Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from San Diego Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, March 11 at 09:43 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Southern Black Korhaan,©BirdQuest

12 Mar leucistic/partially albino (i don't know...) red-tailed hawk ["miceelf7" ] 12 Mar Plumbeous Vireo ["bicyclebirder" ] 11 Mar Borrego trip [Bob Miller ] 11 Mar Probable Cooper's Hawks ["Waldo" ] 11 Mar Mountain Woodpeckers ["bicyclebirder" ] 10 Mar L. Longspur and Horn Larks ["Jean" ] 11 Mar East County 3-10-10 ["ERIC" ] 11 Mar Thrushes in the mountains ["bicyclebirder" ] 10 Mar FS: Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars ["Trent R. Stanley" ] 10 Mar Florida & Upas Getting Birdy ["wlemlin" ] 10 Mar Cassin's Finch at William Heise park ["florockets" ] 10 Mar 4 Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross ["thunefeld" ] 09 Mar Pelagic March 14, Nine-Mile Bank and Coronado Is [sunbelt ] 09 Mar Pelagic March 14, Nine-Mile Bank and Coronado Is [sunbelt ] 9 Mar Re: LJ Cove Tuesday morning [Jay K ] 09 Mar Glaucous Gull Sunday March 7 at 7th Street ["lazulibuntings" ] 09 Mar LJ Cove Tuesday morning ["peterginsburg" ] 09 Mar results of Mon 8 March San Elijo monthly bird count ["rtpatton02" ] 8 Mar LJ Cove, Monday afternoon [Stan Walens ] 08 Mar SD Bird Festival Photos ["Finatic" ] 08 Mar Nine Mile Bank Laysan Albie; San Diego Black-footed Albie & Brown Booby ["thunefeld" ] 08 Mar Birding in the rain in Ramona ["d_lewi" ] 07 Mar Thursday's Pelagic 4MAR2010 ["thunefeld" ] 06 Mar PT. LOMA 3-6-10 ["ERIC" ] 06 Mar Eurasian Wigeon ["Gary G" ] 06 Mar female hooded oriole and others at Florida & Upas ["wlemlin" ] 6 Mar Bird Festival Palomar/Lake Henshaw highlight ["Geoffrey Rogers" ] 06 Mar Varied Thrushes ["mmcclitgif" ] 5 Mar Few recent birding pics [Keerthana R ] 06 Mar San Diego Bird Festival Pelagics are a "go" for Saturday and Sunday ["thunefeld" ] 05 Mar REMINDER: MTRP Photo Exhibit Reception Invite ["hooverhorn" ] 4 Mar spring arrivals, continuing rarities ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 05 Mar San Diego County Black-footed Albatross ["thunefeld" ] 4 Mar FW: spring arrivals, continuing rarities ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 4 Mar Pt Loma Thur. afternoon [thomas meixner ] 05 Mar Little Gull at lake Perris (THREAD CLOSED) ["Doug" ] 04 Mar Little Gull at Lake Perris ["tburr155" ] 4 Mar LITTLE GULL at Lake Perris - Yes [Timothy Burr ] 04 Mar LITTLE GULL at Lake Perris - Yes ["tburr155" ] 04 Mar Little Gull at Lake Perris ["tburr155" ] 04 Mar turkeys in Cuyamaca ["patricia fishtein" ] 4 Mar Birding the SD Floodway for the Bird Festival ["Claude Edwards" ] 3 Mar Nome-banded WESA found in San Diego! [Kate Goodenough ] 3 Mar South Bay scouting, Wed. afternoon [phil Pryde ] 3 Mar Summer Tanager & Painted Redstart ["Roger Uzun" ] 3 Mar Pt Loma Wed morning [Joe Sweeney ] 03 Mar sightings of Aviara tundra swan? ["rtpatton02" ] 03 Mar next San Elijo monthly bird count Monday 8 March ["rtpatton02" ] 03 Mar request for info on banded sandpiper sightings ["rtpatton02" ] 03 Mar Little Gull at Lake Perris ["tburr155" ] 2 Mar Tierrasanta Birds: Common Poorwills etc. [Jay K ] 02 Mar Banded Terns ["bicyclebirder" ] 2 Mar 2009 - present posts searchable again ["Matt Sadowski" ] 02 Mar Bird Festival Pelagics Begin This Week ["thunefeld" ] 1 Mar Another Summer Tanager; Lewis's Woodpeckers [Barbara Carlson ] 1 Mar Allens Hummers start nesting at S.D. (Quail) Botan. Gardens, Encinitas,3/1/10 [] 1 Mar Black Oystercatcher in North County [Kenneth Weaver ] 01 Mar Continuing Summer Tanager (and others) at Florida & Upas ["wlemlin" ] 01 Mar LEWIS' WOODPECKER - DESCANSO- FEB 28, 2010 ["wngit2" ] 01 Mar LEWIS' WOODPECKER - DESCANSO- FEB 28, 2010 ["wngit2" ] 28 Feb Zone-tailed Hawk and Eurasion Wigeon (Hybrid?) continue at WAP ["kimmyroth" ] 28 Feb Glaucous Gull Tijuana River mouth 2-28-10 ["jacksnipe1990" ] 28 Feb Nesting Cooper's Hawk ["Michael Wienholt" ] 28 Feb La Jolla American Redstart & tanagers; hybrid duck ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 27 Feb SD Audubon Borrego Walk and Other Locations, 2-27-10 [Jay K ] 27 Feb banded snowy plover reply ["rtpatton02" ] 26 Feb continuing birds ["Claude Edwards" ] 26 Feb Long-Tailed Duck Location and Status Question ["Matt W." ] 26 Feb Canyon Wren [Bob Sanger ] 27 Feb Banded Snowy Plover ["mgould81" ] 26 Feb desert birding tomorrow ["Claude Edwards" ] 26 Feb DairyMartPond ["bicyclebirder" ] 26 Feb Summer Tanager ["xenozoon7" ] 26 Feb Two weeks worth of photos ["Finatic" ] 26 Feb Magpie Jay ["Don" ] 25 Feb Birds at Kit Carson Park [Dick Schroeder ] Subject: leucistic/partially albino (i don't know...) red-tailed hawk From: "miceelf7" <miceelf7 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:17:35 -0000 today (3/11) at 4pm, i saw the above mentioned hawk directly north of camel mountain rd. where it intersects freeport rd. it was soaring above the chaparral covered hillside north of the rancho penasquitos skatepark. from the little i could see of this bird it was almost all white, with two or three dark primaries and a red tail. i'm not sure if this bird has been reported before, but this is the third time i've seen him in about six months. the first two times i wasn't sure what i was seeing, since i was driving east on the 56 and couldn't stop. today i decided to go looking for it while i was in the area, and i was able to confirm what i thought i saw. it would be cool if anyone interested in this bird could post some pics, because my camera can't handle the job. thanks, curtis battle, clairemont Subject: Plumbeous Vireo From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:53:43 -0000 Well, I guess this one is correct. Plumbeous vireo at Famosa Slough this afternoon, south end under the willows. Only pintails left were at the Slough. JimPea, SD, CA Subject: Borrego trip From: Bob Miller <bob.miller AT mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:58:01 -0500 (EST) Hi all, Slightly off topic I know but if anyone has pictures of the bus stuck in the desert incident I sure would like to see some of them! Jeff lugging the living room carpet, piles of concrete, Clay digging deep, tow truck on two wheels, etc... Please respond off group to me. Thanks! (!__!) (0V0) HAPPY BIRDING {}~~{} BOB MILLER ='''='''== Southwest Birders Brawley, CA. 92227 Imperial County 760-455-1413 http://www.southwestbirders.com bob.miller AT mindspring.com Subject: Probable Cooper's Hawks From: "Waldo" <bonitarick AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:58:13 -0000 This afternoon, there was a pair of Cooper's (best guess based on photos) hawks in the eucalypetus trees right in front of the tennis club at Florida and Upas. Rick Phillips Bonita Subject: Mountain Woodpeckers From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:05:12 -0000 OK, OK, OK, I may have mis-spoke. I'll look at the photos. Thanks for advice on itch treatments. And it was a BIG mountain lion... JimPea, SD, CA Subject: L. Longspur and Horn Larks From: "Jean" <jgwindsong AT rangeweb.net> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:18:13 -0800 Oh well if it has to snow, it sure brings in the birds. We have over 200 Horn Larks at the crack corn in the driveway in front of the house. Best of all we picked out 1 Lapland Longspur with them. A few Crows, Gray-crown Rosy finches,Pine siskins, and House sparrows are at my feeders. Everyone is seeing Bluebirds but me. But I do have what I think is my 2 Starlings back. If they are my 2, they have been coming back for years now. Only 2 thank you. Jean, Sundance, Wy. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: East County 3-10-10 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:58:52 -0000 Mesa Grande and vicinity was cold, windy and wet this afternoon with only a few birds worth mentioning. Two pairs of hooded mergansers in the newly filled pond on the south side of the road about 5 miles in from the State Highway. One prairie falcon sparing with a red-tailed hawk above the Santa Ysabel Asistencia. Ramona was only slightly better. The pond along the highway just east of town had one common moorhen. Rangeland Road had two ferruginous hawks and a mixed flock of about 200 mountain bluebirds and American pipets. In one of the puddles along the road were two greater yellowlegs. No pics - bad light. Bad. Eric Kallen Normal Heights Subject: Thrushes in the mountains From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:24:49 -0000 I was in Julian so went by the park. Did not see the thrushes. Saw a determined birder and he didn't see them either. Walked the Cedar trail up and over the hill. There's something about very fresh mountain lion tracks that gives a new meaning solo hiking in desolate areas in winds so strong you can't hear much else. I've also started my itch treatments for poison oak. I did see one bushtit, one spotted towhee, one ladder-backed woodpecker, three brown creepers, five juncos, and a half dozen band-tailed pigeons. Do they still sell calamine lotion? JimPea, SD, CA Subject: FS: Canon 15x50 IS Binoculars From: "Trent R. Stanley" <trent.stanley AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:19:22 -0800 Hi All, I'm selling my Canon 15x50 IS (image stabilized) binoculars to help pay for a thermal night vision scope I'd like to get for owling, etc. Here's a link to my Ebay auction: http://goo.gl/8Jff The Canon 15x50 IS binoculars are like having a portable spotting scope and have generated lots of WOW's from people looking through them over the years. The thermal vision scope I want sees body heat, so even the most camouflaged birds cant hide from it. Here's the info on it: http://goo.gl/4MkT Thanks, Trent -- Trent R. Stanley PO BOX 3666 SAN DIEGO CA 92163-1666 trent AT sdbirder.com http://www.sdbirder.com Subject: Florida & Upas Getting Birdy From: "wlemlin" <wele AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:29:29 -0000 The woods are alive with the sounds of bird calls! This AM I had 3 Bullock's Orioles, a bright male Hooded Oriole, Townsend's Warbler, several Western Bluebirds, an Orange-Crowned Warbler, and what I'm 90% sure was a Black-Throated Gray Warbler (it was flitting through the very leafy trees and just caught a glimpse). Also, the usual multitudes of Lesser Goldfinches, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Song Sparrows, Anna's Hummingbirds, etc. Wendy Lemlin Balboa Park wele AT cox.net Subject: Cassin's Finch at William Heise park From: "florockets" <florockets AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:12:05 -0000 Went to look for the Varied Thrush at William Heise park posted on 3-5 and easily spotted them near the bridge on the Cedar trail. while there I also spotted and photographed(confirmed by Doug Aguillard) 2 Cassin's Finches. Also seen were 10+ Brown Creepers and 1 Golden Crowned Kinglet. Ward Cummings Carlsbad Subject: 4 Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:40:23 -0000 Greetings, From March 4-7, 2010, the San Diego Bird Festival conducted three day-trips to the Nine Mile Bank and just over the border to Mexico's Los Coronados Islands to see the Brown Booby colony. We were prepared to take what mother ocean gave us – and she was bountiful. A total of 5 near-shore albatrosses – Black-footed and Laysan – were unexpected. Three species of alcid were seen daily including more than 30 Xantus's Murrelets on Sunday. Photos by participants and leaders, GPS trip tracks showing the underwater topography, complete species lists, video and full trip report are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/sdbirdfest467mar2010.html Join us on April 17, 2009 when we do it all again on Grande: http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/sandiegoapr172010.html Grande's virgin 56-hour weekend trip to the San Juan Seamount in search of pterodromas is coming up May 15-17. http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/sandiegomay15172010.html Search for Tropicbirds, Shearwaters and Blue, Humpback and Fin Whales in style on Memorial Day weekend aboard the luxury live-aboard Searcher: http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/searchermay29312010.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 Shelf Subject: Pelagic March 14, Nine-Mile Bank and Coronado Is From: sunbelt <sunbelt AT whc.net> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:39:08 -0700 Just a reminder. Pelagic tour on the Grande. Boat leaves Point Loma Sportfishing , San Diego at 8 am dst.(remember it is daylight savings this weekend)and will be back at 5 pm. Be there between 7 and 7:30 am. Matt Sadowski and Paul Lehman are our leaders so far. We still have more room. The cost is $75.00 cash. E-mail me at sunbelt AT whc.net. Thanks -- Dan Allen Belcher Sunbelt Construction 7101 N. Mesa #355 El Paso, TX 79912 Cell: 915-727-8077 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pelagic March 14, Nine-Mile Bank and Coronado Is From: sunbelt <sunbelt AT whc.net> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:39:08 -0700 Just a reminder. Pelagic tour on the Grande. Boat leaves Point Loma Sportfishing , San Diego at 8 am dst.(remember it is daylight savings this weekend)and will be back at 5 pm. Be there between 7 and 7:30 am. Matt Sadowski and Paul Lehman are our leaders so far. We still have more room. The cost is $75.00 cash. E-mail me at sunbelt AT whc.net. Thanks -- Dan Allen Belcher Sunbelt Construction 7101 N. Mesa #355 El Paso, TX 79912 Cell: 915-727-8077 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: LJ Cove Tuesday morning From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:55:40 -0800 (GMT-08:00) There was virtually nothing of note offshore from LJC this afternoon either. I stayed for maybe 30 minutes starting at 4 PM before I realized the wind was switching directions occasionally so it was actually coming from the south at times. There were three species of shorebirds on the rocks north of Stan's bench: a Wandering Tattler, a Spotted Sandpiper, and 10 Black Turnstones. It appears that more winds are predicted starting tomorrow at about mid-day, though that could obviously change. Jay Keller, San Diego -----Original Message----- >From: peterginsburg >Sent: Mar 9, 2010 11:33 AM >To: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: [SDBIRDS] LJ Cove Tuesday morning > >For those expecting wonderful birds to appear at the cove during these strong on-shore winds--lower your expectations. I was among several disappointed birders there this morning. A few jaegers (mostly Pomarine) were flying by near the kelp line and there were even fewer Black-vented Shearwaters. Shortly before leaving there was one Common Murre flying south. Perhaps the most unexpected occurrence was an unusually large number of Pelagic Cormorants flying to and from the nearby cliffs. > >Peter > > Subject: Glaucous Gull Sunday March 7 at 7th Street From: "lazulibuntings" <lazulibuntings AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:02:41 -0000 SD Birders: In reviewing the trip lists for the SD Bird Festival, I was somewhat surprised that a bird we reported on the Sunday "Birding 100" trip was not reported on any other trips. Because I am leaving town and will not be available to respond to any questions (the trip was planned -- I'm not running away), I am belatedly posting this description of the sighting of a Glaucous Gull at 7th Street. We arrived at the end of 7th Street at approximately 2:30 pm, Sunday, March 7. The rain had stopped, but it was still cloudy. As we walked west on the bike path between ponds 10 and 10A, I called the groups' attention to a fairly low-flying gull passing almost directly overhead that appeared very large and all white. There were Western Gulls flying around at the same time which allowed comparison, confirming that it was a large gull. As the gull flew west, it gained altitude and banked several times, giving good binocular views of its upperside and underside. There were no dark feathers anywhere, including the wing tips which looked as white as the wings. The bird did not look tan like most immature Glaucous-winged Gulls; it looked ghostly white. I followed the bird with my binoculars as it passed over the Silver Strand Highway and then turned south as it approached the beach and flew out of sight. I was not able to discern the color/pattern of light/dark on the bill. I do not have any photos. Karen Jones and others in our group also saw the bird. And now I am going to go pack, so I can go birding in Chiapas tomorrow! Millie Basden Thomas Tierrasanta lazulibuntings AT yahoo.com Subject: LJ Cove Tuesday morning From: "peterginsburg" <pagins AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:33:44 -0000 For those expecting wonderful birds to appear at the cove during these strong on-shore winds--lower your expectations. I was among several disappointed birders there this morning. A few jaegers (mostly Pomarine) were flying by near the kelp line and there were even fewer Black-vented Shearwaters. Shortly before leaving there was one Common Murre flying south. Perhaps the most unexpected occurrence was an unusually large number of Pelagic Cormorants flying to and from the nearby cliffs. Peter Subject: results of Mon 8 March San Elijo monthly bird count From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:57:01 -0000 116 species were recorded at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve & Cardiff State Beach on the 8 March monthly bird count. The next count will be Monday April 12th. Thanks to all who volunteered their time & braved the weather: Steve