Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from San Diego Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Saturday, February 4 at 12:53 AM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Blue-grey Gnatcatcher,©Julie Zickefoose

3 Feb Coastal Sage Thrashers (2/3/12) [Jimmy McMorran ] 3 Feb Robb Field - Reddish Egret, Mew Gulls [Gary Nunn ] 04 Feb Sage Thrasher ["Mark Lee" ] 03 Feb Red-naped Sapsucker ["buckfairbanks" ] 03 Feb Dairy Mart Pond ["bicyclebirder" ] 3 Feb Tierrasanta Baltimore Oriole & Summer Tanager ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 2 Feb Trip Report 1/26-1/28 [Tim Avery ] 03 Feb SDRiver ["bicyclebirder" ] 2 Feb Thurs. a.m. the WISA continues [phil Pryde ] 02 Feb WESTERN HILLS PARK 2-2-2012 ["ERIC" ] 2 Feb (very) minor miscellanea ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 02 Feb So Cal request ["ak_zukes" ] 02 Feb San Diego Bird Festival Pelagics ["thunefeld" ] 1 Feb East county highlights, 1 Feb 2011 ["Geoffrey Rogers" ] 1 Feb Yellow-shafted Flicker (2/1/12) [Jimmy McMorran ] 31 Jan RE: Zone-tailed Hawk seen again in Granite Hills ["Philip Unitt" ] 01 Feb Help with Blue-Headed Vireo ["linda.renna" ] 31 Jan No more photo volunteers, please! ["snotwad46" ] 31 Jan Bird Photos for Cabrillo ["snotwad46" ] 31 Jan Zone-tailed Hawk seen again in Granite Hills ["Philip Unitt" ] 31 Jan Re: Jacumba Ponds - Tricolored Blackbirds ["Mark Lee" ] 30 Jan Jacumba Ponds - Tricolored Blackbirds ["TA Blackman" ] 30 Jan Re: Jacumba Vermilions, Tierrasanta WETA & other highlights of the week, 1-29-12 [Bob Miller ] 30 Jan Pinyon Jays and Williamson's Sapsucker ["Jim Wilson" ] 30 Jan In memory of Cliff Lyons ["bstokes52" ] 29 Jan San Gorgonio, addendum [phil Pryde ] 29 Jan San Gorgonio this a.m. [phil Pryde ] 29 Jan Stonewall Mine - Williamson's Sapsuckers, Pinyon Jays [Gary Nunn ] 29 Jan Dos WISA's ["timcooper8993" ] 29 Jan Dos WISA's ["timcooper8993" ] 29 Jan Jacumba Vermilions, Tierrasanta WETA & other highlights of the week, 1-29-12 [Jay K ] 28 Jan contuing Blue-headed Vireo and others...... [Mark Stratton ] 29 Jan Ash-throated flycatcher at Dairy Mart Pond ["Bruce" ] 28 Jan Point Loma, Mission Bay - Saturday 28 Jan 2012 [Gary Nunn ] 28 Jan Yet another winter Hooded Oriole ["Philip Unitt" ] 28 Jan Change in SDBirds Area Coverage ["Doug" ] 28 Jan Is La Jolla cove best for pelicans? ["serling_ipmp" ] 27 Jan San Dieguito monthly bird count - Feb 5th ["Jayne Lesley" ] 27 Jan The strange Nuttall's ["Doug" ] 27 Jan SDRiver ["bicyclebirder" ] 27 Jan three little blue herons, etc. ["sallygall" ] 27 Jan Hooded Mergansers @ SDL ["ross c" ] 27 Jan Female Nuttall's Woodpecker with Black Throat ["Doug" ] 27 Jan Cackling Geese Delmar pix ["stevan" ] 25 Jan Zone-tailed Hawk in Granite Hills; flightless sea duck in Pacific Beach ["Philip Unitt" ] 24 Jan RE: RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available : periodic message) [Tina Mitchell ] 25 Jan San Dieguito hooded mergansers ["bicyclebirder" ] 25 Jan Crown Point reddish egret & skimmers 1-24-12 ["rtpatton02" ] 25 Jan RE: RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) ["Philip Unitt" ] 24 Jan Bird enchantment at Famosa Slough ... ["Tina Rathbone" ] 24 Jan Golden Hill birds and minor winter notes (Jan 24, 2011) ["Eitan" ] 24 Jan After the storm at Aviara ["buckfairbanks" ] 24 Jan Thick-billed Kingbird picture, and others too........ [Mark Stratton ] 24 Jan Ring-necked Pheasant in Escondido ["monty621" ] 24 Jan A Few Reminders from Listowner ["Doug" ] 23 Jan Tundra Swan ["svanessa1" ] 23 Jan Hooded and common mergansers - San Dieguito River walk ["serling_ipmp" ] 23 Jan White-faced ibis ["svanessa1" ] 23 Jan RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) [Michael Evans ] 22 Jan REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) [Michael Evans ] 22 Jan Re: Male Red-breasted Merganser San Diego River ["Bruno Struck" ] 22 Jan Tundra Swan continues, Raptors & more [Jay K ] 22 Jan Tropical Kingbird and Clay-colored Sparrow still in Balboa Park ["Philip Unitt" ] 22 Jan Re: Please help me identify this bird? ["Matt Sadowski" ] 23 Jan Please help me identify this bird? ["mfarnesi" ] 22 Jan south SD Bay notes etc. ["Matt Sadowski" ] 22 Jan Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird ["bicyclebirder" ] 22 Jan RE: Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird [Brennan Mulrooney ] 22 Jan Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird ["bicyclebirder" ] 21 Jan Mission Bay area continuing birds - 1/21/12 [Steve Ritt ] 21 Jan Imperial Beach - Common Goldeneye, Loons [Gary Nunn ] 21 Jan More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird [Mark Stratton ] 21 Jan Local birding notes for Jan 21, 2012 [Jay K ] 22 Jan Mergansers on the SD River 1-21-2012 ["ERIC" ] 22 Jan Penasquitos Canyon, Jan. 20 ["ross c" ] 21 Jan Feb 4 Pelagic -- Dana Point ["thunefeld" ] Subject: Coastal Sage Thrashers (2/3/12) From: Jimmy McMorran <bigshell53 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:44:04 -0800 Hi Birders, There were (3) Sage Thrashers present this morning (2/3/12) at San Onofre State Beach. Take the Basilone exit to get to this entrance of the park. They were located approximately 100 meters west of the Park Ranger shack/entrance to the park. You'll know the habitat once there. For much of the time I thought there were only two, but then at one point I observed three all perched up at the same time. Pretty cool! Not much habitat so you should at least find one pretty quick if you look. ID shot of one of the three birds are here if interested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35283997 AT N07/ There was also one, first cycle Glaucous-winged Gull that flew by (eye-level). Maybe only the second or third one I've seen this season. Good Birding, Jimmy McMorran Cardiff, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Robb Field - Reddish Egret, Mew Gulls From: Gary Nunn <garybnunn AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:04:01 -0800 Checked out the San Diego River channel late in the afternoon along the bike path from Robb Field. Reddish Egret continues opposite the Tennis Club. I checked through quite a few gulls and found a second cycle MEW GULL just west of the second bridge. It was bathing in flowing channel water and then stood around preening showing off large black markings on the tertials and a little on the tail as well as complete black primary tips. Returning to Robb Field carpark I noticed another Mew Gull and thought maybe the first one just moved. Was surprised to see it was a nice adult in basic plumage and with very pale eyes. It was sitting by itself on the sandbar outside the Tennis Club at 5:15 pm. Gary Nunn, Pacific Beach. Sent from my iPad ------------------------------------ Subject: Sage Thrasher From: "Mark Lee" <marktlee AT juno.com> Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:23:54 -0000 Had a sage thrasher in Jacumba in the fields today on the farm. This bird would follow me around getting insects from where I stepped, and would get within 2 feet of me. It gave me great photo ops. Here is a link to one photo of the bird. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mleesrfr/6814603363/ Mark Lee Chula Vista marktlee AT juno.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Red-naped Sapsucker From: "buckfairbanks" <buckfairbanks AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:17:06 -0000 Hello During a short walk with Bear the dog today around 1:00pm, had good looks at a Red-naped Sapsucker at Guajome Regional Park.. Also Cedar Waxwings, bright Western Bluebirds, etc. Good birding Michael Martin Oceanside, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: Dairy Mart Pond From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:59:08 -0000 The ash-throated flycatcher seen three weeks ago and again two weeks ago is still present. It was near the red-shouldered hawk's nest on the N/S path just west of the pond. The cackling goose and ring-neck ducks continue and one of my redheads showed up down there, first I've seen there. Hutton's vireo and blue-gray gnatcatcher also continue. They are done with the new boardwalk, but it is not open yet while they finish up on the southern trail. No changes to the two new observation areas. JimPea, SD, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: Tierrasanta Baltimore Oriole & Summer Tanager From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:45:30 -0500 Friday morning, 3 Feb, the well-marked female (or young male) BALTIMORE ORIOLE (1 of 2 found here a month ago) was seen by Barbara Carlson and myself in the pink-flowered eucalyptus trees near the intersection of Antigua and Rimpark in Tierrasanta. The bird shows a number of small black blotches to the lower face and throat. Also a continuing WESTERN TANAGER here as well. And just to the south, in the long line of eucalyptus (and pine) trees along the canyon edge was the continuing female SUMMER TANAGER. Still lots of blooming eucalyptus in and around the Antigua and adjoining Repecho roads area, with good numbers of birds. In other minor news, I hear that Eitan A. had a new YELLOW WARBLER on 1/29 bordering the Hilton Hotel at east Mission Bay, and Steve R. had a continuing (all winter) WILSON'S WARBLER on 2/2 along the SD River near Mission Center Road. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web ------------------------------------ Subject: Trip Report 1/26-1/28 From: Tim Avery <western.tanager AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 16:40:00 -0700 I spent a couple days last week in San Diego and Palm Springs--a full recap of the weekend can be found here: http://utahbirders.blogspot.com/2012/02/birding-socal-in-january.html A few highlights included: 1/26 2 Swainson's Hawks in Carlsbad near Cannon and Camino intersection 1/27 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER at Robb Field - http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=898 2 Lesser Yellowlegs at Robb Field 1 REDDISH EGRETcontinuing at Robb Field - http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=903 1/28 130 Black Skimmers at Crown Point - http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=901 1 REDDISH EGRET continuing at Robb Field 10 Blue-headed Parakeets in Point Loma - http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=902 2 Mitred Parakeets in Point Loma - http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=909 1 THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD continuing in Chula Vista - http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=899 Other pictures can be found on the first two pages here: http://www.timaverybirding.