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Wintu Audubon Society

Wintu Audubon Trip Logs

Reports of the Wintu Audubon birding trips in chronological order.

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Cascade Park, Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Five birders congregated at Cascade Park for a mid-week field trip under partly cloudy skies that brightened as the morning progressed. None of the 45 species seen was a rarity, but we did enjoy watching a Red-shouldered Hawk refurbishing a nest in a cottonwood tree near the water. There was a small flock of Snowy Egrets. An elusive Bewick's Wren allowed us brief peeks as it bounced around in the blackberry vines in reaction to the electronic sound of its song. Several Ruby-crowned Kinglets treated us to flashes of their namesake crowns.

Birds seen and/or heard were:

American Robin
Tree Swallow
Lesser Goldfinch
Western Scrub Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Mockingbird
Black Phoebe
Spotted Towhee
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Belted Kingfisher
Oak Titmouse
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Great Egret
House Finch
California Quail
Red-shouldered Hawk
Acorn Woodpecker
Cooper's Hawk
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Golden-crowned Sparrow
California Towhee
Canada Goose
Red-winged Blackbird
Bushtit
Mourning Dove
Mallard
Ring-billed Gull
Snowy Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Brewer's Blackbird
Killdeer
Common Merganser
Song Sparrow
Rock Pigeon
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Coot
Great Blue Heron
Dark-eyed Junco
Bewick's Wren
Common Raven
Turkey Vulture

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Turtle Bay, Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Seven birders attended the February second Saturday birdwalk at Turtle Bay. At the outset of our walk it was foggy but that disapated as we progressed. Of the 40 species that we saw, the 7 Wood Ducks lined up on a half-fallen log in the forest was probably the most exciting. It was a life bird for one of our new-comers. We saw first-of-season Tree Swallows. The local celebrity eagles were sitting on branches just above their nest. As an added attraction, we counted a timed segment of our sitings to report for The Great Backyard Bird Count.

Species seen:

Common Raven
Rock Pigeon
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Western Scrub Jay
European Starling
Anna's Hummingbird
California Towhee
Bewick's Wren
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wood Duck
American Robin
Oak Titmouse
Spotted Towhee
Lesser Goldfinch
Great Egret
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bushtit
Bald Eagle
Acorn Woodpecker
Snowy Egret
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Gadwall
American Coot
Mallard
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Common Merganser
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Double-crested Cormorant
Killdeer
Common Goldeneye
Tree Swallow
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Ring-necked Duck
Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Llano Seco Field Trip, Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Participants were: George Horn, Bea Curry, Bill Oliver, Connie Word

Species seen:

Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk
American Kestral
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Curlew
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike
Western Scrub-jay
Yellow Billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark

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Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Saturday, January 16th, 2010
Six Wintu Audubon members disregarded the weather prediction and spent a marvelous day at the refuge. No wind or rain just partly cloudy. We tallied 57 species. The highlights were the usual tens of thousands of Snow Geese and in one impoundment the Ross’s Geese seemed to be in equal numbers with the Snows. Wave upon wave of geese rose filling the sky overhead was especially inspiring. Bald Eagles were abundant. I believe that we must have seen 5 or 6; ditto for Peregrine Falcons or which we saw 3. One was close enough that Ken got a good picture

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Redding Christmas Bird Count, Saturday, January 2nd, 2009
The Redding Christmas Bird Count held on January 2 was a great success! We had a record high number of participants---36 and a record high number of species---132 plus 2 more seen on count week.

The weather was cloudy but we had no rain. The most noteworthy species were Cinnamon Teal (first record in the 34 years of the Count), and seen only once before were Red-necked Grebe, Red-naped Sapsucker, and House Wren. Rufous-crowned Sparrow was seen only twice before but should be a regular for the Count now that we know where to find them.

Below are the species and numbers for each:

Gtr.White-fronted Goose 10
Canada Goose 1133
Cackling Goose 1
Wood Duck 57
Mallard 497
Gadwall 66
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 149
Cinnamon Teal 3
American Green-winged Teal 1
Canvasback 38
Redhead 2
Ring-necked Duck 220
Greater Scaup 5
Lesser Scaup 98
Common Goldeneye 3267
Barrow's Goldeneye 39
Bufflehead 959
Hooded Merganser 43
Common Merganser 200
Red-breasted Merganser 4
Ruddy Duck 625
California Quail 340
Mountain Quail 1
Wild Turkey 78
Common Loon 3
Pied-billed Grebe 121
Horned Grebe 18
Red-necked Grebe 1
Eared Grebe 28
Western Grebe 14
Double-crested Cormorant 169
Great Blue Heron 17
Great Egret 32
Snowy Egret 15
Green Heron 4
Blk-crowned Night-Heron 9
Turkey Vulture 267
Osprey 6
Bald Eagle imm. 8 ad. 9
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 40
Red-tailed Hawk 28
Golden Eagle (adult) 1
American Kestrel 16
Merlin 4
Peregrine Falcon 1
Common Moorhen 12
American Coot 1219
Killdeer 31
Spotted Sandpiper 6
Mew Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 434
California Gull 65
Herring Gull 18
Thayer's Gull 3
Glaucous-winged Gull 3
Gull sp. 340
Rock Pigeon 883
Band-tailed Pigeon 60
Eurasian Collared-Dove 54
Mourning Dove 120
Greater Roadrunner 1
Barn Owl 1
Western Screech Owl 3
Great-horned Owl 5
Anna's Hummigbird 73
Belted Kingfisher 27
Lewis's Woodpecker 30
Acorn Woodpecker 264
Red-naped Sapsucker 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 19
Nuttall's Woodpecker 48
Downey Woodpecker 21
Hairy Woodpecker 1
No. (red-shafted) Flicker 187
Black Phoebe 92
Say's Phoebe 1
Hutton's Vireo 5
Steller's Jay 40
Western Scrub-jay 536
Yellow-billed Magpie 84
American Crow 314
Common Raven 58
Mountain Chickadee 2
Oak Titmouse 333
Bushtit 458
Red-breasted Nuthatch 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 73
Brown Creeper 2
Rock Wren 2
Bewick's Wren 56
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
American Dipper 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 208
Western Bluebird 166
Hermit Thrush 73
American Robin 4118
Wrentit 28
Northern Mockingbird 83
California Thrasher CW
American Pipit 1
Cedar Waxwing 262
European Starling 1015
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2 (Audubon's) 129
Townsend's Warbler 2
Spotted Towhee 279
California Towhee 121
Rufous-crowned Sparrow 2
Lark Sparrow 7
Savannah Sparrow 16
Fox Sparrow 26
Song Sparrow 99
Lincoln's Sparrow 21
White-throated Sparrow CW
Golden-crowned Sparrow 395
White-crowned Sparrow 439
Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored) 2 (Oregon) 818
Red-winged Blackbird 155
Western Meadowlark 66
Brewer's Blackbird 1008
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Purple Finch 2
Cassin's Finch 1
House Finch 218
Pine Siskin CW
Lesser Goldfinch 557
American Goldfinch 48
House Sparrow 105
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS=25,158
Total Species 136

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Red Bluff Christmas Bird Count, Sunday, December 20th, 2009
On the Red Bluff CBC Sunday Dec. 20 we had 117 species (as did Fall River), and 4 were new to the count - 157 Eurasian Collared Doves in all areas, 1 Hooded Oriole in the Rio Vista Mobile Estates found by John Lewis and confirmed by others, 2 Tree Swallows, and 2 Black-throated Gray Warblers found by Ed Pandolfino and Zach Smith.

In our first count since 2006, we were honored by 19 birders from Wintu, Altacal, Central Valley as well as Skip Sale, David Dahnke and Vonnie Riley from Red Bluff. It was foggy to overcast all day with showers on and off in the afternoon and joined by hunters in some areas.

Kudos to Karen Scheuermann for reviving this important Christmas Bird Count

Below are the species and numbers for each:

Pied-billed Grebes 22
Double-crested Cormorants 17
Great Blue Herons 32
Great Egrets 43
Snowy Egret 31
Greater White-fronted Goose 6
Snow Goose 2
Ross's Goose 1
Canada Goose 308
Tundra Swan 2
Wood Duck 40
Gadwall 4
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 91
Northern Pintail 62
Ring-necked Duck 6
Bufflehead 34
Common Goldeneye 190
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 222
duck sp 20
Turkey Vulture 225
White-tailed Kite 1
Bald Eagle adult 4, juvenile 2
Northern Harrier 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6
Cooper's Hawk 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 24
Red-tailed Hawk 62
Ferruginous Hawk 4
Buteo sp 1
Golden Eagle adult 1
American Kestrel 47
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 1
Wild Turkey 175
Ca Quail 150
Virginia Rail 3
Sora 1
Common Moorhen 6
American Coot 5
Killdeer 191
Spotted Sandpiper 14
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Least Sandpiper 5
Ring-billed Gull 9
California Gull 16
Herring Gull 3
Gull sp 35
Rock Pigeon 425
Mourning Dove 145
Greater Roadrunner 1
Great-horned Owl 9
Anna's Hummingbirds 21
Belted Kingfisher 14
Lewis Woodpecker 12
Acorn Woodpecker 259
Red-breasted Sapsucker 6
Nuttall's Woodpecker 98
Downy Woodpecker 9
Northern Flicker 284
Black Phoebe 84
Say's Phoebe 10
Hutton's Vireo 2
Loggerhead Shrike 3
Western Scrubjay 337
Yellow-billed Magpie 105
American Crow 65
Common Raven 12
Horned Lark 61
Oak Titmouse 270
Bushtit 254
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper 2
Rock Wren 2
Bewick's Wren 35
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 128
Western Bluebird 52
Mt. Bluebird 15
Hermit Thrush 14
American Robin 552
Northern Mockingbird 53
European Starling 4550
American Pipet 49
Cedar Waxwing 175
Phainopepla 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 113
Spotted Towhee 143
Ca Towhee 19
Lark Sparrow 47
Savannah Sparrow 61
Fox Sparrow 13
Song Sparrow 58
Lincoln's Sparrow 15
White-throated Sparrow 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1081
Golden-crowned Sparrow 390
sparrow sp 2
Dark-eyed Junco 580
Dark-eyed Junco Slate colored 1
Red-winged Blackbird 44
Tricolored Blackbird 7
Western Meadowlark 583
Brewer's Blackbird 1977
Brown-headed Cowbird 7
blackbird sp 566
House finch 504
Lesser Goldfinch 598
goldfinch sp 2
finch sp 19
House sparrow 99

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Fall River Mills Christmas Bird Count, Saturday, December 19th, 2009
On the Fall River Mills CBC on Saturday, Dec. 19th , we had 117 species and 2 were new to the count – a Herring Gull found by Pablo Herrera and Alicia Young on Rat Ranch Road and a Great-tailed Grackle found by Michele Swartout at the Island Road bridge and seen by Bob Yutzy too. Thanks very much to all 17 of the dedicated counters who participated! We had a foggy, fairly cold, day that didn’t clear off until the middle of the afternoon in most areas. Unusual for the count was that it became nice and sunny in the late afternoon (instead of the usual rain and light snow.)

