Date: 3/31/26 7:58 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts April 1 - 7
Greetings,
This time I'm making sure to send this new list out before the calendar actually rolls over, lest anybody think I'm kidding when I say that SDSU Mission Valley River Park only needs one more week to achieve 100% bar charts!
The past week was a bit unusual, with quite a few folks going for the same few hotspots at the top of the list with fewest weeks remaining. And that means those spots got particularly good data, with every checklist adding something unique to mix!
*SDSU Mission Valley River Park - 1* San Diego Bay--bait barges - 5 San Luis Rey River--Foussat to Douglas - 9 Eternal Hills Cemetery - 10 La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 11 Lake View Park - 13 San Luis Rey Mission - 13 San Onofre Creek mouth - 14 San Diego Bay NWR--Paradise Marsh - 15
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Mahr Reservoir Aston & Rutherford business area Jackson Park Buena Vista Lagoon--Jefferson St. overlook (east of I-5) Calzada Del Bosque / Chino Farms area Sage Canyon Park La Posta Creek pullouts Sweetwater Community Gardens Grape Day Park Rolling Hills Park Emerald Hills Park Encinas Creek--Laurel Tree Ln. Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Harvey Moore Trail Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park Montgomery-Waller Park Monserate Mountain Preserve Veterans Park (Imperial Beach) El Monte Rd. fields Rolando Park Vista Conservancy--Nature Trail Calle Acervo Trail
Cheers,
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Date: 3/31/26 10:27 am From: Alison Hiers via groups.io <lahiers...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawk
Just had a Swainson's Hawk fly over La Costa headed north very high up. I was only alerted to it because a couple of crows were circling it calling but not attacking it. It was also accompanied by a gull checking it out. It was flapping very leisurely but headed straight north.
Alison Hiers
Carlsbad
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Date: 3/31/26 8:56 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Coastal seabird numbers and mortality
There has been a fair amount of online discussion and websites discussing increasing seabird mortality, with beached birds being found in larger numbers, not only the usual suspects like pelicans and cormorants, but also some murres and rhinos. The water is warmer than normal and there may be a food source issue developing, although as recently as late February fishing captains were telling me that there were plenty of bait fish around.
Sometimes under these conditions the best fishing is right near the shore, and I just finished spending 2 hours looking off the end of Seacoast Drive near the Tijuana River mouth and near the imperial Beach Pier and tallied a record total of 430 Red-throated Loons, a species that annually stages along this section of coast in March and early April but not normally in nearly these numbers. Also about 100 Pacific Loons, 1800 Western Grebes, and four Cocos Boobies.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 3/27/26 4:19 pm From: Laurel Scott via groups.io <laurel_scott...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Mira Mesa Acorn Woodpeckers
Good afternoon,
After visiting the Sharp Rees-Stealy clinic at 10243 Genetic Center Drive, I was surprised to hear an Acorn Woodpecker. A group has taken up residence in at least one of the date palm trees at the front of the building. Not sure if this has been reported.
Good birding,
Laurel Scott
San Diego, CA (Mission Valley)
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Date: 3/27/26 1:56 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego Birdathon: April 10 - May 10
Hi all,
Spring is upon us, and very soon we should start seeing good numbers of our favorite migratory species. If you needed even more reason to get out during the peak of spring migration, what if I told you that birding between April 10 - May 10 could benefit local conservation initiatives?
The San Diego Birdathon is a friendly birding competition and fundraiser supporting San Diego Birdathon Alliance’s local endangered species work (California Least Tern, Light-footed Ridgway’s Rail). Teams and individuals endeavor to spot as many species as possible within a 24-hour period during April 10 - May 10, and friends can support their efforts by donating per-species or a flat amount.
Last year, a hardcore team spotted *173 species* in San Diego County under traditional Big Day rules. Will a new team rise to break the record this year? I’m excited to see!
Awards for teams and individuals who raise the most funds and spot the most birds will be announced at a fun closing celebration on Sunday June 7 (more details TBA).
This will also be prime time for taking Bird Atlas breeding data, and there will be award for whoever documents the most confirmed breeding codes in one day too :)
I won’t flood the listserv with more updates about the Birdathon, so please DM me if you have any questions!
Hope to see you out there
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 3/26/26 11:40 am From: Kyle Fischer via groups.io <kylebradyfischer...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Date: 3/25/26 8:04 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Thank you Ed (and Phil). After listening to a lot of different recordings of Golden-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, if it was a Sparrow my totally inexpert opinion would be White-throated. There are some that have spent the winter in San Diego County, including one in the Poway area that I learned this afternoon has been visiting someone's yard that is about 3/4 of a mile as the bird flies from the park. Probably too far for it to be that bird. The quality of the notes didn't seem as clear and loud to me as either Sparrow. My first thought when I was there listening to it was maybe a Warbler of some sort, but I ultimately ruled that out. Best I could tell the bird was up in a smallish tree and not conspicuous if that helps at all.
