surfbirds.com
Photos by: Cameron D. Eckert (Cameron's website), John Idzikowski (Wisconsin Rarity Photos), Marshall Iliff, Mike Patterson (Mike's Website), Marj. Rines (Marj's website), Jim Stasz, Peter Weber (Peter's website), Angus Wilson (Angus's website)
The fall of 2000 will be remembered as the month the jaegers went crazy and the corvids dispersed. Weekly JAEGER sightings (mostly POMARINE and PARASITIC) became almost the norm through October in much of the interior United States. PINYON JAYS and CLARK’S NUTCRACKERS were found along the immediate coast of California, where they are extremely rare. One wonders whether this could be a harbinger for much wider dispersal of western montane birds in November. Could Massachusetts only fifth-ever MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD and Wisconsin’s first WESTERN BLUEBIRD, which both turned up at the end of the month, somehow be related to these mass movements? One can only wait and see.
Other highlights of this month included a LEAST GREBE in Arizona, a SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS off of Oregon, a REDDISH EGRET in Nebraska, Alabama’s first-ever LIMPKIN, a GARGANEY in Oregon, a COMMON BLACK-HAWK in northern California, a GYRFALCON in Virginia, a NORTHERN JACANA in south Texas, a COMMON CRANE in New Jersey, a scattering of CURLEW SANDPIPERS, Colorado’s second-ever SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, a SLATY-BACKED GULL in Alberta, a BLACK-TAILED GULL in Maryland, a continuing KELP GULL in Maryland, a continuing RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER in Illinois, a BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Wisconsin, FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHERS in Wisconsin, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER in Alabama, a NORTHERN WHEATEAR in Florida, a continuing RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER in Arizona, and New York’s first CASSIN’S SPARROW. The state with the most avian excitement this month would have to be Wisconsin, where the FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER, the BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, and the WESTERN BLUEBIRD (1st state record) were all found within the same week!
PACIFIC LOONS put on a pretty good show in the interior United States, with at least seven being reported this month (MN, MI, ID, NV, CO). At least one PACIFIC LOON was reported from Massachusetts. A YELLOW-BILLED LOON was reported from Westport, WA on the 3rd. Rare, but regular on the east coast, were two EARED GREBES, one from Block Island, RI on the 1st, and one from Gloucester, MA during the first week of the month. Unexpected were two inland reports of RED-NECKED GREBES: one from Pueblo, CO on the 5th, and one from Pyramid Lake, NV on the 8th. The LEAST GREBE that was discovered in Tucson, AZ last month continued to be seen through at least the 13th.
The highlight of pelagic trips this month was a SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS seen about 30 miles west of Yachats, OR on the 21st. Continuing from the end of September, BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS put on a good show off the southern California coast, where literally thousands could be seen from shore. FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS were numerous off the coast of Oregon, with 300+ being reported on the 9th (along with a record high of 3000+ NORTHERN FULMARS). The most southerly reported FORK-TAILED of the month was seen on the 14th in Los Angeles County waters (CA).
A lucky observer chanced upon a MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD while driving in Tucson, AZ on the 10th, but unfortunately this lost soul (the bird) was never refound. Sightings of BROWN PELICANS more than 30 miles inland are extremely scarce, so a BROWN PELICAN in Oklahoma on the 14th-20th was totally unexpected. The only RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD reported off of California this month was one on the 14th on a pelagic trip out of Los Angeles.
The TRICOLORED HERON found at Patagonia Lake, AZ last month continued to be seen through at least the 8th. The most northerly LITTLE BLUE HERON reported this month was from Biddeford Pool, ME (3rd), while a REDDISH EGRET on the 14th in Nebraska was well out of its range. 2 GREATER FLAMINGOES were at the end of Snake Bight Trail in the Everglades, Florida on the 29th.
SCOTERS made quite an appearance in continental interior, with a number of SURF SCOTERS being reported from the Great Lakes regions. A BLACK SCOTER was found on the 1st in Duluth, MN. Also in MN was a KING EIDER on the 14th and a HARLEQUIN DUCK on the 15th. The best waterfowl sighting of the month was a flying-away view of a GARGANEY at the Fernhill Wetlands, OR on the 22nd. Unfortunately, the bird was never refound. EURASIAN WIGEONS were reported from a few scattered localities across the United States. A TUFTED DUCK returned to Sterling, MA the week of 5 Oct. TUFTED DUCKS were also reported from the Pacific Coast, where they are rare but regular winterers.
