VOLUME
FALL 1997
51: NO. 4
ISSUE
SPRING MIGRATION
March 1-May 31, 1997 AMERICAN
BIRDING
ASSOCIATION
IN ALLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL
AUDUBON
SOCIETY
TWO
FOR THE BIRDS!
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FIELD
NOTES
* AMERICAN
BIRDING
ASSOCIATION
SPRIN•MIGRATION:
THE
8:38
REGIONAL
ß VOLUME
MARCH1-MAY3•
NUMBER
817
Editor's Notebook
818
The Storms of 'gG: Part I
BLAKEMAYBANK
PIERREBANNON
TODD HASS,
and NORMAND DAVID
and JIM LOCKYER
1997
Idaho-Western
Montana
DAN SVINGEN
900
Mountain West VAN A. TRUAN
EDWARDS.BRINKLEY,
842 Quebec
4 * FALL
I997
898
REPORTS
Atlantic Provinces
51:
and BRANDON K. PERCIVAL
904
Arizona CHRIS D. BENESH
832 Changing Seasons: Spring1997
844 NewEngland SIMON PERKINS
JEFFPRICE
848
907
Hudson-Delaware •ILLIAFvlJ.BOYLE JR.,
How to Read
the RegionalReports
910
and DAVIDA. CUTLER
936 PictorialHighlights
Middle Atlantic Coast
941
Southern Atlantic Coast RICKY DAVIS
Alaska T.G. TOBISH JR.
913
How to Submit Records
880
Central Southern
British ColumbiaYukon
MARSHALLILIFF
856
New Mexico SARTORO. WILLIAMS III
836
ROBERT O. PAXTON,
85: •
and GARY H. ROSENBERG
918 Oregon-Washington
STEVENW. CARDIFF
860
Florida
884
BILL PRANTY
922
RUDOLF F. KOES
863
Ontario
and PETERTAYLOR
RON RIDOUT
886
867 Appalachian 888
Western Great Lakes JIM GRANLUND
875
Middlewestern KENNETHJ. BROCK
STEPHEN E BAILEY,
Northern Great Plains
and DANIELS. SINGER
926
930
Texas
Southern Pacific Coast GUY MCCASKIE
JOSEPHA. GRZYBOWSKI
892
Prairie
Southern Great Plains
Middle Pacific Coast DON ROBERSON,
RON MARTIN
GEORGEA. HALL
871
and GERARD LILLE
Prairie Provinces
Hawaiian Islands ROBERTL. PYLE
GREGW. LASLEY, CHUCKSEXTON, WILLIESEKULA, MARKLOCKWOOD, and CLIFFSHACKELFORD
ON
THE
93: •
West Indies ROBERTL. NORTON
COVER
AsSpring1997 began,tbis gull wassittingin Galveston, Texas,attractingbirdersandcontributing to controversy. Anylargedark-backed gull is rarein Texas,so,whenthis birdwasdiscovered on JanuaryI 5, 1996, it inspireda roundof name-calling-nameslike GreatBlackbackedGull,nominate-race LesserBlack-backed Gull,andWesternGull.Somebirderspointedto flawsin all of thesediagnoses,andwithin a month•expertsconcluded that it wasa moreexoticfind:a KelpGull,nativeto coastlines southof the equator.Thebirdremainedintothe spring;whatwasundoubtedly the sameindividualreturnedto the sameplaceon November30, 1996, andremainedat leastinto the early springof 1997--the seasonfeatured in this issueof Field Notes.
BirdsidentifiedasKelpGullshavehadan oddhistoryin the Gulfof Hexico.Twowere seenonthe coastof Hexico'sYucatanPeninsula as longagoas 1987. In 1989, two (or maybethree) werefoundon Louisiana's offshoreislands.Therehavebeenrecordsin bothplaces sincethen,andpossiblyelsewhere--including a remarkable recordfromIndiana(seepage879 of this issue).Still, KelpGullis notyet onthe officialABAChecklist for NorthAmericanBirds.TheAmerican Ornithologists' Unionrecentlyplacedit onthe appendixto their list-suggesting that thereare questionsaboutthe birds,at leastin termsof howthey madeit fromthe westcoastof SouthAmericato the Gulf of Hexico.Regardless, the presenceof KelpGullsin NorthAmericaaddsto the potentialchallengeandexcitementfor gull-watchers. The KelpGullonthe coverwasphotographed February 7, 1997, byAlanWormington in Galveston.
field notes American Birding Association PRESIDENT
Allan R. Keith VICE-PRESIDENT
WayneR. Petersen
is published by theAmericanBirdingAssociation in alliance with
the NationalAudubonSociety. The missionof the journal is to providea completeoverview of the changing panoramaof NorthAmerica's birdlife,including outstanding records,range extensions andcontractions, population dynamics, andchanges in migrationpatterns
SECRETARY
or seasonal occurrence.
BlakeMaybank
BOARD
MargaretBain Sharon Bartels
P.A. Buckley GeorgeG.Daniels DaphneD. Gemmill Thomas J.Gilmore Dennis H. Lacoss
StanleyR. Lincoln Michael Ord Ann Stone
William R. Stott Jr.
Henry Turner EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR
GregoryS. Butcher CONTROLLER
CONSERVATION
AND
EDUCATION
Paul Green DEVELOPMENT
Carol Lambert AND
CONFERENCœS
Ken Hollinga CORPORATE
RELATIONS
LangdonR. Stevenson GENERAL
EDITOR
MANAGING
Carol S. Lawson EDITORIAL
COUNSEL
Daniel T. WilliamsJr. PAST PRESIDENTS
Daniel T. WilliamsJr. (1993-1997) Allan R. Keith (1989-1993) LawrenceG. Balch(1983-1989) JosephW. Taylor (1979-1983) Arnold Small (1976-1979) G. Stuart Keith (1973-1976) G. StuartKeith (1970pro tern)
Victoria H. Irwin CONSULTANT
SusanRoneyDrennan
Vice-President forOrnithology NationalAudubonSociety FIELD EDITORS
Stephen F.Bailey,PierreBannon, ChrisD. Benesh, GordonBerkey, JackBowling, WilliamI. BoyleJr., KennethI. Brock,StevenW. Cardiff, David A. Cutler, Normand David,
RickyDavis,WalterG. Ellison, JeffGilligan,JimGranlund, Joseph A. Grzybowski, George A. Hall, GregD. Jackson, JimJohnson, RudolfE Koes,GregLasley, GerardLillie, BruceMacravish, NancyL. Martin, RonMartin,BlakeMaybank, GuyMcCaskie,IanA. McLaren, David P.Muth, RobertL. Norton, Rich Paul, Robert O. Paxton, Brandon K. Percival,Simon Perkins,
WayneR. Petersen, BillPranty, RobertD. Purrington,RobertL. Pyle, Ron Ridout, Don Roberson,
GaryH. Rosenberg, AnnE Schnapf, ChuckSexton, DanielS.Singer, Stephen I. Stedman, DanSvingen, PeterTaylor,DarylD. Tessen, T.G. TobishJr.,Van A. Truan, Bill Tweit, Noel Wamer,RichardWest, Sartor O. Williams III PRODUCTION
EDITOR
Susanna v.R. Lawson PRODUCTION
PRESIDENT
John Flicker
MANAGEMENT
EDITOR
PeterHunt, Marshall J.Iliff,
Lynn Yeager
CONVENTIONS
Kenn Kaufman EXECUTIVE
BOARD
Ruth O. Russell
EDITOR
OF DIRECTORS
OFTHE
Donal C. O'Brien Jr.
John B. Beinecke
ABA/GeorgeG. Daniels
Gerald J.Ziarno
CHAIRMAN
VICE-CHAIRPERSONS
PUBLISHER
TREASURER
NationalSudu Socie
ASSISTANTS
Constance Eldridge andJulieReid
TEAM
Daniel P. Beard
James A. Cunningham EricDraper Frank B. Gill Glenn Olson Victoria Shaw BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Oakes Ames
JohnB. Beinecke CharlesG. BraggJr. Howard P. Brokaw Harriet S. Bullitt Donald A. Carr
DouglasM. Costie Leslie Dach
JackDempsey Lynn Dolnick David D. Dominick
Helen M. Engle W. Hardy Eshbaugh Ted Lee Eubanks
JohnW. Fitzpatrick Patricia H. Heidenreich Marian S. Heiskell
ReidB. Hughes VivianJohnson Carol Ann May Arsenio Milian
BenjaminOlewineIV David H. Pardoe Ruth O. Russell
Walter C. Sedgwick Norman Shapiro Amy Skilbred Robert H. Socolow
JohnL. Whitmire JoyceA. Wolf BernardJ. Yokel
FieldNotes(ISSN0004-7686) (USPS872200)ispublished quarterly bytheAmerican Birding Association, Inc.,720WestMonument Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904-3624. Periodicals postage paidat ColoradoSprings, Colorado, andadditional mailingoffices. POSTMASTER: returnpostage guaranteed; sendaddress changes andPODforms3579toFieldNotes, POBox6599,Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80934-6599. Subscription prices: $20/year (US)and US$25/year (Canada). Copyright ¸ 1997bytheAmerican Birding Association, Inc.,allrightsreserved. PrintedbyPublishers Printing, Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Theviewsandopinions expressed in thismagazine arethoseof eachcontributing writeranddonotnecessarily represent theviewsandopinions of theAmerican Birding Association or itsmanagement. ABAisnotresponsible forthequalityof products or services advertised in FieldNotes, unless theproducts or services arebeingoffereddirectly bytheAssociation. GSTRegistration No.R135943454. 816
FIELD NOTES
editor's
notebook identifiedthe BridledTerncomingin--touchingoff pandemonium, because we wereveryfar northfor that species. A gentleman standingnearme remarked,admiringly, "Wow,that girl is really good?I'm not surehe realized that"thatgirl"wastheorganizer of the trip, the editorof the magazine,and a vice-president of the NationalAudubonSociety. DuringtheperiodwhenNationalAudubonwaspayingrelatively little attentionto birds,Susanwasthe mainpersonwho keptbird conservation on the tableat all, and shekeptthe regionalreports
SABIRD-CRAZED KID who had joined the National Audubon
Societyat the ageof nine,I subscribed to a little publication calledAudubon FieldNotesbeforeI enteredmy teens.Beforelong,I startedsending in records to it aswell.I'll neverforgethowexcitedI waswhenI got the nextissueand foundmy initials,my sightings, listedin the regionalreport for the SouthernGreat Plains.This journalpresented thewholepanoramaof NorthAmerica's birdlife, and my observations were,in their own smallway,contributingto thisgrandpicture.A lifelongfascination with the statusand distributionof birdswascemented in placeat that moment. At thattime,in thelate 1960s,theseregionalreportsalreadyhad a longandvariedhistory(and the historyhasvariedmoresince then). NationalAudubonhad begunpublishingthesereportsin 1917in its magazine, Bird-Lore, underthe heading"The Season." The regionalreportsbecamea separate publication, calledAudubon FieldNotes,in 1947.In 1970thepublicationwasrenamedAmerican Birds,and wasexpandedwith manyarticlesand features,until it wasscaled backto FieMNotesagainin 1994.
goingthroughchallenges largeand small. It wasno wonderthat ABA honored her with the Ludlow Griscom Award in 1988. The
factthatFieldNotesisstillaliveandwelltodayis,in largemeasure, a tribute to Susan's efforts.
So as I move into the Editor'schair,I'm thankful for Susan's
ample--andthankfulthat shewill be continuingwith us aschief editorialconsultant for FieldNotes.Also,fortunately, VictoriaH. Irwin will continueas managingeditor,bringingto bearher im-
pressive bacl•ground asa professional journalist andsharpbirder.
Manyindividuals at ABAhavesteppedup to helpwith the transition in publication.I'm delightedthat Carol Lawsonand Susanna gonethroughmajor changes. Foundedas an association for bird Lawsonareinvolved; theirgreatskillshavebeenresponsible fo•'the conservation,it maintained this focus until the 1960s,when it exbeautifulappearance and timelyproductionof Birdingmagazine pandeditsscope to becomea broad-based environmental group.Its for thelastnineyears. missionwasevenbroaderfor a time in the late 1980sand early However,I havenot yet mentionedthe two mostvital elements 1990s,whenbirdsreceivedrelativelylittle attention.Aboutthree in theworkingsof FieldNotes. yearsago,however, Audubonwentthrougha majorreorganization, The heartand soulof thispublicationarethe RegionalReports. andreaffirmedits focuson birds.The rejuvenated NAS is nowan For their preparation,we dependcompletelyon the effortsof the excitingorganization to watch,movingaheadboldlyon specific RegionalEditors.As a group,the RegionalEditorscommandan goals,all ofwhichrelatedirectlyto birds,wildlife,andtheirhabitats. awesomeknowledgeof the statusand distribution of North It is appropriate thatAudubonshotfidhavenowenteredinto an alAmerica'sbirdlife, and they contributea staggeringnumber of liancewiththeAmericanBirdingAssociation to continue thepublihoursto the collection andanalysis of bird recordseveryseason. cation of Field Notes. The reportsthey write are not mere recountingsof data; these Many admirablepeoplework for NationalAudubon,but I want columnssummarize, analyze,discuss, and elucidate, puttingall of to make specialmention of SusanRoneyDrennan,who served the informationinto context. At theirbest,theyprovidea fascinatAmerican Birds/Field Notesfor morethantwentyyearsasassociate ing educationin currentbird distribution. editorandthenaseditor.I wasfortunateto be ableto learna great And finally,the RegionalEditors•even thoughtheyare all acthemselves--must dependuponinputfrom numerdealfromSusan, especially afterI joinedthestaffof American Birds tive observers ousbirdersin thefieldto maketheircolumns complete. Thereports in 1984.Susan is oneof thoseremarkable individuals thatyoumeet in thesepagesarebasedon sightings madeby manythousands of onlyrarely,someone with numeroustalentsand with an extraordiobservers; it would be accurate to say that Field Notes is produced nary capacityfor gettingthingsdone.Insidersat Audubonknow not onlyFOl•thebirdersof NorthAmerica,but BYthemaswell.We that shehascontributed an astonishing amountof work to innuwelcomeyou to the newABA/NASpublicationof FieldNotes,and merableprojectsthere.Shehasalsomaintainedher abilitiesas a networkasbothan observsuperfieldbirder.As oneexampleamongmany,I recalla moment inviteyouto takepart in thisinteractive
Duringthislonghistory, theNationalAudubonSociety alsohas
on a pelagictrip (sponsored by American Birds)whenfortypairsof keeneyeswerescanning likemad,andit wasSusan whospotted and FALL 1997
er and a reader.
--Kenn Kaufman, Editor 817
ThismoribundSootyTernwasfoundon the upperbeach at CapeMayPoint,NewJersey,two daysfollowingthe passage of hurricane Bertha•July15, 1996. Photograph/Kevin Karlson
FIELD NOTES
birdsandatlantictropicalcyclones in an activeyear
THE STORMS
OF '96
EDWARD S. BRINKLEY*, TODDHASSt,andfin LOCKYER•
Overthirtyhoursin advance ofthestorm,theskiesbecame blackened withseabirds ofeverykind,size, coloranddescription, movingrapidlytowardthewest,asif fieeingfrom theviolenceof thecomingstorm. --U.S.Army ChiefSignal Officer forCarteret County, NorthCarolina, journal entryforAugust 24, 1881(Barnes 1993)
PART 1: THE STORMS AND AND THEIR ASSOCIATED
BIRDS
and 1996),followinghard on the heelsof 1995,anothertop-ten yearwith 19namedstorms.Of the 13stormsin 1996,sixwerecategorizedas"majorcyclones."
OWHERE ARE HURRICANES and tropical storms welcome
guests. In 1996,the 13tropicalcyclones that movedthrough theNorthAtlantictook135livesandcaused nearlyfivebilliondollarsin damage; byfar themostdevastating of thesewasFran,which killed34 peoplein the UnitedStatesandcausedoverfour billion dollars'worthof damage. Theyearwasrankedamongthetenmost
For centuries, mariners and island dwellers have known of the
activeon recordfor tropicalcyclones in theAtlantic(between 1886
powerfuleffectof thesestormsupon seabirds. For aboutthe last 150years,amateurand professional ornithologists havetakenan interestin the displacement of birds by hurricanesand other
* 108Cocke Hall,University ofVirginia, Charlottesville, Virginia ;);)903 1-Departrnent of Biology, University of NorthCarolina, Chapel Hill,NorthCarolina 27599 •t35 Letitia Lane,Nedia,Pennsylvania 19063
storms. Thoughthe devastation of thestormsis to be fearedand avoided,they harbor an enduring fascinationfor humans-especiallyfor studentsof bird life, for whom hurricaneshave
FALL 1997
819
HE STOFMS
Hurricane
OF occasionally meanta terrestrial glimpseintothelivesof seabirds otherwisevirtuallyneverseenon landawayfromthe nesting grounds. Part 1 of this articlepresents a detailedaccountof noteworthy bird observations from easternNorth Americaduring,after,or apparentlyasa resultof hurricanes Bertha,Edouard,Fran,andHortense and tropicalstorm]osephine. This compendiumwasmadepossible by the large group of observersand contributorslisted in the Acknowledgments, manyof whomsharedtheirrecords throughthe Internet.In thismanner,datacollection wasgreatlyaccelerated relativeto that for hurricanes past,in particularthroughthe HurricaneNet, run by WallaceCoffey,and by BirdChat,run by Chuck Williamson.Other recordswerefoundin NationalAudubonSociety FieldNotes(Brinkley1997;Davis 1996,1997a;Ellisonand Martin
Bertha
LandfallPath/BirdReportingSites July 12-14 1996 0500
45 rnph
1700
1996; Iliff 1996, 1997; Kaufman 1996; Paxton et al. 1996, 1997; Petersen 1997), Bird Observer(Forster et al. 1996, 1997), Birders
0800
60 mph
O Hurricane O Tropical Storm
]ourhal(Curry 1996,Curry and Olmsted1996),Chat(Davis1997b), Pennsylvania Birds(Pulcinella1996), and Kingbird(Crowell1997, 13
D'Anna1997,Griffith1997,Kelling1997,Koeneke andPurcdl1997,
0100
75 rnph
Tropical Depression Repoding Site
Schiffand Wollin 1996, 1997).
Part2 of thearticlewill treatthe species observed during1996in historicalcontext,namelyin relationto recordsof hurricane-displacedseabirds overtheprevious150years,beginning withthe first suchNorth Americanrecord,a Black-capped Petrelfoundin Florida in 1846.Therehavebeenbut fewsuchanalyses in thescientific literature previously,with the exceptionof Robert CushmanMurphy's densebut brief section"Birdsand Hurricanes" in Oceanic Birdsof SouthAmerica(1936). Part 2 will appearin a later issueof Field
2200
95 mph
1N1ND FORCE
12
1500
1O0 mph
Tropical Storm
I
JULY
Figure1. Berthamadelandfalljust before9 PHon July12
at Carolina BeachandKureBeach,southof Wilmington, North Carolina,wherethe CategoryZ hurricanebatteredthe coast with windsof 115 mph.Theeye of the stormat that time waswell-
Notes.
definedandapproximatelyZOmilesacross.Berthathen moved northwardthrougheasternNorthCarolinaand,on July13, into Virginiain the Cityof Suffolk,thencenorthward just westof the Chesapeake Bay.Whatremainedof the fillingeye of the storm
BERTHA
The first storm of the 1996 season to make landfall in North America
enteredthe Chesapeake Bayin Harylandwatersat about7 AH, passedontothe Dolmarva PeninsulanearCambridge, moving 45 milessouthof Dover,Delaware,at 8 AH,theninto DelawareBay. Fromthere,the storm'scenterpassedimmediatelywestof Cape Hay, upthe EastCoast,andbackout to sea.AlthoughBerthawas still classeda Category1 hurricaneat 5 AH,its windswereonly 55 to GOmphsustainedin Virginia,andthusit wastechnically a tropicalstormbythe time it reachedthat state. Hap/JimLockyer
wasBertha,an unusually earlystorm.In fact,thiswasthe firsthurricaneto trackalongthe interiorof the mid-Atlanticcoastal plainin the month of JulysinceCindydid so in 1959;the lasthurricaneto reachthisstrengththisearlyin the season wasAlmain 1966.Not to be confusedwith a storm of the samename of 1990 (LeGrand 1991),
Berthawasborn on July4, 1996,from an Africaneasterly waveasa tropicaldepression about800 milesWSW of the CapeVerdeIslands in the easterntropicalAtlantic.In the half-century sincesystematic reconnaissance flightsfor thestudyof hurTABLE I: BIRDS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE BERTHA,JULY 12-17 1996 ricanescommenced,85 percentof all inBIRDS FOUND tense (Category3, 4, or 5) cyclones have SPECIES LOCALE STATEDATE 1 originated here, even though on average No•ern Gannet Cape May (inbackyard) NJ 07/13 2 onlytwo stormsannuallyareborn in this Herald Petrel Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tu nnel VA 07/13 1 False Cape State Park, Virginia Be_ach VA 07113 area(Landsea1993).Within two days,the 9 Black-capped Petrel Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel VA 07/13 stormhad strengthened into a hurricane. 1 FortStory, Virginia Beach VA 07/13 8 By July8, BerthabrushedeasternPuerto Cape May(Bay side) NJ ] 07/13 26 Chesapeake Bay Bridge -Tun nel VA ] 07114 Rico, then moved northward close to the
un,dentifled gadfly petrel Cor'/s Shearwater Greater Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Chesapeake Bay / Cape Charles VA •L_ 07/14
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel V•- ] Fort Story, Virginia Beach
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel VA ] 07/1•
False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach Mecox Bay, Long Island
VA NY
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel VA
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach Avalon Mecox Bay, Long Island Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Cape May/ Lewes Ferry ]
VA VA NJ NY VA NJ/DE
I ]
07/13 07/13
] 07114
] ] ] ] ] ]
07/13 07/13 07/13 07113 07114 07/14
Chesapeake Ba•(7 ..... MDborder) •VA •07/16
False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach ]VA
table continuedon page823) 8ZO
V•07/13
0•
Shark RiverInlet
INJ
j 07/13-
[
07/13
1
1
1 3 1 1-2
Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas
the followingday.On July10, hurricane warningswerepostedfromSebastian Inlet, Florida, to the North Carolina-Virginia
2
border, and a hurricane watch was declared
5
north to Chincoteague,Virginia. The storm'slowestbarometricpressuremeasuredoffshorewas960 rob,a Category3
1 1
1-2 1 1
1
storm.
On July12,radarlocatedthe eyeof the storm at 9 PM 25 miles WNW of New Bern,
North Carolina,with windsof 85 mph, hurricane-force windsextending 115miles FIELD NOTES
from the stormcenter,and tropical-storm-force windsnot more than 200 milesfrom center.Windsat the Chesapeake BayBridgeTunnel(hereafter, CBBT)weredockedat 110 mph at 10:40PMon July12.BythetimeBerthareachedNewJersey at 10AMon the 13th, sustained windspeeds wereunder40 mph,andby 11 PM,the storm hadpassed off NewEngland,about60 milesNE of Boston, andout to sea.The track of the storm (Figure 1) resemblesthose of HurricaneNo. 2 of July5-10, 1946,CindyofJuly5-17, 1959,andespeciallyTropicalStormNo. 6 of September 12-15, 1961. Birdsentrainedin Bertha(Table1) werenearlyasnumerousas thoseof Fran.Almostall birdsthoughtto havebeendisplaced by the storm(nearly6000,not includingherons,shorebirds, or landbirds)wereobserved overtheweekend of July13-14,thoughsmall numberswerelocatedin the lowerDelawareBayareaas manyas five dayslater,with the discoveryof two Band-rumpedStormPetrels with a largegroupof Wilson'sStorm-Petrels off Cumberland County,NewJersey, on July17.The stormwasmostremarkable for itsdisplacement of unprecedented numbersof Black-capped Petrels and Band-rumpedStorm-Petrels from Virginiato New Jerseyand for its two Virginia recordsof Herald (Trinidade)Petrel (Pterodroma[a.] arminjoniana).Prior to Bertha,Virginia had only 11 recordsof Black-capped Petreltotaling 16 individuals,and only three recordsof Band-rumpedStorm-Petreltotaling 20 birds. Delawarehadonlya singlerecordof eachspecies, nonefromshore, andNewJersey hadno verifiedrecordof eitherspecies in itswaters, the HudsonCanyon(now considered New Yorkwaters)excepted. Herald Petrel is seen regularlyin the Gulf Stream off North Carolina,but thereexistedonly a singlepreviousVirginia report (September 22, 1991,just after the passage of hurricaneBob,offshoreat theNorfolkCanyon[Armistead1992]),andonlyoneolder NorthAmericanrecordattributedto hurricanedisplacement.
Unprecedented numbersof Black-capped Petrelswere found in the interiorof NorthCarolina,Virginia,Maryland, Pennsylvania, NewYork,andOntariofollowinghurricaneFran in 1996. It is assumedthat mostof thesehirdsperished;
alongor nearthe shoresof LakesErieandOntario,therewere 17 sightrecordsof live Black-capped Petrels,with :)3 specimens(includingthe oneabove)discovered deador dying. Photograph/B.Curry
In addition to the birds listed in Table 1, a remarkable south-
westwardmovementof gulls,terns,and pelicansoccurredat C•3•3T on July13 (andto a lesserextentJuly14),intothestrong(20- to 50knot) southwest windsfollowingBertha's passage (Table2). Farther to the north,no increases in RoyalTernsor any otherwhiteterns werenoted,nor wereanyof the species enumerated in Table2 observedto be movingaheadof or with the storm.On the western shoreof the Chesapeakein MathewsCounty,Virginia, and the Chesapeake shoresof Maryland,no clearlystorm-related birdswere noted,despiteintensivesearchefforts(Iliff 1996).Apparently,the windshad abatedenoughby dawnof July13 in southeastern Virginia for the birds displaced(from the North Carolina seabird
a
coloniesand from the coast)to reversedirection,but thesebirds
wereconcentrated in a fairlynarrowbandalongtheeastern edgeof the lowerChesapeake Bay.Discussion of the variousflightlinesof A veterinarianin Mattydale,NewYork,examinesa youngmale Black-capped Petrelthat wreckedat nearbySkaneatelesLake. ternsand tubenoses duringBerthaand otherstormswill be found Photograph/S.Kuyo in Part2, whichwill appearin a laterissueof FieldNotes. Certainlythe rarestof the year'sstorm-waifs wasdepositedby Bertha:a bird identifiedasa (WestIndian)BlackSwift,Cypseloides TABLE 2: OTHER MARINE BIRDS OBSERVED FRO•I SOUTH n. niger,at Chappaquiddick Island,Martha'sVineyard,MassachuTHI•IBLE ISLAND, CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL, VIRGINIA setts,on July14(Forsteret al. 1996). SPECIES EDOUARD
HurricaneEdouardwasa classicmid-summerCapeVerde-origin stormthat remainedwell offshoreuntil reachingLongIslandand NewEngland,wheregoodnumbersof seabirds werenoted,particularly from Massachusetts's seawatch sites.The stormwaslabelled TropicalDepression Five until August22, at which time tropical stormEdouard wasrecognized about500 milesWSW of the Cape VerdeIslands.ByAugust15,whenEdouard was925 mileseastof the FALL 1997
JULY13
JULY14
Brown Pelican
700
12
RoyalTern
1265
40
Common Tern
334
40
Least Tern
114
0
Sandwich Tern
226
2
Forster's Tern
48
Laughing Gull
2430
150
HerringGull
347
120
74
30
Great Black-backed Gull
entiremorningat the CBBT complexto the TABLE3: HURRICANE FRAN(continued) north. The lowestpressurerecordedwas SPECIES LOCALE 981 mb in the Gulf of Mexico.The only CornrnonTern Delaware River,Philadelphia Airport storm-associated
records
involved
two
jaegers, one dark-morph (probably Parasitic)and one light-morphParasitic, along with a Bridled Tern and a Rednecked Phalarope,at Cape Point, Dare County,North Carolina,in the morning, and eight Parasiticand one Long-tailed jaegers(all adults)fromtheCBBT in theaf-
RoseateTern
Forster'sTern
ternoon. Bridled Tern has not been record-
ed from CapePointin thepast,thoughit is fairlycommonoffshore in theGulf Stream only15to 20 milesdistantin thelatesum-
Jaegersand Red-neckedPhalaropesare seenhereon a regularbasisduringmigration The totalnumberof jaegersfrom the CBBT iswithoutprecedent andprobably involvedbirdsdisplacedfrom the offshore waters by northeasterly winds into Chesapeake Bay,rather than any type of transportation within the storm.Northeasterlywindswereclearlyresponsible for the high countof 127 PeregrineFalcons,a typicalpelagicmigrantoff the EastCoast, observed just north of CBBT at the KiptopekeHawkwatch on October7 duringand followingJosephine's passage.
Kerr Resereoir
VA
09/06
1
PotomacRiveratWilsonBridge
DC / MD
09/06
2
North Beach
MD
09/06
1
LakePinehurst Goldsboro
NC NC
09/06 09/06
12 15
Fayetteville
NC
09/06
5
JordanLake FallsLake
NC NC
09/06 09/06
75 35
ChapelHill CountryClub
NC
09/06
2
LakeAuman Harris Lake
NC NC
09/06 09/06
20 25
Kerr Resetcoif
NC
09/06
20
NC
09/06
50
NC
09/06
VA
09/06
204
Keystone Reservoir, ArmstrongCo.
VA
09/06
4
Yellow Creek StatePark
VA
09/06
5
BaldEagleStatePark LakeMarburg,Codorus CreekState Park
MD PA
09/06 09/07
1 16
LakeArthur, Moraine StatePark
PA
09/07
1
North Beach Vienna Point Lookout Point Lookout
MD MD MD MD
09/07 09/07 09/08 09/09
1 2 3 1
5
09/06
2
09/06
15
FallsLake
NC
09/06
3
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
2
BrieryCreekReservoir Kingsmill, James River
VA VA
09/06 09/06
1 1
MD VA
09/07 09/07
1 1
VA NY NC
09/07 09/08 09/06
Goldsboro
NC
09/06
6
JordanLake
NC
09/06
120
Falls Lake LakeAuman Kerr Reservoir
NC NC VA
09/06 09/06 09/06
15 15 40
VA VA MD NY
09/06 09/07 09/07 09/07
65 150 31 8
North Beach LakeAnna
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel Montauk Point,LongIsland
LakePinehurst
Kingsmill, James River Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel Rigby's Folly,Bellevue FireIslandInlet,LongIsland LakeAnna
Caspian Tern
12
VA
09/08
3
09/06
18
NC NC
09/06 09/06
10 8
VA
09/06
VA MD VA VA
09/06 09/06 09/07 09•07
25 1 2 88
Oakland Yellow Creek StatePark
MD PA
09•07 09/07
1 2
LakeMarburg,Codorus CreekState Park
PA
09/07
1
LakeArthur, MoraineStatePark
PA
09/07
3
Delaware River,Philadelphia airport LakeMarburg,Cordorus CreekStatePark
PA PA
09/07 09/07
40 1
Conejohela Flats, Susquehanna River
PA
09/07
37
CuriesNeck
VA
09/05
2
Fayetteville
NC
09/06
40
JordanLake
NC
09/06
35
Falls Lake
NC
09/06
75
ChapelHill CountryClub
NC
09/06
6
Lake Auman Harris Lake Kerr Reservoir
NC NC NC
09/06 09/06 09/06
12 35 15
VA VA
09•06 09/06
2 3
VA
09/06
2
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel
VA
09/07
15
Kingsmill, James River
VA
09/08
13
Kingsmill, lamesRiver Pleasant ValleySewage Ponds Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel CraneyIsland
BlackTern
60 1
NC
•ordan Lake FallsLake Lake Auman Kerr Reservoir
servers,who contributedrecordscited herein: R. L Anderson, H.T. Armistead, T. Armour, D.
FALL1997
5
NC
Patteson.Finally,this paper could never have been written without the following field ob-
Hyman,M. Illif, J.Jensen, A. Keith,S.Kelling,K. Kmght,E. Kwater,B. Kurtz,J.Lamey,AJ. Lauro, K Lebo,L.Lewis,W. Lindley, L. Lynch,M. Lynch,
1
09/08
NC
thisarticlewereWill Cook,BobCurry,andBrian
Heft, B. Henschel,B. Henshaw,P.Hess,R. Hilton, T Hlnce, J. M. Holdsworth, A. Humann, J.
09/08
PA
Goldsboro
these observersto data gathering,this article could not have been assembledaccurately. Instrumentalin the reviewand improvementof
Gwynn, B. Haas,F. Haas, D. Hart, M. Hart, R.
PA
BaldEagle State Park
lordanLake
Charles "Will" Cook in North Carolina; Nick
Gill, A. Guarente, M. Gustarson, A. Guthrie, T.
LakeArthur, Moraine StatePark
Sandwich
A greatdebtof thanksis duelist-ownersChuck WilliamsonandWallaceCoffeyand to the compilers of sightingsin their respectiveregions:
J K Gablet,T Garner, C. Gibson,L Gibson, D.
