Date: 9/2/25 11:44 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] 220 Common Terns
As many folks know, Common Tern numbers in many parts of CA have declined over the past decades, from routinely greater numbers, including onshore, recorded through the 1970s or 1980s. There are several very high counts in San Diego County, however, in the four digits between mid-Aug and early Oct during the early 2000s, though not since about 2007. Since then, there are only a couple three-digit counts, and perhaps none of those since 2009. So today's (2 Sep) count of 220 Common Terns first thing in the morning at the Salt Works was encouraging. I counted the birds multiple times, as they roosted with about a thousand Elegant Terns on a drawn-down Pond 20, east of 13th Street. Over the first 45+ minutes after dawn, sub-groups of terns would get up and leave, and after an hour there were no Commons remaining (and only a relatively few Elegants).
Otherwise, shorebird quality was disappointing, given the overall numbers of birds, with just 5 Lesser Yellowlegs.
The pond perhaps has just one day remaining before it gets too dry, followed by their filling it back up again.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/31/25 11:41 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for eBird's first week of Sept: Monday Sept 1 - Sunday Sept 7
Greetings
So far 32 of the 39 listed hot spots have been visited this week. Most of the non-visited hot spots are located in the desert area. Next week starting tomorrow 4 Hot spots (highlighted in red) only need a checklist and they will have at least one checklist for each week of the year.
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Culp Valley CC & Pena Springs
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Yaqui Well
Birch Aquarium
Borrego Springs--Mesquite Bosque
Camino Ruiz Park
Chollas Creek--Euclid Ave to 54th St
Colina del Sol Park
Collier Park (Ramona)
Crestridge Ecological Reserve--Horsemill Rd. access - 1
El Capitan Reservoir - 1
Encinitas Community Park - 1
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Future Veteran's Memorial Park
Grand Caribe Shoreline Park
Henshaw Scenic Vista
Hilleary Park
Hillside Community Park
Kimball Park
Laguna Mtns.--Pine Creek Rd. near S1
Legoland California
Little La Jolla Canyon
Manzanita Canyon
Mira Sorrento Stream
North El Portal Seawatch
Oak Riparian Park
Palomar Mtn.--Silvercrest Picnic Area and Trail
Pamo Valley
Paradise Canyon Open Space
Raptor Ridge Trail
Rueda Canyon East (Tierrasanta)
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--North
San Luis Rey River--I-5 to Benet
San Pasqual Battlefield
Santa Ysabel Mission
Santa Ysabel OSP--west
Siempre Viva Rd. pond
Sweetwater County Park--Quarry Trail
Sycamore Canyon County Preserve--Hwy 67 entrance
UCSD--Salk Institute Area
West Shepherd Canyon - 1
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 8/31/25 9:51 am From: Andrew N via groups.io <floodshark...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Juvie Scott's Oriole at BBG
Brief encounter but it had a pretty obvious dusky head, it was hanging out with a couple juvie Hooded Orioles. I'll see if I can pick it back up in the time I'm here.
Andrew Newmark
Chula Vista, CA
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Date: 8/31/25 8:05 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Miscellanea
This morning, Sunday, there are two Solitary Sandpipers at the top end of the north arm of Lower Otay Lake, where the Mexican Duck was couple years ago. A snipe at the east end of the lake, but where they are currently adding water, so the shorebird habitat on this Lake may or may not last much longer. At Sweetwater Reservoir they were 15 Semipalmated Plovers, which is a fairly good Inland count, and a first of season American Wigeon. Yesterday there was continuing female Vermilion Flycatcher at the Sunset ball fields in the TRV. And several days ago there was a very rare migrant Bells Vireo in Coronado.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/28/25 3:03 pm From: Robert Patton via groups.io <rpatton...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Baird's sandpiper Border Field State Park 8-28-25
This morning around 8:20, I had a juv Baird's sandpiper among a roosting flock of snowy plovers, sanderlings, and semipalmated plovers a few hundred yards NW of the beach parking lot at Border Field (south of the horse trail and SW of the biggest dune). Most birds were flushed by a raptor, then again by Border Patrol vehicles, with the Baird's last seen/heard giving its distinctive trill call and flying low along the beach crest to the south, possibly settling with other peeps SW of the parking lot and north of the border.
Robert Patton
San Diego, CA
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Date: 8/25/25 7:36 am From: Sally Veach via groups.io <bsktveach...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Franklins or Laughing Gull at Oside SLR RIVER mouth
Trying to get photos before it takes off. On spit at mouth.
