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09 May MacGuillvary's Warbler new backyard bird 5/7/08 ["svillebirder" ] 08 May Black Tern, Willow Flycatcher ["John Lockhart" ] 08 May Bob Barnes Reporting from South East Tulare ["John Lockhart" ] 05 May South Fork Campground to Garfield Grove Backpack ["John Lockhart" ] 04 May INDIGO BUNTING at Lake Success 5/4/08 ["svillebirder" ] 03 May Yellow Warbler in Backyard 5/2/08 ["svillebirder" ] 03 May Willow Flycatcher and Townsend's Warbler 5/2/08 ["svillebirder" ] 01 May Purple Martin at Dry Creek Dr ["John Lockhart" ] 01 May End of April Tul Co at 236 Species ["John Lockhart" ] 30 Apr Black Swifts in Alpaugh ["Steve Laymon" ] 29 Apr Atwell Island ["Steve Laymon" ] 29 Apr Impressive BIG DAY! ["Chris Hiatt" ] 29 Apr Tulare Co Bigday ["John Lockhart" ] 29 Apr Good birds on th Big Day 4/27/08 ["svillebirder" ] 27 Apr Solitary Sandpiper ["John Lockhart" ] 26 Apr Amazing what a week will do ["John Lockhart" ] 26 Apr Blue Grosbeaks Lake Success 4/25/08 ["svillebirder" ] 23 Apr Visalia WTP and beyond ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 21 Apr Evening Grosbeaks Scicon Tul Co. 4/20/08 ["svillebirder" ] 20 Apr Scicon bird report 4/19/08 ["svillebirder" ] 20 Apr TCAS trip to Tulare Co Central Valley ["John Lockhart" ] 19 Apr American Bittern in Springville 4/18/08 ["svillebirder" ] 17 Apr Atwell Island Nature Trail ["Steve Laymon" ] 17 Apr Lale Success birds 4/15-4/16 2008 ["svillebirder" ] 16 Apr Vaux's Swift, Bank Swallow, Semipalmated Plover Visalia WTP ["John Lockhart" ] 13 Apr Brewer's Sparrow ["Steve Laymon" ] 12 Apr Curlew fly over ["Chris Hiatt" ] 8 Apr Ash-throated Flycatcher ["Steve Laymon" ] 09 Apr Warbling Vireos and Black-headed Grosbeak 4/8/08 ["svillebirder" ] 08 Apr Western Kingbirds galore ["Chris Hiatt" ] 07 Apr Tricolored Blackbirds ["John Lockhart" ] 07 Apr Tulare Photo Gallery Request Update ["John Lockhart" ] 07 Apr Owls and Tulare County Birds 4/5-4/6 2008 ["svillebirder" ] 4 Apr 1st Black-chinned Hummingbird of Spring ["Steve Laymon" ] 03 Apr March 29th Tulare Co birds ["John Lockhart" ] 27 Mar Mew Gull Area OFF LIMITS 3/27/08 ["svillebirder" ] 26 Mar Hooded Oriole and Rufous Hummingbird in Strathmore 3/25/08 ["svillebirder" ] 25 Mar Goldeneye, Greater Scaup's, and Bullock's Oriole Continue 3/24/08 ["svillebirder" ] 24 Mar Bravo Lake and Drum Valley ["John Lockhart" ] 20 Mar Mew Gull Continues 3/19/08 ["svillebirder" ] 19 Mar FOS Bullock's Oriole & Black-headed Grosbeak ["John Lockhart" ] 17 Mar Tulare Photo Gallery Request ["John Lockhart" ] 16 Mar First County Record Mew Gull ["John Lockhart" ] 13 Mar 1st Kingbird of Spring ["Steve Laymon" ] 10 Mar North American Birds Winter Reminder [Steve Glover ] 9 Mar Come Bird Santa Clara County - 2008 SCVAS Spring Birdathon - Call for Entries [] 09 Mar Owling up Balch Park road Tulare County 3/8/08 ["svillebirder" ] 08 Mar Rough-legged Hawk and Blue-winged Teal 3/7/08 ["svillebirder" ] 5 Mar Rufous Hummingbird ["Steve Laymon" ] 05 Mar New Backyard Bird 3/3/08, Frazier Valley Birds 3/4/08 ["svillebirder" ] 05 Mar Porterville College Merlin 3/3/08 ["svillebirder" ] 2 Mar Blue-winged Teal ["Steve Laymon" ] Subject: MacGuillvary's Warbler new backyard bird 5/7/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 23:16:11 -0000 Giacomo Catalina found use a new backyard bird to add to our list. He had a male MacGuillvary's Warbler along with a Male Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. The only uncommon warblers I need for my list now is Black-throated Gray and Townsend's. The list is really getting up there, it's quite amazing! Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Black Tern, Willow Flycatcher From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 04:41:05 -0000 May 7, 2008 I got off work and headed out about 2:30 Visalia WTP - Both ponds so full of water that there were basically no shorebirds. 5-6 Black Tern, I called Tony K and he went out to see them and called to say they were still there around 5:00 pm Most northern water places are dry. Tule River between Ave 144 and Hwy 43 was just okay Dead Pig pond was nice but drying. Stoil Pond was nice - Blue-winged Teal continues, good assortment of shorebirds and ducks, American Bittern. Alpaugh City Park - Willow Flycatcher and a few other flycatchers plus the most common migrants. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Bob Barnes Reporting from South East Tulare From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 04:33:48 -0000 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER pair at nest hole adjacent to Troy Meadow in southeastern Tulare County on Thursday, May 1, 2008 ... Bob Barnes, et. al. PLUMBEOUS VIREO at least one at nesting area at Chimney Creek Campground in far southeastern Tulare County on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 ... Wes Fritz, et. al. PINYON JAY numerous along Kennedy Meadows Road in southeastern Tulare County on Wednesdaym April 30, 2008 ... Wes Fritz, et. al. VESPER SPARROW at least two on territory at Troy Meadows in southeastern Tulare County on 6 May 08 (not found there on visit a few days earlier) ... Wes Fritz, Bob Barnes, et. al. RED CROSSBILL 5-7 at Troy Meadow in southeastern Tulare County on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 ... Bob Barnes, Wes Fritz, et. al. Bob Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, CA John Lockhart Visalia Subject: South Fork Campground to Garfield Grove Backpack From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 13:54:36 -0000 Saturday - Sunday May 3-4, 2008 Julian Lockhart and I went on a backpacking trip to the Garfield Grove in SNP. The grove itself was filled with the primal pounding of Pileated Woodpeckers. We also got descent views. We also heard a Northern Goshawk call. We played the tape and got one quick flyover. The casually observed warbler count was interesting. This will be the year of the Nashville Warbler. 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 30-40 Nashville Warblers 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Townsend's Warbler 1 Hermit Warbler We also had good numbers of flycatchers and vireos. We tried for chat without luck On the drive home we stopped by Dry Creek Dr to see the Purple Martins. We saw three exhibiting nesting behavior. We got home about 3:30 and checked the internet and I was relieved to find I hadn't missed anything when Tony calls with his Indigo Bunting. I spent from 5:00 until sunset looking for this great bird without luck. I ruined a pair of socks but it was worth it to try. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: INDIGO BUNTING at Lake Success 5/4/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 22:24:27 -0000 This morning I went trout fishing up near the mouth of the Middle fork of the Tule River. I was in my kayak and brought all my birding gear as well. I had lots of Blue Grosbeaks, western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and it was nice to see several Green Herons. The highlight of the day was a male INDIGO BUNTING. I was in my kayak fishing when I caught a slightly different song that was different from all the Blue Grosbeaks that had been singing. I saw the bird moving through some willows, and got my binos up. I was shocked! immediatly I knew what it was, but I had to make sure it was not a unusally small Grosbeak. It was defentally a bunting and not a Lazuli. The bird I watched for about 30 seconds and it took off before I had a chance to get a picture. It was headed towards springville in a hurry. This area of the lake does not get birded hardly ever as far as I know. It has great potental due to its extreme riparian habitat. The only reason I was able to make it as far as I did up the river is because of my kayak. If anybody were to walk this be very careful of Rattlesnakes because there are a lot of them. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Yellow Warbler in Backyard 5/2/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 04:10:02 -0000 A male Yellow Warbler was present in my Willow Tree this morning along with a male Wilson's warbler. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Willow Flycatcher and Townsend's Warbler 5/2/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 03:56:41 -0000 After work today I birded the riparian area below the Lake Success Dam. I had 2 Gray Flycatcher, 1 Pacific-slope, 2 Dusky, a Hammond's, 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 1 Western Wood Pee-wee, and Ash- throated Flycatchers. It was very birdy. Not much of a varity of warblers except a female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and Wilson's Warblers. I tried very hard for Chat, but wasn't able to get one. I had 4 Warbling Vireo along with many Black-headed Grosbeak and Western Tanager's. Black-chinned Hummers were numerous and also 1 Rufous Hummer. My last bird of the day near the Quick Crete Factory was a Hooded Oriole. It was great 2 hours of birding. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Purple Martin at Dry Creek Dr From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 13:32:25 -0000 Dave Gaylor had Purple Martin on Dry Creek Dr on April 29th. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: End of April Tul Co at 236 Species From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 02:57:29 -0000 April 30, 2008 So far this year there have been 9 Exceptional Species recorded with the addition of Common Loon Red-breasted Merganser - First Spring record in April 235 species have been recorded. We are mostly missing species from the mountains and our far South Eastern corner. Here are the 31 nonexceptional birds yet to be reported in the county. Chukar,............................ Rare Northern Goshawk,............................ Uncommon Willet,............................ Rare Baird's Sandpiper,............................ Uncommon Pectoral Sandpiper,............................ Uncommon Bonaparte's Gull,............................ Uncommon Black Tern,............................ Uncommon Long-eared Owl,............................ Rare Common Nighthawk,............................ Uncommon Common Poorwill,............................ Uncommon Costa's Hummingbird,............................ Rare Allen's Hummingbird,............................ Uncommon Williamson's Sapsucker,............................ Uncommon Red-naped Sapsucker,............................ Rare Black-backed Woodpecker,............................ Rare Willow Flycatcher,............................ Rare Plumbeous Vireo,............................ Common Pinyon Jay,............................ Common Purple Martin,............................ Rare Pygmy Nuthatch,............................ Uncommon Swainson's Thrush,............................ Rare Varied Thrush,............................ Uncommon Townsend's Warbler,............................ Uncommon Yellow-breasted Chat,............................ Uncommon Black-chinned Sparrow,............................ Uncommon Sage Sparrow,............................ Uncommon Grasshopper Sparrow,............................ Rare White-throated Sparrow,............................ Rare Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch,............................ Uncommon Pine Grosbeak,............................ Rare Red Crossbill,............................ Uncommon John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Black Swifts in Alpaugh From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:59:45 -0700 This morning I saw a small flock of 10 Black Swifts moving north along the Alpaugh Irrigation District canal about 3 miles SE of Alpaugh. The swifts were less than 20' off the ground and flying into the wind. This was a first sighting for the Atwell Island Project and species number 204 for the area. This is only the 2nd time I've seen a migrant flock of Black Swifts on the Central Valley floor and the last time was 30+ years ago! Also, there were flocks of migrant Western Sandpipers and Dunlin flying low into the strong north wind throughout the morning. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Atwell Island From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:49:29 -0700 I was out on the BLM nature trail at Atwell Island (S of Alpaugh) this morning. It was pretty windy, but I saw the following migrants: Wilson's Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (1), Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Lazuli Bunting (4), Blue Grosbeak (1), Black-headed Grosbeak (1), Western Tanager (1), Ash-throated Flycatcher (1), a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows (8), and a Great-tailed Grackle (1 - only the 3rd project record). Also had a Prairie Falcon & lots of White-faced Ibis. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Impressive BIG DAY! From: "Chris Hiatt" <hiattch AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:14:01 -0000 175 is incredible! When you start birding at 1 AM for owls, are you using a strong light? Or counting by call? If we had little symbols or stick figures I would give you guys a man kneeling and waving his arms saying "were not worthy." Chris Subject: Tulare Co Bigday From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:03:24 -0000 Sunday, April 27, 2008 Nancy Bruce, Tony Kurz, Justin Ward and I birded from 1:00 am until 8:30 pm, driving 330 miles, recording 175 birds matching the high bigday count. We had amazing mountain birding with an amazing checklist of migrants but a lacking of some water related bird. We ended the day in amazing fashion with a Common Loon and 3 Red-breasted Merganser at Bravo Lake. How about a beautifully perched Calliope Hummingbird on Redwood drive. The Solitary Sandpiper actually being where it could be refound. What fun on a beautiful day John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Good birds on th Big Day 4/27/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:57:31 -0000 John Lockhart, Justin Ward, Nancy Bruce, and I had a incredible day of birding Tulare county. Birds listed below are the best birds we had. Stoil Pond/Alpaugh Irrigation Ponds: Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon Marbled Godwit Black-bellied Plover Wilson's Phalarope Dead Pig Pond: Solitary Sandpiper Shore bird numbers are getting better. Alpaugh Park: Lesser Nighthawk Green Heron in the tree's Cassin's Vireo Gray Flycatcher Quaking Aspen Dusky & Hammond's Flycatcher McGuillvary's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Many Warbling Vireo Pond by Mew Gull spot on Hwy 43: Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope- 1 Blue Grosbeak- Hwy 43 pond just North of Deer Creek Redwood Drive Birds: Spotted Owl Northern Saw-whet Owls Flammulated Owl Nashville Warbler Hermit Warbler Cassin's Finch Bravo Lake Birds: COMMON LOON 3 Red-breasted Merganser Bufflehead Ring-necked Duck A American Bittern out in the open singing. Upper 190 and Wishon Birds: White-throated Swift Vaux's Swift Lazuli Bunting Black-throated Gray Warbler Cassin's Vireo Blue-gray Gnatcatcher all over the place Scicon Birds: Lawernce's Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Osprey Flying high overhead Purple Finch Vaux's Swift We tied the old Big Day record of 175 Birds. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Solitary Sandpiper From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:54:06 -0000 While doing Tricolored Blackbird surveys we had 3 Solitary Sandpiper. 1 Dead Pig Pond 2 Ave 120 and Road 104 Many good migrants Dead Pig pond Tule River Hwy 143 Ave 144 Alpaugh City Park FOS Lazuli Bunting Hammond's Flycatcher Macgillivray's Warbler John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Amazing what a week will do From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:29:13 -0000 Friday 25 April 2005 After doing the Tricolored Blackboard survey for a few sites north of Visalia I went by the Visalia WTP. There was still a few thousand birds but only about a fifth of what we had last Saturday the 19th of April. The whole front pond was 90% dry. It is still worth a stop. No Tricoloreds for me Chuck Hackett had tricoloreds at the hwy 245 site. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Blue Grosbeaks Lake Success 4/25/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:51:08 -0000 This evening at Lake Success I had 4 Blue Grosbeaks. 3 Males and 1 Female I saw these birds while I was doing the Tri-colored Blackbird Survey. They were hanging around low towards the ground in the Mustard and Nettle. 4/24/08 At Porterville College walking in between class I had a Western Tanager. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Visalia WTP and beyond From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:34:12 -0700 This morning (4/23) I visited the Visalia Wastewater Treatment Plant. Among the several hundred LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS there were at least two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. I'm pretty sure there were actually more than that but I did hear at least two vocalize. Nothing unusual among the several thousand WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Five SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and two WILSON'S PHALAROPES were first of season for me. There was a rather late pair of AMERICAN WIGEON. A walk along the Tule River on the Ave. 144-Hwy. 43 stretch produced a few warblers and a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. Also there was a GREEN HERON. Steve Summers Porterville, CA Subject: Evening Grosbeaks Scicon Tul Co. 4/20/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:30:16 -0000 On my way up to the Scicon BBQ today I stopped to look at flowers when I heard a bunch of Evening Grosbeaks. They were feeding in the Blue Oaks it wasn't until I put my binoculars up when I noticed 50-100 Grosbeaks spread out through the trees. I saw these birds in the turnout to the right just before you turn into Scicon. Birds I forgot to mention that were seen 4/19/08. Several singing Chipping Sparrows and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Scicon bird report 4/19/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:59:49 -0000 Nancy Bruce and I were out collecting Wildflowers at Scicon, and did a little birding as well. Black-headed Grosbeaks were everywhere, 2 Warbling Vireos, and 2 Hutton's Vireo's. Migrant warblers had not arrived yet the only two we got was Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped, but it was a good day and the Wildfowers were incredible. John we are defenetally going to have to hit up Scicon on the Big Day for Pine Siskin and Purple Finch possible even Northern- Pygmy Owl. I have never seen or heard so many siskin. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: TCAS trip to Tulare Co Central Valley From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:35:47 -0000 April 19, 2008 5 First Of Spring birds - Pacific slope Flycatcher, Western Tanager, and 3 warblers. We had a great spring day with sometimes outstanding melt your binocular looks at 8 warblers Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow- rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson's Warbler Visalia WTP - we had 10,000 plus shorebirds. I could of spent the day there sorting and never have been satisfied I got the whole picture. We wanted migrants so we headed off. Tule river between Hwy 43 and Ave 144 - Wow, warblers everywhere and each one someones FOS bird. Western Tanager Alpaugh City Park - very slow except Lesser Nighthawk Dead Pig Pond - The usual but thinning waterfowl BLM Headquarters - Rufous and Black-chinned Hummingbird BLM trail - detail mostly for Steve Ring-necked Pheasant White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Killdeer Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Pacific-slope Flycatcher (3 other empid sitings) Black Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Western Scrub-Jay Common Raven Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Marsh Wren Northern Mockingbird European Starling Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White- crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown- headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole House Finch House Sparrow An outstanding day John Lockhart Visalia Subject: American Bittern in Springville 4/18/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:41:01 -0000 I was fishing in the pond near my house when I heard the gulping sound of a Bittern. The American Bittern came out of the cattails being chased by a Green Heron. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Atwell Island Nature Trail From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:20:49 -0700 I birded the BLM nature trail at Atwell Island this morning. The highlight of the morning was a Gray Flycatcher at the Salt Cedar bush. Other migrants were: lots of Western Kingbirds (28), Bullock's Oriole (4), Orange-crowned Warbler (3), Nashville Warbler (1), and Black-chinned Hummingbird (1). Also had 4 Swainson's Hawks and a most unusual (for here) Bewick's Wren (1st Spring record for Atwell). Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lale Success birds 4/15-4/16 2008 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:52:40 -0000 There has been at least 3 Forster's Terns and 6 Caspian Tern at Lake Success and finally today I got a Green Heron I have not seen many of these birds this year. An osprey was also present at the lake. Near my house on the April 15th my neighbor had spotted a male Yellow- headed Blackbird out in my field behind the house it was feeding on the ground with other Tri-colored Blackbirds. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Vaux's Swift, Bank Swallow, Semipalmated Plover Visalia WTP From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:26:14 -0000 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 After work I headed out. Visalia WTP has the best shorebirds now. 5000 sandpipers 3 Semipalmated Plover 10-100 Dunlin many Long-billed Dowitcher. A huge flock of 7,500-10,000 swallows was over head towering into the sky. Among them were at least 3 Bank Swallow and 11 Vaux's Swift. I got repeated and close looks. I bumped into Gary L taking pictures at Toledo Pits. Dead Pig Pond was about the same as it has been. Tule River area between Hwy 43 and Ave 144 had no new migrants. I looked for tricoloreds on my travels but found no new locations. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Brewer's Sparrow From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:46:23 -0700 Yesterday, Pam Williams and I were on the Deer Creek Road (Mt. Rd. 112). We had a great number of Black-headed Grosbeaks, Northern Orioles, and Ash-throated Flycatchers. The "bird of the day" was a Brewer's Sparrow. It was feeding in the fiddleneck along the road just E of the 8.0 mile marker. From Mt. Rd. 120, which is an extension of Ave. 120 after crossing the bridge over Deer Creek turn right on Mt. Rd. 112 and watch the marker posts. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Curlew fly over From: "Chris Hiatt" <hiattch AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:12:25 -0000 I was near Monson, Ave. 384 Rd. 80 in between an orange grove and pomegranite orchard and some curlew I think fly over around 30-40 heading south west. I also have seen some good birds in a holding basin next to a plum orchard I do, Ave. 272 1 mile west of Rd. 100. Chris Hiatt Subject: Ash-throated Flycatcher From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 21:21:17 -0700 I don't know if Ash-throated Flycatcher has been reported yet this spring, but Pam Williams and I had 2 along Deer Creek between Terra Bella and California Hot Springs on Saturday (5 April). Also of interest were several Rufous-crowned Sparrows, 2 Vesper Sparrows, a pair of Wood Ducks, and a pair of Golden Eagles. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Warbling Vireos and Black-headed Grosbeak 4/8/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:25:22 -0000 At Bartlett Park today along the Tule River I had 2 Warbling Vireos together singing that is how I found them. Orange-crowned Warblers were also in the area. The Black-headed Grosbeak was making its sharp single call, and was able to see it near the entrance of the park. Gull numbers were up at Lake Success I viewed about 150 California Gulls sitting on the point. A few American Wigeon still linger around the coves of the Lake. A group of about 20 Tri-colored Blackbirds was near the Lake Campsite. I will be gone from April 10th to the 13th. I am going on a trip down to Blythe to fish and birdwatch. I'll bring back some desert species. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Western Kingbirds galore From: "Chris Hiatt" <hiattch AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:12:46 -0000 Hi, I think I have never posted here before but like to read the posts because I work in Tulare County alot. I was putting queens in some of my beeyards in Dinuba, Monson, and Cutler and saw a bunch of kingbirds. About 7 all chasing each other near Alta and Floral. Has anyone birding the lake south of Ave 384 Rd. 64 near London? It has a fence but looks like its state land or something. I was impressed by the owl hunters who have posted lately. That sounds like a lot of fun. I do need a spotted owl for my life list.... Happy Birding, Chris Hiatt Subject: Tricolored Blackbirds From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:21:39 -0000 On the Way to the training at Kern NWR Saturday, April 5 I found the FOS Wilson's Warbler along Tule River between HWY 43 and Ave 144 and Lesser Nighthawk are back in Alpaugh City Park. We are scouting any Tricolored Blackbird sightings. Please report this bird on this sight or to me personally. The experts feel that this year, Tulare Co will have the largest single Tricolored Blackbird colony. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Tulare Photo Gallery Request Update From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:13:28 -0000 I have been asked to update the request list We now need just 115 more photos of the 338 birds recorded in Tulare Co and photographed in Tulare Co. Remember we are just using photos of birds taken within the county to try and get as close as possible to finishing the Tulane list. Tony and I are almost to the end of our collections but Gary has been able to post again. I know there are great photos out there of a few famous birds and before I try to plead personally with people that might have these photos I will highlight them here. Franklin's Gull - Steve Summers posted on CVbirds Grace's Warbler - many have photos Black-backed Wagtail now White wagtail - posted on CV birds Kings Canyon NP has photos of Black Storm-Petrel Blue-throated Hummingbird - I have seen great pictures of it. I will try to get permission to use these but if anyone has rights and can just post it it would be great. the list of 115 still needed Brant, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Tufted Duck, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, California Quail, Common Loon, Black Storm-Petrel, Least Bittern, Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, California Condor, Mississippi Kite, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Semipalmated Plover, Black-necked Stilt, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Ruff, Red-necked Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Flammulated Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, Blue-throated Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow- bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Yellow-billed Magpie, Horned Lark, Northern Rough- winged Swallow, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, American Dipper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Wrentit, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, White Wagtail, American Pipit, Bohemian Waxwing, Phainopepla, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Virginia's Warbler, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Wilson's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Summer Tanager, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, American Tree Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Chestnut- collared Longspur, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Purple Finch, House Finch John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Owls and Tulare County Birds 4/5-4/6 2008 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:26:27 -0000 April 5th went up to Coy Flat Campground Saturday night and had Northern Pygmy Owl and Saw-whet Owl calling at the same time. Redwood drive had a single Spotted Owl come into the call got great looks at the bird. April 6th Pixley NWR was dry had 2 Long-billed Curlews and a Female Merlin going after blackbirds. I also had a late Vesper Sparrow with some Savannah Sparrows. Orioles are everywhere now and it is looking good. A female Common Yellowthroat got me exited, finally a different warbler besides Yellow-rumped. Lake Kaweah had many people and not so many birds. I did have 3 Ospreys and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher near the Horse Creek Campground. Tony Kurz Tulare County Springville Subject: 1st Black-chinned Hummingbird of Spring From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 13:05:13 -0700 Moments ago I had a male Black-chinned Hummingbird at the feeder at the BLM HQ in Alpaugh (earliest date we've had out here by 1 day). It is holding its own with the 3 Rufous Hummingbirds that have been around for the last few days. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: March 29th Tulare Co birds From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:26:25 -0000 Tony Kurz and I started about 4 am and owled between the Camp Nelson area and Redwood Drive recording 2 Spotted Owl and 1 Northern Saw- whet Owl and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Justin, Ben, and Caden Ward met us at dawn on Redwood drive. We birded Redwood drive for a while and had White-headed woodpecker, Purple Finch, Winter Wren, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mountain Quail, and good looks at booming Sooty Grouse as best birds. We birded the chaparral on Hwy 190 and the oaks on Wishon Dr with Hutton's Vireo, White-throated Swift, and American Dipper. We looked at Success Lake but not much was happening there. The Wards left for home and Tony and I headed to Strathmore to see Hooded Oriole. Next was the northern Tulare Co ponds without much to report Caldwell - dry Stockyard - dry Kansas Ave all - dry Tulare Sewage - few shorebirds except for good numbers of Black- bellied Plover and many water fowl. Toledo Pits was descent Dead Pig Pond was great we got Virgina Rail, Sora, and Common Yellow- throat. 117 birds on the day. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Mew Gull Area OFF LIMITS 3/27/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:58:44 -0000 Today when I was at work I had a Sheriff Detective come in and talk to me about a problem that I had on the property of the Mew Gull on March 19th on my way back from the coast. It turns out the 45 minutes I spent enjoying the Gull the property owner was taking pictures of me and my car. The issue with the owner was he thought I was looking at his cattle. Which I was not the only thing I cared about was the Rare Mew Gull in that field. I don't give a crap about his cattle. Well anyways I was indeed tresspasing, the signs must have slipped right past me. I entered his property still in my car to try and get closer to the gulls, so I could get a better picture. I did have a hispanic man come up to me, and I tried to explain what I was doing, but he didn't speak english, seemed like a nice guy. I think they might be afraid I am some kind of animal activist member, or a person looking for animal cruelity. If I were you guys I would be very careful in this area. Probably stay on Hwy 43 and look into the flock. This is the second problem I have had with Tresspasing in the last 3 months, and this time I was tresspassing. The detective said he will file his report with the DA, and prperty owner said he wants to prosecute, so it doesn't look good for me. I am defentally going to change my approach with birding, my day just changed from good to bad. Tony Kurz Springville Tulare County Subject: Hooded Oriole and Rufous Hummingbird in Strathmore 3/25/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:34:38 -0000 At my grandmother's house I had a adult Male Hooded Oriole along with 2 Bullock's Oriole's. A male Rufous Hummingbird was also present at her feeder. The American goldfinch are in the process of molting into their breeding plumage. Four Golden-crowned sparrows were feeding on the ground behind her house, haven't seen them for a while. I HAVE THE SPRING FEVER FOR BIRDS!! Tony Kurz Tulare County Springville Subject: Goldeneye, Greater Scaup's, and Bullock's Oriole Continue 3/24/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:31:57 -0000 I met John Lockhart out at the Woodlake Sewage Ponds and got the female Goldeneye and 2 Greater Scaup's male and female. Below the dam we got 2 Bullock's Orioles. Tony Kurz Tulare County Springville Subject: Bravo Lake and Drum Valley From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:49:36 -0000 Sunday March 23, 2008 I left Visalia about 3:00 pm Woodlake WTP Common Goldeneye female 1, Greater Scaup 3, an amazing assortment: Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Bufflehead. Then went up toward and down Drum Valley. Amazing wildflower display. Not the most diverse but wall to wall "popcorn flower" and fiddle neck species. Lewis's Woodpecker, Northern Pygmy-Owl, no rarities but great birding. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Mew Gull Continues 3/19/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:48:54 -0000 I went by the field off of Hwy 43 where all the gulls are, and estimated around 400 Ring-billed Gulls, and was able to pick out the Mew Gull after about 20 minutes. The bird has a faint black sripe on bill which tells me it's a 2nd winter bird. I could not refind the Rough-legged Hawk neither the Lesser Yellowlegs at dead pig pond. I did get 3 Whimbrel. Tony Kurz Tulare County Springville Subject: FOS Bullock's Oriole & Black-headed Grosbeak From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:22:58 -0000 Tuesday March 18, 2008 I went to check the eucalyptus trees at the gate to the road to the closed area at Lake Kaweah where Tony K had an early one last year and sure enough there he was. Chattering away and looking good. I was about to leave when Larry Baker, Lake Kaweah's birding ranger, drove up and he escorted me behind the lake where we heard a Black- headed Grosbeak. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: Tulare Photo Gallery Request From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:21:04 -0000 Hello all, We currently have photos of 155 of the 338 birds recorded in Tulare Co in the phylogenically ordered photo albumbs on this site. I am only counting birds actully photographed in Tulare Co and actually in the phylogenic folders. You can still have your personal folders as well. We are actually doing very well and have proportionally greater numbers of Rare to Exceptional Birds then Abundant to Uncommon birds. I know many of you have photos that would help us become a better Tulare Co birding resource. Please postyour picture with Bird Location Date Your Name The phylogenic folders are open for anyone to post to or if you are having trouble send them directly to me and I will post for you. This is a list of the 183 birds we still need photos of. Remember location must be in Tulare Co. Snow Goose, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring- necked Duck, Tufted Duck, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, California Quail, Common Loon, Black Storm-Petrel, Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, White-faced Ibis, Wood Stork, Turkey Vulture, California Condor, Osprey, Mississippi Kite, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, Merlin, Virginia Rail, Sandhill Crane, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, Red-necked Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Forster's Tern, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Flammulated Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Common Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, White-throated Swift, Blue-throated Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Acorn Woodpecker, Williamson's Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash- throated Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Gray Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Yellow-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough- winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Canyon Wren, Marsh Wren, American Dipper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby- crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Western Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Wrentit, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, California Thrasher, European Starling, White Wagtail, American Pipit, Bohemian Waxwing, Phainopepla, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Virginia's Warbler, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Wilson's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, American Tree Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Black-headed Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Purple Finch, House Finch, John Lockhart Visalia Subject: First County Record Mew Gull From: "John Lockhart" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:13:07 -0000 Saturday March 15, 2008 TCAS 1 adult winter Mew Gull in with 300 - 500 Ring-Billed Gull and 4-5 California Gull at Dairy with small pond bordering Hwy 43 between Avenue 84 and Road 64. Justin Ward, Dave Gaylor and I were convinced after viewing direct side by side comparison with Ring-billed Gulls within 6 inches of our Mew Gull. The 2 photos of 20 worth posting are not as definitive but I hope good enough. See Gulls photo album Dead Pig Pond - Lesser Yellowlegs, many ducks and blackbirds. Homeland Canal lateral B - Rough-legged Hawk Spring has started - Western Kingbirds and Swainson's Hawks frequent. John Lockhart Visalia Subject: 1st Kingbird of Spring From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:34:05 -0700 Pam Williams saw the first Tulare Co. Western Kingbird of Spring (that I'm aware of) at Pixley NWR yesterday (12 March) afternoon at 6:30. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: North American Birds Winter Reminder From: Steve Glover <countylines AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:18:43 -0700 (PDT) Dear North American Birds Contributors, The winter season has already come to a close so please send your noteworthy records from the Northern California Region for the period 1 December – 29 February to the appropriate Subregional Editors (see below) or to the Regional Editors by 10 March. IMPORTANT NOTICE: After over ten years, Scott Terrill is retiring as the editor of the seabirds group. Returning to our ranks is Steve Rottenborn. Please remember to send all seabird reports to Steve (see below). Also note that we have new Subregional editors for San Joaquin (Frances Oliver) and Stanislaus (Harold Reeve). Please pay special attention to the format example given at the end of this message. Reports that are formatted properly make our job far easier. In particular, it is important to note that there is a single tab between species, date, etc. PLEASE use Subregional Editors for the counties that have them. These SREs painstakingly keep track of records within their counties and are in most cases THE source of information on the birds of their counties. By sending your records to the SREs, you are helping to contribute to their county files as well as to North American Birds. If you wish to send copies to the Regional Editors, we welcome them, but please send records through the SREs as well. If you have a noteworthy winter sighting from a county without a Subregional Editor, please send records to the Regional Editors below. Records of loons-frigatebirds and larids-alcids go to Steve Rottenborn at: H.T. Harvey & Associates 983 University Ave., Bldg. D Los Gatos, CA 95032 Rottenborn AT harveyecology.com Records of waterfowl through quail and herons through shorebirds go to Mike Rogers at: 499 Novato Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 m.m.rogers AT comcast.net Records of doves through thrushes/Wrentit (in the new AOU order, that includes vireos and shrikes) go to Steve Glover at: 6526 Conestoga Lane Dublin, CA 94568 countylines AT sbcglobal.net Records of thrashers to finches go to Ed Pandolfino at: Ed Pandolfino 5530 Delrose Court Carmichael, CA 95608 erpfromca AT aol.com SUBREGIONAL EDITORS Alameda Bob Richmond 24650 Amador St. #15 Hayward, CA 94544 Brichmond94544 AT earthlink.net Alpine, Calaveras & Modoc John Sterling 29 Palm Ave. Woodland, CA 95695 ani AT cal.net Amador & El Dorado Tim Steurer 4042 Bancroft Dr. El Dorado Hills, CA 95762-6933 tsteurer AT hotmail.com Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama, Yuba Bruce Deuel 18730 Live Oak Road Red Bluff, CA 96080 bkrdeuel AT snowcrest.net Contra Costa Steve Glover 6526 Conestoga Lane Dublin CA 94568 countylines AT sbcglobal.net Del Norte Alan D. Barron 1093 Hwy 101 N. #18 Crescent City, CA 95531 flockfinder AT yahoo.com Fresno Gary W. Potter 2183 Walton Ave Sanger, CA 93657 gwpott AT aol.com Humboldt Rob Fowler 2277 Heather Lane, Apt. D Arcata, CA 95521 migratoriusfwlr AT gmail.com Kings Luke Cole 561 Hill Street San Francisco, CA 94114 luke AT igc.org Lake Jerry R. White P.O. Box 113 Kelseyville, CA 95451 grwhite AT jps.net Lassen Brad Stovall Stovall Associates P.O. Box 4413 Chico, CA 95927 Bmspi1 AT aol.com Madera Jeff Davis 11238 N Via Trevisio Way Fresno, CA 93730 jndavis AT ucsc.edu Marin Ryan Terrill 1619 El Dorado Street Santa Cruz, CA 95062 enicurus AT yahoo.com Mariposa David Vander Pluym 1683 Buena Vista St. Ventura, CA 93001 SCRE AT aol.com Mendocino Bob Keiffer P. O. Box 354 Hopland CA 95449 rjkeiffer AT ucdavis.edu Merced and San Benito Kent Van Vuren 26 Vista Dr. Salinas, CA 93907 vanvurenk AT aol.com Mono Kristie Nelson P.O. Box 402 Lee Vining, CA 93541 storm_petrel AT hotmail.com Monterey Don Roberson 282 Grove Acre Pacific Grove CA 93950 831-373-2566fax creagrus AT montereybay.com Napa Murray Berner 210 Monte Vista Napa, CA 94558 (707) 224-5897 vireocity AT hotmail.com Nevada Brian Williams 8200 Turner Dr. Granite Bay, CA 95746 bwcal AT sprynet.com Placer Ed Pandolfino 5530 Del Rose Court Carmichael, CA 95608 erpfromca AT aol.com Plumas & Sierra John "Mac" McCormick 1230 Dog Leg Dr. Chico, CA 95928 macmc94123 AT earthlink.net Sacramento Chris Conard 2405 Rio Bravo Circle Sacramento, CA 95826 conardc AT gmail.com San Francisco (mainland) The City: Mark Eaton 1524 36th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94122 mweaton AT pacbell.net San Francisco (Farallons) Jim Tietz P.O. Box 751 Arcata, CA, 95518 jmtietz AT yahoo.com San Joaquin Frances Oliver 1817 Songbird Place Lodi, CA 95240 Hummer52 AT sbcglobal.net San Mateo Peter J. Metropulos 2940 Turk Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118 pjmetrop AT pacbell.net Santa Clara William G. Bousman 321 Arlington Way Menlo Park CA 94025 barlowi AT earthlink.net Santa Cruz David Suddjian and Steve Gerow 801 Monterey Ave. Capitola, CA 95010 DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Stephengerow AT aol.com Shasta Bob Yutzy P. O. Box 990237 Redding CA 96099 boby AT c-zone.net Siskiyou Ray Ekstrom 2209 Delphic Rd. Montague, CA 96064 Solano Robin Leong 336 Benson Ave. Vallejo, CA 94590-3027 robin_leong AT netzero.net Sonoma Ruth Rudesill P.O. Box 371 Kenwood, CA 95452 ruthier AT sonic.net Stanislaus Harold Reeves birder AT sbcglobal.net Trinity John E. Hunter P.O. Box 4483 Arcata, CA 95518 jhunter323 AT aol.com Tulare Steven Summers 2553 W. Michelle Ln. Porterville, CA 93257 summers AT ocsnet.net Tuolumne Steven Umland 15818 Parkridge Ave. Sonora, CA 95370 sumland AT skywayusa.net Yolo Roger Adamson 2213 Catalina Dr. Davis, CA 95616 rhadamson AT ucdavis.edu The Reporting Deadlines are: Spring Summer Fall Winter Season ends May 31 July 31 Nov 30 Feb 28 Observer reports