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California, 2024 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter rkj
- Start date
1 November 2024
One of North America’s cutest birds has shown up at Wilder Ranch State Park, and today I went to look for it. Wilder Ranch is a few miles north of Santa Cruz. It stretches from the ocean across a broad coastal terrace and up into the lower elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains. There are some ranch buildings with interpretive activities about ranch life. The terrace is farmed, Brussels sprouts being the main crop. (A large fraction of the world’s Brussels sprouts is grown in northern Santa Cruz and southern San Mateo Counties.) There are trails for hiking and biking. One of the more unusual features is a beach that is actually closed to the public, one of the few in the area where wildlife can feed and rest undisturbed. Most of the coast here is tall cliffs where Pigeon Guillemots, Pelagic Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers, and Western Gulls nest. The bird for today, however, was a Prothonotary Warbler. It was reported along an abandoned railroad track, about 0.4 km from the parking lot. I walked down there and found several birders at the site and the bird foraging right in the open along the tracks. Couldn’t have been easier or with better looks. (Which is not to say I managed great photos.) Prothonotary Warbler is not one of the more common vagrants to California, but more common than one might expect given its breeding range is primarily the Mississippi Valley and southeastern United States and its wintering range is primarily in the lands around the Caribbean Sea. They always draw a lot of attention when they do appear here. Their unmarked splashes of color: golden-yellow heads and breasts, green backs, gray wings and tails, and white bellies and undertail coverts make for a lovely bird, quite unlike any other American warbler.
The Prothonotary Warbler made for one new species today and a total now of 404.
One of North America’s cutest birds has shown up at Wilder Ranch State Park, and today I went to look for it. Wilder Ranch is a few miles north of Santa Cruz. It stretches from the ocean across a broad coastal terrace and up into the lower elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains. There are some ranch buildings with interpretive activities about ranch life. The terrace is farmed, Brussels sprouts being the main crop. (A large fraction of the world’s Brussels sprouts is grown in northern Santa Cruz and southern San Mateo Counties.) There are trails for hiking and biking. One of the more unusual features is a beach that is actually closed to the public, one of the few in the area where wildlife can feed and rest undisturbed. Most of the coast here is tall cliffs where Pigeon Guillemots, Pelagic Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers, and Western Gulls nest. The bird for today, however, was a Prothonotary Warbler. It was reported along an abandoned railroad track, about 0.4 km from the parking lot. I walked down there and found several birders at the site and the bird foraging right in the open along the tracks. Couldn’t have been easier or with better looks. (Which is not to say I managed great photos.) Prothonotary Warbler is not one of the more common vagrants to California, but more common than one might expect given its breeding range is primarily the Mississippi Valley and southeastern United States and its wintering range is primarily in the lands around the Caribbean Sea. They always draw a lot of attention when they do appear here. Their unmarked splashes of color: golden-yellow heads and breasts, green backs, gray wings and tails, and white bellies and undertail coverts make for a lovely bird, quite unlike any other American warbler.
The Prothonotary Warbler made for one new species today and a total now of 404.
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4 November 2024
In some cultures, an owl calling is regarded as a sign of ill omen. Tonight I went out owling, and I rather hope the owls know what they are doing. The main target was a Barred Owl that has been heard a few times lately in southern San Mateo County, but with lots of other stops for whatever might be hooting, tooting, or fluting. It was a clear, dark night with little wind. I actually saw both a Western Screech-Owl and a Great Horned Owl in the headlights of the car, but heard neither. The Barred Owl did not call. The only owl I did hear was a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I heard one back in February in Humboldt County with Ken Burton, but that was a distant, faint bird; this one was up close and clear. So the ill omens were few and only of the smallest sort – I hope that applies to tomorrow’s election.
No new species, still on 404.
In some cultures, an owl calling is regarded as a sign of ill omen. Tonight I went out owling, and I rather hope the owls know what they are doing. The main target was a Barred Owl that has been heard a few times lately in southern San Mateo County, but with lots of other stops for whatever might be hooting, tooting, or fluting. It was a clear, dark night with little wind. I actually saw both a Western Screech-Owl and a Great Horned Owl in the headlights of the car, but heard neither. The Barred Owl did not call. The only owl I did hear was a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I heard one back in February in Humboldt County with Ken Burton, but that was a distant, faint bird; this one was up close and clear. So the ill omens were few and only of the smallest sort – I hope that applies to tomorrow’s election.
