A friend found a Sandwich Tern/Elegant Tern hybrid at Huntington State Beach on Saturday, 28 Mar. Look for it in the group of Terns resting on the beach. There is black color at the base of the beak.
Date: 3/25/26 8:35 am From: David Ornellas via groups.io <davidornellas...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Black and white warbler HBCP east
Good morning all,
There is a black and white warbler on the south side of the island slough at 33.704630,18.002086 . Jill and I thought we had it last week but could not confirm. I have pics, will post later. Also, for those interested there is a snapping turtle at the same location. It looks to be headed back to the water right now.
--
David Ornellas,
Costa Mesa, CA
Date: 3/23/26 6:39 am From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: March 23, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* March 23, 2026
* CAOC26.03.23
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
Stilt Sandpiper
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
Dusky Flycatcher
Plumbeous Vireo
Brewer’s Sparrow
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
A STILT SANDPIPER continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington
Beach through March 19.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
through March 22, while more were reported at Mason Regional Park in Irvine
on the same day.
Two immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
in Huntington Beach through March 22.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through March 22.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 21.
A BALD EAGLE continued at Huntington Central Park West in Huntington Beach
on March 17.
A DUSKY FLYCATCHER was reportedly continuing at Veeh Ranch Park in Laguna
Hills through March 21.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was reported to continue at Riverdale Park in Anaheim
through March 16.
Two BREWER’S SPARROWS were at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on March 19,
while another was reported from Black Star Canyon on March 17.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER presumably continued at Huntington Central Park
in Huntington Beach on March 21.
An AMERICAN REDSTART was reported to continue at Huntington Central Park in
Huntington Beach on March 21.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach on
March 15.
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued at Riverdale Park through March 19.
A female was in residential Laguna Beach on March 20.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 3/17/26 12:35 pm From: Tom Eastman via groups.io <ocean2trail...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Good afternoon,
Sorry about the late response, but I wanted to add a little something to
Linette's wonderful comments about rattlesnake safety, particularly item
number 6. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back off.
Rattlesnakes use their sense of smell to hunt and don't have very good
eyesight. If you encounter a snake stretched out across the trail, it is
likely to freeze and remain still. (Hoping you mistake it for a stick.) If
you can see the snake, it can see you, and you will likely have a very long
wait. If that happens, back up until you can no longer see the rattlesnake.
Count to 50 or 100 and when you go back, the snake will be gone. If it
doesn't work, try backing up again, or perhaps take a different route.
Unlike in movies and television shows, rattlesnakes don't chase you
and are likely
to be as afraid of you as you are of them. They may not rattle at all
unless they feel cornered without an escape route. Make sure you give them
one.
Do not throw a rock or hit the snake with a stick. If you succeed, you will
have an injured snake in the trail, and that's not good for either of you.
If the snake is merely playing dead, and someone tries to move the snake,
that's when they will get bitten.
See you on the trails,
*Tom Eastman*
<ocean2trail...>Laguna Hills
Please consider the environment before printing this message.
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 6:53 PM Linette Davenport via groups.io
<littlewing250...> wrote:
> Death from rattlesnake bites are very rare, and from the articles I have
> seen about the young mountain biker’s tragic death, he died a month after
> the snake bite, and the family is questioning that it was the rattlesnake
> bite that caused his death or if it was some fault of the hospital. That
> all said, here’s some advice for OC birders about rattlesnake safety.
>
>
>
> 1. If you’re going to go birding in rattlesnake habitat from March –
> October (maybe November if it stays very warm), i.e., out in scrubby or
> woody or high grassy areas as opposed to a manicured city park, wear long
> pants and hiking boots. At the very least, wear long pants and closed-toed
> shoes. Don’t wear shorts and sandals. The thicker the long pants, the
> better.
> 2. Stay on the trail. Rattlesnakes on the trail are easier to see than
> rattlesnakes that are off the trail. If you want to move, lower your binos
> down for a bit and look onto the trail and the edges of the trail when you
> are moving. Be aware of your surroundings. This is good advice for avoiding
> rattlesnakes as well as poison oak, star thistle, skunks, cacti, dangerous
> people, etc.