Brad, Bob Chaddock, Gail DeLala, Linda Jones, Bill Jones, Jayne Lesley, Steve Perry, Geoffrey Smith, Paula Theobald, John Top, Jim Wilson. (I apologize for any mis-spellings) A good diversity of raptors, shorebirds, & waterfowl were seen, including arriving spring migrants. Notable species included black-vented shearwaters & Brandt's cormorants offshore, adult little blue heron & snowy plovers E of the RR tracks, American bittern & white-faced ibis in flight west of the powerlines, blue-winged teal both sides of the RR tracks, turkey vulture over the E basin, peregrine falcon perched north of Rios, clapper rail near Las Olas restaurant, an elegant tern at the lagoon mouth, downy woodpecker W of El Camino Real, violet-green, cliff, barn, & rough-winged swallows among tree swallows over the E basin dike. Species included: loon sp., pied-billed grebe, black-vented shearwater, brown pelican, double-crested cormorant, Brandt's cormorant, American bittern, 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, canvasback, lesser scaup, surf scoter, bufflehead, ruddy duck, turkey vulture, osprey, white-tailed kite, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, peregrine falcon, clapper rail, Virginia rail, sora, American coot, black-bellied plover, snowy plover, semipalmated plover, killdeer, black-necked stilt, American avocet, greater yellowlegs, willet, spotted sandpiper, whimbrel, long-billed curlew, marbled godwit, ruddy turnstone, black turnstone, sanderling, western sandpiper, least sandpiper, dunlin, long-billed dowitcher, Heermann's gull, ring-billed gull, California gull, western gull, royal tern, elegant tern, Forster's tern, rock dove, Eurasian collared-dove, mourning dove, white-throated swift, Anna's hummingbird, belted kingfisher, Nuttall's woodpecker, downy woodpecker, northern flicker, black phoebe, Say's phoebe, Cassin's kingbird, tree swallow, violet-green swallow, N. rough-winged swallow, cliff swallow, barn 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, wrentit, northern mockingbird, California thrasher, American pipit, European starling, orange-crowned warbler, Audubon's yellow-rumped warbler, common yellowthroat, spotted towhee, California towhee, Belding's savannah sparrow, song sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, red-winged blackbird, western meadowlark, great-tailed grackle, house finch, lesser goldfinch, American goldfinch, house sparrow, nutmeg mannikin. Robert Patton San Diego, CA Subject: LJ Cove, Monday afternoon From: Stan Walens <swalens AT ucsd.edu> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 20:22:14 -0800 Went out to the Cove after 'work' today, in the hopes that the strong WSW winds might have blown a very very large black-brown-and-white tubenose that was seen on Sunday's pelagic trip into the vicinity. No such luck. In half an hour, saw 5 parasitic jaegers (including 2 really snazzy adults) and hundreds of gulls streaming south, including a first-year Thayer's Gull, the only Thayer's Gull I've seen in San Diego this winter. Also, a small Fin Whale not far offshore, and dozens of common and white-sided dolphins. Strong W to NW winds are projected for tomorrow morning; 15-25 mph offshore, 12-17 mph near shore. Could be interesting; might not be. But I'll be there. FYI: first usable light is about 6:00 a.m. And the wind is cold. Stan Walens Current whereabouts unknown Subject: SD Bird Festival Photos From: "Finatic" <finaticphoto AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:15:09 -0000 Three pelagic trips and one to the desert is how I spent the past four days birding as part of the San Diego Bird Festival. Great birds were found everyday. Photos can be seen at the following link: http://www.finatic-photography.com/Bird-Festivals/2010-San-Diego-Bird-Festival/11450296_omDRJ#805131970_TVFWX Neither bus driver problems nor weather issues could keep the guides from delivering good times. Thanks to everyone who helped put this together. BJ Stacey Santee, CA Subject: Nine Mile Bank Laysan Albie; San Diego Black-footed Albie & Brown Booby From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:41:06 -0000 Greetings The Saturday and Sunday San Diego Bird Festival pelagic trips to the Nine Mile Bank and Coronados Island on Grande yielded a fantastic array of species including a San Diego County Black-footed Albatross 6 miles south of Point Loma and 5 miles west of Imperial Beach, a San Diego county Brown Booby 2.5 miles south of Point Loma and a crowd-pleasing, jaw-dropping Laysan Albatross on the Nine Mile Bank in Mexico just 4.5 miles northwest of North Coronado Island, 11 miles west of Tijuana. Also seen Sat & Sun, Long-tailed Duck in the harbor, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Gray Whales, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Northern Fulmar, Black-vented Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, possible Short-tailed Shearwater (needs more photo study and discussion), Mew Gulls, Bonaparte's Gulls, Herring Gulls, Black Oystercatchers, hybrid American x Black Oystercatcher, multiple Wandering Tattlers. Photos by a number of participants, GPS trip tracks, species list, video and trip report will be posted to www.SoCalBirding.com tomorrow afternoon or evening. Join us on April 17, 2009 when we do it all again on Grande. Can't beat their breakfast burritos. http://www.socalbirding.com/trips/sandiegoapr172010.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 Shelf Subject: Birding in the rain in Ramona From: "d_lewi" <d_lewi AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:04:11 -0000 My wife and I went out to Ramona this morning and started out at Ramona Community Park. We didn't see the palm warbler, but while looking for it, we did see several tricolored blackbirds and a merlin perched in a tree. After the park, we headed down Highland Valley Road where we saw two ferruginous hawks. Dave and Stephanie Lewis Carmel Valley Subject: Thursday's Pelagic 4MAR2010 From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:52:47 -0000 Photos, trip list and trip track of the March 4 San Diego Bird Festival pelagic aboard Grande. Photos by Steve Howell and Matt Sadowski. http://socalbirding.com/tripreports/sandiegomar42010.html Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Subject: PT. LOMA 3-6-10 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:44:43 -0000 Trent Stanley & I birded residential Pt. Loma and Cabrillo NM this morning. At the east end of Dudley (just east of Albion) Trent heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch calling. The bird posed patiently for about 15 minutes. Later, we could still hear the bird(s) calling from some distance away. A female western tanager was also seen but she was a bit shy and would not pose for photos. Numerous red-masked parakeets. At Cabrillo NM the Drip and vicinity was active with Fox Sparrow and four Golden-crowned sparrows. A few pics posted at the usual spot. http://egk.smugmug.com/Photography/RECENT-PHOTOS Eric Kallen Normal Heights Subject: Eurasian Wigeon From: "Gary G" <ggrantham AT san.rr.com> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:54:55 -0000 This morning (Saturday) at about 0815, Kathy Estey and I while doing the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve bird count saw an Eurasian Wigeon among the flock of American Wigeon in the Los Penasquitos Lagoon. It was seen from Carmel Valley Road just opposite from Roberto's Taco Shop. Gary Grantham Scripps Ranch Subject: female hooded oriole and others at Florida & Upas From: "wlemlin" <wele AT cox.net> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:10:18 -0000 Had my first F. HOOR of the season this AM in the willows next to the creek that runs along Florida St, at the end of the block near Morley Field Dr. This is the same area that I've been seeing a first year male Bullock's oriole almost daily. The bright male summer tanager and several Townsend warblers continue to frequent the flowering euc. on the north side of Upas St. (across the street from the grassy area) and also the area between there and a pepper tree on Wilshire Terrace (which which doesn't quite intersect Upas St, although it does on paper. The euc tree would be in the middle of it if it did go all the way through). Wendy Lemlin Balboa Park Subject: Bird Festival Palomar/Lake Henshaw highlight From: "Geoffrey Rogers" <oreortyx AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 07:06:08 -0800 The San Diego Bird Festival trip to Palomar Mountain yesterday (March 5) had good weather (high in the 50s) but nothing of note on Palomar Mountain itself. On return we stopped at Dudley's Bakery in Santa Ysabel. In the fields to the northwest were TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS (at least 7 adult males and roughly that many female types) within a large starling/blackbird flock. A scope was helpful for best views. There were a few Western Bluebirds here also but we didn't see any Mountain. A note on Palomar Mountain State Park: Although the state park is roughly 75 percent closed, the area south of State Park Road/Harrison Grade (Silvercrest, Boucher Trail, etc.) is open. The ranger on duty told us that full entry fees still apply. Geoff Rogers San Diego, CA oreortyx AT earthlink.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Varied Thrushes From: "mmcclitgif" <mmccli AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:22:58 -0000 This afternoon (03/05/10) there was a pair of Varied Thrushes at William Heise park. The birds were calling from a large pine to the west of the Cedar Trail and just before the small bridge that crosses the creek. Mike McClintock Mission Valley Subject: Few recent birding pics From: Keerthana R <keerthana_me AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 20:42:53 -0800 (PST) Hi All,   Here are few pics we took in Feb. It took some time to get to it, as usual. All taken in San Diego County.   http://www.kirankeerthana.com/Photography/Recent/11232028_sTLSX Keerthana + Kiran Sastry. UTC, San Diego -------------------------------- We are ZERO before Nature http://www.kirankeerthana.com -------------------------------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: San Diego Bird Festival Pelagics are a "go" for Saturday and Sunday From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:35:32 -0000 Greetings, We may have a shower in the afternoon (take rain gear) but forecasts for waves, swells, seas and winds are all safe and comfortable for Sat and Sun. Additionally, Grande has a nice comfortable galley with big restaurant style booths and large picture windows to sit out any showers. A Black-footed Albatross on Thursday was a lifer for some and and San Diego Co lifer for others. On May 16 of 2009, we saw 3 at the Nine Mile Bank from Grande, and on May 21, 2009 we saw 2 out closer to the Thirty Mile Bank (about 30 miles offshore) but still in San Diego waters on a trip with Dave Povey. It will be interesting to see what mother ocean gifts us this weekend. W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. San Diego Bird Festival "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: REMINDER: MTRP Photo Exhibit Reception Invite From: "hooverhorn" <birdman AT bird-friends.com> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:17:09 -0000 "Soaring! The Bird Photography of Scott Streit" You're invited to the reception for Scott Streit's photographic exhibition on March 6, 2010 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center Refreshments will be served An exhibit showcasing Scott's recent work will be on view in the Mission Trails Visitor Center Gallery daily from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. February 27 to March 26, 2010. The Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center is located at: One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119. Scott Streit birdman AT bird-friends.com Subject: spring arrivals, continuing rarities From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:59:36 -0500 SDBirds: Yesterday, March 3, I had a singing Pacific-slope Flycatcher in the nw corner of Balboa Park. The fact it was singing makes it more likely a "spring" arrival than an over-wintering bird, I think. This ties the earliest arrival date listed in the SD Atlas, although I think there might have been an earlier arrival in one of the past several years. And this morning, March 4, Hooded Oriole had returned to our yard in Tierrasanta. On the rarity front, the Laughing Gull continues today in the San Diego River channel as seen from Robb Field, and it now sports a half black hood. And many people got to see the continuing Hepatic Tanager and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons today in Imperial Beach. Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web Subject: San Diego County Black-footed Albatross From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:43:10 -0000 Bird Festival Pelagic Preliminary trip report A beautiful sunny windy rolling SoCal winter day at sea for the first day of the Bird Festival. A 6 hour trip to the Nine Mile Bank, all in San Diego Waters. Black-footed Albatross on the Nine Mile Bank (1) Pink-footed Shearwater (2) Sooty Shearwater (1) Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater (1) Xantus's Murrelet (2) Rhino Auklet (36) Cassins's Auklet (20) Fin Whale (3) 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 Subject: FW: spring arrivals, continuing rarities From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 22:42:18 -0500 SDBirds: Yesterday, March 3, I had a singing Pacific-slope Flycatcher in the nw corner of Balboa Park. The fact it was singing makes it more likely a "spring" arrival than an over-wintering bird, I think. This ties the earliest arrival date listed in the SD Atlas, although I think there might have been an earlier arrival in one of the past several years. And this morning, March 4, Hooded Oriole had returned to our yard in Tierrasanta. On the rarity front, the Laughing Gull continues today in the San Diego River channel as seen from Robb Field, and it now sports a half black hood. And many people got to see the continuing Hepatic Tanager and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons today in Imperial Beach. Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com – What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you? http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePoint Subject: Pt Loma Thur. afternoon From: thomas meixner <tlmeixner AT att.net> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 17:25:31 -0800 (PST) For those who might be interested doing the Bird Fest& are around the Cabrillo Tide Pools I had 5 Black Oystercatchers & 1 American (type) Oystercatcher on the rocks below parking lot #2 - that is thew middle lot. I had to walk down the trail and at the bottom turn left until the trail ends. It was high tide (appx 2:30pm) and the birds were huddled together near where the rocks fall off to the ocean. After watching them for about 10 minutes all 6 birds decided to take flight and flew north around the cliffs where the pelicans and cormorants roost. I also had there 16 Black Turnstones, 14 Least Sandpipers and 3 Spotted Sandpipers.   This is defininetly redundant but the Painted Redstart was in the Corral Tree on Albion at about 1:45pm along with a Sharp-shinned Hawk that was being harrassed by a rather pesty American Crow.   May God be your birding co-pilot!   Tom "Mt. Goat" Meixner Mira Mesa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Little Gull at lake Perris (THREAD CLOSED) From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:08:38 -0000 This subject does not meet the guidlelines for SDBirds. This thread is closed. Douglas Aguillard SDBirds Listowner doug AT basiclink.com Subject: Little Gull at Lake Perris From: "tburr155" <tburr AT san.rr.com> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:55:39 -0000 Gary Grantham, Bill Thompson and I (later joined by a husband/wife duo from Ramona) drove up to Lake Perris today to try and locate the LITTLE GULL among all the scattered groups of Bonaparte's Gulls at the east end of the lake. We arrived about 1040 and spend the next hour and a half scanning the BOGUs scattered over the east end. We went to parking lot 12 where it had been seen from on March 1. (The lake is closed on Tues and Wed). Finally, Gary spotted the bird on the far side of the lake over 1000 yds away. But even at this distance, the dark underwing color and white wing tips and trailing edge was clearly visible with a scope. We were able to keep our eyes on it from about 1205 to 1240 as it wheeled and dove over the lake. Tim Burr Poway Subject: LITTLE GULL at Lake Perris - Yes From: Timothy Burr <tburr AT san.rr.com> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:32:23 -0800 Sorry for the double posting - I thought I was posting to CALBIRDS. Tim Burr Poway Subject: LITTLE GULL at Lake Perris - Yes From: "tburr155" <tburr AT san.rr.com> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:05:00 -0000 Three of us from San Diego drove up to Lake Perris this morning to try and pick out the LITTLE GULL from all the scattered Bonaparte's gulls at the east end of the Lake. We arrived at parking lot 12 about 1030 and spent the next 1.5 hours scanning the near bay and the far side (from us) of the lake. It wasn't until about 1205 that the LIGU was seen, but even tho it was over 1000 yds away (yes, you definitely need a scope) the black underwings were clearly visible. Although it flew a little closer, close enough to clearly see the light wing