Date: 9/19/25 6:00 pm From: basquebirder via groups.io <allaboutbirds...> Subject: [SFBirds] Land's End Migrants and Grace's Warbler 09/19
Hi all,
This morning at around 10am, I met up with Josiah Clark (who had already been out and seen a couple goodies), and we birded all along the Land's End trail. It was obvious there were many birds that must have dropped overnight with the short burst of rain. Townsend's Warblers were seen in good numbers all throughout, we came across our first of season Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Lincoln's Sparrow. We found a MacGillivray's Warbler in the moist willow draw below the VA, which is getting on the late side. The real highlights were over at the East Wash.
At about 1:15pm, in a busy flock right off the golf course path were a variety of migrants (pewee, Townsend's, Yellows...). Between 2 of the Townsend's I noticed this different looking bird. It popped out and it was clear that it was a Grace's Warbler! The East Wash is just north of where one overwintered last year, so it is very likely the same returning bird, which is often the pattern with this species when it overwinters in CA, returning year after year. It flew out of the willows into an adjacent pine where we more or less lost it. If that wasn't exciting enough, in that frenzy Josiah spotted a lovely Chestnut-sided Warbler in the blackberry below us!
eBird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S274304619
We finished the trail and grabbed some lunch at The Art Bistro (not to plug this place, but an amazing deal for a pretty solid sandwich!) and Josiah had the thought to check out some patches of Scarlet Flowering Eucalyptus along the street. We swung by 27th and Lake, where the trees were in full bloom, and not 1 minute passes before this interesting bird flies into the tree behind us, and is a Blackpoll Warbler!
eBird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S274308572
An exciting and productive day to say the least! Has me looking forward to the rare bird round-up tomorrow.
