Date: 5/13/25 5:57 am From: Kerry Ross via groups.io <kgr.falco...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Swifts evening flight, Pacific Beach — May 12, 2025
There were two Black Swifts flying low and northbound over Bay Park this
morning at 0550.
Keers (as the MAMU says)
Kerry Ross
Bay Park
On Mon, May 12, 2025, 7:17 PM Gary Nunn via groups.io <garybnunn=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I happened to be out on my back lawn this evening, doing my doggy chores
> with head down looking intently at the lawn, when I heard a distinctive
> swift chitter overhead. Looked up and flock of 13 BLACK SWIFT circling
> just few hundred feet up over my house! They were idling about loosely,
> some circling, after a minute they switched back to more earnest travel
> mode and took off on a beeline north straight towards the Mt Soledad
> antennas. Time seen 6:27 pm, out of sight by 6:29 pm.
>
> Noted in the eBird alerts today that Paul Lehman also saw 3 today in the
> morning in Point Loma.
>
> Gary Nunn,
> Pacific Beach
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 5/12/25 7:17 pm From: Gary Nunn via groups.io <garybnunn...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Swifts evening flight, Pacific Beach — May 12, 2025
I happened to be out on my back lawn this evening, doing my doggy chores with head down looking intently at the lawn, when I heard a distinctive swift chitter overhead. Looked up and flock of 13 BLACK SWIFT circling just few hundred feet up over my house! They were idling about loosely, some circling, after a minute they switched back to more earnest travel mode and took off on a beeline north straight towards the Mt Soledad antennas. Time seen 6:27 pm, out of sight by 6:29 pm.
Noted in the eBird alerts today that Paul Lehman also saw 3 today in the morning in Point Loma.
Gary Nunn,
Pacific Beach
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Date: 5/12/25 8:00 am From: Jane Mygatt via groups.io <jane.mygatt...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] American Bittern
American Bittern calling frequently along Stonebridge, San Elijo Lagoon, at the low point between Stonebridge and La Orilla trail.
It calls frequently, so no need for playback, and of course better for the bird if left alone.
Heard and seen at about 7:10 am.
Jane Mygatt and Kathy Aldern
North County
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Date: 5/12/25 7:10 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Eastern Phoebe at FRNC
Monday morning there is an Eastern Phoebe currently as of 7:00 a.m. In the extreme northeast corner of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, and exceptional spring vagrant for May. Remember that the cemetery is closed to birding starting at 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m..
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/12/25 4:42 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips 2025
The 2025 schedule of San Diego pelagic trips is available for viewing at sandiegopelagics.com. The website includes information on expected and hoped-for species on each trip, as well as other logistics and how to sign up for the trips through Seaforth Sportfishing (sdwhale.com). These 10-to-11-hour trips are sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society and are aboard the comfortable whale-watch boat "Legacy" out of Mission Bay. They are all good for seeing a variety of the regular West Coast pelagic species and, depending on the season, are reliable for a number of desired species including Scripps's Murrelet, Craveri's Murrrelet, Townsend's Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Pertrel, and Least Storm-Petrel. Most trips see Cocos Booby, and an average of one or two trips annually see Laysan Albatross, Cook's Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Guadalupe Murrelet, Red-billed Tropicbird, South Polar Skua, and rare boobies (see website for information on best seasons for all of these). As in 2024, we are offering two weekends with back-to-back trips (optional), in early August and early September, for those who would like to maximize their time at sea in a single visit. The dates are as follows:
May 24 (only a small number of spaces remain)
June 7
July 19
August 9
August 10
August 23
September 6
September 7
September 27
October 11
Hope you'll join us on one or more trips.
--Paul Lehman & Bruce Rideout, San Diego
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Date: 5/11/25 10:29 am From: Susan Smith via groups.io <seiurus...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Strange white duck-like bird hanging out with Aechmophorus grebes off Penasquitos Lagoon
Hi SD Birders, Has anyone recently noticed a small, all-white duck-like bird hanging out with the Western/Clarks grebes in the ocean off Del Mar? It kind of looks like a long-necked call duck (domesticated), but had a shortish pink, not yellow bill--an albino of some sort? A LT Duck would have dark markings on the white, and an albino Harlequin Duck would be too much wishful thinking. I got a few phone digiscopes but the the birds were pretty far off, the beach super crowded, and and the fog soon blew in, obliterating my view of them as they drifted to the north.
eBird list with bad photos at https://ebird.org/checklist/S236397813 Let me know off list if you have seen this bird before, or if you have better pics, or other ideas about this bird. It is sticking pretty close to the flock of grebes, generally off the Penasquitos River mouth at Torrey Pines St. Park.
Susan Smith Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CA
<seiurus...>
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Date: 5/10/25 9:35 pm From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <mattsadowski78...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swallow-tailed Kite, 5/10, TRV
I heard that correspondence with one of the observers revealed the kite was seen flying high and south, so it may be long gone, but one can hope it'll swing by the TRV again given it seems to be wandering.
Matt Sadowski
On Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:30 PM Matt Sadowski <mattsadowski78...> wrote:
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Date: 5/10/25 12:12 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Mount Soledad: big flight incl. Scott's Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bank Swallow, Purple Martin, Acorn Woodpecker, 5 Olive-sideds, Willow Fly., migrant Horned Lark
Saturday morning the 10th was clear and warm, good conditions for a good morning-flight at Mount Soledad in La Jolla. A total of five observers present. I ended up spending 5 hours there starting at dawn. A good number of rarities--listed in the title--were seen, as well as large numbers of many western migrants. Migrant totals were:
ACORN WOODPECKER 1 (rare coastal wanderer)
Olive-sided Flycatcher 5 (excellent one-morning total, and clearly a good spring overall for this species)
Western Wood-Pewee 28
Willow Flycatcher 1 (yet another early-ish one)
Western Flycatcher 45 (excellent count)
Empidonax sp. 5
Western Kingbird 18
Warbling Vireo 135 (excellent count)
HORNED LARK 1 (northbound migrant; perhaps already a post-breeder?)
BANK SWALLOW 1 (northbound with Cliff Swallows)
PURPLE MARTIN 1 (female)
N. R-w Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 4
Cliff Swallow 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 (all clear migrants)
Swainson's Thrush 25 (good count)
Cedar Waxwing 31
Phainopepla 1
Chipping Sparrow 4
Hooded Oriole 6 (apparent migrant females & young males)
Bullock's Oriole 2 (low)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE 1 (male heading north; actually SANG in flight)
Orange-crowned Warbler 8
Nashville Warbler 1
MacGillivray's Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 60
Black-thr. Gray Warbler 11 (good count for this late in season for this species)
Townsend's Warbler 115
Hermit Warbler 50 (good count)
Wilson's Warbler 230 (excellent count)
new world warbler sp. 80
Western Tanager 130 (good count)
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 1 (female; landed in bush top)
Black-headed Grosbeak 5 (low)
Lazuli Bunting 145
passerine sp. 90
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Date: 5/10/25 8:38 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Large flight this morning at Mount Soledad
Just a heads up that several of us up on Mount Soledad this morning have had a very large morning flight, so there are plenty of migrants moving through this morning, but whether or not that translates into birds on the ground at other migrant spots remains to be seen. Sometimes there are and sometimes there aren't! We'll post totals later, but it's a very impressive. And still going on at 8:30 a.m. since Dawn. Highlights have been a male Scotts Oriole singing in flight, Purple Martin, migrant Horned Lark, Willow flycatcher, two Olive-sideds, dark-lored white-crowned.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/10/25 6:37 am From: Roee Astor via groups.io <roeeastor...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] recent migrant pushes and early Willow Flycatchers
The continuing Nelson’s sparrow still present front and center singing from
6:05-6:30 this am at TJ Slough McCoy trail at aforementioned spot by PVC
pipes.
On Fri, May 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
> Locally some good pushes of migrants on both Weds and today. Leading the
> pack both days were the large numbers of Wilson's Warblers, followed by
> good numbers of Western Tanagers, Swainson's Thrushes, Warbling Vireos,
> Yellow Warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Also very interesting has been
> the appearance of FOUR Willow Flycatchers between 6 May and today (9 May).
> First Balboa Park, then Robb Field, and today in Coronado (2). This is
> still early for there to be migrant-type Willows, with the usual arrival of
> the first such individual around 10-12 May. The rare, local breeding
> population (ssp. extimus) does arrive now at the nesting sites, but the
> birds the past few days are all assumed to be through-migrants at migrant,
> not breeding, sites. These early Willows are an interesting contradiction
> to the otherwise seemingly late overall landbird migration this season.
> Still at least one "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrow present today.
>
>
> --Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
>
>
>
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Date: 5/9/25 12:01 pm From: Gary Grantham via groups.io <ggrantham020...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bird & Butterfly Garden
There were a fair number of migrants at the Bird & Butterfly Garden this morning (5/9/25). The most numerous being Townsends, Yellow, and Orange-crowned Warblers. Also seen were Hermit, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks and a Hutton's Vireo. If you haven't been to the B & B Garden recently, be aware that there is some major habitat restoration and construction going on resulting in large areas of the garden being inaccessible.
Gary Grantham
Scripps Ranch
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Date: 5/9/25 11:33 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] recent migrant pushes and early Willow Flycatchers
Locally some good pushes of migrants on both Weds and today. Leading the pack both days were the large numbers of Wilson's Warblers, followed by good numbers of Western Tanagers, Swainson's Thrushes, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Also very interesting has been the appearance of FOUR Willow Flycatchers between 6 May and today (9 May). First Balboa Park, then Robb Field, and today in Coronado (2). This is still early for there to be migrant-type Willows, with the usual arrival of the first such individual around 10-12 May. The rare, local breeding population (ssp. extimus) does arrive now at the nesting sites, but the birds the past few days are all assumed to be through-migrants at migrant, not breeding, sites. These early Willows are an interesting contradiction to the otherwise seemingly late overall landbird migration this season. Still at least one "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrow present today.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/9/25 7:35 am From: Michael Beeve via groups.io <pileatedwoodpecker...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bell's sparrow?
Checking my life list I just realized I do not have this local resident yet. Could someone let me know the where and when best way to find this bird? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,Michael
Michael Beeve Vista, CA 92081 <pileatedwoodpecker...>
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Date: 5/8/25 12:17 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] late wave of Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows and other tardies; another plea about over-use of "Merlin"
Yesterday, May 7th, associated with a good wave of western migrants, there was a total of at least TEN "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrows at a total of 6 different sites in coastal San Diego County. Normally, we get a couple single birds each year this late in May. So far today, I have heard of zero. Also yesterday were several coastal "Dark-lored" White-crowned Sparrows (probably oriantha), which are rare on the coast but are NOT late (they are a regular migrant east of us into mid-May). Continuing the late theme, I had an immature small-male Sharp-shinned Hawk today on Point Loma, one of the latest in spring; and, best of all, there was a female Mountain Bluebird photo'd yesterday by others on private property near Ramona, setting a new late date for the county by a full two weeks.
But, running contrary to the above, there have now been two early-arriving Willow Flycatchers seen in the past three days. The rare locally breeding birds (subspecies extimus) may start arriving right now at their local breeding grounds, but this is still a good week early for the first of the through-migrants at migrant sites (where these two current birds have been seen).