Sally Veach
O’side
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To add to the earlier report of what was seen on the August 23rd San Diego pelagic trip, photos of the white-rumped storm-petrel that did one straight fly-by from right to left only 11.7 miles offshore on the Nine-Mile Bank has been endorsed by multiple outside experts as a Wilson's Storm-Petrel. At the time we thought the bird showed many characters of a Wilson's but it did NOT show feet sticking out beyond the tail tip when it was photo'd over just a several-second interval. As it turns out, sometimes Wilson's will tuck the feet in so that they are not visible, although if indeed the feet are showing then that is a good character. The bird DID show the correct wing shape, flight style, pale ulnar (upperwing) bar, white rump band shape, and tail shape for a Wilson's.
Not long thereafter, at a feeding frenzy being attended by all three species of jaegers, there was a smallish dark-morph jaeger that was quite interesting. Some characters pointed to it being a potential immature (one-year-old ?) dark-morph Long-tailed, which are rare and a bit controversial as to their existence. These same outside authorities split on it being indeed a Long-tailed or best left as a Long-tailed/Parasitic. BUT in any case, any attendees on the boat taking jaeger photos at that time of the mid-afternoon (probably around 3:30-4:00+PM) feeding frenzy on the lower Nine-Mile Bank should look for any images of this dark-morph bird and make sure to attach them to their eBird list when the lists are shared sometime within the next 24 hours.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/24/25 5:07 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic Aug 23: Flesh-footed Shearwater, B-f Albatrosses, Townsend's, Cocos, Arctics, Long-taileds
The San Diego pelagic trip on Saturday, August 23rd, on board "Legacy" and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society, took place under good sea and weather conditions (other than a 20-minute moderate shower!). We went out past the 9-Mile Bank to the 30-Mile Bank and The Corner. A good variety of the expected and uncommon seasonal species were found. The most unexpected find was a very rare Flesh-footed Shearwater (good looks and photos) in a flock of Pink-footeds and Sooties in the San Diego Trough, 17.3 mi WSW of tip Point Loma. Other highlights included three Black-footed Albatrosses on the 30-Mile Bank, Cocos Booby, plenty of white-rumped storm-petrels including at least a small number of Townsend's, great looks at Long-tailed Jaeger and a good jaeger show overall, Arctic Terns, Red Phalaropes, and two seasonally surprising Pacific Loons. Alas, we only had a single pair of Craveri's Murrelets seen rather poorly in flight (photo'd). We also had a single pass by an odd white-rumped storm-petrel closer inshore than normal for white-rumped birds on the Nine-Mile Bank that showed a fairly narrow, even, white tail-band and square-cut tail, but no foot projection beyond the tail, was fairly small and with a somewhat fluttery, direct flight. Photos will be sent out for comment.
Photos of many of these highlights will appear in upcoming eBird lists, probably out on Monday. Totals for the day once we were over a mile offshore were:
Marbled Godwit 1
Whimbrel 2
Western Sandpiper 8
Red-necked Phalarope 65
Red Phalarope 7
Pomarine Jaeger 20+
Parasitic Jaeger 4
Long-tailed Jaeger 4 (3 ads. 1 juv.)
jaeger sp. 5
Craveri's Murrelet 2
Cassin's Auklet 1
Sabine's Gull 24
Heermann's Gull 12
Western Gull 500
California Gull 1
Least Tern 2
Common Tern 11
Arctic Tern 3
Elegant Tern 250
Pacific Loon 2 (basic plumage)
Black-footed Albatross 3
Leach's (Chapman's) Storm-Petrel 15
Leach's (white-rumped) Storm-Petrel 3
Townsend's Storm-Petrel 6
Leach's/Townsend's Storm-Petrel 25
Black Storm-Petrel 200
Sooty Shearwater 350
Pink-footed Shearwater 700
Flesh-footed Shearwater 1 (32.60, -117.54)
Black-vented Shearwater 35
Cocos Booby 2
Brandt's Cormorant 20
Brown Pelican 200
Also: Reddish Egret, Fin & Minke Whales, N. Elephant Seal, California Flying-Fish, Mola-mola
Trips later this season still with space are on 27 Sep and 11 Oct. See sandiegopelagics.com for further information.
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Alex Abela, Nancy Christensen, Dan King, Matt Sadowski, Patti & Sally, Paul Mulholland, San Diego
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Date: 8/23/25 9:45 am From: Jeremiah Stock via groups.io <jscls...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-headed Blackbird at Crown Point Mission Bay
Saturday August 23 at about 7:35 AM, there was an adult male Yellow-headed Blackbird in an ornamental tree in the middle of the southern parking lot on the east side of Crown Point. Approximately here: 32.78415 -117.23318. Large blackbird with all yellow head and breast, some white in folded wing and obvious white patches in wing in flight. Flew to the north and did not see it land.