No new species, still on 404.
17 November 2021
It has been a good fall for longspurs in the area, but in several attempts I have been a day late on all of them. Most were one day wonders that I found out about too late. Two that did stay several days were Lapland Longspurs in Hayward, but that was a bit further than I wanted to drive for one species. When those were joined yesterday by a Smith’s Longspur and a Snow Bunting, however, that was definitely worth a trip. The Smith’s would be a lifer. The birds were at “Mount Trashmore”, a former landfill site that has been capped and now is covered in short grasses. It is part of the Hayward Regional Shoreline, which fronts the San Francisco Bay and also has some nice salt marsh and mudflat habitats. When I arrived mid-morning there were about 70 other birders already present. The Smith’s Longspur would be a lifer for many in the region. Only the Snow Bunting remained, however. I am not sure what the cause is, it may just be that information about rarities is much better now, but after decades of never having seen one in California, I have now seen a Snow Bunting in each of the last three years. This bird was very cooperative and many people got lovely photos of it. Around Mt. Trashmore there were a limited variety of other birds. Western Meadowlarks were most conspicuous and there were also Savannah Sparrows and American Pipits. I flushed up a Burrowing Owl, which did not go far and even allowed some pictures. After about two hours I gave up on the longspurs; with that many birders looking I think that if any were still around they would have been found by that point.
On the way home I detoured to Joseph D. Grant County Park, in the hills east of San Jose. This is a large park with some old ranch buildings, picnic tables, campgrounds, and trails. There are lots of grasslands and oak woodlands. I went there in pursuit of a Red-naped Sapsucker. This is a species I decided not to try for in the summer where they breed in the far north-east of California, knowing there would likely be some chances for it in the fall closer to home. One had been hanging out around a parking lot at Grant Park for more than two weeks, so this seemed like such an opportunity. Again I spent about two hours at the site. There were lots of fresh sapsucker workings, but the only sapsucker I saw was a Red-breasted; always nice to see, but not new. There were several other birds coming in to feed on sap at the holes, including Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Nuttall’s Woodpecker.
So it was just one new species for the day, Snow Bunting, and that brings the total to 405.
It has been a good fall for longspurs in the area, but in several attempts I have been a day late on all of them. Most were one day wonders that I found out about too late. Two that did stay several days were Lapland Longspurs in Hayward, but that was a bit further than I wanted to drive for one species. When those were joined yesterday by a Smith’s Longspur and a Snow Bunting, however, that was definitely worth a trip. The Smith’s would be a lifer. The birds were at “Mount Trashmore”, a former landfill site that has been capped and now is covered in short grasses. It is part of the Hayward Regional Shoreline, which fronts the San Francisco Bay and also has some nice salt marsh and mudflat habitats. When I arrived mid-morning there were about 70 other birders already present. The Smith’s Longspur would be a lifer for many in the region. Only the Snow Bunting remained, however. I am not sure what the cause is, it may just be that information about rarities is much better now, but after decades of never having seen one in California, I have now seen a Snow Bunting in each of the last three years. This bird was very cooperative and many people got lovely photos of it. Around Mt. Trashmore there were a limited variety of other birds. Western Meadowlarks were most conspicuous and there were also Savannah Sparrows and American Pipits. I flushed up a Burrowing Owl, which did not go far and even allowed some pictures. After about two hours I gave up on the longspurs; with that many birders looking I think that if any were still around they would have been found by that point.
On the way home I detoured to Joseph D. Grant County Park, in the hills east of San Jose. This is a large park with some old ranch buildings, picnic tables, campgrounds, and trails. There are lots of grasslands and oak woodlands. I went there in pursuit of a Red-naped Sapsucker. This is a species I decided not to try for in the summer where they breed in the far north-east of California, knowing there would likely be some chances for it in the fall closer to home. One had been hanging out around a parking lot at Grant Park for more than two weeks, so this seemed like such an opportunity. Again I spent about two hours at the site. There were lots of fresh sapsucker workings, but the only sapsucker I saw was a Red-breasted; always nice to see, but not new. There were several other birds coming in to feed on sap at the holes, including Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Nuttall’s Woodpecker.
