Date: 11/13/25 7:37 pm From: Mark Chappell <markchappell666...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Seawatch at Pt Pinos
And notwithstanding 6 or 7 decades of intense scientific interest, we still have little or no understanding of many of the key aspects of bird navigation.
> On Nov 13, 2025, at 7:22 PM, Pete Sole <pete...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for sharing this story Fred.
>
> First, kudos to Alison Vilag and the team of counters, and to Katie Rodriguez for such a nice write up.
>
> Second, imho, bird migration is one of the perhaps unappreciated, but most incredible wonders of the natural world. The list of mind blowing things that birds do for migration.... I just can't help but just shake my head. A few herculean feats in no particular order:
> Bristle-thigh Curlews, staging on the coast of Alaska to fly to relatively small or tiny islands in the Pacific, non-stop. Oh, and by the way, the curlews can't swim, the birds go through a "radical" molt shortly after arriving on their wintering grounds, and juveniles migrate a month or two later than the adults.
> Ruby-throated Hummingbirds staging on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, flying across the Gulf of Mexico to land in Florida, non-stop, of course.
> Blackpoll Warblers staging on the North Eastern US and South-eastern Canada to fly, in some cases non-stop, over the Western Atlantic to land in northern South America.
> Some Sooty Shearwaters, flying a figure 8 migration pattern over the Pacific. Some, when they leave our area, head south for a bit, and then cross the mid-Pacific at the equator, to land in the islands just of the coast of New Zealand, not bothering to fly along the rest of the Pacific coast of the Central and South America.
> These are astounding navigational examples, all from the class "aves", species with a small, marble sized brain.
>
> Birds, just incredible fauna!
>
> Pete Solé
>
> In awe of bird migration...
>
>
> On 11/13/25 5:35 PM, Alfred Hochstaedter wrote:
>> "On Halloween, the night before her first day on the job, Alison Vilag opted for a dark-and-stormy cocktail at the Sandbar & Grill, a favorite pitstop with friends when she’s in town for the migration. It is a spiritual decision of sorts, to summon ideal weather for birds soon to be traveling south."
>>
>> https://www.montereycountynow.com/news/local_news/one-of-the-nation-s-most-challenging-seabird-counts-is-underway-in-pacific-grove/article_e72cfa8c-9067-426c-92b6-1857d14c0355.html >>
>> -Fred Hochstaedter
>>
>> "Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities."
>> -Voltaire
>> --
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>
>
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Date: 11/13/25 7:23 pm From: Pete Sole <pete...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Seawatch at Pt Pinos
Thanks for sharing this story Fred.
First, kudos to Alison Vilag and the team of counters, and to Katie
Rodriguez for such a nice write up.
Second, imho, bird migration is one of the perhaps unappreciated, but
most incredible wonders of the natural world. The list of mind blowing
things that birds do for migration.... I just can't help but just shake
my head. A few herculean feats in no particular order:
* Bristle-thigh Curlews, staging on the coast of Alaska to fly to
relatively small or tiny islands in the Pacific, non-stop. Oh, and
by the way, the curlews can't swim, the birds go through a "radical"
molt shortly after arriving on their wintering grounds, and
juveniles migrate a month or two later than the adults.
* Ruby-throated Hummingbirds staging on the Yucatan Peninsula in
Mexico, flying across the Gulf of Mexico to land in Florida,
non-stop, of course.
* Blackpoll Warblers staging on the North Eastern US and South-eastern
Canada to fly, in some cases non-stop, over the Western Atlantic to
land in northern South America.
* Some Sooty Shearwaters, flying a figure 8 migration pattern over the
Pacific. Some, when they leave our area, head south for a bit, and
then cross the mid-Pacific at the equator, to land in the islands
just of the coast of New Zealand, not bothering to fly along the
rest of the Pacific coast of the Central and South America.
These are astounding navigational examples, all from the class "aves",
species with a small, marble sized brain.
Date: 11/13/25 5:36 pm From: Alfred Hochstaedter <fredhochstaedter...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Seawatch at Pt Pinos
"On Halloween, the night before her first day on the job, Alison Vilag
opted for a dark-and-stormy cocktail at the Sandbar & Grill, a favorite
pitstop with friends when she’s in town for the migration. It is a
spiritual decision of sorts, to summon ideal weather for birds soon to be
traveling south."
Date: 11/10/25 8:40 pm From: Brian Scanlon <briancscanlon...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] “Listers” film
Lee,
Belated thanks for this. I lost it in the blizzard of email, but found it
again this morning. I started watching and couldn't stop. It's hard to
believe that they could create this while living in a van for a year.
Incredible talent. I have to agree with Alvaro that this is the best
birding movie ever. (Life List podcast, Sept. 06 2025)
Brian Scanlon
On Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM Lee Jaffe <leejaffe54...> wrote:
Date: 11/10/25 9:11 am From: Paul Miller <paulbug.2876...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Shrooms
Sorry for the off topic, but I'm teaching mushroom classes yet again this rainy season. For more info, email me at <paulbug...> If you go mushrooming, you tend to see more birds!! Thanks! Paul Miller (And please come join one of my field trips)
Date: 11/10/25 8:46 am From: Eric Clark <edaveclark...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Coopers/Sharp-Shinned?
Thanks for all the responses. It definitely helps me to have a better idea
what to look for. I've seen a number of Cooper's but not Sharpies so I
don't have a good idea about how to verify them. The size in this case
caught my attention as small for a Cooper's, but after that I was unsure
what to look for.
Thanks,
David
On Monday, November 10, 2025 at 7:28:57 AM UTC-8 mkwirtanen wrote:
> Great points, I’m taking notes here!
>
> Next time I get an “SSL” on one of those guys, I’ll take it all in…check
> off the list;
> Soul Satisfying Look…that is
>
> Thank you for continued input!
>
> Take care,
> Melanie
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 10, 2025, at 6:54 AM, Ryan Phillips <norcal......> wrote:
>
>
>
> Check out other features which are less subjective than size and tarsi
> width, as well as less overlap between the two species. The fine teardrop
> streaking on the front, the blocky large headed appearance, the eye set
> forward on the head (sharpie centered), the larger bill, etc. Tail shape
> you cannot go by here because the central tail feathers (deck feathers) are
> flared out hiding the outer tail feathers that give the graduation rounded
> look. All point to Cooper's.
>
> Also, habitat and behavior, although not diagnostic especially this time
> of year, fits better for Coop.
>
> Things is a continued and long ongoing debate, Coop vs Sharpie. ha.
