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in the Klopp Lake parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Call Kerry Ross([707] 496-0764) for more information. Carpools: Trinidad8:10 a.m., Eureka 8:05 a.m., Fortuna 7:45 a.m.

Sunday, November 9: Humboldt Bay National WildlifeRefuge. This is a wonderful, 2- to 3-hour trip for peoplewanting to learn the birds of the Humboldt Bay area. It takes aleisurely pace with emphasis on enjoying the birds! Beginnersare more than welcome. Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center at 9a.m. Call Jude Power or David Fix ([707] 822-3613) for moreinformation. Carpools: Trinidad 8:10 a.m., HSU 8:25 a.m.,Eureka 8:45 a.m., Fortuna 8:45 a.m.

Saturday, November 15:Del Norte County. We will exploremany of the local hot spots for birding in and around CrescentCity and the Smith River bottoms. Meet the group to carpoolat 8:00 a.m. in front of Espresso 101 in Arcata (please park

on the street, not in the lot) or at 9:30 a.m. on Anchor Wayin Crescent City. Contact Keith Slauson ([707] 839-9056 orkslauson@fs.fed.us) for further details.

Sunday, November 16: Eureka Marsh. These monthly walksoffer some great birding in downtown Eureka. We spend anhour or two on a flat loop that takes us through a variety ofhabitats from bay and mudflat to riparian and marshland. Meetin the parking lot at the west end of West Del Norte Streetat 8:30 a.m. Call Pablo Herrera ([707] 845-8166) for moreinformation. Carpools: Trinidad 7:55 a.m., HSU 8:10 a.m.,Fortuna 8:05 a.m.

Sunday, November 16: Southern Humboldt CommunityPark. Jay Sooter ([707] 444-8001) and Robert Sutherlandlead this monthly walk. All ages and experience levels areencouraged to participate and revel in the beauty of the parkand its avian inhabitants on this easy 2- to 3-hour walk.Binoculars are not provided, and dogs are not allowed; fieldguides are usually available, but please provide your own ifpossible. Steady rain cancels. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking loton Kimtu Road in Garberville. Carpools: Trinidad 7:00 a.m.,

HSU 7:20 a.m., Eureka 7:35 a.m., Fortuna 7:55 a.m.

Saturday, November 29: Bear River Ridge. Tour the openprairies and forest edges in search of Rough-legged Hawk,Golden Eagle, Horned Lark, and Western Bluebird. Lastyears trip produced Clarks Nutcracker! Dress in layers, andexpect to return between 1 and 2 p.m. Meet across from theFernbridge Market at 8:30 a.m. Rob Fowler ([707] 822-5095)will be the leader. Carpools: Trinidad 7:40 a.m., HSU 7:55a.m., Eureka 8:15 a.m.

Saturday, December 6: Loleta/Ferndale Raptor Survey.This will be the second year of this survey that is part ofthe Hawk Migration Association of North Americas wintermonitoring program. The 30-mile route runs through the Loletaand Ferndale Bottoms and last year produced FerruginousHawk, Prairie Falcon, and many other species. Meet projectcoordinator Ken Burton ([707]-825-1124) at the beginningof Ranch Road (near the Hookton Road exit) at 8 a.m. Wellfinish by 2 p.m. Participants should expect to help record data.Carpools: Trinidad 7:15 a.m., HSU 7:30 a.m.

www.rras.org

FIELD TRIPS

X

The andpiperSNOVEMBER 2008

X

X

Carpooling to and on RRAS field trips is stronglyencouraged. Its economical, its fun, and its the right thingto do! Impromptu carpools to trips meet in the followingparking lots at the times indicated in the trip announcements:Trinidad (Park & Ride, Main Street exit, west side of Hwy101), HSU (northwest corner of Harpst and Rossow streets,opposite Student Services), Eureka (Park & Ride, HerrickAvenue exit), and Fortuna (Park & Ride, Kenmar Road exit).Be there a few minutes early, and see if anyone else is therefor ridesharing. If you would like to prearrange a carpool, tryusing the RRAS listserv. Please offer your driver some gasmoney.

Every Saturday: Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary

.These are our famous rain-or-shine field trips at the marsh;take your binocular(s) and have a great morning birding! Meet

NOVEMBER PROGRAM

Bats&Windmil ls

Mark Your Calendars:

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Plan to take part in the 109th Christmas Bird Count, the

worldwide birding extraganza. Dont miss out on thisfun citizen-science survey of winter bird populations.

Keep these dates open, and look for further details in the

December Sandpiper on the count circles and on contacting

the compilers for each count.

Sunday, December 14: Del Norte Count; co-compilers Alan Barron and Gary LesterSaturday, December 20: Arcata Count; compilerKerry Ross.Saturday, December 27: Willow Creek Count;compiler Gary Lester.

Sunday, January 4, Centerville Beach to KingSalmon Count; compiler Gary Lester.

