Summer 1996

Each season brings with it an unique avian fingerprint that is unlike that of any other. This summer season in Inyo County was no exception. It began with a beautiful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on an Eastern Sierra Audubon Society field trip to Birchim Canyon on June 1st. Steve Holland found the bird and although he’d never seen the bird in real life before he knew immediately what it was. He said that while looking at his field guide he would always pause at the picture of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and say to himself, “I’d love to see this one!” Well, he did, and so did the rest of the group. The same trip also produced a White-tailed Kite near Brockman Lane in northwest Bishop.

The most amazing event, though, was a pair of flightless, juvenile Buffleheads at the Bishop Sewer Ponds from 3 June to at least 8 July. This species normally breeds far to the north. A conversation with Mike San Miguel of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) indicates this was part of a bigger picture with a smattering of breeding records reported this year from far to the south of the normal breeding range.

An adult male Painted Bunting was bathing in our Big Pine yard on June 9th. These males frequently have trouble passing review by the CBRC as they are kept as caged birds in nearby Mexico and separating escapees from disoriented wild birds is difficult. However, the date is good for a late, out-of-range migrant.

An alternate (breeding) plumaged Common Loon was seen 10 June at Haiwee Reservoir for the first INYO June record ever. Four Black Swifts were found near Big Pine 13 June and 3 more at Onion Valley on 23 June. On 20 June, Bob & Barb Toth, of Bishop, banded a male Indigo Bunting at Wyman Canyon. That evening we were all serenaded by a Saw-whet Owl. Most amazing was a singing Winter Wren at Pine Creek on 30 June. Bob and Barb Toth were able to relocate the bird the following day. This species is usually absent from our area from March to October while it is breeding in the northwest of the country. We returned 11 July to see if it was still there and were unable to find it but did hear a singing Northern Pygmy Owl.

Tinemaha Reservoir again produced good birds with eleven Brant from 1-12 July, three remained until 21 July and on 9 July an adult Peregrine Falcon was perched in a favorite tree in the northwest corner. The same day a singing Yellow-billed Cuckoo was along the Owens River just north of the reservoir. Two adult male Summer Tanagers spent the summer at Baker Meadow, west of Big Pine. This area has proven to be a favorite summering area for almost a decade.

Finally, Andrew Kirk, of Independence, photographed breeding Lawrence’s Goldfinches near his home from late May into July. His wife, Leah, found a nest with eggs which later was empty and thought to be a victim of predation. Adults were seen feeding many juveniles. This is the third breeding record for INYO and its most northerly one.

Now is the time for another unique fingerprint—fall 1996. In fact, fall migration has been underway since late June as adult shorebirds began passing through on their long journey south. Also moving are the first Rufous Hummingbirds chasing everything, regardless of size, away from “their” flower or feeder. Warblers and flycatchers are beginning their trek along with tanagers, grosbeaks, buntings, hawks, ducks, swallows, sparrows, etc. It’s time for us to go out and wish them bon voyage and a safe return, and document the good ones we find!