10 12 500
Tern
Royal Tern
Beadle,J.Berry,J.Biggs,E.A.T Blom,D. Brown, J Burger,T. Burke, C. Campbell,B. Carl, B. Chaffton,D. Clark,G. Coady,C. Cook,J.Cooley, B Cooper,D. Campbell,P. Craig,M. Cribb,R. Crossley,H. Cuttle, R. Curry,W. D'Anna, K. Dawd,L. Davidson,F. Day,E. Dean,B. DiLabio, R Dobos, L. Dole, R. Dole, L. Douglas,W. Evans,A. Farnsworth, G. Felton,K. Fox,L. Frey,
Conejohela Flats,Susquehanna River Presque IslePeninsula, GullPoint
Rigby's Folly,Bellevue
ACKNOWLI•DGMB•11•
Pulclnella in Pennsylvania; PattiLehmanin New Jersey;Dorothy Crumb, P. A. Buckley,Tom Burke,andAngusWilsonin NewYork;and Bob Curry in Ontario. Without the dedicationof
BIRDS FOUND
09•07 09/07 09/08
Kerr Resereoir
Gull-billedTern
DATE
VA MD PA
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel
mer and fall. Small numbers of Parasitic
STATE / PROVINCE
BrieryCreekReservoir HuntingCreek,Alexandria Smith Mountain Lake
3
(table continuedon page8Z8 8Z7
TABLE3: HURRICANE FRAN(continued)
G. Mackiernan, B. Mayhank,K. McLaughlin, A
SPECIES
LOCALE
STATE / PROVINCE
DATE
BlackTern
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/07
3
MD
09/07
3
Yellow Creek StatePark LakeArthur, Moraine StatePark
PA PA
09/07 09/07
3 7
LakeMarburg, Codorus CreekStatePark
PA
09/07
6
LakeSomerset
PA
09/07
MountDavis-Meyersdale Jones Inlet,LongIsland Presque IslePeninsula, GullPoint
PA NY PA
09/07 09/07 09/07
25 53
Fort Erie
ON
09/07
150
Pines,D. Salisbury, E. Scarpulla, M. Schultz,L Schultz,R. Schutsky, D. Schwab, E Schwalbe, G Schwalbe, R. Scovell,J. Shields,D. Sibley,R Simpson,D. Snyder,J. Stasz,M. Stinson,R Stymeist, B.Sullivan, B.Taber,J.Tiley,S.Tmgley,
NJ
09/08
10
L. Todd,B. Truitt, 1LVeit, J.Walker,G. Wheaton,
ON
09/09
1
R.White,H. Wierenga, G. Wilhelm,B.Williams,
Jordan Lake
NC
09/06
1
L. Willis, A. Wilson (ON), A. Wilson (NY), W
Harris Lake Falls Lake Lake Auman
NC NC NC
09/06 09/06 09/06
1 3 2
VA
09/06
VA
09/06
24
VA VA MD
09/06 09/06 09/06
11 8 20
MD MD
09/06 09/06
15-20 2
MD VA MD
09/06 09/07 09/07
2 6 1
Wilson, D. Wright, I. Wright, P. Wright, A Wormington,and J.Youngß [Theeditorsof Fzeld Noteswishto thankDaphneGemmillfor steering us to the NOAA imagesusedin this amde We alsothankShawneen Finneganfor helpwith photographs. Weareparticularly gratefulto Paul Lehman,whosecooperation wasessential for the timely appearanceof this article, and whose formidableexpertise wasinvaluable to us.]
Rigby's Folly,Bellevue
HigbeeBeach, CapeMay Hamilton
SootyTern
HuntingCreek,Alexandria Kerr Reservoir
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel Kingsmill, James River Sandy PointStatePark BlackMarsh,BaltimoreCo. LittleSeneca Lake,BlackHill Reservoir
OceanCity Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel Rigby's Folly,Bellevue North Beach
MD
09/07
1
MD
09/07
2
CapeHeulopenStatePark
DE
09/07
3
Delaware River,Philadelphia Airport Conejohela Flats,Susquehanna River Schuylkill River,1-476ARt. 422
PA PA PA
09/07 09/07 09/07
5 2 2
CapeMay Point CapeMay/LewesFerry Moriches Inlet,LongIsland
NJ NJ NY
09/07 09/07 09/07
6 1 1
Newton
NJ
09/08
1
NJ NY NY NY ON
09/08 09/08 09/08 09/08 09/08
1 2 1 1 1
Chub Point
ON
09/08
1
WaveflyBeach, FortErie
ON
09/08
1
North Beach
MD
09/08
1
HerefordInlet
NJ
09/09
1
WaveflyBeach, FortErie
ON
09/09
1
Hamlin BeachStatePark
NY
09/10
1-2
Wave flyBeach, FortErie
ON
09/10
1
JordanLake
NC
09/06
4
Falls Lake Lake Auman
NC NC
09/06 09/06
1 1
VA VA VA DC
09/06 09/06 09/07 09/07
1 1 5 1
JordanLake
NC
09/06
6
Chapel Hill CountryClub
NC
09/06
1
Harris Lake
NC
09/06
1
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel Kingsmill, James River Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel Bolling AirForce Base Black
;kimmer
Phalarope
Pulcinella, I. Reese,E. Reich, S. Ricciar&, M
LITERATURE
CITED
Armistead, H.T. 1992.The fallmigration:Middle Atlantic Coastregion.AmericanBirds46 74-79.
Barnes, I. 1993. North Carolina's Hurmcane
History.Universityof North CarolinaPress, ChapelHill.
Brinkley, E.S.1997.The Changing Seasons The fall migration 1996. National Audubon Society FieldNotes51:8-15. Crowell,K.L. 1997.Region6--St. LawrenceFall Report.Kingbird 47: 59-62. Curry, B., and I. Olmsted.1996.The gifts of Hurricane Fran. BirdersJournal 5: 231.
Curry, B. 1996. Hurricane Fran : September 1996. BirdersJournal 5: 283-297.
Davis,R. 1996.The nestingseason:Southern Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon Society FieldNotes50:940-943. --. 1997a.The fall migration: Southern Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon Society FieldNotes51:39-43. --.
1997b. Briefs for the Files. Chat 61 204-220.
D'Anna, W. 1997.Region l--Niagara Frontier
FallReport.Kingbird47:30-36. Ellison, W.G., and N.L. Martin. 1997. The fall
migration:New Englandregion. Natzonal Audubon Society FieldNotes50:23-28.
NC
09/06
1
Forster,R. 1986. The winter season:Northeastern
VA
09/06
1
Kingsmill, James River
VA
09/06
1
maritime region. American Birds 40
BaldEagle State Park
PA
09/07
1
Port Colborne
ON
09/09
2
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
1
Burgeson NatureCenter Peace Bridge
NY ON
09/08 09/08
2 3
Woodlawn BeachStatePark
NY
09/09
1
Oystercatcher Red
Piephoff, S. Pike, J. Pippen, P. Pisano, N
Kerr Reservoir
ChapelHill CountryClub
American
1
Tilghman Island
CapeMayPoint Jones Inlet,LongIsland FireIslandInlet,LongIsland ZacksBay Jaeger Rocks, FortErie
BridledTern
BIRDS FOUND ,
McTavish,J. McWilliams, J. C. Miller, S. Mltal, B Nikula, M. O'Brien, J. Olmstead,R. Paonessa,B Patteson, G. Pearce, E. Pederson, S. Perkins, T
254-260.
Forster, R. A., M. W. Pines,andR. H. Stymelst 1996.Birdsightings: July1996summaryBzrd Observer 24:313-318.
(tablecontinued onpage829)
---.
1997.Bird sightings:September1996 summary. BirdObserver 25:41-48. Griffith. K.C. 1997.Region2--Genesee Fall Report.Kingbird 47:36-40. Holland, G.I. 1993. Global Guide to Tropical Cyclone Forecasting.WMO/TC-No. 560, ReportNo. TCP-31. World Meteorological
Organization,Geneva. Iliff, M. 1996. The nesting season:Middle Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon Society FieldNotes50:936-940. ß 1997. The fall migration: Middle Atlantic Coast region.National Audubon Society FieldNotes51:34-39. 828
FIELD NOTES
Kaufman,K. 1996.The ChangingSeasons: The TABLE 3: HURRICANE FRAN(continued) nestingseasonß NationalAudubonSociety
SPECIES
F•eldNotes 50: 918-921.
Kelhng,S. 1997.Region3--Finger Lakesß Fall Reportß Kingbird 47:41-47. Koeneke, M.A., and B. Purcell.1997.Region5-OneidaLakeBasin.Fall Reportß Kingbird47:
NC
09/06
Falls Lake
NC
09/06
35
VA
09/06
43
VA VA
09/07 09/07
1 8
Oakland Lake Ontelaunee
MD PA
09/07 09/07
1 2
Presque IslePeninsula-Gull Point Imperial
PA PA
09/07 09/07
1 1
LawrenceCo. Woodlawn BeachStatePark Batavia Waste Water Plant StewartPark,Ithaca
PA NY NY NY
09/07 09/09 09/09 09/09
1 12 9 10
JordanLake
NC
09/06
15
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
25
3
Kerr Reservoir
Chesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel CraneyIsland
Cyclones.Part I: Definitions,BasicQuestions, and BasicInformationßPart II: RealTime Information, Data, and Referencesß
1703-1713.
LeGrand,H.E. Jr.1991.The autumnmigration: SouthernAtlantic Coast Region(Summer 1990report)ß AmericanBirds45: 88-91ß ß. 1985.The autumnmigration:Southern Atlantic CoastregionßAmericanBirds39: 35-42.
Murphy, R.C. 1936. OceanicBirds of South America. v. 1. American Museum of Natural
Hastory, NewYork.
Paxton,R.O.,W.I. Boyle,lr., and D.A. Cutler. 1996.Thenestingseason: Hudson-Delaware region.NationalAudubon Society FieldNotes 50: 931-935.
ß 1997. The fall migration: Hudson-
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated
Jordan Lake
NC
09/06
NC
09/06
1
Goldsboro
NC
09/06
2
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
2
JordanLake FallsLake
NC NC
09/06 09/06
6 1
Sandy PointState Park
MD
09/06
1
JordanLake
NC
09/06
7
Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs
KerrReservoir Chapel HillCountry Club Jordan Lake Sandy RiverReservoir
VA NC NC VA
09/06 09/06 09/06 09/06
1 1 4
Buff-breasted
JordanLake
NC
09/06
1
BrieryCreekReservoir
VA
09/06
2
Imperial
PA
09/06
1
Oakland
MD
09/07
1
BaldEagle State Park
PA
09/07
1
JordanLake
NC
09/06
6
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
1
Goldsboro
NC
09/06
1
JordanLake
NC
09/06
1
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
4
Marbled Godwit
Greater
Sandpiper Stilt
F•eld Notes 51: 28-33.
Petersen,W. 1996. The nesting season:New Willet
F•eld Notes 50:927-931.
Pulcmella, N. 1996. Hurricane Fran's fallout.
Pennsylvania Birds10:138-142. Schiff,S., and A. Wollin. 1996. Region10Marine. Summer Report. Kingbird 46:
Short-billed
1
Dowitcher
unidentified dowitcher
371-375.
1997. Region 10--Marine. Autumn Report.Kingbird47: 75-81. Ve•t, R.R., and W.R. Petersen.1993.Birdsof Massachusetts.
41
Chapel Hill CountryClub
Plover
Delawareregion.NationalAudubon Society Sandpiper Englandregion.NationalAudubonSociety
STATE / PROVINCEDATE BIRDS FOUN•-
Phalarope
Landsea, C.W. 1996.Frequently AskedQuest•ons:Hurricanes,Typhoons,and Tropical
Review211:
LOCALE
JordanLake
53-59.
http://tropical.atmos.colostate. edu ß 1993.A climatologyof intense(or major)Ariantichurricanes. MonthlyWeather
--
Red-necked
Massachusetts
Society, Lincoln,MA.
Audubon
NC
09/06
4
Turnstone
Ruddy
Kerr Reservoir
Jordan Lake
VA
09/06
6
Pectoral
ChapelHill CountryClub
NC
09/06
1
KerrReservoir Jordan Lake
VA NC
09/06 09/06
1 22
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
73
VA
09/06
1
Goldsboro
NC
09/06
12
Sandpiper Sanderling
BrieryCreekReservoir
Least
BaldEagleStatePark
PA
09/07
1
Yellow Creek StatePark
PA
09/07
1
DaytonGravelPits
NY
09/08
1
Kerr Reservoir
VA
09/06
1
2
Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Jordan Lake
NC
09/06
Sandy RiverReservoir
VA
09/06
1
Bfiery CreekReservoir
V_A
09/9•--
5
__
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FALL 1997
8Z9
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FIELDNOTES
Birds" On his tri
India'sTiger
and his S•qift Audubons © found themselves between
Park, Warren
a rockandahardplace. Gettingto the nestingplaceof the elusiveblackfaced
Ibisbillbybusandelephant backwastheeasypart.
Spotting thebird among themillions ofgrey
stonesof the KosiRiverbythe townof Ramnagar wasanotherthing.TheIbisbillis
'"
•
.•.:
:.
the samecolorand shapeas the stones aroundit. A worthychallenge to anybirder. Butonceagainthe incredibleresolving powerandthe brightcrispimageof Warren's SwiftAudubonsseparatedbirdfromstone. Warren'slife birdsnow standat 2,985 includingthe Lammergeir or beardedvulture,another"reallynicebird". (Rumors thatthe ominouscoughin the bushescloseby wasanythingmorethana stork-billed Kingfisher with a badcoldhavebeengreatlyexaggerated).
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Unravel the mysteries of a land where time stands still and nature displays an astonishing array of wonders--St. Paul. A birder'sparadiseß Over230 speciesidentifiedß Commonspecies, suchas Red-faced Cormorants,Red-leggedKittiwakes,Parakeet,Leastand CrestedAuklets,murres,fulmars, and comical Horned and Tufted Puffins ß Uncommon speciesand rare Asian vagrants,
suchas FalcatedTeal,MongolianPlover,WoodSandpiper,Gray-tailedTattler,and CommonCuckoo. Accommodations are cozy,foodexcellent,and the Aleutpeopleare eagerto showyou the wonders of St. Paul.Completepackagetoursavailable.Forreservations and information,seeyourtravelagent, call toll free 1-800-544-2248, or visit our web site: http://alaskan.com/vendors/tdx.html
FALL1997
851
*' of t•
JwoFor
~
changing seasons
SpringMigration,March1-May 31, 1997 JEFF PRICE
LIMATE CHANGE has received agreat deal ofpress in1997. Amid
theshort-term attention to E1Nifioandlong-term concern aboutglobal warming, thereisasense thatourverydefinitions of thetimingof theseasons maybesubject to revision. Onestudyexamined satellite dataandfoundthat"spring" isarrivingupto sixdaysearlier,and"fall"fourdayslater,in northern
birdmigrationpatterns, it isoftentheweatherof themomentthat playsa majorrolein determining when,andwhere,birdsare
found.Duringthemiddleto latemigration periodthisyear,aseries of weather disturbancesmoved from westto eastacrossthe conti-
nent.Migrationwasreportedasdelayed--by oneto threeweeksin mostareas--andmanywesternspedes turnedup in theeast.For example, aViolet-green Swallow wasfoundin Provincetown, Massachusetts, andupto 26Western Tanagers werefoundwellto theeastoftheirbreeding range. Theseweatherpatternshadothereffects aswell.Somewinteringspecies lingered, andAprilblizzards andheavysnowstorms had
latitudes. A scientist in theUnitedKingdom examined changes in thedateonwhichbirdslaidtheirfirstegg;in 20of the65species examined, thefirsteggwasbeinglaidanaverage of ninedaysearliernowthanin 1971.In northernMichigan, anexamination of 30 andpartsof yearsof records bya single observer showed that34%of thespecies a highhumanandaviantollin theUpperMidwest NewEngland. Theweather alsoledto manyfallouts beingreported werearrivingearlier,somebyup to threeweeks. this spring. There were as many as five fallouts reported in Florida, Theearlypartof thespringmigrationin 1997waslikethat. three in Texas, two in Ontario and Manitoba, and one each in Manyareas notedrecordearlyarrivals, somespecies breaking their Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, andColorado. Manyof these previous earlyarrivalrecords by morethana week.In Alaska,11 events werewidespread. OnApril25-26,thereweregroundings respecies arrivedearlyin theupperCookInlet,ninespecies in theinportedin Florida,Louisiana,andTexas.The TexasfalloutwasreteriornearTok,andthreeontheNorthSlope. Thepatterndidnot hold,however, andweather played a principal rolein therestof this portedasthesixthbestin 21years of record-keeping atHigh springsmigration. Island,andashavinggrounded anestimated 3000-4000warblers Climatecanbethoughtof asanaverage of theweather over on PadreIsland.(Thepointhasbeenmadebefore,butbirders time.Whilethereisprobably a relationship between climateand should remember thatthesefallouts arenotgoodforbirds.Forall 83Z
FIELDNOTES
of thebirdsthatturn up exhausted in coastal woodlots, manymore
for more information on the hundreds,or eventhousands,of war-
drown in the Gulf.)
blers seen in small areas.
The weatherpatternsweresuchthat migrationwasbunchedup
in mostareas, leadingto manyregional compilers commenting on howgoodthemigration was.Thispointsoutthedifficultyof assessing birdpopulations byhowmanyareseenduringmigration. Foryears, someregional compilers havedecried thepoorstatusof spnngmigrationandwondered whether thismightbetiedto dedinesin birdpopulations. Theonlywayof adequately tracking bird populations isbystandardized quantitative surveys. If youarenot acuvein countingbirds,eitherthroughChristmas BirdCounts, Breeding BirdSurveys, Breeding BirdCensuses, pointcounts, ProjectFeederWatch, or otherprograms, I encourage youto become involved.
Springalsobroughtthefirstsignof potentialavianimpacts fromE1Nifio.E1Nifioisanirregular variationin oceancurrents in equatorial regionsof thePacificOcean.A strongE1Nifio canhave globaleffects, bringingdroughts to somepartsof theworldand floodingto others.Increases in seasurfacetemperatures, and
changes in theupwelling currents thatbringnutrients to thesea surface, oftenleadto changes in seabird distributions andnumbers. ThisE1Nifiostarted veryearlyin theyearandisoneof the strongest yetrecorded. In Alaska, theE1Nifiowasthoughtto have affected boththevolumeanddiversity of thearianmigrantspasslngthroughthestatebyaltering thepositionof theAleutianLow. Staytunedto thesummer, fall,andwinterChanging Seasons for moreon E1Nifio anditsimpactsonbirddistributions. MIGRATORY
SPECTACLES
Someof thegreatest congregations of wildlifein NorthAmerica canbeseenduringmigration.Thisspringsawsizableconcentrationsof manyspecies. In theGrandMananArchipelago, morethan 10,000Brant(almost8% of thebreeding populationof the hrota subspecies) werecountedin earlyApril.An observer in northern New Brunswickcounted11,700BlackScoters(23% of the north-
eastern NorthAmericanpopulation)in earlyMay.SnowGoose
populations areexploding, soflocks of 400,000in Phelps County, Nebraska, on March8 andat Baie-du-Febvre, Qudbec,onApril 14 werenot unexpected. Othernotableconcentrations included500 TrumpeterSwansatNulki Lake,BritishColumbia,onApril7, some
50,000waterfowl in Presque IsleBay,Pennsylvania, duringthelast weekof March,and40,000Ross's Geese(almost18% of the world's
Thecongregation thatwasn'tthisyearwasof shorebirds gatheringalongtheDelawareBayshoreline in lateMay.Numberswerereducedagainthisyear,aswerethenumbers of horseshoe crabslayingtheireggsonthebeaches. Shorebirds in Delaware Bayfeedon horseshoe crabeggsto fattenup for theirjourneyto theirArctic breeding grounds. Declines in shorebird numbers arethoughtto be tiedto thedeclinein horseshoe crabs. Thegovernor of NewJersey placedaninterimbanon thetakingof horseshoe crabsandhas sinceextended thebanbyexecutive order.Fishermen, whouse horseshoe crabsfor eelbait,arecurrentlycontesting thebanin court.Birders needto followthisdeveloping issueandsupporta banonthetakingof horseshoe crabsuntilsustainable harvestregulationscanbe developed. SPECIES
RECOVERING
Therewasmoregoodnewson theendangered species front. Peregrine Falcons bredin Connecticut for thefirsttimesincethe 1940sandcontinued to dowellin othereastern states. BaldEagles arealsodoingparticularly well.Despitesetbacks in Massachusetts, wheretheAprilFools'Dayblizzardwasthoughtresponsible forthe abandonment of twoor threenests,otherareashada goodearly nestingperiod.Forexample, Nevadahaditsfirstknownchick hatchedsince1866.Therewere14pairsof eagles nestingin
Delaware, 12pairsin NewJersey, andsixin eastern Pennsylvania. In NorthDakota,ninenestswerefoundalongtheMissouriRiver system asopposed to thetypicaltwo or threein recentyears.In MontereyCounty,California,a pairnestedfor thefirsttimesince 1934.Thisisjustmoreevidence that theEndangered Species Act canwork;butit takestimefora species to recover--just asit took timeforthespecies to become endangered in thefirstplace. THE LAST (ALMOST)
BIRDING
FRONTIER
Regularly scheduled pelagic tripsareslowlyimproving ourunderstanding of thedistributions of pelagic birdsoffthecoastof North America.Thisseason thepelagictripsoff theOuterBanksof North Carolinaturnedup 111Black-capped Petrelson onetrip, oneFea's Petrelon a different trip,andHeraldPetrels wereseenon atleast fourtrips.Thenumberof sightings of HeraldPetrelssuggests we needto reconsider whatthedistribution of thisspecies mightbein thewestern NorthAtlantic.A trip off theAlabamacoastproduced fiveto sixWilson's Storm-Petrels, 12-15Band-rumped Storm-
population) at LowerKlamathNationalWildlifeRefuge in
Petrels,and one or two Leach'sStorm-Petrels,notablenumbersfor
California on March 8 and 9.
landswithopenwaterin spring,mudfiats forshorebirds, or access to anadequate foodsupply(e.g.,horseshoe crabeggs). Anotherbig
theGulfof Mexico.In Oregon,a NOAAvessel sighted14Murphy's Petrels approximately 110nauticalmilesoff thesouthern Oregon coaston May3, andtwomoreon May 12.In Alaska,therewere several Mayreportsof thegloballyendangered Short-tailed Albatross. At leastsixindividuals wereseenassociating withfishing
reason involves weather. Certain weather conditions can concen-
vesselssouthof Kodiak Island, and anothertwo were seenfarther
tratebirdsin smallareas. ManyWhiteIbisesmigratedthroughthe Rockport,Texas,areaon March8, with up to 10,000beingcounted. Springcongregations of shorebirds canalsobeimpressive. This season, 125,000Red-necked Phalaropes werecountedpassing by GoletaPointnearSantaBarbara,California,in a 1.5hourperiod onApril 28. SimilarnumberswereseenfromEastBeachin Santa BarbaraonApril29. GuyMcCaskie commented that"Onecanonly guess at thenumberof Red-necked Phalaropes thatmovedthrough theSantaBarbaraChannelApril28-May 1."Weather-related congregations occurred duringthefalloutsmentioned earlier.In partlcular,seetheTexas, Ontario,andMountainWestregional reports
west,southof theShumagin Islands. Thisspecies is occasionally hookedbylong-linefishingvessels. Thefisheries industryisexperimentingwithwaysto reduce theincidental takingof seabirds.
Thereareseveral reasons whybirdscongregate at onespot.One is a restrictionor limitationof suitablehabitat:For example,wet-
FALL 1997
OTHER
WATERFOWL
OF NOTE
Thisseason broughtreportsof atleast34"Eurasian" Green-winged Teal,morethan230 Eurasian Wigeon,andat least33 TuftedDucksI Theteal(not countingthe"Eurasian-type" raceresident in the Aleutians)wereconcentratedin the AtlanticProvinces,but onewas
alsoseenin Hawaii.Eurasian Wigeonreportswereconcentrated in the northeast(AtlanticProvincesand Qudbec),Alberta,the Great 833
Basin,andAlaska,althoughundoubtedly manyalongthePacific Coastwentunmentioned. Finally,TuftedDuckswerealsoconcentratedin theAtlanticProvinces. Onesuggestion for thenumbersof sightings of all threespecies in theAtlanticProvinces isthatthe areahasbecomea newwinteringor migratorycongregation area for European birds.Perhaps morelikelyisthatoneor all of these species nowbreedin NorthAmerica.Thisisespecially truefor EurasianWigeon.The questionis,where? OtherEuropeanspecies madeappearances thisspring. WhooperSwans werereportedfromtheNewEnglandregionwith littlecommentasto theirlikelyprovenance (butsomeknownescapees havebeenwandering thatregionin recentyears).The WhooperSwanpair onAttu nestedagainthisyear,sothe species remains(barely)a NorthAmericanbreeder. A"Bewick's" Tundra Swanwasfoundin Oregonon March19.A Pink-footed Goosewas seenwith a flockof SnowGeese in BerksCounty,Pennsylvania, fromMarch29 throughatleastApril10.Barnacle Geese werereportedfromfiveregions thisspring.In eachregionsightings were considered to beof escapees. TwoBarnacle Geese wereseenin Davidsonville, Maryland(March17),threewereseenat Boothbay Harbor,Maine(April2), onewasin Regina,Saskatchewan (April 9), onewasatMontmagny, Quebec(May 14),andonewasseenat LakeFlower, NewYork(May8). Thepatternof sightings--with birdsmovingfromsouthto north,addedto thesightings of many otherwaterfowl of European origin--suggests thesecouldhave beenwild birds.The recordscommittees in the statesandprovinces involvedshouldtakea carefullookat thesesightings, in context withprevailing weatherpatternsandothersightings, beforerelegatingthesebirdsto theescaped category. Finally,a goose notof European originwastheEmperorGoosefoundamongcholera-afflictedwaterfowlin ClayCounty,Nebraska, onMarch17.If acceptedbytherecords committee, thiswouldbeamongthefirstsightlngsof thisspecies awayfromtheWestCoast. AnotherEmperor GooseawayfromtheWestCoast,butin theopposite direction, turnedup in Hawaii.
weatheristhat sometypicalwinterbirdsstayedaround.Snowy Owlsdidn'tleaveBostonuntilMay 20, PrinceEdwardPoint, Ontario,untilMay25,BarrieIsland,Ontario,throughtheendof thereportingperiod,MarathonCounty,Wisconsin, untilMay24, Duluth,Minnesota, untilMay22,andWhitefishPointBird Observatory, Michigan,untilMay28. Several regions alsoreported latedatesfor othertypical"winter"birdslikeGolden-crowned Kinglets. Thefollowingreportswereprobablynotrelatedto thestringof weathersystems specifically butto thelingeringof winterin general.ThenineRazorbills foundon LakeOntarionearBuffington,
THE
winteredlocally),andaboutfifteenin theSouthern Pacific regionI wonderwhethertheb•rdsturningup in thewestwinterin a differ-
•L•WKS
SO•
P/•T
, . .
Migrationof hawksisnot aspronounced in springasin fall.Fewer observers aremanningfewerhawkwatchstations andthemigrationmaybemorediffusein bothspaceandtime.Therewasno real migratoryhawknewsof note,butMississippi Kitesprovidedsome interesting extralimital patterns. Mississippi Kitesarrivedearlyin Florida and returned to North Carolina, SouthCarolina,and
Georgia in increasing numbers andlocations. Thereappeared to be several differentflightsproducing extralimital records thisseason. Oneflightoccurred in earlyMay (4-8) withb•rdsreaching Rowley, Massachusetts; HoopesReservoir, Delaware; andSouthWindsor andBethel,Connecticut. A second flightoccurred a fewdayslater (May 11-17)withbirdsseenat FortSmallwood, Maryland; GrimsbyandPt.Pelee,Ontario;HopkinsandEstralBeach, Michigan;Regina,Saskatchewan; andLedges StatePark,Iowa. Finally,therewasa lateMayflight(28-30) whenbirdswereseenat NinigretNationalWildlifeRefugeandBlockIsland,RhodeIsland; Orleans, Massachusetts; andCapeMay,NewJersey. Thepatternof thesesightings suggests thattheremayhavebeena weather-related component to thedirection of theirflight.
Ontario,onMay18musthavecomeasa shock. Eightof themwere stillpresent May23.Northeast galesoff thecoastof Newfoundland broughthundreds of IvoryGullsto communities onthetip of the northernpeninsula there.A BorealOwl strucka windowof a Lake County,Ohio,homeonApril5. Thisfirstreportof thisspecies for Ohio leads me to wonder whether this was an individual that win-
teredin the areaor a confused migrant. THE
WESTERN
EXPRESS
Theweatherthisspringdidmorethandelaymigration.It alsodisplacedmanyspecies to theeast.Thisspringmayberemembered as theyearof theRose-breasted Grosbeak. Recordsettingnumbers wereseenin Pinellas County(100+onApril23) andSt.George Island,Florida(40+ onApril23). Theywerereportedcomingto feedersin the Mid-Atlantic, SouthernAtlanticCoast,and
Appalachian regions. In theSouthern AtlanticCoastregiontheir occurrence alongthecoastwasdescribed as"unprecedented" and excellent numberswerefoundacross theregion.Therewasalsoa heavyflightin NewBrunswick andNovaScotia.Evenwiththis eastern shiftin themigration,Rose-breasted Grosbeaks continued to turnup in thewestin aboutaverage numbers. Sevenwereseen in theTrans-Pecos of Texas(aboveaverage), twoin western Nebraska, oneeachin Colorado,Idaho,Wyoming,andNevada, more than 10 in New Mexico, four in Arizona, three in the
Oregon/Washington region,fourin theMid-Pacificregion(one
ent areathanthebulkof thosein the east?Thebirdsdisplaced east-
wardwerealmostcertainly trans-gulf migrants, whilethosein the westlikelytookanoverland route. Alongwith theRose-breasted Grosbeaks camea smattering of eastern reportsof Black-headed Grosbeaks. Thewinterranges of thesetwo species do not overlapto a greatextent,andthemigratorypathways arealsolargelydifferent(trans-gulf vs.overland) Thepatternof sightings of thisspecies suggests thata fewof these birds(Georgia, Florida,Mississippi) likelycrossed thegulfandmay havebeenmixedin withmigratingRose-breasted Grosbeaks. The otherrecords likelyreferto birdsdisplaced fromtheirtypicaloverlandmigratory route.Complicating mattersfurther,females of the twospecies canbedifficultto tellapart,sosomeof thesereports maynotbevalid.Nevertheless, twowerereportedfromGeorgia, one from Minnesota,one from Manitoba, one from Gulf Breeze,
Florida,andonefromLeFloreCounty,Mississippi. With thisstring of eastern records it istoobadthetwobirdsreportedfromPrince EdwardIsland,Canada,werenot documented. Weretheyreally Black-headed Grosbeaks or misidentified Rose-breasted Grosbeaks?
EXTENDED
WINTER
VACATIONS
Thestringof weathersystems thatmovedfromwestto eastacross thecontinentheldwinterin placein manyareas.Snowwasstillon thegroundin lateApril in somenorthernstates. Oneresultof this 834
Anotherspecies withgoodrepresentation in theeastthisyear wastheWesternTanager. LiketheBlack-headed Grosbeak, this species' migratoryrouteislargelyoverland, not trans-gulf. Thepattern of sightings of vagrantssupportsthis.Furthermore, examining FIELD NOTES
thedatesof occurrence suggests thatthetanagers cotfidhavebeen caughtin several different weather systems. Thefirstbirdsoccurred
BentonCounty,Arkansas; andAllenParish,Louisiana. Birdsthis season werealsoseenin Castroville, Texas; Sherman County,
m earlyMaywithindividuals beingseenin Wisconsin (May6-7) andIowa(May3).Thesecond groupfollowed a litfielaterwithindlvlduals seenin Pennsylvania (May10),Wisconsin (May13and 15-17),Michigan(May12-14),NorthDakota(May13),andIowa
Kansas;Otero and Baca countiesand Lamir, Colorado; and
(May8-13). Nextcamea groupof birdsseenin NewBrunswick (May19),Ontario(May19and20-21),Illinois(May18),and Michigan(May20-23).A fourthwaveof birdsturnedup in Nova Scotia(May23-24),NewHampshire (May24),Ontario(May 24-26),andWisconsin (May25).Finally,a fewlatebirdswereseen m NorthDakota(May29) andNewBrunswick (May31).Seven birdsseenin Manitobaweremosfiyreported withoutdates. Manywestern species turnedupasvagrants in theeast. Massachusetts recorded itsfirstViolet-green Swallow withanindividualat Provincetown onMay12.A Band-tailed Pigeonwasseen in Winnipeg,Manitoba, fromApril7 to May2.A Black-billed Magpieallthewayeastto Marietta,Ohio,in Aprilcotfidhavebeen anescaped captive, buta nesting pairfoundin PlymouthCounty, Iowa,in Mayrepresented theextremeeastern edgeof thebreeding range.Iowa'sfourthVermilionFlycatcher wasfoundin Holsteinon
May24.Otherwestern birdsincluded a Cassin's (Solitary) Vireoin Vermont,Townsend's Warblerin Massachusetts, Virginia's Warbler
m Michigan, andsingleBlack-throated GrayWarblers in Ontario and Iowa.
Themystery birdof theseason hadto betheWhite-winged Dove.Thisspecies wasseensubstantially farthernorthandeast thannormal.Whilethisspecies hasbeenexpanding itsrangein recentyears, it isnota sufficient explanation forthepatternof occurrence. Single birdsthisyearwereseenin Sterling, Connecticut (May 18,firstdocumented staterecord);Ottumwa,Iowa (April 8-15, first
staterecord);Columbia, Missouri(April-earlyMay);LeGrand, Iowa(April28to May16,second staterecord); Lawrence County, SouthDakota(May28,second staterecord); MarionCounty, Kansas (April19-24);andGaryinCounty,Oklahoma(April 22-23).Onlytimewilltellif thiswasa flukeor if thisspecies isbeginningrapidlyto extenditsrange. RANGE
EXPANSIONS
HouseFinches aren'tin thenewsanymore, havingprettymuch crossed thecontinent. Otherspecies, though,maybehoton their
Roswell, NewMexico.In partsof Europe,thisspecies isreportedto raisesixbroodsperyear.If thesameistruein NorthAmerica,then theremightnotbea limitto thespeedandextentof thisspecies' rangeexpansion. Floridarecorded threecowbirdspecies thisseason. BrownheadedCowbirdsbreed in the state,a BronzedCowbird wasfound
at St.MarksNationalWildlifeRefuge, andmorethan60Shiny Cowbirds werereported. ShinyCowbirdsightings camefrom Naples(30),KeyWest(23),Highlands County(one),Franklin County(one),FortGeorgeIsland(four),andEscambia/Santa Rosa County(three).OtherShinyCowbirds werereported from DauphinIsland,Alabama; GrandIsleandPlaquemines Parish, Louisiana; andPortO'ConnorandTarrantCountyin Texas.
Finally, CaveSwallows (morebenigninvaders) havefinallycrossed the Sabine River from Texas into Louisiana. RARITIES
RaritiesthisspringcamefromEurasia, SouthAmerica,Central America,andtheWestIndies.Spacedoesnot allowa complete rundown,butsomehighlights included Canada's firstBlack-tailed
Gull,anindividual seenonSableIslandfromMay8 throughthe endof thereporting period.Thismayhavebeenthesamebirdthat hadbeenpresent attheChesapeake BayBridge-Tunnel in Virginia, lastseenonMarch20.Common Cuckoos arereported manyyears, usually fromAlaska. Thisyear'sbirdwasseenonSandIsland, Midway,Hawaii!A Tropical Kingbirdfoundin Keweenaw County, Michigan, onMay23wotfidbethestate's first.With onlya littleeffort,seeing thekingbirdanda SnowyOwlin thesamedaywotfid havebeenpossible. Otherrarities: WestIndianspecies seenin FloridathisyearincludedKeyWestQuail-Dove, twoto fourLaSagra's Flycatchers, BahamaMockingbird, andtwoStripe-headed Tanagers. Central American/Mexican species includedMangroveCuckoo,White-collaredSwift,andapparentSlate-throated Redstart in Texas, and Black-capped Gnatcatchers (breeding)andFan-tailed Warblerin
Arizona.Finally,Eurasian species included Fieldfare (New Brunswick andNovaScotia),European Goldfinch(Quebec), CommonChaffinch (Massachusetts), CurlewSandpiper (North
heels. These include the Great-tailed Grackle and Eurasian
Carolina,Louisiana,Texas,and California),Red-neckedStint
Collared-Dove.
(BritishColumbiaandAlaska),LittleStint(Yukon),Northern Wheatear(Kansas), Siberian Accentor(Idaho),CommonRinged Plover(Hawaii),andCommonPochard,EurasianKestrel, Mongolian Plover,CommonGreenshank, WoodSandpiper, LongtoedStint,Eyebrowed Thrush,Olive-backed Pipit,Pechora Pipit, Brambling, Eurasian Btfilfmch, andHawfinch(all in Alaska). Readers will needto turnto theappropriate regionalreportsfor
At thebeginning of thetwentiethcentury, Great-tailed Grackles in theUnitedStates werelargelyrestricted to southTexas. Theyfirst turnedup in Austin,Texas,in 1915,in Arizonain the 1930s, Oklahoma in 1953,Kansasin 1964,and Nevada in 1973.This sea-
sonbroughtnumerous reportsfromIowaanda countof 30 in Columbia, Missouri(wheretheynested in 1996).SouthDakota recorded thespecies in fourcounties, withbreeding suspected in one Threefemales weresighted nearChubback, Idaho,anda fe-
more details.
In closing, therewasonerecurrentthreadoccurring throughout
male Great-tailed/Boat-tailed Grackle seen at Whitefish Point Bird
theaccounts thisseason (andmostseasons). Manyspecies werere-
Observatory in Michiganwasalmostcertainly thisspecies. On the westcoast, grackles wereseenawayfromtheirusualhauntsin MontereyCountyandtheYosemite Valleyin Californiaandin Harney,Oregon. Howfarwillthisspecies beableto expandits
portedwithoutanydocumentation. Somecompilers deletethese records in theirentiretywhileothersmentionthem,albeitreluc-
range?
tantly.I encourage allreaders to learnhowto document theirrare birdsightings, andto submitdocumentation thatisascomplete as possible. Goodbirding!
A similarquestion shotfid beasked fortheEurasian CollaredDove. Introduced into the Bahamasin 1974,it soon crossedto
Floridaandhasspreadrapidlythroughout thestate.It haspushed northintoColbertCounty,Alabama; GrenadaCounty,Mississippi; FALL lgg7
JEFFPRICEis the director of the U.S.Important BirdAreasProgram of theAmerican BirdConservancy. Heis alsotheseniorauthorof The Summer At/asof NorthAmerican Birds(Academic Press, 1995). 835
how to read
the regional reports enedversions of thenamesof somebirding
hotspots; theylisttheselocalabbreviations irds have no respect for range maps. in a separate paragraph, justaftertheirin-
Bird distribution in North America is
constantly changing, asbirdsexpandtheir rangesinto newareas,disappear from former strongholds, or altertheir patternsof migration. Our knowledgeof bird distributionis
also changingconstantly,as'discoveries continueto comein. Keepingup with all thesedevelopments is a challengefor ornithologists, conservationists, andbirders. The RegionalReports,publishedfour timesa year,containa wealthof information about North America's dynamic birdlife.When seeingthe reportsfor the first time, theymight appeardifficultor technical, buttheyarenot;anyone withany birdingexperience will findthereportseasy to understand. Weinviteyouto readthereport from your areaof the continent;we predictthattheinformation therewill alter-
natelysurprise youandconfirmyourideas aboutbirdlifein your region.To helpyou getstarted,hereareanswers to somequestionsthat mayoccurto first-timereaders. What
kind
of informetlon
is iacluded? Do the Regioaal Editors just report everything that's reported to them?
Regional Editorsdonot reporteverysightingof everybird.Sucha listwouldbehuge, unwieldy, andnotveryuseful. Instead, they solicitreportsfrom asmanyobservers as
troductory comments andjustbeforetheir main species accounts. What do the initials in parentheses mean?
Most recordspublishedin eachreportwill be followedby initials, to indicate the source: theperson(s) whofoundor reportedthebird(s)mentioned. The initialsmay be followedby et al. (short for et alia, meaning"andothers"),or preceded byfide (literally,"bythe faith of"--meaningthat this is a second-hand report,and the personinitialedis theonewhopassed it along to the RegionalEditor). A dagger(?) before the initials meansthat this person turnedin written detailson the sighting. Therearegoodreasons for givingcredit to the observers involved.Readersmaybe reassured aboutthe accuracy of surprising sightingsif theyknowwho the observers were; researcherswho want to know more
abouta certainrecordmaybe ableto contactthe observers directly.In somecases, whena birdwasseenby manybirders,the Regional Editormayadd"v.o."(for "variousobservers") or "m.ob."(for "manyobservers")afterthe first setsof initials. Who are the people who send in ,their sightings?
possible,screenthe recordsfor accuracy, choose thosethataremostsignificant, look for trendsandpatternsof occurrence, con-
All observers are invited to send in notes to
nect scatteredbits of information, and ulti-
merousthan usualduring the season,un-
matelycomeup with a concise, readable summary of therealbirdnews--theimportant avian events and trends of the season
usualconcentrations or migration,and so on.Readingthereportsfor yourregionfor a few seasons is the bestwayto find out
throughout theirregion.
what kinds of information
Why are there so many abbreviations
in the text?
Weabbreviate somefrequently-used words andphrases to savespace. Mostof theseare easyto understand andremember. (Seethe list of abbreviations at the end of this sec-
tion.) In additionto thesestandardabbre-
viations,someRegionalEditorsuseshort836
theirRegional Editors:detailson raresightings,species thatwerescarcer or morenu-
are desired.
categories of birdsthattheRegional Editors wouldplacein boldface wouldincludeany species that hasbeenrecordedfewerthan 10 times previouslyin a givenstate or province;anynew breedingrecordfor a stateorprovince; oranybirdtotallyoutside established patternsof seasonal occurrence (For the mostpart, recordsarenot boldfacedunless theyarebackedup withsolid detailsor photographs.) Birderswholiketo know aboutrarebirds(and mostof us do)
cangeta complete rundownof theseason's outstandingraritiesby scanningall the Regional Reports forthoseboldfaced birds Why ere some of the place names in italic type?
In most of the regional reports, place namesgivenin italictypereferto counties (Italicsrepresent parishesin Louisiana, and
in partsof Ontariotheymayreferto districtsor regionalmunicipalities.) What marked
are the boxes
in the text
"S.A."?
"S.A."standsfor "Special Attention"(and, by coincidence, is pronounced"essay") Thepurpose of theboxedessays isto draw attentionto particularlynoteworthy phenomena or trends.
Likely topicsfor essaysincludenew population trendsor newpatternsof bird distribution,unusualinvasionsor migra-
tionevents, fieldresearch projects thathave yielded new data, specificconservation problems that havean impacton birdlife, or detaileddiscussion of someoutstanding (or perplexing)rare bird record.Experiencedreadersof FieldNotesmakeit a potnt
to flipthroughalltheRegional Reports and read all the $.A.s,evenin regionswhere
theydonotreadtherestof thetext.
Althoughthe Regional Editorscannotcite everyrecordthat theyreceive,everycontributor helpsthem to producea more thoroughandaccurate summary. Wlly are some bird names in heavier or blacker type?
We useboldfacetypeto drawattentionto outstanding recordsof rarebirds.General FIELD NOTES
STANDARD USED
IN
ABBREVIATIONS THE
BINOCULARS
AND
SPOTTING
SCOPES
REGIONAL
OpticOuO•itters
REPORTS
Abbreviations
for Birders
used
in place names
7
In mostregions, platenames given in italictypearecounties, Otherabbreviations:
Cr.
Creek
Ft.
Fort
Hwy
Highway
I.
Island or Isle
Is.
Islands or Isles
Jct.
Junction
km
kilometer(s)
L.
Lake
mi
mile (s)
Mr.
Mountain
Mrs.
Mountains
N.E
National Forest
N.M.
National Monument
or Mount
N.W.R. NationSWildlife Refuge
p.p. pyoVincial •a$'!5 Pen.
Peninsula
Pt.
Point (notPort)
R.
River
Reft
Refuge
Res.
Reservoir(not Reservation)
S.P.
State Park
W.M.A. WildhfeManagement Area
ia the
aames
used of birds:
Am.
American
Com.
Common
Birds,Birders t BirdingandBirdingEquipment. We'vebu'fit anation-wide reputation on
offenng birders thebest inselection, service andprices onquality opticproducts andaretold
N.P. National Park
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AuthorizedDealerfor: Leica,Zeiss,Swarovski,Swift,Nikon,Celestron,Bausch& Lomb,Kowa,Questar, Tele Vue,Pentax,Canon,Meade,Steiner,Leupold,Bushnell,Burris, Fujinon,Eagle Optics,Bogen,Velbon,Brunton,Mirador,Redfield Getthebestin formation, adviceimdpfices fromBLrderswhoknow?' ............
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FALL 1997
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atlantic provincesregion Abbreviations: BI (Brier L, NovaScotia);BPI (Bon
WATERFOWL
An imm.
Greater White-fronted
Goose
Portage I., NovaScotia); CSI graced theChafioR.estuary, NB,fromMay (CapeSable I., NovaScotia),' 12-20 (D. Mann, B. Gilleset al.). Flocksof GM (Grand Marian archiSnowGeesedescended on the Regionthis pelago,New Brunswick); spring,but--as usual--mostfavoredNew MSI (MathiasSealI., New Brunswick, where 4 flocks of 12 or more Brunswick); PEI(PrinceEdwardI.); SI (SalleI., Nova Scotia); SPM(SaintPierreet
Miquelon). LOONS
TO
birdswerenoted,including oneof 53 onthe SaintJohnR. May2. In NovaScotia, a flock of about40 rangedbetween Economy and Advocate, on the n. shore of the Minas Ba-
HERONS
The editor failed to re-
ceive a summary of the Pt. Lapreau,NB, seabird monitoring efforts this spring,but wasawareof 647 Red-throated
Loons
sin,fromApril29to May11.Brantcontinue to increase eachspring;numberspeakedin earlyApril,with 10,000on GM (BD), 8000 on CSI (MN), and 2000 aroundBI.
An unusualnumber of Blue-winged TealmovedthroughSPMbetween April 16 andMay 18,with not morethan 1 maleand
4 femaleson St.Pierre,and3 or 4 pair on talliedMay 7, reinforcing Miquelon(v.o.).European dabbling ducks theimportance of theBay (but of European origin?)aresighted with of Fundyfor northward migrationfor thisspecies, as well as scoters and ei-
BLAKE HAYBANK
ders(seethe Spring1996 AtlanticProvinces report). Thisyear'ssouthernheron flightwaspleasant, but not impressive. The only LeastBitternwasfound deadin Lameque, NB, April 10.ThreesingleGreat
ditors elsewhere inthe East wi]l be-
moan the ]ate spring, and we in Atlantic Canadawill echothe complaint.
Thecool,dampseason, albeitrelatively unstormy,delayedmigrationby up to three weeks. Birders, although deprived of warmth and sunshine, did not lack for
Blue Herons reachedthe Avalon,NF, in
April, an above-average showing.Little Blue Heronswere unusuallyscarce,with but a singleadultin Newfoundland, where muchappreciated. GlossyIbiswerealsoreluctant to move north. The New Brunswick
birdingexcitement, asfrequentsouthwestYellow-crowned Night-Heronwasparticuerlywindspropellednumerousraritiesinto larly obliging,lingeringnear Hampton the region. The increasinglypopular fromMay5 to theendof theperiod. NatureNB and NatureNS internet discusThe herontablein the 1996reportwas siongroupsfacilitatedthe exchange of inincorrectly printed.The correctedversion formation, and fuelled birders' enthusiasm. appearsin the corrigenda (page841). Thesegroupsalso continue to make this editor'sjob that mucheasier. Reporting was good for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Saint Pierre et
Miquelon,sketchyfrom theAvalonPenin-
sulaof Newfoundland, skimpyfromPrince
to New Brunswick and Newfoundland, ex-
ceptfor a maleat theAmherstPt., NS, bird sanctuaryApr. 15. Therewere 4 separate males in New Brunswick between mid-
Marchandmid-April,whilein Newfoundland,Mactavish reported 4 pairin St.John's untilmid-April,with 2 pairstillpresentin mid-May.Twoothermaleswerenotednear Ferryland(CB, JW et al.). Two separate bachelormalesin lateMay mayrepresent post-coital birds--weanxiously awaitconfirmation
of the first "Common" Green-
wingedTealbreedingin North America. Mind you,we'veawaitedsucha confirmation for Eur. Wigeonfor sometime, for whichspecies sightings proliferated across the Region,too numerous to citeindividually.Therewerefouroverwintering birdsin St. John's,NF, until earlyMay,with two
1997 SOUTHERN HERON SUMMARY, ATLANTIC CANADA
:
NOVASCOTIA NEWBRUNSWICK NEWFOUNDLAND
GreatEgret
5
5
7
4
Little Blue Heron
.Snowy Egret
1
Edward Island, and almost non-existent
Tricolored
I
l
elsewhere. It is my hope that the newly openedbridgeto PrinceEdwardIslandwill encourage non-residentbirdersto explore the island,andimprovethe coverage providedbythefewresidentobservers.
CattleEgret
2
3
Green Heron
6
*
838
increasingregularity."Common"GreenwingedTealreportswerealmostconfined
Heron
Yellow-crowned
Night-heron Gloss)Ibis
2
1
2
2
*breeds regularly ins.New. Brunswick insmall numl•r•. FIELDNOTES
atlantic provinces each containing up to 3000 birds. Abruptly,justaroundtheareaknownas McLeod'sSiding,theystopped. Themainraftswerealwaysin an extendedellipse,verynarrowat eachend, and bulgingin the middle, sometimes with twobulges;I haveneverseena circularor squareor amorphous raft--and theseellipsesalwaysfaceinto the cur-
othersin Bonavista. Twopair andthreesin-
glemalesanda singlefemalewereseenin NovaScotiathroughearlyMay,whileNew Brunswickhad a pair and five othersingle males,all in May. Alwaysrare and appreciated,a male Canvasback made a brief, but well docu-
mented,appearance on the LaplancheR., justinsideNovaScotia,Mar. 31 (T. Erskine et al ). Two other maleswere hits in New Brunswick: Apr.17 in Lancaster (D. Johnston), and Apr. 13-May 2 at Saints'Rest Marsh(v.o.).Oddly,thereweremanymore TuftedDuckreportsawayfromNewfound-
rent. Scattered flocks can be found in-
sidethemain rafts;they,too,arealways swimmingfacingthe current,unlessa coupleare havinga fight.When they
land--where the two St. John's over-win-
tenng femalesdepartedmid-April--than in it In New Brunswick,the overwintering Saint John male was present until late
March,anda groupof twofemales with an Lmm male was seennear Saint John Mar. 5
(CJ) Tuftedsare now almost routine in
NovaScotia.Marchreportsincludedmales in GlaceBay(C. Murrant)andTrenton(C. Brennan,KM), and a male with two females in Eel Brook, Yarmouth, Mar. 28
(BMy,IM, EM, MN). Singlemaleswereon Stfihvan's PondApr. 5 (J. Waldronet al.), and at the mouth of BarringtonR. Apr. 6-15 (MN et al.). McLarenand Mills observed"a ratheramorouspair"at Tiddville Pond,DigbyNeck,Apr. 14. How longbefore TuftedDucksare confirmedbreeding
Despitethe appealof a short-cutacross theChignecto Neck,someBlackScoters still choosethe longerroutealongthe Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia; 1500 were seen off
ThreeFathomHarbourApr.6 (IM). DIURNAL
RAPTORS
with six males in New Brunswick in late
ter provincetherewereten or more sightingsawayfromBrierI. andtheDigbyNeck, whileNewBrunswick mayhavehaddozens
Scoters were counted in the lower Resti-
Further notes on the Black $coters. Last
year,I opinedthat thesebirdsconcentrate in an area of the lower Resti-
gouche, beginning justwestof its entry into the Bayof Chaleurandcontinuing upstreamfor aboutten kilometers, but stopping shortof theCampbellton area. My observations this springare confirming that.-We startedto seesmall numbersjustwestof the point created by theuppergovernment wharfandthe chemicalplant; as we moved farther
Gyrfalcons (andSnowyOwls)represent the birds' southernmostwinter wanderings Muchlaterthantheforegoingsightings was a Gyrfalconon $I May 15 (MN et al.). Willow Ptarmiganwere reintroduced onto Miquelon, SPM, last year,and four wererelocatedon the islandMar. 25 (fide RE). New Brunswickbirders were excited
and frustratedby the arrivalof a Purple C•111nlde nearLowerJemseg May 3-4 (J Goltz et al.). The bird, aboutthe 7th for the
TurkeyVulturescontinuetheir spreadin
gouche, in n. NewBrunswick, in earlyMay. An interesting description wasprovidedby Michael Lushington,who commendably observes birdsin additionto simplycountingthem:
of
province(and onlythe 2nd in spring),had the potentialto lingerbut wasmadeinaccessible by risingfloodwaters of the nearby river;washed-outroadspreventedbirders from reachingthe scenethe day after the bird'sdiscovery, andby thetime flood-waters subsided,the bird was gone. Nova
KingEidersbypassed observers in Nova Scotia,but the otherprovinces faredwell,
Lapreau,scoters musthavepassed through as describedlast year, as 11,700 Black
influxes
dive, in these smaller flocks, most of
TO
doesn't have the seabird counts from Pt.
late-winter
them go together.The singingis very pronouncedand there seemsto be a greatdealof skirmishing goingon. Lastyear I noted that, in the large rafts,thereseemedto be a greatdealof excitedactivityand I guessed that this mightbe a signof imminentdeparture farthernorth.Thisyear,with a farbetter scopeand more of an awareness as to whatto look for,I am realizingthat this frenziedactivityprobablyhasmoreto do with breedingexcitementand large groupdynamics.
on this side of the Atlantic?
March through mid-April, two off Cape RaceMay 18,andsixbirdsin $PM during April (O. Poirier). Although the editor
NF, at the same time. Mactavish believes these traditional
SHOREBIRDS
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In the lat-
of birds; I found it hard to correlateall the
disparate occurrences. A compellingsingleobserversightingof a Swallow-tailed Kite took placeApril 24, betweenSydneyand Louisbourg,Cape Breton,NS ($. Fudge). This is the first Regionalreportsincethe 1905NovaScotiaspecimen, but despitethe convincing description, the recordmustremain"hypothetical;' in keepingwith treatment of single-observer sightingselsewhere.The over-winteringGoldenEagle (sub-adult) on BI was seen until midMarch (CH), and an un-agedbird wasat
Scotia and New Brunswick
each hosted a
Sandhill Crane; the Nova Scotia bird was
nearElmsdaleMay 10-13 (B. Grantmyre), while the New Brunswick
individual
was
foundnearHammondR. May 28 (CJ). AmericanOystercatchers put on an excellent show this spring, an arrival that foretold great happenings(wait for the Summer1997 report). The first bird was foundatAdvocate Harbour,NS,May 14-20 (J.Mills), whileanotherwasbrieflyseenon GMI May 20 (BD). On May 18a singlebird showedup on C$I, and it wassoonjoined by another;bothstayedthroughthe endof theperiod.Staytuned.Black-bellied Plover arrivedrecord-early bya weekin $PM,with oneApr.27-28. FourWilletsreached$PM, they are rare both thereand on adjacent Newfoundland.All were seenMay 20-27 (fide RE). Upland Sandpiperswere wellrepresented thisyear;NovaScotiahadthree birds in the first half of May, while $PM hadits4th ever,on May 6 (RE).Forthe2nd consecutive spring,Newfoundlanddid not experience a fall-out of Europeanwaders, despitesomeapparentlyappropriate winds in lateApril. However,two differentBlacktailed Godwits were fair consolation: one at
WhitbourneApril 26-May 1 (J.Gosse),the otherat Bonavista May 8-11 (J.Joy).Perhapspart of the samemovement,a Ruff
north, we encounteredraft after raft,
Gyrfalconwas sightedthrough the first weekof March,whilein Gyr-friendly Newfoundland,eight-tendifferentGyrfalcons (higherthan average)werepresentaround St. John'sbetweenMar. 10 and mid-April, all but threebeingwhitemorphs.A similar
(reeve)wasat Mt. Carmel,St.Mary'sBay, May9 (T. Boland,G. Stroud).TwoPectoral Sandpipers on GMI April 17 (BD) werethe first everseenin April, and very rare in spring.Short-billedDowitchersaresimilarly scarceasspringmigrantsin the Region, especially on the remarkablyearlydateof April 19,and at the unexpected locationof PortugalCoveSouth,on the AvalonPen
several a coupleof kilometres in length,
arrival was noted at L'Anse-aux-Meadows,
(CB, IW).
FALL 1997
Daniel'sMarsh, NB, Mar. 9 (A. Clavette,R.
Leblanc).In New Brunswick,the Dalhousie
839
GULLS
TO
ALCIDS
SWALLOWS
Perhapscoincidentwith the arrivalof Am. Oystercatchers, LaughingGullsshowedup in forceacross theRegionduringMay,with at least nine individuals
It's alwaysworthwhileto takethe measure
of N. Rough-winged Swallowsightings, as the Regionis at the extremeedgeof their n.e.range.ThisspringNovaScotiansightingswererestrictedto islands,with two on SI May 14 (MN) andoneat Freeport, Long
in Nova Scotia
(sevenadults),a dozenin s.New Brunswick (all adults), three in Newfoundland (all
adults,includingtwo in St.John's),and an adultand an immatureon SPM,onlythe
I., May 19 (IM, EM). In New Brunswick,a
potentially nesting pair was seen at Fredericton Jet.May 28-30 (ST et al.). The St.John'sdump,NF, Jackdaw wasseenon 5 datesbetweenMar. 16 andApr.29 (BMt et al.);thisis considered thesamebirdpresent sinceDecember1995. Spring Blue-gray Gnatcatchers arebecomingroutinein the s. partof theRegion,andit wouldbewonderful to addthisspecies to our listof regular breeders.Therewere 3 sightingsin Nova Scotia:SI May 14 (MN, S.Atwood)& 28, and BI May 23 (RS). In New Brunswick therewere2 mainlandreports,May 13 in Alma (D. Melanson)and May 19 in St. Andrew's, but freewereunprecedented on GMI May 19 (v.o.,fideBD).
4th occurrence for the species locally.It would be wonderfulif the specieswould reestablishits breedingpresencein Nova Scotia. Newfoundland
continues to be the
province of choicein theRegionfor Franklifts Gull;theyarealmostannualthere,usuallyin the first 10 daysof May.Thisspring thereweretwo adults,at St.Mary'sMay 9 (fideJP)and GouldsMay 17 (BMt et al.). Awayfrom this Franklin'shot-spot,New Brunswickhad its 6th springbird,an adult at Petit ShippaganMay 23 (HC). Lesser Black-backed Gulls are now too routine to
cite individually,althoughit's heartening that moresub-adultbirdsarebeingidentified,asobservers growmore familiarwith thesetrickier plumages.There were four birds in New Brunswick, five in Nova Scotia,and severalaround St. John's,NF, in-
cludingthreeintolateMay.Aftersucha lusciousgullreport,I've savedthebestfor last, Canada'sfirst Black-tailedGull, an adulton
wretchedly inaccessible SableI. fromMay 8 to theendof theperiod,well-photographed by Lucas.It seemsnaturalto suspectthat thismaybe the RhodeIslandbird,perhaps tiredof easyscrutiny, anddeciding to make life moredifficultfor the acquisitive lister. An ad. Ivory Gull on MSI Apr. 3 (fide BD) wasnot associated with an impressive appearance alongn.e. Newfoundland Apr. 25-30.Northeastgalesbroughthundreds of thisclassy gullto communities alongthetip
ThisadultBlack-tailedGullwaspresent on SableIsland,NovaScotia,May11-22, 1997, providinga first photographically confirmed record for Canada.
Photograph/ZoeLucas
April, with six differentbirdson SPM and fiveat the St.John's dump.Elsewhere in the Regionnonewasreported.A freshlydead
tinues to be much more rare than Boreal
cheeked Thrushes continue to be scarce on
Owl in Newfoundland, with onlya handful of records.Southernwoodpeckers madea modestincursioninto the Region.A single Red-headed Woodpecker wason GMI May 19-21 (fideBD). Four Red-bellied Woodpeckersappearedin lateMay: one in New Brunswickon GMI May 19-22 (fideBD),
dentshad seenin recentyears.Only two imm. birdswere reported(D. Anderson). Theflightreached asfar southastheAvalon Pen.,with countsfrom CapeSpearof 12 Apr. 28 and fiveApr. 30 (BMt et al.). The reasons for thisyear'sflightareunknown, sincepackiceandNE galesprevailalongthe n.e.coastof Newfoundland annuallyin late April.
May22 (DY), WoodsHarbourMay25 (fide JC),andBI May 27-28 (D. Pughet al.).For the 2nd consecutivespringan Acadian
Strait. Five reached SPM, and with suffi-
table concentration
cientfeeders theymaybe ableto hangon. Snowy Owls were well-reported from
CabotStrait.HouseWrensarerarelyfound in the Regionin spring,but onewasbandedon BPI May 10.
840
SPM, whereonly three-four individuals were encountered. Also on SPM, and of
note,wasa singingmaleGrayCatbirda few hundred meters from where the first local
nestwasfound2 yearsago.An overwinter-
ingmaleBrownThrasher wasbelatedly discoveredon CheticampI., CapeBreton,NS (KM), andbyApr.26 it wasin full song;it was unlikelyto attract a mate so far removedfrom the species' limitedbreeding rangein New Brunswick.
Flycatcher graced BI,thisyearMay18(IM,
EM, A. Maclean);a photocouldnot be securedthis time,but the writtenreportwas thorough.There are about a half-dozen provincialoccurrences. A W. Kingbird,typicallyan autumnvagrantin theRegion, was unexpectedon BPI May 22-28. An E. DOVES TO FLYCATCHERS Kingbirdat Chebucto HeadApr.6 (K. Tutt, in NovaScotia MourningDoves,now firmly established C. Cornell)wasrecord-early (andstillincreasing) across theMaritimes, byover2 weeks.FourE.Kingbirds together maybe poisedto expandacrossthe Cabot on SPMMay27 (fideRE)represented a no-
and
The New Brunswick bird was much more
NF,April 10 (K. Knowles); thespecies con-
N. Saw-whet Owl was found near St. John's,
and in Nova Scotia,three in Little Harbour
and SPM in March
The New Brunswick Varied Thrush was
lastreportedMar. 17.BothNewBrunswick and Nova Scotiaenjoyeda Fieldfarethis spring,the 2nd recordfor eachprovince.
accessible and cooperative,lingering in Sussexfrom Feb.21 to earlyMay (D&J Hughes,m.ob.).The Nova Scotiabird was on remoteSI, and seenonlyon the dayof its discovery, Apr. 22 (fide IM). Gray-
of the Northern Pen., the most local resi-
Newfoundland
TO WAXWINGS
for the n. side of the
VIREOS
TO
FINCHES
Unusual vireos were restricted
to Nova
Scotia.White-eyedVireoswerefoundon SI May 8 (FL) andBI May 27 (EM, IM), while the2ndor 3rd springYellow-throated Vireo wason SI May 6 (IM, FL). Birdersacross the Regionwere desperatefor returning warblers,but patiencewas required;this observerhad but 2 specieson the North Americanspringmigrationcount,briefly notedthroughsnowflurries.Almostall the breedingspecies had beenseenbeforethe endof theperiod,andmigrationcontinued well in June.Althoughthe late migration FIELD NOTES
atlanticprovinces New Brunswick noted a similar movement, precludedanyconclusions regardingthe stateof thebreeding populations, desperate with a remarkable count of 25 birds on GMI May 19 (fideBD). Elsewhere in theRegion, searching throughtheslimpickingsdidreveal a few rarities, modest consolation. three singlemaleswere found on PEI in Golden-wingedWarblers, increasingly May,andfivereachedtheAvalonPen.,NF, arealscarce,were sightedat Upper Clements at the sametime.SpringDickcissels waysnoteworthy. NovaScotiahostedthree, May 10andGaspereau May 31-June10 (P. Tayloret al.);bothweremales,the latter a maleApr.21 at CanardPond(T. Regan,no singingcooperativety throughoutits stay. ?),a maleonBI May 19(IM et al.),anda female on BI May 31 (fide CH). New McLarensuspected that one of threemale Black-throated BlueWarblerson SI May 9 Brunswick enjoyeda femaleDickcissel at was of the southeast cairnsi race, based on AlmaMay 25-27 (D. Rossiter et al.),while its streaked crown and broad black back
streaks.CeruleanWarblersare exceptional in spring,soa maleon GMI May 19-22was both rare and cooperative (M. Cormieret at ), whilea malereportedfrom Charlotte-
town,PEI,May16hadnodetails(L.Stats). A quartet of southernyellowwarblers madeislandappearances in NovaScotia,as is their wont; a male Prothonotaryon BI
May6-10 (CH,RS),a maleKentucky onBI May24 (BMy),a maleHoodedon SI May6 (FL, IM), and a femaleHoodedon BI May 18 (IM, G&JTufts).
A "BannerYear" is an appropriately brightdescription of thisspring's flightof tanagersinto the Region.Nova Scotiaperhapshadthebrighterpennant, withat least 12 Summers,20 Scarlets,and a maleWest-
semblagenoteworthy anywherein the Region.The overwintering Harris'sSparrow in Saint John,NB, was last seenMar. 8 (C
Malcolm).A singingmale"Oregon"Darkeyed Juncoseemedat home on SI May 8-16, but in the endit movedon,itspassion unconsummated (IM, FL et al.). New Brunswickgrabbedmost of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds thatwereheading in the direction of Nova Scotia. There were
maleson CampobelloI., Apr. 19-20 (J Mitchell)andAlmaApr.22 (RW), anda femaleon GMI May 11-18(BD et at.).Prince EdwardIslandsnagged the remainingbird, at Pleasantview May 23 (J.Blanchard). The
the overwinteringbird on SPM remained throughthe period.The overwintering E. Towheein Dartmouth departedApr. 14, and ten others were seen at various loca-
coolspringseemed to concentrate oriolesat feedersacross the Region,but especially in
tionsacrossthe provincebetweenApr. 20 andtheendof theperiod. SpringClay-coloredSparrowsare ex-
more s. locales. In Nova Scotia there were more than 30 Orchard Orioles mixed in
pectedonlyin NewBrunswick, wheremales haveestablished territoriesin earlieryears; thisyearonewasin AlmaMay22-25 (RW).
with more than 200 Baltimore Orioles, with
moston CSI (morethan 25), BI (more than
Two extralimital Chipping Sparrows reachedSPM in the 3rd weekof May (fide RE). A few springFieldSparrowsare roufine;onewasonSI May7-12 (FL,IM), with
CORRIGENDA CAPE
anotherearlyon CSIApr. 14 (MN et al.).
DATE
04/18
May 8 & 13 (RW), and a singingbird at Mary'sPt. May 26 (DAC). An "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrowwasw. of itsusualspring migrationrouteat Waterside,NB, Apr. 5
to be outdone;there were six Summer Tana-
New Brunswickrecords.A very rare spring
04/28
RTLO
COEI
944
1996 POINT BIRD
OLDS
96
104/291 302I
(ST), constituting one of few compelling
15
4000
25
LAPREAU
OBSERVATORY
DATE
COEI
OLDS
BLSC
04/11
RTLO
691
184
629
04/12
1220
04/13
554
820
169
04/14
928
3354
320
04/17
2893
480
04/18
55
4983
04/19 8
04/21 04/22
615
04/24 88 04/25
12
143
05/04
23
145
727
967
73
530
16,567
4030
338
726
967
286
1365
2896
45
930
170
5
2074
305 2035 1330 94 488
04/28 05/02
SUSC WVVSC
1155
112
04/20
72
CANADA
NEW
Egret morethannineMay birds,includingfour Great Litde Blue Heron on SI May 12-15,two on BPI, and onein Snow)' Egret
SandL., CapeBreton,May 15-20 (v.o.).Just Tricolored Heron threewere in New Brunswick,including CattleEgret two on GMI, all in May,andtwo werere- Green Heron ported from RockyPt., PEI, May 12-13 Yellow-crowned (L&C Ptourd).In NovaScotia,manyIndigo Night-Heron
FALL 1997
HERON SUMMARY, ATLANTIC NOVA SCOTIA
moderate. In Nova Scotia there were not
Buntingswerenoted,almostall in May,
1500
100
1776
1161
1635
1366
1055
1787
189
81
47
15
These three tables 1996 SOUTHERN
ing May. The Blue Grosbeakflight was
w•th 12 or more on BI around mid-month.
