Cir & Hwy 1.  Also, the number of AM ROBINS has increased
from our usual 3 birds to 32.

Karen Havlena
Ocean Meadows/Ten Mile Area
North of Fort Bragg, MEN, California

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Yesterday, 2.27.12, at 2 pm, there was an Aleutian Cackling Goose at the Gielow
pond with the Canada Geese.  The Snow Goose and the Greater White-fronted Goose
were not present.  The Geilow pond is on the west side of Old River Rd, directly
south of Talmage about 2 miles at the junction of Geilow Lane.  Sorry for the
delayed post.

Dave Bengston
Ukiah

Here is the latest on the owls from FWS.

http://www.fws.gov/cno/press/release.cfm?rid=363

Sarah, PT
Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday, Feb. 28 -- A brightly colored male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD visited my feeder
this morning, the first Selasphorus hummer I've seen here this year.  Hope he
stays around!

Carolyn Kinet
Inglenook

Al hasn't been at the Point Arena Cove since Tuesday, Feb 21st in the afternoon
and before that he was gone for 3 days.  We're keeping a log on sighting and
going there in the am and pm daily.  Including the weather, wind, waves and
swells.
 
Good Birding,
Beth and Jeff

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Wed Feb 29, 2012--This morning I was able to do some birding at Rose Memorial
Park. I was able to find the first year YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER which now looks
like it's going to be a female. Found a female WESTERN TANAGER (had a male two
weeks ago), a continuing NASHVILLE WARBLER and the female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. If
this wasn't a Leap Year I guess we could say that these birds overwintered. Also
had a MERLIN fly through to make things interesting. I did not find the (being
reviewed) Baltimore Oriole but did observe what appeared to be an oriole fight
in the pines near the tracks. I did not have time to chase them.

I was expecting the Banksia Trees to be a Selasphorus Mecca but found only three
ANNA'S.

Richard Hubacek
Little River

29 February 2012 -- Two Aleutian and 4 Minima CACKLING GEESE were in the pasture
to
the east of Hwy 1 at mm 70.32.  Four TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS were in the yard, and
the 1 wintering SNOWY EGRET was down by the river, just east of Ten Mile River
bridge.

Karen Havlena
Ocean Meadows / Ten Mile River Area
North of Fort Bragg, MEN, Ca

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Sat, 3 March 2012 -- Dorothy Tobkin called that 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS
are back with 10 BLACK SCOTERS off the north end of Ward Ave, Cleone.
These are probably the same two LTDUs that appear and reappear at this
location.  They probably just move to locations close by, but not actively
monitored by birders.

Ward Avenue is at the south end of Ten Mile Beach and north of Lake
Cleone in MacKerricher State Park.

For Dorothy Tobkin

(K Havlena)
North of Fort Bragg, MEN, Ca

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Mel Smith called to say two Violet-green Swallows arrived Saturday, MARCH 3rd at
his home in Point Arena.

Beth Petit reports that Al, our favorite Laysan Albatross was in residence on
Friday, MARCH 2nd, from 8 am to 4 pm, so he/she hasn't left us yet. The bird was
AWOL for nine days. Just where does Al go?!

Though not a bird sighting, numerous sightings of Gray Whale moms and their
calves headed north. Today should be another great day to see them if that fog
bank doesn't move in.

Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay

The Great Blue Herrons are returning to their rookery on Big River estuary (just
south of Mendocino across from the east parking lot). See picture post below of
a lone male/female looking hopeful on the top of a doug fir.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/album/169685695/pic/1373916279/v\
iew?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

Also the odd "Taiga" varient of the Fox Sparrow persists in my backyard. Better
picture posted below. An elusive bird that has been making it tough to get a
good photograph.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/photos/album/169685695/pic/2076832640/v\
iew?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

March, 8, 2012 I believe it is a Rufous because I didn't see any green on its
back but I can't be sure as the light wasn't very good. But definitely either an
Allen's or a Rufous was fighting with one of our resident Anna's over one of our
feeders here in Anchor Bay. I'll try to get a picture but these guys are moving
fast! Lots of tail displaying - for a second or two.

Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay

California Department of Fish and Game News Release
March 7, 2012

Media Contact:
Tina Bartlett, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 358-2898
Harry Morse, DFG Communications, (916) 323-1478

Revised Burrowing Owl Report Now Available

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released the 2012 Burrowing Owl
Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation, a revision of a 1995 report on
the species. The release of the revised report coincides with the beginning
of burrowing owl breeding season, which begins as early as Feb. 1, 2012 in
California.

The report is located on the DFG website at
www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/docs/BUOWStaffReport.pdf.

The Burrowing Owl Consortium, an ad hoc group of burrowing owl biologists
and advocates in the San Francisco Bay Area, prepared the first Burrowing
Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines in 1993. DFG’s 1995 report
followed, describing burrowing owl and burrow survey techniques and
mitigation measures intended to offset the loss of habitat and slow or
reverse further decline of this species. Notwithstanding these measures,
burrowing owls have continued to decline in portions of their range.

DFG revised the report to address this concern. The report provides greater
detail and clarity than was available in the 1995 version of the report and
summarizes the best currently available science for evaluating project
sites for burrowing owl habitat, occupancy, conducting habitat assessments
and conducting burrowing owl surveys. The report also summarizes best
management practices developed over the last 16 years to improve the
adequacy of project impacts assessments, to identify clear and effective
avoidance and minimization measures and to create burrowing owl mitigation
recommendations that ensure impacts to burrowing owls are effectively
addressed at the project, local and/or regional level.


