Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from San Luis Obispo County > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Monday, February 8 at 02:54 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Long-tailed Ground Roller,©BirdQuest

8 Feb Monday 2/8 [Maggie Smith ] 08 Feb Sunday in Morro Bay ["aureolin" ] 7 Feb Bluebird kills lizard ["cheryl lish" ] 08 Feb 2/7/10 Cuyama Valley ["Noah" ] 7 Feb misc. sightings ["Guy Tingos" ] 7 Feb 2/7/10 Morro Bay odds and ends [Jim Royer ] 7 Feb Morro Bay 07 Feb ["Michael D. Stiles" ] 3 Feb Lawrence's Goldfinch A.G. Feeder ["Bill Bouton" ] 3 Feb Re: Pac-slope Flycatcher off season ["Brad Schram" ] 3 Feb Pac-slope Flycatcher off season [] 2 Feb Pac- slope FL ["cheryl lish" ] 2 Feb Red-throated Loon - Price Canyon Road [] 01 Feb North coast birding morning ["Kaaren Perry" ] 31 Jan My yard and beyond 1/31/10 ["cheryl lish" ] 01 Feb Black Skimmer ["Kaaren Perry" ] 31 Jan 1/30 Los Osos to San Simeon Pier [Jim Royer ] 29 Jan Morro Bay Marina, 29 Jan ["Michael D. Stiles" ] 29 Jan Yesterday in SLO ["aureolin" ] 29 Jan MU Ranch birds on the Carrizo ["sharumkathy" ] 29 Jan North county ["maryann_ambrose" ] 27 Jan Marbled Murrelets [Maggie Smith ] 26 Jan RE: Bald Eagles and Goldens [Geoff Hoetker ] 27 Jan Bullock's Oriole ["Kaaren Perry" ] 26 Jan Bald Eagles and Goldens [claudia freitas ] 26 Jan Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival -- April 23-26, 2010 -- Registration Open ["will_w04" ] 26 Jan Recent: Selasphorus, Lawrence's, misc ["cheryl lish" ] 24 Jan Sunday birds 1/24 [Maggie Smith ] 24 Jan Sunday Swallows ["Bill Bouton" ] 24 Jan Re: Long-tailed Duck [] 24 Jan Re: festival "missing" birds? [Jamie Chavez ] 24 Jan festival "missing" birds? [Alan Schmierer ] 23 Jan Long-tailed Duck [Jim Royer ] 22 Jan Foothill Blvd Wetlands ["Tom Ogren" ] 22 Jan North coast 1/22 [Maggie Smith ] 20 Jan Mountain Bluebirds & Horned Larks ["goingslo" ] 19 Jan Wandering Tattler/Estero Bluffs [Maggie Smith ] 19 Jan Never Let a Rainy Day Dampen Your Birding Spirit ["docentjoyce" ] 18 Jan unusual Goldfinch ["Tom Ogren" ] 17 Jan Eurasian Wigeon and X Green-winged Teal? [] 17 Jan Re: Digest Number 2990 [Jen ] 17 Jan R-t loons, San Luis Bay [] 16 Jan Red-necked Grebe and Black-necked Stilt? [] 16 Jan Oso Flaco Moorhen [Jamie Chavez ] 16 Jan Bald Eagle [Roger Zachary ] 15 Jan North Coast ["Karen Clarke" ] 15 Jan Long-tailed Duck off Cayucos [] 14 Jan HAWK ID? [Alan Schmierer ] 15 Jan Prairie Falcon ["sayers68" ] 12 Jan Nutmeg Mannikin update ["rebecca" ] 12 Jan Help from local birders [Jim Royer ] 12 Jan Sage Thrasher, etc. [Jim Royer ] 11 Jan saw-whet owl? ["steve schubert" ] 11 Jan North Coast ["Karen Clarke" ] 11 Jan north coast birding [Alan Schmierer ] 11 Jan Carrizo Plain, 1/10/10 [Matt Brady ] 11 Jan Mostly raptors on 8 & 10 January 2010 ["wurstertom" ] 11 Jan Weekend Birds ["aureolin" ] 11 Jan White-throated Sparrow at Montana de Oro [Peter Dullea ] 9 Jan Godwit [Brian McHugh ] 10 Jan Sunday at Cal Poly [] 9 Jan Laguna and San Antonio Lakes ["Bill Bouton" ] 9 Jan Sunday Birds 1/9 [Maggie Smith ] 9 Jan North Coast Again- 9 Jan [] 8 Jan (unknown) [Maggie Smith ] 8 Jan TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE Re-found and FOX SPARROW question [Alan Schmierer ] 7 Jan nutmeg manikins ["rebecca" ] 7 Jan Re: Oceano (Jan 6) [] 7 Jan TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE [Alan Schmierer ] 7 Jan Oceano (Jan 6) [Brian McHugh ] 07 Jan Allen's Hummingbird ["Kaaren Perry" ] 6 Jan Carrizo Plain 1/6 [Maggie Smith ] 06 Jan Mountain Plover and LBCU survey on Carrizo Plain National Monument ["sharumkathy" ] 6 Jan Don Parham ["Michael T. Hanson" ] 06 Jan Carrizo ["maryann_ambrose" ] 5 Jan PACIFIC LOON at OSO FLACO! [Alan Schmierer ] 5 Jan Cal Poly 05 Jan 2010 ["Mike Stiles" ] Subject: Monday 2/8 From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:53:24 -0800 (PST) Just after sunrise, I tried for the Nelson's Sparrow out on the spit at the Morro Bay SP Marina. I watched as several Savannah Sparrows came up into the sun and then flew out to the salicornia.  I didn't see the Nelson's Sparrow. I had better luck with the tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. It was among White and Golden-crowned Sparrows in the Morro Bay SP campground around site 22. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sunday in Morro Bay From: "aureolin" <bluemoonsailor AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:18:48 -0000 There was a flock of 7 MEW GULLS on Morro Strand beach and 6 SURFBIRDS in the mixed Surfbird - Black Turnstone flock that's been wintering at North Point. I also saw a beached Pacific Loon. The tide was quite low and it apparently misjudged how far out the water would go. After a few moments of struggling, it managed to fly back out into the surf zone. There were few birds of note at Morro Rock; a quick flyby of 4 LONG TAILED DUCKS was the only thing of any real interest. Steve G. Morro Bay Subject: Bluebird kills lizard From: "cheryl lish" <cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:17:32 -0800 It's probably not all that unusual...but it's the first time I've seen a Bluebird kill a lizard. It was a baby lizard and I'm assuming the bluebird ate the lizard, although the bird flew off to a tree when I approached so I didn't actually see the lizard get eaten. The bird was knocking it around like an insect. Does anyone know if this is common? Cheryl Lish Arroyo Grande cheryl lish cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 2/7/10 Cuyama Valley From: "Noah" <skater_ako1 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:48:59 -0000 2/7/09 Wes Fritz and I birded the Cuyama Valley today. We started at 7:30am and ended at 5:30pm. The weather was fairly miserable with intermittent cold showers throughout the day. However, we still had a fun and productive day. We made a rough clockwise loop around the valley: 166 (E) to 33 (S) to Foothill (W) to Bell (N). We did take many detours down muddy farm roads that were barely passable. We also stopped by several private residences that Wes has access to only because he has taken time to cultivate friendships with the landowners. This route took us through both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties although the majority of the birds were seen in Santa Barbara county. Birds seen in SLO and not SBA will be noted. Birds of Regional Interest in District V. Common Merganser: 16 in the pond W of 33 opposite Quatal Canyon Rd. Double-crested Cormorant: 1. Same as above. American Wigeon: 2. Pond off of 33 just south of 166. Female wigeon sp. 1. Shallow pond along 166 W of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Cinnamon Teal: 3. Same pond as above. Long-billed Dowicher: 8. Same ponds as above Wilson's Snipe: 11. Same as above. Great Blue Heron: 2. Ponds off of 33. Mountain Chickadee: 1. At a private residence off Quatal Canyon Rd. Raptors: Red-tailed Hawk: 43. Including 1 fuertes ssp. Ferruginous Hawk: 15 total including 4 dark morphs. 2 dark and 1 light in SLO. Golden Eagle: 2 Adults seen well while 1 was eating a Jackrabbit off of Quatal Canyon rd. Northern Harrier: A male along Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. Merlin: A possible suckleyi along Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. I will check photos later. American Kestrel: 6. A rather low count. Burrowing Owl: 2 in a burrow together on the W side of Perkins, south of 166. Barn Owl: 1 on private property along Santa Barbara Canyon rd. Another hunting along 166 in SLO. Great Horned Owl: 1 flying at dusk along 166 in SLO. Other birds of note: Greater Roadrunner: 1 (finally) where Perkins goes through a ditch. Loggerhead Shrike: 7 Northern Flicker: Red/yellow shafted integrade on private property off of 166. Red-breasted Sapsucker: 3 in one private yard. Nuttall's Woodpecker: 2 in one private yard and 1 in another. American Pipit: A large flock of 450 in an alfalfa field off of Foothill. Mountain Bluebird: 1 off foothill, 24 in a group along Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. Lawrence's Goldfinches: Several heard flying over near water and tall trees throughout. Tricolored Blackbird: ~25 at the dairy on Kirschenmann. Noah Gaines Santa Barbara, CA Subject: misc. sightings From: "Guy Tingos" <guy.tingos AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 19:24:27 -0800 A group of birders from Santa Barbara did an overnight trip to the SLO coast this weekend. On Saturday, Oso Flaco and the trail around the Oceano Campground lagoon were flooded and closed to entry. We did have an impressive flock of 55 Blue-winged Teal at Sweetsprings. On Sunday, we were able to pick out the male Black Scoter at the mouth of Little Pico Creek, but the strong winds and high surf made it impossible to see much else along the coast. Guy Tingos Santa Barbara, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 2/7/10 Morro Bay odds and ends From: Jim Royer <jrmotmot AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:06:03 -0800 I left early this morning on my bike and got to the peninsula next to the Morro Bay State Park Marina at just after 7:30. The tide was not super high, but a number of birds were perched