Hi,

The 2006 North American Butterfly Association (NABA) biennial meeting has been
moved from Kernville, California to western Massachusetts.

The above is due to the fact that the only Kernville meeting place large
enough
to accommodate the expected 200-225 attendees will be closed January through
September 2006 for major renovations.

Although Kernville may be considered for a future NABA biennial meeting,
existing Kern River Valley facilities may prove to be too small to accommodate
the rapidly growing attendance at NABA biennial meetings.

Thank you to NABA President Jeff Glassburg and NABA Board Member Fred Heath
for
their efforts to have Kernville serve as the initial location for the 2006
NABA
meeting.

Jeff Glassburg invites all of us in California to attend the 2006 NABA meeting
in western Massachusetts and search for, among others, Bog Elfins and Early
Hairstreaks.

Happy and Productive Butterflying,

Bob Barnes & Associates
P.O. Box 953, Weldon, CA 93283
FedEx/UPS: 1009 Las Cruces Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555
E-mail: bbarnes@...
Phone: (760) 375-6140
Web Sites:
http://www.valleywild.org
http://www.kernvalleyvision.org

Birders:  I spent the day with Brad Hannink and Gary File in the area
of Trail of 100 Giants, in Tulare County, northeast of Bakersfield, in
the mountains.  At Holey Meadow, Brad spotted two PILEATED
WOODPECKERS - an adult male feeding what must have been a juvenile
male.  At the same time, we heard at least one other bird in the
surrounding trees.  It was Brad's first birding excursion!  How many
birders get a Pileated Woodpecker on their first birding trip?  Pretty
amazing.  Trail of 100 Giants is open and now fully accessible to
wheelchairs.  The thinning and felling of old trees is NOT obtrusive.
There are still plenty of dead snags.  Birding, however, was very slow
at the trail, proper.  The meadows along the way were much more
productive, with 7 warbler species seen.  And the temperature never
exceeded 70 degrees!
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

Status & Distribution report from the Kern River Parkway through
Bakersfield...

5:30am-7:30am, Tu, 5 Jul 06, Kern River Parkway between Manor St. and Chester
Ave., Bakersfield ... Wood Duck 1 (female), Yellow-breasted Chat 1,
Black-headed Grosbeak 3, Blue Grosbeak 5.

6:35am-7:35am, We, 6 Jul 05, Kern River Parkway at west end of Truxton Lakes,
Bakersfield ... GREATER ROADRUNNER 1, HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (male), Yellow
Warbler
2 (singing males), Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (ad. male & fledgling), Lesser
Goldfinch 2 (pair copulating).

The Chat and grosbeaks continued from spring at Manor St.

The Yellow Warblers and BH Grosbeaks continued from spring at Truxton Lakes.

It is particularly great to see the above species set up territories in this
parkway that is adjacent to urban surroundings. But, with the number of
Brown-headed Cowbirds present, who knows what species of young were raised. At
least there was one HY BH Grosbeak.

The Greater Roadrunner and Hairy Woodpecker at Truxton Lakes were surprises.
The roadrunner apparently wandered along the corridor from to the east or to
the west a few miles or more. The Hairy Woodpecker seemed far out onto the San
Joaquin Valley floor. The Hairy Woodpecker was last seen at this location
on 21
Apr 05 (Brenda Kyle) and 27 Apr 05 (Bob Barnes & Rachel del Rio).

Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes & Associates
P.O. Box 953, Weldon, CA 93283
FedEx/UPS: 1009 Las Cruces Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555
E-mail: bbarnes@...
Phone: (760) 375-6140
Web Sites:
http://www.valleywild.org
http://www.kernvalleyvision.org

Today, Thursday, 7/7/05, we saw the following birds on the eastern Kern
Desert:
(A) At the Department of Water and Power on Jawbone Canyon Road we saw one
male Hooded Oriole which may be the same one reported on 6/29/05, Western
Kingbirds, and two Great Horned Owls. We viewed these birds from outside the
gate
since this is private property.
(B) In California City north of McDonald's we saw at least four Barn Owls and
  Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
(C) At California City Central Park we saw one Barn Swallow flying over the
water and beneath the yellow bridge, the continuing Tundra Swan, and Bullock's
Orioles.
(D) At Galileo Hill we saw one male Western Tanager in a small tree at the
south end of the long mound of dirt near the petting zoo and Black-throated
Sparrows near the Pavilion.
                                                           Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                           Bakersfield


