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20 Nov Peregrine Falcon - Balboa Park west ["christopheradler" ] 20 Nov San Diego Birds-RBA Group (long) ["Doug" ] 20 Nov Balboa Park oriole/tanager glut ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 20 Nov Summer tanagers @ Florida & Upas ["wlemlin" ] 20 Nov Re: E C Dove trend ["Roger Higson" ] 20 Nov Cackling Geese in Chula Vista ["Doug" ] 20 Nov Zoo - 11-19-09 ["ERIC" ] 20 Nov Re: New Yahoo Group for San Diego Birders ["Doug" ] 19 Nov Re: New Yahoo Group for San Diego Birders ["Eitan" ] 19 Nov New Yahoo Group for San Diego Birders [] 19 Nov No luck [Jay K ] 19 Nov E C Dove trend ["paul jorgensen" ] 19 Nov E C Dove trend ["paul jorgensen" ] 18 Nov waterfowl, etc., 18 Nov. 2009 ["Matt Sadowski" ] 18 Nov Birds follow-up [Jay K ] 19 Nov ANOTHER PLUMBEOUS VIREO ["worleyjoseph" ] 19 Nov Railing Crown Point rail? ["sallygall" ] 18 Nov Rangeland Rd. and Dos Picos Park (Ramona), Nov. 18 [Sara Baase Mayers ] 18 Nov Re: PALOMAR MT. 3-4 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, WINTER WREN MIA ["ERIC" ] 18 Nov PALOMAR MT. 3-4 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, WINTER WREN MIA ["wngit2" ] 18 Nov Tundra Swan ["mmcclitgif" ] 18 Nov Possible Yellow-billed Loon in San Diego Bay [karly moore ] 18 Nov PLUMBEOUS VIREO, HOODED MERGANSER, ETC ["wngit2" ] 17 Nov Plumbeous Vireo-Encinitas ["Paul Zucker" ] 17 Nov Lake Miramar ["Gary G" ] 16 Nov Re: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo (Grosbeak corrections) ["Trent R. Stanley" ] 17 Nov Re: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo ["ERIC" ] 17 Nov Re: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo ["ERIC" ] 16 Nov Zone-tailed Hawk on Saturday, November 14 ["jedibirder" ] 16 Nov Possible Blue-headed Vireo in Pt Loma (Nov. 16) [Sara Baase Mayers ] 16 Nov Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo ["Trent R. Stanley" ] 16 Nov Coming to SD to bird ["racitup2002" ] 16 Nov Free Jon Dunn programs on Warblers and Shorebirds this week ["Andrew Mauro" ] 15 Nov Borrego Cedar Waxwings ["Betsy Rudee" ] 16 Nov Wood Duck in Borrego Springs ["dorman92093" ] 15 Nov Palomar - Williamson's Sapsucker & Winter Wren, 11/15/09 AM [Jay K ] 15 Nov New birding venues [Jeanne Raimond ] 15 Nov MacGillivray's Warbler in Poway ["Dean" ] 15 Nov Laguna ["bicyclebirder" ] 14 Nov Re: Tijuana Estuary and River Valley: 11/14/09 [Kiralyka Fuzike ] 15 Nov Tijuana Estuary and River Valley: 11/14/09 ["maulik199" ] 14 Nov Bald Eagles at Lake Hodges ["jvebright8" ] 14 Nov Thanks and so long (for a while) ["daverdsn" ] 14 Nov Coastal County Notes, 11/14/09 AM [Jay K ] 14 Nov Lindo Lake SDAS field trip [John Walters ] 14 Nov Balboa Park and Zoo - Rose-breasted Grosbeak ["jnordenberg" ] 14 Nov POINT LOMA 11-14-09 ["ERIC" ] 14 Nov La Jolla Pelandgic Birding; Brown Booby [Brennan Mulrooney ] 13 Nov New birding venues? [phil Pryde ] 13 Nov Neighborhood birding (long) ["Doug" ] 13 Nov VARIED THRUSH ["worleyjoseph" ] 13 Nov SAN DIEGO FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS -Meeting-TUESDAY-Nov. 17th @ 7 pm >> Jon Dunn << ["greenjeaniebird" ] 13 Nov SDBirders - Join us! Go To Sea To See Seabirds SUNDAY ["thunefeld" ] 13 Nov Greater White-fronted Geese ["Doug" ] 12 Nov More meadowlarks [Dyallen2 ] 12 Nov SD River ["bicyclebirder" ] 12 Nov w. Balboa Park Tanager-fest ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 12 Nov reply to question on CBC coverage for Poway ["rtpatton02" ] 12 Nov Dark-morph Ferruginous Hawk returns ["xenozoon7" ] 12 Nov Re: East County 11-11-09 ["roberttheriault AT juno.com" ] 11 Nov Red-naped Sapsucker and more at Palomar [Sara Baase Mayers ] 11 Nov Who's doing CBC for Poway? [Jack Daynes ] 12 Nov Re: north county odd behaveing and dead birds on the beach ["kimmyroth" ] 12 Nov East County 11-11-09 ["ERIC" ] 11 Nov north county odd behaveing and dead birds on the beach ["stevanbrad" ] 11 Nov Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--Santee ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 11 Nov Encinitas American Redstart ["thunefeld" ] 11 Nov white winged dove ["Marty Samse" ] 11 Nov San Diego Christmas Bird Count Saturday 19 December 2009 ["philip_unitt" ] 11 Nov Lake Henshaw CBC - Monday, December 21st ["Gretchen Cummings" ] 11 Nov pacific golden-plovers continue at Tijuana Estuary 10 Nov 09 ["rtpatton02" ] 10 Nov MTRP Hooded Merg & other waterbirds [Jay K ] 11 Nov Lake Henshaw Tuesday ["daverdsn" ] 10 Nov Lewis' Woodpecker (non-chasable) [phil Pryde ] 10 Nov Rock Wren at Hodges ["frank" ] 10 Nov results of yesterday's San Elijo monthly bird count ["rtpatton02" ] Subject: Peregrine Falcon - Balboa Park west From: "christopheradler" <adler AT alum.mit.edu> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:53:04 -0000 I took an afternoon stroll around Redwood Circle and the lawn bowling courts this afternoon, and found 1 Bullock's Oriole and no Tanagers. But the best bird was a Peregrine Falcon perched on the radio antenna of the medical building at 2850 6th Ave. This is the first time I've seen a Peregrine in the area. It was still there at 3:45pm. The building is at 6th and Palm, and the antenna is the highest point for quite a few blocks and easily visible from all around. It is usually home to a flock of Blackbirds, but - no surprise - today they are nowhere in sight! Christopher Adler Banker's Hill / Balboa Park West adler AT alum.mit.eduSubject: San Diego Birds-RBA Group (long) From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:40:17 -0000 Hi Folks, I guess there is still some confusion for the new group I started and I hope this message will clarify everything. History of RBA's in San Diego County, or how technology has turned Birders into Monsters. With a need for serious birders to get updated information in a timely manner. People had to call into a taped message of what birds were being seen and where. A weekly telephone RBA was in place for alomost 20 years until the late 80's-early 90's. It was replaced by a daily telephone RBA throughout the 90's which was replaced by sometimes updated telephone RBA through the 2000's until present. People had to call into a taped message of what birds were being seen and where. SDBirds was started back in 1997 to have birders share information in a more timely manner and for discussions among ourselves. We also established a telephone tree of a sorts with Don and Marjorie Hastings, who had most birders list of the most wanted bird species, and birders would call the Hastings with a rare bird alert and the Hastings would call eevryone on their list to notify them of the bird's presence. Over time, due to medical reasons, a new telephone text message service was started by Terry Hunefeld in 2007, who live on his Blackberry. Terry had a small number of active birders cell phone numbers, and when one of these folks would find a ABC listed bird, they would call Terry, who in turn would notify those people on his list. In 2009, Terry suddenly realize that he had a life after retirement, and handed the reins of the text message service over to myself, which in turn, I opened it up to notify more people than had previously been done. Now for the new SDBirds-RBA This group has been set up for many reasons, and people need to first understand. IT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR SDBIRDS, it is an added enhancement to the main group. The new group is a NOTIFICATION GROUP ONLY. No disscussions/forums. People, who should join the new group are these: 1) Birders from outside of the County, who want to be made aware of what rarities are being seen in the County, in a very timely manner. 2) Birders who do not own a cell phone, can not receive text messages for whatever reasons like cost of text messages, or don't know how to use it. 3) With close to 1400 members on SDBIRDS, this will help those who do not want to read about the more common birds of the County. This new group cuts to the chase for those who only chase after rarities. 4) Whoever decides to join, make sure you are receiving the messages as "Individual" messages, otherwise your wasting your time in joining. People, who want to be texted about rarities when found: 1) You should live in the County. If you live in NoCal, then join the SDBirds-RBA Yahoo group. 2) You should consider yourself to be a serious birder, who drops everything at a given moments notice to chase after a rarity. 3) If your member of the 400 Club or attempting to reach that milestone. 4) If your doing a County/State Big Year. Procedures: If you agree to report any of your ABC list species sightings with others, then please feel free to join. If you do not wish to share your sightings with others, then please refrain from joining. (Of course, if the bird in question is found on private property or for some other reason, it can not be reported. Then that is already understood. When finding a bird listed on the ABC listing or a 1st County record(see files both here on SDBirds or on SDBirds-RBA, then please call me or text me at (619) 288-5777. My phone is always on, and I will be checking it often especially during the months of migration. Give me the information and I will imediately text and post the information on SDBirds_RBA, when time allows, I will them post on SDBirds, or the person who found the bird can post the information. As technology changes, we must change with it, so that the need for information is spread in a quick and timely manner. My only benefit from this whole thing, is just my continued service to the San Diego/California birding community, which without you, we just wouldn't be having so much fun. Thanks, Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com dwaguillard AT gmail.com 619-288-5777Subject: Balboa Park oriole/tanager glut From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:11:30 -0500 SDBirds: Briefly in the early mornings of 19&20 November, Barbara Carlson and I birded the SOUTH end of Balboa Park, from "Golden Hill" around the southeast corner (edge of golf course) and up the EAST edge of the park as far as Grape Street. We found a total of 6 Western Tanagers and 5 Bullock's Orioles, plus a Black-thr Gray Warbler. Golden Hill had 4 of the tanagers and one oriole, while a single blooming coral tree along the back edge of the dog exercise/running area at the end of Grape St. hosted four orioles and two tanagers. The backyards of the houses along the east edge of the park also supported some reasonable looking habitat. Both our visits were fairly brief; there are undoubtedly more birds of interest lurking there. So, combining the west and south/southeast sides of Balboa Park during three visits in the past week there have been 10 Western Tanagers, 3 Summer Tanagers, and 7 Bullock's Orioles. And there is a bunch more of the park--and NOT including the zoo--that still hasn't been checked.... Also, both the areas along the west side (along 6th) and at the south/southeast sides have many lerp-infested eucalyptus, and there are many spots in both areas that are simply over-run with Yellow-rumpeds. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com – What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you? http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePointSubject: Summer tanagers @ Florida & Upas From: "wlemlin" <wele AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:18:26 -0000 I just had a bright male SUTA in the willows along the little stream at the bottom of the hill (west side of Florida). When he flew off into the oaks going up the hill I lost him. However, at the top of the hill (behind the Blind Center), I had a brief glimpse of the underside of a female SUTA flying from a perch at the top of a tree and off westwards. Also at various places in the woods there, several Townsend's warblers, Oregon juncos, OC warblers, white crowned sparrows, and the usual plethora of YR warblers.Subject: Re: E C Dove trend From: "Roger Higson" <res07a72 AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:31:13 -0800 Paul,
