Hi Bob, The weather conditions and foraging for food may have an impact on moving a Black-billed Magpie further west from its typical habitat. Rich Cimino Marin County
   
    
     
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I'd just urge caution. The last photo I saw of a "Black-billed Magpie" in the Central Valley, it was feeding with Yellow-billeds, and it was the SAME size as the Yellow-billed Magpies it was with. More likely a pigment anomaly than a 'vagrant', in that case.
I am not aware of any well-documented records for the CV, but if anyone knows of one, let me know.
Ed Pandolfino
      
      
          
              
              
                   On Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 03:57:39 PM PDT, Ken Burton  wrote:
              
              

              

               There are a few "out-of-range" records of both species but it's not a normal occurrence.
   
    
     
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There are a few "out-of-range" records of both species but it's not a normal occurrence.
   
    
     
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Hello all,
Two days ago John Muegge found and photographed a Black-billed Magpie that was accompanied by a Yellow-billed Magpie in the Nur Pon Recreation Area along the Sacramento River in Redding. The bird was seen again in that area and well photographed yesterday.
Black-billed Magpies are regular in our basin country in the Fall River Valley 75 miles east of Redding. They are regularly seen on the Fall River Mills CBC and are most often seen at Fall River Lake in Fall River Mills.
Yellow-billed Magpies are regular at low elevation sites in the Redding and Anderson area. Of possible interest is that we saw a Yellow-billed Magpie on the Fall River Mills CBC on December 16, 1989.
Both of these species have now been seen in their opposite elevation and habitat in our county with no records that we are aware of between these elevations.
Neither species is known to wander in elevation or range to any degree at all, are they
Bob Yutzy

From Bob & Carol Yutzy Redding, Ca

Hello Calbirders

I plan to visit Central California from 15-23 February and have a few bird and mammal targets in mind as well as a few commoner widespread species that I have missed in the past. I will visit San Francisco, Monterey/Big Sur/Ano Nuevo (mainly for whales/Elephant Seals etc) inland to Pinnacles and Mercey hot Springs/Panoche, Point Reyes (Bobcats) and north along the coast to Fort Bragg. Possibly, I might try a night at Lake Tahoe but this will be weather dependant. I would appreciate any advice on seeing the following (sites obtained from ebird):
Coastal/valley areas (bold= main targets)
Sooty Grouse: King Ridge Rd, Sonoma Co.
Black Rail: Palo Alto Baylands (or Arrowhead Park/Corte Madera Marsh/South Richmond Shoreline) Or elsewhere.
Slaty-backed Gull: Half Moon Bay SB--Venice Beach and Pilarcitos Creek Mouth
American Long-eared Owl: Mercey Hot Springs roost, Robinson Canyon
Northern Spotted Owl: Any areas worth trying/Contacts
Red-naped Sapsucker: Pescadero Creek Rd (Butano Creek Riparian area)
Canada Jay: Van Damme SP
Canyon Wren: Pinnacles/Garrapata/Panoche
Sage Thrasher: Any staked-out birds
Western Tanager: Calabrasas Park, Los Altos/San Jose or elsewhere.
Bells Sparrow: Gloria Rd & Panoche Hills
Sagebrush Sparrow: Panoche Hills
Rufous-crowned Sparrow: Garrapata, Pinnacles, Malpaso canyon (access)
Slate-coloured Fox Sparrow:
Swamp Sparrow: Point Reyes
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Evening Grosbeak: Point Reyes Station/Los Altos
Tahoe area
Williamsons Sapsucker: Taylor Creek, Tahoe
Black-backed Woodpecker: Tahoe
Clarks Nutcracker: Tahoe
Black-billed Magpie: Tahoe
Grey-crowned Rosy-finch: Staked-out/Feeders

Tom,

Excellent directions can be found in the post by Rosie and Chris Howard to the Eastern Sierra Google Group. The post can be found by Googling "Barred Owl Bishop" (it is the first result), or at either of these two links:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/easternsierrabirds/gag2fTLiPR4

http://digest.sialia.com/rm=message;id=1142510

When the owl is in its usual perch, it is usually present all day. When it is not there, nobody knows where it is. I saw rosy-finches in Aspendell and Black-billed Magpies in Round Valley (both just east of Bishop) last weekend when I was there.

Tom Benson

San Bernardino, CA

On Saturday (January 16) I visited Quincy and found the BLUE
JAY after about an hour of searching.
While watching the feeders along Monte Vista I heard the bird calling
from west of Coburn and eventually tracked it to a yard along Boyle Street in
between Coburn and Alder where it was with a group of Stellers Jays. It eventually flew off into the tall pines
near the school. From
previous reports and advice from locals it seems to range over a pretty large
area of the neighborhood, and usually associates with one of the groups of
Stellers Jays. A couple photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78394132@N00/24430989455/in/dateposted/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/78394132@N00/24347797821/in/photostream/
In a couple hours searching Saturday afternoon I failed to
turn up even any goldfinches in Chester, but had better luck on Monday morning when I found the continuing COMMON REDPOLL with a group of about 20 Lesser
Goldfinches and Pine Siskins in a birch tree at the corner of Riverside and
Fourth. Photo here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78394132@N00/24360489312/in/dateposted/
For anyone chasing these birds from other areas of the
state, a stop at Stampfli Lane near Greensville (just off the 89, between
Quincy and Chester) may be worthwhile. I
had a NORTHERN SHRIKE in the small
wetland area, south of Stampfli between the 89 and the railroad tracks (one was
previously reported here back in December as well). A few hundred yards further there were
several Black-billed Magpies near the first couple farm houses on the north
side. A Rough-legged Hawk was also
working this area.
Alex Abela

Calbirders,
In 2010 I fulfilled a long-time goal of doing a big year in California.
The year ended with 444 species. In addition, I saw 16 non-countable
species. I birded daily except for March through mid-June due to a
work-induced hiatus.
My non-birding friends found some aspects of my big year experience
humorous, interesting and/or offensive, including:
* over 32,000 miles driven in the State
* 18 round-trip plane trips to Northern California from LA
* 5 unsuccessful trips from LA to Newberry Springs to look for Common
Grackle (I eventually got a different bird in LA)
* 2 trips / 4 mostly rainy days spent looking for Brown Shrike
* 14 unsuccessful trips to La Mirada Creek Park to look for
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (I got it on my 15th trip. I have no plans to
ever visit LMCP again.)
* 4 unsuccessful trips to look for the Pyrrhuloxia

I missed 65 of the 499 countable species reported in eBird this year,
including some common species:
* Sooty Grouse
* 14 pelagic species
* California Condor
* Barred Owl
* Northern Saw-whet Owl
* Gray Vireo
* Pine Grosbeak
I was left with a new appreciation for the heroic effort of the Howes in
their record big year. I also developed a strong belief that eBird is
an important and powerful tool for capturing status and distribution
data. I believe we are just scratching the surface of what that
database will eventually become. BirdsEye was a great tool for planning
trips using eBird data.
Thanks to the many birders who report in eBird or the listservs, and to
those who provided generous help!
Below is a list of the birds I observed during the year. Feel free to
contact me offline if you have any questions or if you would like to
flame me for my use of fossil fuels.
Dave Bell

Species observed that appear on the CBRC list of California Birds:
TAIGA BEAN-GOOSE: IMP Sonny Bono Unit 1 tibg spot 10 Nov 2010Greater
White-fronted Goose: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Snow Goose: Davis WTP 09 Jan
2010Ross's Goose: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Brant: Bolinas Lagoon--IBA 10 Jan
2010Cackling Goose: Inverness Park 10 Jan 2010Canada Goose: San Diego
Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Tundra Swan: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Wood Duck:
San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Gadwall: San Diego Wild Animal
Park 01 Jan 2010Eurasian Wigeon: Bolinas Lagoon--IBA 10 Jan 2010American
Wigeon: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Mallard: Tijuana
Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Blue-winged Teal: Yolo Bypass
Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Cinnamon Teal: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01
Jan 2010Northern Shoveler: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Northern Pintail: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Green-winged
Teal: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Canvasback: SOL Lagoon Valley
park area 06 Jan 2010Redhead: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 18 Jan
2010Ring-necked Duck: Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility 10 Jan
2010Tufted Duck: Lake Merritt 14 Jan 2010Greater Scaup: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Lesser Scaup: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast
Dr. 01 Jan 2010King Eider: Cabrillo Beach 16 Jan 2010Harlequin Duck: Pt.
Reyes--Fish Docks 08 Oct 2010Surf Scoter: Venice Beach 03 Jan
2010White-winged Scoter: Dockweiler SB 10 Feb 2010Black Scoter:
Dockweiler SB 19 Feb 2010Long-tailed Duck: Malibu Pier 26 Jan
2010Bufflehead: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Common
Goldeneye: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05 Jan 2010Barrow's Goldeneye: Lake Merritt
14 Jan 2010Hooded Merganser: SOL Lagoon Valley park area 06 Jan
2010Common Merganser: Folsom Lake--Beals Pt. 13 Jan 2010Red-breasted
Merganser: Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan 2010Ruddy Duck: San Diego
Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Mountain Quail: RIV Main Divide Truck Trail
mid 09 Jun 2010California Quail: ALP river ranch rd 12 Jan 2010Gambel's
Quail: Salton Sea NWR--Unit 2 / Visitor Center 24 Jan 2010Chukar:
Galileo Hill--Silver Saddle Ranch and Club 08 Dec 2010Ring-necked
Pheasant: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Ruffed Grouse: Redwood
NP--Tall Trees Rd. 27 Feb 2010Greater Sage-Grouse: Benton Crossing Rd.
07 Dec 2010Wild Turkey: AMA Ione STP 13 Jan 2010Red-throated Loon:
Venice Beach 03 Jan 2010Pacific Loon: Venice Beach 03 Jan 2010Common
Loon: Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan 2010YELLOW-BILLED LOON: Castaic
Lagoon 27 Mar 2010Pied-billed Grebe: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan
2010Horned Grebe: Burton W. Chace County Park 03 Jan 2010Red-necked
Grebe: Lake Merritt 14 Jan 2010Eared Grebe: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast
Dr. 01 Jan 2010Western Grebe: Burton W. Chace County Park 03 Jan
2010Clark's Grebe: Candlestick Pt. 07 Jan 2010Laysan Albatross: Arena
Cove 02 Dec 2010Black-footed Albatross: Offshore--southwest of Pt.
Conception (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Northern Fulmar: Pt. Loma--nearshore (SD
Co.) 14 Mar 2010COOK'S PETREL: Offshore--Escarpment between Rodriguez
and San Juan (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Pink-footed Shearwater: Nine Mile Bank
(SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010Buller's Shearwater: Offshore--Escarpment between
Rodriguez and San Juan (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Sooty Shearwater: Nine Mile
Bank (SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010Short-tailed Shearwater: Monterey Bay pelagic
(SCZ Co.) 12 Sep 2010Black-vented Shearwater: Pt.
Vicente--Seawatch/Whalewatch 10 Feb 2010Leach's Storm-Petrel: Santa
Barbara Channel--west channel (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Ashy Storm-Petrel:
Santa Barbara Channel--west channel (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Black
Storm-Petrel: Santa Barbara Channel--west channel (SBA Co.) 31 Jul
2010Least Storm-Petrel: Monterey Bay pelagic (SCZ Co.) 12 Sep
2010RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD: Nine Mile Bank (SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010American
White Pelican: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Brown Pelican: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Brandt's Cormorant: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010NEOTROPIC CORMORANT: Ramer Lake 10 Jul
2010Double-crested Cormorant: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Pelagic Cormorant: Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan 2010American
Bittern: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 16 Jan 2010Least Bittern: Ramer
Lake 10 Jul 2010Great Blue Heron: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01
Jan 2010Great Egret: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Snowy
Egret: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Little Blue Heron:
Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Reddish Egret: Seal Beach
NWR 12 Mar 2010Cattle Egret: Finney Lake 24 Jan 2010Green Heron: Salton
Sea SRA--Headquarters and Campground 25 Jan 2010Black-crowned
Night-Heron: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron: Imperial Beach Sports Park 14 Feb 2010White-faced Ibis: San
Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Wood Stork: Salton Sea--Schrimpf Rd.
Cove 20 Aug 2010BLACK VULTURE: SBA Goleta BLVU roost spot 06 Nov
2010Turkey Vulture: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Osprey:
Bolinas Lagoon--IBA 10 Jan 2010White-tailed Kite: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05
Jan 2010Bald Eagle: ALP indian ck res 12 Jan 2010Northern Harrier:
Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Sharp-shinned Hawk: San
Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Cooper's Hawk: ORA back bay at
jamboree 01 Jan 2010Northern Goshawk: ALP river ranch rd 12 Jan
2010Red-shouldered Hawk: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05 Jan 2010Broad-winged Hawk:
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve 05 Dec 2010Swainson's Hawk: Sacramento
International Airport 22 Mar 2010Zone-tailed Hawk: San Diego Wild Animal
Park 14 Feb 2010Red-tailed Hawk: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Ferruginous Hawk: SAC lark bunting spot 08 Jan 2010Rough-legged
Hawk: Foothill Rd. 12 Jan 2010Golden Eagle: SIE sierra valley 12 Jan
2010CRESTED CARACARA: Smith River Bottoms--southern 01 Dec 2010American
