March Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - March, 2009 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

Bottom of Page

This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
First of two days with Rig Currie & Trish Johnson from Point Reyes Station, CA; Glenn & Hedi Bacon and Tony & Sally Torrance from Tucson, AZ. I birded with Rig a fair number of times in the mid 90s looking for target birds. On this trip we don't have an agenda other than to enjoy all the birds that we find. We spent the morning and early afternoon at Patagonia Lake State Park then finished up with an hour in Paton's yard. A mostly cloudy and warm day; quite windy in the afternoon.

Bird-wise at the lake, there were definite signs that winter is over with diminished numbers of wintering species and only a few signs that spring is here. The Elegant Trogon was seen along the creek by others but not by us.

Best bird for me was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, my earliest spring record at the lake. A large raft of female COMMON MERGANSERS and a lone male were also present. A couple of NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS were the first I have seen at the lake this year. Other waterfowl included many EARED GREBES, a few CINNAMON TEAL, a male COMMON GOLDENEYE and a female BUFFLEHEAD.

Apart from the recently returned VERMILION FLYCATCHERS that were easy to see, flycatchers were not prominent. We saw GRAY & ASH-THROATED and others saw Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet.

The only gnatcatcher noted was a calling BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER seen while tracking down singing BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS on a rocky slope where a ROCK WREN was also present.

No migrant raptors of note. PEREGRINE FALCON continues at the west end of the lake.

For a while, the Paton's yard had more birders than birds. Eventually, we saw several BROAD-BILLED, VIOLET-CROWNED and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS. The seed feeders were dominated by LESSER GOLDFINCHES and PINE SISKINS with the occasional visit from a male LAZULI BUNTING. As is often the case, male and female CARDINALS and PYRRHULOXIAS were present for comparison.

Thursday, March 5, 2009
Out again today with Rig Currie and the gang. We birded at Whitewater Draw then made a spur of the moment decision to visit Slaughter Ranch. Blue Mockingbird was a potential new ABA bird for Rig. For 4 of the group, this was their first birding trip so anything was good. Another cloudy day, not as warm as yesterday (mid 70s in southeast Cochise County) and less windy.

Water levels continue to drop throughout the various impoundments at Whitewater and the place looked a little desolate. Nevertheless, a couple of hours spent strolling around the main pond and a drive down Coffman Road were interesting and productive. At 10:00am, the white geese flock came in quite close (probably forced to do so because of water depth) and we were easily able to pick out several ROSS'S GEESE from the 130-ish SNOW GEESE (including a few blue phase birds).

Duck species included a few GREEN-WINGED & CINNAMON TEAL and several beautiful male PINTAILS. Not much in the way of migrants noted. A group of AMERICAN AVOCETS may have been local breeders rather than migrants. GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST SANDPIPERS and DUNLIN have all been around for a while.

Several of the regular sparrow species were present as well as many LARK BUNTINGS. We also saw SCALED QUAIL, small numbers of SANDHILL CRANES, VERMILION FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

It was noon by the time we reached Slaughter Ranch and a large number of birders were looking for the mockingbird. After a brief vigil we took a lunch break and waited for the crowd to thin out. Fortunately, the bird was seen while we ate lunch and most birders left. Around 1:00pm, we had decent views of the BLUE MOCKINGBIRD foraging on the ground in the hackberry thicket (eventually seen by all the non-birders in our group). A little later, the bird perched up high in a large hackberry on the edge of the thicket at the top of the hill. I managed an extremely backlit documentary quality image of the bird. The bird moved around quite a bit so there was no time to adjust camera settings. It was a case of point and shoot and hope for the best.

The 2 continuing RUDDY GROUND-DOVES were perched in the open near the water seep.

Friday, March 6, 2009
First of two days with Alton Thygerson from Provo, UT. Our targets are Sinaloa Wren, Black-capped Gnatcatcher and Rufous-capped Warbler. Another cloudy day, cooler; and even a sprinkle was felt in Florida Canyon. Wind became a problem by late morning and we threw in the towel at 12:30pm.

We arrived at "the wren spot" on Blue Haven Road in Patagonia at 6:55am. A small group of birders were already gathered and the SINALOA WREN had been heard calling at 6:40am. Over the next couple of hours we were tantalized three times by loud bursts of song from the wren at 7:15, 7:45 and 8:35am. Despite the fact that the wren was quite close (but still across the creek), none of the pairs of eyes desperately trying to see the bird were able to do so. Feverish ground feeding activity broke out down by the creek at 9:00am with multiple BEWICK'S WRENS, HOUSE WRENS and SONG SPARROWS vying for binocular time. Nary a one could be turned into a Sinaloa Wren. We settled for heard only and left at 9:20am. No birds of special note from 25 recorded.

While driving along South River Road in Nogales, we saw a BLACK-THROATED MAGPIE-JAY along the grass verge about 2 miles from Hwy 82. Some years ago there was a small population of this species in the Nogales area and they ventured as far east as Patagonia. I thought the population had died out, but perhaps not. I first saw one in 1998 and last saw one at Patagonia Lake on November 7, 2003.

The next roadside bird of note was a low-flying GOLDEN EAGLE on the Continental Road at mile marker 6.

Our timing in Florida Canyon was very good and we bumped into a pair of RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS (one singing) less than 100 yards above the dam. This is the lowest down canyon that I have seen one (although I think they have been reported below the dam).

We didn't fare as well with our gnatcatcher efforts. We briefly saw a gnatcatcher on the hill above the water tank. I could tell that it was a male (all gray) but wasn't able to determine species. This was close to the location where I saw a bird at the end of February. We waited around for a while but the bird didn't materialize.

After a brief check of Proctor Road (nary a bird stirring), we called it a day due to the windy conditions.

42 species recorded:
Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Am. Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers; N. Flicker, Black & Say's Phoebes; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Phainopepla, Cactus, Canyon, Sinaloa, Bewick's & House Wrens; Curve-billed Thrasher, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Mexican Jay, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens; House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Yellow-rumped & Rufous-capped Warblers; Spotted, Canyon & Abert's Towhees; Rufous-crowned, Song, Lincoln's & White-crowned Sparrows; N. Cardinal and Great-tailed Grackle.

Saturday, March 7, 2009
Out again today with Alton. Black-capped Gnatcatcher was our only target. I decided to head back to the Santa Ritas to maximize our chances and planned to visit Proctor Road in Madera Canyon, then on to Florida Canyon and finally to Patagonia Lake as necessary. As it turned out, we were successful at the first attempt and Alton was able to rearrange his flight and travel home a day early.

Unlike yesterday, it was windy from the outset albeit with diminished velocity after some strong overnight wind in the Sierra Vista area. The drive over via Box Canyon Road was relatively birdless apart from some unidentified bluebirds and a few common species.

It was quite chilly at Proctor Road at 7:20am and we were the only people present. Although it didn't take long to hear a calling BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER near the stream crossing, it took almost 45 minutes of careful listening and tracking before we laid eyes on a male foraging in a hackberry. The bird had a partially developed cap. A second bird was calling nearby.

Among the few birds noted as we tracked the gnatcatcher were ORANGE-CROWNED & BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and a calling HEPATIC TANAGER.

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Out today with Scott and Pat Sainsbury from Moretown, VT. We birded at Patagonia Lake State Park without a specific agenda. It was a sunny and very pleasant early spring day, just a little windy by late morning. Although birding at the lake wasn't at its best (spring is not quite sprung bird-wise), I recorded 66 species and we saw quite a few birds that are not native to Vermont!

Top of the pops was the continuing male ELEGANT TROGON seen in the mesquite bosque between the 2nd and 3rd washes quite close to the trail. It was a fortunate sighting since we were tracking BELL'S VIREO and stumbled into some birders who were already viewing the trogon. 

Among the other highlights were NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (singing near a tree used for nesting every year); lots of VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS & CASSIN'S VIREOS, PAINTED REDSTART (near the creek split); numerous ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and SWAMP SPARROW.

Heard only species included a migrant BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (I have a few spring records at the lake); just one GRAY FLYCATCHER (quite a change from the depths of winter), LUCY'S WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER.

Species on the water included 30+ EARED GREBES, both CORMORANT species; BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, CINNAMON TEAL, 2 male LESSER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, a beautiful male BUFFLEHEAD and many continuing COMMON MERGANSERS.

We kept an eye skyward for migrant raptors without much success. Both VULTURE species were present plus COOPER'S & RED-TAILED HAWKS and a fast flying PEREGRINE FALCON.

Paton's yard was quiet in mid afternoon but we did see the hoped for VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD and LAZULI BUNTING.

Friday, March 13, 2009
California trip, Day 1 ~ Sierra Vista - San Diego: Trip List 66
Starting today I'll be traveling in California until March 20. I'll be hitting some of the places that I normally do with clients when target birding for the typical southern California specialties, though perhaps not in the usual order. I don't have a serious agenda for this trip; I plan on trying to see those specialties (albeit with less intensity) while taking advantage of any photo opportunities that come my way.

Today was a travel day and I only had time for limited birding. I gave the south end of the Salton Sea a cursory look and then took the longer route to San Diego via Julian and the Cuyamaca Mountains.

I was shocked by the low water levels at the Salton Sea, particularly in the Garst Road/Red Hill area and at Obsidian Butte. It seems to me that the water level has been steadily dropping for years and this is the lowest that I've ever seen it at this time of year. I remember once driving down Garst Road and wondering if I would make it through the water flooding on the road. Today, the water was perhaps 100 yards away in that very same spot. At Obsidian Butte, the gull loafing area offers no protection -- the rocks are high and dry in in many places.

