Date: 4/12/26 7:42 pm From: Robert Keiffer via groups.io <rjkeiffer...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Surfbird or Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpipers also always have that whitish triangle on the shoulder.
> On Apr 12, 2026, at 6:36 PM, Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> wrote:
>
> On 2026-04-12 4:46 pm, Michael Coustier via groups.io wrote:
>> Newbie here.
>> I came across a new bird ( to me ) near Walk On Beach / Sea Ranch.
>> I convinced myself it's a Spotted Sandpiper, but looking at other
>> reports from the area show Surfbird as more likely.
>> Also, the habitat of Spotted Sandpipers suggest they're more of a
>> shorebird / freshwater.
>> I went with Spotted Sandpiper due to: Beak color/black at tip -
>> Surfbird seems to be more black on top.
>> The Surfbird looks to have a darker coloring on the back.
>> I thought maybe the leg coloring was more Surfbird, but I also find
>> similar colors on some Spotted Sandpipers.
>> Ugh.
>> With these few pixels, can any of you help me verify?
> Spotted Sandpiper is correct. I believe most of the Surfbirds have headed north by now. Note that the bi-colored bill of the Surfbird (in image attached) is shorter than the bill of a Spotted Sandpiper (also attached). Spotted Sandpipers bob their tails up and down while walking and are overall a much slimmer bird in appearance.
>
> Hope this helps :)
>
>
> Lisa Walker,
> Fort Bragg-Cleone
>
>
>
>
>
> <110324Surfbird.JPG>
> <041325SpottedSandpiperB.JPG>
Date: 4/12/26 6:36 pm From: Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Surfbird or Spotted Sandpiper
On 2026-04-12 4:46 pm, Michael Coustier via groups.io wrote:
> Newbie here.
> I came across a new bird ( to me ) near Walk On Beach / Sea Ranch.
> I convinced myself it's a Spotted Sandpiper, but looking at other
> reports from the area show Surfbird as more likely.
> Also, the habitat of Spotted Sandpipers suggest they're more of a
> shorebird / freshwater.
>
> I went with Spotted Sandpiper due to: Beak color/black at tip -
> Surfbird seems to be more black on top.
> The Surfbird looks to have a darker coloring on the back.
> I thought maybe the leg coloring was more Surfbird, but I also find
> similar colors on some Spotted Sandpipers.
> Ugh.
>
> With these few pixels, can any of you help me verify?
>
Spotted Sandpiper is correct. I believe most of the Surfbirds have
headed north by now. Note that the bi-colored bill of the Surfbird (in
image attached) is shorter than the bill of a Spotted Sandpiper (also
attached). Spotted Sandpipers bob their tails up and down while walking
and are overall a much slimmer bird in appearance.
Date: 4/12/26 4:46 pm From: Michael Coustier via groups.io <mcoustier...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Surfbird or Spotted Sandpiper
Newbie here.
I came across a new bird ( to me ) near Walk On Beach / Sea Ranch.
I convinced myself it's a Spotted Sandpiper, but looking at other reports from the area show Surfbird as more likely.
Also, the habitat of Spotted Sandpipers suggest they're more of a shorebird / freshwater.
I went with Spotted Sandpiper due to: Beak color/black at tip - Surfbird seems to be more black on top.
The Surfbird looks to have a darker coloring on the back.
I thought maybe the leg coloring was more Surfbird, but I also find similar colors on some Spotted Sandpipers.
Ugh.
With these few pixels, can any of you help me verify?
Date: 4/9/26 8:16 pm From: Chuck & Barbara Vaughn via groups.io <cevaughn...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] American Goldfinches query
Here is a link to an eBird graph of the frequency of American Goldfinch
reports in complete eBird checklists in Mendocino county. It appears
that they are always observed more frequently in the county from April
through October, for whatever reason?
On 2026-04-09 19:55, Dan Airola via groups.io wrote:
> In Sacramento, they often congregate in trees that are just budding
> out in spring. The buds are nutritious. It can be very busy and noisy.
> Not fire related I would guess
>
> Dan Airola
> Conservation Research and Planning
> <d.airola...>
> 916/494-1283
>
>> On Apr 9, 2026, at 5:46 PM, Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via
>> groups.io <feather...> wrote:
>>
>> On 2026-04-09 5:26 pm, mendojanet via groups.io wrote:
>>> Hi all. It’s normal for my backyard on S Dora in the Oak Knoll area
>>> to host up to half a dozen American goldfinches.
>>> On Monday I took a walk southward and there were trees FULL of them,
>>> conversing like crazy. It was amazingly loud.
>>> And for the past several days I routinely have three dozen or more
>>> all day, on the feeder, on the ground, at the water bowl. The males
>>> outnumber the females. I have never seen anything like this. It’s
>>> delightful but weird. Is it possibly due to the massive prescribed
>>> burn up on Cleland Mtn behind me?