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=0 It was great to finally go birding in San Diego--the nice weather wasn't bad either. Cheers Tim Avery Salt Lake City, Utah ------------------------------------ Subject: SDRiver From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:39:32 -0000 Regulars and irregulars continue. Teals are still coming in while the redheads are gone. Over 170 avocets at low tide. JimPea, SD, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: Thurs. a.m. the WISA continues From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:10:13 -0800 This (Thurs.) morning at least 5 or 6 people saw the male Williamson's Sapsucker in the Stonewall mine area of Cuyamaca State Park. The best description of where it hangs out was in the Jan. 29 SDBirds posting from Tim Cooper. From 8 to 10 a.m. this morning it stayed in the first pine tree west of the path and was easily seen from the path about 50 feet before you get to the upper chain-link fence that Tim mentioned. No need to leave the path. The female was possibly glimpsed once for a nanosecond, but no good looks were had. The Pinyon Jay gang was feeding early in the open area along the entrance road just before you get to the parking area, but by 9:30 or so they were done with breakfast and all of them were hanging out (and fairly well hidden) in the pine trees down slope and SW of where the Sapsucker was sucking sap. ( Hmmm, how much sap should a sucksapper sip if a soppedshucker should shack ships? Man, that Irish coffee's good on a cold morning! ) Phil Pryde San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: WESTERN HILLS PARK 2-2-2012 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:56:01 -0000 I burned an hour or so this afternoon at Western Hills Park in Bay Park. Lots of yellow-rumps. One RS flicker. One sapsucker flew directly overhead and into the euc canopy, gave one call and that was all. I could not refind the bird. I believe that it was a red-breasted, but my look at it was too fleeting. One small stand of eucs just to the east of the concrete pathway up the hillside looks like it was used for target practice by the number of sapsucker wells pounded into it. Lots of off-leash dogs. Watch your step! Eric Kallen Normal Heights ------------------------------------ Subject: (very) minor miscellanea From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:02:47 -0500 On Thursday morning, 2/2, a circumnavigation of Mission Bay produced only continuing YELLOW WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER, and adult male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at the northeast corner of the bay along the edge of the golf course; the continuing male EURASIAN WIGEON in the SD River adjacent to Sea World; and a continuing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER along lower Rose Creek. Mission Bay proper had a good number of loons, grebes, and scoters, but nothing out of the ordinary. Yesterday, 1 Feb, at Santee Lakes there were 1-2 LEAST BITTERNS (Lake #4) and 2 VIOLET-GREEN and 2 BARN SWALLOWS with the Tree Swallows. A bunch of other folks saw the continuing REDDISH EGRET at the SD River mouth, from Robb Field. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft® Windows® and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting ------------------------------------ Subject: So Cal request From: "ak_zukes" <swinak AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:33:53 -0000 Beginning Feb 17th I will be birding the areas around San Diego for a week or so and I'm asking for suggestions of any "must" go birding spots. My agenda includes Anza-Borrego, Salton Sea, and local spots around San Diego. I've never visited southern California, and I'm looking forward to a trip out of the relentless AK snow. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Steve W. Anchorage, AK ------------------------------------ Subject: San Diego Bird Festival Pelagics From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:35:20 -0000 Greetings, The San Diego Bird Festival is once again offering four pelagic "day trips" on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 1-4, 2012. http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/index.php/events/bird-festival These day-trips will take us to the alcid, jaeger & tubenose-rich Nine Mile Bank. We'll travel aboard the comfortable 85-foot live-aboard Grande observing hundreds of seabirds and marine mammals and view migrating California Gray Whales as they make their way to the warm lagoons of Baja California to breed and give birth. THESE TRIPS ARE SETTING SOCAL RECORDS: Participant's on these trips see rare happenings of birds at sea. The 2009 Bird Festival saw something that has never happened in SoCal before or since: we found two Manx Shearwaters. To top it off, we had a Blue-footed Booby circling the boat. In 2010 a Laysan's Albatross flew by just south of the Mexican border and we saw Black-footed Albatrosses on two of the three trips. We often see three or four species of dolphins (Bottlenose, Common, Pacific White-sided and Risso's) and numerous seabirds including fulmars, shearwaters, auklets, murrelets, and jaegers. This is also a good time of year to find three species of loons, three species of cormorants, five to six species of gulls. On our way out of the harbor we'll motor slowly by the San Diego live bait tanks for close-ups of several dozen lounging sea lions, several hundred Brandt's cormorants, several species of gulls, and dozens of egrets and herons. Then we'll check Ballast Point where Black Oystercatchers and a Long-tailed Duck hung out the entire winter of 2009-2010 and were seen from Grande on this trip at the 2010 Bird Festival. On these trips we often see migrating Gray Whales, Fin Whales and Humpback Whales plus multiple pods of dolphins, as well as snoozing Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions. We'll also peek around the back of Middle Island to see if there are any of the once-thought-extinct Elephant Seals. A big pod of Orcas (KIller Whales) were reported off Dana Harbor this January. Upon our return to San Diego harbor the captain will put Grande right up next to the Zuniga Jetty to look for rocky shore birds such as Black and American Oystercatchers, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone and Surfbird. Registration information: http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/index.php/events/bird-festival Peace on earth. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf ------------------------------------ Subject: East county highlights, 1 Feb 2011 From: "Geoffrey Rogers" <rogersgl AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 20:07:17 -0800 A small group of about 6 Pinyon Jays was seen today at 8:30 just south of the trail running west from Stonewall Mine in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. They were too active to count more accurately but this is all that 3 observers saw. At one point they were on the ground foraging among a covey of about 30 California Quail. Further west, or northwest to be more exact, the male Williamson's Sapsucker was seen just off the trail. We did not find the reported female Williamson's Sapsucker to the east. In Ramona, the Tundra Swan seen previously at the pond west of Magnolia Avenue did not show but may have been hidden behind the reeds at the west end of the pond. Geoff ______________ Geoffrey Rogers San Diego, CA rogersgl AT cox.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Yellow-shafted Flicker (2/1/12) From: Jimmy McMorran <bigshell53 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:47:17 -0800 Hi Birders, A Yellow-shafted Flicker caught me and my co-worker off gaurd as it flew over us this morning (2/1/12) out in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral. It perched on a Chaparral Yucca for about 10-15 seconds up on the hillside and then took off over the ridge. We were out near Elfin Forest Road (not far from the Olivenhain Dam). I was able to get two extremely poor (as usual) ID shots as it flew away. I have posted one image at the link below showing the yellow shafts in the flight feathers (if you look hard enough). The other image not posted shows red on the nape. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35283997 AT N07/ Good Birding, Jimmy McMorran Cardiff, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Zone-tailed Hawk seen again in Granite Hills From: "Philip Unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:29:23 -0800 Dear friends, And again today between 11:30 AM and noon Yvonne and Jules Trahan reported and photographed the Zone-tailed Hawk circling over Dehesa Rd. and Springtime Way east of El Cajon. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego _____ From: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Philip Unitt Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:39 AM To: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SDBIRDS] Zone-tailed Hawk seen again in Granite Hills Dear friends, Yvonne Trahan reports the adult Zone-tailed Hawk again along Dehesa Road in the Granite Hills area east of El Cajon at 12:45 PM yesterday. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Help with Blue-Headed Vireo From: "linda.renna" <lrenna47 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:34:35 -0000 My husband and I hope to be in San Diego this weekend and would love to find the Blue-Headed Vireo that was reported on Point Loma. We'd appreciate any information about where to look. Linda Renna Mission Viejo, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: No more photo volunteers, please! From: "snotwad46" <bonitarick AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:31:10 -0000 The response to my request for photos for Cabrillo NM was overwhelming! I'm sure I can get what is needed, so no more volunteers, please! And, THANKS! Rick Phillips Bonita ------------------------------------ Subject: Bird Photos for Cabrillo From: "snotwad46" <bonitarick AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:12:10 -0000 I know the Cabrillo National Monument management is low on some birders' lists. However, they are redoing all their trail signage and need photos of 14 local birds (resident and migratory) for their bird sign. It will be one of those "photos courtesy of____ " things. And, no, I don't know where or how the recognition will appear, but your photos will be around for about 30-40 years! (The age of the current signs) If you are interested in donating your photos and want to see what birds are needed, please contact me offline. Thanks. Rick Phillips Bonita ------------------------------------ Subject: Zone-tailed Hawk seen again in Granite Hills From: "Philip Unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:38:58 -0800 Dear friends, Yvonne Trahan reports the adult Zone-tailed Hawk again along Dehesa Road in the Granite Hills area east of El Cajon at 12:45 PM yesterday. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Jacumba Ponds - Tricolored Blackbirds From: "Mark Lee" <marktlee AT juno.