Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from San Diego Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Tuesday, February 9 at 12:26 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Yellow-crowned Night Heron,©Julie Zickefoose

8 Feb Re: Skimmers etc ["Matt Sadowski" ] 09 Feb results of 2-8-10 San Elijo monthly bird count ["rtpatton02" ] 8 Feb Skimmers etc ["Roger Uzun" ] 8 Feb San Diego Bay notes, 8 Feb. 2010 ["Matt Sadowski" ] 8 Feb Minor notables, 2/8/10 [Jay K ] 09 Feb Oak Titmouse at Lake Wohlford, Escondido ["dancinec" ] 09 Feb Re: Pacific golden-plovers & possible glaucous gull TJ 2-7-10 ["ERIC" ] 08 Feb Sandhill Crane Band Resightings Solicited ["chad.august" ] 8 Feb La Jolla seawatching and Black+white Warbler; Tijuana Glaucous ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 08 Feb ADMIN: Proper signature REQUIRED ["Doug" ] 8 Feb Black Skimmers in IB? ["Roger Uzun" ] 08 Feb Painted Redstart and Towhee ["jencalta" ] 7 Feb Royal Terns [Catherine Zinsky ] 7 Feb misc. continuing rarities ["lehman.paul AT verizon.net" ] 7 Feb Mannikin Nest ["Ryan, Allen" ] 07 Feb Pacific golden-plovers & possible glaucous gull TJ 2-7-10 ["rtpatton02" ] 07 Feb Lawrence's Goldfinches ["cvant150" ] 07 Feb Lawrence's Goldfinches ["cvant150" ] 07 Feb SIGHTINGS ["ANTIKMOM" ] 7 Feb Oceanside Pelagic Trip photos [Keerthana R ] 06 Feb FOR THE VISITING BIRDER JAN 28 TO JAN 30 ["wngit2" ] 06 Feb Muscovy Ducks ["liv2bird1951" ] 5 Feb looking but not much finding in the past two days ["Claude Edwards" ] 5 Feb Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ["Jim and Donna Zimmer" ] 5 Feb Re: SD River Channel [Justyn Stahl ] 5 Feb SD River Channel [Catherine Zinsky ] 5 Feb Hepatic Tanager @ Imperial Beach ["Don Adams" ] 5 Feb Black-throated Gray Warbler [] 5 Feb Eurasian widgeon [] 4 Feb RFI - Out-of-towners birding in San Diego next week [Scott Loss ] 3 Feb West of Sundance area ["Jean" ] 04 Feb Bald Eagle at Wohlford ["dancinec" ] 04 Feb next San Elijo monthly bird count Mon Feb 8th ["rtpatton02" ] 03 Feb San Diego River Mew Gull ["mgould81" ] 2 Feb Lake Wohlford [thomas meixner ] 02 Feb Greater White-fronted Geese at Dairy Mart Pond ["dancinec" ] 02 Feb Male Rufous Hummingbird - Carmel Valley ["Gary G" ] 1 Feb Eurasian [Chuck Border ] 02 Feb Zone-tailed Hawk continues at WAP ["kimmyroth" ] 01 Feb Eurasian Wigeon ["Colleen" ] 01 Feb Pelagic Trip & Ramona ["Finatic" ] 01 Feb Least bitterns at Santee Lakes ["jeremiah_stock" ] 31 Jan AVIARA TUNDRA SWAN ["Jim Roberts" ] 01 Feb Wilson's Warbler at San Dieguito Park ["d_lewi" ] 31 Jan Kit Carson Nutmeg Mannikin ["Michael Wienholt" ] 31 Jan Oceanside Pelagic Trip Report ["thunefeld" ] 31 Jan Black-throated gray warbler ["margaret.elman" ] 30 Jan Mission Bay area, 1/30/10 [Jay K ] 30 Jan Lawrence's Goldfinches ["cvant150" ] 30 Jan Possible Western Kingbird in Pamo Valley ["solobirder" ] 30 Jan South Park Merlins ["timcooper8993" ] 30 Jan Re: Borrego Valley and Tamarisk Grove ["ERIC" ] 30 Jan Large Cormorant Raft [] 29 Jan Borrego Valley and Tamarisk Grove ["Geoffrey Rogers" ] 28 Jan high tide bird search, TJRV ["Jim and Donna Zimmer" ] 27 Jan Congregation of Cormorants and Pelicans ["Claude Edwards" ] 28 Jan Need help again. ["littlebitrv" ] 27 Jan Hybrid GW/? Teal at San Dieguito Rd Horse Farms, Fairbanks Ranch [] 27 Jan Golden-crowned Kinglet images ["Doug" ] 27 Jan WOW!!!!! Invasion of the Cormorants and a few Pelicans [] 27 Jan Images from today ["Doug" ] 26 Jan California Gnatcatcher ["littlebitrv" ] 26 Jan Re: Black-and-white Warbler continues at Nestor Park ["ERIC" ] 26 Jan Ferruginous Hawk at Rancho Jamul ["davpovey" ] 26 Jan A.O.U. Pelagic from San Diego 13 Feb now open to the public ["thunefeld" ] 26 Jan Saturday Pelagic Sold Out - Upcoming SoCal Pelagics ["thunefeld" ] 26 Jan Merlin in La Jolla ["btwbtw" ] 26 Jan Black-and-white Warbler continues at Nestor Park [Barbara Carlson ] 26 Jan Albion St. update [Sara Baase Mayers ] 26 Jan visiting birders ["winniearnn" ] 26 Jan Pelagic trip from San Diego 13 Feb 2010 now open to the public ["philip_unitt" ] 26 Jan RFI- Waxwings & Robins ["Doug" ] 25 Jan San Pasquale Valley [thomas meixner ] 25 Jan Odd (?) sparrows at Robb Field [phil Pryde ] 25 Jan Another ORCHARD ORIOLE -Quail Gardens 1-25-10 [] 24 Jan Re: My Weekend Notes ["Matt Sadowski" ] Subject: Re: Skimmers etc From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:26:43 -0800 Roger and all, Last week the skimmer flock was in the north cove of Vacation Isle (west side of Ingraham). Matt Sadowski Encanto, San Diego, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Uzun" To: "Birds" Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 10:12 PM Subject: [SDBIRDS] Skimmers etc > Thanks for all the tips on finding Skimmers. I headed out around > 1-3PM and I was able to locate one who was skimming near the > shoreline at the end of Ingraham St near Crown Point drive, but not > any gatherings of them anywhere. I'm trying to shoot video of some > more interesting local species, wish I had my camera ready when the > skimmer skimmed by! > > I'm new to this group, and bird-watch on and off on my lunch breaks > and on weekends, but I'm not very good at locating or identifying > species at this point. If anyone has the time or inclination to > help me spot some of the more interesting species I could certainly > use the help. > > For the most part I shoot underwater video while scuba diving but am > trying to get more wildlife material, particularly birds. If you > are so inclined look at these two videos, one is set to music and > the other features the natural sounds, and let me know what you > think of them. The natural sounds are full of road noise etc, so > I'm not sure it works real well but any feedback would be much > appreciated. > > > Link to natural sound video (watch in 1080p for best quality) - > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpX5_LljkWU > > Link to local bird video with music track from 2008 > http://www.vimeo.com/1282313 > > > > Thanks again for the tips, and I really appreciate the local > sighting reports. > > > -Roger Uzun > San Diego, CA > uzun AT san.rr.com > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: results of 2-8-10 San Elijo monthly bird count From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:24:48 -0000 110 species were recorded at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve & Cardiff State Beach on the 8 February monthly bird count. The next count will be Monday March 8th. Thanks to all who volunteered their time & expertise: Dave Batzler, Steve Brad, Bob Chaddock, Lori Chamberlain, Dave Cowan, Janine Free, Emmy Garnica, Jim Heflich, Linda Jones, Bill Jones, Steve Perry, Cara Schepps, Ed Slater, Elizabeth Venrick, Jim Wilson, Frank Wong, & Jim Zimmer. (I apologize for any mis-spellings) A good diversity of migrant raptors, shorebirds, & waterfowl were seen although numbers were not necessarily high. Notable species included all three species of loons offshore, as well as jaeger sp., black-vented shearwaters (only 5), Brandt's & pelagic cormorants; adult little blue heron W of the RR tracks, calling American bittern west of the powerlines, blue-winged teal NW & NE of Rios Ave, peregrine falcon perched north of Rios & another along Escondido Cr, snowy plover along the beach S of the restaurants, downy woodpecker & white-breasted nuthatch just W of El Camino Real, 2 violet-green & 1 rough-winged swallow among tree swallows over the eastern mesa. Species included: red-throated loon, Pacific loon, common loon, pied-billed grebe, western grebe, black-vented shearwater, brown pelican, double-crested cormorant, Brandt's cormorant, pelagic cormorant, American bittern, great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, little blue heron, black-crowned night-heron, green-winged teal, mallard, northern pintail, blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, northern shoveler, gadwall, American wigeon, canvasback, lesser scaup, surf scoter, bufflehead, ruddy duck, osprey, white-tailed kite, northern harrier, Cooper's hawk, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, peregrine falcon, Virginia rail, American coot, black-bellied plover, snowy plover, semipalmated plover, killdeer, black-necked stilt, American avocet, willet, spotted sandpiper, whimbrel, long-billed curlew, marbled godwit, black turnstone, sanderling, western sandpiper, least sandpiper, long-billed dowitcher, jaeger sp., Heermann's gull, ring-billed gull, California gull, western gull, royal tern, Forster's tern, rock 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, western scrub jay, American crow, common raven, bushtit, white-breasted nuthatch, Bewick's wren, house wren, marsh wren, ruby-crowned kinglet, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California gnatcatcher, western bluebird, hermit thrush, wrentit, northern mockingbird, California thrasher, European starling, orange-crowned warbler, Audubon's yellow-rumped warbler, common yellowthroat, 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, nutmeg mannikin. Robert Patton San Diego, CA rpatton AT san.rr.com Subject: Skimmers etc From: "Roger Uzun" <uzun AT san.rr.