NOTEWORTHY OBSERVATIONS FROM NORTHEASTERN BAJA

MICHAEL A. PATTEN, P.O. Box 8561, Riverside,California 92515-8561 KURT RADAMAKER, 945 S. Idaho#132, La Habra, California90631 THOMAS E. WURSTER, 278 Santa Anita Ct., Sierra Madre, California 91024- 2648

Despiteincreased observer awareness of the SaltonSea and the United Statesportion of the lower ColoradoRiver, coverage of adjacentareas in extremenortheastern Baja Californiaremains low and our knowledgeof the avifaunaof that region remainsslight. The MexicaliValley containsa substantialamount of agriculturalhabitat resembling that found just north of the internationalborder in the . Becauseof the habitat similarity,the statusof manyspecies in northeasternBaja Californiashould be very similarto that known for the or the lower River.Here we reporton a numberof species,in hopesthat we mayhelp fill somegaps in knowledgeof the Baja Californiaavifauna.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

White-facedIbis (Plegadis chihi). Wilbur (1987) listedthis species as "apparentlya rare transient,only a few havingbeen reported in recent years. There are older recordsfrom the Rio Colorado." On various occasionsbetween April 1987 and January 1992, we observedhundreds (e.g., 300-400 on 29 December 1991) feedingin the agriculturalareas near .This speciesis commonyear round (althoughnumbers are smallerin spring and summer)in the Imperial Valley and aroundthe southend of the SaltonSea (Garrettand Dunn 1981, Pattenpers. obs.). It is also an uncommontransient and rare winter visitoralong the lower (Rosenberg et al. 1991). The White-facedIbis nested irregularly in the Imperial Valleyuntil 1978 (Ryder 1967, Garrett and Dunn 1981) and was recentlyfound nestingthere again at Finney Lake, where "at least 100 pairs" bred in 1991 (Am. Birds45:1160) and 370 pairs bred in 1992 (WilliamR. Radke, fide G. McCaskie). Thus, the White-facedIbis may be increasingin this area, and nestingshould be watchedfor in the MexicaliValley. GreaterWhite-fronted Goose (Anser a lbifrons).Wilbur (1987) calledthis species a "rarewinter visitor," with "smallnumbers likely to showup at any wetlandlocation." Twenty observedby Wursteron 14 January 1990 alongthe Rio Coloradojust south of Algodoneswere likely early springtransients, as the speciesbegins to move throughthe SaltonSea and adjacentareas at thistime. Up to 400 havebeen found alongthe Rio Coloradoin January(Saunders and Saunders1981), furtherindicating a regularmovement through this area. The Saunders'sighting, however, took place in 1964, when the specieswas more common in the West. The recent maximum in the ImperialValley is 41 near Westmorlandon 26 January1992 (Pattenpers. obs.). Hooded Merganser(Lophodytes cucullatus). We observedtwo adult males and threefemales or immaturesfeeding and swimming in the marshadjacent to Campo Mosquedoon 29 December1991; a singlefemale was seen here on 11 January 1992. The white hoods surroundedby a black stripe on the adult males were noticeableat a greatdistance, as werethe warm orange-brownhoods of the others. The three previousrecords for Baja Californiaare of a female collectedby John Xantus at San Jos&del Cabo in February 1860 (U.S. National Museum 31940), one Western Birds 24:89-93, 1993 89 OBSERVATIONS FROM or more seenby Lyman Beldingat La Paz on an unknowndate (Belding1883), and two observedby Rich Stallcupat the mouth of Rio San Telmo on 24 January 1982 (Wilbur1987). HoodedMergansers are scarceanywhere in (Sada 1989) but are rare and nearlyannual winter visitorsto the SaltonSea and the ImperialValley (Pattenunpubl. data), so