Date: 11/17/25 5:53 pm From: Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop...> Subject: [pen-bird] BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, SWAMP SPARROW,etc.
On Saturday,11/15/25, there was an adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE among a flock of about 20 Common Goldeneyes at the north end of Marina Lagoon near Third Avenue,San Mateo. This is a week or two earlier than normal for this local and rare species in San Mateo County.An adult SNOW GOOSE with Canada Geese at the same location may have been the same bird reported at Coyote Point the previous day.A SWAMP SPARROW emerged from the edge of a brackish marsh to feed with other sparrows.The wintering BURROWING OWLS at Seal Point Park have attracted the attention and admiration of birders,as well as joggers,dog-walkers,cyclists,and other curious folks. The first arrival appeared in October and now there are Five individuals,the same number I found here last winter.I checked the shorebird roost along the Foster City breakwater(off Beach Park Blvd) at high tide. Our local BLACK SKIMMER population continues to climb. I counted 206 individuals. The first nesting in San Mateo County was in the Menlo Park saltponds in 1996 and they have continued to increase ever since.
Peter J.Metropulos
Highlights from the past week or so have included a Cattle Egret, a teal-shoveler hybrid, a returning American Redstart, and new Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville, and (wintering) Wilson's warblers.
On 11/17, I was going to bird north coast neighborhoods all morning but 30+ kt winds made this challenging. A short seawatch from Montara was not very productive, although some loons were moving (and Logan Kahle and Caitlin Chock had more than 30,000 Pacific Loons at Pigeon Pt). Checking locations in eastern Montara sheltered from the strong west winds, I had a Nashville Warbler on Ivy Street, a group of Golden-crowned Kinglets by the Valverde Rd pastures, and a White-throated Sparrow at the base of June Hollow Rd.
On 11/16, a Black-and-white Warbler was along Honsinger Ck at Tomkat Ranch in Pescadero, seen during surveys. This private ranch can be accessed only with prior permission. Stopping at Water Ln on the way out of Pescadero, I was surprised to see a Cattle Egret (or Western Cattle-Egret) in a horse paddock (so maybe a Western Horse-Egret). It was very cooperative and a fun bird to spend time with. There are only ~3 records from the county over the past decade, one of which involved two individuals. This species was formerly regular in the county and Ron Thorn described their arrival as typically taking place just after the first rains of the fall (https://groups.io/g/peninsula-birding/message/5978). Although no longer as regular in the county, that is still the context in which this one showed up! Later, I checked some neighborhoods in the Half Moon Bay area. A female American Redstart was at Frenchman's Ck Pk in Half Moon Bay, likely a returning bird present for at least its second winter, and both a new Tennessee Warbler and a cool-looking Audubon's x Myrtle hybrid Yellow-rumped Warbler that gave calls like a Common Yellowthroat were in El Granada neighborhoods.
On 11/14, stopping at the end of Bloom Ln in Half Moon Bay on the way back from surveys at Tomkat Ranch there was a Wilson's Warbler in Arroyo Leon riparian. Bonaparte's Gulls were at the mouths of Pescadero Ck and San Gregorio Ck.
On 11/13, Noah Eckman and I seawatched from Pigeon Point for part of the morning. Conditions were Beaufort 6–9 with southerly winds and rain squalls. We noted relatively little movement. Nearly all of the 100-some southbound loons were Red-throated. 2 male Black Scoters were with southbound Surf Scoter flocks. Numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls were moving south and six Brant were headed north.
On 11/12, a hybrid Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler was at Nob Hill Pond. This is a returning bird first noted in fall 2022 (unless it is the same individual as a record from April 2017) by Ron Thorn and Leonie Batkin. Ron Thorn and Pat Boor had previously encountered it this fall. It is a striking and distinctive-looking duck. Male Northern Shovelers can show a diffuse white crescent on the face and such birds are sometimes erroneously reported as BWTE hybrids. Several such birds are also at Nob Hill Pond at the moment. Peter Pyle has noted that the incidence of this plumage may be higher in the southern part of Northern Shoveler's wintering range, which is interesting.
Date: 11/14/25 11:26 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Snow Goose at Coyote Pt.
