Date: 6/3/26 7:07 pm From: Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
It dipped down into the canyon north of the fence. I lost it.
________________________________
From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 6:59:06 PM
To: <lehman.paul...> <lehman.paul...>; <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...>
Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
Yellow-throated Vireo is back here: 32.6935935, -117.2447543
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From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 7:58:00 AM
To: <sandiegoregionbirding...> <sandiegoregionbirding...>
Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
At around 7:30 a.m. a Yellow-throated Vireo virtually joined the Red-eyed vireo in the northwest corner of the northeast section of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Unfortunately it remained a whopping 30 seconds and then flew west across Catalina Boulevard. Never to be seen again. Just seemef to be on the move. Other migrants in the cemetery this morning include three pewees, a Willow flycatcher, and a Yellow warbler.
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Date: 6/3/26 6:59 pm From: Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
Yellow-throated Vireo is back here: 32.6935935, -117.2447543
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From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 7:58:00 AM
To: <sandiegoregionbirding...> <sandiegoregionbirding...>
Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
At around 7:30 a.m. a Yellow-throated Vireo virtually joined the Red-eyed vireo in the northwest corner of the northeast section of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Unfortunately it remained a whopping 30 seconds and then flew west across Catalina Boulevard. Never to be seen again. Just seemef to be on the move. Other migrants in the cemetery this morning include three pewees, a Willow flycatcher, and a Yellow warbler.
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Date: 6/3/26 12:03 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] late migrant landbirds
One of the little joys of birding late in the spring migration season, either at sites where particular species don't breed or at morning-flight locations, Is the ability to document late dates for birds to still be on the move at sites where they are very unlikely to breed. This morning on Point Loma was a good example, with a Western Kingbird at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery tying the late date of a spring migrant, a Blue Grosbeak there being the second latest spring migrant date, and a Lark Sparrow in residential Point Loma possibly setting a new late date for a spring migrant. Unless any of these birds were instead some sort of random early-summer wanderer rather than a true spring migrant..... Though that would still be interesting.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 6/3/26 7:58 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
At around 7:30 a.m. a Yellow-throated Vireo virtually joined the Red-eyed vireo in the northwest corner of the northeast section of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Unfortunately it remained a whopping 30 seconds and then flew west across Catalina Boulevard. Never to be seen again. Just seemef to be on the move. Other migrants in the cemetery this morning include three pewees, a Willow flycatcher, and a Yellow warbler.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 6/3/26 6:05 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Red-eyed Vireo contines
The Red-eyed Vireo at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery continues on Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m.. Same exact area as yesterday: the northwest corner of the northeast section of the cemetery.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 6/2/26 7:21 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] FRNC Red-eyed Vireo and Rose breasted gros lbeak
Tuesday morning, there's a Red-eyed Vireo in the northeast corner of Fort Rosecrans cemetery, specifically in the northwest section of the northeast corner. Sings from time to time, sometime softly sometimes loudly. One could even look for it from the edge of Catalina boulevard once the cemetery becomes off limits during the usual hours. There was also an adult male Rose breasted grosbeak in the northwest corner found by Adrian.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 5/31/26 9:19 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts June 1 - 7
Greetings,
It's been a while since the last explainer, so for those of you joining us
more recently, or if you just happened to miss past explanations, here's
what's going with these "weekly hotspots":
*Goal:* gather data for every calendar week of the year for the most
popular eBird hotspots in San Diego County. Here's an example of completed
bar charts (Robb Field mudflats): https://ebird.org/barchart?r=L506275
*Origin: *John Bruin and Michelle Haglund started working on completing
hotspot bar charts back in 2023 (or 2022?). In October 2024, John extended
this effort to the broader SD birding community via weekly mailings to this
list. In 2026, I took over the weekly mailings.
*Progress*: When John and Michelle began their efforts, there were only
100-150 hotspots with complete bar charts. When John began mailing weekly
hotspots to this list, that number had more than *doubled* to 331! At the
end of 2025 there were nearly 500 - an increase of 50% or so. In 2026 so
far, we've completed at least 15 more (and made partial progress on many
others).
Since there are fewer popular hotspots with gaps left, in 2026 I added a
second list of hotspots that are not that close to completion, but have big
gaps in data around the current calendar week.
*Technical*: Earlier in 2025, I mostly automated the data crunching
process. I run a script every week to select hotspots for the upcoming week
based on the most recent checklist data in eBird. As of now, I select all
hotspots that have 10 or fewer weeks missing, plus additional hotspots if
needed to get the count of hotspots listed to 10, choosing hotspots with
fewest weeks missing (up to 15 weeks missing). The second list of hotspots
includes hotspots with the fewest weeks missing that also have missing data
for the previous and following weeks. The total count of hotspots listed
each week currently is 30. Note: I don't currently update the master
hotspot list itself very often, so sometimes the names of the hotspots in
my list might not correspond precisely to the current names of the hotspot
in eBird. Sometimes hotspots will have been split or merged. If you notice
a big difference, please let me know!
So, when you choose to bird at one of the listed hotspots, you are
contributing valuable data that fills in the gaps! Big thanks to all of you
who have already been participating, and to any of you considering pitching
in. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.