Same observation on aggressiveness. A couple of weeks ago during a spell of
horrific winds. Coll Dves gathered at the Ripley, spoiled grain pile. At least
4k birds . Have pics. Bronz CBird vast #s of BBirds etc. Will send you a pic
this wkend. Count the birds and extrapolate by 7 !
rh
1 Tricolored in the mess. lots of yh bbirds and WW Dove
----- Original Message -----
From: paul jorgensen
To: SDBIRDS ; inlandcountybirds
Cc: Mark Jorgensen ; Hal Cohen ; Hopkins, Joe ; Bier, Steve
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:56 AM
Subject: [inlandcountybirds] E C Dove trend
Since their first documentation here in Borrego Valley in 2003, Eurasian
Collared Dove have increased dramatically in number, as they have elsewhere in
the west.
At my feeder, they have slowly increased from March 14, 2006 when one or two
began showing up. Then, starting this spring, their numbers made a quantum jump
to where they now comprise about 40-50% of the 100 or so mixed species dove
flock that visits my feeder almost daily, year around.
Wheras, there were already huge flocks in Imperial Valley, 2009 is the
breakout year for them here in Borrego.
During nesting season now, there are normally one or two pair in my yard. They
selectively harass the other dove species (Common Ground, Mourning and
White-wing Doves) to the point where there are now fewer to none of the other
species nesting in my yard.
Eurasian Collared Doves are at or near the point of being the numerically and
behaviorally dominant dove species in Borrego Valley.
Paul Jorgensen
Borrego Springs, Ca.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Subject: Cackling Geese in Chula VistaFrom: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:32:58 -0000 There is a small group of 4 Cackling (Aleutian)Geese on the softball field of Hilltop High School. They have been present since Monday, the 14th. They can be viewed from H St., just west of the I-805, on the south side of the street, but parking is dangerous in this area. We lost one kid last year as he ran out into this busy street. I also had a F.O.S. Glaucous-winged Gull off of the Marine St. beach in La Jolla. Douglas Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.comSubject: Zoo - 11-19-09 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:40:19 -0000 One male Hooded, two male Bullock's and the male Orchard Oriole were present at about 1:30 pm in the coral trees next to the reptile house. Also... rose-breasted grosbeak, a pale western tanager and a bright Townsend's warbler. Seeing the Orchard Oriole is just a matter of patience...... The camphor tree only held three American Robins and a ruby-crowned kinglet. Eric Kallen Normal HeightsSubject: Re: New Yahoo Group for San Diego Birders From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:02:32 -0000 Yes, Please let there be no confusion, all reports will still make it to SDBirds. This new group is set up for the chasers, people who want to know immediately about a rarity, so they can go and see it immediately. The new group is also a great tool for people trying to make it to the 400 Club. This new group is open to all, who wish to participate. SDBirds is a discussion group, that can discuss anything about birding in San Diego County, but there alot of people who don't care about reading daily reports of common species. The new group is a notification group only. As soon as I get word of the rarity. I will post the info to both groups, and the text message group. This way people who don't want the individual mail of SDBirds, can now go to "web only" or "digest", and not have to read about the common species reports, and on the new list, they will get their needed info immediately about any rarities. Hope this helps? Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "Eitan"Subject: Re: New Yahoo Group for San Diego Birders From: "Eitan" <ston571 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:14:34 -0000 Hi Doug, Interesting idea. I assume when you post to the RBA list it will also post to the regular SDBirds? It would be a shame if there isn't enough overlap and a bird gets posted on one list but not the other, unless you specifically want to restrict the scope of SDBirds to disucssion and not rare bird sightings... -Eitan --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, SDBIRDS-owner AT yahoogroups.com wrote: > > Hi folks, > > SDBirds is one the most successful California birding groups in existance. We have close to 1300 members, and the reporting and discussion of birds has always been it's strongest points. > > BUT...there are alot of people who only want to read or hear about the vagrant or rare species that visit San Diego County. I started a new group for these people, and any one else who is interested in the rarities of this beautiful County. This is not an Elitist group as all are welcomed to join. > > Simple instructions: We have a ABC list of those birds that are considered rare in the County with "A" grouped birds being the rarest, "C" being rare or uncommon species. "D" & "E" won't get reported on this new group. > > For those who live in the County or nearby, we have a TEXT message system setup, where when a ABC bird is found, those folks who belong to the group call me or text me at (619)288-5777, and notify me about the bird and it's location. I immediately send out a text message to the members cell phones, and then I will post the same information to this group. This is a Notification group only. No discussions will go through-that's what SDBirds is for. > > The address to join is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDBirds-RBA > > To be added to the Text message group. Send a text message to (619-288-5777) with the message- "join RBA" and your name. > > If you are a member of this group, and receive information from it, then you are EXPECTED to share your sightings of rarities to the same group. This is a give and take group, not just a use/take thing. > > Doug Aguillard > San Diego, CA > doug AT ... >Subject: New Yahoo Group for San Diego Birders From: SDBIRDS-owner AT yahoogroups.com Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:01:57 -0000 Hi folks, SDBirds is one the most successful California birding groups in existance. We have close to 1300 members, and the reporting and discussion of birds has always been it's strongest points. BUT...there are alot of people who only want to read or hear about the vagrant or rare species that visit San Diego County. I started a new group for these people, and any one else who is interested in the rarities of this beautiful County. This is not an Elitist group as all are welcomed to join. Simple instructions: We have a ABC list of those birds that are considered rare in the County with "A" grouped birds being the rarest, "C" being rare or uncommon species. "D" & "E" won't get reported on this new group. For those who live in the County or nearby, we have a TEXT message system setup, where when a ABC bird is found, those folks who belong to the group call me or text me at (619)288-5777, and notify me about the bird and it's location. I immediately send out a text message to the members cell phones, and then I will post the same information to this group. This is a Notification group only. No discussions will go through-that's what SDBirds is for. The address to join is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDBirds-RBA To be added to the Text message group. Send a text message to (619-288-5777) with the message- "join RBA" and your name. If you are a member of this group, and receive information from it, then you are EXPECTED to share your sightings of rarities to the same group. This is a give and take group, not just a use/take thing. Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.comSubject: No luck From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:14:55 -0500 (EST) I checked the J Street Marina and Pepper park early this morning without success for the Tundra Swan. There is of course all of that non-viewable shoreline where it could be, so frequent checking may be the best idea, and it should be hard to miss a big white bird even at considerable distance. Off the far north corner of the J Street marina area was a close-in female Black Scoter among the thousands of Surf Scoters and a Common Loon, but not much else of note. Jay Keller, San DiegoSubject: E C Dove trend From: "paul jorgensen" <jorgy AT cableusa.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:56:58 -0800 Since their first documentation here in Borrego Valley in 2003, Eurasian Collared Dove have increased dramatically in number, as they have elsewhere in the west. At my feeder, they have slowly increased from March 14, 2006 when one or two began showing up. Then, starting this spring, their numbers made a quantum jump to where they now comprise about 40-50% of the 100 or so mixed species dove flock that visits my feeder almost daily, year around. Wheras, there were already huge flocks in Imperial Valley, 2009 is the breakout year for them here in Borrego. During nesting season now, there are normally one or two pair in my yard. They selectively harass the other dove species (Common Ground, Mourning and White-wing Doves) to the point where there are now fewer to none of the other species nesting in my yard. Eurasian Collared Doves are at or near the point of being the numerically and behaviorally dominant dove species in Borrego Valley. Paul Jorgensen Borrego Springs, Ca. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: E C Dove trend From: "paul jorgensen" <jorgy AT cableusa.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:56:58 -0800 Since their first documentation here in Borrego Valley in 2003, Eurasian Collared Dove have increased dramatically in number, as they have elsewhere in the west. At my feeder, they have slowly increased from March 14, 2006 when one or two began showing up. Then, starting this spring, their numbers made a quantum jump to where they now comprise about 40-50% of the 100 or so mixed species dove flock that visits my feeder almost daily, year around. Wheras, there were already huge flocks in Imperial Valley, 2009 is the breakout year for them here in Borrego. During nesting season now, there are normally one or two pair in my yard. They selectively harass the other dove species (Common Ground, Mourning and White-wing Doves) to the point where there are now fewer to none of the other species nesting in my yard. Eurasian Collared Doves are at or near the point of being the numerically and behaviorally dominant dove species in Borrego Valley. Paul Jorgensen Borrego Springs, Ca. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: waterfowl, etc., 18 Nov. 2009 From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:50:11 -0800 Photo of the Tundra Swan found by Mike McClintock: http://www.flickr.com/photos/68911779 AT N00/ This was at the Sweetwater River mouth shortly before it was flushed by a boat around the corner and north towards the four miles of innaccessible ship yards. The habitat is obviously not very appealing there so its likely this bird will appear somewhere else like along the Coronado shoreline or back in the South Bay where it was found. Before I heard about the swan I had an adult male Black Scoter off the Sweetwater River mouth after scanning through about 200 Surf Scoters. There were 5500 more Surf Scoters that I just counted and did not scrutinze for other species... The Chula Vista shoreline anywhere from F St/Lagoon Dr. down to J St./Marina Pkwy. is a good spot to scope scoters in the morning. They get stirred up by boats regularly so any individual scoter is never in the same spot for very long. Various spots along the Silver Strand can be good for scoters also (better w/ afternoon light). Also at the Sweetwater River mouth were about five "Large-billed" Sparrows. There seem to be a good number of them around this year. Yesterday (17 Nov.) Brennan Mulrooney and I had a female-type Hooded Merganser flying north off of Silver Strand beyond the Western Grebe flocks just north of Imperial Beach. Matt Sadowski Chula Vista, CASubject: Birds follow-up From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:40:39 -0500 (EST) Hi Everyone, I just got back from Texas and of course missed out on the Tundra Swan and possible YB Loon action. Are there any further updates from later in the day for either/both birds? I'd like to make a go if it tomorrow morning. Texas was good, especially the sparrowing. I think this is the first time I saw all four Zonotrichia sparrows within the same week (3 days), thanks to all of the Harris's Sparrows there. :-) Thanks in advance, Jay Keller, San DiegoSubject: ANOTHER PLUMBEOUS VIREO From: "worleyjoseph" <joeworley AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:18:51 -0000 A thick elm in my yard,(in residential Point Loma,) attracted a feeding Plumbeous Vireo today. A male Allen's Hummingbird and a male Townsend's Warbler http://www.flickr.com/photos/44638848 AT N06/4116254798/ feed at the front feeder. The Allen's has lived here since summer, but the IS on my camera takes to long to photo him. I'm going through plate glass too! Today is my 3 sighting of the male Varied Thrush at the Cemetery (FRNC) He moved south 100 M under a heavy fruiting fig tree. If he moves 100M more Don and I will get him for the Xmas Count! Quite heavy sea bird migration at the point today- Loons-Shearwaters-Scoters-8Red Phaaralope. Joeworley AT cox.net Point LomaSubject: Railing Crown Point rail? From: "sallygall" <sallygall AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:13:40 -0000 I still can't quite believe what I think I saw this morning at the Crown Point condominium swimming pool. I think a rail was sitting on the hedge beside the swimming pool and scolding. It was back lit so that there was no color showing except red when it opened its beak. However, it looked like a rail. It sounded like a rail. Could it possibly have been a rail? (It was high tide, and we know about rails at high tide at Crown Point, but this was ridiculous.) The ?rail? was still there about 20 minutes later when I passed that way again, but quiet, with a black cat strolling around below its perch. Surrealism on an ordinary morning . . . Sally M. Gall La Jolla librettist AT aol.comSubject: Rangeland Rd. and Dos Picos Park (Ramona), Nov. 18 From: Sara Baase Mayers <baase AT cs.sdsu.edu> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:06 -0800 (PST) We didn't see anything particularly unusual (unless a Gray-headed
Junco at Dos Picos qualifies), but we had a good morning with some nice
birds.
Along Rangeland Rd. (roughly 10AM - noon) we had good views of a
Ferruginous Hawk and Prairie Falcon, Mountain Bluebirds, a Loggerhead
Shrike, Meadowlarks, and Savannah Sparrows. At the cattle yard near
the end of the road, we saw a small number of Tricolored Blackbirds.
Earlier at Dos Picos, we had a delightful 20-minute show of dozens
of birds running and flitting between sheltering bushes and a small
patch of mud at the edge of the pond to drink. There were 4 Fox
Sparrows, 4 Hermit Thrushes, 2 CA Thrashers, several CA Towhees,
Spotted Towhees, Golden-crowned Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows,
Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Song Sparrow, a Wrentit, a Ruby-crowned
Kinglet (on the mud with the others), and one rabbit. The pond had
mostly mallards and coots, a few wigeon, and one Ring-necked Duck.
The observers: Joan Buddenhagen, Janis Cadwallader, Marcie Mason,
Keith and Sara Mayers, Jan Nordenberg, and Joe Sweeney.
======================
Sara Mayers
Point Loma, San Diego
baase AT cs.sdsu.edu
======================
Subject: Re: PALOMAR MT. 3-4 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, WINTER WREN MIAFrom: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:51:19 -0000 I've posted one photo of the adult female Williamson's Sapsucker ..... http://tinyurl.com/ericsphotos Eric Kallen Normal Heights --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "wngit2"Subject: PALOMAR MT. 3-4 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS, WINTER WREN MIA From: "wngit2" <wngit2 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:38:30 -0000 Today (Nov 18), Eric Kallen and I decided to follow up on the Nov 15 Palomar Mt. post of the Williamson's Sapsucker and Winter Wren. Highlights included: ~3-4 Williamson's Sapsuckers, 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker, ~10 Golden-crowned Kinglet (in groups of 2-5 birds), Townsend's Solitaire and your usual Brown Creeper, Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, Fox Sparrow, Townsend's Warbler, etc. The only wren seen in the general area reported for the Winter Wren was a House Wren (vocal and seen). However, there was a vocal Red-breasted Sapsucker w/ a silent Williamson's Sapsucker at the beginning of the meadow. While watching them, a second Williamson's came into a neighboring tree making it a threesome. About 50 yards down the trail, picked up another Williamson's, possibly one of the original birds. Then we had a separate bird on the far end of the meadow, hence the approximation. Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen and heard throughout the Weir Trail. A Townsend's Solitaire was heard giving the typical "rusty hinge", repeated monotone single whistled note. Thanks go out to Eric. It was a lovely autumn day to be in the mountains. He should be posting pix later. Christine Harvey Santee, CA sdch AT cox.netSubject: Tundra Swan From: "mmcclitgif" <mmccli AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:53:04 -0000 On November 18th around 8:00 AM there was a juvenile Tundra Swan swimming in the bay in front of the park at the base of Marina Parkway and Bayside Parkway just north of the J Street Marina. It was swimming north and went around the docks of the boat repair north of the park where it was not relocated until it was sighted and photographed by Matt Sadowski near Pepper Park north of the Chula Vista Nature center. It then took off and flew north but was not refound by Guy McCaskie, Paul Lehman, Jon Dunn and Matt due to inaccessibility to the bay in National City. Mike McClintock Mission ValleySubject: Possible Yellow-billed Loon in San Diego Bay From: karly moore <scissortail73 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:42:49 -0800 (PST) This morning while doing a waterbird count at Chula Vista NWR I saw a loon with
characteristics of a yellow-billed loon. I was at the north end of the Chula
Vista NWR about 150m south of the channel, along the shoreline. The loon was
about 70m off shore, and I was about 100m south of the loon. It was just
before 0700 hrs in the morning during the incoming tide. I saw it out of the
corner of my eye while counting surf scoters out in the bay. I looked over and
saw a large loon heading north feeding with its head down. I was looking
through my binoculars at first and saw the tail and back. It had a greyish
brown tail and lower back with white speckles, the back was greyish brown (and
the scapular/coverts had dark centers (but not distinct buff edges like a juv)
and the flanks brown. I started to think common loon, then the head popped up
and the neck looked light brown, tannish, lacking distinct contrast or sharp
border on the neck,
seeming like a common loon, but lighter in color. The light brown on the
neck was interesting then I saw the bill. The bill was large and pale but not
a pale greyish tone but a light yellowish hue. At this point I went for my
scope to get a closer look at head and bill and that is when the bird took off
heading south in the bay, perhaps down by the powerplant or salt works. In
Sibley and National geographic the loon looks like an nonbreeding adult. I
didn't pay particular attention to whether the culmen was straight but I did
notice it didn't look dark. I also missed the auricular patch. I have no
pictures and I was surveying alone.
