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Monthly Archives: October 2026

Franklin’s Gull – Robb Field.

3:27 pm

Presently looking at a Franklin’s Gull- Robb Field at 3:20pm. October 15. Outgoing tide so maybe it stays around. Viewed from the south side. Closer to the north side but you probably will be looking into the sun.

John Bruin
Bay Park

Re: Hotspots for eBird bar charts October 8 – 15

1:48 pm

For anyone considering Carson’s Crossing in Penasquitos Canyon, this
was posted on Facebook by a ranger this morning. And as of right now
there may be a decent chance of rain next Wednesday and possibly
Thursday. 

From Ranger Gina:
🌦️ Trail Update: Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve 🌤️
Nature is really keeping us on our toes this week! Despite the roller‑coaster weather, the trails at Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve are open and ready for adventure.
A couple reminders as you head out:
• Carson’s Crossing is still flooded (yep… still!)
• There’s a washout on the North Main Trail east of Wagon Wheel/Little Waimea
Best to avoid those spots.
And just to keep things interesting… San Diego is under a heat advisory through the weekend. Expect hot temps and high winds, so pack water, take breaks, and listen to your body out there.
We still have wet and muddy patches, too — please stay on the trail and don’t blaze new routes around them. Our plants and critters appreciate your cooperation!
Stay cool, stay safe, and enjoy the preserve’s very dramatic seasonal mood swing.

Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs 

On 10/15/2026 10:00 AM, Ruslan
Balagansky wrote:

—
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs

Hotspots for eBird bar charts October 8 – 15

10:00 am

Greetings,
Despite the Tropical Storm excitement, we had excellent coverage on these hotspots, and 2 more are now 100% complete!
Highlights include an Masked/Nazca Booby at Grand Caribe Shoreline Park, a number of irrupting RBNUs in various unlikely place, and a continuing Northern Red Bishop near the ag fields north of Highland Valley Rd.
This starting week, we have a longer list again with one hotspot that can be completed and several more that are close!
If you’re just joining us, please see this message for an explanation of these weekly hotspot lists: https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/topic/hotspots_for_ebird_bar_charts/119585667
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):

Lake Sutherland – 1
Carmel Mission Park – 2
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve–Carson’s Crossing area – 2
Otay Lakes County Park – 2
Santa Ysabel Mission – 2
Cortez Place–coastal access – 3
Eternal Hills Cemetery – 3
San Luis Rey River Park–Bonsall area – 3
Valley Middle School Trail – 3
Encinitas–Arden Dr. – 4
San Marcos Creek – 5
Sweetwater County Park–Quarry Trail – 5
Lower Otay Reservoir–east arm pullouts (including North Pt. gate) – 6
San Diego NWR–Proctor Valley – 6
Borrego Springs–Mesquite Bosque – 7
Henshaw Scenic Vista – 7
Laguna Mtns.–Morris Ranch Rd. – 7
Alta Vista Botanical Gardens – 9
Konyn Dairy (private property) – 9
Penasquitos Creek Park – 9
San Luis Rey Picnic Area – 9
Horse Ranch Creek Open Space – 10
J Street Viewpoint (Encinitas) – 10

Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:

San Diego Archaeological Center
Heritage Park (Chula Vista)
Gird Valley Preserve
Sunrise Hwy–mile 14.5 pullout
Anza-Borrego Desert SP–Old Vallecito Ranch
Hellhole Canyon Preserve
Warner Springs–town
Cannon Rd. pond
San Onofre SB–bluffs
Kwaamii Point

Cheers,

—
Ruslan Balagansky
San Diego (Mira Mesa), CA

Balboa Park this morning

9:37 am

Hi all-
 
I had a nice stroll around the park before work this morning – I check some of the central area then crossed the bridge to the southwest side. Like this weekend, that’s where all the interesting birds were. 
 
There was a new TROPICAL KINGBIRD just south of the Chess club with Cassin’s, a continuing BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER just north of that, and one TENNESSEE WARBLER continued in the fig tree it was in this weekend. After I thought the irruption had died down, there were three new RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES scattered around the southwestern quarter of the park. 
 
My list with photos and coordinates is here:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S402552467
 
 
Ryan Terrill

Carmel Valley – Evening Grosbeak

7:20 am

Calling 7:10 a.m. near intersection of Carmel Center Road and Corte de la Fonda, downhill due east and down the asphalt path from Windwood Park hotspot.  To my ear, sounded like Northwestern type 1. Will add recording to eBird report later. 

-Dan King
 

Nutcrackers, Crossbills, Pinyon jays at Stonewall Mine

2:10 pm

Lots of goodies today at Stonewall Mine in the Cuyamacas:

Clark’s Nutcrackers – minimum of 20 feeding in pines near restrooms and along entrance road.
Pinyon Jays – flock of 16 along entrance road, mostly feeding on the ground. Hard to see.
Red Crossbills – 7 in pines south of restroom
Zone-tail Hawk – 1 adult and 1 juv overhead almost entire time, possibly a third
Cassin’s FInches – 2 in same trees along entrance road
Very quiet when we arrived, nothing really started showing until 8:30 or so.Passerines were basically absent until 10 am or so. There was an active sharpie that we saw repeatedly along the entrance road, and that may have affected the bird activity.

question on Tecolote Canyon

11:25 am


Hello, San Diego birders. I will be visiting Tecolote Canyon tomorrow, and I heard that there may be construction happening at that location. I checked out the site at sunrise this morning, and I noted a fence across the entrance at the
Nature Center, though it seemed that you can walk around the fence. It was too early for workers to be present if there is indeed construction work occurring there.

 

Would you know if there are ongoing access issues there, or any construction work that would interrupt birding? I would like to drive over to look, but I also very much need to work in the office today.

 

Thank you for your help,

Chris

 

 

Chris McCreedy

 

Southwest Bird Recovery Manager

American Bird Conservancy

cmccreedy@…

415.717.7426

 

 

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