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1 Feb crude.crude [Tino Galicia ] 31 Jan 141 species reported in Kin Co in 2012 as of January 30, 2012 by all observers ["calexandrinus" ] 31 Jan 165 species reported in Tul Co in 2012 as of January 30, 2012 by all observers ["calexandrinus" ] 30 Jan Monday Birding ["pforpositive" ] 30 Jan Southern Tulare Co ["calexandrinus" ] 29 Jan Kings Short -eared Owls [] 29 Jan Vermillion Flycatcher continues at Visaila Oaks golf course 1/28/12 ["Tony Kurz" ] 26 Jan ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK kings conintues jan 24th Jim Lomax ["calexandrinus" ] 20 Jan Rough-legged Hawk Kings conitnues ["calexandrinus" ] 18 Jan Valley Oaks Vermilion Flycatcher ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 17 Jan Recent Kings birds and Tulare's Vermilion Flycatcher ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 14 Jan Gull ["Steve Laymon" ] 14 Jan Glaucous-winged Gull ["Steve Laymon" ] 13 Jan My own Eagle success (Jan. 11) ["Maralou Higgins" ] 07 Jan Long - billed Curlew 's / Tulare County ["bklowe60" ] 07 Jan Jersey Ponds ["markstacybirds" ] 06 Jan Tulare, Monday Jan 2 ["calexandrinus" ] 05 Jan Tulare Co 2011-269 species reported in 2011 by all observers ["calexandrinus" ] 04 Jan Kings Co Saturday Jan 1 ["calexandrinus" ] 04 Jan Kings Co 2011 - 236 species reported by all observers ["calexandrinus" ] 31 Dec Kings Co Thayer's Gulls [] 31 Dec New Big Year Record ["markstacybirds" ] 30 Dec Lesser Black-backed Gull ["markstacybirds" ] 29 Dec Oakhurst Christas bird count [penny stewart ] 28 Dec Kings County Birding [Michelle Townsley ] 29 Dec Atwell Island Winter Bird Survey Results ["Steve Laymon" ] 28 Dec Hoodwed Mergansers [] 27 Dec Burris Park ["markstacybirds" ] 26 Dec Hooded Mergansers ["markstacybirds" ] 26 Dec Brewer's and Chipping Sparrows ["markstacybirds" ] 25 Dec Christmas Costa's ["markstacybirds" ] 25 Dec Merry Christmas Birders! ["Tony Kurz" ] 24 Dec Kings County ["markstacybirds" ] 21 Dec Greater White-fronted Goose at rd 320 avenue 176 in Springville 12/21/11 ["Tony Kurz" ] 20 Dec Highlights from Springville CBC 12/17/11 ["Tony Kurz" ] 19 Dec GREATER SCAUP in Tulare County 12/18/11 ["Tony Kurz" ] 18 Dec Swainson's Hawks ["markstacybirds" ] 18 Dec Western Flycatcher & Others ["markstacybirds" ] 12 Dec Recent Birds ["markstacybirds" ] 11 Dec Trumpeter Swans ["Gary L" ] 10 Dec Tulare Co. Trumpeter Swans continue ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 9 Dec Trumpeter Swan in Tulare Co. ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 08 Dec Kings Mountain Plovers and Bluebirds ["jeff67632003" ] 05 Dec Southern valley floor Kings Co and Tulare ["calexandrinus" ] 04 Dec Mew and Glaucous-winged Gulls ["markstacybirds" ] 03 Dec Clay-colored Sparrow & Other Goodies ["markstacybirds" ] 2 Dec Hanford Greater Scaup continues ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 29 Nov Varied Thrush in Lemoore ["markstacybirds" ] 28 Nov Lake Success RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 11/28/11 ["Tony Kurz" ] 26 Nov Mountain Plovers & Bluebirds ["markstacybirds" ] 25 Nov Greater Scaup & Thayer's Gull ["markstacybirds" ] 25 Nov Springville WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in Tulare County 11/25/11 ["Tony Kurz" ] 23 Nov Birding ["pforpositive" ] 21 Nov Re: Yokohl Valley to Woodlake 11/21/11 ["bruce" ] 22 Nov Yokohl Valley to Woodlake 11/21/11 ["Tony Kurz" ] 20 Nov Kings Tulare southern valley floor ["calexandrinus" ] 19 Nov Sanderling & Wilson's Phalaropes ["markstacybirds" ] 15 Nov Short report ["pforpositive" ] 15 Nov My 11/14/2011 Bird Report ["pforpositive" ] 13 Nov Varied Thrush, Lark Bunting & Cackling Geese ["markstacybirds" ] 12 Nov Tulare: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continues ["calexandrinus" ] 08 Nov Dry Creek and Lake Kaweah ["calexandrinus" ] 07 Nov Sunday Bird Report ["pforpositive" ] 06 Nov Kings Horned Grebe ["markstacybirds" ] 5 Nov Recent Tulare and Kings rare birds ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 03 Nov November 2, 2011 Birding Day ["pforpositive" ] 1 Nov Black-throated Sparrow back at Holdridge ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 31 Oct Re: Lark Bunting and Purple Finches ["Steve & Priscilla Summers" ] 30 Oct Lark Bunting and Purple Finches ["markstacybirds" ] 28 Oct Yokohl Valley Road Birding ["pforpositive" ] 26 Oct Oct. 26, 2011 Morning Birding ["pforpositive" ] 24 Oct A Few Noteworthy Migrants ["markstacybirds" ] 22 Oct wood ducks ["lwentz41" ] 19 Oct Southern Kings and Tulare Valley Floor ["calexandrinus" ] 15 Oct Kings Co. Red Phalarope [] 15 Oct Looking for Visalia tree favored by migrating turkey vultures ["JenniferR" ] Subject: crude.crude From: Tino Galicia <tinogalicia AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:04:50 +0000 dear friend http://cell-net.net/picolyint.php?ypaluckyid=23 Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:04:50 _________________________________ "He had a little whip that David had made for him." (c) Idana with-strings [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: 141 species reported in Kin Co in 2012 as of January 30, 2012 by all observers From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:08:10 -0000 Kings Co 2012 141 species reported in Kin Co in 2012 as of January 30, 2012 by all observers 3 Casual Rough-legged Hawk , Utica Ave, Jan 16, Steve Summers Ruff , Field Virginia & 6th, Jan 4, John Lockhart Glaucous-winged Gull , Homeland Canal, Jan 1, John Lockhart 8 Rare Ross's Goose , Field Virginia & 6th, Jan 4, John Lockhart Cackling Goose , Field Virginia & 6th, Jan 1, John Lockhart Eurasian Wigeon , South Wilbur, Jan 1, John Lockhart Common Goldeneye , Homeland Canal, Jan 1, John Lockhart Horned Grebe , John Lockhart, Jan 1, Tule River Canal Willet , John Lockhart, Jan 1, Eucalyptus ponds Short-eared Owl , Atwell Island, Jan 1, John Lockhart Yellow-billed Magpie , Tar Canyon, Jan 8, Mark Stacy 30 Uncommon Greater White-fronted Goose , Snow Goose , Wood Duck , Redhead , Lesser Scaup , Bufflehead , Merlin , Peregrine Falcon , Prairie Falcon , Common Gallinule , Snowy Plover , Semipalmated Plover , Mountain Plover , Pectoral Sandpiper , Wilson's Snipe , Bonaparte's Gull , Eurasian Collared-Dove , Greater Roadrunner , Acorn Woodpecker , Red-breasted Sapsucker , Pacific-slope Flycatcher , White-breasted Nuthatch , Rock Wren , Canyon Wren , Blue-gray Gnatcatcher , California Thrasher , Rufous-crowned Sparrow , Vesper Sparrow , Sage Sparrow , Yellow-headed Blackbird , 79 Common Canada Goose , Gadwall , American Wigeon , Cinnamon Teal , Northern Shoveler , Northern Pintail , Green-winged Teal , Canvasback , Ring-necked Duck , Common Merganser , Ruddy Duck , California Quail , Pied-billed Grebe , Eared Grebe , Western Grebe , Clark's Grebe , Double-crested Cormorant , American White Pelican , Green Heron , Black-crowned Night-Heron , White-faced Ibis , Turkey Vulture , White-tailed Kite , Northern Harrier , Sharp-shinned Hawk , Cooper's Hawk , Red-shouldered Hawk , Red-tailed Hawk , Ferruginous Hawk , American Kestrel , Black-bellied Plover , Black-necked Stilt , American Avocet , Greater Yellowlegs , Long-billed Curlew , Dunlin , Long-billed Dowitcher , Wilson's Phalarope , Red-necked Phalarope , Ring-billed Gull , California Gull , Herring Gull , Caspian Tern , Barn Owl , Great Horned Owl , Burrowing Owl , Belted Kingfisher , Nuttall's Woodpecker , Northern Flicker , Black Phoebe , Say's Phoebe , Loggerhead Shrike , Horned Lark , Oak Titmouse , Bushtit , House Wren , Marsh Wren , Ruby-crowned Kinglet , Western Bluebird , Mountain Bluebird , Hermit Thrush , American Robin , American Pipit , Cedar Waxwing , Orange-crowned Warbler , Yellow-rumped Warbler , Common Yellowthroat , Spotted Towhee , California Towhee , Savannah Sparrow , Fox Sparrow , Song Sparrow , Lincoln's Sparrow , Golden-crowned Sparrow , Dark-eyed Junco , Tricolored Blackbird , Brown-headed Cowbird , House Finch , American Goldfinch , 21 Abundant Mallard , Great Blue Heron , Great Egret , Snowy Egret , Cattle Egret , American Coot , Killdeer , Western Sandpiper , Least Sandpiper , Rock Pigeon , Mourning Dove , Western Scrub-Jay , American Crow , Common Raven , Northern Mockingbird , European Starling , White-crowned Sparrow , Red-winged Blackbird , Western Meadowlark , Brewer's Blackbird , House Sparrow , Not yet reported in 2012 in Kings County Abundant to Rare Kings Co All Need 2012 97 Monday, January 30, 2012 2 Abundant Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow 27 Common Virginia Rail Sora Whimbrel Forster's Tern Western Screech-Owl Black-chinned Hummingbird Anna's Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Western Wood-Pewee Ash-throated Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Chipping Sparrow Lark Sparrow Western Tanager Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Great-tailed Grackle Bullock's Oriole Lesser Goldfinch 30 Uncommon Blue-winged Teal Hooded Merganser Ring-necked Pheasant American Bittern Osprey Swainson's Hawk Golden Eagle Sandhill Crane Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Black Tern Lesser Nighthawk Common Poorwill Vaux's Swift Downy Woodpecker Willow Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Cassin's Vireo Violet-green Swallow Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Wrentit