29 June 2012

I recorded 17 birds today and concluded fieldwork for 2012. The weather was good enough for birds to sing and I managed to have one of my better days of the summer. It did drizzle for a while but starting at 5:30 am helps out. I will picking up my wife, Kris in Seattle tomorrow and then we are headed to Glacier National Park in Montana for some hiking. I will be reporting more day-lists, videos and photos as we make our way back east to New Hampshire.

Day-list: Washington: Snohomish Co., Oso and Lake Cavanaugh

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Band-tailed Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Gray Jay

Steller’s Jay

Northern Raven

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Warbling Vireo

Nashville Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Pine Siskin

Red Crossbill

28 June 2012

The weather forecast was not good so I left the hotel early to go out and salvage the morning by recording some birds. I managed to record 8 males today without really trying. I also found a Red-breasted Sapsucker nest in a swampy area. This area of Washington is at the western base of the Cascades with some spectacular views to the east. It looks like more rain over the next 2 days so I will camp out tonight and see if I can record something on Friday.

Views of the Cascades from the study site near Oso

Red-breasted Sapsucker at nest

Day-list: Washington: Snohomish: Oso area

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Rock Dove

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Barn Swallow

Steller’s Jay

American Crow

Northern Raven

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Warbling Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

27 June 2012

It was a beautiful sunny day and I finished up recording for this area very early this morning. MacGillivray’s Warblers were very common. I took some habitat photos near a nest where the 2 parents were quite irate about my intrusion. I headed northeast of Seattle to my next study site at Oso near Arlington where I checked into a hotel.

MacGillivray’s Warbler habitat and likely nest site

Day-list: Washington: Chelan Co., Lake Wenatchee area

Spotted Sandpiper

Red-naped Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Gray Jay

Steller’s Jay

Northern Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

House Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Hermit Thrush

Swainson’s Thrush

Veery

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Warbling Vireo

Nashville Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Pine Siskin

26 June 2012

I am still having some weather problems in the rainy Pacific northwest. At 5:34 am I started out recording several birds until the rains came around 7:15 am. I had to hit the Leavenworth public library and do some data entry.

Day-list: Washington: Chelan Co., Lake Wenatchee area

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Rock Dove

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Steller’s Jay

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Veery

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Warbling Vireo

Nashville Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-Crossbill

Pine Siskin

Evening Grosbeak

25 June 2012

I had a banner day recording 16 males between Elbe and Ashford along the Scott Turner Rd. I finished up with another stop at Jackie’s Java for the ride to Leavenworth and Wenatchee Lake for my next study locality.

Day-list: Washington: Pierce Co., north of Elbe, Ashford

Band-tailed Pigeon

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Gray Jay

Steler’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Winter Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Warbling Vireo

Nashville Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Washington: Lewis Co. Yakima (while driving up to Lake Wenatchee)

White-throated Swift

24 June 2012

A rainy morning lead to depressed bird activity. I managed to record 13 birds in between the rainy periods. The habitat around Packwood had changed a great deal since I had been there in the late 1980s. I decided to conduct field work about 40 km to the north around Ashford where there was a lot more logging and clearcuts for breeding habitat. I managed to take some video of one of my favorite western species, the Varied Thrush which looks very much like our American Robin.

I also found Jackie’s Java in Elbe where I could get great frozen coffee drinks.

Extensive clearcutting in the Ashford area

MacGillivray’s Warbler breeding habitat

Varied Thrush video

Day-list Washington: Lewis Co., south of Ashford

Ruffed Grouse

Calliope Hummingbird

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Gray Jay

Steller’s Jay

American Crow

Northern Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Warbling Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

23 June 2012

I left the hotel this morning and set out to find some breeding habitat near Ashford, north of Packwood. I stumbled upon another Sooty Grouse female with her young – see video below.

Sooty Grouse female with young

22 June 2012

I had very bad weather today. It started raining during the night off and on and continued that way throughout most of the day. I managed to record enough birds to get a good sample and then I went to the Mt. Hood Winery for a wine tasting. Finally I moved on to Packwood, Washington where I am back in a hotel for the evening. There are Elk wandering around town and I hope to get some video of them shortly.

