Date: 6/18/26 3:37 pm From: Christopher Hayward via groups.io <p_t_nymph...> Subject: [pen-bird] Continuing Bell's Sparrows, Montara Mountain, 6/18/26
Hi All,
Inspired by eBird reports from Ryan Mense and Michael Long I decided to make the hike up Montara Mountain this morning. Starting at the Gray Whale Cove parking lot in partly sunny skies the weather rapidly got worse the higher I went, up near the classic "Bells' Bowl" area the wind was gusting around 30mph and visibility was down to 200ft at best.
This made locating the Bell's Sparrows tough to say the least. Finally after hearing multiple Junco-like "tink" calls I found two Bell's close together just down hill from the old rusted out truck near here at the top of the Alta Vista Trail, 37.56289, -122.48393.
I then headed up the main trail to the "gully" where both Ryan and Michael had photographed another bird, here the wind was really howling but I did get a few brief looks at another Bell's Sparrow there at this location given by Ryan 37.56054, -122.48141.
Bell's Sparrows were first reported here by Dominik Mosur in July 2018 and have been seen every year since with the exception of 2023 and 2024, certainly worth keeping an eye on them as a probable breeding location.
Good idea to try for a less windy and foggy day than me if one decides to hike up the mountain! The views can be amazing on a clear day.
Photos on my eBird list link below
