On Tuesday, 7/14, the summering HOODED WARBLER continued at it's new location (where it has now been observed for several weeks longer than the old location) along the Steep Ravine Trail which parallels Clarendon Drive along the north edge of Laguna Honda Open Space/Hospital grounds. The Hooded Warbler sang regularly from about 6:30 when we first arrived until about 6:40 when it stopped and flew further up the slope of the canyon in the direction of the hospital buildings.
Some late season breeding notes -
Olive-sided Flycatcher - Mount Sutro OSP where confirmed by Connor Schmidt and Michelle Moir carrying nesting material in late May, adults were accompanied by a begging fledgling 7/12. The breeding territory is at the top of Woodland Canyon Creek near the jct of Edgewood/Historic/Fairy Gates trails where they have nested every year since at least 2021. This is the only(last) breeding territory for this species in the city/county since they stopped breeding on Mount Davidson c. 2017
Swainson's Thrush - Laguna Honda/Steep Ravine Trail, while looking for the Hooded Warbler on 7/13 I observed an agitated Swainson's Thrush carrying food and giving alarm calls while a CA. Scrub Jay poked around the area possibly looking to predate the young. This confirms Swainson's Thrush in the 3rd block in SF in addition to juveniles found at Dragonfly Creek (C.Schmidt) and Mountain Lake Park (Logan Kahle)
And some probable/possible breeding species still unconfirmed:
Ruddy Duck - if they bred successfully this year adults should be accompanied by juveniles any day now, with South Lake Merced around the Concrete bridge the most consistent and easily observable site
White-throated Swifts - have been observed entering weeps in the HWY 101 overpass in the Presidio above McDowell Ave/Pet Cemetery/Presidio Stables. Adults carrying food to nests will display a distended throat - tough to observe but possible with some patience. Other probable locations under HWY 280 at Mission Creek/Islais Creek and the 101/280 jct near Alemany Market
Green Heron - a pair has been noted all spring around the Concrete Bridge.
Western (Pacific-slope) Flycatcher - last reports of vocalizing adults have been from around the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park. The area west of El Polin around the Ecology Trail is another potential breeding area. I have not heard them this spring from various locations in East and West Golden Gate Park where they have been suspected of nesting in previous years
American Goldfinch - this species was once a relatively common breeder in willow stands in the north/west portion of the city (Land's End, Presidio, Lake Merced) but essentially disappeared c. 2018 around the time of an extended drought. There's been a few reports this summer from Land's End where there is lots of good looking habitat (extensive willow stands)
