Date: 9/16/26 8:01 am From: Dorothy Johnson via groups.io <dfj6281...> Subject: Re: [southbaybirds] White-crowned Sparrows and Red-breasted Nuthatches
Hi Everyone,
I was at Ulistac yesterday and saw my FOS WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS and a RED
BREASTED NUTHATCH, probably one of the Lick Mill birds. Also OLIVE SIDED
and WESTERN FLYCATCHERS, and a YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLER. Great day.
Happy birding
Dorothy Johnson
San Jose
On Tue, Sep 15, 2026 at 11:51 PM Gregory Luckert via groups.io
<Greg.luckert...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Melanie is correct—Calabazas Creek near the footbridge is great for fall
> migrants, offering close views due to its size. Standing below the levee on
> the east side during a mid-September mid-morning usually yields most common
> migrants, including willow flycatchers and occasionally red-breasted
> nuthatches.
>
> On a side note, I spotted two white-crowned sparrows today on the Bay
> Trail by the Residence Inn near the lower Guadalupe River. I’ve also been
> seeing and hearing red-breasted nuthatches in unusual spots this year.
>
> Best,
> Greg Luckert
>
> On Tue, Sep 15, 2026 at 21:59 Melanie Barnett via groups.io <mjb2024=
> <proton.me...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Eve! Hi all!
>>
>> I saw my FOS *White-crowned Sparrow* yesterday at Calabazas Creek - and
>> also had a nice view of a calling *Red-breasted Nuthatch.*
>>
>> The Creek was also active with migrants; I had several each of *Western
>> Flycatcher *and *Northern Yellow Warbler.* Checklist:
>> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S393240177 >>
>> Anecdotally, I've seen eBird reports and posts to other birding email
>> lists suggesting there's an irruption of *Red-breasted Nuthatches* in
>> the Bay Area.
>>
>> BTW, if anyone is interested in birding this stretch of the creek, it's
>> easy to access. Park in the Lakewood Village neighborhood, near the path
>> here: 37.3981107, -121.9873974, then walk over to, and across the
>> pedestrian bridge. *Willow Flycatchers* are usually here in September
>> (in fact Greg L. had 2, maybe 3 on Sept 8). I don't know if the vegetation
>> is dense enough now to attract a *Northern Waterthrush*, but one passed
>> through in Sep 19, 2023. Good times!
>>
>> Happy Birding!
>>
>> Melanie Barnett (Sunnyvale)
>>
>> On Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 at 3:55 PM, Eve Meier via groups.io
>> <eve.m.meier...> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Everyone!
>>
>> While walking with my mom at Hellyer CP (northside), I spotted my first
>> of season *White-crowned Sparrows*. So happy for their return. Also, has
>> anyone else noticed more *Red-breasted Nuthatches* lately? I had one
>> across the street from my house and another on a neighborhood walk. That's
>> unusual for my area (Cambrian Area of San Jose).
>>
>> Happy birding!
>>
>> Eve Meier (San Jose)
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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