Pied-billed Grebes During Breeding Season

Below are the species and numbers for each:

Pied-billed Grebe 149
Eared Grebe 34
Western Grebe 5
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 44
Great Egret 13
Black-crowned Night Heron 96
White-fronted Goose 38
Canada Goose 2592
Cackling Goose 45
Tundra Swan 36
Gadwall 564
Eurasian Wigeon 1 (male)
Amer. Wigeon 961
Mallard 4974
Nor. Shoveler 46
Nor. Pintail 24
Green-winged Teal 103
Canvasback 53
Redhead 2
Ring-necked Duck 735
Greater Scaup 5
Lesser Scaup 2279
Bufflehead 518
Common Goldeneye 138
Barrow's Goldeneye 5
Hooded Merganser 97
Common Merganser 292
Ruddy Duck 976
Bald Eagle 38 - 18 ad., 20 imm.
Nor. Harrier 66
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 14 – New High by 1
Red-tailed Hawk 229
Ferruginous Hawk 3
Rough-legged Hawk 23
Golden Eagle 1 adult
Amer. Kestrel 21
Merlin 6 - New High by 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
Prairie Falcon 4
Calif. Quail 237
Virginia Rail 5
Sora 1
Amer. Coot 2711
Killdeer 5
Greater Yellowlegs 16
Ring-billed Gull 17
(Gull Species 1)
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 14
Barn Owl 9
Great Horned Owl 12
Belted Kingfisher 20
Acorn Woodpecker 111
Red-breasted Sapsucker 4
Nuttall’s Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 11 – New High by 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
No. Red-shafted Flicker 62
Black Phoebe 5
Loggerhead Shrike (Ken Able)
Steller's Jay 35
W. Scrub-jay 63
Black-billed Magpie 20
Amer. Crow 12
Common Raven 105
Horned lark 21
Mountain Chickadee 41
Oak Titmouse 19
Bushtit 70
Red-breasted Nuthatch 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 35
Brown Creeper 6
Rock Wren 1
Canyon Wren 1
Bewick’s Wren 1
Winter Wren 2
Marsh Wren 25
Golden-crowned Kinglet 23
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12
Western Bluebird 6
Townsend's Solitaire 35
Hermit Thrush 1
Amer. Robin 872
European Starling 533
American Pipit 19
Cedar waxwing 72
Yellow-rumped Audubon’s Warbler 1
Spotted Towhee 68
Savannah Sparrow 71
Song Sparrow 157
Lincoln's Sparrow 4
White-crowned Sparrow 271
Golden-crowned Sparrow 156
Dark-eyed Junco 472
(Dark-eyed Slate form Junco 2)
Red-winged Blackbird 620
Tricolored Blackbird 35
Western Meadowlark 182
Yellow-headed Blackbird 20
Brewer's Blackbird 4524
Brown-headed Cowbird 148
Purple Finch 18
Cassin’s Finch 39
House Finch 158
Lesser Goldfinch 191
Amer. Goldfinch 8
Evening Grosbeak 14
House Sparrow 367
********** UNUSUAL SPECIES (seen 5 times or less in 26 counts)
White-tailed Kite 1 (Don Marsh & Ed Potmeyer)
Sandhill Crane 1 (Bill Oliver, Ken Bachman & Larry Jordan)
Lesser Yellowlegs 2 (Pablo Herrera and Alicia Young)
Eurasian Collared Dove 18
Western Screech Owl 1 (Michele Swartout & Bob Yutzy)
Say’s Phoebe 2
********** NEW SPECIES
Herring Gull 1 adult (Pablo Herrera and Alicia Young)
Great-tailed Grackle 1 (Michele Swartout & Bob Yutzy)
*************** Total = 28,080 individuals & 117 species

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Local Weekday Birdwalk at Lema Ranch, Tuesday, November 11th, 2009
Nine birders gathered in the parking lot under partly cloudy skies and cool temperatures. As the morning gradually became warmer and sunnier, we saw 54 species of birds. Probably the best bird was a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Also of note were numerous Lark Sparrows, a flock of White-fronted Geese, Common Moorhen (a Lema Ranch specialty) and a Sora by ear. Several of the group were beginning birders who got clear views of their avian “neighbors” such as Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, White-crowned Sparrow and Western Bluebird.

Below is the complete list.

Northern Flicker
Lark Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch
Canada Goose
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Western Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
Western Scrub Jay
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Bushtit
Anna’s Hummingbird
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Acorn Woodpecker
Oak Titmouse
Rock Pigeon
White-fronted Goose
Song Sparrow
Mallard
Black Phoebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-necked Duck
Gull sp.
American Crow
Cooper’s Hawk
American Coot
American Robin
Ruddy Duck
Green Heron
Mourning Dove
Great Egret
European Starling
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Local Weekday Birdwalk at Anderson River Park, Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
In spite of dire warnings of high winds, ten birders enjoyed fine weather and good birding at Anderson River Park this morning. It was the second of this year's ‘weekday' field trips. And judging from the participant turnout and bird count, it was a complete success.

We identified 48 species. The ‘best birds' being a Red-breasted Sapsucker found by Debby Anderson, and a California Thrasher that gave us all a very good look, found by George Horn.

Below is the complete list.

Red-shouldered Hawk
Yellow-billed Magpie
Brewer's Blackbird
European Starling
Wood Duck
Canada Goose
Lewis's Woodpecker
White-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
Acorn Woodpecker
Western Scrub- Jay
Black Phoebe
Green Heron
White-breasted Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Junco
Lark Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Cedar Waxwing
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Raven
Spotted Towhee
Bushtit
Pied-billed Grebe
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Mallard
Song Sparrow
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Oak Titmouse
Downy Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Turkey Vulture
Bewick's Wren
California Towhee
House Wren
California Thrasher
Spotted Sandpiper
Killdeer
Common Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Herring Gull
American Goldfinch
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-tailed Hawk
Lesser Goldfinch
Swallow (species)

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Second Saturday Birdwalk at Turtle Bay, Saturday, October 10th, 2009
Seven birders enjoyed a birdwalk under clear, sunny skies and cool temperatures. There were no startling birds at Turtle Bay, but it was good to find that some migrators are in, especially Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows. After birding the usual loop, the group decided to check out Kutras Lake. Small numbers of ducks have shown up including Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead and American Widgeon. It was especially nice to see a Red-head and a Western Grebe. Three of us were still not satiated, so we went to see if any Black-crowned Night Herons still use their old roosting spot. After careful scrutinization, we spotted one individual tucked into a locust tree on one of the islands. Across the driveway for the apartments, we found a few Ring-necked Ducks and a lone female Northern Shoveler. Counting species seen on the extensions, our total for the morning was 40.

Below is the complete list.

Rock Pigeon
Double-crested Cormorant
American Crow
Gull spp.
Western Scrub Jay
Northern Flicker
European Starling
Black Phoebe
Mallard
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Bewick’s Wren
Pied-billed Grebe
Gadwall
Oak Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler (both Audubon’s and Myrtle)
Cedar Waxwing
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Great Egret
Common Merganser
American Robin
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
American Coot
Red Head
Western Grebe
Brewer’s Blackbird

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Lewiston Fish Hatchery and Lewiston Lake, Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Nine people spent a bright and sunny, but not too birdy day, at the Lewiston Fish Hatchery and Lewiston Lake on Saturday, September 26th. It was a little early for waterfowl and a little late for warblers. All in all it was a very pleasant day, well spent with good company.

The best sighting was probably an adult Black Bear, it came down to the opposite river bank and walked along before scrambling uphill into the woods.

Below is the complete list.

Canada Goose
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Mallard
Common Merganser
Pied-bill Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Sora
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Acorn Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Stellar’s Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Swallow sp.
Bushtit
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird

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Camp Out At Lassen Volcanic National Park , Saturday and Sunday, June 27th & 28th, 2009
The combined campout at Lassen Volcanic National Park with the Wintu, Redwood Region, and Altacal Audubon Societies was a a great success. Chet Ogan was the only representative from the Redwood Region A.S. but 6 joined us from the Altacal A.S. The weather was great! The valley broiled but the nights were comfortably warm at 5600 ft. elevation. The total count of species was at least 56 ( I may have missed some and additional species may have been spotted after we disbanded on Sunday afternoon. The target bird for most participants was the Black-backed Woodpecker. Only Don Marsh actually saw one because he arose early on Saturday morning and stumbled out over all the downed logs in the old burn behind the Lost Creek Group Camp to find it. Incidentally, that burn is at least 10 years old and the snags may be too old to attract Black-backs. I speculate, however, that the smoke from the campfires at Craggs and Lost Creek Campgrounds have attracted them. To paraphrase the old Camel cigarette add, Black-backs will fly over a mile for a smoke.

Last year a Pileated Woodpecker family nested in the campground. This year we found one gorgeous male but we had to walk down an access road near the campground to see it.

Other notable sightings were an Acorn Woodpecker near the campground (surprising to all to see this species at so high an elevation without a hardwood tree within miles. On our way out the South side of the Park we drew in, thanks to Larry Jorday's Ipod, a couple of Green-tailed Towhees. Further along George Horn suggested that we walk a ways up the Brokeoff Mt. Trail to try for a Sooty Grouse---a suggestion that landed with a dull thud. Then miraculously a few yards down the road here was a mother Sooty with 5 chicks in the road. All in our car got good looks at them.

Below is the complete list.

Canada Goose
Pied-billed Grebe
Mallard
Bufflehead
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Sooty Grouse
Mountain Quail
American Coot
Spotted Sandpiper
Band-tailed Pigeon
Common Nighthawk
Vaux's Swift
Acorn Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
White-headed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Steller's Jay
Clark’s Nutcracker
American Crow
Common Raven
Warbling Vireo
American Dipper
Western Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
American Robin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Tree Swallow
Mountain Chickadee
Pine Siskin
Cassin's Finch
Evening Grosbeak
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Chipping Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Western Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird

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Burney Falls And Lake Britton Outing , Saturday, May 30, 2009
Eight lucky birders had a fantastic outing and were able to see some fairly uncomon sights. Black Swifts may be common at Burney Falls but that is one of the few places you can see them in the United States, and how many people have actually seen one sitting on their nest? (See photos at end of post for location. You should be able to spot this bird with a good scope). We saw both Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle at Lake Britton, but the icing on the cake was seeing the White-throated Swifts at the Burney Lookout.