Jeremiah Stock
Santee, CA
<jeremiahstock278...>
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Date: 8/21/25 1:31 pm From: Elizabeth Copper via groups.io <ecopper...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Copies of Western Birds - 14 years
I am parting with 14 years of Western Birds ending with volume 54. Most
volumes are complete. Email me if you are interested .
Elizabeth Copper
<ecopper...>
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Date: 8/21/25 11:10 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] eBird Hot Spots for eBird's 4th week of August - Friday August 22 - Sunday August 31
Greetings
Finishing off another pretty good week. 50 of the 59 list hot spots were visited. This week a slightly smaller list and since it is the 4th week of a month there are 10 days in the week. 5 Hot spots only need a checklist this week and they will have at least one checklist for each week of the year.
Hot Spots
Agua Hedionda Lagoon--east end
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Culp Valley CC & Pena Springs
Barnett Ranch Preserve
Birch Aquarium
Borrego Springs--Club Circle
Borrego Springs--De Anza Country Club (private)
Borrego Springs--Old Springs Road OSP
Cardiff SB - lagoon mouth - 1
Carlsbad Premium Outlets - 1
Collier Park (Ramona)
East Penasquitos Canyon
Encinas Creek--Paseo del Lago
Encinitas Community Park
Encinitas Ranch GC--parking lot and vicinity
Encinitas Ranch GC--Paseo de las Flores and pond
Escondido Creek at El Camino del Norte
Future Veteran's Memorial Park
Julian--Santa Ysabel Preserve
Kimball Park
La Jolla Natural Park (not LJ Cove)
Lake San Marcos
Las Verdes Park
Leo Mullen Sports Park and Trail
Manzanita Canyon
Mira Sorrento Stream
Navajo Canyon Open Space
Nestor Park & Tesoro Grove Wy. - 1
North El Portal Seawatch
Northmont Park - 1
Ocean St. Overlook
Pepper Park & Sweetwater River mouth - 1
Rancho La Costa Preserve--Denk Mountain and Copper Canyon
Raptor Ridge Trail
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--North
San Pasqual Battlefield
Scripps Coastal Reserve--Interpretive Trail (only open 1st Sat, 9-11)
West Shepherd Canyon
Wilderness Gardens Preserve
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 8/21/25 10:49 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] this Saturday's pelagic trip ; miscellaneous shorebirds
On Thursday the 21st, a juvenile Surfbird on "Stint Island" (Pond 23) at the Salt Works at high tide was a fall arrival for that age-class, which are only rarely noted. The continuing adult Pacific Golden-Plover was there as well, as is typical in the large flock of Black-bellied Plovers at high tide. This is undoubtedly a returning bird from last winter, as it has already set up shop the past several days at the same favored sites it used last winter (low tide on beach on s. Silver Strand, high tide at Salt Works most often on Stint Island).
It is typically difficult to determine early arrival dates for migrant coastal Phainopeplas in fall, but a juvenile today (Aug 21) in Coronado was just that.
There is a pelagic trip on Saturday the 23rd on the "Legacy" whalewatch boat out of Seaforth Sportfishing. The trip is full. Please arrive at the dock to first check in at the office between 6:00-6:15AM. We will have an introductory logistical talk at 6:30. Be aware that this is near peak of fishing season, so there may be little to no available parking in the lot directly in front of Seaforth, in which case you will need to park (free) on the street. Do not park in the lots to either side that belong to other establishments. Please factor in a tiny bit of extra time to find parking. The boat leaves PROMPTLY at 7AM. For further information, and to see the schedule of other available upcoming trips in late September and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com. The two trips in early September are sold out.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/20/25 9:19 pm From: Kenneth Weaver via groups.io <gnatcatcher...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Oystercatcher in Oceanside
I observed a single Black Oystercatcher this a.m. on the beach north of the San Luis Rey River. It has a definitelimp, but foraged successfully. The oystercatcher is uncommon at this location.
Also present, a Surfbird on the beach foraging with Willets, not on the jetty as typical. An immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron appeared briefly on the spit at the river mouth. I observed it earlier this month and note a number of records at this location beginning in July. This heron has previously been uncommon at this spot.
Ken <WeaverFallbrookgnatcatcher...>
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Date: 8/20/25 8:47 pm From: Rick Grove via groups.io <rpgrove...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips this weekend, Aug 9 & 10
Your confirmation email has all of those details.
