San Diego & Imperial County Birding

[SDBIRDS] Spring Migrants

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:50:34 -0500

Although the Summer tanager seems to have flown, we've enjoyed our first glimpses of other migrants here in Pt. Loma, including hermit warblers, yellow warblers, western tanagers, hooded and Baltimore orioles, and others.

Some photos on my blog, Artelicious:

http://tina-rathbone.blogspot.com/2012/05/migration.html

Tina Rathbone
Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs

[SDBIRDS] late Hermit Thrush

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:44:11 -0500

Today (5/24), a little after 12:30, a Hermit Thrush (rather late) made an
appearance in a small riparian patch along Hidden Valley Road in Carlsbad.

Cheers,
-Gjon

* * *
Gjon Hazard
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office
6010 Hidden Valley Road,

[SDBIRDS] black-vented [?] shearwater at La Jolla Cove. 5/24

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:20:30 -0500

went to the Cove at lunchtime to see what the strong SW winds were blowing in
not much--some sooty shearwaters, black storm-petrels, and small numbers of northward migrating Pacific loons

had one shearwater 100 yards beyond the kelpline that was probably a black-vented, very rare in late May in San Diego
some features

[SDBIRDS] Northern Parula continues at Fort Rosecrans and a smattering of others at Pt Loma, May 23

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:17:42 -0500

Today's Wednesday group (Sara Mayers, Joe Sweeney, Anne Reilly, Joe Sweeney, Marcie Mason and myself) did some birding in Pt Loma's Silvergate neighborhood and some of us also moved on to Fort Rosecrans cemetery. The presumably continuing NORTHERN PARULA, first seen by Jim Pawlicki in the same general location

[SDBIRDS] Visiting birders

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:41:43 -0500

Hi all:

I am returning to San Diego today with two friends from the UK who
are on their first trip to the colonies. We have been at it for 3
weeks and will spend a few days in San Diego before we finish their
trip at Salton Sea and in

[SDBIRDS] killdeer with egg outside lest tern area mariner's point

Tue, 22 May 2012 18:56:32 -0500

great day on the river today lot's of tern and skimmer activaty near rob field saw the ospray taking care of the nest.over at mariner's point lot 's of lest tern's nesting.killdeer outside fence garding the nest two egg's where sited.i posted photo's i hope those egg's make it there

[SDBIRDS] Osprey in O.B.

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:03:10 -0500

I have been following the pair of osprey that have two
nests at Robb Field in Ocean Beach. They have been
very attentive to the larger nest for several months
with one bird bringing in fish while the other
sit on the nest.

Yesterday(May 22) however, both osprey were
sitting in a nearby tree looking as

[SDBIRDS] Tennessee Warbler, Summer Tanager

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:47:39 -0500

Am home locally for only a whopping three days between trips and wanted to
at least briefly sample this May's migration in San Diego! Tuesday morning
I birded Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, Point Loma Nazarene and nearby streets,
Westminster Park, and the Famosa Slough area. A fair number of scattered
migrants at many sites, though

[SDBIRDS] Re: Buena Vista Audubon Grande notes

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:47:09 -0500

Hi all,

With all the serious photographers on the boat, I'm sure the best
are yet to come. But in the meantime, here are some of my favorite ones:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9638954@N07/

Happy birding,

Christopher Adler
Banker's Hill / Balboa Park West
(email address filtered)

--- In (email address filtered), Jay K <azure.jay@...> wrote:
>
> SD-Birders,
>
> A few semi-ok

[SDBIRDS] Fort Rosecrans highlights - 20 May AM

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:33:23 -0500

Highlights this morning (20 May) from the east side of Fort Rosecrans
National Cemetery on Point Loma:

Northern Parula - singing male that spent a good 2.5 hours near the exit to
the first loop south of the main entrance; took a long flight to the east
around 9:30
Tennessee Warbler - singing imm. male

[SDBIRDS] Owl pellets

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:28:01 -0500

Under the ash tree at the IB sports park there are many owl pellets and a recent one looked like long tail hair from a squirrel. Turns out to have been a goldfinch. Don't let your small birds out at night.
JimPea, SD, CA

[SDBIRDS] Buena Vista Audubon Grande notes

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:07:27 -0500

On Saturday the Buena Vista Audubon trip aboard the Grande started in the
primal overcast of coastal San Diego Bay at 6am. As we drove West three
Xantus's Murrelets were spotted including a chick. Good views for all on
board, another three were seen shortly after the first group. Maintaining
the

[SDBIRDS] herons and egret nesting

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:53:50 -0500

A visiting researcher checked out some rookeries. The eucalyptus tree at the entrance to Quivira Basin had two nests fledge and three still with activity. The Circle Apartments reported a yellow-crown last week, but none was seen today and the nest was empty.
Imperial Beach sports park had two yellow-crowned chicks