>
> Good birding,
> Ryan
>
>
> *Ryan Phillips* ǀ Owner and Guide
>
> Personal and Group Birding Excursions in Northern California and Beyond
>
>
>
> Phone ǀ (831) 234-7324
>
> Email ǀ <norcal......>
>
> Website ǀ *www.norcalbirding.com <http://www.norcalbirding.com/>* >
> Facebook ǀ www.facebook.com/norcalbirding
>
> "Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes
> and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?"
>
> - Sir David Attenborough
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Nov 9, 2025, 10:00 PM Melanie Wirtanen <mkwir......> wrote:
>
>>
>> Interesting comparison! Thank you so much for your message.
>>
>> They said smaller than a crow so I went to Sharpie.
>> Also the tarsus, you can see in that one photo where it is erect is very
>> thin and delicate. If it is a Coop it’s a male for sure. I recently held a
>> female juvenile Coop and she was way bigger than this bird, beyond usual
>> comparison to the tiercel.
>>
>> Learn something new every day!
>>
>> Take care,
>> Melanie
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On Nov 9, 2025, at 9:03 PM, Mark Chappell <markcha......> wrote:
>> > Cooper’s, I think. Note facial ‘expression’ — one characteristic I’ve
>> sometimes found useful is that sharp-shinned hawks usually look bug-eyed,
>> or startled; Cooper’s tend to look angry or mean. I think this is may be
>> due to a somewhat more prominent brow ridge on Cooper’s. Male sharpies are
>> fairly easy to ID from size alone: barely bigger than robins.
>> >
>> > Juvenile female and adult male sharp-shinned:
>> >
>> > --
>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "mbbirds" group.
>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>> an email to mbbirds+<u......>
>> > To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> >> .
>> > <Sharp-shinned hawk 0031.jpg>
>> > <sharp-shinned hawk005.jpg>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Female Cooper’s juvenile:
>> >
>> > --
>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "mbbirds" group.
>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>> an email to mbbirds+<u......>
>> > To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> >> .
>> > <Cooper's hawk 0027.jpg>
>> >
>> >
>> >> On Nov 9, 2025, at 2:31 PM, <edave......> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> We saw this hawk at Antonelli yesterday and my wife got some pics with
>> her phone against her binoculars.
>> >> Wondering if it could be a coopers or a sharp-shinned? We did see it
>> near a crow and it was smaller than the crow.
>> >> Thanks for the help.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "mbbirds" group.
>> >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>> an email to mbbirds+<u......>
>> >> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<1762727181473.1894514327.21917119...> >> .
>> >> <hawk 1.jpg><hawk 2.jpg><hawk 3.jpg>
>> >
>> > _________________________________
>> > Mark Chappell email: <markcha......>
>> > Professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (Emeritus)
>> > University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
>> > work website:
>> https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/chappell >> > photography website:
>> http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/index.html >> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "mbbirds" group.
>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>> an email to mbbirds+<u......>
>> > To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> >> .
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<u......>
>> To view this discussion visit
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>>
>
Date: 11/10/25 6:54 am From: Ryan Phillips <norcalbirding...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Coopers/Sharp-Shinned?
Check out other features which are less subjective than size and tarsi
width, as well as less overlap between the two species. The fine teardrop
streaking on the front, the blocky large headed appearance, the eye set
forward on the head (sharpie centered), the larger bill, etc. Tail shape
you cannot go by here because the central tail feathers (deck feathers) are
flared out hiding the outer tail feathers that give the graduation rounded
look. All point to Cooper's.
Also, habitat and behavior, although not diagnostic especially this time of
year, fits better for Coop.
Things is a continued and long ongoing debate, Coop vs Sharpie. ha.
Good birding,
Ryan
*Ryan Phillips* ǀ Owner and Guide
Personal and Group Birding Excursions in Northern California and Beyond
"Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes
and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?"
- Sir David Attenborough
On Sun, Nov 9, 2025, 10:00 PM Melanie Wirtanen <mkwirtanen...> wrote:
>
> Interesting comparison! Thank you so much for your message.
>
> They said smaller than a crow so I went to Sharpie.
> Also the tarsus, you can see in that one photo where it is erect is very
> thin and delicate. If it is a Coop it’s a male for sure. I recently held a
> female juvenile Coop and she was way bigger than this bird, beyond usual
> comparison to the tiercel.
>
> Learn something new every day!
>
> Take care,
> Melanie
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Nov 9, 2025, at 9:03 PM, Mark Chappell <markchappell666...>
> wrote:
> > Cooper’s, I think. Note facial ‘expression’ — one characteristic I’ve
> sometimes found useful is that sharp-shinned hawks usually look bug-eyed,
> or startled; Cooper’s tend to look angry or mean. I think this is may be
> due to a somewhat more prominent brow ridge on Cooper’s. Male sharpies are
> fairly easy to ID from size alone: barely bigger than robins.
> >
> > Juvenile female and adult male sharp-shinned:
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "mbbirds" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> > To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> > .
> > <Sharp-shinned hawk 0031.jpg>
> > <sharp-shinned hawk005.jpg>
> >
> >
> >
> > Female Cooper’s juvenile:
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "mbbirds" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> > To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> > .
> > <Cooper's hawk 0027.jpg>
> >
> >
> >> On Nov 9, 2025, at 2:31 PM, <edaveclark...> wrote:
> >>
> >> We saw this hawk at Antonelli yesterday and my wife got some pics with
> her phone against her binoculars.
> >> Wondering if it could be a coopers or a sharp-shinned? We did see it
> near a crow and it was smaller than the crow.
> >> Thanks for the help.
> >>
> >> --
> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "mbbirds" group.
> >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> >> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<1762727181473.1894514327.21917119...> > .
> >> <hawk 1.jpg><hawk 2.jpg><hawk 3.jpg>
> >
> > _________________________________
> > Mark Chappell email: <markchappell666...>
> > Professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (Emeritus)
> > University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
> > work website:
> https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/chappell > > photography website:
> http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/index.html > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "mbbirds" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> > To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> > .
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
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> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BDAB3596-1880-4761-AE81-34D782A58A41...> > .
>
It’s pretty subjective but the tarsi and toes look a little too robust for a sharpie — but there’s not much difference between a male Coop and a female sharpie. I don’t have a lot of experience with sharp-shins (plenty with Cooper’s) but every sharpie I’eve seen — unambiguously identified by other criteria — has shown that bug-eyed expression.
> On Nov 9, 2025, at 9:03 PM, Mark Chappell <markchappell666...> wrote:
>
>
Interesting comparison! Thank you so much for your message.
They said smaller than a crow so I went to Sharpie.
Also the tarsus, you can see in that one photo where it is erect is very thin and delicate. If it is a Coop it’s a male for sure. I recently held a female juvenile Coop and she was way bigger than this bird, beyond usual comparison to the tiercel.
