Date: 11/12/25 9:04 am From: Lucas Stephenson via groups.io <Navigator44...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] CHIHUAHUAN MEADOWLARK BARD IMPERIAL CO
Yesterday evening,
Christopher and Adrian Hinkle discovered a Chihuahan Meadowlark on the California side of the Colorado River near Bard, Imperial Co. Photos, audio, and a very detailed writeup are on the eBird list.
Big congrats to Adrian and Chris on such an incredible find and a long overdue first state record!!! It could not have been more well-earned after the amount of searching these two have done!!!
Date: 11/5/25 9:16 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
Hi Everyone, The discussion about red crossbills at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo County highlights the gaps in our knowledge of red crossbill vocalizations and the need to obtain more recordings of this species. Multiple flight call types have been present at Skylawn, all of them have multiple known variants, and there could still be other variants from some that haven't been discovered. As Joe mentioned, he _may_ have recorded a type 7 recently, but there aren't many examples from that type (often called the "enigmatic" type) so there's an acute need for more. It's possible to get useful recordings using a phone with a recording app. I recommend using the Song Meter Touch and Voice Record Pro apps, which are both free and very capable. Song Meter Touch also shows audio spectrograms in real time so you can see what the vocalizations look like as they happen. These apps don't attempt to identify the species, though. Although the Merlin app is very popular, and is getting better at species identification, its sensitivity is distinctly lower than those of Song Meter Touch and Voice Record Pro, so I advise against using Merlin. You'll want all the sensitivity you can get, so if the birds are perched, please walk toward them to increase the volume on your recordings. That could also enable us to see more detail in the sonograms, which can be crucial for trying to identify any Cassia crossbills and is, of course, very useful for identifying all of the flight call types, toop calls, and songs. A while back I did a webinar presentation for Los Angeles Birders on red crossbills and their flight call types, which you can view online at: https://www.labirders.org/webinars/crossbills.html Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CAOn behalf of Los Angeles Birders --------------------
From: "Jim Holmes via groups.io" <jfholmes...> Reply-To: <jfholmes...> To: <rivierastarsong...>, <jmorlan...> Cc: <rishab.ghosh...>, <tgmiko...>, "calbirds" <calbirds...> Sent: November 5, 2025 at 9:26 AM PST Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
I was recently in Scotland voice recording Crossbills.
I put several of my recordings into BirdNET (an AI bird sound identification app, similar to Merlin).
Multiple of my recordings in Scotland came back as Cassia Crossbill (albeit with low probability).
Pretty sure the AI is not yet capable of definitively identifying the crossbill “species.”
Thanks,
Jim Holmes
Sacramento
From: <CALBIRDS...> <CALBIRDS...> On Behalf Of James Bailey via groups.io Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 11:33 PM To: <jmorlan...> Cc: <rishab.ghosh...>; <tgmiko...>; calbirds <calbirds...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
Hi,
In my experience it is difficult to compare European and American crossbills, even within the same species. In Europe the calls of red (and also parrot and “Scottish” crossbill) are indeed variable. The hypothesis is this is because the populations there are a contiguous amalgamation over a huge geographic area, with fluid ecological needs, and so without so established “types”.
This is different to the case in the US. Our crossbills here are much more specialized to specific geographic areas and corresponding ecology. As a result individuals from these “types” are far more consistent. “Intermediate” calls are apparently rare and more often caused by recording error (or in my experiences birds being too far away, and the spectrogram being incomplete…). But that question is better answered by Tim. I don’t believe any past recordings from Skylawn in 2023’s irruption were conclusively intermediate. Last spoken, I don’t think a Cassia-call could be produced as a false positive because it the call structure is not “between” two types.
P.S. wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out Cassia crossbill isn’t sedentary if conditions are dire. Apparently in 2023 their habitat was severely damaged and burned by fires.
JB
On Tue, 4 Nov 2025 at 10:53â¯PM, Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan...> wrote:
I'm taking the liberty of posting from an advanced draft copy of the 50th CBRC report about these records:
"CASSIA CROSSBILL Loxia sinesciurus (0, 0). IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED: Large numbers of Red Crossbills (L. curvirostra) were encountered at Skylawn Memorial Park in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County during a widespread irruption of this species in fall 2023. Among a flock of up to 60 crossbills giving flight calls of several different types included one or more birds that were thought to be consistent with Cassia Crossbill 26 Oct-16 Dec, 2023 (2023-108); this species was considered endemic to the Albion Mountains and South Hills of southern Idaho, but has recently been found in Colorado (Gent 2022). Outside experts agreed that field recordings most closely matched those of Cassia Crossbills recorded in the South Hills of Idaho. However, after two rounds of voting, the majority of the committee felt that there was too much uncertainty in the variation within Red Crossbill call types, and that the recordings did not precisely match those of classic Cassia Crossbill. Some members were also concerned about the likelihood of long-distance vagrancy in an ostensibly sedentary, range-restricted species."