Also, if you are submitting checklists under the California Bird Atlas
project for the hotspots on these weekly lists, you are more likely to be
contributing novel data to the Atlas, birding a location at a time of year
that nobody else has before! Consider glancing at the new "Blockboard" tool
before you go, to see which species are likely breeding but have not
yet been Confirmed in the hotspot's block:
https://californiabirdatlas.org/blockboard
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
Borrego Springs--Club Circle - 4
San Diego Bay--bait barges - 5
Swamis Seaside Park - 7
Agua Hedionda Lagoon--Harbor Dr. - 10
Borrego Springs--De Anza Country Club (private) - 10
San Dieguito Dr. south end - 10
Tide Beach Park - 10
Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 11
Deer Canyon - 11
Laguna Mtns.--Morris Ranch Rd. - 11
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
San Pasqual Valley
Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
Dairy Mart Rd.--east riparian
Black Mountain Ranch Park
Shadow Mountain Park
Sunnyslope Park
Borrego Springs--NW residential
Gillespie Field (restricted access)
Discovery Creek Trail
stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
Tierrasanta Substation
W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
Borrego Springs--landfill
Valle Verde Park
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Big Spring
Cottonwood Park (Chula Vista)
Cactus County Park
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--south
Calavera Hills Community Park
stakeout Abert’s Towhees, San Diego Co. (2024–2026)
Cheers,
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Date: 5/31/26 2:59 pm From: Nathan French via groups.io <nathanfrenchphotography...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Rose Creek White Wagtail Negative Report
After seeing the delayed eBird report, a number of birders braved marathon traffic and showed up around noon, scoured Rose Creek with no luck. That said, if you do find it please post to the WhatsApp group and here on the listserv as many birders would like to see this bird.
Happy Sunday!
Nathan French
Hillcrest
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Date: 5/30/26 12:23 pm From: Geoff Veith via groups.io <veithlaw...> Subject: NEGATIVE REPORT Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Frigatebird sp. La Jolla
I saw Stan’s alert around noon while I was up on Solana Circle with a good view of North Del Mar beach, Dog Beach, the Fairgrounds and South Solana Beach. I scanned the area for almost 20 minutes. I saw gulls and pelicans but no Frigatebird.
Geoff Veith
Solana Beach.
> On May 30, 2026, at 11:33 AM, Stan Walens via groups.io <stan.walens...> wrote:
>
> At 11:54, I was at the Y in La Jolla, next to Cliffridge Park, on the ellipticals, looking out the picture windows on the second floor that face towards the ocean, when a frigatebird suddenly appeared outside from the West, catching an updraft. I had milliseconds to see it before it zoomed upwards out of sight through the windows. By the time I leapt off the machine and got outside to search for it, it was 1/2 mile north and heading north.
> Views were much too brief to see relevant details.
>
> My spur of the moment identification, based on not noting a white collar or white in the breast, during the milliseconds I had it in view, was that it likely was a male of some species or another.
>
> I stayed outside on the balcony at the Y for 20 minutes, in the hopes that it might circle back, but no luck.
>
> Stan Walens, San Diego
> May 30, 2026; 11:27am
>
>
>
>
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Date: 5/30/26 11:33 am From: Stan Walens via groups.io <stan.walens...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Frigatebird sp. La Jolla
At 11:54, I was at the Y in La Jolla, next to Cliffridge Park, on the ellipticals, looking out the picture windows on the second floor that face towards the ocean, when a frigatebird suddenly appeared outside from the West, catching an updraft. I had milliseconds to see it before it zoomed upwards out of sight through the windows. By the time I leapt off the machine and got outside to search for it, it was 1/2 mile north and heading north.
Views were much too brief to see relevant details.
My spur of the moment identification, based on not noting a white collar or white in the breast, during the milliseconds I had it in view, was that it likely was a male of some species or another.
I stayed outside on the balcony at the Y for 20 minutes, in the hopes that it might circle back, but no luck.
Stan Walens, San Diego
May 30, 2026; 11:27am
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Date: 5/27/26 3:52 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] upcoming June 6 pelagic trip
There is still plenty of space available on the upcoming June 6th pelagic trip aboard "Legacy" out of Seaforth Sportfishing in Mission Bay, and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society. The trip runs from 7AM to 5PM. In addition to the common offshore species, some expected species include Scripps's Murrelet, Ashy Storm-Petrel, and Cocos Booby. Some years, Craveri's Murrelets have already started to return. Albatrosses are possible. This trip has produced some exciting species in the past. On last year's trip (7 June 2025) we had 9 Cook's Petrels and a Red-billed Tropicbird.
See sandiegopelagics.com for more information on this trip and all trips this year between now and mid-October. For reservations go to the Legacy website at sdwhale.com and then to "Birdwatch Tours."