futurerecords should be expectedin the MexicaliValley. Black-shoulderedKite (Elanus caeruleus).Wurster observed two near Mexicalion 28 February1987 and singlebirds near Algodoneson 14 January 1989 and 14 January1990. We observedsix individualsbetween Ciudad Morelos and Victoriaon 29 December1991, includingwhat appeared to be two matedpairs (suitable nesting trees existaround many of the rancheriasin the MexicaliValley). There is also a somewhatdoubtful report of two alongthe Rio Hardy in 1905 (Stoneand Rhoads 1905). This specieswas not listedby Wilbur (1987) as occurringaway from the Pacificcoast in Baja California,although it is rare but regularat the SaltonSea and in the ImperialValley and probablynested at Brawleyin 1975 (Am. Birds29:1030). The few noted on each of our visitssuggest a smallpopulation near Mexicali. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).Wilbur (1987) noted only two recent recordsaway from MagdalenaBay, soan immatureobserved along the Rio Hardyby Wurster on 14 January 1989 is of interest.S. N. Rhoads,an unreliableobserver, reported seeing singlebirds twice along the upper Rio Hardy in February 1905 (Stone and Rhoads 1905). One or two are found at the Salton Sea each winter (Patten unpubl. data), suggestingthe speciesmay occur regularlyin very small numbersin the MexicaliValley. Swainson'sHawk (Buteo swainsoni).Wurster observed two at the LagunaSalada on 4 April 1987. Wilbur(1987) listedonly two recentrecords for Baja California, althoughsmall numbersprobably move throughthe MexicaliValley each spring,as theydo throughthe ImperialValley, where records extend from 4 March(1989, nine near El Centro;Am. Birds43:536) to 11 June (1983, one near PlasterCity; Am. Birds37:1027). The LagunaSalada sighting fits well withinthis time frame. FerruginousHawk (Buteo regalis).Wilbur (1987) consideredthis speciesa winter visitorto the northwesternportion of the peninsula,but neither he nor Grinnell (1928) mentionedany recordsfor northeasternBaja California.On 29 December 1991, we observedfour in agriculturalfields near the townof NuevoLe6n. Sincethis hawk is a rare to uncommonwinter visitorin the vicinityof the SaltonSea (Garrett and Dunn 1981), it almostcertainly winters regularly in the MexicaliValley. Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). Wurster observed one near Algodoneson 14 January1989, we sawtwo malesand three femalesfeeding in a stubblefield 20 krn southeastof Mexicalion 29 December 1991, and Radamaker observeda male about 15 km southeastof Mexicalion 22 August1992. In addition, Howell and Pyle (1988) reportedobserving five or six pheasantson 4 December 1983 a "few miles south of Mexicali on Route 5." This speciesis rare in the Imperial Valley (Garrett and Dunn 1981), and Wilbur (1987) stated that it had not been recorded acrossthe border in the northeastern portionof Baja California.Wilbur's statement is inaccurate,however, since Leopold (1959) indicatedthat pheasantstock from China was introducedinto the Mexicali Valleybeginning in 1912. By 1922, the Ring-neckedPheasant was established in the Mexicali Valley (Hart et al. 1956). Leopold (1959) estimateda densityof 50 pheasantsper squaremile (about 19/krn 2) between the Imperialand Mexicali valleys, althoughhe indicatedthat there were more birds in the MexicaliValley where the "habitat is better." The MexicaliValley was openedto pheasanthunting in 1929, with a bag limit of two birdsand an estimatedaggregate kill there of 1000 birdsper year by 1948/49 and 1949/50 (Hart et al. 1956). CurrentMexican hunting regulations specify a bag

9O OBSERVATIONS FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA

limit of three birdsand a seasonallimit of sixbirds (E. Mellinkpers. comm.),implying that the speciesis quite common in the valley. Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes). Wilbur (1987) stated that this species is "apparenfiyan irregularfall transientand winter visitor" with "onlyfive records." On 29 December 1991, we observedat least ten in a floodedfield roughly25 km southeastof Mexicali.Since the LesserYellowlegs is an uncommontransient and rare winter visitor to the Imperial Valley and Salton Sea (Garrett and Dunn 1981), it almostcertainly occurs in the MexicaliValley on a regularbasis. Whimbrel (Nurneniusphaeopus). We observedone on 29 December 1991 in a floodedfield roughly25 km southeastof Mexicali.The short bill (comparedto a Long-billedCurlew, Nurnenius americanus), the grayertone of the plumage,and the distinctblackish head stripes identified the Whimbrel.The birdwas smaller than a curlew but larger than the nearby Willets (Catoptrophorus sernipalrnatus).This observationis noteworthybecause there are only four winter recordsfor the Salton Sea area: one at the southend of the sea on 29 January1989 (Am. Birds43:366), three at the south end on 18 December 1990 (Am. Birds 45:999), one at the north end of the sea on 12 January1991 (Radamakerpers. obs.),and up to two at the southend from 17 December 1991 to 23 February1992 (Am. Birds46:315). Baird'sSandpiper (Ca lidris bairdii).Wilbur (1987) consideredthis species "appar- enfiy a rare transient,[with] five recordsto date," and it is a rare to uncommon migrantthrough the SaltonSea (Garrettand Dunn 1981, Patten pers. obs.).Wurster observedfour in the Mexicaliarea on 9 September1987. LaughingGull (Larusatticilia). This gull is considereda regularwinter visitor, in smallnumbers, on both coastsof Baja Californiasouth of latitude27 ø N (Wilbur 1987). Two observedby Wursteralong the Rio Hardy on 28 February1991 and an adult observedby Radamakerat Campo Mosquedoon 11 January 1992 are probablythe northernmost(both locations are at roughly32.5 ø N) for the speciesin BajaCalifornia during this season, although there are overten winterrecords for the SaltonSea (Patten unpubl. data). This species was recently discovered breeding in the Coloradodelta (Palaciosand Mellink 1992) and has been found in winter at Puerto Pefiasco, (Am. Birds 45:1009), so future winter records for northeastern BajaCalifornia are likely. Inca Dove (Colurnbina inca). Wurster observedone on 11 April 1987 at Algodones,and Radamaker saw four 4 km southeastof Mexicalion 22 August1992. A reportof a "few in the upperHardy Riverregion" by S. N. Rhoads(Stone and Rhoads1905) is presumablyin error (theInca Dovedid not extendwest in Arizonato the ColoradoRiver before 1942), sowe believethe Algodonesrecord to be the first validone for BajaCalifornia, although Wilbur (1987) calledthe IncaDove's addition to the peninsula'savifauna "only a matterof time." Rosenberget al. (1991) called Inca Dovesrare at Yuma, , statingthat "they have not becomeestablished" there,so the Algodonessighting was somewhat unexpected. The speciesis probably resident in northeasternBaja California, since it has been resident in Calexico, California,since the discoveryof 25+ thereon 4 February1984 (Am.Birds 38:358). Yellow-belliedSapsucker ($phyrapicus varius). We carefullystudied an adultmale at Campo Mosquedoon 29 December1991 for 20 minutesas it perchedon a eucalyptusabout 10 to 12 m abovethe ground.We watchedthe bird mostlywith the sunto our backs(it wasabout 1430 we foundit). At all angles,and in everylight, the throat appearedto be wholly red; that is, we couldnot see even a trace of white leatheringin thechin. Most interesting was the color of thered throat: the upper and lowerthroat were deep red (the "normal" color shown on thesesapsuckers), but the middlesection of the throatappeared to be a bit palerand pinker. We are not sureif thiswas because of featherplacement or not. The blackborder to thisred throatwas

91 OBSERVATIONS FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA thick and unbroken and seemed to thicken as it reached the sides of the throat. The lower borderof the throat was a wide blackcrescent across the upper breast.This crescent appeared to be complete (not mottled). The cheek was black, bordered belowby a fairlythick whitishmustachial stripe; this stripebent down alongthe posterioredge of the borderto the throat, where it widenedand blendedinto the sidesof the breast.The anteriorend of the mustachialstripe ran throughthe grayish nasalbristles at the baseof the culmen.The billwas stout, straight, and whollyblack. Wide whitishsupercilia flared widely as they crossedthe nape, which showedno trace of red. The superciliawere borderedabove by black, which completely surroundeda brightred crown;this blackborder was thickertoward the nape. The backwas largely black with golden-buffspangling running in distinctrows down each sideand blendinginto the upperedge of the white rump. The scapularswere black, as were muchof the wings.The secondarycoverts were mostlywhite, forminga large patchalong the front edgeof the foldedwing. The tail was mainlyblack. The underpartswere dirtywhite, with brightyellow on the centerof the breastand belly. The flanks were marked with black chevrons and bars. The birdwas still present on 11 January1992. Thisspecies is a rarebut regular fall and winter vagrantto southernCalifornia (Garrett and Dunn 1981), with several recordsfor the ImperialValley (Patten unpubl. data) and the lower ColoradoRiver (Devillers1970, Rosenberget al. 1991). Evenso, thisrecord appears to be only the secondfor Baja California,following a juvenileobserved by Rich Stallcupat the MelingRanch at the westbase of the SierraSan PedroM•rtir on 4 February1984 (Mexican BirdingAssoc. Bull. Board 1(87-3):7, 1987).

