Date: 4/10/25 4:33 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] spring migration breakthrough and other misc. observations
After a noticeably slow start there was an uptick in migration today (4/10/25) on Corona Hill. A mixed flock of in the live oaks on the north side of the hill included -
Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird - female, Allen's hummingbird was last noted nesting here in 2019. Nashville Warbler (first of spring, uncommon in spring - only my third for this site) Orange-crowned Warbler (4) Wilson's Warbler (a somewhat late fos for this site, with a range of 3/18 - 4/19 over the past 13 years, median arrival date 4/5)
Here's some additional misc. observations since the spring Equinox:
White-winged Scoters - 2 flew by the south end of Ocean Beach during a seawatch on 3/23
Band-tailed Pigeons - the resident population in the area of Forest Hill/Mount Sutro/Laguna Honda continues to be observed on a near daily basis through the first week of April. multiple birds and courtship behavior
Vaux's Swift - bucking the trend of late migration there's been an early push of these through the region including a single bird seen flying over Inspiration point in the Presidio on 4/5
Rufous Hummingbird - a migrant adult male was displaying on Mount Sutro at the Summit 4/3
Turkey Vultures- 24 tallied over Battery Godfrey 3/24, 8 over Inspiration Point 4/5 with 5 of these taking off from a night roost in Julius Khan Eucalyptus Grove , 8 over City College 4/6
Sharp-shinned Hawks - 20 from Battery Godfrey 3/24, singles over Corona Hill (4/8 -10) and 2 from Mount D yesterday
Cooper's Hawk - 5 from Battery Godfrey 3/24, pairs in various stages of breeding have also been noted recently from Corona Hill/City College
Bald Eagle - 2 from Battery Godfrey 3/24, Corona Hill 3/25, Mount Sutro 4/3, Corona Hill 4/4, Inspiration Point 4/5.
Northern Flicker - pair observed copulating on Mount Sutro 4/4 by D. Scali ("The Nest Whisperer") and company was intriguing. Flicker recolonized SF as a breeder quite recently starting in the Presidio in 2013 but have not been confirmed breeding away from there and the Land's End area. Last year a couple of Flickers were seen in the area of Mount Sutro in the summer. I suspect this may be a response to habitat restoration taking place here as the Eucalyptus plantation is thinned out.
Purple Martin -3+ were noted by m.ob from Battery Godfrey 3/24
Cliff Swallow - Battery Godfrey 3/24 was the first arrival for the county
Golden-crowned Kinglet - remnants of last fall's irruption were still lingering to the end of March. a pair at inspiration point 4/5, with one of them singing was notable and worth following up on in upcoming weeks. Golden-crowned Kinglet has been confirmed breeding in SF
Western Bluebird - nest building noted at McCoppin Square 4/4 (female carrying nesting material into cavity) as this species consolidates its expansion in SF into smaller parks and green spaces
American Goldfinch - scarce in SF in recent years and possibly extirpated as a breeder. 5 from Battery Godfrey 3/24, singles over Inspiration Point 4/5 and Corona Hill 4/9
White-throated Sparrow - a white-stripe morph associating with Golden-crowns at Sunnyside Rec 4/6 may have been a migrant or hold-over wintering bird
Orchard Oriole - the wintering bird at Elk Glen was singing away 3/27, hasn't been reported since but might still be around
Orange-crowned Warbler - a healthy count of (9) were noted during on a one way transect of Glen Canyon 4/6 where this species is a possible breeder
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Swinhoe's White-eyes - 3 birds were still present on Waller Street @ Clayton 4/3.