>> From my (rather limited) understanding of this; American Goldfinches
>> are nomadic in their feeding and flocking behaviors, tending to flock
>> wherever there are readily available food sources. They will thin out
>> as the season for their breeding draws closer; typically closer to the
>> middle or end of summer, depending on when your area's thistle goes to
>> seed. Hope this helps some. And of course, if I am incorrect, I will
>> stand corrected.
>>
>> Lisa Walker, Fort Bragg-Cleone
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/9/26 7:56 pm From: Dan Airola via groups.io <d.airola...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] American Goldfinches query
In Sacramento, they often congregate in trees that are just budding out in spring. The buds are nutritious. It can be very busy and noisy. Not fire related I would guess
Dan Airola
Conservation Research and Planning
<d.airola...>
916/494-1283
> On Apr 9, 2026, at 5:46 PM, Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> wrote:
>
> On 2026-04-09 5:26 pm, mendojanet via groups.io wrote:
>> Hi all. It’s normal for my backyard on S Dora in the Oak Knoll area to host up to half a dozen American goldfinches.
>> On Monday I took a walk southward and there were trees FULL of them, conversing like crazy. It was amazingly loud.
>> And for the past several days I routinely have three dozen or more all day, on the feeder, on the ground, at the water bowl. The males outnumber the females. I have never seen anything like this. It’s delightful but weird. Is it possibly due to the massive prescribed burn up on Cleland Mtn behind me?
> From my (rather limited) understanding of this; American Goldfinches are nomadic in their feeding and flocking behaviors, tending to flock wherever there are readily available food sources. They will thin out as the season for their breeding draws closer; typically closer to the middle or end of summer, depending on when your area's thistle goes to seed. Hope this helps some. And of course, if I am incorrect, I will stand corrected.
>
> Lisa Walker, Fort Bragg-Cleone
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/9/26 5:47 pm From: Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] American Goldfinches query
On 2026-04-09 5:26 pm, mendojanet via groups.io wrote: > Hi all. It’s normal for my backyard on S Dora in the Oak Knoll area to > host up to half a dozen American goldfinches. > On Monday I took a walk southward and there were trees FULL of them, > conversing like crazy. It was amazingly loud. > And for the past several days I routinely have three dozen or more all > day, on the feeder, on the ground, at the water bowl. The males > outnumber the females. I have never seen anything like this. It’s > delightful but weird. Is it possibly due to the massive prescribed burn > up on Cleland Mtn behind me? > From my (rather limited) understanding of this; American Goldfinches are nomadic in their feeding and flocking behaviors, tending to flock wherever there are readily available food sources. They will thin out as the season for their breeding draws closer; typically closer to the middle or end of summer, depending on when your area's thistle goes to seed. Hope this helps some. And of course, if I am incorrect, I will stand corrected.
Date: 4/9/26 5:26 pm From: mendojanet via groups.io <mendojanet...> Subject: [Mendobirds] American Goldfinches query
Hi all. It’s normal for my backyard on S Dora in the Oak Knoll area to host up to half a dozen American goldfinches.
On Monday I took a walk southward and there were trees FULL of them, conversing like crazy. It was amazingly loud.
And for the past several days I routinely have three dozen or more all day, on the feeder, on the ground, at the water bowl. The males outnumber the females. I have never seen anything like this. It’s delightful but weird. Is it possibly due to the massive prescribed burn up on Cleland Mtn behind me?
Date: 4/9/26 11:47 am From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] ANMU and Re: Noyo Pelagics, April 4th Trip Report
Greetings again,
One of the marine-mammal observers aboard on the 4th, Cricket Raspet, found an Ancient Murrelet in her photos, while reviewing pics of Cassin's Auklets. Her photo is in this checklist:
Check out Capt. Richard Thornton's incredible video of Fin Whales, Blue Sharks, and moments of our day from above, captured with his drone. Also Lucas Stephenson's video of Blue Shark and albatrosses from the stern of the boat.
We still have some space of our half day trip of 4/19 and full-day trip of 4/26. I think, if the buttons don't lead to a wait list there is still space!
