Monthly Archives: August 2018

ERe: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] results of 13 Aug San Elijo monthly bird count

Two species I didn’t see listed I saw from the split this am: Royal tern and Marbled godwit

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

continuing shorebird rarities south san diego bay

Although seen in closed portions of the South San Diego Bay saltworks during snowy plover monitoring (yes, there are still active nests with eggs, as well as chicks of full range of sizes in roads there), thought it worthwhile sharing since they may move to other viewable areas in the vicinity or at times be seen from Bayshore Bikeway.
Yesterday (8/15), a juv solitary sandpiper was in SE pond 22 (north of the bike path just west of the 2nd bridge east of 13th St) then in SW pond 20 (north of just east of the 2nd bridge east of 13th St) at least from 9:23 to 9:37.  Note that the water level in pond 20 was being rapidly raised so shorebird habitat will likely be minimal there for the next few days, making use of pond 22 more likely.
A juv semipalmated sandpiper was seen in the NE central portion of the saltworks and appeared to me to be in much crisper plumage than the one seen previously in the south saltworks.  Neither the semipalm nor Baird's were seen in pond 20 yesterday, but one of each were seen by Thomas Myers & me in SW pond 20 the previous day (8/14), and on 8/12 I observed the semipalm & 2 juv Baird's sandpipers in SW pond 20. 
Elegant tern numbers are still relatively high but much reduced from what they had been earlier in the season as most have begun dispersing.  The last gull-billed tern chick of the season to fly was seen following its parent out of the saltworks.  Caspians still have a few non-flying chicks present & skimmers are still on eggs as well as having a full range in size of chicks still present. 
R. Patton
San Diego, CA
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

results of 13 Aug San Elijo monthly bird count

Thanks to 13 participants for conducting the 13 August 2018 San Elijo Lagoon monthly bird count: Elizabeth Venrick, Emma Havstad, Sara Sheldon (Pole Rd); Maryanne Bache, Kasey Cinciarelli, Don Johnson, Erica Mills (CBS= Rios to freeway); Jayne Lesley, Jeff Clingan, Owen Daulton, Linda Jones (EBS = La Orilla to Sta Inez); Steve Perry (EBE = Stonebridge Mesa); Robert Patton (beach/offshore, West Basin, EBNW = dike; EBNE = Escondido Cr; Cardiff Cove, I-5 fill, nature center site).

Species of interest included a willow flycatcher reported west of the El Camino Real trailhead, a red-necked phalarope in the southwest pond east of the dune restoration area, common poorwill calling off Sta Helena pre-dawn (thanks Jayne!), Hutton’s vireo in the willows at the nature center site, and phainopepla in myoporum on north side of Manchester west of Cardiff Cove.

87 species were recorded: brown pelican, double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, mallard, turkey vulture, osprey, white-tailed kite, Cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, California quail, Ridgway’s rail, black-bellied plover, snowy plover, semipalmated plover, killdeer, black-necked stilt, greater yellowlegs, willet, whimbrel, long-billed curlew, sanderling, western sandpiper, least sandpiper, dowitcher sp., red-necked phalarope, Heermann’s gull, ring-billed gull, California gull, western gull, Caspian tern, royal tern, elegant tern, rock pigeon, Eurasian collared-dove, mourning dove, common poorwill, white-throated swift, Anna’s hummingbird, Allen’s hummingbird, Allen’s/rufous hummingbird sp., belted kingfisher, Nuttall’s woodpecker, downy woodpecker, willow flycatcher, black phoebe, Say’s phoebe, ash-throated flycatcher, Cassin’s kingbird, western kingbird, tree swallow, northern rough-winged swallow, cliff swallow, barn swallow, California scrub jay, American crow, common raven, bushtit, Bewick’s wren, house wren, marsh wren, California gnatcatcher, western bluebird, wrentit, northern mockingbird, California thrasher, phainopepla, European starling, Hutton’s vireo, orange-crowned warbler, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, black-headed grosbeak, spotted towhee, California towhee, Belding’s savannah sparrow, song sparrow, red-winged blackbird, great-tailed grackle, hooded oriole, house finch, lesser goldfinch, American goldfinch, house sparrow, scaly-breasted munia.

The next San Elijo monthly bird count will be Monday 10 September.  Counts are conducted by volunteers on the second Monday of each month, rain or shine.  Please spread the word or join us if you can (no RSVP required).  Meet at 7:30 am at the north end of Rios Ave in Solana Beach (north from Lomas Santa Fe Dr, west of I-5) to divide into groups to cover different subareas.  A compilation generally follows around noon at the nature center on Manchester Ave (bring your own lunch).

R. Patton
San Diego, CA

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Re: Buena Vista Audubon/ Grande Pelagic 9-19-18 important notice

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

two semi-unusual bird sightings Robb Field SD River tidal mudflats, Wedn 15 Aug

Today I was surprised to see, some time around or after 10:30 am,  a Barn Swallow gathering nesting material (mud for its nest) on the mudflats today, Wednes Aug 15, so late in the nesting season.  Was also surprised to see two lone Blue-winged Teal together on the mudflats, which appeared to be in eclipse plumage, and perhaps early migrants. The Common Terns were not to be seen today among the tern flock, which itself has diminished in size.  A Red-necked Phalarope was seen in the river further upstream off Sea World Drive.  

—
Susan Smith
Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CA
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

La Jolla Cove, Aug 15

Spent 90 minutes at the Cove this afternoon.

Several hundred black-venteds.
A constant flow of phalaropes.
At least 60 storm-petrels, including 2 least storm-petrels.
1 adult Sabine’s gull; a female.

Stan Walens. San Diego
Aug 15, 2018; 4:30 pm
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Solitary Sandpipers (two) at pond in Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve – West

I saw two Solitary Sandpipers at Restoration Pond this morning. They flew in just after 9 a.m. I watched them for about 20 minutes before heading farther up the canyon. When I returned about noon, they were gone. Robert Turner and his son, Manolo, reported seeing one on Monday. Coincidentally, Manolo arrived at the pond a few minutes after the sandpipers flew in, and he later showed me where he and his father had seen a Grasshopper Sparrow and Rufus-crowned Sparrow farther west along the trail on the south side of the creek. I will post photos later on eBird.

The Grasshopper Sparrow was about 1/3 mile east of the Wagon Wheel Bridge, just beyond where the trail straightens out. It seems to have a favorite coyote bush. We didn't see it there, but I saw it on the return on the other side of the trail in some scrub. I also saw one ESE of the pond in the scrub near the trail.

We saw the Rufous-crowned Sparrow (and possibly an immature) where the trail slopes down toward the "sycamore oasis." Also saw Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Kingbirds, and a Wilson's Warbler, in addition to many of the usual suspects.

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Larry Edwards
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Red Breasted Nuthatch in La Jolla

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Reddish Egret at South Bay Biological Study Area

Today at 2:30, a Reddish Egret was lingering in the grass just north of the jetty at the SBBSA. Only the head, neck, and upper chest area was visible but it looked good for an adult. Tide was very high but a good number of black skimmers were feeding in the area and a small flock (9) of Western/Clark’s Grebes were off the end of the jetty, the first I have seen there this fall.

Dan Jehl
San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Baird’s Sandpiper 13th st

Just had a Baird’s Sandpiper in the pond east of 13th street in South Bay. It is in small pool towards the west end of the “pond” (mostly dry), close to the fence. While typing this though, all the peeps took off from it. Photos will be on eBird later.

—Ryan Andrews
Valley Center
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports