Date: 6/15/26 12:51 am From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts June 15 - 21
Greetings,
Amidst all the rarity excitement this past week, we still managed to plug quite a few bar chart gaps!
This coming week we have an opportunity to finish a whopping *7 hotspots*! Four (including the Saltworks) are in and around South Bay.
Additionally, we have by far the highest number this year of hotspots with 10 or fewer weeks needed, including the current week. So the "gap" hotspot list will be much shorter as a consequence.
It's quite a lot of ground to cover, but luckily the weather should be relatively mild!
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
*Hilltop Park (Chula Vista) - 1Otay Valley Regional Park--Fenton Pond Trail - 1Ramona Community Park - 1San Diego Bay NWR--SoCal Saltworks (restricted access) - 1San Elijo SB & Campground - 1Tijuana River Valley--west of Hollister - 1UCSD--Central - 1* Colina Del Sol Park - 2 Hilleary Park - 3 San Diego NWR--Bonita Meadows - 4 San Pasqual Battlefield - 4 Santa Ysabel Mission - 5 Shelter Valley--general area - 5 Sweetwater County Park--Quarry Trail - 6 Henshaw Scenic Vista - 8 La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 8 San Marcos Creek - 8 Carmel Mission Park - 9 Carmel Valley Community Park - 9 Sunset Park (San Marcos) - 10
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Salt Creek Park & Creekside Lake Cleveland NF--Boulder Oaks Campground Poggi Creek greenbelt & residential Lemon Grove Park Rambla De Las Flores--Richardson Field to RSF Field (restricted access) Nexus Center Dr. tipus Alga Norte Community Park Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Coyote Canyon Borrego Springs--The Palms at Indian Head Hotel Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Hellhole Canyon
Cheers,
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Date: 6/14/26 10:36 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Common Nighthawk was a no show tonight
Hi,
I went back out to hopefully see and hear the Common Nighthawk again this evening. Several people were there. We waited until 8:45 p.m. (others may have stayed a bit longer), and finally gave up. The two Lesser Nighthawks were there again, and at least one was quite vocal.
Lisa Ruby Sabre Springs
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Date: 6/14/26 4:34 pm From: Gjon Hazard via groups.io <gjon_hazard...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Common Nighthawk(s) update on what's going on
I had some things to do today, so I didn’t get to finalizing my eBird checklist from last night’s nighthawk fest until the afternoon. This allowed me to incorporate into it some of my observations that respond to Paul’s questions/musings.
On Jun 14, 2026, at 1:23 PM, <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> wrote:
I was not at the nighthawk show yesterday evening, so I am hearing a bit of news all a bit second-hand. The timing of the appearance of the calling, displaying male, and how long it lasted, all sounds very, very similar to the previous evening's show, varying by perhaps less than five minutes start to finish. I also heard that a few folks think the Common MAY have been diving on a Lesser Nighthawk, but I am not sure how solid that is. I gather there was also a calling Lesser there as well for sure, but don't know if a Lesser was definitely actually seen or not. But the previous evening there were multiple (pair?) of Lessers present.
There is a possible subtle-but-important twist to what's going on. And that is: Is the male Common even roosting the day in the general area where the show is taking place? Or is it coming from much farther off, first appearing hundreds of yards away to the south/west over the path heading back a ways toward the cars, and then moves to the "usual" area, where it displays and calls for over 20 minutes. But displaying to whom?????
Going back to the first evening discovery by Andrew N., he of course clearly had two birds flying around together. One the calling, displaying male Common, The second bird he seems to have photo'd as well, but more poorly in poorer light, and his so-so photos do appear to show a Common based on wing-patch location and wing shape, and a less-bright throat--suggesting indeed a female. But is there any chance it's the the same male farther away and in poorer light and so the throat color is misleading??
So, the $50,000 question clearly should be: Is there absolutely, positively, definitively a female Common present, or is this a bachelor, love-struck, screwed-up, male Common who is displaying to Lesser Nighthawks, which are certainly also present. We may all have our impressions of what we glimpsed/saw/heard, and our "thoughts" or our "gut" tells us it's Scenario X, but this is such a significant record that what is needed is absolute, definite, clear evidence that we truly have an extant PAIR of Common Nighthawks and not just a crazy bachelor male.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/14/26 1:23 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Common Nighthawk(s) update on what's going on
I was not at the nighthawk show yesterday evening, so I am hearing a bit of news all a bit second-hand. The timing of the appearance of the calling, displaying male, and how long it lasted, all sounds very, very similar to the previous evening's show, varying by perhaps less than five minutes start to finish. I also heard that a few folks think the Common MAY have been diving on a Lesser Nighthawk, but I am not sure how solid that is. I gather there was also a calling Lesser there as well for sure, but don't know if a Lesser was definitely actually seen or not. But the previous evening there were multiple (pair?) of Lessers present.
There is a possible subtle-but-important twist to what's going on. And that is: Is the male Common even roosting the day in the general area where the show is taking place? Or is it coming from much farther off, first appearing hundreds of yards away to the south/west over the path heading back a ways toward the cars, and then moves to the "usual" area, where it displays and calls for over 20 minutes. But displaying to whom?????
Going back to the first evening discovery by Andrew N., he of course clearly had two birds flying around together. One the calling, displaying male Common, The second bird he seems to have photo'd as well, but more poorly in poorer light, and his so-so photos do appear to show a Common based on wing-patch location and wing shape, and a less-bright throat--suggesting indeed a female. But is there any chance it's the the same male farther away and in poorer light and so the throat color is misleading??
So, the $50,000 question clearly should be: Is there absolutely, positively, definitively a female Common present, or is this a bachelor, love-struck, screwed-up, male Common who is displaying to Lesser Nighthawks, which are certainly also present. We may all have our impressions of what we glimpsed/saw/heard, and our "thoughts" or our "gut" tells us it's Scenario X, but this is such a significant record that what is needed is absolute, definite, clear evidence that we truly have an extant PAIR of Common Nighthawks and not just a crazy bachelor male.
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/14/26 10:16 am From: Susan Smith via groups.io <seiurus...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
I knew that birder who was killed. Iris McKenna. She was an experienced Sierra Club hiker and birder. We had talked about mountain lions less than a year before she was attacked. She said she knew all the things you are supposed to do to ward off an attack, but wryly added that she'd probably forget it all and run. The ranger who founder her said that was probably what she did. Yes go out in a group SueSent from my Galaxy -------- Original message --------From: "Paula Theobald via groups.io" <paulatheo...> Date: 6/14/26 8:17 AM (GMT-08:00) To: SanDiegoRegionBirding Email <sandiegoregionbirding...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible mountain lion scat on the trail. You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make noise, fight back if it attacks. Be safe!Paula
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Date: 6/14/26 10:06 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
Appreciate the safety comments, looks like there is a group that will be out there this evening, so no more replies that include the entire group, please. Any additional comments, questions or whatever please direct to me only.
John Bruin
Bay Park
> On Jun 14, 2026, at 9:49 AM, Paula Theobald <paulatheo...> wrote:
>
> Yes! I fell within sight of the car in daylight on Friday because I was in a hurry.
>
> Also, there are vault toilets about a mile south of parking area for the CONI on Sunrise Hwy. There is a gate but you should easily be able to get to the toilets even if the gate is closed. A bicyclist in Orange County was killed by a lion in early 2000 as he was crouched by his bike repairing a tire. Visit a toilet before you hike back.
>
> A healthy fear of lions is good thing but an attack is still extremely rare! You are probably more likely to die in a car wreck on the way up there. Safe travels!
>
> Paula
>
>> On Jun 14, 2026, at 9:01 AM, Andrew Newmark <floodshark...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Also, although it's a pretty easy going trail, it is littered with both jutting rocks and loose ones, as well as various critter holes, so watch your footing on your way in and out, especially in the dark.
>>
>> On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 8:41 AM Joseph Alsadi via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <Jsalsadi...> <mailto:<gmail.com...>> wrote:
>>> I’ll be going this evening and plan on arriving around 6-6:30pm
>>>
>>> Joe
>>> 602-291-9691
>>>
>>>
>>> > On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:38 AM, John Bruin via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <johnrbruin...> <mailto:<gmail.com...>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > So along the line of safety I do plan to be there tonight, Sunday. Since this is the 3rd or 4th night and many people have already been there is there anyone else planning to go?
>>> >
>>> > Thanks in advance.
>>> > John Bruin
>>> > Bay park
>>> >> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:17 AM, Paula Theobald via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <paulatheo...> <mailto:<icloud.com...>> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible mountain lion scat on the trail.
>>> >>
>>> >> You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make noise, fight back if it attacks.
>>> >>
>>> >> Be safe!
>>> >> Paula
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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Date: 6/14/26 9:10 am From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
Good to have a flashlight or headlamp for the way out. And if you tend to get cold as the temperature drops, take a light jacket. It was windy two evenings ago.
-------- Original Message -------- On Sunday, 06/14/26 at 09:01 Andrew N via groups.io <floodshark...> wrote:
> Also, although it's a pretty easy going trail, it is littered with both jutting rocks and loose ones, as well as various critter holes, so watch your footing on your way in and out, especially in the dark. > > On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 8:41 AM Joseph Alsadi via groups.io <Jsalsadi...> wrote: > >> I’ll be going this evening and plan on arriving around 6-6:30pm >> >> Joe >> 602-291-9691 >> >>> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:38 AM, John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> wrote: >>> >>> So along the line of safety I do plan to be there tonight, Sunday. Since this is the 3rd or 4th night and many people have already been there is there anyone else planning to go? >>> >>> Thanks in advance. >>> John Bruin >>> Bay park >>>> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:17 AM, Paula Theobald via groups.io <paulatheo...> wrote: >>>> >>>> In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible mountain lion scat on the trail. >>>> >>>> You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make noise, fight back if it attacks. >>>> >>>> Be safe! >>>> Paula >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> > >
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Date: 6/14/26 9:01 am From: Andrew N via groups.io <floodshark...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
Also, although it's a pretty easy going trail, it is littered with both
jutting rocks and loose ones, as well as various critter holes, so watch
your footing on your way in and out, especially in the dark.
On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 8:41 AM Joseph Alsadi via groups.io <Jsalsadi=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I’ll be going this evening and plan on arriving around 6-6:30pm
>
> Joe
> 602-291-9691
>
>
> > On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:38 AM, John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
> >
> > So along the line of safety I do plan to be there tonight, Sunday.
> Since this is the 3rd or 4th night and many people have already been there
> is there anyone else planning to go?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> > John Bruin
> > Bay park
> >> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:17 AM, Paula Theobald via groups.io <paulatheo=
> <icloud.com...> wrote:
> >>
> >> In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park
> while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from
> the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible
> mountain lion scat on the trail.
> >>
> >> You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by
> yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably
> watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make
> noise, fight back if it attacks.
> >>
> >> Be safe!
> >> Paula
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/14/26 8:42 am From: Joseph Alsadi via groups.io <Jsalsadi...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
I’ll be going this evening and plan on arriving around 6-6:30pm
Joe
602-291-9691
> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:38 AM, John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> wrote:
>
> So along the line of safety I do plan to be there tonight, Sunday. Since this is the 3rd or 4th night and many people have already been there is there anyone else planning to go?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> John Bruin
> Bay park
>> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:17 AM, Paula Theobald via groups.io <paulatheo...> wrote:
>>
>> In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible mountain lion scat on the trail.
>>
>> You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make noise, fight back if it attacks.
>>
>> Be safe!
>> Paula
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/14/26 8:38 am From: John Bruin via groups.io <johnrbruin...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
So along the line of safety I do plan to be there tonight, Sunday. Since this is the 3rd or 4th night and many people have already been there is there anyone else planning to go?
Thanks in advance.
John Bruin
Bay park
> On Jun 14, 2026, at 8:17 AM, Paula Theobald via groups.io <paulatheo...> wrote:
>
> In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible mountain lion scat on the trail.
>
> You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make noise, fight back if it attacks.
>
> Be safe!
> Paula
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/14/26 8:18 am From: Paula Theobald via groups.io <paulatheo...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Safety when looking for Common Nighthawk
In 1994, a birder was killed by a mountain lion in Cuyamaca State Park while hiking alone on Stonewall Peak, probably not more than 2 miles from the CONI spot. One of our party on Friday thought there was possible mountain lion scat on the trail.
You shouldn’t go alone or even hike to the spot alone in or out by yourself, especially when it’s dark. The lions are there and probably watching. Don’t run from a mountain lion, make yourself look bigger, make noise, fight back if it attacks.
Be safe!
Paula
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Date: 6/13/26 2:55 pm From: terry hurst via groups.io <thurstycat61...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the nighthawk saga (so far)--and future careful documentation
Good luck Lindsey and all!!!!!!!!!!
Ter-
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:35 PM, lindsay willrick via groups.io <Lwillrick...> wrote:
#yiv9459565353 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Hello friends,This is a great segue to introduce the Nightjar Survey Network, a volunteer annual survey that some colleagues and I have been conducting for the past several years. Shout out to Shawn C. for introducing me to this survey!If you’d like to learn more, please visit: nightjars.orgThanks to everyone who’s been out documenting this species—I’ll be including these observations as an honorable mention in my survey results. My designated survey location (CA043) covers the 10-mile stretch of Sunrise Highway, from the Pioneer Mail Picnic Site to roughly two miles past Agua Dulce.I’ll be conducting the survey again this summer, and I’ll be sure to share updates here if any notable species turn up. (I will share my point count locations on ebird this year, if results are positive for any species)I’m heading out tonight to try for CONI with a small group—wish us luck!Lindsay Willrick(619) 971-7801From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...>
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2026 9:51 AM
To: <lehman.paul...> <lehman.paul...>
Cc: <sandiegoregionbirding...> <sandiegoregionbirding...>
Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the nighthawk saga (so far)--and future careful documentation Thanks, Paul. I would add two points:
First, There isn’t any reason or need to leave the trail to see these birds. Obviously folks arriving too early will get impatient, but I think arriving on site by 730pm (it’s maybe 25 min to the site from parking) is the most efficient approach. The first Lesser Nighthawk(s) were out about 755pm and could be heard purring while on the ground. If any nighthawks do nest in this area it would be best not to disturb them by going off trail. The male Common Nighthawk’s fidelity to this site and displaying two nights in a row sure gives us hope. Second: are there more elsewhere?! Is this part of something larger? Any crepuscular/nocturnal effort would be greatly appreciated for the California Bird Atlas at this and any other trails/trailheads/pullouts throughout San Diego’s various mountains. (I sure wish I’d had the energy to make a stop or two on the way home but 4am was a long time ago that morning.)
A great experience last night. A great find by Andrew and all the more reason to get out and bird outside the box of the usually birding haunts. Curious to see what the rest of June and July brings as post-breeding dispersal brings all sorts of additional possibilities.
Justyn Stahl
North Park
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 8:47 AM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> wrote:
The Common Nighthawk situation northeast of Lake Cuyamaca is so unprecedented locally/regionally, that a few thoughts seem worth sharing. Late on 11 June when Andrew Newmark serendipitiously (a real word?) discovered the birds, he only had a macro lens along but managed a great photo of a calling, displaying male, and a second bird with it which appears to indeed be a second Common Nighthawk and presumably a female. He happened to flush one bird and that may have gotten the male up and calling/displaying, at already around 6:15+ PM-- but it was an overcast evening with already low light. Yesterday, the 12th, the assembled masses in the evening started assembling even earlier than that, but it was sunny, and we thought that because of the brighter conditions that we would have to wait longer, but we were not prepared to have to wait until we were all well into a depressed, frantic mode after 8 PM.....
Previous records of Common Nighthawk in (true) Southern California are mostly of strictly casual migrants except for the small breeding population hanging on in the San Bernardino Mountains and a few other possible breeding-season reports in the San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains. This site in the San Diego mountains would be at quite a bit lower elevation and is open chaparral near grassland--much more appropriate for LESSER Nighthawk--which see below!
Initial sightings of at least one nighthawk last evening as the light grew dim were of a bird that largely stayed low, skimming the tops of the vegetation, and which all photos obtained showed a male LESSER Nighthawk.This male Lesser was largely silent--as is typical of Lesser--but a few folks did hear a Lesser call a few times in the area. However, a number of folks believed they also briefly saw a bird that may have been a Common also flying low at about the same time, the ID on the basis of their impression of the position of the white wing-patch. It was not until finally 8:14PM that clearly a calling, sometimes displaying Common Nighthawk finally appeared for a very extended period of time, higher up in the sky--as is typical of the species--but also including multiple display dives down close to the ground. And as is typical of Common, once it started calling, it called repeatedly for long periods, NOT just once. Hopefully, if the bird remains, it will start calling and flying around a bit earlier in the evening than it did yesterday!
Most of us do not believe that more than one individual Common Nighthawk--the male--was definitively seen last evening, but it is certainly possible there might have been two birds. And there was certainly one male Lesser Nighthawk, but whether a second Lesser was there is also uncertain.
So what will happen with these birds now?? Well, that's anyone's guess. Will there actually be a truly unprecedented nesting attempt by a pair of Common Nighthawks at a very atypical sort of site? Or will they discover the semi-folly of their ways and move on soon? What sort of interactions may be going on between the Common(s) and the Lesser(s)?? These sorts of questions need to be addressed with CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION of future encounters. Nighthawks observed at this site need to be CAREFULLY IDENTIFIED TO SPECIES, AND TO SEX (plumage-wise probably best by throat color).
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Hello friends,
This is a great segue to introduce the Nightjar Survey Network, a volunteer annual survey that some colleagues and I have been conducting for the past several years. Shout out to Shawn C. for introducing me to this survey!
If you’d like to learn more, please visit: nightjars.org
Thanks to everyone who’s been out documenting this species—I’ll be including these observations as an honorable mention in my survey results. My designated survey location (CA043) covers the 10-mile stretch of Sunrise Highway, from the Pioneer Mail Picnic Site to roughly two miles past Agua Dulce.
I’ll be conducting the survey again this summer, and I’ll be sure to share updates here if any notable species turn up. (I will share my point count locations on ebird this year, if results are positive for any species)
I’m heading out tonight to try for CONI with a small group—wish us luck!
Lindsay Willrick
(619) 971-7801
________________________________
From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...>
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2026 9:51 AM
To: <lehman.paul...> <lehman.paul...>
Cc: <sandiegoregionbirding...> <sandiegoregionbirding...>
Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the nighthawk saga (so far)--and future careful documentation
Thanks, Paul. I would add two points:
First, There isn’t any reason or need to leave the trail to see these birds. Obviously folks arriving too early will get impatient, but I think arriving on site by 730pm (it’s maybe 25 min to the site from parking) is the most efficient approach. The first Lesser Nighthawk(s) were out about 755pm and could be heard purring while on the ground. If any nighthawks do nest in this area it would be best not to disturb them by going off trail. The male Common Nighthawk’s fidelity to this site and displaying two nights in a row sure gives us hope.
Second: are there more elsewhere?! Is this part of something larger? Any crepuscular/nocturnal effort would be greatly appreciated for the California Bird Atlas at this and any other trails/trailheads/pullouts throughout San Diego’s various mountains. (I sure wish I’d had the energy to make a stop or two on the way home but 4am was a long time ago that morning.)
A great experience last night. A great find by Andrew and all the more reason to get out and bird outside the box of the usually birding haunts. Curious to see what the rest of June and July brings as post-breeding dispersal brings all sorts of additional possibilities.
Justyn Stahl
North Park
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 8:47 AM <lehman.paul...><mailto:<lehman.paul...> via groups.io<http://groups.io/> <lehman.paul...><mailto:<verizon.net...>> wrote:
The Common Nighthawk situation northeast of Lake Cuyamaca is so unprecedented locally/regionally, that a few thoughts seem worth sharing. Late on 11 June when Andrew Newmark serendipitiously (a real word?) discovered the birds, he only had a macro lens along but managed a great photo of a calling, displaying male, and a second bird with it which appears to indeed be a second Common Nighthawk and presumably a female. He happened to flush one bird and that may have gotten the male up and calling/displaying, at already around 6:15+ PM-- but it was an overcast evening with already low light. Yesterday, the 12th, the assembled masses in the evening started assembling even earlier than that, but it was sunny, and we thought that because of the brighter conditions that we would have to wait longer, but we were not prepared to have to wait until we were all well into a depressed, frantic mode after 8 PM.....
Previous records of Common Nighthawk in (true) Southern California are mostly of strictly casual migrants except for the small breeding population hanging on in the San Bernardino Mountains and a few other possible breeding-season reports in the San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains. This site in the San Diego mountains would be at quite a bit lower elevation and is open chaparral near grassland--much more appropriate for LESSER Nighthawk--which see below!
Initial sightings of at least one nighthawk last evening as the light grew dim were of a bird that largely stayed low, skimming the tops of the vegetation, and which all photos obtained showed a male LESSER Nighthawk. This male Lesser was largely silent--as is typical of Lesser--but a few folks did hear a Lesser call a few times in the area. However, a number of folks believed they also briefly saw a bird that may have been a Common also flying low at about the same time, the ID on the basis of their impression of the position of the white wing-patch. It was not until finally 8:14PM that clearly a calling, sometimes displaying Common Nighthawk finally appeared for a very extended period of time, higher up in the sky--as is typical of the species--but also including multiple display dives down close to the ground. And as is typical of Common, once it started calling, it called repeatedly for long periods, NOT just once. Hopefully, if the bird remains, it will start calling and flying around a bit earlier in the evening than it did yesterday!
Most of us do not believe that more than one individual Common Nighthawk--the male--was definitively seen last evening, but it is certainly possible there might have been two birds. And there was certainly one male Lesser Nighthawk, but whether a second Lesser was there is also uncertain.
So what will happen with these birds now?? Well, that's anyone's guess. Will there actually be a truly unprecedented nesting attempt by a pair of Common Nighthawks at a very atypical sort of site? Or will they discover the semi-folly of their ways and move on soon? What sort of interactions may be going on between the Common(s) and the Lesser(s)?? These sorts of questions need to be addressed with CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION of future encounters. Nighthawks observed at this site need to be CAREFULLY IDENTIFIED TO SPECIES, AND TO SEX (plumage-wise probably best by throat color).
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/13/26 10:03 am From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the nighthawk saga (so far)--and future careful documentation
To add to Paul's information, I am pretty sure there were two Common Nighthawks. I believe, but don't know for certain, that the four of us who started walking back towards the cars first ( me, Terry Hurst , and the Theobolds) were the first to hear them, and they may not yet have taken flight when they first started calling. When we first heard them we all thought the sounds seemed to be coming from low in the brush and didn't seem to be moving much. They stopped calling for a few to several seconds, then started again and shortly after the calling restarted they both flew low right by us (we saw both at the same time, they were together at that point) still calling before everyone started seeing at least one overhead. Many of us heard at least one boom sound of a diving male. The only field mark for Common that I was able to pick out as they flew by us were the sharp tips of the wings. Not sure if anyone else saw more than that. My first recording attempt was at 8:14, just as they stopped calling briefly.