Rick Grove
Oceanside
On Wed, Aug 20, 2025 at 8:41 PM Aaron Jones via groups.io <atj0888=
<hotmail.com...> wrote:
> Thank you all for providing the information on the vessel. It looks very
> nice. We will be on board for the 23rd. Will there be further details be
> published, such as items allowed/not allowed on board, etc?
>
> Thank you again,
>
> Aaron Jones,
> Santa Ana, Orange County.
>
>
>
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Date: 8/20/25 8:41 pm From: Aaron Jones via groups.io <atj0888...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips this weekend, Aug 9 & 10
Thank you all for providing the information on the vessel. It looks very nice. We will be on board for the 23rd. Will there be further details be published, such as items allowed/not allowed on board, etc?
Thank you again,
Aaron Jones,
Santa Ana, Orange County.
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Date: 8/20/25 11:13 am From: Chris McCreedy via groups.io <cmccreedy...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Dusky Flycatcher at Upper Noble Canyon
Yesterday I observed at least one and perhaps two Dusky Flycatchers on the trail through Upper Noble Canyon. This is a few hundred meters south of the trail's crossing at Pine Creek Road, where the trail runs west of a small meadow before it runs west of pretty good montane riparian. It looked from the onX app that while the trail is on USFS land, the meadow and riparian were on private land. I heard a Dusky whit several times while I was on the trail in riparian on my way down the canyon, fairly certain it was a Dusky yet leaving it as an Empidonax sp. on my list since I did not see it. I was able to see one on my walk back up the canyon, this time in the meadow mentioned above.
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Date: 8/19/25 12:42 pm From: Michael Beeve via groups.io <pileatedwoodpecker...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black-throated magpie-jay, Cinnamon-rumped seedeater
For those who are into exotic species, Sonja and I spotted these two in the Dairy Mart area today. We male CRSE was in the back trees of the mostly dried up southern most pond at Dairy Mart. A group of 4 BTMJ were actively foraging in the large Euc's in front of the TRV regional park headquaters. Lots of Swainhoe's white-eyes at B & B gardens as well.Good birding,Michael
Michael Beeve Vista, CA 92081 <pileatedwoodpecker...>
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Date: 8/19/25 11:06 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Scripps's Murrelet in Coronado, Bank Swallow at Lower Otay
This morning, Tuesday, I heard about a report of a murrelet sp. right off the beach in Coronado, seen from the end of Aveneda Lunar which is at the south edge of the large white apartment building complex. I also heard that it was seen there again this morning. So I thought I'd give it a try mid-morning and refound the bird between 9:45 and 10:30 quite a bit farther north, only about 100 ft south of the Hotel del Coronado jetty. Just barely beyond where the outer breakers are breaking, which are a whopping one foot at most so I use that term a bit loosely. It dove a little bit from time to time but mostly just swam around and preened. While driving up the Silver Strand, I had a White winged Dove on some utility wires which may well be the same bird seen yesterday at Fiddler's Cove. And first thing this morning, while it was still a bit cool, about 80 swallows were just sitting around at the upper, east end of Lower Otay Lake and there was one Bank Swallow with them.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/18/25 10:56 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the White-winged Tern from this point onward; pelagic trips; miscellanea
First some minor miscellanea. A White-winged Dove was bordering the TRV sod farm on 18 Aug, a continuing onshore Red Phalarope was at the Salt Works that day as well (Pond 20), and the first-of-season Vermilion Flycatcher at the Sunset ball fields in the TRV had arrived on 13 Aug.
The pelagic trips on 23 Aug, 6 Sep, and 7 Sep are now full. The remaining trips this year are on 27 Sep and 11 Oct and still have plenty of space.
Beginning around 14 Aug, the routine of the White-winged Tern abruptly changed. Missed then for a couple days for the first time in over a month, we wondered if it may have departed, but then several folks photo'd it again at Pond 11 on 16 Aug, and there is a sight report on the 17th from there. BUT, we have now gotten to the point, at least temporarily, when the bird seems to be missed a bunch more than it is seen. Matt S. has been unable to locate it on Pond 12 the past few days, despite the presence there of multiple Black Terns. We reviewers also worry that at some point a few eager people will continue reporting the bird, without photos, after it has actually departed--as happens somewhat regularly with some stakeout rarities. As such, we ask all observers from this point forward to report the White-winged Tern promptly and with accurate time and location information, provide adequate documentation (that clearly eliminates Black Tern), and try to obtain photos--even distant ones that aren't worthy of five stars. Thanks.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/17/25 7:55 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Baird’s at Lower Otay
This was a transmission from the future, it seems. No clear Baird’s today after checking photos, but it does seem like one or several should show up at Otay any day now…
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 8/17/25 9:51 am From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Baird’s at Lower Otay
There’s a group of five Baird’s Sandpipers a little south of the very north end of Lower Otay:
(32.6427450, -116.9285242)
I wouldn’t run down here immediately, as the light and heat shimmer are atrocious. The birds also have moved even further south and away from the viewing spot at the north point. Later this afternoon may prove better.
