Hi all,

Anderson River Park was real 'birdy' this morning. In a little over 2 hours I
found 50 species.
A couple of Hermit Thrushes were my first of the season.

Ken Bachman
Anderson, Ca

Carol and I birded the Fall River area on Saturday the 28th until she
had a fall at the end of Rat Farm and we rushed to the local hospital.

The result was a broken elbow and shoulder with possible pins needed in
both places!  We find out tomorrow at the orthopedic surgeon's office.

We had the following birds at Fall River Lake, the cemetery, the
hospital and Rat Farm Road:

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 imm.
Rough-legged Hawk 3
Ferruginous Hawk 3 with another in Bella Vista
Red-tailed Hawk 20+
Bald Eagle 2 adult & 1 imm.
Merlin 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Prairie Falcon 1
Tundra Swans 12
Pygmy Nuthatch 1 at the Dee Knock intersection
Cedar Waxwing 50 at the Dee Knock intersection
Red-breasted Sapsucker at the Dee Knock intersection
a few Mallard's, Gadwalls, Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Scaups, and
Ring-necked Ducks
Eared & Western Grebes

few sparrows and not many ducks

YIKES what a day!

Bob

Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA




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

A tour around the usual places in FRV (except Rat Farm) on Friday, Nov. 27,
showed that ducks are still scarce.  Raptors are in good numbers and variety (we
saw all the expected species except sharpie and golden eagle) and there are
still quite a few shorebirds hanging around.  All water, including rice ponds,
was open.  Here are some of the numbers.

Snow goose  4
Cackling goose 300 on Horr Rd.
Common Loon  1 Eastman L.
Great Egret  6
Plegadis sp. (presumably white-faced)  1 in rice pond across road from the
"skating pond";  would be nice if it stuck around, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Bald Eagle  4
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Ferruginous Hawk  3 Pittville area, mostly in LAS
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Amer. Kestrel 4
Merlin 1
Prairie Falcon 2
Killdeer  6
Greater Yellowlegs  25
Least Sandpiper  120
Dunlin  4
Long-billed (presumably) Dowitcher  50
Cedar Waxwing  50
Lark Sparrow 4 (along Little Valley Rd., LAS)
Zonotrichia generally scarce
all the usual blackbirds except yellow-headed
House Sparrow  400 in a flock along Dee Knoch Rd., the largest bunch I have ever
seen up here (no dickcissel!).

Ken Able

Kenneth P. Able
Bob's Creek Ranch
535-000 Little Valley Road
McArthur, California 96056


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

We have had an explosion of Eurasian Collared Doves here in the
McArthur/Pittville area.  A pair flew in last Spring and now there are many.
I see them all over the Pittville Road.  Maybe they will push out the Rock
Doves from our barns.



Marta



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I was just informed that the historical meeting place for the Red Bluff CBC
is the Holiday parking lot on Antelope Blvd so we will meet there on Sunday Dec
20. If that turns out to be a hardship, we can change the date next year. I have
a photo of the counting circle, but not how it was divided up. Bill Oliver has
been on counts in the north i.e. Ide Adobe and Sacramento River, Wilcox Golf,
Hooker Creek and most recently, Jellys Ferry Rd. If anyone has participated in
the past has knowledge of how the circle was divided up, please contact me at
347-1687 or kscheuer@.... Ed Pandolfino has told me we will need strong
birders to lead the count in each section of the circle. Please let me know if
you can help make this count fly. The circle center is more or less the middle
of the City of Red Bluff. It goes north to Hooker Creek, and south to
Dairyville. Thanks!
Karen Scheuermann
www.shastarootsnshoots.com/Tehama_Wild_Care.htm
"What happens to wildlife will happen to us." Marty Stouffer




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5 Eurasian Collared-Doves on the telephone lines at the entrance to Country Aire
Pet Resort Monday morning.  Sorry for the late post.