We eBird reviewers have pleaded in the past more than once for observers NOT to overly-rely on the MERLIN app telling us what we may or may not be hearing and what is present in the area. Merlin does a great job at times, sometimes picking up and properly identifying high-pitched calls seemingly in the next time zone, while a few minutes later failing to detect a loudly calling American Crow overhead or a loud Swainson's Thrush in a nearby bush. Merlin also repeatedly misidentifies a number of our common species. Examples are calling Allen's Hummingbirds are misidentified regularly as Rufous, a singing Black-headed Grosbeak is ID'd as a rare Rose-breasted, and regularly misidentifying other species such as Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, and more......So, PLEASE, never report rarities that are heard-only via Merlin unless the call/song can be verified in some fashion. And please do not report even regular species like the blackbird or the goldfinch (especially) at sites where you have not actually visually confirmed them either currently or in the recent past. There are regularly reports of these species, and quite a few more, at sites where they do NOT occur. It is pretty clear that the observer solely depended on Merlin for their identification, and possibly even hearing it at all, with no visual confirmation made.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/8/25 8:40 am From: Nathan French via groups.io <nathanfrenchphotography...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Flycatchers at Robb Field 5/8/25
Gray Flycatcher continues, working trees around here:
(32.7548556, -117.2433425)
Also had a Willow briefly earlier but lost it when it flew into a yard near here:
(32.7525028, -117.2447010)
Nathan French
Hillcrest
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Date: 5/7/25 12:27 pm From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for the eBird second week of May, starting Thursday May 8 - Wednesday May 14
Greetings here’s the list of Hot Spots for this upcoming week, along with a location map. Point Loma Community Park only needs a checklist this week and it will have at least one checklist for each week of the year.
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Culp Valley CC
Barnett Ranch Preserve
Black's Beach
Borrego Springs--Old Springs Road OSP
Carlsbad Blvd. and Manzano Cliff overlook
Carlsbad Research Center pond
Carlsbad SB--Tamarack area
Collier Park (Ramona)
Delta Beach - North Overlook
El Cajon Courthouse Parrot Roost
Encinas Creek--Paseo del Lago
Encinitas Ranch GC--parking lot and vicinity
Encinitas Ranch GC--Paseo de las Flores and pond
Hendrix Park Pond
Hosp Grove Park--west of Monroe St
Julian--town
Juniper Canyon
Kimball Park
Lake Sutherland
Lakeside Linkage County Preserve
Little Italy (San Diego)
Mission Heights Park
Mission Trails Regional Park--Cowles Mtn Trail
Oak Hill Memorial Park (SDCo)
Ocean Air Community Park
Ocean St. Overlook
Old Poway Park
San Dieguito Dr. south end
Point Loma Community Park
Silver Strand SB--Crown Cove (bay side)
Sweetwater County Park--Quarry Trail
Tijuana River Valley--campground
UCSD Town Square and Matthews Quad
West Hills Park
West Shepherd Canyon
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Date: 5/6/25 11:38 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] a spring landbird migration update--good news!
Back near the end of the third week of April, I (and others) posted our thoughts about the spring landbird migration to date in parts of CA and how late and slow it was. Pretty depressingly so. Similar sorts of news was coming out of the Gulf Coast and Southeast U.S. at the same time. But some of us, at least, are happy to report that there has been a substantial improvement during the last week of April and now through the first week of May. Not only here in San Diego County, but also I've heard similar news from other places such as the southern deserts, LA and Santa Barbara Counties, etc. Not all species, and not everywhere everyday, by any means, but generally much better and involving a good selection of species. One species seemingly doing especially well is Lazuli Bunting, with lots of folks from many areas reporting large numbers. Also finally reasonable numbers of W. Wood-Pewees, Swainson's Thrushes, Nashville, B-t Gray, & Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. It seemed as though Townsend's & Hermit Warblers were a bit slow to get untracked, but during the past week they too seem to be doing better. Several folks from a wide swath of CA commented earlier on the very poor numbers of Empidonax flycatchers through April (except for some brief pulses of Hammond's locally), but at least here around San Diego I am happy to report a major uptick in the numbers of migrant Western Flycatchers during the past week.
On the landbird VAGRANT front, April was quite slow, even though in a "normal" year by the last 10 days of the month one often starts hearing about a few. But I am also happy to report that at least here in San Diego County the past four days have produced several typical early May vagrants: Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and coastal Summer Tanager. Hopefully the trend will continue.
Given that it seems lots of species were running late, it will be interesting to see if stuff quickly catches up or if the spring migration ends up being protracted well into June. Also how many truly late-lingering birds will be found this season? Here in San Diego County, for example, we have more than the usual number of Gambel's White-crowned Sparrows turning up this past week, at a time when they typically have become pretty rare.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/5/25 6:02 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Olive-sided Flycatcher at Kearny Mesa Community Park
The Olive-sided may have left. I saw it fly quite high and then got
distracted and didn't see what it decided to do. Never saw it again
after that. I checked around again before I left.
The Calliope Hummingbird that Bridget Spencer found at this park on the
3rd was still there today. It wasn't particularly cooperative. Took a
lot of focus watching the general area where it has been seen to get
looks at it, and finally with persistence some crappy photos. Thank you
to Nick Thorpe who confirmed it's presence and the spot where it was for
me. My list with details on where it was:
I had never been to this park before. It's a big place with a lot of
varied habitat. Sits on the edge of a canyon. There is a good amount of
native habitat along with the developed park, which has a lot of trees
and a lot of grass.
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
On 5/5/2025 12:40 PM, Lisa Ruby wrote:
> Not considered rare, but thought others might want to know there is an Olive-sided Flycather at Kearny Mesa Community Park. Flying around and perching at top of trees near ball field 4. Seen while standing here:
>
> 32.80092,-117.16553
>
> There are currently also Vaux's Swifts here.
>
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
> Sent from Proton Mail Android
--
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
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Date: 5/5/25 12:41 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Olive-sided Flycatcher at Kearny Mesa Community Park
Not considered rare, but thought others might want to know there is an Olive-sided Flycather at Kearny Mesa Community Park. Flying around and perching at top of trees near ball field 4. Seen while standing here:
32.80092,-117.16553
There are currently also Vaux's Swifts here.
