A mere handful of birders took to the field yesterday, taking
advantage of a gorgeous break in the storms.  Unfortunately, those
same storms had all but flushed the Tahoe Basin of passerines
altogether, but we did manage to pick up 62 species, plus a few other
count week species (so far).  We did miss a lot of the usual suspects,
so maybe we'll add a few more by Thursday.  Anyhow, this year's count
will be remembered for all the predation: both successful and
attempted witnessed live, and lots of sign of recent predation
events.  Blood, tracks and feather impressions in the snow, and
plucked feathers everywhere - Nature, red in tooth and claw.  As far
as we could tell, coots had been high on the menu in recent days.
Horned Larks, however, were at the top of yesterday's menu.  We were
treated to stunning close-up views of a subadult Sharp-shinned Hawk,
who posed at the top of a small pine tree for five minutes, before
pouncing on a Horned Lark, all right in front of us.  We also got to
witness a trio of ravens trying to catch another Horned Lark.
Fascinating behavior that I'd never witnessed, and especially
interesting to see how the Horned Lark was dealing with it, by flying
near the ravens, staying airborne and keeping too close for the ravens
to make a stoop.  With the multiple ravens there were a couple of
close calls!  After what felt like an eternity in the air, eventually
the lark dove into some vegetation.  A few other highlights:

One group had a Pileated Woodpecker, always nice to pick up on a count
A Steller's Jay at Alice's house doing a very convincing Red-
shouldered Hawk for the whole group.
Four Red-shouldered Hawks, Prairie Falcon, at least four Bald Eagles,
single harrier.
Large numbers of scaup and Redhead at the mouth of the Tahoe Keys.  I
counted 116 Greater and 60 Lesser Scaup, and we had 47 Redhead.  Quite
a few Canvasback and Ring-necked Ducks too (but no Tufted).
Nine Tundra Swans, that slowly congregated over the course of the day.

A total of 86 Canada Geese may be a record low count.  Frozen ponds +
creeks and rivers being mostly or entirely frozen + deep snow on all
the lawns = no geese.

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA

Although we have had over 2' of new snow AND a Douglas Squirrel who is
encamped in one of our "squirrel-proof" feeders, I observed many
Mountain Chickadees today.  They are very busy, eating and hiding
sunflower seeds.  Also had two Dark-eyed Juncos, 4-5 Red-breasted
Nuthatches, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers and one Steller's Jay.   A pair of
Ravens flew over our cabin.  The chickadees are really enjoying the
warmed water that we  have out for them.  Andrea Oddo, Tahoe Donner,
Truckee, Elev. 6680'

Those few that voted have been heard, and we're on for next Monday.
If I haven't already heard from you, please let me know of your
interest, so that I can update everybody with details (without
bothering the rest of the list).
Thanks!!
Will Richardson
Truckee, CA

This one appears to be a juvenile and looks very much out of place in the snow
here.


Chris Battis
Southernmost Lassen County (near SR 70)

Hello Birders,

This morning, I heard several Varied Thrushes singing from an oak-woodland near
the Bowman Water Treatment Plant on Christian Valley Road. Elevation is
approximately 1800' with 6" or so of snow. The nearest major intersection is
I-80 and Dry Creek Road.  In addition, the polar express has brought in a
remarkable number of crows, jays, and raven to the Auburn area.

BIRDSTRONG,
Deren Ross
Auburn, Ca

I posted a photo in the 'Grosbeaks' folder on the Sierra-nevadabirds
Yahoogroups site of a Black-headed Grosbeak that has been coming to a  feeder in
'snowy' Sutter Creek (Amador County, Elev. 1300 ft). The photo is by  Mary
Petrone using a camera phone so you'll have to zoom in to the feeder  to see
the bird. For any photographers who want the rare opportunity to get a  pic
of Black-headed Grosbeak in the snow (quickly before it melts) you can
contact Mary at _petrone@..._ (mailto:petrone@...)

If you get a good one, please send me a copy.



Ed Pandolfino
Carmichael, CA


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

Hi folks:

Just a reminder of count dates for the Honey Lake (Tuesday, December 15)
and Marysville (Tuesday, December 22) CBC dates.  Please let me know if you
plan to attend either or both.