> 3. Don’t go off the trail. If you do go off the trail, pay extra
> attention to where you are putting your feet and hands. Go around bushes
> instead of through them. Look around the edges and bottoms of boulders as
> well as the top of them before you climb on them.
> 4. Because I am often off-trail for work, I wear snake gaiters. These
> give me more protection so I can move more freely without constantly
> looking for snakes. However, these can be very expensive. So stay on the
> trail.
> 5. Don’t pick up snakes. The vast majority of snake bites occur on the
> hands to the elbow of human males between the ages of 15-25.
> 6. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back off. Unlike many venomous
> snakes on the eastern half of the US, rattlesnakes are wonderful in that
> they give plenty of warning before they strike, and they usually back off
> if you also back off and give them the chance to retreat.
>
>
>
> If you do get bit:
>
> 7. Stay calm. The slower your heart rate, the slower the venom will
> move through your body.
> 8. Get to the hospital as soon as you can. In most cases, you have
> plenty of time to get to a hospital or have an ambulance take you to a
> hospital.
> 9. Don’t try to suck the venom out or make a tourniquet. If you have a
> long bandage or gauze, you can do a tight wrap around the bite, but mostly,
> just go to the hospital.
> 10. It used to be advised that you should identify the rattlesnake
> that bit you, which sometimes resulted in people killing snakes to bring to
> the doctor. There is now a universal anti-venom for rattlesnakes available,
> so this is not as necessary. If you can identify the snake or take a
> picture of it, that is good and helpful, but likely no longer necessary.
> 11. Let the doctors know if you have any allergies, especially to eggs
> or horses, as some anti-venoms may contain ingredients that are related to
> these.
> 12. Not all hospitals have anti-venom, and even those with anti-venom
> aren’t always the best at treating snake bites, unfortunately. I know
> someone who got bit by a Mojave green rattlesnake and promptly went to a
> local hospital, but since there was no swelling around his bite site, they
> sent him home without anti-venom. However, Mojave green rattlesnakes have
> neurotoxins, which do not cause swelling. After he had blurred vision and
> didn’t feel well for a few days, we advised my friend to go to Loma Linda
> hospital in San Bernardino County. They are the very best at treating snake
> bites, and they quickly gave him anti-venom and he immediately felt better.
> If you are getting less than adequate care at your hospital, I recommend
> you go to Loma Linda hospital if you can.
>
>
>
> Rattlesnakes are beautiful and amazing. Stay on the trail, be aware of
> where you’re stepping, and don’t be afraid,
>
>
>
> Linette Davenport
>
> Anchorage, AK, but also Barstow and Southern Cal
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> *On
> Behalf Of *Aaron Jones via groups.io
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 12, 2026 8:03 AM
> *To:* <OrangeCountyBirding...>
> *Subject:* [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
>
>
>
> Good morning,
>
>
>
> I came across this article reporting on a death of a biker who got bitten
> by a rattlesnake at Quail Hill.
>
>
>
> I thought to share it since it’s a popular spot, and whether it warrants
> any discussion on the risks of rattlesnakes in that area or further afield,
> and what to do and not do.
>
>
>
> The article states that he was bitten on the trailhead, rather than on the
> Loop (unless they’re part of the same?). It doesn’t go into details as to
> where on the body, whether there was delays in getting medical attention,
> whether he was particularly susceptible to more severe reactions, whether
> he was passing by the snake incidentally or provoked it.
>
>
>
> The article does provide basic advice on what to do if a bite occurs, but
> not what to look or listen out for (habitat, rattling, etc) to avoid
> encounters.
>
>
>
> However, since many of us do frequent the area and other areas populated
> by snakes, are any insights, experiences, advice, etc. on how to negotiate
> such situations?
>
>
>
>
> https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/orange-county-man-dies-venomous-rattlesnake-bite/ >
>
>
> There are many articles by different news sources, so an internet search
> will suffice to find them, and maybe there will be more details provided
> giving some background to the events surrounding the incident.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Aaron Jones,
> Santa Ana.
>
> "Nid wrth ei big y mae mesur cyffylog."
