Date: 10/22/24 1:26 pm From: Nick Lethaby via groups.io <nlethaby...> Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Elings Larks and Poorwill
All,
There have been a notable number of Horned around the South Coast this fall. While on the boat to Scorpion last week I was surprised to see a flock of about 20 Horned Larks heading across the Channel towards the mainland. Given the large populations of Horned Larks on the islands, I am suspecting that these may be source of the recent South Coast birds. WIth the two good years of rain, I suspect many of the island breeder populations are way up. Certainly the presence of at 4 Song Sparrows, 2 Bewick's Wrens and a Loggerhead Shrike on SBI, where these species have just been occasional visitors in the past, suggests that some birds are heading off the main islands to explore new locations.
Nick Lethaby Goleta, CA <nlethaby...> +1 805 284 6200
On Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 at 12:23 PM, Hugh Ranson via groups.io <zonetail1...> wrote:
> This morning there was an impressive flock of 53 Horned Larks at Elings Park. I looked and listened for longspurs amongst them but didn't come up with any. There was a Common Poorwil in the native section, possibly a first record for the park. It flew to the west down the steep chaparral-covered slope. > > Hugh Ranson > SB >