Learn something new every day!
Take care,
Melanie
Sent from my iPhone
> On Nov 9, 2025, at 9:03 PM, Mark Chappell <markchappell666...> wrote:
> Cooper’s, I think. Note facial ‘expression’ — one characteristic I’ve sometimes found useful is that sharp-shinned hawks usually look bug-eyed, or startled; Cooper’s tend to look angry or mean. I think this is may be due to a somewhat more prominent brow ridge on Cooper’s. Male sharpies are fairly easy to ID from size alone: barely bigger than robins.
>
> Juvenile female and adult male sharp-shinned:
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> > <Sharp-shinned hawk 0031.jpg>
> <sharp-shinned hawk005.jpg>
>
>
>
> Female Cooper’s juvenile:
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...> > <Cooper's hawk 0027.jpg>
>
>
>> On Nov 9, 2025, at 2:31 PM, <edaveclark...> wrote:
>>
>> We saw this hawk at Antonelli yesterday and my wife got some pics with her phone against her binoculars.
>> Wondering if it could be a coopers or a sharp-shinned? We did see it near a crow and it was smaller than the crow.
>> Thanks for the help.
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<1762727181473.1894514327.21917119...> >> <hawk 1.jpg><hawk 2.jpg><hawk 3.jpg>
>
> _________________________________
> Mark Chappell email: <markchappell666...>
> Professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology (Emeritus)
> University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
> work website: https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/chappell > photography website: http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/index.html >
>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<4A0E7BB5-5A77-4429-B21E-642A829EC1AF...>
Cooper’s, I think. Note facial ‘expression’ — one characteristic I’ve sometimes found useful is that sharp-shinned hawks usually look bug-eyed, or startled; Cooper’s tend to look angry or mean. I think this is may be due to a somewhat more prominent brow ridge on Cooper’s. Male sharpies are fairly easy to ID from size alone: barely bigger than robins.
> On Nov 9, 2025, at 2:31 PM, <edaveclark...> wrote:
>
> We saw this hawk at Antonelli yesterday and my wife got some pics with her phone against her binoculars.
> Wondering if it could be a coopers or a sharp-shinned? We did see it near a crow and it was smaller than the crow.
> Thanks for the help.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<1762727181473.1894514327.21917119...> > <hawk 1.jpg><hawk 2.jpg><hawk 3.jpg>
Great pix!
Looks to be a juvenile Sharpie. The way to tell a Sharpie from a Coop, the Sharpie’s tarsi are as thin as toothpicks! Really!! 😂
Take care,
Melanie Wirtanen
Sent from my iPhone
> On Nov 9, 2025, at 2:31 PM, <edaveclark...> wrote:
>
> We saw this hawk at Antonelli yesterday and my wife got some pics with her phone against her binoculars.
> Wondering if it could be a coopers or a sharp-shinned? We did see it near a crow and it was smaller than the crow.
> Thanks for the help.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<1762727181473.1894514327.21917119...> > <hawk 1.jpg>
> <hawk 2.jpg>
> <hawk 3.jpg>
We saw this hawk at Antonelli yesterday and my wife got some pics with her phone against her binoculars. Wondering if it could be a coopers or a sharp-shinned? We did see it near a crow and it was smaller than the crow. Thanks for the help.
Date: 11/7/25 3:57 am From: Phil Brown <pdpbrown...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Juvenile Gull ID Help
Sorry Kate I am in Nepal, maybe can take a look when I am back,
Phil
On Thu, Nov 6, 2025, 00:37 Kate Edwards <kmedwards400...> wrote:
> Hi Phil,
>
> Thanks for the response -- I think Iceland Gulls will just continue to
> confuse me for some time. The photo I attached does make the bill look
> bi-colored from the lighting, but the other pictures in the checklist have
> it more consistently black with maybe some grey at the very base. I've
> attached one below.
>
> Blake Matheson also suggested that this individual could be a first winter
> Herring vs a Ring-Billed. Would you agree, or is this one just better
> left un-identified?
>
> Thanks,
> Kate
> [image: Thayers3.JPG]
>
> On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 4:27 PM Phil Brown <pdpbrown...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Kate,
>> Iceland Gull (Thayer's) should have pale edging to the primaries, and the
>> primaries look too dark to me, The bill looks bi-colored too (a bit hard to
>> tell from this angle).
>> Regards, Phil Brown
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM Kate Edwards <kmedwards400...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> I was reviewing some photos of a flock of gulls I took at the San
>>> Lorenzo River mouth back in February 2023. My SD card filled up so I'm
>>> finally getting around to sorting through them. At the time I remember
>>> taking photos of any odd juveniles to a) help my identification skills and
>>> b) hopefully capture an Iceland gull in the flock I could ID later. There
>>> were most of our N. California species present with Short-billed,
>>> Ring-Billed, Western, California, and at least a couple of Herring.
>>>
>>> One of them I landed on as a juvenile Ring-Billed gull due to a
>>> combination of size, black on just the tip of the bill, and overall
>>> messiness of the plumage. The pink legs threw me off at first, but I found
>>> other images on eBird showing them with pink feet during the first year or
>>> so. Photos of this one are uploaded here
>>> <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/644334666>.
>>>
>>> This other one is probably the same, but the plumage seemed a little
>>> more uniform and the bill was fully black. The head shape also seemed
>>> different, but that field marker has always been hard for me to
>>> distinguish. I think I'm leaning towards Ring-Billed, but I just have to
>>> check I don't have a photo of a lifer sitting right in front of me.
>>>
>>> More pictures of both birds can be found on my ebird checklist here
>>> <https://ebird.org/checklist/S127970740>. I appreciate any tips to
>>> getting reliable ID's on these little guys!
>>>
>>> Happy birding,
>>> Kate Edwards
>>>
>>> --
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Groups "mbbirds" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>>> an email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>>> To view this discussion visit
>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CACU8eBhZb7WtSdaoM%3Dg2K34H4E%3Dq5%<3DmFt1gNZxb8jzYbijczeA...> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CACU8eBhZb7WtSdaoM%3Dg2K34H4E%3Dq5%<3DmFt1gNZxb8jzYbijczeA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> .
>>>
>>
Date: 11/5/25 10:52 am From: Kate Edwards <kmedwards400...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Juvenile Gull ID Help
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the response -- I think Iceland Gulls will just continue to
confuse me for some time. The photo I attached does make the bill look
bi-colored from the lighting, but the other pictures in the checklist have
it more consistently black with maybe some grey at the very base. I've
attached one below.