So it was just one new species for the day, Snow Bunting, and that brings the total to 405.
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19 November 2024
I have been to Neary Lagoon in Santa Cruz several times this year. It is the best place locally for Wood Duck. Most of my visits there, however, have been in pursuit of a Black-and-White Warbler that spent last winter there or just to see what I might find. A report of a Black-and-White Warbler present again had me back there last week, but the effort was unsuccessful, as had been all the others. New reports of a Scarlet Tanager convinced me to visit again today. The tanager had been seen above the lagoon proper, so that is where I started. Birders at the site let me know that it had been seen in the morning, but not again for some time. After spending some time chatting with friends, scanning the trees, and not seeing a tanager, I decided to do a turn around the lagoon. The Black-and-White Warbler might still be down there. There is a nice trail that has a floating portion over the middle of the lake, a boardwalk over some marshy grasses on one side, and a good gravel path around one end. Lots of Mallards, a few Wood Ducks, a locally uncommon Northern Pintail, some American Coots, and a Pied-billed Grebe were on the lagoon. A modest variety of passerines were on the ground and in the willows and reeds, nothing unusual, no Black-and-White Warber. Back at the tanager site, people were still waiting for an appearance. I rejoined them. And after about 40 minutes, I spotted it and got the others on it. Not great looks, but the handsome bright green bird with black wings and tail was still a treat to see. I did not stay much longer, it might have been hours until it showed again and I had a couple errands still to do. An ebird checklist for Neary Lagoon is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S203059306.
One new species, Scarlet Tanager, and I am at 406 for the year.
I have been to Neary Lagoon in Santa Cruz several times this year. It is the best place locally for Wood Duck. Most of my visits there, however, have been in pursuit of a Black-and-White Warbler that spent last winter there or just to see what I might find. A report of a Black-and-White Warbler present again had me back there last week, but the effort was unsuccessful, as had been all the others. New reports of a Scarlet Tanager convinced me to visit again today. The tanager had been seen above the lagoon proper, so that is where I started. Birders at the site let me know that it had been seen in the morning, but not again for some time. After spending some time chatting with friends, scanning the trees, and not seeing a tanager, I decided to do a turn around the lagoon. The Black-and-White Warbler might still be down there. There is a nice trail that has a floating portion over the middle of the lake, a boardwalk over some marshy grasses on one side, and a good gravel path around one end. Lots of Mallards, a few Wood Ducks, a locally uncommon Northern Pintail, some American Coots, and a Pied-billed Grebe were on the lagoon. A modest variety of passerines were on the ground and in the willows and reeds, nothing unusual, no Black-and-White Warber. Back at the tanager site, people were still waiting for an appearance. I rejoined them. And after about 40 minutes, I spotted it and got the others on it. Not great looks, but the handsome bright green bird with black wings and tail was still a treat to see. I did not stay much longer, it might have been hours until it showed again and I had a couple errands still to do. An ebird checklist for Neary Lagoon is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S203059306.
One new species, Scarlet Tanager, and I am at 406 for the year.
30 November 2024
A Nazca Booby has been at Point Pinos in Pacific Grove for the last few days. Hitherto I have been busy at home with Thanksgiving preparation, feasting, and cleanup, but today I went down to have a look. Point Pinos is the northwest point of the Monterey Peninsula and is often a good sea-watching spot, particularly when there are strong winds from the north blowing birds in close to shore as they head out of Monterey Bay. Today the winds were calm and there were no birds of the deep water passing by. But the crowd of people with binoculars, scopes, and cameras let me know that the booby must still be around even before I got out of my car. It was quickly pointed out to me, resting on a rock off the point. The view was distant, but unobstructed; one could easily see the white body, black flight feathers and tail, and pinkish bill. Hoards of Brandt’s Cormorants also were on the rocks, with some also flying by and others in the water. A few Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants and Brown Pelicans joined them. Initially there were a relatively few Western Gulls also present, but something must have disturbed the big gull roost just to the south as about a hundred more flew in from that direction, as did even more Heermann’s Gulls. Several large flocks of Surf Scoters flew over, heading south. After a while the booby took to the air and foraged in close to the point. Its dives were not the vertical drops of a Brown Pelican or Northern Gannet, but more controlled fast glides at an angle down to the water. I do not have enough experience with Nazca Boobies to know if this is their normal foraging tactic, but it seemed to work well: I saw it capture fish at least twice. An ebird report listing all that I saw is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S204314597.