Kestrel: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Merlin: La Mirada
Creek Park 16 Jan 2010Peregrine Falcon: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr.
01 Jan 2010Prairie Falcon: SAC lark bunting spot 08 Jan 2010Black Rail:
Rush Ranch 03 Dec 2010Clapper Rail: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01
Jan 2010Virginia Rail: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Sora:
Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010PURPLE GALLINULE: San
Gabriel River--Peck Rd. to Whittier Narrows Dam 22 Sep 2010Common
Moorhen: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010American Coot: San Diego
Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Sandhill Crane: SAC lark bunting spot 08 Jan
2010Black-bellied Plover: Napa Valley Marina area 10 Jan 2010Pacific
Golden-Plover: Shollenberger Park 10 Jan 2010Snowy Plover: Tijuana River
mouth 14 Feb 2010WILSON'S PLOVER: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 13 Apr
2010Semipalmated Plover: Salton Sea--Lack Rd. at Lindsey Rd. 24 Jan
2010Killdeer: Candlestick Pt. 07 Jan 2010Mountain Plover: LA 110th k to
I 28 Nov 2010AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER: Golden Shore Marine Reserve 10 Jun
2010Black Oystercatcher: Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan
2010Black-necked Stilt: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010American
Avocet: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Spotted Sandpiper:
Candlestick Pt. 07 Jan 2010Solitary Sandpiper: Mill Creek--Hellman Ave.
20 Aug 2010Wandering Tattler: Ballona Creek 18 Feb 2010Greater
Yellowlegs: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Willet: Tijuana
Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Lesser Yellowlegs: ORA Bolsa Chica
05 Apr 2010Whimbrel: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Long-billed Curlew: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010HUDSONIAN GODWIT: Piute Ponds 22 May 2010BAR-TAILED GODWIT: Imperial
Beach--Camp Surf 03 Aug 2010Marbled Godwit: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast
Dr. 01 Jan 2010Ruddy Turnstone: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 16 Jan
2010Black Turnstone: Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan 2010Surfbird:
Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan 2010Red Knot: Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve 22 Jun 2010Sanderling: Playa del Rey--breakwater 03 Jan
2010Semipalmated Sandpiper: Los Angeles River--Willow St. 27 Jul
2010Western Sandpiper: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 16 Jan 2010Least
Sandpiper: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Baird's Sandpiper: Los
Angeles River--Del Amo Blvd. 27 Aug 2010Pectoral Sandpiper: Los Angeles
River--Willow St. 20 Jul 2010Rock Sandpiper: Humboldt Bay--North Spit 26
Feb 2010Dunlin: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Stilt Sandpiper: Salton Sea--Lack
Rd. at Lindsey Rd. 24 Jan 2010BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: Los Angeles
River--Del Amo Blvd. 28 Aug 2010Ruff: Salton Sea--Schrimpf Rd. at Davis
Rd. 20 Aug 2010Short-billed Dowitcher: San Diego River--mouth 13 Feb
2010Long-billed Dowitcher: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan
2010Wilson's Snipe: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Wilson's Phalarope: Lancaster
Sewage Ponds 22 May 2010Red-necked Phalarope: LA Catalina Channel 02 May
2010Red Phalarope: LA Catalina Channel 02 May 2010Black-legged
Kittiwake: Humboldt Bay--South Spit 27 Feb 2010IVORY GULL: SLO Pismo
Beach at Grand Ave 06 Nov 2010Sabine's Gull: Offshore--southwest of Pt.
Conception (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Bonaparte's Gull: Ellis Creek Water
Recycling Facility 10 Jan 2010LITTLE GULL: Lake Perris SP 13 Mar
2010Laughing Gull: Bonelli Park 19 Jan 2010Franklin's Gull: Lancaster
Sewage Ponds 22 May 2010BLACK-TAILED GULL: LA W Alamitos Bay, Bayshore
Dr. 08 Nov 2010Heermann's Gull: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Mew Gull: Candlestick Pt. 07 Jan 2010Ring-billed Gull: Tijuana
Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Western Gull: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Yellow-footed Gull: Salton Sea--south end
24 Jan 2010California Gull: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Herring Gull: Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Thayer's Gull: Davis WTP 09 Jan
2010LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL: Salton Sea--Obsidian Butte 24 Jan
2010Glaucous-winged Gull: Candlestick Pt. 07 Jan 2010Glaucous Gull:
Crescent City Harbor 01 Dec 2010SOOTY TERN: Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve 05 Jul 2010Least Tern: LA Catalina Channel 02 May
2010Gull-billed Tern: Salton Sea--Lack Rd. at Grubel Rd. seawall 10 Jul
2010Caspian Tern: Cabrillo Beach 16 Jan 2010Black Tern: Lancaster Sewage
Ponds 22 May 2010Common Tern: Piute Ponds 22 May 2010Arctic Tern:
Rodriguez Seamount (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Forster's Tern: Venice Beach 03
Jan 2010Royal Tern: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Elegant
Tern: Pt. Loma--nearshore (SD Co.) 14 Mar 2010Black Skimmer: Tijuana
River mouth 14 Feb 2010South Polar Skua: LA Catalina Channel 02 May
2010Pomarine Jaeger: Nine Mile Bank (SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010Parasitic
Jaeger: Nine Mile Bank (SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010Long-tailed Jaeger: Rodriguez
Seamount (SBA Co.) 31 Jul 2010Common Murre: Chadbourne Gulch 26 Feb
2010Pigeon Guillemot: Pt. Bonita Lighthouse 24 Jul 2010Marbled Murrelet:
Chadbourne Gulch 26 Feb 2010Xantus's Murrelet: Nine Mile Bank (SD Co.)
13 Feb 2010Ancient Murrelet: Imperial Beach Pier 03 Dec 2010Cassin's
Auklet: Nine Mile Bank (SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010Rhinoceros Auklet: Nine Mile
Bank (SD Co.) 13 Feb 2010Tufted Puffin: Farallon Islands (SF Co.) 24 Jul
2010Rock Pigeon: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Band-tailed
Pigeon: LA Eaton Canyon 17 Jan 2010Eurasian Collared-Dove: San Diego
Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Spotted Dove: Salt Lake Park 14 Jul
2010White-winged Dove: Niland 24 Jan 2010Mourning Dove: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Inca Dove: Salton Sea NWR--Unit 2 / Visitor
Center 24 Jan 2010Common Ground-Dove: Salton Sea NWR--Unit 2 / Visitor
Center 24 Jan 2010Red-crowned Parrot: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan
2010Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Blythe 10 Jul 2010Greater Roadrunner: Salton
Sea--Obsidian Butte 24 Jan 2010Barn Owl: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05 Jan
2010Flammulated Owl: Buckhorn Campground 12 Jul 2010Western Screech-Owl:
Occidental 09 Oct 2010Great Horned Owl: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan
2010Northern Pygmy-Owl: Fish Creek trail 11 Jul 2010ELF OWL: Riverside