Blake Matheson also suggested that this individual could be a first winter
Herring vs a Ring-Billed. Would you agree, or is this one just better
left un-identified?
Thanks,
Kate
[image: Thayers3.JPG]
On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 4:27 PM Phil Brown <pdpbrown...> wrote:
> Hi Kate,
> Iceland Gull (Thayer's) should have pale edging to the primaries, and the
> primaries look too dark to me, The bill looks bi-colored too (a bit hard to
> tell from this angle).
> Regards, Phil Brown
>
> On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM Kate Edwards <kmedwards400...>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I was reviewing some photos of a flock of gulls I took at the San Lorenzo
>> River mouth back in February 2023. My SD card filled up so I'm finally
>> getting around to sorting through them. At the time I remember taking
>> photos of any odd juveniles to a) help my identification skills and b)
>> hopefully capture an Iceland gull in the flock I could ID later. There were
>> most of our N. California species present with Short-billed, Ring-Billed,
>> Western, California, and at least a couple of Herring.
>>
>> One of them I landed on as a juvenile Ring-Billed gull due to a
>> combination of size, black on just the tip of the bill, and overall
>> messiness of the plumage. The pink legs threw me off at first, but I found
>> other images on eBird showing them with pink feet during the first year or
>> so. Photos of this one are uploaded here
>> <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/644334666>.
>>
>> This other one is probably the same, but the plumage seemed a little more
>> uniform and the bill was fully black. The head shape also seemed different,
>> but that field marker has always been hard for me to distinguish. I think
>> I'm leaning towards Ring-Billed, but I just have to check I don't have a
>> photo of a lifer sitting right in front of me.
>>
>> More pictures of both birds can be found on my ebird checklist here
>> <https://ebird.org/checklist/S127970740>. I appreciate any tips to
>> getting reliable ID's on these little guys!
>>
>> Happy birding,
>> Kate Edwards
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CACU8eBhZb7WtSdaoM%3Dg2K34H4E%3Dq5%<3DmFt1gNZxb8jzYbijczeA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CACU8eBhZb7WtSdaoM%3Dg2K34H4E%3Dq5%<3DmFt1gNZxb8jzYbijczeA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>
Date: 11/4/25 6:56 am From: Alfred Hochstaedter <fredhochstaedter...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Pt Pinos Seawatch Summaries are a Delight to Read
Good morning! Most of us know that Monterey Audubon’s Seawatch has started,
and that Alison Vilag, our expert seabird counter, is back at Pt Pinos
monitoring loons, scoters, and everything else that flies by the point.
What everybody might not know is that Alison is also a skilled and
evocative writer. She summarizes each day in a short, three-sips-of-coffee
length of prose that is delightful to read. I like to start my day by
enjoying them with my first cup of coffee.
Here’s an excerpt for Nov 1, the first day of the Seawatch season:
“SURF SCOTERS were moving in good numbers today: we had 1442, with the
flight evenly distributed across the day till 1500 when it began to drop
off. We also had 2 WHITE-WINGED and 3 BLACK SCOTERS--all these, save one
Black Scoter by itself, were mixed with Surf flocks. This is the first
opening day of my four (!) seasons that's brought a thousand+ scoter day;
curious how many went by in October, as during the afternoon of October 28
I tallied 3300 in just a couple hours... The only other waterfowl was a
single BRANT, ironically smack dab in the middle of a flock of Brandt's
Cormorants--Brant with the Brandt's... “
Date: 11/4/25 6:47 am From: Brian Scanlon <briancscanlon...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Re: Northern Flickers at Lee Road
Thanks for the input. After playing around with the exposure on these
pictures, I'm convinced that there is more orange than I'd like. Also the
red nape is not well defined on either bird. I've put both in the
yellowxred bucket.
Brian
On Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM Brian Scanlon <briancscanlon...>
wrote:
> It seems unlikely, but I had a couple of possible Yellow-shafted Northern
> Flickers this morning at Lee Road. Any opinions would be appreciated.
>
> Female:
>
> [image: _DSC3824-Edit-2.jpg]
> [image: _DSC3830-Edit.jpg]
>
> And Male: Unfortunately dark, distant, and foggy but the face pattern and
> nape are good, and I can see a bit of yellow on the wing.
>
>
> [image: 72641bc5-62de-4f75-9763-d49d5b34b896.jpg]
> [image: e8f1f721-1b55-4792-8f92-3c224f0866ee.jpg]
>
>
>
Date: 11/1/25 3:19 pm From: Phoebe Barnes <jasper.barnes...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Site recommendations for a Big Sur Big Day?
Thanks for the site recommendations everyone! We ended up with a decent
53-species day. Could have been better, and no condors, but we were having
fun so it all worked out in the end. If anyone wants to see the trip
report, have a look here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/426992
Thanks again,
Phoebe
On Sun, Oct 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM Phoebe Jasper Barnes <
<jasper.barnes...> wrote:
> Hello, all!
>
> My best friend and I are going to Big Sur next week, and we wanted to try
> a sort of Big Day as we've been going down there as a sort of annual
> tradition and we wanted to mix things up. It's not going to be anything
> huge, just kind of a personal challenge we wanted to try out.
>
> In any case, we were wondering if you all had any site suggestions for us?
> We're definitely going to Andrew Molera SP and Pfeiffer Big Sur SP, but any
> other site recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your
> time. Have a good day, and good birding!
>
> --Phoebe Barnes
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<c5eeaf96-a758-43b1-a29d-e539fe94d394n...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<c5eeaf96-a758-43b1-a29d-e539fe94d394n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/31/25 11:22 am From: Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Blue Grosbeak at lighthouse field
There was a strange grosbeak with white wing bars in Lighthouse field this
morning near the west end. If you go looking for the Harris’s Sparrow keep
your eyes open.
Date: 10/29/25 4:28 pm From: Phil Brown <pdpbrown...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Juvenile Gull ID Help
Hi Kate,
Iceland Gull (Thayer's) should have pale edging to the primaries, and the
primaries look too dark to me, The bill looks bi-colored too (a bit hard to
tell from this angle).
Regards, Phil Brown
On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 4:13 PM Kate Edwards <kmedwards400...> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I was reviewing some photos of a flock of gulls I took at the San Lorenzo
> River mouth back in February 2023. My SD card filled up so I'm finally
> getting around to sorting through them. At the time I remember taking
> photos of any odd juveniles to a) help my identification skills and b)
> hopefully capture an Iceland gull in the flock I could ID later. There were
> most of our N. California species present with Short-billed, Ring-Billed,
> Western, California, and at least a couple of Herring.
