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Monthly Archives: March 2023

Hawks in Borrego Springs-ALERT-Over 600 Swainson’s Hawks in town

Hawks in Borrego Springs-ALERT-Over 600 Swainson’s Hawks in town

By {authorlink} – 8:21 pm

This evening at least 600 Swainson’s Hawks (perhaps 800 or more) descended into old potato fields. Fortunately the wind will be light so the hawks will kettle up probably as late as 9:30am tomorrow (Saturday). They may go to ground in the fields to eat small grasshoppers before departing. If the wind (hopefully not) becomes more steady the hawks could leave earlier. 

To find the best viewing area drive down Borrego Valley from Palm Canyon Drive to Henderson Canyon Rd (stop sign). Turn right (east) looking for large out buildings on the right. Only a few hundred yards on Henderson Rd near the buildings, you will see a paved diagonal road. The diagonal rd should be visible to your right. Drive down the road with Tamarisk trees on your right until you see cars. You must not approach the hawks (the space between you and the hawks must be at least 100 yards). Don’t go into the field. The hawks are a threatened species. 
Hal Cohen

Borrego Springs

Sweetwater Reservoir – Birding Location Question?

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:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S131706415

Hepatic Tanager public showing

Hepatic Tanager public showing
By {authorlink} – 10:16 am

In the past few days I have found where the Tierrasanta Hepatic Tanager is roosting at night, viewable the last 20-30 minutes of light from along a PUBLIC STREET. But to avoid the potential for over-disturbance to the roosting bird, I will be offering a SINGLE public showing of it this coming Saturday evening, April 1st. We will meet a little after 6PM at a nearby public parking lot and carpool from there at around 6:10PM. It should all be over no later than 7PM. If you would like to attend, please contact me PRIVATELY. I will then get back with those interested sometime by early afternoon on Saturday to confirm the event and to give location of the meeting site. The bird typically stays through about the first week of April, so it will be departing soon. No guarantees (but likely).
–Paul Lehman, San Diego

Swainson’s Hawks in Borego Springs 3/27/23

Swainson’s Hawks in Borego Springs 3/27/23

By {authorlink} – 12:07 pm

Today 273 Swainson’s Hawks migrated from Borrego Springs. The location of lift-off was in old potato fields near Henderson Canyon Rd. Yesterday evening we only observed a few dozen hawks coming in late in the evening. I did not send an ALERT as we did not see big numbers, The ALERT is triggered when more than 100 hawks are observed in the evening. This evening we will send scouts to the potato fields to search for incoming hawks. There is now an abundance of grasshoppers in the area. More hawks will probably enter the valley to feast on the insects. So far only a few Sphinx Moth caterpillars have been found. In the coming weeks we expect more hawks. 

Hal Cohen
Borrego Springs

Mount Soledad morning-flights; miscellanea

Mount Soledad morning-flights; miscellanea
By {authorlink} – 10:42 am

It’s that time of year again for the potential for spring morning-flights of landbird migrants at the summit of Mount Soledad in La Jolla. Such flights can be very impressive, provide for an extra ID challenge to birders, and are a great way to witness active migration in action. Particularly good-sized flights at this site can be a bit fickle, and one needs a proper combination of overnight and early-morning weather characteristics for a good morning: mostly clear to partly cloudy skies, a wind flow from between the north and east (or east-southeast), and perhaps warmish dawn temperatures. The season runs from now through about the third week of May. Hundreds of birds can be seen in a single two-hour period starting within a half hour of dawn. I’ll post ‘warning’ of a potentially good morning the day before if the weather looks particularly conducive. Early today there were light easterly winds, so several of us were there, right near (just before) the summit, from 6:40 to 8:00 AM. Totals of clear northbound migrants were only mediocre, but sort of what expects in late March: 14 Western Kingbirds, several swallows, 7 American Robins, 26 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 1 Black-throated Gray Warbler. Numbers and diversity will improve greatly during April. Peak flights often occur during the last 10 days of April and first 10 days of May, but, again, are very weather dependent. Mid-May is also a great time to look for migrating Black Swifts here, but under quite different (and equally fickle) weather conditions.
Also today, 27 March, the Long-tailed Duck and 4 Snow Geese continue on Mission Bay. Yesterday, I had my first Black-chinned Hummingbird of the season, in Tierrasanta, and a wintering flock of 17 Greater White-fronted Geese continued in the Nestor area, as did the wintering Eurasian Wigeon at the J Street mudflats. On the 25th, a wintering Hermit Warbler continued in Serra Mesa, and continuing male American Redstart and several migrant-arrival Wilson’s Warblers were near Montgomery Field.
Paul Lehman, San Diego

Re: Neotropic cormorants

Re: Neotropic cormorants
By {authorlink} – 10:17 am

Birds now hauled out on mudflat on east end of pond with a double-created cormorant.

Nancy Christensen
Ramona

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb

Grasshopper Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow
By {authorlink} – 5:58 pm

Hello
    I am looking for advice on finding Grasshopper Sparrow for my ABA list, Have been planning to explore the “Mission Trails Regional Park — northeast (dam to grasslands) during the first week of April. I have received emails from the eBird needs list showing that they are there now.
    Is it best to approach from the Mast Blvd Hiking Trailhead or the parking on Father Junipero Serra Trail? Any information would be appreciated.
      Butch Carter
      Santa Ysabel, California

Common redpoll

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

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