Date: 3/20/25 1:08 pm From: C Lou via groups.io <cdlou37...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lingering wintering birds (including Grace's Warbler) and other misc. observations
March 20 1230pm.The Grace's Warbler continues in the pines where the wire cross over the trail.Calvin LouSFSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: "Dominik Mosur via groups.io" <dominikmosur...> Date: 3/18/25 12:06 PM (GMT-08:00) To: SF Birds <sfbirds...> Subject: [SFBirds] lingering wintering birds (including Grace's Warbler) and other misc. observations Yesterday, 3/17, spent some time wandering around the west side of SF with the following to report.The GRACE'S Warbler (1st SF City/mainland record, first discovered by J. Facchini 9/24/24) continued at its usual spot, the loose cluster of Monterey Pines and cypresses at the edge of Fort Miley /Lincoln Park Golf course at the 40th and Clement entrance. This bird can be extremely difficult if not impossible to locate if it isn't calling. I encourage people to keep looking for it so we can pin down a departure date; maybe you'll be lucky to hear it sing.On Ocean Beach there was still a large number of wintering SNOWY PLOVERS. I tallied over 70 spread out in three groups between Moraga and north of Lincoln. It's amazing that they persist here considering no visit is without seeing multiple disturbance events, whether chased by dogs or being pushed off their roost spots by oblivious beach goers. Snowy Plovers are already beginning to enter their breeding cycle on beaches on Point Reyes so once again repeat visits, even if you already "got them" for your year list, are helpful in establishing when these birds completely depart the county. A small number of early migrant Whimbrels (5), Marbled Godwits (3) and a healthy count of (1200+) Sanderlings were spread out on Ocean Beach as well and also frequently flushed (mostly by one off leash dobermann - a repeat offender going on 3 years+ based on my notes.)Around 1:30 I was walking around the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park when I heard then saw a swarm of gulls rising up to the north off Spreckels Lake and then stunned to see a LEUCISTIC BALD EAGLE circling overhead briefly before departing to the east with an escort of Ravens. This bird had an all white head and tail but the body and wings appeared a very light gray, comparable to the shade of the mantle on a Herring/Ring-billed Gull. A similar (or perhaps the same) individual has been noted on a number of occasions now in San Francisco and other Bay Area counties.I was surprised to not see a single Tree Swallow yesterday around nesting boxes at the bison paddock where on the same or earlier dates last year large numbers were already prospecting for nests.On 3/16 following surveys on Mount Sutro migrants of note were an apparent _ruber_ ssp RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and an adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, both along the Historic Trail near the junction with the Edgewood trail. Speaking of Rufous Hummingbirds, the pair of young males first noted on 11/1 last year continued at the Stanyan Trailhead together until 2/16. At this point the bird with the more advanced plumage was no longer seen but the one with incomplete gorget stuck around longer, seen for the last time on 3/13.Another species rarely noted as an obvious migrant was a Say's Phoebe that showed up on the recently cleared hillside above Laguna Honda Reservoir on 3/14 and hung out the next day but not seen thereafter.TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS continued to come to scattered offerings behind the Sunset Branch library on Taraval and 22nd ave with (13) still present on the morning of 3/16.Finally; multiple SWINHOE's WHITE-EYES continue to frequent the Waller @ Clayton block in the Haight-Ashbury district. Multiple birds were first noted on 1/21 and as of 3/15 at least two can still be found on most visits. They seem to like the Ficus tree in front of 1480 waller as well as a large Metrosideros on Clayton about 5-6 houses up the hill from the intersection and have also been observed flying into the backyard greenbelt on the east side of Clayton. As many as 3 have been noted at once but most often I'm seeing a pair. For anyone interested in helping monitor the possible expansion of this species I've created a eBird Hotspot : Haight-Ashbury - Swinhoe's White-eyes around Waller St @ Clayton.Spring migration should be ramping up any day now and based on the weather forecast (warming trend) next Monday and Tuesday look good for movement so plan your work/life schedules accordingly.Happy birding to all,Dominik MosurSan Francisco