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:29:48 -0000 In my weekly trips out to Jacumba for work, the Tricolored blackbirds seem to be fine. As soon as the pond is refilled I hope the residents won't be plagued by mosquitoes which will be sure to breed in the stagnant water. Just something to bring up in the study. Mark Lee Chula Vista --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "TA Blackman" wrote: > > I have been working with the Cal Audubon (K Kyle), DFG, and many locals to > get the pond refilled and re-establish a colony of Tricolored Blackbirds. A > new owner of the spa property along with many of the locals are enthused > about the project the prospect of birders making this a regular stop to view > the Tricolored Blackbirds and other waterfowl. In the past this was one of > the most important Tricolored colonies in Southern Cal (Bill Hamilton), and > the goal is get this colony thriving once again. > > > > There are several issues to be addressed including permits by the DFG for > improvements, and funding by several agencies. BTW the improvements are of > the nature to make the habitat the best for the Tricoloreds. > > > > > > Tom Blackman > > obeach AT ... > > obeach.smugmug.com > ------------------------------------ Subject: Jacumba Ponds - Tricolored Blackbirds From: "TA Blackman" <obeach AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:57:39 -0800 I have been working with the Cal Audubon (K Kyle), DFG, and many locals to get the pond refilled and re-establish a colony of Tricolored Blackbirds. A new owner of the spa property along with many of the locals are enthused about the project the prospect of birders making this a regular stop to view the Tricolored Blackbirds and other waterfowl. In the past this was one of the most important Tricolored colonies in Southern Cal (Bill Hamilton), and the goal is get this colony thriving once again. There are several issues to be addressed including permits by the DFG for improvements, and funding by several agencies. BTW the improvements are of the nature to make the habitat the best for the Tricoloreds. Tom Blackman obeach AT cox.net obeach.smugmug.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Jacumba Vermilions, Tierrasanta WETA & other highlights of the week, 1-29-12 From: Bob Miller <bob.miller AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:05:25 -0800 (GMT-08:00) Hi all, A friend, birder and resident of Jacumba informed me a few days ago that the old spa has closed and will soon be under new management. Local folks have come together and are doing a lot to clean up the place for wildlife and people to enjoy and have reinstated the water flow to the old railroad pond. He said the new management is agreable to keeping water in the pond. Sounds like great news to me and Jay's post just confirmed what I expected to begin hearing. Thanks Jay!! -----Original Message----- From: Jay K Sent: Jan 29, 2012 12:53 PM To: SDBIRDS Subject: [SDBIRDS] Jacumba Vermilions, Tierrasanta WETA & other highlights of the week, 1-29-12 SD-Birders, It had been a while since I visited Jacumba, so I went there this AM and had highlight birds including two male VERMILION FLYCATCHERS (1st year & an adult) wintering on the east edge of town. There were also 95 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS, four OAK TITMOUSES around town, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER in the properties west of town, and a vocal PURPLE FINCH visiting a feeder right along old rte 80. Also of note is that the natural spring on the west edge of town is at full gush, and the old pond is the fullest I have seen, producing my first ever AMERICAN COOT in Jacumba, plus VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA. I drove up to Cibbet's Flat along Kitchen Creek Road and saw a vocal HAIRY WOODPECKER in the scrub visiting yucca stalks! Odd. Yesterday while scoping off the Torrey Pines Gliderport, a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL floated by, but otherwise the ocean was dead. On Tuesday I had to make a mid-day run home and heard a WESTERN TANAGER calling, then adding in brief phrases of song. I presume this is the same bird that had wintered here the previous two years, but it is surprising that this is the first I have detected it (other than a "maybe" detection in November). Jay Keller, San Diego (!__!) (0V0) HAPPY BIRDING {}~~{} BOB MILLER ='''='''== Southwest Birders Brawley, CA. 92227 Imperial County 760-455-1413 http://www.southwestbirders.com bob.miller "at" mindspring.com HELP I'm birding and I can't stop! Will bird for food! ------------------------------------ Subject: Pinyon Jays and Williamson's Sapsucker From: "Jim Wilson" <jameskwilson AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:05:03 -0000 This morning at Stonewall Mine there were 10-15 PINYON JAYS actively feeding on the ground for 2 1/2 hours (9:15-11:45AM)and not just passing through. They were easily seen in the same area as the male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER (also seen)that was reported yesterday by Gary Nunn. Jim Wilson ------------------------------------ Subject: In memory of Cliff Lyons From: "bstokes52" <bstokes52 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:57:37 -0000 Cliff Lyons, a well-known birder in San Diego in the 1970's, died January 27 in Post Mills, Vermont, after a long illness. He was a member of an informal group, including Phil Unitt, Jon Dunn and others, who were mentored by Guy McCaskie in those years. Cliff moved to Mariposa, in Northern California, around 1982, and later to Vermont, where he spent the last 22 years of his life, adding the East Coast birds to his life list. He had many stories to tell of adventures with San Diego birders. If you have questions or comments, contact Glenda Hightower at trona3 AT gmail.com. ------------------------------------ Subject: San Gorgonio, addendum From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:07:37 -0800 Sorry, forgot to mention that the Summer Tanager was present and easily seen in the euc where the vireo was supposed to be at 475 San Gorgonio. Phil ------------------------------------ Subject: San Gorgonio this a.m. From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:04:50 -0800 On San Gorgonio St. Sunday a.m. 7:30 to 9:30, no sign of any vireo, but there was a good look at a Red-breasted Sapsucker in the large light-trunked tree near the street at 478 San Fernando. Warblers seen included Townsend's, Wilson's, and O-C. Also a R-C Kinglet and 2 Red-masked Parakeets for color. Phil Pryde San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: Stonewall Mine - Williamson's Sapsuckers, Pinyon Jays From: Gary Nunn <garybnunn AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:32:19 -0800 I took an early morning drive to the Cuyamacas starting off at Stonewall Mine. Discovered and photographed a beautiful male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER close to the trail which heads west from the parking area. Walk west on the trail from the parking area about 150 yards around the hill to the right. It was feeding at the base of several very large pines on the right side of the trail. The fresh sap and workings can easily be seen from the trail. They are the largest pines there and with heavily burned lower trunks. Back at the parking area a fellow birder tipped me off the female Williamson's Sapsucker was back at its favorite tree east of the parking area. I walked down the trail behind the green hut and it was still there on the pine tree. I was about to leave when approximately 25 PINYON JAYS flew in from the east. They stuck around for about ten minutes only, looking around under the pines, and then headed off west. Time was 8:45 am. Gary Nunn Sent from my iPhone ------------------------------------ Subject: Dos WISA's From: "timcooper8993" <timcooper8993 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:18:32 -0000 Jan 29, 2012 - 10:00 am/ Stonewall Mine. There are now two Williamson's Sapsuckers using the pine trees in the vicinty of the Stonewall Mine: one female and one male. The female is generally located in the pine trees south and east of the mine site that is enclosed by the chain link fence northeast of the parking lot. The male is located in the more open stand of pine trees north and slightly west of the mine site. In both cases, the trees being worked by the birds show clear evidence of activity. By comparison, the Williamson's sap holes are much larger than Red Naped/Red Breasted sapsucker holes. They are also shaped differently. Williamson's sap hole are oval in shape with the long axis from side to side. When you see the holes, it's clear why the Williamson's have proportionately much longer bills given the thickness of the bark that they're drilling. Given colder temps at higher elevations and the tendency for sap to freeze, bigger holes make sense too. It's not clear if the holes start out as ovals or get that way over time. As they move up and down the trunk, the birds tap at the holes to their left and their right - a bit like us holding up tacos and turning our heads for a bite. The birds are quiet so identifying trees in use may be the best way to locate them. The female made some slight mewing sounds while checking holes, but the male was silent. They were tapping on live wood so their tap cadence did not exactly resound (compared to the acorn woodpeckers). The female does not appear to be an adult. She has some yellow on the lower abdomen between her legs that is only visible when she turns away from the trunk. There is no black upper breast band or yellow below that. LOCATION: At the south east corner of the chainlink fence surrounding the mine, there is a fieldstone column. Walk east on the trail downhill from the column about 500 feet, and on the right, 30 feet from the trail, you will see a pine tree about 2 feet in diameter at the base with rows of active holes that face the trail. The holes start about 5 feet above the ground and extend up about 30 feet. It is possible to stand quietly on the trail and watch the female 30 feet away with the naked eye. Although she works the surrounding trees, she returns periodically to check the holes. The male is a textbook adult male. The two upper white eyestripes very nearly join together at the back of the head. LOCATION: On the north side of the mine site, there is a restroom currently out of service. On the north side of the restroom, there is a trail extending north up the hill. About 400 feet up the hill, there is a second chain link fence enclosure to the right (east). Just before reaching the second enclosure, about 100 feet downslope on the left (west) side of the trail, there are two larger pine trees where the drilling activity can be seen from the trail. The bases of the trees have been burned. This area appears to be the male's area in the 'his and hers' arrangement. It would be interesting to know if they share holes or not. One of the State Park Staff said that the female had been missing so he was happy to see the bird back. There must be other feeding stations around if the bird can leave for a few days in winter and reappear. Tim Cooper 619-884-6131 ------------------------------------ Subject: Dos WISA's From: "timcooper8993" <timcooper8993 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:12:44 -0000 Jan 29, 2012 - 10:00 am/ Stonewall Mine. There are now two Williamson's Sapsuckers using the pine trees in the vicinty of the Stonewall Mine: one female and one male. The female is generally located in the pine trees south and east of the mine site that is enclosed by the chain link fence northeast of the parking lot. The male is located in the more open stand of pine trees north and slightly west of the mine site. In both cases, the trees being worked by the birds show clear evidence of activity. By comparison, the Williamson's sap holes are much larger than Red Naped/Red Breasted sapsucker holes. They are also shaped differently. Williamson's sap hole are oval in shape with the long axis from side to side. When you see the holes, it's