Yellow-billed Cuckoo in El Dorado County

On June 30th Bill Wade reported to the CVBirds list that a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO had been brought to a local bird rehabilitator in Shingle Springs (El Dorado County). He had also solicited the assistance of a photographer to document this occurrence as it is a fairly remarkable record being away from known breeding sites in the Central Valley. I responded and the next morning, July 1st, Nancy the bird rehab lady called and we set up a time for me to stop by.

The bird apparently flew into a neighbor's window and was then caught by a cat which accounts for the missing tail. I would like to thank Nancy for her warm hospitality and tour of the "facility". She was also working with several orphans including 3 sibling Pacific Slope Flycatchers, Black Phoebes, House Wrens, Killdeer, and Anna's Hummingbirds, as well as Acorn and Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Western Bluebirds, and Western Tanagers.

Flash Workshop with Steve Ting

Took a flash photography workshop with Reno area wildlife photographer Steve Ting. I realized that I have a lot of practice ahead of me to get anywhere near the results that I aspire to (click on Steve's name to see his amazing work!). Here are a couple shots of Western Bluebirds coming in to a nest hole near Reno.

Modoc, Lassen Counties and the Warner Mountains

UPDATE: On June 28, Dan Singer reported the confirmation of the Eastern Kingbirds at Blue Lake (see below) are breeding and that he obtained photos of one bird sitting on a nest.


Black and White Warbler on Jess Valley Rd., Modoc County

Took a trip up to the northeastern corner of California for birds, butterflies, and odonates with Bruce Webb on June 1st and 2nd. The weather cooperated the first day but was not so conducive to flying bugs the second day. Highlights were several Great Basin Snaketails and Gray Sanddragons on the creek at Zamboni Hot Springs, a single River Jewelwing on the Susan River in Johnstonville, a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER singing along Jess Valley Rd (approx 7.3 miles east of Likely, Modoc County), 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS at Blue Lake (Lassen County), and a pair of Bald Eagles feeding a large eaglet in a nest (also at Blue Lake.


Eastern Kingbird at Blue Lake


Eastern Kingbird flying overhead showing the notched primaries and white terminal band on the tail well.


Distant shot showing both kingbirds.


One of many Tree Swallows


A pair of Mountain Bluebirds were a nice addition to the list at Blue Lake

Return to the Owl

My father and I returned today with my son, Simon (6 1/2 years old) in hopes of another encounter with the GREAT GRAY OWL in Durham. As we arrived we heard the disappointing news that it had been there 15 minutes before we arrived and hadn't been seen since. As we contemplated our move, Simon remarked that we should just walk into the woods to look. What a brilliant idea! We soon came across some photographers in the woods who were on the bird. Simon was so excited to have his first encounter with such a mythical beast! He and I were about 40 feet away and he loved it when the owl "looked right at him!"



Formidable talons!

April Trip to New Hampshire

It was serendipitous that as my son Simon and I were flying East to visit family a GREAT GRAY OWL was discovered a few miles from my parents' house. Dennis Abbott, Davis Finch, Todd Day, myself and others conducted the search of the Wildlife Management Area on Dame Road in Durham, Todd (on his way home to Virginia from Maine) had found the owl perched nearby. It flew up the hill a short distance and out of sight. We all split up and I followed the flight of the bird up the hill. Not 10 minutes later I spotted the owl as it flew in about 120 feet away. It allowed my approach to 40 feet where I reveled in the sight.



I have seen several Great Gray Owls over the years but never this close. The sheer size of the bird was quite surprising! He knew I was there but really didn't seem to care! It then flew....right at me! Exhilarated, I watched as it flew within 6 inches of me to a perch about 100 feet behind me. I followed and it continued to an opening where it sat in the open for a short time. Several attempts to alert the others finally succeeded at this spot. The bird then flew toward the road and out of sight....just as the others came into view.

Slaty-backed Gull in Davis, CA!

Slaty-backed Gull

On Friday, February 27, Todd Easterla and John Sterling reported a SLATY-BACKED GULL at the Davis Oxidation Ponds. This year has been fantastic for gulls at this site and the adjacent Yolo County Dump. As luck would have it I had Saturday off and headed over as soon as I was able. After scanning the available gull groups and finding 2 first winter GLAUCOUS GULLS, several THAYER'S, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, HERRING, CALIFORNIA, and RING-BILLED GULLS (and an apparent "KUMLIEN'S" GULL) someone had alerted another birder that they had refound the Slaty-backed in a field about a mile away.

I arrived to a decent sized flock of gulls and almost immediately came across a dark backed gull in front of all the others. My excitement quickly subsided as I realized I was looking at an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and not the Slaty-backed. This is only the second Lesser Black-backed I've seen in California and was still excited to see it but I thought it was the bird people were calling the Slaty-backed. Soon, tough, I was on the SLATY-BACKED GULL and had moderate looks at quite a distance. The following digiscoped shots were all I could get.


Lesser Black-backed Gull


Slaty-backed Gull


Slaty-backed Gull


"Kumlien's" Gull? Comments welcome on this one! The primaries look good and the tertials are ok but the bill seems too big to me. What do you think?