peace...brad

I am attempting the restart the Red Bluff CBC. I understand it has
historically be held the day after the Fall River Count so it will be held
Sunday December 20th (if I am successful). I'm totally new at this and will need
support by the experienced people that know about the great birding in the Red
Bluff Area. Many thanks to Bruce Deuel and Ed Pandolfino for coaching me in this
endeavor. I assume we will meet at the Discovery Center in the Red Bluff
Diversion Dam Recreation Area.
Karen Scheuermann
www.shastarootsnshoots.com/Tehama_Wild_Care.htm
"What happens to wildlife will happen to us." Marty Stouffer

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

Even with the rough weather we decided to go out to Fall River Mills this
morning, the roads weren’t real bad, however, it was Fogy, Fogy, Fogy!  And
most of the wet fields were iced over.  Given there is no bad days birding we
made the most of it.  We saw at least 14 of Red-tailed Hawks, 8 American
Kestrels, 3 shore birds we think were Long-billed Dowitchers, 1 Northern
Harrier, a dark phase Ferruginous Hawk on a power pole next to the Glenburn
Church, 2 Black –billed Magpies, 1 Rough-legged Hawk at Round Mountain, 2 Bald
Eagles at Baum Lake and Merlin flying through our neighborhood.Luck F&D    




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

Hello all,

With the concern about temperatures tonight of 17 degrees at Hatchet
Mountain and Burney and rain and possible snow and another storm coming
tomorrow afternoon between 3 pm & 4 pm and that everyone doesn't have 4
wheel drive vehicles - and consulting with Red Modeen and George Horn,
we are canceling tomorrow's field trip to Fall River Mills.

It will probably be fine up there as they get less moisture than we do
but the passes and black ice are the issue. If we left later in the
morning then we still have the concerns coming home to Redding tomorrow
night!

If you know others that were planning on coming who don't have the
internet - please tell them.

Our stalwart Wintu Audubon president George Horn said he would go down
to the Civic in the morning and inform the group and weather permitting
possibly bird Kutras and possibly Turtle Bay East.

Drive carefully out there and sorry about this,

Bob

--
Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA



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

Sorry - the timeline is 7:30 am at the Civic on Saturday.

Bob

Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA



birdies3131 wrote:
> Hi Bob, I see that you have a 7:00 time on your posting, I read in the
newsletter it was 7:30 can you let me know the correct time since I'm coming
from Red Bluff I need to leave a half hour earlier. Thanks Bob!
>
> Michele Swartout
>
>
>
>
>
>


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

Hello all,

Unfortunately the weather doesn't look real good for this Saturday's
field trip with the major storm warning through Friday late pm and
probably rain here and snowy mountain passes.  It will probably be fine
over the hill in Fall River but getting there may be hazardous.  If
there is rain down here Saturday morning or if the passes are frozen and
snowy (with road chain and travel warnings) then we will have to cancel
- for safety's sake.

We will have to wait and see.

Bob and Carol

--
Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA



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

Rob Santry and I checked out Kutras lake at noon today.

-- Red-breasted Merganser (also present on Tuesday this week)
-- Hooded Merganser (6 in Kiddie Pond, 2 m, 4 f)
-- Barrow's Goldeneye (haven't seen many of these this year)

Ray Bruun
Shingletown/Redding


***************************************************************

Ray Bruun, P.E.
Associate Engineer
California Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Field Operations Branch
Valley District (No. 21)
415 Knollcrest Drive, #110
Redding, CA 96002

p: (530) 224-3252
f: (530) 224-4844
e: rbruun@...

Ed Pandolfino reported seeing at least two Lapland Longspurs on Leopard Lane
last Monday (Nov 9) He posted it on the Central Valley Birding listserv.  I
tried finding them Saturday afternoon, but only found Horned Larks, Savannah
Sparrows, a Kestral and a Northern Harrier.

This morning in Fall River Valley I found at least five Rough-legged Hawks and
one flock of 35 Snow Geese.  It is definitely starting to look and feel like
winter.  This morning it was 22 degrees at 8am.

