Escondido CBC Notes

The Escondido CBC was held on January 5.  We recorded 150 species, a little

below the previous ten-year average of 154.  Only four species were noted that

were recorded on fewer than ten previous counts.  

Our sole new species was a Sagebrush Sparrow observed in Ramona by Jay

Desgrosellier and Courtny Achenbach.  Jay has previously commented on this

sighting.  This brings our total number of species recorded in this count circle to

235.  

Other species with fewer than ten previous records include:

Clark’s Grebe, six on Lake Wohlford, actually being regularly reported in recent

years.

Harris’s Hawk near the Ramona Airport, also noted on last year’s CBC and

intermittently since.

White-winged Dove, a total of twenty-five noted by three teams covering

northeast Ramona, the Ramona Airport, and the east end of the San Pasqual

Valley.  This is our third straight year of recording this species which appears to

be expanding its range.

Cedar Waxwings, Western Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, and American Robins

occurred in above average numbers, but many songbirds were in notably low

I also note the following species that were recorded on this year’s Escondido 

CBC that were not listed on the 2017 San Diego CBC:  Ross’s Goose, Wood 

Duck, Common Mergasner, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle (I know of one on this 

year’s SD count), Ferruginous Hawk, Western Screech-Owl, White-throated 

Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Mountain Chickadee, Canyon Wren, Mountain 

Bluebird, Bell’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Scott’s Oriole, and Purple Finch.

Ken Weaver

Fallbrook

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