Quick Trip to Southeast Arizona

I was in Phoenix for a convention and thought I'd try for some of the recent rarities in the Tucson area. After dipping on the Patagonia Lake Rufous-backed Robin I headed for Florida Canyon for Rufous-capped Warbler. I had forgotten to print directions up the wash but had read them enough I had unknowingly memorized them! The entire canyon was silent. I heard the distant call of a Lesser Goldfinch at one point and began to feel as though I was hiking in vain. I reached the spot where the warblers had mostly been seen and spent 20 minutes without luck until I remembered there was another spot upstream that was favored more recently. After another 200yds up the canyon I reached a flat area where there had been a fire at one point. It was there that one of the reported three RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS made itself known in the thick brush on the side of the wash. I was able to get a couple great (but brief) looks as it foraged about 6-10 feet back in the brush. What a stunner! It never came out for a photo.

The next day my time was short as I was planning on having lunch in Scottsdale with an old friend. I decided to head over the the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for some photo opps. I was not disappointed...

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS made a nice showing in the Hummingbird Aviary



This male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD was very difficult...often perching in terrible light or under cover of the dense vegetation



There was a single female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD vigorously defending her feeding station



This BARN OWL was on the arm of a docent at one of the educational stops



In the aviary there was a WESTERN TANAGER...





...several doves including this BAND-TAILED PIGEON...



...a very out of place BLUE-WINGED TEAL...



...and one of the ubiquitous CACTUS WRENS.



In speaking with one of the volunteers I found out that most of the birds are from local rehabilitation facilities.

Red-throated Pipits in San Francisco

For the past few days there have been many reports of several RED-THROATED PIPITS at Crissy Field in San Francisco's Presidio. I have seen this species once before just north of that location on Point Reyes several years ago. I decided to have a go at it last minute. After surviving the Bay Area traffic, I arrived at approximately 9am. I soon located a large flock of AMERICAN PIPITS that quickly took flight and vacated the premises. I walked the length of the field and became distracted by a SAY'S PHOEBE on the beach. As I returned to the field I immediately flushed 2 RED-THROATED PIPITS from very near the walking path. They flew a short distance and allowed approach but remained wary. It became apparent that there were at least 3 individuals present from 9am-11am. My 100-400 zoom lens was a bit short but I was able to get some images.

Alvaro Jaramillo was present recording the flight calls of the pipits. His excellent recording can be heard here.





Also present was a LAPLAND LONGSPUR which was (unexpectedly) associating quite closely with the Red-throated Pipits.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Nevada County, CA!

On August 30, 2008, Bruce Webb and I made the pilgrimage up to Nevada City to see a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD that had been coming to birder Rudy Darling's feeders for (at that point) 7 days. We were not disappointed. There were also ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, "OREGON" JUNCOS, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES to occupy us during the nearly 20 minutes between the Ruby-throat's feeder visits. According to Joe Morlan, this will likely be the 10th accepted record (based on the breadth of documentation already) for California.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve

I spent an hour at Bolsa Chica Reserve near Huntington State Beach before I had to get to the airport. What a show! The FORSTER'S TERNS were diving next to the boardwalk, an adult was feeding a young tern on the railing of the boardwalk allowing close approach (~3-4 feet)...





...and a few BLACK SKIMMERS made a fly by...



...and a skimming.

Avocets, avocets, avocets!

I returned to the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary to find the pond adjacent the Sea and Sage Audubon House as I had left it yesterday...rife with AMERICAN AVOCETS and a few CINNAMON TEAL.



There was a bit of interaction as well as avian romance on the pond. I never get tired of avocets.

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

I have been sent to Irvine for work and found myself with a few hours this morning. A quick Internet search led me to the Sea and Sage Audubon Society's San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary...and it is just a few blocks south of the Marriott where I am staying! BELL'S VIREO was very vocal but difficult to photograph...maybe I'll get some shots tomorrow. This ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD landed right next to me and seemed to be "licking his lips"!





As I returned to my car I almost stepped on this SAN DIEGO GOPHER SNAKE...scared the gopher out of me! I was looking up into the trees as I walked and by the time my eyes landed on this guy, I was a mere 2 feet away. This impressive snake measured approximately two and a half feet long and didn't seem too bothered by me. I really like the Alice Cooper eye makeup!





I didn't have time to visit the Audubon House but will return in the morning. There were AMERICAN AVOCETS and CINNAMON TEAL in the pond adjacent to the center seemingly unaware of the parking lot...I hope they are there tomorrow.

Sacramento Mandarin Duck

After shooting an adventure racing team at Lake Natoma, I spent the afternoon with my 5 year old son, Simon at McKinley Park in East Sacramento. This is a great spot for close views of wild WOOD DUCKS as the pond there has several pairs. Today the pond held a surprise...an adult male MANDARIN DUCK (who copulated with a very willing female Wood Duck). This is a free flying bird that is likely an escape...but you never know!



No leg bands...



...primaries are all intact...



...somehow, though, I don't think any rare bird committee would accept this one! Regardless...he's quite a stunner!

Summer Tanager in El Dorado Hills!

Chris Conard got wind of a returning SUMMER TANAGER staked out off a nature trail in a suburban neighborhood about a week ago. I finally got a chance to get over there and check it out. I was there for about 20 minutes when Fritz Steurer appeared and pointed me to the bird. I got off a few poor shots before it flew out towards the neighborhood. Dave Johnson and Dee Wyrencia were also there at the time. The others left but I wanted to try and get another chance for photos. About 5-10 minutes later the bird reappeared and allowed fairly close approach. Nice bird!



It was feasting on bees that were slowly appearing from an oak. You can see bee parts on it's bill in these photos.