Date: 11/7/24 12:37 pm From: Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> Subject: [sbcobirding] Chestnut-sided Wrbler at Chase Palm Park
Steve Colwell and I found a very active Chestnut-sided Warbler in the Park this morning. It was working the trees on both sides of the bridge over the creek. Steve got good photos. The bird showed a chestnut stripe on the side, chartreuse head, green back, and greenish-yellow wingbars on dark wings. We observed it for several minutes. It's possible it may be the same bird that stayed here last winter well into spring.
We had other good birds in the park. Steve found a female Wood Duck in the pond, hanging out with the Mallards. Later on in a cork oak at the east end of the park, we found a bright Yellow Warbler. Overall activity was very good in the park and we saw a lot of birds, the majority of which were Yellow-rumped Warblers. We particularly looked for a Plumbeous Vireo but did not find one this morning.
After leaving the park, we checked out the gulls at east beach. The flock was mostly on the far side of the giant pond that has formed since the outlet is not currently open to the beach. Highlights were about 60 Black Skimmers, over 100 Royal Terns; Heerman's and California Gulls at well over 100 each, and a female Ring-necked Duck in the pond with Buffleheads and Coots.
We scanned the gull flock for unusual species but didn't turn any up; however, we didn't spend a lot of time doing it and could easily have missed something. Shorebirds were few (Least Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers). Interesting sight was a group of Western Meadowlarks foraging at the vegetated western edge of the estuary near Stearns Wharf.
Florence Sanchez