Cheers,

Tim Manolis


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

We have over two feet of new snow this morning and a flock of extremely busy
Mountain Chickadees with a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos.   I just spotted our
resident, but elusive, Brown Creeper.  One Cassin's Finch, whom we haven't seen
for a while, also visited our feeder, and one Red-shafted Northern Flicker. 
Andrea Oddo, Elevation 6, 680'


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

I made a quick trip to Alpine Co today.  I could not find any sparrows or
other birds along Fredericksburg  Road as reported by Jon Dunn yesterday.  I
did find scattered sparrows along Emigrant Trail just west of highway 88.
Emigrant Trail is the road that goes west off highway 88 about a half mile
south of Fredericksburg  Road.  Emigrant Trail and Fredericksburg  are
parallel to each other.  The scattered flock of sparrows (including at least
one American Tree Sparrow, 20+ White-crowned Sparrows and 5+ Song Sparrows)
was mostly in short willows along the south side of the road only about a
100 yards west of 88.  The sparrows would often fly south into the field and
into the tall grass there and then return to the small willows by the road.
Some also flew east to the tall willows along 88.  I had the feeling that
these birds were doing much moving around and might not be always found in
this same spot.

In Hope Valley I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk standing on a fence post.  This
is the first Red-shouldered Hawk that I have seen in Hope Valley.

John Luther
Oakland

From Jon Dunn:

There is an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW along Fredericksburg Ln in Alpine Co. It was
found in a flock of WC Sparrows about 0.1mi W of Hwy 88 yesterday. This is just
a short distance away from the Nevada State line

Good Birding!
Frances
Lodi, CA

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

From Jon Dunn:

There is an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW along Fredericksburg Ln in Alpine Co. It was
found in a flock of WC Sparrows about 0.1mi E of Hwy 88 yesterday. This is just
a short distance away from the Nevada State line

Good Birding!
Frances
Lodi, CA

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

Dear North American Birds contributors,

The fall season has come to a close.  Please submit your noteworthy
bird records from the Northern California Region for the period 1
August – 30 November to the appropriate Subregional Editors (SREs) by
10 December.

SREs diligently keep track of records within their counties.  By
sending your records to the SREs, you are contributing to their
county files as well as to North American Birds.  If you wish to send
records to the Regional Editors, we welcome them.  But please send
records to the SREs as well.  If you have a noteworthy record from a
county without an SRE, please send it to the Regional Editors.

SUBREGIONAL EDITORS

Alameda (ALA)
Bob Richmond
24650 Amador St. #15
Hayward, CA 94544
brichmond94544@...

Alpine (ALP), Calaveras (CLV), Modoc (MOD), & Yolo (YOL)
John Sterling
29 Palm Ave.
Woodland, CA 95695
jsterling@...

Amador (AMA) & El Dorado (ED)
Tim Steurer
4042 Bancroft Dr.
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
tsteurer@...

Butte (BUT), Colusa (COL), Glenn (GLE), Tehama (TEH), & Yuba (YUB)
Bruce Deuel
18730 Live Oak Rd.
Red Bluff, CA 96080
bdeuel@...

Contra Costa (CC)
Steve Glover
5108 Shelly Ray Rd.
Keller, TX 76244
countylines@...

Fresno (FRE)
Gary W. Potter
2183 Walton Ave.
Sanger, CA 93657
gwpott@...

Humboldt (HUM)
Rob Fowler
2277 Heather Ln., Apt. D
Arcata, CA 95521
migratoriusfwlr@...

Kings (KIN)
Jeff Seay
7815 N. Palm Ave., Ste. 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jseay@...

Lake (LAK)
Jerry R. White
P.O. Box 113
Kelseyville, CA 95451
grwhite@...

Lassen (LAS)
Ken Able
Bob’s Creek Ranch
535-000 Little Valley Rd.
McArthur, CA 96056
kenable@...

Madera (MAD)
Jeff N. Davis
7815 N. Palm Ave., Ste, 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jdavis@...

Marin (MRN)
Ryan Terrill
1619 El Dorado St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
enicurus@...

Mariposa (MRP)
David Vander Pluym
1683 Buena Vista St.
Ventura, CA 93001
scre@...

Mendocino (MEN)
Bob Keiffer
P.O. Box 354
Hopland, CA 95449
rjkeiffer@...

Merced (MER) & San Benito (SBT)
Kent Van Vuren
26 Vista Dr.
Salinas, CA 93907
vanvurenk@...

Mono (MNO)
Kristie Nelson
P.O. Box 402
Lee Vining, CA 93541
storm_petrel@...

Monterey (MTY)
Don Roberson
282 Grove Acre
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
creagrus@...

Napa (NAP)
Murray Burner
210 Monte Vista
Napa, CA 94558
vireocity@...

Nevada (NEV)
Rudy Darling
12143 Big Blue Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959
rdarling@...

Placer (PLA)
Ed Pandolfino
5530 Del Rose Crt.
Carmichael, CA 95608
erpfromca@...

Plumas (PLU) & Sierra (SIE)
Colin Dillingham
400 First St.
Quincy, CA 95971
cdillingham@...

