Date: 5/8/26 6:30 pm From: 'Pete Sole' via mbbirds <mbbirds...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Loma Prieta mid-morning
Hi birders,
According to BirdCast from Cornell Labs, there's been a measurable
migration pulse through Santa Cruz County the last few days. (For
details see https://dashboard.birdcast.org/region/US-CA-087 .) In any
case, after thinking about it for weeks, I managed to get up to Loma
Prieta, albeit a little late around 8:45am Friday morning. It ended up
being somewhat quiet at the lower saddle. But after spending about 2.5
hours at the upper saddle, a few birders and I observed a number of
interesting species. Highlights included:
* A single BLACK SWIFT which flew through from Santa Clara down into
Santa Cruz county. At first I thought I saw some lighter color on
the neck, perhaps a flash of sun light reflection, but continued
brief looks ruled out White-throated Swift. Overall the bird was
relatively large, all black, with very long sickle shaped wings,
flying quickly with very quick wing beats.
* A small number of repeatedly calling and/or singing OLIVE SIDED
FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, and
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS.
* A single female LAZULI BUNTING. Another birder heard a male singing
but I missed it.
* Multiple ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, including a pair that seemed to
be investigating nest cavities.
* Two WESTERN TANAGERs came through, but I only saw the second at the
upper saddle.
Warblers were limited. A single BLACK-THROATED GRAY and a couple of
TOWNSEND'S at the lower saddle. A single WILSON'S and a few
ORANGE-CROWNED at the upper saddle. There may have been others but
nothing else clearly seen, nor heard.
For those curious, the respective ebird reports are here:
