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Monthly Archives: June 2019

So. California pelagic news

Thanks to Celia Condit and Art Taylor owners of the Searcher ( Searcher Sportfishing and Searcher Natural History Tours ) for their report of large numbers of seabirds, including 100 Cook"s Petrels, while fishing 55 n.miles west of San Diego, June 29th. This area in U.S. waters, in L.A.Co.south of San Clemente Is. 

Included in their report a Nazca Booby and a South Polar Skua. 

Good news for up coming pelagic trips.
Dave Povey
Dulzura

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Red-breasted Nuthatch – La Jolla

This morning I was able to find a Red-breasted Nuthatch that had been reported earlier this month on ebird as "heard only" by Hank Ingersoll and Barbara Carlson.  It was in a large pine tree in the yard of the house on the southwest corner of Merida Ct and Castejon Dr. in La Jolla.  It called regularly while I was there, but it still took me an hour to find it.  
Link to ebird report with mediocre photo:
Marcie Mason
Clairemont    

Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

San Dieguito Monthly Bird Survey – Next Sunday, July 7th!

This is a reminder about the next San Dieguito monthly bird count. The July 2019 bird count is on the first Sunday – next Sunday, July 7th. We are now in our tenth year of collecting bird data at the San Dieguito Lagoon.

Everyone is welcome – interested, beginners, visitors, experienced birders.

We will meet at the usual time and place: 7:30 AM at the south end of San Andres. (Turn right/south off of Via De La Valle, on the east side of I5. San Andres dead ends at the San Dieguito Lagoon.) We coordinate with park rangers to provide vests and access for the restricted areas. We'll divide into five groups to count the different areas.

We gather to tally our results at noon at the Del Mar Public Works parking lot/picnic tables off Jimmy Durante Rd.


Hope to see you next Sunday for another great day of birding.

Jayne Lesley (cell phone: 858-663-6568)


Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

La Jolla Cove, June 26-27

Over the last several days the number of black-vented shearwaters has ballooned from maybe 500-800 to several thousand. Today I’m watching about 4000 streaming to the south. No alcids either today or yesterday.
Yesterday in addition to the black vemtwds there were three sooty shearwaters and two Pink-footers.
Large flocks of pelicans gulls and cormorants feeding 2 miles offshore

Stan Walens. San Diego
June 27 2019, 1:15 pm
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Glaucous-winged Gull in Mission Bay

A rare in summer adult Glaucous-winged Gull was on the north-east portion of Vacation Island this evening (June 26). I imagine that it is the same bird that was in the same area last year but I didn’t get a chance to look at the bill from both sides.

Dan Jehl
San Diego
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

Dusky Flycatcher et al, Cuyamaca Mtn, 26 Jun 2019

A Dusky Flycatcher was seen and heard at the peak, past the 'saddle' (still holding on as a perennial breeder at this spot…?). Also Green-tailed Towhees. Rock and Canyon Wrens were just off west side of peak. Personal note- first Rock Wren I have had a look at since I moved back April of last year…! Multiple Lawrence's Goldfinches at multiple spots.

Tries for the Indigo Bunting both before and after the peak hike, north side of group camp, no luck.

Paul Chad
University City
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

La Jolla Cove, June 25: 4 species of alcids + some early migrants

Spent 2 hours at the Cove mid-morning.
Hundreds of feeding common dolphins were attracting hordes of birds, mostly pelicans, gulls, terns and cormorants.
About 60 black storm-petrels were working just outside the kelp bed.
Further offshore, where the canyon widens and heads off to the west, about 2 miles offshore, were huge flocks of feeding birds, including 100+ black-vented shearwaters.

What was interesting was the other birds, including 2 early migrants: 1 surf scoter; 1 parasitic jaeger
Heermann’s gulls are present in large numbers, adults and second-year birds; no juveniles yet.

The sea was pretty flat and wind was light.
Highlight of the day was alcids, all just outside the kelp beds:
3 common murres, all in alternate plumage
1 rhinoceros auklet
1 pigeon guillemot in alternate plumage
2 Cassin’s auklets

Stan Walens, San Diego
June 25, 2019; 10:37 a.m.
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports

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