Date: 10/20/25 4:44 pm From: Wim van Dam via groups.io <wim.van.dam...> Subject: [venturacobirding] What's the story about this reported Common Black Hawk?
Date: 10/11/25 2:36 pm From: Kay Regester via groups.io <kayregester...> Subject: [venturacobirding] Golden-Winged Warbler seen Saturday 6:30 am
Worth the effort to wake up at 6 am! A good crowd was watching the bird as the sun rose behind it, making direct views a little dicey. Nonetheless, good views were had by all as the bird scooted around a large sycamore tree, around the bend west from the bridge and environs yesterday. About 15 people convened, with others joining in . Good views, although quick. Lots of other expected local species contributed to the feeding frenzy. A crowd of goldfinch pushed their way in, and the GWW flew back towards the bridge and the habitat there. Still, the GWW made itself available for approximately an hour. I think it likes that early morning warm sunshine.
Comradery of birders was excellent and helpful.Thanks to all. Kay
Date: 10/11/25 1:29 pm From: Trish G via groups.io <trishrg62...> Subject: Re: [venturacobirding] Golden-winged Warbler
Don't see that anyone posted today, so I'll give a Saturday post, the bird continues.
This morning the bird was spotted by Joel B in a sycamore across from San Joaquin Ave. where it has apparently been seen over the past day. 34.265118, -119.164558 It worked its way NW thru all the sycamores and was near the end of Arroyo Seco when I finally couldn't lift my camera any longer and left. This was about the same spot that Gjon put for GPS yesterday. 34.266834, -119.165343
I heard it later went into the dense trees inside the arroyo when a Cooper's Hawk made an appearance.
Continuing bird put in a brief appearance at 11:40 and again at 11:50. It was along Arroyo Seco, north of the footbridge, in the sycamore branches over a small paved access road/trail that drops into the drainage ditch/riparian area proper.
34.266834, -119.165343
The onshore breeze has picked up and it seemed like it favored the leeward side of the sycamore tree (although this observation is derived from a very small sample size).
It disappeared after a minute or two, perhaps going north.
The second time it put in an appearance, it looked like it flew up from the lower riparian veg to the east. Silent. Very active, but easy to lose among the leaves.
Date: 10/9/25 10:11 am From: David Pereksta via groups.io <pereksta...> Subject: [venturacobirding] Golden-winged Warbler continues but moved
The Golden-winged Warbler continues this morning along Kennebec Street in Ventura. Yesterday it was by the pedestrian bridge over the riparian area but this morning it was further west along Kennebec in the sycamores and pepper trees at this location
It is on the edge of a residential area so please be respectful to the people living there. Some positive engagement and bird sharing with curious neighbors has gone a long way.
Date: 10/7/25 8:19 am From: David Pereksta via groups.io <pereksta...> Subject: [venturacobirding] Oct 12 pelagic trip with Island Packers from the Ventura Harbor
There is still space available for a 10-hour pelagic trip (7:00 am-5:00 pm) out of the Ventura Harbor on Sunday, Oct 12 with Island Packers. We will be searching the waters around the northern Channel Islands, which can be very productive this time of year when hundreds (sometimes thousands) of shearwaters crowd into the inter-island gaps and concentrate over offshore banks and canyons. We will be looking through flocks of Black-vented, Pink-footed, and Sooty Shearwaters for Buller's, Flesh-footed (uncommon), and Manx (rare) Shearwaters. We have had Streaked Shearwater twice in the last few years and intend to check that area again on Sunday. There has also been a few Short-tailed Shearwaters around over the last month and a trip I was on out of Redondo Beach on Sunday had good looks at several. This is peak season for seabird diversity so in addition to the species already mentioned Black, Ashy, and Leach's Storm-Petrels; Cassin's and Rhinoceros Auklets; Pomarine, Parasitic, and Long-tailed Jaegers; and Red and Red-necked Phalaropes are all possible. It is a good time of year for South Polar Skua, Sabine's Gull, and Arctic Tern. There is also a potential for sought-after species like Cocos Booby, Townsend's Storm-Petrel, Least Storm-Petrel, and Craveri's Murrelet. The last few years have been exceptional for Craveri's Murrelet off southern California and with warm water continuing, our chances to find this elusive species may be good. I have had Craveri's on the last six trips I have been on over the last two months. We will decide what our offshore destinations will be after reviewing oceanographic conditions at the time of the trip, which will help determine where birds and other marine life may be present.
The trip will be on an ultra-fast catamaran that featured a spacious and comfortable cabin, galley, and excellent viewing from both the upper and lower decks. A full contingent of outstanding seabird leaders will be present to make sure we see all that is out there. The Captain and crew know how to run birding trips and are enthusiastic and helpful. In addition, we work hard to creep up on birds and get them in the right light...photographers will not be disappointed!
Trips can be booked over the phone by calling (805) 642-1393 or online at https://islandpackers.com/book-wildlife/ Hope to see you at sea!
Date: 10/6/25 9:41 pm From: nlethaby via groups.io <nlethaby...> Subject: [venturacobirding] Last booby pelagic of the season
All,
Island Packers will be running the final pelagic trip of the season out to the Cocos Booby colony on Santa Barbara Island on October 14, leaving from Ventura Harbor. This trip takes about 9 hours.
In addition to Cocos Booby, we have seen both Masked and Blue-footed Boobies on the two previous this season. The trip out and back has yielded a good selection of other pelagic species this season, including Buller's Shearwater, 4 species of storm-petrel, Craveri's and Scripps's Murrelets, Sabine's Gull, all 3 Jaegers, South Polar Skua and Arctic Tern.
You can visit Island Packers website to book. www.islandpackers.com
Regards,
Nick Lethaby
Goleta, CA
<nlethaby...>
+1 805 284 6200
