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08 May Nacimiento Bald Eagle report [Cal French ] 08 May Morro Bay Harbor [Maggie Smith ] 8 May 5/7 birds [] 07 May Oso Flaco Lake [Maggie Smith ] 7 May skimmers [] 07 May Scissor-tailed Flycatcher? at Oso Flaco 5/6/08 ["Mark Brown" ] 6 May Re: Digest Number 2478 [] 06 May scissor-tailed flycatcher ["jiwanicha" ] 5 May Lingering Birds ["Brad Schram" ] 4 May Ferruginous Hawk at the Carrizo Plain [Matt Brady ] 4 May Cambria birds [] 4 May Calliope Hummingbird [] 03 May Pied-billed Grebe Chick ["docentjoyce" ] 2 May Nipomo Dunes ["Mike Stiles" ] 2 May Migrants on 5-2 ["Brad Schram" ] 2 May RE: Lincoln's Sparrows, anyone? ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 02 May Lincoln's Sparrows, anyone? ["songbirdmama16" ] 2 May South County Birds ["Maggie Smith" ] 1 May Slow Spring So Far ["Brad Schram" ] 01 May Band-tailed Pigeons ["docentjoyce" ] 30 Apr Purple Martins & Black-chinned Sparrow ["Maggie Smith" ] 29 Apr RE: salinas survey ["JONES, Andrea" ] 29 Apr salinas survey ["JONES, Andrea" ] 29 Apr salinas riverwalk ["VV" ] 29 Apr Bald Eagles ["docentjoyce" ] 28 Apr Recap of Birdapalooza at Chimineas Ranch - April 19-20 ["jmoonjia" ] 27 Apr Cerro Alto - 4/27 [] 27 Apr Santa Rita Creek Rd.-Sat. 4/26 [Roger Zachary ] 27 Apr Misc. Birds on 4/26 [] 27 Apr Re: Good Day at Whale Rock [] 26 Apr Western Tanager [Laura Kass ] 26 Apr Good Day at Whale Rock ["Steve G" ] 26 Apr 4/25 birds and others [] 26 Apr Cayucos 4/25 [] 25 Apr More Band-tailed Pigeons... ["Joanne Aasen" ] 25 Apr Tricolored Blackbird Survey and Other Birds [Alan Schmierer ] 25 Apr Condor Friend's Group Meeting Tonight 25 April 2008 at 6:30pm at Ventura FWS office: Pizza Dinner Provided! [Michaela Koenig ] 25 Apr Condor Friend's Group Meeting Tonight 25 April 2008 at 6:30pm at Ventura FWS office: Pizza Dinner Provided! [Michaela Koenig ] 24 Apr Western Wood-Pewee ["Maggie Smith" ] 24 Apr Re: Re:Band-Tailed Pigeons ["Brad Bilsten" ] 23 Apr Re:Band-Tailed Pigeons [Dean Thompson ] 23 Apr Vaux's swifts [] 23 Apr Grasshopper Sparrows ["Bill Bouton" ] 24 Apr Band-Tailed Pigeon ["Linda Tanner" ] 23 Apr geese [] 23 Apr Pelagic Trip ["Maggie Smith" ] 22 Apr Carrizo and environs ["Maggie Smith" ] 22 Apr Band-Tailed Pigeons ["Linda Tanner" ] 21 Apr Swainson's Hawk - Cuyama Valley [] 19 Apr Franklin's Gull ["doug_george77" ] 19 Apr Saturday birds 4/19 ["Maggie Smith" ] 19 Apr SLO, LO - 4/18 [] Subject: Nacimiento Bald Eagle report From: Cal French <ccfrench AT tcsn.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 17:49:22 -0700 Today (5/8) Letty and I accompanied a friend from the Ventana Wildlife Society on a tour of Lake Nacimiento looking for bald eagles and their nests. We saw 7 adult eagles and 9 nestlings. Three of the nestlings were in a single nest, something fairly unusual. The other three nests had two apiece. The young ranged in age from 4 to 6 weeks, judging from down and feather colors, locations, and amounts. Cal French, Adelaida Subject: Morro Bay Harbor From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 13:53:55 -0700 This morning with an assist from the 'Texas Girls', I saw the RED-NECKED GREBE out near the mouth of the harbor. Also saw a female RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and I got a picture. Bonus was a CANYON WREN singing. > Maggie Smith > Arroyo Grande > http://www.flickr.com/photos/slomaggie/ Subject: 5/7 birds From: jcadroyer AT aol.com Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 03:27:28 EDT I birded with some Texas birders (Jerri Kerr, Terry Ferguson, Ann Hoover, and Gail Morris) on the afternoon of 8/7 to show them some local birds, but they did great without me in the morning. In the morning they had an adult male Black-and-white Warbler in the campground at Montana de Oro and a Marbled Murrelet in the mouth of Morro Bay. They also found a breeding plumage Red-necked Grebe which I re-found near the jetty across the harbor mouth from Morro Rock. We looked for some of their target birds and found a breeding plumage Wandering Tattler on the first rocks north of the Cayucos pier as well as 2 Black Turnstones and 5 Bonaparte's Gulls. 2 Whimbrel were also present there. On the bay we re-found Steve's 2 skimmers, but no Elegant Terns at all around the bay. We had 5 adult male Great-tailed Grackles at the Cloisters Pond. Jim Royer Los Osos **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Oso Flaco Lake From: Maggie Smith <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 17:56:03 -0700 This morning there was an adult COMMON MOORHEN at Oso Flaco Lake. Also a male RING-NECKED DUCK which seems late. I put a not so good photo of the moorhen on my flickr site. I also put up a photo of the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER that Joanna Iwanicha sent and asked me to put on my site. It's hard to see what the bird is unless you can zoom in on it. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande http://www.flickr.com/photos/slomaggie/ Subject: skimmers From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:58:06 -0700 Hello all, This morning at 10:15am two Black Skimmers were skimming over the water near the mudflats, just south of the Morro Bay state park marina. Also, a large Canada goose has been walking about on the beach the last two days at Spooner's Cove in MDO. Two geese in flight are occassionally seen near the bluffs trail nearby. Steve Schubert Los Osos Subject: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher? at Oso Flaco 5/6/08 From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 04:47:58 -0000 All: This evening May 6, 2008 at dusk I heard what I believe was the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Oso Flaco. I never saw it. The bird was singing from the back side of the northern-side of the road willows. I would like to see the photos to see if it is a male. In early spring upon returning to roosts in the evening on the breeding ground male Scissor-tailed Flycatchers produce "predawn" singing. It also made a series of mellow Western Kingbird like calls. You can here some calls here: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Scissor-tailed_Flycatcher_dtl.html . The May 1982 SLO Co. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen for 7 days but in different places. Mike Stiles showed me a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on Orcutt Road August 22 1988. I think that bird stayed around a while. The species occurs throughout the year in California with a major peak in late May early June. Regards, Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: Re: Digest Number 2478 From: <andyneedles AT charter.net> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 13:37:32 -0700 Increasing Cliff Swallow colonies- N of Cayucos A run along the bluffs and beaches N of Cayucos revealed an apparent increase in the number of colonies of nesting cliff Swallows. I counted approx. 8 different areas were they are nesting, right on the coastal bluff. Low tide is best, and some rock scrambling may be required. Some mud nests are even at eye level. -- Andy Needles www.dovercanyonrustic.com ---- slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com wrote: Subject: scissor-tailed flycatcher From: "jiwanicha" <JIWANICHA AT parks.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 00:24:44 -0000 I saw an adult scissor-tailed flycatcher this morning south east of the Oso Flaco Creek mouth. It was in the CLOSED AREA east of the symbolic fence. Please respect the fenced habitat if you go to look for it. It was perching on the marsh vegetation and Oso Flaco foredunes and flycatching. What a beautiful bird!! I took not so good photos that I can forward if wanted. Joanna Morro Bay/ Oceano State Park Subject: Lingering Birds From: "Brad Schram" <gonebrdn AT lightspeed.net> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 11:52:16 -0700 Still no blow-out migrant mornings thus far in Deer Canyon this spring. A single VAUX'S SWIFT looked lonely this morning. Of interest is a lingering GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. We were down to two four days ago, then the one which continues--in gorgeous high plumage. A migrant pugetensis WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW showed up for a bath at the drip this morning--I know it's a migrant because all the yard White-crowns this winter were gambelli. Brad Schram Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ferruginous Hawk at the Carrizo Plain From: Matt Brady <podoces AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 23:45:09 -0700 (PDT) Hello Birders. This evening, while searching for LeConte's Thrashers at the southern end of the Carrizo Plain, I saw an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK. It was in active primary and retrix molt. The very late date and its molt-status leads me to wonder if it will summer in central California. If anyone is interested in looking for it, it was south and east of the Trevor Ranch, well south of Soda Lake. Although I did not see any LeConte's Thrashers, I did see some other nice birds, including lots and lots of Sage and Lark Sparrows and two Prairie Falcons. I also saw about 20 Antelope, in three herds. Matt Brady Santa Cruz ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Cambria birds From: mctharms AT aol.com Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 23:32:06 EDT This morning I was in Cambria & saw a number of birds flying north along the coast. From the Fiscalini Ranch, I saw 3 Spotted Sandpipers & a Greater Yellowlegs. A group of over 30 Surf Scoters, then a smaller group, flew north as did a few distant loons, small groups of Brown Pelicans and small groups of subadult California Gulls. At Santa Rosa Creek mouth, there was a group of about 150 gulls, mostly subadult California Gulls, with a few adults and a few Western Gulls, plus one each of nearly one year old Mew Gull and Glaucous-winged. A treat was seeing about 10-15 dolphins very near shore from the Fiscalini Ranch, moving slowly northward, then several minutes later at Santa Rosa Creek, seeing them again. Educated guess is that they were Common Dolphins. Marlin Harms Morro Bay, CA **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Calliope Hummingbird From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:37:04 EDT Yesterday afternoon a male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visited a feeder at the Chimineas Ranch house. Other migrants included a male Western Tanager and two Cedar Waxwings. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pied-billed Grebe Chick From: "docentjoyce" <docentjoyce AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 23:35:49 -0000 Cloister's Pond, Morro Bay. 11:00 am. Pied-billed Grebe Chick actively feeding. Below is a link to a photo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/docentjoyce/2462151329/ Joyce Cory http://docentjoyce.com/ Subject: Nipomo Dunes From: "Mike Stiles" <mstiles AT calpoly.edu> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 16:42:03 -0700 I was able to access a restricted portion of the Nipomo Dunes today thanks to the Preserve Manager, Glenn, in preparation for a guided hike into the area. There were small patches of willows which held at least 15 WILSON'S WARBLERS. Also present, one each of TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and WARBLING VIREO, two pairs of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (one pair with a nest we think was made of dune grass), ANNA'S and SELASPHORUS HUMMERS, CASSIN'S and WESTERN KINGBIRD, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, plus the usual chapparal wrens, towhees, thrashers, bushtits, etc. I had an empidonax flycatcher that made me lean towards Hammonds but which I will leave unnamed. Very long primary projection, faint but slightly tear-drop shaped eyering. I saw it briefly in the willows and couldn't follow it. Mike Stiles Los Osos, Ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Migrants on 5-2 From: "Brad Schram" <gonebrdn AT lightspeed.net> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 14:21:05 -0700 No evidence of a migratory broken dam this morning, but there were more birds in the air over Deer Canyon, moving NW, than the past few days. Six WESTERN KINGBIRDS, a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, a few warblers too distant to tell, and 94 VAUX'S SWIFTS--two of the Vaux's flocks were over 30 birds each. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE overhead was undoubtedly a local. Brad Schram Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Lincoln's Sparrows, anyone? From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 15:25:29 -0500 I think these are mostly gone further north by now. They will arrive back again starting around Sept 15. I often have one in my yard but they tend to like weedy and riparian areas with some cover around. They don't occur in fairly open habitat like White-crowned Sparrows. ________________________________ From: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of songbirdmama16 Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 7:48 AM To: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [slocobirding] Lincoln's Sparrows, anyone? Does anyone know where Lincoln's Sparrows can be found? Thanks! Debbie Buckheim Atascadero [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lincoln's Sparrows, anyone? From: "songbirdmama16" <kdgbuck AT pacbell.net> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 14:47:42 -0000 Does anyone know where Lincoln's Sparrows can be found? Thanks! Debbie Buckheim Atascadero Subject: South County Birds From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 12:47:03 -0700 Birds were plentiful at Oso Flaco Lake this morning. Four and twenty YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were in the reeds on the big island before taking off. I saw only 2 adult males, the rest were females or 1st winter males. A male and female REDHEAD were on the far shore with 4 female RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. I also saw a COMMON LOON in nonbreeding plumage and a 1st summer BONAPARTE'S GULL. There were about 12 YELLOW WARBLERS and 20+ WESTERN TANAGERS. I heard the 'Whit' of a SWAINSON'S THRUSH and then was fortunate enough to see it. Another COMMON LOON was on the Oceano Community Pond. One AMERICAN AVOCET in breeding plumage was at the mouth of Arroyo Grande Creek. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/slomaggie/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Slow Spring So Far From: "Brad Schram" <gonebrdn AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 21:07:50 -0700 This is the quietest spring we've had here in Deer Canyon in the past eight years. So far, anyway. Maybe the dam will break and send birds up the coast? Today the total list of migrants over Deer Canyon included: a pair of PHAINOPEPLAS, eight VAUX'S SWIFTS in one flock, and a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. This is better than yesterday, when no migrants at all were seen here. Brad Schram Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Band-tailed Pigeons From: "docentjoyce" <docentjoyce AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 16:56:20 -0000 Baywood - 9:00 am - Corner of 1st St. and Pasadena Ave. Flock of about 25 Band-tailed Pigeons observed overwhelming a feeder and bird bath. They certainly have a voracious appetite. Joyce Cory http://docentjoyce.com/ Subject: Purple Martins & Black-chinned Sparrow From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:18:57 -0700 On Monday 4/28, while birding with Doug Stinson, he spotted a pair of PURPLE MARTINS on a utility pole on Hwy 58 about 1 mile from the junction of Pozo Road. We saw another pair .6 miles from the junction. Today I went back and saw 3 pairs and most probably 4 in the same area. There are large oaks with nesting Acorn Woodpeckers and starlings. I couldn't see any evidence of nesting, but will keep monitoring the site. I also went up to Hi Mountain and saw a BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: salinas survey From: "JONES, Andrea" <ajones AT audubon.org> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:58:52 -0400 Hi all - the location that Tom and I heard the yellow-billed cuckoo call was on N. River road between San Miguel and Paso Robles. As you go south from San Miguel, you pass Wellsona Road which goes off to your east - about ¼ - ½ mile down on the right there was a pull over on the right that we stopped to listen for birds. There was a