Northern California 
Steven A. Glover 
(Doves to Wrentit) 
Ed Pandolfino 
(Thrashers to Finches) 
Stephen C. Rottenborn 
(Loons to Frigatebirds, Larids to Alcids) 
Michael M. Rogers 
(Waterfowl to Quail, Herons to Shorebirds) 
T he fall was warmer and drier than av- 
erage, with some particularly unusual 
warm spells in October and mid-No- 
vember. Likely due to the mild weather con- 
ditions, waterfowl numbers were still relative- 
ly low by the end of the season. On Southeast 
Farallon Island, there were very few migrant 
arrivals (though several notable rarities, in- 
cluding a Gray-tailed Tattler and a Bairds 
Sparrow) through the first week of Septem- 
ber. The following two weeks, however, 
brought a period of high overcast that pro- 
duced large numbers of migrants on South- 
east Farallon Island and along the coast. Al- 
though a series of disturbances began the 
rainy season in late October, the first strong 
storm arrived 4-5 November, causing an un- 
precedented movement of Fieermanns Gulls 
inland. Most of the periods rain, however, did 
not arrive until late November. 
Abbreviations: C.B.R.C. (California B.R.C.); 
C.C.FS. (Coyote Creek Field Station, Santa 
Clara); C.R.P. (Cosumnes River Preserve, 
Sacramento); C.Y (Central Valley); FI. (South- 
east Farallon 1., San Francisco); G.G.P (Gold- 
en Gate Park, San Francisco); H.R.S. (Hayward 
R.S., Alameda); PRBO (PRBO Conservation 
Science); S.F (San Francisco, not State For- 
est); U.C. (University of California). Reports 
of exceptional vagrants submitted without 
documentation are not published. Documen- 
tation of C.B.R.C. review species will be for- 
150 
warded to Guy McCaskie, Secretary, P.O. Box 
275, Imperial Beach, California 91933. Birds 
banded on FI. should be credited to PRBO. 
WATERFOWL 
Two Snow Geese at Trinity L. 27 Oct, with one 
lingering through 10 Nov, comprised Trinity's 
5th record; a Cackling Goose there 6-10 Nov 
was about the 4th record for the county (both 
JSL, JLx, DFx, JEH, COg). Also unexpected 
was a juv. Snow Goose in Groveland, 
Tuolumne 14 Nov-r (Jeanne Ridgley). The only 
blue-morph Ross’s Goose was at Gray Lodge 
N.W.R., Butte 22 Nov (LLu, CLu). Found less 
than annually in Mono, up to 2 Cackling 
Geese were at Mono L. 26 Oct and 9 Nov 
(JuH). A Bewick’s Swan at Crowley L., Mono 
30 Nov (JLD) was possibly the same individ- 
ual found there four years ago. A 
male Eurasian Wigeon at Martis 
Creek L., Nevada and Placer 25-27 
Sep (DeR, Rudy Darling, Brian O’- 
Connor) was a surprise for the Sier- 
ra Nevada; another was in Nevada 
along Bitney Springs Rd. 31 Oct 
(Walt Carnahan). A rarely reported 
hybrid, an apparent female Blue- 
winged Teal X Northern Shoveler 
was photographed on El. 8 Sep (ph. 
Josh Scullen, RyT, JTz). Also unusu- 
al was a Northern Shoveler x Gad- 
wall hybrid in Redwood Shores, San 
Mateo 19 Oct+ (tRSTh, Pat Boor). 
The only Eurasian Teal was Contra 
Costas 2nd at McNabney Marsh 11 
Nov (ph. Homer & Judy Kessler). 
Napa's male Ring-necked Duck x 
Greater Scaup hybrid returned to L. 
Hennessey for a 3rd consecutive fall 
24 Oct+ (MBe, FHa). Tufted Ducks 
were reported from Stone Lagoon, 
Humboldt 25 Nov+ (female; Jeff 
Allen, KMS) and L. Merritt, Alameda 
27 Oct+ (returning male; ph. Kristi 
Whitfield, m.ob.). Harlequin Ducks 
inside S.F Bay included a male in 
Richmond, Contra Costa 6-15 Nov 
Oudi Cooper, ES), a male returning 
to Heron’s Head Park, S.F. 23 Sep+ 
(ASH, Kent Hainebach, m.ob.), and a 
male joining the resident male at Coyote Pt., 
San Mateo 24 Aug-12 Sep (RSTh); Monterey's 
summering female in Monterey harbor was 
joined by a molting male 2 Sep-r (DR, m.ob.). 
Inland Surf Scoters included a female at the 
Lincoln W.T.R, Placer 27 Oct-10 Nov (EP, ph. 
DeR, ph. Phil Robertson, m.ob.), 2 at Kutras 
L., Shasta 30 Oct (RBr), one at Indian Creek 
Res., Alpine 31 Oct (TEa), and one at Grant L., 
Mono 9-16 Nov OuH, KNN). Inland White- 
winged Scoters were at Grant L., Mono 9 Nov+ 
(female; JuH, KNN) and O’Neill Forebay, 
Merced 21-27 Nov (female; JCS, OsJ, KW). 
Three summering Long-tailed Ducks lingered 
into Aug but were not found thereafter; the 
Coyote Pt., San Mateo bird was found dead 25 
Aug (RSTh). Eleven others in six counties in- 
cluded Trinity’s 5th at Lewiston L. 27 Nov 
(Stephen Long). A male Bufflehead x Com- 
mon Goldeneye along Putah Cr. near L. 
Solano, Solano and Yolo 28 Nov (DKo, DCo) 
was also present last fall and winter 27 Oct 
2007+ (JCS et al); another male of this hybrid 
combination not published previously was at 
Coyote Pt., San Mateo 21 Jan 2008 (TRSTh), 
also a returning bird. Alameda's Barrow’s Gold- 
eneye X Hooded Merganser hybrid returned to 
L. Merritt for its 6th consecutive winter 17 
Nov+ (Kristi Whitfield, m.ob.). Red-breasted 
Mergansers far inland included the summer- 
ing female at Mono L., Mono through 25 Aug , ; 
QuH, PJM, JLD), a male at Goose L., Modoc 27 
Nov (SCR), and a female at Dorris Res., Mod- 
oc 28 Nov (SCR); 16 at O’Neill Forebay, j 
Merced 6 Nov (PJM) may be the highest inland 
count for the state (JidcJCS). 
LOONS THROUGH CORMORANTS 
A Red-throated Loon at Trinity L. 6-11 Sep 
(TEa, SAG, KPa) provided a 5th Trinity record 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
This Crested Caracara, photographed 30 October 2008, has now become 
essentially resident near Fort Dick, Del Norte County, California. Likely the 
same bird present since 2005, it formerly moved southward in winter to 
nearby Humboldt County. Photograph by Alan D. Barron. 