>
> One of them I landed on as a juvenile Ring-Billed gull due to a
> combination of size, black on just the tip of the bill, and overall
> messiness of the plumage. The pink legs threw me off at first, but I found
> other images on eBird showing them with pink feet during the first year or
> so. Photos of this one are uploaded here
> <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/644334666>.
>
> This other one is probably the same, but the plumage seemed a little more
> uniform and the bill was fully black. The head shape also seemed different,
> but that field marker has always been hard for me to distinguish. I think
> I'm leaning towards Ring-Billed, but I just have to check I don't have a
> photo of a lifer sitting right in front of me.
> [image: Thayers1.JPG]
> More pictures of both birds can be found on my ebird checklist here
> <https://ebird.org/checklist/S127970740>. I appreciate any tips to
> getting reliable ID's on these little guys!
>
> Happy birding,
> Kate Edwards
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CACU8eBhZb7WtSdaoM%3Dg2K34H4E%3Dq5%<3DmFt1gNZxb8jzYbijczeA...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CACU8eBhZb7WtSdaoM%3Dg2K34H4E%3Dq5%<3DmFt1gNZxb8jzYbijczeA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/29/25 4:13 pm From: Kate Edwards <kmedwards400...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Juvenile Gull ID Help
Hi everyone,
I was reviewing some photos of a flock of gulls I took at the San Lorenzo River mouth back in February 2023. My SD card filled up so I'm finally getting around to sorting through them. At the time I remember taking photos of any odd juveniles to a) help my identification skills and b) hopefully capture an Iceland gull in the flock I could ID later. There were most of our N. California species present with Short-billed, Ring-Billed, Western, California, and at least a couple of Herring.
One of them I landed on as a juvenile Ring-Billed gull due to a combination of size, black on just the tip of the bill, and overall messiness of the plumage. The pink legs threw me off at first, but I found other images on eBird showing them with pink feet during the first year or so. Photos of this one are uploaded here <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/644334666>.
This other one is probably the same, but the plumage seemed a little more uniform and the bill was fully black. The head shape also seemed different, but that field marker has always been hard for me to distinguish. I think I'm leaning towards Ring-Billed, but I just have to check I don't have a photo of a lifer sitting right in front of me. [image: Thayers1.JPG] More pictures of both birds can be found on my ebird checklist here <https://ebird.org/checklist/S127970740>. I appreciate any tips to getting reliable ID's on these little guys!
Date: 10/27/25 9:45 pm From: Pete Sole <pete...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Continuing Warblers at Schwan Lake
Hi birders,
Late this afternoon, we were able to see 3 of the rare warblers that
have been previously reported at Schwan Lake including:
* BLACK-and-WHITE WARBLER - Seen on south eastern trail, roughly at
GPS coordinates: 36.96761493153607, -121.99191261281024
* BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER - Seen near the far end Vista Point at rough
GPS coordinates 36.9668097774373, -121.99440955401306
* PROTHONOTARY WARBLER - Seen near the BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER but
flew across the lake to the the other side.
I was able to capture some ahem, let's call them documentary, photos of
the Blackburnian and Black-and-White Warblers, which are attached to the
ebird report here:
I was not able to get, even a blurry blob photo, of the Prothonotary
Warbler. But we did see it very briefly. The solid bright yellow head
and chest, black bill, and white on the vent is pretty distinctive.
At one point, I thought I may have seen the Black-throated Green
Warbler, but after reviewing my photos, it was just another of the many
Townsend's Warblers in the area.
In any case, it was fun to just see these rare warblers in county. Given
the clear skies and the fact these birds have been here for several
days, I think it is quite possible that they may take off tonight, and
continue their migration.
Date: 10/27/25 1:13 pm From: 'Jane Orbuch' via mbbirds <mbbirds...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] A Conversation with Dr. Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela ( of UCSC) October 30th on Zoom on rare Columbian Antpitta
>
> https://mailchi.mp/savingnature/a-conversation-with-dr-natalia-ocampo-peuela-october-30th-on-zoom?e=74b69d6ea7 >
> Join Us for a Conversation with Dr. Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela on Colombia’s Cundinamarca Antpitta October 30th at 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST OCTOBER UPDATE
> Dear supporters,
>
> Dr. Stuart Pimm and Andy Schiffer are hosting a conversation with Dr. Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, Assistant Professor at UC Santa Cruz and leader of the Conservation Ecology Lab. We’ll discuss Saving Nature and Fundación Camaná’s recent purchase of 18.5 hectares (46 acres) in Colombia’s Eastern Andes to protect habitat for the Cundinamarca Antpitta (Grallaria kaestneri), one of the world’s rarest birds.
>
> Date: Thursday, October 30th
> Time: 4 pm PST (7 pm EST)
> Location: Zoom
> Register: Here <https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1bQYtTPqSaeYMCKitcJsPA> > Event highlights
> • Why continuous forest from 1,700–2,300 meters matters for the Antpitta
> • How two new parcels extend protection downslope from Refugio del Tororoi and link fragmented patches
> • What on-the-ground restoration looks like: fencing out cattle and allowing natural regeneration
> • Co-benefits for Flame-winged Parakeet, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Spectacled Bear, water security, and slope stability
> • How Natalia’s spatial mapping guides land buys that save species
>
> About the speaker
> Natalia studies tropical biodiversity, corridor design, and practical conservation. She also leads work on bird-window collisions and biodiversity in working landscapes. Watch her TEDx talk on birdwatching and conservation:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVBDf0rYYbQ >
> RSVP now <https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1bQYtTPqSaeYMCKitcJsPA> >
> We look forward to seeing you and sharing how targeted land purchases and smart restoration prevent extinctions.
>
> With gratitude,
> Andy Schiffer
> Saving Nature
Date: 10/26/25 5:37 pm From: Sam Rawlins <sam.rawlins...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Site recommendations for a Big Sur Big Day?
That could be a tricky day! Big +1 to Andrew Molera; you could spend a lot
of time there; big variety of birds.
My 2c is that I've seen a number of perching birds just poking around the
McWay falls area, and also that I saw my lifer American Dippers and
Olive-sided Flycatcher on the Tan Bark trail at Partington Canyon. I don't
think I'd recommend the whole hike though, maybe just the first bit along
the creek, in terms of maximizing your time. You might spot some sea birds
at Partington Cove if you make a quick jog down there. Although now that I
think about it, Pfeiffer Beach is big, probably good for sea birds, and a
few perching birds as well.
With any luck, you'll spot a Condor, maybe near the Sea Lion Overlook a few
hundred feet north of the (now closed) COAST restaurant. I've also seen
them at Partington and a few other spots.
Enjoy and good luck!
On Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 4:45 PM Phoebe Jasper Barnes <jasper.barnes...>
wrote:
> Hello, all!
>
> My best friend and I are going to Big Sur next week, and we wanted to try
> a sort of Big Day as we've been going down there as a sort of annual
> tradition and we wanted to mix things up. It's not going to be anything
> huge, just kind of a personal challenge we wanted to try out.
>
> In any case, we were wondering if you all had any site suggestions for us?
> We're definitely going to Andrew Molera SP and Pfeiffer Big Sur SP, but any
> other site recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your
> time. Have a good day, and good birding!
>
> --Phoebe Barnes
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<c5eeaf96-a758-43b1-a29d-e539fe94d394n...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<c5eeaf96-a758-43b1-a29d-e539fe94d394n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Sam Rawlins
Date: 10/26/25 4:45 pm From: Phoebe Jasper Barnes <jasper.barnes...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Site recommendations for a Big Sur Big Day?
Hello, all!
My best friend and I are going to Big Sur next week, and we wanted to try a sort of Big Day as we've been going down there as a sort of annual tradition and we wanted to mix things up. It's not going to be anything huge, just kind of a personal challenge we wanted to try out.
In any case, we were wondering if you all had any site suggestions for us? We're definitely going to Andrew Molera SP and Pfeiffer Big Sur SP, but any other site recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your time. Have a good day, and good birding!
Date: 10/26/25 3:09 pm From: Tino Castillo <tinocastillo4254...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
Hi all
I’m like 99% sure that this is the same song I sent an email about a few
days back asking for input. I went to Schwan yesterday with others and we
got visual on this bird which turned out to be a fox sparrow. Very abnormal
and literally sounds like a warbler, so I wouldn’t blame anyone for
thinking it was one, but unless there is a warbler wearing a skin suit made
out of fox sparrow, then it’s probably safe to say that it’s a fosp
On Sun, Oct 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM Michael Bolte <mjbolte...> wrote:
> the Fox Sparrow that I photographed was not calling.
>
> MIke
>
> On Sun, Oct 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks to all who have replied. I do not want to claim the bird I
>> recorded was not a Fox Sparrow, but the emphatic nature of the start of the
>> song is not what I think of for a Fox Sparrow. Was it singing during your
>> sighting?
>> Kent Johnson
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* <chris.henry12...> <chris.henry12...>
>> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 4:34 PM
>> *To:* David Apgar <d_apgar...>
>> *Cc:* Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>; <mbbirds...> <
>> <mbbirds...>
>> *Subject:* Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>>
>> Hey everyone, me and a few others got visual on this bird earlier today,
>> Fox Sparrow.
>>
>> On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:29 PM, David Apgar <d_apgar...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little
>> like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the
>> bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also
>> sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But
>> warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say
>> chestnut-sided.
>>
>> David Apgar
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of
>> Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
>> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
>> *To:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
>> *Subject:* [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>>
>> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
>> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
>> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
>> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
>> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
>> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
>> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
>> way away - its location is also indicated.
>> Kent Johnson
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<DM6PR12MB3403F1213BC59880926794909BFEA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<DM6PR12MB3403F1213BC59880926794909BFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<DS4PPFCCDA0318EE85408E25BF4DA7A1459AAFFA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<DS4PPFCCDA0318EE85408E25BF4DA7A1459AAFFA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CAHHT3Y_YtwYycf1rOATxjPhRc1AsdEeAa-Jgd%<3D0L_pkOmQWWhA...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/CAHHT3Y_YtwYycf1rOATxjPhRc1AsdEeAa-Jgd%<3D0L_pkOmQWWhA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/26/25 2:11 pm From: Michael Bolte <mjbolte...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
the Fox Sparrow that I photographed was not calling.
MIke
On Sun, Oct 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
wrote:
> Thanks to all who have replied. I do not want to claim the bird I recorded
> was not a Fox Sparrow, but the emphatic nature of the start of the song is
> not what I think of for a Fox Sparrow. Was it singing during your sighting?
> Kent Johnson
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <chris.henry12...> <chris.henry12...>
> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 4:34 PM
> *To:* David Apgar <d_apgar...>
> *Cc:* Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>; <mbbirds...> <
> <mbbirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>
> Hey everyone, me and a few others got visual on this bird earlier today,
> Fox Sparrow.
>
> On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:29 PM, David Apgar <d_apgar...> wrote:
>
>
> This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little
> like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the
> bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also
> sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But
> warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say
> chestnut-sided.
>
> David Apgar
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of
> Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
> *To:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
> *Subject:* [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>
> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
> way away - its location is also indicated.
> Kent Johnson
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
> --
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Date: 10/26/25 1:58 pm From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
Thanks to all who have replied. I do not want to claim the bird I recorded was not a Fox Sparrow, but the emphatic nature of the start of the song is not what I think of for a Fox Sparrow. Was it singing during your sighting?
Kent Johnson
________________________________
From: <chris.henry12...> <chris.henry12...>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2025 4:34 PM
To: David Apgar <d_apgar...>
Cc: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>; <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
Hey everyone, me and a few others got visual on this bird earlier today, Fox Sparrow.
On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:29 PM, David Apgar <d_apgar...> wrote:
This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say chestnut-sided.
David Apgar
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
To: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little way away - its location is also indicated.
Kent Johnson
Date: 10/25/25 9:01 pm From: Michael Bolte <mjbolte...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
and the photo of the Fox Sparrow
On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...>
wrote:
> Oh right! I could totally be convinced it’s a FOSP!
>
> -Abram
>
> Sent from my phone
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 16:34 chris.henry12 via mbbirds <
> <mbbirds...> wrote:
>
>> Hey everyone, me and a few others got visual on this bird earlier today,
>> Fox Sparrow.
>>
>> On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:29 PM, David Apgar <d_apgar...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little
>> like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the
>> bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also
>> sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But
>> warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say
>> chestnut-sided.
>>
>> David Apgar
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of
>> Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
>> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
>> *To:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
>> *Subject:* [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>>
>> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
>> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
>> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
>> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
>> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
>> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
>> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
>> way away - its location is also indicated.
>> Kent Johnson
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
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>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>> --
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>>
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>
Date: 10/25/25 7:50 pm From: Michael Bolte <mjbolte...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
I photographed this handsome Fox Sparrow right at the spot in question st
3pm today (Oct 25).
On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...>
wrote:
> Oh right! I could totally be convinced it’s a FOSP!
>
> -Abram
>
> Sent from my phone
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 16:34 chris.henry12 via mbbirds <
> <mbbirds...> wrote:
>
>> Hey everyone, me and a few others got visual on this bird earlier today,
>> Fox Sparrow.