bit of a bank going down to a flat area before the riparian forest. This area had a lot of trash in it, included a cement headless bird (no joking). If you reach the bridge crossing Huerhuero creek you have gone too far. This spot is where we heard the cuckoo but we didn't pursue trying to find it since it was private property - we heard it from the road. That being said and not being from this area, I understand now that this is an early date for a cuckoo and a rare location - some birders I have talked to suggested that it might be an eastern migrant... the habitat was very good in this area. Tom and I are very familiar with hearing this bird in the east where we are from, where it is much more common along forest edges. It may well have passed on by now, but I only hope that someone finds it and would love to know some ways to bird more of the good habitat along this stretch of Salinas without trespassing. Andrea Jones and Tom Maloney, San Luis Obispo ________________________________ From: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of JONES, Andrea Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:12 AM To: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [slocobirding] salinas survey This email reminded me that while Tom Maloney and I were doing the tricolored blackbird survey on Saturday in San Miguel - Paso Robles we heard a yellow-billed cuckoo calling along river road just north of Paso Robles. I have the location marked if anyone is interested. We had 2 tricolored colonies - a big one on river road about 1 mile south of san miguel (about 750) and a small one on creston road in Paso Robles (about 100). Andrea Jones San Luis Obispo ________________________________ From: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com [slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of VV [vmvinke AT yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:03 PM To: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [slocobirding] salinas riverwalk For the past week, at the beginning of the Salinas River walk(Paso), several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS,WESTERN TANAGERS and a GREEN HERON seen and heard. Flycatchers but not sure which one(s) Vickie Vinke Paso Robles [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: salinas survey From: "JONES, Andrea" <ajones AT audubon.org> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:11:52 -0400 This email reminded me that while Tom Maloney and I were doing the tricolored blackbird survey on Saturday in San Miguel - Paso Robles we heard a yellow-billed cuckoo calling along river road just north of Paso Robles. I have the location marked if anyone is interested. We had 2 tricolored colonies - a big one on river road about 1 mile south of san miguel (about 750) and a small one on creston road in Paso Robles (about 100). Andrea Jones San Luis Obispo ________________________________ From: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com [slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of VV [vmvinke AT yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:03 PM To: slocobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [slocobirding] salinas riverwalk For the past week, at the beginning of the Salinas River walk(Paso), several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS,WESTERN TANAGERS and a GREEN HERON seen and heard. Flycatchers but not sure which one(s) Vickie Vinke Paso Robles Subject: salinas riverwalk From: "VV" <vmvinke AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:03:35 -0000 For the past week, at the beginning of the Salinas River walk(Paso), several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS,WESTERN TANAGERS and a GREEN HERON seen and heard. Flycatchers but not sure which one(s) Vickie Vinke Paso Robles Subject: Bald Eagles From: "docentjoyce" <docentjoyce AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:13:52 -0000 Whale Rock Reservoir where Cottonwood Creek enters the Reservoir. At 7:30 this morning the two Bald Eagles, one more mature, were perched in an oak tree situated on a hill beside the water. I have a photo on my Flickr page that may help in locating the Eagles. Thrilling to watch them fly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/docentjoyce/ Joyce Cory http://docentjoyce.com/ Subject: Recap of Birdapalooza at Chimineas Ranch - April 19-20 From: "jmoonjia" <jmoonjia AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:32:01 -0000 Hi All- Just a recap of the fun weekend of birding we had at Chimineas Ranch on April 19 and 20th. A big "thanks" to Bob Stafford for hosting the 2008 Birdapalooza and to Carrol Comeau for organizing the great food event!! This year the wildflowers made for a beautiful background. The steady wind and the chillier weather however, made birding a little bit more of a challenge. Even so, we still racked up 111 species. Thanks to all that participated this year - we hope to see everyone out there again next year. For those of you who participated, I will be sending you a spreadsheet with all of the species and numbers from this year as well as past years. Highlights: GREEN HERON, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, MOUNTAIN QUAIL, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (new bird for ranch), CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, PHAINOPEPLA, CASSIN'S VIREO (new), NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (new), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, MACGILLVRAY'S WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSSBEAK, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRD, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. Thanks, Jen Moonjian SLO Subject: Cerro Alto - 4/27 From: jcadroyer AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:16:53 EDT The Bigby (Big Green Big Year - no gas consumption) year of birding is sometimes hard work. I rode my bike from Los Osos up to Cerro Alto against offshore winds today. Then after a hilly 6 mile hike, the winds had shifted and the ride back was against onshore winds. The ride up yielded a Blue Grosbeak singing just off the road about 1/2 of the way up. Nick Armstrong and his nephew Christopher joined me at Cerro Alto. It was a little windy, but the birding was good with 8 new birds for my Bigby year. The creek along the entrance road to Cerro Alto Campground (7.5 miles up Highway 41 - I counted everyone) had many migrants with at least 4 loudly singing Olive-sided Flycatchers, 6 or more singing MacGillivray's Warblers, a Nashville Warbler, Brown Creeper, several Western Tanagers, Cassin's Vireo, many Warbling Vireos and Black-headed Grosbeaks, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, and a couple of Mountain Quail calling (is the loud "quock" singing?) in the distance. The hike up toward the summit had Lazuli Bunting, more tanagers, several Mt. Quail, and many other common migrants. On the back side of the ridge, the trail is much drier and there were several singing Sage Sparrows and a singing Black-chinned Sparrow and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. We also found 2 horned lizards, 2 garter snakes, and numerous alligator lizards and fence lizards. After Cerro Alto, the usual spot for Purple Martin at the intersection of 41 and San Gabriel just before Atascadero yielded 4 or 5 Purple Martins and a pair of Wood Ducks in the creek. The ride back was more bearable with a stop at Morro Bay Coffee Company to refuel with a smoothy and a treat before finishing the final leg home. My Bigby year total now stands at 223 species. I think that a yearly Bigby total of 280 species here is probably doable with a little luck, but 300 is probably not at all likely. No matter the total, I know I will finish the year in better shape. Jim Royer Los Osos. **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Santa Rita Creek Rd.-Sat. 4/26 From: Roger Zachary <rzachary AT charter.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:22:36 -0700 Hello, Ruth Brown and I birded Santa Rita Creek Road from Templeton on Saturday morning for 2 hours. We started at the bridge and drove four miles to the west. At the bridge we saw a pair of WOOD DUCKS. There was plenty of activity along the way. Most of the incoming migrants were singing and fairly abundant. These included Pacific- slope Flycatchers, House Wrens, Hutton's Vireos, Warbling Vireos, 1 Western Wood-Pewee(heard singing), Wilson's Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and MacGillivray's Warblers(3). We ended up with 36 species. The bird of the day for me was a Common Raven which flew over my property in Atascadero at about 2 p.m. It's a new property bird for me. I've lived here since 1979. Happy birding..... Roger Zachary Atascadero Subject: Misc. Birds on 4/26 From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:50:07 EDT Maggie Smith and I surveyed historic Tricolored Blackbird locations in the south county this morning. Before starting we stopped in Nipomo where we heard a COMMON GROUND DOVE calling from a lemon orchard at Clamshell Mountain Way and Dana-Foothill Blvd. Later we drove along Bull Canyon Road hoping to discover the blackbirds there. No blackbirds, but we did find a lot of migrants moving up the canyon and flying by overhead. The most numerous migrant was BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, but we also found LAZULI BUNTINGS, WESTERN TANAGERS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, WESTERN KINGBIRDS, and CEDAR WAXWINGS on the move. A single RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and a Gambel's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were in the riparian along Suey Creek and three male BLUE-GROSBEAKS were seen and heard singing from the mustard covered hillsides. Fifteen RING-NECKED DUCKS and a BUFFLEHEAD were with the Mallards, Ruddy Ducks, and Double-crested Cormorants on Twitchell Reservoir. An American Coot has a single precocial young on Alamo Creek, down creek of the Hwy 166 bridge. The sub-adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues in the Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Good Day at Whale Rock From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:13:11 EDT I looked for the WHITE-FACED IBIS around 6:30 PM and found two feeding in Cottontail Creek where it meets Whale Rock Reservoir. The birds were backlit from my vantage point. I could see that they were both in alternate plumage and that one had a reddish face with a white border. The face color on the second bird appeared darker and I could not make out a white border. I'll check the second bird again tomorrow morning when the lighting will be more favorable. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA In a message dated 4/26/2008 1:00:46 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, bluemoonsailor AT gmail.com writes: A morning visit to Whale Rock Reservoir, Cottontail Creek arm yielded both mature and immature BALD EAGLEs as well as a WHITE FACED IBIS. There were a few lonely Clark's grebes on the lake and one last female/immature Bufflehead. Lark sparrows, redwinged blackbirds and western bluebirds rounded out the visit. One note of caution for WRR - bluebirds are nesting in the box on the fence just below the road, so do be considerate. Also, the beach just to the north of the Children's Museum yielded an alternate plumaged Spotted Sandpiper. Steve G. **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Western Tanager From: Laura Kass <lauranature AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:42:58 -0700 (PDT) This morning, 4/27, an adult male, breeding plumage, Western Tanager sipped from my bird bath in Arroyo Grande. Last night, there was a Black-headed Grosbeak, first winter male, at my bird feeder. Laura Kass lauranature AT sbcglobal.net Laura Kass [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Good Day at Whale Rock From: "Steve G" <bluemoonsailor AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:00:20 -0000 A morning visit to Whale Rock Reservoir, Cottontail Creek arm yielded both mature and immature BALD EAGLEs as well as a WHITE FACED IBIS. There were a few lonely Clark's grebes on the lake and one last female/immature Bufflehead. Lark sparrows, redwinged blackbirds and western bluebirds rounded out the visit. One note of caution for WRR - bluebirds are nesting in the box on the fence just below the road, so do be considerate. Also, the beach just to the north of the Children's Museum yielded an alternate plumaged Spotted Sandpiper. Steve G. Subject: 4/25 birds and others From: jcadroyer AT aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:50:01 EDT I rode my bike out to Montana de Oro today after a morning walk in the neighborhood turned up a lot of migrants, including many Warbling Vireos, Lazuli Buntings, a Western Wood-Pewee, and flocks of warblers including many "butterbutts", Wilson's, Orange-crowneds, Yellows, and a Nashville. Islay Creek had nine species of warbler including Black-throated Gray, Hermit, Nashville and Yellow-breasted Chat. A tenth warbler species - Townsend's - was at Coon Creek. 2 Chaetura swifts flew by the neighborhood here on Monday 4/21 and 2 more flew over highway 1 near Cuesta on 4/23. I don't feel able to separate Vaux's and Chimney Swifts in the field (I heard the pewee call). I last saw the Los Osos Lesser Yellowlegs on 4/25. Jim Royer Los Osos **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cayucos 4/25 From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:09:29 EDT The offshore winds this morning inspired me to take a long hike around Cayucos. Thirteen LEAST and 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS at the mouth of Cayucos Creek were in alternate plumage as was a SPOTTED SANDPIPER in the rocks along the shore north of the Cayucos Pier. Twelve Western Pond Turtles were sunning on rocks in Cayucos Creek upstream of the Ocean Avenue Bridge. After crossing over Hwy 1, I walked up into the hills where it was apparent that there had been a push of migrants last night. As I reached the top of the first hill three VAUX'S SWIFTS passed overhead with Cliff Swallows and a Western Kingbird flew north right behind them. A couple of hummingbirds flew by as well. In the first patch of coastal scrub I checked, I found a male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER with a handful of ORANGE-CROWNED and one male WILSON'S WARBLER, plus a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. I worked the scrub and then a small drainage with willows and found more of these species plus two singing male LAZULI BUNTINGS. I recorded about 25 warblers and had three kinglets in a fairly small area that I am typically lucky to see one of these birds if any at all. I also saw a single adult Gambel's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. A highlight was the wildflower bloom on one particular north facing serpentine slope. There was a fair number of tidy tips that I believe were Jones's layia (Layia jonesii) with about 50 jewel flowers (Streptanthus glandulosus), and a lot of other plants that I need to key to identify. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: More Band-tailed Pigeons... From: "Joanne Aasen" <joliaa AT charter.net> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:44:22 -0000 So, just to add yet another geographical area where BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are feeding... I live in Cambria (Park HIll, near Shammel Park) and this year the first BTPs showed up on 3/27-count=3 Yesterday, 4/24, I counted as many as 15 at a time. (I expect more as time goes by.) It is fun to watch them clamor over each other to get to the seed on my hanging cabin- shaped bird feeder. I've had as many as eight at a time on this feeder that's meant for house finches! Only 4-5 at a time can get to the seed, while the other wait on the "roof" for an open spot. They also, of course, feed on seeds that I, and my neighbor, scatter on the ground. It's hard to imagine the amount of seed Bard in See Canyon must go through as the 15+ BTPs here easily consume 16 cups of seed/day and he has 40-60 BTPs! Joanne Aasen Cambria, CA Subject: Tricolored Blackbird Survey and Other Birds From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:08:04 -0700 (PDT) Maggie Smith and I did a Tricolored Blackbird survey of the northeast county this morning. The following are some highlights: Six colonies of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS for a total of about 5400 birds. The largest colony was on Davis Road about 2.5 