Phainopepla Townsend's Warbler Hermit Warbler Brewer's Sparrow Blue Grosbeak 38 Rare Tundra Swan Bald Eagle Pacific Golden-Plover Solitary Sandpiper Red Knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Franklin's Gull Least Tern Band-tailed Pigeon Long-eared Owl Black Swift White-throated Swift Costa's Hummingbird Calliope Hummingbird Lewis's Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Purple Martin Bank Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Pacific Wren Swainson's Thrush Varied Thrush Sage Thrasher Yellow-breasted Chat Grasshopper Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Hooded Oriole Purple Finch Pine Siskin Lawrence's Goldfinch John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: 165 species reported in Tul Co in 2012 as of January 30, 2012 by all observers From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:44:52 -0000 Tulare Co 2012 165 species reported in 2012 as of January 30, 2012 by all observers 2 Casual Glaucous-winged Gull Ton Tache, Jan 1, Steve Laymon Vermilion Flycatcher Valley Oak Golf Visalia, Jan 12, Rob's Golfing buddy 6 Rare Cackling Goose Jan 2, Lake Kaweah, John Lockhart Eurasian Wigeon Jan 9, Lake Success, known from 2011 Red-breasted Merganser Jan 8, Lake Success, known from 2011 Short-eared Owl Jan 4, Atwell Island, known from 2011 Red-naped Sapsucker Jan 8, Milo Fire Station, Steve Summers Sage Thrasher Road 168 & Ave 60, Jan 23, Dane Fagundes 33 Uncommon Redhead Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Wild Turkey American Bittern Osprey Swainson's Hawk Ferruginous Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane Mountain Plover Spotted Sandpiper Marbled Godwit Herring Gull Eurasian Collared-Dove Greater Roadrunner Lewis's Woodpecker Williamson's Sapsucker Hutton's Vireo Pacific Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Townsend's Solitaire Varied Thrush California Thrasher Rufous-crowned Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Yellow-headed Blackbird Lawrence's Goldfinch 97 Common Canada Goose Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Common Merganser Ruddy Duck California Quail Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe Double-crested Cormorant American White Pelican Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture White-tailed Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Golden Eagle Virginia Rail Sora Black-bellied Plover Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Long-billed Curlew Least Sandpiper Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Ring-billed Gull California Gull Band-tailed Pigeon Western Screech-Owl Burrowing Owl Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-breasted Sapsucker Nuttall's Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Say's Phoebe Loggerhead Shrike Steller's Jay Clark's Nutcracker Horned Lark Tree Swallow Mountain Chickadee Oak Titmouse Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren House Wren Marsh Wren American Dipper Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Wrentit Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Hermit Thrush American Robin American Pipit Cedar Waxwing Phainopepla Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee California Towhee Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Tricolored Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Purple Finch House Finch Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch 27 Abundant Mallard Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Cattle Egret Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot Killdeer Western Sandpiper Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Barn Owl Great Horned Owl Acorn Woodpecker Northern Flicker Black Phoebe Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Northern Mockingbird European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird House Sparrow Yet unreported in 2012 Abundant to Rare Tulare Co All Need 2012 100 Monday, January 30, 2012 37 Common Mountain Quail Whimbrel Wilson's Phalarope Caspian Tern Forster's Tern White-throated Swift Black-chinned Hummingbird Calliope Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Hairy Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Hammond's Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Plumbeous Vireo Cassin's Vireo Warbling Vireo Pinyon Jay Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Hermit Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Green-tailed Towhee Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Cassin's Finch 35 Uncommon Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ring-necked Pheasant Sooty Grouse Northern Goshawk Semipalmated Plover Lesser Yellowlegs Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Black Tern Flammulated Owl Northern Pygmy-Owl Spotted Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Lesser Nighthawk Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill Black Swift Vaux's Swift Allen's Hummingbird Pileated Woodpecker Gray Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Pygmy Nuthatch Townsend's Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Black-chinned Sparrow Sage Sparrow Blue Grosbeak Hooded Oriole Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak 26 Rare Ross's Goose Tundra Swan Blue-winged Teal Common Goldeneye Chukar Common Loon Horned Grebe Pacific Golden-Plover Snowy Plover Solitary Sandpiper Willet Semipalmated Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-eared Owl Costa's Hummingbird Black-backed Woodpecker Willow Flycatcher Purple Martin Bank Swallow Swainson's Thrush Black-throated Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Scott's Oriole Pine Grosbeak 2 Abundant Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Monday Birding From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:19:04 -0000 Went out to Tulare WTP at 9:15-10:45am. Only one Canada Goose, but shortly about fifty flew in from their feeding grounds. Mostly NORTHERN SHOVELER and a few CANVASBACK. Just a couple of MALLARD and a pair of NORTHERN PINTAIL. A lone LESSER SCAUP male was diving around with the other ducks in the south eastern pond. A few shore birds. GREATER YELLOWLEGS, KILLDEER, LESSER SANDPIPER and about thirty BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. Two RED-TAILED HAWK and one NORTHERN HARRIER. Missed the PEREGRINE FALCON that usually uses the area coots and sandpipers for a meal. On the 23rd in south central Tulare County I found a HARLAN'S HAWK. Got one good photo of him in flight overhead. Dane Fagundes in Tulare 280-7840 ------------------------------------ Subject: Southern Tulare Co From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:15:32 -0000 Sunday afternoon, 29 Jan 2012 Debby and I went down to Tipton and drove around the grapevines looking for ground-dove without luck. Mountain Bluebird in the vineyards. We then went across to Alpaugh ending up at the Ton Tache wetlands. Nothing much new to report but the Ton Tache wetlands had 2 or more American Bittern and the Short-eared Owl show continues. 4 in the air at once. Perched views from as close as 20 feet. the overall diversity was also nice. On the way back Dead Pig Pond was totally dry. John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Short -eared Owls From: garycarlafile AT gmail.com Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:20:47 -0000 At 5:25 this evening 2 Short-eared Owls continued at the junction of Poso canal and Homeland canal. Gary File Bakersfield ------------------------------------ Subject: Vermillion Flycatcher continues at Visaila Oaks golf course 1/28/12 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:34:37 -0000 The male Vermillion Flycatcher was just east of the golf course parking lot. The bird was fly catching in the trees at the north end of pond between the driving range and the pond. I could see the flycatcher from the parking lot. This was at the Valley Oaks Golf Course in Visaila at 430, Tulare County. Good Birding! Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK kings conintues jan 24th Jim Lomax From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:12:36 -0000 Kings County Tuesday January 24th After gas in the robber baron stations of Kettleman City, I drove east on Utica from I-5 to 6th Avenue seeing only Ferruginous and Red- tailed Hawks, Harriers, and a White-tailed Kite. I turned around at 6th Avenue and checked the mileage coming back. John Lockhart said he went 5.4 miles and saw the hawk. I went to 6.1 and didn't see it. So I turned around and just scanned back across the fields. Then, high in the air, I caught a circling hawk with suspicious wing shape and raced back east. I stopped under the hawk circling a hundred feet up, got out of Leilani and enjoyed tremendous looks at a bird I though was a real longshot, the light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. It was about a mile north of 10th Avenue. Felt tired. Went home. "Truckin like the do-dah man", Jim Lomax Solitary Birder from No Particular Place Not at all sure where I've been, but I'm not starting over again. origonally possted on County Birders posted here by John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Rough-legged Hawk Kings conitnues From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:33:32 -0000 Thursday, Jan 19, 2012 I went out to look for the Rough-legged Hawk found on Utica Ave by Steve Summers on th 16th. I only had the short time of light after work but found it and was able to post 2 poor pictures. There are no real cross streets between 10th and Hwy 5 on this stretch of Utica. I found it at 5.4 miles west of 6th. This is where a major canal comes in from the north and meets a canal on the north that parallels utica but angels away from the road to about a field section north. The banks of the major canal gave some height for scanning and I then drove closer to possible suspects finally finding the bird perched on a tumble weed, got to see it hover hunt a couple times (photo) and then it flew off about a 1/4 mile. John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Valley Oaks Vermilion Flycatcher From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:17:33 -0800 The male Vermilion Flycatcher at the Valley Oaks Golf Course in Visalia showed well this morning (1/18). After a wait of 30 minutes he showed up on the chain link fence at the parking lot. I've added a photo to the "flycatcher" album to go along with John Lockhart's photos from yesterday. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Recent Kings birds and Tulare's Vermilion Flycatcher From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:03:17 -0800 Yesterday afternoon (1/16) Priscilla and I were on our way back from the coast when driving along Utica Ave. we discovered a few noteworthy birds. First about one mile east of I-5 we had a flock of at least 24 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. Then at about 6 miles east of I-5 we saw a flock of 15 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS. Our last good Kings bird along Utica Ave. on our drive home was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at 4.1 miles west of 10th Ave. Since Jon Dunn was a couple of hours behind us, out prowling for county birds on his way home from the coast, I let him know of the birds we saw. NOW I WILL BE SERVING AS THE MESSENGER FOR JON. Jon got to Utica Ave. nearing sunset and missed the bluebirds but saw the plovers and didn't go far enough for the hawk. He did venture north on a dirt road off Utica where he discovered a concentration of 50 White-tailed Kites, 30 Northern Harriers and 2 Short-eared Owls on private property. He then spent the night in Kettleman City to try again today (1/17) for the bluebirds. This morning starting about 1/4 mile west of I-5 he started seeing bluebirds. He saw them for miles and gave an amazing, conservative estimate, of 800 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS; but he said it was probably more like 1000. He has never heard of a concentration like this anywhere! He then looked for the Rough-legged Hawk with no luck. Next he went to look for the VERMILION FLYCATCHER at Visalia's Valley Oaks Golf Course found a few days ago. He found it within 5 minutes. It was between the driving range and the pond to the south when looking east from the parking lot. After that he headed back into Kings Co. where the only bird of note he reported was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Kings Row. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Gull From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:10:55 -0800 Actually, this was the second record for Atwell Island for Glacous-winged Gull - we had one last March. Steve [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Glaucous-winged Gull From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:09:06 -0800 I had a 1st winter Glaucous-winged Gull at Ton Tache Wetland this afternoon - the bird was chasing an adult Herring gull heading SE from the viewing platform at 3:20 this afternoon - this is a first record for the Atwell Island Project. Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: My own Eagle success (Jan. 11) From: "Maralou Higgins" <mrhigg1967 AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:16:29 -0000 For all you better birders this may not seem like a big deal, but I finally saw a wild bald eagle, all by myself, no guide around. Granted it was in area where I had been told there had been eagles sighted before (Bravo Lake west side), but to actually find the eagle myself lifted my spirits for the day. I haven't been able to go with anyone on a birding trip lately so I have been jealous. I wonder what I will find next? ------------------------------------ Subject: Long - billed Curlew 's / Tulare County From: "bklowe60" <bklowe1 AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:20:06 -0000 FYI .... several hundred LBCU's, et.al., hi-way 137 .... about 1/2 mile east of the Herbert preserve, north side. Bruce Lowe Wildlife Rescue Volunteer Exeter ------------------------------------ Subject: Jersey Ponds From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:15:37 -0000 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES continue on the southern pond. Northern pond had a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Tulare, Monday Jan 2 From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:44:39 -0000 Monday, Jan 2, 2012 Dane and I left the house at 3:00 am We heard Great Horned Owl and Western Screech-Owl on Dry Creek Dr. We tried for high elevation owls from Eshom up through Redwood Cyn and on the Generals Hwy without luck. Dawn came on the side road to Chimney Rock in SNF. We got the normal winter high elevation birds plus White-headed Woodpecker, Williamson's Sapsucker, Clark's Nutcracker, Varied Thrush, and Townsend's Solitaire. The lack of precipitation made this possible this early in the year. We picked up Pacific Wren on the way down Redwood Cyn. Near Hartland we had a Purple Finch. Eshom Valley was good for a Wrentit, Fox Sparrow,and Golden-crowned Sparrow but was fairly quiet. Dry Creek got us Lewis's Woodpecker, and distant views of both eagles. Next was Lake Kaweah with little to report except 1 Cackling Goose and the resident Osprey. The Lower part of Yokahl Valley produced Mountain Bluebird. The pond at the bottom of Rocky Hill Road had lots of ducks and marsh birds including Virgina Rail, Common Gallinule and a Wilson's Snipe. We ended up at Bravo Lake that had gulls but nothing of note. 102 birds on the day John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Tulare Co 2011-269 species reported in 2011 by all observers From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:57:28 -0000 Tulare Co 2011 269 species reported in 2011 by all observers 3 Accidental Trumpeter Swan Field Ave 176 & Rd 128, Dec 8, Dane Fagundes Mew Gull Toledo Pits (field), Feb 9, Steve Summers Eastern Kingbird Kennedy Meadows, Jun 24, Terry Colborn and Rick Le Baudour 13 Casual Greater Scaup Kaweah Lake, Dec , Tony Kurz Pacific Loon Kaweah Lake, Nov 6, John Luther Least Bittern Ton Tache Wetlands, Jun 16, Steve Laymon Ruddy Turnstone Ton Tache Wetlands, Sept 9, Steve Laymon Sanderling Ton Tache Wetlands, Aug 13, Steve Laymon Stilt Sandpiper Ton Tache Wetlands, Sept 1, Steve Laymon Thayer's Gull Porterville Dump, Jan 4, Steve Summers Common Ground-Dove Near Earlimart, Dec, Steve Summers Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Dry Creek Drive, Nov 5, Jim Lomax Vermilion Flycatcher Visalia Golf Course, Jan 6, Deborah Nolan Clay-colored Sparrow Success Lake, Oct 14, Steve Summers Lark Bunting Holdridge Drive, Jan 4, Jon Dunn Indigo Bunting Sherman Pass Rd, Jul 3, Mark and Lori Conrad 24 Rare Ross's Goose Lake Success area, Jan 5, Tony Kurz Cackling Goose Pixley WLR, Feb 22, Maggie Smith Eurasian Wigeon Circle J, Jan 30, Nancy Bruce Blue-winged Teal Ton Tache Wetlands, Feb 23, Steve Laymon Common Goldeneye Lake Kaewah, Nov 11, John Lockhart Red-breasted Merganser Lake Success, Nov 28, Tony Kurz Chukar South Fork Kern, Jul 8, Jason Rothmeyer Common Loon Kaweah Lake, Nov 6, John Luther Horned Grebe Kaweah Lake, Dec 6,Tony Kurz Snowy Plover Ton Tache Wetlands, Feb 23, Steve Laymon Willet Caldwell Pond, Apr 16, John Lockhart Baird's Sandpiper Herbert Preserve, Aug 9, Rob Hansen Short-eared Owl Atwel Island, Apr, Steve Laymon Costa's Hummingbird Cannel Creek, May 29, John Lockhart Red-naped Sapsucker Holdridge Rd, Dec 17, Tony Kurz Black-backed Woodpecker Sherman Pass, Aug 31, David Kennedy Willow Flycatcher Dry Creek Dr., May 20, Rob Hansen, Bobby Kamansky Purple Martin Dry Creek Dr, Apr 26 , John Lockhart Bank Swallow Tulare WTP, Aug 23, Dane Fangundes Swainson's Thrush Porterville, May 5, Steve Summers Sage Thrasher Yokohl Valley, ?, Dane Fagundes Black-throated Sparrow Holdrige Road, known from 2010 White-throated Sparrow Globe Dr, Jan 6, Steve Summers Pine Grosbeak Deer Creek Tar Gap Trl, Aug 4, Mary Merriman 66 Uncommon 134 Common 29 Abundant Tulare Co All not reported in 2011 2 Uncommon Northern Saw-whet Owl Allen's Hummingbird 8 Rare Tundra Swan Pacific Golden-Plover Solitary Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-eared Owl Grasshopper Sparrow Scott's Oriole John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Co Saturday Jan 1 From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:33:46 -0000 Kings Co Saturday Jan 1, 2012 Fog - so I drove through to Avenal and started there. Had a Rock Wren and a Greater Roadrunner at the oil fields before Avenal. The city park had some sparrows but was otherwise quiet. I then headed