Lisa Ruby Sabre Springs
On 3/25/2026 6:51 PM, ed pandolfino via groups.io wrote:
> Wow, Lisa that is a very interesting recording. I also think that Golden-crowned Sparrow (subsong) is a good guess. One thing that is odd for subsong is how relatively consistent the song is from one to the next. The structure here consists of two down-slurred notes ending at about 5kHz, then those three oddly down-slurred higher pitched notes, then two lower notes on a steady pitch, then ending with slightly downslurred notes at a frequency more or less between the first and third set of notes. If I ignore that second set of odd notes, it resembles the Type 3 song (see for example spectrograms in this paper: [View of USING SONG DIALECTS TO ASSESS THE MIGRATION STRATEGY OF THE GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW](https://journal.westernfieldornithologists.org/index.php/westernbirds/article/view/703/665)) I found most common among SoCal wintering GCSP. (All GCSP songs start with a down-slurred note, followed usually by two sets of notes on a steady pitch). that third set of notes at a steady pitch look just like the middle notes of the Type 3 song. In Type 3 songs the third note or notes are at a pitch intermediate between the first and second notes. That fact that the syntax (the order of the phrases) remains consistent does not rule out subsong as syntax is often somewhat innate, even in species that learn their songs. > > https://journal.westernfieldornithologists.org/index.php/westernbirds/article/view/703/665 > > View of USING SONG DIALECTS TO ASSESS THE MIGRATION STRATEGY OF THE GOLD... > > That's only a guess, of course. If I had to pick a second option, it would also be White-throated Sparrow subsong, as Bruce suggests. So still a Zonothrichia and their songs are more GCSP-like than WCSP-like. > > Do go back and see if you can refind this bird and get a look and another recording. Given that young birds' songs are crystallizing right now, it might even have and "improved" version to share. > > And I'll reiterate Bruce's advice and ANY recordings. Longer the better. I have studied song repertoire of some birds using archived recordings and short recordings are just about useless for that purpose. > > thanks for sharing this > > Ed Pandolfino > >> com > > On Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 06:12:12 PM PDT, Philip Unitt [<unitt...>](mailto:<unitt...>) wrote: > > Dear Lisa, > > In this response, I'm copying Ed Pandolfino from the Sacramento area. Ed has studied and published on variation in the Golden-crowned Sparrow. I thought of him because, to me, your recording sound closest to that species. > > Very interesting! > > Thanks much, > > Philip Unitt > San Diego > > On Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 03:28:17 PM PDT, Bruce Rideout via groups.io [<bnkrideout...>](mailto:<bnkrideout...>) wrote: > > Lisa: It sounds to me like you have two birds singing similar unusual songs, which reduces the likelihood that it's a significant rarity. It's worth noting that this is the time of year for unusual songs. Males entering their first breeding season will often be singing subsong or plastic song as they transition to their final adult song, and adult males may sometimes sing truncated songs before the breeding season is fully underway. > > Mountain Chickadee seems like a reasonable possibility for these, although it's hard to find close matches in the Macaulay library, as you mentioned. The closest I can find is this one: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/632267226 > > Zonotrichia sparrows, like a Golden-crowned Sparrow or even a White-throated Sparrow, might also be possibilities, but the notes are a bit short and delivered more rapidly than I would expect. Those species also often intersperse various call notes with song phrases, which I don't hear in your recording. Which brings up another point. When recording an unknown species, it's always a good idea to get recordings that are as long as possible. Often a suspected ID can be clinched if there are species specific call notes that show up eventually along with the song phrases. > > If you get a chance, I would encourage you to go back and see if you can confirm the ID. > > Bruce Rideout > La Mesa > >> On Mar 25, 2026, at 11:55 AM, Lisa Ruby via groups.io [<lbruby1...>](mailto:<lbruby1...>) wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> I was on a bike ride yesterday afternoon and stopped at Valle Verde Park >> for a little while to check for birds. Right when I got there I heard a >> bird singing and I could not identify the song. Merlin couldn't either, >> despite repetitive singing and the bird being close. I have a recording. >> After putting the recording on the computer, amplifying it and playing >> it back to Merlin, Merlin finally decided it was a Mountain Chickadee. >> That seems like a distinct possibility, but I don't think I've ever >> heard a Mountain Chickadee song sound quite like this. Possibly at Mount >> Palomar where I've heard them make different sounds, but I don't >> remember. It's not unusual for me to run across Chickadees around the >> Poway and Carmel Mountain Ranch area at this time of year. I've listened >> to many recordings of Chickadees online and can't find one like this. >> I've listened to a lot of Warbler songs and none of those matched >> either. I posted the recording under passerine sp on my list, which is here: >> >> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S312814277 >> >> Anyone know for sure if this was a Mountain Chickadee, or know what it >> was if it was something else? >> >> Lisa Ruby >> Sabre Springs >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Lisa Ruby >> Sabre Springs >> >> >> >> >> > >
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Date: 3/25/26 7:22 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Thanks Bruce. When I was there it sure seemed like one bird. It did not
seem like the singing was coming from more than one location. Thanks for
the reminder about doing longer recordings. I got what I could this
time. Being on my bike, it took me time to get the bike set aside,
switch glasses, and get my phone and small bins out of my pockets. I
heard the singing right as I pulled into the parking lot. After I got
the recording I posted it stopped singing. I wish I'd had time to go
back today, but I didn't. If I can get there tomorrow it will likely be
in the afternoon again. Maybe someone else in the community who lives up
this way can check?
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
On 3/25/2026 3:26 PM, Bruce Rideout wrote:
> Lisa: It sounds to me like you have two birds singing similar unusual songs, which reduces the likelihood that it's a significant rarity. It's worth noting that this is the time of year for unusual songs. Males entering their first breeding season will often be singing subsong or plastic song as they transition to their final adult song, and adult males may sometimes sing truncated songs before the breeding season is fully underway.
>
> Mountain Chickadee seems like a reasonable possibility for these, although it's hard to find close matches in the Macaulay library, as you mentioned. The closest I can find is this one: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/632267226 >
> Zonotrichia sparrows, like a Golden-crowned Sparrow or even a White-throated Sparrow, might also be possibilities, but the notes are a bit short and delivered more rapidly than I would expect. Those species also often intersperse various call notes with song phrases, which I don't hear in your recording. Which brings up another point. When recording an unknown species, it's always a good idea to get recordings that are as long as possible. Often a suspected ID can be clinched if there are species specific call notes that show up eventually along with the song phrases.
>
> If you get a chance, I would encourage you to go back and see if you can confirm the ID.
>
> Bruce Rideout
> La Mesa
>
>> On Mar 25, 2026, at 11:55 AM, Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I was on a bike ride yesterday afternoon and stopped at Valle Verde Park
>> for a little while to check for birds. Right when I got there I heard a
>> bird singing and I could not identify the song. Merlin couldn't either,
>> despite repetitive singing and the bird being close. I have a recording.
>> After putting the recording on the computer, amplifying it and playing
>> it back to Merlin, Merlin finally decided it was a Mountain Chickadee.
>> That seems like a distinct possibility, but I don't think I've ever
>> heard a Mountain Chickadee song sound quite like this. Possibly at Mount
>> Palomar where I've heard them make different sounds, but I don't
>> remember. It's not unusual for me to run across Chickadees around the
>> Poway and Carmel Mountain Ranch area at this time of year. I've listened
>> to many recordings of Chickadees online and can't find one like this.
>> I've listened to a lot of Warbler songs and none of those matched
>> either. I posted the recording under passerine sp on my list, which is here:
>>
>> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S312814277 >>
>> Anyone know for sure if this was a Mountain Chickadee, or know what it
>> was if it was something else?