>
>
> --
> Linette Davenport
> Anchorage, AK
>
>
>
Date: 3/16/26 7:16 am From: Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Common Murre at Newport Pier
A common murre was also recently (friday March 13) washed up at Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point, captured and taken to Wetlands and Wildlife. It was heavily oiled, so there may be a slick impacting these birds. If found alive they should be grabbed with a towel, place in a box and transported to wetlands and wildlife care center in huntington beach: https://www.wwccoc.org/ They're they're happy to accept donations.
Thank you!
Dawn Garcia
Dana Point
Date: 3/13/26 6:53 pm From: Linette Davenport via groups.io <littlewing250...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Death from rattlesnake bites are very rare, and from the articles I have seen about the young mountain biker’s tragic death, he died a month after the snake bite, and the family is questioning that it was the rattlesnake bite that caused his death or if it was some fault of the hospital. That all said, here’s some advice for OC birders about rattlesnake safety.
1. If you’re going to go birding in rattlesnake habitat from March – October (maybe November if it stays very warm), i.e., out in scrubby or woody or high grassy areas as opposed to a manicured city park, wear long pants and hiking boots. At the very least, wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Don’t wear shorts and sandals. The thicker the long pants, the better.
2. Stay on the trail. Rattlesnakes on the trail are easier to see than rattlesnakes that are off the trail. If you want to move, lower your binos down for a bit and look onto the trail and the edges of the trail when you are moving. Be aware of your surroundings. This is good advice for avoiding rattlesnakes as well as poison oak, star thistle, skunks, cacti, dangerous people, etc.
3. Don’t go off the trail. If you do go off the trail, pay extra attention to where you are putting your feet and hands. Go around bushes instead of through them. Look around the edges and bottoms of boulders as well as the top of them before you climb on them.
4. Because I am often off-trail for work, I wear snake gaiters. These give me more protection so I can move more freely without constantly looking for snakes. However, these can be very expensive. So stay on the trail.
5. Don’t pick up snakes. The vast majority of snake bites occur on the hands to the elbow of human males between the ages of 15-25.
6. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back off. Unlike many venomous snakes on the eastern half of the US, rattlesnakes are wonderful in that they give plenty of warning before they strike, and they usually back off if you also back off and give them the chance to retreat.
If you do get bit:
7. Stay calm. The slower your heart rate, the slower the venom will move through your body.
8. Get to the hospital as soon as you can. In most cases, you have plenty of time to get to a hospital or have an ambulance take you to a hospital.
9. Don’t try to suck the venom out or make a tourniquet. If you have a long bandage or gauze, you can do a tight wrap around the bite, but mostly, just go to the hospital.
10. It used to be advised that you should identify the rattlesnake that bit you, which sometimes resulted in people killing snakes to bring to the doctor. There is now a universal anti-venom for rattlesnakes available, so this is not as necessary. If you can identify the snake or take a picture of it, that is good and helpful, but likely no longer necessary.
11. Let the doctors know if you have any allergies, especially to eggs or horses, as some anti-venoms may contain ingredients that are related to these.
12. Not all hospitals have anti-venom, and even those with anti-venom aren’t always the best at treating snake bites, unfortunately. I know someone who got bit by a Mojave green rattlesnake and promptly went to a local hospital, but since there was no swelling around his bite site, they sent him home without anti-venom. However, Mojave green rattlesnakes have neurotoxins, which do not cause swelling. After he had blurred vision and didn’t feel well for a few days, we advised my friend to go to Loma Linda hospital in San Bernardino County. They are the very best at treating snake bites, and they quickly gave him anti-venom and he immediately felt better. If you are getting less than adequate care at your hospital, I recommend you go to Loma Linda hospital if you can.
Rattlesnakes are beautiful and amazing. Stay on the trail, be aware of where you’re stepping, and don’t be afraid,
Linette Davenport
Anchorage, AK, but also Barstow and Southern Cal
From: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> On Behalf Of Aaron Jones via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2026 8:03 AM
To: <OrangeCountyBirding...>
Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Good morning,
I came across this article reporting on a death of a biker who got bitten by a rattlesnake at Quail Hill.
I thought to share it since it’s a popular spot, and whether it warrants any discussion on the risks of rattlesnakes in that area or further afield, and what to do and not do.