out to Tehama Ave for more sparrows and Horned Larks plus the Great Horned and Barn Owls. Next was Hwy 41 and York - Mountain Bluebird I headed east by way of Devils Den Rd with little to report. The Eucalyptus ponds had a few birds of note 1 Bonaparte's Gull, 1 Caspian Tern, and a few Willet. Along Utica I had 40 or so Mountain Plover right next to the road (photo posted) 10th and Utica - Hermit Thrush PP southern Kings - Eurasian Wigeon (photo posted) Homeland Canal - great concentration of birds (photo posted) Common Goldeneye, Glaucous-winged Gull Flooded field near 6th and Virgina - 3 field sections of shallow water. Snow Goose 7, Greater White-fronted Goose 1, Cackling Goose 1, 5000 ducks and a smattering of shorebirds Atwell Island Kings - Short-eared Owl (photo posted) 86 species to start the year John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Co 2011 - 236 species reported by all observers From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:02:21 -0000 Kings Co 2011 - 236 species reported by all observers 234 in 2010 1 new species Clay-colored Sparrow, Mark Stacy 1 CBRC species Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mark Stacy New Big Year total 230 by Mark Stacy 3 Accidental American Golden-Plover Hanford WTP, Sept 10, Mark Stacy Lesser Black-backed Gull Private property, Sept 7, Mark Stacy Clay-colored Sparrow Atwell Island, Dec 3, Mark Stacy 13 Casual Greater Scaup Hanford WTP, Nov 25, Mark Stacy Ruddy Turnstone Corcoran Reservoir, Apr 30, Mark Stacy Red Phalarope Private property, Aug 11, Jeff Seay Sabine's Gull Private property, Oct 4, John Lockhart Mew Gull Flint& 18th, Dec 4, Mark Stacy Western Gull 6th and Utica, Feb 1, Kathy Parker Thayer's Gull 10th and Utica, Jan 2, Kurz & Lockhart Glaucous-winged Gull 10th and Utica, Jan 2, Kurz & Lockhart Common Tern Corcoran Reservoir, Apr 30, Mark Stacy Long-tailed Jaeger Private property, Aug 31, Jon Dunn Common Ground-Dove County Line Rd, Oct 2, Mark Stacy American Redstart Boggs Slough, Jun 26 , Mark Stacy Lark Bunting Devils Den RD, Sept 12, Mark Stacy 34 Rare Ross's Goose Jack Stone Ponds, Jan 23, Mark Stacy Cackling Goose Private property, 12 Oct, John Lockhart Eurasian Wigeon Corcoran Reservoir, Jan 30, Mark Stacy Common Goldeneye Jack Stone Ponds, Jan 13, Mark Stacy Horned Grebe Eucalyptus Ponds, Oct 14, Jeff Seay Bald Eagle Private property, Sep 25, Mark Stacy Willet Eucalyptus Ponds, Apr 16, John Lockhart Red Knot Nevada Ave Ponds, Apr 29, Rob Hansen Sanderling 6th and Utica, Jan 6, Curtis Marantz Semipalmated Sandpiper Jack Stone Ponds, Jul 16, Mark Stacy Baird's Sandpiper Eucalyptus Ponds, Jul 28, Jeff Seay Stilt Sandpiper Nevada Ave Ponds, Jul 24, Mark Stacy Short-billed Dowitcher Hanford WTP, Sept 10, Mark Stacy Franklin's Gull South Wilbur, Jul 14, John Lockhart Band-tailed Pigeon Tar Canyon, May 21, Hansen, Seay, Stacy Long-eared Owl Tar Canyon, May 13, Fagundes, Lockhart Short-eared Owl 4th and Redding, 12 Oct, John Lockhart Costa's Hummingbird Lemoore, Mark's, Feb 2, Mark Stacy Calliope Hummingbird Tule River, Apr 30, Mark Stacy Hairy Woodpecker Tar Canyon, Feb 5, Mark Stacy Olive-sided Flycatcher 10th and Utica, May 4, Mark Stacy Yellow-billed Magpie Tar Canyon, May 14, John Lockhart Bank Swallow Kent & Jersey Ave Pond, Jul 5, Richard Norton Red-breasted Nuthatch Avenal Cemetery, Jan 1, Mark Stacy Pacific Wren Lemoore, Fallenleaf Dr, Known from 2010 Swainson's Thrush 10th and Utica, Apr 24, John Lockhart Varied Thrush Tenth and Utica, Nov 13, Mark Stacy Sage Thrasher County Line Rd, Oct 2, Mark Stacy Yellow-breasted Chat 10th and Utica, May 1, Steve Summers Grasshopper Sparrow Tar Canyon, May 14, John Lockhart White-throated Sparrow Lemoore, Fallenleaf Dr, Apr 4, Mark Stacy Hooded Oriole 10th and Utica, May 2, Dane Fagundes Purple Finch Tule River, Oct 10, Mark Stacy Lawrence's Goldfinch Kettleman City RV park, Mar 13, Mark Stacy 58 Uncommon 105 Common 23 Abundant Kings Co All Not Reported in 2011 1 Common Western Screech-Owl 2 Uncommon Common Poorwill Brown Creeper 12 Rare Tundra Swan Pacific Golden-Plover Solitary Sandpiper Least Tern Black Swift White-throated Swift Lewis's Woodpecker Cassin's Kingbird Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Purple Martin Pine Siskin John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Co Thayer's Gulls From: scre AT aol.com Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:14:23 -0500 (EST) Lauren Harter and I passed through Tulare and Kings County today Dec 31. Notables were all in Kings County. We cruised Ave 6th and lots of birds were at the south end (along the Homeland Canal) with the large flooded field continuing to have lots of birds: 7 SNOW GEESE continued there, a couple Canada Geese (but no White-fronts), and a ROSS's GOOSE was in a barren field just south of the flooded field, 1100 Common Mergansers were impressive, but we were unable to find any rare gulls. At Corcoran Res we found a large number of gulls with 3 juvenile THAYER's GULL being the only ones of note. Good birding David Vander Pluym Lake Havasu City [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: New Big Year Record From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:13:32 -0000 I started the year with a reasonable goal to see 5 new county birds, ended up with 11. Amidst all the good birds I also racked up a new high year total: 230. There are some "easy" ones I didn't try for (screech-owl being the most embarrassing example), but all the rarities and a highly successful trip to the "hills" pushed the total over the top. Thanks go to John Lockhart for the Long-eared Owls and Magpies and to Jeff Seay for 2! Red Phalaropes. A final outing this morning produced another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, this one where Flint parallels the Clark's Fork of the Kings. That makes #5 for Kings this year. Good Birding in 2012! Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:49:33 -0000 Today I found a second-cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in the general vicinity of 6th Ave and the Homeland Canal. It's likely the same bird last seen in early October. If so, this goes to show how much the gulls in this area move around, making them difficult to relocate. I didn't see any Glaucous-winged or Thayer's today though they were here just a week ago. The flooded field on 6th just south of Virginia continues to have a lot of waterfowl. Today there were 7 SNOW and 30 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. On private property south of the Homeland there were no fewer than 20 COMMON GOLDENEYE, a good total for Kings Co. On the 28th there was a SWAINSON'S HAWK at Boggs Slough. And here in Lemoore the COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER continue to make sporadic visits to my home. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Oakhurst Christas bird count From: penny stewart <flamowl AT att.net> Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:31:11 -0800 (PST) A friend of mine in Oakhurst is hopeing to round up more help for the first Oakhurst count. They are short! The count is on January 3rd. If anyone is interested I can find out more information. Thanks! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings County Birding From: Michelle Townsley <ms.townsley AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:52:34 -0800 (PST) On Monday, Bob was finally able to sneak in an overnight birding trip during lobster season but didn't want to drive 16 hours round trip for the Falcated Duck.  Since I wanted to turn Kings Blue with 100 species for County Birding, we drove 3 hours and got started.  On Omaha near 30th we stopped for a tree full of House Finch and LESSER GOLDFINCH and saw a DARK-EYED JUNCO across the street under orchard trees.  On 30th just before Nevada we stopped for a MERLIN, and saw ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and quite a few SAVANNAH SPARROW. Around 11:00, we stopped in Lemoore to see if the Costa's hummingbird was at Mark Stacy's feeder with no luck.  We got some advice on where to bird from him.  That afternoon we lost our way looking for Boggs Slough, but discovered a pond on Everett between 19 1/2 and 20th with 9 Mergansers that we disagreed on, later found out Bob was right, they were HOODED MERGANSERS. (Thanks, Mark.) There were Black-necked Stilts, American Coot, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, and Black-crowned Night Heron, Greater Yellowlegs, Mallard, NORTHERN FLICKER, 14 WOOD DUCK, 2 sleeping WILSON'S SNIPE, and AMERICAN PIPIT along the roadside. I'm not sure we found the exact location Mark suggested for Chipping sparrows at Boggs Slough because we didn't see any. We walked quite a way down the 1st left turn path off the North levee and saw lots of White-crowned, one GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW and  a few song sparrows. We added several new species for the county though, including BELTED KINGFISHER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,  and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. Also, SORA & HERMIT THRUSH (Michelle only) Tuesday, the  27th, we started the next day at a too foggy Jack Stone ponds, where we spent some time combing through the sandpipers on the shoreline without spotting a Sanderling seen several times by Mark. However, we managed to see a COMMON GALLINULE on the way out.  