[obol] continuing Little Blue Heron at Ship Ashore CA

[David Fix Jude Power]

Alan Barron of Crescent City called the Northwestern California Bird Alert (707) 822-5666 today with news that the adult or near-adult Little Blue Heron discovered by Dick Cronberg of Medford was seen again Tuesday between Smith River and Brookings.  Alan saw it in the old remnant boat basin immediately south of the Ship Ashore motel and restaurant parking lot.

To reach this spot, drive a few miles (not 10) south of the Oregon line and turn right (west) just beyond the unmistakable "ship" that is distinctly "ashore."  Go to the far left or south end of the parking lot.  You will see a manmade rubble islet just out into the Smith River estuary.  This spot is also sometimes good for shorebirds.  Snowy Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons also can be scanned for in this estuary, as they nest just offshore on Prince Island.  This is the 4th record of Little Blue Heron for Del Norte County.

In Humboldt County, a juv. male Ruff and 3 Baird's Sandpipers were seen on the muddy gravel bars in the lower Mad River, which can most easily be viewed by taking School Road off Hwy 101 at McKinleyville and continuing to its end just past Ocean Drive.  A short footpath leads upriver.  This is the spot where the Common Greenshank showed up a few years ago.  A bright male Am. Redstart was seen across the river in Mad River County Park this morning.  In Eureka, 300+ Elegant Terns continue to forage and roost in the ship channel, viewable from the w. end of Del Norte Street a few blocks off 101 or to the south from behind the Bayshore Mall.  190 Great Egrets and 40 Snowies were at Eel River Wildlife Area just s. of South Humboldt Bay this morning.  I checked the end of the south spit of Humboldt Bay this morning as well.  It looked ripe for Buff-breasted Sandpiper, but I didn't find one. 

Writing this, I heard a thunk at the window.  A stunned MacGillivray's Warbler is now resting in the dark of a kitchen drawer.  I will send this and then go see if it's ready to release.

David Fix
Arcata, California                  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/private/obol/attachments/20060829/8d9ea57d/attachment.html