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Giant Sequoia National Monument - South Butterfly Count

Center: 36 degrees, 00'N, 118 degrees, 29'W, 1.25 mi. E of Elephant Knob,
Sequoia National Forest, Tulare Co., CA

Time/Day/Date: 8:30am-6:15pm, Sunday, July 3, 2005

Temperature: 70-90 degrees F

13 Observers in 3-6 Parties: Bob Barnes, Ken Davenport, Joan Franco, Mary
Freeman, Nick Freeman, Akemi Hatakeyama, Fred Heath, Tommye Hite, Margaret
Huffman, Mary Sue Miller, Becky Schwiebert,  Susan Steele, Steve Summers

Adult Butterflies:
Clodius Parnassian 59, Black Swallowtail 1, Anise Swallowtail 10, Indra
Swallowtail 1, Western Tiger Swallowtail 66, Two-tailed Swallowtail 9, Pale
Swallowtail 20, Spring White 1, Checkered White 25, Cabbage White 4, Large
Marble 4, 'Pacific' Sara Orangetip 6, Orange Sulphur 167, 'Harford's' Queen
Alexandra's Sulphur 3, Tailed Copper 1, Great Copper 53, Gorgon Copper 3,
California Hairstreak 43, Sylvan Hairstreak 12, Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak
296, Hedgerow Hairstreak 49, Brown Elfin 4, Western Pine Elfin 7, Thicket
Hairstreak 2, 'Nelson's' Juniper Hairstreak 13, Gray Hairstreak 1, Marine Blue
3, Spring Azure 40, 'Bernardino' Square-spotted Blue 1, Dotted Blue 6,
Arrowhead Blue 6, Silvery Blue 3, Melissa Blue 35, Greenish Blue 248,
Boisduval's Blue 10, Acmon Blue 243, Lupine Blue 1, Arctic Blue 11, Callipe
Fritillary 75, Hydaspe Fritillary 2, Pacific Fritillary 15, Northern
Checkerspot 2, Field Crescent 22, Mylitta Crescent 23, Variable Checkerspot 2,
Edith's Checkerspot 4, Satyr Comma 1, Hoary Comma 11, California Tortoiseshell
12, Mourning Cloak 7, Milbert's Tortoiseshell 5, American Lady 3, Painted Lady
14, West Coast Lady 6, Red Admiral 2, Common Buckeye 57, Lorquin's Admiral 18,
California Sister 42, 'California' Common Ringlet 49, Great Basin
Wood-Nymph 1,
Monarch 12, Silver-spotted Skipper 5, Mexican Cloudywing 11, Propertius
Duskywing 4, Pacuvius Duskywing 18, Funereal Duskywing 7, Persius Duskywing
30,
Two-banded Checkered-Skipper 4, Northern White-Skipper 23, Common Sootywing 1,
Juba Skipper 2, Common Branded Skipper 2, Sandhill Skipper 2, Sonora Skipper
45, Rural Skipper 3, Umber Skipper 1...76 species, c. 2010 individuals...

Bob Barnes & Associates
P.O. Box 953, Weldon, CA 93283
FedEx/UPS: 1009 Las Cruces Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555
E-mail: bbarnes@...
Phone: (760) 375-6140
Web Sites:
http://www.valleywild.org
http://www.kernvalleyvision.org

North Fork Kern River Valley Butterfly Count

Center: 35 degrees, 46'N; 118 degrees, 28'W (Bull Run Creek just NW of
Kernville in Sequoia National Forest, Kern Co., CA)

Time/Day/Date: 7am-5pm, Saturday, July 2, 2005

Temperature: 71-94 degrees F, Wind: W/NW at 0-12 mph

12 Observers in 2-3 Parties: Bob Barnes, Ken Davenport, Joan Franco, Mary
Freeman, Nick Freeman, Akemi Hatakeyama, Fred Heath, Tommye Hite, Margaret
Huffman, Mary Sue Miller, Becky Schwiebert,  Susan Steele