An adult Snow Goose was foraging on the lawn with Canada Geese near the beach area at Coyote Point County Park in San Mateo. There was also a hatch-year Aleutian CacklingGoose.
Ron Thorn
Date: 11/13/25 12:07 pm From: maliadances via groups.io <maliadances...> Subject: [pen-bird] San Mateo County Cumulative Year-list Report for --- October 2025
*Greetings Pen-birders,*
San Mateo County birders found a total of 10 species that were new for the year by the end of October. The 10 new birds will bring the total species observed by the end of the tenth month to 327. In reading the following, please note, the number in parenthesis next to the bird name is the rarity code assigned for San Mateo County birds. *From the link below* , you can *see definitions for the rarity codes,* *download a checklist* which shows seasonality, frequency, and county breeding information, *find a full list of the birds* observed so far in 2025 *, plus* *all monthly reports going back to 2009*
*Here are the new birds for October, their finders and locations where found:*
One WHITE-WINGED DOVE (5) was observed at a home feeder in Pacifica by Paul Donahue. While birding Pie Ranch in Pescadero, Marty Freeland found a BLUE-HEADED VIREO (6). Gary Deghi spotted a YELLOW-GREEN VIREO (6) at Ocean Colony. During a visit to Maverick’s Beach at Pillar Point, Cricket Raspet encountered a LAPLAND LONGSPUR (5) feeding in the wrack. Similarly, a SNOW BUNTING (6) was feeding in the wrack at the beach below Mirada Surf County Park found by Joanne Kerbavaz. Kent Forward photographed a BREWER’S SPARROW (4) at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Ron Thorn and Leonie Batkin discovered a MAGNOLIA WARBLER (4) at Shorebird Park off of Marine Parkway in Redwood Shores. While birding along Gazos Creek Rd. Jari Toivanen picked out a CANADA WARBLER (4) in the riparian habitat. Coming to a feeder was a PAINTED BUNTING (6) in Donna Pomeroy’s El Granada yard. Avis Boutell obtained photos of a DICKCISSEL (6) at a blufftop location in Moss Beach.
*Birding San Mateo County:* There are plenty of ways to see birds. Did you know *The San Mateo County Bird Alliance leads birding Field Trips* on a regular basis? To join a field trip, check out their schedule here: http://www.sequoia-audubon.org/fieldtrips.html
*To stay informed of the latest bird news, consider creating an account with both Peninsula Birding (Pen-bird) and eBird.* To join eBird, simply go to https://ebird.org/home and create an account. To join the Peninsula Birding group, join here: https://groups.io/g/peninsula-birding You can post your sightings there and be kept informed of sightings throughout the county including discussions about birds, population trends, where-can-I-find topics, events, field trips, webinars, pelagic trips and conservation issues. You can engage with other members of the birding community and can connect with online/offline discussions.
*This Report:* As a volunteer for the San Mateo County Bird Alliance I gather content for this report, each month, by primarily using eBird and Pen-bird. When posting to Pen-bird, please include the location and date of your sighting in either the subject line or in the body of your email. If you don’t use eBird or Pen-bird, you can always email me directly. Thank you!
If you have questions or comments regarding this report, or if I missed something,
Date: 11/12/25 7:53 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Santa Cruz Mountains skywatch 11/10
On the 10th, I did a early morning skywatch from the Skylawn Cemetery. I took advantage of the clear visibility. Fog free! I noted birds moving along the ridges. In the two hour watch, mostof what was coming through were frugivores. Raptors noted was another Rough-legged Hawk in the county in the last several days. This species has declined in numbers and rarely makesit to the county. Are there more to come? Other raptors were ( 1 ) White-tailed Kite, ( 1 ) Sharp-shinned Hawk, ( 2 ) Northern Harriers, ( 4 ) Red-tailed Hawks and ( 2 ) Golden Eagles. Otherspecies noted were ( 162 ) Band-tailed Pigeons, ( 3 ) Tree Swallows, ( 280 ) American Robins, ( 46 ) Varied Thrushes, ( 230 ) Cedar Waxwings, ( 1 ) American Pipit, ( 3 ) Purple Finches,( 4 ) Red Crossbills, ( 3 ) Pine Siskins and ( 6 ) Lesser Goldfinches
Ron ThornÂ
Date: 11/11/25 4:50 pm From: San Mateo County Bird Alliance via groups.io <office...> Subject: [pen-bird] November 13 Monthly Meeting
*November 13 7pm– Zoom*
Border to Border: Tracking American Kestrels in California Using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System
Teresa Ely is a raptor biologist specializing in migration and long-term monitoring. She is currently using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to study American Kestrels across California, with a focus on wintering populations at the Salton Sea. She has also applied Motus to track Sharp-shinned Hawks, expanding our understanding of raptor movements across the region.