Good birding,
Don Marsh
Sutter Creek, CA

We spent some time this morning out on Leopard Lane.  We saw lots of Horned
Larks, a pair of American Kestrel, and a pair of Ferruginous Hawks to the
southwest, but no Longspurs.  Out on Dersch Road between Parkville Road and
Leopard Ln. we spotted a Praire Falcon perched in a Oak tree on the north side
of the road. 
Luck F&D




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

Has anyone been there at all this season?

November is probably the best month for Longspurs as they dwindle in
numbers through January up here it seems.

Bob

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:  [shasta_birders] Leopard Lane
Date:  Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:43:50 -0800 (PST)
From:  Frank Sanderson <darliss60@...>
To:  shasta_birders@yahoogroups.com



Has anyone been out looking for Longspurs within the past week?  F&D




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



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links









--
Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA



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

Has anyone been out looking for Longspurs within the past week?  F&D




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

We birded the Clear Creek canyon and the Horse Town areas this morning.  Our
best birds included; a Canyon Wren, a pair of Wrentits and a very bright
Red-breasted Sapsucker.  Darliss using an iPod called up the Wrentits within
less than twenty feet and pulled the Canyon Wren to within about 100 feet.Luck
F&D  




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

Probably a bit of an understatement at this point, but it sounds like
distinguishing between immature Tundra and Trumpeter, lone individuals
especially, can be a tad bit difficult.  Setting aside the discussion of
characteristics for a moment, consider the chance of this being a Trumpeter
Swan.  If we say one in one thousand (plus or minus) of the swans in California
are Trumpeter, then there's a 99.9% chance this is a Tundra. Given the bird's
body is white, not battleship gray, up it to 99.95%.  After listening to all
that others have said, I feel pretty comfortable calling this a Tundra Swan.


Ray Bruun
Shingletown/Redding

I am anything but an expert on the identification of these species, especially
juveniles.  It is a real problem, especially with lone individuals where no size
comparison is possible and with silent birds.  Last year there was considerable
discussion of this issue on ID Frontiers and you could search the archives for
those posts.  It was daunting.  Photos were posted of birds of known identity in
which there were tundras that looked for all the world like trumpeters and vice
versa.  In juveniles, there is considerable convergence in the head and bill
characters that are usually touted as decent field marks on adults.

If I had to guess on this bird (and it is only a guess), I would opt for tundra
based on two things:  (1) at this time of year a juvenile trumpeter should be an
all-over battleship gray; this much white pretty strongly suggests tundra I
think.  (2) the angle of the bill base where it meets the feathering on the side
of the face looks pretty nicely curved downward as is typical for tundra,
instead of angling forward in a more straight line as in trumpeter.  But then,
of course, there is the nice 'V' at the top base of the bill that is more
typical of trumpeter.  I said it was a mess.

Ken

Kenneth P. Able
Bob's Creek Ranch
535-000 Little Valley Road
McArthur, California 96056


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

Thanks for all the feedback.  I was feeling a bit inadequate there not
being able to tell a Trumpeter Swan from a Tundra and am a bit relieved
to discover it's not an easy thing to do (and even more difficult on
immatures).  The paler body would suggest Tundra Swan and the massive
bill Trumpeter, though, according to Bob Yutzy's last email, the bill
grows faster than the body so maybe the bill just looks more massive on
an immature Tundra.  But if the adult head ratios (per Bob's last email)
apply to immatures, it would seem to be a Trumpeter Swan . . . OK, I'm
still confused :-)



Thanks again,



Ray Bruun

Shingletown/Redding


***************************************************************

Ray Bruun, P.E.
Associate Engineer
California Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Field Operations Branch
Valley District (No. 21)
415 Knollcrest Drive, #110
Redding, CA 96002

p: (530) 224-3252
f: (530) 224-4844
e: rbruun@...

________________________________

From: shasta_birders@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:shasta_birders@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of kn6q
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:59 PM
To: shasta_birders@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [shasta_birders] Trumpeter Swan?





