Date: 10/15/26 3:51 pm From: Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> Subject: [sbcobirding] Scorpion Ranch, Santa Crux Island, October 14
I stayed over in Ventura after the Booby trip Oct. 13 and made a day trip to Scorpion yesterday. We had a smooth crossing with excellent looks at a Cocos Booby just before we got to Scorpion.
Reports from Scorpion this fall have been spotty so my expectations for rarities was low; however, I did turn up 10 different species of the family Emberizidae:White-crowned Sparrow (abundant!)Golden-crowned SparrowSong SparrowFOX Sparrow (all three of the red-winged, slaty-backed subspecies)Rufous-crowned SparrowChipping SparrowDark-eyed JuncoCalifornia TowheeSpotted TowheeGreen-tailed Towhee
The Green-tailed Towhee has been reported as a "dull individual," but that is an understatement. If it weren't for its call and a little green on the underside of the tail, I wouldn't have identified it as that species at all. Something has affected the feathers and it looked like more than a pigmentation issue.
Warblers were limited to a very few Yellow-rumps.
On the return trip, we spotted the Cocos Booby again and sailed through a HUGE pod of Common Dolphins following a large school of fish. Captain Joel thought the pod extended as far as a mile across the sea, one of the largest he has ever seen.
Note that recent eBird reports from the Island have been from the TNC Property and Prisoner's Harbor area to the West of Scorpion.
Florence Sanchez