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/27/26 10:54 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] La Jolla seawatch: Nazca and 5 Cocos Boobies, lots of birds (including a couple record highs)
A Weds. AM La Jolla seawatch attended by four birders saw perhaps the largest number of feeding-frenzy feeders that I have ever seen there. We set perhaps the all-time county record total of Brown Pelicans at a single site with 3000 birds (2600 standing on the rocks and cliff alone in the early morning), as well as a spring-record 420 Heermann's Gulls (95% one-year-olds), as well as 1600 Brandt's Cormorants. The largest numbers of birds on the rocks were in the first hour or so of light, slowly declining thereafter. The offshore frenzies were multiple at a time and went on and on all morning long, from 5:40AM to 10AM, and also contained some 5000 Sooty Shearwaters, 2000 Elegant Terns, and a total of ca. 5 Cocos Boobies. The single star of the morning show was the near-adult Nazca Booby extremely close to shore and first spotted by Jay D. as it flew by heading south. Still a small number of Pacific Loons heading north. One jaeger sp.
Paul Lehman et al., San Diego
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Date: 5/26/26 11:03 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] tipu migrants & vagrants ; Tennessee and Parula and Summer Tanager high totals
Parks and parking lots with tipus continued to produce over the weekend, with other folks finding a Prothonotary, Parula, and Tennessee in these trees, and with a Black-and-white today. I checked a fair number of tipu spots this morning (Tuesday) and had a female Indigo Bunting at a western Carmel Valley site. The numbers of western migrants in tipus, and overall, seems to have dropped off as the weekend went on, so the reasonable numbers of Warbling Vireos and Yellow and Wilson's Warblers (plus a few Townsend's and pewees, etc.) have seemingly now dropped to just a small trickle (e.g., this morning my total of western migrants was 6 Warbling Vireos and 2 Yellows).
It has definitely been a good spring so far virtually statewide for Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, and coastal Summer Tanagers. Here in San Diego County, the May totals for each currently stand at 7 Tennessees, 8 Parulas, and 8 coastal Summer Tanagers.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/26/26 10:49 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] California Bird Atlas Town Hall, May 27th @7pm
CBA Town Hall
Our April 16 Town Hall featured an outstanding presentation from CBA Review
Coordinator Megan Jankowski on finding breeding birds and documenting
breeding behavior in the field. It’s a must-watch for anyone looking to
sharpen their atlasing skills.
*THANK YOU!*Thank you for your time, expertise, photos, field notes,
encouragement, and generosity. California Bird Atlas is YOU!
See you there,
Justyn Stahl
North Park
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Date: 5/25/26 2:11 pm From: Lee Wagner via groups.io <rleewagner...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula Villa La Jolla Park.
With Alex from Tacoma, searched about 90 min. Heard in N. Central tipu tree, then a few shorter trees on northern boundary, then to NE tipu where Jay D. Â reported at 11:40. I saw at NE quadrant of that NE tree, good view but no photo. Easily recognized with whitish belly, yellow breast and neck, interrupted by a darker necklace (rust? Â Did not register) and dark head and back. Other details not recalled. Seen approx 1:30.
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Date: 5/25/26 11:44 am From: Jay Desgrosellier via groups.io <desgrojs...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula - Villa La Jolla Park
Singing male Northern Parula in NE tipu at 11:30 am.
Jay Desgrosellier San Diego, CA
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Date: 5/24/26 9:32 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Lesser Frigatebird
This bird has been posted all over the place today except here, so will try to sum up the key points.
A female Lesser Frigatebird has been seen off-and-on from the San Clemente Pier (in Orange County) since May 20. Initially identified as Magnificent but photos trickled out that were better for Lesser. It has a full white collar and extensively white axillaries / armpits.
The bird was seen by many people from San Clemente today, from at least 7:45am - 4:30pm. The bird was very distant for most of the day, circling around high over the horizon and following fishing boats when they were in the area. The bird ranged between San Mateo Point (SD County line) and Dana Point, visible with a scope from the pier most of the time if someone was keeping track of it.
There was a significant gap in sightings after 4:30pm, and then a few folks scouted south and found the bird in San Diego airspace off Trestles Beach starting at 6:30pm.
Ezekiel Dobson valiantly stayed on the bird until 8:24pm, and observed it flying low over the ground along the Trestles Beach trail
here: (33.3902160, -117.5930730)
The bird eventually disappeared over the hill, but the hope is that it has gone to roost locally in San Diego County.
If this is the case, the bird should wake up in San Diego County tomorrow and theoretically be visible from somewhere along the Trestles Beach trail (I would suggest the trailhead personally) as it flies out over the ocean. The assumption is this would happen at or a little before dawn.
There absolutely will be a lot of people looking for this bird from the San Clemente Pier tomorrow, so if you miss the bird in San Diego County, there should be positive/negative confirmation of the bird at its “usual” spot by early morning.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 5/24/26 4:10 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hooded Warbler Pt Loma
This of course is a private driveway in a private yard for the hooded warbler so people should not go way inside the driveway and rather stay near the entrance section. The driveway forms a semicircle and so the bird is in the back right corner as David says. So think of it as being at 1:00 on the crescent. I had to wait over 20 minutes for it to come back to that area but once it showed up then it stayed in that area for quite a while, but it is coming and going and you just have to wait quietly at the beginning of the driveway. Also, if anybody is in the area chasing the hooded warbler be aware that the Tennessee warbler in the tipus at Point Loma Nazarene University, next to the cafeteria, that Alex found yesterday is still present today as well.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 1:59 PM, David Trissel via groups.io<dtrissel...> wrote: Continues. Really likes the tiny tree/shrub just to the left of the large palm on the right side of the driveway.