clear why the Williamson's have proportionately much longer bills given the thickness of the bark that they're drilling. Given colder temps at higher elevations and the tendency for sap to freeze, bigger holes make sense too. It's not clear if the holes start out as ovals or get that way over time. As they move up and down the trunk, the birds tap at the holes to their left and their right - a bit like us holding up tacos and turning our heads for a bite. The birds are quiet so identifying trees in use may be the best way to locate them. The female made some slight mewing sounds while checking holes, but the male was silent. They were tapping on live wood so their tap cadence did not exactly resound (compared to the acorn woodpeckers). The female does not appear to be an adult. She has some yellow on the lower abdomen between her legs that is only visible when she turns away from the trunk. There is no black upper breast band or yellow below that. LOCATION: At the south east corner of the chainlink fence surrounding the mine, there is a fieldstone column. Walk east on the trail downhill from the column about 500 feet, and on the right, 30 feet from the trail, you will see a pine tree about 2 feet in diameter at the base with rows of active holes that face the trail. The holes start about 5 feet above the ground and extend up about 30 feet. It is possible to stand quietly on the trail and watch the female 30 feet away with the naked eye. Although she works the surrounding trees, she returns periodically to check the holes. The male is a textbook adult male. The two upper white eyestripes very nearly join together at the back of the head. LOCATION: On the north side of the mine site, there is a restroom currently out of service. On the north side of the restroom, there is a trail extending north up the hill. About 400 feet up the hill, there is a second chain link fence enclosure to the right (east). Just before reaching the second enclosure, about 100 feet downslope on the left (west) side of the trail, there are two larger pine trees where the drilling activity can be seen from the trail. The bases of the trees have been burned. This area appears to be the male's area in the 'his and hers' arrangement. It would be interesting to know if they share holes or not. One of the State Park Staff said that the female had been missing so he was happy to see the bird back. There must be other feeding stations around if the bird can leave for a few days in winter and reappear. Tim Cooper 619-884-6131 ------------------------------------ Subject: Jacumba Vermilions, Tierrasanta WETA & other highlights of the week, 1-29-12 From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:53:02 -0800 (GMT-08:00) SD-Birders, It had been a while since I visited Jacumba, so I went there this AM and had highlight birds including two male VERMILION FLYCATCHERS (1st year & an adult) wintering on the east edge of town. There were also 95 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS, four OAK TITMOUSES around town, a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER in the properties west of town, and a vocal PURPLE FINCH visiting a feeder right along old rte 80. Also of note is that the natural spring on the west edge of town is at full gush, and the old pond is the fullest I have seen, producing my first ever AMERICAN COOT in Jacumba, plus VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA. I drove up to Cibbet's Flat along Kitchen Creek Road and saw a vocal HAIRY WOODPECKER in the scrub visiting yucca stalks! Odd. Yesterday while scoping off the Torrey Pines Gliderport, a 1st cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL floated by, but otherwise the ocean was dead. On Tuesday I had to make a mid-day run home and heard a WESTERN TANAGER calling, then adding in brief phrases of song. I presume this is the same bird that had wintered here the previous two years, but it is surprising that this is the first I have detected it (other than a "maybe" detection in November). Jay Keller, San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: contuing Blue-headed Vireo and others...... From: Mark Stratton <zostropz AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:55:33 -0800 This morning, I'm guessing around 7:30 am, myself, Camille, and a 3rd birder (I'm sorry I don't know your name) had a brief view of the continuing Blue-headed Vireo. He was in the Euc at the previously mentioned location on San Gorgonio in Pt. Loma, and then flew across the street into the tree/hedge thing above the street and then disappeared for the remainder of our time there. We did have the Summer Tanager as well as a Black-throated gray, and a Wilson's Warbler. From there, we went down to San Fernando and about 4 houses to the north, (the house with a ton of trees and plants on the West side of the street, I think it's 510) We had what I am pretty sure was a Tennessee Warbler. It was in the tree all the way up against the left side of the house, where the porch is so it was a little too distant to be possitive. After this, we headed for Ramona where the day was rounded out with the continuing Tundra Swan at the Roadside pond just north of Ramona, and a Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Pamo Valley. Rangeland Road had no fewer than 3 Ferruginous Hawks, 2 Bald Eagles (1 near adult and 1 juvenile), and a few mountain Bluebirds along with the normal stuff. Mark and Camille Stratton North Park zostropz AT gmail.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Ash-throated flycatcher at Dairy Mart Pond From: "Bruce" <brideout AT sandiegozoo.org> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:57:40 -0000 This morning, Saturday January 28, an ash-throated flycatcher was working the willows around the first observation area at Dairy Mart Pond. A lot of changes are taking place around there. In addition to opening up several observation areas at the pond edge, a raised wooden walkway is being built through the slightly boggy area south of the Pond. Bruce Rideout La Mesa ------------------------------------ Subject: Point Loma, Mission Bay - Saturday 28 Jan 2012 From: Gary Nunn <garybnunn AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:27:00 -0800 I did an early morning circuit to a few spots in Point Loma and Mission Bay. The blazing sunshine soon got the heat haze going unfortunately. At Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery a nice male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH was a surprise participant in a restless White-crowned Sparrow flock feeding on short turf just north of the Commital Shelter. In the Silvergate neighborhood of Point Loma a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was calling loudly and a "Solitary" type vireo, most likely a Cassin's, made a quick pass by me overhead. The sunlight was so bright I could not decide if my eyes were playing tricks on me and I only saw the underside and head well. It did look quite dark-blue headed with a crisp white throat. I grabbed my camera but no further sign of it. A circuit of Fiesta Island found a group of 21 BLACK TURNSTONE on the east side just after you enter the island. They were bathing and chasing each other around very excitedly. Also there were four PACIFIC LOON in a vanguard heading up a big mixed grebe flock that seemed to be on to a school of fish. Gary Nunn, Pacific Beach. Sent from my iPad ------------------------------------ Subject: Yet another winter Hooded Oriole From: "Philip Unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:16:33 -0800 Dear friends, High in one of the fan palms adjacent to the lily pond in Balboa Park this morning I heard the characteristic "yeek" or "weet" of the Hooded Oriole. It's still a month too early for the species' traditional earliest spring arrival. But I can't help but think that the increase of winter records of the Hooded Oriole around San Diego these past few years foreshadows the day when it will dispense with migration and become a year-round resident-a process in which the House Wren seems much farther along. Also, in my neighborhood in Hillcrest, a Mockingbird carrying a stick.. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Change in SDBirds Area Coverage From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:32:03 -0000 When SDBirds was started in the late 1990's, the Area that the listserv covered was San Diego and Imperial Counties and Northern Baja California. After the Inland Counties Listserv got started they also started to cover Imperial County, which was redundant, but continued to cover the area after much dicussion. So now after many years, most people who do report their sightings from Imperial County, do so on the Inland County listserv, even residents of San Diego County. As of today, please do not post anything to SDBirds that is related to the regions outside of San Diego County and Northern Baja California. If you do need to report anything from Imperial County, please do so on Inland County Birds Yahoo Group. The Guidelines on the Home page have been changed to reflect this change. Thanks, Doug Aguillard SDBirds Listowner doug AT basiclink.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Is La Jolla cove best for pelicans? From: "serling_ipmp" <bserling AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:25:59 -0000 With brown pelicans in breeding plumage now, can someone tell me the best places to see and photograph them? I've heard La Jolla cove is good, but is there a specific location there? And suggestions for any other good spots would be appreciated. Thanks, Bob Serling Cardiff gbobserling AT gmail.com ------------------------------------ Subject: San Dieguito monthly bird count - Feb 5th From: "Jayne Lesley" <jaynelesley AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:24:34 -0000 Hello fellow birders, This is a reminder that the February 2012 San Dieguito Lagoon monthly bird count is next Sunday, Feb 5. We will meet at 7:30 AM at the south end of San Andres Dr (turn right/south off Via de la Valle east of Hwy 5: San Andres dead ends at the lagoon). We'll divide into groups to count 5 areas, and a park ranger will meet us to provide vests and access for the restricted areas. Bring water and snack or lunch. We will gather to tally our results at noon at the Del Mar Public Works parking lot/picnic tables (turn off of Jimmy Durante Rd. just south of the Fairgrounds and the bridge crossing the San Dieguito River). We hope we will see you on Sunday! Jayne Lesley (cell phone: 858-663-6568) for more information contact me or Mona Baumgartel (760-753-2686) ------------------------------------ Subject: The strange Nuttall's From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:34:19 -0000 Of course, I was immediatley hit with people saying that the images I took yesterday of the Nuttall's Woodpecker with a black throat was merely sap stained feathers from feeding on the coral tree. Yes, they may be right, and yes, I considered that beofre I posted (only been birding for over 30 years)the images, but here is my arguments against that. I've seen many Audubon's and Orange-crowned Warblers, various species of Hummingbirds, and even the Hepatic Tanger from IB with the sap-stained faces, and they most always are stained