Hawks in Borrego Springs-ALERT-Over 600 Swainson’s Hawks in town
By {authorlink} – 8:21 pm
Borrego Springs
By {authorlink} – 8:21 pm
Borrego Springs
Sweetwater Reservoir – Birding Location Question?
By {authorlink} – 6:41 am
Where is the best location and access for birding at Sweetwater Reservoir? I see eBird lists for great numbers of species and individual birds, so I went last week, but only saw 11 species. I didn’t find any access on north side, and ended up at the “fishing parking lot” near south west side of lake. I’m game for hiking if required.
Any clues would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Nancy Stalnaker
San Diego
My checklist:
Neotropic Cormorant, Lake Murray, 3/30
By {authorlink} – 12:07 pm
Hepatic Tanager public showing
By {authorlink} – 10:16 am
By {authorlink} – 12:07 pm
Mount Soledad morning-flights; miscellanea
By {authorlink} – 10:42 am
Re: Neotropic cormorants
By {authorlink} – 10:17 am
Nancy Christensen
Ramona
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb
Re: Common redpoll
By {authorlink} – 8:08 am
Grasshopper Sparrow
By {authorlink} – 5:58 pm
Common redpoll
By {authorlink} – 6:43 am
Hi,
I’m reporting that I saw a common redpoll in my front yard (of native plant species and weeds) two days ago. I was perplexed about what it was because I never expect to see anything unusual. The red spot on its forehead was distinctive and I know now that is the species I saw. I didn’t get a picture because, at the time, I didn’t know what it was and I didn’t think it could have been a rare sighting. I’ve included a picture with this message of a common redpoll seen in San Diego in 2012 that was even reported in the Union-Tribune, so they do occur here occasionally.
Most of you don’t know me as a birder, but you might know me as an active member of the California Native Plant Society, San Diego Chapter (CNPS-SD). Since you probably don’t know me, I would probably have to have the sighting verified, but I haven’t seen the bird since that day.
It was sitting on a low branch of a wisteria and it was eating seeds from a tall grass species. It had the very distinctive red spot on its forehead, but no other red or pink on it, and it was streaked on its sides. There were 4 birds, but I only got a good look at one of them. They were each smaller than a housefinch but not as small as a bushtit.
This sighting was near the intersection of Sutter and Eagle Streets in south Mission Hills. All I want to say is, please keep your eyes open for this bird – it is out there!
Bobbie Stephenson
CNPS-SD Vice President and Newsletter Editor
Birding Is Fun!: Amazing Weekend in San Diego