Date: 11/27/23 2:55 pm From: Chuck & Barbara Vaughn via groups.io <cevaughn...> Subject: [Mendobirds] [Fwd: [CALBIRDS] eBird submission issues]
Greetings Mendobirders- For all of you eBirders, I think that the
discussion regarding hotspots in the thread below is an important one. I
hope that you will take the time to read the short messages and become
familiar with appropriate eBird protocol.
“To decide if a nearby Hotspot is appropriate for your checklist, answer
this simple question: Was my entire eBird checklist restricted to the area
described by the Hotspot name?
If the Hotspot's name accurately and precisely describes your location for
the entire checklist, then it's OK to use that Hotspot for your checklist.
However, if any part of your checklist occurred somewhere not adequately
described by the chosen Hotspot, please use either a personal location or
select a more appropriate Hotspot.�
A few lines down sums it up. “The goal is to reduce uncertainty about
your birding location as much as possible.�
Thanks,
Jim
James F. Holmes, MD, MPH
Professor and Executive Vice Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine
Office (916) 734-1533
From: <CALBIRDS...> <CALBIRDS...> On Behalf Of Ken Burton via
groups.io
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2023 2:33 PM
To: Teresa Thome <thomeplay...>
Cc: <calbirds...>; <lehman.paul...>
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] eBird submission issues
Well, I'm surely not the authority on this, and others may disagree, but I
would say that if there is a hotspot that encompasses the entirety of your
birding route, use it unless there's a compelling reason not to (and I
can't think of one; if you're doing a stationary count, you can put the
location in the comments and if you have the track turned on, it will be
recorded). If the hotspots are nested or overlapping, use the most
precise one without compromising accuracy (accuracy pretty much always
trumps precision).
Someday - in my dreams, at least - hotspots will have actual boundaries
and the app will notify you when you're crossing them or tell you you're
outside them!
On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 2:14 PM Teresa Thome
<thomeplay...><mailto:<thomeplay...>> wrote:
Thanks Ken. As someone who tries to give the most accurate information
possible, I struggle when I think I shouldn’t use the standard hotspot
but the app says “recommended.� What is a good rule of thumb?
On Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 2:07 PM Ken Burton
<shrikethree...><mailto:<shrikethree...>> wrote:
Thank you, Paul. And as someone who analyzes and uses hotspot statistics,
I would like to add a plea for people to use a personal location rather
than a hotspot when their birding route extends beyond what the hotspot
name covers (currently the only way a hotspot can be delineated). Far too
many people casually assign their checklists to the hotspot nearest their
starting point and then bird well outside its "boundaries," rendering
hotspot statistics meaningless at best and misleading at worst.
As an eBird reviewer, I have noted a couple rather common practices by
observers re: eBird list submissions which I believe are negatively
affecting the data by under-counting birds.
The first is to go to a site to primarily chase some stakeout rarity, see
it and perhaps subconsciously note just a small number of other birds
while waiting around, and then submit a list of just a handful of species
but on a list that lasted almost an hour or even longer, and done so as a
COMPLETE LIST. But this really is an incomplete/incidental list, where one
was not really birding for birding's sake, and the variety and totals of
species reflect that! Please use the incomplete/incidental option more
often so that the data are not skewed to show a complete list with a
woefully low number of birds detected over a reasonable length of time,
appreciably lower than the observer's abilities would normally produce.
Another common practice is to submit a group list but which was a list
actually noted only by the ONE person who created the list. If a group is
formed, then really all members of the group should pool their numbers
near the end of the period. Sure, sometimes this is tough because members
come and go at different times. And yes, some folks then, once they accept
the shared list, then add additional missing species they alone saw--but
typically this is done just for a very few uncommon/scarce species, and
almost never does the observer "up" the totals already on the list. Lots
of us are busy, and any such time-saving, "group" methods are appreciated,
but it seems like a good percent of time that folks are being just a tad
lazy. The problem of course is that now a list has been submitted that
involved three, five, or seven, or however many observers, but the species
seen and especially the number of individuals seen are those of only ONE
observer.
Somebody else more in tune with the statistical side of such data would
need to address how large an issue this could be in generating
under-counts of many birds.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 11/21/23 7:00 pm From: Tim Bray <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] White geese
21 November 2023 - Shortly after noon I heard, and eventually saw, a
flock of white geese VERY high overhead, here on Middle Ridge in Albion.
From the calls I believe they were Snow Goose, but they were so far away
I cannot be certain.
Date: 11/20/23 9:28 am From: Chuck & Barbara Vaughn via groups.io <cevaughn...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Cattle Egret Riverside Park 11/20
Greetings Mendobirders- I saw a Cattle Egret with 8 Great Egrets in the
alfalfa field just N of the asphalt path from the parking lot at Riverside
Park. I watched it for 10 minutes as it hunted in the alfalfa,
occasionally disappearing in the higher vegetation. It was still there
when I left at 0905.
Shorebirds start migrating in August so many are settling in here.
