Date: 3/28/25 5:26 pm From: Robert Keiffer via groups.io <rjkeiffer...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Hooded Oriole
Friday, 28 March, 2025. Just has my FOS First of Season) Hooded Oriole at my oriole feeder at my Hopland house at 5 pm. It was a brilliant adult male. Good birding. Bob Keiffer, Hopland, Mendocino County <rjkeiffer...>
Date: 3/26/25 1:29 pm From: christopher szejk via groups.io <owlwind...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Bushnell Spotting Scope with Tripod For sale "The Ark" thrift store.
Hey everyone. Chris Szejk here, today I saw a nice Japanese Made Bushnell Spacemaster 15-45x60mm spotting scope with tripod at The Ark thrift in south Bragg. They are asking $60. Seems like a great deal for someone looking for a affordable spotting scope.
Date: 3/25/25 1:58 pm From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Noyo Pelagics trip report, March 24th
Greetings Mendobirders,
About 30 birders and marine mammal enthusiasts went out of Noyo Harbor
on 3/24, on the Kraken with Captain Richard Thornton of Anchor Charters
(https://anchorcharterboats.com/), for a half-day trip. We set up the
trip on Thursday and had this many eager participants by Monday! It was
a bit choppy at first, slop left over from the previous day's NW winds,
but the winds calmed down and the seas smoothed out throughout the day.
After spending some quality time with 3-4 Gray Whales, a mile or so
offshore, we headed out to Noyo Canyon and made it as far as "The
Junction" about 15 miles from the coast. Throughout the day the ocean
sparkled with (literally) millions of "by the wind sailors" (/Velella
velella/) a jellyfish in which the sailor part that dots the seas
represents the polyp stage. Our deckhand Corinne bucketed one up to
observed in the slime. It had a backwards-S shaped sail, representing
about 50% of the population, which had sailed off in a different
direction than those with frontwards-S shaped sails.
Birds were sparse at first, though Black-footed Albatrosses soon began
to sniff about, wondering if we had some fish parts to toss. A Laysan
Albatross joined in and afforded great views for all. Otherwise "just"
gulls, Red Phalaropes, Cassin's Auklets, Rhinoceros Auklets, all three
loons, etc. We got out to the Junction, put down a slick, and finally
obliged the albatrosses and gulls by tossing out some rockfish carcasses
and parts that the Kraken crew had generously saved for the occasion. A
few albatrosses including a Laysan came in but it seemed pretty quiet so
we headed back to "The Dogleg," about 10 miles offshore, where we had
noticed some foraging birds on the way out. As we left the Junction we
continued tossing chum, and this did the trick, as an eager gaggle of
gulls and albatrosses increased in number until we reached the Dogleg,
where we stopped for our second slick. Black-footed Albatrosses
continued to arrive, up to 15-20 at once, and we had the usual 50+ gulls
of five species and multiple ages to study. What seemed like a couple of
additional Laysans kept circling afar, and a few Sooty Shearwaters
joined the party.
We had soaked the Dogleg for about 40 minutes when Captain Richard
noticed a big group of dolphins to the north and we headed up to see if
they would ride the bow. Richard said they looked like Risso's Dolphins
and sure enough they were, some 300 of them! For the next hour or so we
cruised along, getting photos of their large dorsal fins, bulbous heads,
and smiley faces during surfaces and partial leaps. Katerina Audrey, our
NCMS marine mammal expert aboard, called out that there was a leucistic
dolphin in with the procession and to get photos, as it may be Casper,
the famous white Risso's from Monterey Bay. After the trip she
coordinated with the Monterey Bay marine mammalogists and it was not
Casper, but another leucistic one to keep track of on our future trips.
It was washed yellowish all over, the result of a diatom film.
We noticed some different looking splashes to the north and these turned
out to be about 120 Pacific White-sided and 80 Northern Right Whale
Dolphins that came in to join the Risso's. Unlike the Risso's these
species do ride the bow, and Richard expertly guided the boat at the
right speed to affect this. We super enjoyed both species, cruising
along just below the bow, in close proximity, and in crystal clear blue
waters. Having all three species in one group is something I hadn't seen
before. One or more Laysan Albatrosses kept circling around as we headed
back to shore, and we debated if the day's total should be 2, 3, 4, or
more. But upon reviewing photos of their distinctive underwing patterns,
we could not confirm more than just one bird, that appeared to follow us
along throughout the day. Whatever the count, the sight of a Laysan
Albatross sallying along over deep blue seas will never get old!