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
Sent from Proton Mail Android
--
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
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Date: 5/4/25 10:51 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] offshore San Diego seabirds (including repo cruises)
First off, this morning (Sunday) at the tail end of the latest late-season quasi-storm, several of us at seawatch in La Lolla had one breeding-plumaged Red Phalarope, 360 Red-necked Phalaropes, and one of those very-rare-in 2025 Black-vented Shearwaters! But not much else.
If folks have been noticing some rare pelagic species reported off San Diego the past ten days and are wondering who is getting offshore here, there have been three separate Holland America "repositioning" cruises out of San Diego heading north with plenty of birders aboard each of them. But the first trip, with San Diego (and Los Angeles) reports of a Laysan Albatross and hundreds of Red Phalaropes was actually up to five or so miles inside Mexican waters at the time. It seems as though eBird has problems properly designating whose waters one is in in this border region of Baja/San Diego/Los Angeles. The third in this series of cruiseships departed here yesterday (Saturday) and had a Black-footed Albatross closer to shore than usual, about 7 miles off Point Loma.
These spring repo cruises are a great way to see Hawaiian, Murphy's, and Cook's Petrels, and Laysan Albatross, somewhere between Central California and southern Washington, often in good numbers. And in comfort. But I will also add that there are lots of birders aboard with little West Coast pelagic experience, very very eager to see these birds, and who haven't had time to learn and "equilibrate" their pelagic skills while on a cruise ship--so there are a fair number of erroneous reports as well. Such proper equilibration of one's pelagic skills often takes an hour or two of three while on a regular pelagic trip as well.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/4/25 9:14 am From: Paul Mulholland via groups.io <pmulhol...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bank Swallow - Rose Creek “pond”
One is flying around with a flock of rough wings at the rose creek flooded
“pond” just south of Mission Bay Dr. It’s close to the bike path so photo
opportunities are pretty good.
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Date: 5/3/25 5:31 pm From: Dean Budd via groups.io <1dabudd...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] PLNU Hammond's Flycatcher 5/3/25 5:25pm
At about 11am a Hammond' Flycatcher was spotted. I was at PLNU this morning & joined by Sue Smith & friend from Az..for a while. We were near the gate entrance off of Garden St. about 50' towards the ocean path where there seems to be birds that are always in a tree on your right. The bird was in that area quite active.
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Date: 5/2/25 8:30 am From: Nathan French via groups.io <nathanfrenchphotography...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Nelson’s Sparrow Robb Field 5/2
The Nelson’s Sparrow reported yesterday is still here singing and occasionally popping into the open on the eastern edge of the reeds on the main island at Robb Field.
(32.7569373, -117.2386446)
Nathan French
Hillcrest
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Date: 5/2/25 7:32 am From: King, Dan via groups.io <kingdaking519...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bank Swallow - San Dieguito Lagoon Dust Devil Trail
This morning May 2 there is at least one Bank Swallow mixed in with several other species of swallows and Vaux’s Swifts feeding over the freshwater ponds at this hotspot. Patience and good optics required, as the bird is not close.
Dan King
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Date: 4/30/25 4:18 pm From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for eBird first week of May - Thursday May 1 - Wednesday May 7
Greetings
Here are the Hot Spots for the week and a link to a map showing the locations.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon--east end
Batiquitos Lagoon--Aviara Parking
Black's Beach
Camp Pendleton--harbor & beach
Carlsbad Blvd. and Manzano Cliff overlook
Carlsbad Premium Outlets
Carlsbad Research Center pond
East Penasquitos Canyon
Encinas Creek--Paseo del Lago
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Forester Creek Trail
Friendship Park
Hanson Pond Trail
Juniper Canyon
Little Italy (San Diego)
Mission Heights Park
Mission Trails Regional Park--Barker Way Trailhead
Moonlight SB
Ocean St. Overlook
Palomar Mtn.--Silvercrest Picnic Area and Trail
Pepper Park & Sweetwater River mouth
Questhaven Road Nature Trail
San Diego Bay--Ballast Point
San Elijo SB & Campground
San Luis Rey River--Benet to Foussat
Shelter Valley--general area
Stevens Creek Area
Sun Gold Point
Tijuana River Valley--campground
Tijuana River Valley--Sunset Ave. freshwater ponds
Let me know if you have any comments or questions.
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 4/30/25 8:25 am From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <mattsadowski78...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Nelson's, 4/30
The NESP recorded by Paul Marvin on 4/29 continues to sing off 5th & Iris. It was just barely audible at dawn from the trailhead. It was much easier to hear from the South McCoy Trail.
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Date: 4/29/25 5:43 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hammond’s and lots of Lazulis at Morley Field
There’s a Hammond’s Flycatcher hanging out along with probably 30 Lazuli Buntings at Morley Field (Balboa Park) at the Clay-colored Sparrow spot. I didn’t see the CCSP myself, but Ian Swirka did before my arrival.
(32.7391019, -117.1365245)
Other migrants around include two Nashville Warblers and a pewee.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 4/29/25 4:03 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] miscellanea and Mount Soledad morning flight
The wintering Little Stint was still present today, April 29, just east of the middle of Pond 23 (off 11th) at the Salt Works, on the little salt-mud islands. At the limit of identifiability from the public edge. The latest this bird has ever remained in spring is 4 May (2021). The April total of migrant Purple Martins in the county now stands at 15, a very good total--likely at least partly the result of the fair amount of cool, inclement weather. Same reason it's been a very good month for Vaux's Swifts. Lazuli Buntings have been plentiful the past 10-14 days, highlighted by a SINGLE feeder in Ramona hosting 56+ birds yesterday (photo'd by feeder owner).