The flocks moving over the ocean are on schedule too. There may be some northern storms making them say, better get going.
Diane Hichwa
Email: <dhichwa...>
Telephone: 707-785-1922 (Sea Ranch)
707-483-3130 (cell)
More Tail Wagging!!! Less Barking!!
Millie 2007
From: <Mendobirds...> on behalf of Julia Larke <coastlark...>
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 6:23 PM
To: <tbray...>
Cc: Mendobirds <Mendobirds...>
Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Marine migrants
Are there possible reasons why so many shore bird flocks are migrating south at this time? Lack of food in northern zones? Special avian knowledge of upcoming climatic conditions? Other?
Julia Larke
On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 4:31 PM Tim Bray <tbray...> wrote:
15 November 2023 - Amazing spectacle this morning over the ocean, with huge flocks of Pelicans, Loons, Scoters, and Gulls going south. We scoped from the bluffs at the Botanical Gardens as part of the third-Wednesday birdwalk; the view might have been even better from Laguna Point or the Mendocino headlands.
There were California Brown Pelicans going south in flocks of up to 50-60, some passing right next to the bluff, and more were foraging farther out to sea.
Immense flocks of Surf Scoters, often several hundred at a time, streaming by about a mile offshore. We see this movement every year around this time, but I have never seen so many flocks this large in a short period of time. We must have seen several thousand go by in under an hour. I scanned several flocks and eventually found one White-winged Scoter among them. There were also small numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers flying south, often with the Scoter flocks.
A nearly continuous stream of Pacific Loons was going south about 1-2 miles offshore. There were a number of Red-throated Loons with them, and a few on the water closer in.
Large numbers of Gulls were also moving southward, mostly California Gulls but also some small groups of pretty little Bonaparte's Gulls, mostly juveniles. A couple of Heermann's Gulls were loosely associated with the Pelicans. Multiple small flocks of Glaucous-winged Gulls were also moving south, mostly just inland from the bluffs; some of them were "Olympic" (hybrids of Western x Glaucous-winged). And of course a few Westerns, making five species (plus the hybrid) identifiable. (A sixth, Short-billed, was probably in there somewhere but I couldn't pick one out.)
Farther out to sea there were many more birds moving around, including some large feeding frenzies very far offshore, with several Humpback Whales spouting as well. It was hard to stop watching all that.
Meanwhile in the Gardens there were extraordinarily few songbirds, fewer than I have ever seen there. I have no idea why.
--
Cheers,
Tim
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society
Ecology Hour
Oak & Thorn
Facebook: Oak and Thorn
Are there possible reasons why so many shore bird flocks are migrating south at this time? Lack of food in northern zones? Special avian knowledge of upcoming climatic conditions? Other?
Julia Larke
On Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 4:31 PM Tim Bray <tbray...> wrote:
> 15 November 2023 - Amazing spectacle this morning over the ocean, with > huge flocks of Pelicans, Loons, Scoters, and Gulls going south. We scoped > from the bluffs at the Botanical Gardens as part of the third-Wednesday > birdwalk; the view might have been even better from Laguna Point or the > Mendocino headlands. > > There were California Brown Pelicans going south in flocks of up to 50-60, > some passing right next to the bluff, and more were foraging farther out to > sea. > > Immense flocks of Surf Scoters, often several hundred at a time, streaming > by about a mile offshore. We see this movement every year around this time, > but I have never seen so many flocks this large in a short period of time. > We must have seen several thousand go by in under an hour. I scanned > several flocks and eventually found one White-winged Scoter among them. > There were also small numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers flying south, > often with the Scoter flocks. > > A nearly continuous stream of Pacific Loons was going south about 1-2 > miles offshore. There were a number of Red-throated Loons with them, and a > few on the water closer in. > > Large numbers of Gulls were also moving southward, mostly California Gulls > but also some small groups of pretty little Bonaparte's Gulls, mostly > juveniles. A couple of Heermann's Gulls were loosely associated with the > Pelicans. Multiple small flocks of Glaucous-winged Gulls were also moving > south, mostly just inland from the bluffs; some of them were "Olympic" > (hybrids of Western x Glaucous-winged). And of course a few Westerns, > making five species (plus the hybrid) identifiable. (A sixth, Short-billed, > was probably in there somewhere but I couldn't pick one out.) > > Farther out to sea there were many more birds moving around, including > some large feeding frenzies very far offshore, with several Humpback Whales > spouting as well. It was hard to stop watching all that. > > Meanwhile in the Gardens there were extraordinarily few songbirds, fewer > than I have ever seen there. I have no idea why. > -- > Cheers, > Tim > Mendocino Coast Audubon Society <http://mendocinocoastaudubon.org/> > Ecology Hour <https://ecologyhour.wordpress.com/> > Oak & Thorn <http://oakandthorn.wordpress.com> > Facebook: Oak and Thorn <https://www.facebook.com/oakandthorn> > > >
15 November 2023 - Amazing spectacle this morning over the ocean, with
huge flocks of Pelicans, Loons, Scoters, and Gulls going south. We
scoped from the bluffs at the Botanical Gardens as part of the
third-Wednesday birdwalk; the view might have been even better from
Laguna Point or the Mendocino headlands.
