Solitary Sandpipers (two) at pond in Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve – West

I saw two Solitary Sandpipers at Restoration Pond this morning. They flew in just after 9 a.m. I watched them for about 20 minutes before heading farther up the canyon. When I returned about noon, they were gone. Robert Turner and his son, Manolo, reported seeing one on Monday. Coincidentally, Manolo arrived at the pond a few minutes after the sandpipers flew in, and he later showed me where he and his father had seen a Grasshopper Sparrow and Rufus-crowned Sparrow farther west along the trail on the south side of the creek. I will post photos later on eBird.

The Grasshopper Sparrow was about 1/3 mile east of the Wagon Wheel Bridge, just beyond where the trail straightens out. It seems to have a favorite coyote bush. We didn't see it there, but I saw it on the return on the other side of the trail in some scrub. I also saw one ESE of the pond in the scrub near the trail.

We saw the Rufous-crowned Sparrow (and possibly an immature) where the trail slopes down toward the "sycamore oasis." Also saw Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Kingbirds, and a Wilson's Warbler, in addition to many of the usual suspects.

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Larry Edwards
Source: SanDiegoRegionBirding Latest Reports