The weather looked promising today for a reasonable morning flight at Mount Soledad in La Jolla, where it had been pretty slow up until now due to mostly incorrect weather and relatively low number of migrants in general (until the past week). Three observers (Mulholland, Herzfeld, Lehman) were treated to a good (though not exceptional) flight from around 6-9AM, peak numbers between 6:30-8:15. Migrant totals were as follows:
218 Vaux's Swift1 Hammond's Flycatcher4 Western Flycatcher (in mediocre numbers so far this spring)19 Western Kingbird19 Warbling Vireo3 N. Rough-winged Swallow10 Barn Swallow10 Cliff Swallow1 Swainson's Thrush40 Cedar Waxwing11 Phainopepla (single flock heading north--likely dispersers from well inland)1 Chipping Sparrow2 White-crowned Sparrow2 Golden-crowned Sparrow7 Hooded Oriole3 Bullock's Oriole6 Orange-crowned Warbler3 Yellow Warbler5 Yellow-rumped Warbler10 Black-thr. Gray Warbler14 Townsend's Warbler8 Hermit Warbler51 Wilson's Warbler7 Western Tanager4 Black-headed Grosbeak63 Lazuli Bunting
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 4/29/25 10:13 am From: Geoff Veith via groups.io <veithlaw...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Olive Sided Fly
Olive Sided Fly At Point Loma Nazarene. Approximately here (32.7207158, -117.2492561) but flew east.
Geoff Veith
Solana Beach
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Date: 4/29/25 9:38 am From: Tracy Henchbarger via groups.io <thench...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Lazuli bunting
Five Lazuli buntings have been feeding at my feeders for the past four days
(3 males and 2 females). I live in the Lake Hodges area. Two Lazuli buntings
were spotted yesterday and heard singing loudly at the reserve next to the
San Diego Safari Park by a team surveying for Cactus wrens. That team also
identified White-throated swifts, a Costa's hummingbird, and a Canyon wren.
Tracy Henchbarger <trachhench...> <mailto:<trachhench...> or
<thench...> <mailto:<thench...> .
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Date: 4/29/25 8:15 am From: Sonja via groups.io <lunaskye13...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Lazuli bunting
Just wanted to let people know, at dairy Mart right now we have probably about a half a dozen lazulis on the move. We also had some vauxe swifts.
Michael & Sonja Beeve, Vista
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android
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Date: 4/28/25 10:38 pm From: dan jehl via groups.io <jehlyfish...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Early Black Swift at Mission Trails on 4/28/2025
I met up with former San Diego resident Nathan Goldberg this evening to look for Lesser Nighthawks around 7:10 p.m. at the west edge of Mission Trails Regional Park (Colina Dorado Trailhead). Around 7:20 p.m. we noticed a bird flying north at medium height and noted the all dark wings and slowish flapping that didn’t fit with Lesser Nighthawk. Nathan called it out as a Black Swift. Nathan and I started taking photos immediately and our photos show a large, basically all dark swift with long, curved wings and slight scaling of the belly plumage. Black Swifts have been reported from this side of MTRP over a decade ago but nothing more recent. This is among the earliest dates for Black Swifts in San Diego County records, and may not be easily repeated as there are many checklists from this hotspots from the last decade with no BLSW reports.
Good luck if you try, the more we watch, the more we learn
Povey will be missed, Nathan came back to San Diego to pay his respects and we celebrated Dave with a great evening birding.
Be kind to everyone you meet.
Dan Jehl
San Diego
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Date: 4/28/25 9:56 am From: terry hurst via groups.io <thurstycat61...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Palm Warbler, Santee Lakes 04/28
Hi all,
The Palm warbler that was found by J. Stock yesterday was seen again today at east bank of lake 4 near the bridge that leads to an island at these approximate coordinates 32.85464,-117.00694. The bird does a quiet chip call which helped me locate it. It would also occasionally sing.
Terry HurstSantee
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Date: 4/27/25 7:59 am From: Jeremiah Stock via groups.io <jscls...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Palm Warbler Santee Lakes, Sunday morning
Palm warbler was chased into a pine tree by a yellow-rump on the east shore of Santee Lake 4. Pine tree is just north of the foot bridge that goes out to the round island in Lake 4. Time was about 7:10 AM Sunday April 27, 2025.
Jeremiah Stock
Santee CA
<jeremiahstock278...>
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Date: 4/25/25 6:26 pm From: Rick Grove via groups.io <rpgrove...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] North County Dredging
I know that for many of you, northern San Diego county feels like the frontier, but for those of you who may be interested, there are dredging projects occurring in Carlsbad and Oceanside. Large floating barges suck up sand and slurry and pump the spoils to locations along the beach in large pipes which are periodically moved to replenish beach sand. The resulting effluent attracts large flocks of gulls and terns and are worth checking for interesting birds. Currently, the Carlsbad project is dumping spoils on the beach in front of the power plant, south of Tamarack State Beach. While my visits have not produced anything exciting so far, it's worth checking if you are in the area.
Good birding,
Rick Grove Oceanside
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Date: 4/24/25 8:51 am From: Philip Unitt via groups.io <unitt...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] A Swallow-tailed Kite may be on its way to San Diego
Dear friends,
Hiram Moreno of Ensenada just informed me that he photographed a Swallow-tailed Kite circling over the university there on Wednesday 22 April. Given the Swallow-tailed Kite's history of being seen in multiple widely separated locations over multiple days, I thought it might be worth alerting San Diego observers that this bird could be on its way north.
Also, on Sunday 20 April, I saw a Steller's Jay at the south end of Hill Valley in southeastern San Diego Co., right at the corner of Live Oak Springs Rd. and Hwy. 94. Though this is only two miles east of Clover Flat, the southernmost point known to me where Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis (possibly just a single pair) is resident, it's still a surprise, at least to me. Steller's Jay is absent from Baja California, less than 7 miles to the south. I guess I should respond to Hiram by suggesting that Baja's birders look in any oak woodland on their side of the border.