tips and white trailing edge of the wing, it did not fly into the bay in front of us. We had it under almost constant view for a good 35 min. Tim Burr Poway, CA Subject: Little Gull at Lake Perris From: "tburr155" <tburr AT san.rr.com> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:55:04 -0000 Gary Grantham, Bill Thompson and I (later joined by a husband/wife duo from Ramona) drove up to Lake Perris today to try and locate the LITTLE GULL among all the scattered groups of Bonaparte's Gulls at the east end of the lake. We arrived about 1040 and spend the next hour and a half scanning the BOGUs scattered over the east end. We went to parking lot 12 where it had been seen from on March 1. (The lake is closed on Tues and Wed). Finally, Gary spotted the bird on the far side of the lake over 1000 yds away. But even at this distance, the dark underwing color and white wing tips and trailing edge was clearly visible with a scope. We were able to keep our eyes on it from about 1205 to 1240 as it wheeled and dove over the lake. Tim Burr Poway Subject: turkeys in Cuyamaca From: "patricia fishtein" <pfishtein AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:13:02 -0000 Wednesday afternoon, while driving back from Anza Borrego, nowhere near peak wildflower bloom, we were about 3-4 miles south of Cuyamaca Lake and saw folks stopped and looking with binocs. There was a rafter, group, of turkeys scrambling up a hill. There were at least 20-25 birds. In Palm Canyon on Tuesday, there was a beautiful Black-throated Sparrow singing his little heart out from his rock perch. Pat Fishtein San Diego Subject: Birding the SD Floodway for the Bird Festival From: "Claude Edwards" <keps1 AT flite-tours.com> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 12:24:42 -0800 Birding By Sound – Pre Class Experience Observed by Claude G. Edwards Thursday, 04 March 2010 (0800 to 1100 Hours) San Diego River Estuary / Flood Control Channel, south of Sea World and SD Bird Festival Site, San Diego, CA Mostly-cloudy, moderate to gusty north breezes, ±56ºF. The following 64 birds were recorded a short time before my “Birding By Sound” workshop presented as part of the San Diego Bird Festival, noting which were ‘heard to illustrate how important being familiar with bird sounds can be.’ brant Observed green-winged teal Heard & seen mallard Observed northern pintail Observed blue-winged teal Observed cinnamon teal Observed northern shoveler Observed gadwall Heard & seen American wigeon Heard & seen lesser scaup Observed bufflehead Observed red-breast merganser Observed ruddy duck Observed pied-billed grebe Observed eared grebe Observed horned grebe Observed western grebe Heard & seen Am white pelican Observed brown pelican Observed double-cr cormorant Observed great blue heron Observed great egret Observed snowy egret Observed little blue heron Observed green heron Observed osprey Observed American coot Observed black-bellied plover Heard & seen semipalmated plover Heard & seen greater yellowlegs Heard & seen willet Heard & seen spotted sandpiper Observed whimbrel Heard & seen long-billed curlew Heard & seen marbled godwit Heard & seen ruddy turnstone Heard & seen western sandpiper Heard & seen least sandpiper Observed dunlin Heard & seen short-billed dowitcher Heard & seen long-billed dowitcher Heard & seen ring-billed gull Heard & seen California gull Observed western gull Heard & seen Caspian tern Heard & seen royal tern Heard & seen Forster's tern Heard & seen rock pigeon Heard & seen Anna's hummingbird Heard & seen belted kingfisher Observed black phoebe Heard & seen Say's phoebe Heard only American crow Heard & seen horned lark Heard & seen bushtit Heard only European starling Heard only orange-crown warbler Heard only yellow warbler Heard only yellow-rump warbler Heard & seen California towhee Heard only Belding sav sparrow Heard only song sparrow Heard only house finch Heard only house finch Heard and seen This is an impressive variety of birds for a three-hour effort at a location adjacent and accessible to Bird Festival participants. Of these, 37 species, or 58 percent, were identified in part or entirely by sounds they made. During this time Jim Pea stopped to check on what I had found as he led a “Birding By Bike” trip with about a dozen people on the south side of the flood channel. His bird list will be substantially similar to this one. Good birding, Claude Edwards West Of Kensington [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nome-banded WESA found in San Diego! From: Kate Goodenough <shorebirdgirl AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:25:21 -0800 (PST) Hello fellow birders! A colour-flagged Western Sandpiper was seen in the San Diego River mouth on 17-18 Feb 2010. This bird was marked by (and resighted by) members of the Western Sandpiper research group at the Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. It would be of great value to our research to learn about how long this bird remains at his wintering site. We would like to enlist the aid of San Diego birders in resighting the Western Sandpiper over the next few months in order to estimate a time of departure on spring migration, or even if he returns to this site next winter. The sandpiper is marked as follows: R upper = metal L upper = dark green flag with white-letter code "P5" The flag is fairly obvious if you are scanning through a flock of small sandpipers. While it would be ideal to confirm the flag code during your resighting effort, it is not necessary. The sandpiper was seen in February roosting and foraging with several hundred other WESA, DUNL, and SEPL. He was best viewed from the foot/bike path west of the Sunset Cliffs Blvd bridge, and was mainly seen on the sandbars which are also accessible by foot. The Google map link below shows the location where he was seen: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102943105124497773934.000480e6c8d65fbc7af9a&ll=32.759165,-117.238584&spn=0.0096,0.013797&t=h&z=16 *Contact information* Please email Samantha Franks, sfranks (at) sfu.ca, with the following information if you resight this bird: 1) Date resighted 2) Flag code (if you can read it) 3) Location (lat/long coordinates, or a google map link with the location marked) Thanks for your assistance San Diego birders! Samantha Franks [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: South Bay scouting, Wed. afternoon From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 17:05:39 -0800 Here's a quick summary of some South Bay area sightings this afternoon, in preparation for tomorrow's Bird Festival trips; nothing exceptional: Caspian Way: the Hep. Tanager was in its favorite coral tree south of the trailer at 1:55. No observations of Y-C Night-heron TJ Visitor Center: male Harrier; at south end of trail into the estuary: 1 Clapper Rail, both Cin. and G-W Teal in the channel that extends northward at the end of the trail 7th St. - ponds on both sides of the bike path were virtually deserted; water level was high Biol. Study Area - few birds in the big pond, 1 female R-B Merg. On the large mudflat just north of the BSA at 3 p.m. there were approx. 15 White Pelicans Silver Strand St. Beach - Bay side: at 3:20, about 60 Skimmers, and in the sandy field at least 3 Horned Larks. On the ocean side, in the surf (debris) line right beyond the parking lot just north of the rest rooms, one Snowy Plover in good breeding plumage was standing just 20' or so beyond the low brick wall. When I returned there after visiting the Bay side, he was gone. Phil Pryde San Diego Subject: Summer Tanager & Painted Redstart From: "Roger Uzun" <uzun AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 14:47:57 -0800 If someone (like myself) wanted to see and photograph a painted redstart and Summer Tanager tomorrow, would the best bet be to head towards Dudley St early in the morning, like around 7AM and wait to see if the Redstart showed up in it's favorite coral tree between Silvergate and Albion? Then head over to Balboa park near Florida and Upas and/or the area north of the lawn bowling in Balboa park north of El Prado? Can anyone attest to the most promising times of day to find either a male Summer Tanager or any Painted Redstarts in this area? Additionally it seems I rarely see any owls in the area, does anyone know of a semi reliable spot to view any sort of Owls in San Diego? Thanks in advance. -Roger Uzun San Diego, CA uzun AT san.rr.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pt Loma Wed morning From: Joe Sweeney <sweeneyfit AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 13:49:37 -0800 (PST) This morning, 3/3/10, between 8am and 9:30am, in Pt Loma neighhorhood: 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets (in tall pines at corner of Silvergate and 3600 block of Dudley) 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch (on Albion, south of Dudley, second house on the right) 1 Painted Redstart, as usual (in Coral tree on Dudley between Albion and Silvergate) Joe Sweeney South Clairemont sweeneyfit AT mac.