David Trissel et al.San Diego, CA
On May 24, 2026, at 11:33 AM, Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> wrote:
I just got a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Warbler foraging on the ground in the front yard of 3646 Rosecroft Lane. This was at 11:20 am.
Brennan Mulrooney
--
Brennan Mulrooney
Santee, CA
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Date: 5/24/26 1:59 pm From: David Trissel via groups.io <dtrissel...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hooded Warbler Pt Loma
Continues. Really likes the tiny tree/shrub just to the left of the large palm on the right side of the driveway.
David Trissel et al.
San Diego, CA
> On May 24, 2026, at 11:33 AM, Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> wrote:
>
> I just got a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Warbler foraging on the ground in the front yard of 3646 Rosecroft Lane. This was at 11:20 am.
>
> Brennan Mulrooney
>
>
> --
> Brennan Mulrooney
> Santee, CA
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 5/24/26 11:33 am From: Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hooded Warbler Pt Loma
I just got a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Warbler foraging on the ground in the front yard of 3646 Rosecroft Lane. This was at 11:20 am.
Brennan Mulrooney
--
Brennan Mulrooney
Santee, CA
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Date: 5/24/26 9:04 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bank Swallow at Lower Otay
Sunday morning in the cool overcast there's a Bank Swallow working the very east end of Lower Otay Lake, where the Ruff was last fall, with plenty of Cliff Swallows and five or six Trees and a couple Barns, one of which is leucistic with an entirely white head and some white patches in the wings. Also five Bonapartes Gulls on the lake.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 5/24/26 4:54 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic 23 May: South Polar Skua, 4 Cocos, 8 Murres, Ashies, Sabine's
The San Diego pelagic trip on 23 May aboard "Legacy" out of Mission Bay and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society traveled out to the 9-Mile and 30-Mile Banks region under pleasant weather conditions. Highlights of the trip included a well-seen South Polar Skua, a total of 4 Cocos Boobies, 8 getting-late Common Murres, several Ashy Storm-Petrels and Sabine's Gulls, and a Blue Whale. Totals for the day once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
Surf Scoter 1 (northbound)
Pomarine Jaeger 1
jaeger sp. 1
South Polar Skua 1 (30-Mile Bank)
Common Murre 8 (good count for late season; mostly around 6 mi off Mission Bay)
Scripps's Murrelet 19
Cassin's Auklet 22
Sabine's Gull 5
Heermann's Gull 4
Western Gull 150
Elegant Tern 60
Pacific Loon 11 (northbound)
Ashy Storm-Petrel 3
Black Storm-Petrel 800
Sooty Shearwater 1200
Pink-footed Shearwater 50
Black-vented Shearwater 8
Cocos Booby 4
Brandt's Cormorant 3
Brown Pelican 40
Blue Whale 1
For information on our 2026 schedule of future pelagic trips on nine dates between early June and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Dan Jehl, Matt Sadowski, Bridget Spencer, San Diego
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Date: 5/23/26 5:27 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tipu birds
Tipu trees, as many people know, can be quite attractive to a variety of insectivores, including quite a few vagrant species, typically during the months of October to January or February. Rarely are they attractive in spring. This year, however, appears to be an exception, and there are quite a few (though not all) tipu clumps around the county supporting a fair number of migrants and a few vagrants over the past week or two. The rarities include several Tennessee Warblers in just the past few days, plus at least one Parula. The dominant regular migrants frequenting tipus lately have been Warbling Vireo and Yellow and Wilson's Warblers. Certainly it is worth regularly checking your favorite patches over the next couple weeks while there is still migration and we're in the midst of vagrant season.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 5/22/26 8:06 am From: Sara Baase Mayers via groups.io <sarabirdingg...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Swift over Point Loma, ~7:30AM
   Long, slim, pointed wings; short tail; swift size & shape body. Appeared all dark but under the clouds, probably most birds would. Circling lazily high but under heavy cloud cover, occasionally flapping a little. I was at first uncertain because the wings were pretty much straight out, and I expected them to curve back, but I've now found lot of photos showing them fly with wings fairly straight. We were on Silvergate Ave; the bird was east of the end of Warner St.
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ======================
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Date: 5/22/26 8:06 am From: Sara Baase Mayers via groups.io <sarabirdingg...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Swift over Point Loma, ~7:30AM
   Long, slim, pointed wings; short tail; swift size & shape body. Appeared all dark but under the clouds, probably most birds would. Circling lazily high but under heavy cloud cover, occasionally flapping a little. I was at first uncertain because the wings were pretty much straight out, and I expected them to curve back, but I've now found lot of photos showing them fly with wings fairly straight. We were on Silvergate Ave; the bird was east of the end of Warner St.