Good birding,
Philip UnittSan Diego
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Date: 4/23/25 10:28 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] some recent landbird and waterbird migration notes
I've tried seawatching at La Jolla a few times in the past couple weeks, and it continues rather slow, with essentially no tubenoses or alcids. ONE Black-vented Shearwater there on April 19 was actually the first Black-vented I've seen in the county since January. Sheesh! Today, April 23, there was a reasonable northbound push of Red-throated Loons, with 62 tallied in three hours. Far fewer Pacifics and Commons, which would certainly not be the case with Pacifics if one went over several miles offshore.
On the landbird migrant front, numbers continue unimpressive, although numbers of coastal Nashvilles, Western Tanagers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks have picked up in the past week or so from their low levels previously. One slightly interesting statistic is that yesterday, the 22nd, my most numerous Point Loma migrant by far was Yellow-rumped Warbler with 26 birds--which seems a bit late to still have that many and to be dominant.
The casual wintering Dusky Flycatcher at Kimball Park was still present April 21 and has lost its entire tail, which means it will likely linger for quite a bit longer until it grows a new one. The adult male Orchard Oriole continues there as well, which is not a surprise, as this species often lingers into late April. What was a surprise was a spring migrant Red-breasted Nuthatch in Jacumba on 20 April, given the almost total lack of them being around this winter.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 4/22/25 4:03 pm From: Gwen Baldwin via groups.io <gwenbaldwin...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] American Bittern and miscellaneous
The American Bittern is still in the same location (north lake of Kumeyaay
Lakes) with the same behavior...only neck and head visible this morning
around 8:45 am.
Gwen Baldwin
On Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 8:04 AM Nancy Christensen via groups.io
<nancy.r.christensen...> wrote:
> Bird still here at 8am. Way out on the floating vegetation - only head and
> neck visible.
> Nancy Christensen
> Ramona
>
>
> A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a
> song.
> Chinese Proverb
>
> On Apr 9, 2025, at 6:48 AM, <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
> <lehman.paul...> wrote:
>
>
> The American Bittern reported yesterday at the smaller pond on the north
> side of the main pond at Kumeyaay Lake at Mission Trails flew in this
> morning, Wednesday, between 6:15 and 6:20 a.m. from roosting somewhere
> else, did several circles around the pond and landed in the middle. Access
> is from the campground walking clockwise around the main pond. You cannot
> cross on the little pedestrian bridge that's farther to the east, as it's
> closed for the season and half removed! At 5:55 a.m., in the pre-dawn
> gloom, I had a Neotropic Cormorant leave the main lake, circle up, and
> depart, perhaps heading to Santee Lakes?
>
>
> Yesterday, there were three very rare, well Inland Red-breasted Mergansers
> at Lake Morena. Also a singing Yellow-headed blackbird. The mergansers are
> probably quasi-annual at some Inland lake in the county each spring.
> Earlier in the morning, several of us were along kitchen Creek Road, where
> we had one singing Gray Vireo where previously reported a short ways out
> the Pacific Crest trail to the east, a couple singing Black chinned
> sparrows in their usual area adjoining the mile 2.3 "pullout", and plenty
> of Mountain Quail. But general bird activity seemed a bit on the low side.
>
>
> Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
> Sent from AOL on Android
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...> >
>
>
>
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Date: 4/21/25 10:18 am From: Jimmy McMorran via groups.io <Bigshell53...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Laughing Gull: Bataquitos Lagoon (4/21/25)
Tito and I are looking at a Laughing Gull in full alternate plumage in the gull/tern flocks from Navigator point lookout at Bataquitos lagoon 33.08953° N, 117.30662° W.
--
Good Birding,
Jimmy McMorran,
Leucadia, CA
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Date: 4/21/25 9:05 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for the eBird 4th week of April - Starting Tuesday April 22 - Wed April 30
Greeting
Here’s the list of Hot Spots for this up coming week (Walker Preserve Trail only needs a checklist this week to have at least one checklist for each week of the year):
Agua Hedionda Lagoon--east end
Batiquitos Lagoon--Aviara Parking
Carlsbad Blvd. and Manzano Cliff overlook
Carlsbad Research Center pond
Delta Beach - North Overlook
East Penasquitos Canyon
Encinitas Community Park
Encinitas Ranch GC--Paero de las Flores and pond
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Forester Creek at Mission Gorge Rd.
Juniper Canyon
Kimball Park
Little Italy (San Diego)
Mission Heights Park
North El Portal Seawatch
Northmont Park
Oak Hill Memorial Park (SDCo)
Ocean Air Community Park
Questhaven Road Nature Trail
San Luis Rey River--Benet to Foussat
San Luis Rey River--I-5 to Benet
San Onofre Creek mouth
Scripps Coastal Reserve--Interpretive Trail (only open 1st Sat, 9-11
South Bay Salt Works--interior & bay (restricted access)
Towne Centre Drive Miniparks (East Gate Park #1 and 2
Walker Preserve Trail - 1
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Date: 4/19/25 2:23 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Little Stint
It’s back again at 2:20.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 4/19/25 2:11 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Little Stint
As I worried, we lost the bird shortly after posting. Sorry all. But at least the bird hasn’t migrated yet.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 4/19/25 2:00 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Little Stint
We’re pretty sure the Little Stint is on stint island right now (2pm), been here for the past 30 mins. Hanging at its favorite elbow and chasing everything else away
(32.5911636, -117.1131833)
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 4/18/25 3:28 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bank Swallow Lake Murray, continuing Little Stint.
