Date: 10/4/26 7:45 pm From: Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> Subject: [pen-bird] South SM Coast birding today
Hi all,
Today my dad and I headed to the southern San Mateo coast, largely focusing on riparian areas searching for passerines. We started late but were still quite successful!
The major highlights of the day were at least 2 and likely more Evening Grosbeaks at Gazos Creek, a Prothonotary Warbler at Butano Creek in Pescadero, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Seaside School Road.
The Evening Grosbeaks at Gazos were initally seen along the road perched up in alders, with at least 2 present here. I later had at least 1 more perched up in a pine well above the road. I suspect many more were present in the area but only confirmed 2 at once. Others later on did have more in the area. It did seem in the cases that I observed the birds that they were moving down the canyon and towards the coast, although I am not sure if a single group moving around was involved or if multiple flocks were passing through the area. This year has seen a large irruption of montane species into California, including nutcrackers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and others, so Evening Grosbeak is definitely a species to be watching for both at Gazos and elsewhere in the county.
The Prothonotary Warbler was seen initally with a flock along the trail leading along Butano Creek in Pescadero, before soon leaving. I later did see it foraging fairly low around the creek while I was leaving the area. Others were able to relocate it as well later in the day. This spot overall is one of my personal favorites on the south coast, as it was also the site for multiple American Redstarts earlier in the season. I may have briefly had one today as well, though my sighting was brief and I had only poor looks. Overall at Butano birds are fairly low and somewhat closer, though the dense vegetation can make viewing more difficult at times. Still it is a site with high potential and definitely worth a check when visiting the south coast.
The Chestnut-sided Warbler was seen two times in flocks at two separate points along Seaside School Road. This spot is another great site to check on the south coast, with birds being fairly low, easier to view, and usually around fairly late in the day when birding can often be less active.
Besides the rarities the day was still fairly birdy with flocks present at many sites, though nothing else major of note. Many of these flocks had a winter feel to them, being composed mainly of chickadees and Townsend's Warblers. Overall it was a great day out in a very productive area of the coast, definitely an area worth spending time in and an area I will be visiting in the future. Happy fall birding!