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ======================
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Legoland California - 5
San Luis Rey River--Foussat to Douglas - 6
Santa Ysabel Mission - 6
Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 7
Henshaw Scenic Vista - 8
Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 12
Konyn Dairy (private property) - 12
Barrel Springs - 13
Mt. Hope Cemetery - 13
Valley Middle School Trail - 13
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Crest Drive (Encinitas)
Leon Avenue & Berry Park
Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
El Camino Country Club Pond -- Vista Way
Glen Park (Cardiff)
Self-Realization Fellowship (Encinitas)
Heritage Park (Chula Vista)
Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Cold Stream Trail
Sunnyslope Park
Borrego Springs--NW residential
4S Ranch Heritage Park
Holiday Park
stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
Chase Field
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Big Spring
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail
Otay Valley Regional Park--Heart Pond Trails
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--south
stakeout Abert’s Towhees, San Diego Co. (2024–2026)
Cheers,
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Date: 5/20/26 4:46 pm From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Introducing BLOCKBOARD: Progress Dashboard for California Bird Atlas
Blockboard, Big Weekend, and the next CBA Town Hall. See message from Van,
below.
Justyn Stahl
North Park
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Van Pierszalowski via groups.io <van...>
>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Introducing BLOCKBOARD: Progress Dashboard for
California Bird Atlas
To: <CALBIRDS...>
Hi all,
*Blockboard:*
We are excited to announce the launch of *Blockboard*, the new progress
dashboard for California Bird Atlas (CBA). Blockboard is designed to help
atlasers quickly identify which species still need breeding confirmations
within each Atlas block. To explore Blockboard, *click HERE
<https://californiabirdatlas.org/blockboard>*.
For a quick introduction, check out this short video
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpjVGSaKIaE&t=1s> from Sam Safran, CBA’s
Science Director and the creator of Blockboard. The dashboard will update
daily (or close to it) as new Atlas data comes in.
*CBA Big Weekend:*
We’re also getting closer to the first annual CBA Big Weekend (June 4–7,
2026). More than 30 field trips and community events are already planned
across the state. You can read more about Big Weekend, browse events, and
register your own event *HERE
<https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/bigweekend>*.
Thank you to all 4,173 contributors who have already submitted 108,933
Atlas checklists (!) from 6,526 Atlas blocks. We are so grateful for the
California birding community's engagement on this multi-year project.
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Date: 5/18/26 1:49 pm From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tennessee Warbler - La Jolla Farms
Around noon today there was a male TENNESSEE WARBLER in the Tipus behind the LDS center on La Jolla Farms Rd. Beware of a couple of dull, young Orange-crowned Warblers foraging in the same trees.
Alex Abela
Escondido, CA
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Date: 5/18/26 1:24 pm From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tennessee Warbler - La Jolla Farms Rd
At noon today there was a male TENNESSEE WARBLER in the tipus behind the LDS center on La Jolla Farms Rd. Beware of two drab, young Orange-crowned Warblers foraging in the same trees.
Alex AbelaEscondido, CA
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Date: 5/18/26 9:01 am From: Sara Baase Mayers via groups.io <sarabirdingg...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula - Point Loma
The N Parula continues in the tipus at PLNU this morning (Monday, May 18) ~8AM. Yellow Warbler and many other birds in the same trees.
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ======================
On 5/16/2026 11:11 AM, Alex Abela via groups.io wrote: > This morning there was a singing male NORTHERN PARULA at Point Loma Nazarene University. The bird was in the small cluster of tipu trees near the main singing hall. > > Approx: > > (32.7177571, -117.2498247) > > Alex Abela > Escondido, CA > > > > >
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Date: 5/17/26 10:18 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] La Jolla: Manx & 18,000 Sooties, 1700 pelicans
A seawatch at La Jolla first thing Sunday morning produced high counts of 18,000 Sooty Shearwaters and 1700 Brown Pelicans. The shearwaters were all streaming south for the first 90 minutes (6:00-7:30AM) but then dried up. The pelicans were mostly standing on the cliffs and the rocks in front of seawatch and were the most I'd ever seen all at once there. And like the shearwaters, their numbers thinned as the morning wore on. A single Manx Shearwater flew by after all the Sooties had cleared out--the only black-and-white shearwater seen today. One Pomarine and two Parasitic Jaegers. Still good numbers of mostly one-year-old Heermann's Gulls (180) with now several adults present as well, perhaps early-arriving failed breeders from the south?
By the way, 18,000 Sooty Shearwaters would have been nothing back in the 1970s and 1980s, but major declines in this species (and in Short-tailed) since then means that the many counts of yesteryear of six digits and occasional million or more are pretty much a thing of the past in many areas.
--Paul Lehman & Jay Desgrosellier, San Diego
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Date: 5/16/26 6:30 pm From: Gary Grantham via groups.io <ggrantham020...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Correction on the PLNU Calliope
Make the location north of the main entrance, not east. Sorry.
Gary Grantham
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Date: 5/16/26 2:40 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] misc. rarities the past week; and my annual Ring-billed Gull plea
Some miscellaneous rarities or late species I've seen over the past week, none quite at the high excitement level worthy of a post to the listserv, include:
A late Least Sandpiper at Jacumba on 10 May is the second-latest record of a spring migrant in the county, with one later record from late May at the Salt Works years ago.
