KRV Birds Spring 2000

Goal: To provide a motivating mix of bird species observations with reports of interest to all birders: beginning to expert, Kern County &/or Tulare County specialists, northern California & southern California, out-of-California (U.S. & International) listers and non-listers,...

Major Tip: Birding early (starting at dawn) and carefully (spending time) = birds seen..

Updated through Wednesday, May 31, 2000

Su, May 28 - An Indigo Bunting (singing male) on the Meadow Restoration Site, Kern River Preserve, was the first back on territory for the year 2000 . Up to four Lazuli Buntings were heard and seen singing from the same viewing spot. BB.

Th, May 25 - A Zone-tailed Hawk at Onyx in the Kern River Valley. This species has been seen off and on over the Kern River Valley the last couple of months. GH, JSt.

Su, May 21 - A Northern Parula was observed in the vicinity of Mariposa Marsh, Kern River Preserve. SAL.

Su, May 21 - A Vermilion Flycatcher was observed at the Southern Sierra Research Station, 7872 Fay Ranch Road, Weldon. MuH.

Fr. May 19 - A Red-eyed Vireo was observed in the vicinity of the Cottonwood Restoration Site, Kern River Preserve

Fr, Apr 28 - An adult Zone-tailed Hawk (See April 1 below) was observed several times from 9am to 2pm from Kern River Preserve Headquarters east 150 yd./m along the Nature Trail to the first large Fremont cottonwood (with a bench underneath it). PM, BB, MObs.

We, Apr 12 - Tricolored Blackbird was the dominant blackbird species ("dozens" of individuals) in the yard at Kern River Preserve Headquarters. BB.

We, Apr 12 - Black-headed Grosbeak (1 individual) was observed in the trees above the Visitor Center at Kern River Preserve. LP.

We, Apr 12 - Lawrence's Goldfinch present in numbers (12) at Scodie County Park in Onyx. LP from North Carolina (Life Bird!).

We, Apr 12 - Wood Duck (2), Sora (1), Common Snipe (2), Ash-throated Flycatcher (1), Marsh Wren (1), Orange-crowned Warbler (2), Nashville Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (15), Black-throated Gray Warbler (4), Hermit Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (5), Lincoln's Sparrow (5), and Lawrence's Goldfinch (4), were among forty-five species observed from 8:20am to 9:40am along the 1/2 mile long trail leading eastward from the north side of the Sierra Way Bridge over the South Fork Kern River to the end of the marsh in the large open meadow at the end of the trail. BB, LB.

Mo, Apr 10 - Dusky Flycatcher (1 individual) was observed along Fay Ranch Road. JL.

Su, Apr 9 - Gray Flycatcher (1 individual) was observed along the trail through the Colt Restoration Field behind Kern River Preserve Headquarters. BB.

Su, Apr 9 - Black-chinned Hummingbirds arrived at the feeders at the Kern River Preserve. BB.

Sa, Apr 8 - Yellow Warblers (4) arrived on territory bordering the front yard of Kern River Preserve Headquarters. RT, MW.

Su, Apr 2 - Lawrence's Goldfinches have been commonly heard and seen the last several days in the Headquarters' yard of the Kern River Preserve.Four to six individuals present. Tricolored Blackbirds continue in the yard. BB.

Sa, Apr 1 - Zone-tailed Hawk (1 adult) seen at 8:15am at close range (as near as 30m) with seven Turkey Vultures over the Kern River Preserve's Mariposa Marsh. The marsh is located on the west side of Fay Ranch Rd. north of the bridge over the South Fork Kern River. This is the second record for Kern County (and the second record for Kern River Valley) and the first spring record for Kern County. PLW, SAL.

Sa, Apr 1 - Cassin's Kingbird (calling & "singing") from tallest tree between Chukar St. and Coyote St. in Onyx. BB, GB, TG, BM, AS, et. al.

Sa, Apr 1 - Chipping Sparrow (3 individuals), Hooded Oriole (1 pair with nest), and Lawrence's Goldfinches (20-35) at Scodie County Park, south side of Cypress St., in Onyx. BB, GB, BM, AS, et. al.

Sa, Apr 1 - American White Pelican (5 individuals) over Kern River Preserve, Weldon. BB, GB, SAL, BM, AS, PLW.

Fr, Mar 31 - Wilson's Warbler (singing) along ranch road leading west from Kern River Preserve Headquarters. First spring 2000 record for the Kern River Valley. BB.

Th, Mar 30 - Cassin's Kingbird (calling & "singing") along Chukar St. in Onyx. First spring 2000 record for the Kern River Valley. MS.

Mo, Mar 27 - Common Yellowthroat (singing male) in marsh off the s. side of the Nature Trail just east of Kern River Preserve (KRP) Headquarters. Three to four more later in the morning from ranch road leading west from KRP Headquarters. First of spring reports for Kern River Valley (vs. Mar 28 in 1999 and Mar 24 in 1998). BB.

Mo, Mar 27 - House Wren (4 singing males) along the Nature Trail of the Kern River Preserve and along the ranch road leading west from Headquarters. First of spring reports for Kern River Valley (vs. Mar 27 in 1999 and Mar 20 in 1998). BB.

Mo, Mar 27 - Western Kingbird from along ranch road leading west from Audubon-California's Kern River Preserve Headquarters. First of spring report for Kern River Preserve. BB.

Su, Mar 26 - Bullock's Oriole (singing male) in yard of Audubon-California's Kern River Preserve Headquarters. First of spring report for Kern River Valley (vs. Mar 22 in 1999 and Mar 19 in 1998). BB.

Su, Mar 26 - Western Kingbird observed along Fay Ranch Road. First of spring report for Kern River Valley (vs. Mar 22 in 1999 and Mar 18 in 1998). JL.

Sa, Mar 25 - Lawrence's Goldfinch (singing male) in front yard of Audubon-California's Kern River Preserve Headquarters. First of spring for Kern River Preserve (vs. Feb 24 in 1999 and Mar 2 in 1998). BB.

Fr, Mar 24 - Tricolored Blackbird numbers increased dramatically this day in the yard of the Kern River Preserve Headquarters. There were an estimated 200-300 blackbirds coming to the yard this day with 100+ Tricoloreds. The morning chorus of Red-winged Blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds, and Tricolored Blackbirds was clearly dominated by the "waaaaaaah!" "song" of the Tricolored. BB.

Fr, Mar 24 - Hooded Oriole (one calling & observed male plus one unidentified calling individual) at Scodie County Park, Onyx (six miles east of Kern River Preserve). First of spring for Kern River Valley (vs. Mar 25 in 1999 and Apr 3 in 1998). BB.

Fr, Mar 24 - Lawrence's Goldfinch (singing male) at Scodie County Park, Onyx. First of spring for Kern River Valley (vs. Feb 24 in 1999 and Mar 2 in 1998). BB.

Mo, Mar 6 - Tricolored Blackbirds are becoming active and noisy in the Kern River Valley. Several individuals were "singing" their "waaaaaaah!" song in the small evergreens just east of the Shell gas station in the Kern Valley Plaza shopping center (Von's, Rite Aide, Home Mart, Burger King, Subway) in Lake Isabella. 200-300 were in a tree next to the north side of Hwy. 178 between Sierra Way and the entrance to the Kern River Preserve (KRP), Weldon. A score or more Tricoloreds were on the ground and barbed wire fences on both sides of Hwy. 178 along the same stretch of road. For comparison with Red-winged Blackbirds go to the Headquarters of the Kern River Preserve where there is a congregation of that species. Based on prior years, several Tricolored Blackbirds (and Yellow-headed Blackbirds) are expected to join the Red-winged Blackbirds (and Brewer's Blackbirds) at KRP Headquarters sometime in March or early April.

Th, Mar 2 - The Eastern Phoebe was still present at Cane Brake Ecological Reserve. JK. For more details, see Jan 3 & 4, Feb 6 accounts). If you are interested in observing this bird, you must be escorted onto this area which is currently closed to the public.

Observers: BB-Bob Barnes, DB-Diana Beck, TB-Ted Beedy, LB-Len Bitetti, DVB-David Blue, GB-Gordon Black, MB-Mike Bumgardner, KC-Kurt Campbell, TC-Therese Clawson, EC-Emily Cohen, LC-Lori Conrad, MC-Mark Conrad, DC-Dan Cooper, LCu-Laura Cunningham, AD-Alice DeBolt, DD-Dave DeSante, JD-Jon Dunn, TE-Todd Easterla, KE-Kristin Enos, DE-Dick Erickson, AF-April Fisher, BF-Brian Fitch, SF-Sam Fitton, TG-Terrri Gallion, BG-Bruce Garlinger, KaG-Karen Gilbert, KG-Keith Gish, PG-Paul Green, MuH-Murrelet Halterman, GH-Gjon Hazard, JHe-Jo Heindel, MaH-Matt Heindel, TH-Tom Heindel, JHo-Jill Hoffman, SH-Steve Holden, VH-Vernon Howe, JH-Joan Humphrey, EK-Esther Kalinay, NK-Nancy Kenyon, JK-Jeff King, TK-Tom Koronkiewicz, DLa-Denise LaBerteaux, SAL-Stephen A. Laymon, LAAS-Los Angeles Audubon Society, JLo-John Lovio, DLu-David Lukas, JL-Janet Lynn, PM-Paul Mason, BM-Barbara Maxwell, BMc-Breck McAlexander, GMc-Guy McCaskie, DM-Dori Meyers, DMi - Donald Mitchell, CM-Clark Moore, JM-Jean Moore, NSAS-Napa-Solano Audubon Society, JN-Joann Nadler, MN-Mel Nadler, CO-Chris Otahal, LP-Len Pardue, MP-Michael Patten, KP-Karen Phillips, TP-Tal Pierson, JR- Jill Raffleson, TR-Teresa Ritter, ER-Eric Robinson, MSM-Mike San Miguel, JS-John Schmitt, AS-Alison Sheehey, DSh-Dave Shuford, TS-Todd Sloat, DSm-Don Smoltz, BS-Bob Steele, SS-Susan Steele, JSt-John Sterling, DSt-Dan Stoebel, MS-Mike Stone, DT-Deb Tenzer, RT-Reed Tollefson, RW-Richard Webster, MW-Mary Whitfield, AW-Alan Wight, RWi-Rio Wight, PLW-Pamela L. Williams, JW-John Wilson, JoW-Jon Winter, TW-Tom Wurster, DY-David Yee, mob-many observers.

Bob Barnes & Associates • PO Box 953, Weldon, CA 93283 • E-mail: Bob Barnes

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This page was last updated on Saturday, August 25, 2007