Highlight was an adult YELLOW-FOOTED GULL at Obsidian Butte, a bird that can be quite difficult to find at this time of year. I was hoping for a cool and cloudy day but that didn't work out. Although it was actually a fairly cool day by Salton Sea standards (80 degrees was the highest temp), heat shimmer at my noon arrival time made it impossible to resolve all but the most obvious distant birds. I consider myself quite fortunate with the gull (or, better said, my timing was perfect!). A few minutes after I arrived, the gull came into view for perhaps a minute then disappeared behind the rocks. I didn't see it again over the next 45 minutes as I scanned the other stuff.

I also enjoyed seeing scads of BLACK-NECKED STILTS, good numbers of WHITE-FACED IBIS and LONG-BILLED CURLEWS in the flooded fields near Calipatria; and the usual (cute) BURROWING OWLS on Sinclair Road.

The best part of the mountains was the cool down -- 80 when I left the sea, high 50s at Cuyamaca Lake. I didn't make any stops and settled for roadside birds.

Saturday, March 14, 2009
California trip, Day 2 ~ San Diego - Irvine: Trip List 101 (+35)
My only objective for the day was to see Elegant Tern. There are plenty of local rarities in the San Diego area at the moment but they didn't interest me and I didn't bother to look for them. After seeing the tern, I did a little casual birding in San Diego County and saw a few other typical SoCal target species -- Clark's Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Brant, Black Turnstone, Heermann's Gull, California Thrasher, Wrentit and California Towhee.

I began at the south end of the South Bay Preserve then briefly scanned the ocean from Imperial Beach pier before an equally brief visit to Tijuana Slough NWR. From there I headed north with stops at La Jolla and San Elijo Lagoon.

From the Silver Strand access of South Bay Preserve (a very reliable tern spot) I was able to pick out a handful of recently arrived ELEGANT TERNS amongst many ROYAL TERNS. For a while it was difficult because the terns would spook and take flight when an OSPREY circled the area. Eventually, however, I had the above mentioned terns plus FORSTER'S TERN in the same scope view. Three birds, three species -- field guide stuff! One good tern deserves another so they say. Sorry, I can resist anything except temptation.

BRANT were plentiful at the same location. I had excellent close up views of CLARK'S GREBE from the bike path a little further south. HEERMANN'S GULLS (mostly first year birds) were plentiful on the beach near the pier. Among the common and/or easily seen species were AMERICAN WIGEON, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (and possibly Short-billed, I couldn't be certain); MARBLED GODWIT and LONG-BILLED CURLEW.

La Jolla was very disappointing. Other than pelicans, gulls and cormorants, birds were hard to come by and I failed to find Surfbird or Wandering Tattler. RUDDY & BLACK TURNSTONES were the only obvious species on the rocks.

Compared to La Jolla and its throngs of grockles, my mid afternoon visit to San Elijo Lagoon was relatively people free and a much more enjoyable and productive experience. This is perhaps by favorite spot along the San Diego County coastline. I meandered the south trail for a couple of hours without any specific objectives. The tide was completely out and very little water remained in the lagoon. However, very few shorebirds were taking advantage of the extensive mudflats.

Highlights were a pair of very cooperative BUSHTITS (by Bushtit standards), image #2; a singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER perched close to the trail; and numerous elusive WRENTITS, some of which I actually laid eyes on! Other species included BLUE-WINGED TEAL OSPREY, GADWALL (an unusual image); CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, WARBLING VIREO, many ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS; SPOTTED & CALIFORNIA TOWHEES and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

I started on the bluffs at Crystal Cove State Park where CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER was quite easy to find (but not easy to photograph). Within 30 minutes I had seen perhaps three pairs, located by their mewing calls. Also here were calling CALIFORNIA QUAIL, a perched up and singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER in the early morning light (such as it was) and many CALIFORNIA TOWHEES. Although it may not seem so from looking at the images, the light was actually quite poor.

I dropped down to the beach and spent an hour so working the rocky areas. I was rewarded with several WHIMBRELS (the pictured bird is really getting stuck in to its task); a lone WANDERING TATTLER and many SURFBIRDS. The usual BLACK TURNSTONES and singletons of RUDDY TURNSTONE and SANDERLING were also present along with a number of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (the pictured bird is starting to acquire breeding plumage, most were not).

In mid morning, I moved on to Laguna Niguel Regional Park where I've had mixed success in recent years with Tricolored Blackbird. Last year at this time I was successful early in the month then missed them twice later in the month. I spent a couple of unsuccessful hours there today. The park was busy, as you might expect on a Sunday morning, but there were still plenty of birds around (~40 species). I saw nothing unusual and the highlight was seeing side by side NUTTALL'S and DOWNY WOODPECKERS on the same tree trunk. CATTLE EGRET seemed a little out of place but my records show that I've seen one here before in March.

My next stop was Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve north of Huntington Beach. It was quite windy by the time I arrived at 1:00pm so scoping and photography were difficult to say the least. I stayed for 90 minutes and recorded about 30 common species. The highlight was watching an extremely large flock of wind assisted WESTERN SANDPIPERS hurtling around at high speed yet still maintaining precision and unison. Even the many non-birders present were suitably impressed.

FORSTER'S TERN was the only tern that I positively identified. Several Royal/Elegant were also present. Most birds were too far away to photograph and my only successes were LONG-BILLED CURLEW and LESSER SCAUP.

My final act of the day was to successfully locate a fast declining SPOTTED DOVE in East Los Angeles. I've been successful here in the past few years with clients. Today I was alone and found it much more difficult. Driving through the neighborhoods with vehicles parked on both sides of the narrow streets trying to avoid traffic and watch roofs, poles, wires, etc., was a little nerve-wracking to say the least. I bailed out after seeing one bird!

70 species recorded:
Eared Grebe, Am. White & Brown Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great, Snowy & Cattle Egrets; Canada & Cackling Geese; Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, California Quail, Common Moorhen, Am. Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Wandering Tattler, Willet, Ruddy & Black Turnstones; Surfbird, Sanderling, Western & Least Sandpipers; Western Gull, Royal & Forster's Terns; Rock Pigeon, Spotted & Mourning Doves; Anna's Hummingbird, Nuttall's & Downy Woodpeckers; Black Phoebe, Cassin's Kingbird, N. Rough-winged Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Wren, California Thrasher, Wrentit, California Gnatcatcher, Bushtit, Am. Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, House Sparrow, House Finch, Am. Goldfinch, Orange-crowned & Yellow-rumped Warblers; Common Yellowthroat, California Towhee, Savannah, Song & White-crowned Sparrows; Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark and Great-tailed Grackle.

Monday, March 16, 2009
California trip, Day 4 ~ Los Angeles - Ventura: Trip List 133 (+17)
Today's objectives were Mountain Quail and White-headed Woodpecker. I also picked up Red-breasted Sapsucker, a bird that I didn't expect to get until later in the trip. I spent the morning in the San Gabriel Mountains and then birded a couple of coastal locations in Ventura. It was a completely clear day inland and on the coast, the first so far. 40 degrees in the mountains around 5000 feet; 70 degrees in Ventura. There was very little snow visible in the mountains, certainly far less than I normally see at this time of year.

It was a treat to drive the Angles Crest Highway on a weekday (I often seem to be here on weekends). Traffic was very light and I was able to stop at various overlooks with zero hassle. At one overlook I had 5 different MOUNTAIN QUAIL all calling at once. I was able to entice one of them very close but the bird stayed just out of range of my camera lens. Little stinker! Other species at the same stop included 10 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, a CALIFORNIA THRASHER singing roadside in plain view; and WRENTIT, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and CANYON WREN all definitely not in plain view!

I normally go to Chilao for woodpeckers but on this trip I decided to stop at Charlton Flat for a change. This turned out to be a good move. In addition to the expected WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (four found in short order), I also found RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and a female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. Red-breasted is a fairly common breeder higher up the mountain but is not reliable here this early in the season (by my results). Williamson's is an uncommon breeder in the highest sections of the mountain.

Other species at Charlton Flat during a fairly short visit (90 minutes, mostly spent unsuccessfully trying to get images of the sapsuckers) included MOUNTAIN QUAIL, ACORN WOODPECKER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, OAK TITMOUSE and STELLER'S JAY.

In Ventura, I first checked the loafing gulls at the Ventura river mouth. There was nothing unusual (that I could find!) among the motley looking collection here. Most were WESTERN and RING-BILLED GULLS in various plumages. I also found a few CALIFORNIA GULLS, sub-adult (which means I don't know how old they are!) and first winter GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and an adult HEERMANN'S GULL.

Among the other species present at this location were PIED-BILLED GREBE, many BROWN PELICANS; a couple of BRANT; LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, RUDDY & BLACK TURNSTONES; SANDERLING and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE.

I finished up at Marina Park where I was disappointed not to find any Surfbirds or Black Oystercatchers. However, a first winter plumaged RED-NECKED GREBE was a pleasant surprise and some compensation. Other species present included 5 PACIFIC LOONS, many WESTERN and a few CLARK'S GREBES (in addition to "eye in the white", note the orange bill and pale gray body as id points); SURF SCOTER, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL and HEERMANN'S GULL.

Among the beach scavengers were AMERICAN CROW (this crow stuff is as easy as not falling off a log); BREWER'S BLACKBIRD and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD.

61 species recorded:
Pacific Loon, Pied-billed, Red-necked, Western & Clark's Grebes; Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Brant, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-tailed Hawk, Mountain Quail, Am. Coot, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Willet, Ruddy & Black Turnstones; Sanderling, Heermann's, Ring-billed, California, Glaucous-winged & Western Gulls; Rock & Band-tailed Pigeons; Eurasian Collared-Dove, Acorn & White-headed Woodpeckers; Williamson's & Red-breasted Sapsuckers; Black Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens; N. Mockingbird, California Thrasher, Western Bluebird, Am. Robin, Wrentit, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bushtit, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Am. Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, House Sparrow, Purple & House Finches; Spotted & California Towhees; Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
California trip, Day 5 ~ Ventura - Buellton: Trip List 140 (+7)
The weather couldn't have been any better for my 10th trip to Santa Cruz Island today. Seas were about as calm as I've ever experienced, ensuring another puke free trip for this landlubber. Conditions were clear and calm (zero wind) with an afternoon high in the high 70s. You've gotta love these clear SoCal days because you can see the smog for miles.

Before heading to the Harbor, I spent 30 minutes at Marina Park where I saw most of the same birds present last evening. SURFBIRD was a notable addition -- at least 60 of them were working the rocks where none were present yesterday. Just like timing, tide is everything! I didn't see the RED-NECKED GREBE here but did see it from the boat as it left the harbor. A little online research last night revealed that this bird has been here since early January.

The boat departed Ventura Harbor at 9:10am and returned at 5:10pm. The outbound journey produced 4-5 PACIFIC GRAY WHALES and 2 HUMPBACK WHALES were seen on the return. In terms of alcids, I saw only 10+ COMMON MURRES and 20+ PIGEON GUILLEMOTS (the pictured birds took flight as the boat docked at Scorpion anchorage); others saw an auklet or two. Other species on the journey and/or just off the island near the landing areas included HORNED GREBE, several PACIFIC LOONS, abundant WESTERN and a few CLARK'S GREBES; BRANDT'S & PELAGIC CORMORANTS; 100s of SURF SCOTERS and a 3 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS.

Time on land is always a variable depending on the number of wildlife sightings on the journey over and the number and type of passengers (day visitors, overnight campers, kayakers) disembarking at Scorpion anchorage. On this day, I had just over 3 hours at Prisoner's Harbor (which is more than enough). As usual, I didn't take the guided hike to Pelican Bay (on TNC property) and remained on National Park property at the harbor.

ISLAND SCRUB-JAYS were fairly silent and I heard only a few sporadic calls from the four individuals that I saw. The birds are into their nesting season and are not very vocal.

Generally, bird activity was as quiet as I've seen it in my limited time here over the last 10 years. Regular species included BEWICK'S WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, SPOTTED TOWHEE and SONG SPARROW (all fairly numerous). Also present were COMMON RAVEN, BARN SWALLOW (apparently nesting at the dock); BLACK PHOEBE and LESSER GOLDFINCH.

While birding in the creek bed (completely dry for the first time that I can remember), I heard some vocalizations that I had a hard time reconciling with my location. First, I heard some "whit" calls that I soon realized were too loud to be an empid. My next thought was myiarchus but what the hell? However, that was soon confirmed when I heard the mournful whistle of DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER.

To say this was totally unexpected would be the understatement of the year. Although they seem to be a regular fall and winter vagrant on the coastal mainland (one currently in LA County in fact), this is a CBRC review species and a potential first record for the island. Unfortunately, the bird was buried deep in a Eucalyptus grove and I was unable to see it over the next hour even though it called again a few times. I reported the bird to the Santa Barbara County list as "probable" but because of its status, I decided not to count it even for my day list. I trust my ears but it's easy to get fooled. Hopefully, someone will be able to confirm/refute the presence of the bird.

At the end of the day I traveled north for an overnight stay in Buellton and the non-avian highlight of the trip -- delicious pea soup at Pea Soup Anderson's.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
California trip, Day 6 ~ Buellton - Morro Bay - Ventura: Trip List 151 (+11)
Originally, this was to be my penultimate day in California. As things turned out, windy conditions changed my plans and this was my final day. Afternoon winds apart, it was another beautiful day. Temperatures ranged from 40 degrees early morning near Solvang to 83 degrees late afternoon in Santa Maria.

Birding today was a combination of whistle-stop birding for a few key species followed by some casual birding. It was very windy near "the rock" at Morro Bay in the early afternoon and I realized that scoping here was not going to be fruitful, nor would my plan of working further north up the coast. Consequently, I turned around and headed back to Ventura to get a 3 hour head start on my drive home tomorrow.

I began on Alisal Road near Solvang where several YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES were easy to see. I'm sure that one day I'll regret saying this but this location has yet to fail me. Today it was super fast (5 minutes) but sometimes it takes a while.