A late-lingering, presumed wintering Tropical Kingbird was along the north side of the main Dairy Mart Pond on 13 May. There are a small number of even later records in May and even into the beginning of June of wintering birds in California.
A singing Black-and-white Warbler at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery on 12 May, first found by Nick Thorpe.
In addition to the returning territorial male Indigo Bunting at Lake Hodges for its second year, there have been two migrant males out on Point Loma: 12 May in residential Point Loma and 14 May at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
A late "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrow was at Coronado Cays on 13 May.
A late Green-tailed Towhee was at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery on 16 May.
There are still 7+ Bonaparte's Gulls hanging out north of Pond 23 at the Salt Works, and we'll see if any of them try to summer. The last lingering immature American Herring Gull I saw was on the 7th. And here is a good place to mention one of my annual pet peeves: the over-reporting of late-spring and summer Ring-billed Gulls! Reports keep trickling in every year from May-July from places where they would be very rare but where young California Gulls are routine. The last Ring-billed I've seen this spring was at the very beginning of the month (but not since) at EastLake, where one occasionally summers. I have now seen zero at J Street in Chula Vista this entire month, where there are hundreds of Californias, nor at the San Diego River mouth. Probably the best place to look for summering Ring-billeds is at inland lakes and at parks with ponds and lawns where people feed the ducks (but where there are also Californias)....
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/16/26 2:33 pm From: Gary Grantham via groups.io <ggrantham020...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Calliope - PLNU
There was a rather late male Calliope Hummingbird this morning (5/16/26) about 50 yards east of the the main entrance at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Gary Grantham
Scripps Ranch
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Date: 5/16/26 11:11 am From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula - Point Loma
This morning there was a singing male NORTHERN PARULA at Point Loma Nazarene University. The bird was in the small cluster of tipu trees near the main singing hall.
Approx:
(32.7177571, -117.2498247)
Alex Abela
Escondido, CA
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Date: 5/16/26 6:51 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] California Bird Atlas update, Big Weekend, 10,000 hours, and more
Hello Atlasers!
San Diego, we're crushing it! As of this morning (16 May), we've reached a
major milestone: 10,000 hours in the field atlasing! That effort has
produced data for 71% of blocks (305 of 429) and 150 Confirmed species!
If you haven't checked out the Atlas Dispatch, it's available here
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/atlas-dispatch-april-2026> and
features lots of great documentation and media from our active San Diego
community. Quick reminder: notes and photos matter. You never know what may
be a first for the state, county, or block, or an unusually early or later
breeding event. Not sure what to say? This Breeding Code Commenting Guide
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/comments> highlights the key things
to mention for each code.
One quick aside, if you're reading this and haven't joined the California
Bird Atlas <https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/>, what's stopping you? If
you're already eBirding, you're most of the way there. Once you join the
project <https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home>, it's simply a matter of
adding breeding codes to your checklist. And now is a *great* time to join
us as parks and backyard are full of fledglings and active breeders!
*Save the date for the Big Weekend
<https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/bigweekend> (June 4–7)!*
The Big Weekend will focus on:
1. recruiting more atlasers (bring a friend!)
2. expanding coverage (fill in that map!)
3. spreading the word (share your discoveries!)
Host an event for the Big Weekend! A number of atlas-themed field trips are
being planned throughout the state, but even unofficial outings can be
included in our calendar. Consider:
Organizing a "birds & beers" meet-up to discuss atlasing
Lead an owl prowl in your neighborhood to build up our nocturnal effort
Plan an atlas-focused trip to a remote corner of the county (or beyond!)
If you have a birding buddy who is not using the atlas, encourage them to
do so, and show them how easy it Is to contribute to the growing wealth of
knowledge we've built in the last 5 months.
We've got some new tools to share soon, but for now, this tool
<https://atlas.calbirds.org/>, which combines the effort map with the
hotspot map, is an easy way to identify areas in need of coverage. The May
mini-challenge is to add effort to new blocks. A quick glance at the map
suggests two key areas in need of coverage (multiple consecutive blocks
with no Confirmed species):
1. the area bounded by roughly Rainbow, Escondido, Lake Henshaw, and
Palomar Mountain.
2. the area between Otay Lakes and Jacumba
We still have 4.5 years to go, but now is a great time to do some pioneer
atlasing in these areas! Find a trail or a city park, or even a short stop
between home and your main destination for the day, and atlas your heart
out!
You don’t need to travel far to make an impact. One effective strategy is
to look at species maps <https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/map/blkpho> and
target missing Confirmed blocks near home. For example, Black Phoebe is
often straightforward to confirm by watching for food carries and readily
nests on sheltered spaces in public park buildings. A few examples of
blocks in need of Black Phoebe confirmation:
Del Mar CE (Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve)
La Jolla Oe W CE (Calumet Park?)
Point Loma Oe W NE (much of PLNU falls in this block).
Consider building a target list of yet-to-be-Confirmed species for your
home block and spend extra time watching those species on your next outing.
