Date: 9/18/26 7:02 pm From: Ginger Langdon-Lassagne via groups.io <binzer...> Subject: Re: [southbaybirds] Nutcracker/montane invasion year
Hi Folks —
From my perspective here in San Luis Obispo County, everything Aidan is saying rings true. Henry Coe summits and Mt. Hamilton are particularly similar to the habitats where we’ve had Pinyon Jays and Nutcrackers, showing up in the past three days here. Today’s SLO-local sightings were truly one for the record books.
Get thee to a Summit! Bird On! (hat tip to Bill & Kitty)
Ginger
Oh! And as a p.s. — While you’re out there, DO NOT forget to note ANY breeding bird behavior, of any species, please! AND please post it to the California Bird Atlas! As has been very evident, the birds do NOT seem to care what we think about maps, dates, or the schedules we want them to adhere to, for our own convenience. Climate change is making things really weird this year, with the epic El Niño going on. I’ve had Nests with Eggs codes where there should be none, for at least a month!
Ginger Langdon-Lassagne
San Luis Obispo Regional Coordinator
California Bird Atlas
https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/
California Bird Atlas
californiabirdatlas.org
> On Sep 18, 2026, at 6:13 PM, Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> No sightings in SCC yet, but over the last day there have been nutcrackers reported in the East Bay, San Francisco, and even a single apparently offshore in Mendocino. It seems this year birds have been irrupting out of the Great Basin - many nutcrackers have been in Santa Barbara as well recently, and Pinyon Jays have been reported in some sites across SoCal though in smaller numbers.
>
> It does seem that the invasion has hit the Bay Area however, so it would definitely be a good time to start checking high elevation sites within the county. Some sites could include Monte Bello, Loma Prieta, Mount Umunhum, Mount Madonna, and Skyline Boulevard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Diablo Range, including Henry Coe SP and Mount Hamilton/San Antonio Valley Roads, are also possibly worth a check.
>
> In addition to the corvids, Evening Grosbeaks and Red-breasted Nuthatches are also apparently having an invasion year, so these could also be good targets to search for. Good luck to everyone searching and happy fall birding!
>
> Aidan Sinha
> San Jose
>
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