over their entire face and the pattern of stain is irregular. Also their feathers are usually matted around the beak because of the sap. In the images I took, the blackness in only in the throat area, and the Nasal tuft is clearly white, if it was sap, shouldn't the Nasal tuft show some staining also, since the birds' face is buried in the flower? Also, there appears to be no matting of the feathers on the throat or face, the black pattern seems to me to be uniform and not irregular, and lastly, I saw two other Nuttall's in the same area, and neither of them showed any black in the throat or staining. Just my 2 cents, Douglas Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com ------------------------------------ Subject: SDRiver From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:29:12 -0000 Redish egret, common merganser and the Eurasian wigeon all continue. Numbers of wigeon, mallard, redhead and blue-winged teal continue to decrease while pintails and green-wing teals continue to climb. Got a set of bird sound frequency decreasers like Frank Wong has and was very startled on how loud song sparrows are and jumped when a marsh wren hollered at me when I had the volume up high. This could be a very useful tool for deaf birders like me. JimPea,SD,CA ------------------------------------ Subject: three little blue herons, etc. From: "sallygall" <sallygall AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:15:18 -0000 This morning at the Mission Bay Crown Point reserve there was a cluster of two great egrets, two snowy egrets, one great blue heron, and THREE little blue herons. No reddish egret, although one of the back-lit little blues sure looked reddish for a bit, until I got a better angle on it. Very wishful thinking on my part. Also, a belted kingfisher was perched on the parking lot fence next to the reserve. I'd heard him rattling. The black skimmers were on the wide part of the beach (once the off-leash dogs had left), along with lots of black-bellied plovers. I do wish they'd keep their black bellies all year round. It's hard to explain to walking companions why they really, really are black-bellied plovers. Sally M. Gall La Jolla librettist AT aol.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Hooded Mergansers @ SDL From: "ross c" <caracara99 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:04:26 -0000 This afternoon (2:15) at San Dieguito Lagoon in Del Mar, from the viewing platform called the "Old Grand Avenue Bridge" at the intersection of San Dieguito Drive & Lagoon Viewpoint, there were two Hooded Mergansers (m & f) swimming in the channel about 20 -30 yds away, roughly south-east of the platform. Also, duck-wise, were many American wigeon, N. pintail, Mallard, & Bufflehead in the lagoon. Ross Christie Carlsbad ------------------------------------ Subject: Female Nuttall's Woodpecker with Black Throat From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:46:14 -0000 Found a female Nuttall's Woodpecker this morning with an all black throat. http://www.blackwaterphoto.com/gallery/8221565_gzXQhX#!i=1687564510&k=Q7xTKnp Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Cackling Geese Delmar pix From: "stevan" <stevanbrad AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:03:00 -0000 at the polo field this am Thursday there were at least 2 and maybe 4 Cackling Geese in the flock of about 600 Canada Geese pix of the birds with there big bros last 2 here http://www.stevebradphoto.com/DucksGeeseSwans/Geese/Cackling-Goose/17682723_kL4d4t#!i=1687520251&k=2XpQ5Vw steve brad leucadia ------------------------------------ Subject: Zone-tailed Hawk in Granite Hills; flightless sea duck in Pacific Beach From: "Philip Unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:41:15 -0800 Dear friends, Yvonne and Jules Trahan sent me a message today, supported by a photo, that they saw an adult Zone-tailed Hawk along Dehesa Road near Springtime Way, in the Granite Hills area on the east edge of El Cajon, about 12:30 this afternoon. Even more exciting, a young woman who volunteers in the museum's paleontology department found, in Pacific Beach, still partly embedded in sediment, the tarsometatarsus (foot bone) of a bird. She and Joe El Adli of our paleontogy department brought it over to my department to see if we (zooarchaeologists Aaron Sasson and Susan Arter and I) could identify it. Fortunately, the bone was almost completely intact, and right away I could tell it was from some species of waterfowl (if you're interested in the diagnostic features, ask). Aaron and I gave each other a suspicious look. Just a few months ago he had identified from an archaeological site in Ventura County a femur of the extinct flightless sea duck Chendytes lawi. Because we didn't have any skeletons of it here, he went to Los Angeles to study specimens there and took photos of a variety of its bones. So we compared the bone from Pacific Beach with the corresponding bone of the Surf Scoter and King Eider-two close living relatives of Chendytes lawi. The shapes of both the proximal and distal ends of the bone were very similar, but the whole bone was about half again as large and proportionately thicker. Just to be sure we compared it with the corresponding bones of the Brant, Snow Goose, White-fronted Goose, and the small subspecies taverneri of the Canada (Cackling???) Goose. In all cases the shape and proportions were wrong, though they suggested the bird was about the size of a Snow Goose. Aaron brought up some of his photos of the tarsometatarsus of Chendytes lawi, and we could see it was just the right size and shape for the bone from Pacific Beach. Chendytes lawi is known not only from Pleistocene fossils comtemporary with the Rancho La Brea tar-pit fauna but also from at least 14 archaeological sites from southern California north to Cape Blanco, Oregon-mainly in southern California. From remains of eggs and young it is known to have nested at least on San Miguel Island, and there is at least one previous record from San Diego. Bones from archaeological sites have been dated from about 11,000 to just about 2500 years ago. It is assumed that people, who had boats that could get them to the Channel Islands between 11,500 and 13,000 years ago, ate Chendytes lawi to extinction, though the process took 8000 years. For more information, see Jones et al., "The protracted Holocene extinction of California's flightless sea duck (Chendytes lawi) and its implications for the Pleistocene overkill hypothesis," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105:4105-4108, 2008. Just think, if we had taken our New Year's Day pelagic trip around 600 BC, when the Persian Empire was duking it out with the Assyrians and the Buddha was achieving enlightenment, we still could have seen California's answer to the flightless steamer ducks of South America. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available : periodic message) From: Tina Mitchell <ztsipapu AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:48:09 -0700 Hello, group-- Greetings from Colorado! I am new to this group, anticipating a relocation from our beloved Colorado to the San Diego area (specifics as yet undetermined). I was intrigued by Mike's posting, so I searched the SDNHM Web site. I think this is the new URL for the Google Earth overlay of Atlas data: http://www.sdnhm.org/science/birds-and-mammals/projects/san-diego-county-bird-atlas/bird-atlas-google-earth-presentation/. I just downloaded the files and installed them. (Marvelous instructions too--very clear and easy to follow.) This is an amazing resource. My husband and I have atlased for the nearly completed Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II effort and it is such a joy to see a presentation of any similarly Herculean effort in such a user-friendly format. It will be a wonderful way for us to become familiar with the avi-fauna of San Diego County. Suddenly, I feel a bit less trepidacious about the task--now, the adventure!--of becoming acquainted with the birds and birding opportunities of a new area. Thanks so much for passing this on. Tina Mitchell Lakewood/Coaldale, CO <") ( \ / |`` http://sipapu.wordpress.com/ (information about central Colorado's pinyon/juniper habitat) http://galapagos2009.wordpress.com/ (a detailed trip report & photos about our 2009 trip to Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands) http://costarica201102.wordpress.com/ (a detailed report & photos about our 2011 birding trip to Costa Rica) To: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com From: aves AT mac.com Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:56:13 -0800 Subject: [SDBIRDS] RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) SD Birders, It seems that changes in the SDNHM web pages have removed/lost the links for installing Atlas data in Google Earth; Phil Unitt is looking in to this and I will report back when he reports back. Sorry that I did not test the web link before posting the earlier message, but I think it worked about a month ago. Anyway, see the SDFO rare bird list for hints as to which bird sightings may be of interest to other birders. Mike Evans San Diego/Hillcrest [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: San Dieguito hooded mergansers From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:54:42 -0000 I did not find any hooded mergansers from the beach to San Andres St. Plenty of bufflehead by the Water building and canvasback by the driving range. Did find an immature pair east of San Andres. Helpful peregrin flushed all the shore peeps and grouped all the ducks for easier counting. Didn't have any luck at Aviara... JimPea, SD, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: Crown Point reddish egret & skimmers 1-24-12 From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:15:33 -0000 Didn't recall seeing this location posted so thought I'd pass it along, although it's no doubt the same bird regularly seen along the SD River near Robb Field - around 7:15 yesterday morning, a reddish egret was roosting on the top rail of the fence at the waterline at the east end of Crown Point, SW corner of Kendall-Frost Marsh reserve. Thank you to all who responded to my earlier request for recent black skimmer sightings. In checking the Mission Bay winter roost flock yesterday, Kate Goodenough, Chris Millow, & I were able to confirm bands of birds including 2 fledged from South SD Bay saltworks in 2011, 3 & 7-year-olds from Batiquitos, a 13-yr-old from Bolsa Chica, 15-yr-old from Newport Bay, & 21 yr-old geezer from Long Beach! Robert Patton San Diego, CA ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) From: "Philip Unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:15:27 -0800 Dear friends, Sorry the Google Earth application for the San Diego County bird atlas fell apart last week when the Natural History Museum's website was renovated. The problem has now been fixed, and you can get the new instructions for downloading the application, through which the entire atlas is available, at http://sdnhm.org/science/birds-and-mammals/projects/san-diego-county-bird-at las/bird-atlas-google-earth-presentation/ And, of course, the printed version of the version of the atlas is still available too. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego _____ From: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Michael Evans Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 9:56 AM To: SD SD Birds Subject: [SDBIRDS] RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) SD Birders, It seems that changes in the SDNHM web pages have removed/lost the links for installing Atlas data in Google Earth; Phil Unitt is looking in to this and I will report back when he reports back. Sorry that I did not test the web link before posting the earlier message, but I think it worked about a month ago. Anyway, see the SDFO rare bird list for hints as to which bird sightings may be of interest to other birders. Mike Evans San Diego/Hillcrest Begin forwarded message: > From: Michael Evans > > Subject: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) > Date: January 22, 2012 10:35:42 PM PST > To: SD SD Birds > > > > SD Birds gets a large number of bird reports, both of relatively rare and relatively common birds. The San Diego Bird Atlas (Phil Unitt 2004) is the ONLY go-to reference on local birds and it is available at the San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) , some local book sellers, and Amazon.com. > > You may not know that the mapped data and species accounts from the Atlas are also available as an add-on file for Google Earth, a fantastic free program available on the net . Once you download and install Google Earth on your PC or MAC, you can go to the following web URL at the museum web page to find out how to install the files for maps and species accounts through Google Earth: > > Besides the Atlas general data on birds, the San Diego Field Ornithologists' web site has a list of rare birds of San Diego County: > > Note that some birds are seen in unusual locations or in unusual seasons and warrant reporting as well. > > Good Birding > Mike Evans > San Diego/Hillcrest > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Bird enchantment at Famosa Slough ... From: "Tina Rathbone" <tina AT tinarathbone.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:27:33 -0800 We've been enjoying the large numbers at the wonderful Slough lately, as well. On a recent visit, in a tree above the "woodland" area closest to the parking lot, we noticed a bunch of Cedar Waxwings. Starting our hike along the trail towards W. Pt. Loma Blvd., we noticed a raptor up so high and far off, we thought it was a child's (paper) kite. It never flapped its wings, in 15 min. or so. Despite being so far away, I guess some other Waxwings saw it. Dozens flew in to join their fellows in the tree, followed by waves of dozens more. Pretty soon that tree was alive with over 100 waxwings. We always see something magical at the Slough. One of these days I can make it to a work party, I hope. Hugs, Tina Rathbone Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs, San Diego From: Friends of Famosa Slough [mailto:famosa-slough AT cox.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 12:13 PM To: Famosa Bird Group Subject: Birdy day at Famosa Slough today Famosa Birders - We got the scope out to look at a large number of shorebirds at the slough from our house, and I just saw a couple of willets 'going at it.' It was unusual to me because willets always seem so solitary. There are a lot more killdeers than usual, but they are probably not visible from ground level. We are on the hill above the slough, looking down from the southeast. Most of the birds are on the big island on the side facing the trail in the West Point Loma Blvd. restoration project. There are groups of avocets, dowitchers (probably) and snowy egrets, and there is one male bufflehead that I can see. He's been there regularly lately. Today was the last of the greater-than-6-feet high tide days we've been having. It was 6.4 feet at 9:20 a.m., but the high tide is delayed 2-3 hours at the main part of the slough. - Barbara Peugh [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Golden Hill birds and minor winter notes (Jan 24, 2011) From: "Eitan" <ston571 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:36:43 -0000 On my lunch break today I cruised up to the Golden Hill area to check on some recent reports. At Golden Hill Park (north end of 25th St) I did NOT refind the Tropical Kingbird, but in the cluster of trees just north of the fenced-in fig (described by Phil Unitt on Sunday) there was a SUMMER TANAGER and two WESTERN TANAGERS. Assumedly these are the same birds found by Millie & Peter Thomas and reported to SDBirds by Phil on Nov 27. I also had a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and a calling HUTTON'S VIREO among the numerous Yellow-rumps. Next I headed over to the Clay-colored Sparrow spot (golf course fenceline by 28th and Ash) and quickly found the Chipping Sparrow flock, but the little buggers flushed and flew away before I had a chance to sift through them. While waiting for them to return, I was surprised to find a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH in the leguminous tree immediately north of the bathroom. This is the most coastal location for me personally, although I've had them numerous times at Greenwood Cemetery which is about 2-3mi east. Calling CEDAR WAXINGS were numerous at both locations. Of minor note in terms of wintering birds: - a YELLOW WARBLER is wintering in the jacarandas around Petco Park; this is at least the 4th consecutive winter for this bird - a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was in my backyard about 2 weeks ago, this is in residential Mission Hills Eitan Altman Mission Hills ------------------------------------ Subject: After the storm at Aviara From: "buckfairbanks" <buckfairbanks AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:16:58 -0000 Hi all The Dusky-capped Flycatcher first seen off Kingfisher Lane by Steve Brad last month put on a nice show this morning for visiting birder Nancy States and myself. Also seen were the five Greater White-fronted Geese, the continuing Hermit Warbler and some sleek looking American Goldfinches just coming into breeding plumage. Cedar Waxwings were numerous in the treetops. Allen's and Annas hummers worked the Cape Honeysuckle. Lots of the expected coming out in the sunshine. Good birding Michael Martin Oceanside CA ------------------------------------ Subject: Thick-billed Kingbird picture, and others too........ From: Mark Stratton <zostropz AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:26:14 -0800 The picture of the Thick-billed Kingbird on Saturdays, is on my smugmug link down below. This was the best I could do, it was raining with dark skies, I was getting soaked, the bird was soaked, the only thing that could have made it worse was if it was night time. Mark Stratton North Park zostropz AT aol.com http://zostropzphoto.smugmug.com/Birds [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Ring-necked Pheasant in Escondido From: "monty621" <gjmontll AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:28:11 -0000 As a very occasional casual birder, I don't know how common/rare this sighting might be. Maybe others are interested? It was sure a surprise to see a male Ring Neck on the fence in my suburban Escondido yard at 5PM this afternoon. After about ten minutes on the fence and in my backyard, it flew off toward the southeast. Greg Montllor 1705 West 11th Ave Escondido 92029 gjmontllor AT gmail.com ------------------------------------ Subject: A Few Reminders from Listowner From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:50:05 -0000 Alot of messages are being sent without proper signatures as required by the Groups guidelines. If posting to the group, please include your full name, location, and e-mail address. Also, only birds/ pelagic trips/ etc. in San Diego, Imperial Counties and Baja California are to be reported to this listserv. Every other region in California has it's own Listserv. No exceptions. Thank you, Doug Aguillard SDBirds Listowner San Diego, CA dwaguillard AT gmail.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Tundra Swan From: "svanessa1" <svanessa1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:55:22 -0000 The Tundra Swan is still at the Ramona Pond along with 100+ coots and around 40 Canadian Geese. Sue ------------------------------------ Subject: Hooded and common mergansers - San Dieguito River walk From: "serling_ipmp" <bserling AT roadrunner.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:12:04 -0000 Yesterday afternoon, around 2:30 pm, there was a female common merganser behind the government building behind the Del Mar Fairgrounds. A green heron was also working the banks. On the other side of the road, about four blocks east, close to the corner of Racetrack View and San Dieguito Drive, there was a pair of hooded mergansers. Also seen were a belted kingfisher, Say's phoebe, dozens of American Wigeons, a green heron, and an Allens Hummingbird. I'll post pics of the hooded mergansers in just a minute. Bob Serling Cardiff ------------------------------------ Subject: White-faced ibis From: "svanessa1" <svanessa1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:43:34 -0000 No exageration, there were 200+ White-faced Ibis in a field on Old Milky Way (this road parallels 78 across from the Wild Animal Park - Safari Park) around 9am. Quite a sight to see! From San Pasqual Rd turn right onto Old Milky Way. Go about 1 1/2 miles before the bend in the road. On your right you see them very near the road next to the dairy. There are usually 30-100 Canadian Geese in the area on any given day too. I'll post pics tonight when I get home. I believe there were 4 Cinnamon Teals mixed in with the Ibis...they had a solid reddish head with the body a slightly lighter shade of the same red. dark/black tail feathers with a stripe of white. Sue ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) From: Michael Evans <aves AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:56:13 -0800 SD Birders, It seems that changes in the SDNHM web pages have removed/lost the links for installing Atlas data in Google Earth; Phil Unitt is looking in to this and I will report back when he reports back. Sorry that I did not test the web link before posting the earlier message, but I think it worked about a month ago. Anyway, see the SDFO rare bird list for hints as to which bird sightings may be of interest to other birders. Mike Evans San Diego/Hillcrest Begin forwarded message: > From: Michael Evans > Subject: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) > Date: January 22, 2012 10:35:42 PM PST > To: SD SD Birds > > > SD Birds gets a large number of bird reports, both of relatively rare and relatively common birds. The San Diego Bird Atlas (Phil Unitt 2004) is the ONLY go-to reference on local birds and it is available at the San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) , some local book sellers, and Amazon.com. > > You may not know that the mapped data and species accounts from the Atlas are also available as an add-on file for Google Earth, a fantastic free program available on the net . Once you download and install Google Earth on your PC or MAC, you can go to the following web URL at the museum web page to find out how to install the files for maps and species accounts through