Adult Butterflies:
Western Tiger Swallowtail 37, Pale Swallowtail 73, Checkered White 95, Orange
Sulphur 40, Tailed Copper 1, Great Copper 2, Gorgon Copper 6, Golden
Hairstreak
2, California Hairstreak 45, Sylvan Hairstreak 10, Mountain Mahogany
Hairstreak
437, Hedgerow Hairstreak 118, Brown Elfin 1, Western Pine Elfin 9, 'Nelson's'
Juniper Hairstreak 9, Gray Hairstreak 2, Marine Blue 3, Spring Azure 69,
'Bernardino' Square-spotted Blue 3, Dotted Blue 5, Greenish Blue 19,
Boisduval's Blue 4, Acmon Blue 200, Lupine Blue 14, Mormon Metalmark 4,
Callipe
Fritillary 17, Pacific Fritillary 45, Northern Checkerspot 3, Field
Crescent 3,
Mylitta Crescent 7, Satyr Comma 1, Hoary Comma 15, Mourning Cloak 1, Milbert's
Tortoiseshell 4, American Lady 4, Painted Lady 11, West Coast Lady 12, Red
Admiral 2, Common Buckeye 48, Lorquin's Admiral 1, California Sister 22,
'California' Common Ringlet 18, Great Basin Wood-Nymph 2, Monarch 3,
Silver-spotted Skipper 1, Propertius Duskywing 4, Pacuvius Duskywing 5,
Funereal Duskywing 1, Northern White-Skipper 23, Fiery Skipper 7, Common
Branded Skipper 6, Sandhill Skipper 17, Sonora Skipper 36, Rural Skipper 1,
Umber Skipper 1... 55 species, c. 1529 individuals...

Bob Barnes & Associates
P.O. Box 953, Weldon, CA 93283
FedEx/UPS: 1009 Las Cruces Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555
E-mail: bbarnes@...
Phone: (760) 375-6140
Web Sites:
http://www.valleywild.org
http://www.kernvalleyvision.org

Today,Sunday, 7/10/05, we saw the following birds at the Kern National
Wildlife Refuge which is located west of Delano where Corcoran Road and Garces
Highway intersect. We also saw a few birds on Garces Highway which we have
noted. There is very little water at the refuge.
Long-billed Curlews -150 plus( seen where Garces Highway and Wildwood Road
intersect )
Ring-necked Ducks (one pair)- 100 yards east from sign post #9
Common Moorhens-3 juveniles
Black-necked Stilt standing over 4 juveniles
Burrowing Owl- 8 -- six at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge and 2 off Garces
Highway
Caspian Terns - 10 plus
Forster's Terns- 5 plus
White-faced Ibis(many)
Snowy Egrets-many
Great Egrets
Gadwalls
Northern Shovelers
American Wigeons
Redheads
Mallards
Black-crowned Night Herons(adults and juveniles)
Tree Swallows
Greater Yellowlegs-3
Oriole Sp.(female)
Bullock's Oriole- 1 male
Tricolored Blackbirds(just a few)
Red-winged Blackbirds
                                    Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                    Bakersfield



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Today,Thursday, 7/14/05, we saw the following birds on the eastern Kern
Desert.
        Galileo Hill:
                         Black-headed Grosbeaks-2 females
                         Barn Owl-1
                         Turkey Vulture-6
                         Chukars-50
                         Western Kingbirds
       California City Central Park:
                         Tundra Swan continues
       North of McDonald's in California City:
                         Yellow-headed Blackbirds
                         Barn Owls-3
      Weather Report-HOT!!!
                                                 Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                 Bakersfield





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Friday, 15 July 05 Sightings
Observers: Bob Barnes & John Vooys, British Columbia

CHUKAR - 20-25 individuals (adults & young) were present at 10:45am this
morning at a stock pond located on the west side of kelso Valley Road less
than
a mile south of Piute Mountain Road.

MOUNTAIN QUAIL - 15-20 (including several adult males) were present at 10:45am
this morning at a stock pond located on the west side of Kelso Valley Road
less
than a mile south of Piute Mountain Road.

LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER - A pair was present at 10:45am this morning in the
Fremont cottonwoods and Kern Joshua trees bordering a stock pond located on
the
west side of kelso Valley Road less than a mile south of Piute Mountain Road.

SOUTHWESTERN WILLOW FLYCATCHER - Several were calling from the area bordering
the forested part of the entrance drive to Kern River Preserve Headquarters
this morning at 9:15am.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER - An adult male was present in the forested portion of
the
Kern River Preserve north of the river and c. 1 mile east of Fay Ranch Road at
6:45am this morning.

BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - An individual of this species was still present at
Audubon's Kelso Creek Sanctuary at 11am this morning. The sanctuary is located
15 miles south of Hwy. 178, just a very few miles north of the Piute Mountain
Road. This is a large riparian patch right across the road from a steep, rocky
hillside (also part of the sanctuary). Ash-throated Flycatchers are also
present.

SUMMER TANAGER - Adult male at Kern River Preserve Headquarters in trees at
south edge of parking lot at 9am this morning.

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK - At least 5 individuals were heading south (c. 10:45am)
through the cottonwood/willow riparian habitat patch bordering a stock pond
located on the west side of kelso Valley Road less than a mile south of Piute
Mountain Road.

BLUE GROSBEAK - 10-15 individuals were on the Kern River Preserve north of the
river and east of Fay Ranch Road 6:15am-8:30am this morning.

INDIGO BUNTING - An adult male (no visible trace of hybridization with Lazuli
Bunting whatsoever) was present at 8:30am this morning on the Kern River
Preserve north of the river and c. 0.5 mile east of Fay Ranch Road at 6:45am
this morning, along the ranch road from the corral to the isolated willow c.
150 m/yds to the east and south to the edge of the forest.

TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD - 20-25 individuals were found foraging on the grass at
Kern County's Scodie Park in Onyx at 2pm this afternoon.

LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH - A few individuals remained on the Kern River Preserve
north of the river and east of Fay Ranch Road 6:15am-8:30am this morning.

Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes

Friday, 15 July 05 Observation
Observer: Terri Middlemiss

LE CONTE'S THRASHER - Terri had FIVE individuals of this species sitting in
one
bush at the north edge of her yard on her ten acre property north of Inyokern.


Saturday, 16 July 05 Observation Highlights
Observers: Bob Barnes & John Vooys, British Columbia

6:30am-7:30am, Yard of Terri Middlemiss, Inyokern, Kern County - Cooper's Hawk
1, Eurasian Collared-Dove 2, Greater Roadrunner 1, Costa's Hummingbird 5-10,
Verdin 2-4, Le Conte's Thrasher 2, Hooded Oriole 1

8am-8:30am, six miles up Nine Mile Canyon Road, Inyo County - Chukar
everywhere, Greater Roadrunner 1, Pinyon Jay 20, Cactus Wren 4, Black-throated
Sparrow 5, Scott's Oriole 1.

9am-9:30am, Chimney Creek Campground, Tulare County - Gray Flycatcher 1,
Plumbeous Vireo 1, Wrentit 1, Sage Sparrow 20-25, Cassin's Finch 1

10am-10:30am, 3-4 miles up Chimney Peak Recreation Area Road (from Hwy. 178),
Kern County - Chukar everywhere, California Quail 5+, Mountain Quail 10+,
Band-tailed Pigeon 1, Wrentit 1, Scott's Oriole 2 (both males)

Today, Thursday, 7/21/05, we saw the following birds on the eastern Kern
Desert.

North of McDonald's in California City:
      Yellow-headed Blackbird
      Barn Owls-3

California City Central Park:
      Tundra Swan-continues on the golf course adjacent to the park
      Cliff Swallow-1
      Great Blue Heron-1

Galileo Hill
      Western Tanagers-few
      Black-headed Grosbeaks-about 15(male and female)
      Bullock's Oriole-1 female
      Greater Roadrunner-2 (one at Galileo Hill and one northeast of
California City Park)
      Western Kingbirds-2
      Northern Harriers-2 juveniles near the Pavilion
      Red-shouldered Hawks-2 (one at Galileo Hill and one north of McDonalds)
      Red-tailed Hawks-2
      Chukars-about 25
      Black-crowned Night Heron-1 juvenile

Weather Report- T00 HOT! One raptor was resting in water by a pond at Galileo
Hill. A Greater Roadrunner was at Galileo Hill resting under a bush. A
Red-shouldered Hawk at Galileo Hill found shade by perching on the lowest rail
of
the fence and letting the upper fence rail provide shade.
                                                 Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                 Bakersfield