One new species, Nazca Booby, the total stands at 407.
A Nazca Booby has been at Point Pinos in Pacific Grove for the last few days. Hitherto I have been busy at home with Thanksgiving preparation, feasting, and cleanup, but today I went down to have a look. Point Pinos is the northwest point of the Monterey Peninsula and is often a good sea-watching spot, particularly when there are strong winds from the north blowing birds in close to shore as they head out of Monterey Bay. Today the winds were calm and there were no birds of the deep water passing by. But the crowd of people with binoculars, scopes, and cameras let me know that the booby must still be around even before I got out of my car. It was quickly pointed out to me, resting on a rock off the point. The view was distant, but unobstructed; one could easily see the white body, black flight feathers and tail, and pinkish bill. Hoards of Brandt’s Cormorants also were on the rocks, with some also flying by and others in the water. A few Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants and Brown Pelicans joined them. Initially there were a relatively few Western Gulls also present, but something must have disturbed the big gull roost just to the south as about a hundred more flew in from that direction, as did even more Heermann’s Gulls. Several large flocks of Surf Scoters flew over, heading south. After a while the booby took to the air and foraged in close to the point. Its dives were not the vertical drops of a Brown Pelican or Northern Gannet, but more controlled fast glides at an angle down to the water. I do not have enough experience with Nazca Boobies to know if this is their normal foraging tactic, but it seemed to work well: I saw it capture fish at least twice. An ebird report listing all that I saw is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S204314597.
One new species, Nazca Booby, the total stands at 407.
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5 December 2024
Needing to visit Hollister this morning, I went on down to Panoche Valley once the business there was concluded. Despite some rain a couple weeks ago, the valley was still quite dry, but there was some green peeking up under the brown. It was fairly birdy, with many of the species we go there to try to find. Three Ferruginous Hawks were scattered about the valley floor. A Prairie Falcon was one of only a very few I have seen this year. A “black” Merlin allowed me as close an approach as any of that species ever has. I got some photos, but they show the effects of having been shot through the windshield of the car. Chukar were again at Shotgun Pass. A conspiracy of Ravens had about 80 malcontents gathered together. There were huge flocks of House Finches and American Pipits, but I saw only a few Horned Larks. Lark Sparrows were scattered in small flocks and mixed in with White-crowned Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows. A Greater Roadrunner was fun. I found about a dozen Mountain Bluebirds, and like the Merlin they permitted a close approach. The one female I got decent pictures of had something clinging to the underside of its bill – I think an insect, perhaps a beetle larva. Bell’s Sparrows breed in the hills nearby, but the one Sage Sparrow-type I was able to study well was a Sagebrush Sparrow, a few of which winter in the area.
Nice birding, but no new species and I am still at 407.
Needing to visit Hollister this morning, I went on down to Panoche Valley once the business there was concluded. Despite some rain a couple weeks ago, the valley was still quite dry, but there was some green peeking up under the brown. It was fairly birdy, with many of the species we go there to try to find. Three Ferruginous Hawks were scattered about the valley floor. A Prairie Falcon was one of only a very few I have seen this year. A “black” Merlin allowed me as close an approach as any of that species ever has. I got some photos, but they show the effects of having been shot through the windshield of the car. Chukar were again at Shotgun Pass. A conspiracy of Ravens had about 80 malcontents gathered together. There were huge flocks of House Finches and American Pipits, but I saw only a few Horned Larks. Lark Sparrows were scattered in small flocks and mixed in with White-crowned Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows. A Greater Roadrunner was fun. I found about a dozen Mountain Bluebirds, and like the Merlin they permitted a close approach. The one female I got decent pictures of had something clinging to the underside of its bill – I think an insect, perhaps a beetle larva. Bell’s Sparrows breed in the hills nearby, but the one Sage Sparrow-type I was able to study well was a Sagebrush Sparrow, a few of which winter in the area.