Oddly enough, nothing terribly interesting to report from the much better habitat at the very eastern arm of the lake, except a continuing Semipalmated Plover.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 8/14/25 5:07 pm From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for the 3rd eBird week of August - Friday August 15 - Thursday August 21
Greetings
Finishing up a pretty good week though lots of desert locations weren’t visited. So 48 of 60 were done.
This week another big list but it’s includes all Hot Spots that need 10 or less checklist.13 Hot spots only need a checklist this week. Next week the list will be shorter.
Agua Caliente County Park -1
Allied Gardens Community Park -1
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Culp Valley CC & Pena Springs
Bandy Cyn. Rd. at Ysabel Creek Rd.--Trailhead - 1
Barnett Ranch Preserve
Birch Aquarium
Borrego Springs--De Anza Country Club (private)
Borrego Springs--La Casa del Zorro
Borrego Springs--Mesquite Bosque
Camino Ruiz Park
Carroll Creek -west (Sorrento Valley Rd. Business parks)
Chollas Creek--Euclid Ave to 54th St
Cleveland NF--Pioneer Mail Trailhead - 1
Dinwiddie Preserve, Fallbrook - 2
Encinitas Ranch GC--parking lot and vicinity
Encinitas Ranch GC--Paseo de las Flores and pond
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Escondido Creek at El Camino del Norte
Friendship Park - 1
Future Veteran's Memorial Park
Grand Caribe Shoreline Park
Greenwood Memorial Park - 1
Julian--Santa Ysabel Preserve
Kimball Park
La Jolla Natural Park (not LJ Cove)
Laguna Mtns.--Desert View Picnic Grounds
Laguna Mtns.--Pine Creek Rd. near S1
Las Verdes Park
Little La Jolla Canyon
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
Manchester Preserve - 1
Manzano & El Arbol riparian - 1
Mission San Diego de Alcala - 1
Moonlight SB - 1
Mt. Helix Park - 2
Navajo Canyon Open Space
Nestor Park & Tesoro Grove Wy. - 2
Oak Hill Memorial Park (SDCo) - 1
Oak Riparian Park
Ocean St. Overlook
Otay Valley Regional Park--Fenton Pond Trail - 2
Palomar Mtn.--Thunder Spring-Upper Doane Valley LP
Pamo Valley
Pottery Canyon Natural Park
Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve (restricted access) - 1
Raptor Ridge Trail
San Carlos Community Park
San Diego Bay--Ballast Point
San Diego NWR--Bonita Meadows
San Diego NWR--Proctor Valley
San Dieguito Reservoir - 2
San Pasqual Battle field
Siempre Viva Rd. pond
Solana Highlands Park - 1
Sunset Drive Area--eucs & riparian
Sycamore Canyon County Preserve--Hwy 67 entrance
Tijuana River Valley--campground
Volcan Mountains Wilderness Preserve
West Shepherd Canyon
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 8/13/25 9:31 pm From: Lisa Parker via groups.io <lisap2102...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] White-winged Tern more new behavior/location
Our mother, Carol Parker, has passed. We have a huge assortment of bird
books. Does anyone have a recommendation as to who we can donate these
to?
Lisa and Julie Parker.
On Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 7:27 AM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
> On Monday morning, the White winged Tern was not off the end of J Street
> at dawn for the first 20 or more minutes of light, as it has been in the
> past, even when it shifts soon thereafter over to Pond 11 to the southwest.
> Problem now at the J Street site is that the Forsters terns have pretty
> much all fledged and moved away and so it has none to only a couple
> Forsters Tern buddies to hang out with anymore if that was indeed an
> attraction originally. So we came over to the dike on the north side of
> pond 11 and walked out to literally the end of the dike and found the bird
> sitting on a piece of upright debris sticking out of the main part of San
> Diego Bay in line with the end of the dike looking northeast to the new
> Gaylord Pacific convention center monstrosity building. A new location for
> the bird to be perched. The tide was very low but it's now coming in and
> the bird will be forced off that perch in just a few more minutes and
> presumably at that point will go into the pond 11 area. While preening this
> morning I did see it remove a couple older flight feathers, so it does seem
> to be in molt again.