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Today, Tuesday, 7/26/05, we saw the following birds on the eastern Kern
Desert:
      California City Central Park
          Yellow Warbler-female first fall
          Warbling Vireo
          Western Tanager-female
          Tundra Swan-still present
     Galileo Hill
          Belted Kingfisher-male
          Phainopepla
          Warbling Vireo
          Western Tanager-1male and 1 female
          Black-headed Grosbeak- male and female
          Red-shouldered Hawk
          Red-tailed Hawk
          Accipiter Species-1
          Chukars
Weather Report: Hot... but tolerable
                                                               Ken and Brenda
Kyle
                                                               Bakersfield


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This evening, 7/26/05, we have returned from the Tule Elk State Reserve
where State Park Ranger William Moffat pointed out a Black-and-white Warbler
which he had found. He asked that we get this information out to other birders.
This warbler spends a lot of time in the trees that are over the wooden fence.
The Tule Elk State Reserve is located 22 miles west of Bakersfield,
California.
      Ken took a photo of this Black-and-white Warbler which he will place
into the kerncobirding photo section later this evening.
      We want to thank Barbara Mansfield for notifying us of State Park Ranger
William Moffat's sighting of the Black-and-white Warbler.
                                                         Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                         Bakersfield


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This morning we placed a photo into the kerncobirding photo section of
the juvenile Cooper's Hawk we saw at Galileo Hill on 7/26/05.
                                                         Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                         Bakersfield


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Today,Thursday, 7/28/05, we saw a male Western Tanager at 1:00 in the
southeast corner of section 13A in Hart Park in Bakersfield. We were just taking
a ride through the park when we spotted it flying in this shaded area. We
watched it fly to various trees in this shaded area.
                                                       Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                       Bakersfield


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Today, Thursday, 7/28/05, we returned to Hart Park in the afternoon to
take photos of the male Western Tanager we saw earlier today. We saw the male
Western Tanager plus a female Western Tanager and a male Black-headed Grosbeak.
      To our surprise we also saw one female WESTERN BLUEBIRD and one
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. All of these birds were seen in Section 13A. The
Western
Bluebird was seen in the southeast corner of section 13A, and the White-breasted
Nuthatch was seen in the middle of section 13A.
      Later this evening we will place photos into the kerncobirding photo
section of the Western Bluebird and the White-breasted Nuthatch we saw this
afternoon.
                                              Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                              Bakersfield


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Birders:  A group of four kerncobirders enjoyed several days of
birding in Arizona.  In the Chiricahua's, near Portal, Arizona, the
first bird of the morning was an Elegant Trogon.  Sulfur-bellied
Flycatchers were calling in the dry creek bed, and Painted Redstarts
and Bridled Titmice were buzzing in the cedars.  Two Blue-throated
Hummingbirds were fighting over my feeder in my campsite.  Bronzed
Cowbirds were in Portal.  Upland birds included Olive, Graces, and
Virginia's Warblers.  Mexican Chickadees had a good hatch year,
judging from the numbers.  (I missed the Red-faced Warbler, but
others got it, later)  The only owl down low was the Whiskered
Screech-, which was common in the mid-level woods.  A nesting Saw-
whet Owl in Rustler Park was the highlight of this part of the trip,
for me.
      In the Huachuca's, near Sierra Vista, Arizona, I met up with
Gary File, and Drew and Pam Pallett.  Hummingbirds were the first
order of the day.  At the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast, a female
Lucifer Hummingbird put on quite a show.  At Beatty's Guest Ranch in
Miller Canyon, they were routinely seeing 13 species of
Hummingbird.  The biggest attraction is the White-Eared Hummingbird,
but Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Magnificent were there as well.  The
others were common to Californians, so weren't as attractive, I
suppose.  Hepatic Tanagers, Buff-breasted Flycatchers, and Greater
Pewees were among the birds in our campground in Carr Canyon.
Yellow-eyed Juncos were everywhere and feeding on the bird seed I
tossed on the ground.  Along the Comfort Spring trail we saw a Short-
tailed Hawk buzz past at about 25 feet above our heads.
      For the rest of the trip - Painted and Varied Buntings, the
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER, Rose-throated Becard, Gray Hawk, Lucy's
Warber, Viloet-crowned Hummingbird, Thick-billed Kingbird, Cassin's,
Botteri's, Rufous-winged, and Five-striped Sparrows.  The
exclamation point for the trip was a surprise Crested Caracara along
the road to Madera Canyon.
      Drew got 27 new lifers and Gary got 4 (his fourth trip).  My
one lifer was the elusive Black-capped Gnatcatcher (after 9 tries).
      Maybe next year, for the rest of you?
Michael McQuerrey
Bakersfield, California