FWIW, the voting was 5-4 in favor, the first round, but 2-7 against on the second round. A recent paper found rapid evolutionary change in Red Crossbill vocalizations in Europe. It is reasonable that some of our birds evolved calls that are similar to, but not exactly like Cassia Crossbills.
In a recent visit to Skylawn, I recorded previously unknown call types that are intermediate between Type 12 and Type 7.
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Date: 11/5/25 9:26 am From: Jim Holmes via groups.io <jfholmes...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
I was recently in Scotland voice recording Crossbills.
I put several of my recordings into BirdNET (an AI bird sound identification app, similar to Merlin).
Multiple of my recordings in Scotland came back as Cassia Crossbill (albeit with low probability).
Pretty sure the AI is not yet capable of definitively identifying the crossbill “species.”
Thanks,
Jim Holmes
Sacramento
From: <CALBIRDS...> <CALBIRDS...> On Behalf Of James Bailey via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 11:33 PM
To: <jmorlan...>
Cc: <rishab.ghosh...>; <tgmiko...>; calbirds <calbirds...>
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
Hi,
In my experience it is difficult to compare European and American crossbills, even within the same species. In Europe the calls of red (and also parrot and “Scottish” crossbill) are indeed variable. The hypothesis is this is because the populations there are a contiguous amalgamation over a huge geographic area, with fluid ecological needs, and so without so established “types”.
This is different to the case in the US. Our crossbills here are much more specialized to specific geographic areas and corresponding ecology. As a result individuals from these “types” are far more consistent. “Intermediate” calls are apparently rare and more often caused by recording error (or in my experiences birds being too far away, and the spectrogram being incomplete…). But that question is better answered by Tim. I don’t believe any past recordings from Skylawn in 2023’s irruption were conclusively intermediate. Last spoken, I don’t think a Cassia-call could be produced as a false positive because it the call structure is not “between” two types.
P.S. wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out Cassia crossbill isn’t sedentary if conditions are dire. Apparently in 2023 their habitat was severely damaged and burned by fires.
JB
On Tue, 4 Nov 2025 at 10:53 PM, Joe Morlan via groups.io<http://groups.io/> <jmorlan...><mailto:<gmail.com...>> wrote:
I'm taking the liberty of posting from an advanced draft copy of the 50th
CBRC report about these records:
"CASSIA CROSSBILL Loxia sinesciurus (0, 0). IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED:
Large numbers of Red Crossbills (L. curvirostra) were encountered at
Skylawn Memorial Park in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County during a
widespread irruption of this species in fall 2023. Among a flock of up to
60 crossbills giving flight calls of several different types included one
or more birds that were thought to be consistent with Cassia Crossbill 26
Oct-16 Dec, 2023 (2023-108); this species was considered endemic to the
Albion Mountains and South Hills of southern Idaho, but has recently been
found in Colorado (Gent 2022). Outside experts agreed that field recordings
most closely matched those of Cassia Crossbills recorded in the South Hills
of Idaho. However, after two rounds of voting, the majority of the
committee felt that there was too much uncertainty in the variation within
Red Crossbill call types, and that the recordings did not precisely match
those of classic Cassia Crossbill. Some members were also concerned about
the likelihood of long-distance vagrancy in an ostensibly sedentary,
range-restricted species."
FWIW, the voting was 5-4 in favor, the first round, but 2-7 against on the
second round. A recent paper found rapid evolutionary change in Red
Crossbill vocalizations in Europe. It is reasonable that some of our birds
evolved calls that are similar to, but not exactly like Cassia Crossbills.
In a recent visit to Skylawn, I recorded previously unknown call types that
are intermediate between Type 12 and Type 7.
**CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE** This e-mail communication and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain information that is confidential and privileged under state and federal privacy laws. If you received this e-mail in error, be aware that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy/delete all copies of this message.
Date: 11/4/25 11:33 pm From: James Bailey via groups.io <rivierastarsong...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
Hi,
In my experience it is difficult to compare European and American
crossbills, even within the same species. In Europe the calls of red (and
also parrot and “Scottish” crossbill) are indeed variable. The hypothesis
is this is because the populations there are a contiguous amalgamation over
a huge geographic area, with fluid ecological needs, and so without so
established “types”.
This is different to the case in the US. Our crossbills here are much more
specialized to specific geographic areas and corresponding ecology. As a
result individuals from these “types” are far more consistent.
“Intermediate” calls are apparently rare and more often caused by recording
error (or in my experiences birds being too far away, and the spectrogram
being incomplete…). But that question is better answered by Tim. I don’t
believe any past recordings from Skylawn in 2023’s irruption were
conclusively intermediate. Last spoken, I don’t think a Cassia-call could
be produced as a false positive because it the call structure is not
“between” two types.