SUSC WVVSC
I
Strait,with five birds in the AvalonPen. of Newfoundland, and _5000in theJuneauarea'sPt. BridgetMay 4 (PS).Slaty-backed Gullsmadethe stan-
dardshowingwith scattered singles at the regularBeringSea/Aleutian sites--theonly extralimital was an adult described as a mi-
grantat KetchikanMar. 27-29 (ph. SCH). Aboutthe 5th springPribilofareaRoss's Gull reportwasan adultinshoreat St.Paul I. May 22-27 (ST.PAUL).ThisHigh Arctic migrant remainspoorly known s. of the BeringStrait.CaspianTernsarrivedin early Maywithfiveat Juneau May11(PS). The Upper TananaValley's3rd Snowy Owl appeared nearSquareL. n. of TokApr. 6 (DBC), while the North Slopdsfirst reportincluded a latishsingleat Prudhoe Bay May 30 (EEB).The season's only Barred Owl find was a calling bird on the SE Mainland in Misty FjordsN.M. May 1 (SCH).If GreatGrayOwlscaneverbeconsidered regularanywhere in theRegion,it's in the e. Interiorlowlands, whichthisyear producedtwo singlesnear Tok Mar. 22-Apr. 11 (KOD, CLG). Takingshelterin the dunes at St. Paul I. was an extralimital
BorealOwl May 19 (ph. ST.PAUL).Of the now approximatelysix Pribilof records, there are 3 specimens of NearcticA. f richardsoni andonePalearctic magnus. WOODPECKERS
TO
TANAGERS
Woodpecker numberscontinueto swellin SC SpruceBarkBeetleinfestedforests,especiallywith noticeablyhigh populations of HairyandThree-toed woodpeckers. This
very late pair at Sitkalingeredto Mar. 30
concentrated fromurbancenters afterearly
nest (MLW, MT).
June.Bramblings weredifficultto find this springwithin their regularrange,with the Aleutianpeaka verylowsixat AttuMay 20
Mountain
Bluebirds arrived on time
from the standardsites,includinga single in JuneauApr. 25 (JS)and an above-average14 from the Tok areaApr. 16-20 (TJD).
OneEyebrowed ThrushfromAttuthickets May 19-20 (ATTOUR) providedonly report, amid continuanceof this species' downward trend since the late 1980s. Red-
throatedPipitswentunrecorded fromAttu all season, a firstin probably 20 years,and onlythreeshowedearlyat BuldirI. to the eastMay 3 (ILJ et al.,fideJW).American Pipitswerealsowell belowthe norm,while singleOlive-backedPipits and Pechora
was anomalous from
Buldir May 17 (ILJ et al., fide JW), the Aleutians'4th springrecord.Hawfinches madea niceshowing andlingeredin thew
Compiler), Warblers weregenerally early,dispersed, Doyle(E. InteriorSub-regional
andon territoryby the 3rdweekof May. Notableamongthe earliestreportswas a singingTownsend's WarbleraboveAnchor-
W. Dunne, L. Edfelt, C. L. Gardner, C Harwood,S.C. Heinl, T. Hunt, H. Johnson, W. N. Johnson,I. L. Jones,R. Kleinleder, K
ageApr.11(GB),recordearlyby>3 weeks, whilethreein Ketchikan Apr.12wereearliestthereby a day(SCH).TheseearlyApril Townsend's likelywinteredin theVancou-
Lehmkuhl,D. Loshbaugh, S.Loshbaugh, R
ver I.-n. PugetSoundarea,sincemostmigrantstypicallyarrivein the lastweekof April. Over 100 Orange-crowned Warblers aroundKetchikan May4 wereindicativeof an early movementby nearly a week. WesternTanagerswere listed only from Juneau,where five malesreportedMay 21-26 (PS, MS, GVV, BA) represented
burne,N. Story,ST.PAUL(S. D. Smith,R C. Hoyer et al.), D. W. Sonneborn,P
probably thebesteverlocalspringtally.
A. Macintosh, J. Metzler, E. A. Mitchell, W
Northrup,L. J.Oakley,K. O'Reilly-Doyle, J Pontti, R. L. Scher,M. Schwan,J. Sher-
Suchanek,M. Tedin, G. V. Vliet, M. L. Ward,
G. C. West, J. Williams, WINGS (Jon L
Dunn, G. H. Rosenberg, M. O'Brien,Paul Holt et al.), S. Wulkowicz,S. Zimmerman
[Details,specimens andphotographs referencedare on file at Universityof Alaska Museum.]
T.G. TobishJr., 2510Foraker'Dnve, EMBERIZIDS
TO
FRINGILLIDS
Anchorage, AK99517.
Althoughmostobservers described a heavy sparrowpassage, significant finds,numbers,
or dateswerefewandincluded onlysingle extralimital
lngcamefrom Juneau, wherethiscasualSE
Sparrow foundanAnchorage feederMay16 (TGT),oneof fewSCspringrecords. Rustic Buntingwentunreported fromtheRegion,
912
Eurasian B-!lfindl
Carlson,D. E Delap,W. E. Donaldson,T J.
specimenfrom Attu in 1989.
and low-snowwinter and warm early springfavored thispest's lifecycleforabout the 4th consecutive year.This spring'sextralimitalN. Rough-winged Swallowsight-
to Apr.15 (GVV) andTokMar. 25 (TJD).A
(ATTOUR)andanearlysingle fromSt Paul May 14 (ST.PAUL)the sumtotalfor May RedCrossbills continued to expandinto SE andSCcoastal sitesby theendof the period.The onlybreedingevidence camefrom Juneau, wherethehighestnumberswerereported,with a femalecarryinggrasses Mar 31 (PS).Giventhepoorpassefine migration throughthe Aleutiansthis season,a male
Pipitsskulkedbrieflyin theadvancing lush Aleutians, with two males recorded from greeneryat Attu May 28 (ATTOUR) and BuldirMay 21-24 (fideJW), respectively. Attu May 27-June6 (ATTOUR, ph. SCH, ph. SW) and anotherfour at BuldirMay Althoughrecognized asa rare breederon 24-June14 (ILJet al.,fideJW). the Commander Is. w. of the Near Is., PechoraPipit remainsa sporadiccasual Contributors and observers: B. Agler,J B springmigrantin thew.Aleutians. Theearliest and now 3rd record of Bohemian Allen,R. Armstrong, ATTOUR(P.J.Balclch, S.C. Heinl,D. W. Sonneborn, J. HuntingWaxwing,a singleat BuldirMay 5 (fide ton, G. B. Rosenband, P. W. Sykes,M JW), waslikely the EastAsianform cenToochin),G. Bullock,E. E. Burroughs, D B tralasiae,which has beenconfirmedby
trend should continue as another warmish
visitorseems to overshoot annually, with a singleMay 15 (LE). Black-billed Magpies lingeredlateat wintersiteswheretheydo notbreed,mentioned astardyfromJuneau
town May 28 (NS)--most SE recordsare
andon,whentheywerelastseenbuildinga
Golden-crowned
and White-
crowned sparrows fromSt.PaulI. May28 & 17, respectively, whereboth are casualin spring (ST.PAUL).An InteriorzaboriaFox
and numbers seem to' be in decline since
aboutthelate1980s.Ketchikan's firstspring Brown-headed Cowbirdshowedup near FIELD NOTES
british
columbia-
yukon
region '•.:-
YUkOn t•
NORTHWEST
The report for southern Vancouver was
received
Island incom-
plete.
Jackfish Bay,Yukon,May 17 (BDo). Providingonlythe 2ndQ.C.I. andRegionalrecord wasan apparentad.Red-facedCormorant
withsixPelagics at SkonunPt.,Masset, May 7 (p.v., OD, BWi). Despitethe long, cold
Abbreviations:
B.C.
winter, Great Blue Herons returned to the
(British Columbia);Ok.
30-nesturbancolonyat Vernonin the 2nd (Okanagan); P.6. (Prince weekof March,with somebirdson eggsby George);p.v. (pending late in the month (CS). This spring'svaverification by responsi- grantovershooting GreatEgretshowedup ',-
"'._::....BRmSH COLUMBIA
ble Bird RecordsCbmmit-
at SeparationL. near Princeton,s.c.B.C.,
tee);Q.C.I.(OueenChar-
May 9-11 (MS, FBCN,m.ob.).
lotteIs.);RPBS (Rocky Pt. Banding$tatton,s. tip Van. L); STP (Sewage TreatmentPlant/Ponds); Van. (Vancouver); Van. I. (Vancouver L); Vic. (Victoria); Whse. (Whitehorse). LOONS
CRANES
Rare inland,especially at valley level, was a Red-throated
Loon at
Kamloops Apr.
JACK BOWLING
21
(SyR).A largeflockof 3200 Pacific Loons was off Roberts Cr.,
nly the Yukon escaped with near nor- SunshineCoast,Apr.24 (RTk).Thisloonis mal weather. British Columbia's springwas mostlyugly: March wet and cold, with heavysnowin the mountains. April wasdrier,but windyand cool.May startedandendeddampbut hada hot spell
occasionallyseenin suchlarge numbers alongthe coastwhenstagingduringtheir northbound journey. The only Yellowbilled Loon reported was one in basic plumagenearthe mouthof the middlearm
in the middle. Flooding in the British
of the Fraser R. Mar. 21 (MKM).
Columbia interior was local in March, but
Clark'sGrebes,distinguishable by headcoloration,frequented the n. arm of the Fraser R.,upstreamof itsmouth,untilat leastApr. 7 (RTo), while only one wasthereApr. 25 (MKM). Thesegrebes, holdovers from the previousseason,were the first Clark's known to overwinter in the Region.
widespread in mid-May.The lastbout coincidedwith the first big pushof northbound passerines. As bad as the weather was in the west, it was even worse on the
prairies,wherestiff northerlywindsblew mostof theseason. Thesewindsapparently deflected westward species moretypicalof the CentralFlyway,suchas Ross'sGeese andWhite-rumpedSandpipers. As is usual in coldsprings,laterarrivinginsectivorous passetines were mostlybehindschedule. Indeed,unusualphenology,distribution, and numbersof birds--ratherthan longdistancevagrancy•ominated the season. FALL1997
Double-crested
Cormorants
Two
are still rare
inlandin B.C.,but maybe increasing (pers. comm. RWC): Singlebirds were seen at McBride May 3 (E&G Stanley,m.ob.); NapierL., n. of Merritt,May 10 (RRH); and on the KootenayR. near Wasa May 24 (GSD, MWh). Three Double-crestedsreturned
to their
traditional
BandingLab gearsto turn, but it always provides interesting information. A Trumpeter Swan seen near Kamloops January16, 1994,and January8, 1995,had been banded as a cygnet near Grande Prairie,Alberta,in September1992.A flock of 500Trumpeters at Nulki L.,Vanderhoof, c. B.C.,Apr.7 (NK, HA) constituted a large springflockfor the interior.Winteringonly in small numbers in s. B.C., four Greater
•imo '••anc•er Vemø•en• •':•a10 TO
It sometimes takes a whine for the Bird
location
at
White-fronted
Geese
overwintered
at
McCoyL., s.c.Van. I., until Mar. 8 (DGC), astheyhavethe past3 winters.Normallya vagrant during migration--with only one-ten records a decade, and almost all
records involving single birds--Ross's Geeseappearedin exceptional numbersas the gooseflocksreturned.One wasin with a flock of CanadaGeeseat EG. Apr. 6-10 (SK, LL, m.ob.); four werewith three Snow Geeseat Creston,s.e.B.C., Apr. 19 (BKo, LMi); a flock of ll remained in the Quilchena area near Nicola L., s.c.B.C.,
Apr. 15-24 (WCW, m.ob.)accompanied by 11 Greater White-fronteds; and two were at
Brisco,E. Kootenays, May 5-7 (MWh, EH, m.ob.). In fact,a "grandslam"of inland geese wasachieved in theP.G./Vanderhoof areasApr. 10 whenGreaterWhite-fronted, Snow,Ross's,and Canada geesewere all seenthe sameday (NK, HA), a notable event for the interior. A flock of 660 Brant
waspresentin TorinoHarbor,s.w.Van. I., Apr. 19 (DGC). The high countof feeding Brantat Sandspit, Q.C.I., totaled2967May 1 (MH, PH), oneof the largeraggregations on recordfromthe Islands.A pair of Wood Ducks at LewesMarsh May 10 (tPS) 913
became
the Yukon's
first
documented
recordof the species. For the 5th consecutive spring,a "Eurasian"Green-winged Teal has appeared at the Tranquille Marshes, Kamloops. Thisyear'sbirdarrived thereMar. 20 (RR,WH, NS). A Garganey, accidental to the Region,spottedon Wayne L nearPrinceton May9 (JGr),couldnotbe rediscovered laterin the day.It hasbecome apparentthat any sizeableflock of Am. Wlgeonislikelyto harbora Eur.Wigeonor two acrossmostof B.C.in the spring,with reportsof Eurasians comingfrom all compriersthisseason. Thisincludes theYukon, whereit is still decidedly rare,with a male at NaresL. Apr. 27 (PS,YBC), andtwo at McClintockBay May 18 (CE, HG, PS). Gadwallsare only stragglers to the Q.C.I., makingthe flock of 24 at Juskatla Mar. 6 (MH, PH) a noteworthyevent.An apparent hybrid Canvasback x Ring-necked Duck was observedon Nicola L., s.c.B.C., Mar. 16
breedingevidencefrom e. of the Rockies near Chetwynd,n.e.B.C. (AS,fide DgW). An emaciated and decapitatedfemale Cooper'scarcassfound near the P.G.airport May 23 hadbeenbandedby Dr. M.J. Bechard,8 mi w. of IdahoCity,Idaho,Sept. 18,1993(fideDgW).A light-morphBroadwingedHawkatVernonMay31 (?CS)pro-
known n.w.B.C. populationrather than Alaskanbirds.Sandhills showedup in May at DelkatlaWildlife Sanctuaryin Masset, Q.C.I.,with 40 thereMay26 (MH PH), the highestcounteverfor theIslands. The flock remainedthere,feeding, throughtheendof theperiod.
vided the first documented record for the
SHOREBIRDS
Ok. Valley,althoughone had been seen near Enderbyin the Spallumcheen Valley only50 km farthernorthMay 13, 1995;yet moreevidenceto suggest this species is on the increasein the Region.A rare lightmorph "Harlan's"Red-tailedHawk was spottedat Whse.Apr.24 (?CE,PS);a very smallproportionof the harlanipopulation exhibitsleucismto somedegree.Only a very rare springstragglerto the Sunshine Coast,a Rough-legged Hawkwasat Sechelt Apr. 29 (DBr). Golden Eaglesreturned earlyto the s. Yukon,with the first seen
Therewerefewergolden-plovers seenpass-
TO
WOODPECKERS
ingthroughtheQ.C.I.thisspringthanduringthepastcoupleof years, with30Paclfics at MassetMay 5 (PH), andthe lastAmerican at SandspitMay 22 (MH, PH). Only a scarceandirregularmigrantthroughthe c interior, two Am. Golden-Ploverswere seen
at Giscome, e. of P.G.,May 19 (CA). Killdeerarrivedearlyto the Yukon,with the two at Whse.Mar. 31 (HG) beingthe first returningshorebirds. SevenAm. Avocets were near the mouth
of Trout
Cr,
Summerland, c. Ok., Apr. 15 (CH). These birds were possiblyon their way to the
(WCW). This drakewasthe approximate
Mar. 12at Whse.-PilotMt. (BMu), followed
sizeandshapeof a Canvasback, but with a darkgrayback,a blackheadwith purplish and red highlights,and a darkbill with a palering nearthe tip. TwoTuftedDucks were last seenon Lost Lagoonin Van.'s StanleyParkMar. 15 (m.ob.).Firstseenin
by 10 Mar. 21, four Mar. 27, andtwo Mar.
Glenmore Landfill, Kelowna, a location to
29 at Mt. Sima (MCon), another single Mar. 29 over Whse.-Porter Cr. (CE, PS), and eight more Mar. 30 moving N over LewesMarsh (CE, PS). A young Golden Eagle,rareon the s.coast,wasseenmoving N over New WestminsterMar. 18 (MPr). A Peregrine FalconwingingN overMcCoyL., Pt. Alberni, s.c.Van. I., Mar. 28 (DGC) was considereda migrant. Exactly2 months
which
Van. Harbor last Nov. 11, the youngmale CommonEider molting into Alternate1 plumagemovedfrom Iona I. Apr. 18-20 (RTo)to theW. Van.shoreline Apr.23-May later,PeregrineFalconswerenotedfrom 8 (LH, m.ob.).Oldsquaws passthroughthe opposite endsof theRegionMay28,with a interior in small numbersand are rarely seenin groupsof morethanhalf a dozen. late bird stoopingat JudasCr., s. Yukon (JH,YBC), and anotheroverthe Glenmore Surprising thenwere 14 at TunkwaL., s.e. of Kamloops, May25 (RRH).A Red-breast- Landfill, Kelowna(JW). It is encouraging of Peregrines in the ed Merganser at WasaL. nearCranbrook, to notethat sightings Ok. Valleyhaveincreased overthepastfew s e. B.C.,May 24 (RMN) provideda rare years.Gray-morphGyrfalcons werereportspringinlandrecordof thissawbill. TurkeyVulturescontinuedtheir recent ed from Vernon,N. Ok., Mar. 16 (CS), and trendof returningearlyto the Ok. Valley, Tranquille,Kamloops,Mar. 22 (SyR).The with the first seen at Naramata near pairof PrairieFalcons returnedto theirtraditionalaerieon The Throne,a rockybluff PentictonMar. 1 (RJC).Interestingwasa vultureat Road22, Oliver,S. Ok., feeding near Oliver, S. Ok., Mar. 25 (TE), and anKamloops, on drownedcarpin a floodedfield--along- othersinglewasat Tranquille, Mar. 1 (SyR). sideBaldEaglesandgulls--Mar.25 (RJC). After rumors of extirpationfrom the FiveOspreys patrollingthewatersof Torino Inlet,s.w.Van.I., May 18 (DGC) constitut- PortAlberni,s.w.Van.I. area,a callingmale CaliforniaQuailat the localJ.V. ClyneBird ed a large congregationfor the area. Sanctuary Mar.23 (DGC) providedthe2nd Northern Harrierswere passingthrough recordin the pastfewyears.Surveyors for Vanderhoof, c. B.C.,in largenumbersApr. amphibiansturned up severalVirginia 13, with 23 birds,mostlymales,talliedin Rails--only recentlyadded to the P.G. the area(PGNC).A youngCooper's Hawk waswatchedchasingstarlings andpigeons checklist--at local marshes,with three at ConradSloughMay 3 (PGNC) & 12 (SK, in the middleof a busycityintersection at LL), and two at BuckhornL. May 13 (SK, NewWestminster Mar. 20 (MPr), usingthe carsfor concealment--apparently it didn't LL). A low flockof 28 SandhillCranesflyApr.27 (PGNC) stopfor the red lights,either.The species ing NW overVanderhoof seemsto be expandingn., with recent may havebeen membersof the litttle914
avocets have taken a shine. Last
year'shigh countof 18,with a coupleof pairsbreeding,had increased to about20 pairsnestingduringMay (JW).Thisisperhapsthe Region's firsttrueavocetcolonyA wanderingAm. Avocetmadeit to Maplewood Mudflats,N. Van.,May 17.A Wfilet overwintering at the Tsawwassen Jetty,s of Van., continuedits staythroughApr 19 (DTy,m.ob.).TheLong-billed Curlewpopulation continuesto expandinto B.C's c interior. The first two curlews were back
typicallyearlyat Vanderhoof Apr. 9 (NK, DG), followedby one at ChubbL. near HixonMay 6 & 16(SK,LL),andanotherat Shelley, nearP.G.,May 17 (JB,MPh, HA) Veryunexpected wasanotherLong-bfiled circlinga short-grass field in the concrete jungleof NewWestminster, s.w.B.C.,Apr 8 (MPr). Foundonlyin smallnumbersin the Yukon, four HudsonJan Godwits at Mc-
ClintockBayMay 18 wereinterestingBut
thesighting of a MarbledGodwittherethe samedaywasevenmoreexciting,asit providedone of veryfew documented Yukon records(?CE, ?PS,?HG).
The fever-inducing stintsput in briefappearances, witha Red-necked Stintat Iona STP,Richmond,May 20 (p.v.,?RTo),and
an alternate-plumaged LittleStint,Yukon's first,at JudasCr. May 19 (?CE,?PS).This was the best White-rumped Sandpiper flight sincethe springsof 1985and 1986 The first singleappearedat JudasCr, s Yukon,May 19 (?CE,?PS),followedby anotherat LewesMarshMay 19 (?HG). Next were two at Nellson L., 50 km n. of P G, FIELD NOTES
british columbia-yukon May 25 (PGNC), the first for the local checklistarea;and thenanotherfour again at Judas Cr.May 28 (JH, tYBC). Andjustto confirm that the Fort St. John area is still
the bestplaceto seeWhite-rumpeds, eight
5000 Apr. 7 (RJC). A large flock of 1000 Mew Gullsstagingat NaresL. May 10 (CE, PS) providedsomeduesasto this species' migrationroutethroughs.Yukon. Higher-than-normal numbersof Ring-
were at Charlie L., and two more at the N.
billed Gulls, all adults, were observedin s.
SewageLagoonsMay 31 (TG). Althougha flock of 200-250 PectoralSandpipersat Giscome, 30 km e. of P.G.,May 15 (CA, JB) waslargefor the area,it paledin comparison to the 1800-2000 that staged at McClintockBay,s.Yukon,May 16-18 (CE, PS,HG), perhaps thehighestrecorded concentrationanywherein the Regionfor any
Yukon,with oneatWhse.Apr.22 (ph. ?CE), two at NaresL. May 10 (?CE, ?PS),two moreMay 13 at LewesMarshMay 21 (ph. ?CE,•PS), and anotherat JudasCr. May 31 (JH).A HerringGullsportingyellowrather thanpinklegswasat theWhse.LandfillApr. 22 (ph. tCE)& 23 (?HG). Very rare in spring in the Yukon, a first-summer Thayer'sGull wasat LewesMarshMay 13 (ph. ?CE, tPS). Always a controversial "spedes" out west,an apparentfirst-winter
season. Rare in the Yukon, a Dunlin at
McClintockBay May 16 (triG) was followed by a 2nd at LewesMarsh May 30 (BrB,?HG). With onlya handfulof spring StiltSandpiper recordsw. of the Rockiesin B.C., the discovery of an alternateplumagedbird at NicolaL., s.c.B.C.,May 24 (WCW) was noteworthy;meanwhile, the three observed at Judas Cr., s. Yukon,
May 28 (JH, ?YBC)wasconsidered a low tallyfor theseason. Three light-morph Parasitic Jaegers were watchedflying N togetherlow over the wateroffshoreof the Universityof B.C. campus,Van., May 25 (MPr). Of the 3 jaegerspecies, thisis theonemostlikelyto be seenin inshorewaters.Providinga first Sunshine Coast record was the imm. Little
Gull at WakefieldCr. Apr.26 (TG), a rare vagrantto the coastandmoreoftenfound in the fall. An ad. Little was seen from the
vesselYorktownClipper,feedingwith a flock of 500 Bonaparte'sGulls in Active PassMay 5 (SHD); and another (same one?)wasin with 35 Bonaparte's 20 km farther north off the Iona Jetty,Richmond, May 16 (RTo).The Bonaparte's themselves peakedat ActivePassin earlyApril with
"Kumlien's"
Iceland
Gull
was found
at
MissionPt., SunshineCoast,Apr. 11 (p.v., ?TG).An ad.Slaty-backed Gull wasin with a largegullflockin S.DeltaMar.4 (RTo).It wouldbe usefulto bandthisbird,to try to determineif thisis thesamebird returning yearafteryearto thissites. of Vancouver. A gatheringof 31 W. Gulls(induding seven with mixedGlaucous-winged parentage) at Skonun Pt., Masset,Mar. 9 (MH, PH) fur-
nishedthehighest humberof Westerns ever seenon the Q.C.I. A strongNE wind was blowing,whichusuallyconcentrates birdsat this location.
Glaucous-winged Gullswere alsoobserved in greater numbers than usual aroundthe Whse.,Yukon,area.Sightings includeda first-summerbird May 6, an adultMay 7, and a 3rd-summerbird May 10 (ph. $CE).Threefirst-summerGlaucous Gullsappeared with 1000othergullsat the mouth of Vernon Cr., n. Ok. L., Mar. 15
(PG); and a first-winter bird wasat Mission
Pt., SunshineCoast,Apr. 12 (TG). Caspian Ternscontinueto be seenin widelyscatteredlocationsfar from anyknownbreeding sites.Two were flying togetherover Laredo Sound, n.c.B.C. coast, May 8 (SHD); three were observedat Vernon, N. Ok., May 10-11 (PG);fivewereat Sandspit, Q.C.I. May 16(MH, PH), thehighestnum-
SARepørts ofgulls with apink ß '•wash
on
the
breast
and
orangish Pather thanyellQ•legsand
bills, began •oming infrora the.ez end of Ok.L.nea•Penticton Mar.8 (RDY,TL, SD, CH), when a "roseate" ad. Ringbilled Gull wasobserved.By Mar. 15, one ad. Californiaand nine ad. Ringbilledstheredisplayed this colorvariation (PG). SomediligentInternetwork bySydRoberts revealed thatthisaberration is not all that uncommonamong European Black-headed andLittlegulls. It is apparentlydiet and age-related, usuallylastsabout3 weeks,andcanvary
widelyin intensity of huewithinaflock of birds2
FALL 1997
ber yet recordedfor the archipelago; and fivefrequented EagletL., P.G.May 23, with two there the next day (SK, LL, DG). An Arctic Tern at SkonunPt., Masset,Apr. 30
(MH, PH) providedthe onlyspringrecord for the Q.C.I., and wasat leasta weekahead of the usual northbound window. The continuous snowcover since midNovember
seemed to have little effect on
GreatHornedOwl cycles, with a pair back at its nest near Vernon, N. Ok., Feb. 17 (M.
Koop).However,the samecannotbe said for N. Pygmy-Owlsaround Kamloops,
wheremanywerefoundstarvingin March, apparently unableto findrodentsontheicy fidds (fideRRH). Numbersof SnowyOwls graduallythinnedout throughthe period astheyheadedbacknorth.Mostbirdswere gonefromthe BoundaryBayareaby midApril. One of those northbound owls caused a media sensation when it touched
down at Sechelt Apr. 16 (m.ob.), the SunshineCoast's5th Snowy.Great Gray Owls were found at several locations in the
Ok. Valleyduringthe period.Two wereat the Vernon Commonagein mid-March (EN, BKo, PG); another was in E. Kelowna
Mar. 4-5 (J.Casling);andanotherwasseen off Camp McKinneyRd., Oliver,May 18 (MAi). The Kelownaowl had been seenon
and off in the samearea the past year. Alwaysa hard bird to ferretout, a Longeared Owl respondedto somevigorous humanhootingsat NicolaL., s.c.B.C.,May 10 (RRH). A Boreal Owl in Ladner Mar. 30
(KW) wasthe 2nd liveoneseenin the past 2 yearsin thisareas.ofVancouver. Thecalling scheduleof N. Saw-whetOwlswasdelayed3 weeksin thec. interior,with thefirst maleheardtootingat P.G.Apr.28 (JB). TwoVaux'sSwiftsobserved flyingin and out of the samechimneyin Pt. Grey,Van.,
SmAreforests This winter the White Spruce s.e.of Kluane L.,-s.w. Yukon, hosted anunprecedented bet of three-tis•d woodpeckers. This high density'coincidedwith a large SpruceBarkBeetlepopulationandconsiderablenumbers of standingdead trees. A record count of 23 Three-toeds
on the Dec. 28, 1996, Kluane Lake CBC
wasfollowedbya morethoroughsearch for woodpeckers Mar. 9. Fourobservers (THe, CE, HG, PS) coveredabout 14.8 km in 10 hours and tallied an astonish-
ing 54 woodpeckers. The totalconsisted
of40Three•toeds (24females, 14males, 2 unknown)? fourBlack-backed•,. and 10"threeZt0•spT' F6restmanagers rou-
tinelylabel sucl• forests "beetle infested" andhavepromotedclearcutloggingas thebestoptionfor dealingwith suchan "infestation:'However,this particular typeof forestdearlyprovidesimportant habitatfor an extraordinary densityof woodpeckers.The view that clearcut loggingis an appropriateresponseto such increasesin beetle populations ignores the complex relationships
amonginsect•andforests, andtheassociatedwildlifewhich dependon these
relationshipS• 915
May25 (MPr)--wheretheyhadfirstbeen seen2 yearspreviously--suggested potential nesting.Detailednestingdataarelacking for all 3 of the Region's swifts.A male Gosta'sI-Iummlngbird,Van. I.'s 2nd and theRegion's 5th,frequented a Saanich feeder Apr. 25-May 17 (R&M McKenzieGrieve,m.ob.).Becominga regularspring migrant on the s. coastthe past several
(TG), a locationwhereanykingbirdsighting is unexpected. A N. Rough-winged Swallowreturned to McCoyL. Mar. 31 (DGC), a record-early date for the Port Alberni area. A Bank
Swallow,rare to uncommon on Van. I., was
at Rithet'sBog,Saanich,Apr. 26 (HVP). A Cliff Swallow in with 60 Tree Swallows at
years,a maleCalliopeHummingbird was
Masset,Q.C.I., Apr. 27-30 (PH) addedto about5 or 6 recordsfor the Islands,only a
discoveredat Queen ElizabethPark,Van.,
couplefrom the spring.The BlueJaythat
Apr. 29 (K. McPherson).Extremelyrare wasa Red-breasted Sapsuckerat AnnieL. Rd. nearWhse.in lateApril (p.v.,AF), the
remained in the Deep Cove area of N.
2nd in as manyyearsandpotentiallythe Yukon's3rd. Williamson'sSapsuckers are
earlymigrants, asconfirmed by thethree males on power poles at August L., Princeton, s.c.B.C., Mar. 24 (JHe). The
northerlyWilliamson's pairwhichbredat IsabelL.,Kamloops, in 1996didnotreturn. FLYCATCHERS
TO
FRINGILLIDS
Only rare transientson the s. coast, one-twoSay'sPhoebesat Iona Reg.Park, Richmond (BS, m.ob.), were a treat. The
gradualexpansionof the W. Kingbird's rangefromtheGreatBasinintoB.C.,which beganin the 1950s,continues to this day. The mostnoticeable recentpushhasbeen coastward. A singleW. Kingbirdftrstseenat Mt. Douglas, Vic., May 17 (PP) waslikely responsible for a rashof sightings around the Victoria/Saanichareasduring the followingweek(m.ob.).It waslastseenMay 23 in N. Saanich(HVP, BD). The species nowoccursmost,but not all, springsin the s.e. Van. I. area. On the other side of
GeorgiaStrait,twoW. Kingbirds wereobservedat Sechelt,SunshineCoast,May 25
S A Purple •artins returned to ß'• theirestablished nesting•ites
on s,Van,Land N. Van.in earlyMay,
butitappears thaithesped es• c•ntinuingtobioh•r.Tfiere h•l only •een2 record•bf martel.on the S•shlne
CoastiStheperiod•971-19• .... until this•pring!First•-rnalewasspottedat
Seclt f0uøwed byapairatSechei• MaylS• d•fen•l• nest •o•c.against passing' •r•ws kingfishers. We foll ubifi season'sTsummary to'check on•esting
succes• Plansfob.m6re nestboxes have already beenmade• preparatinn for theirSturn nextyear,in an•ttemptto
secure theRe•0n,s 3r• n3arfin nestigg locaaon 916
Saanich, s.e. Van. I., since the winter of
at Chopakanear the Washington border May18& 25 (RJC,m.ob.). A NashvilleWarblerat SecheltMay 11 (DBr) furnished the first SunshineCoast
recordof a live bird, a specimenhaving beenfoundearlier.It wasa goodwarbler
yearon the Q.C.I.A YellowWarblerheard May 18 andanother(same.•) seenJune1 at Masset (MH, PH) addedto only a few records.The 16 Magnolia Warblers at KinuseoFalls,40 km s. of TumblerRidge, n.e.B.C.,May 31 (ChH), signifieda major passing wave.Knownto neston the Q.C.I.