>>
>> Lisa Ruby
>> Sabre Springs
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Lisa Ruby
>> Sabre Springs
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
--
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
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Date: 3/25/26 6:51 pm From: ed pandolfino via groups.io <erpfromca...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Wow, Lisa that is a very interesting recording. I also think that Golden-crowned Sparrow (subsong) is a good guess. One thing that is odd for subsong is how relatively consistent the song is from one to the next. The structure here consists of two down-slurred notes ending at about 5kHz, then those three oddly down-slurred higher pitched notes, then two lower notes on a steady pitch, then ending with slightly downslurred notes at a frequency more or less between the first and third set of notes. If I ignore that second set of odd notes, it resembles the Type 3 song (see for example spectrograms in this paper: View of USING SONG DIALECTS TO ASSESS THE MIGRATION STRATEGY OF THE GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW) I found most common among SoCal wintering GCSP. (All GCSP songs start with a down-slurred note, followed usually by two sets of notes on a steady pitch). that third set of notes at a steady pitch look just like the middle notes of the Type 3 song. In Type 3 songs the third note or notes are at a pitch intermediate between the first and second notes. That fact that the syntax (the order of the phrases) remains consistent does not rule out subsong as syntax is often somewhat innate, even in species that learn their songs.
|
|
| |
View of USING SONG DIALECTS TO ASSESS THE MIGRATION STRATEGY OF THE GOLD...
|
|
|
That's only a guess, of course. If I had to pick a second option, it would also be White-throated Sparrow subsong, as Bruce suggests. So still a Zonothrichia and their songs are more GCSP-like than WCSP-like.
Do go back and see if you can refind this bird and get a look and another recording. Given that young birds' songs are crystallizing right now, it might even have and "improved" version to share.
And I'll reiterate Bruce's advice and ANY recordings. Longer the better. I have studied song repertoire of some birds using archived recordings and short recordings are just about useless for that purpose.
thanks for sharing this
Ed Pandolfino
com
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 06:12:12 PM PDT, Philip Unitt <unitt...> wrote:
Dear Lisa,
In this response, I'm copying Ed Pandolfino from the Sacramento area. Ed has studied and published on variation in the Golden-crowned Sparrow. I thought of him because, to me, your recording sound closest to that species.
Very interesting!
Thanks much,
Philip UnittSan Diego
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 03:28:17 PM PDT, Bruce Rideout via groups.io <bnkrideout...> wrote:
Lisa: It sounds to me like you have two birds singing similar unusual songs, which reduces the likelihood that it's a significant rarity. It's worth noting that this is the time of year for unusual songs. Males entering their first breeding season will often be singing subsong or plastic song as they transition to their final adult song, and adult males may sometimes sing truncated songs before the breeding season is fully underway.
Mountain Chickadee seems like a reasonable possibility for these, although it's hard to find close matches in the Macaulay library, as you mentioned. The closest I can find is this one: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/632267226
Zonotrichia sparrows, like a Golden-crowned Sparrow or even a White-throated Sparrow, might also be possibilities, but the notes are a bit short and delivered more rapidly than I would expect. Those species also often intersperse various call notes with song phrases, which I don't hear in your recording. Which brings up another point. When recording an unknown species, it's always a good idea to get recordings that are as long as possible. Often a suspected ID can be clinched if there are species specific call notes that show up eventually along with the song phrases.
If you get a chance, I would encourage you to go back and see if you can confirm the ID.
Bruce Rideout
La Mesa
> On Mar 25, 2026, at 11:55 AM, Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I was on a bike ride yesterday afternoon and stopped at Valle Verde Park
> for a little while to check for birds. Right when I got there I heard a
> bird singing and I could not identify the song. Merlin couldn't either,
> despite repetitive singing and the bird being close. I have a recording.
> After putting the recording on the computer, amplifying it and playing
> it back to Merlin, Merlin finally decided it was a Mountain Chickadee.
> That seems like a distinct possibility, but I don't think I've ever
> heard a Mountain Chickadee song sound quite like this. Possibly at Mount
> Palomar where I've heard them make different sounds, but I don't
> remember. It's not unusual for me to run across Chickadees around the
> Poway and Carmel Mountain Ranch area at this time of year. I've listened
> to many recordings of Chickadees online and can't find one like this.
> I've listened to a lot of Warbler songs and none of those matched
> either. I posted the recording under passerine sp on my list, which is here:
>
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S312814277 >
> Anyone know for sure if this was a Mountain Chickadee, or know what it
> was if it was something else?
>
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 3/25/26 6:12 pm From: Philip Unitt via groups.io <unitt...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Dear Lisa,
In this response, I'm copying Ed Pandolfino from the Sacramento area. Ed has studied and published on variation in the Golden-crowned Sparrow. I thought of him because, to me, your recording sound closest to that species.
Very interesting!
Thanks much,
Philip UnittSan Diego
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 03:28:17 PM PDT, Bruce Rideout via groups.io <bnkrideout...> wrote:
Lisa: It sounds to me like you have two birds singing similar unusual songs, which reduces the likelihood that it's a significant rarity. It's worth noting that this is the time of year for unusual songs. Males entering their first breeding season will often be singing subsong or plastic song as they transition to their final adult song, and adult males may sometimes sing truncated songs before the breeding season is fully underway.
Mountain Chickadee seems like a reasonable possibility for these, although it's hard to find close matches in the Macaulay library, as you mentioned. The closest I can find is this one: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/632267226
Zonotrichia sparrows, like a Golden-crowned Sparrow or even a White-throated Sparrow, might also be possibilities, but the notes are a bit short and delivered more rapidly than I would expect. Those species also often intersperse various call notes with song phrases, which I don't hear in your recording. Which brings up another point. When recording an unknown species, it's always a good idea to get recordings that are as long as possible. Often a suspected ID can be clinched if there are species specific call notes that show up eventually along with the song phrases.
If you get a chance, I would encourage you to go back and see if you can confirm the ID.
Bruce Rideout
La Mesa
> On Mar 25, 2026, at 11:55 AM, Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I was on a bike ride yesterday afternoon and stopped at Valle Verde Park
> for a little while to check for birds. Right when I got there I heard a
> bird singing and I could not identify the song. Merlin couldn't either,
> despite repetitive singing and the bird being close. I have a recording.
> After putting the recording on the computer, amplifying it and playing
> it back to Merlin, Merlin finally decided it was a Mountain Chickadee.
> That seems like a distinct possibility, but I don't think I've ever
> heard a Mountain Chickadee song sound quite like this. Possibly at Mount
> Palomar where I've heard them make different sounds, but I don't
> remember. It's not unusual for me to run across Chickadees around the
> Poway and Carmel Mountain Ranch area at this time of year. I've listened
> to many recordings of Chickadees online and can't find one like this.
> I've listened to a lot of Warbler songs and none of those matched
> either. I posted the recording under passerine sp on my list, which is here:
>
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S312814277 >
> Anyone know for sure if this was a Mountain Chickadee, or know what it
> was if it was something else?
>
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 3/25/26 3:28 pm From: Bruce Rideout via groups.io <bnkrideout...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Lisa: It sounds to me like you have two birds singing similar unusual songs, which reduces the likelihood that it's a significant rarity. It's worth noting that this is the time of year for unusual songs. Males entering their first breeding season will often be singing subsong or plastic song as they transition to their final adult song, and adult males may sometimes sing truncated songs before the breeding season is fully underway.