[SDBIRDS] Summer Tanager Oceanside, unusual pier activitiy and some notes photos

Sat, 19 May 2012 19:27:30 -0500

Sondra St Claire and I saw a first spring summer tanager at the
Rosacrutian fellowship center this am, in flowering eucalyptus south side of start to meditation walk, number of migrants in that tree, Hermits Warlbler also present

on or near the oside harbor on rock jetty where

[SDBIRDS] Laguna Mts: Pinyon Jays and Lincoln's Sparrow, 19 May 2012

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:58:29 -0500

After a modest showing at Oasis Spring (Swainson's Thrush, Yellow,
Townsend's, and Wilson's warblers as highlights), I headed to the Agua Dulce
Creek area off of Wooded Hill Road and had much the same but also: 2 Pinyon
Jays, a singing Lincoln's Sparrow, and nesting Lawrence's Goldfinches. I got
a good look at one

[SDBIRDS] oceanside minor notes 2012 05 17 photos

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:57:00 -0500

2 mountain chicadees Rosacrutian center nesting confirmed there last year

Olive-sided Flycatcher and 2 Hermit Warblers Prince of Peace Abby

1 banded (hard to read} breeding plummage Snowy Plover on beach near main jetty

450 sanderlings, a sizable number in breeding plummage, on beach near jetty

1 squirrel

[SDBIRDS] Re: Please help me identify this bird from the recording.

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:37:14 -0500

To help out Trent on his soapbox, another reminder to all to learn how to use link shortening tools. I cannot access this link. There are many free and easy tools for this, such as:

https://bitly.com/
http://goo.gl/
http://tinyurl.com/

Also, since I'm helping folks out, on behalf of Doug, please remember to include

[SDBIRDS] Indigo bunting and warblers, Pt. Loma, 5/17

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:53:30 -0500

On this misty, overcast morning (May 17), our yard was full of
birds. A beautiful male Indigo Bunting made a brief appearance.
Swarms of Yellow Warblers filled the yard for several hours (five at
once on the drip). There were also a few Hermit, Townsend's, and
Orange-crowned

[SDBIRDS] Carmel Valley Prairie Falcon

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:31:16 -0500

Yesterday, 5/16, at 4:30 PM, I saw a Prairie Falcon fly north over the 56 Freeway near Carmel Country Road. Seemed odd that close to the coast.

Michael Wienholt
Escondido

[SDBIRDS] Please help me identify this bird from the recording.

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:37:02 -0500

Please help identify this bird from the recording. I recorded this Wed. May 16 Mission Gorge (half way between the visitor center and the old dam). This bird was making these various sounds but I never saw the bird itself:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/wHe0T4YiAFF0YARDvRzbnl2ESAc-chvN3o4Olydkuh_XQzEA4ixUNE2QhIZwKreC4EehtlMVrv6dutWFRQr8UuhB2A5S/2012-05-16%2004-08.wav

[SDBIRDS] New Yard Bird today Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:54:35 -0500

http://obeach.smugmug.com/Birds/Southern-California-Birds-2011/i-fb2Sh3h/0/L
/GrosebeakRose-breasted-L.jpg

Vicki spotted a new yard bird today.

Tom Blackman

(email address filtered)

obeach.smugmug.com

[SDBIRDS] Black Swifts over Poway - 15 May

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:11:28 -0500

At exactly 6:30 pm this evening (15 May) a group of 4 Black Swifts in
company of a Cliff Swallow passed over the very west end of Old Creek Rd.
located off of Stonebridge Parkway in the town of Poway (this is just north
of MCAS property). They came in at fairly low

[SDBIRDS] follow-up to Hummingbird ID help photos at http://bit.ly/KaMMop

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:35:49 -0500

thanks to a number of folks who took a shot at the id, wide range of responses young anna`s, calliope, black chinned, and costas

I copied and pasted a few edited responses

That is definately a baby Anna's. They nest around my house for years

[SDBIRDS] Re: Northern Parula @ Zoo

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:43:15 -0500

Here's the photos I took of the Northern Parula today.

http://www.sdbirder.com/Birds/SETAME

--
Trent R. Stanley
PO BOX 3666
SAN DIEGO CA 92163-1666
(email address filtered)
http://www.sdbirder.com

On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:29 AM, Trent R. Stanley <(email address filtered)> wrote:
> At around 8:30AM (5/15/12) I heard an unusual song while working in
> the vicinity of Sabretooth

[SDBIRDS] may 26-28 pelagic trip aboard Searcher

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:17:50 -0500

dear seabirders:
just a few spots open on our 2.5-day "wildlife weekend" for seabirds and marine mammals aboard searcher over memorial day weekend--may 26-28. click here for all the details including previous years' sightings: http://www.socalbirding.com/upcomingtrips/sandiegomay26282012.html

san diego's own pelagic expert, dave povey, will be aboard to chum up, spot, and identify seabirds

