KRV Birds Summer 2006

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,...

Submit observations or make inquiries to Bob Barnes

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

Updated as of

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

7-10 Jul 06 - Redwood Region Ornithological Society's Kern River Valley & Southern Sierra Nevada Filed Trip HIGHLIGHTS: INYO COUNTY (9 Mile Canyon): Mountain Quail, Golden Eagle, Pinyon Jay (75-100 individuals), Black-throated Sparrow, Scott's Oriole; KERN COUNTY (South Fork Valley, Chimney Peak National Backcountry By-way, Tiger Flat, Sawmill Road, Inyokern): Wood Duck, Chukar, Mountain Quail, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Collared-Dove (numerous Kern Valley locations plus Inyokern), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Long-eared Owl (roost), Lesser Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, Willow Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher (pair w. fledgling, plus male and fledgling at 2nd location), Brown-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Tricolored Blackbird, Scott's Oriole, Lawrence's Goldfinch; TULARE COUNTY (Chimney Creek Campground, Kennedy Meadows Road, Sherman Pass Road, Bald Mountain, Johnsondale Bridge, Redwood Meadow, Raven Meadow): Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Black Swift, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Williamson's Sapsucker (nest), White-headed Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Clark's Nutcracker, Winter Wren, American Dipper, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Brewer's Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak,...OBSERVERS: Bob Barnes, Don Howard, Lisa Hug, Helen Kokenderfer, Rick Le Baudour, Karen Nagel, Linda Petrulias, Shirley Spina, Alan Wight

Th, 6 Jul 06 - 7:30am - Singing male Red-eyed Vireo in South Fork (Kern River) Wildlife Area c. 200 meters behind (north of) KOA. First Kern River Valley record since June 13, 2001. Steve Laymon, et. al., had numerous records in the South Fork Valley 1in the 1990s including at least one pair at a nest at least one year and five different singing males in discrete locations (territories) one summer. 7:45am - Two knocking Yellow-billed Cuckoos at same location as the Red-eyed Vireo. 8:15am - A pair of Brown-crested Flycatchers around edge of the South Fork Wildlife Area parking lot off Sierra Way, c. 1.7 miles north from Hwy. 178. Ash-throated Flycatchers present also. Observers: Bob Barnes, Darrell Barnes, Adele Brown, Maria Garcia, Frank Gibson, Martine Metzenheim, Marya Miller, Bob Showers.

We-Mo, 21-26 Jun 06 - WINGS Kern River Valley & Southern Sierra Nevada Trip led by Jon Dunn (Bald Mountain, Blackrock Ranger Station, Chimney Creek Campground, Chimney Peak National Backcountry By-way, Cottage Grove Cemetery, Fay Ranch Road, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Holey Meadow, Inyokern-Middlemiss property, Isabella Lake, Kelso Creek Sanctuary, Kelso Valley Road, Kennedy Meadows Road, Kern River Canyon, Kern River Preserve, Kernville, Nine Mile Canyon Road, Piute Mountains, Quaking Aspen, Sageland, Scodie Park, Sequoia National Forest, Sherman Pass Road, Mtn. 99, South Fork Valley, South Fork Wildlife Area, Trail of 100 Giants, Troy Meadow, Western Divide Highway): Wood Duck, Mallard, Chukar (I), Ring-necked Pheasant (I), Sooty ("Blue") Grouse, California Quail, Mountain Quail, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Virginia Rail, American Coot, Killdeer, California Gull, Caspian Tern, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove (I), Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Greater Roadrunner, Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl (heard only), Western Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Spotted Owl (heard only), Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl (heard only), Lesser Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, Black Swift, White-throated Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Williamson's Sapsucker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Plumbeous Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Verdin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch (Pacific Coast's aculeata & Great Basin's tenuissima), Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Winter Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Wrentit, Northern Mockingbird, California Thrasher, Le Conte's Thrasher, European Starling (I), Phainopepla, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, McGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Black-chinned Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow (Thick-billed - stephensi), Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (Mountain - oriantha), Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Hooded Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, Scott's Oriole, Purple Finch, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch, House Sparrow (I),...

16-19 June 2006 Los Angeles Audubon Society Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Field Trip.

Friday morning had two Le Conte's Thrashers in creosote bush "woodland" to the south of Terri Middlemiss's yard, 40-50 Chukar along Nine Mile Canyon Road (Inyo County), Calliope Hummingbird, Gray Flycatcher, and Plumbeous Vireo at entrance to Chimney Creek Campground (Tulare County), Vesper Sparrow was very common at Tulare County's Troy Meadow (6-7 singing individuals heard and 3 seen among the even more numerous Savannahs) as were Lawrence's Goldfinches, Blue Grouse was heard and Peregrine Falcon was seen near top of Bald Mountain (Tulare Co.), Friday evening a Common Poorwill was seen along Sawmill Road in the Greenhorn Mountains (Kern Co.) just beyond Wagy Flat and GAMBEL'S QUAIL (introduced and thriving!) before and lower down.

