This morning there were 11 Hooded Mergansers on Beckstoffer's Pond on Old River
Road.

This is directly south of Talmage about 1 mile on the west side of the road.

Dave Bengston
Ukiah

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 -- Late morning, I saw a "western" PALM WARBLER in
Fort Bragg while on a short detour from running errands.  The tail-flicking
warbler was near Fir & West Streets (actually west of West at a dirt alley
next to the old mill property fence.  The bird flew from a small tree to the
fence, then out into the mill property.  There is an old pond nearby.
 
Also, I drove out Pudding Creek Rd to Bald Hill Rd, where there were 16
CACKLING GEESE with about 120 Canada Geese.

Karen Havlena
Fort Bragg, MEN, Ca

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

November 1, 2012

Today at about 2:30 pm there were 16 WOOD DUCKS and 6 HOODED MERGANSERS at the
lower runoff pond at Mendocino College.  The 3 (resident?) COMMON GALLINULES
were also present in the upper runoff pond.

George Gibbs
Ukiah

Fri, 2 Nov 2012 -- Four, adult male BLACK SCOTERS have arrived at the north
end of Ward Avenue, Cleone.  Having checked this spot several times lately,
today I saw 3-4 flocks of scoters flying south from my window.  I drove directly
to Ward Avenue and scoped the (now) larger groups of Surf Scoters.  While there,
I noticed an adult male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER fly south with another flock
of scoters.  I hoped for, but did not see any Long-tailed Duck(s). 
A COOPER'S HAWK was swooping low over the beach below, chasing a flock of
AMERICAN PIPITS. 
Ward Avenue is a very, short distance north of the main entrance to MacKerricher
State Park on Hwy 1, north of Fort Bragg.

Karen Havlena
North of Fort Bragg, MEN, Ca

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

Jack Booth & I birded the Mendocino Coast today, 11.2.12.  At Laguna Point we
spotted an Elegant Tern from the 1st observation deck looking west.  It was
perched on a rock.  We also saw a Greater-White Fronted Goose directly west of
us on the beach just after we drove under the Old Haul Rd.  going to the parking
lot.  When we returned to the car after hiking out to the Point we were greeted
by the squawks of a Caspian Tern doing circles and then heading west.

Directly at Laguna Point we could see a feeding frenzy to the southwest made up
hundreds of birds, most of them to far to identify to species.  There were gulls
of course, shearwaters, Common Murres, Pelicans, Cormorants, Loons, etc.  All
day long we could see Surf Scoters and Brown Pelicans heading south.

At Mendocino Headlands we refound the Lapland Longspur, a life bird for both of
us.  Thanks to all the people who posted this, including Lisa, Karen & Rich.  It
was just a little ways south of the Memorial.  The only other nice bird there
for us was an American Pipit.

We did not see anything really significant anywhere else.  There was a nice
mixed flock of Kinglets and Red-breasted Nuthatches at the mouth of the Navarro
along with several Pacific Loons.  We found nothing special at Caspar Ponds.  We
could not refind the Palm Warbler as found by Karen Havlena.  We did not see
anything special at Rose Memorial Gardens.

Dave Bengston
Ukiah

 
3 Nov 2012 -- Dorothy Tobkin called that she saw a LONG-TAILED DUCK at the
north end of Ward Avenue, Cleone.  She presumed that it is a female.  She also
saw
the BLACK SCOTERS that I found yesterday.  The LTDU must have arrived today,
since I spent a fair amount of time trying to find one there. See 2 Nov post for
directions.

For Dorothy Tobkin


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

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Saturday 3 November 2012 - While I was looking over the Coots,
Ring-Necked Ducks, and Pied-Billed Grebe on the Caspar Pond, a smaller
rail-like bird briefly swan out of the vegetation on the far shore,
close to the buoy, then disappeared back into the dense greenery.  I had
a pretty good if brief view of it through 12x bins and am 90% sure it
was a juvenile Common Moorhen.  I got the scope out and waited, but of
course it never re-appeared.

At Van Damme there was a lone Brant preening in the kelp.

We looked for the Larkspurs but no luck.

Cheers,
Tim Bray
Albion

Longspur continued yesterday by the monument.

From town of Mendocino, The monument is on Heeser Drive at the first of only 3
or 4 pullouts along Heeser drive (west side of the road).  Its the largest
parking area along the headlands.  The monument is a stone with an engraving/
plaque... (At least that's what we figured...)-not the tiki wood statue...