[SDBIRDS] Northern Parula @ Zoo

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:29:20 -0500

At around 8:30AM (5/15/12) I heard an unusual song while working in
the vicinity of Sabretooth Grill and tracked it down. It was a
beautiful adult male NORTHERN PARULA mixed in with a small flock of
other warblers; Hermit, Townsend's and Wilson's. They're feeding in
the trees surrounding the patio area of Sabretooth

[SDBIRDS] results of today's 14 May 2012 San Elijo monthly bird count

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:09:50 -0500

112 species were recorded at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve & Cardiff State Beach on the May 14th monthly bird count. The next count will be Monday June 11th.

Thanks to all who volunteered their time: Steve Brad (Beach, WestBasin, NatureCenter); Mary Lou Kaae, Jayne Lesley (CentralBasinWest = "pole road"

[SDBIRDS] hummingbird id question

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:47:55 -0500

this hummer was 10 ft away appeared smaller than an anna`s
bird was in riparian area Sorrento valley

any help appreciated

http://bit.ly/KaMMop

steve brad
leucadia

[SDBIRDS] Re: unknown blue bird in Tijuana River Valley

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:37:18 -0500

Hi Mary,

These are indeed "exotic" blue birds, they are Black-Throated Magpie-Jays which are escapees from captivity and have established a breeding colony in the Tijuana River valley. It is quite a striking sight when they make an appearance!

Their native range is the Pacific coast of Mexico, from the state

[SDBIRDS] SDFO May 2012 Meeting - Joe Sweeney

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:36:53 -0500

The May SDFO meeting will be held Tuesday May 15th at *6:00 p.m.* when we
will be treated to Joe Sweeney discussing "The Birds of Rancho La Puerta."

In addition to a new starting time we will be *meeting in a newer location:
*
*San Diego Foundation Building, *
*2508 Historic Decatur Road, Raymond

[SDBIRDS] unknown blue bird in Tijuana River Valley

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:31:32 -0500

Hi All,
I'm not a birder (yet) with a list and all, but I do enjoy seeing and hearing the birds in the Tijuana River Valley where my horses live at a boarding stable with lots of trees and a pasture. (Hollister and Monument rds)
HERON STORY
One day I saw a

[SDBIRDS] Someone told me to go fly a kite ...

Sun, 13 May 2012 22:14:11 -0500

May in Poway is a time when White-tailed Kites are pair bonding. I have
been building a roof on top of my roof at my house to insulate over and
still enjoy my open beam ceilings. While up there, I've been seeing
their aerial combat displays. I couldn't resist climbing

[SDBIRDS] Clay-colored Sparrow at Fort Rosecrans - 13 May

Sun, 13 May 2012 17:36:28 -0500

The highlight of a trip to Fort Rosecrans this morning (13 May) was a Clay-colored Sparrow that put in a brief appearance in company of 2 Chipping Sparrows along the eastern fenceline running south from the Euc grove. All were initially along the small makeshift "stream" (leaking pipe) that

[SDBIRDS] Re: Fort Rosecrans Sat AM ~ Balt continues

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:17:18 -0500

Trent Stanley & I birded several spots this morning. The best bird we found was the adult male Baltimore Oriole reported yesterday by Tom. The bird posed atop a large pine in the northeast portion of the cemetery.. then flew off to the west, never to be seen again.

[SDBIRDS] Black-and-white Warbler Sorrento Valley photos

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:11:33 -0500

LT. Commander Pete Ginsburg and I observed a VERY vocal BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER in the large parking lot and riparian area near south side of
10170 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA
the riparian area was quite birdy with expected spring migrants

last 3 photos here
http://bit.ly/JHRVFT

for the

[SDBIRDS] Lilac-crowned parrots

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:44:09 -0500

There is a pair of Lilac-crowned parrots hanging in my neighbors tree in North Park eating some kind of fruit. I finally got a close enough look to ID them. They join up with a few other parrots for a noisy fly-by a few times a week!

RE: [SDBIRDS] Barrel Spring and points south, 12 May 2012 (additional notes)

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:57:25 -0500

After more consideration I feel comfortable calling this an Anna's
Hummingbird; it had some fleck of color in the throat and the grayish
centers of the undertail coverts are best for this species. The date and
location are better for this species. I am a bit puzzled by the buff in the
flanks though.

[SDBIRDS] Barrel Spring and points south, 12 May 2012 (additional notes)

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:29:42 -0500

I neglected to add that according to the atlas it is late for migrant
Black-chinned Hummingbird; however, possible breeding occurred in square Q22
and several squares to the west. The hummingbird had a noticeably long,
slightly decurved bill, a slight buff tinge to the flanks, and grayish
centers to the undertail covers.

