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Observations

Backyard Birding: Water Gardening for Birds, Pt. 2

The fall migration continues, along with a number of good bird sightings. There seems to be a minor "invasion" of Chestnut-sided Warblers passing through this fall, with at least five along the Sonoma coast and upward of twelve reported from Point Reyes. Good numbers of Tennessee Warblers, Blackpolls, and American Redstarts have been reported, and even the rare Blackburnian has put in a number of appearances at Bay Area coastal locales. However, almost no true eastern (south-eastern) vagrants have been seen this fall, even at the Farallon Islands. Topping the list, a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher turned up in coastal San Mateo county in late September, and a very tame Connecticut Warbler delighted birders for several days in early October at the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Other notable sightings include:

Red-necked Grebe 9/23 Russian R. @ Duncan's Mills DB, PC
Black-footed Albatross(145) 9/25 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Laysan Albatross (1) 9/25 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Northern Fulmar (450) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Flesh-footed Shearwater (3) 10/1 Offshore Sonoma County DN
Pink-footed Shearwater (95) 9/25 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Bullers' Shearwater (975) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (15) 9/25 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (10) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Fork-tled. Storm-Petrel(1100) 10/5 W. of Cordell Bank DN
Ashy Storm-Petrel (2) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Cattle Egret (17) 10/10 Laguna de Santa Rosa JR
Greater White-fronted Goose 10/3 Flock @ S.E. Bodega Harbor RS
Redhead (male) 9/14 Lakeville treatment ponds AW, DN
Mandarin Duck Sept. Spring Lake PL et al
Stilt Sandpiper(juv.) 9/12-16 Lakeville treatment ponds DN, TCN, AW
American Golden Plover(2) Sept. Doran Park M.Ob.
Red Phalarope (500+) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Spotted Sandpiper 9/19 Spring Lake JB, BG
South Polar Skua (5) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Pomarine Jaeger (18) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Parasitic Jaeger (15) 9/25 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Parasitic Jaeger (1) 10/2-3 Doran mudflats BDP, RS
Sabine's Gull (125) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Arctic Tern (12) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
White-winged Tern Sept.-Oct. Moonglow dairy, Monterey Co. M.Ob.
Black Skimmer (2) 9/20-24 Gaffney; Spud Pts. Bodega Bay DN, BDP
Xantus' Murrelet "hypoleuca" rce10/5 W. of Cordell Bank (5-6 birds) DN
Tufted Puffin (1) 9/30 Offshore Sonoma County M.O.A.
Broad-winged Hawk (4-5) 10/8-9 Marin Headlands, Hill#129 M.Ob.
Rough-legged Hawk (1) 9/23 N.of Duncan's Landing DB, PC et al
Prarie Falcon (1) 10/3 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma KG
Cooper's Hawk 10/7 @ Birdbath, yard, Oakmont BG
Blue Grouse (4) 9/18 King Ridge Rd. BDP, AW, RL
Pileated Woodpecker 9/6 &28 yard; Oakmont BG
Canyon Wren (3) 9/1 Mt. St.Helena BDP, HMcG
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2) 9/14-18 Campbell Cove DN
Philadelphia Vireo 9/12 Drakes Beach BG
Tennessee Warbler (1) 9/15 Coleman Valley Rd. DN
Tennessee Warbler (2) 9/18 Campbell Cove DN
Tennessee Warbler (1) 9/23 Campbell Cove-still present DN, BDP
Nashville Warbler(2) 9/18 Owl Canyon DN
Nashville Warbler (1) 9/23 Campbell Cove BDP, DN
Nashville Warbler (1) 10/3 Owl Canyon-still present DN, JL
Virginia's Warbler (1 male) 9/14 Owl Canyon DN
Virginia's Warbler (1 fem.) 9/18-21 Owl Canyon DN, RM et.al
Blackburnian Warbler (1) 9/22 Cheney Cr. Bodega Bay DN
Chestnut-sided Warbler 9/18 Campbell Cove BDP, DN
Chestnut-sided Warbler 9/20 Bodega Dunes/yard NC
Yellow-rumped Warbler(arrival) 9/17 Coleman Valley Rd. DN, TCN
Hermit Warbler 9/18 Campbell Cove DN
Hermit Warbler 9/20-21 Owl Canyon DN, BDP
Palm Warbler 9/24-25 Bodega Head RL; BDP, TE
Blackpoll Warbler 9/22 Owl Canyon DN, BDP
Blackpoll Warbler 10/3 Marine Lab. ent., Owl Canyon DN, RM
Connecticut Warbler 10/3-5 Pt. Reyes Lighthouse trees RS, et al
American Redstart(imm. male) 9/11-19 Owl Canyon DN, RR et al
American Redstart (ad. male) 9/22-24 Owl Canyon DH, AW, DN
Black-headed Grosbeak 10/4 yard/ Bodega Dunes
Note: This bird appears to be the same individual that wintered here
last year.
Blue Grosbeak (1 imm.) 9/20 Willows @ Doran pond BDP
White-throated Sparrow(arr.) 10/9 Furlong Rd. NB

CONTRIBUTORS: Dennis Beall, Janet Bosshard, Nikka Bingel, Tyler Cannon-Nelson, Pam Conley, Nancy Conzett, Ted Eliot, Betty Groce, Kevin Guse, David Hofmann, Rick Lebadour, Peter Leveque, John Luther, Roger Marlowe, Herb McGrew, Mollymawk Offshore Adventures, Dan Nelson, Wini Nelson, Benjamin D. Parmeter, Jane Robinson, Ruth Rudesill, Rich Stallcup, & Alan Wight.