>
>
> Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
>
> Sent from AOL on Android
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...> >
>
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Date: 8/13/25 10:18 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bank Swallow - Robb Field
This morning around 9:25 I noticed a small Swallow occasionally flying with the 4 or 5 Barn Swallows present, and then sometimes on its own. Flight pattern was slightly different. In the field I thought Bank Swallow, but light is terrible this morning so I wanted to review my photos before sending out an alert. Just got home and a review of the photos does show a Bank Swallow. I was standing about here on the bike path, mostly looking west but occasionally it would fly over to just east of this location.
32.7554570,-117.2422153
Photos with my eBird checklist.
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 8/11/25 7:27 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] White-winged Tern more new behavior/location
On Monday morning, the White winged Tern was not off the end of J Street at dawn for the first 20 or more minutes of light, as it has been in the past, even when it shifts soon thereafter over to Pond 11 to the southwest. Problem now at the J Street site is that the Forsters terns have pretty much all fledged and moved away and so it has none to only a couple Forsters Tern buddies to hang out with anymore if that was indeed an attraction originally. So we came over to the dike on the north side of pond 11 and walked out to literally the end of the dike and found the bird sitting on a piece of upright debris sticking out of the main part of San Diego Bay in line with the end of the dike looking northeast to the new Gaylord Pacific convention center monstrosity building. A new location for the bird to be perched. The tide was very low but it's now coming in and the bird will be forced off that perch in just a few more minutes and presumably at that point will go into the pond 11 area. While preening this morning I did see it remove a couple older flight feathers, so it does seem to be in molt again.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 8/11/25 4:34 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trip Aug 10th: 2 Guadalupe Murrelets, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 20 Townsend's S-P's, 8 B-f Albatrosses, 12 Craveri's, 3 L-t Jaegers, Blue Whales
The San Diego pelagic trip on Sunday, August 10th, on board "Legacy" and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society, traveled out as far as 32 miles offshore to the 30-Mile Bank and The Corner. Highlights of the trip were two separate, recognizably different Guadalupe Murrelets about 3 miles apart on the 30-Mile Bank (23.95 mi WSW Point Loma and 23.80 mi W of Point Loma) and 2 Manx Shearwaters in a flock of Black-venteds about 6 miles off Ocean Beach, far from where the Manx was seen the previous day much farther offshore in the western San Diego Trough. Other highlights of the trip were the good numbers of white-rumped storm-petrels, totaling about 70 birds, with 20+ Townsend's, 30 Townsend's/Leach's, and 2 white-rumped & 20+ "Chapman's" Leach's; as well as a dozen Craveri's Murrelets (scattered) and three juvenile Long-tailed Jaegers (lower Nine-Mile Bank). Good numbers of Black-footed Albatrosses continue, with about 8 birds in total (including inshore to the Nine-Mile Bank). And a good show of 6 Blue Whales. A juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird at the 30-Mile Bank was an early fall migrant.
Photos of these highlights will appear in upcoming eBird lists, probably tomorrow. Totals for the day once we were over a mile offshore were:
Red-necked Phalarope 38
Pomarine Jaeger 2
Parasitic Jaeger 2
Long-tailed Jaeger 3
Guadalupe Murrelet 2 (32.65, -117.72; 32.69, -117.72)
Craveri's Murrelet 12
murrelet sp. 2
Cassin's Auklet 2
Sabine's Gull 6
Heermann's Gull 28
Western Gull 250
California Gull 1
Elegant Tern 175
Black-footed Albatross 8
Leach's (Chapman's) Storm-Petrel 20
Leach's (white-rumped) Storm-Petrel 2+
Townsend's Storm-Petrel ca. 20
Leach's/Townsend's Storm-Petrel 30
Also: Reddish Egret, 6 Blue Whales, N. Elephant Seals, Mako Shark, California Flying-Fish
--Paul Lehman, Alex Abela, Nancy Christensen, Dan Jehl, Dan King, Patti Langen/Sally Veach, San Diego
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Date: 8/10/25 4:19 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trip Aug 9th: Manx Shearwater, Masked/Nazca Booby, 30 Townsend's S-P's, 12 B-f Albatrosses, Blue Whales galore
The San Diego pelagic trip on Saturday, August 9th, on board "Legacy" and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society took place under good sea and weather conditions. We went out past the 9-Mile Bank to the 30-Mile Bank and The Corner. A pleasant to good number of birds were present throughout much of the trip. The two most unexpected species found were a Manx Shearwater in the western San Diego Trough (22.9 mi WSW tip Point Loma) and a young Masked/Nazca Booby also in the Trough (17-1/4 mi WSW tip Point Loma) repeatedly flying around the boat and diving. The booby was in its first year, so very tough to tell the two species apart, and some of the characters of potential use seemed to be partly contradictory. Copious close photos will be sent out for review. A first TENTATIVE identification is that it is a young Masked. Another highlight of the trip was the large numbers of white-rumped storm-petrels, totaling about 90 birds, with 30+ Townsend's, 30 Townsend's/Leach's, and 5 white-rumped & 30+ "Chapman's" Leach's. We set the all-time high count of Black-footed Albatrosses for the county with ca. 12 birds, with 8 in view at once. And we had a great show of Blue Whales, with at least 8 seen, several of which were very close to the boat and actually fluked. Alas, we only had 6 murrelets, including two pairs of Craveri's seen rather poorly, and a single Least Storm-Petrel was seen by only a handful of observers.