Thanks for your incredible work so far. Happy atlasing!
Justyn Stahl (North Park)
Review Coordinator, California Bird Atlas (CBA)
www.californiabirdatlas.org
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Date: 5/14/26 10:04 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts May 15 - 21
Greetings,
The stats for this past week were a little unusual - 3 times as many "gap"
hotspots as hotspots from the main list. I think this is likely due to a
combination of coincidence, geographic distribution, and higher than
average weeks remaining counts.
Overall a good week, with a majority of the locations being visited.
Sweetwater Park - 6
La Costa Canyon Park - 7
San Luis Rey River--Foussat to Douglas - 8
San Marcos Creek - 9
San Bernardo Valley--east of I-15 - 10
Pine Valley Creek (SD Co.) - 11
Tide Beach Park - 11
Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 12
Lake View Park - 12
Warwick Ave riparian - 12
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Ross Lake
Leon Avenue & Berry Park
Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
Zuniga Jetty
Borrego Springs--NW residential
Aztec Park
Gillespie Field (restricted access)
stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Big Spring
Las Posas Pond and adjacent coastal sage
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail
Otay Valley Regional Park--Heart Pond Trails
San Dieguito Sports Complex
Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park
stakeout Abert’s Towhees, San Diego Co. (2024–2026)
Montgomery-Waller Park
La Costa Ranch
Ramona Oaks Park
Poway--Sycamore Cyn Rd at Garden Rd
Cheers,
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Date: 5/12/26 8:05 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black and white warbler and indigo bunting
Tuesday morning there was a singing male black and white warbler on the east side of fort Rosecrans cemetery, first discovered by Nick Thorpe, though it kept moving around. A so-so number of migrants scattered all around the cemetery, most numerous being warbling vireo, followed by Townsend's, Hermit, Wilson's, pewees, and Tanager. Still two Hammond's flycatchers, one in the northeast corner and one in the extreme Southeast corner. I then came over to the residential area along Silvergate where there is a large heavily blooming silk oak tree behind number 531 which is just north of Rosecroft, but the tree is too far from the road to identify the birds with binoculars. So you need to set up a scope on the edge of the street and stare at the tree. This morning there is a bright adult male indigo bunting feeding in the blossoms, along with a couple female lazulis and a slug of Townsends and a couple hermits and a couple warbling vireos and a couple tanagers.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
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Date: 5/9/26 9:16 am From: Beth via groups.io <bpearson...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Broad-winged Hawk
Re-found at 9:14 AM 5/9 over Dairymart Pond.
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Date: 5/8/26 6:32 pm From: Christine Rideout via groups.io <starfleetmom...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Guy McCaskie
Truly an icon. I’ll send a card this weekend.
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Date: 5/8/26 5:49 pm From: Ray Lee via groups.io <edoray...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Guy McCaskie
I started birding with Guy in the early 70's along with Elizabeth and Phil.
I moved to Asia in the 1980's and have recently come back to SD to this sad
news. During my time birding in Asia I always thought of Guy as an
inspiration and ecological guiding light. I've never forgotten my time with
him and never will. I hope he can have a quick and complete recovery.
On Fri, May 8, 2026, 1:53 PM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
> Guy McCaskie, now almost 90 years old, went into the hospital almost a
> month ago with (primarily) heart valve issues that were also causing other
> serious side effects. Over the ensuing several weeks there have been plenty
> of ups and downs, but now Guy and his family feel it is time to go home
> under some form of hospice care. If folks would like to send Guy a card
> with well wishes, well-deserved salutations, or fond remembrances from over
> his many decades of birding, please do. Promptly would likely be good to do.
>
>
> Guy McCaskie
> 954 Grove Ave.
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/954+Grove+Ave.+Imperial+Beach,+CA+91932?entry=gmail&source=g> > Imperial Beach, CA 91932
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/954+Grove+Ave.+Imperial+Beach,+CA+91932?entry=gmail&source=g> >
>
> --Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
>
>
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Date: 5/8/26 1:53 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Guy McCaskie
Guy McCaskie, now almost 90 years old, went into the hospital almost a month ago with (primarily) heart valve issues that were also causing other serious side effects. Over the ensuing several weeks there have been plenty of ups and downs, but now Guy and his family feel it is time to go home under some form of hospice care. If folks would like to send Guy a card with well wishes, well-deserved salutations, or fond remembrances from over his many decades of birding, please do. Promptly would likely be good to do.
Guy McCaskie954 Grove Ave.Imperial Beach, CA 91932
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/7/26 9:00 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts May 8 - 14
Apologies - the map was initially still showing the previous week's gap
hotspots. Fixed now. If you happened to have looked at the map already to
plan outings, please check again!
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM Ruslan Balagansky <ruslan...>
wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Thanks to our combined efforts, four more hotspots now have 100% complete
> bar charts!
>
> One of these, the Camp Pendleton harbor hotspot also yielded four species
> with Confirmed breeding codes for the Atlas, a large roost of an estimated
> 1000 Brandt's Cormorants, and the "iconic" Wandering Tattler.