Mountain Chickadee seems like a reasonable possibility for these, although it's hard to find close matches in the Macaulay library, as you mentioned. The closest I can find is this one: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/632267226
Zonotrichia sparrows, like a Golden-crowned Sparrow or even a White-throated Sparrow, might also be possibilities, but the notes are a bit short and delivered more rapidly than I would expect. Those species also often intersperse various call notes with song phrases, which I don't hear in your recording. Which brings up another point. When recording an unknown species, it's always a good idea to get recordings that are as long as possible. Often a suspected ID can be clinched if there are species specific call notes that show up eventually along with the song phrases.
If you get a chance, I would encourage you to go back and see if you can confirm the ID.
Bruce Rideout
La Mesa
> On Mar 25, 2026, at 11:55 AM, Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I was on a bike ride yesterday afternoon and stopped at Valle Verde Park
> for a little while to check for birds. Right when I got there I heard a
> bird singing and I could not identify the song. Merlin couldn't either,
> despite repetitive singing and the bird being close. I have a recording.
> After putting the recording on the computer, amplifying it and playing
> it back to Merlin, Merlin finally decided it was a Mountain Chickadee.
> That seems like a distinct possibility, but I don't think I've ever
> heard a Mountain Chickadee song sound quite like this. Possibly at Mount
> Palomar where I've heard them make different sounds, but I don't
> remember. It's not unusual for me to run across Chickadees around the
> Poway and Carmel Mountain Ranch area at this time of year. I've listened
> to many recordings of Chickadees online and can't find one like this.
> I've listened to a lot of Warbler songs and none of those matched
> either. I posted the recording under passerine sp on my list, which is here:
>
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S312814277 >
> Anyone know for sure if this was a Mountain Chickadee, or know what it
> was if it was something else?
>
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 3/25/26 11:55 am From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Odd bird song in Poway yesterday afternoon
Hi,
I was on a bike ride yesterday afternoon and stopped at Valle Verde Park
for a little while to check for birds. Right when I got there I heard a
bird singing and I could not identify the song. Merlin couldn't either,
despite repetitive singing and the bird being close. I have a recording.
After putting the recording on the computer, amplifying it and playing
it back to Merlin, Merlin finally decided it was a Mountain Chickadee.
That seems like a distinct possibility, but I don't think I've ever
heard a Mountain Chickadee song sound quite like this. Possibly at Mount
Palomar where I've heard them make different sounds, but I don't
remember. It's not unusual for me to run across Chickadees around the
Poway and Carmel Mountain Ranch area at this time of year. I've listened
to many recordings of Chickadees online and can't find one like this.
I've listened to a lot of Warbler songs and none of those matched
either. I posted the recording under passerine sp on my list, which is here:
Anyone know for sure if this was a Mountain Chickadee, or know what it
was if it was something else?
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
--
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
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Date: 3/23/26 11:27 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Cassin's & Purple Finch comparisons (Laguna Mountains)
For a while now there has been a small to fair number of Cassin's Finches in the Laguna Mountains. In contrast, very few or none are in the Cuyamacas--where one recent report of Cassin's ended up being a Purple. A visit this morning, Monday, to the Lagunas produced small numbers of Cassin's at a total of four sites along Sunrise Highway, where also Purple Finches are present. At two of these sites--the Mile 19 pullout/trailhead and farther north at the turnoff for the Laguna Campground--there were several each of Cassin's and Purple Finches in mixed flocks. And at Mile 19 there were also a couple House Finches present, so we had a Hat Trick of Haemorhous finches there. Anyway, at multiple sites the presence of both Cassin's and Purples provided for a good ID lesson and an opportunity to try to tell the songs apart of the two species (much more difficult than the call-notes).
It has been a rather mediocre season for Townsend's Solitaires this winter, so of note was an individual today at Desert View Picnic Area, a site that has supported this species over the past several years (same individual?).
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 3/22/26 10:51 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] "vagrant" Black Oystercatcher, miscellanea, private property birds
On Sunday morning, a Black Oystercatcher came flying into San Diego Bay and briefly landed at the Shelter Island boat launch area before returning south past North Island toward the mouth of the bay. This put the bird a solid two miles farther into San Diego Bay than the usual inside location of Ballast Point.
Also early on Sunday morning, the female Hepatic Tanager continues at the north end of Bill Cleator Park, in the line of eucalyptus behind the YMCA. This is one of three Hepatics still present this month in the county, with the others being in La Jolla and the well-known bird in Wing Street Canyon.
For much of the winter, there have been one or two rare warblers present in the Serra Mesa neighborhood of San Diego which I have periodically reported and clearly noted as being on undisclosed PRIVATE property. Such sites which are sensitive in some way include schools, private neighborhoods not accustomed to birders, kiddy playgrounds, some high-tech corporate parking lots, golf courses, etc. Just imagine a bunch of binocular- and camera-wielding birders walking around some of these sites. In some such cases, a small number of folks are likely OK to visit as long as they follow some common-sense protocols of behavior. I and others regularly strive to make such sites available via private correspondence, where the "rules of engagement" can be explained, IF numbers are kept manageable and IF people can behave. One expectation is that people told of the location will then not turn around and, without "permission," publicize it to "just" a bunch of their own personal friends or to the world in eBird reports with exact locations of lat-long coordinates down to six decimal points. Thank goodness the couple warblers in question here were very rare species which also occurred elsewhere on public property this winter as well and were well seen by hordes. Very lucky for that, otherwise the demand would have been through the roof. Anyway, this didn't stop several folks from posting eBird reports with exact locations and no mention of site sensitivity.
It is experiences such as these, and happening more and more with the ever-increasing number of observers and photographers, that will result in more and more rare birds being suppressed. Not a desirable outcome, but unfortunately necessary. It doesn't take much for things to quickly get out of hand and for everyone to be tossed out of such sites forever. And it doesn't take very many folks to misbehave and we all suffer the consequences. In 98% of these situations, people don't misbehave out of spite, although a few just don't care. Most of them just aren't carefully thinking about the ramifications of what they are doing.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 3/22/26 1:25 am From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts March 22 - 31
Greetings,
As of this past week, one more hotspot has 100% bar charts. This hotspot (Los Penasquitos Ranch House) has special meaning to us as this is where Beverly and I first started birding together!
Overall we saw a very good completion rate despite the hot weather, with all but the bait barges hotspot being covered in the past week from the main list, as well as a majority of the hotspots from the "gap" list!
