copyright 2008 Shearwater Journeys
Hi, Seabirders,---
Shearwater Journey's pelagic trip from Fort Bragg on Sunday, July 29, 2007 kicked off the seabird season on the north coast. Even though the seas were very nice the day prior to our trip, we were not so lucky. Swells and wind made the day somewhat difficult, but we did make it to the canyon and to the Tolo Banks. Highlights of the day included: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, PINK-FOOTED and SOOTY SHEARWATERS; POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS; SABINE'S GULLS; COMMON MURRE, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, CASSIN'S and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. In the morning,five PURPLE MARTINS were in the trees at the harbor while an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was calling. See notes below for details about other birding in the county.
We thank the participants and leaders of the July 29th trip: Scott Terrill, Linda Terrill, Lisa Hug, David Vanderpluym, Don Doolittle, Jon Dunn, and Debra Shearwater. Our next trips from Fort Bragg with spaces available are: August 9, 10, 26; September 5 & 16. The August 12th trip is SOLD OUT, and has a waiting list. The complete species list follows.
PACIFIC LOON-1
COMMON LOON-3
CLARK'S GREBE-1
WESTERN/CLARK'S GREBE-1
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS-23
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER-20
SOOTY SHEARWATER-120
BROWN PELICAN-60
BRANDT'S CORMORANT-75
PELAGIC CORMORANT-8
WANDERING TATTLER-2
BLACK TURNSTONE-8
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-36
POMARINE JAEGER-1
PARASITIC JAEGER-2
HEERMANN'S GULL-30
CALIFORNIA GULL-50
WESTERN GULL-225
SABINE'S GULL-2
ELEGANT TERN-1
CASPIAN TERN-1
COMMON MURRE-400
PIGEON GUILLEMOT-10
CASSIN'S AUKLET-6
RHINOCEROS AUKLET-10
OSPREY-1, offshore
CALIFORNIA SEA LION-10
STELLER'S SEA LION-1
HARBOR SEAL-3
BIRDING IN MENDOCINO COUNTY:
While driving north to Fort Bragg, Don Doolittle and I stopped at the Ukiah Sewer Ponds on July 28th. It was the middle of the day, and very hot. Species present included: GREATER SCAUP, WESTERN, LEAST, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and YELLOW WARBLER singing in the willows. We cut across to the west on Low Gap Road (dirt) from Ukiah. The only bird notable in the heat, was a single male MOUNTAIN QUAIL which Don spotted, standing on the side of the road.
On July 30th, Don and I birded our way south to Bodega Bay from Fort Bragg along Highway 1. It certainly must be one of the most scenic drives along the west coast! At the intersection of Highway 1 and Spring Grove Road, a solitary juvenile BAND-TAILED PIGEON was present. This short road also produced: Wrentit, California Quail, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, White-crowned and Song Sparrows, and American Goldfinch.
At Navarro Road, things were very busy. We found a nice flock of birds within the first 100 yards that included: 2 juvenile GRAY JAYS, WESTERN SCRUB and STELLER'S JAYS, BUSHTITS, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATHER, WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE, WILSON'S WARBLERS (6), HUTTON'S VIREO (3), CASSIN'S VIREO (1), CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, PYGMY NUTHATCH, DOWNY WOODPECKER, WRENTIT, PURPLE FINCH, HERMIT and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES.
A short jaunt up Mountain View Road produced RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
At Miner Hole Road, the wind had really picked up. So, finding passerines was not as productive. We added WINTER WRENS and PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER to our day list. We ran into David VanderPluym who told us about a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER on Lighthouse Road at the mouth of the river, near Point Arena. So, we zipped over there, and found the Semi-palm sandpiper there. Then, we headed south for Bodega Bay where we would join the boat trip the next day.
Good birding,
Debi Shearwater
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024 USA
831/637-8527
"Real birds eat squid."—Tony Marr
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on the Murrelet to find out how to reserve a trip.