Mt. Hood Winery

Day-list: Oregon: Hood River Co., Mt. Hood area

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Mourning Dove

Common Nighthawk

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Steller’s Jay

Gray Jay

Northern Raven

Red-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

European Starling

Warbling Vireo

Yellow-rumped Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

21 June 2012

I made it to Laurence Lake Reservoir where I recorded birds 27 years ago. I had an excellent morning recording 16 males. I was finally lucky enough to get some video of Eurasian Collared Doves that were introduced to the US in Florida in the 1980s. They have spread rapidly across the US, especially the western states (and they like to have sex – see below)

I also completed the Sapsucker Sweep. I saw a Williamson’s Sapsucker female that completes my North American sweep of all sapsuckers on this trip: Yellow-bellied, Red-naped. Red-breasted and Williamson's.

Eurasian Collared Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove Copulating

Day-list: Oregon: Hood River Co., Mt. Hood area

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Spotted Sandpiper

Mourning Dove

Eurasian Collated Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Williamson’s Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Nighthawk

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Steller’s Jay

Gray Jay

Northern Raven

Red-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Winter Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Rbin

European Starling

Warbling Vireo

Yellow-rumped Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Pine Siskin

20 June 2012

I had unexpected success in the Fort Klamath region. In the 1980s I did not find many MacGillivray’s Warblers during my thesis research but this year I had found quite a few. They were limited to riparian habitat. Willows or brush along the road, usually near water.

I managed to take some better video of the Western Tanager male near Fort Klamath. I continued on to my next study site at the base of Mt. Hood. You can see Mt. Hood from miles away (see below) in the prairies of central Oregon. There is a large agriculture industry in this region with fruit being the primary commodity – see Mt. Hood from a pears orchard. There are also grape vineyards and wineries around Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood from the prairies

Mt. Hood from the base at the northern side from the pear orchards

Western Tanager male

Day-list: Oregon: Klamath Co., Fort Klamath

Mallard

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Mourning Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Willow Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Steller’s Jay

Black=-billed Magpie

American Crow

Northern Raven

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Golden-crowned Kinglet

House Wren

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Warbling Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Hermit Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

Bullock’s Oriole

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

19 June 2012

The scenery along the trip from southern Oregon to the north was stunning.
I finally captured some video of one of my target species: Bullock’s Oriole just north of Klamath Falls (Hagelstein Park) on my way to Fort Klamath.

Bullock’s Oriole: female




Bullock’s Oriole: male

18 June 2012

I recorded 7 more males for a total of 15 for Happy Camp. It was also a travel day to Klamath Falls and a time to decompress in a hotel for the night.

I also managed to get some video of a Western Tanager, one of my 3 target species along with Bullock’s Oriole and the Black-headed Grosbeak.

Western Tanager male




Day-list California: Siskiyou Co., Happy Camp

California Quail
Mourning Dove
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Steller’s Jay
Northern Raven
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Hermit Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Warbling Vireo
Nashville Warbler
Hermit Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin

17 June 2012

It was difficult to find MacGillivray’s Warblers in the Siskiyou Mountains near Happy Camp. It is dense pine-juniper forest that does not provide a lot of good breeding habitat. I had to hunt through clearings from clear-cuts and or riparian habitat within this coniferous forest.

One of the highlights was a change from Red-naped Sapsucker to the Red-breasted Sapsucker and a new addition of the Hermit Warbler.

There is also some interesting folklore associated with this area. First is the presence of Sasquatch. The famous video was taken near Happy Camp and the Fort Klamath River. This (hoax) sighting has lured serious (?) investigators who think they now may have DNA evidence. (Summary) Can you believe it?

The second controversy is more serious. It concerns debate about converting some of this area into a National Monument which could restrict land use (mining, logging, etc.) in the area. Look at the photos below and see if you can determine which side these people have taken. This is California's version of our Northern Pass issue in NH.


Sasquatch sculpture


National Monument Controversy (Pro versus Con).



Camp site at Poker Flat



Day-list: California: Siskiyou Co., Happy Camp

California Quail
Mourning Dove
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Warbling Vireo
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Hermit Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warb;er
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Daek-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin

16 June 2012

I finished recording birds just north of Fort Bidwell. The prize sighting of the day there was a Golden Eagle. I went back to the Modoc NWR in Alturas and found a special life bird for me, the Tricolored Blackbird. I missed this species on several other visits to California.

After finishing up in NE California, I headed to Happy Camp in the Siskiyou Mountains to the west. I arrived late around 9:30. As soon as I was about to camp for the night I head a bear in the woods and had to find another campsite about 3 miles down the road. It was well worth it.

I have birds list for Fort Bidwell and a return trip to the Modoc NWR.

