Date: 12/9/24 9:30 pm From: Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Thick-billed Kingbird in Solano County
All,
Just the messenger here. A Thick-billed Kingbird was discovered by Chris Dong at Lynch Canyon Open Space Park yesterday (Sunday 12/8). The bird continued today (Monday 12/9) and was seen by many. This appears to be the fifth Northern CA record, the first for Solano County, and the northernmost record anywhere in CA. Unfortunately, the park is only open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays - so this bird will not be chaseable for the next few days. I believe the parking lot is here (38°11'08.2"N 122°10'57.9"W), although there is a $5 parking fee. According to eBird reports, the bird has been ranging over a large area along Lynch Road and the Middle Valley Trail - some of the areas it has been seen in include here (38°11'34.0"N 122°11'14.3"W), here (38°11'18.7"N 122°11'44.4"W), and here (38°11'20.8"N 122°11'12.7"W) - hopefully it sticks around in the area for the winter. Congrats to Chris Dong on this excellent find!
Date: 12/6/24 7:00 pm From: Rebecca Marschall via groups.io <rebecca.fenning...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] LA Birders Webinar: Veracruz River of Raptors, 12/10
Dear Birders,
You are invited to the next LA Birders webinar:
The Veracruz River of Raptors and Nearby Birding Hotspots
Join us for an exciting webinar featuring Ted Keyel, as he delves into the
incredible Veracruz River of Raptors. Every fall, this globally renowned
location witnesses the passage of millions of migrating raptors, making it
one of the most spectacular avian migrations on the planet. Key species
include Mississippi Kites, Broad-winged Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, and Turkey
Vultures, which make up the bulk of the raptors counted.
In addition to the breathtaking hawk migration, Ted will highlight other
equally impressive migratory phenomena that occur in the region, such as
the movements of swallows, Eastern Kingbirds, Dickcissels, Scissor-tailed
Flycatchers, and White-winged Doves. He will also discuss the birding
potential of the surrounding areas, which boast unique species like the
Mexican Sheartail and the stunning Red Warbler.
Be sure to join us for Ted’s talk on one of the world’s premier birding
locations and learn about the incredible biodiversity of Veracruz.
This webinar will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel
<https://tinyurl.com/2y6efp3f> and will also be recorded for later viewing.
Please use the YouTube link above (alternatively:
https://tinyurl.com/2y6efp3f) which will take you directly to LAB’s main
page, where the live webinar should be visible once it begins at 7pm.
Become a LAB Member! Though our webinars will always remain free and
available to all, members of Los Angeles Birders have access to live
webinars via Zoom, invitations to special LAB-only field trips, priority
sign-up on LAB field trips & events, and discounts on paid LAB programs. To
learn more about membership, please see our website
<https://www.labirders.org/>!
Looking for a past webinar? Don’t forget that a list of all of our
previously recorded webinars <https://www.labirders.org/webinars.html> is
available on our website – which might come in handy if you want to study
up before a field trip, or if you're looking to build your birding skills
from home! Just scroll all the way down, past our upcoming and most recent
online programs and you'll find a list of webinars sorted by category.
These recordings are all viewable via our YouTube
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHbAhQTFVaeowMCl-sD2e0g> page.
Upcoming Programs
12/10 The Veracruz River of Raptors and More! with Ted Keyel (webinar)
1/5/2025 First Sundays at the Huntington with Katy Mann (member-only field
trip)
1/19/2025 Redondo Canyon Pelagic (field trip, more info coming soon!)
1/28/2025 Dabbling Duck Identification with Dessi Sieburth (webinar)
Date: 11/20/24 1:23 pm From: Bob Barnes via groups.io <bbarnes...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Kern - 4 Long-tailed Ducks Flock
COUNTY BIRDERS - Karen Evans saw a flock of of 4 LONG-TAILED DUCKS fly into Lake Ming ((alongside the Kern River at the edge of Bakersfield) an hour or so ago with a flock of Double-crested Cormorants. Pictures taken.
Date: 11/20/24 12:45 pm From: Karen Evans via groups.io <kevans26...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Long-tailed Ducks in Kern County.
Birding Lake Ming - a Bakersfield Hot spot this morning - right as I was about to leave got four Long m-tailed Ducks. Floating - mostly resting. Still here now if anyone close by is interested. Karen Evans
All,
Many people searched Mount Trashmore today for the recently reported Smith's Longspur. Unfortunately, despite extensive coverage, neither the SMLO or the two Lapland Longspurs with it appeared today (the Snow Bunting, however, was still present and very cooperative for everyone). I stayed around after most of the others had left, and noticed that squirrels and some birds seemed to be more active in the fields - it is possible that the many birders present caused activity to be slightly lower (and potentially kept the longspurs away or hiding). It could still be worth checking the area in the future, as the Smith's Longspur could return when the area is less disturbed. Good luck to anyone who searches for this bird!
Date: 11/17/24 11:01 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] American Woodcock in rehab in San Diego
On Saturday the 16th, an American Woodcock was found by non-birder(s) injured on the high school grounds in Coronado, San Diego County. The bird could fly only very short distances, and it was taken to the local wildlife rehab center, where photographed. According to Phil Unitt, the rehabber's first guess is that the bird may have a cracked bone in the sternum. This is the third record of woodcock in California, with the previous two records from the desert in San Bernardino County from 3-9 Nov 1998 and from Riverside County from 6-11 Nov 2006 (when taken by a Prairie Falcon, with some feathers preserved). Note the tight cluster of dates of the three records.
Photos of yesterday's bird taken by the rehabber at the rehab center here in San Diego can be seen at:https://ebird.org/checklist/S202790253
Date: 11/16/24 10:07 pm From: Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Smith's Longspur in Alameda County (Hayward Regional Shoreline)
All,
Just the messenger here. A Smith's Longspur was discovered today (Saturday 11/16/2024) by several birders searching for the Snow Bunting at Hayward Regional Shoreline, and identified several hours later. This is the seventh record for the Bay Area (including records from Monterey and the Farallones). According to reports, the bird was with 2 Lapland Longspurs near the northwest corner of Mount Trashmore (I believe somewhere around 37°38'42.8"N 122°09'04.9"W). It was not seen in the afternoon, however. This is a CBRC review species, so if you did see the bird on Saturday (or if you refind it), please submit a report to the CBRC ( https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html ). Good luck to everyone who searches for it!
Date: 11/14/24 8:40 am From: Robin Leong via groups.io <robin_leong...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Join us for the Benicia CBC on Monday Dec 16, 2024
Howdy Cal Birders,
The 77th Benicia CBC is scheduled for Monday, Dec 16. If you have the day free, please consider doing this count. The center of the count is 1 1/4 mile north of Pierce Lane on Hwy 680. It includes all of Benicia, parts of Vallejo, Napa County in Newell Preserve, American, and Jamieson Canyons. It includes the southern part of Grizzly Island duck clubs. We could use any level birding expertise. Contact Tom Slyker <tcslyker...> or Robin Leong at <robin_leong...>
Mahalo,
Robin Leong
Vallejo, CA