After my survey I went looking for it along the G street to the powerplant but
all I turned up was a juvenile common loon. This common loon had a pale
greyish bill, with buff edges to its scaps and coverts. Also no white speckles
on the tail.
Sibley mentions hybrids between common and yellow-billed loons.
I guess just be on the look out.
Karly Moore
Huntington Beach
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Subject: PLUMBEOUS VIREO, HOODED MERGANSER, ETCFrom: "wngit2" <wngit2 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:24:37 -0000 Since I had to work, birded closer to home at Santee Lakes and the upper ponds today (Nov. 17). The only bird of note was the continuing Plumbeous Vireo on lake 3 which Barbara Carlson and I found on lake 5 last month. Suspect it will winter along with the Yellow, Wilson's, multiple Townsend's Warblers that were also present. Checked the upper ponds and the Hooded Mergansers have yet to return. The farthest pond had a Wilson's Snipe on the SE shore. In addition to the Snipe, there was one lonely American White Pelican amongst the Green-wing Teal, Bufflehead, and other returning waterfowl. My visit was cut short due to questioning from a Padre Dam park ranger. If you do go and check the upper ponds, please remember to drive the speed limit, ~25-30 mph and when stopping, pull completely off the road. The gate's are open M-F 8am-5pm. There was an adult male Hooded Merganser above Padre Dam yesterday (Nov. 16). It was more than likely the same bird reported at Kumeyaay Lake on Nov. 10. Kumeyaay Lake had 3-4 vocal Sora, ~5 Moorhen (seen too), ~3 Virginia Rail (1 seen, close range, lake 1). At Padre Dam, it was your typical winter variety pack of 2 Golden-crowned, 1 Rufous-crowned, 2 Fox Sparrow and a Canyon Wren "PEK"ing below the bridge at the dam. Christine Harvey Santee, CA sdch AT cox.netSubject: Plumbeous Vireo-Encinitas From: "Paul Zucker" <PZUCKER AT roadrunner.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:18:50 -0800 Near the Home Depot on El Camino Real. From ECR go East on Olivenhain to 1st light and right on Amargosa. Park 1 block down. There's a small riparian area no more than 100 yds wide between the houses. The trails are only 1/4 mile long and are on both sides of the street. The trail with the vireo was on the east side of the street and south of the creek...about 200 yds down the trail. Also seen were blue-grey gnatcatchers, rufous hummer and usually a Downy but not today. Steve Brad got me on to this place several months ago. The eagle-eyed Frank W spotted the vireo. Paul Zucker Encinitas pzucker AT roadrunner.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Lake Miramar From: "Gary G" <ggrantham AT san.rr.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:18:12 -0000 I walked part of the dirt trail around Lake Miramar this morning. The water level fluctuates a great deal, currently it is quite low. The only birds slightly out of the ordinary were a single Fox Sparrow and a single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The sedentary Greater White-fronted Goose continues and the sedentary Cackling Goose has returned to Evans Pond by the library after its summer vacation at Lake Miramar. The Cackling Goose is about the same size as the hoards of Mallards so when it is resting among the other slackers it can be easily missed. Gary Grantham Scripps RanchSubject: Re: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo (Grosbeak corrections) From: "Trent R. Stanley" <trent.stanley AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:41:59 -0800 The female Rose-breasted Grosbeak I reported at Reptiles was actually a male. I was in a hurry and didn't see the trace of red. Thanks to Eric's photos. http://tinyurl.com/ericsphotos The female Rose-breasted Grosbeak I reported at the Camphor Tree in Urban Jungle was actually a VERY RARE WINTER BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. According to the San Diego Bird Atlas "In winter it is very rare---much rarer than its eastern counterpart, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 14 winter records, only 2 since 1983. Here's the photos I got, thanks to Paul Lehman for helping with the ID. http://www.sdbirder.com/Birds/Grosbeak I tried for the Scarlet Tanager at lunch and as I was leaving for the day, no luck. Hopefully it'll stick around for the CBC. Trent -- Trent R. Stanley PO BOX 3666 SAN DIEGO CA 92163-1666 trent AT sdbirder.com http://www.sdbirder.com On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 9:26 AM, Trent R. StanleySubject: Re: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:34:15 -0000 I could not find the Scarlet Tanager this afternoon about 2:00, but I did hear a Summer Tanager calling from the camphor tree. It was very noisy. The coral trees adjacent to the reptile house provided a blizzard of orioles ... M/F of Hooded, Bullock's and Orchard. A very nice (first year?) male Rose-breasted Grosbeak put in an appearance also. A few pics of the grosbeak and OROR..... http://tinyurl.com/ericsphotos Eric Kallen Normal Heights --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "Trent R. Stanley"Subject: Re: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego Zoo From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:21:07 -0000 I went over to the Zoo at about 1:30 and stopped by the meerkat exhibit. It was very noisy and busy in the vicinity. No scarlets but I did hear a summer tanager calling. The coral trees next to the reptile house had a small blizzard of orioles about 2:15 .. M/F of Orchard, Hooded & Bullock's plus a nice (first year?) male Rose-breasted Grosbeak...... a few pics http://tinyurl.com/ericsphotos Eric Kallen Normal Heights --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "Trent R. Stanley"Subject: Zone-tailed Hawk on Saturday, November 14 From: "jedibirder" <birdguy AT naturalista.net> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:58:12 -0000 During a Journey into Africa tour at the Wild Animal park on Saturday, a Zone-tailed Hawk flew low over the car I was sitting in. The yellow legs and striped tail were quite evident. It was seen by me and several of my friends. The time was around around 10am. Rich Schilk Fullerton, CASubject: Possible Blue-headed Vireo in Pt Loma (Nov. 16) From: Sara Baase Mayers <baase AT cs.sdsu.edu> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:38:33 -0800 (PST) The bird was on private property in a yard between Albion St.
and the Pt. Loma Woods development. There is no public access,
but I'm posting this in case it might be refound from a street.
The bird was fluttering over a small spot of water at 11:55AM. I
immediately thought it was a Blue-headed Vireo (but I'm far from
expert). The head contrasted strongly with the body. It had big,
distinct spectacles. There was yellow (or yellow-green) on the edges
of the secondaries and yellow on the underside. (I couldn't see the
extent of the yellow on the underside.) After it flew, I looked in
Sibley to see if it could have been something else. I saw that the
winter Cassin's shows some contrast between the head and back. I also
saw that the Blue-headed has a sharper edge between the dark head and
white throat than the Cassin's. I didn't know to look for that edge,
but my impression was a very distinct, strongly contrasting, dark head.
So I'm still thinking it was likely a Blue-headed. I watched for
another 15 minutes, but I did not see it again.
======================
Sara Mayers
Point Loma, San Diego
baase AT cs.sdsu.edu
======================
Subject: Scarlet Tanager @ San Diego ZooFrom: "Trent R. Stanley" <trent.stanley AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:26:49 -0800 This morning around 8:30 (11/16) I stopped by the Camphor Tree near Meerkat's at the old Elephant Mesa area (now Urban Jungle). The fruiting tree had lots of Robins, Western Tanagers, Waxwings, a SCARLET TANAGER and female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. The SCARLET TANAGER was bright yellow with jet black wings, no wing bars. It was being chased around by some of the Westerns. I returned < 5minutes later with my camera but was unable to re-find the SCARLET TANAGER, mainly due to the large numbers of Waxwings making it very difficult to sort through them all. Hopefully I'll be able to get some nice pictures in the next few days. Earlier I stopped by the Reptile Building and the blooming Coral Trees yielded a continuing male ORCHARD ORIOLE and another female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. Trent -- Trent R. Stanley PO BOX 3666 SAN DIEGO CA 92163-1666 trent AT sdbirder.com http://www.sdbirder.comSubject: Coming to SD to bird From: "racitup2002" <raccoonhome AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:29:02 -0000 Hi you all, I will be birding your beautiful county during the month of December and hoping to connect with local birders for outtings. I will be staying at Santee Lakes RV park. My arrival date is Dec 6, leaving for Salton Sea Jan 6. Would anyone be interested in birding with me? I have made some connections already but would like to meet more local birders who would like to show me around the SD area. My one target bird is the Nelson's Sparrow with an interest in getting around and seeing what I can find. I would like to bird as many places as possible. Thanks in advance. I can reciprocate by guiding you to the hot birding spots in the San Bernardino Mountains for our local mountain species. See you out there, Sandy Remley Big Bear Lake 909-522-9419(cell)Subject: Free Jon Dunn programs on Warblers and Shorebirds this week From: "Andrew Mauro" <akamauro AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:56:39 -0800 Dear SDBirders, The incomparable Jon Dunn will be giving birding talks in San Diego on two evenings this week, both at no charge. "Jon Dunn on Fall Warblers" SDFO Meeting--Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 pm. LOCATION: Liberty Station Command Center Building, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego, CA. Going south on Rosecrans Street (in the Midway area of town), turn left on Roosevelt Rd. into Liberty Station and then left again on Decatur. "Jon Dunn on Winter Shorebirds and Gulls" Buena Vista Audubon Meeting--Wednesday, November 18, at 7:00 pm. LOCATION: BVAS Nature Center, 2202 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA. From I-5 Freeway, take Vista Way west to South Coast Hwy. Turn left (south) on Coast Hwy., go about two blocks. Turn left into Nature Center (on east side of road). For more infomation: www.bvaudubon.org. Everyone's welcome to take advantage ofr this wonderful opportunity to learn from the master. --Andy Mauro Encinitas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Borrego Cedar Waxwings From: "Betsy Rudee" <brudee AT san.rr.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:37:59 -0800 This morning at 7:55AM at the Road Runner CC I saw a group of about 20 Cedar waxwings on the grass, then they lifted off all at once and flew into a cottonwood (?). This swooping back and forth display went on for about twenty minutes, when I had to leave. Also seen at RRCC about the same time were a Red-naped sapsucker and possibly the Yellow-bellied. However, the one I suspected to be the Yellow-bellied kept moving around the back of the tree horizontally and away from view, then flew. Many White-winged doves, a few noisy Eurasian doves, an American Robin, and a Black-crowned night heron on the pond on a piece of flotsam (?) were also seen on this quick pass before breakfast and driving back to SD for grandson's game. Saturday I saw a Rock Wren at Blair Valley, a lifer for me, actually several of them. Also yesterday, at Tamarisk, the Townsend's solitaire came immediately to the call I played at the entrance. At Old Springs Rd. early this AM a Loggerhead Shrike sat for about ten minutes at the top of a large mesquite near the entrance to the dump, looking like a Northern shrike, but clearly with a wider mask that covered the eye. The hook at the tip of its beak, as seen through the scope, looked prominent enough to be a Northern shrike and the chest seemed very light in the early sunlight, but the bird flew just as my husband got his camera up to record it. One last and second try for the Crissal thrasher at the Sewer Ponds around 5:55AM today was unsuccessful. The weather was great and the classic car hot-rod group from OC was in town for extra entertainment. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Wood Duck in Borrego Springs From: "dorman92093" <dorman92093 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:19:30 -0000 This morning, and last weekend, there was a Wood Duck at the water hazard at hole 1 (I think) of the Club Circle par 3 golf course. Last weekend it was reclusive and I saw only the head, but the teardrop eye-ring was clearly visible. This weekend there were Mallards and Am. Wigeons with the usual Coots and the Wood Duck was on the fairway with them. LeRoy DormanSubject: Palomar - Williamson's Sapsucker & Winter Wren, 11/15/09 AM From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:45:04 -0500 (EST) SD-Birders, A great morning on Palomar Mountain today. I was there before sunrise and stayed until about 11 AM. The top bird was the 1st year WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER along the Weir Trail at the State Park. It was in the first large clearing area after coming out of the woods tapping in a couple of pines. I first heard its calls then spotted it with its brownish head and body barring overall. The spot is next to a large fallen oak tree with a hole in the middle, with a large Y-shaped branch sticking straight up. It was not skittish, and I was able to get a few photographs. Walking farther along the trail, you approach a stream crossing after heading downhill a bit, and is marked "Weir Trail" on the other side. Just before this crossing, a vocal WINTER WREN scolded me for playing a recording, which admittedly I had been doing all day for it in various good-looking places. Today I also learned that House Wrens get very interested in Winter Wren recordings, to the point of coming within inches of the player. Other interesting birds include two high-elevation LINCOLN'S SPARROWS near the stream, large numbers of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS (42 flew out of one roost tree alone), an unseen Sapsucker sp, a HAIRY WOODPECKER, 13 PYGMY NUTHATCHES, 13 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a few PINE SISKINS, numbers of PURPLE FINCHES, and a single female-type CASSIN'S FINCH near Doane Pond. Red Crossbills were nowhere to be found. I dipped on the unexpected Dipper (which is what I was looking for), but the only spot with more than a trickle of water was just before the weir itself. Just shy of 50 species on the mountain today. Remember that the park closes on November 30th through March. Jay Keller, San DiegoSubject: New birding venues From: Jeanne Raimond <tuftedtm AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:07:52 -0800 (PST) El Monte park in Lakeside can be productive for mountain species without
driving to the mountains. I have seen titmouse, acorn woodpeckers, quail, etc.
there.
Jeanne Raimond
Santee
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Subject: MacGillivray's Warbler in PowayFrom: "Dean" <deanoid4 AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:21:23 -0000 I was working in my garage in Eastern Poway this morning and had a visitor. In the corner of my eye, I saw a bird fly into the garage. I heard it make a few notes in the rafters and noticed it sounded different from the normal Yellow-rumps that hang around here in the winter. I looked up and it was a male MacGillivray's Warbler. Can't say that I've ever seen one here in Poway, especially in my garage. After checking out my stuff up high, it flew down lower and then back out the door and headed south, appropriately. Seems a little on the late side for this species, but maybe only a little. Dean Charles Poway, CA deanoid4 AT cox.netSubject: Laguna From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:28:06 -0000 Hairy woodpeckers, scrub jays, western bluebirds, yellow-rumped warblers, white-crowned sparrows, ruby-crowned kinglets, CA quail, RT hawks - what a cold and windy morning it was... where are all these unusual birds I keep hearing about? JimPea, SD, CASubject: Re: Tijuana Estuary and River Valley: 11/14/09 From: Kiralyka Fuzike <phylloscopus.proregulus AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:41:41 -0800 Hi Folks! Is this Caracara around all year long, or has it returned for another winter? Kiralyka La Jolla On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 5:18 PM, maulik199Subject: Tijuana Estuary and River Valley: 11/14/09 From: "maulik199" <maulik199 AT yahoo.co.in> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:18:19 -0000 Dear SDBirders, Today 11/14/09 was a 3-lifer day for me, starting with the male HEPATIC TANAGER at its known usual spot at 4th and Caspian. Next was a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at the North end of the North McCoy trail at Tijuana Estuary. The third was the CRESTED CARACARA that Anne Reilly found through her scope at Dairy Mart Pond. Thank you Anne. Other highlights were: OSPREY, 10 WESTERN GREBES, 1 CLARK'S GREBE and 6 CLAPPER RAILS at Tijuana Estuary. Few WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS with N.R.W.SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS just south of Bird and Butterfly Garden. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET at B&B Garden. 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flushed by 3 dogs in the eastern section of Dairy Mart Rd. sod farms. Speices hoped for and missed: Sharp-tailed sparrow across from 1270 Seacoast Dr.; Virginia Rails; the Burrowing Owl and Loggerhead Shrike reported at TJ Estuary on 11/12; the Black-and-white warbler and Golden-crowned kinglet at B&B Garden. Looking forward to getting out tomorrow. -Maulik Trivedi NorthPark maulik199 AT yahoo.co.inSubject: Bald Eagles at Lake Hodges From: "jvebright8" <jvebright AT att.net> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:11:44 -0000 On the Palomar Audubon walk at Lake Hodges today, about 20 birders watched three juvenile Bald Eagles fly and perch by the shore of the lake. We were on the trail that starts by Rancho Bernardo Community Park and were on the trail that goes along the east side of Bernardo Bay. We observed the Eagles from the following Google GPS coordinates: +33° 3' 20.11", -117° 5' 1.57". It was about 10:30 AM when the Eagles were spotted. Jeff Ebright San DiegoSubject: Thanks and so long (for a while) From: "daverdsn" <daverdsn AT aol.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:12:13 -0000 Excellent weather and a lot of new birds gave us a fantastic trip made even better by all the helpful birders we met during our stay. We are back in the UK now where we have just had the worst storm of the year with inches of rain and gale force winds with temperatures reaching a massive 50 degrees F. Hope it rains soon in San Diego! I have posted one more ID connundrum in the Sapsucker ID album - we cannot decide between Red-naped and Yellow Bedded Sapsucker. Thanks in advance for the ID. We will return. Malcolm and Dave, British Birders, Derby, UK daverdsn AT aol.comSubject: Coastal County Notes, 11/14/09 AM From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:53:05 -0800 (GMT-08:00) SD-Birders, I visited several spots today, starting with the Dairy Mart pond and nearby (fairly barren) fields though the CRESTED CARACARA flew over toward the east. A latish WILSON'S WARBLER pished up at the bridge south of the B&B Garden, which itself had the continuing BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET found by Guy last weekend. High tide at Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach was nice today, ~6.4', but no Nelson's Sparrow appeared for me. Tomorrow's tide is supposed to be 6.6 at 7:21 AM, so may be worth a shot. Small consolation was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW foraging on the beach side of the road under a car. (?!) I walked out to the end of the IB Pier and found a lot of Aechmophorus grebes (mostly WESTERN), COMMON and PACIFIC LOONS, and other expected species. FRNC was fairly quiet bird-wise, with a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER just south of the euc grove. Point Loma Nazarene was the birdiest spot of the day for me, with the GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS as well as the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (there may be two) on the security office side of the canyon, as others reported. On the other side of the canyon (near a fenced-in garden) several birds were active including a FOX SPARROW and a PLUMBEOUS VIREO. Jay Keller, San DiegoSubject: Lindo Lake SDAS field trip From: John Walters <john-walters AT cox.net> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:40:39 -0800 A small group of us circumnavigated Lindo Lake this morning (11/14). No Stilt Sandpiper or Vermilion Flycatcher, but we did encounter the Greater White-fronted Goose that I believe has been previously reported from here. It was among a large flock of ducks and geese being fed by a helpful visitor. Good looks at a Sora, and an interesting Green Heron in immature plumage, as well as several Tricolored Blackbirds (this is a pretty reliable spot for them), but nothing wildly unusual. John Walters Bonita, CA john-walters AT cox.netSubject: Balboa Park and Zoo - Rose-breasted Grosbeak From: "jnordenberg" <jnordenb AT san.rr.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:39:07 -0000 This morning between 7:15 and 8:30, Sara and Keith Mayers and I checked out the area of Balboa Park (just east of 6th and north and south of El Prado) birded by Barbara Carlson and Paul Lehman on Thursday. We found the bright adult male Summer Tanager near the Redwood Grove north of the lawn bowling courts. Nearby one adult female and one immature Bullock's Oriole were seen. A Western Tanager was found on the south side of El Prado but the pair of "south side" Summer Tanagers was not seen although we did not search extensively beyond the Pine Grove Picnic Area. We made a one hour visit to the zoo where we found an immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak near the reptile house but no Orchard, Bullock's or Hooded Orioles. Jan Nordenberg San DiegoSubject: POINT LOMA 11-14-09 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:20:42 -0000 I went out to PLNU this morning and camped out at the corner of the big canyon - next to the security office parking lot- hoping that the white-throated sparrow would show. Bruce Ridout was there when I arrived and he reported that he had seen the sparrow. The first surprise I got was a grosbeak foraging with the white-crowned sparrows at the bottom of the steep fill-bank. I'm not sure if it was a black-headed or rose-breasted. But I suspect black-headed. One almost-crappy photo of this bird posted. The next surprise was a green-tailed towhee in the area at the top of the bank. Finally, one white-throated sparrow allowed a few photos. There were also several golden-crowned sparrows. They would not get very close staying at the bottom of the bank foraging in the dried grasses. http://tinyurl.com/ericsphotos Eric Kallen Normal HeightsSubject: La Jolla Pelandgic Birding; Brown Booby From: Brennan Mulrooney <frozentoze AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:52:29 -0500 This morning I joined Paul Lehman and Guy McCaskie at the cove for some sea watching. The conditions were less than ideal, 5-10 kt from the East, but at least we didn't have to worry about spray on our lenses. The offshore breeze made heat haze an issue and the distant trickle of Black-vented Shearwaters was totally obscured by it. I was late arriving and in addition to the slow, but steady stream of loons (all three species) and Surf Scoters, they had seen 1 Common Murre. They then left before me and the subsequent highlights were an adult Mew Gull, a probable Red Phalarope, at least one more Common Murre, and the only stand-out bird of the day, an adult female Brown Booby that flew south just on the outer edge of the kelp. I guess Guy also had a small flock of Red Phalaropes yesterday. Brennan MulrooneySantee, CA _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: New birding venues? From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:18:19 -0800 This is a follow-up to Doug's plea to scout our neighborhoods for unexplored birding venues. I came across one possible such spot a few weeks back that I've rarely (if ever) seen written up: Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa. This park has a developed recreation area that is well forested with a variety of trees, but it also has a very large more-or-less natural coastal sage portion with a large variety of native plants. In between is an "ecotone" area of trees of various conifer and broadleaf varieties, including flowering eucs. I was there just prior to the main fall migration season, but the natural section (which also has a small stream drainage running through it, in case it ever rains in SD again) is partly open and looks like it might be good for sparrows, etc. The day I was there (which was rather hot), this area had abundant numbers of common county birds (towhees, jays, finches, etc.), but should be checked over the next few months for wintering species. To get to Harry Griffen Park, take the Fletcher Pkwy exit off 125, cross Fletcher onto Amaya, right onto Water St., left onto Milden St. The park entrance is off of Milden. Worth a look on a weekday; there's lots of micro-habitats there. Phil Pryde San DiegoSubject: Neighborhood birding (long) From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:56:46 -0000 I spend alot of time in La Jolla, and other coastal venues due to the type of work I do. As I drive through the different neighborhoods to make it to the coastline, I hear lots of birds, such as warblers and other assorted species. Since Paul Lehman has moved to San Diego County, he has been visiting alot of areas that the typical birder never birds, and he finds lots of rarities and uncommon birds. He tells of of his findings, because I believe he's trying to encourage all of us to get out there and look for ourselves, and find those birds in the non-normal spots that we ALWAYS go to (Pt. Loma, TJRV, San Diego River, etc). When a rarity is found in someone's back yard, I have said and heard the same thing from others, "I wonder what else could be out there in someone's elses backyard, a different neighborhood, that business park with the nice trees, that small park down the street, the ditch with the overgrown reeds and bushes, etc". There are several types of birders here in San Diego County, from the few who actively bird daily, those who casually bird, those who only bird with a group like Audubon, and then there are those who just sit in front of thier computer, or by the telephone waiting for someone else to actually go out and find a rarity, and then they go running for that new County, State, or Life bird. I want to encourage people to get out there and find birds! As I drive through the La Jolla Shores area, the WindandSea area, Mount Soledad area, I see wonderful lush habitat that would be great for wintering birds. All of those community parks in the North County, those canyons around San Diego and Chula Vista, they can all hold species that would be wonderful to find. Just last San Diego CBC, I checked a small stretch of habitat along a very busy street in the National City/Lincoln Acres area, and found a new location for Cactus Wren and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. This spot is less than a half mile from my house, a place I'd driven by thousands of times for over 10 years, and never stopped. How many of you can say the same thing? Start birding your neighborhoods, and then other people's neighborhoods, you just don't know what you may find! Maybe the next State or County record, maybe your next lifer? Thanks for putting up with me, Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.co,Subject: VARIED THRUSH From: "worleyjoseph" <joeworley AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:53:00 -0000 A male Varied Thrush was at FRNC, at noon, along the wall, just up the hill from the Eucalyptus Grove. A cemetery worker flushed it into the grove where it sat quietly. joeworley AT cox.net Point LomaSubject: SAN DIEGO FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS -Meeting-TUESDAY-Nov. 17th @ 7 pm >> Jon Dunn << From: "greenjeaniebird" <jeanie.anderson AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:45:40 -0000 Greetings SD Birders! The SAN DIEGO FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS will have their monthly meeting this TUESDAY, Novemer 17th at the LIBERTY STATION Command Center Building, 2640 Historic Decatur Rd. This month's speaker is noted bird author (the Peterson Field Guide to Warblers of North America,among many others) Jon Dunn, whose topic will be: " Warblers ". The second part of the meeting will be a discussion of recent rare bird sightings and member photos. The meeting begins at 7 PM and is over by 9 PM. All are invited to attend. May the birds be with you ... Jeanie Anderson SDFO Membership Chair Rancho PenasquitosSubject: SDBirders - Join us! Go To Sea To See Seabirds SUNDAY From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:36:46 -0000 Greetings SDBirders High winds are forecast off Santa Barbara Saturday and great Sunday weather has caused the Condor Express trip to be moved back 24 hours. Condor had 65 signups for Saturday, we need only 40 to make it a "go" for Sunday, a number we're sure we can hit. This is a PHENOMENAL opportunity for those from San Diego who couldn't drive up Friday. Now you can drive up Sat afternoon, get a suite at the Carpinteria Motel 6 next door to Tom Blackman's and my suite, go out in great weather on Sunday for the last "hurrah" to the edge of the Continental Shelf this year, and be back home snug in your bed late Sunday evening. Can it possibly get any better than that? Weather looks great for Sunday. There will most likely be a few cancellations from people who were registered for Sat who can't go Sunday, so this is your chance to call the Condor Landing and tell them you're "in" for Sunday. Condor Landing: (805) 882-0088. Come on out with us to see what's out there. If you're already registed for Saturday, please call the Condor Landing and tell them you're "in" for Sunday! Terry *********** W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole "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 Join us for the Oceanside Christmas bird count: http://www.socalbirding.com/christmasbirdcount/2009cbc.htmlSubject: Greater White-fronted Geese From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:22:49 -0000 There was 7 Greater White-fronted Geese near the east end of Lower Otay Lake(s), east of Chula Vista. They were on the near shoreline before milepost "6". Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.comSubject: More meadowlarks From: Dyallen2 <dyallen2 AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:07:53 -0800 There seem to be an unusual number of meadowlarks in urban San Diego this year. A flock has been visiting the golf course in front of my condo in Encinitas. I posted a picture of one on my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dyallen/ David Allen Encinitas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: SD River From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:07:51 -0000 The brant arrived in numbers above 100. Western grebes in excess of 30 and the snow goose continues in the SE of the SeaWorld section. Ruddy ducks are about half way to normal numbers as are the bufflehead. Many immature meadowlarks or the river edges. JimPea, SD, CASubject: w. Balboa Park Tanager-fest From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:32:26 -0500 SDBirds: Thursday AM, Barbara Carlson and I birded along the west side of Balboa Park--just in from 6th Ave, both north and south of Laurel/El Prado. Highlights were the THREE Summer Tanagers, as well as three Western Tanagers, plus a Bullock's Oriole. All three of the Summers are the same aged/plumaged birds at exactly the same places where we had them in Dec 2008, so undoubtedly they are all returning birds. A single bright adult male Summer Tanager (plus the one Bullock's) are along the east and north sides of the lawn-bowling 'courts' which are just a little north of El Prado. A pair of Summer Tanagers--another bright male and a female--are 200-300 yards south of El Prado, from the bathrooms south to the "Pine Grove Picnic Area" (which--oddly--is comprised almost entirely of oak trees!!). That area is also where all three Western Tanagers were. I also visited the SD Mission today, and behind the Mission, right around where last year's Catbird wintered, was a Pacific-slope Flycatcher--either a late migrant or, probably, a wintering bird. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com – What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you? http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePointSubject: reply to question on CBC coverage for Poway From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:40:38 -0000 Thanks for your note on fox sparrows in Poway, Jack, & for your thorough description of Christmas Bird Count participation in the San Diego count circle, Phil. Of course, Phil's description & request for participants are also applicable to the other counts in our area: Rancho Santa Fe, Oceanside, Escondido, Lake Henshaw, Borrego, Salton Sea, Ensenada, etc. See Terry's earlier posting or the San Diego Audubon website for dates & compiler contact info. In answer to Jack's question, much of Poway falls outside of any CBC count circle (each CBC count area is within a 15 mile diameter circle - general maps of each of our local count circles are in the early pages of the SD County Bird Atlas). The western portions of Poway are included in the Rancho Santa Fe count circle & additional participation/coverage is always welcome. The Rancho count extends from Torrey Pines to San Elijo on the immediate coast, arcs on the north edge through Quail Gardens, Encinitas, SE Carlsbad (NW of Olivenhain/RSF Rd), Questhaven, & Harmony Grove, on the east edge includes Lake Hodges, through Poway just west of Espola Rd, arcing south of Pomerado Rd, then along the south edge through the north edge of Miramar, then runs along the north edge of University City & UCSD north of Genesee. The CBCs are held each year between Dec 15 & Jan 5, & scheduling each of our local counts so there're no conflicts can be a challenge depending on which days of the week the holidays fall. The Rancho count will be the last local CBC this year & will be on Sunday 3 January. If you live within the above described boundaries, please consider joining in. If you live outside those boundaries, you no doubt are familiar with several of the birding hotspots within the circle & what better way to start the new year than checking them out? Thanks, Robert Patton San Diego, CASubject: Dark-morph Ferruginous Hawk returns From: "xenozoon7" <xenozoon AT att.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:35:42 -0000 I returned from vacation this morning to find an adult dark-morph Ferruginous Hawk on the utility poles beside highway 94, in Jamul, at Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve. This is presumably the same bird that I've seen in this spot every winter since 2005. My initial sighting each year is usually in the second week of November, and the bird persists until about early March. Delightful to see that this beautiful and distinctive bird has returned, and I look forward to seeing him on my commute for the next few months! John Martin Refuge Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Diego National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 746 14715 Highway 94 Jamul, CA 91935 (619) 468-9245 X 227 John_A_Martin AT fws.govSubject: Re: East County 11-11-09 From: "roberttheriault AT juno.com" <roberttheriault@juno.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:57:11 GMT Clarification on the status of Tamarisk Grove Campground at Anza-Borrego: The facility is closed Monday through Thursday, and open Friday through Sunday for camping. Feel free to park outside at anytime and walk through looking for birds! Closure due to operating costs and water supply (inadequate well system is due to be replaced). Bob Thériault / Borrego Springs ____________________________________________________________ Online College Degrees Advance your education and jumpstart your career. Research schools! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2131/c?cp=WeCp6nFLOL3EDsRaFzHy7AAAJz2wE7i8ud-USVNNww47Md6vAAQAAAAFAAAAAFSrhj4AAAMlAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABSJAAAAAA=Subject: Red-naped Sapsucker and more at Palomar From: Sara Baase Mayers <baase AT cs.sdsu.edu> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:18:44 -0800 (PST) We saw one very crisp and beautiful male Red-naped Sapsucker
and two male Red-breasted Sapsuckers along the Weir Trail today
(Nov. 11) in Palomar State Park. Dozens of Pygmy Nuthatches were
active along the trail. (We might have seen as many as 50). We also
saw at least two dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets and at least 15 Band-tailed
Pigeons. There was one Pacific-slope Flycatcher at the weir.
The observers were Marcie Mason, Jan Nordenberg, Joan Buddenhagen,
Janis Cadwallader, and Keith and Sara Mayers.
Several trails were closed; loggers were taking out trees in a few
parts of the park. All the trails will be closed as of Nov. 30,
according to the park's website.
======================
Sara Mayers
Point Loma, San Diego
baase AT cs.sdsu.edu
======================
Subject: Who's doing CBC for Poway?From: Jack Daynes <jc_daynes AT spamcop.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:52 -0800 Every couple of winters I get a Fox Sparrow at my feeders. Looks like this year will be another 'good' year. I may be able to get that species ticked off for this year's CBC. So ... Who ya gonna call? BTW: While hanging out and waiting for the Mingei to open, I wandered the nearby area in Balboa Park. While sitting at the bench where the rounded wall is at the NE of the International Cottages (Pan American Road W & Pan American Road E), birds noted were: Red-breasted Sapsucker -and- Chipping Sparrow Others I remember seeing were: House Wren OC Warbler YR Warbler Cedar WW Song SP A more dedicated investigation should have turned up other candidates. I called Phil Unitt and let him know about the Chipping Sparrow and the sapsucker, so hopefully it will help with his CBC effort this December. Be well all, -- Jack -- ================================= http://www.shadeTree-Imaging.com *See "PicSets" link for new stuff Jack Daynes Poway, California. (858)442-1907 (Cell) N32° 57' W117° 4' =================================Subject: Re: north county odd behaveing and dead birds on the beach From: "kimmyroth" <kimmyroth AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:41:16 -0000 Tis very sad indeed, Steve. On the same note, my friend that works at Project Wildlife (a wildlife rehab center here in San Diego) told me that they have been getting in lots of starving sea/shorebirds this year - especially Western Grebes and Sanderlings, which she says is unusual. I imagine that this is due to the warmer El Nino waters causing a decrease in food supply. Anyone else know of a different reason? Just to inform those that aren't in the know, if you come across any sick/injured birds that need rescuing you can just call the Project Wildlife Hotline at 619-225-WILD (9453)to have someone come and pick them up. OR, you can drop the animal off at the care center located at 887 1/2 Sherman Street, San Diego, CA 92110. For more information, please see the following link: http://www.projectwildlife.org Thanks, Kim Roth Ocean Beach --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "stevanbrad"Subject: East County 11-11-09 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:19:00 -0000 I ran into Eitan at the old sewage ponds in Borrego at sunrise this morning ~ we did not see the crissal thrasher who's been so reliable lately. Lots of horned larks. We visited Tamarisk Grove and saw the continuing Townsend's Solitaire. The park is "closed" due to the state's financial mess but birding there is apparently OK. With no campers the place is quite. The restrooms are not locked. We birded Blair Valley looking for ladderback woodpecker without success. There were good numbers of mountain bluebirds in the dry lake beds and lots of rock wrens. A few sage sparrows and shrikes. I went over to Mesa Grande and saw the Lewis's Woodpeckers at the same location previously reported. A few pics ... http://tinyurl.com/ericsphotos Eric Kallen Normal HeightsSubject: north county odd behaveing and dead birds on the beach From: "stevanbrad" <stevanbrad AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:15:20 -0000 sunday while walking out to surf the good swell that was just here I got way to
close to a bonapart gull on the beach, 5 ft or so, I thought he might have had
a broken wing, getting out of the water that sunday I got way to close to a
very young western gull, I guessed he was starving. Today at Ponto beach
carlsbad I found a fresh dead second yr western gull on the beach, I just got a
call from an oceanside lifeguard who is reporting dead and dying {seizing]
western grebes. He thought it was a seasonal thing, other than the fact that
the wegr are here now I don`t recall seeing dead and seizing wegr much on the
beach.
