Date: 9/6/25 4:12 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Friday BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO in Encinitas
I received an email Friday evening after I'd gone to bed (I have back-to-back pelagic trips to lead this weekend) from bird photographer James Colby of a mystery bird he'd photo'd some time on Friday at Cottonwood Creek in Encinitas. The one photo pretty clearly shows a young (juv) BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. It is now 4AM on Saturday, and I've written JC back to find out in what section (upper or lower) of Cottonwood Creek Park the bird was (presumably) in, and at what time. If I hear back before I get too far offshore this morning and lose phone reception, I'll post an update.
As many folks know, this species can be quite sneaky.
This is the first documented county record of Black-billed Cuckoo. Records in CA (just under 20) are about evenly split between one-day-wonders and birds that stay multiple days. Late August and early September is probably the best time for this species in the state.
Paul Lehman, San Diego
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