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:12:15 -0800 Thanks for all the tips on finding Skimmers. I headed out around 1-3PM and I was able to locate one who was skimming near the shoreline at the end of Ingraham St near Crown Point drive, but not any gatherings of them anywhere. I'm trying to shoot video of some more interesting local species, wish I had my camera ready when the skimmer skimmed by! I'm new to this group, and bird-watch on and off on my lunch breaks and on weekends, but I'm not very good at locating or identifying species at this point. If anyone has the time or inclination to help me spot some of the more interesting species I could certainly use the help. For the most part I shoot underwater video while scuba diving but am trying to get more wildlife material, particularly birds. If you are so inclined look at these two videos, one is set to music and the other features the natural sounds, and let me know what you think of them. The natural sounds are full of road noise etc, so I'm not sure it works real well but any feedback would be much appreciated. Link to natural sound video (watch in 1080p for best quality) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpX5_LljkWU Link to local bird video with music track from 2008 http://www.vimeo.com/1282313 Thanks again for the tips, and I really appreciate the local sighting reports. -Roger Uzun San Diego, CA uzun AT san.rr.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: San Diego Bay notes, 8 Feb. 2010 From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:13:18 -0800 The numbers of scaup off of Delta Beach on west San Diego Bay have built up since the recent storms. Brennan reported several hundred Greater Scaup here last week. Today I had about 630 Greater Scaup and only 58 Lesser Scaup off of Delta Beach. Most of the Greaters were in two large rafts (one raft just off the northern overlook and one raft northeast of the southern overlook). The Lessers were in small groups both mixed in with the Greaters but also in separate groups. A few Redheads were present also. Not nearly as surprising but still impressive was a tight raft of 78 Horned Grebes swimming off the southern overlook. Red-throated Loon numbers were maybe above average with nine scattered around (this is a number I would expect to see beyond the surf rather than in the bay). Remnants of the Brandt's Cormorant mini-invasion into San Diego Bay two months ago were still evident with a scattered few flying around and foraging out on the bay. I didn't see any scoters of note but most were fairly distant. A Dunlin was already molting in its black belly. In Crown Cove (northeastern Silver Strand State Beach) there was also a large concentration of scaup with about 280 Greaters and 38 Lessers. I did not have time to check other areas of the bay but I hope to get around to it soon. Since at least 2004/5 the stronghold for Greater Scaup in San Diego Bay has been pond 11 (the northwest-most salt pond in the southwest corner of the bay) where large numbers would roost and forage on the adjacent bay. My highest estimates of Greater Scaup from here are 1000 (Jan. 2006) and 1800 (Dec. 2007). This winter (prior to the recent storms even) the Greater Scaup seem to have spread out into various pockets around central and southern SD Bay. Matt Sadowski Encanto, San Diego, CA Subject: Minor notables, 2/8/10 From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:18:27 -0500 (EST) A Summer Tanager is currently calling from the trees here at the east end of Tierrasanta Blvd. I haven't been here much since January 15 to know if it has been hanging around, but it's the first I have noted it. Earlier today I visited the Sorrento Valley Rd pump station and noted a couple of likely-migrant Northern Rough-winged Swallows and a nice selection of ducks. Jay Keller, San Diego Subject: Oak Titmouse at Lake Wohlford, Escondido From: "dancinec" <dancinec AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:52:06 -0000 Since it was a clear day I went out to search for the Bald Eagle. Of course, it was not to be found. My favorite bird was the Oak Titmouse. Seen along the Oakvale Rd off of Lake Wohlford Road. Turkey Vultures, Osprey, Red-breasted Mergansers and all the usual were seen. See the maps attached to my images. http://www.pbase.com/dancinec/oak_titmouse Dennis Ancinec Subject: Re: Pacific golden-plovers & possible glaucous gull TJ 2-7-10 From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:45:27 -0000 At least one of the Pacific Golden Plovers was present this afternoon in the area described by Robert Patton yesterday. Snowy Plovers were also numerous. Two pics of the golden plovers posted at: http://egk.smugmug.com/Photography/RECENT-PHOTOS Eric Kallen Normal Heights rightnow AT cox.net --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "rtpatton02" wrote: > > Sorry for not being able to call, but walked off without phone - shortly after noon today, Mike Gochfeld, Joanna Burger, & I observed a very large, uniformly very white gull with pink legs & pink bill with distal third to one-quarter black - may just be a worn glaucous-winged, but wanted to get the word out in case it turns out to be glaucous. It was among the other gulls, pelicans, & terns roosting on the sandbar island NE of the mouth of the Tijuana River. > Also in the area were 28-33 snowy plovers. > The 2 Pacific golden-plovers were also re-found in their usual spot well-hidden among the sand-verbena approx 200 m SE of the S end of the barrier dune/cobble berm. One is significantly brighter than the other & shows impressive golden yellow wash to the face. They tend to hang out together in the vegetation away from the black-bellied plovers which tend to congregate farther SE along the channel bank. > Also of note & possibly moving around the South Bay, were 28 female & 1 male common goldeneye seen in portions of South San Diego Bay NWR saltworks closed to public access. At least 1 glaucous-winged gull was also in the area, as were 3 peregrines, & 30 skimmers. > > Robert Patton > San Diego, CA > Subject: Sandhill Crane Band Resightings Solicited From: "chad.august" <c.w.august AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:51:27 -0000 Hello Southern Cal Birders, I am currently a graduate student at the University of Nevada-Reno working on a project studying the demography of greater sandhill cranes breeding in northeastern Nevada. Cranes that breed in northeastern Nevada, south-central and southwestern Idaho, and extreme northwestern Utah are assigned to the Lower Colorado River Valley (LCRV) population and are the least abundant of any migratory population of sandhill cranes (~2500 birds). They spend the winter at the Gila River, Cibola NWR, Imperial NWR, Havasu NWR, and Colorado River Indian Reservation in Arizona and at Salton Sea NWR and Brawley in California. We marked several adults and juveniles with white PVC auxiliary markers with blue two-digit alpha-numeric codes placed above the tibiotarsus ('knee') to determine survival rates. I would appreciate any birders that come across sandhill cranes in southern California to check for these bands. You can report resightings directly to me and I can provide you with any information I have on the individuals. -- Chad W. August Master's Student, Wildlife Ecology Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science University of Nevada, Reno caugust AT cabnr.unr.edu Subject: La Jolla seawatching and Black+white Warbler; Tijuana Glaucous From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:37:54 -0500 SDBirds: This early morning--Monday--Louis Bevier, Curtis Marantz, and I went seawatching at La Jolla Cove, where unfortunately seabird activity continues mediocre. Total of 15 Black-vented Shearwaters, 3 Pomarine Jaegers, a southbound movement of three species of loons (mostly Red-throateds), and a couple Gray Whales. Most birds a good ways out. Scopes are a necessity. Farther north in La Jolla, on Idle Hour Drive--a short cul-de-sac off Black Gold Dr in the La Jolla Shores neighborhood--there was a Black-and-white Warbler, plus an altivagans Fox Sparrow. And in the La Jolla Terrace apartments along Gilman Drive there was a male Black-throated Gray Warbler. Several attendees at the joint AOU/COS meeting saw the very pale, young Glaucous Gull yesterday at the Tijuana River mouth already posted as a "probable" by others. --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web LIVE – Free email based on Microsoft® Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE Subject: ADMIN: Proper signature REQUIRED From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:49:45 -0000 Okay folks, as stated in the Group's Guidleines. A proper signature is required at the end of all messages. I've had to reject several messages lately due to the lack of a signature. Example: Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com Simple as this. Thanks, Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com Subject: Black Skimmers in IB? From: "Roger Uzun" <uzun AT san.rr.