Red Bluff - April 8, 2000 - Once again we were a little early, so next year we make the Warbler trip two weeks later. Denizens of Red Bluff, Willows, and Chico met at Dog Island and went for a leisurely walk. Winter birds we still around in numbers, and migrants were rare. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black Phoebe, and Cedar Waxwings were the first birds encountered. Robins and Bewick's Wrens were also around in numbers. Finally the chatter of a Bullocks Oriole got our hearts pumping (finally, a migrant!). Then a Flycatcher was seen high in a tree and to our surprise (due to location) it was a Western Kingbird. Wood Ducks squeaked and flew by rapidly. A few Yellow-rumped Warblers were about, as were Lincoln's Sparrows and White and Golden-crowned Sparrows. The sand bar provided us with Greater Yellowlegs, Tree and Cliff Swallows and American Pipits as well as several Osprey. Orange-crown Warblers were sparse, but California Towhees and Spotted Towhees were abundant.

On the way to Ide Adobe a Western Bluebird was perched on a wire and a Red-tailed Hawk spun circles in the morning sun. Northern Mockingbirds were the major attraction at Ide Adobe. While driving some of the side roads we turned up Northern Rough-winged Swallows and a Black-throated Gray Warbler. The trip had about 70 species total.