Sacramento (SAC)
Chris Conard
2405 Rio Bravo Cir.
Sacramento, CA 95826
conardc@...

San Francisco (SF)
Mainland: Mark Eaton
1524 36th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94122
mweaton@...

San Francisco (SF)
Farallones: Jim Tietz
P.O. Box 373
Shaver Lake, CA 93664
jimtietz@...

San Joaquin (SJ)
Frances Oliver
1817 Songbird Pl.
Lodi, CA 95240
hummer52@...

San Mateo (SM)
Peter J. Metropulos
2940 Turk Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94118
pjmetrop@...

Santa Clara (SCL)
William G. Bousman
321 Arlington Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025
barlowi@...

Santa Cruz (SCZ)
David Suddjian and Steve Gerow
801 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
dsuddjian@...
stephengerow@...

Shasta (SHA)
Bob Yutzy
P.O. Box 990237
Redding, CA 96099
boby@...

Siskiyou (SIS)
Ray Ekstrom
2209 Delphic Rd.
Montague, CA 96064

Solano (SOL)
Robin Leong
336 Benson Ave.
Vallejo, CA 94590
robin_leong@...

Sonoma (SON)
Ruth Rudesill
P.O. Box 371
Kenwood, CA 95452
ruthier@...

Stanislaus (STA)
Harold Reeve
birder@...

Trinity (TRI)
John E. Hunter
P.O. Box 4483
Arcata, CA 95518
jhunter323@...

Tulare (TUL)
Steven Summers
2553 W. Michelle Ln.
Porterville, CA 93257
summers@...

Tuolumne (TUO)
Steven Umland
15818 Parkridge Ave.
Sonora, CA 95370
sumland@...

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mike Rogers
(waterfowl through quail and herons through shorebirds)
499 Novato Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
m.m.rogers@...

Steve Rottenborn
(loons through frigatebirds and larids through alcids)
983 University Ave., Bldg. D
Los Gatos, CA 95032
srottenborn@...

Jeff Davis
(doves through thrushes/Wrentit)
7815 N. Palm Ave., Ste. 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jdavis@...

Ed Pandolfino
(thrashers through finches)
5530 Delrose Crt.
Carmichael, CA 95608
erpfromca@...

The Reporting Deadlines are:

                             Spring      Summer      Fall       Winter

Season ends          May 31     July 31       Nov 30   Feb 28

Observer reports to Subregional Editors (SREs)

                             June 10     Aug 10       Dec 10   Mar 10

Observer reports to Regional Editors (if not sent to SRE)

                             June 10     Aug 10       Dec 10    Mar 10

SRE reports to Regional Editors

                             June 20     Aug 20       Dec 20     Mar 20

Regional Editors final text to ABA office

                             July 10     Sep 10        Jan 10
Apr 10

Please send reports in our database format: species, date(s)
[including year], locale separated by a space from county
abbreviation, number of birds, and observers, and then, on a second
line, any comments.  Please separate these sections by a
"tab" (except just a space between locale and county abbreviation).
Here's an example of the correct format:

Grace's Warbler        12/13/98-2/20/99          Jacks Peak
MTY          1        RFT, mob

     A second record for the Region (the first was 6/26/91 at Deer
Spring, Glass Mt. MNO) which wintered with a large flock of
Townsend's & Hermit warblers at the very top of Jacks Peak in Jacks
Peak Regional Park. Details by Tintle and others are enclosed.

Many thanks to all contributors and Subregional Editors who make
these reports possible!

Sincerely,

Jeff Davis, Ed Pandolfino, Steve Rottenborn, and Mike Rogers

Northern California Regional Editors

(North American Birds is a quarterly journal of ornithological record
published by the American Birding Association.  For details see
http://www.aba.org/nab/.)