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: sightings of Aviara tundra swan? From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:57:24 -0000 Victoria Calhoun was told by staff at Aviara that the over-wintering tundra swan was depredated approx two weeks ago. To document the date of last sighting, if anyone observed the swan in recent weeks but didn't report it, would you please post your date of last sighting? Thanks, Robert Patton San Diego, CA Subject: next San Elijo monthly bird count Monday 8 March From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:42:32 -0000 Please spread the word - San Elijo Lagoon monthly bird count Monday March 8th (& 2nd Monday of each month, rain or shine) Meet at the north end of Rios Ave. in Solana Beach at 7:30 a.m. (from I-5, exit on Lomas Santa Fe & head west, turn north on Rios Ave. which is just east of Highway 101 & the railroad tracks). Bring a lunch or pick up one nearby & we'll meet to compile at noon at the nature center (SE of the intersection of Manchester Ave & San Elijo Ave). Thanks! Robert Patton San Diego, CA Subject: request for info on banded sandpiper sightings From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:40:51 -0000 I was asked to pass along the message below & it seemed very appropriate for SDBirds. Thanks, Robert Patton San Diego, CA A colour-flagged Western Sandpiper was seen in the San Diego River mouth on 17-18 Feb 2010. This bird was marked by (and resighted by) members of the Western Sandpiper research group at the Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. It would be of great value to our research to learn about how long this bird remains at his wintering site. We would like to enlist the aid of San Diego birders in resighting the Western Sandpiper over the next few months in order to estimate a time of departure on spring migration, or even if he returns to this site next winter. The sandpiper is marked as follows: R upper = metal L upper = dark green flag with white-letter code "P5" The flag is fairly obvious if you are scanning through a flock of small sandpipers. While it would be ideal to confirm the flag code during your resighting effort, it is not necessary. The sandpiper was seen in February roosting and foraging with several hundred other WESA, DUNL, and SEPL. He was best viewed from the foot/bike path west of the Sunset Cliffs Blvd bridge, and was mainly seen on the sandbars which are also accessible by foot. The Google map link below shows the location where he was seen: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102943105124497773934.000480e6c8d65fbc7af9a&ll=32.759165,-117.238584&spn=0.0096,0.013797&t=h&z=16 *Contact information* Please email Samantha Franks, sfranks (at) sfu.ca, with the following information if you resight this bird: 1) Date resighted 2) Flag code (if you can read it) 3) Location (lat/long coordinates, or a google map link with the location marked) Thanks for your assistance San Diego birders! Samantha Franks Subject: Little Gull at Lake Perris From: "tburr155" <tburr AT san.rr.com> Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:14:27 -0000 I am planning to run up to Lake Perris to try and find the Little Gull reported yesterday. Since the park is closed Tues and Wed, I will be driving up from the Rancho Bernardo area on Thursday morning leaving about 0900. I have 2 spaces available. If you are interested, contact me off-line. Tim Burr Poway Subject: Tierrasanta Birds: Common Poorwills etc. From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 22:11:22 -0500 (EST) SD-Birders, This year I've been spending more time birding my "local patch" which I neglected in 2009. At about 6:30 PM, I heard five Common Poorwills here in Tierrasanta at the corner of Calle de Vida and Colina Dorada Drive. One of them was singing right under the lightpost offering a rare opportunity to see one while singing (or at all). I'm not sure how long they've been singing this year, as it is the first time I have checked there recently. Along the trail extending from the east end of Tierrasanta Blvd, I saw three California Gnatcatchers, and adding to them the three I heard in another nearby area yesterday, makes six in the general vicinity, my personal high count in the area. Also there are a few Rufous-crowned Sparrows and at least one Golden-crowned Sparrow. Barn and Great Horned Owls frequent the area most evenings. Just to the west at the intersection of Colina Dorada, the wintering Western Tanager was calling from one of the trees on Sunday. A Merlin was also seen nearby diving into a feeder attempting a meal. Jay Keller, San Diego Subject: Banded Terns From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:25:31 -0000 It's time to watch for those banded Caspian terns. Here is the info on the one hanging around the SDRiv "The bird you observed was banded as a chick at Goose Island in Pothole Reservoir near Moses Lake, WA in 2007." And as Matt Sadowski points out "All banded birds should be reported to: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/ Can someone get the number off the tag on the redtailed hawk that hangs out near the river around PCHwy? I can see the band but not read it. JimPea Subject: 2009 - present posts searchable again From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 09:33:43 -0800 I just noticed that Yahoo has FINALLY fixed the search function for their groups. Since March 2009 SDBirds had accumulated several thousand unsearchable and useless messages. This problem affected most of the other CA county groups, although the state group (due to its large 2000+ membership?) was not affected nearly as long. Matt Sadowski Encanto, San Diego, CA Subject: Bird Festival Pelagics Begin This Week From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:16:16 -0000 Greetings, I just received an email from the San Diego Audubon that due to some last minute cancellations that there are 3 or 4 spots available on each of the three pelagic trips this weekend. The San Diego Bird Festival Pelagic trips to the Nine Mile Bank and Coronados Islands (2009 results: 25 Brown Boobies on the islands, two Manx Shearwaters in San Diego, 2 Mew Gulls and a San Diego Blue-footed Booby) are Thursday March 4, Saturday March 6 and Sunday March 7. I wonder if that San Diego county Red-billed Tropicbird is still hanging around the Nine Mile Bank? Hmmmm. Only one way to find out! ;-) Then Buena Vista Audubon Society has scheduled Grande to make another trip to the Nine Mile and Islands on Saturday, April 17. Always a surprise in April! Grande makes its virgin deep-water trip northwest waaaay off the edge of the continental shelf to the San Juan Seamount on a 56-hour weekend trip May 15-17 in search of Tropicbirds and Murphy's and Cook's Petrel. I'm excited. The deluxe, all-you-can-eat (for free!) live-aboard Searcher goes in search of Blue Whales and cool Seabirds on a 3-day Memorial Day weekend outing May 29-31. Details, information, past trip reports and registration/reservation links for the above trips and all SoCal pelagics scheduled for 2010 are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips.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 Shelf Subject: Another Summer Tanager; Lewis's Woodpeckers From: Barbara Carlson <barbarac2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 15:23:11 -0800 (PST) SD Birders:   Another adult male Summer Tanager continues north of the lawn bowling area, which is north of El Prado/Laurel St.  He was actively feeding around 2:30 pm in one of the two coral trees in the area.   Visiting birder Michael Retter reports 4-5 Lewis's Woodpeckers also today (03/01) approximately 3-4 miles in on Mesa Grande Road.   Happy birding,   Barbara Carlson San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Allens Hummers start nesting at S.D. (Quail) Botan. Gardens, Encinitas,3/1/10 From: seiurus AT aol.com Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 16:06:11 EST This morning, on Rita Campbell's SD Botanical Gardens Bird Walk (first Monday of each month at 8 am), a female Allen's Hummer was seen on a nest in the same location that a female ALHU nested last spring. Last year (4/18/09) a female was observed and photographed on a nest in an Araucina bidwilli tree in the tropical garden; another nest was under construction nearby on 6/1/09, 6/26/09 (being built and visited by what appeared to be the same female, with fledglings noted nearby). Today's nest was very interesting in that it was a double-decker ----the new nest has been constructed directly on top of one of last year's old nests, in the same Araucina bidwilli tree. My count of Selaphorous hummers in the gardens this morning was 16, including 6 male Allen's hummers (adults with green on back). Sue Smith seiurus AT aol.com Del Mar, CA 92014 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black Oystercatcher in North County From: Kenneth Weaver <gnatcatcher AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 12:56:02 -0800 (PST) I saw a single Black Oystercatcher near the Oceanside Beach about 1000 this morning.  