KRV Birds Winter 1999/2000

Goal: To provide a motivating mix of bird species observations with reports of interest to all birders: beginning to expert, Kern County &/or Tulare County specialists, northern California & southern California, out-of-California (U.S. & International), listers and non-listers,...

Major Tip: Birding early (starting at dawn) and carefully (spending time) = birds seen...

Sa, Feb 26 - A pair of Oak Titmice were observed mating from the Kern River Preserve Nature Trail. This is the fourth report of nesting season behavior this week...Red-shouldered Hawk increased activity on the Preserve all week, Rufous-crowned Sparrows paired up and exhibiting agitated behavior from human intrusion on Th, Feb 24, in Kern Canyon below Lake Isabella, and Common Raven carrying nesting material in Onyx on Fr, Feb 25. BB, TG, MuH.

Mo, Feb 21 - An adult male Scott's Oriole at a private home feeder in the settlement of Cane Brake is the first Kern River Valley sighting for this "spring." DLa.

Fr, Feb 18 - The Eastern Phoebe (see Feb 6, Jan 3 & 4) was not found despite a concerted effort on this morning. DLa, TR. There have been no reports since Su, Feb 6.

Th, Feb 11 - The Northern Shrike was observed in the morning in Wofford Heights. It was perched on top of one of the three crosses on the hill overlooking Lake Isabella. GB, BM

We, Feb 10 - The Northern Shrike was observed in the reservoir drawdown zone between Wofford Heights Park and Lake Isabella. JS.

Mo, Feb 7 - The Northern Shrike was still present in Wofford Heights (See Jan 16, 23, and 30). This time the bird was sitting on one of the three crosses on top of the hill down by the reservoir. JS.

Su, Feb 6 - The Eastern Phoebe was still present at Cane Brake Ecological Reserve (See Jan 3 & 4 account). On this date, the phoebe was "singing' its "song" for the first time. If you are interested in observing this bird, you must be escorted onto this area which is currently closed to the public. TG, JK.

Su, Feb 6 - American White Pelicans were observed from the southeast shore (South Fork Wildlife Area) of Isabella Reservoir. KP.

Su, Feb 6 - A Tree Swallow (See also Jan 24) observed just west of the Kern River Preserve Headquarters area was the first for the preserve this "spring." BB.

Su, Feb 6 - A Phainopepla was observed along the ranch road running west from KRP Headquarters. BB.

Tu, Feb 1 - An Anna's Hummingbird at a feeder in Havilah at 3500' was the first of "spring" for that location. JHo.

Su, Jan 30 - The Northern Shrike found by John Schmitt on January 16th (See also Jan 23) was still present in the community of Wofford Heights in the Kern River Valley. This most recent sighting was along Evans Road between Wofford Heights Park and the mobile home park and gun club on the hill to the northeast. DT, JW.

Sa, Jan 29 - Four Bald Eagles (1 adult and 3 immatures) and c. ten Mountain Bluebirds were observed on the ground and flying around at the end of the ranch road running west 0.7 mile from Kern River Preserve Headquarters. BB.

Sa, Jan 29 - Two adult Bald Eagles were observed at Kissack Cove on the south shore of Isabella Reservoir below the community of Mountain Mesa. TG, JK.

Sa, Jan 29 - A Common Loon in winter plumage was observed on Isabella Reservoir near the auxiliary dam. TG, JK.

Th, Jan 28 - Two Sage Thrashers were observed in the community of Onyx. TG. There have been several sightings of this species throughout January in several locations suggesting this species may be in fair numbers in the Kern River Valley this winter.

We, Jan 26 - Two adult Bald Eagles forced an Osprey to drop a fish back into Isabella Reservoir below Wofford Heights Park. BB.

Mo, Jan 24 - A Tree Swallow observed at Wofford Heights was the first for the Kern River Valley this "spring." TW.

Su, Jan 23 - The Northern Shrike found by John Schmitt on January 16th was still present in the willows running downslope to the west shore of Isabella Reservoir from Wofford Heights Park in the community of Wofford Heights in the Kern River Valley. TG, DLa, AS.

Mo, Jan 17 - American Dippers are being observed routinely along Hwy. 178 on rocks in the Kern River bed/Kern Canyon between Bakersfield and Lake Isabella. BB.

Su, Jan 16 - A Barn Swallow was observed in the vicinity of Wofford Heights Park on the west shore of Isabella Reservoir. This sighting was a First Kern Valley Winter record. JS.

Su, Jan 16 - A Northern Shrike (10th Kern County record...JS) was observed in the vicinity of Wofford Heights Park on the west shore of Isabella Reservoir. This bird has since been observed anywhere on the reservoir side of Tillie Creek Campground & Wofford Heights Park and along E. Evans Road from Wofford Heights Park northeast to the top of the hill overlooking Isabella Reservoir. This is the Second Kern Valley record and the first since a JW sighting over a decade ago. JS.