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:02:16 -0800 Are there any black skimmers in Imperial Beach or anywhere else for that matter? I've been to the end of 7th st looking but have not seen any. If anyone knows a semi-reliable spot to see black skimmers, please let me know. As far as the end of 7th st, are the skimmers generally towards 8th st, or are they the other way? Say you are at the end of 7th st facing the water, do you turn right and head towards 8th st to see where the Skimmers typically locate themselves, or to left towards the highway and round structure to see them? Thank You -Roger Uzun San Diego, CA uzun AT san.rr.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Painted Redstart and Towhee From: "jencalta" <jencalta AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:16:30 -0000 We were in the wooded area of Point Loma on Silver Gate Street between Pio Pico and Dupont. We saw a Painted Redstart at a birdbath bathing itself. Then we saw a Spotted Towhee in the underbrush. Subject: Royal Terns From: Catherine Zinsky <Catherine.Zinsky AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:17:34 -0800 *My husband and I strolled around the La Jolla Cove area this afternoon. LOTS of Heerman Gulls and squirrels! At Boomers a small flock of Royal Terns settled in for some photos before a couple of children wanted to see them fly. The Brown Pelicans were showing brilliant breeding plumage and many of the Dbl. Crested Cormorants were sporting double crests. It was an invigorating day*! -- Waggin' tails, Catherine Competitive Obedience Toolbox: www.gettoready.net web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/Catherine.Zinsky Int/Mex Am Ch. Castle Butte's Masked Bandit, CDX, U-CDX, ASCA-CDX, PC ('Huckleberry') Ch.OTCH Trumagik Step Aside, UDX 15, OM7 ('Kyle' a.k.a. 'Lord Fauntleroy') Ch Borderfame Soul Train ('Kellan the Felon' a.k.a. 'Sir Lickalot') Cache and Carry ("Cache") [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: misc. continuing rarities From: "lehman.paul AT verizon.net" <lehman.paul@verizon.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:53:51 -0500 SDBirds: This morning (Sunday) several of us poked around the Imperial Beach area, then up at Robb Field. In the Nestor/I.B. neighborhoods, the male Black-headed Grosbeak and Allen's Hummingbird continue at 2222 Leon Ave., but we could not find any orioles there, although one of the young male Orchards was seen there in the coral trees on Saturday afternoon. Farther west on Leon, we saw the continuing Western Tanager and 2 Bullock's Orioles in blooming eucalyptus across the road from Berry Park. At the sports park at Caspian and 4th in I.B. we saw the continuing male Hepatic Tanager in its favorite tree: the coral tree with still a few blooms which is near the sw corner of the park, south of the caretaker's trailer. The bird has been seen in this one tree almost exclusively since mid-December and is in it off and on all day long. One adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron continues (with Black-crowned(s)) in the first pine tree south of the double dumpsters and bordering the condos on the west edge of the park. Two Yellow-crowneds were in the same tree yesterday. Still NO luck re-finding the Red-throated Pipit. And the only flock (22 birds) of Am. Pipits we could find anywhere was in the ball fields at the east end of Sunset Rd. in the TRV. And up at the San Diego River channel as seen from Robb Field the adult Laughing Gull continues near low tide (mid-day/early afternoon today). --Paul Lehman, San Diego -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange Subject: Mannikin Nest From: "Ryan, Allen" <afryan AT ucsd.edu> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:39:14 -0800 While checking the barn owl boxes at Kit Carson Park, I watched a Nutmeg Mannikin building a nest in the second tree West of the tree with the owl box bee hive. The nest was about 10 feet off the ground in the lowest clump of branches/leaves on the tree. The mannikin was gathering fine grass near the fenced conduit, and getting into disputes with a pair of song sparrows that felt as though they owned that grass patch (the mannikin lost each time). Allen Ryan PS: I have a visiting birder coming who wants to see a barn owl. If you know of a reliable roost or occupied nest box, please let me know. Subject: Pacific golden-plovers & possible glaucous gull TJ 2-7-10 From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:24:19 -0000 Sorry for not being able to call, but walked off without phone - shortly after noon today, Mike Gochfeld, Joanna Burger, & I observed a very large, uniformly very white gull with pink legs & pink bill with distal third to one-quarter black - may just be a worn glaucous-winged, but wanted to get the word out in case it turns out to be glaucous. It was among the other gulls, pelicans, & terns roosting on the sandbar island NE of the mouth of the Tijuana River. Also in the area were 28-33 snowy plovers. The 2 Pacific golden-plovers were also re-found in their usual spot well-hidden among the sand-verbena approx 200 m SE of the S end of the barrier dune/cobble berm. One is significantly brighter than the other & shows impressive golden yellow wash to the face. They tend to hang out together in the vegetation away from the black-bellied plovers which tend to congregate farther SE along the channel bank. Also of note & possibly moving around the South Bay, were 28 female & 1 male common goldeneye seen in portions of South San Diego Bay NWR saltworks closed to public access. At least 1 glaucous-winged gull was also in the area, as were 3 peregrines, & 30 skimmers. Robert Patton San Diego, CA Subject: Lawrence's Goldfinches From: "cvant150" <cvant AT att.net> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:08:23 -0000 Sorry, forgot to mention that the Lawrence's Goldfinches posted above are located in the High Valley area of Poway. Chrlie VanTassel Subject: Lawrence's Goldfinches From: "cvant150" <cvant AT att.net> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:32:25 -0000 Our collection of Lawrence's Goldfinches has grown to about 30-40 birds. They're here daily at our feeders for about three weeks now. Subject: SIGHTINGS From: "ANTIKMOM" <antikmom AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:04:55 -0000 GOOD MORNING, ON FEBRUARY 5, MY HUSBAND MARK AND I DROVE TO VERGER'S DAIRY OFF OF BANDY CANYON ROAD IN ESCONDIDO. WE HAD BEEN TOLD THERE WOULD BE CANADIAN GEESE AND MAYBE AN EAGLE OR TWO. WE ARE NEW TO BIRDING AND FEED THE FINCHES IN OUR OWN YARD. THROUGH THE RAINDROPS WE SAW: 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, BIG FLOCK OF CANADIAN GEESE, A BLUE HERON, A COYOTE, MANY KESTRELS, BLUE BIRDS AND OTHER HAWKS WE COULDN'T IDENTIFY. THERE WAS SO MUCH WILDLIFE... THANKS, CAMILLE & MARK Subject: Oceanside Pelagic Trip photos From: Keerthana R <keerthana_me AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 02:14:40 -0800 (PST) Hi all,   Here are the pics from Oceanside Pelagic trip 1/30/10. It took some time for us to get to it.   http://www.kirankeerthana.com/keyword/oceanside%20pelagic%20trip#782763305_KgMa9 Keerthana + Kiran Sastry. San Diego CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FOR THE VISITING BIRDER JAN 28 TO JAN 30 From: "wngit2" <wngit2 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:51:57 -0000 Have been extremely busy and apologize for this late post. Hoping what I've seen over the past week might help a visiting birder or those of you who maybe tracking dates on wintering species. January 28 – TRV/IB: Leon St, Berry and Nestor Park, 4th and Caspian, Sunset ball fields, Dairy Mart Sod Farm 2-Yellow-crowned Night Heron – Look to the tree left w/ cover, NE corner of apt. complex 2-Male Vermillion Flycatcher – 1, Nestor Pk, 1 – Sunset ball fields 1-Female Black and White Warbler, Nestor Park 1-Oriole flock: 2 Orchard – 1 1st yr. male, 1 female, 1 female hooded, 1 1st yr Bullock's * Both Berry and Nestor Parks were devoid of any pipits. There were 2 flocks: Sunset ball fields ~18 Am., 0 RT and DM Sod Farm ~25 Am., 0 RT. **Checked high and low for the Hepatic Tanager w/ multiple stops to the coral tree. Apparently, it was taking a breather on private property. January 29 – W side Lake Murray, below tennis courts Green-tailed Towhee – Unprompted, emphatically calling and very visible Golden-crowned Sparrow – Along culvert, directly below courts January 30 – Mission Vly: SD Mission, condo complex S of the mission and W of Mission Cntr. Rd, S side of SD river 1-Pacific-sloped Flycatcher – Condo complex X from mission, E of tennis courts, in an Alder 1-Black-throated Gray Warbler – W of Mission Ctr. Rd., down flight of stairs, between condo complexes 1-Wilson's Warbler – W of Mission Ctr. Rd., working the shrubby oaks Christine Harvey Santee, CA sdch AT cox.net Subject: Muscovy Ducks From: "liv2bird1951" <maryb51 AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:09:20 -0000 Discovery Lake in San Marcos now has what appear to be Muscovy Ducks. Does anyone know of any other feral populations in San Diego County? Mary Bochiechio Discovery Hills, CA Subject: looking but not much finding in the past two days From: "Claude Edwards" <keps1 AT flite-tours.