The bird frequented the right side of the "Y" portion of the jetty or breakwater on the south side of the boat channel leading out of the harbor.   Ken Weaver Fallbrook gnatcatcher AT sbcglobal.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Continuing Summer Tanager (and others) at Florida & Upas From: "wlemlin" <wele AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:57:14 -0000 The bright male SUMMER TANAGER has been playing around this AM in the flowering euc on the north side of the street, east of the Wilshire on the Park condo. I've seen him regularly in that area for the past week or so, along with several TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. Down by the stream on the south side of the street (almost to Morley Field Dr.), a 1st year BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. A pair of COOPERS HAWKS are building a nest in a EUC along Upas St. up at Morley Field (north of the tennis courts). W. Lemlin Balboa Park wele AT cox.net Subject: LEWIS' WOODPECKER - DESCANSO- FEB 28, 2010 From: "wngit2" <wngit2 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:23:56 -0000 Early this morning, there was a Lewis' Woodpecker on an oak snag 0.2 miles N of the house for sale at 9930 Hwy 79, Descanso. This is ~3.5 miles N of the 8 on Hwy 79. I was with Leo Miller and there was just enough room to pull the car off the road. Looked up and there it was, posing in the snag ~15' on the E side of the road. When we stepped out of the car, it flew from the snag disappearing into the surrounding oaks. It's all in the timing. Christine Harvey Santee, CA sdch AT cox.net Subject: LEWIS' WOODPECKER - DESCANSO- FEB 28, 2010 From: "wngit2" <wngit2 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:01:53 -0000 Early this morning, there was a Lewis' Woodpecker on an oak snag 0.2 miles N of the house for sale at 9930 Hwy 79, Descanso. This is ~3.5 miles N of the 8 on Hwy 79. I was with Leo Miller and there was just enough room to pull the car off the road. Looked up and there it was, posing in the snag ~15' on the E side of the road. When we stepped out of the car, it flew from the snag disappearing into the surrounding oaks. It's all in the timing. Christine Harvey Santee, CA sdch AT cox.net Subject: Zone-tailed Hawk and Eurasion Wigeon (Hybrid?) continue at WAP From: "kimmyroth" <kimmyroth AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:50:49 -0000 Both birds were seen yesterday, 2/27/10, on grounds at the Wild Animal Park. The adult ZTHA, which hasn't been spotted in a while, was seen near Condor Ridge by Bird Keeper Candace Zylman, and the EUWI was seen by me being fed by guests in the main Village Lagoon. Kim Roth OB/WAP Bird Keeper Subject: Glaucous Gull Tijuana River mouth 2-28-10 From: "jacksnipe1990" <wahooking AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:32:59 -0000 The first-cycle Glaucous Gull continued today (Sunday 2-28-10 11:55A) at the Tijuana River mouth, first reported on Feb 7(?). A 1st cycle Glaucous-winged gull was also present. Also, an adult Yellow-crowned Night-heron was in the pine tree above the caretakers trailer at the 4th & Caspian Sports Park, and the male Hepatic Tangager was in the coral tree at 9:35A. Robert McNab Laguna Niguel, CA Subject: Nesting Cooper's Hawk From: "Michael Wienholt" <boryul AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:35:02 -0000 For those tracking dates, a pair is nest-building in a eucalyptus tree in my backyard. Michael Wienholt Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, CA Subject: La Jolla American Redstart & tanagers; hybrid duck From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:34:37 -0500 SDBirds: Sunday morning, Feb 28, Barbara Carlson and I poked around some of the nicer neighborhoods in inland La Jolla. One of the most upscale and well vegetated of them all is in the hills overlooking southern La Jolla and includes such streets as Muirlands, La Cumbre, Buckingham, La Jolla Rancho, Inspiration, and Solymar. Around #1605/1655 La Jolla Rancho Road we had a female/imm male AMERICAN REDSTART. Near the intersection of Inspiration and Solymar and Newkirk we had 3 Western Tanagers. Overall, we also had a nice count of 12 Townsend's Warblers. Lots of pines, blooming eucalyptus, coral trees, and all sorts of other ornamentals. At Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach there was a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Back on Friday the 26th, the Laughing Gull continued in the SD River flood control channel at Robb Field, and up at the Fairbanks Ranch horse pastures along San Dieguito Road there was an odd male duck that looked like a hybrid MALLARD X GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Also at the latter site was Clapper Rail (in the cattails) and 5+ W-f Ibis. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com – What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you? http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePoint Subject: SD Audubon Borrego Walk and Other Locations, 2-27-10 From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:43:21 -0500 (EST) SD-Birders, Prior to leading the San Diego Audubon Borrego Springs walk this morning, I visited a few additional spots including Wynola Rd west of Banner Grade which held a continuing SPOTTED OWL on private property. I had also heard of two LONG-EARED OWLS being found yesterday at Tamarisk Grove, and easily found them at about 6:15 above the gas pumps. Perhaps if everyone gives them their due space, they will feel comfortable enough to breed there this year. While the ominous forecast did not pan out as badly as predicted, the rain and occasional wind did send birds for cover after about 8 AM, making it more difficult to find birds all day. I did a pre-walk to scout the area and as Bob Miller mentioned, we had the LE CONTE'S THRASHERS singing at Old Springs Road. There were a few interior SAGE SPARROWS around as well. By the time the walk started, the rain and wind began in earnest which really depressed things. The group tried to find the thrashers again, but they were not singing which makes it extremely difficult. The only other bird of interest here was a nice PRAIRIE FALCON that zipped by offering good views; the previously-seen Sage Sparrows were nowhere to be found. A BARN SWALLOW was with TREES. I could hear many Black-throated / Sage Sparrows calling from the vegetation, but none showed for the group. Having received intel that a single Swainson's Hawk flew in last night to roost at the date farm, the group headed over to Borrego Valley Rd north of Palm Canyon to see if it was up flying around. We got on a bird that we feel was a dark to dark-intermediate morph SWAINSON'S, but it was quite far away and was slightly beyond the limits of our scopes to make a truly comfortable call. Over the past few days as many as 25 Swainson's have roosted in the area at a time, per local reports. From there we moved on to the Borrego Sink (at end of Yaqui Pass Rd) and quickly encountered a decent flock of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS bathing in the newly-formed puddles on the road. In with them was a single CHIPPING SPARROW. Here we encountered good views of the regular desert species including PHAINOPEPLAS, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS, VERDIN, WHITE-WINGED and EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES, etc, and picked up birds such as WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, and a single VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. Similarly, the bird numbers were much less than my early morning visit with only a couple of BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS and a single interior SAGE SPARROW that unfortunately only a handful of participants were able to see. We next moved on to the date palm grove near the Borrego Springs Resort where we had a close encounter with a Coyote, and a covey of GAMBEL'S QUAIL, fly-by NOTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, soaring TURKEY VULTURE, one or two ROADRUNNERS, and a singing CACTUS WREN. Following the walk, I visited the Roadrunner Club where I added two COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, a SELASPHORUS HUMMER, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, WAXWINGS