to Subregional Editors (SREs) June 10 Aug 10 Dec 10 Mar 10 Observer reports to Regional Editors (if not sent to SRE) June 10 Aug 10 Dec 10 Mar 10 SRE reports to Regional Editors June 20 Aug 20 Dec 20 Mar 20 Regional Editors final text to ABA office July 10 Sep 10 Jan 10 Apr 10 PLEASE meet your deadlines so that we can meet our deadlines! Please send reports in our preferred order: species, date(s) [including year], locale, co. abbrev., number of birds, and observer, and then, on a second line, any comments. Please separate these sections by a "tab" (except just a space between locale and county abbreviation) on electronic versions submitted. Again, here's an example of the correct format: Grace's Warbler 12/13/98-2/20/99 Jacks Peak MTY 1 RFT, mob A second record for the Region (the first was 6/26/91 at Deer Spring, Glass Mt. MNO) which wintered with a large flock of Townsend's & Hermit warblers at the very top of Jacks Peak in Jacks Peak Regional Park. Details by Tintle and others are enclosed. Many observers and Subregional Editors have been submitting their reports by e-mail. PLEASE submit electronic reports if possible. We are trying to maintain an electronic database of at least recent records, and we hope to be able to have all old data entered eventually so that the entire database will be easily accessible to anyone who wants it. Electronic submission of records in the format described above makes it much easier for us maintain this electronic database. We've heard questions about, comments on, and criticism of our regional reports from several observers and SREs. We really appreciate this feedback, as it helps us to better represent what is going on in the Region as a whole. Please help us correct any factual errors we make, and don't hesitate to let us know what you think of the reports. Many thanks to all the contributors and Subregional Editors who make these reports possible! Sincerely, Ed Pandolfino, Mike Rogers, Steve Rottenborn, and Steve Glover (Northern California Regional Editors) Subject: Come Bird Santa Clara County - 2008 SCVAS Spring Birdathon - Call for Entries From: DOTTYCALA AT aol.com Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 21:03:43 EDT Call for Entries:  YOU are invited to participate in Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society's Spring Birdathon fundraiser for SCVAS conservation and youth environmental education programs. Come bird Santa Clara County! Form your own team (Pick any 4-hour or 24-hour period March 29-April 27, 2008.)  OR Join one of our expert-led guided teams. Last year Mike Roger's team identified 163 species in 16 hours. (You can still join Mike's team or one of our other expert-led guided teams this year.) Excellent birding throughout Santa Clara County and great prizes (vacations, birding trips, fine wine, & more.)  $50 fee or fundraise and compete for a prize. http://www.scvas.org/index.php?page=text&id=birdathon  OR Call 408-252-3747 for details. Dotty Calabrese Mountain View, CA SCVAS Birdathon Committee ************** It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Owling up Balch Park road Tulare County 3/8/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:10:06 -0000 I started owling past Scicon and got many Western Screech Owls, but was never able to see one. I drove all the way to the road closed sign and called in a Northern Saw-whet Owl. After about an hour looking for the owl I finally saw it, an Adult Saw-whet. Tried Spotted Owl in many different spots but couldn't find one. Tony Kurz Tul Co. Springville Subject: Rough-legged Hawk and Blue-winged Teal 3/7/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:30:51 -0000 My neighbor Nick Bastian and I took a trip out to the Valley floor to look for the Blue-winged Teal at Dead Pig Pond and it continued, this time with two Male Blue-wings. Many birds continue at the famous Dead Pig Pond. Homeland Canal south-west of Lateral B canal I had an adult Rough- legged Hawk it was pretty shy. It was first seen on the Westside of the Homeland Canal sitting on a small bush. I stopped and imediatelly the bird flew up and that was when I was able to ID the Hawk. The tail was the best way to identify the Buteo. Also, the under parts of the wings had the very distinct shoulder spots. It didn't have the light colored head continuing down to the breast with a dark belly band. Like the juveniles plumage pattern. It was an incredible day. We had 83 species without even trying. Birds of the Day: Blue-winged Teal 2 Swainson's Hawk 2 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Golden Eagle Wilson's Snipe Burrowing Owl Fox Sparrow Tony Kurz Tul Co. Springville Subject: Rufous Hummingbird From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 10:00:29 -0800 Yesterday, 4 March, we had a male Rufous Hummingbird at the BLM HQ feeder in Alpaugh. This is our earliest date for this species out here. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: New Backyard Bird 3/3/08, Frazier Valley Birds 3/4/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:53:24 -0000 I walked outside my back porch around 10PM, and was very pleased to hear the song of a bird I was hoping I would eventually get for my Backyard list. It was a Screech Owl. Two Great Horns were in the area as well. Frazier Valley 3/4/08 On my home today I stopped for 3 different flocks of Tricolored Blackbirds. A flock of 20, 50,and 150. Also, had a adult Bald Eagle flying over the California Poppies it was quite a site. Tony Kurz Tul Co. Springville Subject: Porterville College Merlin 3/3/08 From: "svillebirder" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:42:13 -0000 Walking to my car, after school was over a Merlin flew over me with much ease and not that high off the ground. The bird was moving slow enough and close enough that I was able to see it was either a Male Black Merlin or Male Taiga Merlin. The Falcon was headed toward the part of campus that has the greatest population of the Cedar Waxwings. Tony Kurz Tul Co. Springville Subject: Blue-winged Teal From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 19:44:31 -0800 Pam Williams & I swung by the Dead Pig Pond on Saturday morning (1 March) and were pleased to see a male Blue-winged Teal. Also lots of Canvasbacks (30+) and a good variety of other ducks. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]