At 5:00 this afternoon, Friday, 7/29/05, we returned to section 13A in
Hart Park, and we saw a juvenile Red-breasted Sapsucker on a tree trunk. This
tree was located in the center of section 13A. We have placed two photos of
this juvenile Red-breasted Sapsucker into the kerncobirding photo section.
                                                           Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                           Bakersfield



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Today, Saturday, 7/30/05 at 5:00PM, we relocated the juvenile
Red-breasted Sapsucker in section 13A at Hart Park in Bakersfield. We watched
this bird
in the tree that has a bright yellow plastic caution sign around the tree.
This evening we will place a digiscope photo taken today of this bird into the
kerncobirding photo section.
      This morning about 7:30 we looked for this sapsucker, but we did not see
it at that time. We did see one Ash-throated Flycatcher this morning in
Section 13A. We also saw two female Bullock's Orioles and one male Western
Tanager
across from the shooting range at Hart Park.
                                                                    Ken and
Brenda Kyle
                                                                    Bakersfield


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Kern River Preserve -East Unit (e. of Fay Ranch Road & n. of SF Kern River)
5:30am-9:30am, Saturday morning, 30 July 2005
Observer: Bob Barnes

Mallard 19, Great Blue Heron 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 3,
Mourning Dove 6, Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird 1, Nuttall's Woodpecker 3, Downy
Woodpecker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 4, Western Wood-Pewee 5,
Black Phoebe 4, Vermilion Flycatcher 1, Ash-throated Flycatcher 7, Western
Kingbird 3, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Common Raven 3, Tree Swallow 1, Oak Titmouse
2, Bushtit 5, Bewick's Wren 1, House Wren 10, Western Bluebird 2, European
Starling 11, Yellow Warbler 4, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee 1, Song
Sparrow 8, Black-headed Grosbeak 2, Blue Grosbeak 12, Lazuli Bunting 4,
Red-winged Blackbird 50, Tricolored Blackbird 100, Western Meadowlark 2,
Bullock's Oriole 2, House Finch 30, Lesser Goldfinch 60,...

Comments:
***Surprises - No detections of California Quail, Turkey Vulture, Lark
Sparrow!, Savannah Sparrow!, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Lawrence's Goldfinch.

***Tree Swallows, Western Bluebirds, and Bullock's Orioles have essentially
moved on.

***Blue Grosbeaks still present in big numbers and singing vociferously making
detection easy. This fits a pattern of this species singing persistently
further into the summer than most other species (e.g.: Lazuli Bunting).
This is
often one of only a few species heard singing intermittently throughout the
day
during the "dog days" of August. Another is the Western Wood-Pewee.

***Common Yellowthroat - all calling & visuals, none singing.

***In talking with researchers, no vagrants this spring and summer other than
the Least Flycatcher... very slow in this department.

***I will be checking on Yellow-billed Cuckoo tomorrow morning to see if I can
see or hear my first one of the year.

***Nothing overly exciting. But, I find it interesting to see the changes in
occurrence as the summer moves on.

Happy & Productive Birding

South Fork Wildlife Area, Weldon, Kern County
5:40am-6:40am, Sunday, 31 July 2005
Observer: Bob Barnes

For those of you who need/want Yellow-billed Cuckoo for your life, state,
year,
or county lists, or who "want more experience with the species,"...

During a very short investigation this morning, two Yellow-billed Cuckoos were
heard "kalping" (no "cooing" or "cueing") in the South Fork Wildlife Area
behind the KOA Kampground east of the east end of Isabella Reservoir. My first
of the year. A complete bird list of observations is found at the end of this
message.

To reach this location, where local southwestern Willow Flycatcher Researchers
have found one nest and believe there are three nests...

***Park on the 35'40' wide Hwy. 178 right-of way just outside the west end of
the wall at the KOA Kampground in Weldon. Highway mile marker 54.50 is located
right there. There is also an official/formal "Bus Stop" sign for Kern Valley
Transit right next to the mile marker sign.

***Right behind the "Bus Stop" sign is a metal pipe, walk through stile onto
South Fork Wildlife Area property. Go through the stile and turn right and
walk
toward the forest along the 15'-18' wide firebreak outside the fence marking
the west boundary of the KOA.