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 18:41:43 -0800 Good day all, I have been doing some morning birding today and yesterday in hopes of finding some recent reported winter species. Most of my efforts have proven fruitless but it is worth while sharing where I have been. Thursday, 4 Feb: Eucalyptus trees at Upas and Florida Streets - no tanagers or sapsuckers on my third visit in as many weeks. Rocky shore of Cabrillo Monument - searching for rocky-coast shorebirds I was able to find black turnstones and spotted sandpipers but no wandering tattler, surfbird or black oystercatcher. Residential Point Loma - no luck on finding hermit warbler, painted redstart or golden-crowned kinglet, but I got closeup views of a flock of red-masked parakeets eating Brazilian Pepper Tree berries at the corner ot Gage and Charles Streets. Brush-filled canyon at the foot of Lomaland Drive, PL Nazarene University - no green-tailed towhee or whuite-throated sparrows on my third visit in the past four weeks. Nestor Park - searched in vain through several coral and pine trees for a black-and-white warbler. Community Garden on Hollister Street - dipped on Common Ground Dove. Bird & Butterfly Garden - I succeeded in hearing a Golden-crowned Kinglet within the eastern-most tamarisk trees - yay. Nothing else of interest otherwise. Friday, 5 Feb (accompanied by Steve Wilson: Tijuana River Mouth - good looks at several kinds of sandpipers and gulls, but no luck distinguishing Pacific Golden-Plovers among roosting Black-bellieds just outside safe binocular scanning range. IB Sports Park - we missed the Hepatic Tanager that Don Adams reported just after we departed that location, argh! Good for you Don!! Oh well, I am happy to hear about the persisting Eurasian Wigeon at the San Dieguito River wetlands and the swan at Aviara, among others. Cheers, Claude Edwards West of Kensington [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker From: "Jim and Donna Zimmer" <zimmerfrei AT roadrunner.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:20:51 -0800 Saw the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Guajome lake this morning, 2-5-10, at 10:30; on the southeast side of the lake where the Ross's goose normally roost with the rest of the ducks. The goose was there too. Does anyone know the name of the pine like trees that are in this area? If so, please send me the name. The bird was feeding on them. Later, Jim Zimmer, Carlsbad [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: SD River Channel From: Justyn Stahl <justyn.stahl AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 17:03:10 -0800 Not sure when it was last reported but a Laughing Gull (spotted by Shawn Sullivan) was unexpected in the river channel today (5 Feb) at 3pm. Justyn Stahl San Clemente Island On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 4:21 PM, Catherine Zinsky wrote: > > > Zipped down to the channel during low tide today. Nothing out of the > ordinary, but a lot of old 'friends'. There were an unusual number of > Black-bellied Plover congregating on one sand bar. Terns were apparent by > their absence. One Ruddy Turnstone was a highlight. > > -- > Waggin' tails, > > Catherine > > Competitive Obedience Toolbox: www.gettoready.net > > web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/Catherine.Zinsky > > Int/Mex Am Ch. Castle Butte's Masked Bandit, CDX, U-CDX, ASCA-CDX, PC > ('Huckleberry') > Ch.OTCH Trumagik Step Aside, UDX 15, OM7 ('Kyle' a.k.a. 'Lord Fauntleroy') > Ch Borderfame Soul Train ('Kellan the Felon' a.k.a. 'Sir Lickalot') > Cache and Carry ("Cache") > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Justyn Stahl Project Manager San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Monitoring Institute for Wildlife Studies 2515 Camino del Rio South Suite 334 San Diego, CA 92108 Phone: (619) 524-9042 Fax: (619) 524-9023 stahl AT iws.org www.iws.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDBIRDS/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDBIRDS/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: SDBIRDS-digest AT yahoogroups.com SDBIRDS-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SDBIRDS-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: SD River Channel From: Catherine Zinsky <Catherine.Zinsky AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:21:51 -0800 Zipped down to the channel during low tide today. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a lot of old 'friends'. There were an unusual number of Black-bellied Plover congregating on one sand bar. Terns were apparent by their absence. One Ruddy Turnstone was a highlight. -- Waggin' tails, Catherine Competitive Obedience Toolbox: www.gettoready.net web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/Catherine.Zinsky Int/Mex Am Ch. Castle Butte's Masked Bandit, CDX, U-CDX, ASCA-CDX, PC ('Huckleberry') Ch.OTCH Trumagik Step Aside, UDX 15, OM7 ('Kyle' a.k.a. 'Lord Fauntleroy') Ch Borderfame Soul Train ('Kellan the Felon' a.k.a. 'Sir Lickalot') Cache and Carry ("Cache") [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hepatic Tanager @ Imperial Beach From: "Don Adams" <DKAdams AT prodigy.net> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:10:29 -0800 Friday, Feb 5, 2010 The Hepatic Tanager that is spending the winter at Sports Park (south end of 4th Street) in Imperial Beach was seen in the coral tree between the ball fields and the apartments at 11:39 AM today. Don Adams San Diego, CA DKAdams AT prodigy.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black-throated Gray Warbler From: barbarac2003 AT yahoo.com Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:26:51 +0000 I'm looking at a BT Gray Warbler in the bushes near 685 Silvergate. Can hear him calling to re-locate him. Barbara Carlson San Diego Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Subject: Eurasian widgeon From: sturnellamagna1 AT yahoo.com Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:26:34 +0000 I observed a Eurasian widgeon at San Dieguito lagoon off the San Andres Road trail this afternoon ~4pm. The bird was foraging just up stream from the I-5 bridge. The bird was associating with red breasted mergansers, coots, ruddy ducks, and lesser scaup. Eric Kershner Carlsbad Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Subject: RFI - Out-of-towners birding in San Diego next week From: Scott Loss <scottrloss AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:20:27 -0800 (PST) Greetings, I am a graduate student that will be in San Diego next week (along with some others from Minnesota) for the AOU annual conference.  In addition to having time for a day trip to the Salton Sea on Sunday, we will have an entire day free (with car) to bird the San Diego area.  A couple of us have birded the area before and we are fairly familiar with the birdlife and parks in the area, but we were wondering if anyone has some good current locations for the following species: Tricolored Blackbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Sage Sparrow.  Areas within 30-60 minutes of the Mission Bay area would be of most interest to us. Please respond via backchannel. Thanks in advance! Scott Loss St. Paul, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: West of Sundance area From: "Jean" <jgwindsong AT rangeweb.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:57:33 -0800 Today we found 1 golden Eagle, 1 Bald eagle, 2 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 Ferruginous Hawks(1 Dark P.), 1 Black-billed Magpie, and 1 starling(yes only 1) . No much for the trip. Jean, sundance, Wy. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bald Eagle at Wohlford From: "dancinec" <dancinec AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:27:03 -0000 Saw the Bald Eagle at Lake Wohlford, this morning. In the same area as describe by Tom Meixner. Heavy morning fog prevented me from getting good shots, but it is a beautiful bird (only saw the adult). Also saw anOsprey, Turkey Vultures,and Red-breasted Mergansers on the lake. My favorite was a Rock Wren that came up to challenge. Dennis Ancinec Subject: next San Elijo monthly bird count Mon Feb 8th From: "rtpatton02" <rpatton AT san.rr.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:26:42 -0000 Please spread the word - San Elijo Lagoon monthly bird count Monday Feb 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). (No need for reservations, AOU/COS visitors welcome!) Thanks, Robert Patton San Diego, CA Subject: San Diego River Mew Gull From: "mgould81" <mgould81 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:02:00 -0000 Hi All, I apologize for the late post, but on Monday Feb. 1st I had a 1st Winter Mew Gull mixed in with the hundreds of others while birding from the Robb Field side of the river. Good Birding, Matt Gould Sage Sparrow Biologist San Clemente Island Subject: Lake Wohlford From: thomas meixner <tlmeixner AT att.