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Thur, 8 March 2012 -- Dorothy Tobkin called with some birds she
saw at high tide at Laguna Point.  The ROCK SANDPIPER was
on the large rock just north of the platform.  Close to shore, six
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES & fifteen ANCIENT MURRELETS
were visible.

Take Mill Creek Drive west from Hwy 1 to its end.  There is an
elevated walkway out to the point.  This is about 4 miles north
of Fort Bragg.

for Dorothy Tobkin


(K Havlena)
Fort Bragg, Calif

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Fri, 09 Mar 2012 -- I stopped this morning at the quarry rapids on Potter
Valley Road and found an AMERICAN DIPPER gathering mouthfuls of moss and
carrying them to a hidden location a short ways upstream from the main
rapids.
      In the afternoon at Lake Mendocino Jan and I saw a ROSS'S GOOSE grazing
with a group of Canada Geese on the shore south of the Pomo Day-Use area. At
the Oak Grove parking lot there was a single CACKLING GOOSE with another
group of Canadas.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

Hi

Myself and three other Brits are arriving in California on March 13 and heading
up to Point Reyes area. Any recent updates on "Al" would be much appreciated. I
see a Rock Sandpiper is at Fort Bragg - any chances closer to P Reyes? - a bird
I haven't seen since Alaska in 1986!

Many thanks
Dave

This was sent to me today. I thought you'd be interested in Jason's report. To
those interested in traveling here to see Al, we have several storms in our
forecast. Al/Alice usually is AWOL during storms. Why the bird has been gone so
much this winter is a mystery.
            Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay p.s. Al left last year on March 28th.

Hi Jeanne,

I am Jason. I work at the municipal pier in Point Arena. One of the many joys of
my job is the amount of time I get to see Al... but this year has been odd. Al
has not spent as much time inside the cove.
  From my prior seasons watching Al and his habits, he seems to be aware of
approaching weather conditions and will depart before a major wind or swell
shift arrives. I suspect he has a few local hidey-holes with fishermen reporting
seeing him inside the Sea Lion Cove last year. As the weather systems cleared,
he would rest in his usual place just off to the north of the pier.
The only thing I can think is we have not had many 'clear spots' in the weather
window, and Al has been here on those times, but he has missed a few 'clear
spots' as well.
  Now sometimes on recent 'clear spot' days I have had reports of Al being
spotted offshore by the fishermen a couple miles out and to the north... so
maybe folks along the coast in the Irish Beach / Elk area should take a look
around offshore for the unexpected Al B. flyby?
  I will look through my logsheets from last year soon to recall when his last
sighting here happened, but I think he was still with us for a bit into April
(?) so I think we still have some time for our Al visits.

Jason
Point Arena Harbor Office

Today, Jack Booth & I birded North Cow Mt. on Mendo Rock Rd.  On the Mendocino
Co portion (6,65 miles) we saw 6 California Thrashers and 8 Sage Sparrows.

On the Lake Co portion (3.35 miles), we saw 2 California Thrashers, 2 Mt Quail,
and 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks.  We looked but saw no BG Gnatcatchers.

To get to Mendo Rock Rd, go south from Talmage on Old River Rd about 1/2 mile
and turn left on Mill Cr Rd.  Go past all the ponds and the county park to the
fork for north and south Cow Mt.  Turn left up the steep dirt road. It's 8 miles
long. 4-W drive & map recommended.

Dave Bengston
Ukiah

Thanks to those who posted - we will keep abreast of postings once in
California. here's hoping!

Dave

Greetings Mendobirders-  I saw a WARBLING VIREO early this morning in the
area of the sag ponds at the UC Hopland Center.  It subsequently sang
several times.  This is the first-of-spring for me, and the earliest I
have ever seen one by a full week.  There was also an ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER trilling in the area.

Chuck


--
Chuck and Barbara Vaughn
Ukiah, CA

14 March 2012 - Wednesday - One adult ROSS'S GOOSE was with Canada Geese in the
Crofoot Ranch pasture along highway 101 4 miles north of Hopland
This afternoon.   Good Birding!   Bob Keiffer.


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15 March 2012 - Thursday - 2:00-3:00PM - one adult BALD EAGLE atop an oak tree
on the southeast side of University Road, Hopland.    I usually do not report
bald eagles in usual places any longer, but since there have been a couple
mortalities in the vicinity over the last couple of years, it has been some time
since I have seen one at this location.  I was sure that I heard the BAEA at
this location last evening, but I could not spot it, so I was relieved to
actually see it today.   It is the only observation that I have had at this
location this winter.   The location is about ½ mile east on University Road,
which heads east off Old River Road near Hwy 175, Hopland.

Good birding.  Bob Keiffer.


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Thu Mar 15, 2012--There was a banded adult WESTERN GULL at Van Dame Beach at
approx. 2:00 PM today. This was a different bird then the Western Gull I
nicknamed Wes that has been appearing at Van Dame for many years. Wes has not
been seen this year. Wes had a black band over a metal band on it's left leg.
The bird today had a blue band on it's right leg and a metal band on it's left.
I could not get the complete band number but the last four numbers are 9550. I
have submitted the record to the Bird Banding Lab to see if that is enough
information to find out the bird's history. Will let you know if I hear
anything.

Richard Hubacek
Little River