I was at Lake McCumber briefly this afternoon. Saw a swan across the
lake. Thought it might be a young Trumpeter. Walked around the lake and
managed to get some shots with my Canon G10 (not through the scope)
which hasn't got much of a zoom. The bird was very tame. Two pictures
are posted on my Flickr site. Would appreciate confirmation of ID.

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/>

Ray Bruun
Shingletown





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

Wintu Audubon has been chosen as one of four fortunate Audubon chapters to
receive Collaborative Funding grant money from California Audubon for 2010! 
Claudia Yerion, our conservation chair, and myself, put together a grant
application to install artificial burrows for Burrowing Owls.  Burrowing Owls
are a "species of special concern" in California and we would like to bring
their numbers back up in our area of the state.

Please report any sightings of Burrowing Owls here on Shasta Birders and shoot
me a separate email as well so I can keep on top of possible sightings.  Also
any additional historical data on Burrowing Owl sightings you have knowledge of
would be helpful to develop more possible locations for artificial burrow sites.

Let's keep our eyes open for these little beauties on our Christmas Bird Counts
coming up also.  I would love to see a count of Burrowing Owls on one of the
CBCs!

Thanks to everyone for your help with this important project!

Here is some stuff on IDing

Bob

*SEPARATING TRUMPETER AND TUNDRA SWANS CHECKLIST
Feb 1999*

The name Tundra Swan includes the Whistling (North American) and
Bewick's (Eurasian) swan subspecies. Characteristics are age related,
and vary by populations and within populations. No characteristic,
except the call, should be considered by itself diagnostic. Several
characteristics should be used in combination when diagnosing the
species. The following checklist describes differences between Trumpeter
and Whistling (Tundra) swans. Trumpeter(s) are signified by [T], and
Whistling(s) are designated by [W].

Click on the photo for Trumpeter Swan photos.
<http://fog.ccsf.org/%7Ejmorlan/trswimgs.htm>

*MATURE TRUMPETERS AND TUNDRAS:*
Mature Trumpeters and Tundras may be defined as all white birds
(including all white neck and head).

*A. Size.*  Males are usually larger than females. [T] are generally
larger than [W], although there is some size overlap.

*B. Physical Proportions:*

    1. Neck Length / Body Length Ratio. [T] is usually greater than [W].
       The longer neck of [T] is usually fairly easily recognizable.
    2. Body Length / Body thickness Ratio. [T] is usually greater than
       [W]. This is noticeable in a profile view of the rump, where the
       included angle between the back and the underside is smaller on
       [T] than it is on [W].

*C. Angle of The Body Major Axis (BMA): *The BMA is a straight line
through the base of the neck and through the tail. The BMA of both
species usually slopes up toward the tail when the swans are swimming or
sitting, but the slope is greater for [W] than it is for [T]. This and
body length-to-thickness differences combine to give [W] a higher,
steeper rump appearance when swimming or sitting.   Use this mark when
viewing a large flock of sleeping or feeding [W] to eliminate potential
[T] candidates.

*D. Feet size:* [T] feet are larger than [W] feet, with no overlap. [T]
feet are typically 6-1/2" to 7" wide.   This is useful for swans in
flight and when the swan is standing on one foot with the up foot
extended to the rear.

*E. Head Profile and Bill Shape:* Head profiles vary for both species.

    1. Some [T] have a pronounced flat, or nearly flat, head for about 2"
       to 2-1/2" from where the forehead feathers meet the culmen to the
       apex near the back of the head (call this Type 1 head). On other
       [T] the flat area is less pronounced, and even can appear as a
       rather smooth curve (call this Type 2 head). The line of this
       "flat" area on Type 1 and 2 heads usually continues slightly BELOW
       the line of the upper mandible.                             Most
       [W] have a distinctive round head, with varying radius of
       curvature that is almost always smooth. Some [W] heads can look
       like Type 2 [T] in profile, not considering size differences.
       However, the distinguishing difference between the species is
       almost always noted in the fact that for [W] the line of the
       forehead continues ABOVE the line of the upper mandible.