1995-1996 was last reportedApr. 9 (T. onlyat higherelevations on GrahamI., any Mays).A BlueJayrirstseenin theCascade Wilson'sWarblerson the coastalplain of Park, Van. Area, mid-November 1996 reMoresby I. areconsidered migrants, aswere the two at MassetMay 14, andthe single mainedthereuntilMay.3 (S.Hagen),while yet anotherwasfoundin nearbySurrey bird thereMay 31 (MH, PH). Muchrarer Apr.15 (D. Maynes).A BlueJayat Tumbler on the moist w. coast of Van. I. than the Ridge,n.e.B.C.,May 29 (ChH) provided driere. side,a singingmaleBlack-throated the 2nd local record. A Black-billed Gray Warbler was a surpriseat the Wickanninish Beachparkinglot at Pacific Magpie first spottedin late March at Rim N. P.,s.w.Van.I., May 18(DGC). Near EsquimaltLagoon,Colwood(D. Kindall), waslaterseenin thenearbyMetchosin area the n. edgeof its Canadianrange,a Townsend's Warblerput in a rarebut timelyapon 3-4 daysaroundMay 12 (I. Tipton et pearance at a birdsong workshopat Whse. al.). The species is accidental onVan.I. The ftrstreturningHouseWren to s.Van. I. was May 24 (PS,YBC).The e. foothillsof the Rockies in n.e.B.C. are a contact zone benoted at Mt. Tolmie,Vic., Apr. 19 (D. tween Townsend's and Black-throated Copley).Likelypart of the samewavewas Greenwarblers, asevidenced by the male the HouseWren in S. SurreyApr.22 (PSp, m.ob.). This wren prefers the dry
Black-throatedGreen singingjust e. of
Mediterranean
TumblerRidgeMay 27 (ChH), the 2nd localrecord.A maleBlackpollWarblerat WasaSloughs, W. Kootenays, May24 (GSD, AY) wasa goodfind. The species is rarely found during migrationthroughs. B.C. Havingexpanded w. across theRockies into the P.G. area the past severalyears,one wonderswhetherthe Ovenbirdsingingat Lindley Cr., Merritt, s.c.B.C., May 24 (WCW) wasjusta windblownvagrantor a southward trendingpioneer.The weather-
dimate of s.e. Van. I. and
the Gulf Islands,and onlyrarelystraysto the muchwettere. sideof GeorgiaStrait.A Golden-crownedKinglet returned very earlyto theWhse.areaApr.9 (CE). Ruby-crowned Kinglets areregularwinteringbirdsontheSunshine Coast, butwere largelyabsentthispastwinter,likelydueto the unseasonably deepsnowcover.Well, theymadeup forit when"swarms"of chattering migrantsmovedthroughin April (TG, m.ob.). Mountain Bluebirdsfollowed
up lastspring'sgoodpassage throughthe B.C. interior with anotherone this year: about 100 were tallied in the Vanderhoof
areaApr.7 (HA, NK) duringthepeakof the migration. A fewstragglers fromtheinterior pushmadeit outto Van.I. A femalewas at Colwood Mar. 27 (R. Grasman) & 30
(HVP), while a male was farther west at JordanR. Mar. 27 & 30 (A. Cooper).Later
onewasat C. Saanich May 1 (L. DeMarch) andthesamedayanotherwasreported way w. at Frank I., Torino,s.w.Van. I. (N. Rich-
edy).TheGreater Van.areastwoshowed up at ColonyFarm,Coquitlam, Apr.5-6 (LCo, m.ob.).As is typicalof mostspecies at the edgesof their range,SageThrashernumbersin theS.Ok.fluctuate noticeably from yeartoyear.Thisyeara single birdwasseen
delayed damof passepine migrants brokein the3rdweekof May.Typicalof thefrenzied passagesof some specieswere the 20 WarblingVireosand 24 N. Waterthrushes located at Hubble Rd. near Amanita L., 50
km n.e.of PG,May24 (SK,LL,DG). An Am.TreeSparrowat NakuspMar. 28 (M&J Allard,GSD) paida rarevisit to the W. Kootenays. More commonlyreported the pastdecade,but still scarceon the s. coast, a Vesper Sparrow was at Pitt Meadowson a veryearlydateof Mar 21. Anotherfour Vespersin the Nakusparea May 3 (GSD,NM) hintedat a relatively heavyspringpassage throughthevalleys. A singingmaleGrasshopper Sparrowseen near Cranbrook,E. Kootenays, May 24-25 (GrR, G1R,JLa,GSD) furnishedan interest-
ing discovery of thisverylocals. interior FIELDNOTES
british columbia-yukon species. FoxSparrows aresub-alpine breeders in the Kootenays,and are rarely encountered during spring migration. Surprising,then, was one at valleylevel near GalenaBayApr. 27 (GSD). Showing up more often in fall and winterthan the sprangin the Q.C.I., a Golden-crowned Sparrowat PortClementsApr.25, andtwo more at Massetthe next day,were good finds (MH, PH). A spectacularwave of White-crownedSparrowsmovedthrough the Whse.areain earlyMay,with flocksof 200 visitingfeeders(m.ob.).A rareand irregularmigrantthroughthe Q.C.I., an ad. male LaplandLongspurat MassetMay 4 andoneat SandspitMay 15werenoteworthy (MH, PH). Very rare on the Sunshine Coast,especially in the spring,a Bullock's Oriole was observedat SecheltMay 27 (DBr) No longer hypotheticalon the Q C I, a maleEveningGrosbeak attendeda feederat MassetMay 6 (OD, BWi), the Islands' first. ½ORRIGEIIIDA
In AFN 50:2,deleteGyrfalcon at KluaneL.; photographs do not supportoriginalidentlficataon.In AFN 50:3, Black-bellied Plov-
(GrR), GlendaRoss(G1R),Nels Saemerov,
Weber (WCW), JasonWeir, Mildred White
MadeIon
(MWh), Karen Wiebe, Betsy Williams (BWi),DougWilson(DgW),AlanYoung,
Schouten, Brian Self, Chris
Siddle, PamelaSinclair,Prue Spitmann (PSp), Andew Stewart, Russ Tkachuk (RTk), Rick Toochin(RTo),DannyTyson (DTy), Hank vanderPol (HVP), WayneC.
YukonBird Club (YBC).
Jac k'B'oWii'n g,R•,i-•14'-Cq1, Prince 'George, BCV2N2H8.(
[email protected]).
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917
oregon-washington region Co.,OR);O.S.(OceanShores,
NOAA vesseloverdeepwateroff Oregon,
GraysHarborCo., WA);
found14Murphy'sPetrelsapproximately 110nauticalmi off thes.OregoncoastMay 3, andtwo moreapproximately 140nauti-
Sauvie(SauvieI., Columbia Co. and MultnomahCo.,
OR);S.J.C.R. (south jettyof the ColumbiaR., Clatsop ß
Westport ':'
Astor,a
.•,
;•;;! ßEllensburg
Co., OR);W.W.R.D.(Walla WallaR. delta,WallaWalla Co.,WA).
':'•:4;:•12h• 'Yakima
•¾:i•'
LOONS
TO
FAI.½ON$
Two Yellow-billed
Loons
were found on Puget Sound
•) Till'arn(•) 7 •.?; •'•'• aker.
waters:
one
at
Poulsbo, Kitsap, Mar. 9-10 (fideRR) andoneat
Keystone,Island,Apr. 6 (SM).
Twelve Western
and 16 Clark's grebes wereat ER.R.in lateMay (MH); this is one of the
BILL TIII/EIT and GERARD BLUE
only known breeding sitesin w. Oregonfor W. ,An•elo• Range Grebe, and the only knownbreedinglocation in w. Oregonfor Clark's. It is interesting that Clark's appear to equal or outnumber Westernsat this location, as Clark's are de-
•he weather was wet--either wetter cidedlylessnumerous thanWesterns at inthan average or simply average. Spokane received over seven inches of rain; normal there is three-and-a-half inches.
Farthersouthin the interior,precipitation at Malheur National Wildlife Refugein southeastern Oregonwasmorenearlynormal. Springseemedto be a continuous seriesof low-pressure systems and accompanyingrain andshowers, albeitinterspersed with milder conditions. There was one
strongstorm near the end of April that slowedlandbirds,with a noticeablepush north afterwards.
terior locationswhereboth species breed. Other Clark'sreportsawayfrom their accustomedinteriorlocationsweresinglesat Edmonds, Snohomish,WA, Mar. 4 (SM);
YaquinaBay, Lincoln,OR, Apr. 1 (SD); WinchesterBay, Douglas,OR, Apr. 19 (RM); WestMedicalL., Spokane, WA, Apr. 25 (JA);O.S.Apr.30 (BT); and offshoreat Harbor,Curr)½ OR, May 18 (DM). ReportedpelagictripsweretakenApr.26 andMay 17 off Westport,WA (TRW). No Laysan Albatrosses were reported,and very low
The season seemed best characterized
numbersof N. Fulmar (6-20), Pink-footed
by interiorbirdson thewestside: Wilson's
Shearwater(four-five), and SootyShearwater(207-567)werefound.In Oregon,an ad.Laysan Albatross wasfounddeadon the
Phalarope,CalliopeHummingbird,Western Kingbird,Loggerhead Shrike,Nashville Warbler.Easternvagrantswereunspectacular,but present.
Abbreviations:ER.R.(FernRidge Re•.,Lane Co., OR);Malheur(MalheurN.W.R.,Hamey 9J8
1992.
American White Pelicans, rare in w.
Richland
•?:Medford. •:•
calmi off the s.coastMay 12.Thesereports would providethe 2d and 3d recordsfor Oregon pending acceptanceby the O.B.R.C.,and the firstspringrecordssince
beach s. of Manzanita, Tillamook, Mar. 28
(fideGL). OregonSootynumberswerealso in thelowhundreds off BoilerBay,Lincoln, May 15 (TJ, DVB) and out of Newport, Lincoln,May 25 (RL). Force,workingon a
Oregon,wereseenat two locations:one at ER.R.March27-May 14 (A. McGie,DBr) and one on SauvieMay 26 (J. Morawski). As hasbeenthe casein mostrecentyears, BrownPelicansarrivedalongthe coastin April.The firstwasobservedin Brookings, Curry,OR, Apr. 7 (DM). On the Oregon coast,theywerepresentin smallnumbers throughApril (m.ob.)andwereregularby mid-May (MP). The first WashingtonreportswereApr. 24 (BW, PtSu), and they wereregularon the s. coastby mid-May (BSh, G&W Hoge). Two Great Egretsat Sedro Woolley,Skagit,May 13 (C. Blake) wereunusuallyfar north for springin w. Washington. A SnowyEgretat Crow Butte S.P.,Benton,May 1-7 (WC, m.ob.)provided about the 10th spring record for Washington. SingleCattleEgretsat Attalia, Walla Walla,WA, May 24 (DR) and near Coburg, Lane, OR, Mar. 30-Apr. 4 (F. Chancey) werehighlyunusual. White-faced Ibis overshoots were found at Palouse,
Whitman,WA, May 7 (ph.,A. Meyer)and in WallaWalla,WA,May25 (DR). A "Bewick's" Tundra Swan was at F.R.R.
Mar. 19 (D. Jones)for thefirstRegionalreport of this racein the 1990s.Countsof 1800 Greater White-fronted
Geese on the
westsideat the Humptulips R. mouth, GraysHarbor,WA, Apr. 30 (BT) and 4000 in the Klamath Basin Mar. 21-22 (PaSu)
werevery high countsfor the Region,last equaledin 1990.Numbersof thisspecies in w. Oregonweresufficiently heavyto draw comment (HN). Ross'sGeeseblanketedthe
Region:an amazing30+ werefound away fromtheirregularmigratorystopovers in s. Oregon. Ten westside reports almost equaledthe spring1994recordof 11: singlesat Snohomish, Snohomish, WA, Mar. 3 FIELD NDTES
ore on-washinton (PtSu); NisquallyN.W.R., Thurston,WA, Mar 21-22 (BSh); near Pacific City, Tdlamook OR, Mar. 21 (HN); near Florence, Lane, OR, Mar. 23-27 (DH, J. Sim-
mons);RidgefieldN.W.R.,Clark,WA, Mar. 24 (E Anderson,J. Engler); ER.R. Mar. 25-Apr. 6 (DH, PSh, RgR); Sutherlin, Douglas,OR, Apr. 21 (KW); the HumptulipsR. mouth,GraysHarbor,WA,Apr.30 (BT), and two were at NisquallyN.W.R., Thurston, May 5 (PtSu).Twentyin e.Washlngton was apparentlya record:one at RoyalL., Adams,Mar. 26 (fideRR); 11 at Wfilow Bar, Garfield,Apr. 12 (MD, MID); three at Reardan,Lincoln,Apr. 27 (tJA); one at StatelinePond,WallaWalla,May 4
breedingrecordsare few,but nestingappearedprobable(DL, KC) at thiscoastallocation.A GoldenEagleat Everett,WA,Mar. i (SM) and another Mar. 3 at nearby Snohomish(PtSu), were unusual in the
PugetTrough.Noneof lastwinter'srecord numberof Gyrfalcons wasreportedlingering past early March: four were noted throughMar. 8 (SM, fide RR), including one more Oregonreport,a graysub-adult
M1D) and one at the Hood R. mouth, Hood
Prairie Falcons are rare in the Willamette
River,OR, May 3 (PaSu). A totalof 4 Semipalmated Sandpiperreportsis typicalfor spring:one at Dugwalla
Valleyin spring;one wasat ER.R. May 4 (RT). SandhillCranesare rarelyreported from s.w.Oregon,so two at the FlorasL.
May5 (DR); oneat RockL., Whitman,May 8 (PtSu); and two at FolsomL., Whitman,
and also late.
May 9 (PtSu).The EmperorGoosein residenceon the SandyR. near Troutdale, Multnomah,OR, remainedthroughoutthe period (m.ob.), and the bird found at Hunter Cr., Curry,OR, duringthe winter waslastnotedApr.6 (CD). Threereportsof Brantawayfrom the coastis fairlynormal: Singleswere near ForestGrove,Washington, OR, Mar. 2 (HN); Royal L., Adams, WA,Mar. 20 (fideRR);andBaskettSlough N W R, Polk,OR,Apr.21-26 (TS, SD). Five reportsof Eur.Green-winged Tealis above average:Singleswere on SauvieMar. 8 (GL), FenkRd.slough,Tillamook, OR, Mar. 9 (A Murray);at Everett,Snohomish, WA, Mar 9 (SM); CrockettL., Island,WA,Apr.6 (SM), andKent,King,WA,Apr.25 (R.Veit). SixteenEur.Wigeonwerefoundin theinterior, oneat Reardan,Lincoln, WA, May 20 (JA)wasverylate.The confirmed breeding record of N. Shoveler obtained at Camas
Swale,nearCreswell, Lane,whenSallyNelson observed a female with seven chicks
Apr 26, providedoneof veryfewbreeding recordsforw. Oregon.Redheads werebeing reportedfromER.R.in largernumbersthis springthan localobservers haveeverseen
CHARADRIFORMS
Both golden-plover species werereported: an Americanwas seennear Brookings, Curry,OR,Apr.28-May 1 (E. Irle et al.) and singlePacifics wereat O.S.Apr.9 (TA) and May 11 (ED) & 16 (BSh).The countof 450 Semipalmated Ploversreportedfrom ClatsopBeach,Clatsop, May 4 (MP) represented oneof thelargestOregoncountsof this species.Only 4 reportswere receivedof SnowyPlover,all from knownbreedinglocations: the Siltcoos R. mouth, Lane, OR
(B&ZSt,RgR);LeadbetterPt., Pacific,WA (PtSu); and O.S. (ED). Black-neckedStilts were found
at several unusual
e. Wash-
ington locations: Dallesport, Klickitat (WC); Atkins L., Douglas (AS); St. Andrews,Douglas(JA);and Reardan,Lincoln (JA). They alsograced2 w. Oregonlocationswherethey are rare:threeat ER.R. Apr. 5 (J. Carlson,S. Gordon,A&TM), and oneat EmigrantL., Jackson, Apr. 13 (RgR). The only westside Am. Avocetreportwas one at YaquinaBay,Lincoln,OR, May 13 (TJ, CM, DVB). A total of 31 LesserYellow-
legsrepresented an above-average number (mob ), and were still there at the end of of this scarcespringmigrant.Oregonhad theperiod.Breeding of thiseastside species unusualnumberson veryearlydates:seven may be imminentat this westsidelocale, e. of Florence,Lane,Mar. 15 (B&ZSt) and which
hosts numerous
other
eastside
breeders.A hybrid TuftedDuck x scaup (sp) wasfoundn.w.of Silvana,Snohomish, WA,Apr.5 (•'SM).Oregon's winteringKing Elderat YaquinaBay,Lincoln, wasstillpresentMar.26 (fideGL). RelativelyfewWhite-tailedKite reports werereceivedthis season, totaling6 from Oregonand one fromWashington, at Julia
(PtSu). Interior recordsof Marbled Godwit
includedsix at the W.W.R.D.May 3 (MD,
near Scapoose,Columbia,Mar. 6 (HN).
bottomlands, Curry,May 17 (DL, KC) and two morethat samedayin the vicinityof PortOrford,Curry(TW), werenoteworthy,
(MD, M1D); one at Wallula, Walla Walla,
May 19-21 (tRD) for the 2ndWashington interiorspringrecord.Peakcoastalcounts of MarbledGodwitindicatedtheir respectiveabundance in OregonandWashington sixin SiletzBay,Lincoln,OR, May 3 (DH), nineat theNewR.mouth,Coos, OR,May8 (DL, KC); 135 at Tokeland,Pacific,WA, Mar. 29 (MD, MID); and 200 at O.S.Apr.6
13 near Astoria, Clatsop,Mar. 30-Apr. 2
(MP). Washington had 10 reportsduring the normal Apr. 25-May 11 time span. Solitary Sandpipersalso appeared this springin goodnumbers.WesternOregon had eight,e. Oregonfour,andWashington seven.Willetsat theW.W.R.D.May 11 (DR, B&NL) andat Harbor,Curry,OR,Apr.27 (DM) were locally rare, as was a Long-
Bay, Island, WA, May 3 (SM); two at Conway,Skagit,WA, May 4 (SA); and one nearCanby,Clackamas, OR, May 12 (TS) Also typical numbers were 2 Baird's Sandpiperreportsfrom SteigerwaldLake N.W.R., Clark WA, May 8 (WC) and W.W.R.D.May 11 (B&NL), and 2 Pectoral Sandpiperreportsfrom Beaverton,Washington,OR,Apr.10 (PaSu)andS.J.C.R. May 17-18 (MP). A RockSandpiperof the couesi racewasat Westport,GraysHarbor,WA, May 11 (BT);thisraceisthoughtto benormallyresident in Alaska. A maleRuffwasat PonySlough,CoosBay,Coos,OR, Apr. 18 (tDL, tKC), a very rare spring record.A Short-billed Dowitcher found s. of Burns,
Harney,OR,May6 (T. Korolyk)wasrarein s.e.Oregon.The westsideexperienceda minor incursionof Wilson'sPhalaropes May 9-11, with a few foundlater.A pair was at BaskettSloughN.W.R., Polk OR, May 9 (SD). Singleswere at O.S. (ED); Dungeness, Clallam,WA, (B. Boekelheide);
andBrady,Grays Harbor,WA,May 10(BT). On May 11,two femaleWilson'swerenear Canby,Clackamas, OR, (SD); threewereat Steigerwald LakeN.W.R., Clark WA (WC); andtwo wereat Kent,King,WA (fideRR). Later reports included four at Creswell, Lane,OR, May 21 (SN); a male at Forest Grove, Washington,OR, May 24 (G. Gilson);singlesat Seattleand Edmonds, WA,May25 (fideRR);andonenearCanby, Clackareas, OR, May 28 (E. Specht).Red Phalaropes wentunreported. Jaegerreportswere.scarce, with an unexpectedpreponderanceof Long-tailed Jaegers, normallythe rarestof the 3 species in spring.The Apr.26 pelagicoff Westport, WA, found only one jaeger,a Long-tailed over deep water (TRW). A flock of 62 Long-tailedwas observedapproximately 140nauticalmi off the s.OregoncoastMay 12 (MF). TheMay 17Westportpelagictrip had only one Pomarineand one Parasitic
BufferHansenN.W.R., Wahkiakum(PtSu).
billed Curlew at Tennant L., Whatcorn,WA,
A pair at SouthSlough,Coos,OR, wereobserved displayingMay 11-14; Oregon
Apr. 12 (fide J. Meche). A Hudsonian (TRW). Two Franklin's Gulls, rare in w. Godwitwasat TurnbullN.W.R., Spokane, Oregon,wereat Plat I Res.,nearSutherlin,
FALL 1997
919
Douglas,Apr. 14 (l. Hein). A wintering Little Gull remained at Point No Point,
Kitsap,WA,untilMar. 1 (VN). Heermann's Gull reportsfrom Sequim,Clallam,WA, May 3 (SA) and the Keystone Ferry Landing,Island,WA, May 8 (fideBN) were
indicativeof an earlynorthwardflight.A count of more than 30 Mew Gulls at White
Salmon,Klickitat,WA, Mar. 22 (MD, MID)
washighfor an interiorlocation.The remnantsof the winter GlaucousGull reports totaled 19. An imm. Iceland Gull was well
described fromSamishFlats,Skagit,Apr.6
Mondovi,Lincoln,Mar. 18 (IA) had disappearedby Mar. 22, but singleslingeredat Creston, Lincoln, until
Mar.
4
(M.
Houston).The N. Hawk Owl at Cheney, Spokane, WA, remaineduntil Mar. 17 (B. Whelton).A BurrowingOwl hit by a car nearBeaverton, Washington, Mar. 27 (BSa) was a w. Oregonrarity. The Great Gray Owl at BridleTrailsS.P.,King,WA, Apr. 6 (M. Anderson) wastheonlyremnantof the winterinvasion,asthebird at BigBeaverL., Okanogan,WA, May 20 (WC) was in its regularbreedingrange.
Apr. 27 (SD) and three May 5 (SD) Elsewhere on the westside, singleswereat Seattle,WA, May 6 (SA);alongthe North UmpquaRd., Douglas,OR, May 10 (RM), and at SpencerI., Snohomish, WA, May 13 (SM). Gray Flycatchers are evenmoreunusualon thewestside; surprising werefour at Detroit Flats,Marion, OR, May 5 (SD) BlackPhoebesare showinga rangeexpansion,butarestillunusualawayfromcoastal Curryandthe CoquilleValleyof s.Oregon
A pairwasfoundnestingat Creswell, OR, May 15 (SM, SN), a first breedingrecord
(?SM); there are 6 previous accepted
Extreme rarities on the westside n. of
Washingtonrecords.A handfulof BlackleggedKittiwakeswerereportedfrom the outercoast,with a peakcountof sevenat O.S. (PtSu). The countsof 118 Caspian Ternsat W.W.R.D.May 9 (MD, MID) and
the Roguevalleyincluded:the Com.Poorwill heardcallingin Gladstone,Clackareas, OR, Apr. 27 (fideGL); the White-throated Swiftat FinleyN.W.R.,Benton,OR, May 18
Mar.24 (O. Halvorson). Theusualsprinkle of Say'sPhoebereportsfrom the westside consisted of one at Toketee,Douglas,OR, Mar. 8 (KG);oneat NeahBay,Clallam,WA,
(K. Carter); and the male Black-chinned
Mar. 21 (BN); and one at Seattle,WA, Mar
75 at the PalouseR. mouth, Franklin, WA,
Hummingbirdin St.Helens,Columbia, OR, duringthe first week of May (S. Nemitz, fide HN). The now annual reports of Costa'sHummingbirdin Oregonincluded a male in BendApr. 18 (R. Baker)and a
23 (S. Richardson). WesternKingbirdsappearedin above-average numbersin Curry and the WillametteValley,outsideof their regularwestsiderangein the Rogueand Umpquavalleys.T. Wahl reported>20 in the Elk R. bottomlands,Curry,OR, May 2,
May 31 (MD, MID) demonstrate the substantialpopulationgrowthin the interior. CommonandArcticternsweresparingly reported;13 of theformerwereseenon the Oregoncoast(DD, DL, KC, RL), and two Arcticswereat S.LC.R.May 18 (MP). Black Terns,primarilyan interiorspecies, were nestingagainthisyearat ER.R.,with 16observedin May (MH). The peak countof Marbled Murrelet at Point No Point,
Kitsap, WA,was402Mar.24 (VN), a smaller peakthanthosenotedin 1994and1995. Cassin's Aukletnumbersoff Westporthad dwindledto oneby May 17 (TRW);webelievetheWashington populations maybe in serious trouble. A Horned Puffin was found
dead on the beach at Yaquina Head, Lincoln,OR, Mar. 6 (E. Barkley);30 were observed approximatey 110nauticalmi off the s.OregoncoastMay 3, and sevenmore were off the OregoncoastMay 12 (MF). The live countsover deepwater are the highesteverfor the Region. PIGEONS
TO
MIMIDS
Interior reports of Band-tailed Pigeon camefrom L. Chelan,Chelan,WA,Apr. 16 (fide S. Hoover); Spokane,WA, Apr. 18 (RD); PictureRockPass, Lake,OR, May 13 (TJ, CM); and MalheurMay 13 (AR, CB). Lingeringbirdsfrom the SnowyOwl invasioncontinuedinto mid-Marchin Oregon: Twowerestill at the S.J.C.R.Mar. 20 (fide GL) andonewasalongTillamookBayMar. 22 (BSa).Numbersin w. Washingtonheld strongthroughMarch,with at least21 reported.The lastsightings in April weretwo at Edison,Skagit,Apr. 6 (SM); four at O.S. Apr.9 (TA);oneat Bow,Skagit, Apr.9 (fide RR);andtwo at Stanwood, Snohomish, Apr. 10 (TA). In e. Washington, the 16 birdsat 9ZO
malein Portland in lateAprilandearlyMay (P.Shepherd, fide HN). EventhoughtransientCalliopeHummingbirds arefoundalmostannuallyin the lowerWillamettevalley,theyarestillconsidered quiterarein the n. valleyand alongthe coast.This spring, however,there were severalreportsfrom the s. Willamettevalleyand an unusually large number from the n. end: one at Cornelius,Washington, Apr. 6 (fideHN); a malein Astoria,Clatsop, Apr. 11 (MP); one s. of Corbett, Multnomah, Apr. 12 (N. Willis);a displaying maleat SkinnerButte, Lane,Apr.12 (A&TM); onenearWaterville on the McKenzieR., Lane (A. Reid); one s.
of Creswell, Lane,Apr.25 (D&H Lown);a malein Elmira,Lane,Apr.26 (D. Pettey);a malein Mt. TaborParkin Portland Apr.28 (GL); a malein Corvallis,Benton,Apr. 28 (P.Murtaugh);onein HappyValleys.e.of Portland,May 2 (D. Sutter);two malesat Toketee,Douglas,May 7 (KG); and one at Mary'sPeak,Benton,May 10 (J.Plissner). A normalspringtotalhaslessthan5 westside reports.
A Yellow-belliedSapsuckerwasfound at Pe Ell, Lewis, Mar. 3-15 (PtSu, SM, m.ob.) for the first w. Washingtonrecord. WestsideRed-napedSapsuckers were at Boring,Clackamas, OR,Apr.15 (N. Pestice) and SeattleApr. 19 (TA). The only Least Flycatcher reportedwasone at Davenport,
Lincoln,WA, on the earlydateof Apr. 28 (JA).DuskyFlycatchers, generally irregular onthewestside n. of s.Oregon,haveproven reliable at Detroit Flats, Marion, OR, in
smallnumberseachspring,with one seen
for Lane; one was near Peoria, Linn, OR,
andeightwerein Brookings, Curry,m early May (CD,DM). Fivewerereportedin then Willamettevalley,andsixwerealongthec and n. Oregon coast (m.ob.). In w Washington,11 reports from the Puget Troughwasaboveaverage, but not recordbreaking.BankSwallows areanothereastsidespecies that occurirregularly w m the spring:6 sightingscamefrom Skaga,WA (fideBK,SA),wherebreedingis a posslbfilty, and two were found elsewherein w Washington (TA, SM). A coupleof Bluelaysfromthewinterinvasionremaineduntil Apr. 22 in Eugene, OR (D. Wendtet al.); May 3 at Vancouver, Clark,WA, (S&A Hagen);and May 10 at Moro, Sherman,OR (LR). The almostte-
diousrecitation of W. Scrub-layreports fromtheirrangeedgesincludedbirdsn to Kitsap(VN), King (l. Bragg),and Skaga (fideBK),ande.to RockCr.(MD, MID) and Goldendale (BT) in Klickitat; Cle Elum, Kittitas,WA (ED); and Moro, Sherman,OR
(LR).Otherremainders of thewinterfhghts includedtwo Mr. Chickadees in w. Oregon in early March (l. Hannan, DD) and a PygmyNuthatchin Wapato,Yakima,WA, Apr.25 (AS).Rareawayfromtheirhmlted range in Oregon, four Blue-grayGnatcatcherswere found in Lane,OR: one w of
Eugene Apr.24-29 (J.Morcelloet al.) anda maleandtwo femalesfoundon the s slope of Mr. PisgahMay 1 thoughthe endof the period(PShet al.). TwoMt. Bluebirdreports came from the outer coast:two at LeadbetterPt., Pacific,WA, Apr. 24 (PtSu) FIELD NOTES
andonealongtheElkR., Curry,OR,May 2 (TW) NorthernMockingbirds are rare in w Oregon, andespecially soin spring. Eight records isprobably a highforspring: onein Brookings,Curry,throughApr. 13 (B. Stewart,m.ob.),onejustn. of Eugene, Lane, Apr 2 (RT); onein Alvadore,Lane,May 5 (DBr); three in PortlandMay 9-23 (L. Carlson,R. Jolly,J. Quincey);and one in Newberg,Yamhill,May 22 (F. Shipley). Sevenreportsfromtheinteriorisa bit more than normal: one at Richland,Benton,WA,
Mar 1-2 (B&NL);threein Harnej4OR (C. Elshoff, R&J Krabbe, CC, DE); one near Echo, Umatilla, OR, Mar. 15 (CC); one in
Moro,Sherman, OR,throughMar. 22 (LR); and one s. of Vale,Malheur,OR, May 18 (PaSu).A SageThrasherwas at Detroit Flats,Marion,May 5 (SD);theyarerarein w Oregon.BrownThrashers, analmostannualvagrant,appeared at 2 MalheurlocationsMay 4 (DE,L. Messick)& 19 (GI). SHRIKES
TO
FINCHES
Thenumberof westside Loggerhead Shrike reports was also above average:one at FisherButte,Lane,OR,Apr.2 (AP);oneat FRR Apr. 5-6 (B. Combs,RgR);one on the deflationplainat the SiuslawR. mouth, Lane, OR, Apr. 7 (B&ZSt); one at Detroit Flats,Marion,OR,Apr. 15-May 5 (J.Lundsten,SD); two at Seattle,WA, Apr. 15-16
(fideRR);andone-twoat Steigerwald Lake N WR., Clark,WA, Apr. 22-May 5 (PtSu, WC) NashvilleWarblersare anothereastside speciesthat is of rare, but annual,
springoccurrence in w. Washingtonlowlands Fourteenreports,from Apr. 11 through May 5, is more than normal. Hermit Warblersin Richland, Benton,WA,
May 15 (B&NL) and at MalheurMay 16 (C&A Elshoff,G. Larson)wereinteriorrarities
Palm Warblers
were observed
at
YaqumaBay,Lincoln,OR, Apr. 5 and near thes jettyof theSiuslaw R.,Lane,OR,also Apr 5 (bothB.Newhouse), andat Malheur May 9 (DE). As is often the casein the spring,alltheeastern vagrantwarblers were
reportedfromHarney:Tennessee Warblers at FieldsMay 24 (M) andat MalheurMay 26 (DB), a male Chestnut-sided Warbler at
FieldsMay 23 (M), two Blackpoll Warblers at MalheurMay 17 (fideDE), Black-andwhiteWarblersat FieldsMay 17 (M) & 31 (SRu),andAm. Redstarts at FieldsMay 25 (M) and Malheur May 26-27 (GI). The otherannualspringeastern vagrants, RosebreastedGrosbeakand Indigo Bunting,
werealsoreported primarilyfromHarney. Male
Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks were at
MalheurMay 17 (C. Reep)and May 27 FALL 1997
(GI), andat PortTownsend, Jefferson, WA, May 27 (R. Sikes).Two IndigoBuntings wereat MalheurMay 29-31 (AR, CB,CC) and anotherwasat FieldsMay 30 (WC). Two Clay-coloredSparrowshad returnedto theirSpokane, WA,breeding site May 16 (JA)for at leasttheir3rdyearthere. A Brewer'sSparrowon the westsidein Pierce,WA, May 18 (K. Betfinger)wasanotherwandererfrom theinterior.One,apparently of the Timberline race (or species?), wasfound on Upper Cold Cr., Yakima,WA, May 17 (?AS). Othereastside sparrowsin the west included a Lark Sparrow e.of SweetHome,Linn,OR,May8 (TJ,DVB), andBlack-throated Sparrows in Eugene,Lane,OR, May 3 (AP); at Detroit Flats,Marion, OR, May 8 (D. Copeland);
and n. of Vancouver, Clark,WA, May 24 throughtheperiod(S.Griffith,fideHN). In
EXOTICS
A N. Cardinalwasat Clarkston,Asotin,WA,
Apr.14-May 23 (fideM. Koliner). COI•I•IGENDOM
The reference in the Fall 1996reportto a Washington specimen of Red-tailed Tropicbirdwasquitea blooperby Tweit, the specimen was,of course,the expected species, a Red-billed Tropicbird. Initialledobservers,with subregionaleditors in boldfece:Jim Acton, ScottAtkinson,
Tom Aversa,David Bailey,RangeBayer (Lincoln,OR), Thai• Bock (Tacomaarea), Dan Van Den Broek (DVB), David Brown
(DBr), Carla Burnside,Wilson Cady, KathleenCastlein,CraigCorder,Edward Deal,Mike and Merry LynnDenny,Ron Dexter,Dewidt,ColinDillln•alll (Curry),
yearsnowwellpast,Grasshopper Sparrows
Steve DoMan, Duncan Evered, Michael
bredat F.R.R.,their onlyknownbreeding locationon the westside.Singingmales
Force, Jeff Gilligan, Keith Graves,Dan Heyerly,Matt Hunter,Gary Ivey (Malheur
were found at 2 different ER.R. locations
N.W.R-), Tim Jantzen,Jim Johnson,Mer-
May 10 (TM) & 16 (RT,RgR);is it possible suitable habitatis available for themagain? An easternsubspecies Fox Sparrowwasin Sutherlin,Douglas,OR, Mar. 30-Apr. 1 (KW). The only SwampSparrowreport wasoneat Maryhill S.P.,Klickitat,WA,Apr. 22 (PtSu).FifteenGolden-crowned Sparrow reportsfrom the interior is normal, with the latestat Davenport,Lincoln,WA, May 5 (JA),and the mostunusualat MalheurApr.13(E Bailey).
lene Koliner (Clarkstonarea),Bob Kuntz, Bill & Nancy LaFramboise,Dave Lauten, Roy Lowe, Ron Maertz, Maitreya (M),
The Tricolored Blackbird colonies in e.