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:35:26 -0800 (PST) Not having seen anything posted from there in a while and not having much to do today I decided to see what, if anything, was of interest at Lake Wohlford. What I came across at the dam area off of Oakvale Rd. was two very agitated Osprey because there were two Bald Eagles roosting in a tree on the south side of the lake about 1/4 mile up Oakvale from the dam. One Eagle was an adult and the other was a 1st year bird - so apparently there must be a nesting site somewhere in the area. Also between the dam and the floatation buoy/net I counted 60 Common Mergansers which included 5 Drakes.   I then went over to lake Dixon where there wasn't much of interest. Then on the way home I made a quick stop at Kitt Carson Park where I had all three Goldfinch: Most were American's, with a few Lesser along for the ride and one very lonely Lawrences's male thrown in for good luck. They were feeding in the Sweet Gum (Liquidamber) in the field that is to the right of the main duck pond. Also at the pond I counted a dozen Black-crowned Night-Heron's keeping a vigilant eye on the happenings.   May God keep you in the palm of His hand!   Tom "Mt. Goat" Meixner Mira Mesa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Greater White-fronted Geese at Dairy Mart Pond From: "dancinec" <dancinec AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:11:53 -0000 A pair of Greater White-fronted geese were seen on Monday 02-01-2010, along the northern shore of the pond. Since they stayed at the base of the cattails, the viewing is best from the southern side of the pond. Pictures from a distance http://www.pbase.com/dancinec/white_fronted_goose Dennis Ancinec Subject: Male Rufous Hummingbird - Carmel Valley From: "Gary G" <ggrantham AT san.rr.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:05:06 -0000 I saw an adult male Rufous Hummingbird in a large honeysuckle bush near my son's house in Carmel Valley on Sunday. It either is a early arriving migrant or as I suspect, an individual who has wintered over. Gary Grantham Scripps Ranch Subject: Eurasian From: Chuck Border <grusfan AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 16:30:46 -0800 (PST) Yes, the two Eurasian Wigeons are part of the Zoo collection, as are the Canvasback. They are part of a new group of waterfowl that we recently put on exhibit, which includes a Northern Pintail in the Rondavel pool. Generally speaking the only native waterfowl that use our ponds and pools are Mallards and Wood Ducks, although I usually see an American Wigeon or two as well as a Northern Pintail pair a couple times a year during the Winter at the Lower Duck Ponds. In addition, a Ruddy Shelduck (private collection escapee?) visits our front plaza Flamingo pool occasionally. Chuck Border Sr. Bird Keeper San Diego Zoo [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Zone-tailed Hawk continues at WAP From: "kimmyroth" <kimmyroth AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:40:18 -0000 After reading BJ's message from yesterday, I just wanted to post that I saw an immature Zone-tailed Hawk flying over an area near Condor Ridge at the Wild Animal Park yesterday (Jan 31). Due to its poor feather condition, I believe this ZTHA to be the same one Eric Kallen posted about on Jan 1st, and that I also saw during the Escondido CBC the following day (2 Jan). Kim Roth Ocean Beach Subject: Eurasian Wigeon From: "Colleen" <ynotknit AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:40:05 -0000 I was just wondering if anyone knew if the two male Eurasian Wigeon's in the small duck pond directly across from the reptile house are residents of the zoo. I also saw a pair of Canvasback Ducks swimming around as well. Really nice getting to see both ducks up real close. The Widgeon's were both banded as well. Colleen Southern El Cajon Subject: Pelagic Trip & Ramona From: "Finatic" <finaticphoto AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:13:55 -0000 Saturday's pelagic trip out of Oceanside had some decent birds and marine animals. Terry has already posted a tally from the trip so all I can add is a gallery of photos. In the gallery also are photos from Ramona today. I went up the Ramona grasslands along Highland Rd and Rangeland Rd. I found multiple speceies of raptor, topped by a Burrowing Owl. Ferruginous Hawks, Red-tailed and American Kestrels were around but not as plentiful as some previous trips. There were 4 Turkey Vultures, but try as hard as I could I couldn't make anyone of them into a zone-tail. In the creek that crossed under the road there were 3 Wilson's Snipe playing follow the leader through the grasses and twigs. Hundreds of Western Meadowlarks were singing all over the place and were joined in the fields by American Pipits and perhaps 20 Mountain Bluebirds. Photos can be seen at the following link: http://www.finatic-photography.com/SDB/1-30-10-Weekend/11108247_zQbPa#77\ 8048555_fKSpN Good birding, BJ Stacey Santee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Least bitterns at Santee Lakes From: "jeremiah_stock" <jeremiah_stock AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:24:18 -0000 At 4 pm Sunday I heard a least bittern kukukuku'ing from the cattails on the west side of Santee Lake #7. Walking around to the northeast corner of the lake I heard two more bitterns calling from the northeast corner of the lake and the large patch of cattails on the north shore. I got a brief glimpse of the bird in the northeast corner. Jeremiah Stock Santee, CA jscls AT cox.net Subject: AVIARA TUNDRA SWAN From: "Jim Roberts" <jroberts AT scripps.edu> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:15:52 -0800 (PST) This afternoon (1/31/10) at 1:30 PM, after 3 previous dips, the TUNDRA SWAN was seen south of Aviara Parkway (east of Kingfisher Lane) in the aforementioned golfcourse site, foraging near the woodpile and later drinking from the north end of the pond. Jim Roberts University City Subject: Wilson's Warbler at San Dieguito Park From: "d_lewi" <d_lewi AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:12:55 -0000 I had a male Wilson's Warbler at San Dieguito Park this morning at around 8:30. If you're facing the bamboo, the bird was in the bamboo just to the left of the bathroom. Dave Lewis Carmel Valley Subject: Kit Carson Nutmeg Mannikin From: "Michael Wienholt" <boryul AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:45:59 -0000 I don't know if this is of interest, but I saw a juvenile mannikin on the back side of Tree Lake in Kit Carson Park this afternoon. I did not see this species on the Escondido CBC list. Michael Wienholt Rancho Penasquitos Subject: Oceanside Pelagic Trip Report From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:26:05 -0000 Greetings, The TRIP REPORT, PHOTOS and GPS TRIP TRACK for the fourth annual Buena Vista Audubon Society "Seabirds, Whales and Dolphins" pelagic trip from Helgren's in Oceanside this Saturday is now up at www.SoCalBirding.com http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/oceansidejan302010.html We saw 8 whales – two species. And dolphins – 4 species. We saw two species of shearwater, three species of loons, 7 species of gulls, more than 100 alcids from 3 species. Lots of photos were taken and are posted with the trip report. The next SoCal Pelagic with space available is the AOU pelagic aboard Grande on Saturday, February 13 – just opened to the general public – a nine-hour trip to the Nine Mile Bank and Coronados Islands. Following the AOU trip, the Los Angeles Audubon annual winter pelagic will depart San Pedro on February 27. Last year we photographed a very cooperative Manx Shearwater on a gorgeous spring day. The San Diego Bird Festival Pelagic trips (two Manx Shearwaters, 2 Mew Gulls and a Blue-footed Booby seen last year) are scheduled for March 4 and 6. The Sunday March 7 trip is sold out. The live-aboard Searcher goes in search of Blue Whales and Seabirds on a 3-day Memorial Day weekend outing May 29-31. A target pelagic species for that trip is Red-tailed Tropicbird. Details 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: Black-throated gray warbler From: "margaret.elman" <elmanm AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:22:26 -0000 I have seen a black-throated gray warbler at the fountain in my backyard three times this week. It just stays long enough for a quick bath. Margaret Elman Pacific Beach Subject: Mission Bay area, 1/30/10 From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:57:38 -0800 (GMT-08:00) SD-Birders, I'm just back from my fourth trip to the under-birded Paraguayan Chaco, which I would recommend with some cautions, and feel free to contact me off-list for pointers. This morning at Robb Field and Fiesta Island, I didn't see any Laughing Gulls at either location, and the only interesting shorebird was a SURFBIRD on the flats. On the intersection at the middle (west side) of the island there was a dark-lored immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW among others, as well as a lone drake GREATER SCAUP adjacent to a group of Lessers in the water just offshore from this spot. Final note: there are a few temporary pools of water INSIDE the embankments along the road