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

Location:     Lake Isabella, Southern Sierra Nevada, Kern County
Observation date:     11/30/09
Locations:     Kissack Cove (8:20am-9:50am), Paradise Cove
(9:50am-10am), South Fork Marina (10am-10:40am), Engineer Point
(10:45am-11:50am), Hwy 155 at Main Dam pull-out (12pm-12:05pm),
French Gulch Marina (12:10pm-12:15pm), North Fork Marina
(12:25pm-12:50pm). Reservoir was counted in sectors to avoid count duplication.
NOTE: Another day with outstanding birding conditions ... clear,
bright, smooth water. However, unsuccessful in search for hoped-for
species from among scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser,
Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, and rarer
gulls. Still, numbers of Common Mergansers (450), Eared Grebe (1625),
Western/Clark's Grebes (2635), Double-crested Cormorant (392), plus 5
Ospreys and an adult Bald Eagle.
Number of species:     38
Gadwall     40
American Wigeon     30
Mallard     130
Green-winged Teal     45
Bufflehead     12
Common Merganser     450
Pied-billed Grebe     3
Eared Grebe     1625
Western Grebe     10
Clark's Grebe     5
Western/Clark's Grebe     2620
American White Pelican     53
Double-crested Cormorant     392
Great Blue Heron     17
Osprey     5
Bald Eagle     1  adult   Delta in the North Fork...
American Coot     85
Killdeer     11
Least Sandpiper     82
Long-billed Dowitcher     1
Ring-billed Gull     16
California Gull     330
Herring Gull     1     1st cycle...at Kissack Cove...
gull sp.     150
Say's Phoebe     2
Western Scrub-Jay     1
Common Raven     24
Horned Lark     4
Rock Wren     1
Bewick's Wren     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
European Starling     1
American Pipit     1
Phainopepla     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     1
Savannah Sparrow     2
White-crowned Sparrow     10
Western Meadowlark     15
Brewer's Blackbird     117
House Finch     12

The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)

Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA


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

Thanksgiving Day at Lake Almanor, I walked out on the south spit of land from
the causeway.  Thousands of waterfowl:  Tundra Swans, 1 Snow Goose plus a
flyover flock, Am Wigeon, Mallard, Canvasback, GW Teal, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy
Duck, Com. Goldeneye, Pintail, Common and Hooded Mergs, and more.  Overhead, a
Peregrine Falcon was dive-bombing an adult Bald Eagle.  Three 1Y eagles were on
the spit.  Bonaparte's and RB Gulls were also there.

In the trees, Pygmy Nuthatches were in a mixed flock with both kinglets, RB
Nuthatch, Mtn Chickadee, Brown Creeper, and juncos.





Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax

27 Nov 09: Kern River Valley (CA Hwy. 178 through the South Fork Kern
River Valley IBA, Slippery Rock Launch Site, Tillie Creek Campground,
Isabella Reservoir's North Fork, FS 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit n. to
Kern Co./Tulare Co. line), Isabella Reservoir's Engineer Point,
Isabella Reservoir's Kissack Cove, and South Fork Valley's Paul's Place)...

HIGHLIGHTS: Common Merganser (162), Eared Grebe (111), American White
Pelican (56), Double-crested Cormorant (307), Osprey (6), Ferruginous
Hawk (1), Peregrine Falcon (1), Greater Roadrunner (1), Belted
Kingfisher (1), RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (3), White-headed Woodpecker (1),
Canyon Wren (1), Townsend's Solitaire (2), American Dipper (1),
Phainopepla (19), Purple Finch (6). Mammal: Bobcat (1).

eBird details for South Fork Valley, Slippery Rock Launch Site,
Tillie Creek Campground, Greenhorn Mountains, and Isabella Reservoir
follow now...