The article states that he was bitten on the trailhead, rather than on the Loop (unless they’re part of the same?). It doesn’t go into details as to where on the body, whether there was delays in getting medical attention, whether he was particularly susceptible to more severe reactions, whether he was passing by the snake incidentally or provoked it.
The article does provide basic advice on what to do if a bite occurs, but not what to look or listen out for (habitat, rattling, etc) to avoid encounters.
However, since many of us do frequent the area and other areas populated by snakes, are any insights, experiences, advice, etc. on how to negotiate such situations?
There are many articles by different news sources, so an internet search will suffice to find them, and maybe there will be more details provided giving some background to the events surrounding the incident.
Date: 3/13/26 5:48 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: March 13, 2026
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF BRAY!!!!!
* California
* Orange County
* March 13, 2026
* CAOC26.03.13
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
American Oystercatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
White-throated Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Virginia’s Warbler
Palm Warbler
An AMERICAN-TYPE OYSTERCATCHER was photographed again at Dana Point Harbor
in Dana Point on March 12.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
through March 13.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
in Huntington Beach through March 13.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through March 13. Another continued in the lower Santa Ana
River on March 12.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 13.
A BALD EAGLE continued on the coast at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 12.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continued in residential Rancho Santa Margarita on
March 10, while another continued at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on the
same date.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was reported from beautiful Bommer Canyon in Irvine
on March 10. Another was presumably continuing at Harriett Wieder Regional
Park in Huntington Beach on March 12.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH continued at Bartlett Park in Huntington Beach on
March 10.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER presumably continued at Huntington Central Park
in Huntington Beach on March 10.
A VIRGINIA’S WARBLER was reported from Bartlett Park in Huntington Beach on
March 11.
A PALM WARBLER was at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on March 10, while
another was in the picnic area of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park on
March 12.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 3/12/26 3:42 pm From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Palm Warbler, Aliso and Wood Canyons
The bird continues at the park. I saw it almost immediately (in the general area of the coordinates shown by Ashley below) when I arrived as it hopped around on the ground, on the low wooden fence and then into some trees. I lost it when three birds flew out of the same tree at the same time in different directions. Shirley Reynolds arrived and was able to find it again in the northeast corner of the picnic area. It would disappear and then be seen again for a few seconds. The last time we saw it was approximately 3:13 PM at the corner of the parking lot where the low wooden fence that is the boundary between the picnic area and the parking lot meets the fence along Awama.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
> On Mar 12, 2026, at 12:42 PM, Ashley Hopkins via groups.io <hopkinsashleye...> wrote:
>
> 33.5516766, -117.7204377
Date: 3/12/26 2:15 pm From: Vincent Baker via groups.io <bakerv1996...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Tricolored Heron; Santa Ana River Mouth
Hi birders,
As of about 1:30 this afternoon, there’s been a tricolored heron hunting along the rock jetty by the pocket pond just south of the tern preserve. Hopefully it sticks around for others to see.
Date: 3/12/26 9:49 am From: Ellen Tipping via groups.io <ellen.tipping88...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill Loop
This is a PSA for anyone, like myself, who has gone to the Quail Hill loop in the past couple weeks and found it closed. It is reopened again this morning. The trail is clearer and wider, presumably the City’s attempt to mitigate for rattlesnakes. In any attempt, we can get in again.
Date: 3/12/26 9:03 am From: Aaron Jones via groups.io <atj0888...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Good morning,
I came across this article reporting on a death of a biker who got bitten by a rattlesnake at Quail Hill.
I thought to share it since it’s a popular spot, and whether it warrants any discussion on the risks of rattlesnakes in that area or further afield, and what to do and not do.
The article states that he was bitten on the trailhead, rather than on the Loop (unless they’re part of the same?). It doesn’t go into details as to where on the body, whether there was delays in getting medical attention, whether he was particularly susceptible to more severe reactions, whether he was passing by the snake incidentally or provoked it.
The article does provide basic advice on what to do if a bite occurs, but not what to look or listen out for (habitat, rattling, etc) to avoid encounters.
However, since many of us do frequent the area and other areas populated by snakes, are any insights, experiences, advice, etc. on how to negotiate such situations?
There are many articles by different news sources, so an internet search will suffice to find them, and maybe there will be more details provided giving some background to the events surrounding the incident.
Date: 3/11/26 1:54 pm From: Cassandra and Xavier via groups.io <xaviandra14...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Illegal Bird Trade?
Thank you for reporting illegal bird traders. In addition to calling the
TIP Line 1-844-397-8477, reports can be made online at
https://www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips. Just in case anyone else needs
this information.
Thanks again,
Cassandra Margitan
Santa Ana
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 12:16 PM Dawn Hubbard via groups.io <britomart73=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I texted CALTIP at the park. They're just now texting me back.
>
> Dawn Hubbard
> Garden Grove
>
>
>
Date: 3/11/26 12:04 pm From: Dawn Hubbard via groups.io <britomart73...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Illegal Bird Trade?
Today I went to a park in Garden Grove in my effort to bird "underbirded" parks. While I was there, I saw three men with exotic birds in cages. I asked them about the birds and one guy said they were trying to "get them to mate." Another guy said something, and they quickly proceeded to take all the cages to their cars and departed. I have pictures of them and I followed them and wrote down their license plate numbers. I left a message with US Fish and Wildlife but don't know who else to call/email. The birds are thrasher-sized with uniform dark brown wings, tails, and bodies, and a distinct, long white eyebrow. Perhaps some subtle scaling on the breast.
--
Dawn Hubbard
Garden Grove
Date: 3/4/26 11:54 am From: Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Fw: a tribute to Jim Pike
Forwarding to the list serve at Jon's request
I learned of Jim's passing from Richard Erickson who wrote to me while I was in Thailand in late February. Needless to say I was shocked and greatly saddened.
I first became aware of Jim through a juvenile Black-billed Cuckoo he found in Huntington Beach on 4 October 1989. I was fortunate enough to see the bird the day after it was found on 5 October. It is only one of two that I have seen in California. While I remember the cuckoo I can't remember if Jim was there on the 5th. Later that fall, a Field Sparrow, the 2nd for California, was found at the west side of Irvine Regional Park by Jeff and Becky Boyd. I was overseas and by the time I returned in mid-December it had already moved on, or so it was thought. But, it was re-found by Jim early in January on the east side of Irvine Regional Park. He found it on the 5th and I managed to eventually see it on the 6th with help from Brian Daniels and Doug Willick. I was grateful to Jim for re-finding it. Memories of birding experiences dim over the decades, but that one and my gratitude to Jim remain firmly "present" for me. I eventually thanked Jim personally. Not unexpectedly, he was nonplussed, and that made me smile.
I can't say I frequently birded with Jim over the decades but was certainly aware of his many ornithological contributions. As others have commented, although Jim is principally known from Orange County and the Prado Basin just to the east, he regularly made sojourns with Kim to the eastern California deserts in Inyo County where they made many important bird discoveries. I knew him better through his three terms on the CBRC. Jim was a thoughtful, steady, and important member of the CBRC. I didn't always agree with Jim, but he delivered his written views with clarity and civility. This carried over into the annual Committee meetings.
Interestingly, it was at one of these meetings that I will most remember Jim. He had a personal gift for me, a book he had just read. It was about the Mexican War of 1846-1848. It was written by Amy S. Greenberg (published by Vintage Books in 2012) and was titled "A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. invasion of Mexico." Jim must have known of my interest in history and thought this book in particular would be of interest to me. Indeed it was. I've read it several times and I use it as a text for a birds and history field trip I do in connection with the Rio Grande Birding Festival which takes place in Harlingen, Texas. Greenburg's book is more about the cultural and political history, less on the military history. In the book it extensively quotes a little known anti-war speech by a little known new Whig congressman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's speech, delivered on the House floor on 12 January 1848 ripped into the false pretext for the war. His mentor, Henry Clay, was also against the war. In the short term Lincoln's speech was used against him. He was not re-elected to Congress in the next election, and failed in his Senate bid against Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. I knew nothing previously of Lincoln's early 1848 speech. The political pundit and Lincoln admirer, William Kristol, did know about it and sent me a short note stating it was one of the best anti-war speeches ever delivered. When I read the excerpts from Greenberg's book of Lincoln's speech during the trip, I think of Jim. I have purchased several copies of the book to send to friends as gifts and purchased an extra copy for myself in case I should misplace it!