at Fiesta that cannot be seen without climbing to the top of them. Numbers of gulls were loafing at a couple of them, so worth checking while they are there. Jay Keller, San Diego Subject: Lawrence's Goldfinches From: "cvant150" <cvant AT att.net> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:04:29 -0000 I've got about a dozen Lawrence's Goldfinches at our feeder in Poway for the past week. Subject: Possible Western Kingbird in Pamo Valley From: "solobirder" <tlmeixner AT att.net> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:15:38 -0000 Sorry for this late evening post but had to do house cleaning before the pelagic out of Helgren's tomorrow to keep the Mrs. happy! Anyway, I visited Pamo Valley early this afternoon. By far the most surprising bird was a very bright Western Kingbird on the east side of the 1st bridge (the one with the wooden slats running across it)as you drop down into the valley. It was seen in an open glade about 100meters off the road flycatching from tree to tree. At first I thought it was a Cassin's but when I took a closer look it showed an extremely pale gray head with a blackish eye smudge, no real contrast between the whitish throat and pale gray breast. It had quite bright yellow under parts, a blackish tail with the two outer feathers showing the white that is characteriastic of Westerns. I never did hear it call. Further up the road I had a mixed flock of Lark, Savannah & about 10 Vesper Sparrows. Also I saw 6 Wild Turkey Tom's sporting between 8" & 12" beards. If anyone has the time or inclination that Western should be checked out and if at all possible photographed as I'm sure it is quite rare here in winter. Tom "Mt. Goat" Meixner Mira Mesa Subject: South Park Merlins From: "timcooper8993" <timcooper8993 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:03:53 -0000 Two separate individual birds have been seen this week on 1/25 and today, 1/29. Both in late afternoon betw 4:30 and 5:00. The merlins occupy a favorite perch on top of a tv antenna at 3365 Hawthorn and use the vantage point from which to pursue mourning doves, etc. First bird was a dark, pacific race bird with almost solid dark brown underparts and dark face; today's was a taiga race bird, comparatively lighter with pale undertail coverts, streaked breast and faint moustachial stripe and eyeline. Today's bird was harassed by 48 crows, probably the birds from St Augustine's High School. We get merlins usually in late March. Have not seen them this frequently before in late January. Subject: Re: Borrego Valley and Tamarisk Grove From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:34:50 -0000 Howdy All: A few pics posted including one of the crissal thrasher and a male Costa's hummer. http://egk.smugmug.com/Photography/RECENT-PHOTOS Eric Kallen --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "Geoffrey Rogers" wrote: > > Today, Eric Kallen, Keith and Sara Mayers, and I birded several sites in Borrego Valley and stopped at Tamarisk Grove on our return. From the north end of Yaqui Pass Road (Borrego Sink) a long search found 2 CRISSAL THRASHERS near the dilapidated hulk of a Chevy Impala, east of the old structure several hundred yards northeast of the road end. There is also a prominent, fairly broad tamarisk about 150 yards to the west of where we had the birds. At the old sewer ponds a flyby Prairie Falcon was the only species of note. There is a very small amount of water in the northeast corner of the upper pond. At the date palm grove off of Foursome, north of Tilting T, a male SCOTT'S ORIOLE was among the many Gambel's Quail, White-crowned Sparrows, a Coyote, and unexpected 10 or so Red-winged Blackbirds. The state park visitor's center was very quiet with little more than a female Costa's Hummingbird and an Antelope Ground Squirrel, the latter anticipating a handout at the picnic tables. The Roadrunner Club was also fairly quiet but not as much as Tamarisk Grove where we had only 3 species. A few owl pellets here were of Barn or Long-eared owl size but only one seemed fairly recent. No owls were seen. > > Eric will put up some photos shortly. > > > Geoff Rogers > San Diego, CA > oreortyx AT ... > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Large Cormorant Raft From: <thaiyai AT san.rr.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 1:26:03 +0000 This might be of interest ? Today just off Harbor Island by the first Sheraton Hotel, there was a large raft of cormorants, Brandt's and Double-crested. My guess would be 400 to 500 of them, all scrunched closely together. They were quite close to the walkway around 1:00pm. When I left the Boat Show around 3:30pm they had moved out to the main channel and were strung out for a long distance. They weren't fishing, just appeared to be resting. Tim Plunkett On Tecolote Canyon Subject: Borrego Valley and Tamarisk Grove From: "Geoffrey Rogers" <oreortyx AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:15:36 -0800 Today, Eric Kallen, Keith and Sara Mayers, and I birded several sites in Borrego Valley and stopped at Tamarisk Grove on our return. From the north end of Yaqui Pass Road (Borrego Sink) a long search found 2 CRISSAL THRASHERS near the dilapidated hulk of a Chevy Impala, east of the old structure several hundred yards northeast of the road end. There is also a prominent, fairly broad tamarisk about 150 yards to the west of where we had the birds. At the old sewer ponds a flyby Prairie Falcon was the only species of note. There is a very small amount of water in the northeast corner of the upper pond. At the date palm grove off of Foursome, north of Tilting T, a male SCOTT'S ORIOLE was among the many Gambel's Quail, White-crowned Sparrows, a Coyote, and unexpected 10 or so Red-winged Blackbirds. The state park visitor's center was very quiet with little more than a female Costa's Hummingbird and an Antelope Ground Squirrel, the latter anticipating a handout at the picnic tables. The Roadrunner Club was also fairly quiet but not as much as Tamarisk Grove where we had only 3 species. A few owl pellets here were of Barn or Long-eared owl size but only one seemed fairly recent. No owls were seen. Eric will put up some photos shortly. Geoff Rogers San Diego, CA oreortyx AT earthlink.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: high tide bird search, TJRV From: "Jim and Donna Zimmer" <zimmerfrei AT roadrunner.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:15:53 -0800 Ed Hall, Dave Batzler, Ken Weaver and I searched the TJRV estuary for Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow this morning, 1-28-10, during the high tide. Most of our search was along Seacoast Dr. We did not find the sparrow. We did find 27 Clapper Rails and about 100 Belding's Savannah Sparrows. While at the parking lot for the Tijuana estuary visitor center on Caspian Way we found a Hepatic Tanager, male. It flew from the lot into the apartment complex to the north from the lot. Across Caspian Way. Good Luck, Jim Zimmer, Carlsbad, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Congregation of Cormorants and Pelicans From: "Claude Edwards" <keps1 AT flite-tours.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:47:17 -0800 Echoing this report, I was up at the Oceanside Harbor yesterday and found a several, 10 or, mixed age brown pelicans and a couple of d-c cormorants hanging around the small snack shop at the north end of the marina parking area. They were very tame and barely wary of peoples' presence, gathered on the rock-and-cement edge of the curb, on the curb and even underneath the building's awning! This situation may be related to a story in the newspaper this morning about an unusual occurrence of lingering pelicans along the coast of Oregon where they do not typically spend the winter. The story indicated evidence that they were starving and begging for handouts from humans to survive. Maybe there are other similar unusual occurrences of these birds along the coast. Claude Edwards West of Kensington -----Original Message----- From: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of zostropz AT aol.com Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:31 PM To: SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SDBIRDS] WOW!!!!! Invasion of the Cormorants and a few Pelicans I work next to the Corvette Diner in the back bay area of the San Diego bay. I am outside every work day of the week and a normal day, including yesterday, is 3 or 4 Cormorants, maybe a Pelican, and about 20 to 30 Loon like birds. Today, just one day later, I walked out and there were nearly 300 cormorants as well as about 30 Pelicans, sitting on our dock and in the water near our dock. Why so many birds in just one day? They weren't feeding. Any ideas? thank you, Mark Stratton San Diego zostropz AT aol. com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Need help again. From: "littlebitrv" <littlebitrv AT hughes.net> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:34:04 -0000 Hi, I want to thank you for being so nice to me and helping with my request. I got 7 responses and the general thought is I shouldn't have any