P.S. wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out Cassia crossbill isn’t sedentary
if conditions are dire. Apparently in 2023 their habitat was severely
damaged and burned by fires.
JB
On Tue, 4 Nov 2025 at 10:53 PM, Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I'm taking the liberty of posting from an advanced draft copy of the 50th
> CBRC report about these records:
>
> "CASSIA CROSSBILL Loxia sinesciurus (0, 0). IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED:
> Large numbers of Red Crossbills (L. curvirostra) were encountered at
> Skylawn Memorial Park in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County during a
> widespread irruption of this species in fall 2023. Among a flock of up to
> 60 crossbills giving flight calls of several different types included one
> or more birds that were thought to be consistent with Cassia Crossbill 26
> Oct-16 Dec, 2023 (2023-108); this species was considered endemic to the
> Albion Mountains and South Hills of southern Idaho, but has recently been
> found in Colorado (Gent 2022). Outside experts agreed that field recordings
> most closely matched those of Cassia Crossbills recorded in the South Hills
> of Idaho. However, after two rounds of voting, the majority of the
> committee felt that there was too much uncertainty in the variation within
> Red Crossbill call types, and that the recordings did not precisely match
> those of classic Cassia Crossbill. Some members were also concerned about
> the likelihood of long-distance vagrancy in an ostensibly sedentary,
> range-restricted species."
>
> FWIW, the voting was 5-4 in favor, the first round, but 2-7 against on the
> second round. A recent paper found rapid evolutionary change in Red
> Crossbill vocalizations in Europe. It is reasonable that some of our birds
> evolved calls that are similar to, but not exactly like Cassia Crossbills.
>
> In a recent visit to Skylawn, I recorded previously unknown call types that
> are intermediate between Type 12 and Type 7.
>
Date: 11/4/25 10:53 pm From: Joe Morlan via groups.io <jmorlan...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
I'm taking the liberty of posting from an advanced draft copy of the 50th CBRC report about these records:
"CASSIA CROSSBILL Loxia sinesciurus (0, 0). IDENTIFICATION NOT ESTABLISHED: Large numbers of Red Crossbills (L. curvirostra) were encountered at Skylawn Memorial Park in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County during a widespread irruption of this species in fall 2023. Among a flock of up to 60 crossbills giving flight calls of several different types included one or more birds that were thought to be consistent with Cassia Crossbill 26 Oct-16 Dec, 2023 (2023-108); this species was considered endemic to the Albion Mountains and South Hills of southern Idaho, but has recently been found in Colorado (Gent 2022). Outside experts agreed that field recordings most closely matched those of Cassia Crossbills recorded in the South Hills of Idaho. However, after two rounds of voting, the majority of the committee felt that there was too much uncertainty in the variation within Red Crossbill call types, and that the recordings did not precisely match those of classic Cassia Crossbill. Some members were also concerned about the likelihood of long-distance vagrancy in an ostensibly sedentary, range-restricted species."
FWIW, the voting was 5-4 in favor, the first round, but 2-7 against on the second round. A recent paper found rapid evolutionary change in Red Crossbill vocalizations in Europe. It is reasonable that some of our birds evolved calls that are similar to, but not exactly like Cassia Crossbills.
In a recent visit to Skylawn, I recorded previously unknown call types that are intermediate between Type 12 and Type 7.
On Wed, 5 Nov 2025 10:33:46 +0530, "Rishab Ghosh via groups.io" <rishab.ghosh...> wrote:
>I heard and possibly saw the supposed Cassia in December 2023 and had the >audio confirmed by Tim Spahr & Matthew Young at the Finch Research network >[1]. The CBRC didn’t accept the Cassia sightings FWIW. This week there were >two reports. One has audio ID’d by Merlin, which isn’t reliable - I >suggested to the reporter to send them to the FRN for review. The Nov 2 >report is a 5 minute duration incomplete checklist with 5 (!!) Cassia >crossbills, no photo or audio or description justifying the ID. > >I would wait for more confirmation before getting on a 7 hour drive up to >San Mateo :) > >Rishab >1. My checklist with the Cassia is >https://ebird.org/checklist/S156444745 > >On Wed, Nov 5, 2025 at 10:06 <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko= ><gmail.com...> wrote: > >> Hi, >> I just saw the second report in the last couple of days or so of Cassia >> Crossbills at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo County. >> If these reports are correct I would like to jump into the car and drive >> up there and maybe actually see them, this time. Any negative or positive >> information would be appreciated. Last I missed them by one day because I >> took too long. >> >> Tom Miko >> Claremont 91711 >> 909.241.3300 >> >> >> > > > > -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA
Date: 11/4/25 9:04 pm From: Rishab Ghosh via groups.io <rishab.ghosh...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
I heard and possibly saw the supposed Cassia in December 2023 and had the
audio confirmed by Tim Spahr & Matthew Young at the Finch Research network
[1]. The CBRC didn’t accept the Cassia sightings FWIW. This week there were
two reports. One has audio ID’d by Merlin, which isn’t reliable - I
suggested to the reporter to send them to the FRN for review. The Nov 2
report is a 5 minute duration incomplete checklist with 5 (!!) Cassia
crossbills, no photo or audio or description justifying the ID.