Jim spent much of his time birding away from the broader birding community but his colleagues within the CBRC, the environmental community and his closer birding friends know of his many significant contributions to California field ornithology. He will be greatly missed.
Date: 3/3/26 1:44 pm From: Kaaren Perry via groups.io <surfbird1...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
I join the many birders both OC and beyond that are deeply saddened by Jim's passing Despite my moving out of the area we had kept in touch via emails over the past years often prompted by a bird question of mine, a comment to him about one of his posts on OCBirding and sometimes just to say "hi". Last message of his to me was happily telling me of his and Kim's plans for his rapidly approaching retirement.
I have many wonderful memories of Jim as he shared his thoughts, wisdom, and extensive bird knowledge over the years. I remember asking him many years ago how he found so many rarities in OC. His reply was that he just looked for green spots on the map! He has left a big hole in the birding community.
My sincere condolences to Kim, family and friends,
Date: 3/2/26 3:59 pm From: Sherry Meddick via groups.io <wrennietwoburd64.p4...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Situation with Long Canyon Road/Blue Jay Campground/Falcon Campground
Was just at a USFS volunteer meeting and the new Ranger discussed the situation post Airport Fire in regard to these areas a little bit. Wanted to give you a couple heads-ups.
1. Both Falcon AND Blue Jay will remain closed for a while. They are still contracting for danger/dead tree removal which as I understand it will extend to late summer early fall at least. He said there are a lot of trees to be removed. Heartbreaking. You are not/will not be allowed to even walk in these areas. Since I have yet to go to these areas post fire, I cannot say what remains of the area except I know the loss was VERY severe. I really don't know what would be open (including the various trails) when they open. They will announce it.
2. In regard to Long Canyon Road (which many take to get to Blue Jay/Falcon), it MAY open in May if the weather holds and it isn't a wet late spring. I think the target date was the 23rd, but as I understand it, it could be a bit earlier. They will publicize it and I will also let you know.
3. The Main Divide Road to Santiago Peak is closed. It WAS open from Indian TT (E side of mountain entrance) but the road is in such bad shape, they will be closing it. Right now there is NO access to the Trabuco District north of Ortega from anywhere on the mountain's east side. The only way to get in/out by car is Maple Springs. One can reach the very trashed Santiago Peak and continue along the Divide to Indian, but you have to turn around and go back so no point. So for most of you, you will want to go no farther than the seep at Big Cone Springs (which is where Dead Man's Curve II is located ... that's where all the speeders who lose control end up down deep in the canyon there so don't be surprised when you see a lot of dead vehicles down there).
4. After a long hiatus, USFS opened the Upper San Juan Campground, though it is closing in April/May for additional work. So, call the Ranger's office ahead should you chose to go. I have not been over there yet but heard it was nice. Not sure what that means, but I guess I will find out one way or other when I go. It's along a riparian corridor if memory serves so might be an interesting spot.
And a quick note about Holy Jim. Nothing is open. After fires in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022, the place is nuked (the Ranger's words). In total, HJ and surrounding areas represent about 50K burned acres. I've absolutely no idea when this area will reopen. I guess the word "nuked" blocked most of what the Ranger said thereafter.
The road condition on Maple Springs is probably the worst I have seen in 10 years so my advice: don't even consider it if you have a low vehicle.
Date: 3/2/26 12:06 am From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Jim Pike's passing is an enormous blow to birding and conservation both in
Orange County and California. The number of rarities he casually found each
year was astounding, and he had a meticulous attention to detail regarding
bird plumages that he demonstrated time and again through photo analysis of
birds both he and others found. I relied on his expert eye many times when
I was our NAB compiler to help tell birds apart or, contrarily, tell when
the same birds were moving around to different locations.
Jim and I emailed each other a lot over the years, but we only actually met
in person twice since Jim, like me, liked to keep to himself when out
birding in his later years. Back in 2017 I asked Jim if he'd be willing to
help me learn more about Least Bell's Vireo nesting habits and he very
graciously met me out at the Prado Wetlands and took me around for half a
day visiting vireo territories and giving me a behind the scenes tour. He
was especially excited to show me where he had found through his seasonal
work that the exact same vireo nest had been built upon and reused three
years in a row. The following year he sent me a cryptic email asking if I
wanted to see a rare bird he had just found earlier that day, which he then
showed me the next day. This was of course the Tropical Parula that Jim
amazingly found while wandering around in an apartment complex in
Huntington Beach. Doug Willick used to say that Jim's pishing was
deafeningly loud and that his ability to pull in birds from across parks
due to his loud pishing was legendary.