Teresa is a Golden Eagle Biologist with East Bay Regional Parks and contributes to international raptor research collaborations through Boise State University's Raptor Research Center. She previously managed a long-term fall raptor migration banding station in the Marin Headlands, where she trained hundreds of volunteers and led large-scale monitoring projects. Her broader fieldwork experience includes studies of Swainson's Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Ospreys, and Great Gray Owls, providing her with a comprehensive perspective on raptor migration and movement patterns across diverse landscapes.
A Red-necked Grebe was with Horned Grebes on the bay off of the Anza Fisherman's Park in Burligame. In Colma, a Lucy's Warbler was foraging with an Orange-crowned Warblerin the bottlebrush near the ponds on the north side of the entrance road for the Cypress Lawn Cemetery.Â
Ron Thorn
Date: 11/10/25 8:54 am From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Yellow-breasted Chat, inland Brant, Orchard Oriole, Worm-eating Warbler, etc.
Hi all,
Highlights from the first week or so of November have included a late Yellow-breasted Chat, an inland Brant, a new adult male Orchard Oriole, a Tropical Kingbird, two new Tennessees and two wintering Black-and-whites (likely continuing), and a presumably continuing Worm-eating Warbler. It continues to be a strong year for Orange-crowned Warbler (especially but not solely gray-headed Orange-crowns) and Ruby-crowned Kinglet; White-throated Sparrow numbers also have felt very high over the past several days in particular. Regionally it seems to be shaping up to be a great year for Rough-legged Hawk and we should be on the lookout for more in San Mateo!
On 11/1, I birded the south coast for most of the day. At Pie Ranch, a Tropical Kingbird was flycatching from the ranch buildings and powerlines and a Tennessee Warbler was in the scrubby willow stuff on Green Oaks Ck, which in the actual farm area is really just a small ditch. It continues to be a great year for Tennessee Warbler! Malia recently created an eBird hotspot for Pie Ranch, so please consider moving your checklists there if you have visited. Numbers of birders have been able to see the Tropical Kingbird and were also able to see the Blue-headed Vireo earlier this year, which is awesome. If you are at Pie Ranch while the farmstand is open, please consider buying something to help keep the ranch folks positively disposed toward birders. Later in the morning, 2+ Horned Larks were in the newly plowed field just north of the Gazos Ck beach parking lot. Horned Larks are fairly regular in very small numbers in fields on the south coast late in the season, but usually in much more inaccessible locations! Two Black-and-white Warblers several miles apart on Stage Rd., one at Seaside School Rd. and one near the sapsucker grove toward the south end, were each about a quarter-mile from locations that had Black-and-whites earlier in the season: Seaside School from 9/21–10/1 and southern Stage Rd. on 10/19. My guess would be that the Seaside School individual is a new, different bird and that the southern Stage Rd. bird is continuing, but those are just guesses.
On 11/3, I birded the Colma cemeteries and flowering eucs at Orange Memorial Park. I was shocked to see a Brant at Cypress Lawn Cemetery, bullying coots and walking around through the bushes by the entrance ponds. I do not know of other inland records of Brant from San Mateo Co., and Ron Thorn kindly let me know that he does not know of any either, so it seems that this may really be a first interior record for the county.
On 11/6, I checked a couple restricted-access south coast farms early in the morning after duly getting permission from their owners. A White-throated Sparrow and what I believe are the new record-holders for the most coastal population of Acorn Woodpeckers in the county were at Santa Cruz Permaculture, near Ano Nuevo (and in San Mateo County). The woodpeckers have old established granaries and everything and yet are just 550–650 m from the ocean.