>>
>> On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:29 PM, David Apgar <d_apgar...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little
>> like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the
>> bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also
>> sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But
>> warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say
>> chestnut-sided.
>>
>> David Apgar
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of
>> Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
>> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
>> *To:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
>> *Subject:* [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>>
>> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
>> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
>> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
>> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
>> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
>> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
>> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
>> way away - its location is also indicated.
>> Kent Johnson
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
>> --
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>> "mbbirds" group.
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>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
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>>
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>> To view this discussion visit
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>>
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> To view this discussion visit
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>
Date: 10/25/25 4:39 pm From: Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
Oh right! I could totally be convinced it’s a FOSP!
-Abram
Sent from my phone
On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 16:34 chris.henry12 via mbbirds <
<mbbirds...> wrote:
> Hey everyone, me and a few others got visual on this bird earlier today,
> Fox Sparrow.
>
> On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:29 PM, David Apgar <d_apgar...> wrote:
>
>
>
> This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little
> like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the
> bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also
> sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But
> warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say
> chestnut-sided.
>
> David Apgar
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of
> Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
> *Sent:* Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
> *To:* <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
> *Subject:* [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
>
> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
> way away - its location is also indicated.
> Kent Johnson
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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>
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>
Date: 10/25/25 4:29 pm From: David Apgar <d_apgar...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Re: Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
This does not sound like a hooded warbler to me. It does sound a little like a chestnut-sided warbler, although the final descending "t'you" of the bird's full "I'm so pleased to meet you" song is mostly missing. It also sounds a little like a sped-up prothonotary's song, ironically. But warblers don't accelerate the songs. If I had to bet, I'd say chestnut-sided.
David Apgar
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2025 3:29 PM
To: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little way away - its location is also indicated.
Kent Johnson
Date: 10/25/25 4:17 pm From: Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
Sounds similar to a Chestnut-sided Warbler (5th recording in Merlin) but I
am far from an expert.
-Abram
Sent from my phone
On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 15:34 Max Ferrero <maxferrero88...> wrote:
> I will point out that a group of us looking at the Prothonotary Warbler
> and searching for the Black-Throated Green Warbler heard this same call,
> loud and clear, in the same area, perhaps 30 minutes after Kent alerted us
> about it. I, too, would like to know what it is...
>
> On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
> wrote:
>
>> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
>> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
>> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
>> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
>> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
>> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
>> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
>> way away - its location is also indicated.
>> Kent Johnson
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "mbbirds" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
>> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>> To view this discussion visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> .
>>
> --
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> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
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>
Date: 10/25/25 3:34 pm From: Max Ferrero <maxferrero88...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
I will point out that a group of us looking at the Prothonotary Warbler and
searching for the Black-Throated Green Warbler heard this same call, loud
and clear, in the same area, perhaps 30 minutes after Kent alerted us about
it. I, too, would like to know what it is...
On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
wrote:
> I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID
> suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler
> recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I
> never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone
> who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a
> map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White
> Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little
> way away - its location is also indicated.
> Kent Johnson
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "mbbirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<BL1PPFCDE88AB43736975E7BB0CC48617C5AAFEA...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 10/25/25 3:30 pm From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Yet another warbler at Schwan Lake?
I recorded a bird at Schwan Lake this morning that Merlin Sound ID suggested was a Hooded Warbler. I have reviewed some Hooded Warbler recordings on xeno-canto and some do sound very much like this bird. I never saw it. I have attached a recording; I would love to hear from anyone who has any insight as to the identity of the singer. I will also attach a map of the location I heard it. The Prothonatory and Black-and-White Warblers were seen nearby. The Black-throated Green Warbler was a little way away - its location is also indicated.
Kent Johnson
Date: 10/25/25 10:23 am From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Warblers at Schwan Lake
Sorry, they were on the east side.
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2025 9:34 AM
To: Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...>; mbbirds <mbbirds...>
Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Warblers at Schwan Lake
Black-throared Green west side near lake overlook. Prothonatory same area.
Kent Johnson
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 11:26 AM
To: mbbirds <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Warblers at Schwan Lake
This morning On the west loop we have seen Prothoatary, Black and White, Blackburnian, Black-throated Gray in Addison to the usuals
Date: 10/25/25 9:34 am From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Warblers at Schwan Lake
Black-throared Green west side near lake overlook. Prothonatory same area.
Kent Johnson
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Abram Fleishman <abfleishman...>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2025 11:26 AM
To: mbbirds <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Warblers at Schwan Lake
This morning On the west loop we have seen Prothoatary, Black and White, Blackburnian, Black-throated Gray in Addison to the usuals
Date: 10/24/25 9:49 am From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Prothonotory Warbler
Sorry I did not post more about Schwan Lagoon last night; there was more there then the Prothonatory Warbler. There were two warblers that got away. One was a probable Blackburninan Warbler – others did report one yesterday. This is now a very long tenured vagrant at the site. The other was even better. I saw a Townsend’s-like warbler with a yellow band across its vent. That is consistent with a Black-throated Green Warbler. Unfortunately I never saw any more of it than that. Both of these were on the east-side trail, about 200 yards south of the entrance by the swim center.
Hoping to get back there this afternoon, Kent Johnson
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 3:16 PM
To: Gary Martindale <garymartindale6621...>; <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Prothonotory Warbler
Continues. Westside trail above lake.
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Gary Martindale <garymartindale6621...>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 6:14 PM
To: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Prothonotory Warbler
About 5:00 this afternoon I found a Prothonotary Wabler at Schwann Lake. It was in upper live oak canopy in the trees on the East loop where the point overlooks the Lake. I lost track of it. Not sure if it will stick around, but I wanted to share the info. https://ebird.org/checklist/S280867729
Date: 10/23/25 3:25 pm From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Prothonotory Warbler
Continues. Westside trail above lake.
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Gary Martindale <garymartindale6621...>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 6:14 PM
To: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Prothonotory Warbler
About 5:00 this afternoon I found a Prothonotary Wabler at Schwann Lake. It was in upper live oak canopy in the trees on the East loop where the point overlooks the Lake. I lost track of it. Not sure if it will stick around, but I wanted to share the info. https://ebird.org/checklist/S280867729
About 5:00 this afternoon I found a Prothonotary Wabler at Schwann Lake. It was in upper live oak canopy in the trees on the East loop where the point overlooks the Lake. I lost track of it. Not sure if it will stick around, but I wanted to share the info. https://ebird.org/checklist/S280867729
Date: 10/22/25 5:46 pm From: Pete Sole <pete...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Bald Eagle (photos) and other musings
Hi birders,
On a bit of a whim, went up birding to Rancho del Oso near the Santa
Cruz / San Mateo county line. One fun surprising find for me, was a BALD
EAGLE hanging out on some snags overlooking the ocean. In the 20 or so
years that I've been birding Waddell Beach and Rancho del Oso, roughly
quarterly if not more often, today was the first time that I've seen a
BALD EAGLE. A few eagle photos from today, best enjoyed on a big screen:
As I was driving home, but before I got back to Santa Cruz city limits,
I saw another 6 species of raptors including:
* 1 Peregrine Falcon flying along HW1 parallel to the road. Kind of
fun to drive along with a Peregrine for an escort.