Raptors put on a pretty good show this month. Out-of-range ZONE-TAILED HAWKS were reported from Orange County, CA (5th), Santa Barbara, CA (26th of September), and San Diego (23rd). One wonders whether ZONE-TAILED HAWKS should be considered regular winterers in southern California! The most exciting raptor sightings, however, included a SWAINSON’S HAWK on the 7th from Wayne County, MO, another SWAINSON’S HAWK on the 29th of September at Snicker’s Gap Hawk Watch, VA (only the 4th ever at that site), a COMMON BLACK-HAWK on the 14th in Sonoma County, CA (possibly the most northerly record ever), and a gray-morph GYRFALCON on the 21st at Kiptopeke, VA. At least three BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were reported from the west coast (10th at Corn Creek, NV; 17th at Mendocino, CA; 18th at Baker, CA).
Alabama’s first LIMPKIN (found last month) continued at Smith Lake Park (near Cullman) until at least 18 Oct. The COMMON and SANDHILL CRANES first reported in September, continued through Oct 1 in New Jersey. One COMMON CRANE with two COMMON/SANDHILL hybrids returned from last year on Sep 30 at Abitibi, Quebec and continued through at least the 5th of October.
A PIPING PLOVER on the 14th in Puerto Penasco, Sonora (Mexico) was totally unexpected as there are only a handful of records of this bird on the Pacific coast. BAR-TAILED GODWIT reports came from Toke Point, WA on the 3rd (where 3 were seen!), Nova Scotia on the 17th, and Vancouver on the 22nd and 23rd. Rare anywhere in the west, were two HUDSONIAN GODWITS: one on the 14th in Modoc County, CA, and one on the 13th from Wilcox, AZ. A possible BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW was reported from Boiler Bay, OR on the 29th of September, but was never refound. Sightings of CURLEW SANDPIPERS included a continuing one on the Bandon Shorebird Flats, OR (last reported during first week of October), one from Little Creek, DE on the 14t, and one from Bombay Hook, DL (17th). An impressive 28 SANDERLINGS showed up at Monticello Bay on 1 Oct, NM. SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS were reported from Bandon Shorebird Flats, Oregon (3rd), from Othello, WA (7th), and from Las Animas, CO (3-7 Oct). The latter was Colorado’s second record. A possible SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER was seen on the 23rd in Wisconsin. If confirmed this would be a first state record. RUFF/REEVES put on a good show this month with reports coming from the Necanicum River mouth in Gearhart, OR (29 Sep), Bandon Flats, OR (3rd), the Fernhill wetlands, OR (last seen the first week of Oct 11), one in Long Beach, CA (7th), Monterey, CA (11-12 Oct), one on 10/12 in Worcester County, MD, one at Harkin Slough, CA (15 Oct), one in Maryland (12-16 Oct), one in Riverside County, CA (22 Oct). On the 3rd and the 4th, there was a molting juvenile RED PHALAROPE in CO. Other inland sightings of Red Phalaropes included one continuing through 4 Oct in Tucson, AZ.
Jaegers continued to put on a show in inland areas. A light phase adult POMARINE JAEGER was seen on the 1-4 Oct at Jackson Reservoir northwest of Ft Morgan, CO, followed by one on 5 Oct in Santa Fe, CO and one on 7 Oct at Pueblo Reservoir, CO. On 23 Sep, seven PARASITIC JAEGERS, an adult ARCTIC TERN, and an immature POMARINE JAEGER were seen on Lake Superior, MN. Another POMARINE JAEGER was found on 10 Oct at Wisconsin Point, MN, and a PARASITIC JAEGER was found on the 28th in Utah. A LONG-TAILED JAEGER was in Illinois on the 14th. A birding trip to South Beach in Chatham, MA on 30 Sep produced sightings of 10 PARASITIC JAEGERS and 4 POMARINE JAEGERS.
Gull highlights included a HEERMANN’S GULL on the 27th in Florida, the continuing KELP GULL in St. Mary’s county, MD, a remarkably western sighting of a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL continuing through the 6th at Cherry Creek, CO (originally sighted on 11 Sep), sprinklings of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLs in the midwest (Prewitt Reservoir, CO on 2 Oct; Cherry Creek Marina, CO on 2-6 Oct; Boulder, CO (4 Oct); Oklahoma (6-20 Oct); a returning winterer in Wisconsin (30 Sep); Pueblo Reservoir, CO (7 Oct), Komar, CO (7 Oct), Madison, WI (10/8). The two mega-ticks of the month were a BLACK-TAILED GULL from the 7th to at least the 15th on Assateague Island, MD and a SLATY-BACKED GULL from 29 Sep to 2 Oct in Calgary, Alberta.
