October 2005 was an excellent month for birders with many fall migrants. By November most of the migrants had left. The 141 bird species reported in October is our second highest total for October, and only surpassed by the 149 species seen in October 2002. The 105 bird species reported in November is on the low side, mainly because of a lack of reports of some common birds such as Great Blue Heron, Northern Shoveler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk and Spotted Towhee. As always, I expect that we will get many people who say, having read this article, “But I saw a ..... in November”!

Four Pacific Loons were reported in October, seen on four different reservoirs. Two of these birds continued to linger for the first half of November, while Common Loons were even more widespread. All six of our regular species of grebe were seen both months, including the less common Red-necked Grebe. American White Pelicans were seen both months, although the flock seen in November was in flight and headed southward. The number of Double-crested Cormorants dropped from 61 in October to a single bird in November. Although we have a small wintering population, most of these birds migrate south.

Shorebird migration was still going strong in early October with the most unusual species being four Black-bellied Plovers (last seen in 2002) and a Red Phalarope (last seen in 2000). Red Phalarope is our least common phalarope. Red-necked Phalarope was reported in October, but Wilson’s Phalarope was not reported either month. Small numbers of Least and Baird’s Sandpipers were seen in early October, and some flocks of Long-billed Dowitchers were seen both months. Virginia Rails were seen both months at Walden Ponds, and one Sora was seen in early October. Several observers reported migrating Sandhill Cranes.

There were large numbers of gulls present on our reservoirs for both months. Patient observers managed to find the occasional oddity. Two Sabine’s Gulls continued until mid-October at Boulder Reservoir. By mid-October all the Franklin’s Gulls had departed. Two Mew Gulls and four Bonaparte’s Gulls were reported in November. There were small numbers of California and Herring Gulls present among the thousands of Ring-billed Gulls. One Common Tern, the first for the year, was seen at Boulder Reservoir in October.

An Empidonax Flycatcher (species uncertain) was seen on 26 November which is the latest sighting for our records. By the end of the first week in October the last lingering swallows had disappeared. A Varied Thrush was seen at a feeder in a yard in Lafayette in November; this species was last seen in 2002. A few late warblers were seen in October including a Nashville Warbler and a Blackpoll Warbler. A Sage Sparrow reported in October was the most unusual sparrow sighting. October seems to be the only month in which both Chipping and American Tree Sparrows can commonly be seen, although there is usually little overlap with the Chipping Sparrows having migrated southward before the American Tree Sparrows have arrived. By the end of November, Gray-crowned Rosy Finches had returned to the feeders in Allenspark. TOP