KRV Birds Winter 2006/2007

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...

SPECIFIC REPORTS FOLLOW BELOW (Updated): 18 Dec 2006: 12:52 p.m.

NOTE: Notes/Highlights at the end...

CBC: Butterbredt Spring

Su, 31 Dec 06 - A count of Common Ravens going to four separate roosts (Bodfish, Kernville, Squirrel Valley, and Wofford Heights) inside the Kern River Valley Christmas Bird Count circle yielded a stunning total of 2376 individuals. Observers: DABA, DACH, FRGI, MAMI, ALSH, BOST, SUST, DOST, SAWI.

Su, 31 Dec 06 - Eight owl species highlighted the Kern River Valley Christmas Bird Count. Barn Owl (SW), Western Screech-Owl (GM), Great Horned Owl (GM, SW), Northern Pygmy-Owl (GM), Burrowing Owl (SL), Spotted Owl (GM), Long-eared Owl (SW), and Northern Saw-whet Owl (GM) were heard or seen in the Greenhorn Mountains (GM), from along Sierra Way in Weldon (SW), and/or in South Lake (SL). Observers: BOBA (SW), GAFI (GM), MIMC (GM), ALSH (SL), JOSC (GM), and SAWI (SL).

Su, 31 Dec 06 - MORE HIGHLIGHTS from the 29th Annual Kern River Valley Christmas Bird Count: Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser, Mountain Quail, Common Loon (2 individuals), Bald Eagle, American Avocet, Herring Gull, Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Varied Thrush, and White-throated Sparrow. Observers: BOBA, DABA, DACH, CHCO, GAFI, SCFR, TRFR, BRGA, FRGI, DELA, MAMI, MIMC, JOSC, ALSH (count compiler), BOST, SUST, DOST, RETO, SAWI, PEWO, SAWO, SUWO.

Su, 31 Dec 06 - Hanning Flat Day Use Recreation Area, Sequoia National Forest (Located off the south side of Sierra Way between Weldon and Kernville): California Quail 2, Pied-billed Grebe 2, Double-crested Cormorant 10, American White Pelican 2, Great Blue Heron 1, Osprey 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Ferruginous Hawk 1, Prairie Falcon 1, Virginia Rail 1, American Coot 11, Greater Roadrunner 2, Black Phoebe 3, Say's Phoebe 3, Common Raven 3, Horned Lark 8, Oak Titmouse 2, Bewick's Wren 1, Marsh Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4, Mountain Bluebird 6, American Pipit 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler 40 (39 Audubon's, 1 Myrtle), Song Sparrow 3, Lincoln's Sparrow 1, Red-winged Blackbird 25...26 species. Observer: BOBA.

Su, 31 Dec 06 - 5am-10:35am, 1:45pm-4pm, Kern River Valley CBC results for Audubon California's 400-acre Prince' Pond Unit: American Wigeon 2, Mallard 520, Northern Shoveler 1, Ring-necked Duck 4, Hooded Merganser 3, Common Merganser 4, Ring-necked Pheasant 3, Pied-billed Grebe 3, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 3, Great Egret 1, Northern Harrier 1, Cooper's Hawk 3, Red-shouldered Hawk 3, Red-tailed Hawk 6, American Kestrel 1, Virginia Rail 3, American Coot 3, Mourning Dove 1, Great Horned Owl 6, Long-eared Owl 1, Nuttall's Woodpecker 4, Downy Woodpecker 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 8, Black Phoebe 2, Say's Phoebe 1, Loggerhead Shrike 2, Common Raven 7, Oak Titmouse 5, Bushtit 72, White-breasted Nuthatch 1, Bewick's Wren 3, Marsh Wren 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7, Western Bluebird 7, Mountain Bluebird 18, American Robin 3, European Starling 25, American Pipit 6, Phainopepla 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Spotted Towhee 1, Song Sparrow 72, Lincoln's Sparrow 1, White-crowned Sparrow 3, Golden-crowned Sparrow 3, Red-winged Blackbird 300, Western Meadowlark 46, Brewer's Blackbird 3, House Finch 57, Lesser Goldfinch 1...52 species. Observer: BOBA.