***At the end of the fence (northwest end), the firebreak turns east and a
3'-4' wide clear bare trail proceeds straight ahead.

***Go down the trail for 100 yards to the first row of trees coming to the
edge
of the trail from the left. The trail splits here, with the main trail clearly
going straight ahead and a smaller trail bearing off to the left. From this
junction (I left a pile of branches there that I hope will be left by other
passers by.), proceed 15 feet farther down the main trail to a small trail
leading of to the right (east) at a right angle along the edge of the forest
and parallel to the back fence of the KOA.

***Turn right (east) and proceed along the trail as it takes you along the
edge
of the forest and then into it. The first cuckoo was heard at 5:55am right
after the trail enters the forest.

***Proceed a fee hundred yards farther into the forest until coming to white
flagging with polka dots on it. The flagging seems to mark a  Willow
Flycatcher
territory as there was a bird giving the "fitz-bew" call there this morning.

***Please stay on the trail wherever flagging with polka dots is found so the
Willow Flycatchers received minimum disturbance and the researchers do not get
concerned/upset (Three researchers came upon me there this morning.).

***The second YB Cuckoo was heard quite a ways farther ahead on the trail at
6:05am.

***One of the researchers stated to me that they thought there were three
pairs
in the area and that if a person spent an hour birding the area they would
almost surely hear cuckoos and have a good chance of seeing one. If one is
heard, head in its direction, keep listening ,etc., until you see one.

***The researchers said bird song pretty much stops among the birds by 8am-
9am
at this time of the nesting season.

***Western Wood-Pewees and Yellow Warblers appeared to be abundant in this
location and I HIGHLY ADVISE mosquito repellent as the reservoir receded from
here within the last two weeks and the mosquitos have taken a liking to the
area.

***Although I did not detect any this morning, the mature forest reached by
continuing to head into the heart of the forest ahead is the stronghold of the
South Fork Valley's nesting Brown-crested Flycatcher population.

5:40am-6:40am Observations (includes the walk from and back to the parked
car):
California Quail 2, Great Blue Heron 2, Turkey Vulture 12 (roosting), Cooper's
Hawk 1, Mourning Dove 4, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2, Northern Flicker 1, Western
Wood-Pewee (5-10), Willow Flycatcher 1-2, Ash-throated Flycatcher 2, Common
Raven 2, Oak Titmouse 1, Bewick's Wren 1, Yellow Warbler 5-10, Common
Yellowthroat 3, Song Sparrow 6, Blue Grosbeak 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 1
female,
House Finch 4, Lesser Goldfinch 6,...

Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes

This morning we relocated the juvenile Red-breasted Sapsucker in section
13A at Hart Park in Bakersfield. We again saw this bird in the tree that has
the yellow caution plastic tape around the tree. We saw one female Bullock's
Oriole east of Mirror Lake which is the smallest lake at Hart Park.
      This morning at Lake Ming we saw one Cassin's Kingbird on the fence near
the west end of the boat launch area. We next saw a Barn Owl in the picnic
area which is above and near the campground west of Lake Ming.
                                                          Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                          Bakersfield



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Hi,

I forgot to mention in my 31 July 05 YB Cuckoo update that the trail from Hwy.
178 at the KOA Kampground is dry going north to the fork and dry going east
along the edge of the forest.

Once the trail enters the Fremont cottonwood and red willow forest, it soon
becomes damp, then progressively wetter. As far as I went, I had water only
part way up my tennis/running shoes, enough to get the bottom of my socks wet.
Farther along north towards the river, it look wetter.

Waterproof shoes are recommended for walking around the outer portion of the
width of the forest.

Rubber boots may be desired to fully track down a cuckoo or two.

Or, do as I do and wear appropriate tennis shoes,  socks, and pants and
welcome
getting wet above your ankle/below your knees while pursuing YB Cuckoos and
their associates on a warm to hot summer morning in the South Fork Wildlife
Area.