miles south of Routes 41/46 This colony of about 4000 birds had nests 10 to 30 feet up in large willows and cottonwoods. We had never seen this nest location before! Other birds were: 2 GREEN HERONS were at a small pond along Shell Creek Road. At the Cholame Valley Road wetlands there were 18 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 25 LEAST & 1 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. At the Antelope Grade Ponds there was 1 AMERICAN BITTERN and 5 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS (1 male and 4 females). Alan Schmierer Morro Bay, CA PHOTOS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Condor Friend's Group Meeting Tonight 25 April 2008 at 6:30pm at Ventura FWS office: Pizza Dinner Provided! From: Michaela Koenig <michaelamkoenig AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:41:56 -0700 (PDT) Join the California Condor Friends Group! Nationwide there are over 250 “Friends Groups” whose mission is to support the goals and purpose of the associated National Wildlife Refuge. Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex is hosting an informational meeting for volunteers who are interested in establishing a friends group for the California condor. Come to and talk California Condors over Pizza! When: Friday April 25th, 2008 at 6:30pm Where: Meeting will be at the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex 2493-A Portola Road Ventura Ca 93003 If you would like to attend please email Ivett Plascencia at hoppermountain AT fws.gov or call (805) 644-5185. For more information on Friends Groups you can visit National Wildlife Refuge Association at www.refugenet.org ________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com . Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sbcobirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sbcobirding/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:sbcobirding-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:sbcobirding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: sbcobirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Condor Friend's Group Meeting Tonight 25 April 2008 at 6:30pm at Ventura FWS office: Pizza Dinner Provided! From: Michaela Koenig <michaelamkoenig AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:41:56 -0700 (PDT) Join the California Condor Friends Group! Nationwide there are over 250 “Friends Groups” whose mission is to support the goals and purpose of the associated National Wildlife Refuge. Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex is hosting an informational meeting for volunteers who are interested in establishing a friends group for the California condor. Come to and talk California Condors over Pizza! When: Friday April 25th, 2008 at 6:30pm Where: Meeting will be at the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex 2493-A Portola Road Ventura Ca 93003 If you would like to attend please email Ivett Plascencia at hoppermountain AT fws.gov or call (805) 644-5185. For more information on Friends Groups you can visit National Wildlife Refuge Association at www.refugenet.org ________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ 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 <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/slocobirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/slocobirding/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:slocobirding-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:slocobirding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: slocobirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Western Wood-Pewee From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:35:58 -0700 This morning at Cerro Alto I heard and saw my first WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE of the year. It was in the trees across from first restroom as you walk up the road from the lower parking lot. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re:Band-Tailed Pigeons From: "Brad Bilsten" <brad AT bilsten.net> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:33:04 -0700 We live at the top of See Canyon, and have between 40-60 band-tailed pigeons eating us out of house and home on a daily basis. Be happy you only have 5-8. Bard Bilsten On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 10:36 PM, Dean Thompson wrote: > I live next to the elfin forest and there has consistantly been a flock > of about 5 to 8 BAND TAILS hanging around the feeding station on our street. > > Dean Thompson > Los Osos > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re:Band-Tailed Pigeons From: Dean Thompson <ososclan AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:36:51 -0700 (PDT) I live next to the elfin forest and there has consistantly been a flock of about 5 to 8 BAND TAILS hanging around the feeding station on our street. Dean Thompson Los Osos [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Vaux's swifts From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:37:58 -0700 This evening at 6:50pm a flock of more than 100 Vaux's swifts swirled around the base of Black Hill near South Bay Blvd., then were gone. It was the second wave of swifts that had passed by, so maybe they were encircling the mountain in flight. Steve Schubert Los Osos Subject: Grasshopper Sparrows From: "Bill Bouton" <bbouton AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:24:00 -0700 While walking over the greenspace that is just south of Meadow Park in SLO Town this afternoon, I heard at least two GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS in song. It's the first time I've noticed them in that area in the 10 years I've been hiking there. 