Sightings - December 2024
Lucy’s Warbler found 11/18 by Lorna and Mark Elness. Photo Roger Adamson
We had another month with numerous “good” birds found by enthusiastic birders. A Rock Sandpiper was found along Ten Mile Beach on 11/01 (PP). A handful of these arrive nearly every winter from the far north. A Western Tanager, first reported in Ukiah on 11/02, seems to have stayed all month (GG). Nearly all Western Tanagers should be in Central America by late October. A similarly late Hermit Warbler was found at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (MCBG) on 11/02 (MF). A late migrating Common Poorwill was seen near Hopland on 11/04 (HB). Another Rock Sandpiper was reported from near Pudding Creek on 11/04 (LW) and became three Rock Sandpipers on 11/07 (MN, WB). Horned Lark were first reported from near Pudding Creek on 11/04 (LW) and then again from Hopland on 11/05 (CV), Ward Avenue on 11/06 (PP, OL), Noyo Headlands on 11/07 (RA), Glass Beach on 11/08 (LW), and Inglenook Fen on 11/09 (PP). A Phainopepla, unusual anywhere in this county, was seen only once at Riverside Park in Ukiah on 11/04 (CV). The only Clay-colored Sparrow thus far this season appeared at a home just outside of Fort Bragg on 11/05 (JA). Tropical Kingbird has been reported twice this November, first at Usal on 11/07 (MN, WB) and at MCBG on 11/14 (WM, SH, HL, RL).
Dickcissel found 11/14 by Tim Bray in Elk. Photo 11/30 by Roger Adamson.
Two late-migrating Wilson’s Warblers, one at MCBG on 11/08 (PP) and another at Harbor Lite Lodge in Fort Bragg on 11/18 (RA), were observed. A Vesper Sparrow was briefly spotted on the Noyo Headlands near the north end of the old runway-an excellent bird for the coast-on 11/09 (MF).
During our offshore trip on 11/11, a joint endeavor of the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society and Noyo Center for Marine Science, several excellent birds were observed. In addition to about 10 Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, we found about 15 Leach’s Storm-Petrel. We encountered three Flesh-footed Shearwater, about 41 Pomarine Jaeger (a high number), 16 Short-tailed Shearwater, and perhaps 163 Northern Fulmar (again, a high number of an expected species). Most unexpected and seen only by a few were two Horned Puffin, maybe just one that circled round us at an unfortunate distance.
The second half of November brought even more birding excitement. During our Raptor Run on 11/14 to the south coast while in the town of Elk, Tim Bray found a Dickcissel feeding with a mixed flock of sparrows. Apparently a fifth county record, the bird flew off and eluded further observation so that only three of the party were able to see it (TB, RA, CL). A couple days of rain dampened enthusiasm for refinding the bird. But a few days later a determined group did refind the Dickcissel. While looking for it, Fritz Steurer’s Merlin app reported an American Tree Sparrow, which the birders thought unlikely. However, Fritz was able to get a photo and Mendocino had its second county record of American Tree Sparrow on 11/19 (FS, TE, JL). Meanwhile, in Fort Bragg two Central Valley birders found a Lucy’s Warbler just below the deck of their room at the back of the Harbor Lite Lodge on 11/18 (LE, ME). Other birders joined the hunt and a late Wilson’s Warbler (RA), a Tennessee Warbler (RA), and a Nashville Warbler (ME) were also found at the Lodge in addition to Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, and Townsend’s warblers. Finally, despite heavy rain, a few more species have been found on the coast. A Bullock’s Oriole was seen in the banksias at the Rose Memorial Cemetery on 11/19 (PP). A Barrow’s Goldeneye was found on 11/24 near the outlet of Greenwood Creek in Elk (TE). And, from Arena Point on 11/24 were seen a Long-tailed Duck, Pigeon Guillemot, and a Short-tailed Shearwater (TE).
Thanks to all who reported either to Mendobirds.io or to eBird: Peter Pyle (PP), George Gibbs (GG), Matt Franks (MF), Hannah Bird (HB), Lisa Walker (LW), Max Nootbaar (MN), Will Burgoyne (WB), Whitney Mortimer (WM), Sharon Hull (SH), Hanna Lewis (HL), Robert Lewis (RL), Roger Adamson (RA), Chris Lamoreux (CL), Fritz Steurer (FS), Todd Easterla (TE), John Luther (JL), Lorna Elness (LE), and Mark Elness (ME).