At 3:15 p.m. on Friday there is currently a Bank Swallow flying back and forth at Lake Murray up against the shoreline on the north side of the mouth of San Carlos Bay. I'm viewing it from a long way away with a scope from the Kiowa parking lot looking north sort of in line with the ball fields that are on the north side. Way up against that shore. This morning. Several of us were at Sweetwater Reservoir where there were probably on the order of 800 or more swallows, with Cliff being by far the most numerous, but could not pick out anything rare. We did have a full alternate Horned Grebe which is a rare migrant inland. And the Little Stint continues on its new newly found favorite salt-mud little island in the eastern part of Pond 23 at the Salt Works, as best viewed from the parking lot on the east side of the office building off the end of 11th Street. It will likely leave any day now, but may stay up to another week or so.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 4/17/25 5:05 pm From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <mattsadowski78...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Franklin's Gull, 4/17, Tijuana River mouth
Time to start checking your local gull/tern flock (and your local
reservoirs, and migrating flocks of CAGU passing overhead...). This
morning there was an adult FRGU in full alternate plumage at the Tijuana
River mouth, shifting around with the ELTE/ROYT flock. It was initially
right at the river mouth, just to the S on the BFSP side, before
shifting with some terns up-channel to the NE, where a bit distant but
still visible. It was much pinker than the Elegants.
Although there's probably a low likelihood of it still being there
tomorrow, parking is at Seacoast Drive. Beware there's a lot of
construction going on, I was stuck at the end for several minutes on my
way out while they got one of their vehicles out of the the way.
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Date: 4/16/25 1:39 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] April migration: Late and Slow! , Some annual early questionable reports
I posted this earlier today to CalBirds. Almost all of it is relevant to San Diego County.
--Paul
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Paul Lehman <lehman.paul...>To: <calbirds...> <calbirds...>Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 12:06:10 PM PDTSubject: April migration: Late and Slow! , Some annual early questionable reports
I think almost everyone in California would agree that the passerine migration so far this April is notably LATE and SLOW. Down here in parts of southern California, a number of folks (including myself) have commented on it being a good migration earlier in the season for Violet-green Swallow, and since then OK for Western Kingbird and Chipping Sparrow. But almost everything else.....late and slow! One very common refrain virtually statewide has been, "Where are all the Hooded Orioles?" Here in San Diego County, where common and widespread, they were remarkably scarce until just a little over a week ago. Still below average, but at least they have filled in a fair bit of their widespread range locally--but this is almost A FULL MONTH LATE. Bullock's Orioles and Black-headed Grosbeaks have also finally begun to increase, but still below normal and running 2-3 weeks late. And where are all the many Ash-throated Flycatchers that normally start appearing by late March? Anyway, the list goes on and on. So, what's happening? Major population declines? Inappropriate local weather conditions locally for migration? Or something odd going on farther to the south(east), either en route or closer to the wintering grounds? In support of the latter factor are reports that a fair chunk of southern Arizona had it driest winter on record, EVER, and--perhaps more important--one friend of mine reported that parts of Mexico had a cooler or colder than usual (relatively speaking) winter and early spring--which could well translate into a lot of stuff running late. We will certainly know a lot more once the next month plays out!
It's another first half of April, and yet another year of multiple reports of the following species that are way early and which in most cases likely reflect misidentifications. (And all of which could really use photo documentation.) Western Wood-Pewees are not expected to start arriving until after about 15 April, so any reports before that need to come with strong documentation, and need to be flagged by eBird filters. (For example, the all-time early arrival in San Diego County is around 8 April.) Most such early reports involve either heard-only birds (think vocalizing starlings or a number of other mimics) or are poorly documented and have no photos. Often these reports are from observers who do not at all appreciate how unusually early their bird would be. And a problem that I bet many birders don't realize is that the first Olive-sided Flycatchers actually arrive before wood-pewees do--and probably get misidentified. This month, there were several poorly documented early reports, but also one well photographed bird in Orange County on 10 April. The next species is Swainson's Thrush, which already has a bunch of reports in California during the first half of the month. This species is not reliable until around late the third week in the month, with a just a few documented records as early as the 12th-15th. A fair number of the earliest records are of birds at breeding sites, arriving even earlier than through-migrants do farther to the SOUTH, but such local breeders need to be heard SINGING. Unfortunately, almost all of the early reports this month have involved birds not seen and only heard calling, or heard calling and seen rather poorly, again mostly by folks who don't appreciate the true status of this species so early--and who report the bird giving the "wink" or "wheet" call only, but some other species (e.g., Song Sparrow) can give similar calls. Last but not least comes Black Swift. There are a small number of legit records for the last week or perhaps ten days of April in California (some associated with southern or lowland nesting areas), but of course this species is a notorious late arriver and typically doesn't show until into May. The problem here is the usual one of an observer not appreciating the true status and seasonal timing, and either seeing a White-throated or Vaux's Swift at a distance or in mediocre light and not properly assessing size and/or color. And the other recurring problem is misidentifying male Purple Martins. Heck, some especially early reports of Black Swift, if indeed of a large all-dark swift, might need to also consider either Common Swift or White-collared Swift. So far this year, there have already been one or two Black Swift reports. From previous years, there is an especially "egregious" report with very limited details coming from Butte County on 30 March 2021 and apparently being validated by eBird.....
Anyway, I'd recommend all county ebird filters be tightened for these and several other migrants that are notoriously reported "too early" almost every spring (e.g., add Willow and Dusky Flycatchers to the list), and set to 0 until these species are truly known to occur REGULARLY in at least small numbers.
Exceptional arrival and departure dates certainly DO exist. But such exceptional occurrences need to be appreciated by the observer AT THE TIME OF THE OBSERVATION and need to be exceptionally well documented.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 4/16/25 1:37 pm From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <mattsadowski78...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Little Stint, 4/15
Stint continues on the middle island of pond 23 right now (13:34), not the southwest island, and of course impossible to scope now with midday shimmer.
