Sightings - November 2024

Tropical Kingbird from 12 Oct 2024, photo by Roger Adamson

Having missed a Sightings for the October issue, this report begins in mid-September. True to form, September and October brought a high number of noteworthy species sightings. Several species were seen multiple times. Tennessee Warbler was reported 9/19 in Willits (MC), 9/29 at Usal campground (CD), and 9/30 at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (PP). Chestnut-sided Warbler, one of my favorite warblers, also seen three times, was reported 9/23 at the Hopland Research Extension Center (HREC) (CV), 9/27 at Usal (CD), and 10/01 again at HREC (CV). Bullock’s Oriole made two appearances, first 9/24 at Noyo Headlands Park (LWR) and later 10/20 in the Rose Memorial Cemetery in Fort Bragg (CL & RA). Juvenile Bobolinks showed up in two places, both on 9/27, at Virgin Creek (TE) and Usal campground (CD). Two Clay-colored Sparrows were reported, one on 9/27 at Usal (CD) and one on 10/6 at Arena Point (SJ). Rough-legged Hawk has been reported twice, in Willits on 9/27 (MC) and on 10/20 from the Virgin Creek Trail (LWR). The final multiply- sighted species is Tropical Kingbird and it was seen 10/12 in the center of Fort Bragg (RA), 10/24 at the south end of Fort Bragg (PP), and most recently, 10/25 at Point Arena Lighthouse (TB & CK).

Species seen only once start with a White-winged Dove in Westport on 9/17 (PP & JW). A Hooded Oriole was reported 9/21 in south Fort Bragg (PP). Also in south Fort Bragg, an Eastern Kingbird was found on 9/23 (PP). In Willits a Black-and-white Warbler was spotted in a mixed flock on 9/24 (MdSA). A Lark Bunting, another excellent find, was found at Usal 9/27 (CD). A great find was a Short-tailed Albatross, seen from a repositioning cruise ship about 40 miles WSW of Arena Point, on 9/29 (BS). Unfortunately, that sighting was not chaseable! A very rare report was that of a Black Swift on 10/6 at the Husch Vineyard (JE). About 15 have been reported on eBird in about 25 years. A Red-naped Sapsucker was seen in Point Arena on 10/11 (AH & SJ). At least two Lawrence’s Goldfinch were seen with a flock of Lesser Goldfinch on 10/11 at HREC (CV). In the hills near Hopland, a Common Poorwill was reported on 10/14 (HB). These are not rare in our area, but most have usually headed south by this date. An American Golden-Plover was found on 10/18 on Virgin Creek Beach (LWR & RA)—more on this below. A Grasshopper Sparrow, not usually seen on the coast, was found in scrub willows along Ten Mile River just west of the Highway 1 bridge on 10/24 (PP).

American Golden-Plover, 18 Oct 2024.  Photo by Lisa Roger Adamson

The American Golden-Plover (AMGP) nests on tundra from western Alaska to Baffin Island. The breeding adults are strikingly marked with black cheeks and belly, white wrapping from the supercilium down the side of the breast, and having gold, white, black and brown flecking on the mantle and wing coverts. Southward migration takes most individuals toward the New England coast and then along a trans-Atlantic route to South America. Others take the central flyways toward the gulf coast. Few travel along the west coast of North America and of those we usually see only the juveniles. Juveniles are much less striking and resemble Pacific Golden-Plover (PAGP) in size, making field identification difficult, given that we might see only one AMGP each year. Juvenile AMGP are slightly “golden” having very few gold marks, while PAGP are usually distinctly golden when seen from a distance. AMGP are smaller and more svelte than Black-bellied Plover, but the juveniles have a similar coloration. A consistent field-mark for AMGP is the number of primaries that extend beyond the tertials. PAGP have two or three primaries extending beyond the longest tertial; AMGP have four or five. In the accompanying photo there is one primary (no.6) just equal to the longest tertial, with the last four primaries extending beyond, making this an American Golden-Plover. Also, the bird has very little gold color. As with all rules, there are exceptions! Feather wear and molt can make individuals difficult to identify.

Thanks to the following for their reports: Mike Curry (MC), Cédric Duhalde (CD), Peter Pyle (PP), Chuck Vaughn (CV), Lisa Walker-Roseman (LWR), Chris Lamoreux (CL), Roger Adamson (RA), Todd Easterla (TE), Sharon J (SJ), Tim Bray (TB), Catherine Keegan (CK), Jerry White (JW), Marisela de Santa Anna (MdSA), Brian Sullivan (BS), Janet Enos (JE), Alex Henry (AH), and Hannah Bird (HB).