tis a bit sad
steve bread
leucadia/mammoth lakes
Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--SanteeFrom: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:26:48 -0500 SDBirds: This morning, 11 Nov, there was a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Mast Park in Santee. In riparian vegetation in the southeast corner of the park. West of the park was a nice concentration of 6 Phainopeplas. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web LIVE – Free email based on Microsoft® Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVESubject: Encinitas American Redstart From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:13:29 -0000 Greetings, This morning a female American Redstart was at Encinitas Viewpoint Park across the street from the Encinitas Library. 4 Bonaparte's Gulls were at the San Dieguito Wetlands in Del Mar as seen from new kiosk viewing point at the south end of San Andreas Road just past the McDonald's at Via de la Valle. Join us for the Oceanside Christmas bird count: http://www.socalbirding.com/christmasbirdcount/2009cbc.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole "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 ShelfSubject: white winged dove From: "Marty Samse" <mksamse AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:16:59 -0800 I had an uncommon white winged dove in my yard this AM. Only the third one to show up here in all the years I have been here. Marty Samse, Ramona [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: San Diego Christmas Bird Count Saturday 19 December 2009 From: "philip_unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:11:12 -0000 Dear friends, While we're on the topic of Christmas bird counts, please allow me to advertise the San Diego count on Saturday 19 December 2009. Last year's total of 201 species was the 3rd highest in California and the 5th highest in the United States. With sufficient experienced participants we should be reaching 200 species every year. Please help sustain the 56-year continuous history of this count by participating this year. The count circle extends west to the tip of Point Loma, north to Balboa Park and Chollas Reservoir, east to Sweetwater Reservoir and Southwestern College, and south to the Tijuana River valley. We welcome new participants! The count entails a commitment to be in the field at least from sunrise to 1 PM, to count or estimate numbers of all species to the best of your ability, and to support the identification of any unusual bird with written notes and/or photographs. I will try to accomodate your wishes for an area to cover, but I will appreciate your flexibility in being willing to cover whatever area of the count circle gives us the best coverage. Maintaining some continuity from year to year in the organization of the count and the deployment of our participants enhances our efficiency, as people familiar with their area know how to cover it most efficiently and know where to find birds that return year after year. As for the last several years, we will meet at the J St. Marina in Chula Vista for a midday progress check and picnic lunch, with the kind support of San Diego Audubon and coordination of Ann Hannon, for which I'm very grateful. The organization of a big count like San Diego takes more time than I have myself. So I'm glad for the help of Rich Breisch this year. Please don't be surprised if the reply to your messages to me comes from Rich. Please contact me by e-mail at the Natural History Museum at birds AT sdnhm.org or by phone there at 619-255-0235. Thanks to everyone for helping uphold the level of participation and standard of accuracy that has made the San Diego count a leader for so many years. Phil Philip Unitt San DiegoSubject: Lake Henshaw CBC - Monday, December 21st From: "Gretchen Cummings" <gmorse4324 AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:30:23 -0800 Good morning fellow birders. I wanted to get the word out about the Lake Henshaw CBC. This year, the count will be held on Monday, December 21st. Anyone interested in participating, please contact me via email or phone. Gretchen Cummings (760)789-5938 or (760)440-0349 gretchen.bc AT sbcglobal.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: pacific golden-plovers continue at Tijuana Estuary 10 Nov 09 From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:48:39 -0000 At 1245 today, a harrier flushed 2 Pacific golden-plovers from amid dune vegetation SE of the barrier dune S of Seacoast Dr. They briefly landed on the sandbar island then moved & settled along the riverbank NE of the rivermouth at Tijuana Estuary. R. Patton San Diego, CASubject: MTRP Hooded Merg & other waterbirds From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:02:56 -0500 (EST) SD-Birders, Kumeyaay Lake at Mission Trails Reg Park before dusk held a nice assortment of waterbirds, including a beautiful drake HOODED MERGANSER, a kek-ing LEAST BITTERN, and rails responding to my vocal imitations including 2-3 SORA, two VIRGINIA RAILS, and a CLAPPER RAIL. It's the first time I had detected the Clapper since October 7, 2008, and I have attempted them a few times since then. Also, this morning at the west end of Roselle Street at the extreme east end of Torrey Pines State Reserve, a male WILSON'S WARBLER was among other birds in the tall grasses along the road. Jay Keller, San DiegoSubject: Lake Henshaw Tuesday From: "daverdsn" <daverdsn AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:59:13 -0000 During a trip out to Lake Henshaw today a very nice chap drove past, stopped and drove back told us where to stand for the Bald Eagle nest. Whilst seeking shade and scanning in hope, we saw a Bald Eagle up the hillside which was one of our target species for the trip so thanks whoever you were. Returning along Mesa Grande Road we got a fly-catching, Acorn Woodpecker bullying Lewis's Woodpecker on the first dead tree to the north of the road after the switchback grade down onto the valley floor about 1.5 miles from the interstate. Thanks to all who identified our big raptor for us. Malcolm and Dave, British Birders, Derby, UK www.derbyshireos.org.uk if anyone wants the latest from central England!Subject: Lewis' Woodpecker (non-chasable) From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:56:53 -0800 This is a non-chasable bird, but some may be interested in all reports of Lewis' Woodpecker, especially in seldom-visited locations, so as to help plot its spatial distribution in the County. A single Lewis' Woodpecker was observed Monday (Nov. 9) on a telephone pole (and flying away from it - solid black back and wings) on the Rincon Reservation, just east of Valley Center Road (S6) on a non-public internal Reservation road (I had permission to be there) a little ways east of where Paradise Creek joins the San Luis Rey River. (I was with a non-birding group in a van, so not possible to observe it further.) Phil Pryde San DiegoSubject: Rock Wren at Hodges From: "frank" <fmwongmd AT san.rr.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:31:13 -0000 In between baby sitting duties, I came across a single, cooperative Rock Wren doing his deep knee bends at about 9:30 am today (11/10) at Lake Hodges not far from the Ed Brown Center (formerly Jocelyn) west along the main path, up slope from the 20 x 20 ft. concrete slab near the lake, hopping around a withered stand of prickly pear cacti. Conveniently, he stayed around about 10 minutes allowing for some good views. Frank Wong Del MarSubject: results of yesterday's San Elijo monthly bird count From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:47:38 -0000 110 species were recorded at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve & Cardiff State Beach on the November monthly bird count. The next count will be Monday December 14th. Thanks to all who volunteered their time & expertise: Mona Baumgartel, Tom Blackman, Steve Brad, Bob Chaddock, Lori Chamberlain, Sam Crouse, Bob Enns, Christina Espinosa, Janine Free, Peter Ginsburg, Malcolm Hopton, Terry Hunefeld, Jayne Lesley, Jim Pea, Dave Richardson, Sue Sifton, John Skirgaudas, Peter St. Clair, Raydene St. Clair, Elizabeth Venrick, Jim Wilson. (I apologize for any mis-spellings & if I missed the names of any others - if so, please let me know). A good diversity of migrant raptors, shorebirds, & waterfowl were seen although numbers were not necessarily high. Notable species included: Elizabeth observed the juvenile little blue heron off the nature center site, Jim Pea observed the adult in flight east of Rios Ave/west of I-5 & I saw it along the channel SW of Manchester Ave & Ocean Cove. Merlins were reported by Steve & Elizabeth at the nature center site & east of I-5 by Jim Wilson, Mona, Dave, Malcolm, Bob, Sam, Raydine & Peter St. Clair. The latter group also reported violet-green swallows. Terry, Tom, & Peter Ginsburg had 35 snowy plovers foraging on flats SW of the nature center/east of the RR tracks at low tide & later I saw 2 roosting adjacent to Hwy 101. We each also saw Lincoln's sparrows, theirs NW of Rios Ave, mine east of Mira Costa College. Jayne, Jim Pea, Christina, & Sue reported a Selasphorus hummingbird in cape honeysuckle at the Rios trailhead. Maryanne, Janine, & Bob reported rough-winged swallow over the eastern mesa. John Skirgaudas photographed a bright male summer tanager east of Rios/west of I-5 along the upper trail about 40 yd east of the large tree across the trail & in acacia adjacent to tall bare dead eucalyptus. Species included: Pacific loon, common loon, pied-billed grebe, eared grebe, western grebe, brown pelican, double-crested cormorant, Brandt's cormorant, great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, little blue heron, black-crowned night-heron, white-faced ibis, green-winged teal, mallard, northern pintail, blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, northern shoveler, gadwall, American wigeon, bufflehead, ruddy duck, osprey, white-tailed kite, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin, clapper rail, Virginia rail, sora, American coot, black-bellied plover, snowy plover, semipalmated plover, killdeer, black-necked stilt, greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs, willet, spotted sandpiper, whimbrel, long-billed curlew, marbled godwit, black turnstone, sanderling, western sandpiper, least sandpiper, dunlin, long-billed dowitcher, Bonaparte's gull, Heermann's gull, ring-billed gull, California gull, western gull, Forster's tern, rock dove, mourning dove, white-throated swift, Anna's hummingbird, Selasphorus sp. hummingbird, belted kingfisher, Nuttall's woodpecker, northern flicker, black phoebe, Say's phoebe, Cassin's kingbird, tree swallow, violet-green swallow, rough-winged swallow, western scrub jay, American crow, common raven, bushtit, Bewick's wren, house wren, marsh wren, ruby-crowned kinglet, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California gnatcatcher, western bluebird, hermit thrush, wrentit, northern mockingbird, American pipit, European starling, orange-crowned warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, Townsend's warbler, common yellowthroat, summer tanager, spotted towhee, California towhee, Belding's savannah sparrow, migrant savannah sparrow, song sparrow, Lincoln's sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, red-winged blackbird, western meadowlark, great-tailed grackle, house finch, lesser goldfinch, American goldfinch, house sparrow. Robert Patton San Diego, CA |