Mar., 1922 FROM FIELD AND STUDY 67 
up. Two birds shot from tide pools had so much fat I had to scrape the skins, but the 
others were thin. ; 
Between October 3 and November 28, I visited the flats at San Pedro or the rocks 
at Point Fermin nine times. At all times when found the birds were actively whirling 
in pools or flitting and dabbing about on the ocean. Besides those mentioned I have 
found only a few carcasses. 
August 23 and several days thereafter I observed a lone Red Phalarope very 
clesely. When first encountered the bird was making short flights along the beach to 
dodge a small child who persistently trotted after it from place to place. Finally it 
took refuge on the water. In a few moments, after preening and resting, it returned 
and trotted easily and fearlessly before my slow advance, flying only when frightened 
and then but a rod or so, or out to the water. Kelp flies seemed to satisfy its sporting 
instincts and hunger, and the bird stalked them slowly and pointedly one by one. With 
bill and neck outstretched and lowered in line with a fly on the sand, a slow advance 
was made until with a pounce the hunt closed. If the fly escaped, the phalarope some- 
times ran after it, bill out. 
Another pose interested me. On finding a kelp mass decaying and drawing flies, 
the Phalarope approached closely and so lowthat his breast touched the ground, but the 
rear of the bird was high up. At times he would remain with breast down and pick 
at the flies much as a dusting fowl picks up a stray grain. Mr. L. E. Wyman reported 
similar “breast to ground” actions of two phalaropes he saw feeding by a keip mass on 
the beach. 
Upon the arrival of the Red Phalarcpes, a local paper stated that the harbor was 
covered with “Mother Cary’s Chickens’.—Rou:np C. Ross, Los Angeles, California, Jan- 
vary 2, 1922. 
New Nesting Records of American Osprey in Northern California.—As nesting 
records of the American Osprey (Pandion haliactus carolinensis) in the northern part 
ef this state are rather rare it was interesting to note two nests during 1921. 
One of these was under construction in the top of the tall stump of a dead fir in 
2 cleared flat on the north s‘de of the Klamath River. near Requa, Del Norte County, 
California, -n May 18 The birds were seen bringing material for building purposes. 
The other record is of an Osprey’s nest noted on the Scuth Fork of the Hel River 
some miles above Garberville, Mendocino County, California. 
This nest was noted by Mr. Chester C. Lamb and myse'f on Octcber 7, 1921, as 
we were returning from a fall field trip up the coast. It was placed on top of a tall, 
slim, rather isolated redwood tree standing on the edge of the river, and was in plain 
sight from the highway. but some half a mile distant therefrom. While no birds were 
seen, it was unmistakably the nest of an Osprey. My brother, John W. Mailliard, had 
also noted this nest as he passed by a few days previously.—JosmrpH MAILLIARD, California 
Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, January 12, 1922. 
Kern County Notes.—Field work carried on during the last two years in the vi- 
cinity of Buena Vista Lake, Kern County, California, has resulted in an extension of 
the ranges of several birds. Not only has the Suisun Marsh Wren been found breeding 
about the Lake, but an interesting arm of Mohave influence has been indicated by the 
presence in the locality of birds that were formerly restricted, in our belief, to the 
more eastern desert regions. 
Telmatodytes palustris aestuarinus: A series of breeding marsh wrens taken in 
the tules about the shores of Buena Vista Lake were identified by Mr. H. 8S. Swarth as 
of this form. This extends the breeding range of this comparatively new race south to 
include the entire San Joayjuin Valley. 
Amphispiza nevadensis canescens: Jn our experience, this species has never be- 
fore been found in summer save in the Artemisia association. Despite the absence of 
sage about this Lake, however, this is one of the commonest summer birds, adhering 
closely to the scrubby growth of Atriplex polycarpa which covers the hillsides and plains 
of the region. 
Bubo virginianus pallescens: A pair of breeding birds and one juvenile taken by 
the authors on June 4, 1920, another juvenile taken June 22, 1921, the remains of an 
