Date: 12/24/25 7:59 pm From: Keith Maley via groups.io <keith.maley...> Subject: [SFBirds] Saturday, December 26th: Count Week Begins!
The San Francisco Christmas Bird Count is *Monday, December 29*—and *Count
Week runs December 26 through January 1.*
If you can get out birding any time during Count Week, every species you
find in the SF count circle counts and helps strengthen the record for this
year. The forecast is currently looking promising (clear skies, offshore
winds)—a great setup for getting outside and adding birds.
Please *log checklists in eBird* and/or *send uncommon to rare sightings to
this listserve, to me, or to any of the CBC compilers*.
When reporting rare birds, a written description of the exact location is
helpful—but the biggest help is *an exact location with GPS coordinates* so
other birders can re-find your bird. Linked HERE
<https://www.howtogeek.com/689097/how-to-get-latitude-and-longitude-coordinates-from-google-maps/?<utm_source...> are some instructions on how to grab GPS coordinates.
Below is a partial list of uncommon-to-rare targets that would be fantastic
to get on Count Day—and almost as valuable any time during *Count Week
(starting this Saturday, December 26)*.
Happy holidays, happy counting, and good birding to all--
The SF CBC Compilers
David, Anna, Patrick, and Keith
Snow Goose - Merced Harding Boathouse - might have departed? Last seen
on golf course December 15.
Harlequin Duck - Pier 94 / Heron's Head - seems to have departed? But to
where? Last seen at Heron's Head on December 18
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S289264296>.
Long-billed Dowitcher - Pier 94, "Hanson Pond" - last seen December 21
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S289618604>.
MacGilivray's Warbler - Merced Wooden Bridge- last seen December 18
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S289096741>.
Common Gallinule - Lake Merced Concrete - seems to have departed / moved to
other areas of lake? Last seen December 7
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S287747415>.
Gadwall - Lake Merced Wooden Bridge- last seen 12/17.
Gray Catbird - Presidio / Washington Blvd - last seen December 3, and also
Elk Glen Lake last seen December 1.
Eastern Phoebe - Twin Peaks at the reservoir-- last seen November 23.
Lark Sparrow - Candlestick, last seen December 15
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S288736209>.
Palm Warbler - Deboce Park, last seen December 15
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S288790811>.
Northern Harrier- Foraging Heron's Head to Candlestick.
*Unlikely continuing *
Canvasback - Lake Merced Concrete
Rufous Hummingbird - Elk Glen Lake
Grace's Warbler - Fort Miley - last seen November 15.
Tropical Kingbird - Pier 94
*SF Count / San Mateo County Rarities *
Chipping Sparrow (see Telegram report)
Black-and-White Warbler (see Telegram report)
(Likely others outside the county, but within the count circle. I did not
do a careful sweep.)
*Other tough-to-get species we need:*
Pacific Loon
Marbled Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Unlikely in SF during this non-irruption year)
Red-necked Grebe
White-tailed Kite
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