Location:     South Fork Kern River Valley--IBA
Observation date:     11/27/09
Notes:     Raptors observed on telephone poles and wires along CA Hwy
178 from mile marker 62.50 in Onyx to mile marker 53.00 in South Lake.
Number of species:     3
     * Red-tailed Hawk     7
     * Ferruginous Hawk     1     Light phase individual...
     * American Kestrel     1
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Keyesville--Slippery Rock Launch Site
Observation date:     11/27/09
Number of species:     5
     * California Quail     1
     * Western Scrub-Jay     1
     * Canyon Wren     1
     * American Dipper     1
     * House Finch     2
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Wofford Heights--Tillie Creek Campground
Observation date:     11/27/09
Notes:     7:25am-9:25am. 36F-48.3F, 43%-21.4%, 0-0 kph wind. Mammal: Bobcat 1.
Observers: Bob Barnes, John Schmitt, Mark Schmitt.
Number of species:     28
     * California Quail     25
     * Red-tailed Hawk     1
     * Acorn Woodpecker     15
     * Red-naped Sapsucker     3     An adult male was photographed by
Mark Schmitt.
     * Nuttall's Woodpecker     3
     * Northern Flicker     1
     * Loggerhead Shrike     2
     * Western Scrub-Jay     26
     * Common Raven     6
     * Oak Titmouse     8
     * Bushtit     6
     * White-breasted Nuthatch     2
     * Bewick's Wren     1
     * Ruby-crowned Kinglet     2
     * Western Bluebird     9
     * Northern Mockingbird     4
     * California Thrasher     1
     * European Starling     2
     * Phainopepla     19
     * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     4
     * Spotted Towhee     9
     * California Towhee     4
     * White-crowned Sparrow     27
     * Golden-crowned Sparrow     1
     * Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     11
     * Purple Finch   6
     * House Finch     22
     * House Sparrow     3
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Lake Isabella--North Fork
Observation date:     11/27/09
Notes:     9:35am-9:55am.
Number of species:     11
     * California Quail     1
     * Double-crested Cormorant     41
     * Great Blue Heron     4
     * Osprey     2
     * Peregrine Falcon     1
     * Belted Kingfisher     1
     * Say's Phoebe     1
     * Western Scrub-Jay     1
     * Common Raven     4
     * White-crowned Sparrow     4
     * House Sparrow     1
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Greenhorn Mountains--FS 24S15 (Greenhorn Summit to Tulare Co)
Observation date:     11/27/09
Notes:     10:25am-11:35am. 52F, 23% humidity at start.
Number of species:     7
     * White-headed Woodpecker     1
     * Steller's Jay     3
     * Mountain Chickadee     9
     * Red-breasted Nuthatch     3
     * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
     * Townsend's Solitaire     2     One of these two individuals was singing.
     * American Robin     1
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Lake Isabella--Engineer Pt.
Observation date:     11/27/09
Notes:     12:20pm-1pm. Individuals different than those in North
Fork or at Kissack Cove.
Number of species:     13
     * Mallard     9
     * Common Merganser     162     Only three of the 162 individuals
were in adult male plumage.
     * Eared Grebe     111     Two separate flocks (72 and 39 individuals)
     * Western Grebe     3
     * American White Pelican     1
     * Double-crested Cormorant     88
     * Great Blue Heron     2
     * Osprey     2
     * American Coot     7
     * California Gull     10
     * Greater Roadrunner     1
     * Common Raven     8
     * House Finch     2
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Lake Isabella--Kissack Cove
Observation date:     11/27/09
Notes:     1:10pm-1:45pm.
Number of species:     11
     * Canada Goose     6     On gravel bar with pelicans...
     * Gadwall     6     On small pond formed by lowered reservoir level.
     * Mallard     10     On small pond formed by lowered reservoir level.
     * American White Pelican     55     On gravel bar on current east
end of reservoir at Kissack Cove.
     * Double-crested Cormorant     178     Most in water; several
more on snags sticking up out of reservoir
     * Osprey     2     Six individuals on the reservoir (2 at North
Fork, 2 off Engineer's Point, 2 at Kissack Cove.).
     * Killdeer     4     All at east end of reservoir.
     * Ring-billed Gull     10
     * California Gull     200
     * gull sp.     290     Gull numbers continue to build. Over 500
present this day.
     * Common Raven     10
     * Horned Lark     40
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Bob Barnes
Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA
P: 760-382-1260


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

A message with potential malicious software was sent to the group

there was no subject line and it came from GWPOTT.

GWPOTT was removed from the membership list.

Bruce Webb
Granite Bay, CA

Monday, Nov. 23, I had 2 male & 1 female Hooded Margansers at the Coast Guard
Pier.  First ever on th lake for me.

See you all in May.  We're off to Tucson & Antarctica.

RCC

Richard Carlson

Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian

Part-time Economist

Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA

rccarl@...

Tucson 520-760-4935

Tahoe 530-581-0624

Kirkland 425-828-3819

Cell 650-280-2965

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

25 Nov 09: Kern River Valley (Canebrake Ecological Reserve, first 1.4
mi. of Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway, Cliff east from
Onyx's Cottage Grove Cemetery, Isabella Reservoir's Kissack Cove,
South Fork Valley's Paul's Place.) ... another day in birding
paradise (one of California's many!) ... cool, clear, abundant
sunshine, no wind.

HIGHLIGHTS: Wood Duck (1), American White Pelican (55),
Double-crested Cormorant (152), Osprey (2), Virginia Rail (6), Sora
(1), Herring Gull (1 - first cycle), Greater Roadrunner (1),
Long-eared Owl (1), Cactus Wren (4), Canyon Wren (1), Mountain
Bluebird (17 - 6f, 11m), Black-throated Sparrow (1), Tricolored
Blackbird (500),...

eBird details for Canebrake, Chimney Peak Byway, Kissack Cove, and
Paul's Place follow now...

