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Monthly Archives: November 2018

La Jolla Cove, Nov 30 afternoon

Returned to the Cove for a few hours this afternoon. No other birders present.

Nothing unusual or noteworthy.

Number of scoters/hour was way down, but loon numbers had increased significantly, to about 5000/hour. Gull migration had slackened as well except for a continuing influx of Bonaparte’s gulls.

Stan Walens, San Diego
Nov 30, 2018; 8:20 pm
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Lesser Black-backed Gull continues, Friday seawatch

The adult Lesser Black-backed Gull continues late Friday morning (11-11:30AM) on the beach near the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, per B. Carlson.  The bird was missed by multiple observers over a few hours during the early afternoon on Weds (before being seen around 4PM), but then it was missed altogether yesterday from at least between 2:45-4:45 PM–so clearly its occurrence at this site is rather unpredictable.

This morning's La Jolla seawatch in the wind was well attended by 10+ birders. A good flight of ca. 4000 southbound Surf Scoters was espied, accompanied by a single Long-tailed Duck and White-winged Scoter. The most unusual bird of the morning was a white-rumped storm-petrel seen briefly only by Gary N. Also observed were about 7 southbound Common Murres, only 1 or 2 Cassin's Auklets, over 20 Red Phalaropes, and a number of Parasitic Jaegers. A whopping 3 Black-vented Shearwaters were the only shearwaters…

–Paul Lehman,  San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

San Carlos Rec Center 11-30-18

I poked around the San Carlos Rec Center this morning. No purple finch.

Pin-tailed wydah 2, female and apparent immature.  Could have been as many as 4 birds.
American Pipit 20
Lark Sparrow
Townsend's Warbler
Western Bluebird 4

Earlier, I visited Villa La Jolla Park… did not see or hear the Hepatic Tanager reported by Alex.

Eric Kallen
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Robin Extravaganza

This morning (11/29/18) there was a large flock of American Robins (50+) feeding on the figs from several large Ficus trees (Ficus benjamina) in South Scripps Ranch.  Also had a slightly smaller flock of Cedar Waxwings foraging on Brazilian Pepper Tree berries.

Gary Grantham
South Scripps Ranch
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Sapsucker

Wednesday,
Nov 28, Char Glacy and I visited Lake Miramar and refound the adult male Common
Goldeneye that had been previously reported in ebird.  It was across the lake from the launching
ramp, and could be seen clearly with a scope. 
ebird report with distant photos of the Goldeneye:  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50287759

Next
we went to Lake Poway to see what we could find.  Our best bird there was a Red-breasted
Sapsucker, which we found on a small Liquid Amber tree in the NE section of the
grassy area.  This is a very nice park –
I don’t know why I never see bird reports from here.  We saw 31 species in 2 hours.  ebird report with a few photos:  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50287116

Marcie Mason
Clairemont


Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Coronado Island – Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4pm 11/28/18

Just received photo from Dan Jehl of adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the beach directly outside the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island.
This bird was observed there on Nov 26 and reported to iNaturalist previously.
Nice follow up, Dan!!

Gary Nunn
Pacific Beach

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Reddish Egret at Tijuana River mouth

An adult Reddish Egret was hunting fish from 8:30 onwards this morning at the river mouth. The Pacific Golden-Plover is still there among the Black-bellied Plovers (sleeker, smaller and brighter coloration). Did not see the Black Scoter female, but it should still be there or nearby.

Since I don't own a scope, I was wondering if there are some spots where shorebirds can reliably be viewed from a close distance (where only binoculars are necessary)? I've heard J & G street marshes are good for that.

Reed Ebbinghaus
La Jolla, CA 
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Black-and-white Warbler at Morley Field, 11/28

An apparently returning Black-and-white Warbler was present around noon today (Wed, 28 Nov) north of the Morley Field disc golf range in North Park. The bird was present in a small stand of “cypress” trees located just south of the intersection of Jacaranda Drive and Jacaranda Place.
Jim Pawlicki
La Mesa, CA

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

White-throated Sparrow at El Monte County Park Wednesday

Birded El Monte County Park late morning Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  The best bird was an adult White-throated Sparrow in the far eastern corner of the park.  Bird was initially seen under a scraggly elm tree, but was also seen under an oak at the edge of a steep slope.

Jeremiah Stock
Santee, CA
jscls@…
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Hepatic Tanager, Villa La Jolla Park

A HEPATIC TANAGER was present this morning (November 28) moving high up between the eucalyptus that run through the north side of Villa La Jolla Park.  Presumably this is the returning tanager that was found late last winter in the park, and I think there was some discussion about its sex and age. Most of my views (and a few mediocre photos) were from below and distant, but the tanager present this morning had an orangeish wash to the head and especially throat, but it seemed to quickly fade to a drabber yellow/grayish tones on the body.  
Alex Abela
San Diego, CA

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports