Clay-colored Sparrow at Crown Point, 12/31
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
Yesterday at about 4:30 pm this Pacific Loon was paddling up and down the finger of San Diego Bay adjacent to NTC Park at Liberty Station. The blurred smart phone photos were taken from the bridge.
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
A partial morning on 30 December spent in the Escondido CBC circle produced several birds of interest. And all the birds are either at or within just a block or so of Kit Carson Park. At least 1 calling WESTERN TANAGER was in oaks at the corner of Canyon Rd X Brook Canyon Road starting at 6:35 AM (until 7AM), at a nighttime winter-roost site that from 1-4 individuals have now used annually for something like 10 years, and probably more. The birds only roost there, so just after dawn, and probably just before dusk, are the times to look. Nearby, in white-flowered eucalyptus trees right across the street from 2956/2958 Canyon Road, an adult female or young male BALTIMORE ORIOLE was sneakliy feeding on blossoms between 7:15-7:26 AM. On the other side of the school property there in the early morning sun is great for lots of robin, waxing, and kingbird activity. There are also a bunch of pink-flowered eucs lining Canyon Road back toward Bear Canyon Road, which any self-respecting oriole could easily utilize as well. And in nearby Kit Carson Park proper, a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was on the early-morning sunny edge of the riparian bordering the lawn and picnic tables just ca. 75 feet south of the tennis courts, at around 8:05 AM. All these sites quiet down quite a bit a little later in the morning when there isn't the "sunny edge" concentrating effect. (And yes, the tame, immature Snow Goose continues at and near Sand Lake in the park….)
–Paul Lehman, San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
I drew my circle, which includes several hotspots – Dos Picos, Collier Park, Rangeland Rd, etc. I’ll see what I can do! Maybe I can finally get a ZTHawk up here!
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
Just a reminder that the San Diego Field Ornithologist New Year's Day Pelagic is only a couple days away. This is a six hour trip, sailing at 8 AM and returning around 2 PM. You can bring your own food or buy snacks on the boat.
The trip departs from H&M Landing in San Diego Bay. It's recommended you arrive about 7:15 AM. Cost for members and their guest is currently $45.00. You may also pay your 2019 dues at that time ($25 per person and $35 for a family). Non-members need to ante up $80.
Barbara Carlson
Membership SDFO
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
My year has come to an end, as I am headed to the airport and a new adventure (ANTARCTICA!!). As many of you know, I had a Big San Diego County Year in 2018. I really hadn’t planned on this, but the year began with such an exceptional number of rarities, it seemed possible to beat Barbara’s impressive record. Unfortunately, fall migration fizzled, and birds I had expected to get never appeared.
My year ended with 384 species of ABA countable birds seen in San Diego county (I saw an additional 6 “non-countable” species as well). Most of the rarities I was able to document with photographs, with a couple of exceptions. The only “heard-only” birds (two owl species) were documented with recordings. There were 12 verified species seen in the county that I missed, half of which were on the ocean – Manx Shearwater, Guadalupe Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Black-legged Kittiwake, etc. Most of the land birds were on private property and could not be chased. I gave it my best, but came up short. All in all, I am happy with what I did accomplish.
Brennan challenged us to keep yard lists this year as well – mine stands at 85 species seen this year. My Ebird checklist streak is 731 days – at least one checklist a day for 731 consecutive days. So those are my numbers – 384, 85 and 731 – all of which are pretty darn good numbers!
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you who reached out, offered encouragement, advised me, tipped me off about a bird, and/or stood sea watch with me. Many people took on the task of searching for specific birds for me. Dave Povey took me out on his boat several times to search the high seas, and Gary Nunn has been a constant source of encouragement. It touched my heart to recognize all the support offered to me. We have a wonderful birding community here in San Diego, and I feel privileged to be a part of it. My thanks to all of you.
Happy New Year to everyone, and may 2019 be as good as 2018!
P.S. Great birds are sure to show up on the 31st – get ready everyone!
Nancy Christensen
Ramona
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
On the Oceanside CBC yesterday, our team on the Omni La Costa Resort had some interesting sightings I thought I’d share.
First, although I’ve seen photos of this, I've never been sure they weren’t photoshopped. But I watched as a Cassin’s kingbird pursued a gliding red-tailed hawk, landed and perched on the hawk's back and pecked at the hawk's head for a few seconds before flying off.
Second, we were watching some very active hummingbird feeders, hoping they might attract something unusual, when a black phoebe swept past one and caught a flying Allen’s hummingbird by the neck in its beak and flew off with it. They disappeared behind a bush, so we could not tell if it released the hummingbird at some point, or killed it and dropped it, or consumed it.
Finally, on a dead tree on the north side of Poinsettia Lane just east of the corner of Estrella Del Mar Rd.–so outside our territory–we had a heavily streaked and utterly devoid of any warm colors Peregrine falcon that seemed to be of the pealei race. Very few records of this race in San Diego.
Stan Walens, San Diego
Dec. 30, 2018; 6:30 a.m.
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports
Happy trails.
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports