Re: [SBB] CBRC and rare local gulls.

Birders

Sounds like the word is getting out on Slaty Backs. Todd Easterla reported one form Humboldt on the CBC count, Sunday 31^st Dec. Out on the south Jetty. Big waves and dangerous. The sector coordinator could not get out there, but Todd (as an independent) did with John Hunter and Tanner. As they raced back to get photo’s a bizarre series of events such as digi cams not working and telephotos on timers. Not to mention the slippery steps all the way out there they failed on photo documentation. In Spring this is a dangerous spot. Anyway the bird flew towards King Salmon after they couldn’t get photos so it will be in the King Salmon area and thus in the Centerville CBC (pending written descriptions). I heard that John Hunter was on the bird the whole time so good views where had by all three as the pink foots love to loaf on the giant wave breakers (dollos) that make up the end of the South Jetty. Good views, great light and county birds all around.

It was a 3^rd cycle bird with black in the bill. I’m sure we’ll have more reports on this down the road. Lets hope we haven’t used up all our Humboldt “re-find ju-ju,” but we are out in force today. Glorious weather! I even had Bluebirds in my yard for a New Year treat.

Also of note on the way out, there are up to three Burrowing Owls and Rock Sandpiper is also reported from the south spit/jetty.

Yours Rob

p.s. Dollos are giant concrete jumping jacks that are stacked in an irregular manner to break up the force of any wave action, particularly at the jetty tips. However, this is also a great viewing platform once you make it to the raised and fortified end of either jetty.

Robert W. Hewitt

Wildlife Biologist - LBJ Enterprises

Eureka, California

(w) 707-442-0339, (cell) 707-496-0854, (fax) 707-269-0632

Chairman, Godwit Days Steering Committee

www.godwitdays.com

April 20-22, April 2007

“Birds from The Redwoods to Humboldt Bay”

“Keynote, reception, bird fair and boat tours”

From: [[email protected]] [mailto:[[email protected]]] On Behalf Of Alvaro Jaramillo
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 5:55 PM
To: 'peninsula birding'; South Bay Birds
Subject: [SBB] CBRC and rare local gulls.

Folks

For those of you who have been following the Slaty-backed Gull situation from last year, the CBRC (California Bird Records Committee) accepted all reported birds, 13 in all! This includes the Alviso bird, which is therefore the first accepted county record for that one, and the Alameda bird, again a new county record. The rest of the Slaty-backs were all from Half Moon Bay, at the now infamous Venice Beach. The Iceland Gull from Milpitas two winters back was accepted as well. I thought folks on these lists might be interested in these results. We shall see if this year is another good one for Slaty-backed in the region.

By the way, the Dusky Canada Goose at the mouth of Frenchman’s Creek (Venice Beach, Half Moon Bay) is still there. It now seems to like swimming up the creek, so it is not as obvious as it was earlier in December.

Good birding

Alvaro

Alvaro Jaramillo

[[email protected]]

Half Moon Bay, California

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