Date: 5/2/25 2:16 pm From: Nick Lethaby via groups.io <nlethaby...> Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Buntings and Grosbeaks
Wes,
My impression is that there have not been many WEFL in Refugio this spring. The species presumably breeds there but I haven't heard more than a couple singing in a single day. I also had one bird pass through the migrant watchpoint point.
Nick Lethaby Goleta, CA <nlethaby...> +1 805 284 6200
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-------- Original Message -------- On 4/30/25 11:33 PM, Wes Fritz via groups.io wrote:
> SB Birders, > > I witnessed the same thing today as Cruz and George did today. I have been birding the SYV and the foothills up to Cachuma Camp, with some time on Alisal and Refugio. > I agree the numbers of Laz Buntings have gone 3 fold over the last few days. The BH Grosbeaks have doubled along with Ash-throated Flycstchers. Also, the Western Kingbirds are in the highest numbers in the last few years. The Fiddleneck Flowes are just kinda getting started so Lawrence’s Goldfinch are starting to pair up and their number are increasing everyday. They still are fairly scarce and I have been staking out water sources to find them. The rarest or the noteworthy birds of today were 10 Great-tailed Grackles moving up Happy Canyon and were observed at 7900 Happy Canyon Road. There still is a slow and steady movement of Vaux’s Swifts. > Yesterday saw Florence as she was coming down from her trip up to Cachuma Camping area while I was going up. Today we hit up the cattle troughs for Lawrence’s Goldfinch and then moved over to Cruzita Ranch. As we arrived Cruz and George were headed out for their birding. > I have been out for the last 5 days, birding all day in the north county and there is definitely a good uptick in migrants. > Has anybody noticed lower numbers of Western/Pac Slope Flycatchers. > > Good birding. > > Wes Fritz > 805 895 0685 > <wes-fritz...> > Solvang CA > >> On Apr 30, 2025, at 9:53 PM, Cruz Phillips via groups.io <cruzitas...> wrote: > >> >> Continuing on the Bunting thread...George and I took a drive up Happy Canyon to Cachuma Creek today. We found three flocks of 8, 15+, and 30+ Lazuli Buntings along with several more individuals for a total of 59+ Lazuli Buntings. >> >> We also had a flock of 25+ Black-headed Grosbeaks, the largest single group I have ever seen. They were at the second seep after the old shooting spot. The seep also had Seep Monkeyflower, a beautiful large bright yellow Monkey flower. And 4 Lawrence's Goldfinches, a bird I have not been seeing a lot of this spring. >> >> Other fun birds at the creek included Hermit Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Western Tanager, W. Wood Pewee, Ash-throated Fly, Pac slope Fly, Warbling Vireo, lots of calling Mountain Quail, and a Swainson's Thrush. Plus all the other expected resident birds including Golden Eagle. Some nice flowers too including plenty of Globe Lilies hiding in the shade. >> >> Came home to 2 Black-headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings in the yard. The two Yellow-headed Blackbirds are continuing to stick around with the other blackbirds. >> >> Cruz Phillips >> Las Cruzitas Ranch >> Santa Ynez > >