-------- Original Message -------- On Saturday, 06/13/26 at 08:47 <lehman.paul...> via groups.io [<lehman.paul...>](mailto:<lehman.paul...>) wrote:
> The Common Nighthawk situation northeast of Lake Cuyamaca is so unprecedented locally/regionally, that a few thoughts seem worth sharing. Late on 11 June when Andrew Newmark serendipitiously (a real word?) discovered the birds, he only had a macro lens along but managed a great photo of a calling, displaying male, and a second bird with it which appears to indeed be a second Common Nighthawk and presumably a female. He happened to flush one bird and that may have gotten the male up and calling/displaying, at already around 6:15+ PM-- but it was an overcast evening with already low light. Yesterday, the 12th, the assembled masses in the evening started assembling even earlier than that, but it was sunny, and we thought that because of the brighter conditions that we would have to wait longer, but we were not prepared to have to wait until we were all well into a depressed, frantic mode after 8 PM..... > > Previous records of Common Nighthawk in (true) Southern California are mostly of strictly casual migrants except for the small breeding population hanging on in the San Bernardino Mountains and a few other possible breeding-season reports in the San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains. This site in the San Diego mountains would be at quite a bit lower elevation and is open chaparral near grassland--much more appropriate for LESSER Nighthawk--which see below! > > Initial sightings of at least one nighthawk last evening as the light grew dim were of a bird that largely stayed low, skimming the tops of the vegetation, and which all photos obtained showed a male LESSER Nighthawk. This male Lesser was largely silent--as is typical of Lesser--but a few folks did hear a Lesser call a few times in the area. However, a number of folks believed they also briefly saw a bird that may have been a Common also flying low at about the same time, the ID on the basis of their impression of the position of the white wing-patch. It was not until finally 8:14PM that clearly a calling, sometimes displaying Common Nighthawk finally appeared for a very extended period of time, higher up in the sky--as is typical of the species--but also including multiple display dives down close to the ground. And as is typical of Common, once it started calling, it called repeatedly for long periods, NOT just once. Hopefully, if the bird remains, it will start calling and flying around a bit earlier in the evening than it did yesterday! > > Most of us do not believe that more than one individual Common Nighthawk--the male--was definitively seen last evening, but it is certainly possible there might have been two birds. And there was certainly one male Lesser Nighthawk, but whether a second Lesser was there is also uncertain. > > So what will happen with these birds now?? Well, that's anyone's guess. Will there actually be a truly unprecedented nesting attempt by a pair of Common Nighthawks at a very atypical sort of site? Or will they discover the semi-folly of their ways and move on soon? What sort of interactions may be going on between the Common(s) and the Lesser(s)?? These sorts of questions need to be addressed with CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION of future encounters. Nighthawks observed at this site need to be CAREFULLY IDENTIFIED TO SPECIES, AND TO SEX (plumage-wise probably best by throat color). > > --Paul Lehman, San Diego > >
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Date: 6/13/26 9:51 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the nighthawk saga (so far)--and future careful documentation
Thanks, Paul. I would add two points:
First, There isn’t any reason or need to leave the trail to see these
birds. Obviously folks arriving too early will get impatient, but I think
arriving on site by 730pm (it’s maybe 25 min to the site from parking) is
the most efficient approach. The first Lesser Nighthawk(s) were out about
755pm and could be heard purring while on the ground. If any nighthawks do
nest in this area it would be best not to disturb them by going off trail.
The male Common Nighthawk’s fidelity to this site and displaying two nights
in a row sure gives us hope.
Second: are there more elsewhere?! Is this part of something larger? Any
crepuscular/nocturnal effort would be greatly appreciated for the
California Bird Atlas at this and any other trails/trailheads/pullouts
throughout San Diego’s various mountains. (I sure wish I’d had the energy
to make a stop or two on the way home but 4am was a long time ago that
morning.)
A great experience last night. A great find by Andrew and all the more
reason to get out and bird outside the box of the usually birding haunts.
Curious to see what the rest of June and July brings as post-breeding
dispersal brings all sorts of additional possibilities.
Justyn Stahl
North Park
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 8:47 AM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
> The Common Nighthawk situation northeast of Lake Cuyamaca is so
> unprecedented locally/regionally, that a few thoughts seem worth sharing.
> Late on 11 June when Andrew Newmark serendipitiously (a real word?)
> discovered the birds, he only had a macro lens along but managed a great
> photo of a calling, displaying male, and a second bird with it which
> appears to indeed be a second Common Nighthawk and presumably a female. He
> happened to flush one bird and that may have gotten the male up and
> calling/displaying, at already around 6:15+ PM-- but it was an overcast
> evening with already low light. Yesterday, the 12th, the assembled masses
> in the evening started assembling even earlier than that, but it was sunny,
> and we thought that because of the brighter conditions that we would have
> to wait longer, but we were not prepared to have to wait until we were all
> well into a depressed, frantic mode after 8 PM.....
>
>
> Previous records of Common Nighthawk in (true) Southern California are
> mostly of strictly casual migrants except for the small breeding population
> hanging on in the San Bernardino Mountains and a few other possible
> breeding-season reports in the San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains. This
> site in the San Diego mountains would be at quite a bit lower elevation and
> is open chaparral near grassland--much more appropriate for LESSER
> Nighthawk--which see below!
>
>
> Initial sightings of at least one nighthawk last evening as the light grew
> dim were of a bird that largely stayed low, skimming the tops of the
> vegetation, and which all photos obtained showed a male LESSER Nighthawk. This
> male Lesser was largely silent--as is typical of Lesser--but a few folks
> did hear a Lesser call a few times in the area. However, a number of
> folks believed they also briefly saw a bird that may have been a Common
> also flying low at about the same time, the ID on the basis of their
> impression of the position of the white wing-patch. It was not until
> finally 8:14PM that clearly a calling, sometimes displaying Common
> Nighthawk finally appeared for a very extended period of time, higher up in
> the sky--as is typical of the species--but also including multiple display
> dives down close to the ground. And as is typical of Common, once it
> started calling, it called repeatedly for long periods, NOT just once.
> Hopefully, if the bird remains, it will start calling and flying around a
> bit earlier in the evening than it did yesterday!
>
>
> Most of us do not believe that more than one individual Common
> Nighthawk--the male--was definitively seen last evening, but it is
> certainly possible there might have been two birds. And there was certainly
> one male Lesser Nighthawk, but whether a second Lesser was there is also
> uncertain.
>
>
> So what will happen with these birds now?? Well, that's anyone's guess.
> Will there actually be a truly unprecedented nesting attempt by a pair of
> Common Nighthawks at a very atypical sort of site? Or will they discover
> the semi-folly of their ways and move on soon? What sort of interactions
> may be going on between the Common(s) and the Lesser(s)?? These sorts of
> questions need to be addressed with CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION of future
> encounters. Nighthawks observed at this site need to be CAREFULLY
> IDENTIFIED TO SPECIES, AND TO SEX (plumage-wise probably best by throat
> color).
>
>
> --Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/13/26 8:47 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] the nighthawk saga (so far)--and future careful documentation
The Common Nighthawk situation northeast of Lake Cuyamaca is so unprecedented locally/regionally, that a few thoughts seem worth sharing. Late on 11 June when Andrew Newmark serendipitiously (a real word?) discovered the birds, he only had a macro lens along but managed a great photo of a calling, displaying male, and a second bird with it which appears to indeed be a second Common Nighthawk and presumably a female. He happened to flush one bird and that may have gotten the male up and calling/displaying, at already around 6:15+ PM-- but it was an overcast evening with already low light. Yesterday, the 12th, the assembled masses in the evening started assembling even earlier than that, but it was sunny, and we thought that because of the brighter conditions that we would have to wait longer, but we were not prepared to have to wait until we were all well into a depressed, frantic mode after 8 PM.....
Previous records of Common Nighthawk in (true) Southern California are mostly of strictly casual migrants except for the small breeding population hanging on in the San Bernardino Mountains and a few other possible breeding-season reports in the San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains. This site in the San Diego mountains would be at quite a bit lower elevation and is open chaparral near grassland--much more appropriate for LESSER Nighthawk--which see below!
Initial sightings of at least one nighthawk last evening as the light grew dim were of a bird that largely stayed low, skimming the tops of the vegetation, and which all photos obtained showed a male LESSER Nighthawk. This male Lesser was largely silent--as is typical of Lesser--but a few folks did hear a Lesser call a few times in the area. However, a number of folks believed they also briefly saw a bird that may have been a Common also flying low at about the same time, the ID on the basis of their impression of the position of the white wing-patch. It was not until finally 8:14PM that clearly a calling, sometimes displaying Common Nighthawk finally appeared for a very extended period of time, higher up in the sky--as is typical of the species--but also including multiple display dives down close to the ground. And as is typical of Common, once it started calling, it called repeatedly for long periods, NOT just once. Hopefully, if the bird remains, it will start calling and flying around a bit earlier in the evening than it did yesterday!
Most of us do not believe that more than one individual Common Nighthawk--the male--was definitively seen last evening, but it is certainly possible there might have been two birds. And there was certainly one male Lesser Nighthawk, but whether a second Lesser was there is also uncertain.
So what will happen with these birds now?? Well, that's anyone's guess. Will there actually be a truly unprecedented nesting attempt by a pair of Common Nighthawks at a very atypical sort of site? Or will they discover the semi-folly of their ways and move on soon? What sort of interactions may be going on between the Common(s) and the Lesser(s)?? These sorts of questions need to be addressed with CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION of future encounters. Nighthawks observed at this site need to be CAREFULLY IDENTIFIED TO SPECIES, AND TO SEX (plumage-wise probably best by throat color).
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/12/26 2:06 pm From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] California Bird Atlas Big Weekend 2026 Results
Big Weekend results below, with amended San Diego-specific stats. San Diego
atlasers made up 10% of the people in the field that weekend statewide,
contributing 10% of the checklists, blocks, and codes, and confirming
breeding for about half of the statewide Confirmed species total! In an
incredible coincidence we applied *619* Confirmed codes.
If you’re a San Diego atlaser and you’d like to join the CBA-specific
WhatsApp group, let me know.
Thanks,
Justyn Stahl
North Park
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Van Pierszalowski via groups.io <van...>
>
Date: Fri, Jun 12, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Big Weekend 2026 Results
To: <CALBIRDS...>
Hi birders,
I’m happy to report that the inaugural California Bird Atlas Big Weekend
(June 4-7, 2026) was a tremendous success! Thank you so much to our
partners for organizing 54 (!) field trips and events throughout the state
in a single weekend. Special thanks as well to our incredible Regional
Coordinators <https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/about/regional-coordinators> and the broader atlasing community.
Amazingly, 47% of the confirmed breeding codes recorded during Big Weekend
represented new confirmations (species breeding in atlas blocks where they
hadn't yet been confirmed). This highlights the strategic approach atlasers
took throughout the weekend, focusing their efforts on expanding coverage
and documenting breeding evidence where it mattered most. Many atlasers
reported using Blockboard
<https://cba-blockboard.share.connect.posit.cloud/> to help identify these
opportunities.
- *4,180* Atlas checklists were submitted [For San Diego: 449]
- *1,211* atlasers submitted checklists, including *181* first-time
atlasers [For San Diego: 148 atlasers, with 22 new!]
- *1,575* blocks received data, including *194* blocks that had not
previously received Atlas coverage (see the News post
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/big-weekend-review> for a map) [For
San Diego: we visited 142 blocks, 14 for the first time!]
- *26,809* breeding codes were submitted, including *6,121*
confirmed-level codes [For San Diego: 2,612 codes, 619 Confirmed]
- *308* species received breeding codes, including *226* species with
Confirmed-level breeding codes [For San Diego: 151 species were coded,
110 species Confirmed!!!]
- *4,865* confirmed breeding "block ticks" (each species in each block =
one block tick), including 2,287 new confirmed block ticks [For San
Diego: 531 Confirmed "block ticks," 214 new!]
DISCOVERIES
- What appears to be the first confirmed breeding record of *Canyon Wren*
in Solano County was reported
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S354320273> by Eric Pilotte
at Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve on June 7.
- Atlasers added two new species to the Atlas’s list of confirmed
breeders: *Bufflehead* (reported
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S352892908> by Sam Eberhard
in Lassen County) and *Green-winged Teal* (reported in three different
blocks — two in Plumas County, one in El Dorado County).
We will be organizing CBA Big Weekends every year throughout the Atlas
period (2026-2030), and it will be exciting to see how the results evolve
from year to year. Thank you again to the incredible birding community, and
here's to another great atlasing weekend starting now.
Happy Atlasing,
Van Pierszalowski
Director, California Bird Atlas
CBA website: www.californiabirdatlas.org
Join the CBA eBird project: www.ebird.org/atlascalifornia
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home>
-Los Angeles,CA
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Date: 6/11/26 8:50 pm From: Andrew N via groups.io <floodshark...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Common Nighthawk pair on CA Riding and Hiking Trail, from Pedro Fages Monument
Howdy!
I took a post-work hike on a whim down the California Riding and Hiking Trail that starts at Pedro Fages Monument out by Lake Cuyamaca: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QByhFJfXsJVCkY6t9 This is a nice wildflower trail (When it isn't hot and crispy) that links up with the PCT and Mason Valley Truck Trail, which was my destination. Anyway, as dusk started to settle in, I started my return trip from the Truck Trail down the PCT side, and cut through an open area back to the Riding and Hiking Trail here: 33.0057776, -116.5378105 and flushed a nighthawk off the ground that immediately took off into the distance. Luckily, it returned rather quickly, and had a friend with it. Then they started calling and doing display flights and I realized they were a pair of Common Nighthawks and immediately took recordings to send to Paul, to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
The flush happened right around 6:15 and the return and flight displays happened around 6:20. They did this for a good 10 minutes, swooping all around, coming down to eye level a couple times and eventually they flew somewhere that I could no longer see them, but I could still hear the vocalizations.
It's hard to tell on the map but the California Riding and Hiking Trail is well maintained and easy going, and it's 30 min or so to the coords depending on your hiking speed. The first stretch is grasslandy with lots of tall grass along the edges. I didn't find any ticks but just something to keep in mind.
My understanding is that a group is forming for first light tomorrow, and I imagine there will be a group there tomorrow evening as well to try and refind these birds.
I just got home (long drive back to Otay Mesa) but my checklist with photos and audio will be up soon. My camera is in the shop so I was out there with my little one and macro lens shooting plants and bugs, so we'll see how the photos came out...but I guess this was meant to be. I'm stealing your serendipity, Dave.
Andrew Newmark
San Diego, CA
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Date: 6/11/26 10:10 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Siberian sand-plover on Thursday
Thursday morning, the Siberian Sand-Plover was back inside the saltworks early in the morning when tide was high, per Matt. And at 9:55ish it has appeared as yesterday on the distant mud flat edge near the oyster balls looking way west-southwest from J Street. Also nine ruddy turnstones.
Paul Lehman & m.obs, San Diego
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 6/11/26 9:04 am From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Cape May Warbler - Villa La Jolla Park
This morning around 8 am there was a singing CAPE MAY WARBLER at Villa La Jolla Park. The bird was mostly in the large eucalyptus tree near the middle of the northern edge of the park.
Alex AbelaEscondido, CA
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Date: 6/11/26 8:24 am From: Adrian Hinkle via groups.io <adrian.hinkle...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Ruby-crowned Kinglet at FRNC
A one-migrant mid-June foray to Point Loma usually entails a lingering pewee or an eastern vagrant of sorts, but to my surprise, today's visit featured a very late Ruby-crowned Kinglet moving from pine to pine north of the dip.
I recall seeing one or two straggler kinglets into the first week of June in lowlands further north, but I'd imagine this is the latest for SD.
Ah, the joys of birding!
Adrian
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Date: 6/10/26 10:51 pm From: David Trissel via groups.io <dtrissel...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Serendipity Sand-Plover
About a week ago, I received an envelope in the mail from my birding buddy Kevin in New Jersey. He had never sent me anything in the mail before, but he had been going through his old American Birding Association magazines and ran across an article that he thought I might like. It was the 2014 edition that included Barb Carlson's article about her 2013 San Diego County Big Year. In the article, she eloquently describes how she set the record for most species seen in a single year in a single county, along with many of the amazing rare birds she was able to see.
This morning, I decided to throw the magazine in the car, as three of us embarked on an hour and a half drive up to Hot Springs Mountain, in the hopes that either Geoff or Margaret would want to read the article. To set the scene, this was at 5:45am on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
As Margaret was reading the magazine in the back seat, I was telling Geoff that Barb had seen some truly amazing birds during her big year, including the Lesser Sand-Plover. Geoff said "I've never even heard of that bird!" I said "Well, it hasn't been seen in San Diego since 2013. Back when I saw it in Ventura County in the 1980's it was called Mongolian Plover. It has changed names a couple of times."
We arrived at the trailhead at 7:00am and proceeded to spend the next three hours trekking up the mountain, with no cell coverage, looking unsuccessfully for the White-headed Woodpeckers that had been seen there in years past. Finally, some time after 10:00am, we reached a high point on the mountain that briefly had cell coverage and our phones began chirping wildly as texts and WhatsApp messages came flooding in. Of course, you see where this is going.
"... Siberian Sand-Plover on south San Diego Bay ...".
Geoff said "Hey, isn't that the bird you said Barb Carlson saw back in 2013?" I replied, "Yeah, it was called Lesser Sand-Plover back then, but now it is called Siberian Sand-Plover" (due to a split).
Of course, we high-tail it down the mountain, hiking for an hour and a half back to the car, and then drive (rather speedily) all the way back to the J Street Marina in Chula Vista, also an agonizing hour and a half. All the while, getting alerts that the bird keeps disappearing and reappearing, sure that we are going to be too late to see this bird, and cursing ourselves for choosing to be about as far away (and without cell coverage) as you can be and still be in San Diego County.
Luckily, all's well that ends well, as we skid to a stop at 1:17pm and hop out in time to see the Siberian Sand Plover through Matt Sadowski's scope. Whew! It turns out, in talking to Matt after all the high fives, that Matt was the one to find both the 2013 and the 2026 birds.
I hope I was successfully able to convey the bizarre sequence of events that led to this serendipitous encounter. For Geoff, going from never having heard of a bird prior to 6:00am this morning to having the bird as a world lifer by 1:20pm has to be mind-bogglingly statistically close to 0.000% chance. I have not interrogated Margaret about her experience, but it is equally bizarre to have read the 2014 article this morning and have the bird as a lifer in San Diego in the afternoon.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I hope you enjoyed the read.
Sincerely,
David Trissel San Diego, CA
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> Hi, > > Thanks to Matt for finding and sharing such a great bird! > > In case the bird sticks around through tomorrow and decides to make an appearance where it is visible from J Street, here are details of how things were when I was there today from around 10:45 a.m. until around 1:30 p.m. > > As Paul mentioned in his email, tide height matters. According to tide charts I found for the Chula Vista Marina, low tide was 1.5 feet at 11:46 a.m. and high tide would have been 5.95 feet at 6:17 p.m. The tide came in pretty quickly after low tide. > > A scope is required to see this bird from J street, unless it decides to go to the J street mud flats, which it did not today. > > When I first got there the bird was sometimes popping up onto a mud berm I think near the oyster balls (behind and to the right of the balls). For those that don't know about the oyster balls, through a scope they kind of look like big rubbery rough ball shaped things with big holes in them. I think they may be made of concrete, but when viewing them from a distance they don't look like concrete. There are five of them. They sit in the water, but may be covered during a higher high tide. The bird then disappeared behind and below the berm for quite some time and then Ron Wilson spotted it a ways out to the right of the oyster balls up against tall grass, behind where a bigger pile of rocks were at the water's edge (where the rocks appear related to water will depend on tide). At the time there were five Gulls on the sand in that area. It was pretty far away, but still findable in a scope with effort. It moved back and forth along the edge of the tall grass for a while. > > Then it flew left and it took a bit before we found it again. I next saw it in a semi circle area of sand off the edge of the water. That was the easiest place to spot it. Near the right side of the semi circle is a shorter right leaning rusty looking post with some large bumpy looking things at the base. The post was shorter than some of the others. It would wander away from that spot in both directions and then return. When it decided to run it moved fast. At one point it also went to the left of a high section of sand/dirt that casts a big shadow. Sometimes it went into the rocks. It is extremely difficult to spot when it does that. When I left I think it was still in the semi circle of sand. > > As the afternoon progressed conditions became more difficult with increasing heat shimmer and wind strong enough to cause scopes to vibrate quite a bit. It wasn't too bad during the later part of the morning. > > I've posted some Experience section photos in my list showing some of the places I've described where I saw the bird. > > Since it's so far away, the easiest way to pick out the bird from the Semi-palmateds and other shorebirds is to look for the reddish coloring on the upper part of its body. At some angles the red is not visible, but if it's facing you or facing sideways it is. It appeared larger than the Semi-palmateds. There were also Black-bellied Plovers and other shorebirds. I heard there was a Ruddy Turnstone also in the area, which could confuse things. > > Lisa Ruby > Sabre Springs > > On 6/10/2026 1:13 PM, Justyn Stahl via groups.io wrote: > >> Brennan Mulrooney reports that it is still present as of 1pm visible from the “J St. mudflats” at Chula Vista Bayfront Park looking across to the oyster balls at the Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve. >> >> Justyn Stahl >> >> On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 9:49 AM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> wrote: >> >>> The Siberian sand plover found earlier this morning hopelessly inside the Salt Works by Matt sadowski has been relocated by his group and by us public from the end of J Street. Looking way over to the mud that's now being exposed right behind and to the right of the oyster balls. The infamous oyster balls where the white-wing tern would sit last summer. >>> >>> Paul Lehman, San Diego >>> >>> [Sent from AOL on Android](https://aolapp.onelink.me/eG2g?pid=NativePlacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_320_EmailSignature_AttributionDL&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002473&af_sub5=SentFromNewAOLApp__Interstitial_&af_ios_store_cpp=ce85ce34-ad0f-4811-a92b-a172743b064e&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=email_signature_attribution) >> >>
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Date: 6/10/26 8:16 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Siberian sand plover on South San Diego Bay
Hi,
Thanks to Matt for finding and sharing such a great bird!
In case the bird sticks around through tomorrow and decides to make an appearance where it is visible from J Street, here are details of how things were when I was there today from around 10:45 a.m. until around 1:30 p.m.
As Paul mentioned in his email, tide height matters. According to tide charts I found for the Chula Vista Marina, low tide was 1.5 feet at 11:46 a.m. and high tide would have been 5.95 feet at 6:17 p.m. The tide came in pretty quickly after low tide.
A scope is required to see this bird from J street, unless it decides to go to the J street mud flats, which it did not today.
When I first got there the bird was sometimes popping up onto a mud berm I think near the oyster balls (behind and to the right of the balls). For those that don't know about the oyster balls, through a scope they kind of look like big rubbery rough ball shaped things with big holes in them. I think they may be made of concrete, but when viewing them from a distance they don't look like concrete. There are five of them. They sit in the water, but may be covered during a higher high tide. The bird then disappeared behind and below the berm for quite some time and then Ron Wilson spotted it a ways out to the right of the oyster balls up against tall grass, behind where a bigger pile of rocks were at the water's edge (where the rocks appear related to water will depend on tide). At the time there were five Gulls on the sand in that area. It was pretty far away, but still findable in a scope with effort. It moved back and forth along the edge of the tall grass for a while.
Then it flew left and it took a bit before we found it again. I next saw it in a semi circle area of sand off the edge of the water. That was the easiest place to spot it. Near the right side of the semi circle is a shorter right leaning rusty looking post with some large bumpy looking things at the base. The post was shorter than some of the others. It would wander away from that spot in both directions and then return. When it decided to run it moved fast. At one point it also went to the left of a high section of sand/dirt that casts a big shadow. Sometimes it went into the rocks. It is extremely difficult to spot when it does that. When I left I think it was still in the semi circle of sand.
As the afternoon progressed conditions became more difficult with increasing heat shimmer and wind strong enough to cause scopes to vibrate quite a bit. It wasn't too bad during the later part of the morning.
I've posted some Experience section photos in my list showing some of the places I've described where I saw the bird.
Since it's so far away, the easiest way to pick out the bird from the Semi-palmateds and other shorebirds is to look for the reddish coloring on the upper part of its body. At some angles the red is not visible, but if it's facing you or facing sideways it is. It appeared larger than the Semi-palmateds. There were also Black-bellied Plovers and other shorebirds. I heard there was a Ruddy Turnstone also in the area, which could confuse things.
Lisa Ruby Sabre Springs
On 6/10/2026 1:13 PM, Justyn Stahl via groups.io wrote:
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There is no way you failed at anything today! Kudos for finding the bird and keeping us abreast of its movements all day. Thank you.
Alison Hiers
On Jun 10, 2026, at 6:35 PM, Matt Sadowski via groups.io <sadowskimatt99...> wrote:
I failed at finding it back in Saltworks during the pm high. I also failed at finding any of the SEPL it was with earlier, but I don't know that it would have helped, because it flew off with two KILL from CVWR back towards Salt as the tide rose.
Hopefully it'll be back visible from J St./Bayfront Park flats during tomorrow's late morning low.
Matt Sadowski
On Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 3:33 PM <lehman.paul...> <mailto:<lehman.paul...> via groups.io <http://groups.io/> <lehman.paul...> <mailto:<verizon.net...>> wrote:
> According to posts to the WhatsApp group, the Sand- Plover flew back toward the Salt Works at around 3:00 p.m. as the tide rolled in and presumably will stay there the rest of the day. If the bird does not continue migrating whichever way it's going on this somewhat odd mid-June date(!), then obviously the best bet is to return to the end of J Street when the tide starts falling, which of course should be a little later tomorrow than it was this morning, and hope it repeats its performance. Today it was found in that area just after 9:00 a.m., but who knows exactly how long it had been there after Matt lost track of it earlier on inside the Salt Works. And bring a very good scope!!! One is looking to the west southwest to the area immediately behind and to the right of the infamous oyster balls where the White-Winged Tern would often sit last summer. In the general area of where they are several white PVC pipes sticking up out of the water near that shore. The bird was almost always At least somewhat near Semipalmated Plovers, but it is not known how crucial that is. Other summering shorebirds there this morning included one each of Black and Ruddy turnstones and a small number of Western Sandpipers, among the more usual summer shorebirds. One reddish egret. Continuing red-breasted merganser.
>
>
> Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
> Sent from AOL on Android <https://aolapp.onelink.me/eG2g?pid=NativePlacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_320_EmailSignature_AttributionDL&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002473&af_sub5=SentFromNewAOLApp__Interstitial_&af_ios_store_cpp=ce85ce34-ad0f-4811-a92b-a172743b064e&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=email_signature_attribution> >
>
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Date: 6/10/26 6:53 pm From: Matt Sadowski via groups.io <sadowskimatt99...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Siberian Sand-Plover pm update
I failed at finding it back in Saltworks during the pm high. I also failed
at finding any of the SEPL it was with earlier, but I don't know that it
would have helped, because it flew off with two KILL from CVWR back towards
Salt as the tide rose.
Hopefully it'll be back visible from J St./Bayfront Park flats during
tomorrow's late morning low.
Matt Sadowski
On Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 3:33 PM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
> According to posts to the WhatsApp group, the Sand- Plover flew back
> toward the Salt Works at around 3:00 p.m. as the tide rolled in and
> presumably will stay there the rest of the day. If the bird does not
> continue migrating whichever way it's going on this somewhat odd mid-June
> date(!), then obviously the best bet is to return to the end of J Street
> when the tide starts falling, which of course should be a little later
> tomorrow than it was this morning, and hope it repeats its performance.
> Today it was found in that area just after 9:00 a.m., but who knows exactly
> how long it had been there after Matt lost track of it earlier on inside
> the Salt Works. And bring a very good scope!!! One is looking to the west
> southwest to the area immediately behind and to the right of the infamous
> oyster balls where the White-Winged Tern would often sit last summer. In
> the general area of where they are several white PVC pipes sticking up out
> of the water near that shore. The bird was almost always At least somewhat
> near Semipalmated Plovers, but it is not known how crucial that is. Other
> summering shorebirds there this morning included one each of Black and
> Ruddy turnstones and a small number of Western Sandpipers, among the more
> usual summer shorebirds. One reddish egret. Continuing red-breasted
> merganser.
>
>
> Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
> Sent from AOL on Android
> <https://aolapp.onelink.me/eG2g?pid=NativePlacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_320_EmailSignature_AttributionDL&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002473&af_sub5=SentFromNewAOLApp__Interstitial_&af_ios_store_cpp=ce85ce34-ad0f-4811-a92b-a172743b064e&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=email_signature_attribution> >
>
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According to posts to the WhatsApp group, the Sand- Plover flew back toward the Salt Works at around 3:00 p.m. as the tide rolled in and presumably will stay there the rest of the day. If the bird does not continue migrating whichever way it's going on this somewhat odd mid-June date(!), then obviously the best bet is to return to the end of J Street when the tide starts falling, which of course should be a little later tomorrow than it was this morning, and hope it repeats its performance. Today it was found in that area just after 9:00 a.m., but who knows exactly how long it had been there after Matt lost track of it earlier on inside the Salt Works. And bring a very good scope!!! One is looking to the west southwest to the area immediately behind and to the right of the infamous oyster balls where the White-Winged Tern would often sit last summer. In the general area of where they are several white PVC pipes sticking up out of the water near that shore. The bird was almost always At least somewhat near Semipalmated Plovers, but it is not known how crucial that is. Other summering shorebirds there this morning included one each of Black and Ruddy turnstones and a small number of Western Sandpipers, among the more usual summer shorebirds. One reddish egret. Continuing red-breasted merganser.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 6/10/26 2:33 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic trip reservations
San Diego pelagic trips for the remainder of 2026 are scheduled for July 18, Aug 8, Aug 9, Aug 22, Sep 5, Sep 6, Sep 26, and Oct. For further information, visit sandiegopelagics.com. For reservations go to sdwhale.com ("Legacy" whale-watching) or call Seaforth Sportfishing. It has come to our attention, however, that at least one person calling the landing yesterday to book the July 18th trip was told that the trip was full. (Same thing happened last year.) This is far from true, as every trip the rest of this year currently has plenty of space. If you are told that any trip is full, and it does not show full beforehand on the Legacy website, please obtain the name of the person you talked to and contact us.
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Dan Jehl, San Diego
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Date: 6/10/26 1:14 pm From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Siberian sand plover on South San Diego Bay
Brennan Mulrooney reports that it is still present as of 1pm visible from
the “J St. mudflats” at Chula Vista Bayfront Park looking across to the
oyster balls at the Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve.
Justyn Stahl
On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 9:49 AM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
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Date: 6/10/26 9:49 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Siberian sand plover on South San Diego Bay
The Siberian sand plover found earlier this morning hopelessly inside the Salt Works by Matt sadowski has been relocated by his group and by us public from the end of J Street. Looking way over to the mud that's now being exposed right behind and to the right of the oyster balls. The infamous oyster balls where the white-wing tern would sit last summer.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
Sent from AOL on Android
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Date: 6/9/26 10:22 am From: Shannon Mendia via groups.io <shannonmendia...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher just north of Brown field
Bummer!
On Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 22:55 <dtrissel...> wrote:
> Negative. Four of us gave it a couple hours to no avail.
>
> David Trissel
> San Diego, CA
>
> On Jun 8, 2026, at 8:12 PM, Shannon Mendia via groups.io <shannonmendia=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> Did anyone ever catch up with the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher? I knew folks
> would want to know about it but couldn't hang out to refind it,
> unfortunately. I was locked behind a gate and then had to run to survey a
> couple more Cactus Wren plots, so I wasn't able keep an eye on it.
>
> I saw Paul before I left the site but I had to run off to complete more
> surveys.
>
> Thanks,
>
> On Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 06:46 Shannon Mendia via groups.io <shannonmendia=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Just saw a Scissor- tailed Flycatcher that flew to the fence area that
>> used to be a junk yard here:
>> https://maps.app.goo.gl/mk9BqrubgZsdhGJV8 >>
>> Flew from the conserved field to the west. Can likely see from Pogo Row,
>> which is a public road.
>>
>>
>
>
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Date: 6/8/26 10:55 pm From: David Trissel via groups.io <dtrissel...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher just north of Brown field
On Sat, Jun 6, 2026 at 9:41 PM Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan=
<balagansky.com...> wrote:
> Hi Atlassers!
>
> I put together a custom Google Map that shows the Atlas block grid
> together with ebird hotspots for San Diego:
>
>
> https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1j9BTFlR68mcibX7ybYCnRF03KDjgPm4&usp=sharing >
> You can tap hotspot pins to navigate to them directly using Google Maps
> (just be aware that not all pins are at an actual entrance). Both regular
> ebird and CBA urls are also included under the full hotspot info for easy
> access.
>
> Technical details: Source KML for the grid is from
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/about/blocks. Hotspots are from the
> eBird API (accurate as of today).
>
> Happy atlassing!
>
> --
> Ruslan Balagansky
> San Diego (Mira Mesa), CA
>
>
>
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Date: 6/8/26 8:12 pm From: Shannon Mendia via groups.io <shannonmendia...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher just north of Brown field
Hello,
Did anyone ever catch up with the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher? I knew folks
would want to know about it but couldn't hang out to refind it,
unfortunately. I was locked behind a gate and then had to run to survey a
couple more Cactus Wren plots, so I wasn't able keep an eye on it.
I saw Paul before I left the site but I had to run off to complete more
surveys.
Thanks,
On Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 06:46 Shannon Mendia via groups.io <shannonmendia=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Just saw a Scissor- tailed Flycatcher that flew to the fence area that
> used to be a junk yard here:
> https://maps.app.goo.gl/mk9BqrubgZsdhGJV8 >
> Flew from the conserved field to the west. Can likely see from Pogo Row,
> which is a public road.
>
>
>
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Date: 6/8/26 10:13 am From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts June 8 - 14
Apologies - the "gap" hotspots on the *map* were incorrect, as well as my
count of them - there are actually the usual amount (19), not 16. I had
accidentally uploaded the list from Jul 8 instead of Jun 8 to the map.
If you checked the map before, please check again. Sorry about that!
Thanks to Joni for tipping me off about the error.
On Sun, Jun 7, 2026 at 11:53 PM Ruslan Balagansky <ruslan...>
wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Although some of us were focusing on Atlassing during the CBA's Big
> Weekend that ended today, still a good number of hotspots were covered!
> Thank you!
>
> Next week we've got 11 hotspots with 10 or fewer bar chart weeks needed,
> but only 16 "gap" candidates, so a shorter overall list than usual.
>
> If you're just joining us, see this message for an explanation of these
> weekly hotspot lists:
> https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/topic/hotspots_for_ebird_bar_charts/119585667 >
> Map for the week of June 8 - 14:
> https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1pyW_fuyWH_W8CYPSc5Sxgeqzv5ja-V4&usp=sharing >
> Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
>
> Hollenbeck Canyon - 2
> Shelter Valley--general area - 5
> Sweetwater Park - 5
> Lopez Ridge Park - 6
> Swamis Seaside Park - 6
> Collier Park (Ramona) - 7
> La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 9
> San Dieguito Dr. south end - 9
> Carmel Valley Community Park - 10
> Delta Beach--north overlook - 10
> Warwick Ave riparian - 10
>
>
> Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
>
> Valley Middle School Trail
> Encinitas--Arden Dr.