05 Aug 2010Burrowing Owl: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 18 Jan
2010Spotted Owl: LA chantry truck road 0.6mm 15 Nov 2010Long-eared Owl:
Mercey Hot Springs 11 Nov 2010Short-eared Owl: SJ hwy 12 w of I-5 03 Jan
2010Lesser Nighthawk: 2N02 crest w of Arrastre 10 Jul 2010Common
Nighthawk: 3N03 mm0.6-mm0.9 from 2N02 10 Jul 2010Common Poorwill: LA Hwy
2 mm67.44 12 Jul 2010Whip-poor-will: LA Hwy 2 mm67.44 12 Jul 2010Black
Swift: Monkeyface Falls 09 Jul 2010Vaux's Swift: Laguna Niguel Regional
Park 14 Apr 2010White-throated Swift: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area 09 Jan
2010BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD: Sunnyslope Park 21 Dec 2010Black-chinned
Hummingbird: Laguna Niguel Regional Park 11 Apr 2010Anna's Hummingbird:
Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Costa's Hummingbird: San Diego Wild
Animal Park 14 Feb 2010Calliope Hummingbird: Fish Creek trail 09 Jul
2010Broad-tailed Hummingbird: SBA Fairview Gardens 15 Jan 2010Rufous
Hummingbird: Laguna Niguel Regional Park 12 Apr 2010Allen's Hummingbird:
Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Belted Kingfisher: Napa Valley
Marina area 10 Jan 2010Lewis's Woodpecker: Scott Rd.--north 13 Jan
2010Acorn Woodpecker: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan 2010Gila Woodpecker: Cattle
Call Park 24 Jan 2010Williamson's Sapsucker: Veterans Park (LA Co.) 17
Jan 2010Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Edward Vincent Jr Park 23 Nov
2010Red-naped Sapsucker: LA Mountain View Cemetery 27 Nov
2010Red-breasted Sapsucker: Folsom Lake--Beals Pt. 13 Jan
2010Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Niland 25 Jan 2010Nuttall's Woodpecker:
San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Downy Woodpecker: Inverness Park
10 Jan 2010Hairy Woodpecker: Bolinas Lagoon--IBA 10 Jan 2010White-headed
Woodpecker: Arrastre Creek at 2N02 10 Jul 2010Black-backed Woodpecker:
June Lake burn--west of 395 07 Dec 2010Northern Flicker: SOL 7457 Timm
rd 05 Jan 2010Gilded Flicker: Mojave National Preserve--Cima Rd. at
Powerline Rd. 16 Jul 2010Pileated Woodpecker: Yosemite NP--Mirror Lake
20 Sep 2010Olive-sided Flycatcher: Fish Creek trail 09 Jul 2010Western
Wood-Pewee: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 20 May 2010Willow Flycatcher:
Morongo Valley 11 Jun 2010Least Flycatcher: DeForest Park 26 Nov
2010Hammond's Flycatcher: Apollo Park 22 May 2010Gray Flycatcher: Cattle
Call Park 24 Jan 2010Dusky Flycatcher: Apollo Park 22 May
2010Pacific-slope Flycatcher: Laguna Niguel Regional Park 06 Apr
2010Cordilleran Flycatcher: Mojave National Preserve--New York
Mtns.-Caruthers Cyn. 16 Jul 2010Black Phoebe: Encinitas Viewpoint Park
01 Jan 2010Eastern Phoebe: Ocean Meadows Golf Course 15 Jan 2010Say's
Phoebe: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Vermilion
Flycatcher: Cattle Call Park 24 Jan 2010Dusky-capped Flycatcher: La
Mirada Creek Park 27 Mar 2010Ash-throated Flycatcher: Cattle Call Park
24 Jan 2010Brown-crested Flycatcher: Morongo Valley 11 Jun 2010Tropical
Kingbird: Whittier Narrows--Legg Lake 25 Jan 2010Cassin's Kingbird:
Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD: SD
chula vista open space 21 Dec 2010Western Kingbird: Castaic Lagoon 27
Mar 2010Eastern Kingbird: Andree Clark Bird Refuge 06 Sep 2010BROWN
SHRIKE: McKinleyville--Vista Point ponds 15 Dec 2010Loggerhead Shrike:
Davis WTP 09 Jan 2010Bell's Vireo: Laguna Niguel Regional Park 12 Apr
2010Plumbeous Vireo: Whittier Narrows--Legg Lake 09 Feb 2010Cassin's
Vireo: LA Hwy 2 mm67.44 12 Jul 2010Hutton's Vireo: Folsom Lake--Beals
Pt. 13 Jan 2010Warbling Vireo: Santiago Canyon Rd. 26 Mar 2010Gray Jay:
Church Tree Rd. 01 Dec 2010Steller's Jay: Inverness Park 10 Jan
2010Island Scrub-Jay: Santa Cruz Island--Prisoners Harbor 26 Aug
2010Western Scrub-Jay: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan
2010Pinyon Jay: Mono Mills 07 Dec 2010Black-billed Magpie: ALP mud lake
rd (including sewage ponds) 12 Jan 2010Yellow-billed Magpie: SOL 7457
Timm rd 05 Jan 2010Clark's Nutcracker: Kirkwood (ALP Co.) 20 Mar
2010American Crow: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Common Raven: San
Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Horned Lark: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Northern Rough-winged Swallow: San Joaquin
Wildlife Sanctuary 18 Jan 2010Purple Martin: Lost Lake 15 Jul 2010Tree
Swallow: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 18 Jan 2010Violet-green Swallow:
SD Coyote Canyon Rd 06 Mar 2010Bank Swallow: San Joaquin Wildlife
Sanctuary 22 Apr 2010Barn Swallow: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 19 Jan
2010Cliff Swallow: Ojai Meadows 22 Feb 2010Black-capped Chickadee: Janes
Creek--Zehndner and Q St. 26 Feb 2010Mountain Chickadee: South Lake
Tahoe area 12 Jan 2010Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Pt. Reyes--RCA Building
10 Jan 2010Oak Titmouse: Folsom Lake--Beals Pt. 13 Jan 2010Juniper
Titmouse: Mojave National Preserve--New York Mtns.-Caruthers Cyn. 15 Jul
2010Verdin: Finney Lake 24 Jan 2010Bushtit: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan
2010Red-breasted Nuthatch: Kirkwood (ALP Co.) 20 Mar 2010White-breasted
Nuthatch: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05 Jan 2010Pygmy Nuthatch: Golden Gate
Park--Stow Lake 25 Feb 2010Brown Creeper: Pt. Reyes--RCA Building 10 Jan
2010Cactus Wren: Bonelli Park 19 Jan 2010Rock Wren: Folsom Lake--Folsom
Pt. 13 Jan 2010Canyon Wren: Mt. Wilson Toll Rd. 23 Jan 2010Bewick's
Wren: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010House Wren: LA Eaton
Canyon 02 Jan 2010Winter Wren: Point Loma Nazareen University Pacific
Wren: Bolinas Lagoon--IBA 10 Jan 2010Marsh Wren: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: El Dorado Park 16
Jan 2010California Gnatcatcher: Bonelli Park 19 Jan 2010Black-tailed
Gnatcatcher: Finney Lake 24 Jan 2010American Dipper: Hwy 49 at Goodyear
12 Jan 2010Golden-crowned Kinglet: Pt. Reyes--RCA Building 10 Jan
2010Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Western
Bluebird: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Mountain Bluebird:
Salton Sea--south end 24 Jan 2010Townsend's Solitaire: SIE sierra valley
12 Jan 2010Swainson's Thrush: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 26 May
2010Hermit Thrush: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010American Robin:
Napa Valley Marina area 10 Jan 2010Varied Thrush: Redwood NP--Tall Trees
Rd. 27 Feb 2010Wrentit: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan 2010GRAY CATBIRD: Niland
25 Jan 2010Northern Mockingbird: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan
2010Sage Thrasher: Upper Newport Bay--Back Bay Dr. parking lot 18 Oct
2010BROWN THRASHER: Pt. Pinole 30 Nov 2010Bendire's Thrasher: SBD Cedar
Cy Rd -- west 15 Jul 2010CURVE-BILLED THRASHER: Shipley Nature Center 14
