Grus canadensis

#4 - BlipBigYear 2014

Today M and I hopped onto the annual winter rarities Audubon trip that tours the county for vagrant birds. It was a very successful trip, yielding two lifers for me (a Northern Waterthrush and a Lawrence's Goldfinch--both rare to Humboldt) as well as an additional rarity, a Summer Tanager, which I've never seen in the United States before. What a day!

Later on we drove down to the farmlands of Ferndale to see what was about and we scored the continuing (also rare!) Sandhill Crane as well. This species is common along the Central Valley in winter but very unusual for the coast. I had seen this particular bird before but not nearly so close to the road. There is some controversy amongst the local birding community as to whether this bird is an adult or juvenile--I won't reveal specifics but there has definitely been some internet trash talking going on.

Other scores for the day: a very friendly Wrentit (usually a very skulky little bird) in Blue Lake and an American Kestrel with a frog lunch.