Google Earth: > > Besides the Atlas general data on birds, the San Diego Field Ornithologists' web site has a list of rare birds of San Diego County: > > Note that some birds are seen in unusual locations or in unusual seasons and warrant reporting as well. > > Good Birding > Mike Evans > San Diego/Hillcrest > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: REMINDER: San Diego County Bird Atlas Data Available (periodic message) From: Michael Evans <aves AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:35:42 -0800 SD Birds gets a large number of bird reports, both of relatively rare and relatively common birds. The San Diego Bird Atlas (Phil Unitt 2004) is the ONLY go-to reference on local birds and it is available at the San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) , some local book sellers, and Amazon.com. You may not know that the mapped data and species accounts from the Atlas are also available as an add-on file for Google Earth, a fantastic free program available on the net . Once you download and install Google Earth on your PC or MAC, you can go to the following web URL at the museum web page to find out how to install the files for maps and species accounts through Google Earth: Besides the Atlas general data on birds, the San Diego Field Ornithologists' web site has a list of rare birds of San Diego County: Note that some birds are seen in unusual locations or in unusual seasons and warrant reporting as well. Good Birding Mike Evans San Diego/Hillcrest [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Male Red-breasted Merganser San Diego River From: "Bruno Struck" <struck_bruno AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:44:49 -0000 The male Red-breasted Merganser continues on the west side of the west-most bridge of the San Diego River. It was moving between the north and the south side of the river so you must be patient. Picture posted on the group website. All Mergansers mentioned on previous posts were also present. Bruno Struck University City --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "sallysymanski" wrote: > > There was a breeding- plumaged male Red-breasted Merganser just east of the west-most bridge on the north side of the San Diego River yesterday, Thursday, January 19 around 3 pm. > > It was hanging out mostly with one female, but there were quite a few others nearby. > > The Reddish Egret was farther west on the north side of the river, but flew back to the Robb Field side. > > Sally Symanski > Point Loma > Sallysym AT ... > ------------------------------------ Subject: Tundra Swan continues, Raptors & more From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:04:20 -0800 (GMT-08:00) SD-Birders, Taking the long route back from Riverside County today, I stopped at the pond just east of Ramona and noted that the TUNDRA SWAN continues, along with a hen CANVASBACK and singleton CATTLE EGRET. I drove down through Warner Springs and noted a very handsome adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK near the airport, another east of Lake Henshaw, and a 3rd along Mesa Grande Road. Good numbers of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES continue in the town of Holcomb Village. The two continuing BALD EAGLES along Rangeland Road gave me my 16th raptor species of the day after an amazing morning at the San Jacinto WA in Riverside County, starring the GYRFALCON. I did not look for the Lewis's Woodpecker. Photos from the morning are linked below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/71649753 AT N07/ Jay Keller, San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: Tropical Kingbird and Clay-colored Sparrow still in Balboa Park From: "Philip Unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:54:11 -0800 Dear friends, Another bicycle odyssey.. My first stop was at Golden Hill, in the southeastern part of Balboa Park. The Tropical Kingbird was in the big fig tree surrounded by a protective chain-link fence at the entrance to the Golden Hill loop, at the north end of 25th St, calling attention to itself by its shrill trill. It was first found by Millie Basden Thomas on 28 November, but I don't think it has been reported since. Then I went a couple blocks east to the SE corner of Balboa Park. I readily found the Clay-colored Sparrow reported by Paul Lehman on 18 January, along the fence enclosing the Balboa Park golf course near the corner of 28th and A streets. It has a very distinct dark brown outline around the auriculars but not the distinctly buff breast I'm accustomed to seeing on Clay-colored Sparrows in the fall. At close range I could see a light buff wash on the sides of the breast and flanks, but the middle of the breast was the same whitish as the belly. It was with about 10 Chipping Sparrows. These sparrows and several other birds-including two Western Tanagers-were trying to bathe in a tiny puddle along the fence enclosing the golf course. Also, there was one Black-throated Gray Warbler in one of the leguminous trees nearby-I don't think it has been mentioned previously. At Greenwood Cemetery I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but I didn't know just where to look for the Grace's Warbler. Marie Widman Park in Encanto had a lot of birds, including several Western Bluebirds (first time I have seen them there-I covered this area regularly for the bird atlas 1997-2002 and have for the CBC since) and American Goldfinches (which I didn't see here on the CBC on 17 December), but nothing really out of the ordinary. The old Quarry Road just north of Sweetwater Dam has now been converted to a pedestrian/bike path. On the steep east-facing slope below the old road there is a substantial thicket of cholla. I heard one Cactus Wren calling down the slope and saw at least three nests. I suspect this is the site from which our Sweetwater Reservoir team reported 4 on the latest San Diego CBC. My last birding spot was Sweetwater Summit County Park. The flock of 300 Canada Geese was foraging on the slope just a short distance below the lookout over the reservoir, just beyond the reservoir's fence. I counted 22 White-fronted Geese and 2 small geese, undoubtedly among the three that have been reported as Cackling Geese. They were down with their breasts largely hidden in the rank vegetation when they were close to me, but their breasts did not look any darker than those of the nearby large Canada Geese of the subspecies moffitti. Both the Aleutian Cackling Goose (subspecies leucopareia) and Cackling Goose proper (subspecies minima) should have the breast distinctly darker than in moffitti, as well as having a proportionately stubbier bill. Has anyone else had a chance to evaluate the color of these geese critically? Although leucopareia and minima are the only small white-cheeked geese confirmed in San Diego County recently, taverneri/parvipes is/are possible. Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Please help me identify this bird? From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT att.net> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:03:25 -0800 One photo shows a Sora, the other a Virginia Rail. Matt Sadowski National City, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: mfarnesi To: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 4:54 PM Subject: [SDBIRDS] Please help me identify this bird? Please help me identify this bird taken at Lindo Lake (Lakeside, San Diego) 1/22/12. It was in the marshy area of the lake. I think it may be a Virginia Reel but would appreciate you're expert opinions. Thank You! http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfarnesi/sets/72157628989734959/detail/ (there are 2 photos. you can click on the photo to see a larger view). [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Please help me identify this bird? From: "mfarnesi" <mfarnesi AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:54:33 -0000 Please help me identify this bird taken at Lindo Lake (Lakeside, San Diego) 1/22/12. It was in the marshy area of the lake. I think it may be a Virginia Reel but would appreciate you're expert opinions. Thank You! http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfarnesi/sets/72157628989734959/detail/ (there are 2 photos. you can click on the photo to see a larger view). ------------------------------------ Subject: south SD Bay notes etc. From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT att.net> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:42:39 -0800 On 1/18, while looking for imaginary flycatchers in east county, there were 4 female Tricolored Blackbirds with the Brewer's and grackles at Lindo Lake. A Yellow-headed Blackbird buzzed somewhere in the cattails. I spent most of last week doing the "winter window" Snowy Plover surveys around SD Bay and Tijuana River mouth. Below are some birds of note. Snow Goose - 1 on 1/20 just E of Tijuana River mouth Black Scoter - 2 on 1/17 in south SD Bay; adult and imm. males; SE of Grand Caribe Shoreline Park in Coronado Cays Common Goldeneye - high count of 14 on 1/16 in saltworks (restricted access); 2 males, 12 females - 2 on 1/16 in pond 11 (NW-most salt pond along bike path); male and female - 1 on 1/20 just N of Tijuana River mouth; female Pacific Loon - 1 on 1/17off of Sweetwater River mouth (restricted access); uncommon within bay Brandt's Cormorant - 1 on 1/17 on south SD Bay; uncommon in south bay Pacific Golden-Plover - 1 on 1/20 continues near large log 500m S of Seacoast Drive Black Turnstone - 20 on 1/19 along N shore of saltworks (restricted access); unusual location; 6 roosting inside saltworks earlier Western Sandpiper - flagged bird on 1/18 at Emory mudflats; green[flag] over red on upper left, orange over green over orange upper right, metal on lower right; a returning bird that was first spotted fall of 2010; banded as an adult male 1 July 2010 near Barrow, AK Dunlin - alt. plum. bird continued on 1/16 and 1/18 at Emory mudflats; present (in alt. plum.) since late fall Long-billed Dowitcher - multiple calling birds 1/17 at J St. flats and 1/18 in W salt ponds along bike path Herring Gull - high count of 67 on 1/16 in saltworks (restricted access); mostly juvs, many adults, a few 2nd and 3rd cycles Thayer's Gull - 2 on 1/16 in saltworks; juveniles Glacous-winged x Western Gull hybrid - 1 adult on 1/15 at Sweetwater River mouth (restricted access) "Large-billed" Sparrow - 3 on 1/15 at Sweetwater River mouth ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:52:52 -0000 And at 10:30 this morning it did call a few times and posed for photographs in the sycamore tree in the lawn across the street from the pool. Vermillion flycatcher continues at the ball field fence on sunrise or sunset rd, whichever it is and the cackling goose continues at the sod farm. JimPea, SD, CA --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Stratton wrote: > > I am very sorry for the really lame info today that I sent from my > phone. Then I tried to send better info and found out when I got home > tonight that I sent it to only one person and not the group. > > Anyhow, at about 10 am, Camille and I saw and photographed the > Thick-billed Kingbird. The pictures aren't very good (rain, dark > skies, soaked and wet bird), but look to be ID worthy. The bird