Birding in the Basin - Lots of info

Hi Everyone:

Received several emails on birding this last weekend. Please see them below. If you have not gone to Lairds Landing - better not miss it - the eagles have landed!

Enjoy!
Cindy Deas
KLMS/KBBT/BRBT
892-0596

Charlotte Ann,

Thanks for the email inspiring me to go out to the Laird's Landing Bald Eagle Roosting site today.

There were six of us out there, between 3:15 and 5:00 PM: there was a couple from Shasta and another from Grass Valley (both couples were guests of Charlotte Ann), Charlotte Ann, and myself, Philip.

When we all got there, there were approximately forty Bald Eagles already roosting in the trees, with approximately two per minute arriving thereafter; building up to just over one-hundred at 5:00 PM.

Prior to going out to Laird's Landing, I did the short tour of LKNWR and bagged twenty-eight Bald Eagles in the exit tree line, and a couple out on the ice.
One item of note: about one third of today's Bald Eagles seemed to be Immature birds!
What a great way to spent the waning hours of the day!
Philip

Hi,

A big Thank You! to everyone who spent the day scouring the countryside searching for birds: Mary Ellen Sargent, Rick Hardy, BJ, Glenn, Wes Stone, Dave Haupt, Dave Larson, Helen Fitting and Karl Bachman, Daniel George, Carol Fields, Julie Vanmoorhem, Jean Van Hulzen, Marilyn Christian, Dave Potter, Sherry Perry, Bill and Elaine Deutschman, Lois Phillips, Trisha Roninger, Ruth Olsen, and Kevin Spencer. It actually was a pretty fair day considering the temperatures the previous week or so, and we also avoided getting wind which would have increased the chill factor. The final species count was 110. That is a very fair representation of what to expect for this area at this time of year. That number of species sits high among the previous Klamath Falls counts.

Some interesting species that made that list included: WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, a female, near the bridge over the Klamath River, just north of Miller Island, possibly hanging out among ducks near the Cogen site side of the river, (I'm still working on getting better details for that location) (I'll also mention that this bird is only the third record for Klamath Co., that I'm aware of, in the last 20 or so years), PEREGRINE FALCON, hanging out on the Cogen plant and Collins Wood Products side of the Klamath River, but was seen from Miller Island WMA by that group.

LEAST SANDPIPER, BLACK PHOEBE, NORTHERN SHRIKE (Miller Island Boat launch area at Klamath River), AMERICAN PIPIT (canal near Klamath Irrigation District on Short Rd.), FERRUGINOUS HAWK (near Tingley and Cross Rds.) , (4 !), RED_SHOULDERED HAWK- 3, WOOD DUCK, MEW GULL ( 1 adult at Lake Ewauna), 6 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLs (5 at Lake Ewauna), ROCK WREN (vocalizing in rim rock along Lower Klamath Lake Rd.), HORNED LARK (fields possibly south of Cross Road and west of Lower Klamath Lake Rd.... still working on better location information), and RED CROSSBILL. Big numbers of MOURNING DOVE.

That's much different than 20 years ago when those birds disappeared from the Basin in winter. More mild winters coupled with more feeders have evidently built their winter number over the last 10-15 years.

Only 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch was reported. They are not usually in great numbers, but usually a dozen or so have been reported in the previous years. Last year Pine Siskin had big numbers, but this year saw a return to 0, which was also the number reported 2 years ago. They appear to be erratic in their search for food and winter locations, and not necessarily having a population crash. Raptor and waterfowl numbers were about the same.

Mountain Chickadees appeared to be above average, with most in town or towns. No warblers, or any sign of the previously reported Long-tailed duck. Titmouse numbers were up, with reports from Moore Park, Wing-watchers Trail (?), and Greensprings area.

Again, thank you all for your effort. The species list speaks loud. That even in the tough times of winter, there's a diverse wildlife population if you get out there and look for it. Hope to see you all soon, enjoying what nature has provided. And of course, next year, when we get to do this all over again.
Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year. Kevin Spencer rriparia@charter.net kspencer@tulelake.k12.ca.us 541 884-5739