Nice birding, but no new species and I am still at 407.
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PlayFreeBird
Active member
Let me point out, as, ahem, they are on my own list, the ABA considers both the Egyptian Goose and Indian Peafowl to be established in L.A. County.
Thanks for the input. You are quite correct (ABA Area Introduced Species - American Birding Association) and I had not realized it. I have been going by the California Bird Records Committee Official California Checklist (CBRC Official California Checklist) which does not list either Egyptian Goose or Indian Peafowl. Usually these committees seem to coordinate pretty well, so I am surprised at the difference. At this point I am over my 400 species goal and I am not that concerned about it, but if I decide to submit my yearlist to the ABA I shall include them.
23 December 2024
Followers of this thread may be wondering if I have given up birding for the year. I have not, but I until today I found no new birds this month despite some effort having been made. I went out owling twice, but only encountered Great Horned Owls and Western Screech-Owls. I have birded several times around Santa Cruz, with nothing new seen. A trip to Half Moon Bay on the 19th had a potential for three new species and three others that I have only seen once this year; I found none of them.
The Santa Cruz Christmas Bird Count was on 21 December, and as often happens some new good birds were found. Today I went after two of them, a White Wagtail at Wilder Ranch State Park and a Magnolia Warbler at Davenport. Wilder Ranch, I think I have noted before, includes some old ranch buildings, some trails through mixed evergreens woodlands and grasslands, some agricultural fields, and some ocean shore line that is mostly cliffs with a few small beaches. The wagtail was on one of the beaches. That particular beach is one of the few in California that is closed to the public, though the CBC counters probably had access to it. The rest of us had to search for the bird from an overlook on an adjacent bluff. Conditions were not good for spotting a small bird, but it was interesting to be out there. The surf was huge – very dramatic crashing against the headlands. The beach was covered in gulls – about 2000 of them. Most were Glaucous-winged and Olympic Gulls, with smaller numbers of Western, California, and American Herring Gulls, and a few each of Heermann’s, Ring-billed, and Short-billed Gulls. About 20 Brown Pelicans were also roosting on the beach, and a Long-billed Curlew and a couple Whimbrels poked around. None of the several birders present while I was there could pick out anything that looked like a wagtail, however. Until after I left. What must have been just minutes later it was reported as present.
The Magnolia Warbler was more cooperative. Magnolia Warbler is another of those species that here in California we tend to think of as an eastern bird, but that actually breeds quite far west in Canada. It is not one of the more common vagrants to our state, but a few are seen every year. Davenport is a small town on the north coast of Santa Cruz County. I often stop there at the Whale City Bakery for pastries when I am in the area. The town had its origins as a whaling station, but little evidence of that remains except that the main part of town is up on a bluff with a view over the ocean. The Magnolia Warbler was on a road that follows a little creek a little way behind the town. Two birders were at the site when I arrived, and they let me know that the bird had been seen about ten minutes prior. About ten minutes later I got a quick look at it, and after about another ten minutes a little longer look.
The Magnolia Warbler makes species #408 for the year.
Followers of this thread may be wondering if I have given up birding for the year. I have not, but I until today I found no new birds this month despite some effort having been made. I went out owling twice, but only encountered Great Horned Owls and Western Screech-Owls. I have birded several times around Santa Cruz, with nothing new seen. A trip to Half Moon Bay on the 19th had a potential for three new species and three others that I have only seen once this year; I found none of them.