Join us for this exciting talk by Joe Szewczak,PhD, of Humboldt State University. In

collaboration with other experts from NewZealand, Texas, and Arizona, Szewczakcreated a computing system to monitor theidentifying vocal patterns of different speciesof bats. Szewczak has been conducting work

This program will be held onFriday, November 14, starting at 7:30 p.m.at the Humboldt County Office of Education

near the Burre Center at Myrtle and West in Eureka.Bring a mug (or purchase one there) and enjoy shade-grown coffee.

Thank you for ensuring that our meetings are fragrance-free.

to understand and develop solutions to theproblem of bat mortality at wind turbines.

He will describe his work with Ed Arnett atBat Conservation International, supported bythe Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative, thathas contributed to methods for monitoringwildlife at wind energy facilities.

Redwood Region Audubon Society

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Keep Up-to-Date

Through

RRAS ListservBe reminded about field trips and programsand learn about upcoming meetings,public hearings, and symposia of interestto RRAS members and other concernednature lovers. Subscribe in 1 of 2 ways:through a Web page link at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rras or by e-mail to rras-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Postingsshould have complete information. This

listserv is not for posting bird sightings.

Thinking of Joining theNational Audubon Society?

If so, please use the coupon below. By sending in yourmembership on this form, rather than replying to solicita-tions from National Audubon, $20 is sent directly to RRAS.This is how NAS rewards local chapters for recruitingnational members. (Otherwise, the RRAS dues share pernew member is only a couple of dollars.) Thank you.

Chapter Membership Application

Yes, Id like to join.Please enroll me as a member of the National AudubonSociety and of my local chapter. Please sendAUDUBON magazine and my membership card to theaddress below.

My check for $20 is enclosed. (Introductory offer)

NAME_______________________________ADDRESS___________________________

CITY _______________________________STATE____________ZIP______________

email _______________________________

Local Chapter Code: C24 7XCHAPlease make checks to the National Audubon Society.

Send this application and your check to:

National Audubon SocietyChapter Membership Data CenterP.O. Box 51001

Boulder, Colorado 80322-1001

--------------LOCAL CHAPTER-------------

REDWOOD REGION AUDUBON SOCIETYP.O. BOX 1054

EUREKA, CA 95502

CHAPTER LEADERS

OFFICERS

President Pablo Herrera..........................845-8166

President-Elect-- Ken Burton......................825-1124

SecretaryAdam Brown............abrown@prbo.org

TreasurerSam Price..................................499-9450

DIRECTORS

Susan Calla ..........................................465-6191

Sean McAllister .................................... ........496-8790Lew & Judie Norton.....................................445-1791

Kerry Ross ..........................................839-4365

C.J. Ralph ..........................................822-2015

Jay Sooter ..........................................444-8001

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Arcata Marsh DocentsKerry Ross..........839-4365

ConservationChet Ogan ............442-9353

Education ...............HELP........................................

Field TripsKen Burton ...........................839-5179

HistorianJohn Hewston ...........................822-5288

MembershipLew & Judie Norton...........445-1791

NEC RepresentativeC.J. Ralph...............822-2015ObservationsStan Harris ............822-3802

ProgramsC.J. Ralph.................................822-2015

PublicitySue Leskiw.................................442-5444

SandpiperJan Andersen ............444-3501

Gary Bloomfield ............822-0210

Volunteer Coordinator

Jennifer Tompkins......443-6959

Lake Earl BranchSue Calla.....................465-6191

Birds in the BalanceRob Hewitt..............269-0271

RRAS Web Page...................................www.rras.org

Arcata Bird Alert ..... ..............822-LOON (822-5666)

The Sandpiper is published ten times each year byRedwood Region Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502.

Godwit Days seeks board members! If you

have enjoyed Godwit Days activities in thepast and are interested in helping out, theorganization is seeking applications fromcommunity members to serve on its Board ofDirectors. It is a terrific event that was startedby the City of Arcata. The board meets atRookery Books in downtown Arcata from

8:30 to 10:00 a.m. As we start getting preparedfor the next event, we meet twice a month on

Mark Your Calendars for Godwit DaysApril 16-22, 2009

PETE DUNNE, KEYNOTE SPEAKER

By John D. Alexander, Executive Director, Klamath BirdObservatory

A new age in bird watching has been unveiledwith our ears to the sky. The Klamath Bird Observatory(KBO) and U.S. Forest Services Redwood SciencesLaboratory (RSL) long-term efforts to monitor birds innorthern California and southern Oregon have taken ona new and exciting aspect in the form of white bucketsaffixed to the top of our facilities. These buckets areactually nocturnal bioacoustics monitoring devices (i.e.,microphones) designed to record the calls of migratorybirds as they fly through our bioregion moving south

toward their wintering habitats in the southern United

By John Hewston

In late 1968 some local members of National AudubonSociety (NAS) decided to find out if there was enoughinterest to form a local chapter on Californias north coast.They held a meeting attended by such members, otherconservation-oriented folks, and professionals from stateand federal natural resource agencies. At least 60 members

were required to start a local chapter. The turnout at thatfirst meeting indicated enough people and interest.

