Date: 10/30/26 10:02 am From: Hugh Ranson via main <zonetail1...> Subject: [sbcobirding] Scorpion, Santa Cruz Island
Yesterday, October 29th, I went out to Scorpion Canyon for the first time this year. I hadn't been able to go sooner for a variety of reasons, much to my chagrin.
Highlights: a photogenic pair of Cassin's Finches near the well at the top of the Lower Campground; flyover Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin; a young male Vermilion Flycatcher in the upper campground that was harried constantly by a Black Phoebe and was eventually chased off up a side canyon; and 2 or 3 buntings. One was certainly a Lazuli, and the other that I saw well I called a Lazuli in the field, but review of photographs show it to be an Indigo Bunting (thanks, Paul Lehman).
Other birds included 2 Phainopeplas, 8 Chipping Sparrows, an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a Black-throated Gray Warbler (the only warbler species besides a couple of Yellow-rumped and very few Orange-crowned). Notable by their absence were juncos, which Nick described as abundant the week before.
The crossings were fairly uneventful apart from a breaching Humpback. Flying fish are still fairly plentiful in the channel. Birds included both phalaropes, quite a few Black-vented Shearwaters, and 5 Pomarine Jaegers.
