Date: 4/25/24 4:37 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] SF Breeding Bird watch list etc
Inspired by feedback and interest shown by more than a few people on SFBirds I have put together a list of species to watch for as nesters in San Francisco. These are species that I've come to consider as rare/localized nesters, potential nesters and or former nesters that may return.
Please keep close tabs on any of these whenever you find them in appropriate habitat and report on eBird and here on the listserv:
Ruddy Duck - currently only known to nest regularly at Lake Merced but possible at better vegetated lakes/ponds like Mountain Lake, North Lake/GGP, others (?)
Western/Clark's Grebes - only nest at. Lake Merced, in varying numbers , watch out for potential hybrid pairings there
Band-tailed Pigeon - confirmed and or suspected of nesting in the mid-town region past 3-4 years, Mount Sutro, Mount Davidson, Forest Hill. Look for them also possibly nesting in the Presidio
White-throated Swifts - any news on breeding activity would be appreciated. in recent years confirmed from HWY 280 overpass/off ramp at mission creek, suspected (confirmed?) from new overpasses in Presidio as well as in vicinity of 101 and 280 split /potrero hill - Alemany - Bernal - Bayview
American Avocet/Black-necked Stilt - only known to nest at Heron's Head. Any documentation of juveniles at this or other sites reaching adult size /flight before predation would be highly appreciated.
Pigeon Guillemot - seems to be expanding, news of nesting inside of the Bay Bridge along
California Gull - no documented breeding on"mainland" SF that I'm aware of, only county records from Alcatraz. Be a hero, find the first breeding California Gulls in a bayside colony of Western Gulls (recology roof?, Yosemite Slough?)
Terns - any news on breeding of any tern species away from the inaccessible portion of Alameda Island would be of interest
Pelagic Cormorant - any evidence of nesting would be great
Double-crested Cormorant - any nesting away from Lake Merced
Black-crowned Night Heron - see California Gull, not known to breed away from Alcatraz. Possible among the Lake Merced Rookeries (?)
Northern Flicker - have nested in past decade in Presidio/Land's End/probably Olympic Club Golf course (edge of which is within SF) but may not do so every year, any sightings after April are of note
Red-masked Parakeet - as their numbers seem to continue steadily in the 200-300 range any nesting news will be of note. Especially any breeding west of twin peaks
Olive-sided Flycatcher - successfully breeding on Mount Sutro last year, any breeding news away from that site would be notable
Western Wood-pewee - breeding records from Mount Davidson within past decade and suspected on Bayview Hill. These are a late breeder/migrant but keep an eye on birds after mid-June
Western Flycatcher - still very localized in SF, breeding away from core areas in Glen Canyon and central/Eastern Presidio will be of interest
Hutton's Vireo - seems to have gotten scarce in recent years, any breeding away from Presidio/Golden Gate Park would be of note
Warbling Vireo - only one recent record from East Golden Gate Park of successfully breeding but like Wood-pewee should be looked for as a potential breeder
Violet-green Swallow - any confirmed breeding would be of note, seems to have expanded in recent years and now regularly present through breeding season on drier/isolated habitat hilltop parks like Mount Davidson, Corona Hill, Buena Vista Park, Lafayette Park
Wrentit - always notable away from Presidio Coastal Bluffs
House Wren - recent colonizer of SF, and notable wherever it may occur in the next couple of months as potential breeder
Bewick's Wren - much expanded in past few years, breeding away from core sites (McLaren, Bayview Hill, Glen Canyon, Mount Davidson, Presidio, Land's End, West GGP, Lake Merced)
Swainson's Thrush - recent years confirmed/highly probable on Mount Sutro/Davidson, would be great to get confirms in the Presidio/Land's End
Pine Siskin - appear to have nested sporadically on west side of City in GGP/Land's End , any breeding season reports are of interest
Savannah Sparrow - only the California Species of Special Concern Bryant's is known to nest in SF, any reports from known areas (Heron's Head, Yosemite Slough restoration, Candlestick) or new areas would be highly appreciated
Spotted Towhee - see Bewick's Wren
Red-winged/Brewer's Blackbird - both much declined in recent years as local breeders (possibly near 90%) any breeding news would be highly appreciated
Orange-crowned Warbler - has been sporadically confirmed in past two decades from Presidio Coastal Bluffs, Land's End, and suspected on Mounts Sutro/Davidson including again this spring, any breeding reports would be great
Common Yellowthroat - see Savannah Sparrow, any reports away from Lake Merced in breeding season would be very meaningful
Black-headed Grosbeak - one recent record on Mount Sutro, any breeding in SF very notable
Lazuli Bunting - confirmed a couple of times in past decade,