At the time, several conservation issues werestewing in the region. The first battle to preserve theold-growth redwoods had resulted in the establishmentof Redwood National Park. Plans were in the making toestablish a national wildlife refuge on Humboldt Bay. Talkof dams being built on streams on Round Valley and ButlerValley was making the rounds. People were discussing theprotection of bird-nesting rocks along the coast and theurgent need to support the U.S. Fish and Games attemptto get a proposed bridge across Humboldt Bay rerouted.The highway department planned to build a bridge from

Eureka across to the Samoa Peninsula that would go rightthrough a large grove of trees on Indian (Gunther) Islandthat was used as a nesting area by egrets and other waterbirds. This became a local battle around which to form anew conservation group.

The coordinating committee became the organizingcommittee and scheduled a second meeting. Paul Howardwas invited over from the NAS office in Sacramento toinform those assembled about details and requirementsto form and maintain a local chapter. The organizingcommittee then became the nominating committee to findprospective officers and board members for the proposedchapter and to come up with a name, constitution and by-

laws, and meeting dates and locations.One of the first activities in which the forming

chapter took part as a group was the Centerville Beachto King Salmon Christmas Bird Count, originated by theAnderson and Crane families of Ferndale. Dr. Stan Harrisled that task and has been doing it ever since [Editorsnote: See the notice elsewhere that, after nearly 40 years,Dr. Harris will no longer be compiling this count].

States, Mexico, and Central and South America. Duringa mid-September evening, more than a bird per second,flying over the Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory, werebeing recorded. These migrants included long-distantmigrant Swainsons Thrushes.

To learn more about this new nocturnal migrantmonitoring partnership, log onto the Klamath-SiskiyoueBird (http://www.eBird.org/Klamath-Siskiyou). Klamath-Siskiyou eBird is a tool for birders in our region that wasdeveloped by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology andthe KBORSL Avian Data Center and sponsored by theRedwood Regional Audubon Society in cooperation withother Audubon Chapters throughout the Klamath-Siskiyou

Bioregion.

Monitoring the Night Sky:

Migrant Birds in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion

At a January 1969 meeting, officers and boardmembers were elected, the constitution and by-lawsadopted, and other business taken care of. Most of thenew officers had served on the previous committees. Fouroffices were created, 2 of which were for 2 years and 2 for1 year so that officers would not all be leaving in the same

year. Beginning the next year, all positions would be for2 years. The first president was Chuck Kennedy (the onewho was with the U.S. Forest Service; there were 2 ChuckKennedys in the area then), vice president was yours truly,Colette Van Fleet was secretary, and Mrs. George Petersonwas treasurer. The 3 board members, each elected for 2-year terms, were Frances (Moose) Mathews, Ted Trichilo,and Darlene Whiting. Five years later, the constitution waschanged to add 3 more board members, making sure theirterms did not all expire at the same time. Also, the vicepresident position was eliminated and became president-elect. The immediate-past-president position was alsoadded to the board.

At our next meeting, in February, we receivedour provisional charter as an official chapter of NAS. Thechapter leaders and members then appointed committeesand immediately began taking on projects and activities,fighting conservation battles, and conducting field tripsand education programs. And weve been at it for 40 yearsthis winter. We received our permanent charter as an NASchapter 2 years later.

About that bridge battle: Perhaps youve noticedas you drive across the bridge from Eureka to Samoa thatthe bridge does not go straight across. It heads to the rightend of Indian Island, then makes a slight jog to the leftbefore continuing on to the peninsula. Bowing to pressure

from the newly formed RRAS chapter, the local SierraClub chapter, and others, the highway department alteredits plans so that the bridge bypassed the egret rookery in thetree clump by 800 feet. Also, construction crews were notpermitted to work during the egret nesting period on thatportion of the bridge that rested on the island. The highwaydepartment received an award for environmental designfor that bridge.

Were 40 Years Old!

Wednesdays. Interested persons shouldcontact board members Alex Stillman at(707) 822-2269 (alexandrastillman@sbcglobal.net) or C.J. Ralph at (707) 822-2015(theralphs@humboldt1.com).

Pete Dunne, well-knownbirder and popular author, will be thekeynote speaker this year. Go to http://

www.godwitdays.com for informationabout the festival.

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In the end we will conserve only whatwe love. We will love only what weunderstand. We will understand onlywhat we are taught.

--Baba Divum

The young woman, a cashier, attempts to speak but cantfind the words. Ive just told her that the display in themuseum where she works has wrongly labeled a BarnSwallow as a Cliff Swallow. When her words finallycome, they are fragments of thought, trailing off Butwe do have swallows near the estuary I see themthere sometimes.

Yes, you do have swallows under the bridge, Iassure her. Probably Cliff Swallows. I see the confusionin her face, so I repeat myself. The point I was trying to

make is that the color illustration in the museum is that ofa Barn, not a Cliff, Swallow. Because she is the cashier,not the museum curator, I suggest that she tell someoneassociated with the scientific aspect of the museum ofthe error. Again her eyes glaze overfrom disbelief orapathy, its hard to tell. I know I should chill, but it ticksme off that shes unwilling to correct a wrong.

Two days later, while looking for antiques, Icome across a set of carved wooden knickknacks. Onedepicts a kookaburra, the other a lyrebird. Although Ivenever seen either bird in the flesh, its obvious that thelabels have been switched because the bird with a stout,kingfisher-like bill is labeled lyrebird, whereas the one

Review by Ken Burton

The Smithsonian Institution is the latest organization to jump onto the North American bird guide bandwagon. TheSmithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America by TedFloyd (its tempting to call it Floyds Boids), published thisyear by Collins, is now at least the 7th comprehensive NorthAmerican bird guide on the market. The selection is beginningto seem as bewildering as that of birding optics, especiallyto the first-time buyer. So, is this the one to buy? Is it worth

adding to ones collection?Perhaps most significant is that this is a photographicguide. It is arranged with no more than 3 species to a page,usually only 1 or 2. Each species account consists of anassortment of photos of various sizes with lengthy captionsdiscussing more-or-less visible features; some additionaltext summarizing range, habitat, sounds, measurements, andbehaviors; and a range map. The photos take up about half ofeach page. There is little blank space, making the book visuallybusy and giving the impression of a lot of information tosift through. The books introductory sections are perfectlyadequate and describe the layout and content well. I especiallylike the parts of a bird section, which has photographs ofvarious birds mirrored by line drawings labeling the feathertracts. The book, at 8 x 5-3/4 x 1-1/4 inches, weighs 2.1

pounds (smaller than the original Sibley guide but bigger thanNational Geographics).

While the quality of the photos is generallyexcellent, and great effort has been made to portray variationwithin species, no amount of digital wizardry can overcomethe basic limitations of the medium. Photographs representsingle individuals at a particular instant, and any experiencedbirder knows that such glimpses are not always representative.Further, one has to question some of the editorial decisionsmade here in the selection of photos. Some problematicexamples are Arctic Tern, in which leg length is an importantfield mark but not clearly visible in any of the photos;dowitchers, which often can be distinguished by foragingposture, a feature not depicted or mentioned at all; and several

of the swallows, which arent even shown in flight. There isno substitute for good paintings representing composite birds

absent the vagaries of lighting and posture. Sibleys originalguide got it right with its spare, clean illustrations, withoutdistracting backgrounds, arranged to show similar birds side-by-side in like poses. With so many people taking digitalphotos nowadays and the plethora of photo enhancementsoftware available, photographic guides are undoubtedlycheaper and easier to produce, but they risk misleading novicebirders.

Taxonomic groups are introduced by single-page

essays that are more about the natural history and conservationthan the identification of their members. Orders and familiesare treated inconsistently, with the result that essays addresseverything from single families to multiple orders, whichis bound to offend purists. The book isnt quite in currenttaxonomic order, but it comes close. Given that there obviouslywas editorial leeway in the arrangement of species, some of thedecisions are questionable; for instance, some tricky speciespairs (such as Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Short-and Long-billed Dowitchers, and Blue-headed and CassinsVireos) arent on the same or even facing pages, making directcomparison impossible. Clarks Nutcracker is jarringly placedright in the middle of the crows.

This book includes many more vagrants to NorthAmerica than does Sibley but not as many as does the latestNational Geographic guide. Im still waiting for someoneto do a guide to the vagrants, with similar North Americanspecies included for comparison.

The range maps are fine but are essentially the sameas those in the Sibley East and West guides, although withdifferent color arrangements and no accidental records. Beingthe newest guide on the market, this is the most current andshows ranges of newly recognized species (e.g., CacklingGoose and Dusky and Sooty Grouse) that are lacking in olderbooks.

One nice feature of the book is that it indicates eachspecies molt strategy, using terminology introduced withinthe past five years. It is helpful, for example, to see that Ring-billed and Mew Gulls lose their juvenal plumage during the

first cycle while the other white-headed gulls lose theirs atthe endof the cycle. Also presented is the number of adult molts

per year, information inferred by the molt strategy and thuscompletely redundant. Another novel feature is the AmericanBirding Associations status code for each species, the utilityof which in a book such as this is not readily apparent to me.A feature that would be useful is the standard 4-letter alphacode; including this would go a long way toward familiarizingthe birding community with these useful codes.

One of the books main selling points is a DVD thatresides in a poorly designed envelope attached to the inside

back cover. This DVD contains MP3 files of 138 species, eachrepresented by 2 to 10 files. Although there are several calls,such as the immature Song Sparrowszeee, not found on othercommercial recordings, most species are not included at all,and I suspect that the typical user of this guide would benefitmore from having fewer sounds of more species. The speciesselection is also puzzling. It has Red-eyed but not PhiladelphiaVireo, Tree but not Violet-green Swallow, Swainsons but notHermit Thrush, etc.; but we have Plumbeous, Blue-headed,andCassins Vireos and Eastern andSpotted Towhees. Thebook claims that species were selected to showcase the variety,complexity, and beauty of bird sounds. Each species on theDVD is accompanied by a photo (taken from the book) thatis supposed to appear as album art while the file is playing;depending on your software settings, this may not happenautomatically, and the DVD does not work at al l in stand-aloneDVD players (at least not mine). It comes with a small insertfolder that lists the files and gives the books correspondingpage number for each species along with a thumbnail of theabove-mentioned photo. Being a DVD, it cannot be read byiTunes and thus cannot be loaded easily into an iPod. A CDwould have been more versatile and useful.