On 11/8, Mei Li Palmeri and I birded the south-central coast from Half Moon Bay to Whitehouse Ck. A Yellow-breasted Chat was at the HMB WTP in the middle of the morning. Yellow-breasted Chat is a scarce migrant in the county and exceptional in November: this is the latest record that I am aware of for the peninsula. My feeling is that this likely represents a late migrant, as opposed to an attempt to winter, but I suppose wintering is also a possibility: however, NorCal has only c. 5 winter records of chat to my knowledge and there are many more records of presumed migrants from the first few days of November. This chat appeared consistent with the expected western subspecies. Later in the day, the Loggerhead Shrike first reported by Troy Pittock was still at Verde Rd x Purisima Ck Rd.
On 11/9, I birded the central coast with Caitlin Chock, Chris Henry, and Alex Castelein. An adult male Orchard Oriole and two Tennessee Warblers together were in Ocean Colony. Ocean Colony is a private neighborhood that can be accessed only with permission. It continues to be an amazing year for Tennessees in the county! Also at Ocean Colony were three White-throated Sparrows in different locations, and another was along Miramontes Creek a short distance to the south. Yet another was in the brussels sprout fields by the Johnston House. Checking Arroyo Leon from the edge of Our Lady of the Pillar Cemetery in east Half Moon Bay, a Worm-eating Warbler first spotted by Chris eventually gave us excellent looks as it foraged in the creekbed almost directly below us. This is not too far from the area where Richard Jeffers' bird was in late October and is almost certainly the same individual, although it is on a different creek. These views were much better than the ones many of us had on the day when Richard discovered the bird.
Date: 11/6/25 4:23 pm From: Chris M. via groups.io <chrismac...> Subject: [pen-bird] Crystal Springs and Año Nuevo CBCs - please volunteer
Hello birders,
As you all are planning your CBC participation this year, please remember
that the Crystal Springs and Año Nuevo CBCs are some of the most fun and
species-rich counts around, so do consider joining us.
You can sign up here
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesKWCyYWf3x_0JYKqfCpx69YbgqauWT4TiERQ4MNAJCwBp_A/viewform>,
or let me know which count(s) you'd like to join.
Participation is free (dinner after the count is $20).
We are happy to have experienced counters, new counters, young birders,
hiking birders, urban birders, all kinds....
Please get in touch with your questions if you are unsure about
volunteering.
There are also opportunities to do a "feeder count" in your own garden if
you prefer.
The SMCBA webpage <https://smcbirdalliance.org/CBC.html> has an article
about what to expect. We are planning to have an outing for new people to
learn what a count day is like.
Date: 11/5/25 12:18 pm From: susan hons via groups.io <susieturtlewings...> Subject: [pen-bird] American Goldfinches & White-crowned sparrows in San Carlos.
Nice little flock of AMGF and two WCSP at the feeders this morning in San Carlos.
Date: 11/5/25 9:45 am From: David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann...> Subject: [pen-bird] Registration for the 12/29/25 San Francisco Christmas Bird Count is now open
Registration for the Monday December 29th San Francisco Christmas Bird Count is now open. You can register as a Field Observer or Feeder Watcher, and you can also sign-up for the Count Dinner at the links below. Participation is free; the cost of the optional dinner is $35.
The San Francisco Christmas Bird Count covers all of the City of San Francisco, and the northern part of San Mateo County. You can see a map of our Count Circle at https://cbcviewer.appspot.com/map ( https://cbcviewer.appspot.com/map ) (select San Francisco on the drop down menu).
Thanks to the generosity of San Francisco Baykeeper, we will have access to a boat to survey birds in San Francisco Bay.