Next week we have a smaller slate on the main list, with only 9 hotspots needing 15 weeks or fewer, and this being the last week of the month, we have more days than usual until the next bar chart week starts on April 1.
SDSU Mission Valley River Park is again on the list this week, and needs only 2 weeks. I'd like to highlight this hotspot in particular. Before appearing on the weekly hotspot lists, I had never ventured there. I'm very glad I did and have enjoyed coming back to it. Earlier this year when this hotspot appeared on the weekly list, it yielded the CBA's first Confirmed breeding code for White-throated Swifts! Beverly and I photographed them carrying nesting material into the cracks under the bridge. When I covered it again this Saturday, I again saw Swift Nest Building activity and was even able to record video of swifts hanging to the side of the cracks and then flying out. I also observed very, very active nest building by many Northern Rough-winged Swallows all along the bridge (a first for both CBA blocks the park is in). This hotspot is a relatively unique opportunity to conveniently and closely observe breeding activity for both of these species, as the trolley bridge runs along the entire length of this rather lengthy park, with playgrounds and sports fields situated directly underneath the bridge. The bridge is not elevated very high off the ground, making for very good views!
SDSU Mission Valley River Park - 2 NAS North Island--O St. path, golf course, ponds (restricted access) - 5 San Vicente Reservoir - 9 Sweetwater Park - 9 Barrel Springs - 13 Mt. Hope Cemetery - 13 Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Stonewall Peak - 14 Laguna Mtns.--Desert View Overlook - 14 Laguna Mtns.--Thing Valley/Desert View Rds. - 14
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Memorial Park (SD Co.) Montclair Park Hollywood Park Dairy Mart Rd.--east riparian Jackson Park La Costa Glen Trail--La Costa Ave. to Levante St., Carlsbad Ranchita--Old Mine Road Spooners Mesa Paradise Creek Educational Park Cuyamaca College Water Conservation Garden Holy Cross Cemetery Sweetwater Community Gardens Berry Street Park Grape Day Park Rolling Hills Park Emerald Hills Park Mission Trails Regional Park--West Sycamore Otay River Valley--east of 125 Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Harvey Moore Trail Monserate Mountain Preserve Veterans Park (Imperial Beach)
Cheers,
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Date: 3/20/26 9:32 pm From: Philip Unitt via groups.io <unitt...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black-throated Green Warbler in Mission Valley
Dear friends,
This morning 20 March 2026 Steve Ritt and I found a female Black-throated Green Warbler in the FSDRIP revegetation area in Mission Valley, on the south side of the San Diego River a few hundred feet west of Mission Center Road. We first heard a soft but distinctive call like a Black-throated Gray's but softer--Steve called it "kissy." Then we saw it in the canopy of a cottonwood tree. The sides of the head were rather dull yellow with just a little dusky smudge over the ear coverts.The throat was a very pale yellow--barely discernible yellow.The breast and sides were variably marbled or mottled with blackish over white, most heavily on the sides of the breast, lightly across the center of the breast and on the sides. Thus the pattern below just hinted at the characteristic pattern of an spring male Black-throated Green. After we watched it for a couple of minutes it flew off to the west, toward Hwy. 163, and we lost it.
Good birding,
Philip UnittSan Diego
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Date: 3/19/26 7:47 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs 3/19/2026
Today, Thursday March 19, 102 Swainson's Hawks migrated. Onlookers were treated to close views as large kettles of hawks formed. This evening, we believe around 50 hawks have entered the valley. Tomorrow's takeoff time depends on whether there is enough wind early on. It is possible that the hawks might kettle up around 8 a.m. or earlier. It all depends on the wind. If the wind is light, the hawks could take off later. Today most of the hawks became airborne after 9 a.m. We are anxiously awaiting Betsy's possible arrival (she was captured last March). The last transmitter recently updated her location about 150 miles south of Borrego Springs. She has now travelled almost 6,000 miles on her journey to her nesting area near Sacramento. We'll keep you updated concerning Betsy's location. Hal Cohen Borrego Springs.
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Date: 3/18/26 11:04 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Town Hall Tomorrow Night (Zoom)
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Van Pierszalowski via groups.io <van...>
>
Date: Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Town Hall Tomorrow Night (Zoom)
To: <CALBIRDS...>
I’ll be joined by CBA Science Director Sam Safran to share updates and
answer questions. The level of engagement statewide has been incredible. As
of yesterday, we’ve surpassed *50,000 Atlas checklists* across more than *4,300
blocks* from over *2,700 birders*. And we're just getting started.
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Date: 3/17/26 9:28 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Over 200 Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs
On Tuesday, March 17, 21 Swainson's Hawks migrated. This evening 200-300 Swainson's Hawks came into town at 6:20pm and settled into trees east of Borrego Valley Road. Tomorrow with very light wind, the hawks will continue migrating north between 8:30 and 9:30 am. We suggest you check in at the official day count site, 2.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive on DiGiorgio Rd for directions to best viewing.
*WARNING: HEAT ADVISORY - Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits. If are coming out to view hawks bring lots of water, sunscreen and person shade!*
*Hal Cohen*
*Borrego Springs*
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Date: 3/17/26 2:35 pm From: Michael Beeve via groups.io <pileatedwoodpecker...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] 3 rare birds at San Elijo Lagoon
Sonja and I had a fabulous day birding here with 82 species. Gray catbird (thanks Aedyn), Eurasion widgeon and Black and white warbler were the highlights. Thanks,Michael
Michael Beeve Vista, CA 92081 <pileatedwoodpecker...>
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Date: 3/16/26 8:24 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs
Today 85 Swainson's Hawks migrated. Several kettles of hawks were observed. This evening (Monday March 16) we had a late arrival of around 15 to 20 hawks. They may have touched down south of the date farm. Best viewing may be around 1 mile north of Palm Canyon Drive on Borrego Valley Rd. A hawk captured last spring and fitted with a radio transmitter is only a few hundred miles south of Borrego Springs. "Betsy" may arrive along with many other hawks either tomorrow or Wednesday evening. Will hopefully will find her among other hawks. Betsy has travelled a great distance from Argentina-over 4,000 miles! Hal Cohen Borrego Springs
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Date: 3/15/26 8:56 am From: Nancy Christensen via groups.io <nancy.r.christensen...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Gray Catbird
Found yesterday by Aedyn Lofke (probably butchered the spelling), continues this morning. Found quietly whisper singing above the sign that says. It to pick the wild cucumber. North end of N Rios in Solano Beach. Trail to the right maybe 20 yards of walking.
Nancy Christensen
Ramona
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb
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Date: 3/15/26 12:25 am From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts March 15 - 21
Greetings,
Apologies for the late missive - we returned home late evening after an
outing to Palomar, where we encountered multiple pairs of Mountain Quail
crossing the Thunder Valley loop trail!