The true test of a field guide is to see whether itenables you to identify unfamiliar species. I suspect that Iwould have a harder time making some of the more-difficultidentifications with this guide than with some others. I stillprefer the Sibley guides, especially the small versions, and Ican find no compelling reason to recommend the Smithsonianguide instead. However, some formats work better for some

people and not as well for others, and this is arguably the bestphotographic guide available.

Ecological Literacy: Why Does It Matter?

with the showy, fanned tail is marked kookaburra.A few minutes later, I ask the proprietor to unlock

a case so I can examine an object. The cost is prohibitive,so I say no thanks and start to move on. Seizing themoment, I ask her to follow me to the mislabeled woodencarvings. Shes appreciative that Ive taken the time to

point out the error. Because she is asking the same amountfor each carving, she switches their labels. I disclose toher that birders like me can be a particular lot, some of useven keeping lists of biogeographic anomalies, such as themaniacal call of a kookaburra occurring in a movie thattakes place in southern California.

The proprietors husband overhears ourconversation. Sure, I remember the song, Kookaburra sitsin the old gum tree The store owners knowledgeandwillingness to incorporate my suggested changescontrastsstarkly with my Barn vs. Cliff Swallow episode of severaldays before. Im immensely relieved, perhaps more thanis warranted, which prompts several questions: Why doesany of this matter? What was it about the cashiers attitudeat the museum that bothered me so?

To illustrate: suppose the American Kennel Clubadvertised a show featuring Jack Russell terriers, but thedogs involved were greyhounds? Wouldnt aficionadosof either breed be offendedor, at a minimum, find thesponsors lack of knowledge alarming? Suppose we readin an encyclopediaon-line or otherwisethat giraffesoccur in the wild in Oregon? Shouldnt such an inaccuracycast doubt on the rest of the publications assertions?

Maybe my frustration lies in the fact that welive in increasingly ecologically illiterate times. A recentsurvey found that most American school kids are able to

identify by sight 500 corporate logos but not 10 localtrees.Not that naming is necessarily knowing, but, forinstance, identifying a madrone tree can be a crucialfirst step toward ecological literacy. Later, learning thatmadrone leaves are shed in May and June rather thanOctober, an observers curiosity might lead him or

her to investigate climatology or how various plantand animal species interact to form communities. Imreminded of Baba Divums words on the link betweenteaching, conservation, love, and understandingpursuits and traits that can never be too abundant.

May 2008 Epilogue: A number of years ago, USDAForest Service partnered with the nonprofit group QuailUnlimited to launch a program entitled Answer theCall, the goal being to raise awareness of the ecologicalniches filled by the 6 species of quail native to the UnitedStates. Because Sue is fond of quail, Im matting andframing the Answer the Call poster for her as a present.Although the poster was produced several years ago,Ive never looked at it critically before today. I studythe illustrations, comparing them with the captions/briefspecies accounts. I cant believe it! Theyve mislabeledMountain Quail as Gambels Quail and vice versa. Moralof the story: we laypersons also occupy an importantecological niche: keeping the experts honest.

Tom LeskiwApril 30, 2007

Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America

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Field Notes by Stan HarrisFall (26 Sep-23 Oct)

One day had showers, but otherwise they were typical fall days,some overcast, but many sunny afternoons with NW winds. Onepelagic trip was conducted off Eel River by Redwood RegionAudubon Society, 27 Sep, thanks to Gary Lester and David Fix

for the results, cited in the following as RRAPT. Michael Morrisconducted a minipelag ic outing by kayak off Trinidad to 6 miles, 19Oct (MMPT in this report). In the darn-we-all-missed-it category,a subadult (early immature) WANDERING ALBATROSS wasphotographed off Newport, Ore., 13 Sep, and rephotographed offMonterey, Calif., 9 days later, which means it must have passedthrough north coast waters en route. Do you suppose we couldclassify it as a presumed accidental (surely must have been herebut seen by no one--boo hiss!) in our region? Oh, well, better lucknext time!