* 2 or 3 Red-tailed Hawks
* 1 juvi Red-shouldered Hawk
* 1 Northern Harrier
* 2 or 3 American Kestrels
* 1 Turkey Vulture
So, from Rancho del Oso to the western edge of Santa Cruz City, there
were at least 7 species of diurnal raptors in the area.
If we consider that there are Cooper's Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, small
numbers of White-tailed Kites, Merlins, and Golden Eagles about, we
should have close to a dozen raptor species in county in winter. If we
are lucky, we could even pick up a Ferruginous Hawk and possibly a
Prairie Falcon later in the season.
Date: 10/22/25 10:56 am From: Deborah Diersch <debbiediersch...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Western Cattle-Egret at College Lake
Great photo!
I was driving northbound on Hwy 1 from Pt Lobos this past Friday and saw
more than a dozen egrets looking like those in your photo perched up in the
trees on the edge of the wetlands in the Elkhorn Ranch lands. I wonder if
they might have been Cattle Egrets. I know that there isn't any way of
knowing that now, but I'm going to keep a look-out for them down that way
now.
Thank you Brian!
Debbie
On Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM Brian Scanlon <briancscanlon...>
wrote:
Date: 10/22/25 9:27 am From: June Langhoff <junelanghoff...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Bald Eagle ID help
Thanks, Francis, and thanks to offline help from Ryan, Brian and Brad. The
consensus is that it's an Osprey. Reasoning: Slender appearance with long
wings when folded, not bulky enough for a Bald Eagle, which weigh up to 9.5
pounds.
On Monday, October 20, 2025 at 8:54:55 PM UTC-7 Francis Honey wrote:
> I think your guess is correct. A Bald Eagle has been seen at Loch Lomond
> recently and we thought we saw one flying up the San Lorenzo near the
> Graham Hill Water Treatment plant a couple of weeks ago.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 20, 2025, at 4:40 PM, June Langhoff <junela......> wrote:
>
> One of my neighbors in Spring Lakes Park texted me this photo today. Her
> best guess: an adult Bald Eagle. It's not the greatest photo but it's all
> we have. Do the field marks match?
>
> The photo was taken at 12:48pm 10/20. The bird was perched atop a tall
> conifer on the bridge island, lower lake.
>
> <Screenshot 2025-10-20 at 4.39.59 PM.png>
>
> --
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>
>
> <Screenshot 2025-10-20 at 4.39.59 PM.png>
>
>
On Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 09:42 <tinocast......> < <tinocastillo4254...> wrote:
> Howdy > > I just got inducted into this email group last night, but I have been > pondering this odd occurrence from last Saturday, where I was at Schwan > Lake and heard a warbler singing loud and proud in the middle of the day. > It didn't really sound like anything I had heard before, but I assumed that > it was nothing much--perhaps a wayward yewa or yrwa with an aberrant > song--and thus I never made an effort to gain visual. However, I managed to > get a recording of it which is on this checklist > <https://ebird.org/checklist/S280224978>. My friend, who is somehow a > walking phone directory for a bunch of birding people sent it to a few > more-than-qualified individuals, who all had differing opinions (ranging > from no clue to mawa to howa to cswa). When I looked through all the > parulid spectrograms I could find, howa seemed most similar, but warbler > songs are not really my specialty. I would've gone Sunday, but I had a > pelagic so instead I went back yesterday to try and refind it and no dice, > so it's probably gone by now but maybe it just didn't want to sing that > day? No clue but would appreciate any input on this thing. > > Tino Castillo > Santa Cruz > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "mbbirds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to mbbirds+<unsubscribe...> > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<33199485-522b-41ab-a8b2-6a37482a8eban...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mbbirds/<33199485-522b-41ab-a8b2-6a37482a8eban...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . >
Date: 10/21/25 9:42 am From: <tinocast......> <tinocastillo4254...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] (ID Help) Weird singing warbler at Schwan Lake, Santa Cruz
Howdy
I just got inducted into this email group last night, but I have been pondering this odd occurrence from last Saturday, where I was at Schwan Lake and heard a warbler singing loud and proud in the middle of the day. It didn't really sound like anything I had heard before, but I assumed that it was nothing much--perhaps a wayward yewa or yrwa with an aberrant song--and thus I never made an effort to gain visual. However, I managed to get a recording of it which is on this checklist <https://ebird.org/checklist/S280224978>. My friend, who is somehow a walking phone directory for a bunch of birding people sent it to a few more-than-qualified individuals, who all had differing opinions (ranging from no clue to mawa to howa to cswa). When I looked through all the parulid spectrograms I could find, howa seemed most similar, but warbler songs are not really my specialty. I would've gone Sunday, but I had a pelagic so instead I went back yesterday to try and refind it and no dice, so it's probably gone by now but maybe it just didn't want to sing that day? No clue but would appreciate any input on this thing.
Date: 10/20/25 4:40 pm From: June Langhoff <junelanghoff...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Bald Eagle ID help
One of my neighbors in Spring Lakes Park texted me this photo today. Her
best guess: an adult Bald Eagle. It's not the greatest photo but it's all
we have. Do the field marks match?
The photo was taken at 12:48pm 10/20. The bird was perched atop a tall
conifer on the bridge island, lower lake.
[image: Screenshot 2025-10-20 at 4.39.59 PM.png]
Date: 10/19/25 12:17 pm From: David Sidle <dsidle...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] Cattle Egret at College Lake
There is a distant, scope-needed Cattle Egret, presumably Western, viewable from 36.941695,-121.743108 below the old cemetery, near some Canada Geese and several Greater White-fronted Geese. I can see the yellow-orange bill and distribute walk.
Date: 10/16/25 9:25 am From: Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...> Subject: [MBBIRDS] American Redstart
Male. Lighthouse Field near Laguna.
________________________________
From: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...> on behalf of Kent Johnson <kentjohnson...>
Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 12:14 PM
To: <mbbirds...> <mbbirds...>
Subject: [MBBIRDS] Blackpol Warbler
Bethany Curve below Oxford in a large mixed flock
Kent Johnson