Sa, 30 Dec 06 - Kern County's pocket-sized Scodie Park in Onyx: Red-naped Sapsucker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Williamson's Sapsucker (2 individuals), Nuttall's Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and White-headed Woodpecker; plus Acorn Woodpecker and Northern Flicker in the immediate neighborhood. Observers: ALSH, SAWI. Sa, 30 Dec 06 - California Department of Fish & Game's Canebrake Ecological Reserve: Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker (along with Nuttall's Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker and Northern Flicker) complemented the eight species seen in nearby Onyx's Scodie Park neighborhood, bringing the woodpecker species total to ten for the day in a remarkably compact area. Observers: BOBA, LILA.

Sa, 30 Dec 06 - MORE HIGHLIGHTS from the 15th Annual South Fork Valley Christmas Bird Count: Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle (10+ individuals), White-throated Swift, Pinyon Jay, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Tricolored Blackbird. Observers: BOBA, DACH, BRGA, FRGI, DELA (count compiler), LILA, ALSH, BOST, SUST, DOST, RETO, SAWI, PEWO, SAWO, SUWO, SCYO.

Sa, 30 Dec 06 - 5am-5:30pm, South Fork Valley CBC results for the Canebrake Ecological Reserve (Entrance to Universally Accessible Public Access Trail is on the north side of the road at Hwy. 178 mile 66.7): Green-winged Teal 2 (a pair); Mallard 67; Hooded Merganser 2 (a pair); Chukar 4; Wild Turkey 8; California Quail 285; Great Blue Heron 1; Northern Harrier 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2; Cooper's Hawk 3; Red-shouldered Hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 4; Ferruginous Hawk 1; Rough-legged Hawk 1; Golden Eagle 3 (1 adult, 2 immatures); American Kestrel 1; Prairie Falcon 1; Virginia Rail 23; Sora 1; American Coot 3; Common Snipe 6; Rock Pigeon 15; Mourning Dove 2; Great Horned Owl 4; White-throated Swift 75; sapsucker species 1; Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1; Nuttall's Woodpecker 8; Downy Woodpecker 3; Hairy Woodpecker 4; Northern Flicker 13; Black Phoebe 3; Say's Phoebe 3; Loggerhead Shrike 2; Western Scrub-Jay 10; Common Raven 7; Oak Titmouse 13; Bushtit 50; White-breasted Nuthatch 5; Cactus Wren 1; Rock Wren 2; Canyon Wren 2; Bewick's Wren 16; Marsh Wren 6; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9; Western Bluebird 44; Mountain Bluebird 1; American Robin 2; Wrentit 1; California Thrasher 2; European Starling 53; American Pipit 5; Yellow-rumped Warbler 11; California Towhee 10; Song Sparrow 34; White-crowned Sparrow 170; Golden-crowned Sparrow 2; Dark-eyed Junco 151; Red-winged Blackbird 400; Tricolored Blackbird 75; Western Meadowlark 57; Brewer's Blackbird 86; House Finch 63; Pine Siskin 3; Lesser Goldfinch 93; American Goldfinch 5; House Sparrow 5...67 species. Observers: BOBA, LILA, PEWO, SAWO, SUWO, SCYO.

Fr, 29 Dec 06 - Kern County's pocket-sized Scodie Park in the community of Onyx: Red-breasted Sapsucker, Williamson's Sapsucker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, and White-headed Woodpecker; plus Acorn Woodpecker and Northern Flicker in the immediate neighborhood. Observers: ALSH, FRGI.

OBSERVERS: BOBA-Bob Barnes, DABA-Daryl Barnes, DACH-David Chilton, CHCO-Chana Cortez, GAFI-Gary File, SCFR-Scott Frazer, TRFR-Trude Frazer, BRGA-Bruce Garlinger, FRGI-Frank Gibson, DELA-Denise La Berteaux, LILA-Lisa Lavelle, MAMI-Marya Miller, MIMC-Michael McQuerrey, JOSC-John Schmitt, ALSH-Alison Sheehey, BOST-Bob Steele, SUST-Susan Steele, DOST-Don Storm, RETO-Reed Tollefson, SAWI-Sandra Wieser, PEWO-Peter Woodman, SAWO-Sam Woodman, SUWO-Susan Woodman, SCYO-Scott Yoo.

DATE: Sa, 16 Dec 06

OBSERVERS: Bob Barnes (BOBA), Gary Woods (GAWO)

AREA: Audubon California's 156-acre Kelso Creek Sanctuary (6:30-12:30pm) and Frog Creek Road from Kelso Valley Road to 1.5 mi. east of Bird Spring (1:30pm-3:15pm).

TOTAL PARTY MILES: 20.25 (12.5 miles by car. 7.75 miles on foot)

TOTAL PARTY HOURS: 10.5 hours (1.5 hours by car, 9 hours by foot)

OWLING (5:15am-6:30am): 1.25 hours, 1.25 miles (all by foot, all at Kelso Creek Sanctuary)

BIRD SPECIES (44)/NUMBERS (1026 individuals): California Quail - 58; Northern Harrier - 2; Cooper's Hawk - 1; Accipiter species - 1; Red-tailed Hawk - 11; Golden Eagle - 1 immature; American Kestrel - 2; Prairie Falcon - 1; Greater Roadrunner - 1; Western Screech-Owl - 3; Great Horned Owl - 2; Northern Pygmy Owl - 1 (GAWO); Long-eared Owl - 34; Sapsucker species - 1; Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 9; Nuttall's Woodpecker - 4; Downy Woodpecker - 1; Hairy Woodpecker - 2; Northern Flicker - 4; Say's Phoebe - 1; Loggerhead Shrike - 3; Western Scrub-Jay - 2; Pinyon Jay - 1; Common Raven - 27; Oak Titmouse - 2; Bushtit - 17; Cactus Wren - 10; Rock Wren - 2; Bewick's Wren - 24; Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 6; Western Bluebird - 2; Mountain Bluebird - 1; Hermit Thrush - 1; American Robin - 2; California Thrasher - 2; European Starling - Count Week (Fr, 15 Dec 06); Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2; California Towhee - 18; Black-throated Sparrow - 18; Sage Sparrow - 3; Song Sparrow - 1; White-crowned Sparrow - 543; Golden-crowned Sparrow - 26; Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco - 85; Brewer's Blackbird - 84; House Finch - 4

MAMMAL SPECIES (5)/NUMBERS (49 individuals): Black-tailed Jackrabbit - 4; Desert Cottontail - 4; Coyote - 2; Domestic Cow - 25; Homo sapiens - 14 (No offense to Homo sapiens. But, it was great to see only 14 people all day in the count circle!)

NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS: CALIFORNIA QUAIL 58 - Assumed to be a very low count as we often heard one or two without seeing attached flocks of likely several other individuals.

WESTERN SCREECH-OWL 3 - Two heard only, third well seen. All three at Kelso Creek Sanctuary where there are several large Fremont cottonwoods. One was calling from far southwest portion of the riparian forest, the second was right alongside Kelso Valley Road at the mid-point of the eastern edge of the riparian forest, and the third was at the far northern edge of the riparian forest next to Kelso Valley Road. This last individual is the one that was well seen. Of course, there may have been more individuals. But, we only worked the edge of the riparian forest next to the road.

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL 1 - Gary saw this species at the mid-point of the east edge of the Kelso Creek Sanctuary alongside Kelso Valley Road while I was listening to the Western Screech-Owl at the far north end of the sanctuary. Gary flashed his light in my direction several times. But, I thought he was just trying to see where I was as I walked in the dark along the road. Details will be forthcoming from Gary if required.