Oregonwereapparentlyall occupied;110 near Prineville, Crook,Mar. 1 (PaSu) was
thehighcount.A maleGreat-tailed Grackle at Fields,Harney,OR, May 23 throughthe period(M, SRu)wasthe only report.An imm. male Orchard Oriole was in Brook-
ings, Curry,Mar. 14 (?CD) for the 5th Oregonrecord,if thedetailsareaccepted by the O.B.R.C. A male Hooded Oriole at
CapeMearesVillage,Tillamook, Apr.17-21 (M. Tweelinckx et al.) wasthe onlyreport of thisannualspringvisitantto w. Oregon. The only areawith numerousreportsof RedCrossbills wasthe Washington coast (BT, MD, MID). Two LesserGoldfinchesat
RockCr.,Klickitat,Apr.26 (MD, MID) were e. of their usualWashington hauntsin w. Klickitat,whereseveral werefoundin April (PtSu,ED). A Lawrence'sGoldfinchwith a
mixedflockof Lessser andAmericangoldfinches near Lower Table Rock, Jackson,
May 15 (T. Bray,Y.Zharikov)wouldconsti-
tutethe2ndOregonrecord,if accepted by the O.B.R-C.
Allison& TomMickel(Lane),CraigMiller, SteveMlodinow, Don Munson, $Iarry lqehls(w. Oregon),SallyNelson,Vic Nelson,BobNorton,MikePatterson, Al Prigge, LewRems,AndyRenc,RogerRobb(RgR), DennisRockwell,RussellRogers(Washington), Tom Rogers,Skip Russell(SRu), BobSalinger(BSa),Bill Shelmerdine (BSh), Tim Shelmerdine,Paul Sherrell (PSh), Andy Stepnewski,Bill & Zannah Stotz, Patrick Sullivan (PtSu), Paul Sullivan (PaSu),R. Titus, T. Wahl, Terry R. Wahl,
Katherine Wilson,BobWoodley. Bill Tweit, P.O.Box 1271, Olympia, WA 98507 and Gerard Lillie, 329 SEGilham,
Portland, OR,97215(
[email protected])
middle pacific coast region Abbreviations:
C.B.R.C.(CaliforniaBird
Records Committee); C.V.(Central Valley); S.F. (SanFrancisco); W.A. (WildlifeArea).Banded
birdsfromBigSurR.mouth, Monterey, should becredited to BigSurOrnithology Lab.
ßYrekaKlamath Basin ':--':•
:'":'"•!i ) •::". refuges Warner Ivh's.:•.
LOONS
TO
SHEARWATERS
Over 200 Red-throated
Loons off Ft. Ord
Apr.26 (DR, DSg,ASH, DWm) represented an exceptional concentration for Montere• thoughtheywerestagingin theirpreferred habitat of shallow water over sand. An ad.
Com.Loonon Paicines Res.May 25 wasthe first in springfor San Benito(DLSh). A striking migrant was an alternate-plumagedYellow-billed Loonpassing PigeonPt., San Mateo, Apr. 24 (•-BMcK, BS, •-FrT). Fouralternate-plumaged HornedGrebesat Ukiahsewage pondsMay 3 wasan unusual group inland in Mendocino(RKJ, CEV, DAE, JRW). A Red-necked Grebe at Men-
dota W.A., Fresno,Mar. 8 (B. Widowson)
wasveryrarein the SanJoaquinValley.May 9 was a late date for four Red-necked
Grebestarrying at BodegaBay, Sonoma (DN).
The LaysanAlbatross at Pt. Arenaharbor was last reported Mar. 25-29 (GS,
BDP). A LaysanAlbatrossrescuedfrom a streetin SouthSanFrancisco Apr.24 (fide]. Moghler)wasthe 3rd springbird onshore in SanMateo.SomeinlandLaysans appear to have ridden ships into the Port of Oakland and then were evicted, but recur-
ring onshorerecordssuggest that somearrive unaided.Offshore,three Laysansoff SantaCruzMay 16 (DLSh,JiD) and four off MontereyMay 20 (SFB)reflectedthisalbatross' continued
DONROBERSON, STEPHEN F. BAILEY, and DANIEL S. SINGER
son"wasalsoa sparrow(q.v.).Alas,intriguing reports of KentuckyWarbler and Common
Grackle were received without
detailsandwill not be published; thisisthe norm for reportsof exceptionalvagrants
roffshore. etanother E1 Nino gathered strength Onshore, the spring was generalrule extendsto daimsof firstsfor submitted
without
documentation.
This
ratherdry,anddry-country sparrows dom-
counties;the few includedhere carry the
inated the landbird news(seediscussions of Black-chinned, Black-throated, and Grass-
"no details" comment.
hoppersparrows).The "bird-of-the-sea-
documented.
922
increase off our coast.
This year'sfirst Flesh-footedShearwater was off MontereyMay 24 (DLSh, JiD). Manx Shearwaters continuedto be regular in MontereyBay,with singlesoff Monterey Apr. 5 (RT) and at Seabright Beach,Santa Cruz,Apr. 16 (•-BMcK).
Observers should
assure their interesting findsareadequately
HERONS
TO
WATERFOWL
NestingAm. Bitternscreatedexcitementin Santa Clara, where 2 nests discovered in
May (SCR) representedthe first known breedingsince1937.In adjacent SanBenito, FIELD NOTES
middle pacific coast an individual in Hollister Mar. 12 (JLx,
an adult at Eureka, Humboldt, Mar. 4
SHOREBIRDS
Park, MigrantPacific Golden-Plovers werenoted (GSL), an adult at Schollenberger Sonoma, Mar. 8-15 (A. N. Wight, m.ob.), county record thiscentury, butwasquickly atPigeon Pt.,SanMateo, wherefivepassed and a sub-adultat TrestlePonds,Yolo,Apr. followed byanother in Hollister Apr.13-20 betweenApr. 3-26, and one wasat the
DLSh,ADeM) wasconsidered justthe2nd
5 (GEw,BDW). Twoad.Sabine's GullsinValley W.A.Apr.20provided least 19 Solitary Sandpipersdetected landat Shasta the2ndspringrecordfor Siskiyou (RE).An Regionwide between Apr.8-May 19wasa
(DLSh,ADeM), displayingand pumping;
SalinasR. mouth, Monterey,Apr. 26. At
breeding waslaterconfirmed. Isthespecies increasing locally, orhasit beenoverlooked •n pastyears? Eitherwaythe newsis encouraging. It is likelythatmorerainfall throughout thisdecade hasresulted in increased potentialbreedinghabitatat the
goodshowing; theseweremoreor less evenly divided between thecoast andinterior. A Curlew Sandpiperat Palo Alto,
sametime that moreobservers arecovering
SantaClara,Apr.14markedthe2ndconsecutivespring--but only 2nd spring
areasformerlyignoredor overlooked. Two
record--for this speciesin our Region.
White-facedIbis at San FelipeL., May 27
Subtle differencesin structure led the ob-
(SCR)madea rareSanBenito record.
server to speculate thatperhaps it wasa dif-
oiled ad. Sabine's Gull visited Bolinas
Lagoon, Marin,May10(RS,LLu,CLu). ElegantTernsreturnedto Monterey earlier than ever, except 1987: one over
Zmudowski pondMar.29 (TAm)andfour at ElkhornSloughApr. 12 (G. Meyer), wherea raremigrantLeastTernappeared Apr. 26 (DSg,DR, ASH, DWm). Thirty
ferent individual than the one he found
BlackTernsat SanFelipeL. Apr. 26 seta
mathN.W.R.,Siskiyou, March8-9 (?WEH,
nearby last year (?SCR). Two Semipalmated andfourBaird'ssandpipers be-
JTr),amonga flockof an estimated 40,000
tween Apr. 20-May 12 was an average
new record number for San Benito (KVV, CT). The five Black Skimmers resided at
Ross's.The winteringEmperorGooseat
showing, but twowell-described Pectoral Sandpipers seenandheardalongSantaFe Grade,Merced, March3 (KMcK)suggested possible overwintering. Springmigrants are
At least 11 dark-morph Ross'sGeese
werecarefullyscrutinized at LowerKla-
Bodega Bay,Sonoma, lingered untilApr.30 (mob.). The"Aleutian" CanadaGoosecontlnuesits remarkablerecoveryfrom near
extinction in theearly1960s, withupwards unknownbeforemid-April. of 24,000talliedin n.w.DelNotreMarch15
(M Fisher).A pair of Blue-winged Teal bred successfully in Marin, whereseven ducklings werenotedat theOlemaMarsh
LARIDS
TO ALClDS
Charleston Slough,SantaClara,through May 8, whentheymovedto neighboring areas(m.ob.).On Apr.27 singleskimmers wereat BrooksI., ContraCosta(SAG),and
PajaroR. mouth,Monterey (C. Rodgers), and four sat on a beach at Princeton
Harbor,SanMateo,May 18 (AJ).
Single alternate-plumaged Marbled PigeonPt.Apr.3-4 (PJM,BMcK,RSTh) Murreletswere out of place,but not unprecedented, at BrooksI., ContraCosta, duringthelastweekofMay(RS).Sixty-five was a high 2-day countfrom shorein Mar. 15 (SAG) and off the Big Sur R. Surf Scotersat L. Mendocino, Mendocino, spring.A SouthPolarSkua12mi off the mouth Apr. 23 (GePh).Two alternateMay 3 (RIK,CEV,IRW) wasan amazing Monterey Pen.May24 (DLSh,SNGH)proAncient Murrelets sojourned late totalat an inlandlocation,andbegging the videdonlyaboutour1lth record in spring, plumaged May 31 near Pt. Reyes (RS, LLu, CLu). A question of justhowmanyof these"sea whenthis speciesis moreregularoff s. Rhinoceros Auklet at a burrow entrance on ducks" actually migrateovertheinteriorof Cal]fornia. GreenRock,Humboldt, Apr.26 (TWL) sugThree Franklifts Gulls in Santa Clara ourRegion. A maleBarrow's Goldeneye at prospecting a newbreeding site,yet theBigSurR.mouth,Monterey, May22-23 Apr.13-29andfourin Marinin May(fide gested only 1-3 Tufted Puffins were seen at this (?TN,RC,IBo,?DR)represented onlythe RS)represented a normaltotal,but none traditional but dwindling puffin colony 2nd time thisspecies hasbeenrecorded wasreported fromtheKlamathBasin.Of (GSL, LPL, TWL). Horned Puffins apalongourcoastbetween MayandNovem- threeMew Gullslingeringto the endof ber. One observer saw it do head-back May,thesurprise wasan adultat Bolinas pearedalongour coastfrom SanMateo courtship-like displays, evidently "justfor Lagoon, Marin(KH).Coastal "Ring-billed north. One flewN pastPigeonPt. Apr. 10 practice" sincetherewereno othergold- Gulls"awayfrom estuaries are usually (SAG). Singlesin Mendocinowere at S.EMay 25 (S.Snyder)and eneyes around. misidentified Californiaor Mew gulls.Even MacKerricher Pt.ArenaCoveMay29 (•'DT).SixHorned thoughsingleRing-billedGullsat MacA total of 36 Pomarine Jaegerspassing
RAPTORS
Kerricher S.E,Mendocino, May3 (RJK)and
A pairof BaldEaglesdiscovered nesting at Ft. Hunter-Liggett, Monterey, wasthe county's firstsince1934.A previous report pertained tonests justoverthecounty line in San Luis Obispo(AFN 50:327-328).
BigSurR. mouthMay 12 (JBo)wereat smallestuaries, theywerestillrarealong theselongrockycoastlines.
Political boundaries aside, the Ventana
Wilderness Sanctuaryreintroduction pro-
"K,lmlien's"
Iceland Gulls were re-
Puffinswerefounddeadon Pt. ReyesGreat
Beach, Marin,May 26-June2 (RSet al.); live birdswere found nearbyat Drake's Beach(?ES,m.ob.) and ChimneyRock (RS,m.ob.);andHornedPuffinvisitedEI.
of portedfromthesame2 sitesastheprevious aboutthistime (fideRS).The causes May-July Horned Puffin wrecks remain season, but spring's bothworefirst-basic plumage. Oneat Lucchesi Park,Petaluma, mysterious.
gramappears to betakinghold;thisSea-
Sonoma,Mar. 15 (JM, N. White) was be-
son'snestincludeda banded,VWS-released
lievedlikelythe samebird seenthereDec. 15(tiM), butanotheratMacKerricher S.P., Mendocino, Mar. 11 (•'RJK,DAE,CEV,DT)
A Spotted Owln. of Orick,Humboldt, was apparently killedandeatenby a pair of
piednestApr.13in Trinity marked abreeding first for that county(JEH,GjH). A Ferruginous Hawkin s. Monterey Apr.21
was2 yearsyoungerthanthe bird seen
BarredOwlsMar. 14 (?TWL);therangeex-
thereFeb.23 (RS).Alviso'sLesserBlack-
(?SFB,J&HBa)waslaterby 3 weeksthan anyprevious yearthere.
Threeof 12 GlaucousGullsthat lingered
pansion of thelatterowlcontinues tocause problems fortheendangered bird,notlimited to geneticswamping. Additional
intoMarchor earlyAprilwereolderbirds:
BarredOwlsfoundduringthe springwere
female,which recruiteda wild, unhanded male. Red-shouldered Hawks at an occu-
FALL 1997
backed Gull remained to Mar. 22 (NLe).
OWLS
TO HUMMINGBIRDS
923
at Richardson Grove, s. Humboldt, and near
Hayfork,Trinity(J.Seeger, K. Young).A vagrant Long-earedOwl was on outer Pt. Reyes,Marin, Mar. 20 (RS). There
are no
Humboldt
records
of
Lesser Nighthawk, but a silentnighthawk at ArcataApr. 14 (EE) must havebeen this species, giventhe date(Commonsdon'tarrive until late May). Likewise,an out-ofrangenighthawkat Marina,Montere)4 Apr. 26 (RFT,JSo)waspresumably a Lesser. TwoBlackSwiftsin a hugefeedingflock of swiftsoverAlamo,ContraCosta,Apr. 19 (JMR) wereinexplicable.In our Region, BlackSwiftsarriveafter mid-May,but our filescontaina fewmysterious mid-Aprilreports. Could thesebe migrantsfrom the Canadianpopulation,whichcanarriveby late April (Campbellet al., 1990,Birdsof British Columbia,Vol. 2)? White-throated
Swiftsenteringa holein a rockycutbankon Alder BluffsRd. May 5 providedthe first nestingevidencefor Trinity(C. Secor),less than 2 mi from Humboldt, where there are
no breeding records.Widely dispersed Costa'sHummingbirdsincludedmalesn. to Redding, Shasta,Apr. 22 (CY); near EurekaApr.23 (B. Hawkins);and Killgore Hills Apr. 13 and HorseshoeRanchW.A. May 8-19, both Siskiyou (RE). Amongapparenthybridsreportedthis spring were a female Anna's x Costa's Hummingbird along PescaderoCr., San Mateo,Apr. 13-24 (tBMcK), a Red-breasted x Red-napedSapsucker in Sacramento Mar. 15 (TDM), and an apparentTree x BarnSwallowat BlueL., Humboldt,Apr. 16 (tGjH). Caution is warranted, because whileBarnshavehybridized with Caveand Cliff swallows (Auk 97:148-159, Condor
77:362-364),thereis apparentlyno report of a pairingwith Tree(and it'shardto hypothesizehow thiscouldoccur).
spring/summerE. Phoebes(note a publishedaccountof Oregon'sfirst nestingof "E. Phoebe"in OregonBirds7:88-91); in thisRegiondetailswill be required.A Say's Phoebein El Granada,SanMateo,May 29 wasverylate(BS). A male Vermilion Flycatcherbriefly brightenedthe CarmelR. mouth May 29, for the 4th Montereyrecord(JBo,GePhet al.). Lingeringwinter flycatchersof note werea Dusky-capped Flycatcher in S.E to Mar. 22 (ASH) and an Ash-throatednear San Jose to Mar. 16 (MMR). Cassin's
Kingbirds farthernorththanusualincluded six nearthe PajaroR., SanBenito,Apr. 8-11 (nesting;tSCR); Santa Clara'sfirst recordedneston SanFelipeRd. from Apr. 13 on (tSCR); and one at Pt. ReyeslighthouseMay 23 (RS), which Stallcupstated wasthefirst"sanitary" Marin recordsincea 1972nestingeffort.WesternKingbirdswere alsoover-represented, with 47 at GazosCr. mouth May 4 (AJ) eclipsingall prior San Mateosingle-daycounts.A Bank Swallow overthe GarciaR. flats,Mendocino, May 15 (tDT) wasa countyrarity,while about50 wereat Sacramento's onlyremainingcolony on RossmoorBarApr. 2 (EDG). After the fall/winter montane invasions,
remnantslingered into spring. Among thesewereClark'sNutcrackers in Monterey on Cone Peak Mar. 16 (PEG) and Jack's
Peakall season(DHpt); in San Benitoon San BenitoMt. to May 9 (DLSh,ADeM); and in SanMateoon ButanoRidgeMay 2 (DLSu).WanderingYellow-billed Magpies far from regularlocalesincludedtwo in SolanoMar. 9 (Vallejo and Mare Is.; J. Lentz)andonenearCameros,s.Napa,Apr. 20 (P. Burton).The spreadof Com. Raven in n. Montereyaccelerated with firstrecords from manysiteson the MontereyPen.and BigSurcoast(DR, JBoet al.), anda neston SanJuanGrade (ADeM, DLSh). Additional
WOODPECKERS
TO
KINGLETS
Latedatesof winteringYellow-bellied Sap-
evidenceof ravenrangeexpansioncame from a Metcalf Rd., SantaClara,nest(SCR)
suckers at Pescadero and Ed Levin Park,
and an Alamo, ContraCosta,pair during
Santa Clara, were Mar. 1 (RSTh) and Mar.
March (JMR). Numbers of Red-breasted
11 (}MS), respectively, while Humboldt's vagrant White-headed Woodpecker at McKinleyville waslastseenMar. 21 (GSL). An Olive-sidedFlycatcheron Underwood Mt. Road, Trinity,Apr. 13 wasquite early for the northwest(GjH et al.). Rare E. Phoebeswere at CoyotePt., San Mateo, Mar. 4-17 (RSTh et al.) and ShadyOaks
Nuthatchesdeclinedthrough spring,but some lingeredin the lowlands.The last winteringRuby-crownedKingletsusually go by early May, but one singingalong
Park, Santa Clara, Mar. 2-15 (MJM et al., a
returningbird missedearlierin thewinter), but a lateMay claimfor Colusawasundocumented.Strangely,Duskyor Willow flycatchershave provoked claims of late 9Z4
Butano Cr., San Mateo, May 28 was re-
markablylate(DLSu).
and outerPt. ReyesMay 17 (M. Lichen).A Phainopepla overa Sacramento yardApr. 10 (TDM) wasrare on the C.V. floor.
S A Amated pair ofBell's Vireos
•1 at a likelynestsitenearGilroy May 13-28 (ph. tSCR) providedSanta Clara'sfirst breedingevidencesince4 eggs were collected in 1932 [W.E. Unglish,Condor 39:39-40;anotherpublishedreportof a bandedbird (W. Birds 19:10)provederroneous(R. Mewaldt, fide WGB)]. Intensiveeffortsto revive the populationof this endangered subspeciesin s. Californiamay sendmore potential colonizers our direction. Meanwhile, efforts to reduce cowbird
parasitism (thebiggest currenthurdle facingthis speciesnow that habitat is badly fragmented)resultedin the removalof some150cowbirdsalongthe SalinasR., Monterey/SanLuisObispo border, an area that also hosted a Bell's
Vireo nestin the last decade(JBo).
Vagrant Red-eyed Vireos were at PrincetonHarbor, San Mateo, May 18 (RSTh);BigSurR. mouth,Montere)5 May 29 (JBo); and Golden Gate Park, S.E, also
May 29 (ASH). The Big SurR. mouth also hadtwo Tennessee Warblers(May 9 & 26, the former bird banded), three N. Parulas
in May (plus anotherthree in June;JBo, CHo, DR, RC), and two Chestnut-sideds
(May 17& 25),addingto itslusterasa premiersitefor springrarities.SanMateohad a Tennessee at El GranadaMay31 (BS)and a N. Parula on San Bruno Mt. May 31
(PJM).A rarespringMagnoliaWarblerwas at TrinidadS.E,Humboldt,May 29 (TWL). Six Palms, four Black-and-whites, and four
Am.Redstarts (someof eachwerelingering winterers) seemed aboutaverage for spring. RarerOvenbirdswereon Pt. ReyesMay 18 (RS) and Elk Head, Humboldt,May 27 (TWL). Four MacGillivray's Warblers along Gazosand Butano creeksMar. 31 were very early (BMcK). The wintering Hooded Warbler near SanJosewaslastseen Mar. 12 (SCR, tAME).
It was an excellentspring for both Yellow-breastedChats and Blue Grosbeaks,
riparian-lovingspecies whichhavebeenon THRUSHES
TO
DICKCISSEL
Most winter wanderingTownsend'sSolitaires left by mid-March, but exceptions wereon SanBenitoMt. to May 9 (tDLSh, ADeM), and vagrantsappearedat Piper Slough,ContraCosta, Apr.26 (M. Havman)
thedeclinein our Region.Some48 migrant chatswerebandedat BigSurR. mouthafter Apr. 14,and nestingevidence wasobtained at previously unknownsitesin SantaClara. Thelattercountyalsohaditsfirstpresumed nestingpair of BlueGrosbeaks in Ed Levin FIELD NOTES
middle Park from Apr. 19 on (MMR et al.), plus threewidelyscatteredbirds.Elsewhere, a singingmalewason territoryin SanBenito Apr.26 (KVV, CT); 5 territorieswerelocated in s. Monterey in May (J&HBa, JBo, RFT), and 2 more on PattersonPassRd.,
SPARROWS
TO
FINCHES
The only Clay-coloredSparrowwas at a Sebastopol, Sonoma, feederApr.10 (RoM). A rare coastalBrewer'sSparrowwasalong PilarcitosCr., SanMateo,May 18 (RSTh).
ScarcespringLarkBuntingsturnedup on CrabtreeRd.,Stanislaus, Apr.27 (HMR) and near Half Moon Bay,SanMateo,May
Alameda(R. Cimeno).Roundingout these grosbeak records werethreeat PiperSlough 10 (RSTh). But the rarest of all was a May 8 (GFi) and one near HensleyL., singingLe Conte'sSparrowat L. Earl,Del Madera,May 4 (SAG).FourRose-breasted Nort• May 21-25 (ADB, tDFx, ph. MMR Grosbeaks were locatedin Montereyand SanMateo(the latter includeda wintererto
Mar. 30). More interestingwas a female Dickcissel in a Pescadero yardApr.6-17 (tPM. Saraceni,m.ob.).
et al.).
The drum beat of Great-tailed Grackles
movingN poundedon with six more in MontereyApr.7-May 27 (KVV, SRv,GePh, JMa et al.), and malesin YosemiteValley, Mariposa,Apr. 6 (S. Recilo)and MesaL., Sacramento, May 2 (LEd). Left-overCassin's Finches from the fall/winter incursion
werestrandedfrom SanBenitoMt. (to May
S A ForBlack-chinned, Black- 8; ADeM, ß '•throated,
and Grasshopper
sparrows,"it was a very goodyear"
(humSinatra asyoureadthis). Singing Black-dainneds werepresent at all sorts of newplacesin SantaClara,SanMateo, and Stanislaus, althoughbreedingevidencewas obtainedonly in the first county.SingingbirdswerenearHume L., Fresno(SAG), and at the Red Mt.
trailh•ad, Trin•y(GjH),in earlyM•y, providing datafrompoorlyknownlocales.The onlysournotewasan apparent lossof a disjunctnorthernpopulation on GunsightRidge,Siskiyou, after the lastsingingbird thereMay 18 (RE). Black-throated Sparrows wererecorded
from suchdiverselocales.as Paicines
Apr.15(ADeM;potential fi•stforSi•n Benito,no •-); the KillgøreHills, Siskiyou, May 16 (RE); andBlackPoint, Mono,May 24 (ES).But mostastonish-
ingweresingers on theSierranw. slope. In fall 1992, the Cleveland Corral fire burned 40,000 acresin El Dorado N.E
In lateMay,fourmaleswereonterritory
in Crystal Basin along Gifinite Springs Rd.,El Dorado(WEH,GFi).Although the Black-throated Sparrowsometimes exhibits dramatic (and temporary) rangeexpansions, its apprearance was
unexpected. Similarnestingevidence from'thew. slopewasobtainedonlyin
1974(Butte), •984 (El Dbrado), and 1985 (Tulare). The incessantbuzz of
Grasshopper Sparrows washeardin exceptional numbers throughout the coastal rangefrom Humboldt to Montere),(m.ob.),with outliersto thew. Yolo
foothills and•psumnes R. Preserve, Sacrazento, May24 (JTr). FALL 1997
DLSh) to feeders in Pacific
Grove,Monterey(AB), and Haywardand
acific coast
EdwardHarper,DaveHaupt,GjonHazard, KevinG. Hintsa,CraigHohenberger, Alan S. Hopkins,SteveN.G. Howell,JohnE. Hunter, Alvaro Jaramillo,Robert J. Keiffer,
RobinLG. Leong,TomW. Leskiw,GaryS. Lester,LaurenR Lester,Nick Lethaby, Ron LeValley, CindyLieurance, LeslieLieurance, Jim Lomax, John S. Luther, Michael J.
Mammoser,Timothy D. Manoils, John Mariani,RogerMarlowe,BertMcKee,Kevin McKereghan, PeterJ. Metropulos,Joseph Morlan, Dan Nelson, Todd Newberry, Benjamin D. Parmeter,Gerard Phillips, Jude Claire Power, Harold M. Reeves,Jean M. Richmond, Don Robersou, Mike M.
Rogers,StephenC. Rottenborn, Steve Rovell,Ruth A. Rudesill,Barry Sauppe, Debra L. Shearwater,Daniel Singer,John Sorensen,Jean Marie Spoelman, Rich Stallcup,Em;lle Strauss, Grace Steuer, David L. Suddjian,Chris Tenney,Richard Ternullo, Ronald S. Thorn, Robert E Tintie,
Oakland, Alameda (all in mid-March; KGH, JSL). Likewise,Red Crossbillslin-
Dorothy Tobkin, Francis Toldi, John Trochet,JamesC. Mallely, ChuckE.Vaughn,
geredon the coastor in piney lowlands (breeding canbeexpected), andunseasonal EveningGrosbeaks werereportedwidely into mid-May.Unrelatedto the montane invasion,Lawrence's Goldfinches appeared in unusuallyhigh numbers,with nesting pairsin coastalMontereyand SanMateo,
KentVan Vuren,JerryR. White, BrianD. Williams, David Wimpfheimer,Bob & Carol Yutzy. Many more observers were notspecifically dted,butallareappreciated.
scattered birds n. into
Mendocino
and
Trinity (where they are scarce;RJK, DT,
GjH et al.),andaroundtheC.V.foothillsof Yolo,El Dorado,and Calaveras(SCH, WEH, JCV et al.).
Stephen F. Bailey (Loons to Frigates, Larids to Alcids),PacificGroveMuseumof Natural
History,165 ForestAve.,PacificGrove,CA 93950;Daniel S. Singer (Herons to Shorebirds), doArroyo & Coates, 500Washington St., Ste. 700, San Francisco,CA 94111; Don Roberson (Dovesto Finches), 282 GroveAcre
Ave.,Pacific Grove, CA93950.
CORRIGENDA
The Laysan Albatross thathasbeenfaithful to Pt. Arena harbor during the pastfew yearswasfirstseenFeb.27, 1994(JBo),one yearbeforeit wasreportedto us.Twowar-
Placenamesthat are frequentlymentioned,but verylong,may be abbrevi-
bler
will be explainedin a key at the beginningof theparticularregionalreportin whichtheyareused.Standardabbreviationsthat are usedthroughoutField Notesarekeyedon page837.
comments
in
AFN
50:994
need
amendment.BreedingBird Atlaswork is proving that MacGillivray'sWarbler is ratherwidespread andlocal(not"rare")in the coastrangesof SanMateo/SantaCruz, and the nestingCorn.Yellowthroats cited
ated in a form
"W.P.B.O."
such as "C.B.B.T:'
or
Such local abbreviations
were in SanMateo (not SantaClara).
Citedcontribntors and sub-regionaleditors in boldfnce: Tim Amaral,StephenE Bailey,
AlanBaldridge, Jim& HelenBanks, AlanD. Barron, William G. Bausman, Big Sur Ornithology Lab, Jim Booker, Rita Carratello,Jim Danzenbaker,Al DeMartini,
DamienA. Ebert,LeoEdson,RayEkstrom, Alan M. Eisner,Elias Elias, Gil Ewing,
GeorgeFinger,DavidFix, SteveA. Glover, Phil E. Gordon, EdwardD. Greaves,Helen
Green,SteveC. Hampton,KeithHansen,W. 925
southern pacific coast region Preserve nearWeldon, KernCo.).Since virtually all rarities in s.California areseenbymanyobservers, onlytheobserver(s) initially finding and identifying the birdare included. Documentationforspecies ontheCalifornia BirdRecords
•,•Scotty's Castle
-'f'•;a•
X
•
Committee (CBRC)reviewlist is forwarded to
Creek Ranch
•.
theCBRC Secretary andarchived attheWestern Foundation forVertebrate Zoology inCamarillo. MOUNTAIN
ßMorro Bay
CALIFORNIA
Some of the mountain
Oceano
'-•;•:-
ßSanta Maria "i•,•:•-•::..
ß Bakersfield
1•,. ß City ' Harper ury •:• i' •' . '•';-California Lake
Goleta -i•.'•:,•.. •n• •
ßBaker :i•!i ßKelso':•:
ßLancaster
,•
-':?.•,•;•:•, ..
-?•,•: ...... .•'"--,•Ls•?; ux•a o' •'.•z;•:'. Malibu
Needlesß
-'" .•. ß MorongoValley
LOS Angeles "'•-;""/.' .•;? •.•. PACIFIC
OCEAN
FOREST
Huntington %' ':• "',,,.
BIRDS
forest birds that in-
vadedthis Regionduringthe fall of 1996, andremainedthroughthewinter,werestill in evidenceinto thespringperiod. Most of the Lewis'sWoodpeckers had movedN by March,but threeremainedin e. OrangethroughApr. 26 (WG), and another was still present in La Cafiada Flintridge,LosAngeles, at theendof theperiod (KLG).
A flockof eightPinyonJaysnearVentucopain n.e. VenturaMar. 22 (DDJ) wasunexpected;13 in Ridgecrest,Kern,May 4 P.. •a• .SanOiego• (DMo) andsix-eightat nearbyGalileoHill •qua• • Valley May 11 (SJP)wereat desertoasesfar from any areaof normaloccurrence. Not unexGUY NCCASKIE period"boring, • exceptfor threedaysof expected,considering thescaleof lastfall'sincitement in lateMay,isopento speculation. flux, were continuedreportsof out-ofDid the migrantspassing throughthe east- rangeClark'sNutcrackers,suchas one in od, with none of the storm fronts that ern part of the Regionmoveup into the the SantaLucia Mts. of San Luis Obispo pushsouthalongthe coastat thistime of SierraNevada,throughsuchlocationsas May3 (JSR),onein theLagunaMts.of San the year reachingSouthernCalifornia. ButterbredtSpringsat the southernend of DiegoMay 31 (GLR),and a flockof 12 at Observers on the coast were unable to find thesemountains,andavoidInyo,or didthey Weldon, Kern, May 15 (KP), with four concentrations of landbirds,evenduring fly over the area without stoppingat more nearthereJune2 (SAL). thepeakmigrationtimebetweenlateApril watchedlocationsin the OwensValleyand Small numbers of Red-breasted Nut-%'
andearlyMay,andmadesuchcomments as "a lackluster springfor landbirds" and"a lessthanexciting period."However, someof the summervisitorsarrivedearly,as indicatedby the presence of territorialYellow Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats in the Prado Basin of northwest Riverside/south-
westSanBernardino on the earlydatesof March25 andApril 1 reportedby Pike.To the eastin Imperial,Riverside, SanBernardino,andparticularly Kern,numbers of migrantlandbirds weregreaterthanexpected, andincludedan exceptional varietyof rarities,givingobservers in that areaoneof the mostexcitingsprings in memory.Whyobservers to the northin Inyoconsidered the 9Z6
"%. '• SaltonSea
desert oases to the east?
hatches werestillpresent in thecoastal lowlands and at some desert locations
Abbreviations:
C.L. (China t. Naval Air
into
Museum); S.E.S.S. (southendof theSaltonSea,
April, with stragglers remainingto the end of April in SanDiego,earlyMay in Santa Barbara,andto theendof Mayin SanLuis Obispo. Cassin's Finchesappearedto havedepartedthe foothillareasof SantaBarbara by earlyApril,but numberswerestill presentin the coastallowlandsof San Diego andLosAngeles into April,with concentrationssuchas 500 in WaterCanyonat the baseof the SanGabrielMts. of LosAngeles Apr.4 (MSM) suggesting manythousands werestillpresentalongthe s. edgeof these
Imperial Co.);S.EK.R.P. (South ForkKernRiver
mountains at this time. Red Crossbills were
Weapons Station,extremen.e. Kern Co.); E.A.F.B. (Edwards Air ForceBase,s.e.KernCo.);
F.C.R. (Furnace Cr.Ranch, DeathValley National Monument,Inyo Co.); I.M.P.S.(iron Mr. Pumping Stationin s.e.5anBernardino Co.); L.A.C.N.H.M. (tos AngelesCountyNatural HistoryMuseum); N.E.S.S. (northendof the SaltonSea,Riverside Co.);S.B.CM.(SanBern-
ardinoCounty Museum); S.œ.R.E. (SantaClara R. Estuarynear Ventura,VenturaCo.); $.D.N.H.M. (San Diego Natural History
FIELD NDTES
southern pacific coast still to be found in the coastal lowlands of
Scoters on L. Henshaw in the mountains
of
San Diego Mar. 23 (GMcC, TRC) were SanDiegoand OrangethroughApril and into earlyMay, and similar numbersreprobablyforceddownby stormyweather, mainedat desertlocationsin LosAngeles and givean indicationasto the numberof thesebirds movingundetectedacrossthe and Kerninto mid- andlateMay,with six still present as far south as Brawley, interiorof s.e.Californiain springon their Irnperia•aslateasMay3 (RH).A wintering wayN fromwinteringgroundsin theGulf of California. flock of 25 Evening Grosbeaksin the foothills
of the San Bernardino
Mts. re-
mainedthroughearlyApril,but stragglers werereportedinto May,with one in Pine Valley,SanDiego,May 9-13 (ES);another in thenearbyLagunaMts.May 15 (RAH); two in LosOsos,SanLuisObispo,May 28 (M&PC); and one in CaliforniaCity,Kern, June1 (MAP) allbeingnoteworthy.