Nov 2010California Thrasher: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan 2010Crissal
Thrasher: NY Mountain Rd 16 Jul 2010Le Conte's Thrasher: LA Palmdale
area 28 Nov 2010European Starling: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan
2010Red-throated Pipit: Tijuana River Valley 20 Oct 2010American Pipit:
Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010SPRAGUE'S PIPIT: Mission
Bay--Fiesta Island dog area 20 Oct 2010Cedar Waxwing: Folsom Lake--Beals
Pt. 13 Jan 2010Phainopepla: Folsom Lake--Beals Pt. 13 Jan 2010Tennessee
Warbler: Huntington Central Park 30 Sep 2010Orange-crowned Warbler:
Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Nashville Warbler: Laguna
Niguel Regional Park 12 Apr 2010Virginia's Warbler: Janes
Creek--Zehndner and Q St. 26 Feb 2010Lucy's Warbler: Blythe 10 Jul
2010Northern Parula: Huntington Central Park 07 Jun 2010Yellow Warbler:
El Dorado Park 16 Jan 2010Chestnut-sided Warbler: Huntington Central
Park 02 Oct 2010Magnolia Warbler: Laguna Niguel Regional Park 12 Oct
2010Black-throated Blue Warbler: Laguna Niguel Regional Park 12 Oct
2010Yellow-rumped Warbler: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan
2010Black-throated Gray Warbler: El Dorado Park 16 Jan
2010Black-throated Green Warbler: Foothill Blvd. (Pasadena) 16 Jan
2010Townsend's Warbler: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Hermit
Warbler: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Yellow-throated Warbler:
Lindo Lake 29 Nov 2010GRACE'S WARBLER: Bella Vista Open Space Park 15
Jan 2010PINE WARBLER: Estancia Park 10 Feb 2010Palm Warbler: Santa Ana
River--Adams Ave. to Gisler Ave. 10 Feb 2010Blackpoll Warbler:
Huntington Central Park 04 Oct 2010Black-and-white Warbler: Mile Square
Regional Park 10 Feb 2010American Redstart: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01
Jan 2010Northern Waterthrush: Inverness Park 10 Jan 2010MacGillivray's
Warbler: San Joaquin Hills--IBA 22 Apr 2010Common Yellowthroat: Tijuana
Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010HOODED WARBLER: Huntington Central
Park 07 Jun 2010Wilson's Warbler: El Dorado Park 16 Jan 2010PAINTED
REDSTART: LA Loyola Marymount U 23 Jan 2010Yellow-breasted Chat: San
Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary 22 Apr 2010Green-tailed Towhee: Culver City
Park 10 Apr 2010Spotted Towhee: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05 Jan 2010California
Towhee: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Abert's Towhee: Finney Lake
24 Jan 2010Rufous-crowned Sparrow: LA Eaton Canyon 02 Jan 2010Chipping
Sparrow: Latrobe Rd. (SAC Co.) 13 Jan 2010Clay-colored Sparrow: Napa
Valley Marina area 10 Jan 2010Brewer's Sparrow: Sagebrush flat on Burnes
Canyon Road 10 Jul 2010Black-chinned Sparrow: RIV Blue Jay Rd lower 09
Jun 2010Vesper Sparrow: Mercey Hot Springs 11 Nov 2010Lark Sparrow: SOL
7457 Timm rd 05 Jan 2010Black-throated Sparrow: RIV Box Canyon Rd 06 Mar
2010Sage Sparrow: RIV Blue Jay Rd lower 09 Jun 2010Lark Bunting: SAC
lark bunting spot 08 Jan 2010Savannah Sparrow: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Grasshopper Sparrow: Nicasio Reservoir 23
Jul 2010LE CONTE'S SPARROW: IMP Irrigation District Managed Marsh 22 Dec
2010NELSON'S SPARROW: Seal Beach NWR 20 Dec 2010Fox Sparrow: Bolinas
Lagoon--IBA 10 Jan 2010Song Sparrow: Encinitas Viewpoint Park 01 Jan
2010Lincoln's Sparrow: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Swamp
Sparrow: Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility 10 Jan 2010White-throated
Sparrow: Crescent City 01 Dec 2010HARRIS'S SPARROW: Huntington Central
Park--west 24 Nov 2010White-crowned Sparrow: Tijuana Slough
NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Golden-crowned Sparrow: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05
Jan 2010Dark-eyed Junco: SOL 7457 Timm rd 05 Jan 2010McCown's Longspur:
Mission Bay--Fiesta Island dog area 20 Oct 2010Lapland Longspur: Mission
Bay--Fiesta Island dog area 20 Oct 2010Chestnut-collared Longspur:
Salton Sea--south end 24 Jan 2010Hepatic Tanager: Imperial Beach Sports
Park 14 Feb 2010Summer Tanager: Morongo Valley 11 Jun 2010Western
Tanager: Apollo Park 22 May 2010Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Golden Gate
Park--Stow Lake/Arboretum 25 Feb 2010Black-headed Grosbeak: Laguna
Niguel Regional Park 01 Apr 2010Blue Grosbeak: Newport Back Bay 01 Jun
2010Lazuli Bunting: Arrastre Creek at 2N02 11 Jun 2010Indigo Bunting:
Blythe 05 Aug 2010Bobolink: San Gabriel River--Whittier Blvd. 14 Sep
2010Red-winged Blackbird: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan
2010Tricolored Blackbird: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Western
Meadowlark: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010Yellow-headed
Blackbird: Newberry Springs 15 Feb 2010RUSTY BLACKBIRD: Whittier
Narrows--Legg Lake 11 Dec 2010Brewer's Blackbird: San Diego Wild Animal
Park 01 Jan 2010COMMON GRACKLE: Earvin Magic Johnson Park 09 Dec
2010Great-tailed Grackle: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Bronzed
Cowbird: Cattle Call Park 10 Jul 2010Brown-headed Cowbird: Yolo Bypass
Wildlife Area 09 Jan 2010Orchard Oriole: Fairview Developmental Center
11 Feb 2010Hooded Oriole: ORA Glenwood Park 23 Mar 2010Bullock's Oriole:
Los Angeles National Cemetery 09 Feb 2010Baltimore Oriole: Los Angeles
National Cemetery 09 Feb 2010Scott's Oriole: Sagebrush flat on Burnes
Canyon Road 10 Jul 2010Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch: Aspendell 07 Dec
2010Purple Finch: RIV crest of Main Divide Truck Trail 09 Jun
2010Cassin's Finch: Kirkwood (ALP Co.) 20 Mar 2010House Finch: Encinitas
Viewpoint Park 01 Jan 2010Red Crossbill: Yosemite Valley--Headquarters
area 20 Sep 2010Pine Siskin: MAR hwy 1 mm28.00 10 Jan 2010Lesser
Goldfinch: Imperial Beach area 01 Jan 2010Lawrence's Goldfinch: Whittier
Narrows--Legg Lake 18 Jan 2010American Goldfinch: MAR hwy 1 mm28.00 10
Jan 2010Evening Grosbeak: LA Top of Chaney Trail 23 Oct 2010House
Sparrow: Tijuana Slough NWR--Seacoast Dr. 01 Jan 2010
Non-countable wild birds observed:Mute Swan: Ellis Creek Water Recycling
Facility 10 Jan 2010Egyptian Goose: Bonelli Park 19 Jan 2010Mandarin
Duck: San Diego Wild Animal Park 01 Jan 2010Indian Peafowl: Kewen Canyon
05 Dec 2010Rose-ringed Parakeet: Playa del Rey 18 Jul 2010Nanday
Parakeet: Sycamore Canyon (VEN Co.) 18 Feb 2010Mitred Parakeet: Venice
28 Aug 2010Red-masked Parakeet: Telegraph Hill 25 Feb
2010Yellow-chevroned Parakeet: LA Loyola Marymount U 23 Jan
2010Lilac-crowned Parrot: LA Eaton Canyon 17 Jan 2010Yellow-headed
Parrot: Parrot Roost--Daines Dr. west of Baldwin Ave. 13 Nov
2010Black-throated Magpie-Jay: Imperial Beach area 01 Jan
2010Red-whiskered Bulbul: Lacy Park 27 Jul 2010Orange Bishop: Ballona
Freshwater Marsh 18 Jul 2010Indian Silverbill: La Mirada Creek Park 28
Feb 2010Nutmeg Mannikin: ORA Torres Pointe hillside, Aliso Viejo 19 Mar
2010

