Black Butte Lake - February 7, 1999. Six people made it to the Black Butte Lake outing. We saw 56 species of birds, Among them: An adult Bald Eagle soaring over the cliffs with Turkey Vultures, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks and a Northern Harrier. On the lake near the campground we found Bonaparte's Gulls and Eared Grebes, one so close we could see its red eye.

A Rock Wren was seen along the sloping shoreline. Along the road we found Lark Sparrows, Horned Larks and Savannah Sparrows feeding in a field, as well as Mountain & Western Bluebirds and a Say's Phoebe. While hiking the nature trail we saw Nuttall's, Acorn, and Downy Woodpeckers, Oak Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, Lesser Goldfinches, White-breasted Nuthatch, Song, Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows. By the Ranger Station we spotted a MERLIN perched in a tree, 4 Gr. Egrets foraging in the tall grass and a White-tailed Kite hovering nearby. In the ponds and Stony Creek below the dam we observed Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, and Ring-billed Gulls. Anne-Lise Feenstra

Colusa Refuge - February 13, 1999. Saturday morning dawned beautifully and gathering at the Chico Park & Ride were seven intrepid birders. En route to the refuge we stopped several times to view Sandhill Cranes, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Curlews and a Ferruginous Hawk. Swans were seen on several occasions sailing over the road. Along highway 162 we saw several large concentrations of Snow Geese and Ross's Geese.

Arriving at the Refuge around 8:30, we checked the bridge area and saw Bewick's wrens and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Moving to the first pond parking area we were treated to some outstanding looks at waterfowl. At the first stop, we saw Pied-bill Grebes, Great-blue Heron, Great Egret, Greater White-fronted Geese, more Snow and Ross's Geese, Canada Geese, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian and American Wigeon, Red Heads, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck. Yellow-rumped Warblers chipped their way through the trees behind us. Taking the tour route, we had Savannah, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows in the grasses along our way. A muddy pond, which at first seemed to be full of coots, also yielded our only Common Moorhen. The other ponds provided us with a Greater Yellowlegs and little else. Along the road we picked up Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Pipit, Killdeer, Northern Flicker, Nuttall's and Downey Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Lesser and American Goldfinches. We drove back to the bridge and took a walking trail. Immediately we spooked up a pair of Wood Ducks. Meandering down the trail we encountered Marsh Wrens in the ponds to our left and Lincoln's, Song and Fox Sparrows to our right. We also had Turkey Vultures, Great-horned Owls, Bushtits and Titmice on our sojourn. 51 species were seen on our outing. Richard Redmond