Other highlights from the past week's hotspots include:
* Tricolored Heron at Sweetwater Park
* Confirmed breeding codes for Juncos and Anna's Hummingbirds at the
Eternal Hills Cemetery
* Confirmed breeding codes for Red-shouldered Hawk at Azalea Glen
* Confirmed breeding codes for Bushtit and Lesser Goldfinch at Roadrunner
Park
All but 2 stretch goal hotspots were completed from the main list this past
week, and Pine Creek Rd. near S1 is now 100% complete!
In the upcoming week we have one more hotspot that needs just the one week
to be 100% complete!
*Los Peñasquitos Ranch House - 1*
Encinitas Viewpoint Park - 2
Palomar Mtn.--Thunder Spring/Upper Doane Valley Loop - 2
SDSU Mission Valley River Park - 3
Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Azalea Glen Trail - 5
San Diego Bay--bait barges - 5
San Marcos Creek - 10
Swamis Seaside Park - 10
Sweetwater Park - 10
Carmel Valley Community Park - 12
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Laguna Mtns.--Thing Valley/Desert View Rds.
Palomar Mtn.--Boucher Hill Loop
Banner
Carmel Creek Neighborhood Park
Mahr Reservoir
Oasis Spring
Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
J Street Viewpoint (Encinitas)
Aston & Rutherford business area
Calzada Del Bosque / Chino Farms area
Paradise Creek Educational Park
Black Mountain Ranch Park
Berry Street Park
Grape Day Park
Panhe Nature Trail
Otay River Valley--east of 125
Monserate Mountain Preserve
Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park
Veterans Park (Imperial Beach)
Calavera Hills Community Park
Cheers,
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Date: 3/14/26 7:54 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs
Today, 35 Swainson's Hawks migrated. This evening at 6:45 p.m., around 75 Swainson's Hawks descended into trees in the date farm on Borrego Valley Road. With light wind tomorrow, the hawks will probably begin to kettle up between 8 and 9am. Apparently, flying insects (craneflies and dragonflies) are now available as a food resource. Viewing is probably best from the evening watch site on Borrego Valley Road, 1.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. For more information about the hawks' location, check with the leader at the day count site, 2.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive on DiGiorgio Rd. Hal Cohen Borrego Springs
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Date: 3/13/26 8:48 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs
Thirteen hawks migrated today. This evening at least 50 hawks are in town. If the wind is light tomorrow morning, the hawks will depart between 8 and 9am.The hawks may linger for awhile feeding on craneflies and grasshoppers. Come to the day site for information about the best viewing area. The day count site is 2.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive on DiGiorgio Rd. Hal Cohen Borrego Springs, CA
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Date: 3/13/26 12:52 pm From: Millie Basden Thomas via groups.io <pandmthomas...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Calliope Hummingbird Mission Trails Lake Murray Blvd
Friday morning, 3/13, around 8:30 am, Cindy Cornelius and I found a small buffy-fronted hummingbird in the dense vegetation near the beginning of the trail at the end of Lake Murray Blvd (labeled Gate 13) in essentially the same area that a Broad-billed Hummingbird was a few years ago. It was seen on both sides of the trail. Photos are on the following eBird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S308801029 Millie Basden
Tierrasanta
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Date: 3/13/26 11:44 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] NEW Grace's Warbler & Black-and-white Warbler
The third Grace's Warbler of this winter is now present in the Stonecrest neighborhood, just east of Serra Mesa and just north of Snapdragon Stadium. The bird was actually foraging in tipu trees, although there are a reasonable number of scattered or lines of pines in the immediate area and where presumably it spends time. The bird was mostly on private HOA property, so exact location will not be given here, but if anyone in "desperate" to try, please contact me privately. But the current "preferred" bird in the county is the one on Crest Drive in Encinitas. However, this is the time of season (mid-March to early April) when wintering Grace's typically depart.
A Black-and-white Warbler was in sycamore trees along the paved walkway bordering Nimitz Blvd. at the very north end of Bill Cleator Park in northern Point Loma. A Black-and-white was in this park in late October, thus may or may not be the same bird.
Two of the wintering Bay-breasted Warblers in town were still present over the past few days, and they are both now showing heavy signs of molt (especially about the head). Yesterday, the Northern Parula continued at Kate O. Sessions Park, and the Magnolia Warbler, Summer Tanager, White-winged Scoter, and Short-billed Gull all continued at Vacation Isle/Paradise Point.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 3/13/26 10:06 am From: Kerry Ross via groups.io <kgr.falco...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Raptor Surveyors
Hello Birders, I am looking for a few Biologists or birders with raptor ID skills who would be interested in doing Swainson's Hawk protocol surveys in the Antelope Valley and NW Central Valley. The work would be ~ 4 days a week (8-10 hr days) from March 15 - July 22. If you are interested in getting more information please contact me directly at <kgr.falco...> Please do not re: this message to keep traffic off this list serve. Thank you.
Keers (as the MAMU says)
Kerry Ross <kgr.falco...>
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Mel, Geoff and I tracked down the Tricolored Heron(s) recently reported
from the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista. While we were able
to see both birds from there - looking south from the viewing building
towards the shipyard - they were very distant and the heat shimmer was
really bad. We did not pick a very good day for this - very low tide, lots
of heat and bad light.
Better views were had from Sweetwater Park, although we only saw one of
the herons. Park there and walk south on the gravel trail towards the
convention center. There is a bridge near the buildings that gives you a
view of part of the mudflats here:
32°37'56.028" N 117°6'18.948" W
If you decide to try the Living Coast place - first shuttle runs at 10am,
you cannot access the area earlier than that. You ride the shuttle for free
and can walk the trails for free, but must use the shuttle to come and go.
Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
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Date: 3/9/26 7:40 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawks and Turkey Vultures in Borrego Springs
Today (Monday, March 9), 17 Swainson's Hawks migrated along with 5 Turkey Vultures. This evening just before 7 p.m., around 50 Swainson's hawks descended into the area. Tomorrow with light wind, the hawks will be airborne between 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. They will either feed on flying ants and craneflies in the air, or grasshoppers and caterpillars on the ground. Or they will continue migrating northwest. Also, approximately 25 Turkey Vultures were observed. Drive to the day count site for information concerning the best location for viewing the hawks. The day count site is 2.8 miles north of Palm Canyon Drive on DiGiorgio Road. Hal Cohen Borrego Springs
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Date: 3/8/26 6:24 pm From: Martha Wild via groups.io <mawild...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] American Redstart at Lindo Lake
Today on a birding tour for some British visitors, visiting birder Duncan McNiven saw an American Redstart deep in the reeds and brush at Lindo Lakes.