There were California Brown Pelicans going south in flocks of up to
50-60, some passing right next to the bluff, and more were foraging
farther out to sea.
Immense flocks of Surf Scoters, often several hundred at a time,
streaming by about a mile offshore. We see this movement every year
around this time, but I have never seen so many flocks this large in a
short period of time. We must have seen several thousand go by in under
an hour. I scanned several flocks and eventually found one White-winged
Scoter among them. There were also small numbers of Red-breasted
Mergansers flying south, often with the Scoter flocks.
A nearly continuous stream of Pacific Loons was going south about 1-2
miles offshore. There were a number of Red-throated Loons with them, and
a few on the water closer in.
Large numbers of Gulls were also moving southward, mostly California
Gulls but also some small groups of pretty little Bonaparte's Gulls,
mostly juveniles. A couple of Heermann's Gulls were loosely associated
with the Pelicans. Multiple small flocks of Glaucous-winged Gulls were
also moving south, mostly just inland from the bluffs; some of them were
"Olympic" (hybrids of Western x Glaucous-winged). And of course a few
Westerns, making five species (plus the hybrid) identifiable. (A sixth,
Short-billed, was probably in there somewhere but I couldn't pick one out.)
Farther out to sea there were many more birds moving around, including
some large feeding frenzies very far offshore, with several Humpback
Whales spouting as well. It was hard to stop watching all that.
Meanwhile in the Gardens there were extraordinarily few songbirds, fewer
than I have ever seen there. I have no idea why.
Date: 11/5/23 9:28 am From: Chuck & Barbara Vaughn via groups.io <cevaughn...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Clay-colored Sparrow Ukiah WWTP 11/5/23
Greetings Mendobirders- There was a Clay-Colored Sparrow at the Ukiah
Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. I watched it twice sitting on
the cyclone fence along the north levee around 0840. It was associated
with a large flock of sparrows and finches about 100 yards down from the
west levee.
Date: 11/4/23 4:22 pm From: raincascadia via groups.io <raincascadia...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Northern waterthrush northwest of Ukiah
Just saw a northern waterthrush foraging among cattails in a small pond up Parducci Rd. I watched it unobstructed for several minutes and heard it call repeatedly. White undertail coverts, tail constantly bobbing. The only other one I've ever seen was at Malheur NWR over thirty years ago in May- made my day!
Date: 11/1/23 4:50 pm From: Tim Bray <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Massive Loon congregation off Manchester Beach
1 November 2023 - I walked out from the bathroom at the end of Kinney
Lane to look for Snowy Plovers. I didn't find any of those, but scoping
the sea revealed a massive congregation of birds maybe a mile offshore.
They were strung out in a narrow band maybe a mile long, roughly
parallel to shore, probably along a convergent current line. I could
make out Brown Pelicans, Western Gulls, California Gulls, two
Short-billed Gulls, many Cormorants, some Common Murres, a number of
Western Grebes, and one Red-necked Grebe. But the most abundant birds
were Loons - at least several hundred were present, and more were flying
south farther out. I could make out many Pacific Loons with their
still-shiny heads, a few Common Loons that were close enough to see the
neck pattern, and many Red-throated Loons. Some of the Red-throated were
clustered in groups, which I've only seen them do once or twice before.
This was clearly a big migratory pulse that apparently stopped to rest
and feed.
Also in the same spot was a large congregation of Harbor Porpoise - hard
to count but at least a dozen, and perhaps twice that - by far the
largest number I have ever seen on one spot.
Date: 11/1/23 2:37 pm From: <oakmanorff...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Cattle Egret at Lake Mendocino - 11/1/23
[Edited Message Follows]
Good afternoon.
There is currently a Western Cattle Egret just west of the north boat ramp parking lots at Lake Mendocino. I watched it hunt for around 20 minutes, catching a few lizards. Pics will be attached to my Ebird checklist when I get home. There are also at least 5 White-throated Sparrows in the vicinity as well
As of 2:15 PM, the bird was still at this location:
Date: 11/1/23 2:36 pm From: <oakmanorff...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Cattle Egret at Lake Mendocino - 11/1/23
Good afternoon.
There is currently a Western Cattle Egret just west of the north boat ramp parking lots at Lake Mendocino. I watched it hunt for around 20 minutes, catching a few lizards. Pics will be attached to my Ebird checklist when I get home.
As of 2:15 PM, the bird was still at this location:
Date: 11/1/23 1:53 pm From: <oakmanorff...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Western Cattle Egret at Lake Mendocino
Good afternoon folks!
There is currently a Western Cattle Egret hanging out on the north side of Lake Mendocino, west of the North Boat Ramp parking lots. It’s currently in the vicinity of the picnic tables right around this Google pin.
