Honey Lake and Beyond - March 8-10 2002. Two Altacalers, a man from Davis, and one from the Bay Area ventured to stormy Lassen County. Saturday Morning started of with Black-billed Magpies flying along 395 North, then in a drainage ditch we had 3 Hooded Mergansers (the leaders 200th bird for Lassen County) plus 4 American Wigeon and our only Ferruginous Hawk of the trip. A little farther down 395 we got our first Rough-legged Hawk. Next we turned on Mapes Road and observed Red-winged, Brewers, Tricolored Blackbirds and Brown Headed Cowbirds. A pasture that is usually quite moist and full of ducks had Sandhill Cranes Pintails, and Shovelers Turning on to Fish And Game Road. Heading towards the Fleming Unit we saw our first Cal. Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant and 250 Horned Larks. Closer to the headquarters we found Eurasian Wigeon Common Goldeneye, Gadwall, Mallard, Canvasback and Green-winged Teal. Kestrels and Red-tails Dominated the trees and the sky as far as raptors. Snow Geese, Canada Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese were numerous. The area also yielded Say's Phoebe, White-crowned And Golden-crowned Sparrows, Bewick's Wren and Northern Flickers.

We then headed towards Wendel where we turned up Sage Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Prairie Falcon and and heard the call of Chukar.

Sunday Morning we headed out to the lek. Heading up the road we soon heard the booming of the Male Grouse and then one flew. We moved further up the hill, and got a nice view of 13 Males and 5 Hens We went back to The Refuge and were rewarded with one Loggerhead Shrike, one Northern Shrike and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Over at the Dankin Unit we had Bald Eagle, Tundra Swan, Northern Harrier, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead , Redheads and 2 more Hooded Mergansers.

Janesville and The Biz Johnson Trail added Acorn Woodpeckers, Western Bluebirds, Pine Siskins, Cedar Waxwings, Townsend's Solitaire and Red Crossbills.

Black Butte Reservoir. 7 Altacalers ventured to the west side for a half day of birding. The Day Started with Lewis's Woodpecker. We quickly added Clark's and Western Grebe as well as Pied-billed Grebe and Common Merganser. Heading to another inlet we picked up Loggerhead Shrike and Savannah Sparrow. At the next inlet we had Wild Turkey, Western Bluebirds, Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. We stopped along the road and caught a quick glimpse of a pair of Hooded Mergansers. We walked a half a mile and added Golden-crowned Sparrow, Black Phoebe, Cal Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Bewick's Wren and Nuttall's Woodpecker.

Driving around to the backside of the lake we were treated to an aerial display buy an immature and a Juvenile Golden Eagle. The juvenile flew about 40 feet over our heads. The next stop produced Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler and Ruddy Ducks. - Richard Redmond