Date: 4/14/26 8:27 am From: Don Hoechlin via groups.io <quixdimnd...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Palm Warbler
An adult male Palm Warbler was spotted on the back side of lake in the silk trees. Very active and being chased by YR Warbler. Carbon Canyon RP Seen with Steve and Jill.
Date: 4/11/26 10:00 pm From: Jeff Bray via groups.io <jbray3928...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] San Joaquin Marsh walk on Sunday - cancelled
Hello all,
For anyone that was planning to attend the monthly walk tomorrow morning, we're going to cancel it due to likely inclement weather. Models show rain in the area starting tomorrow morning.
Date: 4/11/26 8:54 am From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: April 11, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* April 11, 2026
* CAOC26.04.11
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
Long-tailed Duck
Common Loon
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
Plumbeous Vireo
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Pine Warbler
Of great surprise given that Lake Mission Viejo is normally *extremely*
ordinary in its bird life (like really), a LONG-TAILED DUCK has been
present at this inland lake since Wednesday, April 8 and continued this
morning.
Of no interest to anybody in Orange County except for me as a local patch
lister, a COMMON LOON was also on Lake Mission Viejo on April 10. Another
was at Laguna Niguel Regional Park in Laguna Niguel on April 5.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim,
the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, and Mason Regional Park in
Irvine.
Two immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
in Huntington Beach this week.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through April 8.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on April 10.
A BALD EAGLE continued scouring up and down the coast again this week.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO continued at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley
on April 9.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove on April 8
and 9.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River at
Burris Basin in Anaheim through April 5 and, much better as it’s NOT one of
the normal spots, at Quail Hill in Irvine on April 8.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER continued at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine on April 5.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach on
April 10.
A PINE WARBLER continued at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove through April 7.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 4/10/26 9:43 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Long-tailed Duck at Lake Mission Viejo
The duck has moved out of view to the NW.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
> On Apr 10, 2026, at 9:20 AM, Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> wrote:
>
> The duck is currently off the baby beach at the end of Tindaya. This part of the residential area is not gated.
> Edana Salisbury
> Buena Park
> Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
>
>
> --
> Edana Salisbury
> Buena Park
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/10/26 9:20 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Long-tailed Duck at Lake Mission Viejo
The duck is currently off the baby beach at the end of Tindaya. This part of the residential area is not gated.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
Date: 4/5/26 10:48 am From: Jacksnipe via groups.io <wahooking...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Common Loon Laguna Niguel Regional Park April 5th, 2026
Birders,
There was a beautiful alternate-plumaged Common Loon on the lake at LNRP, at about 9:30 this morning, Sunday 4/05/26. This is only the second record for the park, with the first reported in December 1998. Certainly, a good bird for anybody that keeps a list for the park. It seemed healthy and was actively diving. We saw the bird from the west side of the lake just out from the old fishing concession building/boat docks.
Date: 4/5/26 10:11 am From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Pine Warbler at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove
The warbler continues. It is singing I saw it under the pavilion, foraging on the ground. It flew, and we are looking for it.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
> On Apr 4, 2026, at 8:35 AM, Steve Neely <itssteev...> wrote:
>
> The Pine Warbler discovered by “Peaceful Puffin” continues this morning at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove. As reported by Uma Sachdeva, the bird seems to favor the area around the playground - I last saw it moving through several trees in the vicinity of 33.78046, -118.03825.
>
> Steve Neely
> Garden Grove
>
>
> --
> Steve Neely
> Garden Grove, CA
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/4/26 8:36 am From: Steve Neely via groups.io <itssteev...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Pine Warbler at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove
The Pine Warbler discovered by “Peaceful Puffin” continues this morning at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove. As reported by Uma Sachdeva, the bird seems to favor the area around the playground - I last saw it moving through several trees in the vicinity of 33.78046, -118.03825.
Date: 4/3/26 6:24 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: April 3, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* April 3, 2026
* CAOC26.04.03
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
*CRESTED CARACARA*
Plumbeous Vireo
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Pine Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim,
the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, and Tri-City Regional Park in
Placentia.
Two immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
in Huntington Beach this week.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through April 2.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 28.
A BALD EAGLE continued at Huntington Central Park West in Huntington Beach
on March 28.
A *CRESTED CARACARA* was reported flying over Eisenhower Park in Orange on
March 28.
PLUMBEOUS VIREOS were at Columbus Tustin Park in Tustin on March 31 and at
Gilman Park in Fullerton on April 1.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine on March 29.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER continued at Huntington Central Park in
Huntington Beach on April 1.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach on
March 29.
A PINE WARBLER was at Westgrove Park in Garden Grove on April 2.
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued at Irvine Regional Park in Orange
on March 28.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 4/2/26 10:37 am From: Steve Neely via groups.io <itssteev...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Anaheim Coves
At least three to five of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds discovered yesterday by Kiandra continue in the northeast portion of Anaheim Coves - observed this morning along the fence line between 33.83305, -117.86515 and 33.82932, -117.86669.
Steve Neely
Garden Grove
> On Apr 1, 2026, at 7:39 AM, Kiandra Mitchell via groups.io <Kiandrasm...> wrote:
>
> Three male Yellow-headed Blackbirds are cruising around the northeast end of Anaheim Coves. I last saw them while I stood here and looked west: (33.8304643, -117.8658282)
>
> Kiandra Mitchell
> Buena Park
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/1/26 7:39 am From: Kiandra Mitchell via groups.io <Kiandrasm...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Anaheim Coves
Three male Yellow-headed Blackbirds are cruising around the northeast end of Anaheim Coves. I last saw them while I stood here and looked west: (33.8304643, -117.8658282)
A friend found a Sandwich Tern/Elegant Tern hybrid at Huntington State Beach on Saturday, 28 Mar. Look for it in the group of Terns resting on the beach. There is black color at the base of the beak.
Date: 3/25/26 8:35 am From: David Ornellas via groups.io <davidornellas...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Black and white warbler HBCP east
Good morning all,
There is a black and white warbler on the south side of the island slough at 33.704630,18.002086 . Jill and I thought we had it last week but could not confirm. I have pics, will post later. Also, for those interested there is a snapping turtle at the same location. It looks to be headed back to the water right now.
--
David Ornellas,
Costa Mesa, CA
Date: 3/23/26 6:39 am From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: March 23, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* March 23, 2026
* CAOC26.03.23
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
Stilt Sandpiper
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
Dusky Flycatcher
Plumbeous Vireo
Brewer’s Sparrow
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
A STILT SANDPIPER continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington
Beach through March 19.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
through March 22, while more were reported at Mason Regional Park in Irvine
on the same day.
Two immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
in Huntington Beach through March 22.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through March 22.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 21.
A BALD EAGLE continued at Huntington Central Park West in Huntington Beach
on March 17.
A DUSKY FLYCATCHER was reportedly continuing at Veeh Ranch Park in Laguna
Hills through March 21.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was reported to continue at Riverdale Park in Anaheim
through March 16.
Two BREWER’S SPARROWS were at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on March 19,
while another was reported from Black Star Canyon on March 17.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER presumably continued at Huntington Central Park
in Huntington Beach on March 21.
An AMERICAN REDSTART was reported to continue at Huntington Central Park in
Huntington Beach on March 21.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continued at Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach on
March 15.
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued at Riverdale Park through March 19.
A female was in residential Laguna Beach on March 20.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 3/17/26 12:35 pm From: Tom Eastman via groups.io <ocean2trail...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Good afternoon,
Sorry about the late response, but I wanted to add a little something to
Linette's wonderful comments about rattlesnake safety, particularly item
number 6. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back off.
Rattlesnakes use their sense of smell to hunt and don't have very good
eyesight. If you encounter a snake stretched out across the trail, it is
likely to freeze and remain still. (Hoping you mistake it for a stick.) If
you can see the snake, it can see you, and you will likely have a very long
wait. If that happens, back up until you can no longer see the rattlesnake.
Count to 50 or 100 and when you go back, the snake will be gone. If it
doesn't work, try backing up again, or perhaps take a different route.
Unlike in movies and television shows, rattlesnakes don't chase you
and are likely
to be as afraid of you as you are of them. They may not rattle at all
unless they feel cornered without an escape route. Make sure you give them
one.
Do not throw a rock or hit the snake with a stick. If you succeed, you will
have an injured snake in the trail, and that's not good for either of you.
If the snake is merely playing dead, and someone tries to move the snake,
that's when they will get bitten.
See you on the trails,
*Tom Eastman*
<ocean2trail...>Laguna Hills
Please consider the environment before printing this message.
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 6:53 PM Linette Davenport via groups.io
<littlewing250...> wrote:
> Death from rattlesnake bites are very rare, and from the articles I have
> seen about the young mountain biker’s tragic death, he died a month after
> the snake bite, and the family is questioning that it was the rattlesnake
> bite that caused his death or if it was some fault of the hospital. That
> all said, here’s some advice for OC birders about rattlesnake safety.
