February 2008 Birdlog

by Rich Stallcup

Like we said here at the end of January, “February may certainly be the most boring and un-eventful month of the year.” Spring migration has barely begun (swallows and hummingbirds arriving, gulls and diving-ducks departing), known rarities have been looked at so often their plumages have begun to fade, it rains a lot and gets dark too early.

Milkmaids and Flowering Currant brighten the woods while Fetid Adder’s Tongue does what it does mysteriously on the darkest forest floor. On sunny days in late February California Tortoiseshells are on the wing.

A Red-throated Loon was on Nicasio Reservoir 2/18 and 2/20 (RS,HC). There are fewer than five records of this species from Marin’s “interior” but surprisingly there are even fewer reports for the Common Loon. A Laysan Albatross seen on 3/8 (BF) and 2/10 (L&CL) from Lands End and Fort Miley in the San Francisco Headlands was “way up against the Marin side” as it flew east up the Golden Gate Channel.

A Wood Duck at Kentfield 12/31 until at least 2/20 (BL) was the only one there ever in many years of careful observation. A Black Merlin atop a vintage oak at the mall in Novato 2/17 (HC) was one of five found in Marin this winter. That race is Falco columbarius suckleyi (contra Peterson page 187) and that five is three more than for an average winter in Marin. Only one Glaucous Gull was found, that, a first-cycle individual at Drake’s Beach 2/13 (JH,RS). Migrating Swallows were rained-down 2/18 at Nicasio Reservoir and numbered 180 Tree and 60 Violet-green (RS).

OBSERVERS AND ACRONYMS

RS-Rich Stallcup, L&LC-Les and Cindy Lieurance, BL-Bill Lenarz, JH-Jack Hunter, BF-Brian Fitch, HC-Heather Cameron.

LOCATIONS

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