Here's a few observations of note from the first two weeks of December.
Cackling Geese - two good sized skeins flew over Mount Sutro on 12/1 totalling 210, one of the groups included a single ROSS'S GOOSE.
SNOW GEESE - a loner flew over Mount Sutro 12/1, 11 were seen flying past Sunset Reservoir 12/8 with 9 Greater White-fronted Geese and 2 have been seen by m.ob frequenting Harding Park and various points on Lake Merced since 12/8 and still present yesterday
Golden-crowned Kinglets - these have been much scarcer this fall in contrast to last year when they were ubiquitous . At least two were noted in a mixed flock on the west side of Buena Vista Park 12/11
Song Sparrow (Montana/merrili ssp.) - one of this subspecies group was along the trail up from Christopher Drive on Mount Sutro OSP yesterday (12/15) following point counts. Differs from local song sparrows in being mostly gray and rufous toned. A couple of photos here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288748159
BULLOCK's ORIOLE -a first winter individual was working the blooming exotics along the edges of Corona Heights park along States and Roosevelt Streets midday on 12/13. I was not able to relocate the oriole today but it may be somewhere in the neighborhood which has lots of foraging options
Tricolored Blackbirds - a small group can be found at McCoppin Square in the Sunset in the morning feeding with a large flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds. This morning there were 12; the blackbird flock feeds on food left out behind the library at 22nd and Taraval.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER ssp. sordida - presumably the same individual noted at the end of October and observed on multiple occasions in November and early December continued at Corona Heights Park this morning, in the blackberry/cape ivy tangle accessed from 15th Street at the Tennis Courts
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER** - a very rare in winter for Northern California MacGillivray's Warbler first located by *Sam Talarigo on 12/3, this bird continues to be observed in the same are as recently as yesterday (12/15) in the willows on the golf course side of the Wooden Bridge at North Lake Merced. CBC surveyors for that territory take note.
Northern Yellow Warbler - wintering bird continued in the myoporum/albizia thickets near the Lake Merced Boathouse on 12/8.
