KRV Birds Summer 2005

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

Numerous links to other bird sightings pages are found below.

Submit observations or make inquiries to Bob Barnes

MAJOR TIP: Birding early (starting at dawn) and carefully (spending time) = birds observed...

Updated as of

THIS COMING WEEKEND (30-31 July): Kern River Valley Hummingbird Celebration at Audubon-California's Kern River Preserve, 18747 Hwy. 178, Weldon, Kern County, California

KEY: FOS - First of Spring/Summer, KRP-Kern River Preserve, KRV-Kern River Valley, S & D-Status & Distribution

Friday, 15 July 05 Observation
Observer: Terri Middlemiss
LE CONTE'S THRASHER - Terri had FIVE individuals of this species sitting in one bush at the north edge of her yard on her ten acre property north of Inyokern.

Saturday, 16 July 05 Observation Highlights
Observers: Bob Barnes & John Vooys, British Columbia
6:30am-7:30am, Yard of Terri Middlemiss, Inyokern, Kern County - Cooper's Hawk 1, Eurasian Collared-Dove 2, Greater Roadrunner 1, Costa's Hummingbird 5-10, Verdin 2-4, Le Conte's Thrasher 2, Hooded Oriole 1
8am-8:30am, six miles up Nine Mile Canyon Road, Inyo County - Chukar everywhere, Greater Roadrunner 1, Pinyon Jay 20, Cactus Wren 4, Black-throated Sparrow 5, Scott's Oriole 1.
9am-9:30am, Chimney Creek Campground, Tulare County - Gray Flycatcher 1, Plumbeous Vireo 1, Wrentit 1, Sage Sparrow 20-25, Cassin's Finch 1
10am-10:30am, 3-4 miles up Chimney Peak Recreation Area Road (from Hwy. 178), Kern County - Chukar everywhere, California Quail 5+, Mountain Quail 10+, Band-tailed Pigeon 1, Wrentit 1, Scott's Oriole 2 (both males)

Status & Distribution report from the Kern River Parkway through Bakersfield...
5:30am-7:30am, Tu, 5 Jul 06, Kern River Parkway between Manor St. and Chester Ave., Bakersfield ... Wood Duck 1 (female), Yellow-breasted Chat 1, Black-headed Grosbeak 3, Blue Grosbeak 5.
6:35am-7:35am, We, 6 Jul 05, Kern River Parkway at west end of Truxtun Lakes, Bakersfield ... GREATER ROADRUNNER 1, HAIRY WOODPECKER 1 (male), Yellow Warbler 2 (singing males), Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (ad. male & fledgling), Lesser Goldfinch 2 (pair copulating).

The Chat and grosbeaks continued from spring at Manor St.
The Yellow Warblers and BH Grosbeaks continued from spring at Truxtun Lakes.
It is particularly great to see the above species set up territories in this parkway that is adjacent to urban surroundings. But, with the number of Brown-headed Cowbirds present, who knows what species of young were raised. At least there was one HY BH Grosbeak.
The Greater Roadrunner and Hairy Woodpecker at Truxtun Lakes were surprises. The roadrunner apparently wandered along the corridor from to the east or to the west a few miles or more. The Hairy Woodpecker seemed far out onto the San Joaquin Valley floor. The Hairy Woodpecker was last seen at this location on 21 Apr 05 (Brenda Kyle) and 27 Apr 05 (Bob Barnes & Rachel del Rio).

2005 - Following are short notes on: EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, LEAST FLYCATCHER, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, PINYON JAY, and WESTERN TANAGER (late date?).

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE - Two pairs were present at a private yard north of Inyokern on Saturday, June 25th (BOBA) ... First arrived about a month ago (TEMI).

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO - Two sightings on the south side of the South Fork Wildlife Area in areas flooded by Isabella Reservoir (RDRI, ASSU). No easily accessible locations as yet. No formal surveys or research being conducted this nesting season, first time in twenty years.

LEAST FLYCATHER - "Singing" male present since late May (May 30th?) in a hard to access portion of the Kern River Preserve west of Sierra Way and bordering the east boundary of the South Fork Wildlife Area. This is the third straight June at this location for this species. No mate or nest found despite some effort spent looking (ASSU). This species was present east of Sierra Way along the north edge of the forest in June xxxx and xxxx (MAWH).

BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - This species has not been detected this year at the recent years' nesting location at the east end of the Kern River Preserve east of Fay Ranch Road. Mary Whitfield has not been contacted to find out if she has detected them during her point count surveys where she has in past years. They have not been detected at the Canebrake Ecological Reserve. However, at least one pair was found this past Friday, June 24th at the 156-acre KELSO CREEK SANCTUARY of the Kern River Preserve (BOBA). The sanctuary is located 15 miles south of Hwy. 178, just a very few miles north of the Piute Mountain Road. This is a large riparian patch right across the road from a steep, rocky hillside (also part of the sanctuary). This has been a reliable location for this species for several years. Individuals, a pair, or more are most often detected in the large Fremont cottonwoods from along the edge of Kelso Valley Road. I usually find them at the south end of the row of large cottonwoods bordering the road. Ash-throated Flycatchers are also present. The hearings and sightings made this past Friday were in the middle of the heat of the day at 2pm. So, a check anytime during the day may be warranted. (BOBA).

PINYON JAY - Despite repeated visits in April, May, and June, no Pinyon Jays have been detected at Lander's Meadow in the Piute Mountains (BOBA). This is the first time in recent decades that this species has not been present at this location, which has also served as a nesting area. (BOBA).

WESTERN TANAGER - A singing male of this species was seen at a private yard north of Inyokern on the morning of Sunday, 19 June 2005 (BOBA). The latest spring migration date noted in Matt Heindel's Birds of Eastern Kern County (available on-line at Joe Morlan's California Birding Pages) is 16 June. Does anyone have a date later than 19 June? At what point does such a sighting become one of an early fall migrant?

OBSERVERS: BOBA-Bob Barnes, RADR-Rachel del Rio, ASSU-Ashley Sutton, MAWH-Mary Whitfield.

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