Abbreviations used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata MarshProject; BBHR = base of Bald Hills Road (junction of Hwy101 and Bald Hills Road); BLR = Blue Lake riparian; BSLP =Butcher Slough log pond; CG = Chadbourne Gulch; CRI = CockRobin Island; EP = Entrance Patch, Fairhaven; GW = Gee Whiz

report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge;HC = Hardy Creek; IIT = Interesting If True; KL = Klopp Lake;KS = King Salmon; LB = Loleta Bottoms; LC = Lake Cleone;LD = Lanphere Dunes; MMR = Mouth of Mad River; mo =many observers; MRCP = Mad River County Park; NC = NotConfirmed by a 2nd party; ND = No Details, No Description; OD= Orick Dump; PPSP = Patricks Point State Park; SD = ScenicDrive south of Trinidad; TH = Trinidad Head; TMR = Ten-MileRiver estuary; TPPL = slope above Trinidad Pier Parking Lot;UCB = Usal Creek/Beach

Greater White-fronted Goose: Right on historic schedules, 9,mostly southbound flocks, of 1-140 were reported from LC, AMP,Arcata, AB, MRCP, OD (mo). Snow Goose: 3, HBNWR, 21 Oct(SL). Cackling Cackling Goose: 1, AB, 4 Oct (SC). AleutianCackling Goose: 6 reports (8 flocks) of 1-480 from near Ten-MileRiver, HBNWR, AB, near OD, 4-21 Oct (SC, HB, KM, DT, KI,RF, SL). Fulvous Whistling Duck(NC, GW, IIT): 1 was reportedfrom the Klamath River estuary, intriguing, incomplete description,5 Oct (WD, fide JH). Gadwall: 2, LC, 13-14 Oct (DT, KAHv, JM);125, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Eurasian Wigeon: up to 4 female s, AMP,14-20 Oct (RF, SH). Eurasian x American Wigeon hybrid: 1male (poor photos), AMP, 16 Oct (RF) (only 3 previous records,1 in Del Norte and 2 in Humboldt counties). American Wigeon:407, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). American Green-winged Teal: 406,AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Harlequin Duck: 4-6, Glass Beach, 11,14 Oct(DT); 1 male, KS, 21 Oct (MW). Hooded Merganser: 8, AMP,4 Oct (SC). Sooty Grouse: 1 each, Titlow Hill, south of HorseMountain, 2, 6 Oct, respectively (both TL); x, Smith-Etter Road,King Range, (where said by observer to be regular), 12 Oct (RB).Red-necked Grebe: CRI Bridge, 19 Oct (BC). Clarks Grebe:2 offshore at Fairhaven, 16 Oct (KB). Black-footed Albatross:

60, RRAPT; 5, MMPT. Northern Fulmar: 3, RRAPT; 3, MMPT.

(DT, KAHv, JM). Sandhill Crane: 1, probably a lesser, SouthernHumboldt County Park, 11 Sep (JayS, RS, JG, FB, ZC); 1 flyover,V St. Loop, 21 Oct (ZL, et al.). American Golden-Plover: 1, LB,19 Oct (RF, MW). Pacific Golden-Plover: 1, KL, 19 Oct (SC);1, Virgin Creek Beach, 19 Oct (AM, DJ, ScH); 16, LB, 19 Oct(RF, MW). American Avocet: 185, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). GreaterYellowlegs: 23, KL, 16 Oct (RF). Lesser Yellowlegs: 2, AB, 20Oct (KB). Black Turnstone: 18, KL, 16 Oct (RF); 1, LB, 19 Oct(RF, MW). Red Knot: 1-2, KL, 2, 4 Oct (DF, SC, respectively);5, LB, 16 Oct (RF, MW). Semipalmated Sandpiper: 2, Westport,28 Sep (JW). Pectoral Sandpiper: 1, Westport, 28 Sep (JW); 4,AMP, 4 Oct (SC); 1, Glass Beach, 6 Oct (RHu). Stilt Sandpiper:1, Alexandre Dairy, 28 Sep (LB). Ruff: 1,Elk River estuary, 16Oct (SC). Red-necked Phalarope: 1, HBNWR, 12 Oct (DF, JP, etal.). Glaucous Gull: 1, Hammond Bridge, 18 Oct (BC). SabinesGull: 4, RRAPT. Caspian Tern: 2, HBNWR, 12 Oct (DF, JP,et al.). Common Tern: 1, flying past North Jetty, 12 Oct (SC).Arctic Tern: 2 reported, no details, UCB, 30 Sep (JS, JL, RLV).Forsters Tern: 2, Humboldt Bay near KL, 28 Sep (LM). ElegantTern: 50, UCB, 30 Sep (JS, JL, RLV); 10, RRAPT. PomarineJaeger: 1 ad., MMPT. Jaeger sp.: 4, RRAPT. Common Murre:1 (sick?) in Humboldt Bay at KL, 2 Oct (DF); 50, RRAPT; 100+/-, MMPT. Marbled Murrelet: 2, RRAP. Cassins Auklet: 140,RRAPT; 100, MMPT. Rhinoceros Auklet: 7, RRAPT; 2, MMPT.