trouble finding a California Gnatcatcher at San Elijo Lagoon. With all the information I received there are now a few more questions I have now. If you know a place where any of these birds can normally be found with good effort would you please let me know. These would all be lifers for me Red Knot, Short-eared Owl, Williamson's Sapsucker, Red Phalarope, Thayer's Gull, Spotted Dove, Spotted Owl and LeConte's Thrasher. Thanks for your time, Marie Stewart Subject: Hybrid GW/? Teal at San Dieguito Rd Horse Farms, Fairbanks Ranch From: seiurus AT aol.com Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:16:43 EST I stopped briefly by the horse farms today and noted an interesting male Green-winged Teal (no, not a Eurasian Teal mix, which would be a stretch). It was hanging around with other GW Teal and Shovelers in the grassy ponds close to the fenceline. It had a reddish head and the iridescent green head stripe, but rufousy-brown body with no vertical white stripe (alas, no horizontal stripe either). GWX Shoveler? GWxCinnamon? Sue Smith seiurus AT aol.com Del Mar, CA 92014 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Golden-crowned Kinglet images From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:57:48 -0000 I think I may have just got one this morning. http://tinyurl.com/yju7e4m the last 7 images Douglas Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com Subject: WOW!!!!! Invasion of the Cormorants and a few Pelicans From: zostropz AT aol.com Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:30:55 -0500 I work next to the Corvette Diner in the back bay area of the San Diego bay. I am outside every work day of the week and a normal day, including yesterday, is 3 or 4 Cormorants, maybe a Pelican, and about 20 to 30 Loon like birds. Today, just one day later, I walked out and there were nearly 300 cormorants as well as about 30 Pelicans, sitting on our dock and in the water near our dock. Why so many birds in just one day? They weren't feeding. Any ideas? thank you, Mark Stratton San Diego zostropz AT aol.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Images from today From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:08:06 -0000 Black & White Warbler- http://tinyurl.com/yz3ghy9 last 4 images White-collared Seedeater- http://tinyurl.com/yk5mt4g Hepatic Tanager- http://tinyurl.com/ykpkaxl last 3 images Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com Subject: California Gnatcatcher From: "littlebitrv" <littlebitrv AT hughes.net> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:33:36 -0000 Hi, My name is Marie Stewart and an opportunity has come up last minute to visit your area. I will be in the area from Jan 30 th to Feb 7 th I would very much like to find a California Gnatcatcher. I would also like to find out where some of the great areas to bird are. Any information you care to share would be very helpful. As this will be my first time to bird in your area. If there is a spot that should not be missed please let me know. Thanks for your time, Marie Stewart Subject: Re: Black-and-white Warbler continues at Nestor Park From: "ERIC" <eric AT trs-sandiego.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:55:39 -0000 A few pics posted... this is a very patient bird. Especially for a warbler! http://egk.smugmug.com/Photography/RECENT-PHOTOS Eric Kallen Normal Heights --- In SDBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, Barbara Carlson wrote: > > The Black-and-white Warbler was seen feeding this morning, 26 Jan, in the coral trees near the entrance to Nestor Park around 8:30 am.  This is most likely the one reported to SDBirds on 17 Jan by Millie and Peter from Tierrasanta. >   > Park in the first section of the right.  There are six spaces here, plus a handicapped spot.  The bird was seen in the coral tree above the green electrical box with a lock. >   > Eric Kallen just called. The bird has moved to the pine trees near the fence.  >   > Also in this front section of trees was the Vermilion Flycatcher. >   > Good birding, > Barbara Carlson > San Diego > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Ferruginous Hawk at Rancho Jamul From: "davpovey" <dpovey AT nethere.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:18:30 -0000 The dark morph Ferruginous Hawk reported earlier this winter is still being seen at Hwy 94 and the Jamul Indian Village. The bird frequents the power poles next to the highway. This bird has been present each winter since 06-07. Dave Povey Dulzura Subject: A.O.U. Pelagic from San Diego 13 Feb now open to the public From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:38:49 -0000 Greetings, Phil Unitt asked me to pass his posting to SDBirds along to the CalBirds group: * * * * * * * Dear friends, As you may know, the Cooper Ornithological Society and American Ornithologists Union are having their annual meeting jointly in San Diego from 8 to 11 February. The pelagic trip scheduled for 12 February proved so popular we added another for the following day. As the trip is now just 3 weeks away and the second trip is not yet filled, it is now open to anyone. This is a full-day trip, 8 to 9 hours at sea, aboard the Grande. It will leave Fisherman's Landing at 6:30 AM and will visit Los Coronados Islands (site of the Brown Booby colony) as well as whatever hot spots our local experts, Dave Povey and Terry Hunefeld, who have their fingers on the pulse of the ocean, decide should be most productive. Price $80. Registration will be through a website set up by the conference managers. I will circulate the address as soon as it's set up, but you can reserve a space now by e-mailing me at birds AT sdnhm.org or unitt AT cox.net. Thanks very much to Terry Hunefeld for his help in making the arrangements and recruiting the experienced leaders we know and love. I will be on the boat that day too and look forward to seeing you then! Latest possibility to think of for a pelagic trip: Glaucous Gull. Yesterday Shauna Wolf found an ADULT Glaucous Gull dead on the Silver Strand and today brought it into the museum, to become only our second specimen ever of the Glaucous Gull for San Diego County. One of the few Glaucous Gulls I've seen previously was from a boat just a couple of miles off the Silver Strand.... Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego * * * * * * * Following the AOU trip, the San Diego Bird Festival Pelagic trips (two Manx Shearwaters, 2 Mew Gulls and a Blue-footed Booby seen last year) are scheduled for March 4, 6 and 7. The Sunday March 7 trip is nearly sold out already. Both the April and March trips will be checking to see just how long the Long-tailed Duck hangs out at Ballast Point in San Diego harbor. Details and registration/reservation links for the AOU Feb 13 trip and the March San Diego Bird Festival 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: Saturday Pelagic Sold Out - Upcoming SoCal Pelagics From: "thunefeld" <thunefeld AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:30:22 -0000 Greetings, The Fourth Annual Buena Vista Audubon Society "Seabirds, Whales and Dolphins" pelagic trip from Helgren's in Oceanside this Saturday is sold out for the fourth year in a row. The Red-necked Grebe is still hanging at the Oceanside harbor, probably dividing it's time between the Camp Pendleton side of the jetty and the Oceanside side. We'll have two shots at it on Saturday: going out and coming in. Sunday morning I didn't see the grebe, but did see one (1) Stanley Walens and three Bottlenose Dolphins inside the harbor. I followed the dolphins all the way to Helgren's landing. The next SoCal Pelagic with space available is the American Ornithologists' Union pelagic aboard Grande on Saturday, February 13 – just opened to the general public – a nine-hour trip to the Nine Mile Bank and Coronados Islands. Following the AOU trip, the San Diego Bird Festival Pelagic trips (two Manx Shearwaters, 2 Mew Gulls and a Blue-footed Booby seen last year) are scheduled for March 4, 6 and 7. The Sunday March 7 pelagic trip is already nearly sold out. Friends who live on the coast in Encinitas report seeing Gray Whales every day or two (six on Sunday). The April and March trips will be looking for Gray Whales and also checking to see just how long the Long-tailed Duck hangs out at Ballast Point. Details and registration/reservation links for the AOU Feb 13 trip and the March San Diego Bird Festival 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: Merlin in La Jolla From: "btwbtw" <btw AT coast.ucsd.edu> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:20:15 -0000 A female/juvenile Merlin was just north of the Scripps Pier in La Jolla this morning at 10:15am. Brian Woodward San Diego Subject: Black-and-white Warbler continues at Nestor Park From: Barbara Carlson <barbarac2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:49:31 -0800 (PST) The Black-and-white Warbler was seen feeding this morning, 26 Jan, in the coral trees near the entrance to Nestor Park around 8:30 am.  This is most likely the one reported to SDBirds on 17 Jan by Millie and Peter from Tierrasanta.   Park in the first section of the right.  