Birding in Chico

Birds sighted at Indian Fisheries, 10/22/09

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

California Quail

Rock Dove

Acorn Woodpecker

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Black Phoebe

Western Scrub Jay

Yellow-Billed Magpie

American Crow

Oak Titmouse

Bush Tit

White-breasted Nuthatch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxing

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

California Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

House Finch

Good outing to Horseshoe Lake. Birds sighted were:

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Mallard

American Kestrel

Rock Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Acorn Woodpecker

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Black Phoebe

Hutton’s Vireo

Western Scrub-Jay

American Crow

Oak Titmouse

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Western Bluebird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

California Towhee

Golden Crowned Sparrow

Oregon Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Brewer’s Blackbird

On Sunday August 23rd I spotted a Greater Roadrunner at the airport. It was about  7:30 a.m., the weather was clear, warm and no wind. I was going West on Ryan Ave. toward Cohasset Road on a bike ride with two others when a Greater Road Runner crossed the road about 20 yards ahead of us. It did not seem to be bothered by the bikes, and paused at the edge of the road as we went passed. I was about 10 feet from it and had an excellent look. The Greater Roadrunner is a large bird, about 23 in. long.

The Greater Roadrunner has been seen at the airport before but this was my first sighting there. The Greater Roadrunner is a permanent resident of Butte County but sightings are fairly rare because of the few number of individuals. This is only my second sighting of a Roadrunner in the last 20 years in Butte County. Keep your eyes open!

Carl

A tentative schedule of viewing sites follows:

October 15

Upper Bidwell Park

Meet at the Old Rifle Range just above the golf course at 9 A.M.

October 22

Bidwell River State Park, Indian Fisheries Unit

Meet at Indian Fisheries, West end of Sacramento Ave. at 9 A.M.

October 29

Butte College Wildlife Refuge & Nature Area

Meet at the South end of Raley’s parking lot in Chico, near Kragen Auto Parts.

We will leave the parking lot at at 9:00 A.M Sharp!

November 5

Feather River Parkway, Oroville

Meet at the South end of Raley’s parking lot in Chico, near Kragen Auto Parts.

We will leave the parking lot at 9:00 A.M Sharp!

November 12

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Llano Seco, 7 Mile Lane.

Meet at viewing stand at 9 A.M.

November 19

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows

Meet at the South end of Raley’s parking lot in Chico, near Kragen Auto Parts.

We will leave the parking lot at at 9:00 A.M Sharp! Return around 12:30.

December  3

Cottonwood Road, South of Chico

Meet at the South end of Raley’s parking lot in Chico, near Kragen Auto Parts.

We will leave the parking lot at at 9:00 A.M Sharp! Return around 12:30.

Note: Rain will cancel our outing. I will contact you by e-mail before 8:30 a.m. if we have to cancel.

Turkey Vulture
Great Egret
Mallard
Northern Pintail?
Red-shouldered Hawk
Killdeer
Rock Dove
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Black Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Violet Green Swallow
Oak Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Mockingbird
Brewer’s Blackbird