Cheers, Peter
On 4/6/2026 12:06 PM, Peter Pyle wrote: > Greetings Mendobirders - > > On April 4th about 25 folks, largely birders, accompanied Richard > Thornton and Anchor Charters <https://anchorcharterboats.com/> > <https://anchorcharterboats.com/> for a full day pelagic trip over and > down Noyo Canyon, out about 30 miles to Vizcaino Knoll, and back.This > knoll, along with Vizcaino Rock north of Westport and an important > desert in Baja CA, was named for Sebastián Vizcaino who sailed up the > northern California coast, in 1602, the second explorer to do so since > Cabrillo in 1542, and the first to take ecological notes. Historians > are unsure how far Cabrillo got, maybe only to the Russian River > (wishfully as far as Point Cabrillo Lighthouse), so Vizcaino could > well have been the first European to visit Mendocino but, like any > disruptive invasive species, a detrimental harbinger for native > populations. > > In any case, we were finally blessed with fine weather and sea > conditions. Sort of. Light NW winds at dawn quickly diminished to > beautiful calm flat seas for the majority of the day and spectacular > visibility to all horizons. This was only the second Noyo Pelagics > trip we've had with such unbelievable conditions, and both have been, > well, very pleasant and fun, but lacking some of the deepwater bird > species we hope for. In fact, it was somewhat "dead" out there, though > not as bird-less as our trip of 7 September 2025 (see our trip report: > https://noyopelagics.com/trip-report-noyo-pelagics-5-7-8-september-2025/). > The going soap-boxing has been that, when winds are calm, the > tubenoses sit tight and we don't see as many because they are not > moving around as much. But we came up with an alternate hypothesis, > that, as the circulation systems and accompanying winds move off, the > birds go with them. Otherwise, you'd think we'd see some of these > birds sitting around under such great observation conditions. The day > before, healthy NW winds blew and then pushed off to the south as the > high weakened and calm came in from the north. So that may have been > where all the seabirds went! Follow the winds, as the sailors say. > > Sea-surface temps leaving the harbor were a cool 53° F. We were in > what we call "salmon water," greenish to mud-colored due to a thick > phytoplankton bloom. Richard pulled up his Terafin SST-View app and we > could see clearer water and a temperature break about 10 miles > offshore so we made a bee-line (or albatross-line) west and found > beautiful blue pelagic waters of 59°F, where a couple of trip > highlights occurred. We had seen 3-4 Humpbacks on the way out but they > were not as cooperative as three Fin Whales we encountered in the > deeper blue. Richard ascended his drone and got some incredible > footage as they slowly surfaced and circled around the boat. These > were adults, perhaps 70-80' in length, second only to Blue Whales as > being the largest creatures we know of...ever...on earth. The second > highlight involved Blue Sharks coming up to our chum net where, > somehow, they and the albatross shared a black cod carcass without > interaction (if only the internet and AI could learn from this!). More > cool blue video was taken of these cool blue sharks in the clear blue > waters. Stay tuned for video clips when our Trip Report with photos > gets posted at noyopelagics.com! > > Although no /Pterodroma/ petrels or Short-tailed Albatrosses, the trip > was not without some avian highlights. Two different Laysan > Albatrosses swung by, one with orange band P33 in purple, probably > from Mexico. We'll report on this bird's origin once we find out. A > nice Manx Shearwater sauntered by on our way back in, as did two > Elegant Terns in elegant al*tern*ate (breeding) plumage. These terns > used to come up our coast only in late summer and fall but, perhaps > related to global ocean warming, they are now surging north in spring, > so much so that they are no longer an eBird alert species in San > Francisco and Mendocino counties in April (San Mateo and Marin, please > take note!). Many Bonaparte's Gulls, some in full alternate plumage, > graced our gull flock all day, and some early northbound Sabine's > Gulls, likewise in both alternate and basic plumage, further > embellished the air space. The Humpbacks have definitely humped their > way back, 14-16 in all today, and as usual we took many fluke shots to > contribute to the Happywhale photo-ID catalogue. We 'only' had about > 40 Black-footed Albatross, as compared to 135 at once on our March > 18th half-day trip in, ahem, windy conditions. We figure now that the > 'perfect' weather will involve moderate winds near shore but a break > or wind shear, as often occurs on a line between Cape Mendocino and > Point Arena, such that we may even be able to sit in calmer waters and > chum in /Pterodroma/ petrels from gale-force NW blow on the other side > of the shear. Or maybe just plain old wind everywhere, as we can > slowly and rather comfortably churn 5-6 miles out to see what these > winds have delivered to us (see our May 24th 2025 trip: > https://noyopelagics.com/pelagic_calendar/saturday-5-24-25-half-day-noyo-canyon-mammal-dedicated/). > > Our next trips are for April 19th (half-day), April 26th, and May 9th. > You can sign up for these or others later in the year at our Noyo > Pelagics website <https://noyopelagics.com/>. This is the real good > window for Short-tailed Albatrosses and /Pterodroma/ petrels (Hawaiian > and Murphy's at least), as well as "who knows what else!" (Herald?) so > please consider joining us! > > Peter >
Date: 4/6/26 12:06 pm From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Noyo Pelagics, April 4th Trip Report
Greetings Mendobirders -
On April 4th about 25 folks, largely birders, accompanied Richard Thornton and Anchor Charters <https://anchorcharterboats.com/> <https://anchorcharterboats.com/> for a full day pelagic trip over and down Noyo Canyon, out about 30 miles to Vizcaino Knoll, and back.This knoll, along with Vizcaino Rock north of Westport and an important desert in Baja CA, was named for Sebastián Vizcaino who sailed up the northern California coast, in 1602, the second explorer to do so since Cabrillo in 1542, and the first to take ecological notes. Historians are unsure how far Cabrillo got, maybe only to the Russian River (wishfully as far as Point Cabrillo Lighthouse), so Vizcaino could well have been the first European to visit Mendocino but, like any disruptive invasive species, a detrimental harbinger for native populations.
In any case, we were finally blessed with fine weather and sea conditions. Sort of. Light NW winds at dawn quickly diminished to beautiful calm flat seas for the majority of the day and spectacular visibility to all horizons. This was only the second Noyo Pelagics trip we've had with such unbelievable conditions, and both have been, well, very pleasant and fun, but lacking some of the deepwater bird species we hope for. In fact, it was somewhat "dead" out there, though not as bird-less as our trip of 7 September 2025 (see our trip report: https://noyopelagics.com/trip-report-noyo-pelagics-5-7-8-september-2025/). The going soap-boxing has been that, when winds are calm, the tubenoses sit tight and we don't see as many because they are not moving around as much. But we came up with an alternate hypothesis, that, as the circulation systems and accompanying winds move off, the birds go with them. Otherwise, you'd think we'd see some of these birds sitting around under such great observation conditions. The day before, healthy NW winds blew and then pushed off to the south as the high weakened and calm came in from the north. So that may have been where all the seabirds went! Follow the winds, as the sailors say.
Sea-surface temps leaving the harbor were a cool 53° F. We were in what we call "salmon water," greenish to mud-colored due to a thick phytoplankton bloom. Richard pulled up his Terafin SST-View app and we could see clearer water and a temperature break about 10 miles offshore so we made a bee-line (or albatross-line) west and found beautiful blue pelagic waters of 59°F, where a couple of trip highlights occurred. We had seen 3-4 Humpbacks on the way out but they were not as cooperative as three Fin Whales we encountered in the deeper blue. Richard ascended his drone and got some incredible footage as they slowly surfaced and circled around the boat. These were adults, perhaps 70-80' in length, second only to Blue Whales as being the largest creatures we know of...ever...on earth. The second highlight involved Blue Sharks coming up to our chum net where, somehow, they and the albatross shared a black cod carcass without interaction (if only the internet and AI could learn from this!). More cool blue video was taken of these cool blue sharks in the clear blue waters. Stay tuned for video clips when our Trip Report with photos gets posted at noyopelagics.com!
Although no /Pterodroma/ petrels or Short-tailed Albatrosses, the trip was not without some avian highlights. Two different Laysan Albatrosses swung by, one with orange band P33 in purple, probably from Mexico. We'll report on this bird's origin once we find out. A nice Manx Shearwater sauntered by on our way back in, as did two Elegant Terns in elegant al*tern*ate (breeding) plumage. These terns used to come up our coast only in late summer and fall but, perhaps related to global ocean warming, they are now surging north in spring, so much so that they are no longer an eBird alert species in San Francisco and Mendocino counties in April (San Mateo and Marin, please take note!). Many Bonaparte's Gulls, some in full alternate plumage, graced our gull flock all day, and some early northbound Sabine's Gulls, likewise in both alternate and basic plumage, further embellished the air space. The Humpbacks have definitely humped their way back, 14-16 in all today, and as usual we took many fluke shots to contribute to the Happywhale photo-ID catalogue. We 'only' had about 40 Black-footed Albatross, as compared to 135 at once on our March 18th half-day trip in, ahem, windy conditions. We figure now that the 'perfect' weather will involve moderate winds near shore but a break or wind shear, as often occurs on a line between Cape Mendocino and Point Arena, such that we may even be able to sit in calmer waters and chum in /Pterodroma/ petrels from gale-force NW blow on the other side of the shear. Or maybe just plain old wind everywhere, as we can slowly and rather comfortably churn 5-6 miles out to see what these winds have delivered to us (see our May 24th 2025 trip: https://noyopelagics.com/pelagic_calendar/saturday-5-24-25-half-day-noyo-canyon-mammal-dedicated/).
Our next trips are for April 19th (half-day), April 26th, and May 9th. You can sign up for these or others later in the year at our Noyo Pelagics website <https://noyopelagics.com/>. This is the real good window for Short-tailed Albatrosses and /Pterodroma/ petrels (Hawaiian and Murphy's at least), as well as "who knows what else!" (Herald?) so please consider joining us!
Date: 3/29/26 4:12 pm From: Julia Larke via groups.io <coastlark...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Scaly-breasted Munias at UWWTP
Nice photos...the bird's coloration and pattern is so different. With the
(over) warming planet who knows how species ranges will adjust.
On Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 3:56 PM Lisa D Walker <feather...> wrote:
> Wait til you see them doing their wild bird antics near ponds, lakes,
> estuaries, rivers and streams....
>
> Sipping the morning dew off of cattails, for example. Their little calls
> are bright and energetic.
>
> I am not sure if they are considered invasive yet; they are spreading
> northwards. I was hoping we'd see some on the coast up here but I think
> they prefer it much warmer and will likely stay inland.
>
> Photos from Santa Barbara County's Andre Clark Bird Refuge, where I met
> Hugh Ranson
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
> On 2026-03-29 3:45 pm, Julia Larke via groups.io wrote:
> > I wondered what on earth is a scaly-breasted munia and just learned
> > it's an attractive bird from India and Southeast Asia that is sold in
> > the pet trade and often called a nutmeg mannikin or a spice finch
> > (though it's a member of the waxbill family). Known for their
> > hardiness, escaped pets have established populations globally,
> > including Southern California, the Gulf Coast, Hawaii, Australia and
> > the Caribbean. In recent years, their range is apparently expanding
> > into San Francisco and the Bay Area.
> >
> > I enjoyed reading this article by Hugh Ranson, a member of the Santa
> > Barbara Audubon Society.
> >
> https://www.independent.com/2024/04/12/invasion-of-the-mannikins/#:~:text=They%20are%20popular%20cage%20birds%20and%20are,**Young%20birds%20are%20plain%20brown%20all%20over** > >
> > Julia Larke
> > Fort Bragg
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:58 AM George Gibbs via groups.io [1]
> > <ggibbs...> wrote:
> >
> >> 3/29/26
> >>
> >> Chuck Vaughn and I observed 3-5 Scaly-breasted Munias at the Ukiah
> >> Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. Previously, Chuck Vaughn
> >> had seen one bird over the winter so perhaps these birds stayed in
> >> the area. They were located along the south fence line as before.
> >> Will post photos to eBird.
> >>
> >> Nice mud showing in middle and North ponds so hopefully it will be a
> >> good spring for shorebirds at the plant. Avocets and Stilts already
> >> exhibiting some nest building behavior.
> >>
> >> George Gibbs
> >> Ukiah
> >
> >
> >
> > Links:
> > ------
> > [1] http://groups.io > > [2] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/message/9764 > > [3] https://groups.io/mt/118566389/974701 > > [4] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/post > > [5] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/editsub/974701 > > [6] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/unsub >
> --
> Lisa D Walker, Feather's Fotos
> https://facebook.com/PhotographyByFeather
Date: 3/29/26 3:56 pm From: Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Scaly-breasted Munias at UWWTP
Wait til you see them doing their wild bird antics near ponds, lakes, estuaries, rivers and streams....
Sipping the morning dew off of cattails, for example. Their little calls are bright and energetic.
I am not sure if they are considered invasive yet; they are spreading northwards. I was hoping we'd see some on the coast up here but I think they prefer it much warmer and will likely stay inland.
Photos from Santa Barbara County's Andre Clark Bird Refuge, where I met Hugh Ranson
Lisa
On 2026-03-29 3:45 pm, Julia Larke via groups.io wrote: > I wondered what on earth is a scaly-breasted munia and just learned > it's an attractive bird from India and Southeast Asia that is sold in > the pet trade and often called a nutmeg mannikin or a spice finch > (though it's a member of the waxbill family). Known for their > hardiness, escaped pets have established populations globally, > including Southern California, the Gulf Coast, Hawaii, Australia and > the Caribbean. In recent years, their range is apparently expanding > into San Francisco and the Bay Area. > > I enjoyed reading this article by Hugh Ranson, a member of the Santa > Barbara Audubon Society. > https://www.independent.com/2024/04/12/invasion-of-the-mannikins/#:~:text=They%20are%20popular%20cage%20birds%20and%20are,**Young%20birds%20are%20plain%20brown%20all%20over** > > Julia Larke > Fort Bragg > > On Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:58 AM George Gibbs via groups.io [1] > <ggibbs...> wrote: > >> 3/29/26 >> >> Chuck Vaughn and I observed 3-5 Scaly-breasted Munias at the Ukiah >> Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. Previously, Chuck Vaughn >> had seen one bird over the winter so perhaps these birds stayed in >> the area. They were located along the south fence line as before. >> Will post photos to eBird. >> >> Nice mud showing in middle and North ponds so hopefully it will be a >> good spring for shorebirds at the plant. Avocets and Stilts already >> exhibiting some nest building behavior. >> >> George Gibbs >> Ukiah > > > > Links: > ------ > [1] http://groups.io > [2] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/message/9764 > [3] https://groups.io/mt/118566389/974701 > [4] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/post > [5] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/editsub/974701 > [6] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/unsub
Date: 3/29/26 3:46 pm From: Julia Larke via groups.io <coastlark...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Scaly-breasted Munias at UWWTP
I wondered what on earth is a scaly-breasted munia and just learned it's an
attractive bird from India and Southeast Asia that is sold in the pet trade
and often called a nutmeg mannikin or a spice finch (though it's a member
of the waxbill family). Known for their hardiness, escaped pets have
established populations globally, including Southern California, the Gulf
Coast, Hawaii, Australia and the Caribbean. In recent years, their range is
apparently expanding into San Francisco and the Bay Area.
On Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:58 AM George Gibbs via groups.io <ggibbs=
<pacific.net...> wrote:
> 3/29/26
>
> Chuck Vaughn and I observed 3-5 Scaly-breasted Munias at the Ukiah
> Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. Previously, Chuck Vaughn had seen
> one bird over the winter so perhaps these birds stayed in the area. They
> were located along the south fence line as before. Will post photos to
> eBird.
>
> Nice mud showing in middle and North ponds so hopefully it will be a good
> spring for shorebirds at the plant. Avocets and Stilts already exhibiting
> some nest building behavior.
>
> George Gibbs
> Ukiah
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/26 3:15 pm From: Dave Bengston via groups.io <davebengston...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Royal Tern, Garcia River mouth
Good photo Tim!
Dave B
> On Mar 28, 2026, at 3:57 PM, Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> wrote:
>
> 28 March 2026 - In among a large flock (200+) of gulls at the mouth of the Garcia River, viewed from Lighthouse Point, we found and photographed a single Royal Tern. In the field it appeared to have a straighter and thicker bill than Elegant and a narrow black mask/nape, and this was confirmed by photos. There was an eBird report of one here yesterday but the description did not rule out Elegant, which is far more likely here.
>
> <ROTE crop3.JPG>
>
> The gull flock was interesting as well, still going through photos but there was one Heermann's Gull.
>
> Also nearby were three Brant and 31 Short-billed Dowitchers.
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Tim
> “I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the albatross.” Robert Cushman Murphy, 1912
> mendocinocoastaudubon.org
> kzyx.org/show/ecology-hour
> kzyx.org/show/oak-and-thorn
>
Date: 3/29/26 9:58 am From: George Gibbs via groups.io <ggibbs...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Scaly-breasted Munias at UWWTP
3/29/26
Chuck Vaughn and I observed 3-5 Scaly-breasted Munias at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning. Previously, Chuck Vaughn had seen one bird over the winter so perhaps these birds stayed in the area. They were located along the south fence line as before. Will post photos to eBird.
Nice mud showing in middle and North ponds so hopefully it will be a good spring for shorebirds at the plant. Avocets and Stilts already exhibiting some nest building behavior.
Date: 3/28/26 3:57 pm From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Royal Tern, Garcia River mouth
28 March 2026 - In among a large flock (200+) of gulls at the mouth of
the Garcia River, viewed from Lighthouse Point, we found and
photographed a single Royal Tern. In the field it appeared to have a
straighter and thicker bill than Elegant and a narrow black mask/nape,
and this was confirmed by photos. There was an eBird report of one here
yesterday but the description did not rule out Elegant, which is far
more likely here.
The gull flock was interesting as well, still going through photos but
there was one Heermann's Gull.
Also nearby were three Brant and 31 Short-billed Dowitchers.
--
Cheers,
Tim
“I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the
albatross.” Robert Cushman Murphy, 1912
mendocinocoastaudubon.org
kzyx.org/show/ecology-hour
kzyx.org/show/oak-and-thorn
Date: 3/28/26 8:08 am From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Weather looking good for April 4th pelagic trip
Greetings Mendobirders -
I just checked the forecast and it currently calls for light NW winds on the 4th over Noyo Canyon, so we are anticipating a great full-day pelagic trip to the canyon and beyond.
On March 18th we put out a slick out there and counted 135 Black-footed Albatrosses, some of them coming over from a boat fishing for black cod. Albatross numbers only build during April, as more and more breeding adults visit our waters to find food for their chicks in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. April and May are also the months when Short-tailed Albatrosses are most frequently seen out there, as well as Laysans and many other tubenose species.
We have also set up a sign-up button for the half-day trip on the 19th mentioned below. This trip was set up for a college class and there are only a few additional spaces so, if interested, I'd consider signing up soon. A half day allows us to spend 3-4 hours over Noyo Canyon and put out 1-2 slicks for tubenoses.
To sign up for these and additional trips, including one on April 26th and two in May, see
On 3/16/2026 8:17 AM, Peter Pyle wrote: > Yesterday on a whale-watching trip involving local tribes I got lucky > and photographed a Parakeet Auklet flying away from the boat. > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S309622949 > > Also when we reached our maximum distance from shore (only about 3 > miles) 9-10 Black-footed Albatrosses spotted our gull flock and came > pouring in from the west. Several followed us all the way to the > channel markers just outside the harbor. > > March-May are the peak months for albatrosses off our shores; we had > 600-1000 on one trip last April, and also saw three Short-tailed > Albatross and 6-8 Laysans during these months (not to mention a whole > bunch of Pterodroma petrels of four species). > > We have full-day trips coming up April 4th and 26th and May 9th and 30th: > https://noyopelagics.com/ > > Also we have just scheduled a half-day trip for April 19th leaving at > 7:30 am. Stay tuned on how to sign up for this. > > Finally, we have attempted this year to organize some back-to-back > trips along the NorCal coast, or with a day or two in between. > Unfortunately at this time there are no trips planned to Cordell Bank > since the Bodega Bay skipper sold his boat this winter. Hopefully > something will work out there soon. For now, we have some back-to-back > or even week-long opportunities for multiple trips from Sausalito, > Fort Bragg, and Eureka. I have listed these below (with sign-up > information below the dates); if you know of ABA folks or others > around the country that may be interested, please pass this along. > We've also set up a Google calendar for these at: > > https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/month/2026/10/1?cid=bG9nYW5rYWhsZWJpcmRAZ21haWwuY29t > > > Hope to see you up here for a trip, or two, or more! > > Good birding, Peter > > Northern California Pelagic Trip dates: > > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - April 4th (Saturday) > Sausalito - SF waters trip April 18th (Saturday) - currently full but > see below* > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - April 26th (Sunday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - May 2nd (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - May 9th (Saturday) - > Eureka RRAS - May 10th (Sunday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - May 30th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - June 13th (Saturday) > Sausalito Al's Adventures - Farallon Islands trips weekly June 13 - > August 8 > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - June 14th (Sunday) > Eureka RRAS - June 20th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - June 26th (Friday) > Eureka RRAS - July 18th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - July 20th (Monday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - July 25th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - August 3rd (Monday) > Eureka RRAS - August 15th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - August 29th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - August 30th (Sunday) > Eureka RRAS - September 5th (Saturday) > Sausalito Al's Adventures - SF trip September 13th (Sunday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - September 19th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - October 3rd (Saturday) > Eureka RRAS - October 10th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - October 17th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - October 24th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - November 1st (Sunday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - November 14th (Saturday) > Eureka RRAS - November 21st (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - December 5th (Saturday) > > *The 4/18 trip from Sausalito is full but there are still spaces left > on the back-up date (4/21). Contact Logan Kahle <logan...> if > interested in this back-up trip. > > Contacts and to sign up: > > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics): https://noyopelagics.com/ > Eureka Rob Fowler: contact Rob at <migratoriusfwlr...> > Eureka RROS: contact Sean McAllister at <whiteouters...> > Sausalito Al's Adventures: > https://www.alvarosadventures.com/pelagic-dates-2026.html > > Note also the many trips planned by Al's Adventures from Half Moon Bay > and further south.
Date: 3/16/26 8:29 am From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [Mendobirds] CORRECTION April 19th, not April 18th for thehalf day trip. Parakeet Auklet, albatrosses, upcoming trips
On 3/16/2026 8:17 AM, Peter Pyle via groups.io wrote: > Yesterday on a whale-watching trip involving local tribes I got lucky > and photographed a Parakeet Auklet flying away from the boat. > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S309622949 > > Also when we reached our maximum distance from shore (only about 3 > miles) 9-10 Black-footed Albatrosses spotted our gull flock and came > pouring in from the west. Several followed us all the way to the > channel markers just outside the harbor. > > March-May are the peak months for albatrosses off our shores; we had > 600-1000 on one trip last April, and also saw three Short-tailed > Albatross and 6-8 Laysans during these months (not to mention a whole > bunch of Pterodroma petrels of four species). > > We have full-day trips coming up April 4th and 26th and May 9th and 30th: > https://noyopelagics.com/ > > Also we have just scheduled a half-day trip for April *19th* leaving > at 7:30 am. Stay tuned on how to sign up for this. > > Finally, we have attempted this year to organize some back-to-back > trips along the NorCal coast, or with a day or two in between. > Unfortunately at this time there are no trips planned to Cordell Bank > since the Bodega Bay skipper sold his boat this winter. Hopefully > something will work out there soon. For now, we have some back-to-back > or even week-long opportunities for multiple trips from Sausalito, > Fort Bragg, and