There are six spaces here, plus a handicapped spot.  The bird was seen in the coral tree above the green electrical box with a lock.   Eric Kallen just called. The bird has moved to the pine trees near the fence.    Also in this front section of trees was the Vermilion Flycatcher.   Good birding, Barbara Carlson San Diego [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Albion St. update From: Sara Baase Mayers <baase AT cs.sdsu.edu> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:01:59 -0800 (PST) I've been checking for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Hermit Warbler each day for the past few days but have not seen them. I was surprised to see and hear our Hermit Thrush singing this morning. (I don't know if it's unusual for them to sing in January. I haven't noticed it before.) There were two Western Bluebirds in a sweet gum tree near the pepper trees favored by the YBSa. ====================== Sara Mayers Point Loma, San Diego baase AT cs.sdsu.edu ====================== Subject: visiting birders From: "winniearnn" <winniearnn AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:50:03 -0800 Good morning, fellow birders- I have been contacted (through the organization called birdingpal.org) by some people who will be visiting in mid-March. They will have a car and have already planned to go to Cuyamaco Rancho State Park. Below is their "wish list". If anyone can give them specific advice about where to go, please respond to them. Their email is at the bottom of this page. Thanks from Winnie in Banker's Hill WOODPECKERS >> Lewis's >> Williamson's sapsucker >> red-breasted sapsucker >> red-naped sapsucker >> white-headed >> >> OTHERS >> pygmy nuthatch >> wrentit >> California gnatcatcher >> California thrasher >> California towhee >> orioles >> >> RAPTORS >> white-tailed kite >> zone-tailed hawk (is March a little early for this one?) >> red-shouldered hawk >> Swainson's hawk >> ferruginous hawk >> prairie falcon >> golden eagle >> >> WARBLERS >> ...if we are not too early in the season for them >> >> COASTAL >> magn frigatebird >> white-faced ibis >> brant >> snowy plover >> turnstones >> godwits >> surfbird >> >> Jeff >> >> Jeff & Carla Moore >> 804 E. Riverside Ave. >> Merrill, WI 54452 >> 715-536-1966 >> moore804 AT charter.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pelagic trip from San Diego 13 Feb 2010 now open to the public From: "philip_unitt" <unitt AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:20:07 -0000 Dear friends, As you may know, the Cooper Ornithological Society and American Ornithologists Union are having their annual meeting jointly in San Diego from 8 to 11 February. The pelagic trip scheduled for 12 February proved so popular we added another for the following day. As the trip is now just 3 weeks away and the second trip is not yet filled, it is now open to anyone. This is a full-day trip, 8 to 9 hours at sea, aboard the Grande. It will leave Fisherman's Landing at 6:30 AM and will visit Los Coronados Islands (site of the Brown Booby colony) as well as whatever hot spots our local experts, Dave Povey and Terry Hunefeld, who have their fingers on the pulse of the ocean, decide should be most productive. Price $80. Registration will be through a website set up by the conference managers. I will circulate the address as soon as it's set up, but you can reserve a space now by e-mailing me at birds AT sdnhm.org or unitt AT cox.net. Thanks very much to Terry Hunefeld for his help in making the arrangements and recruiting the experienced leaders we know and love. I will be on the boat that day too and look forward to seeing you then! Latest possibility to think of for a pelagic trip: Glaucous Gull. Yesterday Shauna Wolf found an ADULT Glaucous Gull dead on the Silver Strand and today brought it into the museum, to become only our second specimen ever of the Glaucous Gull for San Diego County. One of the few Glaucous Gulls I've seen previously was from a boat just a couple of miles off the Silver Strand.... Good birding, Philip Unitt San Diego Subject: RFI- Waxwings & Robins From: "Doug" <dwaguillard AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:11:15 -0000 If anyone has a reliable spot for waxwings and robins, would you let me know offline? I need a spot that they show up on regular basis and where I can photograph them. Thanks, Doug Aguillard San Diego, CA doug AT basiclink.com Subject: San Pasquale Valley From: thomas meixner <tlmeixner AT att.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:10:38 -0800 (PST) After dealing with a bout of insanity by working with an In School Suspesion group of lovely darlings at a middle school I work at I went out to the San Pasquale Valley to check out the latest and greatest. At the Konyn (sic) Dairy I counted over 300 Canada Geese and 2 Snow Geese. The Snows were in amongst a group of about 150 Canadas in a field about a 1/4 mile east of the dairy farm proper on Old Milky Way Rd. Also at the Dairy I had a hand full of Tricolored Blackbirds in among the myriad #'s of Brewer's, Strarlings & Cowbirds and a very large and quite curios bunch of cows that lined the fence as if to greet me upon arrival. There were also several Eurasian Collared-Doves in the mix if anyone really cares?   At the San Pasquale Battle Monument marker site - its the place with the hillside full of Prickly Pear Cacti that overlooks the Wild Animal Park at the end of Old Milky Way Rd. on Rte. 78 - I had a very cooperative Rock Wren, but alas no Cactus Wren. Maybe next time!   May God be your co-birder Tom "Mt. Goat" Meixner Mira Mesa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Odd (?) sparrows at Robb Field From: phil Pryde <PhilPinSD AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:33:07 -0800 Today (Monday, 11:30 a.m.) I finished a survey of the flood channel (nothing noteworthy), and took a quick look at the softball field area. In the exact area where the famous Snow Bunting was a year ago, there were six sparrow-like birds grazing in the grass. They didn't quite look like anything in the book. One was more sharply marked than the others (a male? - I'll call him that), but were probably all the same species. Main distinguishing features on the "male": Bold black streaking on very white breast; pure white throat; pure white on belly and vent areas; dark sparrow-shape bill; yellow legs (almost yellow-orange on the "male"); no eye-ring at all; bold white and black malar stripes; slight trace of buffyness on the wings; dark streaking on the back (especially on the "male"). It had no yellow on the face, nor rufous anywhere. The "male" looked most like a heermanni Song Sparrow, but differed in that his vent was bright white,, throat pure white, malar stripe pure white, and legs a very bright yellow-orange. The very bold black streaking on the very white undersides, leg color, no eye ring, and strong streaking on the back eliminated almost everything else. If I had to guess, I say an unusually strongly marked race of Song Sparrow (but due Song Sparrows graze in a flock in grass like, say, pipits?). If anyone is at Robb field this afternoon or tomorrow, and would like to check this little flock out, I'd be curious to know if they're a race of Song Sparrow, or . . . ? Thanks. Phil Pryde San Diego Subject: Another ORCHARD ORIOLE -Quail Gardens 1-25-10 From: seiurus AT aol.com Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:11:59 EST The bird (immature-female type) was first seen in the overflow (extra) parking lot area west of the Bamboo grove and fruit orchard, next to the 3 black dumpsters there. About an hour later, it was seen a bit south of the dumpsters feeding amid some agave, then it flew to to the bamboo grove, then in the direction of the fruit orchard. The bird was seen close up, and very close to Western Bluebirds for a good comparison and check of bill shape and other details. Sue Smith seiurus AT aol.com Del Mar, CA 92014 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: My Weekend Notes From: "Matt Sadowski" <matt.sadowski AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:06:33 -0800 BJ and all, This scaup shows a slight peak of feathers at the upper back of the head with a flat, near-vertical slant below the peak typical of a relaxed Lesser Scaup. Overall, it gives the head the look of a more vertically distributed mass. Greater would show a different mass distribution to the head, with more of a bulge to the front of the head, no peak, and a less vertical angle to the back of the head. Of course all this can be safely applied to relaxed or sleeping scaup ONLY; Lessers look very Greater-like when their head feathers are compressed during foraging, even between dives. Other marks in favor of Lesser Scaup are the black on the bill being confined to the "nail" itself and dirty flanks. Here's a link to a photo I took of the two together a long time ago: http://www.flickr.com/photos/68911779 AT N00/2104182777/sizes/o/ Matt Sadowski Encanto, San Diego, CA > were easily viewed from the shore. I've added a photo of what I > believe may be a Greater Scaup. I would appreciate some input.