In reverse chronological order below are some observations of migrants,breeding activity, and other sightings I found notable in San Francisco in the last couple of days. --- This morning (4/16) on Corona Hill migrants/arrivals included:
Brown-headed Cowbirds (pair) American Goldfinch - solo fly-over, ridiculously uncommon in SF for last couple of years Black-headed Grosbeaks - (2, males) initially singing in the row of blue gum eucalyptus along Museum Way later moving down to the mixed oak/conifer/euke grove behind the Randall Museum.
A seemingly territorial Orange-crowned Warbler (singing since end of March, chasing other warblers) is still present on the hill as well.
Earlier starting pre-dawn I checked Mount Davidson for migrants and found very few but including:
Black-throated Gray Warblers (2 males) - were notable as first arrivals Spotted Towhees - two vocal pairs Bewick's Wrens - countersinging plus a third bird (these last two species only becoming regular here in recent couple of years) A couple of Hermit Thrushes linger on - today two were feeding above the "X" on invasive Cotoneaster and English Ivy berries. ---- Yesterday (4/15) I explored around Lake Merced/west side hoping for returning Bank Swallows which I did not encounter (but the've apparently showed up today, with 3 being seen at ocean beach near their colony site.) observations of note included:
NORTHERN PARULA - the wintering bird (2nd consecutive) was chasing around an Orange-crown on the golf course side of the wooden Bridge. This is some 500m from where it had been noted most often this winter but undoubtedly same bird. The real question is : is this the same bird that nested in East Oak Woodland/Golden Gate Park last summer?
Spotted Towhee - singing above fishing pier on sunset circle side of Wooden Bridge, expanding in SF
Blackbird nesting behavior - both Red-winged and Brewer's accompanied by Brown-headed Cowbirds in the tules and adjacent weedy upland below the 18th hole tee off just inside the Harding Park Golf Course entrance. Both blackbirds species are much reduced as nesters in SF in recent years and I suspect over-eagerness in weeding may be impacting them when carried out in early spring. The weedy upland where they are on the golf course is mainly a mix of california blackberry and wild radish.
Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow - first fledgling of 2024 was following a parent on the 2400 block of 29th Avenue in the Parkside/Outer Sunset neighborhood. ---- Interesting to me from the walking big day on 4/14 was the absence (or near absence) of species common just a few days earlier - 0 Fox Sparrows, 1 Hermit Thrush, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Pine Siskin.
----
Last week I visited Mount Davidson four consecutive mornings (4/9-4/12) looking for migrants in what have in the past proven to be ideal conditions. Migration was not much in evidence with only the following noted:
4/10 - Western (Pacific-slope) Flycatcher - first arrival singing
American Goldfinch - fly-over
4/11 - Savannah Sparrow
4/12 - Chipping Sparrow - first I've noted this spring - not singing but quickly moving through the chaparral on south side of hill, appeared to be actively migrating.