was > calling the whole time we watched it. If you take Main St. in Chula > Vista and go west, I think the 2nd street on your left is Otay Valley > Rd., turn left there and go to Regency (1st actual street) and make > another left. Your next left will be Regency Ct. (I think, but it is > another Regency), make that left and park where you can. Walk to the > end of that small street and make a left in the Alley/Parking way. Go > up to the pool (it is on your right) and straight across the alley (on > your left) will be a grass area with some sycamores, this is where the > bird is and may be the same spot that he has been in the past. I will > try to get a couple of pics posted tonight or tomorrow and will list > the link at that time. > Mark Stratton > North Park > zostropz AT ... > ------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird From: Brennan Mulrooney <frozentoze AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:22:18 -0500 The Thick-billed Kingbird was in the trees west of the pool at about 10 this morning (1/22/12). It did not call during the 5 minutes that I was there, but it was in the company of some very vocal Cassin's Kingbirds. Brennan MulrooneySantee, CA To: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com From: speteren AT cox.net Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:45:46 +0000 Subject: [SDBIRDS] Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird Yes, this is the same open area where the kingbird was seen before. You can park right next to Main street and walk in the grassy area while checking the treetops on your way to the pool area. Thanks, Mark. JimPea,SD, CA --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Stratton wrote: > > I am very sorry for the really lame info today that I sent from my > phone. Then I tried to send better info and found out when I got home > tonight that I sent it to only one person and not the group. > > Anyhow, at about 10 am, Camille and I saw and photographed the > Thick-billed Kingbird. The pictures aren't very good (rain, dark > skies, soaked and wet bird), but look to be ID worthy. The bird was > calling the whole time we watched it. If you take Main St. in Chula > Vista and go west, I think the 2nd street on your left is Otay Valley > Rd., turn left there and go to Regency (1st actual street) and make > another left. Your next left will be Regency Ct. (I think, but it is > another Regency), make that left and park where you can. Walk to the > end of that small street and make a left in the Alley/Parking way. Go > up to the pool (it is on your right) and straight across the alley (on > your left) will be a grass area with some sycamores, this is where the > bird is and may be the same spot that he has been in the past. I will > try to get a couple of pics posted tonight or tomorrow and will list > the link at that time. > Mark Stratton > North Park > zostropz AT ... > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Re: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:45:46 -0000 Yes, this is the same open area where the kingbird was seen before. You can park right next to Main street and walk in the grassy area while checking the treetops on your way to the pool area. Thanks, Mark. JimPea,SD, CA --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Stratton wrote: > > I am very sorry for the really lame info today that I sent from my > phone. Then I tried to send better info and found out when I got home > tonight that I sent it to only one person and not the group. > > Anyhow, at about 10 am, Camille and I saw and photographed the > Thick-billed Kingbird. The pictures aren't very good (rain, dark > skies, soaked and wet bird), but look to be ID worthy. The bird was > calling the whole time we watched it. If you take Main St. in Chula > Vista and go west, I think the 2nd street on your left is Otay Valley > Rd., turn left there and go to Regency (1st actual street) and make > another left. Your next left will be Regency Ct. (I think, but it is > another Regency), make that left and park where you can. Walk to the > end of that small street and make a left in the Alley/Parking way. Go > up to the pool (it is on your right) and straight across the alley (on > your left) will be a grass area with some sycamores, this is where the > bird is and may be the same spot that he has been in the past. I will > try to get a couple of pics posted tonight or tomorrow and will list > the link at that time. > Mark Stratton > North Park > zostropz AT ... > ------------------------------------ Subject: Mission Bay area continuing birds - 1/21/12 From: Steve Ritt <stevenmritt AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:05:15 -0800 A quick stop by N. Mission Bay Dr. around sunset tonight showed the continuing adult male Bullock's Oriole, one immature female Bullock's/Baltimore-type, and one female Western Tanager. One male Summer Tanager and possibly two Western Tanagers continued on private property in east Ocean Beach. Along with the continuing rarities, one Caspian Tern has been on-and-off again at Robb Field for the past week. Steve Ritt San Diego, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Subject: Imperial Beach - Common Goldeneye, Loons From: Gary Nunn <garybnunn AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:51:44 -0800 It was a misty, murky morning at Imperial Beach but a few nice birds. Oneonta Slough still holds two female COMMON GOLDENEYE which were literally getting swept up the slough on the incoming tide. They began just north of the wooden viewing platform at the end of Seacoast Drive but soon ended up in the east fork of the slough and further north. I walked Seacoast Drive on the high tide but just a handful of "Belding's" Savannah Sparrow. Once the misty rain started I headed to the pier. Great looks at both RED-THROATED LOON and PACIFIC LOON feeding just behind the breaking surf and just a few yards from the pier. Gary Nunn, Pacific Beach. Sent from my iPad ------------------------------------ Subject: More info about the Thick-billed Kingbird From: Mark Stratton <zostropz AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:34:09 -0800 I am very sorry for the really lame info today that I sent from my phone. Then I tried to send better info and found out when I got home tonight that I sent it to only one person and not the group. Anyhow, at about 10 am, Camille and I saw and photographed the Thick-billed Kingbird. The pictures aren't very good (rain, dark skies, soaked and wet bird), but look to be ID worthy. The bird was calling the whole time we watched it. If you take Main St. in Chula Vista and go west, I think the 2nd street on your left is Otay Valley Rd., turn left there and go to Regency (1st actual street) and make another left. Your next left will be Regency Ct. (I think, but it is another Regency), make that left and park where you can. Walk to the end of that small street and make a left in the Alley/Parking way. Go up to the pool (it is on your right) and straight across the alley (on your left) will be a grass area with some sycamores, this is where the bird is and may be the same spot that he has been in the past. I will try to get a couple of pics posted tonight or tomorrow and will list the link at that time. Mark Stratton North Park zostropz AT aol.com ------------------------------------ Subject: Local birding notes for Jan 21, 2012 From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:12:17 -0800 (GMT-08:00) SD-Birders, I did some birding between raindrops today and had a few birds of minor interest, including a Red-throated Loon off Bayfront Park in Chula Vista, a Golden-crowned Sparrow among White-crowneds at the feed store along Monument Road in the TRV (along with an escapee Northern Cardinal), and Yellow Warblers in three locations, which I believe were all previously noted by others: 1 at Lindo Lake, 1 at the southern-most Dairy Mart Rd pond, 1 at Bayfront Park. In addition to the continuing birds at Lindo Lake (2 White Pelicans, Greater White-fronted Goose, etc) there was a drake Redhead and a nice flock of 17 Lark Sparrows at the east side. Jay Keller, San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: Mergansers on the SD River 1-21-2012 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:36:48 -0000 The female common merganser and three immature red-breasted mergansers were cruising up and down the south side of the river channel at Robb Field this afternoon. The reddish egret was in its usual spot opposite the westerly most ball field. a few pics of the group of mixed mergansers. http://egk.smugmug.com/Photography/RECENT-PHOTOS Eric Kallen San Diego ------------------------------------ Subject: Penasquitos Canyon, Jan. 20 From: "ross c" <caracara99 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:20:03 -0000 I went on a little owling hike last night, Friday 1/20, in Los Penasquitos Canyon. From Canyonside Park, off Black Mountain Road, I crossed the creek at about 4 pm and walked west about two miles and then waited for the sun to go down. At a few minutes after 5 pm, just a few minutes before sunset, I observed an interesting event that I had only previously read about. Two White-tailed Kites that I had been watching were joined by two more. The four of them flew around for a couple of minutes and then were joined by more and more Kites. Just before it got dark there were dozens of Kites gliding about the canyon. My high count was 38 seen at one moment. Probably there were more that I didn't get in my count as some would be unobservable flying behind trees. Also, it was getting dark. So there may have been 40 or 50 for the night's roost. Pretty amazing. On my hike back to the parking lot, which I did quite slowly and quietly, I heard three separate Western Screech-Owls in the oaks along the trail. Despite the fact that each one sounded like it was only 20 to 30 feet away from me and it was continuously calling, I found it very challenging to see any of them. As soon as I was confident that I knew where one was I would turn on my flashlight but see nothing but leaves and branches. And then of course the owl would stop calling. It wasn't until #3, the one nearest the parking lot, that I finally got lucky and saw one. Easier to see were two Barn Owls flying across some open fields. Ross Christie Carlsbad ------------------------------------ Subject: Feb 4 Pelagic -- Dana Point From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:39:53 -0000 Greetings, For those of you who were disappointed when the Buena Vista Audubon Winterfest trip for Feb 4 was canceled, there is a consolation prize: The Sea & Sage Audubon Dana Point Pelagic scheduled for today was weathered out and has been rescheduled for Feb 4 and about a dozen spots opened up. Up to 40 Killer Whales are being spotted off Dana Point this week. Trip Details: http://socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/danapointfeb42012.html LA Times story about Killer Whales: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-orcas-20120120,0,768910.story?track=rss W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole and Mike San Miguel "Come on out with us to see what's out there." Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf ------------------------------------