My next stop was Waller Park in Santa Maria where I wanted to check if last year's Red-breasted Sapsucker wintering site was still reliable. I went to the spot and was a little flummoxed when things didn't look quite right. Eventually it dawned on me that the Tamarisk trees used by the bird had been removed!

I birded the park for a little while and picked up a target CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE. I also saw the long-staying CACKLING GOOSE, SNOW GOOSE and ROSS'S GOOSE. I've mentioned before that I think the Ross's is a hybrid but I've never seen this possibility discussed and the bird appears regularly on the Santa Barbara RBA. Other species in the park included RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER and PURPLE FINCH.

I continued north to Guadalupe where I soon found several spiffy looking TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS and was on my way again in no time at all. Too bad since I had planned to hit one of the Mexican restaurants here for lunch.

Although I'd already seen all of the target species that I normally get at Oceano, I stopped for some casual birding. However, I skipped the campground and dunes and just spent a little time in the willows and at the nearby Pier street pond. ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, WILSON'S WARBLER and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE were new for the trip. Other species included GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, DOWNY WOODPECKER, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE and CALIFORNIA TOWHEE.

I continued north up the coast and made a quick stop on the cliffs near Shell Beach. Bright sun was a problem but I was able to pick out the regular cormorant species plus PACIFIC LOONS and PIGEON GUILLEMOTS.

My next port of call was Sweet Springs in Los Osos, a spot that I always enjoy. Despite the fact that I couldn't have timed my arrival any worse (the tide was as far out as it gets), I recorded 35 species in short order. Nothing new for the trip, just a nice variety of birds to enjoy. Among them were CLARK'S GREBE, WHITE PELICAN, many 100s (1000s?) of BRANT, all three TEAL species; a bevy of the always delightful BUFFLEHEADS; a screaming RED-SHOULDERED HAWK interacting with a RED-TAILED HAWK; MARBLED GODWITS and LONG-BILLED CURLEWS feeding together on the extensive (and distant!) mud flats; a group of distant FORSTER'S TERNS and lots of chattering CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES in the Eucalyptus grove.

It was uncomfortably warm in the heat of the day at the nearby Elfin Forest and I gave that short shrift. Birds here included an exquisitely posed WESTERN SCRUB-JAY (I was lugging my scope and too lazy to go back for a camera); WRENTIT and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

My northernmost stop was across the bay on Coleman Drive near the rock in Morro Bay. The wind here was very strong so scoping and photography were fairly pointless. At least 10 COMMON LOONS were taking shelter -- amazingly they were my first of the trip. Other species in the relative calm of the sheltered channel included BRANDT'S & PELAGIC CORMORANTS; EARED & WESTERN GREBES (and probably Clark's had I been able to scope); SURF SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, a few LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and a beleaguered ROYAL TERN. No sign of the Peregrine Falcons on the rock.

My final birding of the trip was back at Marina Park in Ventura where it was windy but not as bad as Morro Bay. BELTED KINGFISHER was the only new species. A single CLARK'S GREBE was easy to see among the many WESTERN GREBES. .

93 species recorded:
Pacific & Common Loons; Pied-billed, Eared, Western & Clark's Grebes; Am. White & Brown Pelicans; Double-crested, Brandt's & Pelagic Cormorants; Great Blue Heron, Great & Snowy Egrets; Snow, Ross's, Canada & Cackling Geese; Brant, Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Green-winged, Blue-winged & Cinnamon Teal; Mallard, N. Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered & Red-tailed Hawks; Am. Kestrel, California Quail, Am. Coot, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Black Turnstone, Sanderling, Ring-billed, Glaucous-winged & Western Gulls; Royal & Forster's Terns; Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Anna's & Allen's Hummingbirds; Belted Kingfisher, Acorn, Nuttall's & Downy Woodpeckers; Black Phoebe, N. Rough-winged Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren, N. Mockingbird, California Thrasher, Am. Robin, Wrentit, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Western Scrub-Jay, Yellow-billed Magpie, Am. Crow, European Starling, House Sparrow, Purple & House Finches; Lesser & Am. Goldfinches; Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped & Wilson's Warblers; Common Yellowthroat, Spotted & California Towhees; Song & White-crowned Sparrows; Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged, Tricolored & Brewer's Blackbirds; Great-tailed Grackle and Bullock's Oriole.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Notes: I apologize for not being able to keep the news about bird sightings up to date. After the website problems last week while I was in California, I have been unable to publish to the site until today. I've added a trip summary, journal entries and photos for the California trip. It seems that everyone misinterpreted my comments about the "underwhelming response to my Florida report'. I wasn't looking for "thank you" or "attaboy", hell, if that were the case I'd have packed it in long ago. No, what I hoped for was some useful feedback (same goes for any of my journal stuff). Things like "I disagree with your assertion of whatever because your opinion goes here"; "no way you saw that bird in that location", "you misidentified such and such bird"; "you could have improved this photo by doing such and such"; "I have data that solidifies/refutes your data" and so on. You get the picture (I hope). In general, anything that I can use to improve my journal reports to make them more useful for my readers.