We are gearing up for a full schedule of pelagic trips from April
through November and our website announcing the dates and including
sign-up buttons is coming soon. Our first few trips are on April 26th
(half day), April 27th (full day), May 9th (full day). May 11th (full
day), and May 12th (half day), should you like to mark your calendars.
We will be running some back-to-back trips this year for our out-of-town
friends who may want to double up on pelagics during a long-weekend
journey to our bountiful coast for birding and other local amenities.
Date: 3/22/25 5:00 pm From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Mendo Headlands
22 March 2025 - Common Murres have returned in large numbers to the
north Mendocino headlands. A couple hundred were crammed onto the tops
of two rocks, where they have nested in previous years, and several
hundred more were on the water or flying around.
Three female White-winged Scoters were on the water just east of the
main offshore stack, the same area where several were last year.
Three Horned Grebes were still in winter plumage. At Van Damme cove
there were four partway into breeding plumage, showing the incipient
"horns" and developing red on their necks. Two of those also briefly
engaged in courtship behavior.
Date: 3/20/25 8:29 pm From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Offshore trip Monday
The marine forecast shows a window of good conditions next Monday, March
24, with seas of around 6 feet at 10 seconds and very little wind in the
morning. We have the Kraken reserved for a half-day trip out to the Noyo
Canyon area, led by Peter Pyle.
We can expect to find Black-footed Albatrosses, possibly Laysan
Albatross, and we always hope to see a Short-tailed Albatross. There
should be a few Shearwaters out there, and many Gulls; March is a good
time to catch Black-legged Kittiwakes offshore. There is always the
chance of an unexpected rarity on any of these trips. (Especially with
Peter on board!)
A black-cod fisherman sent a photo showing Humpback Whale fluking today
in the same area. We have done few offshore trips in March so we don't
really know what else might be out there!
This will be a 4-5 hour trip for $120 per person, departing at 7:30 AM
and returning around noon or later. Let me know if you can join us.
Date: 3/12/25 5:28 pm From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] About 1200 gulls at Virgin Creek now
About 600 gulls at Pudding Creek as well. Lots of coming and going so worth continued checking. Dominated by CAGUs followed by GWGU, HERG, hybrids, and WEGU a distant fourth. The GLGU at Virgin was "snow white" in addition to white now (then). 🤷🏼♂️
Peter
> On Mar 12, 2025, at 16:27, Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> wrote:
>
> Includes a now-white second-cycle Glaucous and a possible Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull on the rocks off the surfer's bench. Gulls on the beach also best viewed from here/south side of the creek mouth. Cheers, Peter
>
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Date: 3/12/25 4:27 pm From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] About 1200 gulls at Virgin Creek now
Includes a now-white second-cycle Glaucous and a possible Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull on the rocks off the surfer's bench. Gulls on the beach also best viewed from here/south side of the creek mouth. Cheers, Peter
Date: 3/11/25 2:03 pm From: Charlene McAllister via groups.io <charad...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Brown Pelicans
And this morning we saw 7 BRPE headed north off the Haul Road north of the Pudding Creek Trestle in Fort Bragg
Charlene McAllister
707-832-2135
> On 03/11/2025 11:02 AM PDT jackson_us via groups.io <jackson2...> wrote:
>
>
>
> 3.10.25
>
> Yesterday, March 10, several people saw three Brown Pelicans fly by the Point Arena Lighthouse heading north.
>
>
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> Even though we have winter weather coming in, signs of spring are here!
>
>
>
> Jeanne Jackson, Anchor Bay
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>
>
Date: 3/9/25 2:06 pm From: jackson_us via groups.io <jackson2...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Report from the south coast
3/9/25
Hi All,
Strings of cackling geese are headed north, reported earlier this week,
and off Point Arena yesterday. Linda Bostwick said there were long lines of
them.
Ospreys returned early this year. The nest I watch though a spotting scope
in Anchor Bay had a lone Osprey working on the nest in late February. I
believe the female returned earlier this week, and she immediately got to
work on the nest with her mate. Today the two ospreys are in the air,
calling back and forth. Courtship, I presume. It's so lovely to hear them.
Carolyn Case in Gualala just let me know she heard an osprey today, her
first of the year.
I have two Pileated woodpeckers paired up, calling back and forth. I hope
their nest will be nearby! I could hear them early this morning.
The female Gualala Bald Eagle hasn't been seen for a while so we
think/hope she's sitting on a nest. The nest is somewhere in the Gualala
River watershed.
A Ferruginous Hawk was seen on Lighthouse Road in Point Arena on January 26,
photo is attached, taken by Shari Goforth.
