Date: 10/19/25 8:19 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Alan Craig
I am saddened to learn that Alan Craig is no longer with us. I spent many
hours with Alan working on the establishment California Birds/Western Birds
at his home on Point Loma, as well as birding around San Diego and
elsewhere. Alan, along with his wife Jean, Pierre Devilers, Ginger Johnson,
Cliff Lyons and myself, met regularly at his home on Point Loma to socialize
and discuss the need for a Rarities Committee similar to that in Great
Britain. At that time we knew that a new journal in witch to publish the
Committee's conclusions would be required. After many months, a new journal,
California Birds (later to become Western Birds), was published with Alan as
the editor. That journal contained pier reviewed articles and notes
pertaining Field Ornithology, all vetted by Alan. I am convinced that
California Field Ornithologists (later to become Western Field
Ornithologists) would not exist today without the hard work and skill of
Alan as the editor of the journal. California's birders have much to thank
Alan for.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 11:08:17 AM PDT, Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> wrote:
California birders,
Having very recently learned of the October 15th passing of Gene Cardiff, it was another jolt today to learn of Alan Craig's passing early yesterday, October 17th. These two men had a huge impact on birding and scientific ornithology in California and beyond. Younger birders might not have met either of them, but they should certainly know (or learn) about their contributions. I'm sure these will be memorialized in detail on-line and in the journal Western Birds in future weeks and months.There are already many tributes to Gene on the Inland Counties birding listserv.
Alan Craig was a founding member of California Field Ornithologists in 1969-1970 (an organization soon rechristened as Western Field Ornithologists). Critically, he was the first editor of California BIrds/Western Birds, admirably filling that position through the always difficult early years of a fledgling publication and developing it into a major journal by the time he retired as editor in 1986 when current editor Phil Unitt took the helm. He lived in Arizona and New Mexico for decades after leaving California.
Both Gene and Alan served on the California Birds Records Committee in its earlier years (for 7 and 8 years, respectively).
I know others can provide much more detail and personal remembrances, but I did not want to let the loss of these two important and beloved figures who lived long and full lives and contributed so meaningfully to our field to go unnoticed for too long.
Kimball GarrettJuniper Hills, CA
Date: 10/18/25 11:08 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] We've lost two giants of California field ornithology
California birders,
Having very recently learned of the October 15th passing of Gene Cardiff, it was another jolt today to learn of Alan Craig's passing early yesterday, October 17th. These two men had a huge impact on birding and scientific ornithology in California and beyond. Younger birders might not have met either of them, but they should certainly know (or learn) about their contributions. I'm sure these will be memorialized in detail on-line and in the journal Western Birds in future weeks and months. There are already many tributes to Gene on the Inland Counties birding listserv.
Alan Craig was a founding member of California Field Ornithologists in 1969-1970 (an organization soon rechristened as Western Field Ornithologists). Critically, he was the first editor of California BIrds/Western Birds, admirably filling that position through the always difficult early years of a fledgling publication and developing it into a major journal by the time he retired as editor in 1986 when current editor Phil Unitt took the helm. He lived in Arizona and New Mexico for decades after leaving California.
Both Gene and Alan served on the California Birds Records Committee in its earlier years (for 7 and 8 years, respectively).
I know others can provide much more detail and personal remembrances, but I did not want to let the loss of these two important and beloved figures who lived long and full lives and contributed so meaningfully to our field to go unnoticed for too long.
Many thanks to Lucas Corneliussen, Lucas Stephenson Ethan Monk and all the other spotters for leading the trip and spotting the bird.
Glen Tepke Santa Cruz
On 10/6/2025 10:33 PM, Chuck Dresel via groups.io wrote: > I had the good fortune to be on the Redwood Region Ornithological > Society boat out of Bodega Bay yesterday. For those of you who may not > have searched for the ebird lists which are full of excellent photos, > I am including a link to a few images I took of this incredible bird. > https://photos.app.goo.gl/QvuW2VCmVpQRpwCu6 > -- > Chuck Dresel > Napa, CA. >
I had the good fortune to be on the Redwood Region Ornithological Society boat out of Bodega Bay yesterday. For those of you who may not have searched for the ebird lists which are full of excellent photos, I am including a link to a few images I took of this incredible bird.
Date: 9/22/25 11:46 am From: Stan Walens via groups.io <stan.walens...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Question about past member
This is Mary Beth Stowe, formerly of San Diego.
She moved to Texas about 7 or 8 years ago.
There is an archive of her very useful San Diego County birding-sites posts available online.
Stan Walens, San Diego
Upcoming international trips with Holbrook to sign up for:
Highland Guatemala, February 13-23, 2026 Pink-headed warbler, resplendent quetzal, Lake Atitlán. A fantastic birding area just opening up to birders
For more information: https://holbrook.travel/walens-gt26
Date: 9/22/25 11:24 am From: Susan Crawford via groups.io <dreamzville...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Question about past member
Hello - I'm re-enjoying CalBirds after a long time of being off-list. Do we still have a member with the handle "MiriamEagl" here? I still had a personal archive of her posts, they were incredibly thorough. ~Susan, San Luis Obispo (formerly of Ojai/Ventura)
--
Listen to a fun blend of classic rock, indie, soul, and R&B on Dreamzville Radio! Drops every Saturday by 3pm PT at www.dreamzville.com.
Date: 9/21/25 4:10 pm From: Sarah Brooks via groups.io <birdergirl22...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Apparent Dark-sided Flycatcher at Charleston Marsh, Santa Clara County
Has the dark-sided flycatcher been seen yet on Saturday the 20th? I haven’t
see any eBird reports.
Thanks, Sarah Brooks
Sebastopol
On Thu, Sep 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM naturestoc via groups.io <Naturestoc=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> Dark-sided flycatcher has been seen off and on since sunrise at the
> original spot
> Dan Brown
> Sacramento.
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: "Aidan Sinha via groups.io" <aidansinha...>
> Date: 9/17/25 10:40 PM (GMT-08:00)
> To: <CALBIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Apparent Dark-sided Flycatcher at Charleston
> Marsh, Santa Clara County
>
> All,
> After appearing sporadically during the day, the bird made a final
> appearance around 7:00 PM in the area just across Charleston Road from
> where it had been earlier. A bird that appeared to be the flycatcher
> initially showed up on a tree in the parking lot, and shortly after, those
> of us present were able to get definitive looks on the flycatcher as it
> perched up on the tops of several conifers at roughly 37°25'13.9"N
> 122°04'21.8"W. For those who chase tomorrow, please note that the parking
> lots in the area are private property and inaccessible - please view and
> search for the bird from the street sidewalks and from the trails around
> the marsh. For additional details about the area (including parking
> details) see the SCVBA page here (
> https://scvbirdalliance.org/self-guided-birding/charleston-road-marsh).
> Good luck to those who search tomorrow, congrats to Eve Meier and Patricia
> Lynch on this find and Garrett Lau on the refind, and thanks to all who
> reported this and provided details!
>
> Aidan Sinha
> San Jose
>
>
>
"Yes it certain is a Siberian Flycatcher – small, largely dark bill; folded primaries reaching as far as the tip of the longest uppertail coverts but no further; rather retarded moult with still a few juvenile feathers on its rear head, nape, lower back and uppertail coverts (Asian Brown almost never show so many retained juvenile feathers in their upperparts, Grey-streaked very rarely) – but that said it is surprisingly advanced for a first calendar year bird.
If any more was needed the dark centres to its undertail coverts are diagnostic for Siberian Fly.