Unusual so far north was a PURPLE GALLINULE between the 13th and 15th in extreme southern New Hampshire. A NORTHERN JACANA showed up on the 21st along the Rio Grande in south Texas. Two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were at Fort Sumner, NM at the end of Sep. Three EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continuing from Sep were reported from southeastern AZ. A potential first for California was seen the week of 6 Oct in Davis (although its origin is uncertain). On the 1st, an INCA DOVE turned up in Delaware County, OK. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE continued through the first week of Oct in North Dakota. In Chippewa County, Michigan came a remarkable report of a COMMON GROUND DOVE on Sep 30, which continued through at least 3 Oct. RUDDY GROUND-DOVES were reported from the usual haunts in southeast AZ and from Furnace Creek Ranch, CA.
A vagrant BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found in Bisbee, Arizona (23 Sep). A BOREAL OWL was discovered on the 21st in downtown Boston. Surprisingly, this bird was found on the same block where one stayed for the entire winter of 1996-1997. Could it have possibly been the same one?
Three LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS and one CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD continued in the Davis Mountains, TX during the first week of Oct. Extralimital SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRDS were found this month in Florida, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. A WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD was last seen on the 9th at Beatty’s in Arizona. A northerly BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD became one of Wisconsin’s few records of this bird (mid-October through the end of the month). A BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was spotted on the 22nd in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas.
Vagrant YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERs were reported from Clear Lake, CA (10th) and Tecopa, CA (17th). Migrant WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKERS occurred at several desert oases in southern California during the first week of Oct. The RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER continued from last month through end of October at Illinois State Beach, IL. LEWIS’S WOODPECKERS appeared to be having small dispersals, with several being recorded in the California deserts and southeastern Arizona this month. A CAVE SWALLOW was found on the 6th at Fort Morgan, AL.
The LEAST FLYCATCHER in Patagonia, AZ continued from the end of Sep through at least the 18th of Oct. Other LEAST FLYCATCHERS included one at Bodega Bay (7th), Point Loma (7th) and Bolsa Chica (5th), all from CA. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was found on the 14th at Miller’s Reststop in Esmeralda, NV. At least 19 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were reported from California, Oregon, and Washington, with the majority occurring in coastal California. Eastern WESTERN KINGBIRD reports included one spotted behind the nature center at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, MA on 29 Sep, a brief appearance of one at Hither Hills, NY on the 5th, one on the 17th in Gloucester, MA, one on the 15th in New Brunswick, and one on the 27th in Georgia. A CASSIN’S KINGBIRD was reported on the 18th from Florida. A GRAY KINGBIRD was seen on the 10th in Virginia. At least one EASTERN KINGBIRD was reported from the Pacific Coast. FORK-TAILED FLYATCHERS put on a good show, with a juvenile on Grand Manan Island from 29 Sep to 5 Oct, one in Nova Scotia on the 22nd, and one in Wisconsin on the 28th. A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen from the 5th to the 12th in Arizona. Extralimital ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS came from Kentuckay (15th), Cape May, NJ (22nd), and Alabama (27th). Alabama’s second record of a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER came from the Shell Mounds (13-15 Oct). An EASTERN PHOEBE turned up on the 16th at Galileo Hills, CA. A GREATER KISKADEE, originally found in July, continued through mid-October in Eddy County, NM.
The invasion of PINYON JAYS, which started last month, continued to put up quite a show. In California, PINYON JAYS were widespread throughout the desert lowlands, occasionally being seen along the coast (one reported from Riverside at the beginning of Oct and one from Davis in mid October). In Texas, reports of this species ranged from the Franklin Mountains in El Paso to Hereford in the Panhandle. Over 60 were seen during the first week of Oct in the Davis Mountains, including a flock of 22. As if they were emulating the jays, CLARK’S NUTCRACKERS also appeared to be ranging widely. One was reported during the first week of Oct in the Davis Mountains, Texas, while another one was reported along the immediate coast in San Luis Obispo, California on 2 Oct.
A PYGMY NUTHATCH in Iowa, is potential 2nd state record on October 30th.
A BROWN THRASHER was found on the 8th in Nevada. A NORTHERN WHEATEAR was reported on the 7th from Key West, FL and on the 24th from Nova Scotia. On the 29th of Sep, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, very rare on the west coast, was discovered at Point Reyes, CA. There were no other reports of GRAY-CHEEK THRUSH this month. Massachusett’s fifth-ever MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was found on the 27th at Great Meadows and continued through the end of the month. Wisconsin’s first WESTERN BLUEBIRD was reported on the 23rd.
As usual, October is the month when western birders, particularly Californians, gear up to search for vagrant eastern warblers. While traditionally the mega-rarities seem to come from California, it seems that this year the best vagrants came from other western states. Nevertheless, the number of eastern vagrants in California would still make one’s mouth water. Highlights included at least 7 TENNESSEE WARBLERS found during the first half of the month in CA, a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER from Oregon on the 29th of Sep, at least 30 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS with the majority from California but a few from Oregon and Arizona, at least 17 PALM WARBLERS including one in Washington and one in Oregon, 8 PROTHONATORY WARBLERS (CA-6, NV-1, AZ-1), a PINE WARBLER on the 1st (AZ), at least 14 AMERICAN REDSTARTS (CA), 4 HOODED WARBLERS (CA-1, OR-2, NM-1), one KENTUCKY WARBLER (4 Oct, Las Cruces, NM), one YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (2 Oct, Mesa, AZ), at least 15 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, one CONNECTICUT WARLBER (1 Oct, Capitola, CA), 6 PRAIRIE WARBLERS in CA, at least 10 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS (all in CA except for one in AZ), at least 10 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS (mostly in CA, but one in UT), 6 coastal LUCY’S WARBLERS in CA, at least two BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS in CA, three NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES in CA, one LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on the 12th in AZ, four CANADA WARBLERS (including one in AZ), 7 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS (CA), at least one coastal VIRGINIA’S WARBLER (CA), at least 5 NORTHERN PARULAS (CA), at least 4 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS (CA and NV), one WORM-EATING WARBLER (14th, Consumnes Preserve, Sacramento, CA), at least 2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS (CA), two CAPE MAY WARBLERS (Montana and Colorado), and a PAINTED REDSTART on the 14th in San Diego (CA). Other highlights included the continuing RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER in French Joe Canyon, three BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS on the east coast (through 2 Oct, MA; 25 Sep, NJ; 7 Oct, NC). Extralimital MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLERS came from Missouri (6 Oct, potential 2nd record) and from Key West, FL (11th).
Extralimital WESTERN TANAGERS were reported from NJ (7-9 Oct) and FL (19th). At least 5 SCARLET TANAGERS were reported from southern California, and a HEPATIC TANAGER was found on the 8th in Irvine, CA. A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was reported from a feeder near Montgomery, Alabama (23 Sep), and another was found in Virginia on 10 Oct. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were reported from various desert oases in California. A BLUE GROSBEAK was at the Aquebogue Duck Farm, New York on 30 Sep. Four vagrant PAINTED BUNTINGS were found in California. From Death Valley came an unconfirmed report of a FIELD SPARROW on the 5th. There were at least 10 reports of CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS from the west, with one from OR, two from NV, and the remaining from CA. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was reported on the 9th from WA. A vagrant DICKCISSEL was seen on the 8th in Huntington Central Park, CA and on the 21st in Carmel, CA. There were also a few scattered reports of DICKCISSELS on the east coast. Most remarkable was New York’s first CASSIN’S SPARROW, which was seen on Long Island from the 7th to the 9th. Another vagrant CASSIN’S SPARROW was found the week of the 16th on Southeast Farallon, CA. LECONTE’S SPARROWS yielded scattered occurrences along the entire east coast, but one on the 1st of Oct in Tonopah, NV was unexpected. A SPOTTED TOWHEE found between 7-8 Oct in Minnesota was greeted by at least a hundred birders. Another SPOTTED TOWHEE was reported on the 5th from MA.
At least two ORCHARD ORIOLES and at least 4 BALTIMORE ORIOLES were found along the immediate coast of southern California. At least 3 BOBOLINKS were reported from the west, all from California. In New Brunswick on the 5th, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK was spotted. This is apparently the 6th New Brunswick record.
News from Attu Island this fall includes Ballion's Crake (NA first), a likely Eurasian Sparrowhawk (NA first), Great Spotted Woodpecker (3rd NA record), Dusky Warbler, Common Ringed Plover, Arctic Loon, Gray-tailed Tattler, Emperor Goose, and Garganey. Other good birds included Dusky Thrush, Mongolian Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Slaty-backed Gull and a Fork-tailed Swift. A personal account with photos of the last Attours trip to Attu will appear on Surfbirds very soon.
Potential First State Record. Visit Angus's website for more photos and discussion on this bird.
Up to three birds had been seen at this location.
"This bird, once approved by the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee, will be a first state record. I photographed this bird in poor light on the morning of
August 31, 2000."