>
>
>
> 1. If you’re going to go birding in rattlesnake habitat from March –
> October (maybe November if it stays very warm), i.e., out in scrubby or
> woody or high grassy areas as opposed to a manicured city park, wear long
> pants and hiking boots. At the very least, wear long pants and closed-toed
> shoes. Don’t wear shorts and sandals. The thicker the long pants, the
> better.
> 2. Stay on the trail. Rattlesnakes on the trail are easier to see than
> rattlesnakes that are off the trail. If you want to move, lower your binos
> down for a bit and look onto the trail and the edges of the trail when you
> are moving. Be aware of your surroundings. This is good advice for avoiding
> rattlesnakes as well as poison oak, star thistle, skunks, cacti, dangerous
> people, etc.
> 3. Don’t go off the trail. If you do go off the trail, pay extra
> attention to where you are putting your feet and hands. Go around bushes
> instead of through them. Look around the edges and bottoms of boulders as
> well as the top of them before you climb on them.
> 4. Because I am often off-trail for work, I wear snake gaiters. These
> give me more protection so I can move more freely without constantly
> looking for snakes. However, these can be very expensive. So stay on the
> trail.
> 5. Don’t pick up snakes. The vast majority of snake bites occur on the
> hands to the elbow of human males between the ages of 15-25.
> 6. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back off. Unlike many venomous
> snakes on the eastern half of the US, rattlesnakes are wonderful in that
> they give plenty of warning before they strike, and they usually back off
> if you also back off and give them the chance to retreat.
>
>
>
> If you do get bit:
>
> 7. Stay calm. The slower your heart rate, the slower the venom will
> move through your body.
> 8. Get to the hospital as soon as you can. In most cases, you have
> plenty of time to get to a hospital or have an ambulance take you to a
> hospital.
> 9. Don’t try to suck the venom out or make a tourniquet. If you have a
> long bandage or gauze, you can do a tight wrap around the bite, but mostly,
> just go to the hospital.
> 10. It used to be advised that you should identify the rattlesnake
> that bit you, which sometimes resulted in people killing snakes to bring to
> the doctor. There is now a universal anti-venom for rattlesnakes available,
> so this is not as necessary. If you can identify the snake or take a
> picture of it, that is good and helpful, but likely no longer necessary.
> 11. Let the doctors know if you have any allergies, especially to eggs
> or horses, as some anti-venoms may contain ingredients that are related to
> these.
> 12. Not all hospitals have anti-venom, and even those with anti-venom
> aren’t always the best at treating snake bites, unfortunately. I know
> someone who got bit by a Mojave green rattlesnake and promptly went to a
> local hospital, but since there was no swelling around his bite site, they
> sent him home without anti-venom. However, Mojave green rattlesnakes have
> neurotoxins, which do not cause swelling. After he had blurred vision and
> didn’t feel well for a few days, we advised my friend to go to Loma Linda
> hospital in San Bernardino County. They are the very best at treating snake
> bites, and they quickly gave him anti-venom and he immediately felt better.
> If you are getting less than adequate care at your hospital, I recommend
> you go to Loma Linda hospital if you can.
>
>
>
> Rattlesnakes are beautiful and amazing. Stay on the trail, be aware of
> where you’re stepping, and don’t be afraid,
>
>
>
> Linette Davenport
>
> Anchorage, AK, but also Barstow and Southern Cal
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> *On
> Behalf Of *Aaron Jones via groups.io
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 12, 2026 8:03 AM
> *To:* <OrangeCountyBirding...>
> *Subject:* [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
>
>
>
> Good morning,
>
>
>
> I came across this article reporting on a death of a biker who got bitten
> by a rattlesnake at Quail Hill.
>
>
>
> I thought to share it since it’s a popular spot, and whether it warrants
> any discussion on the risks of rattlesnakes in that area or further afield,
> and what to do and not do.
>
>
>
> The article states that he was bitten on the trailhead, rather than on the
> Loop (unless they’re part of the same?). It doesn’t go into details as to
> where on the body, whether there was delays in getting medical attention,
> whether he was particularly susceptible to more severe reactions, whether
> he was passing by the snake incidentally or provoked it.
>
>
>
> The article does provide basic advice on what to do if a bite occurs, but
> not what to look or listen out for (habitat, rattling, etc) to avoid
> encounters.
>
>
>
> However, since many of us do frequent the area and other areas populated
> by snakes, are any insights, experiences, advice, etc. on how to negotiate
> such situations?
