This walk through beautiful Anderson River Park will be lead by Linda Aldrich, 223-5341. Meet at the Anderson River Park Amphitheater parking lot. The river access, ponds, marsh, riparian and oak woodlands are all accessible by an extensive trail system. All varieties of avian life are found here from waterfowl and Bald Eagles to California Scrub-Jays and warblers.
Tag Archives | birds
Red Bluff Christmas Bird Count
Meet in the parking lot at 460 Antelope Blvd (northwest of Chestnut traffic light) for assignments. Compilation at 5 pm at M&M Ranch House, 645 Antelope Blvd. Please call if you are coming and what area you prefer. Contact Karen Scheuermann, karens2020@gmail.com, 530-347-1687
Redding Christmas Bird Count
We have compiled 43 years of continuous records from this grand daddy of the local counts that began in 1975 in its current location. Assignments will be given in front of the main entrance to the Redding Civic Auditorium. We will assemble at 5 pm at Lulu’s Restaurant, 2230 Pine St., Redding (530-243-6251) for dinner and compilation. Contact Bill Oliver wwoliver9@gmail.com for more information.
Anderson Christmas Bird Count
This very successful count features much public land with ample opportunities for walking. Meet at the amphitheater parking lot in Anderson River Park for assignments from the Compiler, Brooke McDonald, bmm11@humboldt.edu. Compilation dinner will be at Humble Joe’s, 2631 Balls Ferry Road, Anderson at 5 pm..
First Snow Bunting Sighting for Shasta County
Snow Bunting in Shasta County
The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is a widespread breeder in rocky habitats on high arctic tundra across northern North America. In addition to their breeding grounds in North America (see map below), they also breed in rocky regions of the Palearctic:1 Iceland, higher mountains of northern Scotland, Svalbard (Norway), and most Russian arctic islands; on the mainland they breed in tundra regions of Norway east through northern Finland to Kola Peninsula (Russia), then east through Siberia to Chukchi and Kamchatka peninsulas and Komandorskiye (Commander) Islands.
The Snow Bunting’s winter diet is mainly weed seeds of ragweed, goosefoot, aster, goldenrod, grasses and grains like wheat, oats and barley. They forage on the ground, pecking at food. Again, according to Birds of North America Online, they winter in open weedy and grassy fields, grain stubbles, and shores; after heavy snowfall, they are conspicuous on roadsides and in farmyards. “They are also attracted to winter fields where farm manure has been recently spread; they appear to feed on undigested seeds in manure.”
Like most birds this lone Bunting stopped briefly for a little stretch, showing its outstretched wing.
Following a bit more foraging, I finally saw the bird fly. It flew up to roost on a nearby pile of old wooden posts. As is the habit of many birds after foraging and/or bathing, this Snow Bunting did some preening and posing for yet more photos.
What a treat to see this first Snow Bunting on record in Shasta County and a lifer for me! Thanks to conscientious birders and our local list serve, Shasta Birders! Here is a Google Map to the location: https://goo.gl/9fqaPA
Snow Bunting video from Cornwall, England. Thanks to Paul Dinning.
References: 1Birds of North America Online