Date: 11/3/25 7:54 am From: Tim Bray via groups.io <tbray...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Tropical Kingbird and other South coast birds
2 November 2025 - At the Garcia River flats there were five Greater
White-fronted Geese and two interesting small Canadas, likely the Lesser
Canada Goose subspecies (Branta canadensis parvipes).
The five White-fronted were later seen again near the mouth of the
Garcia River. Also there were a small flock of Wigeon, including one
that appears to be the rare variant called "Storm Wigeon" with a
gray-white head; this may be the same bird I saw there on October 11. I
didn't see the Eurasian that had been there before, but fog and glare
made it difficult to see details.
A large flock of Gulls in the river mouth included six species:
Bonaparte's, Short-billed, California (several hundred), American
Herring, Western, and Glaucous-winged. It was fun to see the little
Bonaparte's in among all the big Larids.
On a fence off Stoneboro Road we found a Tropical Kingbird hawking
insects (and what looked like a bumblebee).
On a fence off Kinney Lane was a Say's Phoebe, also hawking insects.
Still very few raptors down there, a bit concerning. Returning home,
however, there was a beautiful Ferruginous Hawk hovering and kiting over
the fields opposite the Post Office.
Pretty nice morning for us!
--
Cheers,
Tim
“I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the
albatross.” Robert Cushman Murphy, 1912
mendocinocoastaudubon.org
kzyx.org/show/ecology-hour
kzyx.org/show/oak-and-thorn