Location:     South Fork Valley--Canebrake Ecological Reserve
Observation date:     11/25/09
Notes:     6am-8:50am. 29.2F-51.1F; 52%-33% humidity; 0-0 kph wind;
clear, sunny (after 7:15am), cloudless skies. Observer: Bob Barnes,
Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA.
Number of species:     46 (in 2 hrs. 50 min.) vs. up to a maximum of
67 species during past Christmas Bird Counts (8-10 hrs. on field effort).
     * Wood Duck     1
     * Gadwall     2     Paired up...
     * American Wigeon     8     Single small flock...
     * Green-winged Teal     8     Single small flock...
     * California Quail     12
     * Sharp-shinned Hawk     1     Appeared to be a male...
     * Red-shouldered Hawk     1     An adult...
     * Red-tailed Hawk     1
     * Virginia Rail     6
     * Sora     1
     * American Coot     6
     * Long-eared Owl     1     In riparian zone between Public Access
Trail and pond & marsh...
     * Nuttall's Woodpecker     4
     * Hairy Woodpecker     1
     * Northern Flicker     2
     * Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1
     * Black Phoebe     1
     * Say's Phoebe     1
     * Loggerhead Shrike     1
     * Western Scrub-Jay     8
     * Common Raven     6
     * Oak Titmouse     2
     * Bushtit     15     Single flock in Joshua tree woodland next to
parking area.
     * White-breasted Nuthatch     1
     * Rock Wren     2
     * Canyon Wren     1     Singing from rocky hillside just east and
across Hwy 178 from reserve entrance
     * Bewick's Wren     3
     * Marsh Wren     2
     * Ruby-crowned Kinglet     4
     * Western Bluebird     10     Includes single flock of nine plus
a separate adult male...
     * Hermit Thrush     1     Along portion of Public Access Trail
through closed canopy riparian zone...
     * American Robin     2
     * Wrentit     1
     * European Starling     18
     * Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     2
     * Spotted Towhee     1
     * California Towhee     5
     * Song Sparrow     9
     * Lincoln's Sparrow     1
     * White-crowned Sparrow     115     100 of these were in a single
flock along the drier portion of the Public Access Trail...
     * Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     9
     * Red-winged Blackbird     100     Foraging among cattle in
pasture on Reserve...
     * Tricolored Blackbird     500     Foraging among cattle in same
pasture...
     * Western Meadowlark     8     Foraging among cattle in same pasture...
     * Brewer's Blackbird     200     Foraging among cattle in same pasture...
     * House Finch     15
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway--Kern Co.
Observation date:     11/25/09
Notes:     8:55am-9:20am. Observer: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern Co.,
CA. Only two species observed during twenty-five minutes spent on the
Chimney Peak National Back Country Byway.
Number of species:     2
     * Cactus Wren     4     Two on each side of Chimney Peak National
Back Country Byway in Joshua tree woodland 1.4 mi. up the Byway from
CA Hwy 178. Observed at 9:15am
     * Black-throated Sparrow     1     This adult was the first found
in November 2009. This individual was found about 1.0 mi, up the
Byway from CA Hwy 178. Observed at 9:05am.
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     Lake Isabella--Kissack Cove
Observation date:     11/25/09
Notes:     10am-11:10am. Observer: Bob Barnes.
Number of species:     24
     * Gadwall     74     72 together in pond formed by low reservoir level.
     * American Wigeon     20     Al in shallow pond formed by low
reservoir level.
     * Mallard     1     In shallow pond formed by low reservoir level.
     * Northern Shoveler     4     On main reservoir.
     * Green-winged Teal    12     On shallow pond formed by low
reservoir level...
     * Bufflehead     8     On main reservoir surface.
     * Common Merganser     51     On main reservoir surface.
     * Western/Clark's Grebe     300     On main reservoir surface.
Too far away to hear or visually identify to species...
     * American White Pelican     55     Single flock on sandbar at
edge of main reservoir...
     * Double-crested Cormorant     152     Perched on exposed snags
in low reservoir zone...
     * Great Blue Heron     1
     * Osprey     2     On snags sticking up from low reservoir...
     * American Kestrel     1
     * American Coot     40     On main reservoir surface...
     * Killdeer     6
     * Long-billed Dowitcher     1     Feeding at edge of shallow pond
formed by low reservoir.
     * Ring-billed Gull     10
     * California Gull     100
     * Herring Gull     1     First cycle.
     * gull sp.     200
     * Greater Roadrunner     1
     * Say's Phoebe     1
     * Common Raven     6
     * Horned Lark     4
     * American Pipit     6
     * House Finch     14
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Location:     South Fork Valley--Paul's Place
Observation date:     11/25/09
Notes:     12:05pm-12:15pm. Observer: Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA.
Number of species:     4
     * American Kestrel     1
     * Black Phoebe     1
     * Common Raven     1
     * Mountain Bluebird     17     In crescent-shaped pasture framed
by CA Hwy 178 and Paul's Place on the south side of CA Hwy 178
between mile markers 56.00 and 57.00 (between Sierra Way and the Kern
River Preserve Headquarters entrance road).
The above report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)


Bob Barnes
1009 Las Cruces Ave, Ridgecrest, Kern Co., CA 93555
E: bbarnes@...; P: 760-382-1260

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Hello birders,

Lindsay and I spent last weekend in Sierraville. Saturday turned out to be a
beautiful day with fresh snow on the ground a barely any wind. There was
just enough snow for good snowshoeing on Yuba Pass and not enough for any
snow mobilers to be out. The highlights there were two WHITE-HEADED
WOOODPECKERS and a BROWN CREEPER. In Sierra Valley, the highlights were a
BALD EAGLE, PRAIRIE FALCON, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and FERRUGINOUS and
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.