Date: 11/4/25 10:17 pm From: maliadances via groups.io <maliadances...> Subject: [pen-bird] Lesser Black-backed Gull at Gazos Creek Beach 11/4/25
Hi all,
I spotted what looks good for a Lesser Black-backed Gull today 11/4/25 at Gazos Creek Beach just south of Pescadero. It was with a huge gull flock consisting of at least 700 California Gulls on the beach just south of the creek outflow. The gull flock was very flighty and easily disrupted. After the initial sighting, we watched it fly with a group of gulls into the lagoon where we re-found it. All the gulls in the lagoon spooked and flew off. But I relocated it on the beach further south after a substantial search. Photos here https://ebird.org/checklist/S282930440
Date: 11/4/25 10:43 am From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [pen-bird] coastal notes from 11/3/25
spent the day birding along the San Mateo County coast yesterday from south of Half Moon Bay to near the county line.
Some observation of interest to me include:
White-winged Scoter - solo bird flew by north past Pomponio Creek Beach during a brief seawatch
Common Goldeneye - the first arrival I noted this fall was at Lake Lucerne of Bean Hollow Rd. This bird arrived at least the day before per eBird checklist from Alane Gray
Bald Eagles - a very vocal pair was kicking up the waterfowl on Pescadero Marsh near sunset and perching together in one of the big blue gum eucalyptus at the north edge of the marsh
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - in the coastal prairie zone west of HWY 1 between Whitehouse and Cascade Creeks in the morning. Appeared to move off - possibly east of the highway where this species is somewhat regular in recent years outside the breeding season
Tricolored Blackbirds - good numbers encountered throughout the day including 2200+ on both sides of HWY 1 in the area of Bob's Pumpkin Patch/Verde Rd/Cowell-Purisima trail. smaller flocks also present in the ag land south of Pigeon Point to Cascade Ranch. In total well over 3000 on the day.
PALM WARBLER - one was associating with a mixed sparrow flock just off HWY 1 near Cascade Ranch.
Despite making a number of stops in appropriate habitat I was unable to find very many American Pipits yesterday. American Goldfinches were also oddly scarce.
Date: 10/31/25 4:13 pm From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Canada Warbler, new Am. Redstart and Tennessees, etc.
Hi all,
Highlights from the past few days have included a Canada Warbler, a new American Redstart, two new Tennessees, several Nashville and Palm warblers, and several cool leucistic birds. It continues to be a strong year for Ruby-crowned Kinglet with above-average numbers noted almost everywhere, and for Orange-crowned Warbler, especially (but I think not solely?) gray-headed birds. The first White-throated Sparrows at traditional wintering locations that I have noted returned this week.
On 10/28, I birded the north coast from Mori Pt. to Moss Beach. At Mori Pt. a greenish-yellow warbler with white outer tail feathers was in the coastal scrub. I followed it around for a bit thinking that perhaps it would be a Prairie. Instead, eventually I got good views of an Orange-crowned Warbler with pure white outer rectrices! I have never seen anything quite like that. Also present were 2 White-throated Sparrows. A coastal Northern Mockingbird at Pedro Pt. was notable. At the Farallone Willows in Montara, there was a bright Tennessee Warbler. At the same location was a San Mateo endemic, the White-throated Black Phoebe (Sayornis albogularis), returning for another winter; this striking leucistic bird spent last winter at the same site and was seen nearby (by Kent Forward) in September 2023. A Nashville Warbler was at the bottlebrushes near the entrance road to the hospital in Moss Beach.
At Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, I spent a while with a Pacific/Winter wren that gave remarkably Song Sparrow-like calls, to my ear, and certainly sounded quite different from an ordinary Pacific Wren, though also not quite spot-on for Winter. Sending around the recordings it seems that most agree that this bird sounds ambiguous. A particularly helpful analysis by Ethan Monk noted that peak frequency in some calls is ~3700 kHz, which is typical of Winter, but in others it is somewhat higher (albeit not quite into the ordinary territory of Pacific) and many calls show a doubled lower harmonic, which is a pro-Pacific feature. I was not able to see the bird well enough to obtain photographs or assess the plumage characteristics that are useful for identification. Winter Wren has yet to be recorded in San Mateo County. Better audio and photographs of the Fitzgerald bird could be nice; however, there are also normal Pacific Wrens at this location.