Matt
On Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 11:44 AM Matt Sadowski <mattsadowski78...> wrote:
> The alternate-plumaged (not that red though) Little Stint continues to > forage on the south-most salt crust island in the middle of pond 23, for > those that might be looking for it from 10th St. > > Here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GGYaqTSEch1H9ivz6 > > Matt Sadowski >
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Date: 4/15/25 11:44 am From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <mattsadowski78...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Little Stint, 4/15
The alternate-plumaged (not that red though) Little Stint continues to forage on the south-most salt crust island in the middle of pond 23, for those that might be looking for it from 10th St.
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Date: 4/14/25 11:50 am From: Andrew N via groups.io <floodshark...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Calliope at Bird and Butterfly Garden
The Calliope just resurfaced for us at the bottle brush tree to the left of ranger house (not the one behind it in the corner) but there's a lot of aggression from the other Hummers.
Andrew Newmark
Chula Vista, CA
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Date: 4/14/25 10:03 am From: Andrew N via groups.io <floodshark...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Calliope at Bird and Butterfly Garden
Yoohoo,
I ran into a male Calliope at the BBG twenty-ish minutes ago. It was poking at the blooming autumn sage at 32.5544759, -117.0857640 but the plant was taken over by a Black-chinned and now nothing seems to be visiting it. Trying to find which plant it's haunting now.
Andrew Newmark
Chula Vista, CA
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Date: 4/14/25 6:00 am From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for the eBird week starting Tuesday April 15 - Monday April 21
On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 5:57 AM John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Greetings here’s the list for this upcoming week (two Hot spots only need
> a checklist this week and they will have at least one report for each week
> of the year. Highlighted in red and they have a one after the name):
>
> Bandy Cyn. Rd. at Ysabel Creek Rd.--Trailhead
> Batiquitos Lagoon--Aviara Parking
> Carlsbad Research Center pond
> Chollas Creek--Euclid Ave to 54th St
> Collier Park (Ramona)
> Eastlake (Chula Vista)
> Encinas Creek--Paseo del Lago
> Fletcher Cove Beach Park
> Hanson Pond Trail
> Henshaw Scenic Vista
> Hilltop Park (Chula Vista)
> La Jolla Farms Rd. Tipus
> Lake Sutherland
> Lawrence Welk Village
> Little Italy (San Diego)
> Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
> Lower Otay Reservoir--North Point & east arm pullouts
> Mission Heights Park
> Mission Trails Regional Park--Cowles Mtn Trail
> Ocean Air Community Park
> Ocean St. Overlook
> Otay Mesa--Brown Field
> Otay Valley Regional Park--Fenton Pond Trail
> Palomar Mtn.--Doane Valley Nature Trail
> Point Loma Community Park
> San Dieguito Lagoon - mouth - 1
> Scripps Coastal Reserve--Interpretive Trail (only open 1st Sat, 9-11
> Tijuana River Valley--ranger station - 1
> Tijuana River Valley--Sunset Ave. freshwater ponds
> Walker Preserve Trail--Riverford Rd to Channel Rd
>
> John Bruin
> Bay Park
>
>
>
>
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Date: 4/14/25 5:57 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for the eBird week starting Tuesday April 15 - Monday April 21
Greetings here’s the list for this upcoming week (two Hot spots only need a checklist this week and they will have at least one report for each week of the year. Highlighted in red and they have a one after the name):
Bandy Cyn. Rd. at Ysabel Creek Rd.--Trailhead
Batiquitos Lagoon--Aviara Parking
Carlsbad Research Center pond
Chollas Creek--Euclid Ave to 54th St
Collier Park (Ramona)
Eastlake (Chula Vista)
Encinas Creek--Paseo del Lago
Fletcher Cove Beach Park
Hanson Pond Trail
Henshaw Scenic Vista
Hilltop Park (Chula Vista)
La Jolla Farms Rd. Tipus
Lake Sutherland
Lawrence Welk Village
Little Italy (San Diego)
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
Lower Otay Reservoir--North Point & east arm pullouts
Mission Heights Park
Mission Trails Regional Park--Cowles Mtn Trail
Ocean Air Community Park
Ocean St. Overlook
Otay Mesa--Brown Field
Otay Valley Regional Park--Fenton Pond Trail
Palomar Mtn.--Doane Valley Nature Trail
Point Loma Community Park
San Dieguito Lagoon - mouth - 1
Scripps Coastal Reserve--Interpretive Trail (only open 1st Sat, 9-11
Tijuana River Valley--ranger station - 1
Tijuana River Valley--Sunset Ave. freshwater ponds
Walker Preserve Trail--Riverford Rd to Channel Rd
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 4/13/25 3:20 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Maybe Bank Swallow, 13th St. Imperial Beach
Bit of a half-report, but I’m fairly sure I saw a Bank Swallow briefly in the sizeable roving swallow flock at the Bayshore Bikeway in Imperial Beach. Specifically, I saw the subject bird while standing next to the bridge that’s right there at 13th St.
Noticeably small swallow even at close range, sandy brown on top with what looked like a good breast band below. The swallows moved on quickly and I couldn’t refind, but it may be worth spending some time with the swallows here if you come earlier in the morning.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 4/13/25 12:49 pm From: carib_boo via groups.io <betsyyvonne...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black-billed, red/oranged-legged tern at San Elijo Lagoon
There’s an interesting small-ish tern perched on a floating bit of vegetation here (33.0111750, -117.2743206, slightly NE of the big flock of elegant terns) with a thin bill that appears completely black, white breast and light gray uppers, lighter red/orange legs, and a long beautiful tail. The only species that have all these traits would be way out of range so I assume it’s a Common or Forster’s mid color change between non-breeding and breeding plumages, but sharing in case any experts want to opine or take a look. Unfortunately, I don’t have my camera with me and the bird flew farther away to the south before someone with a camera walked by (still in view but too far for good pics).
Betsy Miller Vixie
Olivenhain
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