>
>
>
>
> https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/orange-county-man-dies-venomous-rattlesnake-bite/ >
>
>
> There are many articles by different news sources, so an internet search
> will suffice to find them, and maybe there will be more details provided
> giving some background to the events surrounding the incident.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Aaron Jones,
> Santa Ana.
>
> "Nid wrth ei big y mae mesur cyffylog."
>
>
> --
> Linette Davenport
> Anchorage, AK
>
>
>
Date: 3/16/26 7:16 am From: Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Common Murre at Newport Pier
A common murre was also recently (friday March 13) washed up at Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point, captured and taken to Wetlands and Wildlife. It was heavily oiled, so there may be a slick impacting these birds. If found alive they should be grabbed with a towel, place in a box and transported to wetlands and wildlife care center in huntington beach: https://www.wwccoc.org/ They're they're happy to accept donations.
Thank you!
Dawn Garcia
Dana Point
Date: 3/13/26 6:53 pm From: Linette Davenport via groups.io <littlewing250...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Death from rattlesnake bites are very rare, and from the articles I have seen about the young mountain biker’s tragic death, he died a month after the snake bite, and the family is questioning that it was the rattlesnake bite that caused his death or if it was some fault of the hospital. That all said, here’s some advice for OC birders about rattlesnake safety.
1. If you’re going to go birding in rattlesnake habitat from March – October (maybe November if it stays very warm), i.e., out in scrubby or woody or high grassy areas as opposed to a manicured city park, wear long pants and hiking boots. At the very least, wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Don’t wear shorts and sandals. The thicker the long pants, the better.
2. Stay on the trail. Rattlesnakes on the trail are easier to see than rattlesnakes that are off the trail. If you want to move, lower your binos down for a bit and look onto the trail and the edges of the trail when you are moving. Be aware of your surroundings. This is good advice for avoiding rattlesnakes as well as poison oak, star thistle, skunks, cacti, dangerous people, etc.
3. Don’t go off the trail. If you do go off the trail, pay extra attention to where you are putting your feet and hands. Go around bushes instead of through them. Look around the edges and bottoms of boulders as well as the top of them before you climb on them.
4. Because I am often off-trail for work, I wear snake gaiters. These give me more protection so I can move more freely without constantly looking for snakes. However, these can be very expensive. So stay on the trail.
5. Don’t pick up snakes. The vast majority of snake bites occur on the hands to the elbow of human males between the ages of 15-25.
6. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, back off. Unlike many venomous snakes on the eastern half of the US, rattlesnakes are wonderful in that they give plenty of warning before they strike, and they usually back off if you also back off and give them the chance to retreat.
If you do get bit:
7. Stay calm. The slower your heart rate, the slower the venom will move through your body.
8. Get to the hospital as soon as you can. In most cases, you have plenty of time to get to a hospital or have an ambulance take you to a hospital.
9. Don’t try to suck the venom out or make a tourniquet. If you have a long bandage or gauze, you can do a tight wrap around the bite, but mostly, just go to the hospital.
10. It used to be advised that you should identify the rattlesnake that bit you, which sometimes resulted in people killing snakes to bring to the doctor. There is now a universal anti-venom for rattlesnakes available, so this is not as necessary. If you can identify the snake or take a picture of it, that is good and helpful, but likely no longer necessary.
11. Let the doctors know if you have any allergies, especially to eggs or horses, as some anti-venoms may contain ingredients that are related to these.
12. Not all hospitals have anti-venom, and even those with anti-venom aren’t always the best at treating snake bites, unfortunately. I know someone who got bit by a Mojave green rattlesnake and promptly went to a local hospital, but since there was no swelling around his bite site, they sent him home without anti-venom. However, Mojave green rattlesnakes have neurotoxins, which do not cause swelling. After he had blurred vision and didn’t feel well for a few days, we advised my friend to go to Loma Linda hospital in San Bernardino County. They are the very best at treating snake bites, and they quickly gave him anti-venom and he immediately felt better. If you are getting less than adequate care at your hospital, I recommend you go to Loma Linda hospital if you can.
Rattlesnakes are beautiful and amazing. Stay on the trail, be aware of where you’re stepping, and don’t be afraid,
Linette Davenport
Anchorage, AK, but also Barstow and Southern Cal
From: <OrangeCountyBirding...> <OrangeCountyBirding...> On Behalf Of Aaron Jones via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2026 8:03 AM
To: <OrangeCountyBirding...>
Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Good morning,
I came across this article reporting on a death of a biker who got bitten by a rattlesnake at Quail Hill.
I thought to share it since it’s a popular spot, and whether it warrants any discussion on the risks of rattlesnakes in that area or further afield, and what to do and not do.
The article states that he was bitten on the trailhead, rather than on the Loop (unless they’re part of the same?). It doesn’t go into details as to where on the body, whether there was delays in getting medical attention, whether he was particularly susceptible to more severe reactions, whether he was passing by the snake incidentally or provoked it.
The article does provide basic advice on what to do if a bite occurs, but not what to look or listen out for (habitat, rattling, etc) to avoid encounters.
However, since many of us do frequent the area and other areas populated by snakes, are any insights, experiences, advice, etc. on how to negotiate such situations?
There are many articles by different news sources, so an internet search will suffice to find them, and maybe there will be more details provided giving some background to the events surrounding the incident.
Date: 3/13/26 5:48 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: March 13, 2026
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF BRAY!!!!!
* California
* Orange County
* March 13, 2026
* CAOC26.03.13
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
American Oystercatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Bald Eagle
White-throated Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Virginia’s Warbler
Palm Warbler
An AMERICAN-TYPE OYSTERCATCHER was photographed again at Dana Point Harbor
in Dana Point on March 12.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued along the Upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim
through March 13.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
in Huntington Beach through March 13.
A TRICOLORED HERON continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach through March 13. Another continued in the lower Santa Ana
River on March 12.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 13.
A BALD EAGLE continued on the coast at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in
Huntington Beach on March 12.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continued in residential Rancho Santa Margarita on
March 10, while another continued at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on the
same date.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was reported from beautiful Bommer Canyon in Irvine
on March 10. Another was presumably continuing at Harriett Wieder Regional
Park in Huntington Beach on March 12.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH continued at Bartlett Park in Huntington Beach on
March 10.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER presumably continued at Huntington Central Park
in Huntington Beach on March 10.
A VIRGINIA’S WARBLER was reported from Bartlett Park in Huntington Beach on
March 11.
A PALM WARBLER was at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on March 10, while
another was in the picnic area of Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park on
March 12.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 3/12/26 3:42 pm From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Palm Warbler, Aliso and Wood Canyons
The bird continues at the park. I saw it almost immediately (in the general area of the coordinates shown by Ashley below) when I arrived as it hopped around on the ground, on the low wooden fence and then into some trees. I lost it when three birds flew out of the same tree at the same time in different directions. Shirley Reynolds arrived and was able to find it again in the northeast corner of the picnic area. It would disappear and then be seen again for a few seconds. The last time we saw it was approximately 3:13 PM at the corner of the parking lot where the low wooden fence that is the boundary between the picnic area and the parking lot meets the fence along Awama.
Edana Salisbury
Buena Park
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
> On Mar 12, 2026, at 12:42 PM, Ashley Hopkins via groups.io <hopkinsashleye...> wrote:
>
> 33.5516766, -117.7204377
Date: 3/12/26 2:15 pm From: Vincent Baker via groups.io <bakerv1996...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Tricolored Heron; Santa Ana River Mouth
Hi birders,
As of about 1:30 this afternoon, there’s been a tricolored heron hunting along the rock jetty by the pocket pond just south of the tern preserve. Hopefully it sticks around for others to see.
Date: 3/12/26 9:49 am From: Ellen Tipping via groups.io <ellen.tipping88...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill Loop
This is a PSA for anyone, like myself, who has gone to the Quail Hill loop in the past couple weeks and found it closed. It is reopened again this morning. The trail is clearer and wider, presumably the City’s attempt to mitigate for rattlesnakes. In any attempt, we can get in again.
Date: 3/12/26 9:03 am From: Aaron Jones via groups.io <atj0888...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Quail Hill rattlesnake death
Good morning,
I came across this article reporting on a death of a biker who got bitten by a rattlesnake at Quail Hill.
I thought to share it since it’s a popular spot, and whether it warrants any discussion on the risks of rattlesnakes in that area or further afield, and what to do and not do.
The article states that he was bitten on the trailhead, rather than on the Loop (unless they’re part of the same?). It doesn’t go into details as to where on the body, whether there was delays in getting medical attention, whether he was particularly susceptible to more severe reactions, whether he was passing by the snake incidentally or provoked it.
The article does provide basic advice on what to do if a bite occurs, but not what to look or listen out for (habitat, rattling, etc) to avoid encounters.
However, since many of us do frequent the area and other areas populated by snakes, are any insights, experiences, advice, etc. on how to negotiate such situations?
There are many articles by different news sources, so an internet search will suffice to find them, and maybe there will be more details provided giving some background to the events surrounding the incident.