Fr, Jan 7 - A Ferruginous Hawk was observed at the junction of Kelso Valley Road and Cane Canyon. BB, BMc.

Tu, Jan 4 - Two Sage Thrashers and several Black-throated Sparrows were observed in Cane Canyon off of Kelso Valley Road six miles south of Hwy. 178 in Weldon. BB, BG, TG.

Mo & Tu, Jan 3 & 4 - An Eastern Phoebe (8th Kern County record) was observed at the Cane Brake Ecological Reserve on the South Fork Kern River ten miles east of the Kern River Preserve. This is the First Kern Valley record and 332nd species for the Kern River Valley. BB, BMc, et. al.

Mo, Jan 3 - Su, Jan 2 - 95 species of birds were reported on the South Fork Valley Christmas Bird Count. Check the national CBC web pages at http://www.birdsource.org for complete results. Feel free to e-mail for specific locations of bird sightings. BB.

Su, Jan 2 - Twelve American Dippers were observed along the Kern River above and below Isabella Reservoir. BB, LB, BG, DLa, BMc.

Su, Jan 2 - Nine Bald Eagles were observed around Isabella Reservoir. BB, LB, JW, DT, CM, JM.

Su, Jan 2 - A Horned Grebe was observed on Isabella Reservoir in the area of the auxiliary dam. JW, DT.

Su, Jan 2 - Two Common Loons were observed on Isabella Reservoir in the area of the auxiliary dam. JW, DT.

Su, Jan 2 - 115 species of birds were reported on the Kern River Valley Christmas Bird Count. Check the national CBC web pages at www.birdsource.org for complete results. Feel free to e-mail for specific locations of bird sightings. BB.

Observers:

BB-Bob Barnes, DB-Diana Beck, TB-Ted Beedy, LB-Len Bitetti, DVB-David Blue, GB-Gordon Black, MB-Mike Bumgardner, KC-Kurt Campbell, TC-Therese Clawson, EC-Emily Cohen, LC-Lori Conrad, MC-Mark Conrad, DC-Dan Cooper, LCu-Laura Cunningham, AD-Alice DeBolt, DD-Dave DeSante, JD-Jon Dunn, TE-Todd Easterla, KE-Kristin Enos, DE-Dick Erickson, AF-April Fisher, BF-Brian Fitch, SF-Sam Fitton, TG-Terrri Gallion, BG-Bruce Garlinger, KaG-Karen Gilbert, KG-Keith Gish, PG-Paul Green, MuH-Murrelet Halterman, GH-Gjon Hazard, JHe-Jo Heindel, MaH-Matt Heindel, TH-Tom Heindel, JHo-Jill Hoffman, SH-Steve Holden, VH-Vernon Howe, JH-Joan Humphrey, EK-Esther Kalinay, NK-Nancy Kenyon, JK-Jeff King, TK-Tom Koronkiewicz, DLa-Denise LaBerteaux, SAL-Stephen A. Laymon, LAAS-Los Angeles Audubon Society, JLo-John Lovio, DLu-David Lukas, JL-Janet Lynn, PM-Paul Mason, BM-Barbara Maxwell, BMc-Breck McAlexander, GMc-Guy McCaskie, DM-Dori Meyers, DMi - Donald Mitchell, CM-Clark Moore, JM-Jean Moore, NSAS-Napa-Solano Audubon Society, JN-Joann Nadler, MN-Mel Nadler, CO-Chris Otahal, LP-Len Pardue, MP-Michael Patten, KP-Karen Phillips, TP-Tal Pierson, JR- Jill Raffleson, TR-Teresa Ritter, ER-Eric Robinson, MSM-Mike San Miguel, JS-John Schmitt, AS-Alison Sheehey, DSh-Dave Shuford, TS-Todd Sloat, DSm-Don Smoltz, BS-Bob Steele, SS-Susan Steele, JSt-John Sterling, DSt-Dan Stoebel, MS-Mike Stone, DT-Deb Tenzer, RT-Reed Tollefson, RW-Richard Webster, MW-Mary Whitfield, AW-Alan Wight, RWi-Rio Wight, PLW-Pamela L. Williams, JW-John Wilson, JoW-Jon Winter, TW-Tom Wurster, DY-David Yee, mob-many observers.

Recommended Winter Birding Areas/Birding Strategies:

Note: If you are going to cut your birding day short, it is highly recommended that you do so at the end of your birding day rather than at the beginning. The most successful birding in the Kern River Valley and vicinity requires an early start (30-45 minutes before sunrise). Spend the mornings in the low country and the afternoons in the high country. If you are able to spend several days birding this area, visits to the high country some mornings will likely prove more productive than afternoon visits.

Bob Barnes & Associates • PO Box 953, Weldon, CA 93283 • E-mail: Bob Barnes

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This page was last updated on Saturday, August 25, 2007