> Carmel Grove Park
> Crest Drive (Encinitas)
> Nexus Center Dr. tipus
> Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Slot Canyon
> Leon Avenue & Berry Park
> Palomar Community College
> Gird Valley Preserve
> Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
> El Camino Country Club Pond -- Vista Way
> Borrego Springs--SW Residential
> Glen Park (Cardiff)
> Calzada Del Bosque / Chino Farms area
> Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Cold Stream Trail
> Dairy Mart Rd.--east riparian
> 4S Ranch water reclamation basin (view from sidewalk)
> Via Vera Cruz--vernal pond
> La Costa Golf Course--North
>
> Cheers,
>
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Date: 6/8/26 6:46 am From: Shannon Mendia via groups.io <shannonmendia...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher just north of Brown field
Flew from the conserved field to the west. Can likely see from Pogo Row, which is a public road.
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Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
Hollenbeck Canyon - 2 Shelter Valley--general area - 5 Sweetwater Park - 5 Lopez Ridge Park - 6 Swamis Seaside Park - 6 Collier Park (Ramona) - 7 La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 9 San Dieguito Dr. south end - 9 Carmel Valley Community Park - 10 Delta Beach--north overlook - 10 Warwick Ave riparian - 10
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Valley Middle School Trail Encinitas--Arden Dr. Carmel Grove Park Crest Drive (Encinitas) Nexus Center Dr. tipus Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Slot Canyon Leon Avenue & Berry Park Palomar Community College Gird Valley Preserve Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access) El Camino Country Club Pond -- Vista Way Borrego Springs--SW Residential Glen Park (Cardiff) Calzada Del Bosque / Chino Farms area Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Cold Stream Trail Dairy Mart Rd.--east riparian 4S Ranch water reclamation basin (view from sidewalk) Via Vera Cruz--vernal pond La Costa Golf Course--North
Cheers,
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Date: 6/7/26 5:04 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic 6 June: Flesh-footed & Manx Shearwaters, Masked/Nazca Booby, Craveri's, Cocos glut
The San Diego pelagic trip on 6 June aboard "Legacy" out of Mission Bay and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society traveled out to the 9-Mile and 30-Mile Banks and "The Corner" region under pleasant weather conditions. Highlights of the trip included well-seen Flesh-footed Shearwater and Manx Shearwater, both in the San Diego Trough, the former on the way out and the latter on the return. A first-year Masked/Nazca Booby came right up to the boat at the 30-Mile Bank. Telling Masked from Nazca in birds this young can be very difficult or near impossible, so photos will be sent out to other booby experts to see if there is any consensus of opinion. Several Craveri's Murrelets flew by and several Scripps's Murrelets were better seen with chicks. A high total of 35 Cocos Boobies were scattered over the entire route. Also, three Ashy Storm-Petrels and a good count (for June) of 11 Sabine's Gulls. Several species of whales. Lots of photos will be posted with all the eBird lists in another day or so. Totals for the day once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
Surf Scoter 14 (northbound)
Red-necked Phalarope 1
Pomarine Jaeger 1
Scripps's Murrelet 8
Craveri's Murrelet 5
murrelet sp. 5
Cassin's Auklet 25
Sabine's Gull 11 (high for June)
Heermann's Gull 35
Western Gull 250
Common Tern 8
Elegant Tern 330
Pacific Loon 4 (northbound)
Ashy Storm-Petrel 3
Black Storm-Petrel 250
Sooty Shearwater 4000
Pink-footed Shearwater 550
Flesh-footed Shearwater 1 (20-1/2 mi W Point Loma)
Manx Shearwater 1 (17 mi W Point Loma)
Black-vented Shearwater 280
Masked/Nazca Booby 1 (28-3/4 mi W Point Loma
Cocos Booby 35 (high)
Brandt's Cormorant 8
Brown Pelican 900
Blue Whale 1Fin Whale 2Minke Whale 4
For information on our 2026 schedule of future pelagic trips on eight dates between mid-July and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Nancy Christensen, Adrian Hinkle, Dan Jehl, Matt Sadowski, Patti & Sally, San Diego
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You can tap hotspot pins to navigate to them directly using Google Maps (just be aware that not all pins are at an actual entrance). Both regular ebird and CBA urls are also included under the full hotspot info for easy access.
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Date: 6/5/26 3:35 pm From: Max Varley via groups.io <vaxmarley...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] FRNC 5 June 2026
Hello all, I'm new here but have been active on SD eBird for a couple years. I'm wondering if anyone here that is familiar with FRNC is planning to go this evening (06/05/2026), and if so, would they be willing to help me orient myself? I've not been to FRNC yet and don't know my way around. Cheers.
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Date: 6/4/26 7:38 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Varied Thrush At FRNC
A quite unseasonal male Varied Thrush is at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, started out along the east side near the wall but just now it was seen going west across Catalina Boulevard to the general area of the dip. So it could be anywhere. Male Rose-breasted grosbeak in the eucalyptus near the wall on the east side. Several getting late Cedar Waxwings and a late Bullocks Oriole. Otherwise a pewee and a warbling vireo, plus the continuing Red-eyed Vireo, of course.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/4/26 6:21 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Red-Eyed Vireo continues
The Red-eyed Vireo at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery continues Thursday morning in the northeast section. Now wanders around the entire northeast section, not just the northwest corner of it, although it's still regularly frequents the latter.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/3/26 7:07 pm From: Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
It dipped down into the canyon north of the fence. I lost it.
________________________________
From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 6:59:06 PM
To: <lehman.paul...> <lehman.paul...>; <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...>
Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
Yellow-throated Vireo is back here: 32.6935935, -117.2447543
________________________________
From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 7:58:00 AM
To: <sandiegoregionbirding...> <sandiegoregionbirding...>
Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
At around 7:30 a.m. a Yellow-throated Vireo virtually joined the Red-eyed vireo in the northwest corner of the northeast section of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Unfortunately it remained a whopping 30 seconds and then flew west across Catalina Boulevard. Never to be seen again. Just seemef to be on the move. Other migrants in the cemetery this morning include three pewees, a Willow flycatcher, and a Yellow warbler.
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Date: 6/3/26 6:59 pm From: Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
Yellow-throated Vireo is back here: 32.6935935, -117.2447543
________________________________
From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 7:58:00 AM
To: <sandiegoregionbirding...> <sandiegoregionbirding...>
Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
At around 7:30 a.m. a Yellow-throated Vireo virtually joined the Red-eyed vireo in the northwest corner of the northeast section of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Unfortunately it remained a whopping 30 seconds and then flew west across Catalina Boulevard. Never to be seen again. Just seemef to be on the move. Other migrants in the cemetery this morning include three pewees, a Willow flycatcher, and a Yellow warbler.
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Date: 6/3/26 12:03 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] late migrant landbirds
One of the little joys of birding late in the spring migration season, either at sites where particular species don't breed or at morning-flight locations, Is the ability to document late dates for birds to still be on the move at sites where they are very unlikely to breed. This morning on Point Loma was a good example, with a Western Kingbird at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery tying the late date of a spring migrant, a Blue Grosbeak there being the second latest spring migrant date, and a Lark Sparrow in residential Point Loma possibly setting a new late date for a spring migrant. Unless any of these birds were instead some sort of random early-summer wanderer rather than a true spring migrant..... Though that would still be interesting.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/3/26 7:58 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Yellow-throated Vireo at frnc
At around 7:30 a.m. a Yellow-throated Vireo virtually joined the Red-eyed vireo in the northwest corner of the northeast section of Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Unfortunately it remained a whopping 30 seconds and then flew west across Catalina Boulevard. Never to be seen again. Just seemef to be on the move. Other migrants in the cemetery this morning include three pewees, a Willow flycatcher, and a Yellow warbler.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/3/26 6:05 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Red-eyed Vireo contines
The Red-eyed Vireo at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery continues on Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m.. Same exact area as yesterday: the northwest corner of the northeast section of the cemetery.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 6/2/26 7:21 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] FRNC Red-eyed Vireo and Rose breasted gros lbeak
Tuesday morning, there's a Red-eyed Vireo in the northeast corner of Fort Rosecrans cemetery, specifically in the northwest section of the northeast corner. Sings from time to time, sometime softly sometimes loudly. One could even look for it from the edge of Catalina boulevard once the cemetery becomes off limits during the usual hours. There was also an adult male Rose breasted grosbeak in the northwest corner found by Adrian.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/31/26 9:19 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts June 1 - 7
Greetings,
It's been a while since the last explainer, so for those of you joining us
more recently, or if you just happened to miss past explanations, here's
what's going with these "weekly hotspots":
*Goal:* gather data for every calendar week of the year for the most
popular eBird hotspots in San Diego County. Here's an example of completed
bar charts (Robb Field mudflats): https://ebird.org/barchart?r=L506275
*Origin: *John Bruin and Michelle Haglund started working on completing
hotspot bar charts back in 2023 (or 2022?). In October 2024, John extended
this effort to the broader SD birding community via weekly mailings to this
list. In 2026, I took over the weekly mailings.
*Progress*: When John and Michelle began their efforts, there were only
100-150 hotspots with complete bar charts. When John began mailing weekly
hotspots to this list, that number had more than *doubled* to 331! At the
end of 2025 there were nearly 500 - an increase of 50% or so. In 2026 so
far, we've completed at least 15 more (and made partial progress on many
others).
Since there are fewer popular hotspots with gaps left, in 2026 I added a
second list of hotspots that are not that close to completion, but have big
gaps in data around the current calendar week.
*Technical*: Earlier in 2025, I mostly automated the data crunching
process. I run a script every week to select hotspots for the upcoming week
based on the most recent checklist data in eBird. As of now, I select all
hotspots that have 10 or fewer weeks missing, plus additional hotspots if
needed to get the count of hotspots listed to 10, choosing hotspots with
fewest weeks missing (up to 15 weeks missing). The second list of hotspots
includes hotspots with the fewest weeks missing that also have missing data
for the previous and following weeks. The total count of hotspots listed
each week currently is 30. Note: I don't currently update the master
hotspot list itself very often, so sometimes the names of the hotspots in
my list might not correspond precisely to the current names of the hotspot
in eBird. Sometimes hotspots will have been split or merged. If you notice
a big difference, please let me know!
So, when you choose to bird at one of the listed hotspots, you are
contributing valuable data that fills in the gaps! Big thanks to all of you
who have already been participating, and to any of you considering pitching
in. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.
Also, if you are submitting checklists under the California Bird Atlas
project for the hotspots on these weekly lists, you are more likely to be
contributing novel data to the Atlas, birding a location at a time of year
that nobody else has before! Consider glancing at the new "Blockboard" tool
before you go, to see which species are likely breeding but have not
yet been Confirmed in the hotspot's block:
https://californiabirdatlas.org/blockboard
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
Borrego Springs--Club Circle - 4
San Diego Bay--bait barges - 5
Swamis Seaside Park - 7
Agua Hedionda Lagoon--Harbor Dr. - 10
Borrego Springs--De Anza Country Club (private) - 10
San Dieguito Dr. south end - 10
Tide Beach Park - 10
Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 11
Deer Canyon - 11
Laguna Mtns.--Morris Ranch Rd. - 11
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
San Pasqual Valley
Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
Dairy Mart Rd.--east riparian
Black Mountain Ranch Park
Shadow Mountain Park
Sunnyslope Park
Borrego Springs--NW residential
Gillespie Field (restricted access)
Discovery Creek Trail
stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
Tierrasanta Substation
W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
Borrego Springs--landfill
Valle Verde Park
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Big Spring
Cottonwood Park (Chula Vista)
Cactus County Park
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--south
Calavera Hills Community Park
stakeout Abert’s Towhees, San Diego Co. (2024–2026)
Cheers,
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Date: 5/31/26 2:59 pm From: Nathan French via groups.io <nathanfrenchphotography...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Rose Creek White Wagtail Negative Report
After seeing the delayed eBird report, a number of birders braved marathon traffic and showed up around noon, scoured Rose Creek with no luck. That said, if you do find it please post to the WhatsApp group and here on the listserv as many birders would like to see this bird.
Happy Sunday!