More from Cornell...

Hi, Terry,
It turned out that Walt's interactions with Black-billed Magpies was
misrepresented. Here's what Walt had to say when I sent him your question:

No no no--I've never raised any black-billed magpies; that was Wes.
(We lived only where there were yellow-billeds). Basically, I just
assume that there are people out there who occasionally think that
raising a magpie would be a fun idea (actually, they are pretty neat
birds), and thus that it's possible that someone took a black-billed
from east of the Sierras, raised it, and eventually had it escape (or
let it go) after they'd returned back to the Sacramento area. (No
doubt there are people who might not even realize they are different
species!)

Cheers, Anne

Terry Armstrong
www.armstronggraphics.com
916/622-0217
PO Box 487
Pilot Hill, CA 95664

Thanks, Terry, for bringing these photos to our attention and
following up with folks at Cornell. If captive-bred birds were
released in the area, as Anne Hobbs suggested, the origin of the El
Dorado County bird is certainly questionable.

I wanted to clarify some points about possible pigment abnormalities
though. Hypermelanism can affect a bird's bill, skin, eyes, etc.
without also affecting its plumage. In this case, however, if the
appearance of the El Dorado bird were attributable to a pigment
abnormality, I think it would more likely have resulted from
carotenism. That is, rather than dark pigments masking the yellow
via hypermelanism, the bill may have appeared dark because the yellow
was not expressed.

Also, to expand on Walt Koenig's comment, magpies with yellow bills
occasionally appear outside of California, including in the Old
World. In such instances, they generally are quickly dismissed as
carotenoid-enhanced Black-billed Magpies or European Magpies,
respectively. I suggested the reverse might be possible in this case
mainly because I expected a Black-billed Magpie to appear somewhat
larger bodied, longer billed, and longer tailed than a Yellow-billed
Magpie. Yet the birds in the photos look structurally identical.

Jeff Davis
Fresno, CA

On Dec 17, 2010, at 8:44 AM, siberiansiren wrote:
> I contacted Cornell Lab of Ornithology regarding my photo of the
> Black-billed Magpie. Below is their response:
>
> I also would wonder why a melanistic Yellow-billed Magpie could
> have a black beak but not show signs of darker elsewhere (i.e. in
> its plumage).
>
> I also wandered across the hall to ask Walt (I believe he's
> actually written papers about Yellow-billed Magpies) his thoughts,
> and he said that if anything he things that I remembers reading or
> hearing people suggest that some Black-billed Magpies could have
> lighter bills, but never the other way around.
>
> Anne Hobbs
> Public Information Specialist
> Cornell Lab of Ornithology
> http://www.birds.cornell.edu
>
>

I contacted Cornell Lab of Ornithology regarding my photo of the Black-billed
Magpie. Below is their response:

Hi, Terry,
I contacted several of our staff concerning these photos including two who
have studied the Black-billed Magpie in the field. I've left their input as
they gave it rather than putting it into my own words. Hope this helps.
My impression is that it is a real Black-billed Magpie.

1. The two species are not that different in size; their tarsi are virtually
identical. It's mostly tail and wings that are longer in black-billed.

2. As far as I can tell from the one photo, yes that is indeed a Black-billed
Magpie. I handled a bunch of them years ago (did my MSc research on them), and
I can't see anything about the proportions and coloration that would suggest to
me that the dark-billed bird was anything other than Black-billed. Regarding
being the same size as the Yellow-billed Magpies around it, I personally have
handled some very small Black-billed Magpies, so the size per se doesn't look
unusual to me. I also would wonder why a melanistic Yellow-billed Magpie could
have a black beak but not show signs of darker elsewhere (i.e. in its plumage).

I also wandered across the hall to ask Walt (I believe he's actually written
papers about Yellow-billed Magpies) his thoughts, and he said that if anything
he things that I remembers reading or hearing people suggest that some
Black-billed Magpies could have lighter bills, but never the other way around.

As for how the bird got there, Walt's thought was that it might have been a
captive bird that we released in the area. If it was a captive-raised bird,
that could even explain the small size. I raised a bunch of nestling
Black-billed Magpies and the captive raised birds were generally smaller than
wild birds.

If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting
our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing that
you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our
award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four
times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature". To sign up or
watch our video about membership, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/membership
or call us at 1-800-843-2473.

