Monthly Archives: March 2022

Continuing Bendire’s Thrasher, Clark Dry Lake in Borrego Springs

By – 8:00 pm
Herb Stone and I saw and heard the continuing Bendire’s Thrasher onRockhouse Trail in Borrego Springs this morning. We entered the coordinatesthat Lisa Ruby shared in her 3/27 post/ebird report (33.33311, -116.29527)and found the bird right there. We heard it as soon as we got out of thecar. Location is about 3.1 miles from the turnoff onto Rockhouse Trail fromS22, in the first group of mesquites along the road on the right. The birdmoved around a bit, but was perched up and singing for most of the 30minutes we watched it from 8:50-9:20 am. Great looks with both bins andscope. Very cooperative bird. Judy DavisBorrego Springs

Bendire’s Thrasher continues out at Clark’s Dry Lake Bed in Borrego

By – 6:54 pm

Ter Hurst and I went out to Borrego Springs for a previously planned
trip today and did the drive down Rockhouse Trail to look for the
Bendire’s Thrasher. It’s still there, and its frequent long bouts of
singing (along with confirmation from Robert Theriault that it was
there) made it easy to find. Link to eBird list is below. List
contains some details on the bird’s behavior, and on getting to the
location. That area is not particularly birdy, but we also had a
Prairie Falcon partway down the road, four Loggerhead Shrikes, two
of which were by the Thrasher and a Black-throated Gray Warbler near
the Thrasher. We did not try to find the LeConte’s Thrasher.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S105703446

Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs

— Lisa RubySabre Springs

Safari Park update

Safari Park update
By – 5:46 pm
Russ and I visited Safari Park this afternoon, hoping to find the returning Wood Stork reported this morning. We were not successful. The report said it was on the south pond which I think must be viewed from the tram. Being a Sunday afternoon, the long line discouraged us from trying that option.The breeding colony at the lower lagoon is heating up. White-faced Ibis had nests scattered along every path down there. Either there are more of them, or they are spreading out more. I saw one egg set with three eggs. Most of the ibis are still squabbling over location and are very vocal. The snowy egrets have mostly not settled down either – lots of territorial disputes occurring. We saw only a few cattle egrets, and only one that was occupying a nest, so they have a long way to go.We saw zero vultures – there was no evening fly-in, at least before 5pm. We saw no zone-tailed hawks.

Swainson’s Hawks Migrating From Borrego Springs

By – 4:04 pm
Today (Sunday March 27) we counted 470 migrating Swainson’s Hawks in several kettles. Some kettles had over 100 hawks. Over 300 started the morning on the ground. Our total count of migrant Swainson’s Hawk for the season is 2,163. Although below the average of over 4,000, the season is not over yet. Hal CohenBorrego Springs

Arrival of Swainson’s Hawks Saturday Evening March 26

By – 6:23 am
Over 100 Swainson’s Hawks dropped into the date farm (Evans Ranch) at 6:45pm yesterday. Today with light wind they will continue their journey north between 8 and 9am. Best viewing from Borrego Valley Rd, 2 miles north of Palm Canyon or near Big Horn and DiGiorgio Rd 2 miles north of Palm Canyon Rd. Hal CohenBorrego Springs

Re: Palm Warbler – slight correction

Re: Palm Warbler – slight correction
By – 2:25 pm
The Palm Warbler and orioles were in the area behind the early childhood learning center, a short way south of the parking structure, not along the culvert.======================Sara Baase MayersPoint Loma (San Diego)======================

Palm Warbler + orioles at Point Loma Nazarene U this morning

Palm Warbler + orioles at Point Loma Nazarene U this morning
By – 1:03 pm
Keith and I saw a dull Palm Warbler along the culvert near the south end of the campus this morning.  Also about half a dozen each of Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles (mostly male, total of three females) moving through at one spot. (The neighborhood has been somewhat dull until today.)======================Sara Baase MayersPoint Loma (San Diego)======================

Robin influx, Miscellanea

Robin influx, Miscellanea
By – 9:30 am
On 26 March in Tierrasanta there is a notable influx of American Robins, with multiple flocks totaling ca. 65 birds. There had been relatively few around the county this winter, so is this an actual early-spring migratory influx? Also my first-of-season migrant Nashville Warbler, which is a bit early. And the returning, wintering Hepatic Tanager continues on private property. Yesterday, the adult male Vermilion Flycatcher off the main parking lot at the Admiral Baker Golf Course (near SD Mission) has been joined by a female, so it looks like there is a good chance we will have yet another coastal-slope breeding site to add to the growing number.–Paul Lehman, San Diego

Bendire’s Thrasher, 3/25

By – 10:29 am
The BETH continues and was already singing before sunrise when John D., Dave T., and I pulled up along the edge of Clark Dry Lake at 33.33311, -116.29527.Matt Sadowski

Re: Flycatcher ID Help please

Re: Flycatcher ID Help please
By – 2:48 pm
Turns out it’s an Hammond’s Flycatcher!  Thanks to Gary Nunn!!