The bird stayed in the brush (lots of Savannah sparrows in the area too) and
ocasionally flew down toward the lower trails on the bluffs nearer to the ocean,
only to come right back up to the area of the monument.  Each time the bird flew
we heard a distinct call.

Nice to see you Tim!

Sarah Wagner and Dave Flaim
Sent from my iPhone


On Nov 2, 2012, at 10:04 PM, "Dave" <algott@...> wrote:

> Jack Booth & I birded the Mendocino Coast today, 11.2.12. At Laguna Point we
spotted an Elegant Tern from the 1st observation deck looking west. It was
perched on a rock. We also saw a Greater-White Fronted Goose directly west of us
on the beach just after we drove under the Old Haul Rd. going to the parking
lot. When we returned to the car after hiking out to the Point we were greeted
by the squawks of a Caspian Tern doing circles and then heading west.
>
> Directly at Laguna Point we could see a feeding frenzy to the southwest made
up hundreds of birds, most of them to far to identify to species. There were
gulls of course, shearwaters, Common Murres, Pelicans, Cormorants, Loons, etc.
All day long we could see Surf Scoters and Brown Pelicans heading south.
>
> At Mendocino Headlands we refound the Lapland Longspur, a life bird for both
of us. Thanks to all the people who posted this, including Lisa, Karen & Rich.
It was just a little ways south of the Memorial. The only other nice bird there
for us was an American Pipit.
>
> We did not see anything really significant anywhere else. There was a nice
mixed flock of Kinglets and Red-breasted Nuthatches at the mouth of the Navarro
along with several Pacific Loons. We found nothing special at Caspar Ponds. We
could not refind the Palm Warbler as found by Karen Havlena. We did not see
anything special at Rose Memorial Gardens.
>
> Dave Bengston
> Ukiah
>
>


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Nov. 4, 2012 There were at least six Surf Scoters on Clear Lake today. There
were three at the outlet of Kelsey Creek in Clear Lake State Park at the same
location where Chuck Vaughn first observed two on Oct. 21. From the outlet, the
scoters were beyond the small islands to the east. Also at the outlet today were
more than 200 American White Pelicans and three Dunlin.
   There were also three Surf Scoters in Clear Lake offshore from the 3rd St.
Pier at Library Park in downtown Lakeport. Brad Barnwell had found one scoter in
that location on Oct. 30.

David Woodward
Lakeport

 
Mon, 5 Nov 2012 -- This morning we had a pale PALM WARBLER in the front yard.
It appeared to be another immature "Western" female.  The breast streaking was
almost as pale as a female House Finch.  The bright, yellow undertail coverts,
tail
pumping and narrow bill gave it away.  The supercilium was more noticeable on
this bird than the one I saw in Fort Bragg on the 1st.  Yardbird 153.
 
Last night I heard a BARN OWL again.
 
Karen and Jim Havlena
North of Fort Bragg, MEN, Ca

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November 6, 2012

Dear fellow birders,

This morning I birded the fields and dry ponds to the north of the Willits
Skateboard Park. Best bird was an adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker foraging
in the trees along the creek along the east side of the northern dry pond (about
half-way up the east side).  I noticed a few sapsucker holes in the trees along
the creek, so hopefully it will remain for a while.

To get to this area, drive about 1/4 mile east or so from 101 Highway in Willits
on Commercial. Just across the tracks and past the Roots of Motive Power
(trains) area on the left is a skateboard park. Park in the gravel skateboard
park parking lot and walk around the east side of the park. Walk through the
hemlock/teasel via a thin trail into the fields to the north of the park. Past
the large partially covered brush pile are the two dry (for now) old wastewater
ponds.  The pond levees have been roughly mown, so walking is fairly easy. 
Total distance to walk is about 400 to 500 yards, I guess.

Good birding!
Mike Curry
Willits

cell 916-214-8623

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 - On Wednesday I found a PRAIRIE FALCON about one mile up Pine
Avenue sitting on a fence post eating a ground-squirrel. There were at least
three SAY'S PHOEBES along Pine Avenue and a GOLDEN EAGLE sitting conspicuously
in a tree near the end of the pavement.

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 - Today there was a GOLDEN EAGLE diving at ground-squirrels
near the pond on Burris Lane and four LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in the tops of oaks
east of the pond. They are pretty regular and easy to find now.
      Today there was a huge influx of robins with the rain squalls.

George Chaniot

Today I went to the Ukiah Water Treatment Plant, 1st with Roger Foote to lead a
small group of beginners.  Later, I joined up with Jack Booth.  In the 1st group
we saw a large kettle of Turkey Vultures - 73.  Later, Jack & I saw 3 Common
Goldeneyes, 3 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, 5 Virginia Rails that were
on the north end of all the ponds, and the usual suspects.

Dave Bengston
Ukiah

November 10 2012.  Highlights from today’s annual Mendocino Coast Audubon
Society field trip to view hawks of the south coast include adult Bald Eagle at
north end of Highway One Navarro River bridge, Ferruginous Hawks north of Irish
Beach, Rough-Legged Hawk from Stoneboro Road, two Pacific Golden-Plovers at
entrance to Point Arena Lighthouse, nine White-Tailed-Black-Shouldered Kites in
the Stornetta fields south of the Garcia River, and, most surprisingly, pleasant
weather with no wind.
Dave Jensen


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Hello All,

This is a heads-up for birders living along the coast, and also anyone who
might be visiting the coast.  ~~~    Vishnu

The International Bird Rescue organization has an ongoing Pelican Project
and they have recently issued a request to the public, and initiated a
contest, to count blue-banded Brown Pelicans. The blue bands are
present on birds
which they have rehabilitated & released and they are trying to track the
movements of these birds. Currently there are 1,000 blue-banded ones. The
lettering on the blue bands is large which makes them relatively easy to
read. Birders likely to encounter Brown Pelicans may want to visit the
International
Bird Rescue website linked below and bookmark it for future reference in
case blue-banded birds are observed.

http://bird-rescue.org/pelican-project/overview.aspx

Report blue-banded pelicans
here.<http://bird-rescue.org/pelican-project/report-blue-banded-pelicans.aspx>


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11 November 2012

Hello,

My wife was hiking around Irish Beach yesterday and reported back that she heard
what she thought was a Sora at the east end of Pomo Lake off Pomo Lake Drive in
Irish Beach.  I went there this afternoon at about 1p and heard 3 (!!) at the
same location.  None of the birds showed themselves but were vocal.

Good Birding,

Rich Trissel
Gualala

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 - Dave Bengston and I birded around SE Potter Valley this
afternoon and saw some nice birds:  At the end of Burris Lane there was an
adult BALD EAGLE and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE soaring together.  We saw two
SAY'S PHOEBES and three LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS.
     Along Pine Avenue we saw two more SAY'S PHOEBES and two FERRUGINOUS
HAWKS.  While we were standing near the Pine Ave. Assn. sign, a PRAIRIE
FALCON buzzed past us so close that we could hear the sound of its wings and
almost feel the rush of air.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

Yesterday, Linda Pittman, Liz West and I birded Lake County. Spent the day
showing Linda all the great places to bird in Lake. What a great day we
had! Plus seeing a variety of Raptors is always a treat. Throughout the day we
saw both SHARP-SHINNED & COOPER'S HAWKS; multiple RED-SHOULDERED & RED-TAILED
HAWKS, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK; both GOLDEN & BALD EAGLES; multiple NORTHERN HARRIERS
& KESTREL'S; 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS,and a few WT KITES. Many of the expected ducks
were at Borax Lake & Detert Reservoir. Only shorebird was a Killdeer. The
Burrowing Owl was a no show today.


Borax Lake highlight included: 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS sitting out (almost
side-by-side) on the mud flats; a HORNED LARK sitting next to one of the tires
on the same mud flats; and at some point a Sharpie flew around the oak trees
next to the lake.

Around the Hidden WTP area we saw the majority of our Raptors including: a
COOPER'S HAWK, both Golden & Bald Eagle, a few AM Kestrels, N. Harriers, RT
Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and lots of Ravens!


Boggs Mt. State Forest also did not disappoint either!  Both Hairy & Downy
Woodpeckers, all 3 nuthatches, Golden-crowned Kinglets, with several Red
Crossbills calling as they flew over.  And new for me was a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE
just sitting quietly on a tree branch in the campground.

Getting closer to 200!

Frances
Lodi, CA

Yesterday the EURASIAN WIGEON continued at the small pond at mm 21 on Highway 29
west of Lower Lake.
The BURROWING OWL was out but just barely visible on Callayomi Road off of Butts
Canyon Road near Middletown. From the residence at 21751 Callayomi Rd there is a
drainage ditch that goes in a southeasterly direction. The owl was on the 4th
dirt mound out, visible from that location. The bird was somewhat easier to see
after driving on south past the house and looking directly across at that
particular mound.
The LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS continue at mm 4.59 on Butts Canyon Road just west of
Detert Reservoir.

