Date: 2/14/26 11:16 am From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] recent sightings/ Corona Hill Bird Walk
A few notes from the past couple of weeks:
RUFOUS Hummingbird - on 1/13 and on subsequent visits in January and as late as 2/7 a first year male Rufous Hummingbird was frequenting the Abutilon thickets at the Stanyan Street trailhead to Mount Sutro OSP. Amazingly, two first year Rufous wintered at this exact location from November '24 through mid February last year.. This raises the question of epigenetic wintering site fidelity being passed on to offspring (since this year's bird is obviously a different individual) or perhaps just a coincidence.
Golden-crowned Kinglet - a lone GC. Kinglet was at Metson Seep 2/5. This location is near the south side restrooms for the Polo Field, where L. Kahle and C. Henry reported the Red-naped Sapsucker. Unlike 24-25 this winter has been pretty paltry for this species.
Tricolored Blackbirds - a small flock of up to ~20 individuals frequented the feeding area behind the Parkside Public Library off 22nd and Taraval throughout January and into early February. A check of the location yesterday, 2/13, detected no Trikes for the first time since last November so perhaps these have already departed for their breeding grounds
SORDIDA Orange-crowned Warbler - one was in the willow thickets near the Parking lot off Lake Merced Blvd/Bufano Penguin on 2/8. This subspecies is a rare winter resident on the coast from Southern California to the Bay Area and nests on the Channel Islands.
Nashville Warbler - 2/8 the wintering Nashville at Pine Lake Park continued at the west end on the hillside and on 1/29 another was at the Stanyan Street trailhead to Mount Sutro OSP where one wintered last year and is presumably a returning individual
Northern Yellow Warbler - on 2/8 the wintering first winter Yellow Warbler was at its usual location, the myoporum and Albizzia thickets west of the Boathouse at the Hardin Park entrance to Lake Merced Park
Summer Tanager - the continuing bird noted by many at the Arboretum was calling from a stand of cypress/blue gum eucalyptus at the intersection of MLK and Blue Heron Lake Dr. the afternoon of 2/12 right around sunset. For anyone stymied in relocating this bird in the Arb. this is an alternate location to look/listen for it, only a couple hundred meters from where it is usually been seen
Western Tanager - while (unsuccessfully) looking for the Summer Tanager 2/4 I instead found a very drab first year female type Western at the edge of Succulent garden. A few days ago another observer uploaded a checklist with a photo of a different, more brightly colored, female Western from this spot as well. So it appears there are at least 3 different tanagers of 2 species wintering in this part of Golden Gate Park
For those who have been hesitant to join the Breeding Bird Atlas effort, don't be scared! It's basically the same as regular eBirding with the addition of breeding codes and a few other details to keep in mind. If anyone has any questions I'm more than happy to get you started. Through the mid-point of February observers have already confirmed 19 species nesting in San Francisco.
And final note that there are still spots left for the next Corona Hill Bird Walk sponsored by the Randall Museum. We meet at 8 a.m. on Saturday 2/21. You can sign up for the walk at this link:
