Date: 10/13/25 11:16 pm From: Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf...> Subject: [SFBirds] Bernal Heights Fall Misc.
Hello SFBirders,
I thought I would type out some notes from recent patch birding in Bernal Heights, which has been pretty exciting of late during peak fall migration.
Weds, 9/17: a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen on Bernal Hill, the 2nd individual seen that week. Passerine diversity was good, including SAVANNAH SPARROW, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, persisting good numbers of YELLOW WARBLER (9), and an active flight of WESTERN TANAGER (12). Several small raptors flew over, including AMERICAN KESTREL, and an unidentified bird that may have been a Merlin. In a skywatch session from the house later in the morning, the raptor theme continued with migrant SHARP-SHINNED, COOPER’S, and RED-TAILED HAWKS.
Thurs, 9/18: SAY’S PHOEBES continued on the Hill during a windy morning walk (2 from the week prior, 1 still present up until current date). Unique migrants seen included WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and flyover AMERICAN PIPIT (2).
Fri, 9/19: after an overnight rain, some interesting firsts-of-fall appeared on Bernal Hill. STELLER’S JAY was present on the hill and several flyover COMMON LOONS were seen. Migrants included HOODED ORIOLE, WESTERN TANAGER (7), WARBLING VIREO, flyover MERLIN, as well as ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON’S (2), TOWNSEND’S (8), and YELLOW (8) WARBLERS. A heard only grosbeak sounded like another Rose-breasted. Later in the day, I saw a NORTHERN HARRIER fly over my house, a new bird for the yard list.
Sat 9/20: most of the same migrants mentioned above were seen again on Bernal Hill, the highlight was a flyby RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, the first of the fall. A count of 6 YELLOW WARBLERS was the last session of the fall counting more than 2 birds.
Mon 9/22: another NORTHERN HARRIER over the house.
Weds 9/24: migrants of note on Bernal Hill included first of fall WESTERN MEADOWLARK, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (2), and HERMIT WARBLER.
Fri 9/26: increasing numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (13) and the Zonotrichia sparrows. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, PURLE FINCH, HERMIT THRUSH, WESTERN FLYCATCHER, and WARBLING VIREO were notable migrants. A HAIRY WOODPECKER made an appearance on the hill and two BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS flew over, both irregular species here.
Around midday I had a very productive skywatch from my house. In addition to a calling flyover AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, the raptor show delivered: singles of TURKEY VULTURE, OSPREY, SHARP-SHINNED, and COOPER’S HAWKS went over, along with RED-TAILED HAWKS (5) and a phenomenal 15 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS (fourteen of these were reported first by Brian at Fort Scott, and another came from Corona courtesy of Dominik).
Thurs 10/2: over the week prior, a few cold fronts moved through along with some rain. New arrivals were minimal, and much of the same from above continued. During an owling session this night, an AMERICAN BARN OWL was seen hunting on Bernal Hill in addition to the resident GREAT HORNED OWLS.
Fri 10/3: during a morning walk on the Hill, a few uncommon flyovers were seen, including AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, BREWER’S BLACKBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, and EUROPEAN STARLING, all singles. Significant sparrow increases were noted, mainly Zonotrichia, but also FOX SPARROW (4) and LINCOLN’S SPARROW (1). HAIRY WOODPECKER was seen again, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was the first of fall. Also notable were WESTERN FLYCATCHER (a good count of 3 for the date) and VAUX’S SWIFT (2 flyovers).
Later, a skywatch from Bernal Hill saw a good active flight following the cold fronts out of our region. BROWN PELICANS seemed to be relocating in big numbers, a tally of 249 was a new eBird high count for the hotspot. Other movement included VAUX’S SWIFT (22), BARN (1) and VIOLET-GREEN (6) SWALLOWS (plus a few unidentified), BAND-TAILED PIGEON (roughly 100), and CACKLING GOOSE (74, quite distant for me but seen simultaneously by Nancy from Golden Gate Park). Raptors included an unidentified small falcon, NORTHERN HARRIER, COOPER’S HAWK (3), OSPREY (2), TURKEY VULTURE (19), RED-SHOULDERED (6 migrants, 8 total), RED-TAILED (7 migrants, 13 total), and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS (at least 2, maybe as many as 7).
Mon 10/6: much of the same in the morning, notably a small flight of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (18), first of fall NORTHERN FLICKERS (2), and PINE SISKIN, plus another RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. The real show came at lunch, as previously reported to this list: a LARK SPARROW, a few migrant raptors, and large flights of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (at least 172 and likely over 200) and VAUX’S SWIFT (247, a new eBird high count for Bernal Hill).
Tues 10/7: similar morning, notables at lunch included arriving WESTERN MEADOWLARK (6), a late BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and a PEREGRINE FALCON.
Thurs 10/9: a migrant RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH moved through Bernal Hill in the morning.
Fri 10/10: increase in HERMIT THRUSH on Bernal Hill in the morning (4), two BROAD-WINGED HAWKS over the house at lunch.
Sat 10/11: a fun skywatch from Bernal Hill around midday included a good flight of BAND-TAILED PIGEON (227), migrant NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-SHOULDERED and RED-TAILED (2, 8 total) HAWKS, TURKEY VULTURE (11), and an adult light morph FERRUGINOUS HAWK. At one point, a yellow-bellied kingbird with a black tail looped in from the south but did not land - unfortunately I could not see enough field marks in flight to discern between a late WESTERN or CASSIN’S KINGBIRD, though I did not note white edges to the tail.
Sun 10/12: pretty spectacular morning session resulted in 49 species on Bernal Hill. Numbers were good too: Zonotrichia flocks at full strength, dozens of gulls moving through the well-used winter corridor over Alemany, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in particular seemed to be moving - I tallied at least 60 and there could have been several dozen more. Other notables included YELLOW WARBLER (the first in several weeks), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (3), PINE SISKIN, AMERICAN PIPIT (3), CEDAR WAXWING (9), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (23) and VAUX’S SWIFT (2), WESTERN FLYCATCHER, and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.
During lunchtime skywatch from the Hill, migrant VAUX’S SWIFT (4) joined another large flight of 217 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. A pair of WHITE-THROATED SWIFT were noted for the first time this fall. Other notable flyovers included WESTERN BLUEBIRD (2), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (4), and the star of the show, a calling HORNED LARK heading south. This appears to be the first eBird record for the hotspot.
Keep getting out there! No telling what other surprises fall still has in store.