At Lakeside County Park late afternoon there were an estimated 1000 Bonaparte's
Gulls. About 500 of these were in a feeding frenzy close to the  swimbeach
shoreline. One of the the birds still had the summer plumage dark hood.  Jerry
White

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

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 - Today I found a road-killed NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL on West
Road in Potter Valley about a mile S. of my home.  It was in an area of oak
woodland with open pastures.  I have heard Saw-whet Owl in this general area
only once in thirty-three years.

George Chaniot
Potter Valley, MEN, CA

11/14/2012 at the quarry near the W. end of Pudding Creek Haul Road, (Fort
Bragg aea) a N.Pygmy Owl was perched atop a small fir tree.  He flew
between a few treetops, I had a good look with binoculars.  Thayer's
birding software calls it uncommon, so I thought I'd post...

Becky Stenberg


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

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012

Dear birders,

I birded the wastewater plant and the skateboard park in Willits this morning. 
A couple of interesting finds:

At the wastewater plant (middle pond), there is a second wigeon (Male Eurasion
Wigeon is still there) with a rufous head that appears to be a cross between an
American Wigeon and a Eurasion Wigeon.  It has a rufous head with a bit of green
aroud the eye, a rufous chest and sides, and a white belly.

At the dry ponds north of the skateboard park, I went looking for the adult male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that I found on the 6th, and was astonished to find a
juvenile (apparent male) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker hanging around with the adult
male!  The juvenile was calling fairly regularly, and the two would chase each
other around once in a while.   I found them on the east side of the southern
end of the south pond.  A creek (now wet) runs along the eastern side of both
ponds, and they apparently forage all along the creek, north to south.

See my previous posts to get directions to either location.  Or call me on my
cell at 916-214-8623.

Good birding!
Mike Curry
Willits

Hi All,
   I thought you might be interested in the observations of the fellow who works
at the Point Arena Pier. Here’s hoping our favorite Laysan Albatross arrives
to grace us with its presence once again.
       Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay

From: Jason
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 8:08 AM
To: Rick & Jeanne Jackson
Subject: Re: Mr. Al B. Tross

       Thanks for the list...

       On my end, we have observed that he usually comes in after the
mid-november 'blows'... maybe the first few days of sustained high winds give
him the soaring winds he needs, or I would guess he is at least making his 'test
flights' around his summer home.

       Well guess what? I see several days of 10-20 as well as 20-30 knot winds
in the upcoming coastal marine outlook. I think we have an opening in the Al
schedule approaching.

       I will keep you posted, and keep my camera handy.

       Jason

       --- On Wed, 11/14/12, Rick & Jeanne Jackson <jackson2@...> wrote:


         From: Rick & Jeanne Jackson <jackson2@...>
         Subject: Mr. Al B. Tross
         To: "Jason Ives" <captainarizona@...>
         Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 3:33 PM


         Hi Jason,
           I thought you might be interested in this list that tracks the comings
and goings of our favorite Albatross. You’ll see the earliest he has arrived
is Nov. 18th. Please let me know if and when you see him!
           Thanks, Jeanne


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

Friday, Nov. 16, 2012.  This morning I noticed what looked like a Grosbeak in my
feeder.  After checking a couple of guides, I thought it was a ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAK, first year male.  Was still not quite sure, but then I watched it fly
into the feeder and saw the rosy-red color under the wings that clinched it.  It
has been around all morning.

Carolyn Kinet
Inglenook - approx. 5 miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1.

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 -- This morning a HOUSE WREN was seen outside our
kitchen windows.  We had a HOWR in 2006 in our yard and neighborhood.
I sent a post about seeing a HOWR to Mendobirds just east of the Haul Rd
near Virgin Cr beach.  Maybe they are here slightly more often than reported.
 
FRIDAY, 16 Nov 2012 -- Over several hours, there were several raptors over
the neighborhood and bluffs in Ocean Meadows: 
2 N HARRIER (M+F), RTHA, 2 RSHA, PEFA, NKES.
 