32°51'35.7"N 116°55'02.7”W
Many of us were able to see it skulking about in the brush and near the ground, and one birder managed to get a picture that I will add to the ebird list as soon as I can get ti.
Definitely an American redstart male, mostly black, light underbelly, orange flashes in wings - very clear.
Martha
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Date: 3/7/26 8:50 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts March 8 - 14
Greetings,
Finishing up another good week, including some good data for the California Bird Atlas!
Next week one hotspot can be completed for 100% bar charts up in the Lagunas, with two other "gap" spots nearby that could make for a nice outing.
Pine Creek is a drive up hotspot. No hiking necessary. The next 4 on the list are all quite substantial (but quite nice!) hikes, though completing the entire trail isn't necessary for a decent checklist.
* Lookout Rd is a (steep) paved road, but most of the bird activity, including likely Fox Sparrows, are closer to the start. * The tree blocking Azalea Glen has been cleared. * For Thunder Spring, look up the trails ahead of time as you likely won't have reception up there - I'd recommend downloading an offline map and/or trail guide as it *is* possible to miss your turn and get lost up there! * The easiest direct access to Carson's Crossing is from the Park Village Rd to the north, between Mannix and Celome.
*Laguna Mtns.--Pine Creek Rd. near S1 - 1* Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Cuyamaca Peak & Lookout Rd. - 3 Palomar Mtn.--Thunder Spring/Upper Doane Valley Loop - 3 Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Azalea Glen Trail - 6 Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve--Carson's Crossing area - 7 Sweetwater Park - 10 Eternal Hills Cemetery - 11 Swamis Seaside Park - 11 Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 12 Mesa Grande Rd. - 13
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Palomar Mtn.--Boucher Hill Loop Roadrunner Park Palomar County Park Sycamore Creek Road Oasis Spring Calzada Del Bosque / Chino Farms area Discovery Creek Trail Otay Mountain Wilderness Palomar Mtn.--East Grade Road Berry Street Park Panhe Nature Trail Bonsall--Old River Rd. Hidden Canyon Park Emerald Hills Park Otay River Valley--east of 125 Rolling Hills Park Jess Martin Park Laguna Mtns.--Garnet Peak Monserate Mountain Preserve Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Harvey Moore Trail
Happy Daylight Savings Time Eve (yes - tomorrow we 'spring forward'!),
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Date: 3/7/26 8:43 pm From: Elizabeth Copper via groups.io <ecopper...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Phil Unitt will be given shortened version of his presentation at the Museum at the Coronado Library - Thursday March 12 6-7PM
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Date: 3/6/26 12:02 pm From: Chris McCreedy via groups.io <cmccreedy...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Western Kingbird east side of Balboa Park Golf Course
I found a Western Kingbird at the corner of 28th and Maple St (the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher location from December), and a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a grove of eucs at 32.72854, -117.13419. This is along the trail between the kingbird and the South Park dog park.
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Date: 3/6/26 10:21 am From: Geoff Veith via groups.io <veithlaw...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Negative Report Lucy’s Warbler
Negative Report Lucy’s Warbler: Two of us spent well over an hour this morning looking behind Lowe’s for the Lucy’s found by Matt . No luck.
Geoff Veith
Solana Beach
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Date: 3/5/26 8:08 am From: Nancy Christensen via groups.io <nancy.r.christensen...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Lucy Warbler
Found by Matt S yesterday, continuing this morning at his pin drop. Viewed from River Park Rd. Bird is actively singing and chasing other birds away from a leafless tree near the corner of the Lowe’s building.
Nancy Christensen
Ramona
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb
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Date: 3/4/26 6:45 pm From: Hal Cohen via groups.io <raptorhal3...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swainson's Hawks in Borrego Springs
This evening over 100 Swainson's Hawks dropped into Borrego Springs. If the predicted morning wind is slightly under 7 mph, the hawks may not leave until 7 or 8 a.m. Occasionally we have observed them in flight with first light. They could also drop into flower fields to feed on insects. If you arrive in Borrego Springs early, drive north on DiGiorgio Rd to the count site (2.8 miles North of Palm Canyon Drive). Hawkwatch leaders can help you find the hawks. Hal Cohen Borrego Springs
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Date: 3/4/26 1:32 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Jacumba Tennessee Warbler, Neotropic Corm., Harris's Hawks, Least Bittern
A productive visit to Jacumba early this morning (4 March) was headlined by a very unexpected Tennessee Warbler spending lots of time in the budding/leafing willows next to the pond. This is totally unseasonal for this species in this part of the county, as it "should not" winter there (although one was seen there in mid-Feb 2024) and this would be exceptionally early for a spring vagrant. Perhaps the bird wintered in northern Mexico and just came north a relatively short distance with early migrant Orange-crowneds and Yellow-rumpeds, which were clearly present there today in numbers.
Also present were continuing Neotropic Cormorant (since 28 Feb), a local first, and a territorial calling Least Bittern is back for its third year. Tricolored Blackbirds are starting to sing. At the very eastern edge of their range, the female and its fully-grown young Wild Turkey continue to wander through town, the recently-colonizing easterly American Crows continue, as do at least four Cassin's Kingbirds, several easterly wintering Golden-crowned Sparrows, and the usual singing Scott's Oriole.
Harris's Hawks (total 3 birds) included two birds each bring sticks to a nest site. Please do NOT publicize the exact location of the nest, if you happen to stumble across it.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 3/4/26 10:55 am From: C via groups.io <c2179168...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD I.D. TROUBLE
Several people got back to me and kindly pointed out that media does not
show up in the email group. Here is the checklist link:
ebird.org/checklist/S305941495
On Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 2:14 PM C <c2179168...> wrote:
> I was reviewing some photos and videos I took of a female Costa's
> Hummingbird back in late January, and I'm getting unsure about the ID. In
> the clip I included below, the hummingbird makes a high pitched call, which
> doesn't seem to match the recordings in All About Birds or Audubon of ANY
> hummingbird. And now I'm hearing that SAME call in my neighborhood where I
> briefly saw the hummingbird but it really could have been any pale gray
> female there with that call. This has been flagged as unusual in my ebird
> checklists. Does this identification seem right to everyone? Any help would
> be greatly appreciated.
>
> P.S.–You might need to turn the sound way up to hear the call in the
> video. I don't have a great camera.
