Date: 9/16/25 1:52 pm From: Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf...> Subject: [SFBirds] Fall Notes/Recent Misc. from Bernal Heights
Hi SF Birders,
Good to see fall heating up, I've been greatly enjoying everyone finding good birds all over town and being able to see a few of them. Mostly I have been patch birding here in Bernal Heights and taking note of migration activity. Notable observations from the past month or so are below.
Tue 8/19: late August on Bernal Hill was characterized by big flocks of dispersing HOUSE FINCH, HOUSE SPARROW, and LESSER GOLDFINCH foraging on the blackberry patches and dry grasses and seeds. 49 House Sparrow was the peak on this day. Two WILSON'S and one YELLOW WARBLER were noted on this date as well as two BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and at least one dispersing AMERICAN KESTREL and WESTERN BLUEBIRD. A flyover warbler was suggestive of Magnolia but could not confirm. Also in late August, I noted the restarting of the morning commute of AMERICAN CROW from their downtown nonbreeding roost south over this part of town. This occurs at dawn and is still increasing on average now in mid Sept, though it fluctuates daily. This was the last date I recorded HOODED ORIOLE which breed in backyards abutting the Hill.
Thurs 8/21: CEDAR WAXWING and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER on Bernal Hill. House Finch flocks peaked at 91 and Lesser Goldfinch at 22. Midday skywatch at my house saw migrant RED-TAILED HAWK and AMERICAN KESTREL (one each).
Fri 8/22: arrival of dispersing SPOTTED TOWHEE on Bernal Hill, migrants included a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and 4 WESTERN TANAGERS.
Thu 8/28: morning feeder watch at my house yielded migrant BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and PINE SISKINS. 10 CASPIAN TERN was a good count as these leave our region.
Wed 9/3: first good migrant total of the season on Bernal Hill included 10 WESTERN TANAGER, 5 YELLOW WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, F.o.S. TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, several more unidentified flyover warblers, NORTHERN HOUSE WREN, and F.o.S. WESTERN FLYCATCHER. Morning crow commute up to 99. Last day that I noted Caspian Tern.
Thurs 9/4: birds identified from morning warbler flight included BLACK-THROATED GRAY, two ORANGE-CROWNED, and 9 YELLOW. WESTERN and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS present.
Many of the same recent migrants on the Hill on Fri 9/5. Arriving home after a pelagic on Sun 9/7, a small flock of ELEGANT TERNS flew over the house at dusk with encroaching fog.
Tues 9/9: a rare September rain grounded a WESTERN FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, and 9 YELLOW WARBLERS on Bernal Hill.
Fri 9/12: numbers of TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (4) and WESTERN TANAGER (4) began to increase on Bernal Hill. Other migrants included WESTERN FLYCATCHER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and YELLOW WARBLER (7), plus an unidentified calling Bunting sp.
Sun 9/14: big uptick in migrants and wintering arrivals on the Hill. 8 sparrow species included SAVANNAH, LINCOLN'S, GOLDEN-CROWNED, and WHITE-CROWNED (3) in addition to the regular species. Two SAY'S PHOEBES were chased relentlessly around the hill all morning by each other and other passerines (why? does anyone know?). Migrants included WARBLING VIREO, WESTERN FLYCATCHER (2), WILSON'S, TOWNSEND'S, and YELLOW WARBLERS (4), plus WESTERN TANAGER (4). An ACORN WOODPECKER flew by going north.
Mon 9/15: much of the same, with the addition of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and Sooty FOX SPARROWS (2). Rarity found was the previously reported ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. With the warm weather, midday skywatch from the house began to produce, with migrant BARN SWALLOW, RED-SHOULDERED and RED-TAILED HAWKS.
Tues 9/16: another good morning on the Hill for migrants, mainly warblers. ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY (2), TOWNSEND'S (6), YELLOW (8), and more unidentified flying over. Active flight of WESTERN TANAGER, a tally of 17 was probably an undercount. WESTERN FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK also present.
Patch birding and watching these trends is pretty rewarding and the best days are surely still to come!