Jim and I found another thing we had in common, and that was our taste in
music. I once complimented him on a T-shirt he was wearing in a CBRC photo
<https://californiabirds.org/CBRCmembers2014.htmla> that had the cover of
the 1980s band The Replacements' album "Let It Be," which then resulted in
many musical exchanges between us. In a rebuttal of "Clapton is God," Jim
once told me that he wasn't sure if God was actually Paul Westerberg (The
Replacements), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), or Pete Townshend (The Who).
Orange County birding, and California birding in general, won't be the same
without Jim's regular contributions to its records, nor his consciousness
about and passion for protecting its birds and their habitats. Thank you,
Jim, for everything you taught me in the time we knew each other, and in
the words of Mr. Westerberg:
If I don't see you
In a long, long while
I'll try to find you
Left of the Dial
On Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 5:51 PM Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster=
<earthlink.net...> wrote:
> Orange County birders and beyond,
>
>
>
> It is with great sadness and heartbreak that I share that Jim Pike passed
> away on February 17, following his diagnosis less than a month before with
> an aggressive cancer. Though Jim was a respected member of the Orange
> County birding community for over 40 years, many will know him only through
> his posts to the OC Birding list serve, where he reported a steady stream
> of rarities, and regularly urged community action to save our park and
> neighborhood trees and plant cover from excessive pruning and removal. Jim,
> with his life partner Kim, moved to Huntington Beach from Wisconsin in
> 1983. Soon after Jim began his OC birding career. His impact was immediate
> with locals asking, “Who is the “new kid on a bike” who keeps reporting
> rare birds?” Shortly thereafter Jim was fully integrated with the area’s
> avid birders.
>
>
>
> Jim was very keen in the field and has a string of “County Firsts” to his
> credit. An incomplete list includes Mississippi Kite and Black-billed
> Cuckoo in 1989, Sedge Wren in 1991, Streak-backed Oriole in 1996, plus a
> Tropical Parula in 2018, the latter being the first state record for
> California. Jim found all these birds in Huntington Beach by concentrating
> his efforts within a limited geographic area and exploring it in depth. In
> the 1990s and early 2000s Jim joined with a small contingent of California
> birders who were exploring the Baja California Peninsula. He and I traveled
> there together in October 1986 where we stumbled upon an Olive-backed Pipit
> - a First Record for Mexico - in Catavina, a small palm oasis and rancho
> in the mid-peninsula portion of Baja. We spotted it independently, but only
> Jim knew instantly what it was. In time, Jim’s skill in bird finding and
> identification were acknowledged statewide, leading to his election to
> multiple terms as a member of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC).
>
>
>
> The late, great Loren Hays was instrumental in recognizing Jim’s skills
> and talent as a naturalist and encouraged Jim to turn his avocation into a
> career. Starting as a seasonal biologist, and later as an independent
> consultant, Jim worked for 36 seasons with various agencies including the
> Orange County Water District, studying the Prado Basin population of
> endangered Least Bell’s Vireos. While the number of vireos nesting there
> varied from year to year, their increase likely made the Prado population a
> major source of fledglings that colonized rehabilitated riparian habitat
> throughout Southern California in subsequent years. Jim’s success there,
> both in monitoring and implementing recovery strategies certainly stands
> as one of his most significant achievements.
>
>
>
> Jim’s work with the vireos was seasonal, and he and Kim took full
> advantage of the offseason. They traveled widely throughout the western
> states, often camping in offroad areas that gave them access to remote
> desert and mountain areas. At home Jim and Kim nurtured multiple
> “fur-children”, a dog and multiple indoor cats, as well as some feathered
> ones.
>
>
>
> As a friend and fellow birder, thank you, Jim Pike, for all you
> accomplished in conservation and for all you shared with the community
> birding. You are greatly missed.
>
>
>
> Tom Wurster
>
> Garden Grove
>
>
