Date: 10/3/26 4:52 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] memorial for Guy McCaskie, Nov 14th (San Diego)
We are having a gathering to remember and honor our friend and mentor Guy McCaskie at 10AM on Saturday, November 14th, in San Diego at the Bird & Butterfly Garden (formerly Myer's Ranch) in the Tijuana River Valley, where Guy began his rare-bird exploration back in the 1960s. All are invited. This will be an INFORMAL get-together where we hope that many of you will briefly recount your favorite memories with, or about, Guy: what he meant to you, a shared event, a funny story or two. We will start with thoughts from several people very close to Guy, and then we'll open up the remembrances to everyone. Paul will be the informal emcee. No RSVPs needed. There is no set time limit for this gathering. As long as people have something to say.... For those of you who cannot attend, you are invited to send Paul any thoughts and stories you would like to share, and he will make sure they are read at the event. The Bird & Butterfly Garden is located in the Tijuana River Valley on the west side of Hollister Street, south of Tocayo Avenue (exit on I-5), and just a little south of Sunset Avenue, but north of Monument Road. 32.5539251, -117.0848769 . On maps it is likely labeled as "Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Bird & Butterfly Garden." Once the parking lot fills, there are scattered pullouts along Hollister Street, but the best additional parking is along Hollister immediately to the north, bordering the outside of the TRV Community Gardens vegetable plots. (Do not park inside the Gardens.) To reduce the number of cars and the potential for parking difficulties, car pooling is definitely encouraged.
--Paul Lehman, Elizabeth Copper, and Guy's family--Therese, Lourdes, et al., San Diego
This past weekend I was at MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg for
something other that birding. But, I was surprised to hear, then see a flock
of about 10 Evening Grosbeaks a couple of times. I also heard daily one or
more Red-breasted Nuthatches. Not being that familiar with what is expected
there, it didn't occur to me that this might be unusual, but it does fit in
with what Denise Hamilton reported.
Date: 9/15/26 5:06 pm From: Wim van Dam via groups.io <wim.van.dam...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Clark's Nutcracker invasion, Santa Barbara County
It's probably worth sharing that Santa Barbara County is currently enjoying an unprecedented invasion/irruption of Clark's Nutcracker. The last few mornings, birders have observed hundreds of them at La Cumbre Peak. And yesterday, Rebecca Coulter counted 1200 nutcrackers, which must be some kind of a record. Lehman describes the status of CLNU in Santa Barbara County as *"Probably a very rare late-summer, fall, and winter visitor to the highest mountains ... Casual fall and winter visitor in [coastal area]."*
We don't know where they are coming from or where they are going to, so it would be interesting to see if other counties are (unknowingly?) experiencing this irruption as well.
Date: 9/10/26 9:43 pm From: Will Black via groups.io <will119...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Northern Wheatear report at Point Reyes
I'll add that the bird was promptly posted by others on the California Birding discord page under the ca-statewide-rba channel.
Shameless plug for the CA discord, it's phenomenal for communication and organization of chat channels across the state, all in one place. Also, other states use discord heavily for communicating RBA and discussions (Minnesota and Massachusetts come to mind as excellent discord states). So, the small learning curve is certainly worth it for those interested, but that haven't taken the (small) jump.
Date: 9/10/26 5:49 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Northern Wheatear report at Point Reyes
Hi,
1. Why did this never show up as a California rare bird?(I am signed up for
eBird rare bird alerts).
2. Have people been out there, looking for it?
3. Has this bird only been discussed on some local Marin County WhatsApp or
Discord or some other group?
Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
On Wed, Sep 9, 2026 at 8:50 PM Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> All,
>
>
> Just the messenger. Photos of a Northern Wheatear that were taken today by
> Tom Nemeth at Point Reyes were recently posted to one of the regional bird
> groups. The bird was seen along the road, possibly around the coordinates
> below: 38.055287,-122.975480
>
>
> If the bird sticks around, the best strategy to refind it may be to drive
> along the roads on the point scanning for birds on the fences next to the
> roads. Good luck to all chasing!
>
>
> Aidan Sinha
> San Jose
>
>
>
Date: 9/9/26 8:50 pm From: Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Northern Wheatear report at Point Reyes
All,
Just the messenger. Photos of a Northern Wheatear that were taken today by Tom Nemeth at Point Reyes were recently posted to one of the regional bird groups. The bird was seen along the road, possibly around the coordinates below: 38.055287,-122.975480
If the bird sticks around, the best strategy to refind it may be to drive along the roads on the point scanning for birds on the fences next to the roads. Good luck to all chasing!