and others to the day list, with best bird being a rare-in-winter single well-seen VAUX'S SWIFT flying with a few TREE SWALLOWS. I heard a NORTHERN FLICKER but did not see whether it was one of the Yellow-shafteds that had been seen there last Fall. As Bob mentioned, an afternoon stop at Tamarisk Grove did not turn up the Owls, but where else would they have gone? The mountains were unbirdable with all of the driving rain and wind, but I managed to snag a couple of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS on wires at Oakzanita. An interesting day indeed. Thanks to the many SD Audubon participants that braved the conditions today. I enjoyed all of the company and time in the field. Jay Keller, San Diego Subject: banded snowy plover reply From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:57:15 -0000 In response to previous posting: Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 4:52 PM Subject: [SDBIRDS] Banded Snowy Plover Yesterday while at the Tijuana River Mouth I observed a banded Snowy Plover. The combination was Service/Light Green, Black, White. It was the only one out of about 10-12 that was banded. Hopefully this information helps someone out there. Matt Gould Thanks Matt, We certainly welcome reports of bands. The individual you sighted is most likely service band left with right leg having two split color bands from top to bottom being lime/black & black/white. It's been fairly regular at TJ & was banded as an adult on nest at Naval Amphib Base last season. On 24 Feb, it was also the only banded bird Matt Sadowski, Brian Colins, & I observed among 17-18 snowy plovers north of the rivermouth & 27 down at BorderField State Park. Sorry for not posting earlier, but that day one of the continuing Pacific golden-plovers was in its usual roosting spot among sand-verbena southeast of the barrier dune & the other was among the black-bellies just northeast of the rivermouth. A female common goldeneye was in the channel southeast of Seacoast Dr & a little blue heron flew by. A glaucous-winged gull was seen in flight along the beach. Robert Patton San Diego, CA Subject: continuing birds From: "Claude Edwards" <keps1 AT flite-tours.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:17:00 -0800 Today, Friday, I found the wintering yellow-bellied sapsucker at its usual peppertree just east of the information kiosk in the middle of Guajome Regional Park. I received a noted from a visiting English birder that he had 4 black oystercatchers on Thursday, February 11, on the big flat rock on the west side of CNM, where recent reports have come. Claude Edwards West of Kensington [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-Tailed Duck Location and Status Question From: "Matt W." <avo163 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:48:13 -0800 (PST) Hi, I'm hoping to see a Long Tailed Duck before they all fly North. There have been a couple reported in LA county and of course this one in SD which has been here for some time. I've seen descriptions of the duck being at Ballast Point or at the submarine base. I plan to go with a person with limited mobility, so can anyone provide an actual observation location? Description or coordinates are great. I'm not very familiar with that area but I have been in the vicinity. Any updates on status would be highly appreciated as well. Here is what Google Maps gives me for Ballast point but I don't know where specifically to observe. http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.68644,-117.24031&z=15&t=h&hl=en Thanks much. Matt Warren Lake Forest Subject: Canyon Wren From: Bob Sanger <lskitrack AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:18:33 -0800 (PST) I heard a Canyon Wren singing this morning, 2/26, from the Climbers Loop trail in Mission Trails Park.  It was in the Middle Earth area. Subject: Banded Snowy Plover From: "mgould81" <mgould81 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:52:43 -0000 Hi all, Yesterday while at the Tijuana River Mouth I observed a banded Snowy Plover. The combination was Service/Light Green, Black, White. It was the only one out of about 10-12 that was banded. Hopefully this information helps someone out there. Cheers, Matt Gould Sage Sparrow Biologist San Clemente Island, CA gould AT iws.org Subject: desert birding tomorrow From: "Claude Edwards" <keps1 AT flite-tours.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:25:13 -0800 Good day all, I am joining the San Diego Audubon field trip to Borrego Springs tomorrow morning and would like some company for the ride out there and back. If interested I am leaving no later than 6AM from Rte 15 at Via Rancho Parkway. I figure to be back around 1 or 130 pm. Call me at home at 619 282-8687, I will be out for a while this evening for the SD Audubon monthly meeting between 630 and 9. Thanks a lot, Claude Edwards West of Kensington [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: DairyMartPond From: "bicyclebirder" <speteren AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:12:18 -0000 Not a wide variety, but many shovellers and cinnamon teals. Trails are still too wet to get very far in, and the stinging nettles make it rough for bare-footed bird watchers. Pair of Northern Harriers were mating just south of the pond and the sod farm had no birds. Common moorhen still sits out in the open in the new pond just south of the main pond. Eight different kinds of raptors but no TVs. JimPea, SD, CA Subject: Summer Tanager From: "xenozoon7" <xenozoon AT att.net> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:30:44 -0000 Had a female Summer Tanager this morning along Froude Street, between Muir and Long Branch. This is my 4th SUTA from the yard, in 9 years here. John Martin Ocean Beach Subject: Two weeks worth of photos From: "Finatic" <finaticphoto AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:24:45 -0000 It's been a busy past few weeks but I've finally been able to get some photos posted. Feb 12 An odd Gnatcatcher found at Lake Wohlford. I believe it to be a California Gnatcatcher but it doesn't quite look right to me. All three photos are of the same bird. Please let me know your thoughts. http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/Gnatcatcher-Huh/11351456_GLQL6#79\ 7251216_mVooT Feb 12 Lindo Lake hybrid Goose. Does this look like the now resident White-fronted Goose mated with a Swan Goose? http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/Hybrid-Goose/11351466_w3LGB#79725\ 1887_EC9qR Feb 13 Pelagic Trip Boobies, Jaegers and a Tropicbird! http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/2-13-Pelagic-Trip/11351564_D9q8h#\ 797260561_aSkNh Feb 15 Around the Salton Sea and Imperial County. Birds include Common Goldeneye, Mountain Plover and American Kestrel. http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/Imperial-County-2-15-10/11351620_\ FsvoS#797264842_RdXQh Feb 14 Salt Works tour. Many of the expected birds along with some mating rays. Lots of peeps. http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/Salt-Works-2-14-10/11351483_ign4p\ #797253695_4dcN9 Feb 14 Around the TRV Baltimore Oriole, Bullock's Oriole and Vermilion Flycatcher along with a few others. http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/TRV-2-14-10/11351604_VSkSA#797263\ 469_mjUfQ BJ Stacey Santee, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Magpie Jay From: "Don" <crazyhorse1992 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:20:03 -0000 When I made a stop at skyview court, and I believe the address at the building was 2450 skyview court. In the parking lot behind this building I saw a Magpie Jay in one of the trees next to the building. While I was on the phone to Dianne, the MPJ flew through the parking lot toward the cooling tower. This is across the street from Solar turbine plant off ruffin rd. Beautiful Jay. Don Shelden Carmel Mountain Subject: Birds at Kit Carson Park From: Dick Schroeder <dick.schroeder.911 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:13:36 -0800 I've just returned from an hour or so at Kit Carson Park, Escondido. Mostly stayed to the north end, between the duck pond & L.R. Green School. Thought I'd post the assortment that I saw in a pretty short time. Western Bluebirds Says & Black Phoebe Cedar Waxwing Belted Kingfisher Acorn Woodpecker at nest site Lark Sparrows White-crowned Sparrows Mourning Doves Crows Common Moorhen Mallards American Wigeon Duck hybrids Ring-necked Ducks Coots Anna's Hummer Brown Towhee Yellow-rumped Warblers Bush Tits Red-winged Blackbirds All in all not bad for an hour's walk in the park. Dick Schroeder Escondido -- Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow...... James Dean http://www.avianenterprises.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]