Date: 3/15/26 5:12 pm From: David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann...> Subject: [SFBirds] Fort Mason Local Interest
A great mixture of overwintering and arriving birds resulted in sightings of 62 species at Fort Mason this morning for the GGBA field trip. A male SUMMER TANAGER turning into alternate plumage (picture attached) gave us nice views as it hunted wasps in the garden. The BULLOCKS x BALTIMORE ORIOLE was in full song first thing this morning (interestingly Merlin wasn't able to ID it at all, even at very close range - maybe this hybrid isn't in its database), and spent some time no more than 20 feet away from the group. A little while later a male HOODED ORIOLE was in the Avocado tree, and then in one of the Eucalyptus - presumably the same bird found yesterday. Two NASHVILLE WARBLERS were chasing each other on the north side of the garden. The overwintering NORTHERN FLICKER - YELLOW-SHAFTED x RED-SHAFTED spent close to 30 minutes preening in the Cabbage Palm in the garden. One of the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS is still there, but we didn't see any HERMIT THRUSHES. We were able to find one of the adult GREAT HORNED OWLS, but not either of the two fledglings seen this week. BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS are back, and a PIGEON GUILLEMOT was swimming along the pier in Aquatic Park. At the end of the morning both TREE SWALLOWS and a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW flew over.