Geoff

______________

Geoffrey

[SDBIRDS] Barrel Spring and points south, 12 May 2012

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:52:57 -0500

Since there hasn't been a report out of Barrel Spring after Bob Miller's
from October 2010 that I could find, I made the long drive out this morning.
Barrel Spring is really out of the way unless one is going to the
Anza-Borrego Desert and to my memory has never produced any high-end
rarities

[SDBIRDS] Famosa Slough

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:37:21 -0500

The birds still haven't decided to nest, yet, but are showing signs of interest. There was an olive-sided flycatcher in the tree tops at the south end. First I've seen there.
JimPea

[SDBIRDS] I have a photo need an ID

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:01:45 -0500

I am trying to learn the birds in San Diego.

I found out I cannot post photos on this listserv. I have a photo of what I think is a Wilson's Warbler. Could I get someone's expert opinion?
I will be happy to send you the .jpg photo I have. Just let

[SDBIRDS] Jacumba 5- 11 & 12

Sat, 12 May 2012 15:11:20 -0500

I birded Jacumba on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Birds of interest:

Yellow-headed blackbird -2 (at the east end of town near the ag area)
blue grosbeak (m&f in the mustard at along the border of the ag area)
Harris' hawk
black-throated gray warbler
Wilson's warbler
yellow warbler
hooded & Bullock's oriole
Lawrence's goldfinch
killdeer
tricolored blackbird
warbling vireo (2)
vermilion flycatcher

[SDBIRDS] Fort Rosecrans Sat AM

Sat, 12 May 2012 15:05:49 -0500

Sat (05.12.2012) the flowering eucs were attracting many birds, Hermit,
Yellow, Townsends and Orange-crowned Warblers. The ecu by the Wall also had
Western Tanagers, Hooded Orioles plus Black-headed Grosbeaks. The best bird
was an adult male Baltimore Oriole. Flyovers by Western Kingbirds were
noted as well.

Tom Blackman

(email address filtered)

obeach.smugmug.com

[SDBIRDS] Tijuana River Valley, Metro Waste Revegetation Site, Old Dairy Mart Rd, W-turf farm

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:23:38 -0500

I spent about a half hour (ca 0930-1000) this morning, May 11, 2012, casually birding the Metropolitan Waste Reveg site and the most-southerly "Dairy Mart pond" west of Old Dairy Mart Rd and the turf farm in the Tijuana River Valley (general vicinity of lat, long: 32.54944, -117.06467). Nothing

[SDBIRDS] SeaWorld

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:05:06 -0500

Several of the great blue heron nests have young and of the 11+ snowy egret nests three have young. The little blue herons are on two nests by the sealion pool and there are a couple of black-crowned night-heron nests behind the tide pool that I can't get close to.

[SDBIRDS] Continuing Wilson's phalaropes at San Dieguito River Park

Fri, 11 May 2012 01:21:11 -0500

Made a quick stop by the new Dust Devil Trail in San Dieguito River Park late this afternoon and had three continuing Wilson's phalaropes in the southern most pond on the West Loop Trail as described the other day by Steve Perry and BJ. Thanks for the tip guys!

Good

[SDBIRDS] Western Bluebird expansion

Fri, 11 May 2012 01:02:59 -0500

Now, we've known for a few years that Western Bluebirds have been breeding at Fort Rosecrans and Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego, which has made some sense with thier expansive grass lawns and trees.

About 2 years ago, I found Western Bluebirds (2 pairs) in residential Chula Vista, with 1 pair

[SDBIRDS] Acorn Woodpeckers

Thu, 10 May 2012 23:59:27 -0500

SDBIRDers,

This morning there were 4 Acorn Woodpeckers in my back yard in the Mira Mesa area. I've never seen them near here before and there are very few (and only very small) trees. Oddly they were most interested in the goldfinch (nyjer seed) feeder but they also attended

[SDBIRDS] next San Elijo monthly bird count Monday 14 May

Thu, 10 May 2012 23:48:10 -0500

Please spread the word -
San Elijo Lagoon monthly bird count
Monday May 14th (& 2nd Monday of each month, rain or shine)
Meet at the north end of Rios Ave. in Solana Beach at 7:30 a.m.
(from I-5, exit on Lomas Santa Fe & head west, turn north on Rios Ave.
which is

[SDBIRDS] SD River

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:29:38 -0500

less than 100 ducks remain, a male pintail with a bad wing, 2 wigeon, a brant and ruddy, gadwall and mallards. One coot. A glaucous-winged gull is still hanging around the SeaWorld section and a reddish egret, probably the mature one, was seen flying towards SeaWorld and went down towards