Nathan French
Hillcrest
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Date: 5/30/26 12:23 pm From: Geoff Veith via groups.io <veithlaw...> Subject: NEGATIVE REPORT Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Frigatebird sp. La Jolla
I saw Stan’s alert around noon while I was up on Solana Circle with a good view of North Del Mar beach, Dog Beach, the Fairgrounds and South Solana Beach. I scanned the area for almost 20 minutes. I saw gulls and pelicans but no Frigatebird.
Geoff Veith
Solana Beach.
> On May 30, 2026, at 11:33 AM, Stan Walens via groups.io <stan.walens...> wrote:
>
> At 11:54, I was at the Y in La Jolla, next to Cliffridge Park, on the ellipticals, looking out the picture windows on the second floor that face towards the ocean, when a frigatebird suddenly appeared outside from the West, catching an updraft. I had milliseconds to see it before it zoomed upwards out of sight through the windows. By the time I leapt off the machine and got outside to search for it, it was 1/2 mile north and heading north.
> Views were much too brief to see relevant details.
>
> My spur of the moment identification, based on not noting a white collar or white in the breast, during the milliseconds I had it in view, was that it likely was a male of some species or another.
>
> I stayed outside on the balcony at the Y for 20 minutes, in the hopes that it might circle back, but no luck.
>
> Stan Walens, San Diego
> May 30, 2026; 11:27am
>
>
>
>
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Date: 5/30/26 11:33 am From: Stan Walens via groups.io <stan.walens...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Frigatebird sp. La Jolla
At 11:54, I was at the Y in La Jolla, next to Cliffridge Park, on the ellipticals, looking out the picture windows on the second floor that face towards the ocean, when a frigatebird suddenly appeared outside from the West, catching an updraft. I had milliseconds to see it before it zoomed upwards out of sight through the windows. By the time I leapt off the machine and got outside to search for it, it was 1/2 mile north and heading north.
Views were much too brief to see relevant details.
My spur of the moment identification, based on not noting a white collar or white in the breast, during the milliseconds I had it in view, was that it likely was a male of some species or another.
I stayed outside on the balcony at the Y for 20 minutes, in the hopes that it might circle back, but no luck.
Stan Walens, San Diego
May 30, 2026; 11:27am
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Date: 5/27/26 3:52 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] upcoming June 6 pelagic trip
There is still plenty of space available on the upcoming June 6th pelagic trip aboard "Legacy" out of Seaforth Sportfishing in Mission Bay, and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society. The trip runs from 7AM to 5PM. In addition to the common offshore species, some expected species include Scripps's Murrelet, Ashy Storm-Petrel, and Cocos Booby. Some years, Craveri's Murrelets have already started to return. Albatrosses are possible. This trip has produced some exciting species in the past. On last year's trip (7 June 2025) we had 9 Cook's Petrels and a Red-billed Tropicbird.
See sandiegopelagics.com for more information on this trip and all trips this year between now and mid-October. For reservations go to the Legacy website at sdwhale.com and then to "Birdwatch Tours."
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/27/26 10:54 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] La Jolla seawatch: Nazca and 5 Cocos Boobies, lots of birds (including a couple record highs)
A Weds. AM La Jolla seawatch attended by four birders saw perhaps the largest number of feeding-frenzy feeders that I have ever seen there. We set perhaps the all-time county record total of Brown Pelicans at a single site with 3000 birds (2600 standing on the rocks and cliff alone in the early morning), as well as a spring-record 420 Heermann's Gulls (95% one-year-olds), as well as 1600 Brandt's Cormorants. The largest numbers of birds on the rocks were in the first hour or so of light, slowly declining thereafter. The offshore frenzies were multiple at a time and went on and on all morning long, from 5:40AM to 10AM, and also contained some 5000 Sooty Shearwaters, 2000 Elegant Terns, and a total of ca. 5 Cocos Boobies. The single star of the morning show was the near-adult Nazca Booby extremely close to shore and first spotted by Jay D. as it flew by heading south. Still a small number of Pacific Loons heading north. One jaeger sp.
Paul Lehman et al., San Diego
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Date: 5/26/26 11:03 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] tipu migrants & vagrants ; Tennessee and Parula and Summer Tanager high totals
Parks and parking lots with tipus continued to produce over the weekend, with other folks finding a Prothonotary, Parula, and Tennessee in these trees, and with a Black-and-white today. I checked a fair number of tipu spots this morning (Tuesday) and had a female Indigo Bunting at a western Carmel Valley site. The numbers of western migrants in tipus, and overall, seems to have dropped off as the weekend went on, so the reasonable numbers of Warbling Vireos and Yellow and Wilson's Warblers (plus a few Townsend's and pewees, etc.) have seemingly now dropped to just a small trickle (e.g., this morning my total of western migrants was 6 Warbling Vireos and 2 Yellows).
It has definitely been a good spring so far virtually statewide for Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, and coastal Summer Tanagers. Here in San Diego County, the May totals for each currently stand at 7 Tennessees, 8 Parulas, and 8 coastal Summer Tanagers.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/26/26 10:49 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] California Bird Atlas Town Hall, May 27th @7pm
CBA Town Hall
Our April 16 Town Hall featured an outstanding presentation from CBA Review
Coordinator Megan Jankowski on finding breeding birds and documenting
breeding behavior in the field. It’s a must-watch for anyone looking to
sharpen their atlasing skills.
*THANK YOU!*Thank you for your time, expertise, photos, field notes,
encouragement, and generosity. California Bird Atlas is YOU!
See you there,
Justyn Stahl
North Park
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Date: 5/25/26 2:11 pm From: Lee Wagner via groups.io <rleewagner...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula Villa La Jolla Park.
With Alex from Tacoma, searched about 90 min. Heard in N. Central tipu tree, then a few shorter trees on northern boundary, then to NE tipu where Jay D. reported at 11:40. I saw at NE quadrant of that NE tree, good view but no photo. Easily recognized with whitish belly, yellow breast and neck, interrupted by a darker necklace (rust? Did not register) and dark head and back. Other details not recalled. Seen approx 1:30.
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Date: 5/25/26 11:44 am From: Jay Desgrosellier via groups.io <desgrojs...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula - Villa La Jolla Park
Singing male Northern Parula in NE tipu at 11:30 am.
Jay Desgrosellier San Diego, CA
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Date: 5/24/26 9:32 pm From: Nick Thorpe via groups.io <nick.thorpe49...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Lesser Frigatebird
This bird has been posted all over the place today except here, so will try to sum up the key points.
A female Lesser Frigatebird has been seen off-and-on from the San Clemente Pier (in Orange County) since May 20. Initially identified as Magnificent but photos trickled out that were better for Lesser. It has a full white collar and extensively white axillaries / armpits.
The bird was seen by many people from San Clemente today, from at least 7:45am - 4:30pm. The bird was very distant for most of the day, circling around high over the horizon and following fishing boats when they were in the area. The bird ranged between San Mateo Point (SD County line) and Dana Point, visible with a scope from the pier most of the time if someone was keeping track of it.
There was a significant gap in sightings after 4:30pm, and then a few folks scouted south and found the bird in San Diego airspace off Trestles Beach starting at 6:30pm.
Ezekiel Dobson valiantly stayed on the bird until 8:24pm, and observed it flying low over the ground along the Trestles Beach trail
here: (33.3902160, -117.5930730)
The bird eventually disappeared over the hill, but the hope is that it has gone to roost locally in San Diego County.
If this is the case, the bird should wake up in San Diego County tomorrow and theoretically be visible from somewhere along the Trestles Beach trail (I would suggest the trailhead personally) as it flies out over the ocean. The assumption is this would happen at or a little before dawn.
There absolutely will be a lot of people looking for this bird from the San Clemente Pier tomorrow, so if you miss the bird in San Diego County, there should be positive/negative confirmation of the bird at its “usual” spot by early morning.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
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Date: 5/24/26 4:10 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hooded Warbler Pt Loma
This of course is a private driveway in a private yard for the hooded warbler so people should not go way inside the driveway and rather stay near the entrance section. The driveway forms a semicircle and so the bird is in the back right corner as David says. So think of it as being at 1:00 on the crescent. I had to wait over 20 minutes for it to come back to that area but once it showed up then it stayed in that area for quite a while, but it is coming and going and you just have to wait quietly at the beginning of the driveway. Also, if anybody is in the area chasing the hooded warbler be aware that the Tennessee warbler in the tipus at Point Loma Nazarene University, next to the cafeteria, that Alex found yesterday is still present today as well.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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On Sun, May 24, 2026 at 1:59 PM, David Trissel via groups.io<dtrissel...> wrote: Continues. Really likes the tiny tree/shrub just to the left of the large palm on the right side of the driveway.
David Trissel et al.San Diego, CA
On May 24, 2026, at 11:33 AM, Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> wrote:
I just got a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Warbler foraging on the ground in the front yard of 3646 Rosecroft Lane. This was at 11:20 am.
Brennan Mulrooney
--
Brennan Mulrooney
Santee, CA
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Date: 5/24/26 1:59 pm From: David Trissel via groups.io <dtrissel...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hooded Warbler Pt Loma
Continues. Really likes the tiny tree/shrub just to the left of the large palm on the right side of the driveway.
David Trissel et al.
San Diego, CA
> On May 24, 2026, at 11:33 AM, Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> wrote:
>
> I just got a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Warbler foraging on the ground in the front yard of 3646 Rosecroft Lane. This was at 11:20 am.
>
> Brennan Mulrooney
>
>
> --
> Brennan Mulrooney
> Santee, CA
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 5/24/26 11:33 am From: Brennan Mulrooney via groups.io <Frozentoze...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hooded Warbler Pt Loma
I just got a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Warbler foraging on the ground in the front yard of 3646 Rosecroft Lane. This was at 11:20 am.
Brennan Mulrooney
--
Brennan Mulrooney
Santee, CA
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Date: 5/24/26 9:04 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bank Swallow at Lower Otay
Sunday morning in the cool overcast there's a Bank Swallow working the very east end of Lower Otay Lake, where the Ruff was last fall, with plenty of Cliff Swallows and five or six Trees and a couple Barns, one of which is leucistic with an entirely white head and some white patches in the wings. Also five Bonapartes Gulls on the lake.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/24/26 4:54 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic 23 May: South Polar Skua, 4 Cocos, 8 Murres, Ashies, Sabine's
The San Diego pelagic trip on 23 May aboard "Legacy" out of Mission Bay and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society traveled out to the 9-Mile and 30-Mile Banks region under pleasant weather conditions. Highlights of the trip included a well-seen South Polar Skua, a total of 4 Cocos Boobies, 8 getting-late Common Murres, several Ashy Storm-Petrels and Sabine's Gulls, and a Blue Whale. Totals for the day once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
Surf Scoter 1 (northbound)
Pomarine Jaeger 1
jaeger sp. 1
South Polar Skua 1 (30-Mile Bank)
Common Murre 8 (good count for late season; mostly around 6 mi off Mission Bay)
Scripps's Murrelet 19
Cassin's Auklet 22
Sabine's Gull 5
Heermann's Gull 4
Western Gull 150
Elegant Tern 60
Pacific Loon 11 (northbound)
Ashy Storm-Petrel 3
Black Storm-Petrel 800
Sooty Shearwater 1200
Pink-footed Shearwater 50
Black-vented Shearwater 8
Cocos Booby 4
Brandt's Cormorant 3
Brown Pelican 40
Blue Whale 1
For information on our 2026 schedule of future pelagic trips on nine dates between early June and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Dan Jehl, Matt Sadowski, Bridget Spencer, San Diego
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Date: 5/23/26 5:27 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tipu birds
Tipu trees, as many people know, can be quite attractive to a variety of insectivores, including quite a few vagrant species, typically during the months of October to January or February. Rarely are they attractive in spring. This year, however, appears to be an exception, and there are quite a few (though not all) tipu clumps around the county supporting a fair number of migrants and a few vagrants over the past week or two. The rarities include several Tennessee Warblers in just the past few days, plus at least one Parula. The dominant regular migrants frequenting tipus lately have been Warbling Vireo and Yellow and Wilson's Warblers. Certainly it is worth regularly checking your favorite patches over the next couple weeks while there is still migration and we're in the midst of vagrant season.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/22/26 8:06 am From: Sara Baase Mayers via groups.io <sarabirdingg...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Swift over Point Loma, ~7:30AM
Long, slim, pointed wings; short tail; swift size & shape body. Appeared all dark but under the clouds, probably most birds would. Circling lazily high but under heavy cloud cover, occasionally flapping a little. I was at first uncertain because the wings were pretty much straight out, and I expected them to curve back, but I've now found lot of photos showing them fly with wings fairly straight. We were on Silvergate Ave; the bird was east of the end of Warner St.