>
> Map for May 8 - 14:
> https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Kvbpx9Aj-Pns0eprZ0vAabZqSo00ew0&usp=sharing >
> Hotspots nearing bar chart completion:
>
> Lake Sutherland - 2
> Borrego Springs--Old Springs Road OSP - 7
> Collier Park (Ramona) - 7
> Sweetwater Park - 7
> Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 8
> Hosp Grove Park--west of Monroe St - 10
> Old Coach Rd. riparian - 11
> Konyn Dairy (private property) - 12
> Snapdragon Stadium - 12
> Lake View Park - 13
>
>
> Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
>
> Ross Lake
> Alga Norte Community Park
> Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Slot Canyon
> Nexus Center Dr. tipus
> Crest Drive (Encinitas)
> Leon Avenue & Berry Park
> J Street Viewpoint (Encinitas)
> Santee Boulders
> Aston & Rutherford business area
> Del Mar Shores Beach
> El Camino Country Club Pond -- Vista Way
> Borrego Springs--NW residential
> Sunnyslope Park
> Ranchita--Old Mine Road
> Kwaamii Point
> stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
> Holiday Park
> W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
> Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail
> Mountain View Park (Escondido)
>
> Cheers,
>
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The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 5/7/26 8:23 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts May 8 - 14
Greetings,
Thanks to our combined efforts, four more hotspots now have 100% complete
bar charts!
One of these, the Camp Pendleton harbor hotspot also yielded four species
with Confirmed breeding codes for the Atlas, a large roost of an estimated
1000 Brandt's Cormorants, and the "iconic" Wandering Tattler.
Lake Sutherland - 2
Borrego Springs--Old Springs Road OSP - 7
Collier Park (Ramona) - 7
Sweetwater Park - 7
Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 8
Hosp Grove Park--west of Monroe St - 10
Old Coach Rd. riparian - 11
Konyn Dairy (private property) - 12
Snapdragon Stadium - 12
Lake View Park - 13
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Ross Lake
Alga Norte Community Park
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Slot Canyon
Nexus Center Dr. tipus
Crest Drive (Encinitas)
Leon Avenue & Berry Park
J Street Viewpoint (Encinitas)
Santee Boulders
Aston & Rutherford business area
Del Mar Shores Beach
El Camino Country Club Pond -- Vista Way
Borrego Springs--NW residential
Sunnyslope Park
Ranchita--Old Mine Road
Kwaamii Point
stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
Holiday Park
W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail
Mountain View Park (Escondido)
Cheers,
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Date: 5/7/26 5:05 pm From: Susan Smith via groups.io <seiurus...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Late sighting of a pair of Lewis's Woodpeckers along Mesa Grande Rd. Santa Ysabel. CA
Hi all, At about 11 am today, I was checking breeding bird activity along Mesa Grande Rd in Santa Ysabel, stopping along places that had pull out space, and saw a pair of Lewis's Woodpeckers flycatching from a snag at http://maps.google.com/maps?<q...>,-116.69540862 . This is on the south side of the road in a oak grove amid the surrounding oak savannah habitat which they tend to like, and is also a wet spot, even at this time of year. It is the place just before you start winding your way up the hill, after entering Mesa Grande at 79.  This seems like a very late sighting for them, even for the few that do winter here. I just had my bins, and not my camera ( which was in the car), and they both flew to the west and out of sight before I could get photos. If anyone is in this area, you might want to check this spot out for these birds.  SueÂ
Susan Smith Seiurus Biological Consulting
Del Mar, CAÂ
<seiurus...>
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Date: 5/7/26 9:45 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Broad-winged Hawk, Wilson's Phalaropes, Cook's Petrels
At around 9:00 a.m. Thursday there was a sub-adult Broad-winged hawk perched in one of the taller willow trees just past the main platform at the main Dairy Mart Pond, but then it got flushed off its perch by crows though it didn't go far but it could be anywhere in the area. This matches the plumage of the bird Brennan found yesterday just slightly farther west off Sunset, so could well be the same individual and thus perhaps would be one of the first-ever multi-day birds in spring in the county.
Right after dawn this morning there were three very dull Wilson's Phalaropes swimming around in pond 22 off the end of 13th Street at the saltworks. Hardly a big deal but it's been a poor spring for them it seems this year.
I just got back in town with a group of San Diegans from a repo cruise we took from San Diego to Vancouver, and right after we left San Diego last Saturday, we did have several Cooks Petrels either in Baja waters or Los Angeles County waters within a very few miles of "The Corner," so they probably are nipping the San Diego boundary there if anybody visited..... Maybe on the scheduled upcoming pelagic trip on May 23rd!!
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 5/6/26 8:23 am From: Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Broad-winged Hawk in Tijuana River Valley
A subadult Broad-winged Hawk just flew NW out of my view near the west end of Sunset in the Tijuana River Valley at about 0800. It was headed toward the big Eucalyptus grove but I don’t know if it stopped there. Might be heading up the Silver Strand? I saw it here: 32.55827° N, 117.09633° W
Brennan Mulrooney Santee, CA
-- Brennan Mulrooney Santee, CA
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