Anne Hobbs
Public Information Specialist
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
http://www.birds.cornell.edu

Back in the mid 1990's, a Black-billed Magpie was seen regularly for a
couple of years in a residential neighborhood in Huntington Beach (Orange
County) California. It favored a particular cul-de-sac street and was
generally assumed to be an escapee.

Vic

G. Victor Leipzig, Ph.D.
17461 Skyline Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
www.southwestbirders.com
(714) 848-5394--home
(714) 330-3558--cell

For what it's worth, there has been a pair of Black-billed Magpies living at the
LA/Long Beach Harbor for the past year-- obviously brought there, possibly
European Magpies brought by ship!

That said, a single bird at this relatively non-urban location on the west slope
could easily be a wild bird.

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

--- In [email protected], Sally Walters&Don Schmoldt
wrote:
>
> Then there is the sad probability of human transportation or the release of a
rehabilitated bird....
>
> Sally Walters
> Sacramento CA
> BajaOwl@...
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 14, 2010, at 8:26 PM, Bruce Webb wrote:
>
> > I recall a discussion in American Birds years ago, or perhaps as far
> > back as Audubon Field Notes, by Tim Manolis of a report of a
> > Black-billed Magpie reaching the western Sierra. I cannot recall in
> > which county it was seen, but it was south of PLA. Tim will no doubt
> > chime in when he (ever) gets back through the snow from the Susanville CBC.
> >
> > Occam's Razor and proximity to South Lake Tahoe would support the
> > rationale of a Black-billed Magpie rather than a Yellow-billed appearing
> > with selective soft part melanism. The Hwy 50 corridor seems conducive
> > to allowing one of the common South Lake Tahoe magpies to reach the west
> > slope of El Dorado county.
> >
> > Several species of corvids in the neotropics have yellow bills as
> > juveniles that darken when adults. Someone with more knowledge of the
> > literature can hopefully comment whether soft part hyper-melanism occurs
> > in wild birds.
> >
> > Bruce Webb
> > Granite Bay, CA
> >
> > On 12/14/2010 6:28 PM, ERPFROMCA@... wrote:
> > >
> > > I have just uploaded to CVBirds and CALBIRDS a photo taken late last
> > > month
> > > near Pilot Hill, western El Dorado County (elev 800 ft) of what
> > > appears to
> > > be a Black-billed Magpie with Yellow-billed Magpies. (photo by Terry
> > > Armstrong (_http://imagesbysydney.com_ (http://imagesbysydney.com) )).
> > >
> > > Chris Conard first brought this photo to our attention. The photo is
> > > on the
> > > CVBirds Yahoogroups page in the 'Crows, etc' folder and in the CALBIRDS
> > > page in the 'Mystery Birds' folder.
> > >
> > > This would be, as far we can determine, the first documented (by specimen
> > > or photo) Black-billed Magpie ever found on the west side of the Sierra
> > > Range. The mystery is that, from this photo, the bird appears to be
> > > the same
> > > size as the Yellow-billed Magpies nearby. Of course, determining size
> > > from
> > > photos can be VERY tricky if the birds are not right next to each
> > > other. The
> > > bird with the black bill is behind the Yellow-billed Magpie, but how far
> > > behind Jeff Davis has suggested that this may be a Yellow-billed
> > > Magpie with
> > > a pigment abnormality (e.g. hypermelanism of the soft parts). On the
> > > other
> > > hand, in Sibley's Guide to Birds he suggests that southern Black-billed
> > > Magpies are smaller than their northern counterparts, though he cites no
> > > source to support this.
> > >
> > > So I put two questions to the group.
> > >
> > > 1. Has anyone ever seen or have reliable info about Yellow-billed Magpies
> > > exhibiting a pigment abnormality like this Since many thousands of
> > > magpies
> > > were collected during the West Nile Virus outbreak of a few summers ago,
> > > perhaps such a specimen was seen
> > >
> > > 2. Does anyone know of evidence for Black-billed Magpies being smaller in
> > > the south, and if so, how small can they be Can they approach the
> > > size of a
> > > Yellow-billed Magpie
> > >
> > > It might be best to send me your replies off line and I can summarize for
> > > the group later.
> > >
> > >
> > > Ed Pandolfino
> > > Carmichael, CA
> > >
> > >

I can elaborate a little beyond what was written in Amer Birds for the Humboldt
Black-billed Magpie in 1989. I talked with a family who admitted they brought
the magpie juvenile from Modoc County to Blue Lake where they released it. It
stayed around the Liscom Hill neighborhood.

Chet Ogan
Eureka, CA
When we try to pick out anything by itself,
we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.
-John Muir

The first precaution of intelligent ecological tinkering is to keep every cog
and wheel.
-Aldo Leopold

A system of conservation based solely on economic self-interest is hopelessly
lopsided.
-Aldo Leopold

Chet Ogan
chet_ogan@...
707-442-9353

________________________________
From: Bill Bousman
To: Bruce Webb ; ERPFROMCA@...; CV Birds
; [email protected]
Sent: Tue, December 14, 2010 8:53:56 PM
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Re: [CVBirds] black-billed Yellow-billed Magpies

Folks:

For what it's worth, here are extracts from the 1980s:

BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (BBMA)
15 Jan-11 Mar 1984
“The status of a Black-billed Magpie in
residential Concord, Contra Costa Jan. 15-Mar. 11
(†JRi et al.) was certainly questionable, but the
possibility that this unworn individual arrived
on its own cannot be ruled out.� (Am. Birds
38:354) [Jean Richmond. Regional record.]
1 Dec 1987+
“A Black-billed Magpie near Blue Lake, Humboldt
(fide C. Ogan, no date), was dismissed by GSL as
an escapee; no specific evidence for captivity
was given, and I suspect that in general most
extralimital magpie records are not of escapees.�
(Am. Birds 42:317) [C. Ogan, Gary S. Lester. Regional record.]
21 Mar 1989
“Two Black-billed Magpies near Coyote, Santa
Clara, Mar. 21 (†J. Glass) were
problematic. Birds as far south as Contra Costa
have been considered part of a pattern of genuine
vagrants, in n.w. California primarily and in
fall/winter almost exclusively. The species is
common in captivity, however, and numerous other
records throughout the state have been dismissed
as escapees. Two birds this far south, out of
season, and so close to a major urban area are
best added to the latter group.� (Am. Birds 43:533) [Jane Glass.]