Below is the complete list.

Canada Goose
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Black Swift
White-throated Swift
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-pewee
Western Kingbird
Cassin’s Vireo
Steller’s Jay
Western Scrub Jay
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Mountain Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
American Dipper
American Robin
European Starling
Western Tanager
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bullock’s Oriole
Lesser Goldfinch
Spotted Towhee

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Second Saturday Bird Walk , Saturday, April 11, 2009
Five birders met under clear but chilly skies. We saw 33 species of birds of which the standouts were a female Common Yellowthroat collecting willow fluff, a Western Kingbird and a Sharp-shinned Hawk..

Below is the complete list.

European Starling
Acorn Woodpecker
American Crow
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Oak Titmouse
House Finch
Rock Pigeon
CA Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Green Heron
Mallard
Canada Goose
House Sparrow
Black Phoebe
Brewer's Blackbird
Turkey Vulture
Ring-necked Duck
American Wigeon
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Tree Swallow
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle's)
Common Yellowthroat
CA Quail
White-breasted Nuthatch
Belted Kingfisher
Western Scrub Jay
Mourning Dove
Western Kingbird
Sharp-shinned Hawk

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Dye Creek Preserve Outing, Saturday, April 4, 2009
Ten Wintu A.S. birders traveled to The Nature Conservancy's Dye Creek Preserve on April 4. A beautiful day although the wind had a bite to it in the morning. We stopped first at Cone Grove Park, always a birdy spot, then at several places along Foothill Road before reaching the Preserve. Hiking up spectacular Dye Creek Canyon we identified probably the best bird of the day--a Golden Eagle soaring high overhead.

Total species count was 61 species. The only spring migrants were Western Kingbirds and maybe a couple of the Orange-crowned Warblers.

Below is the complete list.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
California Quail
Wilson's Snipe
Greater Yellowlegs
Killdeer
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Western Scrub-Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Loggerhead Shrike
Western Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling
White-breasted Nuthatch
Canyon Wren
Bushtit
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Oak Titmouse
House Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch
House Finch
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird

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Anderson River Park Outing, Saturday, March 28, 2009
Today 9 birders enjoyed some good birding and being out in perfect weather on the Wintu Audubon's Anderson River Park field trip. We had 55 species, with the best birds being a Townsend's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and two California Thrashers. The Thrashers were found in one small tree, and one of which favored us with a few notes of it's unique song.

We were able to see the Bald Eagles at their nest. One on the nest itself, and the other perched not far away. Also, curiously enough, there was an immature Bald Eagle perched very close to the nest.

In addition, we were able to see a Belted Kingfisher emerging from it's nest that is located amid the Bank Swallow's nesting area. However, we weren't able to identify any Bank Swallows, but there were a few Northern Rough-winged Swallows nesting in the same area.

Below is the complete list.

Turkey Vulture
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
American Robin
Acorn Woodpecker
European Starling
House Finch
House Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Mourning Dove
California Quail
Anna's Hummingbird
Killdeer
Red-winged Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Brewer's Blackbird
Bushtit
Downy Woodpecker
Canada Goose
Great Egret
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Lesser Goldfinch
Double-crested Cormorant
Common Merganser
Mallard
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Townsend's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Orange-crowned Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-tailed Hawk
Pied-billed Grebe
Nuttall's Woodpecker
California Towhee
Bald Eagle
Common Yellowthroat
Greater Yellowlegs
Red-shouldered Hawk
Western Scrub-Jay
Rock Pigeon
Northern Mockingbird
House Wren
Osprey
American Pipit
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Wood Duck
Spotted Sandpiper
Snowy Egret
California Thrasher
Oak Titmouse
Song Sparrow
Yellow-billed Magpie

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Millville Plains, Leopard Drive and Parkville Road Outing, Saturday, March 21, 2009
16 hearty folk risked the marginal weather for today's trip. We had light rain beginning at about 11 am off and on (mostly when we got out of our vehicles!)

Counting a few birds we saw at the Civic Center where we met - we had 58 species. Not bad considering there was little evidence of any migration going on except for the swallows.

Many thanks to Sandy Dubose for graciously allowing us to visit her historic ranch house during the field trip.

The best birds were:

Greater White-fronted Geese flying over 100 +/-
White Pelican 2
Merlin (apparently an adult male columbarius) 1
Lewis's Woodpecker 50 +/- (looking really fancy in their breeding plumage)
Swallows - Tree, Violet-green, Rough-winged & Cliff (all seen at sites where they are known to breed!)
1 Peregrine Falcon - prominently perched and showy - as usual for here!
Rock Wren 2 - Wildcat Road - well seen by all
Lark Sparrow 40 +
(No Grasshopper Sparrow at Shammo Ranch yet)
Tri-colored Blackbird 50 + - Wildcat Road
We did have a fair amount of Horned Larks right at the beginning of the wide open area on Leopard Drive, but no Longspurs were "findable."