Karen & Jim Havlena
Ocean Meadows / Ten Mile Area
North of Fort Bragg, MEN, Ca

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

18 November 2012 - (which was yesterday) - the Peregrine Audubon field trip had
a great field trip day to Round Valley (Covelo) yesterday.   I will not include
all of the species, but highlights included:  1 adult Ross's Goose, about 8
Ferruginous Hawks, 1 Prairie Falcon (+ a couple unidentified large falcons), 1
adult Bald Eagle, and 2 Lewis's Woodpeckers.   The highlight of the trip,
however, was a possible CASSIN'S SPARROW along Dobie Lane .... Photos were
taken, notes were written, and referencing is underway.   If our identification
is correct, this will be a very rare find for Northern California.   Rare Birds
of California (WFO 2007) reports 12 accepted records from Southeast Farallon Is.
(SF), 1 from Little River (HUM), and 1 from Mono Lake (MNO) from Northern
California.   There may be recent records that I have not researched.

If anyone cares to look for the bird, enter the Covelo Valley via Calif, State
Route 162, shortly after you enter the valley turn right (east) onto Fairbanks,
follow to the "T" and turn left (north) onto Dobie Lane.   Go 0.3 to 0.4 miles
and look for a yellow ribbon tied to the fence on your left (west).   As you
approach the yellow ribbon you will have passed a long blackberry patch along
the fence, then a patch of teasel, then a short section of grass with seed heads
atop .... This is where the yellow ribbon is.   A poison oak patch is just
beyond that point along the fence.   The bird was at first on the top of the
fence, perched on barbed wire, but then dropped into the weedy field to the west
of the fence.   The bird was coaxed to a tall weed one more time by using a 
Cassin's Sparrow call.

Good birding.  Bob Keiffer   rjkeiffer@...<mailto:rjkeiffer@...>

[Toolkit_Email_Sig_WIN]
Robert J. Keiffer - Superintendent
UC ANR, Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Rd.
Hopland, CA 95449
707-744-1424 ext. 112
Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00

Please check out our Website:   http://ucanr.org/sites/hopland/
Also, take a look at our blog (updated daily):
http://ucanr.org/blogs/Hopland/index.cfm



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

 
19 Nov 2012 -- I spotted likely the same PALM WARBLER seen briefly in
our yard two weeks ago.  Also in attendance was a Dark-eyed "Oregon"
Junco, which is rare in this neighborhood.  Jim managed a quick look
at the warbler.

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

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

19 November 2012 - This is an update on the reported possible Cassin's Sparrow
from Covelo.   Photos and some description notes have been sent to a few
select ornithology experts.    Thus far, Peter Pyle and Guy McCaskie are both
confident that the bird in question is a bright GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.   Pyle
suggests
that is it possibly one of the "bright eastern birds".... and says that similar
birds often mislead interns at the Farallones.   Even though the observation is
not quite as exciting as a Cassin's .... the observation and documentation is
still great for Mendocino County records ... and a great learning experience for
those who saw it.  Good birding.   Bob Keiffer.

[Toolkit_Email_Sig_WIN]
Robert J. Keiffer - Superintendent
UC ANR, Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Rd.
Hopland, CA 95449
707-744-1424 ext. 112
Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00

Please check out our Website:   http://ucanr.org/sites/hopland/
Also, take a look at our blog (updated daily):
http://ucanr.org/blogs/Hopland/index.cfm



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

Looks like others I've seen in CA at this time of year, so would assume that it
is one of our local birds and not from the East

John Sterling

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

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


On Nov 19, 2012, at 4:04 PM, Robert Keiffer <rjkeiffer@...> wrote:

> 19 November 2012 - This is an update on the reported possible Cassin's Sparrow
from Covelo. Photos and some description notes have been sent to a few
> select ornithology experts. Thus far, Peter Pyle and Guy McCaskie are both
confident that the bird in question is a bright GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Pyle
suggests
> that is it possibly one of the "bright eastern birds".... and says that
similar birds often mislead interns at the Farallones. Even though the
observation is not quite as exciting as a Cassin's .... the observation and
documentation is still great for Mendocino County records ... and a great
learning experience for those who saw it. Good birding. Bob Keiffer.
>
> [Toolkit_Email_Sig_WIN]
> Robert J. Keiffer - Superintendent
> UC ANR, Hopland Research & Extension Center
> 4070 University Rd.
> Hopland, CA 95449
> 707-744-1424 ext. 112
> Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00
>
> Please check out our Website: http://ucanr.org/sites/hopland/
> Also, take a look at our blog (updated daily):
http://ucanr.org/blogs/Hopland/index.cfm
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>



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

Checking feeders in my FB yard, today I had a White-throated Sparrow along with
the usual crowned sparrows, D-E Juncos, Pine Siskins, goldfinch, etc.  First
Wh-th Sparrow for my yard list.  Good birding and happy Thanksgiving to all.
Roger Adamson in Fort Bragg