Out today with Spencer Walters from Garden Valley, ID looking for a few target species. We managed to successfully juggle the day around the windy conditions that were predicted (and began) by mid morning.

We started in Sulphur Springs Valley looking for two targets -- Crissal Thrasher and Lark Bunting. The thrasher can be a little difficult at the moment depending on the stage of its breeding cycle. Lark Bunting is pretty much a foregone conclusion. Cassin's Sparrow was a third target although it's not much more than a Hail Mary at this time of year. Amazingly, we found two. Although Cassin's is a resident, it's almost always a difficult bird to lay eyes on outside of its July-September breeding season. However, in some years (usually wet years), they sing in March.

On Coffman Road, it didn't take long to find the first CRISSAL THRASHER of the morning. The bird was perched up in a mesquite but we could certainly have used a longer view. Many LARK BUNTINGS were feeding along the edge of the road near Whitewater Draw HQ. Some of the males have already acquired partial black breeding plumage.

Coffman Road was very productive and we recorded 30 species between Davis and Bagby, Species included a perched (pale richardsonii) MERLIN with prey; SCALED & GAMBEL'S QUAIL; 6 ROADRUNNERS; EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, BENDIRE'S THRASHER, many BREWER'S SPARROW'S incessantly singing their bubbly song; GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, CASSIN'S SPARROW singing near Lee Road (not seen despite some effort) and PYRRHULOXIA.

After a little effort on Bagby Road, we had good scope looks at a softly singing CRISSAL THRASHER in a regular location. We also found another singing CASSIN'S SPARROW and this time managed a distant scope view and a closer view of a bird perched on a yucca near the road.

On the journey west to Bisbee, we crossed paths with my first of season SWAINSON'S HAWK on Double Adobe Road. This was my earliest ever sighting in Arizona (I typically see the first birds around March 26).

In the Mule Mountains, BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW was our first miss of the day. I actually saw one for about 10 seconds shortly after we got started. Unfortunately, Spencer didn't see the bird so it doesn't go in the win column. We spent almost 1 1/2 hours trying to rustle up another bird without success. Among the 25 species encountered during the search were WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED & CANYON TOWHEES, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and a couple of singing SCOTT'S ORIOLES.

Buff-breasted Flycatcher and Virginia's Warbler were the next two targets. Both are on the edge of their arrival dates, especially the warbler. I was very hopeful of finding a flycatcher and felt fairly certain that we would not find the warbler -- and that's the way it worked out. Both species can be found in several locations in the Huachucas. I chose to go to Carr Canyon where both breed in close proximity.

We found BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER without too much trouble in Reef campground. This is just a tad earlier than my average arrival date of March 25 but far from the earliest -- I have records for March 13 and 16. We trolled for Virginia's in regular breeding locations without a sniff of a bird.

We recorded only 15 species in the high country. Species seen included RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, CEDAR WAXWING and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.

Scheelite Canyon was our final destination of the day. After a thorough search of the lower roosting area, it was time to plod higher. Déjà vu all over again for me. I decided to check the location where I saw an owl on my last two trips in February (the first sightings in that particular tree). I actually walked under a SPOTTED OWL and even though it was only 50 yards away from where we were looking, we may not have seen the bird had it not called. The bird was in an oak tree where I've seen owls roosting on only three previous occasions. Since this location is near the cliffs, and with a bird calling today (very unusual), I think that the owls are nesting this year and the second bird is already at a nest site on the cliffs.

The canyon was very quiet in mid afternoon and we saw very few birds. Apart from the owl (obviously!), 7 trailside MONTEZUMA QUAIL and several PAINTED REDSTARTS (one seen) were the only birds of note. [I couldn't remember encountering all three regular AZ quail species on the same day before. A few mouse clicks revealed that this was the 15th time! So much for relying on memory.]

Spencer ended up with 5 new birds and we dipped on 2.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Out today with Warren Hall from Plymouth, MN. If I've had a worse day at the office, I certainly don't remember it. We had five target owls for the day and didn't get one of them. Unfortunately, we were only able to look for one of them and probably shouldn't have even bothered at all. Diabolically windy conditions were our downfall (30mph in Sierra Vista, worse than that in upper Carr Canyon).

We spent 4.5 hours in Carr Canyon working the road and several areas around Reef; then took the Comfort Spring Trail into the Ramsey drainage, a 4 mile round trip hike. High winds were a constant problem and we didn't get a sniff of Northern Pygmy-Owl despite checking 4 regular territories. A complete waste of time and effort. A flock of 25+ CEDAR WAXWINGS and 10 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were the only birds of note (seen early when the wind was a little less ferocious).