Here are the complete lists:

Yuba Pass

Red-tailed Hawk

White-headed Woodpecker

Steller's Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Cassin's Finch



Sierra Valley

Red-tailed Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Prairie Falcon

Rock Pigeon

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Loggerhead Shrike

Common Raven

Black-billed Magpie

Mountain Chickadee

Townsend's Solitaire

European Starling

Dark-eyed Junco

Steller's Jay



Kirk Hardie

Reno, NV

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts."

    - From a sign in Albert Einstein's office at Princeton





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An adult Varied Thrush just appear on my back fence--the first one I've ever
seen in the Eastern Sierra. I hope the snowstorm that's arriving tomorrow
doesn't do him in.

Chris Battis
(Southernmost) Lassen County

We had a pretty but nearly birdless afternoon at Sierra Meadows Nov. 16.  Only
bird of notwas a Ferruginous hawk near the intersection of Heriot lane and hwy
49.  We also had oen Swan farther north on Heriot.  NO ducks at all and one lone
Goose.  Never had so few birds there.

RCC

Richard Carlson

Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian

Part-time Economist

Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA

rccarl@...

Tucson 520-760-4935

Tahoe 530-581-0624

Kirkland 425-828-3819

Cell 650-280-2965

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Yesterday while walking the Tahoe Donner Golf Course (closed for the
season) we saw 6 Red Shafted Northern Flickers, 3 Red-breasted
Nuthatches, 3 Mountain Chickadees, a Red-tailed Hawk and numberous
Steller's Jays.  With quite a bit of snow on the ground the Robins
appear to have left.  Andrea Oddo, Truckee Elevation 6600'

This morning, Nov. 6,  at 11:00, there were 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on
Bridgeport Reservoir near the dam. Looking at my Sibley, one looked
like the picture of a 1st spring female, the other looked like an
adult female. They were swimming and diving together. I was on Hwy 182
driving east. Near the dam is a 40 mph curve sign. I pulled over here
and the birds were across the lake, which is not very wide.
I looked for some of the birds reported by Al DeMartini. I did not
find the Eurasian Wigeon or the Vermilion Flycatcher, but there were 5
HOODED MERGANSERS, 3 males and 2 females, at Gull Lake near the boat
ramp at the campground. There was another female on the south end of
Grant Lake.

Kathy Parker
Los Gatos

Sandhill Crane Festival, Nov 6-8, 2009

There are several events of interest to birders at this year's Sandhill Crane
Festival in Lodi.

Saturday's featured speaker will be Paul Bannick, an award-winning photographer,
whose presentation "The Owl and The Woodpecker: Encounters with North America's
Most Iconic Birds" will look at the way owls and woodpeckers define and enrich
their habitats and how their life histories are intertwined.  His photographs,
including many from his 2008 book, can be viewed at www.paulbannick.com.  The
San Joaquin Audubon Society is a major sponsor of Paul Bannick's presentation.

Sunday's featured speaker will be Paul Tebbel, who has worked with cranes since
1976, including 11 years as the director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary on the
Platte River in Nebraska.  His video presentation "Sandhill Crane Behavior" will
help the audience better understand crane body language, vocalizations, and
other behaviors.

Admission to the Festival is free, including the Friday evening reception, where
Dan Gifford of CDFG will be recognized with the Festival's annual Conservation
Award.  Free events on Saturday and Sunday include a variety of presentations,
workshops, and kids activities, the Art Show, and Exhibit Hall.  The Festival
will be held a Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins Street in Lodi. 
Directions and more information about the Festival can be found at
www.cranefestival.com or by calling 800-581-6150.



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Hey folks,
It's that time of year again.  I need to schedule the South Lake Tahoe
CBC, and I'd love to get some input from any would-be participants
that may have scheduling conflicts.  Typically, we like to hold it as
early as possible, as the difference in snowpack from the beginning of
CBC season to the end can be profound!  But, the whole weekday vs.
weekend issue seems to be a constant debate.  I would like to propose
either Monday Dec. 14 or Tuesday Dec. 15 if there is sufficient
interest and manpower OR Saturday December 19 if I hear from enough
weekend-only types.  Auburn and Woodfords are both that day, so I'd
consider Sunday the 20th as well.  Reno and Carson are also usually
the first Saturday and Sunday of the count period, respectively - more
incentive to trying to do it earlier in the week.  All of this, of
course is subject to change due to extreme weather, but I'd like to at
least pencil in a tentative date.  Please email me ASAP if you're
interested and have a scheduling preference.