Happy & Productive Birding,

Bob Barnes

Today,Thursday, 8/4/05, north of McDonald's in California City we saw
one White-winged Dove, Yellow Warbler, one White-faced Ibis, female Bullock's
Orioles, Warbling Vireo, male Western Tanager, male Wilson's Warbler, Western
Kingbird, one Tricolored Blackbird, and one Red-shouldered Hawk.
      In California City Central Park we saw the continuing Tundra Swan,
Warbling Vireo, and an Olive-sided Flycatcher.
     At Galileo Hill we saw two Empidonax species, but unfortunately they
didn't call. One was a possible Pacific-slope Flycatcher, the other a possible
Willow Flycatcher. Other birds seen at Galileo Hill were two male Black-headed
Grosbeaks, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbirds, Chukars, 9 Turkey Vultures, one
Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Greater Roadrunner. A second Greater Roadrunner was
seen between California City Central Park and Galileo.
     We will place a photo of the White-winged Dove and the Olive-sided
Flycatcher into the kerncobirding photo section this evening.
                                                    Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                    Bakersfield


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I hiked north along the PCT today starting at hiway 178, Walker's Pass.
Hilites were Townsend's, BTG, Wilson's Warblers, a juv Gray Flycatcher just
growing in its tail, nice views of mountain quail, and golden eagles playing
in the thermals.  In the non-bird department the hilites were deer, Mormon
metalmarks, and a bear that shot out of a pinyon grove within 15 feet of me
and crashed through the trees trying to get away from me.  The complete list
is given below.

Susan
Inyokern

Warbler, Townsend's      1

Warbler, Black-throated Gray  1

Warbler, Wilson's      3

Bushtit      25

Chickadee, Mountain      1

Dove, Mourning      5

Eagle, Golden      2

Finch, House      3

Flicker, Northern      3

Flycatcher, Ash-throated      4

Flycatcher, Gray  1

Flycatcher, Pacific-slope 1

Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray      5

Goldfinch, Lesser      1

Hummingbird, Rufous      1

Jay, Pinyon      40

Kestrel, American      40

Kingbird, Western      1

Meadowlark, Western      17

Nuthatch, White-breasted      3

Quail, California      5

Quail, Mountain      35

Raven, Common      3

Scrub-Jay, Western      17

Shrike, Loggerhead      3

Sparrow, Black-throated      4

Sparrow, Lark  3

Sparrow, Sage  4

Titmouse, Oak   4

Towhee, Spotted      8

Vireo, Warbling      1

Woodpecker, Hairy 3

Wood-Pewee, Western      6

Wren, Bewick's      4

Wren, Cactus      1

Wren, Canyon      2

Wren, House      2

Wren, Rock      5

The number of Kestrels should have been 2.  Sorry about that.  Susan

Today, Sunday, 8/7/05 we saw a female Western Bluebird in the west
corner of section 13A in Hart Park. This may be the same female Western Bluebird
reported seen on 7/28/05 in section 13A at Hart Park.
                                                   Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                   Bakersfield


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This morning, 8/9/05, we saw a White-breasted Nuthatch in section 13A at
Hart Park in Bakersfield. It was at the west end of section 13A.
                                                   Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                   Bakersfield


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Today, Thursday, 8/11/05, we saw the following birds on the eastern Kern
Desert:
North of McDonald's in California City
     Barn Owl
     Warbling Vireo
     Ibis sp.-flying
     Black-crowned Night Heron-juvenile
     Spotted Sandpiper
     Yellow-headed Blackbirds
     Red-winged Blackbird
     Yellow Warblers
     Wilson's Warblers
     Bullock's Oriole-female
     Red-shouldered Hawk
     Red-tailed Hawk
     Western Kingbird

Galileo Hill:
     Belted Kingfisher
     Western Kingbird
     Pacific-slope Flycatcher-seen and heard
     Chukars
     Warbling Vireo

California City Central Park
     Western Tanager-male
     Black-headed Grosbeak
     Western Kingbird
                                                                Ken and Brenda
Kyle
                                                                Bakersfield










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This morning, Saturday, 8/13/05 at 10:45, we saw one male White-crowned
Sparrow in the upper picnic ground east of Lake Ming in Bakersfield. We will
place a photo of this sparrow into the kerncobirding photo section later today.
      This White-crowned Sparrow was feeding on the ground next to the east
fence and between the two fenced horseshoe pits. We saw one Ash-throated
Flycatcher and one Spotted Towhee in this general area.
      We also birded section 13A in Hart Park where we saw one female Western
Bluebird and two Empidonax species.
                                                    Ken and Brenda Kyle
                                                    Bakersfield



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