Other highlights of the day included more Hooded Mergansers at Nevada & 6th along with COMMON MERGANSERS among which was a male. There were also about 17 CANVASBACK. At the flooded field on 6th Street south of Corcoran, there was a PEREGRINE FALCON eyeing all the sandpipers and Coots.  At Redding & 6th there was 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL among some mallards!  On Devil's Den Road we saw two MOUNTAIN PLOVER and several SAY'S PHOBE. There was also a large flock of Lesser Goldfinch. Then we went to find Pyramid Hills Road (unsigned, but Bob say's that was it) and spotted VESPER SPARROW among the Savannah Sparrows.  That was a completely new area for us in Kings County. Kings County is now officially Blue! Michelle Townsley (birding with Bob Love) Ventura County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Atwell Island Winter Bird Survey Results From: "Steve Laymon" <slaymon AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:11:59 -0800 We completed the 11th annual Atwell Island Winter Bird Survey on Tuesday (27 Dec.). We finished up with 91 species (2nd highest) and 30,096 individuals (3rd highest). Some of the highlights were a pair of Hooded Mergansers on the Homeland Canal in Kings Co. (a first for the count). Also new for the count was a female Phainopepla on the east side of the Turkey Farm along the Poso Canal, a small group of Cattle Egrets, and 3 Swainson's Hawks. The Phainopepla and Swainson's Hawks were total surprises at this season! A Bewick's Wren along the nature trail was the first seen here since 2002. We had record high numbers of Eared Grebes (8), American Bittern (5), Great Egrets (354), White-tailed Kites (44), Northern Harriers (90), Red-tailed Hawks (94), Red-shouldered Hawks (2), Merlin (4), Barn Owls (15), Great Horned Owls (10), Short-eared Owls (27), Burrowing Owls (10), Loggerhead Shrikes (50), and White-crowned Sparrows (2,528). The Short-eared Owls were scattered around the project, but the highest concentration was in the area south of the BLM HQ and the Ton Tache Wetlands. The abundance of raptors is certainly tied to a resurgence of mouse and vole populations this year. On the low side, we had only one Ruby-crowned Kinglet (our 11 year average is 8). Yellow-rumped Warblers (13) were also lower than average (20). Steve Laymon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Hoodwed Mergansers From: garycarlafile AT gmail.com Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:17:58 -0000 After the fog lifted,the Hooded Mergansers and the Wood Ducks on the pond at 20th ave. and Everett were easy to find this morning. First posted yesterday by Mark Stacy in Lemoore. Gary File Bakersfield ------------------------------------ Subject: Burris Park From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:31:09 -0000 Couldn't relocate the flycatcher from a few weeks ago but I did find a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the dry river channel on the east side of the park and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER on Burris Park Drive. Had another Black-th. Gray yesterday in Lemoore. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Hooded Mergansers From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:46:05 -0000 Visiting county birders Michelle and Bob found a wooded farm pond today I was unaware of that's hosting at least 9 HOODED MERGANSERS and lots of WOOD DUCKS. I went to see them this afternoon. If you need Hooded Merganser for the county this is probably the best bet around. It's on the northeast corner of Everett and 20th Ave. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Brewer's and Chipping Sparrows From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:30:07 -0000 I went bushwhacking for unusual sparrows at Boggs Slough today. The weedy fields there are full of 'em. I found 2 VESPER, 4 CHIPPING and 1 BREWER'S SPARROW. They were where the side road that branches north from the Crescent Ditch disintegrates. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Christmas Costa's From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:48:59 -0000 Yesterday a male Costa's Hummingbird showed up at my feeder and has been around this morning. This is likely the same bird that's been here off and on for almost a year. If so his movements are hard to make sense of. After spending a couple weeks here last February it disappeared until June then stayed til October. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Merry Christmas Birders! From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:41:57 -0000 Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday! And best wishes for all the great birds. Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings County From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:15:59 -0000 I spent most of the morning gulling in the south county flooded fields and canals. The highlights: SNOW GOOSE: 6 in a flooded field to the west of 6th Ave a mile or so south of Virginia Ave. HOODED MERGANSER: 4 on the Homeland Canal between 10th & 6th Ave. HORNED GREBE: 1 on the Tulare Lake Canal where it borders 10th Ave just south of Pueblo Ave. THAYER'S GULL: 1 1st-cycle just south of the field that had the Snow Geese. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL: At least 2 1st-cycle birds along the Homeland Canal between 10th & 6th Ave. SPOTTED TOWHEE: 1 out of place at Liberty Farms is the first I've seen at that location. Happy Holidays Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Greater White-fronted Goose at rd 320 avenue 176 in Springville 12/21/11 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:25:09 -0000 There was 1 adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE near my house along rd 320 right at avenue 176 this morning with Canada geese. The goose will probably cover the area around my house and frequent down to Lake Success. Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: Highlights from Springville CBC 12/17/11 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:29:11 -0000 The count ended up with about 138 species. Thank you everyone for coming out and helping with the count and since we had so many great eyes out there we ended up with some awesome birds.. The highlights included EURASIAN WIGEON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER form Lake Success. The route just to the north of the lake on Frazier valley and hold ridge drive included a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and a couple BURROWING OWLS in the evening out just before dusk. Steve Summers picked up a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER at River Island Country Club as well as TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. It seems to be a good winter for TOWNSEND'S WARBLER'S there was a good number seen before the count and during. Overall it was a great count and nice to see everybody again, and thanks John for getting it together in such a quick notice. Also thank you Dane for compiling this count we all greatly appreciate it. Good Birding! Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: GREATER SCAUP in Tulare County 12/18/11 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:14:31 -0000 During the Kaweah CBC around 130 today I found a 1st winter GREATER SCAUP male in the forebay below the Kaweah dam. This bird is on core of engineers land so it is private. I talked to them about the duck and if anybody chases it they should go during the week because that is when the gate is open to the headquarters office. They should arrange to let people in if you talk with them. To find this duck you want drive down behind the dam where the water shoots out. Then continue on the dirt road on the north side of the river it then goes west past a gate to another locked gate. The road then makes a 90 degree turn south back towards the river through riparian habitat. Walk down to the river and look back up the river towards the dam. It was the only scaup out there. Some additional highlights was a HORNED GREBE in Lake Kaweah and a CACKLING GOOSE. Down at Bravo Lake in Woodlake there was 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER with all the least's. There was at least 3 more CACKLING GEESE with the Canada at the end of the day. It was another great day of birding. Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: Swainson's Hawks From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:37:39 -0000 Much of the brush at Boggs Slough was plowed up this past week, attracting a lot raptors as it did last winter. Today there were at least 3 Swainson's Hawks there. Jack Stone ponds now have 3 Wilson's Phalaropes adding to the birds wintering in the county at the Jersey Ave ponds. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Western Flycatcher & Others From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:47:12 -0000 This afternoon at the s.e. edge of Burris Park there was a "WESTERN" FLYCATCHER. This is the first empid I've seen during winter in Kings. Corcoran Reservoir had 2 CACKLING GEESE, a 1st-cycle MEW GULL, and a 2nd-cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED X WESTERN GULL. Got to see a Spotted Sandpiper narrowly escape being a Peregrine's lunch by repeatedly diving underwater in the middle of the reservoir for up to 10 seconds at a time! At Homeland and Poso Canal canals there were 2 HOODED MERGANSERS and after sundown, a SHORT-EARED OWL. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Recent Birds From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:41:13 -0000 As of today a HORNED GREBE and the female GREATER SCAUP continue at the Hanford WTP. Two BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS were along the Clark's Fork of the Kings next to Flint Ave and there was one HOODED MERGANSER at Boggs Slough. On the 9th, the SANDERLING continued at the Jack Stone Ponds and 2-4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES at the Jersey Ave Ponds. On the 10th there was ROSS' GOOSE at the Corcoran Reservoir. I've also seen a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER near my home periodically this week. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Trumpeter Swans From: "Gary L" <birds_i_vue AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:03:37 -0000 Just a few more photos of Trumpeter Swans along Ave 176 in album 1. Taken Sat AM about 9:00 AM Gary Lindquist ------------------------------------ Subject: Tulare Co. Trumpeter Swans continue From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:07:57 -0800 The two Trumpeter Swans found two days ago at Ave. 176 & Rd. 128 are still present today. Early in the morning they had moved to a field about 1/2 mile north of Ave. 176 along Rd. 128 but currently (11:00 am) are back at their original site. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Trumpeter Swan in Tulare Co. From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 15:24:58 -0800 Yesterday (Thur. 12/8) morning Dane Fagundes of Tulare called me about a couple of swans he had just found south of Tulare and wasn't sure what they were. I went out and saw the birds. My impression at that time was that they might be Trumpeters so I took some distant photos and went home to study up. By the middle of the afternoon I was a more convinced that's what they might be. John Lockhart then went out in the afternoon and didn't see them. For some reason I decided to go out this morning just to make sure they were gone. When I first got there I didn't see any swans in the field. So I drove on looking in other fields. On my way back by the field I noticed a swan head barely sticking above the dirt furrow rows. The swans were still there. Apparently there is a depression or pit on some kind out in the middle of the field that these large birds can completely disappear into. I took more photos and am now convinced, especially after others have seen the photos and agree, that the two swans are Trumpeters. The location is east of the Hwy. 99 Rest Area between Tulare and Tipton along Ave. 176 about 1/4 mile west of Rd. 128. The lat/long of the actual spot in the field where the swans are is 36.111244 -119.290445. I'll post some photos in this groups "001 Whistling-Duck - Swan" album. Also of note yesterday a Pectoral Sandpiper was in the same field. I noticed it as it walked in front of the swans. Thanks Dane for a great find, Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Mountain Plovers and Bluebirds From: "jeff67632003" <jseay AT harveyecology.com> Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:52:42 -0000 This afternoon I had a flock of approximately 50 Mountain Plovers on the west side of 6th Avenue 8 miles south of Utica Ave and 2 miles north of the Kern County line. Later in the afternoon I had about 20 Mountain Bluebirds on the north side of Utica Ave 2.5 miles east of Interstate 5. Jeff Seay Fresno, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: Southern valley floor Kings Co and Tulare From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:33:43 -0000 Picked up Dane Kings Dawn at Atwell Island - spent almost 3 hours looking for the sparrow without luck. Short-eared Owl Private Property southern Kings - nice shorebird habitat - 20 Willet, 50 Snowy Plover Canal south of 10th and Utica - Hooded Merganser, Common Goldeneye. Cathy Parker sighting 10th and Utica - very slow, Merlin One more quick try for sparrow tulare Stoil Pond - 1500 gulls - Thayer's Gull, 4 Snow Geese, American Bittern, no shorebird habitat Dead Pig Pond - birdy but no rare bird John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Mew and Glaucous-winged Gulls From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:41:29 -0000 A flooded field on the south side of Flint Ave just east of 18th Ave had a flock of gulls that included one 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and at least 3 MEW GULLS (2 1st-cycle & 1 adult). Along the Clark's Fork of the Kings River that runs parallel to Flint I found a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Clay-colored Sparrow & Other Goodies From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:25:28 -0000 After several weekends of less than ideal weather, it was a great day to be out and I was rewarded with some great birds. Started the day at Liberty Farms (10th & Utica). First bird I saw was a HORNED GREBE in the Homeland Canal. Nothing else of note at that location. A few miles south on the Homeland Canal there were some gulls and I found a 1st-cycle THAYER'S GULL. There was also an odd-Herring-type gull whose photos I'm still evaluating. Further south in a more restricted area was a single CACKLING GOOSE. And finally the bird of the day: a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the intersection of Homeland and Poso Canals. This spot is on the south side of the Homeland canal about a mile east of 6th Ave. It was feeding mostly by itself though sometimes with White-crowns, in and around Poso Canal (dry) where it begins at the Homeland and south as far as the small grove of cottonwoods. I got decent photos of all these birds and will post soon. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Hanford Greater Scaup continues From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 16:03:19 -0800 This morning I looked for the Hanford WTP female GREATER SCAUP. It was still there in the northeastern most pond. Other birds of note were one Horned Grebe (perhaps the one Mark saw on 6 Nov) and three Bonaparte's Gulls. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Varied Thrush in Lemoore From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:04:54 -0000 While taking my usual walk around the block during lunch break I heard a Varied Thrush calling. The location is Fallenleaf Drive between Liberty and Brighton Streets (same location as last year's Pacific Wren). More specifically, it was calling from the pines on the south side of the road. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Lake Success RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 11/28/11 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:51:57 -0000 There was 1 female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at the northeast end of Lake Success (near the highway 190 bridge in the lake). The merganser was all alone not really associating with the 3 other Common Merganser's that were present on the opposite end of the lake. Other notable birds were 2 HORNED LARKS, 25 LEAST SANDPIPER's and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES feasting on coots. Up in the recreation area as you drive into the lake there was about 10-15 CHIPPING SPARROWS in the mix of many Yellow-rumped Warbler's. Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: Mountain Plovers & Bluebirds From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:00:17 -0000 While out on another vain attempt to find longspurs I saw 34 Mountain Plovers to the east of York Ave about 2 miles south of Highway 41. Mountain Bluebirds were plentiful in this area today. I could not relocate the Lark Bunting on Devil's Den Rd. Jim Lomax called to say he had seen my scaup from yesterday at the Hanford WTP and confirmed it as a Greater. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Greater Scaup & Thayer's Gull From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:20:01 -0000 Today there was a female scaup at the Hanford WTP I'm pretty confident was a Greater. I'm hesitant because there weren't other scaup to compare it to. Two photos are posted. I never saw it in flight so can't comment on the primaries. Many Herring Gulls have moved into the area. Amongst them I found an adult or near adult Thayer's Gull along 10th Ave. about 1 mile north of Utica Ave. Another gull there looked to be a Herring X Glaucous-winged hybrid. I posted 2 so-so photos of the Thayer's. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Springville WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in Tulare County 11/25/11 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:21:06 -0000 There was 1 tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW up near my house in Springville, Tulare County on Mallard Lane right off Campbell Creek Drive. On Google maps the road is labelled as Mallard Lane but at the site the sign along the road called it Blue Heron Lane. The road may be public for at least 50 meters and then turns into a private driveway. The sparrow was right at the private driveway sign. Just off to the left in the brush next to the riparian habitat near the creek. The sparrow hopefully will winter for the Springville CBC. The bird was moving round quite a bit with Golden-crowns and White-crowns, but seemed to stay in that general area. Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: Birding From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:29:32 -0000 Just dropping a note that at Tulare WTP there are four SNOW GOOSE. Two adults and two imm. This was as of 2:45 PM. Dane Fagundes in Tulare 280-7840 ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Yokohl Valley to Woodlake 11/21/11 From: "bruce" <bklowe1 AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:25:48 -0800 Just an FYI in case some may not be aware : the Common Poorwill goes into torpor ( hibernation ) when the temperature drops ( below 60 degrees F ) and can stay in that state for up to 100 days. Bruce Lowe Wildlife Rescue Volunteer Exeter CA ----- Original Message ----- From: Tony Kurz To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 6:17 PM Subject: [tularekingsbirds] Yokohl Valley to Woodlake 11/21/11 It's nice to be back in Springville! I covered Yokohl Valley today starting from Springville working my way west towards Woodlake. The first curious bird I had was a dead COMMON POORWILL up towards the ridge just east of Milo Fire Station. I have found this species in this area before in the summer and winter, but of course alive. It looks like the bird may have been hit by a car. Other birds of interest from this area was a PEREGRINE FALCON actually stooping from above the ridge. As I made my way down into valley I came across 4 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 HORNED LARK, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON, and 2 GREATER ROADRUNNER'S. When I started to leave Yokohl Valley I checked the pond along the road going up too Badger Hill, and it was looking pretty good with lots of water. The best birds included 1 male CANVASBACK, 3 CINNAMON TEAL, 2 TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS, and 1 COMMON GALLINULE. Dry Creek road was the next stop to check for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. At the pond I ran into Dane Fagundes and he took me to the sapsucker spot. I stayed in the area for a while with no luck. As the light was starting to fade I thought I would go check Bravo Lake. It was looking great many gulls were coming into lake from the west to roost. Mostly all California Gulls with some Ring-billed's. The best of the bunch must have been 2 HERRING GULLS. There was lots of waterfowl along the east side of the lake, but nothing to exciting. What a nice day it was to be in Tulare County's foothills. Tony Kurz [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Yokohl Valley to Woodlake 11/21/11 From: "Tony Kurz" <tonyk_71220 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:17:33 -0000 It's nice to be back in Springville! I covered Yokohl Valley today starting from Springville working my way west towards Woodlake. The first curious bird I had was a dead COMMON POORWILL up towards the ridge just east of Milo Fire Station. I have found this species in this area before in the summer and winter, but of course alive. It looks like the bird may have been hit by a car. Other birds of interest from this area was a PEREGRINE FALCON actually stooping from above the ridge. As I made my way down into valley I came across 4 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 HORNED LARK, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON, and 2 GREATER ROADRUNNER'S. When I started to leave Yokohl Valley I checked the pond along the road going up too Badger Hill, and it was looking pretty good with lots of water. The best birds included 1 male CANVASBACK, 3 CINNAMON TEAL, 2 TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS, and 1 COMMON GALLINULE. Dry Creek road was the next stop to check for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. At the pond I ran into Dane Fagundes and he took me to the sapsucker spot. I stayed in the area for a while with no luck. As the light was starting to fade I thought I would go check Bravo Lake. It was looking great many gulls were coming into lake from the west to roost. Mostly all California Gulls with some Ring-billed's. The best of the bunch must have been 2 HERRING GULLS. There was lots of waterfowl along the east side of the lake, but nothing to exciting. What a nice day it was to be in Tulare County's foothills. Tony Kurz ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Tulare southern valley floor From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:46:58 -0000 Saturday, Nov 19, 2011 went with Dane Dawn at 10th and Utica - not much Private Property southern Kings - 120 Mountain Plover, Hooded Merganser, Snow Goose. Fair number of shorebirds Eucalyptus ponds - Many Eared Grebes Devils Den - Many sparrows Ton Tache - nice diversity, American Bittern We spent an hour or more looking for mtn plover and longspurs in the fields between Allensworth and Alpaugh. John Lockhart ------------------------------------ Subject: Sanderling & Wilson's Phalaropes From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 23:35:58 -0000 Today there was a Sanderling at the Jack Stone Ponds. One bird has spent the last 2 winters at this location. Jersey/Kent ponds now have 4 Wilson's Phalaropes. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Short report From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:13:14 -0000 At Plaza Park Pond I found one CACKLING GOOSE, it was at 9:30am. Located on the east side of the pond next to the road. A few WOOD DUCK and alot of CANADA GOOSE. Dane in Tulare ------------------------------------ Subject: My 11/14/2011 Bird Report From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:27:59 -0000 Spent most of the day driving a big loop around the area. Started out in Tulare and my first stop was Success Lake. Then drove up to the end of Hwy 190. Snow blocked the road at the Ponderosa General store. Birded a few places along the road. Up Redwood Drive for 1.7 miles and walked the road for 3/4 mile. Good birding. One for sure and maybe two VARIED THRUSH. Wishon Road and found the AMERICAN DIPPER. Turned off Hwy 190 at Springville and jumped onto Yokohl Valley Road. The only few good birds were BALD EAGLE and a few GOLDEN EAGLE. Badger Hill Pond had some good ducks. BUFFLEHEAD, CANVASBACK, AM. WIGEON and GADWALL. Altogether I had 80 birds. Had a good day. Only 35 degrees on the hill. Dane in Tulare ------------------------------------ Subject: Varied Thrush, Lark Bunting & Cackling Geese From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:16:42 -0000 Today I found a male VARIED THRUSH at Liberty Farms at 10th & Utica, first near the office building and later near the houses. Couldn't get a photo though. The adult male LARK BUNTING was at the previously described location on Devil's Den Road. Now that I've learned a bit about molt in Lark Buntings, the one I found in early September at the same location was likely a HY female but judge for yourself from the photos on this site. The TLDD north ponds visible from 12th Ave just south of Nevada had 3 CACKLING GEESE. 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES and several BONAPARTE'S GULLS continue at the Jersey/Kent ponds. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Tulare: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continues From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:55:28 -0000 Friday, Nov 11, 2011 Got off work around noon and headed straight to Dry Creek Dr. About 15 minutes later Dane pulled up who also had been checking for the bird since Jim Lomax first found it. We checked Lomax's wells and there was a Red-breasted Sapsucker there. I had seen hummingbirds and Nuttal's Woodpecker on my previous visits. No luck so we went to Lake Kaweah Common Loon 2 Common Goldeneye 1 female We went back to Dry Creek Dr and were just about to leave. I was putting away the scope when I saw it in an oak just 15 feet away. It flew across the road - up the hill towards the power lines, all oak, and we pulled back out the scope and got good looks as it worked its way up to the top. I went back for my camera but it flew back a tree and I can't find any bird in the photos I attempted. It looks to be wintering, almost a week now since the first finding. John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Dry Creek and Lake Kaweah From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:56:10 -0000 Monday November 8, 2011 Was gone for the weekend and went chasing after work. Only a little over an hour of light between both places. Dry Creek was birdy but no sappsuckers of any kind. I will try again. Lake Kaweah. I was excited, I was prety sure I had long scope views of 3 loons feeding together but from a very long distance. I drove quickly in the waning light to get a better view an positively identified a Common Loon but couldn't find the other 2. It was a 5 minute drive from one location to the other and only had a few minutes of light. If you need the pacific and are not comming from too far away I would say it is worth a try. John ------------------------------------ Subject: Sunday Bird Report From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:29:37 -0000 Tried locating the Yellow-breasted Sapsucker on Dry Creek Drive this morning. Did see two RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER and a few ACORN WOODPECKER all in a small Oak Tree. Then off to Lake Kaweah to locate one of the loon spotted in the past few days. Happy to find the COMMON LOON that was fishing around a few WHITE PELICAN. Got a real close-up by walking way out onto the mud flat that gave me a better view of this good find for Tulare County. Back at Dry Creek Dive I ran into Steve Summers trying his luck for the sapsucker. Again, we only saw flicker, Nuttall's and Acorn. Guess I will return tomarrow for a second try. Dane Fagundes Tulare, California 280-7840 ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Horned Grebe From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:21:43 -0000 Today I found a Horned Grebe at the Hanford WTP on the NW cell. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Recent Tulare and Kings rare birds From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 17:59:04 -0700 I'm just being the messenger here. Yesterday afternoon (11/4) Jim Lomax found an adult male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER along Dry Creek Rd. below Kaweah Dam. The bird was seen from the first large pull-out on the right side of the road about 0.85 miles north of Rd. 216. There is also a Red-breasted Sapsucker here. This afternoon (11/5) John Luther saw the bird in the same location. There is a large tree here with some dead branches sticking up above the green leaves on top and that is where the bird is being seen. I've been told a scope is helpful. John also reports from today that he saw two COMMON LOONS and a PACIFIC LOON on Lake Kaweah along with some HORNED GREBES. Then late this afternoon Lomax saw the LARK BUNTING that has been previously reported from Devils Den Rd. in Kings Co. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: November 2, 2011 Birding Day From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:12:08 -0000 Early this morning I checked out Kaweah Lake. No Osprey, but two BALD EAGLE. AMERICAN WIGEON, CANADA GOOSE and lots of WESTERN & CLARK'S GREBE. Yokohl Valley Road was busy. Got to see a WHITE-TAILED KITE, my first for YVR. Across the way from the location I sometimes see a Merlin, was a beautiful GOLDEN EAGLE sitting on a fence post. Got about fifty feet from him. Even got a few pictures off before he said; "Goodbye". Seems to be more LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the normal areas I have been seeing them. Have fun birding, Dane in Tulare ------------------------------------ Subject: Black-throated Sparrow back at Holdridge From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 13:57:15 -0700 This morning (Tue. 11/1) I saw a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW near the beginning of Holdridge Dr. in Springville where one has wintered since at least 2007-2008. If this is the same bird, which seems likely, this will make its fifth year to return to this exact location. I'll add a photo of the bird from today in this groups "Sparrow" album. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Lark Bunting and Purple Finches From: "Steve & Priscilla Summers" <summers AT ocsnet.net> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:45:26 -0700 This morning (Mon. 10/31) I searched for the bunting and finch Mark found yesterday in southern Kings Co. I tried first for the Purple Finch but no luck. I did have a nice visit with the LARK BUNTING along Devils Den Rd. It was cooperative and fed loosely along the roadside with Lark and White-crowned Sparrows. If you plug this lat/long 35.832486 -119.961970 into Google Earth, or probably other mapping programs as well, this will get you to the exact spot I saw the bird. This location is just under 9 miles from the intersection of I-5 and Utica Ave. taking 25th Ave. south to Devils Den Rd. then just under 3 miles down Devils Den. It fed both north and south of the intersection there with a driveway and farm road. It seemed to prefer the tall sunflowers south of that intersection. I've added two photos in this groups "Sparrows" album I took today for comparison with the photo Mark took on 9-11-11. Steve Summers Porterville ------------------------------------ Subject: Lark Bunting and Purple Finches From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:34:56 -0000 Today I saw a Lark Bunting at the exact location of last month's bird. This is along Devil's Den Road about 1/8 mi west of the highest point the road crosses. It was with a small flock of Lark Sparrows. I thought it looked a bit different from the bird I photographed in September. At Liberty Farms there was a singing male Purple Finch in the large trees of the main complex and a female Purple Finch over at the office building trees. Jersey Ponds had 2 Wilson's Phalaropes and 11 Bonaparte's Gulls. Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: Yokohl Valley Road Birding From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:39:30 -0000 Around 7:30am I crossed the 3 mile post and headed up the road. Within half mile was a Praire Falcon on a power pole. Down from that in the first mile was a Ferruginous Hawk. Mostly white on the chest and belly. First for me this fall. At 6.5 miles was a Merlin. Same place it was a few days ago. Came across almost 40 Wild Turkey. The Lewis's Woodpecker are hanging around the same general area from the last few days. Can not relocate the two Sage Thrasher that I found at the first of this month. Road Runner was in a new location. Could be the same one or three are in a 3 mile area. Bravo Lake is really lowwwww. Large number of White Pelican, Coot, Snowy Egret and Eared Grebe. I looked to see a Bald Eagle, but no luck. Lake Kaweah is up by a small amount. Dane in Tulare ------------------------------------ Subject: Oct. 26, 2011 Morning Birding From: "pforpositive" <dfgnds3 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:17:43 -0000 When I birded Plaza Park the other day, I found 40 Wood Ducks. But today only one! Maybe because a big truck with a large crane was setting up to trim a tree next to the pond. Looked at Caldwell ponds. A few peps and alot of Ruddy Ducks. On to Stockyard Ponds. Found some FOS. Bufflehead Ducks, a few Hooded Merganser and some Canvasbacks. Besides these were Gadwall and the normal regulars. In some of the fields surronding the ponds, I found gulls in large numbers, Black-bellied Plover and Long-billed Curlew. Plus a large flock of White-faced Ibis. Stopped off at Tulare Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) and checked out the 52 Canada Geese I had seen yesterday. My concern was the smaller group that kind of stayed away from the others. They were of a differant size compared to the others. The neck length, more rounded head and the bill looked smaller. Guess it will be an expert to say if they are Cackling Geese or not. Heading out after I eat to see more of what the valley has to offer. Dane in Tulare 280-7840 ------------------------------------ Subject: A Few Noteworthy Migrants From: "markstacybirds" <monkletgimp AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:26:09 -0000 California Towhee (1) Oct. 18 in Lemoore where never expected Mountain Bluebird (1) Oct. 23 at Utica Ave Eucalyptus grove Nashville Warbler (1) Oct. 23 at Liberty Farms Mark Stacy Lemoore ------------------------------------ Subject: wood ducks From: "lwentz41" <lwentz41 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:03:58 -0000 Had a nice surprise on my walk through Sunset Park in Visalia. There were 7 Wood ducks in the drainage pond. Also saw a snowy egret , western blue birds, American robins, American coot and Killdeer. Linda Wentz ------------------------------------ Subject: Southern Kings and Tulare Valley Floor From: "calexandrinus" <j_f_lockhart AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:53:11 -0000 Tuesday, October 18, 2011 Sabine's Gull (2) private property southern kings Dane Fangundes and I left Tulare (city) around 1:00 Osprey over Crieghton Ranch Tule River Tulare - not much Flooded fields on Redding between 6th and 10th - worth a look but less then last week 10th and Utica - a few warblers but not much PP Southern Kings - Over full a little stagnant but still good birding Sabine's gull BLM Ton Tache Wetlands - rails, American Bittern Dead Pig pond - slow John Lockhart Visalia ------------------------------------ Subject: Kings Co. Red Phalarope From: garycarlafile AT gmail.com Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:43:15 -0000 At 7:30 this morning I relocated the Red Phalarope in the Kent Ave. Pond off of Hwy 41. First reported yesterday by Jeff Seay. It was at the west end of the pond and the only Phalarope in the pond. Gary File Bakersfield ------------------------------------ Subject: Looking for Visalia tree favored by migrating turkey vultures From: "JenniferR" <jenrenzi29 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:28:58 -0000 Hello, we noticed migrating turkey vultures over Fresno the other day and remembered a tree we'd seen in central Visalia where they like to stop during their journey. I wondered if anyone knows if the vultures are roosting there yet? My young son is interested in driving down to see them. Thanks so much, Jennifer Renzi Fresno ------------------------------------