The Santa Cruz Christmas Bird Count was on 21 December, and as often happens some new good birds were found. Today I went after two of them, a White Wagtail at Wilder Ranch State Park and a Magnolia Warbler at Davenport. Wilder Ranch, I think I have noted before, includes some old ranch buildings, some trails through mixed evergreens woodlands and grasslands, some agricultural fields, and some ocean shore line that is mostly cliffs with a few small beaches. The wagtail was on one of the beaches. That particular beach is one of the few in California that is closed to the public, though the CBC counters probably had access to it. The rest of us had to search for the bird from an overlook on an adjacent bluff. Conditions were not good for spotting a small bird, but it was interesting to be out there. The surf was huge – very dramatic crashing against the headlands. The beach was covered in gulls – about 2000 of them. Most were Glaucous-winged and Olympic Gulls, with smaller numbers of Western, California, and American Herring Gulls, and a few each of Heermann’s, Ring-billed, and Short-billed Gulls. About 20 Brown Pelicans were also roosting on the beach, and a Long-billed Curlew and a couple Whimbrels poked around. None of the several birders present while I was there could pick out anything that looked like a wagtail, however. Until after I left. What must have been just minutes later it was reported as present.
The Magnolia Warbler was more cooperative. Magnolia Warbler is another of those species that here in California we tend to think of as an eastern bird, but that actually breeds quite far west in Canada. It is not one of the more common vagrants to our state, but a few are seen every year. Davenport is a small town on the north coast of Santa Cruz County. I often stop there at the Whale City Bakery for pastries when I am in the area. The town had its origins as a whaling station, but little evidence of that remains except that the main part of town is up on a bluff with a view over the ocean. The Magnolia Warbler was on a road that follows a little creek a little way behind the town. Two birders were at the site when I arrived, and they let me know that the bird had been seen about ten minutes prior. About ten minutes later I got a quick look at it, and after about another ten minutes a little longer look.
The Magnolia Warbler makes species #408 for the year.
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25 December 2025
I must have been a good boy this year: Santa brought me two nice presents for Christmas. The first was an Eastern Phoebe. The University of California at Santa Cruz has a very large campus. In addition to the usual academic buildings and dorms, which are quite spread out, there are a farm and an arboretum set among fields on the lower campus and a big nature reserve on the upper part. Yesterday an Eastern Phoebe was discovered in a meadow on the upper campus. Eastern Phoebes are moderately common vagrants to California, but this was the first of this year that was easy for me to chase. The site was well known to me. Long ago, when I was an undergraduate living on campus, I would walk up there in the Spring to hear Hermit Thrushes sing. As at Davenport two days ago, there were two birders already present who told me that the bird had been seen some minutes before, but was now out of sight. A Hermit Thrush did call, though the ones there now are a different group than those that are there in the summer, which have departed somewhere to the south. California Scrub-Jays and Steller’s Jays called more frequently and loudly. Pileated and Acorn Woodpeckers called in the distance. A few Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows alternated feeding under shrubs and perching on them. A Black Phoebe gave momentary excitement, until we realized that it was the species we see everywhere around here and not a rare visitor from the east. Another birder arrived and the two original ones departed. Finally I saw a likely looking bird fly high into a distant tree. As we debated whether it really was the Eastern Phoebe or not, it settled the matter by flying straight toward us and perching on top of a close-by shrub. No doubt now. It perched for a bit, then moved to another near-by bush, then another, and another, giving lovely views.
After I had had enough of the phoebe I decided to try again for the White Wagtail at Wilder Ranch. The birds on the beach were much the same as on the 23rd, though there were many fewer. Having brought my scope this time I was able to pick out a few Iceland Gulls and some Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrids among the rest. The scope was also necessary to identify the White Wagtail. It was way across the beach, hardly visible with the binoculars. With the scope the slender shape, long waggedy tail, and various pigmentation patterns were discernable. A better view would certainly have been desirable, but there was enough to identify the bird.
Two new birds today, Eastern Phoebe and White Wagtail, and I have 410 for the year.