                               Martha Jordan describes the species head
       differences this way: [W] is like a smaller black cone stuck on
       the front of a Styrofoam ball; [T] is like a larger black cone
       that just covers the front of the Styrofoam ball.  In the case of
       [T] the ball has been reshaped somewhat with, to varying degrees,
       a flat top and pointed apex.
    2. [T] exhibits an abrupt change of contour at the apex (associated
       with the flat head, Type 1) which gives the head a "pointed" look.
       [W] exhibits a smooth curve around the apex.
    3. The apex of [T] is near the rear of the head well behind the eye.
       The apex of [W] is near the center of the head just slightly
       behind the eye.
    4. [T] has a flat area along the nape (sometimes not flat).  [W] has
       a curved nape.
    5. The nape of [T] transitions abruptly at the neck (not always). [W]
       has a smooth transition of the nape to the neck.
    6. The distance from the bill tip to the eye of [T] is about 2 times
       the distance from the eye to the nape.  The distance from the bill
       tip to the eye of [W] is about 1 times to 1-1/2 times the distance
       from the eye to the nape. Measurements of 4 Trumpeters revealed
       that the total length of the bill from tip to eye was 5-1/2" to
       6", and the distance from the eye to nape was 2-1/2".
    7. The upper mandible of [T] is almost straight (can be concave),
       while the upper mandible of [W] is concave (can be straight).
       Often [T] has a "Canvasback" profile.
    8. [T] has a massive bill (not always).  The bill of [W] is not massive.
    9. The lore skin of [T] meets the eye.  The lore skin of [W] also
       meets the eye but it may be slightly narrower near the eye on some
       swans.  The yellow patch on the lore of [W] may make it appear
       that the lore pinches near the eye.  To give some idea how wide is
       the lore skin at the eye of [T], typically the eye of [T] is 3/8
       inch diameter while the lore skin joining the eye is 5/16 inch wide.
   10. [T] has no yellow on the lore.  [W] has a yellow spot on the lore
        proceeding from the eye (15 percent do not have yellow).
   11. The forehead feathers of [T] are shaped like a V, with the sides
       of the V curved inward so that the angle between the sides becomes
       smaller near the point.  The forehead feathers of two year old and
       older [W] form a U.  This forehead feather shape is one of the
       most reliable features for separating [T] and [W], although it is
       not diagnostic by itself. For example, first year, all white [W]
       may have a V forehead feather pattern.
   12. The distance from the bill tip to the nostril of [T] is only a
       little less than the distance from the nostril to the eye.  The
       distance from the bill tip to the nostril of [W] is about 1/2 the
       distance from the nostril to the eye. Measurements of 4 Trumpeters
       revealed that the distance from the bill tip to the nostril was
       2-1/2" and the distance from the nostril to the eye was 3-1/2".

*F. Vocalizations: *Diagnostic. The vocalizations of both species may be
heard on The Trumpeter Swan Society web site,
http://www.taiga.net/swans/swanid.html . Small groups of [T] on the
ground are usually silent for several hours. Occasionally all members of
a small [T] group will begin to "talk" to each other. This may last from
1 to 15 minutes. Large groups talk more frequently.  The pitch of  [T]
individuals varies.

*G. Habits:*

    1. Head Bobbing. [T] and [W] head bob, although [T] perhaps more
       frequently. [T] head bobs when nervous, prior to flight, and at
       other times. [W] often greet each other by extending their heads
       forward so that the extended, straight neck makes about a 30 to 45
       degree angle with the vertical; [T] never greet with this head and
       neck posture.
    2. The "Kink" in The Neck. Both [T] and [W] exhibit the kink in the
       lower part of the neck when the swan is inactive.
    3. Angle of The Standing Swan. [W] usually stands horizontal (not
       always); [T] stands from horizontal to about 20 degrees above
       horizontal.

*H. Color of Feet and Legs: *[T] and [W] have black feet and legs. Young
all white [T] have extensive yellow along the sides of the toes and up
the legs. The yellow diminishes with age. Three year old [T] may show
the yellow. Young all white [W] show no yellow on the feet or legs.

*IMMATURE TRUMPETERS AND TUNDRAS:*

Separating the immature of [T] from the immature of [W] is even more
difficult than separating the mature of the two species. Color
differences, physiological development of bill and head, dependence of
characteristics on age, and variation among individuals are primary
sources of confusion.  Look for juveniles associating with adults.
Association with an adult must be combined with other characteristics.
The following characteristics differ between juveniles and adults.
Characteristics not mentioned below are the same for juveniles as for
adults.

*I. Body color:* [T] are dark gray (battleship gray).  [W] are light
gray. [T] holds the gray color longer into late winter than does [W].
[W] have completed their body molt to white by early March, while [T] do
not complete their body molt to white until April or later. Both species
often show gray around the head and neck until well after the body molt
is completed.

*J. Size:* Immatures of [T] and [W] are slightly smaller than adults and
do not achieve full adult size until their second spring. Size
difference of males and females of both species is less pronounced than
in adults.

*K. Head and Bill Deviations From the Adult Characteristics:*

    1. Culmen shape. [W] can have a flat, or even convex, culmen. Even
       first year [W] can have a straight culmen.
    2. Bill size. Bill size can appear to be disproportionately large on
       [T] and [W] because the bill reaches adult size by the first fall,
       whereas the body does not reach full size until the second fall or
       later.
    3. The V of The Forehead Feathers. The U of [W] forehead feathers
       develops slowly on some swans. First spring all white [W] may
       still show a V forehead feather pattern.
    4. Bill Color. Juvenile [W] gradually acquires a black bill during
       its first winter. By spring its bill has become mostly black.
       Thus, an immature swan showing extensive black at the base of the
       bill could be either species, especially after November.
       Nevertheless, juvenile swans in early fall may be separated on the
       basis of this character with some confidence because most immature
       [W] have pink meeting the face. Martha Jordan indicates that there
       is a qualitative difference in the distribution of black on the
       bill, with [T] appearing to have a bill that is "black with a pink
       area in the middle'" whereas [W] has a "pink bill with black at
       the ends". Clearly the most fail-safe use of this mark is if an
       immature swan shows pink meeting or nearly touching the facial
       feathering, then it is [W].
    5. Legs and Feet Color. [T] have olive-buff legs and yellow webs on
       feet.  [W] have flesh colored to black legs and feet.
    6. Vocalization. While some [T] do not vocalize until the 2nd year,
       some vocalize, generally at a higher pitch than the adults.

*Sources:*
1. Article by Michael A. Patten and Matthew T. Heindel, Identifying
Trumpeter and Tundra Swans in the Field, October 1994 BIRDING
(available for about $3.00+ postage from ABA, 1-800-634-7736)
2. The Trumpeter Swan Society
3. Martha Jordan
4. Jim Snowden
5. Prepared by Rod Hug

Please Report Trumpeter Swan sightings to:

     * steve_bouffard@... <mailto:steve_bouffard@...> (Steve
       Bouffard, USFWS, Idaho)
     * khunting@... <mailto:khunting@...> (Kevin
       Hunting, Bird Species of SpecialConcern)
     * mrogers@... <mailto:mrogers@...> (Mike Rogers,
       California Bird Records Committee) ,
     * rodhug@... <mailto:rodhug@...> (Rod Hug, The Trumpeter
       Swan Society, 4603 Bridle Trail, Santa Rosa, Ca 95409, (707)
       539-3413))






--
Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA



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

Unfortunately, almost no single character is diagnostic on an immature
swan.  The pointed forehead feathering is good, but I'd like this bird to be
much darker gray, especially this early in the season.  I'll try to review
some i.d. stuff I've saved on these birds and make further comments.
Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Red Bluff

On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 9:12 PM, Bob & Carol Yutzy <boby@...> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I like the V point made by the bill up into the head feathering rather than
> a U shaped angle.
>
> I wonder what Ken Able and Bruce Deuel would say - these two species are a
> very difficult discrimination for most of us - without the two species
> together.
>
> Bob
>
> Bob & Carol Yutzy
> Shasta, CA
>
>
>
> kn6q wrote:
>
> I was at Lake McCumber briefly this afternoon.  Saw a swan across the lake. 
Thought it might be a young Trumpeter.  Walked around the lake and managed to
get some shots with my Canon G10 (not through the scope) which hasn't got much
of a zoom.  The bird was very tame.  Two pictures are posted on my Flickr site. 
Would appreciate confirmation of ID.
>
> Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/
>
>
> Ray Bruun
> Shingletown
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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

Hello all,

I like the V point made by the bill up into the head feathering rather
than a U shaped angle.