in the sunlight in the bushes around the mugwort patch. I played a recording of a Nelson's Sparrow and heard a response of a very similar song. A Nelson's popped up very briefly and all of the birds flew out to the salicornia flats in the bay. I next went to the campground and followed a sparrow flock around - between campsite 2 and the bathroom/shower building. It was mainly Golden-crowned Sparrows, but one tan striped White-throated Sparrow was in with them. Next, I went to the museum overlooks and had the skimmer near Grassy Island. I looked for the Red-necked Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck near the Rock without success, but had 2 Rock Wrens on the rock. Last, I looked for the Red-breasted Nuthatch at Black Hill, but had no luck despite hiking from the golf course to the mobile home park. Jim Royer Los Osos [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Morro Bay 07 Feb From: "Michael D. Stiles" <mstiles AT calpoly.edu> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 11:35:48 -0800 (PST) I took a walk to the Audubon Overlook and Pasadena Point in Los Osos for my walking big year and had a few birds of note. I found the BLACK SKIMMER sitting on the mud across the bay off the marina. A nice male GREATER SCAUP was close in to study, and I had four COMMON GOLDENEYES (two males, two females), the first for me on the bay this winter. Mike Stiles Los Osos Subject: Lawrence's Goldfinch A.G. Feeder From: "Bill Bouton" <bbouton AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 09:26:26 -0800 Hi All, A male Lawrence's Goldfinch has been frequenting Patricia Price's feeders at her residence on Whiteley St. in Oldtown Arroyo Grande. She first reported it feeding on the ground under the feeders on Tuesday, but by today it seemed to have "learned the ropes" and was frequenting several of the hanging and platform feeders. Unlike the other two goldfinch species found commonly at those feeders, the Lawrence's seems to prefer the black oil sunflower to the nyjer / niger. Cheers, Bill Bouton San Luis Obispo, CA bbouton AT charter.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbouton/sets/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Pac-slope Flycatcher off season From: "Brad Schram" <gonebrdn AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:49:22 -0800 ...and further, Lesser Goldfinches locally also do a passable imitation of both Cassin's Kingbird and White-breasted Nuthatch. I haven't noticed Pac-slope in the local's vocabulary however. Brad Schram Arroyo Grande ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 7:40 AM Subject: [slocobirding] Pac-slope Flycatcher off season >I frequently hear what sounds like Pac-slope vocalizations in my yard and >for years that's what I thought it was, though I could never spot one. I >finally figured out that goldfinches can do a great imitation of a >Pac-slopes, and Lesser Goldfinches in particular are known for their >mimicry. > > Guy Tingos > Santa Barbara > > > ------------------------------------ > > To Post a message, send it to: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com > > To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: > slocobirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com > > Message archives and group home page can be found at: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/slocobirdingYahoo! Groups Links > > > Subject: Pac-slope Flycatcher off season From: <guy.tingos AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 7:40:19 -0800 I frequently hear what sounds like Pac-slope vocalizations in my yard and for years that's what I thought it was, though I could never spot one. I finally figured out that goldfinches can do a great imitation of a Pac-slopes, and Lesser Goldfinches in particular are known for their mimicry. Guy Tingos Santa Barbara Subject: Pac- slope FL From: "cheryl lish" <cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 21:51:56 -0800 I think that unless/until I can VISUALLY verify what I believed to be a vocalizing Pacific-slope Flycatcher it's best to withdraw my statement of it's presence. See Tom Edell's report below - Thanks Tom Cheryl Lish Arroyo Grande cheryl lish cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net Sent: 2/1/2010 8:54:27 PM Subject: Re: Pac- slope Hi Cheryl, I read your post on the Pac-slope with interest. The dashed line in the SLO Booklet indicates the species is casual which means less than ten records at the given time of year. Pac- slope is casual anywhere in California during winter. There are four winter records for the county, only one of which has documentation supporting the ID. I mention the documentation because other species of Empidonax flycatcher are more likely based on the number of winter records in California. The one documented record was of a bird at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Grove Butterfly Preserve that Curtis Marantz and I saw on 13 Jan 2006. The other reports are from Los Osos, Arroyo Grande, and Morro Bay State Park in the early 1980's. Checking other sources I see that there is one winter record mentioned in the Birds of the Salton Sea, one winter record mentioned in the San Diego County Bird Atlas, nine in The Birds of Orange County, an amazing 24 winter records are reported in the Birds of Santa Barbara County, and nine winter records in Monterey Birds. This bird is rare enough that its worth getting a look at to confirm what you heard. If you see it, I'd appreciate at least a brief description to document the bird. A photo would be great too. BTW, which call did your hear? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-throated Loon - Price Canyon Road From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:00:57 EST Around 11 AM this morning an adult RED-THROATED LOON was in one of the small vineyard retention ponds along the northern side of Price Canyon Road. I did not see the bird when I drove by these ponds around 8:30 in the morning. Although this species is occasionally seen on freshwater, it is a very rare occurrence. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: North coast birding morning From: "Kaaren Perry" <surfbird1 AT att.net> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:24:49 -0000 Maggie Smith and I spent a few hours birding around Morro Bay and north to San Simeon this morning. 2 Marbled Murrelets were seen from the second pull off south of the San Simeon pier. The Black Skimmer remains at the Morro Bay State Park estuary (11:15 am.) . There were also 2 Lesser Yellowlegs present at the park estuary . Kaaren Perry Morro Bay Subject: My yard and beyond 1/31/10 From: "cheryl lish" <cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:32:11 -0800 Hummingbird activity has increased recently. I figured that after the rain there would be fewer hummers. It seems fairly quiet most of the day - until between 4:00 'til 5:30 when there are no less than 40 hummers at any time. Seeing 3 Selasphorus. Approximately 20 Swifts flew over my yard and the surrounding fields for approx 10 - 15 minutes. All appeared to be were White-throated. Hung a couple of new nest boxes today also checked on a few already hanging. Found it interesting that 3 boxes which previously had mice in them were vacant. It makes me wonder it birds rousted out the mice to have a place to roost during the recent heavy rains. While cruising about the fields and oaks that surround my house on my "nest box mission"...among the many birds noted were Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, and White-breasted Nuthatches (had a male a female in the yard last week). Saw a Downy Woodpecker, always a treat - they aren't that common in my "neighborhood". Last Sunday 1/24/10, I heard a Pacific-slope Flycatcher in the oaks a few hundred feet to the north of my house - near the end of Stagecoach Rd. Cheryl Lish Arroyo Grande cheryl lish cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black Skimmer From: "Kaaren Perry" <surfbird1 AT att.net> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:35:09 -0000 A single, calling Black Skimmer was seen on the estuary side of the marina in Morro Bay this morning. It made several passes over the water before settling down on the near shore. It was present for at least 1/2 hour. Kaaren Perry Morro Bay Subject: 1/30 Los Osos to San Simeon Pier From: Jim Royer <jrmotmot AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:21:34 -0800 Sorry for the slow post, but after my cycle yesterday and a Cal Poly basketbal game I crashed last night. I pedalled from Los Osos to a little ways north of the San Simeon pier and back yesterday, birding along the way. The high tide pushed the ducks and shorebirds close to South Bay Blvd. and a quick binocular scan of the ducks yielded a male Eurasian Wigeon. I joined Tom Edell at the peninsula between the Sate Park marina and the bay - to look for Nelson's Sparrow. Tom found two Large-billed Savannah Sparrows, but we could not find any Nelson's. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU SEE THIS BIRD AS I WANT TO GET IT ON MY YEAR LIST BEFORE IT DEPARTS. I dashed up to Moonstone Drive to look for the Marbled Murrelets at the north most pullout and walk out to the viewing deck. I saw two pairs of winter plumage Marbled Murrelets here (another pair was of shore at Little Pico Creek Mouth north of the town of San Simeon (see the map link on my blog). I stopped at San Simeon Beach and there were no mergansers of any kind and a long search for the bittern - both from the ground and the bridge - found no bittern. Besides the murrelets, Little Pico Creek had one male Black Scoter. Despite looking over the fields between Cayucos and north of the Hearst Castle entrance I found no uncommon raptors except for an adult Golden Eagle near the intersection of Highways 1 and 46. Cambria Pines yielded the usual pine/oak forest birds such as Pygmy Nuthatch, Steller's Jay and Brown Creeper. That puts my Big Green Big Year at 172 species. As I appreciate calls when any local rarities show up so I can try to add them to my green year list. I am still looking for Canvasback, White-throated Sparrow, Red-naped and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Snow Goose, Prairie Falcon and Ferruginous Hawk. Jim Royer Los Osos http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Morro Bay Marina, 29 Jan From: "Michael D. Stiles" <mstiles AT calpoly.edu> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:55:41 -0800 (PST) I took advantage of the high tide, and a furlough day, to give a good effort for the NELSON'S SPARROW, without any luck. The conditions were right, the water was right to the base of its "usual" bush, but no bird after an hour of searching and walking along the shore in case it had moved somewhere else. There were many SAVANNAH SPARROWS around, with at least one Large-billed form. Speaking of the tide, before I went out I checked a few internet sources for tide tables and the values given for the high tide ranged from 5.54 to 6.54. That one foot discrepancy makes a big difference at the Nelson's spot, and it looked like the higher value was correct. I was also wondering if the amount of "extra" water flowing into the bay after our big rain event would produce a higher looking tide. You know there was quite a lot of water flowing down Los Osos creek when a good sized tree, root ball and all, made its way over 100 yards into the estuary. Mike Stiles Los Osos Subject: Yesterday in SLO From: "aureolin" <bluemoonsailor AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:40:55 -0000 A large (30+) flock of Cedar Waxwings was feeding just outside the Art Museum, in the small park between the Museum and the Mission. Subject: MU Ranch birds on the Carrizo From: "sharumkathy" <ksharum AT wildblue.net> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:24:06 -0000 On Wednesday, Jan. 26 we had six cedar waxwings at the house. A male Anna's hummingbird showed up on the 24th. and stayed a couple of days. This year is the first for us to have mountain bluebirds in the yard. They are usually seen infrequently about a quarter of a mile away at the closest. Lawrence's goldfinch, a bird that usually shows up for breeding and nesting only, remained here until we began getting the storms, Jan. 17. Numbers varied but we consistently had a flock of 25-30. Kathy Sharum Carrizo Plain National Monument Subject: North county From: "maryann_ambrose" <ambrose.m AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:34:32 -0000 A couple of sightings of interest the past week around Paso Robles from MAry Ann Ambrose: Large numbers of Cedar Waxwings (probably a good 200 one evening) in pyrocantha shrubs and small trees with berries on south river road and the south side of the 13th Street Bridge. Lots of berries and lots of waxwings this winter! Every winter now I see a flock of American Pipits who feed in the field behind the Science and Match building of the North County Cuesta College Campus. Lastly, a small contingent of White-throated Swifts appear to be staying around the Niblick Bridge for the winter. IS this a normal winter find? Subject: Marbled Murrelets From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:01:59 -0800 (PST) There were 2 MARBLED MURRELETS  offshore of Cambria this morning.  I stopped at the northern most  pullout on Moonstone Drive and walked a short path to an observation deck. Earlier I had scoped from several spots north to the Old Piedras Blancas Motel without success. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA www.flickr.com/photos/slomaggie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Bald Eagles and Goldens From: Geoff Hoetker <gmhoetker AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:48:51 -0800 I recall seeing a bald eagle at that location around the same time last year. I only caught a quick glimpse of it while it was on the ground by the pond (the side nearest to Hwy 101) as I was driving north into Atascadero. Geoff Hoetker Atascadero To: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com From: cfreitas AT wildblue.net Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:37:37 -0800 Subject: [slocobirding] Bald Eagles and Goldens I realize most of you have seen both eagles but wanted everyone to know that a Bald Eagle is hanging out next to Hwy 101 between Santa Margarita and Atascadero. It sits in a tree on east side of highway near the lake formed out in the grass/cattle area. We saw it Sunday and Monday. Going north on 101 after Sta Margarita exit when you get to open grass on east side, there is a bare tree that sits by itself. The eagle is often there. A pair of juvenal Goldens hang out in that area too. I ve sen them on poles next to road. Sundaya nd Monday they were flying low thru oak trees on west side of 101 in same area. Santa Margarita lake was nice on Monday. Saw a number of birds not on their bird list. They are updating it they said. Besides the usual, we saw a Prairie Falcon and a Peregrine!!! Bald Eagles , ducks etc. Claudia Freitas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390708/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bullock's Oriole From: "Kaaren Perry" <surfbird1 AT att.net> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:44:50 -0000 A female Bullock's Oriole passed through my yard this afternoon. I was able to get a few very distant photos before it flew. Tom Edell confirmed that this species is considered a very rare visitor in winter. Kaaren Perry Morro Bay Subject: Bald Eagles and Goldens From: claudia freitas <cfreitas AT wildblue.net> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:37:37 -0800 I realize most of you have seen both eagles but wanted everyone to know that a Bald Eagle is hanging out next to Hwy 101 between Santa Margarita and Atascadero. It sits in a tree on east side of highway near the lake formed out in the grass/cattle area. We saw it Sunday and Monday. Going north on 101 after Sta Margarita exit when you get to open grass on east side, there is a bare tree that sits by itself. The eagle is often there. A pair of juvenal Goldens hang out in that area too. I ve sen them on poles next to road. Sundaya nd Monday they were flying low thru oak trees on west side of 101 in same area. Santa Margarita lake was nice on Monday. Saw a number of birds not on their bird list. They are updating it they said. Besides the usual, we saw a Prairie Falcon and a Peregrine!!! Bald Eagles , ducks etc. Claudia Freitas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival -- April 23-26, 2010 -- Registration Open From: "will_w04" <will_w04 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:47:37 -0000 The first Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival (April 23-26, 2010) is now open for registration! Some of California's preeminent birders will be leading trips, including Rich Stallcup, Steve Howell, Keith Hansen, Jules Evens, David Wimpfheimer, and Lisa Hug. There will be walks, boat trips, classes, demonstrations, and a pelagic trip to Cordell Bank. To register online, go to www.pointreyesbirdingfestival.org and sign-up for the walks, events, lectures, and classes that you find most exciting. Some of these trips will be fully subscribed very quickly and registering early is advised. Enrollment will be limited. The Festival is sponsored by the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin in cooperation with PRBO Conservation Science, Marin Audubon Society, Madrone Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Point Reyes National Seashore and many other groups. If you have any questions about the Festival, send an email to prbnfestival AT gmail.com or call the Festival Headquarters at 415-663-9312. You can help make the Festival successful by forwarding this message to your birding and other friends with an interest in nature and the outdoors -- and you can help publicize the Festival by putting a link to it on your website or Facebook page. If there are websites you think the Festival should contact to establish a link, please send an email to prbnfestival AT gmail.com . Also, if you find any problems with the website, please let the sponsors know at once by sending an email to prbnfestival at AT gmail.com . Hope to see you at the Festival! Will Wilson Corte Madera [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Recent: Selasphorus, Lawrence's, misc From: "cheryl lish" <cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:36:26 -0800 On Thurs. 1/21 an adult male Selasphorus Hummer came to my feeders. "Most likely" an Allen's - it does not have a fully rufous back. It was here for 4 days - uncertain if it continues. He's the first I've seen at my feeders in 2 -3 months. I "happened upon" 5 Lawrence's Goldfinch at a residence in Arroyo Grande, 4 were males. There MAY have been 3 more (suggested by color and size) but I only saw those fly away right after the group of 5 flew and in the same direction (completely inconclusive). I'm SO jealous. It wasn't a target area but decided to take Foothill from Los Osos Valley Rd...AND WOW - I couldn't believe the "Nature preserve" that has developed in that wetlands area! Too many birds to count and many are quite far from the road but the ones that stood out "for me" were approx 20 (each) No. Pintail, Cackling Geese (too far to see neck details), and Tree Swallows, likely other swallow species. More than 60 Greater White-fronted Geese, and 50 - 60 LB Curlew. Also a female No. Harrier. And SO MUCH more. Unfortunately there's not good parking. Cheryl Lish Arroyo Grande cheryl lish cheryl-lish AT earthlink.net EarthLink Revolves Around You. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sunday birds 1/24 From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:58:11 -0800 (PST) Just after sunrise at Morro Rock, I saw the RED-NECKED GREBE at the mouth of the harbor.  I also had the female LONG-TAILED DUCK and a CANYON WREN. At Black Hill near Las Tunas i saw and heard a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.  There were at least 30 Yellow-rumped Warblers and all that I  saw and heard were Myrtle subspecies. At Montana de Oro, I found a WINTER WREN at Hazard Canyon and saw a male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD at the equestrian camping area. At Laguna Lake I saw a single BARN SWALLOW. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA http://www.flickr.com/photos/slomaggie/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sunday Swallows From: "Bill Bouton" <bbouton AT charter.net> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:26:15 -0800 This morning, over the wetlands on the NW side of Los Osos Valley Road and Foothill, among 15+ Tree Swallows, were flying 3 BARN SWALLOWS. Bill Bouton San Luis Obispo, CA USA bbouton AT charter.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbouton/sets/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Long-tailed Duck From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:26:59 EST Kaaren Perry and I saw the LONG-TAILED DUCK in the same location this morning around 1030. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA In a message dated 1/23/2010 11:26:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, jrmotmot AT gmail.com writes: I bird/biked from Los Osos to Estero Bluffs today and all I found of much interest was a Lesser Yellowlegs along Sate Park Road and a female Long-tailed Duck on the north side of Morro Rock with scoters. No Wandering Tattler at Estero Bluffs. Jim Royer Los Osos http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: festival "missing" birds? From: Jamie Chavez <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:37:09 -0800 Alan, Long-billed Dowitchers at Santa Maria Sewage Treatment plant. While several birds were seen at a distance and can only be called "dowitcher sp.", I eventually heard one call. No geese anywhere on our SM Valley hike. Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA On 1/24/2010 10:29 AM, Alan Schmierer wrote: > To those of you who were leaders or participants in the Morro Bay Winter Festival: The bird board had no record of Snow or Ross's Goose or a Long-billed > Dowitcher being seen by any groups. Is this possible??? Please let me know if you saw these species as part of any organized field trip. Thanks. > > Alan Schmierer > Morro Bay, CA > PHOTOS AT: > www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: festival "missing" birds? From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:29:09 -0800 (PST) To those of you who were leaders or participants in the Morro Bay Winter Festival: The bird board had no record of Snow or Ross's Goose or a Long-billed Dowitcher being seen by any groups. Is this possible??? Please let me know if you saw these species as part of any organized field trip. Thanks. Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-tailed Duck From: Jim Royer <jrmotmot AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:25:56 -0800 I bird/biked from Los Osos to Estero Bluffs today and all I found of much interest was a Lesser Yellowlegs along Sate Park Road and a female Long-tailed Duck on the north side of Morro Rock with scoters. No Wandering Tattler at Estero Bluffs. Jim Royer Los Osos http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Foothill Blvd Wetlands From: "Tom Ogren" <tloallergyfree AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:49:26 -0800 This morning on the east side of Foothill (by the bridge and all the water) there were large numbers of both Canadian and Greater White-fronted Geese. There were also a hundred or more of some large kind of Plover? that I couldn't ID. Red Knots? I came back there again this afternoon as soon as the sun came out and the plover-like birds were still around....at a distance they appeared to be the size of Mourning Doves. Some were in pale grey-white winter colors but others were darker above still, with some ruddy color. Would appreciate any help on this one, if anyone else saw them. Also saw Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlews, Pintail Ducks, Coots, etc...a few days ago had a very long, close up look at a Sora from this bridge. Also got a great look there this afternoon, at a Ferruginous Hawk, eating some kill on the ground, not twenty feet away from several Mallard and American Shoveler Ducks that didn't seem to be paying the large hawk any attention. Tom Ogren SLO [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: North coast 1/22 From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:15:09 -0800 (PST) It was great to get out even tho I ran into several showers and one deluge. An AMERICAN BITTERN was out in the open at the end of the boardwalk on the right side at San Simeon Creek.  I estimated 2000 gulls and couldn't find anything better than 2 adult  HERRING GULLS and 1 adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. An adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK  http://www.flickr.com/photos/12599017 AT N08/ posed for me across from Little Pico Creek while an adult PEREGRINE FALCON  seen just before the town of San Simeon flew as soon as I slowed down to admire him. I also checked out Whale Rock Reservoir where an adult BALD EAGLE was perched in its favorite tree.  The reservoir hasn't filled much but tiny rivulets of water are flowing into the Cottontail Creek portion of the reservoir.. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mountain Bluebirds & Horned Larks From: "goingslo" <goingslo AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:14:12 -0000 Tuesday afternoon on Turri Road I was pleased to encounter two species I haven't before seen on this route...approximately 15 Mountain Bluebirds and about 20 Horned Larks. These were seen fairly close to the road-side fencing but there could easily have been more in the fields. I realize this isn't the first post for either species but this is my first Mountain Bluebird and the first (local) Horned Lark. Nice to see both so close to home. I snapped a female Bluebird photo which can be seen here... http://bit.ly/4OY33d Linda Tanner Los Osos Subject: Wandering Tattler/Estero Bluffs From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:00:27 -0800 (PST) I took advantage of the break in the storm and headed to the north coast to look for the WANDERING TATTLER that Wes Fritz saw yesterday 1/18. It was on the rocks north of the large bay that you can access from the Fig Tree parking area  walking north.  http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/ncguide.htm#esblst The parking area is a quagmire. Old Creek Mouth http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/ncguide.htm#olcrmo was flooded to the parking area; a picnic table was bobbing in the waves.  An adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL continues. At Laguna Lake there was a 1st Winter THAYER'S GULL and 3 TREE SWALLOWS. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Never Let a Rainy Day Dampen Your Birding Spirit From: "docentjoyce" <docentjoyce AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:32:43 -0000 Morro Bay - 9:00 - Due to inclement weather this morning the "Bay Birding Cruise" was cancelled. Wanting to bird in comfort on this rainy day we birded, around Morro Bay and Cayucos, by car. We saw 58 species and had a lot of fun. Best birds were Pipits and Plovers. Details of the Birding By Car Adventure are posted to my birding blog http://www.birdinglady.com/birding/index.htm Joyce Cory Subject: unusual Goldfinch From: "Tom Ogren" <tloallergyfree AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:11:46 -0800 Yesterday at my brother Paul's house in SLO (where he has a lot of bird feeders) I saw an American Goldfinch unlike any I'd ever seen before. The bird is a pastel yellow and white, with orange legs and a very yellow beak...quite striking looking. It was feeding at a thistle feeder along with a great many other typical Lesser and American Goldfinches. My brother (who's down in Mexico right now) had seen this bird off and on for the past month, and had described it to me as an "albino" Goldfinch, but it doesn't appear to be a true albino....its eyes are dark like a regular Goldfinch. There is an overhang off the house there, so that you can look at the birds and still stay dry if it's raining. Anyhow, if someone wants to try and get a photo of it this next few days, give me a call on my cell phone, 801-2140. Tom Ogren SLO [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Eurasian Wigeon and X Green-winged Teal? From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:17:43 EST Curtis Marantz and I saw two more likely hybrid American x Eurasian Green-winged Teal at high tide this morning. We saw the birds from across South Bay Blvd from the driveway/entrance gate between the quarry and Turri Road. They were different from the bird we saw on Friday. Both had horizontal black and white scapular stripes, but one had faint white vertical bars on both sides of the breast and the other had bold white vertical bars on both sides of the breast. The birds were too far away to note finer details. Three male EURASIAN WIGEON were in the flooded pickleweed marsh. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Digest Number 2990 From: Jen <jmoonjia AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:24:13 -0800 While Craig Fiehler and I lead the field trips at Cal Poly we saw the SUMMER TANAGER today in the Brazilian Peppertree at the end of the peppertree-row in front of the library. It gave us great looks, lots of chatter, and several flycatching stunts. The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was seen repeatedly yesterday morning in the pepper trees but was not seen today. Also, the handful of COMMON SNIPES persist at the Dairy ponds as well as one female BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Yesterday, we had an unexpected CANYON WREN along Brizzolara Creek (Poly Canyon) utilizing a scoured out root patch along the creek. Friday, I had a sooty FOX SPARROW foraging in the landscaping along O'Neil Green (near the Business Building). Jennifer Moonjian (SLO) & Craig Fiehler (Bakersfield) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: R-t loons, San Luis Bay From: mctharms AT aol.com Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:14:30 EST This morning I met a gentleman from the Olympic Peninsula who did not know that the half day ocean trip had been canceled and we birded several locations nearby Port San Luis. While not an uncommon bird, I was surprised that we noted at least 9 Red-throated Loons as we checked out San Luis Bay from the Port San Luis Pier. Marlin Harms Morro Bay, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-necked Grebe and Black-necked Stilt? From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:08:43 EST I am leading a Bay Cruise for the Winter Bird Festival tomorrow afternoon. I noticed that someone checked Red-necked Grebe and Black-necked Stilt on the bird board today. I'd be interested in showing my group these birds. Does anyone know where these birds were seen or who saw them? Tom Edell Cayucos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Oso Flaco Moorhen From: Jamie Chavez <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:52:40 -0800 Our Morro Bay Winter Bird Fest hike at Oso Flaco Lake today turned up a winter adult COMMON MOORHEN at the far edge of the bulrushes looking north into the smaller lake from the end of the causeway. Nothing else of note, but we enjoyed six American White Pelicans and one or two Mew Gulls among the Ring-billed Gulls on the lake. Everything else was to be expected, but included Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasback, Bufflehead, and nice looks at Sora. Earlier in the day we spotted two Barn Swallows at the Santa Maria River estuary. -- Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bald Eagle From: Roger Zachary <rzachary AT charter.net> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:17:10 -0800 Hello All, This morning there was a sub-adult Bald Eagle at Atascadero Lake. One photo posted.... Roger Zachary Atascadero http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloroger [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: North Coast From: "Karen Clarke" <seachest AT charter.net> Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:47:25 -0800 Today during the North Coast field trip we had 3 species of merganser at the San Simeon Creek estuary: one male Common Merganser, 2 female HOODED MERGANSERS, and one Red-breasted Merganser. Also seen at this site Purple Finches, a female Northern Shoveler. Farther north, at the Vista Point just before the Elephant Seal rookery, two SURF BIRDS were seen, as well as a FERRUGINOUS HAWK perched across the highway on a fence post, one male Common Golden-eye at the far north cove, and Brant Geese out beyond the turbid water. We saw no unusual gulls or any terns at the Elephant Seal rookery. Karen Clarke Gale Kordowski [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-tailed Duck off Cayucos From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:17:26 EST While looking for the Harlequin Duck this afternoon at 4 PM, Curtis Marantz and I found a LONG-TAILED DUCK off the south end of Cayucos. The bird was seen offshore of the southern most house along the ocean front. It had its head tucked the entire time we observed it. Another interesting bird seen today was an apparent hybrid male Green-winged Teal. The bird was seen below the 13th Street Elfin Forest overlook in Los Osos. It looked very comparable to nearby GWTE males, but lacked a vertical white stripe on one side of the breast and had a faint white stripe on the other side. While observed we did not see a horizontal white stripe along the side, but it did seem to have a bolder black horizontal stripe than the other GWTE. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: HAWK ID? From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:25:01 -0800 (PST) There are 3 pics of a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK taken at Carrizo today. I am not sure if it is a fem or imm. I tend to favor the latter. Following that are 3 pics of a dark-phase hawk, that I thought was a RED-TAILED HAWK at the time ... thought that the tail was red... but in the pics I am not sure. Any comments? Thanks. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/4275894516/in/set-72157603251712155/ Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Prairie Falcon From: "sayers68" <sayers68 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:13:56 -0000 I kept hearing this bird calling in a large pine by my house and then it flew over onto a small pine right above our house. I sat and watched the Prairie Falcon vocalizing for about 10 minutes before I went to get the camera and alas, it was gone when I came back. Such a pretty bird though. Just thought I would mention it for the winter bird festival folks. It was in a large pine right next to the abandoned blueberry filed in Los Osos, in Vista de Oro Estates. On the left just after LOVR turns into Pecho Valley. John Sayers Los Osos, CA Subject: Nutmeg Mannikin update From: "rebecca" <shalvakitty AT tcsn.net> Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:32:37 -0800 Hi birders; Just wanted to let you know that the Nutmeg Mannikins are still visiting my feeders and yard every day. If anyone wants to come by one morning just call first; 710-2319, I have a pretty nice variety of other birds to gaze at as well. Also, I have an Oranged Crowned Warbler visiting my hummingbird feeder every morning! I've never seen this before, has anyone else? Rebecca Fay San Luis Obispo, near French Hospital [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Help from local birders From: Jim Royer <jrmotmot AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:33:47 -0800 I would appreciate help from local birders with two things: 1) I need to find owls for my winter bird festival owl field trip this Friday. Does anyone have any stakeout Barn or Great-horned Owls in the Morro Bay/Los Osos/San Luis Obispo area? How about a reliable spot for Short-eared at dusk? Any Burrowings in the same area which a group could view without much walking? Any recent sightings of Long-eared or Spotted in this same area? 2) I am doing a big green big year (BIGBY), as many know, and am trying to find 300 species by the end of the year on bike and foot only. I am up to 154 for the year so far. Does anyone know of a reliable Red-naped or Yellow-bellied Sapsucker? (I have dipped out on the Santa Rosa Park Yellow-bellied 3 times! But saw the hybrid!) How about wild turkeys in the Morro Bay/San Luis Area? Canvasback or Redhead or W-t Kite? Thanks. Anyone know the details on the Black-and-white Warbler near the SLO waste water treatment plant? I'd sure appreciate a call at 748-7895 for any local rarities you see. My running account of my 2010 BIGBY is at http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/ along with other green birding posts and links. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks. Jim Royer Los Osos [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sage Thrasher, etc. From: Jim Royer <jrmotmot AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:36:42 -0800 On Sunday morning I hiked the Pt. Buchon trail, located on PG&E property (accessible form the parking at Coon Creek trail head, Montana de Oro Ste Park). I went out with my wife, who found the Sage Thrasher on the 12/19 Christmas count. We stopped at the spot where it was previously seen - the large boulder and rockpile above and to the left of the trail, about 1/4 mile south of Disney Point. The thrasher was not at this spot, but we finally found it 300-400 yards to the south. It would perch up in the bushes and then fly down to the ground - repeatedly. It was a long way from the trail and required some very careful scanning to find. Yesterday, I rode down to the Bob Jones Bike Path that starts from Ontario Road (between the two Avila Beach exits from 101). Beginning from just downstream of the Avila Bay Club (above the metal dam) and going downstream to the creek mouth, I had many Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers. I estimated at least 30 Common Goldeneye and 16 Hooded Mergs. There were 4 or 5 clear males of each species. The best single vantage point was the golf cart/bike bridge over the creek. Jim Royer Los Osos, CA http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: saw-whet owl? From: "steve schubert" <s_schub1 AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:51:13 -0800 Hello all, This evening after dark a Camp KEEP co-worker called me on the phone to let me know she had heard an owl vocalizing with a 'toot toot' call repeatedly for a long period, and then not heard again. I played tapes of pygmy and saw-whet owl calls within the eucalyptus forest around campus with no results, but I will listen again over the next several evenings. The last Northern saw-whet owl vocalizations and visual sightings that I recall in Montana De Oro State Park- including the owls occupying a eucalyptus tree cavity- was in the early 1990's. Steve Schubert Los Osos [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: North Coast From: "Karen Clarke" <seachest AT charter.net> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:13:46 -0800 I birded a few spots on the North Coast today....in the fog. There were 9 or 10 SURFBIRDS at the second Vista Point north of Pico Creek bathing in algae lined tidal pools. One was very protective of his "bathtub". A FERRUGINOUS HAWK flew with a Red-tailed Hawk and a Turkey Vulture above the Hearst Ranch fields just beyond the entrance to the castle. I wondered where the aechmophorous grebes were this year until I saw large rafts of them from the last Vista Point before the entrance to San Simeon Cove. I agree with the exuberant remarks about the number of gulls at Santa Rosa Creek mouth. I don't think I have seen so many there before, and I live just up the street. Saturday at the San Simeon creek mouth I missed the Hooded Mergansers, but was amazed at the brilliant green, white, and red colors of a spectacular male Common Merganser as it flew by me. Karen Clarke Cambria [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: north coast birding From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:13:12 -0800 (PST) Maggie and Kaaren and I did some birding up the North Coast this morning. A few highlights: At the mouth of Old Creek in Cayucos (Directions at: http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/ncguide.htm#olcrmo) there were SEMI-PAL and SNOWY PLOVERS in moderate numbers, WHIMBREL, ROYAL TERNS and 5 species of gulls, including a few MEW and 1 GLAUCOUS-WINGED. (Out of 4000 to 5000 gulls that we saw today, we say only 2 GLAUCOUS-WINGED !!!!!) At the San Simeon Creek mouth "pond" there were 2 fem HOODED MERGANSERS and 3-4 DUNLIN. At the mouth of Little Pico Creek (about a mile north of Pico Creek Directions see: http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/ncguide.htm#picr ) : there were 2 fem WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and a male and female BLACK SCOTERS fairly close to shore (with a scope). At the Santa Rosa Creek mouth (see: http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/ncguide.htm#sarocr ) there was the largest massing of gulls that I have ever seen in this County!! We estimated 2500 CALIFORNIAS, 750 WESTERNS, 300 MEW, 150 HEERMANS, 50 RING-BILLED and 2 GLAUCOUS-WINGED. Couldn't pull any rare ones from the bunch but they might have been there! Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Carrizo Plain, 1/10/10 From: Matt Brady <podoces AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:48:39 -0800 (PST) Hi Birders. Yesterday, on our way back from missing the Black Vulture at Lake Casitas in Ventura County (we got there too late), Oscar Johnson, Amy Patten and I checked Santa Margarita Lake where we saw very few birds, other than four Scaup Sp., though we did have an immature BALD EAGLE on a pylon and our first Garter Snake of the year on the way in, then cruised out to the Carrizo Plain, to check out some of the wintering birds reported recently. On our way out, we saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER within the first four miles of Highway 58 after leaving the town of Santa Margarita, between where Encina Ave and Pozo Rd split off the highway. As we entered the Valley itself, we had our first FERRUGINOUS HAWK sitting on a telephone pole. This species was more numerous than I've experienced, and we ended up tallying at least 9 individuals throughout the Plain. Our first stop was along the first mile of Soda Lake Rd, where we had a large flock of Horned Larks, 170+ Common Ravens, another three Ferruginous Hawks and two GOLDEN EAGLES. A stop at the California Valley Fire Station and Community Center yielded at least 30 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, five Lark Sparrows, yet another Ferruginous Hawk, our first PRAIRIE FALCON and MERLIN, and 60+ TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. We also heard a Red-winged Blackbird do a remarkable job of imitating a Verdin! From the Fire Station, we headed straight to Panorama Rd., south of Soda Lake. The road deteriorates into ruts about half way down its length, and my low-clearance car started bottoming out, so we decided to park and walk. From where we parked, we had a flock of at least 400 Horned Larks, a large herd of Pronghorns, several MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, though we saw more further on, and several more Prairie Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks. We then started walking through the sage scrub, towards the large metal structure that Maggie Smith mentioned in her post on 1/6. On our way, we flushed five SHORT-EARED OWLS, saw at least 15 SAGE SPARROWS, and had several large flocks of LONG-BILLED CURLEWS fly by. We also heard a GREAT HORNED OWL hooting very distantly, from the direction of the metal structure. When we got within scope range, Oscar managed to pull out 60+ MOUNTAIN PLOVERS, to the left (south) or the metal structure. Completing our goal of adding Mountain Plover to our San Luis Obispo County lists, we turned around and headed back to the car, then on to Santa Cruz, under an incredible sunset. Another beautiful winter day in Central California! Good birding, Matt Brady Potter Valley, MEN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mostly raptors on 8 & 10 January 2010 From: "wurstertom" <wurster AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:44:41 -0000 On Friday 8 Jan 2010, Liga and I surveyed for raptors starting about from 11AM to 3 PM in the interior plains district of SLO. a) Our route followed Hwy 58 from 7-Mile Rd to Bitterwater Rd (sightings concentrated btw Soda Lake Rd and Bitterwater Rd. b) We turned north on Bitterwater Rd and continued to it terminus at its junction with Hwy 41/46 (raptors sightings concentrated in first 2-3 miled north of Hwy 58 and in Choice Valley 3/4 way to Hwy 42/46). c) We then jogged east on 41/46 before and turned north on Cholame Rd to the SLO/Monterey Co. line. d) We continued into Montery County along Cholame Rd and continued to see impressive numbers of hawks and eagles. On Sunday 10 Jan 2010, we surveyed south through the Carrizo Plain from 7AM to 4PM. e) We began our counts at the north end, at the junction of Hwy 58 and Soda Lake Rd. We drove slowly south on Soda Lake Rd to Hwy 166/33. Total count and by area a, b, c, d, e follow 2 Bald Eagle 0, 1*, 0, 1, 0 both adults, *Choice Valley area 2 Northern Harrier 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, surprisingly scarce 40 Red-tailed Hawk 11, 11, 4, 5, 9 mostly adults; 2 dark phase 23 Ferruginous Hawk 1, 7, 1, 5, 9 all but 1-2 were adults; 2 dark phase 1 Rough-legged Hawk 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 (light phase ad female)?? btw Goodwin Visitor Ctr/Painted Rock area 10 Golden Eagle 4, 5*, 0, 1, 0 *includes 2 in Kern Co. segment south of Annette Rd. 5 ad, 4 imm, 1 age not determined 18 American Kestrel 0, 5, 1, 2, 12 expected many more 1 Merlin 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 ad male columbarius 2 Prairie Falcon 1, 0, 0, 0, 1 Miscellaneous sightings Mountain Plover, 71 in Carrizo Natl Monument on 1/10/10; east side of Panorama Rd - between RC Ranch buildings and wooden stock pens Loggerhead Shrike, 13 two-day total Merlin 1 very dark female/imm on 1/9/10 in Paso Robles - intersection of Hwy 46 and Golden Hills Rd Tom Wurster and Liga Auzins Monrovia, CA Subject: Weekend Birds From: "aureolin" <bluemoonsailor AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:30:40 -0000 On Saturday I saw two juvenile RED THROATED LOONS. The first at the Cayucos Pier; the second however, was marooned on the mudflats inside the state park marina at low tide. It did not appear to be injured, but it was definitely bogged down in the very sticky mud. It was gone later, so I'm assuming that it was floated away by the returning tide. Also on Saturday there were two MEW GULLS in a flock of CALIFORNIA GULLS at Morro Strand beach. On Sunday, there was a mixed flock of SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES in the rocks at Northpoint (at the north end of Morro Strand Beach). Steve G. Subject: White-throated Sparrow at Montana de Oro From: Peter Dullea <pdullea AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:14:43 +0000 This morning I saw a White-THROATED Sparrow at MDO. The bird was between the little wooden footbridge on the way out to the bluff trail and the main road, sitting on a twig and singing. The morning was otherwise unremarkable except for some very skilled surfers riding big breakers near the bluffs. Peter Dullea P.O. Box 415 Buellton, CA 93427 (805) 350-1304 KI6PWE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Godwit From: Brian McHugh <orrock1946 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 21:44:21 -0800 My partner and I were up to Hearst Castle to see the "private quarters". Fun. But on the way, we stopped at Morro Strand. About 9:30am. There was a large flock (about 15) of Whimbrels, and one other definitely NOT Whimbrel. They flew, (s)he stayed. I carefully noted all the identifying marks - and then checked Sibley. I think definitely a Marbled Godwit. So, if anyone's out there, check it out. The bird was still there when we left, after 20 minutes or so. We think we also saw a Lesser Yellow-legs. Possible? Brian McHugh Santa Maria Brian McHugh orrock1946 AT gmail.com 805.406.6206 (mobile) http://briansalmostdailyreflections.blogspot.com/ http://sermonsbybrian.blogspot.com/ "It is possible to be morally upright repulsively." (Archbishop William Temple) "Zen is simple, simple simple.Have infinite gratitude for all that is past. Infinite service for all that is present and infinite responsibility for all that is future." Subject: Sunday at Cal Poly From: franknwier AT aol.com Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:14:28 EST Laura Frank and bicycled to Cal Poly around noon today and checked a few places. The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was feeding in one of the larger pepper trees in front of the library. We waited patiently at the back corner of the Kennedy Library for the male SUMMER TANAGER, but heard or saw only a few common species until we returned from checking three ponds near the sports fields. Upon our return to the library we heard a call from up in the eucalyptus that sounded different. We watched and waited about 15 minutes, then were rewarded by seeing the SUMMER TANAGER fly to a medium-sized eucalyptus at the back corner of the library. We had great views of the bird out in the open, and were about to leave when he sallied out from his perch, caught an insect in mid-air, and returned to a new perch. I could see that he had caught either a wasp or yellow jacket. He worked the insect out toward the tip of his bill for a minute before swallowing it whole. Eric Wier San Luis Obispo [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Laguna and San Antonio Lakes From: "Bill Bouton" <bbouton AT charter.net> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 17:44:07 -0800 Hi All, Friday, Jan 8, while kayaking on Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo, I came upon a flock of 36 Ring-necked Ducks, the most I've seen at that location. I realize that this next item is just outside our county border, in Monterey County...I hope no one will be upset...but, Saturday, Jan 9, while near Lake San Antonio for the annual eagle census, Marlin Harms, Roger Zachary, and I found an aberrant and interesting Western Scrub Jay. Images can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbouton/ I urge you to click on "View On Black", found beneath the large thumbnails, for the best viewing. Also, we were fortunate to witness the mating dances of Western Grebes; images also found at the above address. Cheers, Bill Bouton San Luis Obispo, CA USA bbouton AT charter.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbouton/sets/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sunday Birds 1/9 From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 15:23:54 -0800 (PST) Mid morning I  saw an adult male and female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Northoint Natural Area: http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/mbsloguide.htm#nonaar Earlier I had looked unsuccessfully for the male SUMMER TANAGER at Kennedy Library at Cal Poly.  I rechecked the area around 1030 without luck.  I then checked the Stenner Creek area where Jim Royer found his Summer Tanager and finally saw the bird. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: North Coast Again- 9 Jan From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 16:35:49 EST I checked the locations Maggie visited yesterday morning and found essentially the same birds. It was foggy this morning and I could not see the ocean or beyond the breakers most of the morning. An adult male and female COMMON MERGANSER and a female HOODED MERGANSER were in the San Simeon Creek lagoon again this morning. In addition, I flushed an AMERICAN BITTERN from the mouth of the channel the foot bridge crosses over from the parking lot by the bathrooms on the south and inland side of Hwy 1. A SORA was feeding in the channel upstream of the foot bridge. Two DUNLIN were feeding along the lagoon edge as was a RUDDY TURNSTONE. The Ruddy was first reported here on 29 Dec and is noteworthy because for the last several years in winter, reports of this species have been restricted to the shoreline from Cayucos to Villa Creek (Estero Bluffs State Park). I checked for the scoters off Little Pico Creek on my way north and only found about 10 Surf Scoters. When I returned on my way south the fog had pulled back and there were about 85 scoters visible plus an estimated 430 Western/Clark's Grebes. In with this crowd I found the adult male BLACK SCOTER together with a female BLACK SCOTER. A lone BRANT and an adult GLAUCOUS WINGED GULL were my highlights at Arroyo Laguna. I looked through the gulls at the Elephant Seal viewing area south of the lighthouse. Noticeable absent from last year are Glaucous-winged Gulls; I found only one adult here this morning. Seven BRANT were floating offshore and nine ROYAL TERNS were along the southern end of the shoreline with the gull flock which was composed of Western Gulls (166), California Gulls (33), Heermann's Gulls (15), and Mew Gulls (10). No Herring Gulls in sight! One of the docents told me he had seen a Peregrine Falcon on the inland side of the highway this morning. An immature FERRUGINOUS HAWK was in the Hearst Ranch pasture north of the Castle entrance. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: (unknown) From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 16:25:24 -0800 (PST) Just after sunrise at San Simeon Creek, I saw 2 female plumaged HOODED MERGANSERS and 6 COMMON MERGANSERS (3 each adult male and female.  There were also 9 BRANT in the lagoon. Arroyo Laguna had another adult male COMMON MERGANSER and a BRANT. A FERRUGINOUS HAWK was flying over the Hearst pasture just north of the entrance to hearst Castle. There were 8 SURFBIRDS at the middle vista point between the town of San Simeon and San Simeon Pier. At Little Pico Creek, I saw an adult BLACK SCOTER with a small raft of Surf Scoters. There is much pupping going on at the Elephant Seal Overlook, bit I saw no Glaucous or  Glaucous-winged Gulls. A PIGEON GUILLEMOT (adult nonbreeding) was near target rock at the Morro Bay Harbor.  I think it's the same one we had prior to our CBC.  I'll put a pic up later on my Flickr site. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA Photos AT www.flickr.com/photos/slomaggie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE Re-found and FOX SPARROW question From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 13:00:26 -0800 (PST) Mike and I re-found the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE on TV Tower road today at about mid-morning. It was in the same location as yesterday, except at the next puddle (only 100 ft past the original). The other puddle had dried up, and this puddle is only about an inch deep and could dry up soon. Photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/4257695314/in/set-72157603251712155/ While trying to photograph the solitaire, a FOX SPARROW appeared. I photographed it but did not see it thru binoculars. It stayed only long enough for one pic. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/4256934633/in/set-72157603251712155/ It is of the Slate-colored / Thick-billed races. (What you see in the pic is all that I know about it.) The bill looks somewhat intermediate in size. The bill color looks pretty good for Thick-billed. Comments appreciated. Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: nutmeg manikins From: "rebecca" <shalvakitty AT tcsn.net> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 22:02:27 -0800 Hi All; I have had about half a dozen Nutmeg Manikins at my feeders here in SLO for the last couple of days, morning and especially evening. I realize these are non native, but thought someone might be interested. Rebecca Near French Hospital in SLO. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Oceano (Jan 6) From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 22:31:48 EST Hugh, An immature Red-shouldered Hawk sounds like a good possibility. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA In a message dated 1/7/2010 9:26:54 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, orrock1946 AT gmail.com writes: I'm fairly sure I saw a Hutton's Vireo yesterday at Oceano. And I have a question: There was large (at least 18-20" in length) hawk sitting on a low branch on the south side of the road by the bridge in Oceano. It was mostly mid-brown, some speckled white on the back, big black pupil with yellow iris, smallish hooked beak with yellow on the top of the beak. Has anyone seen it? I can't identify it from Sibley. Thanks! Brian McHugh Santa Maria Brian McHugh orrock1946 AT gmail.com 805.406.6206 (mobile) http://briansalmostdailyreflections.blogspot.com/ "It is possible to be morally upright repulsively." (Archbishop William Temple) "Zen is simple, simple simple.Have infinite gratitude for all that is past. Infinite service for all that is present and infinite responsibility for all that is future." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 13:37:51 -0800 (PST) Maggie and I were up on TV Tower Road this morning in a very (very!) cold howling wind. There was a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in the same area where I saw it on the CBC. It was in the road drinking from a puddle. It flew to the right , then left and we lost it. It looked like a short flight, but with the noise and motion of the wind we could not see or hear it again. General directions at: http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/mbsloguide.htm#curiwe On TV Tower Road drive 1.3 miles past the fork to the first tv towers. This is just as you enter an area of taller cypress trees, after being in an area of short cypress that are re-growing after the 1994 fire. Approach slowly and perhaps park (back in) in a small clearing on the left. About 100 feet away there is a puddle in the road. The bird came to this puddle. This is within a few hundred feet or less of the CBC sighting. (GPS: 35.367007 / -120.671546) In SLO at Santa Rosa park, in the first pepper tree on the right, as you enter from Santa Rosa Rd, was the hybrid RED-BREASTED X RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER in its usual spot (seen best from past the tree) that was seen on the CBC. Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Oceano (Jan 6) From: Brian McHugh <orrock1946 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 09:17:07 -0800 I'm fairly sure I saw a Hutton's Vireo yesterday at Oceano. And I have a question: There was large (at least 18-20" in length) hawk sitting on a low branch on the south side of the road by the bridge in Oceano. It was mostly mid-brown, some speckled white on the back, big black pupil with yellow iris, smallish hooked beak with yellow on the top of the beak. HAs anyone seen it? I can't identify it from Sibley. Thanks! Brian McHugh Santa Maria Brian McHugh orrock1946 AT gmail.com 805.406.6206 (mobile) http://briansalmostdailyreflections.blogspot.com/ "It is possible to be morally upright repulsively." (Archbishop William Temple) "Zen is simple, simple simple.Have infinite gratitude for all that is past. Infinite service for all that is present and infinite responsibility for all that is future." Subject: Allen's Hummingbird From: "Kaaren Perry" <surfbird1 AT att.net> Date: Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:21:15 -0000 A bright male Allen's Hummingbird passed through my yard this afternoon, stopping briefly to feed on a few honeysuckle blossoms . 1/6. Kaaren Perry Morro Bay Subject: Carrizo Plain 1/6 From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 18:26:38 -0800 (PST) I birded California Valley and Carrizo Plain with a few birding friends today. Most of the birds were expected this time of year.  Nine LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at the fire station on Soda Lake Road were a nice surprise. At a fenced in pond on 7 Mile Road, we had 5 Greater Yellowlegs, 7 Least Sandpipers, male and female Mallard and a sleeping Ruddy duck. We found about  30 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS on Panorama Road across from the large metal building.  Panarama Road from here to Soda Lake Road is seriously rutted and scary. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mountain Plover and LBCU survey on Carrizo Plain National Monument From: "sharumkathy" <ksharum AT wildblue.net> Date: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:15:26 -0000 Hello SLO Co. Birders: I'm once again soliciting birders interested in taking part in the annual mountain plover/long-billed curlew survey this month on the beautiful Carrizo Plain National Monument. The scheduled date is January 21, weather permitting. Participants are given a section/sections in which to survey and most are completed by late morning, early afternoon. There's plenty of habitat this year and birds of both species have been seen since October. Please contact me for details if you are interested. Alternate dates are planned if rain makes the survey impossible or impassable. Thank you in advance! Kathy Sharum Carrizo Plain National Monument 661-769-8091 or 661-391-6033 Subject: Don Parham From: "Michael T. Hanson" <mthanson AT calpoly.edu> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 08:02:58 -0800 (PST) Yesterday in the Tribune was the obituary of Don Parham. Those of us who have been in the Audubon quite awhile ago will remember him well and with affection. He served as President of MCAS for awhile. A prince of a fellow, and his wife was a queen of a lady. Just a very nice couple. They will be missed. Subject: Carrizo From: "maryann_ambrose" <ambrose.m AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:47:00 -0000 Jerry & Mary Ann Ambrose did a half-day to the Carrizo today with out of state company. Encountered a mature Bald Eagle at the old general store at the turn in Bitterwater Road and then a mature Golden Eagle 1/4 mile beyond there. (I have a great pic of both if anyone intrested let me know - I don't post pics) Also had several Ferruginous Hawks, 3 prairie falcons, one Peregrine, a couple of Harriers. no mountain plovers but a large flock of curlews along Soda Lake Road. LArk Sparrows, Mt blue birds, Horned Larks, multitudes of Ravens, mourning doves, white crowns and Brewer's blackbirds. Subject: PACIFIC LOON at OSO FLACO! From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 16:31:51 -0800 (PST) Maggie, Kaaren and I birded Oso Flaco Lake this morning. The most interesting bird was an adult PACIFIC LOON on the lake. Their occurrence on fresh water in this county to my knowledge is exceptionally rare. Four photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/4249641200/in/set-72157603251712155/ Other birds there were: 1 WHITE PELICAN, about 75 N PINTAIL, 1 male CANVASBACK, 2 LESSER SCAUP and 1 unhappy GREAT HORNED OWL in the reeds. Some of those are also pictured in that series. Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cal Poly 05 Jan 2010 From: "Mike Stiles" <mstiles AT calpoly.edu> Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 12:52:28 -0800 The male SUMMER TANAGER is still at the southwest corner of the library, and the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was in its usual pepper tree in front of the library. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew overhead. A HAIRY WOODPECKER was along Brizzolara Creek behind the football stadium. I had TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS at the dairy unit and a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE -which I don't see often on campus- at the nearby rodeo arena. I was on foot so these were all nice additions to my 2010 walking green year. Mike Stiles Los Osos [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]