Saturday morning had flight display of adult male Vermilion Flycatcher on east unit of Kern River Preserve along with visual of a winnowing Wilson's Snipe. Tried for Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Prince's Pond and around Preserve Headquarters ... no luck. Had Summer Tanager at Prince's Pond. Went to the Greenhorn Summit on Saturday afternoon.
Had Northern Goshawk (immature and pearly gray adult), Golden Eagle, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, and Lawrence's Goldfinch.
Heard Spotted Owl from the Summit c. 9:30pm.

Sunday had beaucoup Scott's Orioles in Kern Co. 3 miles up Chimney Peak Rec. Road. Went to South Fork Wildlife Area and in fort five minutes had Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Had at least two, very cooperative and vocal Brown-crested Flycatchers at Kelso Creek Sanctuary. Had Mountain Quail, GAMBEL'S QUAIL, Pygmy Nuthatch, and lots of Pinyon Jays in the Piutes. Had Eurasian Collared Dove sitting on pole outside restaurant in South Lake. Had Mountain Quail, Gray Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, and Black-throated Gray Warbler on post-dinner, evening return visit to Chimney Peak Campground (Tulare
Co.) with participant who missed most of Friday's morning birding.

Monday morning we arrived at Redwood Meadow (Tulare Co.) at 6:45am.
The first two birds we saw, as we were, literally, exiting the car, were Pileated Woodpeckers flying overhead. We left after ten minutes with that target species in hand plus Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, and Cassin's Vireo. We then made a brief stop at Holey Meadow where we had another Red-breasted Sapsucker and Hermit Warbler. We finished up with a Black-chinned Sparrow just below Johnsondale.

137 species from 6:15am Friday through 10am Monday. Yet, we had lots and lots of misses ... no ducks except Mallard, no herons or egrets besides Great Blue Heron, no American Coot seen on Isabella! (It was very windy.), Barn Owl, Williamson's Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, no swallows besides Tree and Cliff!!!!!, Canyon Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Red Crossbill (only "target" bird mentioned by participants which was missed ... not present in Piutes ).

We, 14 June 14
Southeastern Tulare County

Observers: Bob Barnes, Debby Crain, John Lockhart, Steve Summers, Justin Ward

TOP HIGHLIGHTS: Common Nighthawk, Scott's Oriole

COUNTY LISTERS HIGHLIGHTS: Blue Grouse, Common Nighthawk, Black Swift, Williamson's Sapsucker, Gray Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brewer's Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Scott's Oriole (singing male at junction of the CPNB By-way and Long Valley Road, 1.5 miles air miles north of Lamont Peak Trail at the county line where Steve Summers observed this species at the farthest point south in Tulare County this past May, just over 100' feet north of Kern County!),...
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Cinnamon Teal at 7200'+ Troy Meadow, Mountain Bluebird, Green-tailed Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (oriantha), nine sparrow species not counting towhees, Lawrence's Goldfinch,...
PARTIAL LIST:
6:30am-7:30am (all except S Summers) - Chimney Peak National Backcountry By-way from Kern County/Tulare County line at Lamont Peak Trail to Chimney Creek Campground entrance: California Quail, Mountain Quail (heard only), American Kestrel, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-throated Swift, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Wrentit (several), Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Sage Sparrow (abundant), Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird, Scott's Oriole (singing male at junction of the CPNB By-way and Long Valley Road, 1.5 miles air miles north of Lamont Peak Trail at the county line where Steve Summers observed this species in May),...
Join S Summers at Chimney Creek Campground at 7:30am
7:30am- c. 8:30am, Chimney Creek Campground (just the small area of the campground bordering the CPNB By-way at the campground entrance): Mourning Dove, Western Wood-Pewee, Gray Flycatcher (and nest), Plumbeous Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, Phainopepla (S Summers farther into interior of campground before meeting rest of group at 7:3a0m), Yellow--rumped (Audubon's) Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch,...
c. 8:30am-c. 10am, Chimney Creek Campground entrance to Troy Meadow: Mountain Quail (heard only), Prairie Falcon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Western Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Green-tailed Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Sage Sparrow (common), Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Cassin's Finch, House Sparrow...
c. 10am-1:30pm, Troy Meadow: Cinnamon Teal, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, White-throated Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Williamson's Sapsucker (female), Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire (several), American Robin, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Cassin's Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch,...
B Barnes departs, the rest bird on... Bald Mountain: Blue Grouse (heard only), Clark's Nutcracker; Sherman Pass Road west of Sherman Pass: Black Swift

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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