RAPTORS
TO
CRANES
An elusive ad. Common Black-Hawk
at
Oasis,Riverside, wasseenbybirderson only 7 occasionsbetween Mar. 28-May 2 (MAP), despitemuchlooking;an adultat nearbyThousandPalmsOasisApril 13, Immature Zone-tailed Hawk 1985(W. Birds20:11-18,1989)is the only at FnrnaceCreekRanch,DeathValley, one previously recordedin California.Up California,on MayZS, 1997. LOONS TO WATERFOWL to eight Harris'sHawksremainedaround Onlythe fourthrecordfor InyoConnty. Heindel BorregoSprings,San Diego,through the Photograph/Tom A HornedGrebeat C.L. Apr. 23-May 10 (MTH) wasin an areaof Californiawhere period (RT), and two more werein Palm Riverside, May 10 (LRS).Nineteen veryfewhavebeenfound.A Red-necked Springs, Grebe,rare in S. California,wasat the Santa SwainsodsHawks near BorregoSprings Mar. 17 (PRJ)and 16 overS.F.K.R.P. Apr.6 Maria R. mouth, SantaBarbara,Apr. 17 (SAL)represented thelargestflocksreportA sickShort-tailedShearwater captured ed this spring, and one at Seal Beach, Orange,Mar. 30 (SGM) wasthe only one on the beachin Coronado,SanDiego,Apr. on the immediate coast. The Zone-tailed 28 (BF)andanotherfounddeadthereMay Hawk that spent the winter in Santa 2 (EC) werelate for S. California.A decomBarbara/Goletawas last seenApr. 4 (BN), posed Fork-tailed Storm-Petrelon the and an immaturephotographedat EC.R. beachin CoronadoMay 26 (BF) wasunMay 24-25 (MAP) wasthe4th to be found usuallyfarsouth. An ad. Little Blue Heron at BolsaChica, in Inyo.A Peregrine Falconat E.A.EB.May 4 (MTH) wasonlythe3rdto befoundin e. Orange,May 4-18 (TS) wasthe only one found awayfrom s. coastalSan Diego, Kern. where resident in small numbers. An ad. An exceptionally late and out-of-place Far moreFranklin'sGullsthan usnalpassed statesthisseason. Sandhill Crane was at UpperNewportBay, thronghthe southwestern TricoloredHeron at N.E.S.S. May 345 Thisadnltwasat EdwardsAir ForceBase, Orange, May4 (JS). (GMcC) and anotheradultat S.E.S.S. May 3 (GMcC) were in an area where this
species is considered veryrareto casual. A ReddishEgret,a rare but regularstraggler to the coastof extreme S. California, was at
BolsaChicaApr.24-May 11 (PK), joined by a second Apr.30-May2 (DPe).An ad. Yellow-crownedNight-Heron was again presentwith nestingBlack-crowned NightHeronsin LaJolla,SanDiego,Mar. 1-May 3 (AME), havingfirst beenseenin this area in October 1981.
A Wood
Duck
at N.E.S.S.
Mar.
29
(GMcC) was in an areawhere few haveoc-
curred.A male Eur.Wigeonnear Bishop, Inyo,Apr.10-13 (JMF) andanotheron San ElijoLagoon,SanDiego,Apr.22 (MT) were the latest of the wintering birds in this Regionto depart.The female Harlequin Duckfoundat theLosAngeles/Ventura line Jan.7 was last seenMar. 8 (ST). The half-
dozenOldsquaws alongthe coastin March and April were expected,but two photographed at PicoRivera,LosAngeles, Mar. 9 (LSc) were inland. A flock of 900 Surf FALL 1997
PLOVERS
TO
TB•111S
Six winteringPacificGolden-Plovers were still presentat SealBeachApr. 26 (TEW), but an alternate-plumaged individualon s.
SanDiegoBayMay 8-11 (DPa) wasthe only migrantreported.A Mt. Plovernear Bishop, Inyo,Mar. 15(ChH) wasawayfrom areas of normal occurrence.
SinceSolitarySandpipers are normally rarein spring,thepresence of twoinlandat DesertCenter,Riverside, Apr.26 (GH), one at Baker,SanBernardino, May 4 (AME), and two at F.C.R.Apr. 17-19 (CrH), and single birds along the coast in Irvine, Orange,Apr. 26 (BAA), San Pedro,Los Angeles, Mar. 29 (JAJ),and nearCayucos, San Luis Obispo,Apr. 22 (KMH) were of note. Two Black Turnstones, rare to casual inland, were found on the Salton Sea,with
one near SaltonCity May 3 (GMcC) and the otherat S.E.S.S. May 25 (KLG).About 2000 Surfbirds,along with hundredsof othershorebirds, feedingalonga stretchof
California,on May11, lgg7. Photograph/Matt T. Heindel
beachat Seal BeachMar. 24 (TJ) were evi-
dently attracted to that location by Grunion(a smallfishthatlaysits eggsin the wet sandduringveryhigh tides)eggs. The onlySemipalmated Sandpiper reported wasoneat N.E.S.S.May 10 (GMcC).A Baird'sSandpiper, mostunusualin spring, wasat E.A.EB.May 15-26(MTH). Onecan only guessat the numberof Red-necked Phalaropesthat moved N through the SantaBarbara Channel Apr.28-May1 from counts suchas 125,000 in 1.5 hrs. at Goleta
Pt. Apr. 28 (JEL), and similarnumbersat EastBeachin SantaBarbaraApr. 29 (JEL). A SouthPolarSkuaoff SealBeachMay 18 (DP) wouldappearto be only the 2nd
seenoff Orange. A Laughing Gullin Goleta, Santa Barbara,May 6 (DDJ) was on the coast,where it is rare. Far more than the ex-
pectednumber of Franklin'sGulls passed
throughthe Regionas indicatedby more 927
than 175reportedbetweenApr.26-June2,
includingan impressive 85 on the Salton Sea May 26 (MAP, KLG, MB); one in Anaheim, Orange,Mar. 6-22 (DB) had probably winteredlocally, andanothernear Independence, Inyo,Apr.12(RP)wassomewhat early.Heermann'sGullsare rare inland,especially soawayfromtheSaltonSea, soan adultat S.E.S.S. May 4 to the endof the period(KCM) and anotherat E.A.EB. May 10-11 (MTH) wereof note.Three HerringGullsin e. Kern(Apr.26 & 27 and May 22-24; MTH) andanotherat Owens L., Inyo,Mar.27 (RAH)werein an areaof Californiawherethisspecies is rarelyfound. A somewhatlate Thayer'sGull was at N.E.S.S.May 3-10 (GMcC).A pale-winged
nilesbelievedto havebeenhatchedlocally (MSM, T&JH). A pair of Com. GroundDoveswasstillpresentin Nipama,SanLuis
Obispo, May29 (PAW),thisbeingat then. extremeof this species'rangealongthe coast of California. One in Arcadia, Los
Angeles, May 11 (MSM) was awayfrom areas of normal occurrence. A Yellow-billed
Cuckoo
at S.F.K.R.P.
May 17 (BM) wasunusually early,andanotherat c. 6500ft nearBigPinesin theSan GabrielMts., LosAngeles, June2 (TN) was not onlyat anunusuallocality, but alsoone of a veryfewfoundawayfromthe limited breedinglocalitiesin California. Two ChimneySwiftsover downtown
LosAngeles May 8 (KLG)werethefirstof
first-year gullin Anaheim Mar.8-15 (GLT), wasjoinedbya similarlookinggullonMar. 15 (DRW), were variouslyidentifiedas IcelandandThayer'sgulls;multiplereports
the smallnumbernowpresentat thislocationeverysummer, andtwooverCalifornia City May 25 (MTH) providedthe 4th
of IcelandGullsin Californiaarecurrently onholdby theCBRCawaitinga taxanamic
Hummingbirdon SantaCatalinaI. May 9
decisionby the AmericanOrnithologists'
Channel Islands.
Union. Five GlaucousGullsreportedfrom
The winteringLeastFlycatcher in Costa Mesa,Orange, waslastseenMar.30 (JEP);a singingLeastFlycatcher at S.EK.R.P.May
the coastduring March and April were morethanexpected; a latefirst-yearindividualwasnearOceanside, SanDiego,May 4 (RP) and anotherwasinlandat N.E.S.S. May 3-10 (GMcC). A SandwichTern was presentwith nesting Elegant Ternsat BalsaChica,May9 throughtheperiod(JA,CTC),andwasbelievedto be the sameindividualpresentat this locationeachof the past2 summers. An unprecedented movementof Least Ternsinto s.e.Californiaplacedtwo near Seeley,Imperial,May 31 (GMcC); single birdson RamerL., Imperial,May 3 (RH), N.E.S.S.May 3 (PAG), and DesertCenter Apr.28 (AS)andMay 11 (MAP);threetogethernear Lancaster,LosAngeles,May 31-June 1 (AH); and single birds in Helendale,San Bernardino,June1 (MAP),
CaliforniaCity, Kern, May 17-18 (MF), C.L. May 22 (MTH) and at DeathValley Junction,Inyo, May 25 (MAP). A Sooty Tern with nestingElegantTernsat Balsa ChicaMar. 26 throughthe period(CTC) was believed to be the same individual at
this locationeachof the past 3 summers; anotherwas seenat s. SanDiego BayApr. 15-16 (MG, DWA). DOVES
TO ¾1nKos
A White-wingedDove in GoletaMay 10 (RPH) wasthe only one foundalongthe coast,and anotherin Independence Apr. 10-14 (A&LK) was a little to the north of
thisspecies' normalrange.Up to six Inca Dovesat EC.R. in May includedtwo juve928
record for Kern. A male Black-chinned
(PU) is believed to be the first for the
14-18 (MHa) wasthe first to be found in Kernin spring.An E. Phoebeon Pt. Lama Apr. 1-2 (REW) is oneof a veryfewto be found in Californiain spring.A DuskycappedFlycatcher on Pt. Lama,SanDiego, Apr. 12-May 1 (PAG)had probablybeen
presentall winter,sincean unidentified Myiarchus wasseenat thislocationJan.19 (BF). SingleBrown-crested Flycatchers in the GraniteMts. of e. SanBernardino May 17-18 (MAP) andat EC.R.May27 (MSM) appeared to be migrantsfar from known nesting localities. FourE.Kingbirds werereported,withsinglebirdsin thee.partof the Regionat I.M.P.S.May20 (AS)andGalileo Hill, Kern,May29-30(MAP),andalongthe coast in Westminster, Orange, May 31 (TEW) and s. VandenbergA.EB., Santa
A GrayVireo photographed in Redondo Beach,LosAngeles, May 11 (MHe) wasone of a veryfew everto be foundawayfrom knownnestinglocalitiesin S. CalifarmaA male Yellow-throatedVireo, a casualto acci-
dentalstraggler to California, waspresent m Westminster May 29-30 (BED), but two othersin May lackdocumentation. Three Red-eyed Vireoswerereported, with oneat MorongoValley,SanBernardino, May 21 (EAC), another near China, San Bernardino, June8 (DPe), and the 3rd at Butter-
bredtSprings, Kern,May2%30 (MAP) WOOD
WARBLERS
A male Blue-wingedWarbler, a species rarelyfoundin California,wasat ButterbredtSprings, locatedin thefoothillsat the s. end of the Sierra Nevada Mts
n. of
California City, Kern, June8 (MTH) A maleGolden-winged Warbler,a little more frequentstragglerto Californiathan the previousspecies, was in CaliforniaCity, Kern, May 31 (ST). Four Tennessee Warblers--withoneat EC.R.May 31 (CK), anotherat nearbyIndian RanchMay 28 (MSM), a 3rd at Butterbredt SpringsJune8 (MTH), and the 4th in HuntingtonBeach, Orange, May 17-18(JSB)--werefewerthan expected.A dozen N. Parulasscattered throughout theRegion(seven in thee.portion of the Regionand fivew. of the coast range)betweenApr. 27 and June3 was about the expectednumber.A ChestnutsidedWarblerin HuntingtonBeachMay 15
(BED)wastheonlyonereported. Theonly MagnoliaWarblersreportedwerethreein e. Kern,with one at GalileoHill May 11 (BD), anotherin CaliforniaCity May 17 (NF), and the 3rd at ButterbredtSprings
May 31 (ST).A maleBlack-throated Blue Warbler,most unusualin spring,was in
CaliforniaCity May 26 (JCW). A male Blackburnian Warbler, also most unusual
Thrashers at Smoke Tree Wash in the Anza-
in spring,was on s. VandenbergA F B June 7 (MAH). Four Yellow-throated Warblers--with singlebirds on Pt Lama Apr. 10 (PAG), at MesquiteSpringsin DeathValleyN.E May24 (RPH),CrystalL in theSanGabrielMts.May26 (JF),and•n WestminsterMay 29 (BED)--was more than expected. The PrairieWarblerfound in Burbank,LosAngeles, Mar. 10 (GP) was
BarregaDesertS.P.Mar. 9 (PJ)mayhave beenon a breedingterritory,but onenear Seeley Mar.21 (RH) wasa migrant. A White-eyed Vireophotographed near Cantil May 26 (MTH) wasthe 5th to be found in Kern.A singingBell'sVireo at S.EK.R.P.Apr. 10 (SAL)waswell outside thisspecies' present-day rangein California.
bredtSpringsMay 26 (SS)wasthe 2nd to be foundin Kernat thistime of theyear A winteringPalmWarblerremainedin E1 Monte,LosAngeles, throughApr.19 (PB),a singlebird in GoletaMar.20-Apr.8 (DC) andanotherthereApr.20 (JEL)hadprobably winteredlocally rather than being
Barbara,May21 (MAH). A Chestnut-backed Chickadeein Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Apr. 19-May 9 (MAH) was s. of this species' range.Two VariedThrushes on Pt.LamaMay4 (TRC) and anotherthereMay 17 (REW)werefar south and unusuallylate. Two Bendire's
last seen Mar. 25, and another at Butter-
FIELDNOTES
southern pacific coast Salton Sea. Single Baltimore Orioles in Huntington Beach May 17 (JSB) & 26 (JEP),andanotherin Mojave,Kern;May 25 (DVB) werethe onlythreereported. A femaleBlackRosy-Finchin Aspendell,In) o,Apr.6 (SJP)wasat thesamefeeder wherea similarlookingbird waspresent Feb. 11-15, 1995.
Amongthe manyinteresting easternstraysfoundin Kern County,California,during
Cited observers(countycoordinatorsbold, I
,
faced):Jim Abernathy,DouglasW. Aguil-
the season was this Golden-
lard, Bruce A. Aird, Peter Barnes, Dick
wingedWarblerat California Cityon May31, 1997. Photo9raph/Matt T. Heindel
Barth,Marc Better,DavidV. Blue,JefferyS. Boyd,KarenBridgers,EugeneA. Cardiff
spring vagrants. A male Bay-breasted Warbler,rarelyfoundin this Regionin recent years,was photographedat Butterbredt SpringsMay 25-26 (TEW). A male Cerulean Warbler photographednear BishopMay 23 (T&JH) wasthe first to be foundin In?o,andoneof a veryfewrecorded in California. About 20 Black-and-white
Warblersreportedfrom as manylocalities scatteredthroughoutthe Regionbetween Apr. 14 and May 30 wasdoseto expected numbers, but less than a dozen Am.
Redstarts, all in thee.portionof theRegion betweenMay 16 and June8, wasfar less than normal.A maleProthonotaryWarbler at GalileoHill May 14-17 (AS)wasthe only
one reported this spring. Thirteen Ovenbirdsin the e. portion of the Region betweenMay 11andJune8 wasmorethan expected,but one on Pt. LomaMay 17-18 (REW) wasthe only one found alongthe coast. A wintering N. Waterthrush in Irvine, Orange,remainedthroughApr. 5 (RAE); three N. Waterthrushesin the e. partof the Regionin Maywasfarbelowaverage.A deadKentucky Warblerwaspicked up in Ridgecrest, Kern,in mid-lateMay (SF, *L.A.C.M.). Ten Hooded Warblers were
foundin thee. part of the Region,with one at CottonwoodSpringsin JoshuaTree N.M. May 6 (BP), anotherat I.M.P.S.May 20 (AS),andeightmorein e. Kernbetween late April and June12 (DVB, MTH, MAP, BS, LSa, REW). A Painted Redstartphotographedat ButterbredtSpringsMay 4 (JD) wasa longoverduefirstfor Kern. TANAGERS
about25 IndigoBuntingsat asmanylocationsscattered throughouttheRegionduring May was about averagefor these 2 species. A femaleDickcissel, mostunusual in spring,wasnearBishopMay24 (T&JH). SinceClay-coloredSparrowsare rarely foundin spring,singleindividuals at Desert CenterMay 11 (MAP) and at I.M.P.S.the sameday (MAP) were of note.A BlackchinnedSparrowin California City May 9-11 (DVB) wasonlythe3rd to befoundat a desertoasisin thispartof the Region.The LarkBuntingfound in BishopNov. 10 remainedthroughApr. 10(J&DP),andsingle springstragglers werenear La Panza,Los Angeles, Apr. 16 (JS),at L. Perris,Riverside, Apr. 19 (PD) and along the ColoradoR. north of Needles,SanBernardino, May 11 (EAC). A Harris's Sparrow found in Lompoc,SantaBarbara,Feb.9 remained throughMay 4 (PR) and anotherwasin LonePine,In)o, May 10 (JW). The latestof the wintering White-throated Sparrows weresinglebirdsin GoletathroughApr. 17 (KB) and Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, through May 1 (JP); one in Jawbone CanyonMay 10 (REW) and anotherat nearbyButterbredt SpringsMay 23 (REW) werespringvagrants.A Golden-crowned SparrownearLompocMay21 (DMi) anda singingGray-headed Juncoat I.M.P.S.May 26 (MAP) were both unusuallylate migrants.
Only four Bobolinkswere found,with two at DesertCenterMay 11 (MAP), onein CaliforniaCity May 26 (DVB), andthe 4th
FINCHES
at Galileo Hill June 7 (DVB). The male
Seven Summer Tanagersin May, most probably stragglersfrom the nominate population,w. and n. of known breeding localitiesin the s.e.portion of the Region, wasaboutaverage for thistimeof theyear. Singlewintering Rose-breasted Grosbeaksremainedin SantaBarbarathrough Apr. 10(FS)andin VenturathroughMar. 8
Coremoil Grackle found in Torrance Mar.
FALL 1997
TO
Therese R. Clawson, Charles T. Collins, D.
(JA). Fifteen Rose-breastedGrosbeaksand
3 remainedthrough Mar 24 (MHe) and wasaccompanied by a femaleMar. 17-24 (MHe); anotherwasseenin flightoverPt. Loma May 13 (REW). A male Bronzed Cowbirdat DesertCenterApr.28- May 12 (AS) was the only one found awayfrom along the Colorado R. and around the
Compton,Luke Cole, ElizabethCopper (San Diego), Michael and PeggyCraig (M&PC), Brian E. Daniels,JamesDanzen-
baker, Pat Delahunty, Bill Deppe, Don Desjardin(Ventura),Tom M. Edell (San LuisObispo),Alan M. Eisner,RichardA. Erickson, Samuel Fairchild, John M.
Finkbeiner, Ion Fisher,Mary Freeman,Nick Freeman,Brian Foster,Kimball L. Garrett
(LosAngeles),PeterA. Ginsburg,Wayne Gochenour, Michael
Green, Murrelet
Haltermann(MHa), K. MelodyHamilton, Robert A. Hamilton, Matthew T. Helndel (Kern), Mitch Heindel (MHe), Tom & Jo
Heindel (Inyo), Gall Hightower,Roger Higson,Ron P. Hirst, Craig Hohenberger (CrH), Mark A. Holmgren,ChrisHoward (ChH), AndrewHowe,JerryA. Johnson, Tom Jones,Paul R. Johnson,Paul Jorgensen, Clay Kempf,Andrew and Leah Kirk (A&LK), Peter Knap, StevenA. Laymon, JoanE. Lentz (Santa Barbara), Bob Meade,
D. Mitchell (DMi), Kathy C. Molina, DonaldMoore (DOM), StevenG. Morris, B.
Najar, Ted Nordhagen,Dennis Parker (DPa), Jim and Debby Parker (J&DP), Robert Patton, Dharm Pellegrini (DPe), John Perkins, Stacy I. Peterson,Gerald Phillips,KarenPhillips,JamesE. Pike,Roy Poucher,BrianPrescott,GeoffryL. Rogers, P. Rosso,JamesS. Royer, Michael San Miguel, Larry Sansone (LSa), Larry Schmahl(LSc),JohnSchmitt,Tom Seevey, Arnold Small, Edward Spocheck, Bob Steele,SusanSteele,E Stevens, LangdonR. Stevenson, Melanie Tallent, Robert Theriault, Gerald L. To]man, SteveTucker,
Philip Unitt, Richard E. Webster,Walter Webtie, Pat A. Wells, ludy Wickman, DouglasR. Wi!lick (Orange), Tom E. Wurster,John C. Wilson. An additional 50+
observers whocouldnotbe individuallyacknowledged submittedreports'thisseason.
Guy McCaskie,SanDiegoNaturalHistory Museum,BalboaPark, P. O. Box 1390, San Diego,CA92112. 929
hawaiian islands region notes and photographs(H.R.B.P.11171119)arearchived.Toeslackedpalmations when examinedthroughscopeat 15 meters,and deeptracksin softmud showed no indication of palmations(H.R.B.P.1120).A (North American)Whimbrel seen
with Bristle-thighedCurlewsat SandI., Midway, May 5-12 (PP; H.R.B.P.-1121,
1122)mayhavebeentheresincelatewinter.A flockof 40 Bristle-thigheds wasflying highin a thermaloverFrigatePt. on Sand I., Midway,Mar.27 (SB).Countsof Bristlethigheds roosting on thetaxiwayat SandI. were51 May 5, 28 May 7, and eightfrom May 8 onward.Mostof thewinteringbirds probablydeparted May 7-8, the firstdear night after a cloudy,rainy week (PP). Reportsof Bristle-thighed Curlewsin the Main Hawaiian Islandsthis springwere threeat SouthPt., H., Mar. 1 (DK); three at Moloka'i Sea Farms near Kaunakakai, Moloka'I, Mar. 13 (AE; said to have win-
ROBERT L. PYLE
Shearwater, evidentlya victimof light attraction,waspickedup on a roadside near Kalaheo,K.,Apr.1, thenmeasured, banded,
Ithrough requent light continued the precipitation normally dry spring
and released(TT).
teredthere);and threeat JamesCampbell N.W.R., O., Apr. 10 (PP,RLP),wherethey definitelydid overwinter.In the main is-
lands, Bristle-thigheds have long been scarcetransientsin fall and rarein spring, but overwintering birdshavebeenreported morefrequentlyin thepastdecade.
months.At Honoluluairport,40 inchesof rainfallin the 12 monthsendingin June
ThestrayEmperorGooseseenby many observerssince early January at Kona
compares withtheannualaverage of 15-20 inches.Spring nestingconditionswere
Villageresort,H., wascaptured andbanded Apr. 5, and determinedto be a female
JAEGERS
good,andvegetation in drierlowlands re-
(P&HB).It departedMay 17.Unusualduck speciesreported included a (Eurasian)
from fishingboatswithin 15 mi off w.
mainedgreeninto summer.Increasing ecotour visitsto MidwayAtoll broughtmore skilledobservers and numerousinteresting
Green-winged Tealat SandI., Midway,May 4-17 (probably wintered;PP);a Cinnamon
bird sightings, includingthefirstrecordof
Teal at Kealia Pond N.W.R.,
Common Cuckoo in the central Pacific.
20-Apr. 16 (MN); and singleGadwallsat 'Ohi'apiloPond,Moloka'i,Mar. 12 (AE)
Abbreviations: H. (Hawai?L);K. (Kaua'iL);
and at Waiakea Pond in Hilo, H., until at
M. (MauiL);O, (Oghut); H.R.B,P.: (prefixfor
leastApr.6 (PP).Peregrine Falcons arenow regular visitors to Hawaii in winter.
catalog numbers ofphotos inHawaii RareBird Photograph collection).
M.,
Mar.
Lingerers thisspringwerereported Mar.21 at Kilauea Military Camp adjacent to
ALBATROSS
TO
CURLEWS
Laysan albatross at SandI., Midway,hybrid individuals weresighted 5 timesat 4 localities duringthe first weekof April (SB). Interesting transient seabirds observed on a pelagictrip up to 15 mi off HonoluluApr. 11 included six Mottled Petrels, one Ker-
madec Petrel (excellent ?; PP), and 60
SootyShearwaters. One groundedSooty 930
Hawaii VolcanoesN.P. (JC); on Mohihi Trail in the Alaka'i Wilderness,K., Mar. 22
(SB,DK);at SandI., MidwayApr.2-May 11 (ad. female;SB,PP);and one flying high over downtown Honolulu, O., May 30 (EV).
A smallploveridentifiedconfidently as a CommonRingedPloverwasobserved well severaltimesApr. 27-May 27 at Sand I., Midway (PP,JN). Detaileddescriptive
TO
OWLS
Wintering Pomarine Jaegerswere seen O'ahuMar. 9 (10;TSu)andApr.11 (12;PP et al.),butnoneMay5 (EV,RLPet al.).The two imm. Ring-billedGullsat KealiaPond N.W.R., M., remained until Apr. 8 (PP, MN), and onewaslastseenApr. 16 (MN). At SandI., Midway,firstwinterindividuals
of 3 largegull species providedgoodopportunities for comparison. The Glaucouswingedpresent in December waslastseen Mar. 24, and a HerringGullwasreported Jan.4-Mar. 25. A Fmefirst-winterSlaWbackedGull (H.R.B.P.-1123-1127)waspre-
sentFeb.11-May7 (SB,PPet al.,goodp).A Little Tern in full breedingplumagewasat SandI., Midway,May 22-26, confidently distinguished from LeastTernby the entirelysnow-white rumpandtail sharplyset off fromthegrayback,andbyitscharacteristicsingle"check" call (PP et al., good?). Quite high countsof White Ternsfrom boattripsoff s.w.O'ahuweremadeApr.11 FIELDNOTES
hawaiian (criticallyEndangered) underconstruction Mar.6, a fullmonthearlierthanlastyear.By endof May theyhadlocated60 nestsfrom about25 pairs,manyon their 3rd clutch (TSn). Ten fertile eggsfrom first clutches
(25; PP,RLPet al.) andMay 5 (60; EV,RLP et al.).Manyof thebirdsweretransiting betweenoffshoreforagingareasand nesting trees in Honolulu
and Waikiki. White Terns
in Honolulu are continuingto increase slowlyandsteadily. At leastone MourningDove in a group of threedoveswasglimpsedbrieflyMay 4 alonga roadedgenearHonu'apoonthes.e. coastof Hawai'iI. (HC, sketch& •), reported by an observerlong familiar with MourningandSpotteddovesin California. Thislocalityiswellout of normalrangefor MourningDoves,whichare scarceand lo-
were removed and transferred
for incubation. All hatched successfully. The four femaleshatchedat the Centerlastyear from wild eggslaid 4 eggsthis spring.All wereinfertile,sincenoadultmalesareyetin thecaptiveflock.Hopesarehighthatmales from thisyear'shatchings will join females nextspringto produceoffspringfor release
calized on the n.w. coast of this island.
At least 12 Hawaiian (Short-eared)
Owls, an unusuallyhigh concentration, werecirclingand occasionally landingin fieldsadjacentto the Lana'iI. airportduringthemorningof Apr.17(PBr).
to Keahou
Bird ConservationCenter near Volcano,H.,
later in 1998 (TSn, AL).
An O'ahu'Amakihipair nestedin a yard in ManoaValleyat theunusually lowelevation of 380 ft., wellwithin mosquitorange. One chick fledged successfully May 28 (EV). CooperSocietyparticipantson the field trip May 4 to PowerlineRd. off the SaddleRd., H., foundone'Akiapola'au, six Hawai'i Creepers,and 12 Hawai'i 'Akepa (AE), all Endangered.
SA,T, im.e marches on for the old
individual birds that for
manyyearshavecomprised the lastremaininggroupof wild'Alala(Hawaiian
Crow,severely Endangered). Only2 breeding pairsof "old"wildbirdshave
remained activein recentyears.One pair lastproducedfertileeggsin 1994, andthisyearproduced onlyonestunted infertileegg.The otherpair wasunsuccessful lastyearand did not pair again
thisyear(DB).Two"new"pairsformed
thisyear, andstrengthened bonds bybe~ ginninginitialnest-budding attempts• Twobirdsforming one"new" pairwere from the first class incubated and reared
; in captivity,and released to the wild in 1993.The other "new"pair is a female from the 1993 class,paired with an olderwild maleof unknownage(DB). Althoughindicationsare encourag-
ing for nextsyear, themajorquestion is
whether these captive-reared andre~[] leasedbirdscan developthe behavioral skillsnecessary to raiseyoungsuccessfully on their own. If they do, it will mark anothersuccessful stepforward for the daboratecaptiverearing/release
program toward thegøal ofperpetuat•
ALLEN
These bulbuls have become abundant fruit-
eatingpeststhroughoutO'ahu, and the statewildiifeagencyis strivingto prevent their spreadto other islands.One RedwhiskeredBulbul observedin a yard in Kailua,O., May 28 (LP,PP) is furtherevidenceof the impendingexpansion of this speciesacrossthe Ko'olau Mts. from Honolulu. CommonWaxbillshavelong beenwidespread and abundanton O'ahu, but have not been confidentlyreported other
islands.
SA AEurasian Common Cuckoo (Cuculuscanorus)at Sand I.,
Midway,May 23 waswatchedperching andin flightovera periodof an hourby at least6 observers, including2 veryexperiencedornithologists (PP,JN). Time in view totaled about 10 minutes at distances as close as 20 meters. The bird
wasrecognized immediately aseithera Common or Oriental Cuckoo. The ob-
serversmadevery detailednotesand drawingson the spot,and took some distantbut recognizable photographs (H.R.B.E 1129-1132).Comparingthese later with literature and specimensin
theMuseumof Comparative Zoologyat
Berkeley established identification ofthe Midwaybird as a Com. Cuckoo,pro• bablyof the subspecies telephonus with lessdistinctlymarkedunderparts. Written notes with sketches from 5 observers
are archived.
No
vocalizations
were
heard.This is the first recordof any
PASSERINES
A Red-vented Bulbulreportedflyingacross the highwaynear'Eldde,K., Mar. 18 (DK) was not found again, despite intensive searches with audio playbacks and widespread posterdisplays andrequests for information from the community (TT).
from
islands
Three
observed
Eurasian cuckoo for the Hawaiian Is.
Patten, Leilani Pyle, Peter Pyle, Vaughn Sherwood,Kristina Skarin,Ty Smucker, Tom Snetsinger, Don Sterba, Tim Sutterfield, TomTelfer,Nick Udvardy,Eric VanderWerf, Alice Zacherle.
Robert L. Pyle,741N.Kalaheo Ave.,Kailua, HI 96734.
at
Umipa'a,w. of Kaunakakai, Moloka'i,Mar. 12 (AE) may indicatean incipientexpansion. Seven Chestnut Mannikins were seen
wellat Lana'iL airportApr. 17(PBr).These and the sightings on Maul latelastseason arethe firstreportsthat thisspecies mayfinally be expandingto islandsother than O'ahu and Kaua'i, where it has been wellestablished for decades.
inga freepopulation 6f 'Alala successfullyreproducing in thewild.
NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
PASSERINES
In the Mohihi area of the Alaka'i Wilderness
Preserve,K., the rare speciesmonitoring team found the seasons first nest of Puaiohi FALL 1997
Contributors: SteveBailey,Paul & Helen Baker,DonnaBall,PhilBruner,JayCarlisle, HowardCogswell, RegDavid,Jim Denny, Peter Donaldson,Andrew Engilis,Laura Gorman, Kamal Islam, MaryLou Kelly, Eleanor Koes, David Kuhn, Alan Lieberman, Jim Nestler,Mike Nishimoto, Michael 931
west indies region New Providence,BA, waswell e. of its usual
springmigrationroute.Alsoin the Bahamas, a Limpkin was seenand heard at Harbour Island Mar. 23 (TW et al.), and another was seen at North Eleuthera near
BogueMar. 24. PLOVERS
THROUGH
TERNS
SnowyPlovers,found commonlyat Brine Pond,CrookedI., BA,May 4-6 (AB, BH, TW), areprobablyresident birds.A Piping Plover was seen at Cable Beach, New Providence,BA, Mar. 10 (AB, PD, BH, TW).
A SolitarySandpiper wasnotedat Great HarbourCay,SouthAndros,BA,April 25 (TW). Willets were common on South Andros, BA, Crooked I., and Acklin'sI from
May 2-8 (AB, BH, TW), both Bahamas. Willets were also noted at Fresh Pond and at
Little L., San Salvador,BA (CW et al.). A
ROBERT NORTON
BrownBoobiesnestingat White Cay,off SanSalvador, BA,May9-11 (CW etal.)was one pair of nestingRed-footeds that have apparently beenestablished there,in spite of lastyear'stropicalstormsandnearmiss hurricanes,since1985. MagnificentFri-
'he Bahamas were well represented this season, with reports from Bimini,Berry Islands, New Providence, South Andros,
Eleuthera, LongIsland,Rum Cay,SanSal-
singleStilt Sandpiper remaineduntil May 10 at the BFS catchment,San Salvador,BA.