Bill Bousman
Menlo Park

At 08:26 PM 12/14/2010, Bruce Webb wrote:
>
>
>I recall a discussion in American Birds years ago, or perhaps as far
>back as Audubon Field Notes, by Tim Manolis of a report of a
>Black-billed Magpie reaching the western Sierra. I cannot recall in
>which county it was seen, but it was south of PLA. Tim will no doubt
>chime in when he (ever) gets back through the snow from the Susanville CBC.
>
>Occam's Razor and proximity to South Lake Tahoe would support the
>rationale of a Black-billed Magpie rather than a Yellow-billed appearing
>with selective soft part melanism. The Hwy 50 corridor seems conducive
>to allowing one of the common South Lake Tahoe magpies to reach the west
>slope of El Dorado county.
>
>Several species of corvids in the neotropics have yellow bills as
>juveniles that darken when adults. Someone with more knowledge of the
>literature can hopefully comment whether soft part hyper-melanism occurs
>in wild birds.
>
>Bruce Webb
>Granite Bay, CA
>
>On 12/14/2010 6:28 PM, ERPFROMCA@... wrote:
> >
> > I have just uploaded to CVBirds and CALBIRDS a photo taken late last
> > month
> > near Pilot Hill, western El Dorado County (elev 800 ft) of what
> > appears to
> > be a Black-billed Magpie with Yellow-billed Magpies. (photo by Terry
> > Armstrong
> (_http://imagesbysydney.com_
> (http://imagesbysydney.com) )).
> >
> > Chris Conard first brought this photo to our attention. The photo is
> > on the
> > CVBirds Yahoogroups page in the 'Crows, etc' folder and in the CALBIRDS
> > page in the 'Mystery Birds' folder.
> >
> > This would be, as far we can determine, the first documented (by specimen
> > or photo) Black-billed Magpie ever found on the west side of the Sierra
> > Range. The mystery is that, from this photo, the bird appears to be
> > the same
> > size as the Yellow-billed Magpies nearby. Of course, determining size
> > from
> > photos can be VERY tricky if the birds are not right next to each
> > other. The
> > bird with the black bill is behind the Yellow-billed Magpie, but how far
> > behind Jeff Davis has suggested that this may be a Yellow-billed
> > Magpie with
> > a pigment abnormality (e.g. hypermelanism of the soft parts). On the
> > other
> > hand, in Sibley's Guide to Birds he suggests that southern Black-billed
> > Magpies are smaller than their northern counterparts, though he cites no
> > source to support this.
> >
> > So I put two questions to the group.
> >
> > 1. Has anyone ever seen or have reliable info about Yellow-billed Magpies
> > exhibiting a pigment abnormality like this Since many thousands of
> > magpies
> > were collected during the West Nile Virus outbreak of a few summers ago,
> > perhaps such a specimen was seen
> >
> > 2. Does anyone know of evidence for Black-billed Magpies being smaller in
> > the south, and if so, how small can they be Can they approach the
> > size of a
> > Yellow-billed Magpie
> >
> > It might be best to send me your replies off line and I can summarize for
> > the group later.
> >
> >
> > Ed Pandolfino
> > Carmichael, CA
> >
> >

Folks:

For what it's worth, here are extracts from the 1980s:

BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (BBMA)
15 Jan-11 Mar 1984
“The status of a Black-billed Magpie in
residential Concord, Contra Costa Jan. 15-Mar. 11
(†JRi et al.) was certainly questionable, but the
possibility that this unworn individual arrived
on its own cannot be ruled out.” (Am. Birds
38:354) [Jean Richmond. Regional record.]
1 Dec 1987+
“A Black-billed Magpie near Blue Lake, Humboldt
(fide C. Ogan, no date), was dismissed by GSL as
an escapee; no specific evidence for captivity
was given, and I suspect that in general most
extralimital magpie records are not of escapees.”
(Am. Birds 42:317) [C. Ogan, Gary S. Lester. Regional record.]
21 Mar 1989
“Two Black-billed Magpies near Coyote, Santa
Clara, Mar. 21 (†J. Glass) were
problematic. Birds as far south as Contra Costa
have been considered part of a pattern of genuine
vagrants, in n.w. California primarily and in
fall/winter almost exclusively. The species is
common in captivity, however, and numerous other
records throughout the state have been dismissed
as escapees. Two birds this far south, out of
season, and so close to a major urban area are
best added to the latter group.” (Am. Birds 43:533) [Jane Glass.]

Bill Bousman
Menlo Park

At 08:26 PM 12/14/2010, Bruce Webb wrote:
>
>
>I recall a discussion in American Birds years ago, or perhaps as far
>back as Audubon Field Notes, by Tim Manolis of a report of a
>Black-billed Magpie reaching the western Sierra. I cannot recall in
>which county it was seen, but it was south of PLA. Tim will no doubt
>chime in when he (ever) gets back through the snow from the Susanville CBC.
>
>Occam's Razor and proximity to South Lake Tahoe would support the
>rationale of a Black-billed Magpie rather than a Yellow-billed appearing
>with selective soft part melanism. The Hwy 50 corridor seems conducive
>to allowing one of the common South Lake Tahoe magpies to reach the west
>slope of El Dorado county.
>
>Several species of corvids in the neotropics have yellow bills as
>juveniles that darken when adults. Someone with more knowledge of the
>literature can hopefully comment whether soft part hyper-melanism occurs
>in wild birds.
>
>Bruce Webb
>Granite Bay, CA
>
>On 12/14/2010 6:28 PM, ERPFROMCA@... wrote:
> >
> > I have just uploaded to CVBirds and CALBIRDS a photo taken late last
> > month
> > near Pilot Hill, western El Dorado County (elev 800 ft) of what
> > appears to
> > be a Black-billed Magpie with Yellow-billed Magpies. (photo by Terry
> > Armstrong
> (_http://imagesbysydney.com_
> (http://imagesbysydney.com) )).
> >
> > Chris Conard first brought this photo to our attention. The photo is
> > on the
> > CVBirds Yahoogroups page in the 'Crows, etc' folder and in the CALBIRDS
> > page in the 'Mystery Birds' folder.
> >
> > This would be, as far we can determine, the first documented (by specimen
> > or photo) Black-billed Magpie ever found on the west side of the Sierra
> > Range. The mystery is that, from this photo, the bird appears to be
> > the same
> > size as the Yellow-billed Magpies nearby. Of course, determining size
> > from
> > photos can be VERY tricky if the birds are not right next to each
> > other. The
> > bird with the black bill is behind the Yellow-billed Magpie, but how far
> > behind Jeff Davis has suggested that this may be a Yellow-billed
> > Magpie with
> > a pigment abnormality (e.g. hypermelanism of the soft parts). On the
> > other
> > hand, in Sibley's Guide to Birds he suggests that southern Black-billed
> > Magpies are smaller than their northern counterparts, though he cites no
> > source to support this.
> >
> > So I put two questions to the group.
> >
> > 1. Has anyone ever seen or have reliable info about Yellow-billed Magpies
> > exhibiting a pigment abnormality like this Since many thousands of
> > magpies
> > were collected during the West Nile Virus outbreak of a few summers ago,
> > perhaps such a specimen was seen
> >
> > 2. Does anyone know of evidence for Black-billed Magpies being smaller in
> > the south, and if so, how small can they be Can they approach the
> > size of a
> > Yellow-billed Magpie
> >
> > It might be best to send me your replies off line and I can summarize for
> > the group later.
> >
> >
> > Ed Pandolfino
> > Carmichael, CA
> >
> >