Date: 2/4/26 8:00 am From: Brooke Miller via groups.io <brooke.bam...> Subject: [southbaybirds] January 2026 Cumulative Bird Report for Santa Clara County
Greetings South Bay Birders:
We started off 2026 with 169 countable birds seen on January 1, and a total
of 206 countable birds for the month of January. The average for January
1st is 158, and the average for the month of January is 202. There were 2
birds that were not ABA-countable in January (see below). Thank you to
everyone that birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB,
eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Of the countable 206 birds that were recorded for January, there were 2
birds rated as rarity (6), and 8 birds rated as rarity (5). As a reminder,
here is what each rarity code means:
**Rarity Codes:
1 = common, always seen in habitat in season.
2 = fairly common, usually in habitat in season, but missed sometimes.
3 = uncommon, always around, but sometimes you can't find.
4 = rare, occurs yearly in the county, but not always in same places.
5 = very rare, does not occur every year.
6 = casual or vagrant, generally fewer than 10 records.
Rarity Code 6’s for January 2026:
1. Black Oystercatcher (6), 2026-01-01, continuing from 2025, at Shoreline
Lake, seen by multiple observers
2. Pelagic Cormorant (6), 2026-01-01, continuing from 2025, in Salt Pond A8
but seen from Alviso Slough Trail, seen by multiple observers
Rarity Code 5’s for January 2026:
1. Black Rail (5), hidden date, location, and observer – ‘sensitive species’
2. Pacific Golden-Plover (5), 2026-01-01, continuing from 2025, along the
entrance road to Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge in Alviso, seen by multiple
observers
3. Red-naped Sapsucker (5), 2026-01-01, continuing from 2025, at Joseph D
Grant County Park, seen by Brooke Miller
4. Brewer’s Sparrow (5), 2026-01-01, continuing from 2025, in Ann Verdi’s
backyard
5. Vesper Sparrow (5), 2026-01-01, continuing from 2025, at the Calera
Creek Trail gate at Ed Levin County Park, seen by Garrett Lau and Dave Weber
6. Clay-colored Sparrow (5), 2026-01-07, at TJ Martin Park, found by
Garrett Lau
7. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (5), 2026-01-20, at Vasona Lake County Park,
found by Dave Weber
8. Townsend’s Solitaire (5), 2026-01-28, at Mt Umunhum, found by Dani
Christensen.
The 2 ABA non-countable bird for January were:
1. Mute Swan, 2026-01-02, continuing from 2025, in Salt Pond A18, by
Garrett Lau
2. Scaly-breasted Munia, 2026-01-04, seen by Heba A, at Almaden Lake Park
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