On the way back up Millville Plains after the group split up, Frank and Darliss Sanderson had a first of the season *Western Kingbird* at the south end of Millville Plains Road. About 1/2 way back up M.P. Rd. Bob & Carol found a single, incredibly drab, female *Mountain Bluebird* that the Sandersons also got to see. It appeared that a good time was had by all,

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Rancho Esquon and Llano Seco Trip, February 28th, 2009
16 birders enjoyed a beautiful day between storms birding the Rancho Esquon, a large, private rice farm near Durham. They have set aside 900 acres for wetland habitat and we were fortunate, due to the efforts of Jennifer Patten of Altacal Audubon, to have access to it. We saw 51 species in the 3 ½ hours that we spent there. Afterwards we travelled the short distance to the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento National Wildlfie Refuge Complex where we observed several species including a Red-tailed Hawk harrassing a Golden Eagle.

Species Identified at Rancho Esquon:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night- heron
White-faced Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestral
Virginia Rail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Long-billed Curlew
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Rock Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Common Raven
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
House Finch
House Sparrow

Birds seen at Llano Seco unit of the Sacramento NWR:

Greater White-fronted Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
(Eurasian Green-winged Teal)
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Pied-bill Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Great-horned Owl
Black Phoebe
Western Scrub-jay
Common Raven
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Pipit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Tree Swallow

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Lema Ranch Outing, Saturday, January 31st, 2009
We had a beautiful day for the January 31st outing at Lema Ranch. A total of 55 species were observed by a group of 13 birdwatchers. We were able to see some interesting bird behavior too. A couple of things that caught our attention during this trip: a female Anna's Hummingbird pulling material from the blooming cat tails apparently to use as nesting material and a Canada Goose sitting up in an oak tree to the dismay of his fellow geese (see photo below).

Species Identified:

Acorn Woodpecker
American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Wigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Bufflehead
Bushtit
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Common Moorhen
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
Double-crested Cormorant
European Starling
Gadwall
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Great Egret
Greater White-fronted Goose
Green Heron
Hooded Merganser
House Finch
House Sparrow
Killdeer
Lark Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Scaup
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Merlin
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Northern Mockingbird
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Oak Titmouse
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Duck
Rock Pigeon
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruddy Duck
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Turkey Vulture
Virginia Rail
Western Bluebird
Western Meadowlark
Western Scrub Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
Wilson's Snipe
Gull (Species)

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Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Outing, Saturday, January 17th, 2009
What started out at near freezing temperatures turned out to be a beautiful, balmy day for the January 17th outing at the Sacramento National Wildlfie Refuge. A total of 65 species were observed by a group of 13 birdwatchers.

Highlights that come to mind from today's Wintu Audubon field trip to Sacramento Wildlife Refuge include the following:

12 Blue phase Snow Geese
2 or 3 probable Blue Phase Snow X Blue phase Ross hybrid Geese! (these were very dark birds [as Blue Ross tend to be] with the dark going up over the head) with long necks, big grin patches and the same size as Snow Geese.
4 Blue-winged Teal (2 pair)
1 Greater Scaup female - well studied
1 Eurasian Wigeon
1 Peregrine Falcon - prominently perched and showy - as usual for here!
10 +/- Bald Eagles (regularly harassing the geese)
1,000s of Dunlins
Dowitcher species
5 or so Amercian Avocet
50 + Black-necked Stilt
50 + Western/Least Sandpiper
1 White-faced Ibis
Billions of White-fronted Geese
no Canada Geese
2 Virginia Rails calling
10 + Herring Gulls
5 +/- Tree Swallows

There were not very many ducks overall as compared to most years.

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Redding Christmas Bird Count, Saturday December 27th, 2008
Twenty six energetic birders turned out for this year's Redding Christmas Bird Count. The weather co-operated, a cool day with no rain, very birdable. 118 species were seen this year. Highlights included the 1st Eurasion Collared Dove for the count, spotted by Brooke McDonald and her crew. A pair of Peregrine Falcons seen at Shasta Dam by Ken Bachman's group. The size difference between the male and female was very evident. A Virginia Rail and a Canyon Wren called up by Len Lindstrand in the Clear Creek area. 3 Say's Phoebes seen by Debby Andersons's group near Shasta College. A Golden Eagle flying over Redding seen by Bob and Carol Yutzy.

Several species had new high numbers for our count, including:

Wood Duck 94
Hooded Merganser 84
Cooper's Hawk 8
Peregrine Falcon 4
Acorn Wood Pecker 205
Nuttall's Woodpecker 58
Common Raven 70
Oak Titmouse 227
White-breasted Nuthatch 65
Red-winged Blackbird 299

Participants this year were: Area 1, Brooke McDonald; Jan Brockett, Esther Cox; Brad Dupree. Area 2A, Kenneth Burton; Larry Jordan; Claudia Yerion; Debby Anderson. Area 3A, Red and Nancy Modeen. Area 3B, Connie Word; Karen Scheurerman. Area 4A, George Horn; Len Linstrand III; Nichole Lindstrand. Area 4B, Bud Widdowson; Margaret Widdowson; Jonathon Foster. Area 5, Ed Pottmeyer; Randy Bush. Area 6, Linda Aldrich; Ken Bachman; Steve Bachman; Joann Bachman. Area 7, Bob Yutzy; Carol Yutzy.