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ======================
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Date: 5/22/26 8:06 am From: Sara Baase Mayers via groups.io <sarabirdingg...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Black Swift over Point Loma, ~7:30AM
Long, slim, pointed wings; short tail; swift size & shape body. Appeared all dark but under the clouds, probably most birds would. Circling lazily high but under heavy cloud cover, occasionally flapping a little. I was at first uncertain because the wings were pretty much straight out, and I expected them to curve back, but I've now found lot of photos showing them fly with wings fairly straight. We were on Silvergate Ave; the bird was east of the end of Warner St.
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ======================
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Legoland California - 5
San Luis Rey River--Foussat to Douglas - 6
Santa Ysabel Mission - 6
Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 7
Henshaw Scenic Vista - 8
Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 12
Konyn Dairy (private property) - 12
Barrel Springs - 13
Mt. Hope Cemetery - 13
Valley Middle School Trail - 13
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Crest Drive (Encinitas)
Leon Avenue & Berry Park
Camp Pendleton--Macs Road Ponds (restricted access)
El Camino Country Club Pond -- Vista Way
Glen Park (Cardiff)
Self-Realization Fellowship (Encinitas)
Heritage Park (Chula Vista)
Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Cold Stream Trail
Sunnyslope Park
Borrego Springs--NW residential
4S Ranch Heritage Park
Holiday Park
stakeout Eastern Phoebe, City Heights (2020–24)
W 16th St at Cleveland Ave
Chase Field
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Big Spring
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail
Otay Valley Regional Park--Heart Pond Trails
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--south
stakeout Abert’s Towhees, San Diego Co. (2024–2026)
Cheers,
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Date: 5/20/26 4:46 pm From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Introducing BLOCKBOARD: Progress Dashboard for California Bird Atlas
Blockboard, Big Weekend, and the next CBA Town Hall. See message from Van,
below.
Justyn Stahl
North Park
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Van Pierszalowski via groups.io <van...>
>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Introducing BLOCKBOARD: Progress Dashboard for
California Bird Atlas
To: <CALBIRDS...>
Hi all,
*Blockboard:*
We are excited to announce the launch of *Blockboard*, the new progress
dashboard for California Bird Atlas (CBA). Blockboard is designed to help
atlasers quickly identify which species still need breeding confirmations
within each Atlas block. To explore Blockboard, *click HERE
<https://californiabirdatlas.org/blockboard>*.
For a quick introduction, check out this short video
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpjVGSaKIaE&t=1s> from Sam Safran, CBA’s
Science Director and the creator of Blockboard. The dashboard will update
daily (or close to it) as new Atlas data comes in.
*CBA Big Weekend:*
We’re also getting closer to the first annual CBA Big Weekend (June 4–7,
2026). More than 30 field trips and community events are already planned
across the state. You can read more about Big Weekend, browse events, and
register your own event *HERE
<https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/bigweekend>*.
Thank you to all 4,173 contributors who have already submitted 108,933
Atlas checklists (!) from 6,526 Atlas blocks. We are so grateful for the
California birding community's engagement on this multi-year project.
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Date: 5/18/26 1:49 pm From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tennessee Warbler - La Jolla Farms
Around noon today there was a male TENNESSEE WARBLER in the Tipus behind the LDS center on La Jolla Farms Rd. Beware of a couple of dull, young Orange-crowned Warblers foraging in the same trees.
Alex Abela
Escondido, CA
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Date: 5/18/26 1:24 pm From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Tennessee Warbler - La Jolla Farms Rd
At noon today there was a male TENNESSEE WARBLER in the tipus behind the LDS center on La Jolla Farms Rd. Beware of two drab, young Orange-crowned Warblers foraging in the same trees.
Alex AbelaEscondido, CA
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Date: 5/18/26 9:01 am From: Sara Baase Mayers via groups.io <sarabirdingg...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula - Point Loma
The N Parula continues in the tipus at PLNU this morning (Monday, May 18) ~8AM. Yellow Warbler and many other birds in the same trees.
====================== Sara Baase Mayers Point Loma (San Diego) ======================
On 5/16/2026 11:11 AM, Alex Abela via groups.io wrote: > This morning there was a singing male NORTHERN PARULA at Point Loma Nazarene University. The bird was in the small cluster of tipu trees near the main singing hall. > > Approx: > > (32.7177571, -117.2498247) > > Alex Abela > Escondido, CA > > > > >
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Date: 5/17/26 10:18 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] La Jolla: Manx & 18,000 Sooties, 1700 pelicans
A seawatch at La Jolla first thing Sunday morning produced high counts of 18,000 Sooty Shearwaters and 1700 Brown Pelicans. The shearwaters were all streaming south for the first 90 minutes (6:00-7:30AM) but then dried up. The pelicans were mostly standing on the cliffs and the rocks in front of seawatch and were the most I'd ever seen all at once there. And like the shearwaters, their numbers thinned as the morning wore on. A single Manx Shearwater flew by after all the Sooties had cleared out--the only black-and-white shearwater seen today. One Pomarine and two Parasitic Jaegers. Still good numbers of mostly one-year-old Heermann's Gulls (180) with now several adults present as well, perhaps early-arriving failed breeders from the south?
By the way, 18,000 Sooty Shearwaters would have been nothing back in the 1970s and 1980s, but major declines in this species (and in Short-tailed) since then means that the many counts of yesteryear of six digits and occasional million or more are pretty much a thing of the past in many areas.
--Paul Lehman & Jay Desgrosellier, San Diego
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Date: 5/16/26 6:30 pm From: Gary Grantham via groups.io <ggrantham020...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Correction on the PLNU Calliope
Make the location north of the main entrance, not east. Sorry.
Gary Grantham
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Date: 5/16/26 2:40 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] misc. rarities the past week; and my annual Ring-billed Gull plea
Some miscellaneous rarities or late species I've seen over the past week, none quite at the high excitement level worthy of a post to the listserv, include:
A late Least Sandpiper at Jacumba on 10 May is the second-latest record of a spring migrant in the county, with one later record from late May at the Salt Works years ago.
A late-lingering, presumed wintering Tropical Kingbird was along the north side of the main Dairy Mart Pond on 13 May. There are a small number of even later records in May and even into the beginning of June of wintering birds in California.
A singing Black-and-white Warbler at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery on 12 May, first found by Nick Thorpe.
In addition to the returning territorial male Indigo Bunting at Lake Hodges for its second year, there have been two migrant males out on Point Loma: 12 May in residential Point Loma and 14 May at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
A late "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrow was at Coronado Cays on 13 May.
A late Green-tailed Towhee was at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery on 16 May.
There are still 7+ Bonaparte's Gulls hanging out north of Pond 23 at the Salt Works, and we'll see if any of them try to summer. The last lingering immature American Herring Gull I saw was on the 7th. And here is a good place to mention one of my annual pet peeves: the over-reporting of late-spring and summer Ring-billed Gulls! Reports keep trickling in every year from May-July from places where they would be very rare but where young California Gulls are routine. The last Ring-billed I've seen this spring was at the very beginning of the month (but not since) at EastLake, where one occasionally summers. I have now seen zero at J Street in Chula Vista this entire month, where there are hundreds of Californias, nor at the San Diego River mouth. Probably the best place to look for summering Ring-billeds is at inland lakes and at parks with ponds and lawns where people feed the ducks (but where there are also Californias)....
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
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Date: 5/16/26 2:33 pm From: Gary Grantham via groups.io <ggrantham020...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Calliope - PLNU
There was a rather late male Calliope Hummingbird this morning (5/16/26) about 50 yards east of the the main entrance at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Gary Grantham
Scripps Ranch
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Date: 5/16/26 11:11 am From: Alex Abela via groups.io <thebuzz90...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Northern Parula - Point Loma
This morning there was a singing male NORTHERN PARULA at Point Loma Nazarene University. The bird was in the small cluster of tipu trees near the main singing hall.
Approx:
(32.7177571, -117.2498247)
Alex Abela
Escondido, CA
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Date: 5/16/26 6:51 am From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] California Bird Atlas update, Big Weekend, 10,000 hours, and more
Hello Atlasers!
San Diego, we're crushing it! As of this morning (16 May), we've reached a
major milestone: 10,000 hours in the field atlasing! That effort has
produced data for 71% of blocks (305 of 429) and 150 Confirmed species!
If you haven't checked out the Atlas Dispatch, it's available here
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/atlas-dispatch-april-2026> and
features lots of great documentation and media from our active San Diego
community. Quick reminder: notes and photos matter. You never know what may
be a first for the state, county, or block, or an unusually early or later
breeding event. Not sure what to say? This Breeding Code Commenting Guide
<https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/comments> highlights the key things
to mention for each code.
One quick aside, if you're reading this and haven't joined the California
Bird Atlas <https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/>, what's stopping you? If
you're already eBirding, you're most of the way there. Once you join the
project <https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home>, it's simply a matter of
adding breeding codes to your checklist. And now is a *great* time to join
us as parks and backyard are full of fledglings and active breeders!
*Save the date for the Big Weekend
<https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/bigweekend> (June 4–7)!*
The Big Weekend will focus on:
1. recruiting more atlasers (bring a friend!)
2. expanding coverage (fill in that map!)
3. spreading the word (share your discoveries!)
Host an event for the Big Weekend! A number of atlas-themed field trips are
being planned throughout the state, but even unofficial outings can be
included in our calendar. Consider:
Organizing a "birds & beers" meet-up to discuss atlasing
Lead an owl prowl in your neighborhood to build up our nocturnal effort
Plan an atlas-focused trip to a remote corner of the county (or beyond!)
If you have a birding buddy who is not using the atlas, encourage them to
do so, and show them how easy it Is to contribute to the growing wealth of
knowledge we've built in the last 5 months.
We've got some new tools to share soon, but for now, this tool
<https://atlas.calbirds.org/>, which combines the effort map with the
hotspot map, is an easy way to identify areas in need of coverage. The May
mini-challenge is to add effort to new blocks. A quick glance at the map
suggests two key areas in need of coverage (multiple consecutive blocks
with no Confirmed species):
1. the area bounded by roughly Rainbow, Escondido, Lake Henshaw, and
Palomar Mountain.
2. the area between Otay Lakes and Jacumba
We still have 4.5 years to go, but now is a great time to do some pioneer
atlasing in these areas! Find a trail or a city park, or even a short stop
between home and your main destination for the day, and atlas your heart
out!
You don’t need to travel far to make an impact. One effective strategy is
to look at species maps <https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/map/blkpho> and
target missing Confirmed blocks near home. For example, Black Phoebe is
often straightforward to confirm by watching for food carries and readily
nests on sheltered spaces in public park buildings. A few examples of
blocks in need of Black Phoebe confirmation:
Del Mar CE (Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve)
La Jolla Oe W CE (Calumet Park?)
Point Loma Oe W NE (much of PLNU falls in this block).
Consider building a target list of yet-to-be-Confirmed species for your
home block and spend extra time watching those species on your next outing.
Thanks for your incredible work so far. Happy atlasing!
Justyn Stahl (North Park)
Review Coordinator, California Bird Atlas (CBA)
www.californiabirdatlas.org
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