Hammond's Flycatcher(Empidonax hammondii). Even though this specieswas considered"apparently a sparsespring migrant" in BajaCalifornia by Wilbur(1987), it isa fairlycommon spring migrant along the ColoradoRiver (Rosenberg et al. 1991) and throughinterior California (Garrett and Dunn 1981). Wursterobserved one on 11 April 1987 at Algodones,and Grinnell (1928) listedtwo Rio Coloradospecimens, suggestingthat the springstatus of the Hammond'sFlycatcher in northeasternBaja Californiais probablysimilar to that in interiorUpper California.

Bendire's Thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei). Brian Daniels, Doug Willick, and Wursterobserved one on 14 January 1989 at Algodones.The bird was studiedfor 20 minutes.Compared to the similarCurve-billed Thrasher (T. curvirostre),this bird had a straighter,shorter bill and had fine, althoughfaint, spotson the breast.Since there are only three recordsof Bendire'sThrasher around the SaltonSea (England and Laudenslayer1989) and the speciesis "rare and irregular"along the lower ColoradoRiver (Rosenberget al. 1991), the Algodonesrecord is most interesting. Wilbur(1987) listedonly five records for BajaCalifornia, none of whichwere for the extremenortheast. We feel, however,that all of the recordslisted by Wilburare highly suspectand likely pertain to either the Gray Thrasher (T. cinereum) or the Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptesmontanus). Thus, we considerthe Algodonesrecord to be the firstreliable one for Baja California.

Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus). We observedone in a mesquitealong the main road 10 km southof Algodoneson 29 December1991. It was calling(a buzzy,upslurred "jer-EET").The bird was smalland brown,with whitishunderparts that were finely streakedwith darkbrown. The darkbrown wings showed yellow stripes at the baseof the remiges.This speciesis consideredan occasionalwinter visitorto the lowlandsby Wilbur (1987). OBSERVATIONS FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thankDeborah Davidson, Eric Mellink, and PhilipUnitt for improvingan early draftof thisarticle. Brian E. Daniels,Guy McCaskie,and Douglas R. Willickprovided helpfulinformation regarding birds in northeasternBaja California and in southeast- ern California.

LITERATURE CITED

Belding,L. 1883. Secondcatalogue of a collectionof birdsmade near the southern extremityof Lower California.Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 6:344-352. Devillers,P. 1970. Identificationand distributionin Californiaof the Sphyrapicus variusgroup of sapsuckers.Calif. Birds1:47-76. England, A. S., and Laudenslayer,W. E, Jr. 1989. Distributionand seasonal movements of Bendire's Thrasher in California. W. Birds 20:97-123. Garrett, K., and Dunn, J. 1981. Birdsof SouthernCalifornia: Statusand Distribu- tion. Los AngelesAudubon Soc., Los Angeles. Grinnell,J. 1928. A distributionalsummation of the ornithologyof LowerCalifornia. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 32:1-300. Hart, C. M., Glading,B., and Harper,H. T. 1956. The pheasantin California,in Pheasantsin North America (D. L. Allen, ed•), pp. 90-158. StackpoleCo., Harrisburg,PA. Howell, S. N. G., and Pyle, P. 1988. Additionalnotes of birdsin Baja California. Aves Mexicanas 1(88-1):2-3. Leopold,A. S. 1959. Wildlifeof Mexico:The Game Birdsand Mammals.Univ. Calif. Press,Berkeley. Palacios,E., and Mellink, E. 1992. Breedingbird recordsfrom MontagueIsland, northern . W. Birds 23:41-44. Rosenberg,K. V., Ohmart, R. D., Hunter,W. C., and Anderson,B. W. 1991. Birds of the LowerColorado River Valley. Univ. Ariz. Press,Tucson. Ryder,R. A. 1967. Distribution,migration and mortalityof the White-facedIbis (Plegadischihi) in North America.Bird-Banding 38:257-277. Sada, A.M. 1989. Mexican Birds:Codes for Ease of Observation.Andr•s M. Sada, ApartadoPostal 1124, Monterrey,Nuevo Le6n 64000, M•xico. Saunders,G. B., and Saunders,D.C. 1981. Waterfowland theirwintering grounds in Mexico, 1937-64. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., ResourcesPubl. 138. Stone, W., and Rhoads,S. N. 1905. On a collectionof birdsand mammalsfrom the Coloradodelta, Lower California.Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia57:676- 690. Wilbur,S. R. 1987. Birdsof Baja California.Univ. Calif. Press,Berkeley.

Accepted 21 September 1992

93 living Your l/Vay to...

Tucson, Arizona

Western Field Ornithologists Annual Meeting July 30- August 1, 1993

LuciferHummingbirds Sketch by Narca Moore-Craig

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