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: Band-Tailed Pigeon From: "Linda Tanner" <goingslo AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:32:21 -0000 I've had a few requests for the Band-tailed Pigeon's photo which I have now posted on my Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goingslo/sets/ Click on the first set marked "Recently Added". The 3rd and 4th photos in this set are of the Band-tailed Pigeon that visited yesterday. Linda Tanner GoingSLO AT Yahoo.Com Subject: geese From: s_schub AT webtv.net Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:50:05 -0700 Elizabeth Roberts and Cathy Chambers, Camp KEEP staff, report two adult Canada geese with 5 goslings seen this morning at the Morro Bay State Park marina. Steve Schubert Los Osos Subject: Pelagic Trip From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:37:02 -0700 This morning Doug Stinson and I joined Paul Lehman's group for a 4 hour pelagic trip out of Morro Bay. Conditions were good with overcast skies and calm seas. In the harbor we had 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and 2 HORNED GREBES (1 in near breeding plumage). Other birds of note with estimated numbers were 250 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 12 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 5 NORTHERN FULMARS, 12 RED PHALAROPES, 100+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 20 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 1 COMMON TERN, 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, 1 COMMON MURRE, and 45 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Carrizo and environs From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:37:06 -0700 Just after sunrise at San Diego Creek, I saw 1 LONG-EARED OWL. Near the intersection of Seven Mile Road and Soda Lake Road I saw 1 male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. I met up with Al Schmierer at the Goodwin Education Center and he had seen several GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES and 3 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS 1 male and 2 female). Kathy Sharum joined us and we headed up to Saucito Ranch. We saw a male and female BLUE GROSBEAK which didn't stay long. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were everywhere. I think we saw at least 50. Al heard a HOUSE WREN singing and we tracked it down. At the small springs in the area, we saw a male MACGILLIVRAY'S, NASHVILLE and WILSON'S WARBLERS. There were 3 PHAINOPEPLAS (2 male, 1 female). We also had 4 or 5 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. Mainly we flushed them as we walked and none of them were singing. Finally near the Education Center on the way back we saw a mixed flock of 7 WHIMBRELS and 5 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. A most fun and satisfying day of birding Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Band-Tailed Pigeons From: "Linda Tanner" <goingslo AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:41:44 -0000 After having seen a flock of several dozen Band-Tailed Pigeons on Santa Rita Road yesterday, one came to my backyard bird bath this afternoon in Los Osos. It's been quite awhile since I've seen them in my yard. Linda Tanner GoingSLO AT Yahoo.Com Subject: Swainson's Hawk - Cuyama Valley From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:58:47 EDT A single intermediate colored SWAINSON'S HAWK was seen circling to the north of Hwy 166 just west of the intersection with Hwy 33 this morning around 10:30. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Franklin's Gull From: "doug_george77" <dgeorge77 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:46:05 -0000 One adult Franklin's Gull in breeding plumage on shore at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area Saturday, April 19. Doug George Subject: Saturday birds 4/19 From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:30:49 -0700 Early this morning I saw a male BLUE GROSBEAK near Pennington Creek Rd. Headed north on Hwy 1, take a right at the second Cuesta College traffic light. Follow this road a short distance until you see Pennington Creek Rd. There is a pull off where you can park on the left. The bird was singing in the coyote bushes and dry stalks on the right side of the road. Later I joined Doug Stinson at Biddle Park for his monthly field trip for Wild birds Unlimited. We heard a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT along the riparian corridor off the entrance road. A male and female LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH were in the back part of the park. We discovered nests for Black Phoebe, Robin. Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Wren and Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: SLO, LO - 4/18 From: jcadroyer AT aol.com Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:35:54 EDT I rode my bike to the back (west) end of Laguna Lake today and found an adult Bald Eagle, 14 White-fronted Geese and 2 White Pelicans. The white (hybrid Snow x Ross'?) Goose was still with the domestic Geese near the Madonna (east) end of the lake. The Lesser Yellowlegs at the Cuesta Inlet was still present as of 4/16. The last date I had the Oriole ID'd as an Orchard Oriole was 3/19. Maybe someone has a later date. Jim Royer Los Osos **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]