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Anderson River Park Christmas Bird Count, Saturday December 20th, 2008
Saturday was the second official Anderson River Park Christmas Count. The weather cooperated by not raining (or snowing!), and was cold but clear. Fifteen people participated in the count and I'd like to thank the group for a job well done! As a group, we tallied 112 species for the day and got some great birds, river otters, and bobcats!!! Check out Bill Adams's picture of the bobcat below.

Here are some highlights of the day:

Say's Phoebe 12!
Rufous-crowned Sparrow 2
American Bittern 1
Greater Roadrunner sightings in two separate zones
Lapland Longspur 2
Chestnut-collared Longspur 1
Tricolored Blackbirds 800 in a few separate flocks
Bald Eagle 22!
Ferruginous Hawk 8 (more than Fall River!)
Loggerhead Shrike 1
White-tailed Kite 2
Lewis's Woodpecker 220!
WHite-throated Sparrow 1
Prairie Falcon 3
Common Moorhen 2
Rock Wren 3
House Wren 4
Marsh Wren 13
California Thrasher 1
Least Sandpiper 6
Greater Yellowlegs 4
Horned Lark 365
Golden Eagle 3
Eurasian-collared Doves 1(I'm not sure this won't be common everywhere)
Wild Turkey 9

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Fall River Mills Christmas Bird Count, Sunday December 14th, 2008
Twenty dedicated birders faced freezing and snowing conditions at times to bring you the Fall River Mills Christmas Bird Count, lead by Bob Yutzy. The sun poked its head out occasionally but it was cold the entire day. A total of 118 species were either observed or heard during this CBC. In the photo below, taken at the Fall River Hotel after a hardy breakfast are (back row, left to right) Theresa Tucker, Don Tucker, Nancy Modeen, Red Modeen, Marta Sullivan, Carol Yutzy, Darliss Sanderson, Frank Sanderson, Larry Jordan, George Horn and Ken Bachman, (front row, left to right) Don Marsh, Bob Yutzy, Bill Oliver and Al Dimartini.

Below are the totals and best birds of the Fall River Mills CBC after putting together 3 more section lists received after the evening compilation.

Best birds were:

Common Loon 2
Black-crowned Night Heron 115 (new high by 8)
Greater White-fronted Goose 3 (very low)
Snow Geese 201
Cackling Goose 150
Eurasian Wigeon 7 (new high by 1)
Greater Scaup 1
Bald Eagle 40 (new high by 1)
Northern Goshawk (7 time on the count)
Ferruginous Hawk 4 (many less than the Anderson count?)
Rough-legged Hawk 59 (we had the US high last year of 127)
Golden Eagle 5
Merlin 1
Prairie Falcon 7
Virginia Rail 1
Sora 2
Long-billed Dowitcher 3
Wilson's Snipe 1
Barn Owl 11
Great Horned Owl 4
Short-eared Owl 1
Lewis's Woodpecker 1
Loggerhead 3
Northern Shrike 1
American Crow 1
Pygmy Nuthatch 31
Rock Wren 1
Canyon Wren 1
American Dipper 1
Yellow-headed Blackbird 3

Species seen fewer than 5 times:
American White Pelican 1 (seen 3 times before)
Sandhill Crane 2 (fourth time on count)
Eurasian Collared Dove 34 (2nd time on count - up from 25 birds in 2007)
Western Screech-Owl 1 (fourth time on count)
Pileated Woodpecker 1 (5th time on count)

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Anderson River Park Outing, Saturday November 22nd, 2008
Nine hardy dedicated birders faced the rather cool air of an overcast Saturday morning outing at Anderson River Park, lead by Ken Bachman. The sun did finally pop out by mid-morning making the temperature a little more bareable. A total of 46 species were either observed or heard during the November 22nd bird walk. The nine birders contributing were the leader, Ken Bachman, John Coon, Jan Coon, Larry Jordan, Terri Luillier, Red Modeen, Sandy Moulton, Karen Scheuermann and Connie Wood.

Both an adult and immature Bald Eagle were observed as well as a California Thrasher of which everyone got an excellent close-up viewing. The Wood Ducks were seen in all of their colored splender. The complete species list below.

Species Identified:

Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Wood Duck
Common Merganser
Mallard
California Quail
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk (heard)
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Acorn Woodpecker
Northern Flicker (red-shafted)
Nuttall's Woodpecker (heard)
Black Phoebe
Western Scrub Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
California Thrasher
European Starling
American Pipit
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch

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Fall River Outing, Saturday November 15th, 2008 at Fall River Mills and McArthur
Bob Yutzy did a wonderful job leading the Fall River outing Saturday. A rather auspicious precursor to the Fall River Christmas Bird Count coming up December 14th. The eighteen dedicated birders were able to view 97 species by the end of, what turned out to be, a warm, beautiful day. The most exciting find of the day was a female Williamson's Sapsucker, spotted by Bill Oliver, president of the Wintu group. All in all, a wonderful time was had by everyone. The complete species list below.

