Modoc NWR, Devil's Garden and Tulelake

Highlights: dark morph Swainson's Hawk, Mountain Bluebird, Clark's Grebe, Bufflehead, Tricolored Blackbird, Killdeer performing its anti-predator distraction display, huge numbers of wildfowl and Coyote. Tulelake in the Klamath Basin was very impressive, absolutely rammed with waterfowl.


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Back in the land of the living

A week without the interweb or mobile, lovely. Probably won't get a mobile signal for days yet, so if it ain't an email I ain't gonna get it.

Woodpeckers and flycatchers were the highlight of the week just gone, will update properly when I get a mo, suffice to say Lewis' and Black-backed Woodies are sweeeeeeet.

North to Alturas

Highlights: Lark Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Golden Eagle and Pronghorn Antelope.

Antelope Valley & Yuba Pass

Highlights: displaying Common Nighthawk and Common Poorwill. A nocturnal foray to Yuba Pass produced excellent views of Common Poorwill.

Chapman Saddle, Bear Trap Meadow and Snag Lake

Highlights: Pine Grosbeak, MacGillivray's Warbler and Black-backed Woodpecker. The Pine Grosbeak was a rather nice singing male.

Antelope Valley & Snag Lake

Highlights: Lewis' Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker and Rock Wren. The two woodpeckers were absolutely superb, both gave very close and prolonged views around nest sites. [edit: by the end of the trip I'd managed 11 woodpeckers, out of a possible 12; only Red-naped Sapsucker in the Warner Mountains eluded me,... bastard.]

Carman Valley

Highlights: Gray Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher and quality views of Skunk. Once again the OSF qualifies on the grounds of getting a flipping good recording including a call I hadn't heard before, given when a second bird (presumably a female) appeared close by.

Yuba Pass & SFSU Campus

Highlights: Williamson's Sapsucker, Cooper's Hawk, Townsend's Solitaire, Red Crossbill, Lincoln's Sparrow and Evening Grosbeak. The Cooper's only qualifies as a highlight due to the close views and the rather good, if I do say so myself, recording of its call obtained by yours truly.

Marble Hot Springs Road

Highlights: Sage Thrasher and Prairie Falcon. The Prairie Falcon flew straight over my head accompanied by an irate Willet and alarm calling Cliff Swallows; the 'chipping' Wilson's Snipe I was recording at the time decided to shut up for five minutes, wise move.

Yuba Pass & SFSU Field Campus

Highlights: Calliope Hummingbird, White-headed Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher and American Dipper. Sooty Grouse heard but not seen [edit: never did manage to catch up with one].