Thanks!!

Will Richardson
Truckee, CA
t.will.richardson@...

Yesterday we hiked from Ward Creek to Tahoe City hoping to see the many
woodpeckers reported earlier this week.  We did see one Hairy
Woodpecker and heard a flicker but that was it.  At the start of the
hike we saw a Red-tailed Hawk, then several Mountain Chickadees,
Steller's Jays and 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches.  When we reached the
Truckee River in Tahoe City we saw a pair of Mallards and 5 Hooded
Mergansers.  My first hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail without seeing or
hearing a Clark's Nutcracker or any Dark-eyed Juncos.  Andrea & Andy
Oddo, Truckee

On this beautiful fall day, I took a drive through Sierra Valley.
Sierraville to Sattley, up A23 to Dysan (Marble Hot Springs Rd), across
Dysan to Heriot (Harriet -- depends on which end of the road you are at
when you look at the sign), down Heriot to 49, over to Loyalton, up A24
to Dysan and east to 49, then north to 70.  (Eventually left the valley
going east on 70 to 395 and north to Red Rock Road, a location with the
nice feature of being able to see Juniper Titmouse in both California
and Nevada on one short walk.  But I digress...)

At the first 90 degree turn on Dysan (as you travel east from A23),
there was a young Northern Shrike.  (That's in Plumas.)  This is about a
week or so earlier than my usual first sighting for the species in the
area, but probably not unusually early.

Other than that, birding was quite slow.  The only waterfowl encountered
consisted of a flock of large Canada Geese and some Buffleheads at the
pond just west of Sierraville.  Raptor numbers were quite low.  I
spotted only 3 Red-tailed Hawks in Sierra County and 6 in Plumas. I've
had counts above 50 or several occasions in November (although usually a
bit later in the month.)  I saw only two Ferruginous Hawks (but it was a
wonderful sighting -- one light, one dark, circling together near
Loyalton.  Dark morph Ferruginous is one of my favorite raptors!)  A few
Northern Harriers and one American Kestrel completed the raptor list.  I
was surprised not to see a Rough-legged Hawk.  Other than that, some
Mountain Bluebirds, a few American Pipits, and the rest of the usual
suspects.

Martin

---------------
  Martin Meyers
  email: Martin  (...AT...) SierraBirdbum.com
  Photo website: http://SierraBirdbum.com
  Truckee, CA

Hello birders,

I hiked along the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe City to Ward Canyon yesterday.
It turned out to be a beautiful day to be on a hike. There was nothing
unusual, but there was a noticeable absence of one species: there were no
dark-eyed juncos seen. Woodpeckers were abundant though. There were at least
4 WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS, at least 4 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, and even though no
FLICKERS were seen, many were heard. We also came across a snag that looked
like a pileated woodpecker had searched for food in. Here's the (short)
complete list:



White-headed Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (heard)

Steller's Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Evening Grosbeak (heard)





Kirk Hardie

Reno, NV

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counted counts."

    - From a sign in Albert Einstein's office at Princeton





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Greetings SIE - NEV Birders,

Yesterday, Sunday, 1 Nov. 2009, returning from Plumas Co. to the S.F.Bay
Area via Hwy 89, my wife Pat and I stopped at the artificial pond along Hwy 89
ca. 2 mi. north of Sierraville, SIE Co.  Among the 70 +/- Canada Geese
(including 3+ very large, white breasted/bellied individuals) were one Greater
White-fronted Goose and an adult and an immature Snow Goose (white forms).

An Adult Bald Eagle was conspicuously perched on a tree snag alongside of
the Little Truckee River, just south of the Hwy 89 bridge below Little
Truckee Campground (USFS), SIE Co.  This is about 10 miles south of Sierraville
(1/2 way to Truckee). A first, unexpected location for us in several decades
of travel; although they regularly winter in Sierra Valley, PLU & SIE Cos,
25+ miles away).

P.S. This morning our garbage can lid birdbath (Blairsden, PLU Co.,
4,800ft.) was visited by a female Williamson's Sapsucker (among the 8 woodpecker
species found here = "Woodpecker Woods").

Happy Fall Birding,

Phil & Pat Gordon
Hayward, ALA Co.



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Yesterday while walking up Coldstream Canyon (in the railroad track horseshoe)
we spotted 30 Common Mergansers in the ponds, 5 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 20
Dark-eyed Juncos, 6 Red-breasted Northern Flickers, and 3 Steller's Jays. 
Andrea Oddo, Truckee=


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