I must have been a good boy this year: Santa brought me two nice presents for Christmas. The first was an Eastern Phoebe. The University of California at Santa Cruz has a very large campus. In addition to the usual academic buildings and dorms, which are quite spread out, there are a farm and an arboretum set among fields on the lower campus and a big nature reserve on the upper part. Yesterday an Eastern Phoebe was discovered in a meadow on the upper campus. Eastern Phoebes are moderately common vagrants to California, but this was the first of this year that was easy for me to chase. The site was well known to me. Long ago, when I was an undergraduate living on campus, I would walk up there in the Spring to hear Hermit Thrushes sing. As at Davenport two days ago, there were two birders already present who told me that the bird had been seen some minutes before, but was now out of sight. A Hermit Thrush did call, though the ones there now are a different group than those that are there in the summer, which have departed somewhere to the south. California Scrub-Jays and Steller’s Jays called more frequently and loudly. Pileated and Acorn Woodpeckers called in the distance. A few Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows alternated feeding under shrubs and perching on them. A Black Phoebe gave momentary excitement, until we realized that it was the species we see everywhere around here and not a rare visitor from the east. Another birder arrived and the two original ones departed. Finally I saw a likely looking bird fly high into a distant tree. As we debated whether it really was the Eastern Phoebe or not, it settled the matter by flying straight toward us and perching on top of a close-by shrub. No doubt now. It perched for a bit, then moved to another near-by bush, then another, and another, giving lovely views.
After I had had enough of the phoebe I decided to try again for the White Wagtail at Wilder Ranch. The birds on the beach were much the same as on the 23rd, though there were many fewer. Having brought my scope this time I was able to pick out a few Iceland Gulls and some Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull hybrids among the rest. The scope was also necessary to identify the White Wagtail. It was way across the beach, hardly visible with the binoculars. With the scope the slender shape, long waggedy tail, and various pigmentation patterns were discernable. A better view would certainly have been desirable, but there was enough to identify the bird.
Two new birds today, Eastern Phoebe and White Wagtail, and I have 410 for the year.
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Thanks. I hope your Christmas was joyful too.
1 January 2025
Despite chasing after several species that have been in the area but not on my year list, I have not been able to add any more to the list since Christmas. So the final total is 410, or 412 if I go by the American Birding Association checklist and include Indian Peafowl and Egyptian Goose. I am quite happy with the effort and results overall. I made my goal of 400 species seen in California, and with more to spare than I had expected. And I did it without burning tons of gasoline running up and down the state after every possible bird. There were no unpleasant encounters with people or animals, except for a few individuals encouraging their dogs to chase birds on beaches. There were lots of pleasant encounters with birders and other people along the way. I am grateful to the many birders who found rare birds and reported them, and to the technology that makes that possible. And I am thankful to all who have read these reports, and especially thankful to those who gave a post a like or a comment. I hope you all have a happy birding year in 2025.
Despite chasing after several species that have been in the area but not on my year list, I have not been able to add any more to the list since Christmas. So the final total is 410, or 412 if I go by the American Birding Association checklist and include Indian Peafowl and Egyptian Goose. I am quite happy with the effort and results overall. I made my goal of 400 species seen in California, and with more to spare than I had expected. And I did it without burning tons of gasoline running up and down the state after every possible bird. There were no unpleasant encounters with people or animals, except for a few individuals encouraging their dogs to chase birds on beaches. There were lots of pleasant encounters with birders and other people along the way. I am grateful to the many birders who found rare birds and reported them, and to the technology that makes that possible. And I am thankful to all who have read these reports, and especially thankful to those who gave a post a like or a comment. I hope you all have a happy birding year in 2025.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
Thank you for an entertaining and gripping (in the best way) year following your quest and congratulations on the final total. I hope you have an equally enjoyable if slightly less intense 2025!
Cheers and Happy New Year
John
Cheers and Happy New Year
John
How oblivious can one be?
Going over my photos from the last year I found this from 20 May 2025, taken in Chula Vista (near San Diego). At the time I completely overlooked the two birds in the lower right. They are almost surely escapees, not countable. I was feeling poorly that day, but still. Makes me wonder what else I may have overlooked. You are all encouraged to have a good chuckle.
Going over my photos from the last year I found this from 20 May 2025, taken in Chula Vista (near San Diego). At the time I completely overlooked the two birds in the lower right. They are almost surely escapees, not countable. I was feeling poorly that day, but still. Makes me wonder what else I may have overlooked. You are all encouraged to have a good chuckle.
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