Eureka. I have listed these below (with sign-up > information below the dates); if you know of ABA folks or others > around the country that may be interested, please pass this along. > We've also set up a Google calendar for these at: > > https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/month/2026/10/1?cid=bG9nYW5rYWhsZWJpcmRAZ21haWwuY29t > > > Hope to see you up here for a trip, or two, or more! > > Good birding, Peter > > Northern California Pelagic Trip dates: > > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - April 4th (Saturday) > Sausalito - SF waters trip April 18th (Saturday) - currently full but > see below* > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - April 26th (Sunday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - May 2nd (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - May 9th (Saturday) - > Eureka RRAS - May 10th (Sunday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - May 30th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - June 13th (Saturday) > Sausalito Al's Adventures - Farallon Islands trips weekly June 13 - > August 8 > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - June 14th (Sunday) > Eureka RRAS - June 20th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - June 26th (Friday) > Eureka RRAS - July 18th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - July 20th (Monday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - July 25th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - August 3rd (Monday) > Eureka RRAS - August 15th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - August 29th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - August 30th (Sunday) > Eureka RRAS - September 5th (Saturday) > Sausalito Al's Adventures - SF trip September 13th (Sunday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - September 19th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - October 3rd (Saturday) > Eureka RRAS - October 10th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - October 17th (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - October 24th (Saturday) > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - November 1st (Sunday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - November 14th (Saturday) > Eureka RRAS - November 21st (Saturday) > Eureka Rob Fowler - December 5th (Saturday) > > *The 4/18 trip from Sausalito is full but there are still spaces left > on the back-up date (4/21). Contact Logan Kahle <logan...> if > interested in this back-up trip. > > Contacts and to sign up: > > Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics): https://noyopelagics.com/ > Eureka Rob Fowler: contact Rob at <migratoriusfwlr...> > Eureka RROS: contact Sean McAllister at <whiteouters...> > Sausalito Al's Adventures: > https://www.alvarosadventures.com/pelagic-dates-2026.html > > Note also the many trips planned by Al's Adventures from Half Moon Bay > and further south. > > > > >
Also when we reached our maximum distance from shore (only about 3 miles) 9-10 Black-footed Albatrosses spotted our gull flock and came pouring in from the west. Several followed us all the way to the channel markers just outside the harbor.
March-May are the peak months for albatrosses off our shores; we had 600-1000 on one trip last April, and also saw three Short-tailed Albatross and 6-8 Laysans during these months (not to mention a whole bunch of Pterodroma petrels of four species).
Also we have just scheduled a half-day trip for April 18th leaving at 7:30 am. Stay tuned on how to sign up for this.
Finally, we have attempted this year to organize some back-to-back trips along the NorCal coast, or with a day or two in between. Unfortunately at this time there are no trips planned to Cordell Bank since the Bodega Bay skipper sold his boat this winter. Hopefully something will work out there soon. For now, we have some back-to-back or even week-long opportunities for multiple trips from Sausalito, Fort Bragg, and Eureka. I have listed these below (with sign-up information below the dates); if you know of ABA folks or others around the country that may be interested, please pass this along. We've also set up a Google calendar for these at:
Hope to see you up here for a trip, or two, or more!
Good birding, Peter
Northern California Pelagic Trip dates:
Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - April 4th (Saturday) Sausalito - SF waters trip April 18th (Saturday) - currently full but see below* Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - April 26th (Sunday) Eureka Rob Fowler - May 2nd (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - May 9th (Saturday) - Eureka RRAS - May 10th (Sunday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - May 30th (Saturday) Eureka Rob Fowler - June 13th (Saturday) Sausalito Al's Adventures - Farallon Islands trips weekly June 13 - August 8 Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - June 14th (Sunday) Eureka RRAS - June 20th (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - June 26th (Friday) Eureka RRAS - July 18th (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - July 20th (Monday) Eureka Rob Fowler - July 25th (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - August 3rd (Monday) Eureka RRAS - August 15th (Saturday) Eureka Rob Fowler - August 29th (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - August 30th (Sunday) Eureka RRAS - September 5th (Saturday) Sausalito Al's Adventures - SF trip September 13th (Sunday) Eureka Rob Fowler - September 19th (Saturday) Eureka Rob Fowler - October 3rd (Saturday) Eureka RRAS - October 10th (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - October 17th (Saturday) Eureka Rob Fowler - October 24th (Saturday) Fort Bragg (Noyo Pelagics) - November 1st (Sunday) Eureka Rob Fowler - November 14th (Saturday) Eureka RRAS - November 21st (Saturday) Eureka Rob Fowler - December 5th (Saturday)
*The 4/18 trip from Sausalito is full but there are still spaces left on the back-up date (4/21). Contact Logan Kahle <logan...> if interested in this back-up trip.