Photos of these highlights will appear in upcoming eBird lists, probably tomorrow. Totals for the day once we were over a mile offshore were:
Red-necked Phalarope 10
Pomarine Jaeger 12
Parasitic Jaeger 5
Craveri's Murrelet 4
murrelet sp. 2
Cassin's Auklet 5
Sabine's Gull 16
Heermann's Gull 12
Western Gull 200
Elegant Tern 120
Black-footed Albatross 12
Leach's (Chapman's) Storm-Petrel 32
Leach's (white-rumped) Storm-Petrel 5+
Townsend's Storm-Petrel 30 (high)
Leach's/Townsend's Storm-Petrel 30
Ashy Storm-Petrel 3
Black Storm-Petrel 250
Least Storm-Petrel 1
Sooty Shearwater 80
Pink-footed Shearwater 120
Manx Shearwater 1 (32.62, -117.64)
Black-vented Shearwater 670
Masked/Nazca Booby 1 (32.61, -117.53)
Brandt's Cormorant 18
Brown Pelican 275
Also: Reddish Egret, 8 Blue Whales, Fin Whale, N. Elephant Seal, Mako Shark, California Flying-Fish
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Nancy Christensen, Dan Jehl, Jimmy McMorran, Paul Mulholland, Brennan Mulrooney, San Diego
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Date: 8/8/25 10:21 am From: Rick Grove via groups.io <rpgrove...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips this weekend, Aug 9 & 10
On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 10:11 AM Aaron Jones via groups.io <atj0888=
<hotmail.com...> wrote:
> Good morning,
>
> May I ask if there are any details of the Legacy, please? My wife and I
> are looking to attend one of the trips this season, and we would like to
> know the size and, if possible, a photograph (or a webpage that depicts
> one) of the vessel, please? We have only been on pelagic trips with the Sea
> & Sea Audubon from Dana Point aboard MV Sea Explorer, but for peace of
> mind, any information on the Legacy will be helpful!
>
> Thank you,
>
> Aaron Jones,
> Santa Ana, Orange County.
>
>
>
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Date: 8/8/25 10:20 am From: Bruce Rideout via groups.io <bnkrideout...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips this weekend, Aug 9 & 10
Date: 8/8/25 10:11 am From: Aaron Jones via groups.io <atj0888...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips this weekend, Aug 9 & 10
Good morning,
May I ask if there are any details of the Legacy, please? My wife and I are looking to attend one of the trips this season, and we would like to know the size and, if possible, a photograph (or a webpage that depicts one) of the vessel, please? We have only been on pelagic trips with the Sea & Sea Audubon from Dana Point aboard MV Sea Explorer, but for peace of mind, any information on the Legacy will be helpful!
Thank you,
Aaron Jones,
Santa Ana, Orange County.
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Date: 8/7/25 1:26 pm From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hot Spots for eBird 2nd week of August - Friday August 8 - Thursday August 14
Greetings
Just finishing up a pretty good week. 53 of the listed 60 Hot spots, including all that needed only 1 or 2 were visited. Only the desert ones for the most part were not visited. This week is another full week with 8 Hot Spots only needing one checklist.
In addition there are 13 Hot Spots that are down to just 2. If visited this week the next time they show up they will be down to just 1. Both are identified with numbers after the name.