LONG-EARED OWL 34 - BOBA heard an individual of this species "barking" at Kelso Creek Sanctuary before at the start of dawn. Mid-afternoon we arrived at Bird Spring. The day before (Fr, 15 Dec 06) BOBA and Ernie Flores found three individuals of this species in the few, large Fremont cottonwoods at the spring. When we checked the cottonwoods on count day, there were no Long-eared Owls found. Gary walked up the hill to check a California juniper. I checked from the east end of a 50'-75' long patch of dead, 8'-12' tall, thickly grown, "tree-shrubs." A single Long-eared Owl was seen perched out in plain view. I called to Gary that I had an owl. As Gary joined me another owl flew out from the interior of the "tree shrubs" in front of the first. One or two more flew out, then owls erupted from the interior of the tree shrubs like bats from a cave; an amazing, impressive, massive swirl of Long-eared Owls. We furiously counted up to at least twenty-seven individuals. They flew up a draw a very short distance and disappeared into a patch of willows with living foliage on them. I walked the upper edge of the patch of "tree shrubs," flushing seven more individuals. We both agreed that despite settling in on 34 individuals, that we thought the actual number of Long-eared Owls was 40-45 individuals (In other words, if I had to bet me life on the numbers of individuals within a range of 5-6, I would guess 40-45). ADDITIONAL NOTE: Thirty-two Long-eared Owls were tallied on the nearby China Lake CBC the next day (Su, 17 Dec 06). Five of those were at Cerro Coso College, twelve were on China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, and fifteen were at Desert Memorial Park (cemetery) in Ridgecrest. I counted the fifteen at DMP resulting in a gratifying experience of 49 Long-eared Owls seen and one heard in less than 17 hours. MORE: There is also a known roost of 15-20 individuals at a private residence on the hillslope between Hwy. 14 and Inyokern. This spring/summer/fall there were up to nine individuals in a small riparian patch along the lower portion of Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway and up to six in a small riparian patch just south and uphill from Sageland along Kelso Valley Road. CONCLUSION: Eastern Kern County is a hotbed for Long-eared Owl concentrations in locations where they are most easily seen.

WOODPECKERS: Five species of woodpeckers nest/are resident at Audubon-California's 156-acre Kelso Creek Sanctuary - Ladder-backed, Nuttall's, Downy, Hairy, and Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker. All five were detected during Saturday's CBC of the property. A bonus was a sixth woodpecker species ... the sapsucker species heard repeatedly "me-ewing" during our visit. We never saw the sapsucker. But, the day before, Ernie Flores and I saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker there. Except for several Ladder-backed Woodpecker individuals found along Frog Creek Road in the afternoon, all of the woodpeckers we saw were at Kelso Creek Sanctuary, presumably because that is the only area in our count territory with numerous, mature Fremont cottonwoods covering several acres.

AMERICAN ROBIN 2: This species was last found on the Butterbredt Spring CBC in 1996. I heard one the day before while birding Kelso Creek Sanctuary with Ernie Flores. But, I did not put it down on my list for the day as I only heard it once, meaning I was not able to hear it again in order to believe I was not just hearing things. In the same location during Saturday's CBC proper, Gary and I both called out "American Robin" simultaneously. This time two called several times. Much later in the morning we saw the two individuals for visual confirmation.

Sa, 16 Dec 06 - Audubon California's 156-acre Kelso Creek Sanctuary, 15 miles south on Kelso Valley Road from Hwy. 178 in Weldon (5:15am-10:30am, Saturday): California Quail 42; Red-tailed Hawk 4; American Kestrel male, 1; Prairie Falcon 1; Western Screech-Owl 3; Great Horned Owl 2; Northern Pygmy-Owl 1; Long-eared Owl 1; Sapsucker species 1; Ladder-backed Woodpecker 5; Nuttall's Woodpecker 4; Downy Woodpecker 1; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker 4; Loggerhead Shrike 1; Pinyon Jay 1; Common Raven 9; Oak Titmouse 2; Bushtit 1; Cactus Wren 3; Bewick's Wren 11; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2; Western Bluebird 2; Hermit Thrush 1; American Robin 2; California Thrasher 1; Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler 1; California Towhee 8; Black-throated Sparrow 3; White-crowned Sparrow 49; Golden-crowned Sparrow 4; Dark-eyed Junco 3; Brewer's Blackbird 1; House Finch 4. Observers: Bob Barnes, Gary Woods .

Fr, 15 Dec 06 - Audubon California's 156-acre Kelso Creek Sanctuary, 15 miles south on Kelso Valley Road from Hwy. 178 in Weldon (6:45am-11:30am): California Quail 3, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Golden Eagle 1 imm., American Kestrel 1 male, Red-breasted Sapsucker 1, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 3, Nuttall's Woodpecker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 5, Pinyon Jay 3, Common Raven 11, Oak Titmouse 1, Bushtit 7, Rock Wren 1, Bewick's Wren 7, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Western Bluebird 12, California Thrasher 1, European Starling 2, Phainopepla 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, California Towhee 2, Black-throated Sparrow 3 , White-crowned Sparrow 44, Golden-crowned Sparrow 7, Dark-eyed Junco 1, House Finch 11. Observers: Bob Barnes, Ernie Flores. Fr, 15 Dec 06 - Frog Creek Road (4WD required) from Kelso Valley Road east to Bird Spring (11:30am-1pm): California Quail 40, Northern Harrier 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Golden Eagle - 2 adults, Long-eared Owl 3, Ladder-backed Woodpecker 4, Northern Flicker 2, Say's Phoebe 1, Common Raven 4, Cactus Wren 3, Bewick's Wren 4, Black-throated Sparrow 1, White-crowned Sparrow 25. Observers: Bob Barnes, Ernie Flores. 1pm-3:15pm, We, 13 Dec 06: Isabella Reservoir Sightings From the vicinity of North Fork Marina, then French Gulch Marina, then the north end of Auxiliary Dam.

HIGHLIGHTS: No surprises. 78 Common Goldeneye, 22 Bufflehead, and an adult Bald Eagle were most rewarding. The weather was calm and warm.

SPECIES/NUMBERS LIST: Mallard 4, Gadwall 1, Common Goldeneye 78, Bufflehead 22, Common Merganser 50, California Quail 10 (Wofford Heights Post Office), Pied-billed Grebe 4, Eared Grebe 10, Western Grebe 1, Western/Clark's Grebe 400, American White Pelican 3, Double-crested Cormorant 40, Great Blue Heron 4, Bald Eagle 1 adult, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Coot 50, Ring-billed Gull 3, gull species 10, Loggerhead Shrike 1, Western Scrub-Jay 1 (Wofford Heights Post Office), Common Raven 7, Oak Titmouse 1, Rock Wren 1, Canyon Wren 2, Western Bluebird 1 male, bluebird female 1, European Starling 2, White-crowned Sparrow 20, Brewer's Blackbird 5, House Sparrow 2,...

NOTE: During/after the Friday-Sunday, 15-17 December storm period in the forecast Isabella Reservoir might be good to visit to search for loons and possible shift of bird species and numbers present.

OBSERVERS: Bob Barnes, Daryl Barnes, Maria Garcia, Jeff King, Martine Metzenheim, Carol Miller, Marya Miller, Jacqueline Morgan, Don Morrison, and Bob Showers.

Mo, 11 Dec 06 - Desert Memorial Park (cemetery), County Line Road, Ridgecrest (10:02am-11:07am): Snow Goose 2, Canada Goose 9, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1 (male), Rock Pigeon 30, Mourning Dove 15, Long-eared Owl 1, Red-naped Sapsucker 2 (both adult males), Black Phoebe 1, Say's Phoebe 1, Common Raven 20, Horned Lark 25, Oak Titmouse 1 (present since 22 Nov 06), Bewick's Wren 1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, White-crowned Sparrow 35, blackbird species 5, House Finch 1, House Sparrow 1...22 species. BOBA

Observers: BOBA-Bob Barnes.

KEY: KRP-Kern River Preserve, KRV-Kern River Valley, IWV-Indian Wells Valley, CLNWC-China Lake Naval Weapons Center, CC-Cerro Coso Community College Ridgecrest. S&D-Status & Distribution

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

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