Yuba Pass and Sierra Valley Trip

June 17-18, 2006

LEAST BITTERN FOUND IN SIERRA VALLEY

Ixobrychus exilis strictly translated means "greedy eater of mistletoe, small or slender." In 1828, Gustaf Johan Billberg incorrectly gave this scientific name to what we commonly know as the Least Bittern. He intended to name this bird "reed boomer" or "reed roarer." It was thought that Bitterns pierced reeds and blew trough them to create a sound. The ancient Roman naturalist, Pliny, combined the words butio (bittern) and taurus (ox) to make butistaurus, "the bird that bellows like an ox."

These two men were not far off the mark, as 20 chapter members will attest. Many heard and most, if not all, saw the hard to find Least Bittern, which was hiding in the reeds at the iron bridge on Marble Hot Springs Road in the Sierra Valley. Though it was not as loud as an ox, the sound produced was certainly an odd moaning up and down type of noise. Being the size of a Meadowlark, living in the reeds and having the characteristic behavior of a Bittern make finding this bird a stroke of luck.

The birds of the Yuba Pass and Sierra Valley area offered many such wonderful experiences over the weekend. At our meeting place Saturday, Cassinπs Finches, Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks and a Lazuli Bunting were by the side of the road. A Brewerπs Sparrow and Vesper Sparrows were prominent at their usual corner of the valley. Sage Thrashers sang in their sage brush habitat. The marsh was filled with White-faced Ibis, Yellow-headed Blackbirds called and Marsh Wrens were at their nests. Coots escorted their young along the edges of open water. Black Terns and Wilsonπs Phalaropes flew over the marsh.

During lunch at the Loyalton Museum, a pair of soaring Swainsonπs Hawks flew near. Later on Smithneck Road, many Lewisπ Woodpeckers were seen, as well as a male Bullockπs Oriole, a passing Belted Kingfisher and a Golden Eagle. At the top of Antelope Valley Road, we found many Flickers, nesting Western Bluebirds and prominent Green-tailed Towhees.

After dinner some of us visited the scenic overlook down the east side of Yuba Pass. After some time we heard and saw Common Nighthawks and eventually a Common Poorwill flew in. Other Poorwills called. The first day of birding came to a close.

By contrast, the higher altitude birds of Yuba Pass were less prominent than the birds of the Sierra Valley. We walked north from the highway, as well as along the campground next to the meadow. Most of the birds here were either still building nests or sitting on their eggs. We saw a number of Western Wood-Pewees, including two nests, Brown Creepers at their nest behind a piece of bark, Robins feeding young, the White-headed Woodpeckers changed places at their nest hole and a Dusky flycatcher was seen building her nest. The Williamson Sapsuckers changed places at their nest hole on the edge of the meadow and a pair of Townsendπs Solitaires flew nearby.

A short stop at the SF State Field Campus was made to see another White-headed Woodpecker nest hole and then it was on to Bassetπs Station, famous for hummingbirds and ice cream. While some delighted in the frozen treat, others delighted in the numerous Calliope Hummingbirds. At this time our group dwindled to half and those remaining returned to the campground for lunch. Events of the weekend were recounted and a list compiled. We learned that 112 species were heard or seen. This is a respectable total and compares favorably with past years.

The late winter, no doubt, has affected the timing of natural events. Pools of water stood in the meadow at Yuba Pass earlier in the week and many flowers had not yet bloomed. In the Sierra Valley, it seemed water was lacking, but more likely the grass is so tall now because of the large volume of water. Remembering last year when temperatures on Saturday were in the 30s, the warm sunny weather necessitated the use of sun block, hats and the occasional head-dunking in a nearby stream.

Many thanks are owed to those who assisted in finding, identifying and experiencing the Sierra Nevada avifauna.

LIST OF BIRDS FOR SIERRA VALLEY

JUNE 17, 2006

Canada Goose Harriet Lane, the marsh

Gadwall Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Mallard Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Cinnamon Teal Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Northern Shoveler Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Canvasback Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Redhead Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Ruddy Duck Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Mountain Quail heard on Mt. Quail Road

California Quail the east end of Antelope Valley Road

Pied-billed Grebe Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

American White Pelican over the marsh from Marble Hot Springs Road, also on the reservoir near the west end of Antelope Valley Road

Double-crested Cormorant Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

American Bittern Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Least Bittern Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Great Egret Harriet Lane, the marsh

Snowy Egret Harriet Lane, the marsh

Green Heron Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Black-crowned Night-Heron Marble Hot Springs Road and Harriet Lane, the marsh

White-faced Ibis Marble Hot Springs Road and Harriet Lane, the marsh

Turkey Vulture flying several places over the Sierra Valley

Northern Harrier Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Swainsonπs Hawk A23 near Westside Road and Loyalton Museum

Red-tailed Hawk flying several places

Golden Eagle Rotary picnic area on Smithneck Road and the reservoir on Antelope Valley Road

American Kestrel west end of Marble Hot Springs Road

Prairie Falcon west end of Marble Hot Springs Road

Virginia Rail heard near the corner in the marsh, Marble Hot Springs Road

Sora heard near the corner in the marsh, Marble Hot Springs Road

American Coot with chicks in the marsh, Marble Hot Springs Road

Sandhill Crane distant views from Marble Hot Springs Road and Harriet Lane

Killdeer Harriet Lane and the pond west of Sierraville

Black-necked Stilt Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

American Avocet Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Greater Yellowlegs Harriet Lane