>
> –JIM KNIGHT
> [image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 1.31.05 PM.png][image: Screenshot
> 2026-03-03 at 1.30.24 PM.png][image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at
> 1.30.37 PM.png][image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 1.31.11 PM.png][image:
> Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 1.30.48 PM.png][image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at
> 1.31.17 PM.png]
>
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Date: 3/3/26 2:14 pm From: C via groups.io <c2179168...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD I.D. TROUBLE
I was reviewing some photos and videos I took of a female Costa's
Hummingbird back in late January, and I'm getting unsure about the ID. In
the clip I included below, the hummingbird makes a high pitched call, which
doesn't seem to match the recordings in All About Birds or Audubon of ANY
hummingbird. And now I'm hearing that SAME call in my neighborhood where I
briefly saw the hummingbird but it really could have been any pale gray
female there with that call. This has been flagged as unusual in my ebird
checklists. Does this identification seem right to everyone? Any help would
be greatly appreciated.
P.S.–You might need to turn the sound way up to hear the call in the video.
I don't have a great camera.
–JIM KNIGHT
[image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 1.31.05 PM.png][image: Screenshot
2026-03-03 at 1.30.24 PM.png][image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at
1.30.37 PM.png][image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 1.31.11 PM.png][image:
Screenshot 2026-03-03 at 1.30.48 PM.png][image: Screenshot 2026-03-03 at
1.31.17 PM.png]
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A couple duos of rare kingbirds and scoters present in the county are in need of a bit of clarification. First, a bird festival field trip reported TWO Western Kingbirds around the Sunset ball fields area in the TRV on March 1st, which would have set a new early arrival date for spring migrants by one day--IF they were both Westerns and were indeed spring migrants rather than very rare locally wintering birds (TWO of which would be especially unusual and unprecedented together in winter). One of the observers, Joanne Sherif, returned the following day, the 2nd, to obtain better photos, and, voila, one bird is indeed a Western but the other looks like a Tropical Kingbird. (Presumably these two birds are the same as the two seen the previous day.) What is likely going on is that the Western indeed wintered locally and is the same individual photographed only 100-200 yards away along Sunset by Millie & Peter Thomas back on 21 December, but which had gone MIA ever since. And the Tropical may well be the same bird (likely returning for multiple winters) that had been in the Dairy Mart area (not too far away as the kingbird flies) through December but which hasn't been reported there since.
As for the scoters, as I mentioned in an earlier post, there are actually TWO different White-winged Scoters on Mission Bay. The female-type with an entirely dark bill that lately stays in the little cove on the north side of Paradise Point, and a young male with pinkish near the bill base that seems to wander around more of the bay. Observers should try to specify which bird(s) they are seeing when reporting just a single White-winged at Mission Bay (although such an earlier request has almost entirely fallen on deaf ears, given that most eBirders don't read the listserv posts). A third White-winged Scoter in the county continues as of today in the Sweetwater River channel a surprising two miles up from the edge of San Diego Bay, just below the Second Avenue bridge.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 3/3/26 10:01 am From: Alison Hiers via groups.io <lahiers...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Eurasian Wigeons
There are now two.Eurasian Wigeons at San Elijo Lagoon near the visitors center south of the first bridge on the far bank. And one possible hybrid that has a peachy chest but a speckled cheek and both rust and green on the head with a more yellow crown.
Alison Hiers
Carlsbad
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Date: 3/3/26 6:25 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] tricky atlas boundaries, Rangeland Rd Bald Eagles, and "(CA Atlas ...)" hotspots
If you drive north on Rangeland Road, you’ll cross an atlas block boundary.
Care is needed when atlasing here, as the Bald Eagle nest is in the
northern of the two blocks, the second block you encounter. (There are
actually four blocks involved if you look to the west, but we’ll keep this
example simple.)
This is a good illustration of why you need to split lists at atlas
boundaries and ensure species are coded in the correct block.
Use one checklist for the southern block (San Pasqual SE), selecting the
hotspot “*Rangeland Rd. (CA Atlas - San Pasqual SE)*,” and a second
checklist for the northern block (San Pasqual CE), using the
traditional *Rangeland
Rd.* hotspot. You can record the eagles on whichever checklist(s)
correspond to the block(s) from which you observe them.
*2. Record the Bald Eagle nest only in San Pasqual CE.*
Use the Rangeland Rd. hotspot in that block when assigning the breeding
code, as the nest is not *in* the southern, San Pasqual SE, block.
And this situation is not unique to Rangeland Rd.! As a general rule
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/about/blocks#boundaries>, when you are
located in one block and detect a breeding bird in a neighboring block, the
breeding code must be assigned to the block where the breeding evidence
occurs. Remember to:
1.
Record *all species* you observe on your current checklist, regardless
of where they are.
2.
Add breeding codes only for species showing *breeding evidence in the
block where you are physically located*.
3.
If you detect breeding evidence in a neighboring block, create a
*separate* incidental checklist for that block and record the species,
count, and breeding code there.
A helpful way to remember this:
*Report all birds from where you are, but behaviors only where they are.*
So, what's with this ("CA Atlas - something something CE)" anyway? Some
original hotspots happen to fall across two, three, or even four atlas
blocks. Since atlasing must occur one block at a time, secondary hotspots
have been created for cases where:
-
You are birding within a hotspot’s footprint, but
-
The main hotspot pin falls in a different atlas block than the one
you’re standing in
These secondary hotspots are named for the portion of the atlas block in
which they fall (e.g., “CA Atlas - San Pasqual SE”). But not all of them
have been created yet.
When starting a checklist:
-
Check the map to select location and zoom out slightly.
-
Select the hotspot that matches the block you’re physically in, if
appropriate.
-
It's easiest to illustrate this process by linking to a talk I recently
gave for SDFO: two location examples start at about 46:07
<https://youtu.be/IekPT-sqZ-s?si=pBy9LGVellSONeVC&t=2766.> (The whole atlas
project discussion begins at 39:54
<https://youtu.be/IekPT-sqZ-s?si=3jk8cOSqEhOzCdRx&t=2394>.). Just remember
to watch the atlas block boundary, and stop your current list and start a
new one, choosing a new location, when you cross into the next block.
In rural, desert, or mountainous areas, creating secondary hotspots, or any
hotspots, is not likely to be necessary. But at established parks, lakes,
and other popular sites, these block-specific hotspots help ensure atlas
data are assigned correctly.
Looking for inspiration on where to go? Have a look at the Effort Map
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/effortmap> and check out a block with no
effort or confirmed species. The desert is calling!
Finally, join us on the San Diego CBA WhatsApp group. If you'd like to join
for additional discussion, questions, and cool observations, email me
directly. There's also atlas discussion on the California Discord
<https://discord.com/invite/4utXgk4ba>.
Thanks for atlasing!
Justyn Stahl
North Park
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