Join/Renew (2023 Dues)

Monthly Archives: October 2018

San Ysidro Golden Eagle and Poggi Creek Thick-billed Kingbird

Leaving San Ysidro today about 2:15 I noticed a large shadow on the hill behind the border McDonalds of a bird flying by. When the bird came into view it was a young Golden Eagle with a white tail thickly edged in black and light spots on the wings. The American Crow chasing it looked tiny in comparison.

The Thick-billed Kingbird at the Poggi Creek Greenbelt reported by Richard Norgaard last week was hawking insects from the group of trees in the center of the grass, just west of the Starbucks. Great looks at it but horrible photos through the binoculars.

Dan Jehl
San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Santee Lakes COMMON LOON

I think it has been a while since a COMMON LOON was reported from Santee Lakes, maybe 2009 (eBird).
This morning (10/30/18) at 11 AM one was present on lake #4.
A single White-faced ibis was present on lake #5.

Jim Roberts
University City
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

White-throated Sparrow, residential Pt Loma, Oct. 29

This morning we enjoyed watching a lovely tan-striped White-throated
Sparrow feeding with the White-crowned Sparrows just outside our dining
room window. A new bird for our yard list.

======================
Sara Baase Mayers
Point Loma (San Diego)
======================
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Possible Cassiar and Slate-colored Juncos at FRNC

Hi all,

At Fort Rosecrans late afternoon today, Sunday Oct. 28, at the pine trees near the second entrance from the north on the west side (south of the "dip" area), I saw a flock of mostly Oregon race Dark-sided Juncos. I briefly saw amid the flock one male that had a slate gray back and flanks with a sharp delineation between the back and a black head. I didn't notice any brown coloration. The birds were moving about quickly and I lost sight of the bird in question. A while later I went back to the same spot and found the juncos feeding on the ground, and while the light was poor I saw the same bird again. I also saw another bird that had no delineation between head and back, and the back, head, and flanks all appeared to be slate gray. Unfortunately the light was too low to get a photo, and some visitors to the cemetery walked through and the birds scattered.
—
Aaron Polichar
San Diego, CA
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Great day in the mountains, Nutcracker, Pinyon, Solitaire, Cassins

Hi all,
Today, Paul Marivn and myself went to the Sunset Trail at mile marker 19 to look for the birds list above.  We went out the Sunset Trail I believe it is, almost right across from the Porta Potty's at mile marker 19.  We went nearly a quarter mile and took the trail to the left.  We wound down the hill and then came to a spot where you cross over a very mini grated ramp, then went left to stay on the left side of the meadow.  A bit later, we heard the Pinyon Jays and had a flock of about 150 birds fly directly over our heads.  Let's just say that if any of the pooped, we would have known.  We continued on and went past Los Rosarias Lake and had multiple sightings of the Clark's Nutcrackers.  After the lake, we continued on and as we started a small uphill climb, we noticed that there were a ton of birds in this area.  I thought I had the Townsend's Solitaire, but it wouldn't allow me better looks and then was gone, oh well.  We continued on to Big Laguna Lake without much to report other than two Merlin's chasing each other.  We came back to the hot spot with a ton of birds and it was still alive.  I ran into Scott and while I was talking to him, I saw a bird and looked closer and there, we all got our Townsend's Solitaire.  Scott went on to the lake and we headed back to our car.  We got by the lake again and there were two Clark's Nutcrackers in the trees by the big ravine area by Los Rosarias Lake.  As we were coming back up the trail that splits off of the Sunset Trail, I told Paul that this was the spot where we saw the Pinyon Jay's a couple of weeks ago and suddenly thought I saw something.  I walked up there and found the large flock, feeding on the ground and in the tree's.  A nice way to finish the day.  The link below is to our e-bird list.  

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Some pics of Nicole Desnoyer's  longspur at: 
egk.smugmug.com/photography

The park is extremely busy today (Sunday 10-28-18), especially the sports fields.  The grassy field that the longspur was found in is the official City College ballfield and is locked up tight to keep the proles out.  Good thing, or the longspur would have likely gone elsewhere. 

Eric Kallen
San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Palm Warbler, Mt. Hope Cemetery

I just heard from Tim Cooper who found a PALM WARBLER in Mt. Hope Cemetery in south San Diego, today, 28 October.
Justyn Stahl
San Clemente Island

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Red-footed Booby at Nine Mile Bank 10-27-18

I found an immature Red-footed Booby on the water among a feeding flock of Black-vented Shearwaters Western Gulls on The Nine Mile Bank  about 8.8 nautical mile (just under 10 statute miles) southwest of Point Loma. 32 degrees 36' 20.4" N and 117 degrees 24' 22.0" W and in U.S. waters.

This bird was a uniform dark booby with slightly paler head and neck ( coffee with cream colored) , dark billed . The long wings appeared darker that body.  as did the long pointed tail. Overall size similar to Western Gull, and much  larger that Black-vented Shearwater.

The bird was actively feeding on a small baitfish ball from the surface. Using a feeding tactic I not seen in boobies before. The Red-footed Booby sitting on the water, it held its wings open and extended, tail raised and head below the surface. The bird was clearly scooping bait fish raising its head to swallow. The feeding flock including the booby scattered as approached, and went off to the north.  This about 10:30 a.m. and this bird was not seen again until about 1:20 p.m. when it flew by headed south.

Two or three Brown Boobies were also seen today, none seen feeding, though several large areas of bait were forced to the surface by Skipjack Tuna. I continue to believe Brown Booby may target individual larger, more separate bait fish. Not these large dense bait balls.

Birds seen on the Nine Mile Bank and the trip back and forth to San Diego Bay (in very dense fog in the morning); This was a fishing trip so a relatively small area was covered on the Bank, perhaps a few square miles of the center.

Common Loon  1

Black-vented Shearwater  900-  1000

Brown Booby   2-3

Red-footed Booby   1

Brown Pelican   10

Brandt's Cormorant    5

Red Phalarope   2

Cassin's Auklet   20

Western Gull    200-300

California Gull    15

 

Dave Povey

Dulzura

 

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

12345›»