I would wait for more confirmation before getting on a 7 hour drive up to
San Mateo :)
On Wed, Nov 5, 2025 at 10:06 <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi,
> I just saw the second report in the last couple of days or so of Cassia
> Crossbills at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo County.
> If these reports are correct I would like to jump into the car and drive
> up there and maybe actually see them, this time. Any negative or positive
> information would be appreciated. Last I missed them by one day because I
> took too long.
>
> Tom Miko
> Claremont 91711
> 909.241.3300
>
>
>
Date: 11/4/25 8:37 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Cassia Crossbill reports San Mateo Co
Hi, I just saw the second report in the last couple of days or so of Cassia Crossbills at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo County. If these reports are correct I would like to jump into the car and drive up there and maybe actually see them, this time. Any negative or positive information would be appreciated. Last I missed them by one day because I took too long.
Date: 11/3/25 6:45 pm From: Lucas Stephenson via groups.io <Navigator44...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] 12 HR CAL POLY HUMBOLDT DEEPWATER PELAGIC TRIP DEC 6TH
Hello all,
Sasha Cahill and I are organizing a Deepwater Pelagic Trip expected to reach waters up to at least 60 miles west of Eureka on DECEMBER 6th, with the help of CAL POLY HUMBOLDT and their newly acquired Northwind catamaran.
This pelagic trip represents an extremely rare opportunity to encounter highly coveted species such as MOTTLED PETREL, PARAKEET AUKLET, and SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS. In recent years, deepwater pelagic trips during the month of December (the optimal time for Mottled Petrel in California waters) have been nonexistent.
Meeting Location: 6AM at the WOODLEY ISLAND MARINA, 302 STARTARE DR, EUREKA, CA.
Pelagic timing: 6AM-6PM
The pricing of the trip will be $200, and I will send further directions regarding the payment process at a later date.
To sign up, contact me at 707-200-5646. You will promptly be added to a temporary waitlist while we calculate the potential number of attending Cal Poly Humboldt students.
Date: 11/3/25 7:12 am From: natureali via groups.io <natureali...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] 2025-26 CBC Schedule
Hello fellow birders,
I am updating the CBC schedule for the upcoming season. Thank you to all who have sent me their dates so far. natureali.org/cbcs.htm
I have found many via updated bird alliance or Audubon society websites, but as of now there are only 88 confirmed dates out of 145 potential dates.
If you know of a date or have updated information on counts, please let me know ASAP. I should be publishing the partial list in the next day or two after some page housekeeping.
Date: 10/29/25 11:14 pm From: Bruce Webb via groups.io <colimabirder...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Alan Craig obituary and announcement of memorial service
I received this announcement from Alan Craig’s daughter, Wendi. She asked me to let Alan’s friends know of upcoming arrangements. Please read the amazing obituary of a friend of so many Calbirders.
Alan Craig died on October 17th. His wife, Debra; his children, Wendi, Robert, and Hollin; and a dear friend, Barbara, were all with him when he passed. He lived a life full of laughter, kindness, good friends, loving family, bird watching, and plenty of ice cream.
We welcome comments, favorite memories, and/or photos of Alan you might like to share on his obituary page.
A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held for Alan Craig on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 11:30 A.M. at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery; 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, California.
Date: 10/29/25 8:51 am From: Jim Holmes via groups.io <jfholmes...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Olive-backed Pipit
Still at Gilman Park
33.902474,-117.876582
Thanks,
Jim Holmes
Sacramento
**CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE** This e-mail communication and any attachments are for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain information that is confidential and privileged under state and federal privacy laws. If you received this e-mail in error, be aware that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy/delete all copies of this message.
Date: 10/28/25 9:36 pm From: Robin Leong via groups.io <robin_leong...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Benicia CBC Announcement
Howdy CalBirders,
The Compiler of the Benicia CBC cordially invite birders of any level to help make the BCBC the best that it can be. The count is on Monday Dec 15, 2025. For those that list county birds, the circle is in Napa and Solano Counties. Please sign up with Tom Slyker <tcslyker...> or call or text him at (707) 771-1918. We will have a nice Mexican compilation dinner afterwards. Our fingers are crossed for good birds and good weather.
Robin Leong for Tom
Vallejo, CA