Hot Spots:
Agua Caliente County Park - 2
Agua Hedionda Creek
Anstine-Audubon Nature Preserve (open Saturdays 9a-4p) - 1
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Clark Dry Lake
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Yaqui Well
Barnett Ranch Preserve
Birch Aquarium
Borrego Springs--La Casa del Zorro
Camino Ruiz Park
Canyonside Community Park - 1
Carlsbad Premium Outlets - 2
Carlsbad Research Center pond - 2
Cleveland NF--Pioneer Mail Trailhead - 2
Colina del Sol Park
Crestridge Ecological Reserve--Horsemill Rd. access - 2
East Penasquitos Canyon
Encinitas Ranch GC--parking lot and vicinity
Encinitas Ranch GC--Paseo de las Flores and pond
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Escondido Creek at El Camino del Norte
Felicita County Park - 1
Fletcher Cove Beach Park - 2
Forester Creek Trail
Hanson Pond Trail
I-5 rest stop (southbound, Camp Pendleton) - 1
Indian Head Canyon - 2
Iron Mountain (SD Co.) - 2
Julian--Santa Ysabel Preserve
La Jolla Natural Park (not LJ Cove)
Laguna Mtns.--Los Huecos Rd. - 2
Laguna Mtns.--Visitor Center - 1
Lake San Marcos
Leo Mullen Sports Park and Trail
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
Manchester Preserve - 2
Manzanita Canyon
Manzano & El Arbol riparian - 2
Mt. Helix Park
North El Portal Seawatch
Northmont Park - 2
Otay Valley Regional Park--Fenton Pond Trail
Otay Valley Regional Park--LeMay Pond to 805
Palomar Mtn.--Weir Trail
Pamo Valley
Rancho La Costa Preserve--Denk Mountain and Copper Canyon
Raptor Ridge Trail
San Carlos Community Park
San Diego Bay--bait barges
Santa Ysabel OSP--west
Siempre Viva Rd. pond
Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary (Wed 8-12, Sat 9-4)
Stagecoach Park - 1
Stevens Creek Area - 1
Tijuana River Valley--campground
UCSD--Central - 2
UCSD--Salk Institute Area
Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park - 1
West Hills Park
West Shepherd Canyon
Wilderness Gardens Preserve
John Bruin
Bay Park
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Date: 8/7/25 11:19 am From: Nancy Christensen via groups.io <nancy.r.christensen...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] WHITE-WINGED TERN
This long staying rarity keeps changing its pattern of behavior. Today was present on Pond 11 (viewed from the Bayshore Bikeway parking lot (32.6020160, -117.1239815)) from at least 6:50 am until around 9:30ish.
The bird is easy to see if flying with its fluttery flight, very low to the water. If not flying it often sits on a muddy patch described here…
From halfway out along the dike (32.6020337, -117.1224892), looking south. Out in the grass beyond the visible water/mud there is a wooden structure/platform with three legs. To the right of it, in the water/mud there are two white poles, neither of which are vertical. The tern likes to sit on the mud between the base of those 2 poles. As the tide rose today, it sat on the taller of the two poles.
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Date: 8/7/25 9:58 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trips this weekend, Aug 9 & 10
There are pelagic trips scheduled this coming weekend, on both Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th, on the "Legacy" whalewatch boat out of Seaforth Sportfishing. There is still some space available on both trips (8 spaces on Saturday, 15 on Sunday). Please arrive at the dock to check in between 6:00-6:15AM. We will have an introductory logistical talk at 6:30. Be aware that this is the near-peak of fishing season, so there may not be any available parking in the lot directly in front of Seaforth, in which case you will need to park on the street. Do not park in the lots to either side that belong to other establishments. Please factor in a tiny bit of extra time to find parking. The boat leaves promptly at 7AM.
For those of you without reservations but who wake up early in the morning with a hankering to go, feel free to come on down to the dock and sign up. There should be space, especially on the Sunday trip.
For further information, and to see the schedule of other upcoming trips between late August to mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com. All remaining trips this year are still available, but a number of them have only a small number of spaces remaining and will likely sell out.
Dream big!
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 8/6/25 7:28 am From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <sadowskimatt99...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] White-winged Tern, 8/6
Foraging in 11 near South Bay Bio parking at 0724.
M. Sadowski
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Date: 8/5/25 6:29 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tues White-winged Tern, miscellaneous
Tuesday morning, the White-winged Tern continued first thing off J Street in its usual stretch of shoreline, present immediately upon arrival in the early morning gloom at 5:55 a.m. It stayed 20 or so minutes and flew at 6:15, perhaps shifting over to Pond 11?
Yesterday, the 4th, there was a Black-bellied Plover at the upper end of Lower Otay Lake, very rare Inland.
Seawatching at La Jolla has continued to be ho-hum. Plenty of the typical nearshore feeding-frenzy species, but nothing at all unusual. Hopefully that will change soon.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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