Species Identified:

Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Gadwall
California Quail
Pacific Loon
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Baled Eagle
Nothern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Prairie Falcon
Virginia Rail
American Coot
Killdeer
Least Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Lewis' Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Nothern Flicker (Red-shafted)
Black Phoebe
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Mountain Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Western Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler
Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

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Second Saturday Bird Walk, November 8, 2008 at Turtle Bay and Kutras Lake
We had a great time birding the morning of November 8th at Turtle Bay and Kutras Lake. Six of us enjoyed the good weather and camaraderie. Two of the six; Jane and Michele, were new to the 2nd Saturday bird walk, but not to birding. In fact, Michele, who is an excellent birder, found a Hairy Woodpecker, a very good bird for the Turtle Bay area. We found 51 species during our wanderings, the best birds being of course the Hairy Woodpecker, and also Western Grebe, Hooded Merganser, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. The detailed list below.

Species Identified:

Dark-eyed Junco
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Belted Kingfisher
Oak Titmouse
American Robin
Song Sparrow
American Crow
Hermit Thrush
Mallard
Western Scrub Jay
Turkey Vulture
Anna's Hummingbird
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
European Starling
Gadwall
Hooded Merganser
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black Phoebe
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Sandpiper
Common Merganser
Bewick's Wren
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Herring Gull
Bufflehead
Double-crested Cormorant
Acorn Woodpecker
Canada Goose
American Coot
Hairy Woodpecker
Western Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Common Goldeneye
Killdeer
Golden-crowned Sparrow
American Widgeon
Ring-necked Duck
Redhead
Eared Grebe
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Canvasback
Brewer's Blackbird
Rock Pigeon

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Trip, June 21 & 22, 2008
The weekend trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park by the Wintu Audubon Society and the Redwood Region Audubon Society on June 21 and 22 was memorable both for the birding and the camping. Eleven Wintu members were joined on Saturday by two from Redwood Region---Sheryl and Kathleen. Nine camped Saturday night at the Lost Creek Group Campground. Here is a photo of the group taken by Ken Bachman. Left to right: Mike Damoth, Laurie Damoth, Larry Jordan, Claudia Yerion, Red Modeen, Nancy Modeen, Debbie Anderson, Kathleen and Sheryl from Eureka, Bill Oliver and Ken Bachman.

First, the camping experience. We were surprised and pleased to have the entire campground to ourselves---no noisy neighbors’ boom boxes and we could make as much noise as we wanted!! As you can imagine, the weather was spectacular, if somewhat scary.

We birded Manzanita Lake Saturday morning with beautiful but ominous looking clouds to the west and occasional thunder. By afternoon the clouds moved in followed by intense but short-lived showers, hale and lightning strikes within half a mile that interrupted lunch and setting up camp. As the showers tapered off we birded Hat Lake and Summit Lake.

By late afternoon the sky cleared and we were set for a restful night. However, at breakfast Sunday morning two tenters reported strange and frightful growling in the middle of the night. Was it a bear or just a deer as suggested by a few sympathetic souls? Older, half-deaf members of the group chalked it up to over active imaginations.

Sunday dawned cloudless, with mild temperatures, albeit a bit smokey. We birded Kings Creek Meadows and various turnouts almost to the Sulphur Works.

Now to birding. We tallied 59 species and most interestingly, 10 species were observed nesting. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers nested right in our camp site as probably did a pair of Evening Grosbeaks. We got excellent views of Pygmy Nuthatches at their nest holes at Manzanita Lake and of Black-backed Woodpeckers at Hat Lake. Red Modeen compiled the trip list (see below) and Ken Bachman supplied the photos.

All agreed that we should make this an annual event always inviting a neighboring Audubon group to join us. There’s nothing like a campout to build camaraderie.

Species Identified:

Canada Goose 12
Mallard 2
Bufflehead 6
Mountain Quail 2 heard
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1
Cooper’s Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 1
Spotted Sandpiper 6+
Wilson’s Snipe 2
Common Nighthawk 4+
Red-breasted Sapsucker 7 nesting
Hairy Woodpecker 3
White-headed Woodpecker 1
Black-backed Woodpecker 4 nesting
Northern Flicker (R/S) 2 nesting
Pileated Woodpecker 2 nesting
Western Wood-pewee 4 nesting
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 heard
Hammond’s Flycatcher 2
Dusky Flycatcher 1
Impidonax Flycatcher (sp.) 1 see notes
Ash-throated Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 1 nesting
Gray Jay 1
Steller’s Jay 6+
Clark’s Nutcracker 12+
Common Raven 3
Tree Swallow 8+ nesting
Violet-green Swallow 1+
Mountain Chickadee 6+ nesting
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 nesting
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Pygmy Nuthatch 4 nesting
Brown Creeper 2
American Dipper 1
Mountain Bluebird 2
Townsend’s Solitaire 2
American Robin 4
Orange-crowned Warbler 4
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4+
Wilson’s Warbler 2 heard
Western Tanager 3
Green-tailed Towhee 1 heard Sunday, seen Thursday
Chipping Sparrow 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 heard
Dark-eyed Junco (OR.) 1+
Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 5+
Brewer’s Blackbird 4+
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Purple Finch 2
Cassin’s Finch 4+ nesting
Red Crossbill 2
Evening Grosbeak 6+

1. Birds listed as nesting were actually seen entering or on the nest and/or gathering nest material.
2. The empidonax flycatcher may have been Willow, it was hawking insects in the willows at Manzanita Lake, but no scope, no consensus.
3. All expected mountain woodpecker species except Williamson’s Sapsucker which was mysteriously quiet.
4. Strangely missing were a few more raptors, and a few more warblers, (Hermit, etc.).
5. Unexpected was a pair of Wilson’s Snipe at King’s Meadow with a male winnowing.

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