I wonder what Ken Able and Bruce Deuel would say - these two species are
a very difficult discrimination for most of us - without the two species
together.

Bob

Bob & Carol Yutzy
Shasta, CA



kn6q wrote:
> I was at Lake McCumber briefly this afternoon.  Saw a swan across the lake. 
Thought it might be a young Trumpeter.  Walked around the lake and managed to
get some shots with my Canon G10 (not through the scope) which hasn't got much
of a zoom.  The bird was very tame.  Two pictures are posted on my Flickr site. 
Would appreciate confirmation of ID.
>
> Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/
>
> Ray Bruun
> Shingletown
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
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I was at Lake McCumber briefly this afternoon.  Saw a swan across the lake. 
Thought it might be a young Trumpeter.  Walked around the lake and managed to
get some shots with my Canon G10 (not through the scope) which hasn't got much
of a zoom.  The bird was very tame.  Two pictures are posted on my Flickr site. 
Would appreciate confirmation of ID.

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruunphoto/

Ray Bruun
Shingletown

You are cordially invited to participate in the Wintu Audubon society's 34th
Annual Redding Christmas Bird Count (RCBC) to be held on Saturday, January
2, 2010. The RCBC is part of a western hemisphere effort to census bird
populations using a standard protocol. The RCBC is a 15-mile diameter circle
centered just north of Keswick Dam on the Sacramento River. It extends
eastward to Shasta College, westward to Oak Bottom Marina on Whiskeytown
Lake, south to Clear Creek and north to Shasta Dam.

Partiipants with all levels of birding skills can contribute. Small groups
of participants will count the number of birds of each species in an
assigned are. Each group will be lead by an experienced local birder. The
Count is conducted from dawn to dusk, rain or shine. That evening we will
gather at a local restaraunt for dinner and compilation of the results.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Bill Oliver (Phone:
530-941-7741 or Email: wwoliver9@...). Last year 26 participants
tallied 118 species. Even if you have difficulty in idenifying sparrows and
gulls, and who doesn't, you can still be of service. And it is a great way
to hone your birding skills. We also invite backyard feeder watchers to
report their sightings on January 2.

Bill Oliver, Compiler
Redding


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I had a Townsend's Warbler at East Turtle Bay today.  Time was 12:30.
They're always a nice surprise.

Ray Bruun
Shingletown/Redding

We spent the morning and early afternoon birding the mouth of Cottonwood Creek
area.  Although we were disappointed not to see any California Thrashers we
spotted a number of Phainopeplas, with several eating berrys very close.  We
also had a immature Bald Eagle and Merlin up nice and close.
Luck F&D




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We had a good morning birding at Shasta Collage.  Our best birds and the first
time we have seen them at the collage were, Northern Harrier (1), Hooded
Merganser (4 two pair) and American Pipit (8+).  Today's bird list included;
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
California Quail
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Spotter Sandpiper
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Western Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Western Meadowlark
Brewer’s Blackbird
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Luck!  F&D
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




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Wintu Audubon Chapter cordially invites you to attend our next meeting on
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the Turtle Bay Museum's theater.

Jay & Terri Thesken, members of the Shasta Chapter of the California Native
Plant Society, will present a slideshow of avian and other wildlife encountered
on their recent trip to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador and the Cuzco/Machu
Picchu area of Peru.  Waved albatross, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies,
frigate birds and other unusual birds, reptiles, mammals and plants will be
included.