Barred Owl: 1, Ruth Lake, 30 Sep (SMcA). Black Swift: 2, TH,26 Sep (MeH). Lewiss Woodpecker: 1, Kneeland, 23 Sep (BB,DVZ); 1, 4, Kneeland, 8, 14 Oct, respectively (BB, DVZ ). PileatedWoodpecker: 1, Fruitland Ridge, 28 Sep (JG); 1, CummingsRoad, Eureka, 4-5 Oct (TL); 2, south of Horse Mountain, 6 Oct.Western Wood-Pewee: 1 ad. feeding 1? fledgling, BLR, 18 Sep(KI). Willow Flycatcher: 1, Ft. Bragg, 21 Sep (DT); 2, south sideof Redwood Creek estuary, 28 Sep (KI); 1, CG, 29 Sep (BK, CV).Pacific-slope Flycatcher: 1 ad. feeding fledglings, BLR (KI);1, Arcata, 6 Oct (GB). Says Phoebe: 1, Westport, 30 Sep (J &KAHv); 1, Kneeland, 28 Sep-3 Oct (BB, DVZ); 1, Ruth Lake, 3Oct (SMcA). Ash-throated Flycatcher: 1, MacKerricher StatePark, 22 Oct (FF). Tropical Kingbird: 1, KS, 20-21 Oct (MW, etal.). Northern Shrike: 1 imm., CRI, 19 Oct (BC). Cassins Vireo:1, TPPL, 26 Sep (MeH). Huttons Vireo: 1, CG, 29 Sep, 13 Oct(BK, CV; J&KAHv, respectively). Warbling Vireo: 1, SC, 29 Sep

(TL). Philadelphia Vireo: 1 bright (dark lore mentioned), vic.OD, 27 Sep (KI). Clarks Nutcracker: 2, near lower CanyonCreek, Trinity Alps, 21 Sep (LM). Horned Lark: 4, Bear RiverRidge, 12 Oct (KB). Barn Swallow: 2, North Spit, 12 Oct (SC).Bewicks Wren: 1 singing, Salmon Creek, near Miranda, 19 Sep(KK). American Dipper: 2, HC, 28 Sep (JW); 2, Three-Mile Bar,south of Scotia, 6 Oct (KB). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1, CG, 29Sep (BK, CV); 7 at AMP by 16 Oct (RF). Western Bluebird: 1-4seen on 5 days in Sep, Kneeland (15 on 2 Sep), (BB, DVZ); 6,south of Horse Mountain, 6 Oct (TL); 17, Mail Ridge near Ft.Seward Road, 16 Oct (JG). Swainsons Thrush: 1, Arcata, 5 Oct(LM); 1 banded, LD, 19 Oct (KB). Northern Mockingbird: 1,Westport, 30 Sep (JL, RLV); 1,Trinidad, 16 Oct (MeH); 1, ShayPark, 18 Oct (LM). Red-throated Pipit (partial description): 1,Hufford Road, 30 Sep (KI). Cedar Waxwing: 1 flock, CG, 29 Sep(BK, CV); lots, BSLP, 2 Oct (DF); 40, south of Horse Mountain,

6 Oct (TL); 250, AMP, 16 Oct (RF). Tennessee Warbler: 1 imm.;

(JW); 1, TMR, 29, 30 Sep (JL, JS , RLV); 1, EP, 7 Oct (KS). Black-throated Blue Warbler: 1 female (no details), 29 Sep (KAHv); 1male, CG, 12 Oct (JHv). Black-throated Gray Warbler: 1, CG,29 Sep (BK, CV); 1, SD, 29 Sep (TL); 1, Bayshore Mall, 1, 3 Oct(TL); 1, BSLP, 4 Oct (GK). Hermit Warbler: 1, vic. OD, 27 Sep(KI.: Blackburnian Warbler: 1, EP, 4 Oct (SC). Palm Warbler:1, vic. OD, 27 Sep (KI); 3, Westport, 30 Sep (J&KAHv); 1, Arcata,19 Oct (BC). Bay-breasted Warbler: 1, PPSP, 2 Oct (DC).

Blackpoll Warbler: 1, CG, 15 Sep (JW); 1, TPPL, 26 Sep (MeH);1, Cypress Patch, North Spit, 26 Sep (DF, DP); 1, Allen Marsh, 27Sep (DF); 1, BSLP, 28 Sep (LM); 1, BBHR, 5 Oct (KS). Black-and-white Warbler: 1, MRCP, 19 Sep (BC); 1, HC, 28 Sep (JW);1, LC, 30 Sep (JS, JL, RLV); 1 UCB, 3 Oct (JW). AmericanRedstart: 1, CG, 21 Sep (BK, CV); 1, Little River Drive, 5 Oct(LM); 1, LC, 4-6 Oct (JW, DT). Prothonotary Warbler: 1banded, LD, 6 Oct (CJR, LP, et al.). Northern Waterthrush: 1,BSLP, 28 Sep-16 Oct (BZ, SC, RF); 1 banded, LD, 11 Oct (DC).Summer Tanager: 1 male, BBHR, 5 Oct (KI). Western Tanager:3, TH, 16 Oct (MeH). Green-tailed Towhee: 1, UCB, 27 Sep(JW). Clay-colored Sparrow: 1, HC, 28 Sep (JW); 1, Westport,30 Sep (DT); 1, AB, 5 Oct (KB). Vesper Sparrow: 1, vic. OD, 27Sep (KI); 1, Virgin Creek Beach, 2 Oct (DT, KAHv). White-throated Sparrow: 1, Bayshore Mall, 1 Oct (TL); 1 AMP, 8 Oct(L&AP); 1, Kneeland, 12 Oct (BB, DVZ); 1, Ft. Bragg, 15 Oct

(DT). Lapland Longspur: 10 reports of 1-150+ from open fieldsat OD, lower Redwood Creek, McKinleyville, AB, North Spit, EelRiver Bottoms, LB, 27 Sep-20 Oct (RF, KI, KS, KB, MW).Chestnut-collared Longspur: 1 (I think, based on call), AB, 16Oct (KI). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1 male, window kill(specimen to HSU), vic. Sunny Brae, 21 Oct (GF). LazuliBunting: 1, Westport, 30 Sep (DT). Tricolored Blackbird: 1female (no details on how identified), AB, 17 Oct (RF). OrchardOriole (ND, NC): 1, NE corner of KL (names on bird boxuncertain, sounded something like Lauren and Jim). EveningGrosbeak: 3, OD, 28 Sep (KI).

Many thanks to the following who shared observationswith all of us this month: Fred Bauer, Gary Bloomfield,Rick Botzler, Heather Brown, Lucas Brug, Barbara Burek,Ken Burton, Brent Campos, Scott Carey, Zoe Chapman,Daryl Coldren, Dale(?), Walt Duffy, David Fix, GaryFriedrichsen, Feather Forestwalker, Rob Fowler, John Gaffin,Garry George, Melody Hamilton, Stan Harris, Jim Havlena,Karen Havlena, Robert Hewitt, Scott Huber, Richard

Hubocek, John Hunter, Ken Irwin, David Jensen, Jim, RedJioras, Bernice Jorgansen, Kyle Keegan, Bob Keiffer, GeorgeKiniski (spelling?), Lauren, Tom Leskiw, Gary Lester, RonLeValley, Steve Lewis, Zac Lowman, John Luther, KyleMack, Larry Maurin, Sean McAllister, Art Morley, MichaelMorris, Jessica Morton, Dianne Petty, Larry & Aurora Pitts,Jude Power, Leslie Pucci, C.J. Ralph, Sandy, John Sterling,Keith Slauson, Jay Sooter, Robert Sutherland, Tim, DorothyTobkin, Chuck Vaughn, Matt Wachs, Jerry White, Dan VanZile, Ben Zyla.

Please call future reports to the Arcata Bird Box (707)822-5666, to me at (707) 822-3802, e-mail them to me atswharris@arcatanet.com, send them to me at 1595 CharlesCt., Arcata, 95521, or write them on the observation board atthe Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center.

1 ad., TPPL, 26 Sep (MeH); 1, BBHR, 5 Oct (KS); 1, TH, 16 Oct(MeH). Nashville Warbler: 1, TMR, 28 Sep (KAHv); 1 CG, 30Sep (JL, JS, RLV); 1, Ft. Bragg, 13 Oct (DT); 1, Shay Park, 18 Oct(LM). Virginias Warbler: 1, CG, 29, 30 Sep (JW, JL, JS, RLV).Yellow Warbler: 1, SD, 29 Sep (TL); x, BSLP, 29 Sep (DF); 1CG, 29 Sep (BK, CV); 1, near Ruth Ranger Station, 12 Oct (SC);1, CG, 13 Oct (J&KHAv); 1, TH, 16 Oct (MeH). Chestnut-sidedWarbler: 1, HC, 15, 28 Sep (JW); 1 male, EP, 26 Sep (DF, DP);1, Centerville x Poole Road, 26 Sep (TL, MW); 1, vic. OD, 27 Sep(KI); 1, TMR, 28 Sep (KA&JHv); 2, CG, 30 Sep (KAHv, DT); 1,PPSP, 2 Oct (DC); 1, BBHR, 5 Oct (KS); 1, Bayshore Mall, 10 Oct

(TL); 1, TH, 16 Oct (MeH).Magnolia Warbler:

1, HC, 19 Sep

Pink-footed Shearwater: 50, RRAPT; 50, MMPT. BullersShearwater: 6, RRAPT; 5, MMPT. Sooty Shearwater: 90,RRAPT; 50, MMPT. Brown Pelican: Thousands between BigLagoon and Trinidad, 16 Oct (MeH). White-faced Ibis: 1 flyby,AMP, 5 Oct (LP, et al.). Osprey: 1, AB, 20 Oct (KB). NorthernGoshawk: 1, south of Horse Mountain, 6 Oct (TL). Bald Eagle:1 ad., MMR, 12 Oct (GL); 1 ad., lower Redwood Creek, 14 Oct(KI); 1 ad., CRI Bridge, 19 Oct (BC ). Crested Caracara: 1, SmithRiver bottoms, 28 Sep (KS). Peregrine: 6 reports of 1-2 from AB,BBHR, AMP, HBNWR, foot of Hillfiker Lane, 5-21 Oct (mo).Merlin: 1, Arcata, 8 Oct (L&AP); 1, HBNWR, 1 Oct (DF, JP, et

al.).Virginia Rail:

6, AMP, 16 Oct (RF).Sora:

1-2, LC, 13-14 Oct

Pink-footed Shearwater Ron LeValley

Lapland Longspur Ron LeValley