Willet Marble Hot Springs Road and Harriet Lane, the marsh

Wilsonπs Snipe seen from Harriet Lane, flying

Wilsonπs Phalarope seen from Harriet Lane, flying and also near the pond west of Sierraville

Ring-billed Gull at the Loyalton Museum

California Gull flying over the marsh and at the Loyalton Museum

Black Tern flying over marsh, Harriet Lane

Rock Pigeon Loyalton

Band-tailed Pigeon Antelope Valley Road

Common Nighthawk from the Scenic View on Highway 49, about 9 PM

Common Poorwill from the Scenic View on Highway 49, about 9 PM

Belted Kingfisher flying past the Rotary Picnic Area on Smithneck Road

Lewisπ Woodpecker all around the Rotary Picnic Area on Smithneck Road

White-headed Woodpecker in the burned area of Antelope Valley Road

Northern Flicker in the burned area of Antelope Valley Road

Western Wood-Pewee Mt. Quail Road and the Rotary Picnic Area on Smithneck Road

Gray Flycatcher heard on Mt. Quail Road

Western Kingbird Harriet Lane near farm houses

Cassinπs Vireo heard on Mt. Quail Road

Warbling Vireo at the Yuba Pass parking lot before departing for the Valley

Stellerπs Jay Antelope Valley Road, upper area

Western Scrub Jay Antelope Valley Road, east end

Black-billed Magpie Antelope Valley Road, east end

Common Raven flying over the valley at various places

Horned Lark at the Sparrow Corner at A23 and Westside Road

Tree Swallow

Cliff Swallow Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Barn Swallow Marble Hot Springs Road, the marsh

Mountain Chickadee Mt. Quail Road and Antelope Valley Road

House Wren Antelope Valley Road, east end

Marsh Wren at their nests at the corner of the marsh on Marble Hot Springs Road

Western Bluebird the upper section of Antelope Valley Road in the burned area

American Robin many places

Sage Thrasher the west end of Marble Hot Springs Road and the Feather River Land Trust property on A24

European Starling Loyalton

Nashville Warbler heard at Rotary Picnic Area

Yellow Warbler heard at Rotary Picnic Area

Yellow-rumped Warbler Mt. Quail Road

Green-tailed Towhee Mt. Quail Road and Antelope Valley Road

Spotted Towhee Mt. Quail Road

Chipping Sparrow heard on Mt. Quail Road

Brewerπs Sparrow at the Sparrow Corner at A23 and Westside Road

Vesper Sparrow at the Sparrow Corner at A23 and Westside Road

Lark Sparrow seen from the corner in the marsh on Marble Hot Springs Road

Dark-eyed Junco Mt. Quail Road

Black-headed Grosbeak seen in Sierra City before meeting at the Yuba Pass parking lot

Lazuli Bunting by the side of the road across from the Yuba Pass parking lot

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bullock's Oriole across Smithneck Road from the Rotary Picnic Area

Cassin's Finch by the side of the road across from the Yuba Pass parking lot

Pine Siskin by the side of the road across from the Yuba Pass parking lot

Evening Grosbeak by the side of the road across from the Yuba Pass parking lot

House Sparrow Loyalton

LIST OF BIRDS FOR YUBA PASS

JUNE 18, 2006

Blue Grouse heard from the logging road north of the highway

Mountain Quail heard from the logging road north of the highway

Turkey Vulture seen flying over the pass area

Anna's Hummingbird the feeders at Basset's Station

Calliope Hummingbird the feeders at Basset's Station

Williamson's Sapsucker at the nest hole, between the campground and the meadow

Red-breasted Sapsucker along the logging road across the highway and near the parking lot

White-headed Woodpecker at two nests, one along the logging road, the other at the SF State Field Station

Northern Flicker flying over the logging road and the Yuba Pass parking lot

Olive-sided Flycatcher seen and hard from the logging road across the highway

Western Wood-Pewee seen and heard from logging road and in campground

Hammond's Flycatcher seen and heard from the little service road to the left across the highway

Dusky Flycatcher building a nest near the logging road

Warbling Vireo seen and heard from the logging road and around the campground

Steller's Jay seen and heard from the logging road and around the campground

Common Raven flying over the meadow across the highway

Tree Swallow over the river at Bassets

Violet-green Swallow over the river at Bassets

Mountain Chickadee seen and heard from the logging road and around the campground

Read-breasted Nuthatch heard from the logging road

White-breasted Nuthatch near the logging road across the highway

Brown Creeper seen at a nest behind bark of a dead fir, near the logging road

Golden-crowned Kinglet heard from the logging road and around the campground

Townsend's Solitaire near the campground bathrooms and across from Basset's Station

Hermit Thrush heard only from the logging road and campground

American Robin many places and feeding young at one nest

Yellow-rumped Warbler along the logging road

Common Yellowthroat heard at the river at the SF State Field Station

Wilson's Warbler across from the Yuba Pass parking lot and at the SF State Field Station

Western Tanager along the logging road

Chipping Sparrow near the logging road across the highway

Dark-eyed Junco many around the Yuba Pass area

Brown-headed Cowbird heard near the Yuba Pass parking lot, seen at Basset's Station

Cassin's Finch by the side of the road at Yuba Pass

Pine Siskin by the side of the road at Yuba Pass

Evening Grosbeak by the side of the road at Yuba Pass