Remainsof a first-winterBonaparte's Gull were found at Landrail Pt., Crooked I., BA,
May 3 (BH) forthe firstrecordfromthes. Bahamas. Six HerringGullswerecounted
vador, Crooked Island, Acklins Island, and
gatebirds werealsopresent withnestlings. Mar. 10 (PD et al.) near the water barge
varioussatellite caysfromlateAprilto mid-
Three White Ibis were noted near Stella
May.Tenmembers of the Ornithological Maris resort, Long I., BA, Man 12 & 15 Groupof theBahamas NationalTrustventured to Bahamas Field Station, San Salva-
(TW, BH); and a singleWhite Ibis was recordeddaily at Great Harbour Cay, S. Andros,BA, April 26-28 (TW). The juv.
wharf, Nassua,New Providence,BA.A 2nd-
year Herring Gull was reportedfrom SpanishWellsMar. 24 (TW et al.). GullbilledTernswereconsidered verycommon at CrookedI. andAcklinI., BA,May 3-9
dor,May9-11 to survey birdlifethere.Such reportingof birdsat one of the mostremoteobservation sitesin the Region less
White Ibis that wintered at JubileeRd., BE,
(AB, BH, TW). Ten Sandwich and >15
remaineduntil April (AD). NestingGreater
Roseateterns were found roostingat a
than 100 kilometers off southeast Florida--
Flamingos (ca300nests)havebeenreport-
FrenchWellssandbar, Crooked I., BA,May
in earlyMay is an importantindicatorof breedingstatus,as well as habitatuseby lingeringneotropical migrantsfrom sites
ed near SalinasPoint,AcklinsI., BA (fide
5 (AB,BH, TW). Whethertheyactuallynest
DS). Small flockswere seenat CrookedI.,
at Crooked I. remains to be determined, but
BA,May 5 (AB,BH, TW) andAcklinsI., BA,May 8-9 (AB,TW). A Glossy Ibiswas seenat QuartersSettlement nearRockyPt., SanSalvador, BA,May 10 (CW et al.).Fifty WestIndianWhistling-Ducks appeared for
theirpresence in the firstweekof May suggests theyareverycloseto nesting timeand
close,and accessible, to continental North America.
Abbreviations: BA (Bahamas) BFS(BahamasFieldStation); BE(Bermuda).
Hallet andWhite Man 14at Hog Cay,Long I., BA.White-cheekedPintailsnumbered20
TROPICBIRDS
THROUGH
LIMPKIN
Several pairs of nesting White-tailed Tropicbirds werenotedat Gun Bluff and LandrailPt., CrookedI., BA, May 4 (AB, BH, TW) and another was seen at Gold
Rock, Acklins I., BA, May 9 (AB, TW). BrownPelicans wereseenat Addins1.May 8 and North Bimini (two), BA,May 13-14 (TW), but their breedingstatusin the Bahamasis still unresolved.Among the 932
atRumCayMar.14(TW,BH,WD). A large group(38) of White-cheekeds wasnotedat Brine Pond, CrookedI., BA, May 3 (AB, BH, TW); adultswith six ducklingswere notedat FrenchBaypond,andthreeothers were noted at Crescent Pond near the BFS,
San Salvador,BA (CW et al.) from May 9-11. Also at Rum Cay was eight N. Shovelers and 12 Am. Wigeon.A Swallowtailed Kite reportedApril 28 (TW) from
location(RLN). Gull-billedand Leastterns were seen at Fresh Pond, San Salvador,BA,
whileRoyalTernswerenotedatthes.w.corner off SanSalvador, BA,from May 9-11. BridledandSootyternsandBrownNoddies werealreadyon territoryat GouldingCay, New Providence,BA, April 30 (AB, TW) wheretheywouldverylikelybe on eggsin 7-10 days.At Gold Rock,AcklinsI., BA, Bridled Terns (ca 50 pairs) and Brown Noddies(75 pairs)werealsoreadyto nest by May 9 (AB, AW). Sooty,Bridled,and Noddy ternswerevery recentarrivalsat GaulinandCatocays,off SanSalvador, BA, May4 (f•e CW), wheretheynest. FIELDNOTES
west indies DOVES
TO
BROWN
CREEPER
At South Oceangolf course,New Providence,BA,Mar. 18,a KeyWestQuail-Dove slippedout of the coppice-edge, givinga brief view (BH, TW) for an unexpected treat of this elusivecolumbid.A singleton Mourning Dove and four White-winged Doves were noted (CW et al.) at San
species exchange is,sadly,on thesideof the mainland.A Red-eyedVireo was seenat SouthAndros,BA,May 1 (TW). Fourteen warblerspecies wererecordedfrom New Providence,BA, Mar. 18-19 (AB, BH, TW
et al.). Blackpoll Warblerswerefairlycommon at LyfordCay,New Providence, from April 24-May 2 (TW), extending the early datesby 2 weeks(Brudenell-Bruce Salvador, BA, May 9-11. A Yellow-billed passage 1975)and at BiminiMay 13-14 (AB, BH, Cuckooseenat CrookedI., BA, May 14 TW), althoughnotrecorded fromCrooked (BH, TW) was rather late. Great LizardCuckooswere common at South Andros,
and Acklins Islands. American
Redstarts
were abundantMay 13-14 at Bimini,suggestinga latebuild-upof migrantsleaving
BA,May 1-2 (AB,BH, TW). If thisspecies werea part-timenestparasite, whatpotential hostwouldit chooseto raiseitsyoung? the N. Bahamas for mainland destinations FiveCorn.Nighthawks wereheardandseen (see Table 1.). A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak wasnotedMar. 16 at LongI., BA migratingoverBimini May 13 (TW). First arrivalAntilleanNighthawks werereported (TW). There'ssomemixednewson Shiny Cowbird in the Bahamas. No cowbirds at LyfordCay,New Providence, BA,April were found on South Andros (AB, BH, 29 andmanywerereportedthereafter (BH, TW), but a pair [sic]was seenat Lyford TW) CourtingbirdswerenotedMay 7 at Cay, New Providence,April 29-30, not AckhnsI., BA (AB, AW).Chuck-will's-widowswereheardcalling(BH) at LyfordCay, goodnews.Two BaltimoreOrioleswere New
Providence,
BA, Mar.
18. Two
Chimney Swifts were seen at Great HarbourCay,SouthAndros,BA,April 25 (AW), andtwo otherswerenotedat Lyford Cay,New Providence,BA, April 30 (AB, AW) An EasternKingbirdwas carefully
seenat Rum Cay,BA, Mar. 14 (BH). BlackcowledOrioles,a potentialhost for cow-
birds, were considered common at South Andros, BA. NEOTROPICAL
MIGRANT
BUILD-UP AT BIMINI, BA, MAY 13-14, 1997
7 (RR) for one of few recentrecordsof this
SPECIES
speciesin the GreaterAntilles.Both N. Rough-winged(two) and Bankswallows
Black-throated Blue Warbler
CrookedI., BA, May 3, representing new records there (AB, BH, TW). A Brown
Creeperoverwinteredat Bermudaand remalnedthereuntil Mar. 24 (fideAD).
STATUS
Common Nighthawk c
Blackpoll Warbler
C
, AmericanRedstart
THROUGH
A
Thrasherswere hard to see(AB, BH, TW);
and two--possibly four--Pearly-eyed Thrasherswere noted near the BFSMay 9-11 (CW et al.). It wouldbe worth studyingthe interactions of thismimidandthe residentBahamaand Northern mockingbirds where all 3 speciesoccur.Tantalizinglydoseto Floridawasa BahamaMocklngNrd seenat SouthBimini,BA, May 14 (TW) A singleCedarWaxwing,a straggler fromthelargerwintergroupreportedearher, was noted Mar. 10 at Mt. Vernon, Nassau,New Providence,BA (PD, TW, AB, BH)
And flowingfrom the mainlandto the islandswere two Eur. Starlingsat North Blmlm,BA, May 13 (TW). The qualityof FALL1997
4, alsoat BlowingPt. pond,and a hostof peepsfrom Dec.30-Jan.4--including regular winter visitors in good numbrs: Sanderling(10), and Semipalmated (20), Western(10), and Least(15) sandpipers. Stilt Sandpipers (100), alsoat BlowingPt. pond, were in good numbersas well. A Corn. Snipe, rather unusual for a dry regimeislandsuchasAnguilla,wasflushed from its migration roost in sand dunes. Resident Yellow "Golden" Warblers were
found in preferredmangrovehabitat at Anguilla.Maleswerealreadyin song(MI). EXOTICS
MuscovyandMallardsat HogCay,LongI., BA;RockDovesat New Providence, Long I., andN. Eleuthera, BA,andAnguillaand St. Martin; Eur. Collared-Doves at Bimini, South Andros, and Eleuthera, BA; Eur.
Starlingat Bimini,BA;HouseSparrows at Bimini, New Providence, and Eleuthera, BA.
Sylvia Brown, Barbara Brown, Nancy Cleare,Paul Dean,WayneDennis,Bruno Dittmar, Andrew Dobson, Liz Evans,Bruce Hallet, Annabel Hammond, Marshall Iliff, Lionel Levine, David Lincoln, Rick Oliver, Ross Rasmussen,Freddie Schaller, Sloan,
1
Northern Waterthrush
4
TonVlugman,CarolynWardle,Tony,Trina,
Common Yellowthroat
C
and Nelson White, Earl Wilson.
Bobolink
8
Gainesville,FL 32605 (robert.norton@santa fe.cc.fl.us).
ORIOLES
Two Pearly-eyed Thrasherswereheardat Rum Cay, BA, Mar. 14 (TW, BH, WD). Although consideredfairly common at Crooked I., BA, May 4-6, Pearly-eyed
locations.Of note were two Whimbrels Jan.
Ovenbh'd
A = abundant; C = common
THRASHERS
with smaller counts at various other island
Contributors:Ailene Bainton, Jean Bennett,
LANDBIRD
studied near SabanaSeca,Puerto Rico, Mar.
(two) were observed at Landrail Pt.,
BlowingPt. pond,Anguilla,Jan.4 alsofurnishedrepresentative winteringnumbers,
ADDENDUM
Includedin the report from the Bahamas (TW et al.) wasan updateon the lastdate (Feb. 16) the Fish Crow was seenat Grand Bahama(RO). A late contribution
from Iliff on the
winter (Dec. 28, 1995-Jan.4, 1996) birdsof
Anguillaand St. Martin is appendedhere, illustratingtheir meageruseby neotropical migrant landbirdsin the n.e. Caribbean, whereas migrantshorebirds find saltponds and lagoonsimportantstopoverand wintering sites.Iliff foundno migrantlandbirds, save one Merlin Dec. 31 at Gulf
Pond,Anguilla.Typicalwintervisitorswere Black-bellied (35) and Semipalmated (45) ploversDec.30 at LongSaltPond,Anguilla; however,an Am. Oystercatcher seenDec. 30 is uncommon
in the n.e. Caribbean.
Greater(10) and Lesser(100) yellowlegs at 933
AB A. Sp o n S'øred
Bi r'di n g T o U r s
If youareinterested inanABA. sponsored tourHsted here,please contact thetourcompany directly forinformation AND reservations. IDENTIFYYOURSELF ASAN ABAMEMBER.ABAsponsors thesetoursbecause manyfactors
SUggest a•articuLarly finebirdingexperience andbecause thetouroperators haveagreed to return to ABAa percentage of the tour's costfor participatingABAmembers.
North
America
ZIMBABWE and BOTSWANA
of Man, InnerHebrides,St.Kilda,FairIsle,Shetlands, and
Rock.Expect auniquecross-section ofseaandland Includes Eastern Highlands, VictoriaFalls,Chobe,Savut, Bass birds.LeaderPeterHarrison.FifteendaysfromMay 19, RHODE ISLAND AND NEW YORK---•inter Moremi,andOkavango Delta.Leaders Derek 1998. Code GB/OB** coastal birding includes Sachuest Point, Shinnecock Solomon andChuckBell.September 26-October17, 1998. Code A* Inlet,Jones Beach,andJamaica Bay.January21-25, Contact: WernerZehnder, ZegrahmExpeditions, 1414 1998. Code R/A*
Contact: Chuck Bell, Bellbird Safaris,P.O.Box 158, Livermore,CO 80536; (800) 726-0656.
MASSACHUSETTS--cape AnntoCape Codfrom
Dexter AvenueNorth, No. 327, Seattle,WA 98109;
(800) 628-8747;
[email protected]
Boston.IncludesManometBird Observatory. Winter-
ingwaterandlandbirds.March15-16,1998.
Caribbean,
Code
and
Alltripsareoperated byBobSchutsky. CallBialm•(s (717)548-3303 or write115Peach BottomVillage, PeachBottom, PA 17563-9716.
FLORIi)A•DRY
TORTUgAS--Aboard the
Yankee Freedom. Primebreeding season for terns,frigatebirds,andboobies; peakspring land-bird migration. Five
South
Central America
PERU AND CHILE--west coast "Landof HumboldtandDarwin:'Expect to see70of theworld's 320species ofseabirds. Includes landings ontheGuano Islandsandmainlandbirding.Ledby PeterHarrison.19
FINLAND/NORWAY--Spring migration under themidnight sun.Leaders JarlPeltomak andChuckBell. May22-June6,1998.CodeA* Contact:Chuck Bell, BellbirdSafaris,P.O.Box 158, Livermore,CO 80536; (800) 726-0656.
SPAlN-•central andNorthern Regions. Spanish steppes, Sierras, Pyrenes, andEbraDelta.Search for Spanish Eagle, Lammergeier, andWallcreeper, among
days fromNovember 11,1998. CodeOB** three-dsy tripsavailable: April4-7,April11-14,April Contact: WernerZehnder, Zegrahm Expeditions, 1414 others.Leaders PeterRoberts andfanHodsson. May 18-21,May2-5,andMay9-12,1998. Canbecombined Dexter AvenueNorth, No. 327, Seattle,WA 98109; 17-June 1,1998.Operated byBritish Tours. CodeR/A* with GrandBahama(seeCaribbean). CodeR* (800)628-8747;
[email protected]
Contact: WesBiggs, FloridaNatureTours, P.O.Box 618572,Orlando,FL 32861-8572; (407) 363-1360;fax: (407) 363-1887.
TRINIDADlIND TODAG0--Trinidad, Tobago, Netherlands Antilles, OrinocoRiver--voyage aboardthe
ALASKAand RUSSIANFAR EAST--
Yorktown Clipper. ABAescort BillMurphy, author ofa
Petropavlovsk toNomeviaAleutians andPribilofs abboardtheWorldDiscover}• Staffornithologist Arnold Small. May22-June 5,1998.CodeOB'•
Birder's GuidetoTrinidadandTobago. Exclusive ABA
Contact:JimToolen,Society Expeditions, 2001 WesternAvenue,Suite300,Seattle,WA 98121; (800) 548-8669.
post-cruise extension inTrinidad, including AsaWright
Contact:LaurenWoodhouse,Siemerand Hand Travel,101 CaliforniaStreet,Suite 1750,San Francisco,CA 94111;(800) 451-4321; e-mail:
[email protected]
BRITAIN•ABA Birding workshop conducted jointly
Surveys, banding reNatureCenterledbyBillMurphy.December 22-January withBritishTrustforOrnithology. search projects, migration counts withtopBritish birders. 2,1998.Extension January 2-5. CodeGB/OB**,extenLeader PeterRoberts. August16-26,1998. Operated by sion R/A* BritishBirdingTours.CodeR* Contact: Theresa Sherrill, ClipperCruiseLine(800) Contact:CarlaWhite, SiemerandHand Travel,101 325-0010ext485.Extension BillMurphy,Peregrine
][I•--Nome
CaliforniaStreet,Suite 1750,SanFrancisco,CA 94111; andtheSeward Peninsula. Expect Enterprises, 1011AnnStreet, Parkersburg, WV 26101; (304) 485-4710. (800)451-4321; e-mail: s•
[email protected] Bar-tailed Godwit, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Gyrfalcon, and Bluethroat among90-100species. LedbyForrest Davis. COSTA RICA/PAN}[MA--Voyage aboard the Threetrips:June1-7,8-14,and15-21,1998. CodeRA* Asia Clipper, including CuruWildlifeRefuge, Contact:Forrest Davis,HighLonesome Ecotours, 570 Yorktown Marenco Biological Station, DarienJungle, Panama Canal S. Little BearTrail, SierraVista,AZ 85635; (520) 458plustwodays oflandbirding forABAmembers fromSan ISRAEls•spring 9446;e-mail:hilonesome@ear thlink.net birding atamigration crossroad.
ALASKA/SIBERIA, ALEUTIANS-Archipdago to Kamchatka aboard theWormDiscoverer. Includes Attu.Expect Whiskered Auklet. Leader Peter Harrison. Seventeen daysfromJune20,1998.Code Contact:. WernerZehnder,ZegrahmExpeditions, 1414DexterAvenueNorth, No. 327, SeattleWA
98109;(800)628-8747;
[email protected]
RERING SEA--Kamchatka toNome,Alaska, via Kommandor, Pribilof/St.Lawrence, andLittleDiomede Islands aboardthe WormDiscoverer. ExpectStdler'sSea
Jos& ABAescortDanCanterbury. March18-26,1998. Code GB/OB**
Contact:. DeniseMcConnell,ClipperCruiseLine, 7711 Bonhomme Avenue,St. Louis,MO 63105-1096;
Tours. Code R/A*
(800) 325-0010ext485.
GRAND RIHIAMA---Goal istofindall18resident Caribbean birdsandFloridaaccidentals. LedbyWesBiggs andEugene Stoccardo. TwotripsApril14 or 8-11,1998.
Cancombine withDryTortugas (seeFlorida). Code Contact: WesBiggs, FloridaNatureTours, P.O.Box
Eagle. Whiskered Auklet andSpoon-billed Sandpiper possible. LedbyPeterHarrison. Seventeen days
IncludesKfarBlum,Hula Reserve, Mt. Hermort,andfour
nightsin Eliat.LedbyPeterRoberts andfanHodgsonMarch22-April6, 1998.Operated byBritishBirding Contact:CarlaWhite, SiemerandHand Travel,101 CaliforniaStreet,Suite 1750,SanFrancisco,CA 94111;
(800)451-4321;e-mail:
[email protected]
MONGOLIA---Gobi Desert, Lammergeier Valley, and LakeHovsgd. Search forRelictGull.Leader ChrisLeahy,
618572,Orlando,FL 32861-8572;(407) 363-1360;fax:
authorof TheBirdwatchers Companion. May 22-June7,
(407) 363-1887.
1998. Code A/I '•
DeniseGogarty, Nomadic Expeditions, GALfIPAGOS; ECUADOR'S ANDE.q--TravelContact: fromJuly4,1998.Code Princeton Corporate Plaza1,1 DeerparkDrive,Suite onanyof 60tripdates andseemostenContact: WernerZehnder, Zegrahm Expeditions, 1414 totheGalapagos M, MonmouthJunction,N108852; (800) 998-6634;eDexte•AvenueNorth, No. 327, Seattle,WA 98109; demics aswellashugeseabird breeding colonies. Options mail:
[email protected] (800) 628-8747;
[email protected]
Africa
includeAmazonBasin,MachuPicchu,andEcuador's Andes.CodeR (ExtensionCodeA)* Contact:LindaRehor,Inca Floats,1311-ABA63rd
Street, Emeryville, CA94608;(510)420-1550.
SOUTHAFRICAnTransvaal andNatal plusa Western C•peextension. Leaders KenNewman, author
Hawaii,
ofNewmang BirdsofSouthern Africa, DerekSolomon, PhilHockey (extension), andChuckBell.February
and
27-March 15, 1998. CodeA* Contact:ChuckBell,BellbirdSafaris,P.O.Box 158, Livermore,CO 80536;(800) 726-0656.
South
Pacific,
Australasia
NEW ZEALAND North,South,andStewartIsland.Expectover50 endemics. Leaders TonyWilsonandChuckBell. November15- December1, 1998.CodeA*
MOROCCO--Birding North Africanthe fringes ofthe WesternPalearctic.Coastalwetlands,AtlasMountains,
andSahara Desert. Target species include theendangered BaldIbisorWaldrapp andDouble-spurred Francolin. LedbyPeterRobers andfanHodgson. April7-23, 1998. Operated byBritishTours. Code
Contact:ChuckBell, BellbirdSafaris,P.O.Box 158, Livermore,CO 80536; (800) 726-0656.
TIJRKEY--Late spring birding among archaeological artifacts GoksuDelta,Euphrates River,Central Plateau, andCappadocia. LedbylanHodgson, June2-17, 1998. Operated byBritishBirding Tours. CodeR/A• Contact:LaurenWoodhouse, SiemerandHand Travel, 101 California Street,Suite 1750, San Francisco,CA 94111; (800) 451-4321; e-mall:
[email protected]
SIBERIA--See Bering SeaandAlaska/Siberia, Aleutians.under North America.
*Tour Codes and **Cruise Codes
are abbreviationsfor the following: R = Relaxed
Europe
A = Advanced I = Intensive
Contact:CarlaWhite, Siemerand Hand Travel,101 California Street,Suite 1750, San Francisco,CA 94111;
ENGLANDAND SC0TLRND--EXPediti .... y-
GB= GeneralBirding
(800)451-4321;e-mail:
[email protected]
ageaboard theCaledonian Star, including Seilly Isles, Isle
OB= OptimalBirding
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FALL1997
a coneervation
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935
pictorial highlights A recent(andongoing)discovery is the presenceof Band-rnmped StormPetrels,in somenumbers,in the Gulfof Mexico.Thisportrait,taken Hay 24, 1997, off the Alabama coast,showsthe classicpattern of the white fromthe rumpwrapping aroundto belowthe planeof the tail. Thebirdis partwaythroughits wing molt;it appearsthat the outerthree primariesare old, andthe rest have beenreplaced,with onestill growing
Undoubtedly a first, this photoshowstwo Forktailed Flycatchers togetherin the UnitedStates-at the Hornsby Bendponds,Austin,Texas,Hay6, 1997. Thisspeciesturnsupannuallyin verysmall numbers,but the majorityof Fork-tailedsoccurin fall alongthe AtlanticCoast,andprobablycome fromthe (highlymigratory)southernSouth Americanpopulation.Springbirdsin Texasseem likelyto havecomefromHexico. Photograph/Mark W. Lockwood
in. Some of the secondaries look
fresh, but the impressionhere is that manyof the covertsare still old and worn.
As with some other
pelagics,questionsremainabout the timingof moltin thisspecies. Photograph/Steve HcConnell
AlaskavisitorsbirdingAttu Island in springroutinelyexpectto find the birdsthat wouldbe anything but routine elsewhere--like this Red-necked Stint
photographed thereHay28, 1997. Thismouth-watering portrait showsthe separa-
f
tion between the clear rufous
on the neckandthe spotted areajust belowit, andthe contrast between dull coverts
on the wingandbrightlyedged scapulars; theseare bothdistinctions from the even rarer Little
Stint.Photograph/Steve Heinl
A White-wingedDove(seenherewith a HourningDove)cameto a feeder in Ottumwa,Iowa,startingApril8, 1997, furnishing a first staterecord. Evidentlypart of a micro-invasion, it waspromptlyfollowedbya secondIowa birdandby onein Hissouri.Photograph/Nelson R. Hoskins 936
Numbersof strayAsiansongbirdsin the westernAleutianswere belowaverage this spring,but a handfulof Hawfinches appearedat Attu and Buldirislandsin late HayandearlyJune.Thisonewasat Attu June1, 1997. Photograph/Steve Heinl
Hale PaintedBuntingat Tiffin, Ohio, April 17, 1997. Perhapssurprisingly, this bird furnished a first state record.
Photograph/Larry Rosche FIELD NOTES
EventhoughKirtland'sWarbler opulationsare increasing, the species s still veryrare,andfindinga migrantbird [awayfromthe breedingrange) s still a red-letter
event. This male
Nasat MageeMarsh,CraneCreekState )ark, Ohio,May16, 1997. )hotograph/Monte M. Taylor
PomafineJaeger(in first-winterplumage)at Cleveland, Ohio,April 1997. Remarkably, five individuals werepresentherein late April,followinga notable"invasion" of the specieson the GreatLakeslast fall andsporadicsightingsduringthe winter. It is possiblethat theseAprilbirdshadover-
To date, despiteseveralpastreports, NewJerseyhashadno acceptedrecords of Thayer'sGull. Thatsituationmaychange after consideration of the details
onthisfirst-yearbirdat Thompson's Beach, NewJersey,May27, lg97. Photograph/Shawneen Finnegan
wintered on Lake Erie.
Photograph/Vic Fazio
Observers continue to work out the exact distribution of Clark's Grebe relative
edCrossbills, famousfor their enaticappearances, havingbeenpresentat oddtimes d placeson the southernplainsalmostcontinuously sincesummer1996, •ndsomecontinued throughthe endof this season.Thisonewasat a feeder n Cherokee County,Oklahoma, May1997. hotogroph/Ann Wilber
to the rangeof its near-lookalike,Western Grebe,but the birdsthemselves seemconfusedat times.ThisClark'sstayedthrough the endof Maylg97 at Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas,whereit wasthoughtto be matedto a WesternGrebe(oneof a hand(ulof Westernsbreedingin the area). Photograph/Lloyd Moore
At Bolsa Chica
in southernCalifornia, a Sandwich Tern was
associating with the nestingElegantTerns beginningMay9, 1997. An accidental visitor on
the west coast,it was believed to be the same individual that had been
presentat this location duringthe two previous summers.Photograph/ LarrySansone
Anotherdistinguished visitorat the Elegant Terncolonyat BolsaChica,California, this SootyTernwaspresentbeginningMarch lg97.
It was believed to be the same indi-
vidualcomingbackfor its fourthseason. Photograph/Larry Sansone iLL 1997
937
Cave Swallows have nested
for severalyears in extreme eastern
Texas,just a few miles from the Louisiana
border;this spring, up to half a dozen were found on the Louisiana side
of the SabineRiver, associating with Cliff and Barn swallows
at a nestingcolony. Photograph/Steven W. Cardiff
BlackVultureshavebeenpushing the northernboundaries of their range in recentdecades.Theonlyonerecorded in Ontariothis springwasat PrinceEdward Pointon May:•1, 1997, providinga first record for well.watched
Prince Edward
County.Photograph/Don Craighead Thisjaeger,photographed 47 miles south-southwest
of
SouthwestPass,Louisiana, on May24, lg97, wasthe subject of muchdebate. Expertopinion wasleaningtowardLong-tailed Jaeger,whichwouldmakeit a third Louisiana record.
Photograph/Iohn P. Sevenair
Althoughit wasnot an exceptional season for easternvagrantsin mostparts of the West,inlandareasof southern Californiahad a muchmoreproductive springthanusual. Amongthe moreinterestingfindstherewasthisWhite-eyed VireonearCantil,KernCounty,May26,
In extremenorthwestern California,the first singingmaleLeConte'sSparroweverfound in the stateheldforthfor five daysin late May 1997 at LakeEarl.Theclosestknownbreeding popolationsare in northwesternMontana
1997. Photograph/Matt T. Heindel
Photograph/Michael M. Rogers
and eastern British Columbia.
Averyrarevisitor anywhere eastoftheGreat Plains,
thisSage Thrasher caused astirinsouthern Ontario
•'•'•
•-•-
'
-
• •-•-•
•"•-• • •
atWallaceburg, where it remained from March 1GtoApril 9, Providing confirmation thattheNorthern Harrier breeds 1997.Theearly dateofitsdiscovery suggested thatit might inMississippi, thisnest withfivedowny young wasfound May have wintered locally, althoogh thespecies isa veryearly
28,1997,inQuitman County inthenorthwestern part
spring migrant in partsof itsnormal range. Photograph/tim Flynn
ofthestate.It mayhaverepresented thefirstproven nesting in theCentral Southern region.Photograph/Fred Broerman
938
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FIELD NOTES
how to submit
records
taking part in the field notes reporting network sourcescan makeyour birdingnot very issue ofField Notes presents an such onlymoreeducational, butmoreenjoyable.
overview of whatthebirdsweredoing
all over North America for an entire season. These summaries
are based on observa-
tionsby thousands of birders.If youenjoy Field Notes,we urge you to considerbecominga contributor of information as well as a reader.
The columnsare written by Regional Editors,all of whom are expertson the birdlife
in their areas. All of these hard-
workingindividualsarevolunteers. While theyaregenerally gladto receivemorereports (to make their accountsmore thorough),we needto practicesomecourtesies
to avoidoverwhelming them. Asa firststep,youshouldknowthesignificanceof the informationthat you are reporting.Neversendin just a list of the birds you saw, expectingthe Regional Editorsto siftthroughit. If youarenewto thispublication, it wouldbe a goodideato read a few issues'worth of reportsfrom yourregionto geta betterideaof thekinds of bird records that are included.
Basically, we covernews.If you seethe expected species in normalnumbersandat
distribution
The photographs that appearin the regionalreportsin FieldNotesadd much
is to establish contact with
your nearestAudubon chapteror other bird clubs.
Perhaps you arereportingto FieldNotes for thefirsttimebecause youhavefounda bird that is definitelyunusualwhere or whenyousawit. Whenreportingrarities,it isalwaysimportantto indudethedetailsof the record. Points to cover include:
Date, time, and exact location.
Viewingconditions (lighting,weather, distanceto bird).
A detaileddescription of thebird:appearance, voice,behavior. Includeonly thosethingsyouactuallyobserved. A description writtenon thespot,during theobservation, is alwaysmoreuseful than one written later. Names of other observers who identified the same bird.
Photographs, evenof marginalquality, areveryworthwhile forestablishing records. Andif videoor audiotapes havebeenmade,it'sworthmentioning thattheyexist,although it'snotnecessaryto sendthemalongin mostcases.
in your locale,you need to consultother types of publications.Most statesand provinces,and many smaller areas,have
see details.
In someregions,especially largeones with lots of birders,reportsare funneled throughsubregional editors,and it is best
books or annotated checklists on bird sta-
to sendyour reportsto theseindividuals.
tus and distribution. Such references are es-
Someregionslistthemailingaddresses for thesesubregional compilers. Othersdo not,
sentialto helpyouunderstand the significanceof yourownobservations. Checking FALL1997
FIELD
PHOTOGRAPHS
TO
normalplacesanddates,thisis reassuring andimportant,andwellworthrecording in yourownfieldnotes.But we can'tpublish In askingfor details,RegionalEditors all of thatin FieldNotes.(Canyouimagine are not castingdoubt on anyone'sabilities. theheftof a NewYorkTimesthatpublished The topbird expertsin NorthAmericarouthe dailyactivitiesof everyresidentof the tinelywrite up detailsto supporttheiruncity?)We reportthe unusual.However,this usualsightings,and all birderswould do doesn'tmeanyoushouldignorethe"comwell to follow their example.Reportsof mon"birds.The regionalreportsare far truly rarefindsareusuallykepton permamore than summaries of rarities. If there is nentfile.Maybeeveryone knowstodaythat a major invasionof AmericanRobins,for you're a sharp birder, but whataboutpeoexample,or if the BarnSwallows comeback ple fifty yearsfrom now who are researchexceptionally early,suchthingsarepart of the storyof whathappened duringa sea- ing past records?They probably won't knowyour reputation,and they'llwantto son. To find out the "normal" bird situation
SUBMITTING
Anothergoodwayto learnaboutlocalbird
NOTES
to the interest and information value of
thisjournal.FieldNotesdoesnotpayfor theuseof photographs in thisarea,but we do providethe opportunityto share yourphotoswith thousands of otheractive birders.
In each issue, about 20-25 of the
photossubmittedwith the regionalreportsareselected to be printedin color, in a featurecalled"Pictorial Highlights:' Generallytheseare very good photographsshowingbirdsof exceptional interest---either veryrarevagrants,or birdstakingpart in unusualinvasions or migrations. The bestway to submitphotosto FieldNotes isto sendthemto theappropriateRegionalEditor.To makethings easierfor theseindividuals(and for us),
pleaselabelall photosdearlywith the species, place,date,and your name.In particular,print your namelegibly,as you would want it to appear in the photo credit.We alsoneed to know the
address to whichphotographs shouldbe returned.All photoswill be returned(to theRegional Editorsor to thephotographers),but it may takeseveralmonths fromthetimetheyweresubmitted. Eitherslidesor printscanbe reproducedin FieldNotes,althoughgivena choicewegenerally preferslides. Photographsof eitherkind shouldbe packagedso that they will not be bent or crushed in the mail. Prints should be la-
beled on the back, but not with ball-
pointpen,whichmaydamage theemulsionof the photograph. If felt-tippens areusedfor labelling,theprintsshould beseparated withsheets of papersothat the ink from the back of one will not rub off onto the surface of another
photo.
(continuedon page942) 941
butyoumaybe ableto find theiraddresses in theABAMembership Directory. If you're not sure of the address,it's better to send in
notesto the main RegionalEditorthanto not send them at all.
Don't be discouraged if your sightings are not specifically quotedin a particular report.Evenminor observations helpthe RegionalEditorsto form a morecomplete pictureof the season. By becomingpart of our reportingnetwork,you put yourbirdingobservations to gooduse,andyoucontributeto the permanentrecordof North America's birdlife.
For each season,your field reports (alongwith supporting detailsandphotographs)shouldreachthe RegionalEditors as soonaspossibleafterthe seasonends. The RegionalEditorsareworkingon strict deadlines, and it makes their task much
easierif theyhavetimeto consider andanalyze your reportsbefore writing their
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columns. Winter season
(DecemberthroughFebruary), NotesshouldreachRegionalEditors assoonaspossible afterMarch1. Springseason
(MarchthroughMay), NotesshouldreachRegionalEditors assoonaspossible afterJune1. Summer season
(JuneandJuly), NotesshouldreachRegionalEditors assoonaspossible afterAugust1.
Varieties
Autumn season
NotesshouldreachRegionalEditors assoonaspossible afterDecember1.
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