Photo of Alkali Lake from Fort Bidwell




Modo NWR



Video of Cinnamon Teal male




Video of Cinnamon Teal female

Tricolored Blackbird

Day-list: California: Modoc Co., Fort Bidwell area

Turkey Vulture
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
California Quiail
Rock pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Western Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Steller’s Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Northern Raven
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-rumped Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Green-tailed Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

Day-list: Modoc Co., Modoc NWR, Alturas

American White Pelican
Great Egret
Canada Goose
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Avocet
Spotted Sandpiper
Wilson’s Phalarope
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk
Northern Flicker
Western Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Northern Raven
House Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Tricolored Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer’s Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock’s Oriole
House Finch
House Sparrow

15 June 2012

Although I was taking a day off, I decided to try and record some birds around 5 am before the highway traffic near Alturas began to pick up. I had no luck until I hit the ski area road to the Cedar Pass ski resort. It made Pat’s Peak look gi-normous. I recorded several birds there and moved on to Fort Bidwell about 25 miles north of Cedarville.

Day-list: California: Modoc Co., Cedarville area

Turkey Vulture
Swainson’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
California Quail
Sandhill Crane
Spotted Sandpiper
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-naped Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Western Flycatcher
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Steller’s Jay
Western Scrub Jay
American Crow
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-rumped Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Green-tailed Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Dark—eyed Junco
Brewer’s Blackbird
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow

14 June 2012

I am ahead of schedule and tired so I took the day off and just went birding at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge near Alturas, California. It was a festival of waterfowl but many other western species were there also. I have several videos of some of these birds below. All of these birds frequent wetlands and marshes during one or more times of the year. Preserving wildlife refuges is critical to their survival. There was also a female Mule Deer with 2 fawns in the marsh.

Black-necked Stilt

Lesser Scaup

Marsh Wren

Tree Swallow near nest box

Sooty Grouse

Mule Deer female with fawns

Day-list: California: Modoc Co., Modoc NWR, Alturas

Black-crowned Night Heron

Canada Goose

Mallard

Blue-winged Teal

Cinnamon Teal

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Redhead

Lesser Scaup

Turkey Vulture

Northern Harrier

Red-tailed Hawk

Ring-necked Pheasant

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Killdeer

Black-necked Stilt

Wilson’s Phalarope

Franklin’s Gull

Mourning Dove

Common Nighthawk

Western Kingbird

Tree Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Black-billed Magpie

Marsh Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Common Yellowthroat

Song Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bullock’s Oriole

13 June 2012

I left Jarbidge on 12 June for my next study site in the Santa Rosa Mountains. I had a very good day recording 24 MacGillivray’s Warblers. A highlight for this study area was my first sighting of Chukars (see video below). The Chukar was introduced for hunting.

View of Paradise Valley from atop the Santa Rosa Mountains

Chukar video

Day-list: Nevada: Humboldt Co., Paradise Valley (Santa Rosa Mountains)

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Swainson’s Hawk

Prairie Falcon

Mourning Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Common Nighthawk

Red-naped Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Western Kingbird

Warbling Vireo

Northern Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

House Wren

Mountain Bluebird

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Green-tailed Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bullock’s Oriole

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Day-list: Nevada: Winnemuca Co., Sheldon NWR – Dufurrena Ponds

Canada Goose

Mallard

Cinnamon Teal

Redhead

Ruddy Duck

Black-crowned Night Heron

Northern Harrier

American Coot

American Avocet

Willet

Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird

12 June 2012

I arrived at my next study in Jarbidge, Nevada in the Humboldt Mountains. The town of Jarbidge is in a gulch at the base of the mountains. It was a thriving mining community at one time and the place of the last stagecoach robbery in 1916 (see below). I included a typical breeding habitat photo below where I found males singing to proclaim territory ownership. I was fortunate to finally take some video of male Cassin’s Finch while camping on the night of 11 June. There were several meadows and one large lake at the base of the mountains on the Charleston Rd. where I found the waterfowl and took some video of female and male Wilson’s Phalaropes.

Jarbidge History

Jarbidge study site

Jarbidge habitat of MacGillivray’s Warblers

Cassin’s Finch male video

Wilson’s Phalarope female video

Wilson’s Phalarope male video

Day-list Nevada: Elko Co., Jarbidge

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Swainson’s Hawk

Prairie Falcon

American Coot

Killdeer

Wilson’s Phalarope

Mourning Dove

Red-naped Sapsucker

Warbling Vireo

Northern Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Mountain Bluebird

American Robin

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Green-tailed Towhee

Vesper Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Lazuli Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

Bullock’s Oriole

Cassins’ Finch

Pine Siskin