[obol] Blackpolls in Humboldt?

[David Fix Jude Power]

In response to Dave Irons' prompt, I have taken Northwestern California Birds (Stanley W. Harris, 2005) from the shelf.  Harris describes Blackpoll Warbler as follows: 

"Rare fall migrant; casual spring migrant.

"Fully 97% of the 206 records are for fall migration, earliest, 27 Aug 1987 (Manila, J. Sterling), latest 15 Nov 1998, Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary (D. Fix et al.).

"Only 6 records of singing males in spring, earliest, 6 May 1987, Fairhaven, latest, 24-26 Jun 1995 (Elk Head, T. Leskiw) and one female 8 Jul 1997, Pt. St. George (A. Barron, FN 51:1050).

"Sixty-four percent (131) of the 206 records have been from dune-hollow willows or riparian cover on North Spit, Humboldt Bay, between the mouth of Mad River and North Jetty, mostly at or near Fairhaven.  The remaining birds were scattered throughout the coastal lowlands from Pt. St. George to Ft. Bragg, and east to the Humboldt State University campus.

"Earliest historic record: Fairhaven 23 Sep 1968 (R. Stallcup, Amer. Birds 23:104)."        


I might add that over the past 8 years including fall 2006, an average of about ten per fall were found in Humboldt County.  The range is all over the place, with a low of something like 1 or 2 and, exceptionally, one year at least 23 and possibly 25.  The coastal willows get birded pretty often in September.   

Harris's book takes in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, western Siskiyou, and northern Mendocino counties.   

And nope...Jude and I don't have Blackpoll on our yard list!  Rose-breasted Grosbeak, N. Mockingbird, and Harris's Sparrow are, I think, more overdue.
 
David Fix
Arcata, California
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