A late morning visit to Fort Huachuca for Spotted Owl put the tin lid on our morning of misery. Due to a fire and the windy conditions, upper Garden Canyon was closed and we were turned back before reaching the middle picnic area.

At this point (noon) we called it a day and abandoned all hope of owling this evening for the little owls (even higher winds forecasted).

As I said, a bad day at the office.

Monday, March 30, 2009
Another beautiful spring day ruined by wind and I have very little to report. I was scheduled out with clients today and we actually set off to Patagonia before turning around. I was hoping that we might get a few wind free hours before the predicted high winds began but that wasn't the case. Fortunately, both our schedules allowed us to postpone until tomorrow.

I should have gone straight home but, rather stupidly, I tried to go birding -- first at the San Pedro House (SPH) and then at Garden Canyon fishing ponds. I spent very little time at both locations.

PINE SISKINS were numerous and vocal at the SPH feeders as were YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD'S that outnumbered their RED-WINGED cousins. Yellow-headed are usually quite uncommon here. Bright male PYRRHULOXIAS stood out even though they were hunkered down in the still leafless mesquites.

The most interesting observation (and a first for me) was of a rather forlorn SAY'S PHOEBE unsuccessfully trying to figure out how to obtain sustenance from a hummingbird feeder. Not a good day to be a flycatcher!

My second of the season CASSIN'S KINGBIRD was the only bird of note at the fishing ponds (earlier, my first of season was calling in Denny's parking lot on Fry Blvd. in town).

I felt sorry for the TURKEY VULTURES trying to stay aloft over the grassland in Garden Canyon. Not a good day to be a migrant TV!

Not a good day to be a bird guide!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Out today with Ted and Cathy Paprocki from Seattle, WA. Thankfully, the high winds of yesterday abated and we were able to get in a decent day of calm birding without a specific agenda. We spent much of the day at Patagonia Lake then made short visits to Kino Springs and Paton's yard.

Patagonia Lake State Park is now firmly in spring mode with many species having returned and some already into nesting. Birding was definitely in the "slow and steady" rather than spectacular category and we tallied 70 species without seeing anything out of the ordinary. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD and MERLIN were the least common species for the location. A group of 5 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were on the early side at the lake (I only have one other March week 4 record and 2 from April week 1; mid April is more typical).

We started near the entrance trying to rustle up sparrows and had excellent views of RUFOUS-WINGED, RUFOUS-CROWNED and BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS. Other species in mesquite/prickly pear/ocotillo and grassy habitat with junipers included LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER,, PHAINOPEPLA, nest building VERDINS, BELL'S VIREO, lots of LUCY'S WARBLERS, CANYON TOWHEE and a spiffy male HOODED ORIOLE.

A check of the deep end of the lake from the visitor center/marina area produced OSPREY and a few common species such as COMMON MOORHEN (2 very confiding individuals that have learned how to get seed from under the feeders); and WHITE-WINGED DOVES in full song. Also present were GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE and three species of swallows including my f-o-s BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS.

The willows and mesquites at the east end of the lake are now officially infested with BELL'S VIREOS and LUCY'S & YELLOW WARBLERS.

Our quest for flycatchers was tough going and only a pair of NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULETS working on a nest could be classed as easy. We found exactly two empids -- one HAMMOND'S and one GRAY FLYCATCHER and neither were cooperative. Even the plentiful VERMILION FLYCATCHERS were not very conspicuous as they get down to the serious business of nesting.

Apart from TURKEY and BLACK VULTURES (many feeding on a dead cow), raptors were hard to come by. We saw a couple of soaring GRAY HAWKS and heard COOPER'S HAWK.

In addition to the previously mentioned warblers, we saw BLACK-THROATED GRAY & ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS; several COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and way too many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A couple of PLUMBEOUS VIREOS may have been the individuals that were present all winter rather than migrants.

A handful each of DOUBLE-CRESTED and NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS were at the east end of the lake for convenient side by side comparison. Waterfowl numbers are way down but we still found some handsome male CINNAMON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL; GADWALL and a couple of EARED GREBES.

Kino Springs was very busy with workers and golfers in the early afternoon and not very rewarding. However, we had good looks at several GRAY HAWKS and a hoped for CASSIN'S KINGBIRD. No whistling-ducks on any of the ponds that we checked. About 30 species in all with GREAT EGRET, AMERICAN WIGEON, SHOVELER, REDHEAD, PYRRHULOXIA and good numbers of BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS all new for the day

Apart from numerous LESSER GOLDFINCHES and PINE SISKINS, Paton's yard had more birders than birds. BROAD-BILLED and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS were constantly in view and VIOLET-CROWNED made a few brief appearances in a 20 minute period.

This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

March Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - March, 2009 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

Top of Page