On 10/29, I birded the north coast from Vallemar neighborhoods to Half Moon Bay for much of the day. Another new Tennessee Warbler was at Sanchez Adobe park and a new Nashville was not too far away at St. Peter's Catholic Church in the upper Linda Mar area for yet another day with the Tennessee + Nashville combination. At San Pedro Valley CP I found a striking Canada Warbler that gave excellent looks behind the visitor center, and eventually cooperated to give a small group good looks later on after being relocated by Caitlin Chock. This was San Mateo County's second individual this fall and a much-anticipated county bird for me. We have had 2 Canadas and 2 Worm-eating Warblers this fall—the same number of Blackpoll Warblers recorded in the county this season! I am not aware of other records of Canada Warbler for the north coast proper (north of Moss Beach), though there certainly may be one or two.
On 10/30, I birded neighborhoods from Moss Beach to Miramar through the early afternoon when I had to leave for classes. At one of my traditional spots for White-throated Sparrow in east Miramar three individuals were present, a rather high count, especially for late October. Also present was a Golden-crowned Sparrow with a white right cheek, continuing a streak of leucistic birds. Otherwise it was rather slow all day with cold temperatures and strong northwesterly breezes.
On 10/31, I birded pumpkin patches and neighborhoods in southern Half Moon Bay in the early morning. At Bob's Pumpkin Patch, two Palm Warblers were together in the southwestern area of the field, which was very active. Birding the Moonridge neighborhoods on upper Miramontes Ck (or a feeder creek?), which is an area that I like very much for late fall/early winter, a dull female-type American Redstart was with a flock in willows all the way at the northeastern corner of the development. I think this is the county's ninth this season, which is an above-average total.
As always, photos and details and locations, etc., are on eBird.
Date: 10/30/25 7:50 pm From: Christopher Hayward via groups.io <p_t_nymph...> Subject: [pen-bird] Continuing Canada Warbler, San Pedro County Park, 10/30/25
Hi All,
This afternoon I decided to try for better photos of the Canada Warbler found yesterday by Marty Freeland. It had been quite frustrating for several of us trying for photos yesterday. I arrived to the area where we had seen it yesterday and heard it chipping right away, then had decent looks and did manage slightly better photos, it wasn't quite as hard to see today. If looking for it the best chance for viewing seems to be on the trail on the east side of the creek near here, 37.57819, -122.47494. but it does move up and down the creek quite a lot.
Slightly better photos on my eBird list below.
Date: 10/29/25 5:06 pm From: Alvaro Jaramillo via groups.io <chucao...> Subject: [pen-bird] Spots open for Half Moon Bay pelagic on Sat Nov 1.
Hello all,
We had to reschedule our trip last weekend due to weather, and have had a
few spots open up for Nov 1 due to this reschedule. Right now the weather
looks doable for a pelagic, and it is a great time for albatross, and later
season species. If you are interested, the link is:
I just had a Canada Warbler at San Pedro Valley CP in Pacifica with a flock in the riparian just behind the visitor center at about (37.5782591, -122.4750596)
Photos and further details will be on eBird later today
Date: 10/29/25 8:25 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent sightings
Yesterday, I did a early morning seawatch from Pigeon Point. When first arriving, there were feeding frenzies spread out over the horizon made up of Brown Pelicans and gulls amongHumpback Whales. The feeding frenzies only lasted for a short time. The number of migrating Surf Scoters and loons were low for this time of the year. Here is a partial list of what wasnoted. ( 1 ) Aleutian Cackling Goose, ( 350 ) Surf Scoters, ( 1 ) Red-necked Grebe, ( 8 ) Red-throated Loons, ( 39 ) Pacific Loons, ( 1 ) Northern Fulmar, ( 2 ) Pink-footed Shearwaters,( 1 ) Pomarine Jaeger, ( 7 ) Parasitic Jaegers, ( 25 ) Bonaparte's Gulls and ( 7 ) Elegant Terns. Later, Leonie and I were checking riparian along Tunitas Creek Road near Highway 1,where a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk passed over heading south. On the 27th, a very late hatch-year MacGillivray's Warbler was in the lush vegetation on the Nob Hill Pond behindthe market in Redwood Shores. I rarely encounter this warbler species along the bayside. The 29th, there was a waif Common Murre on the bay at Coyote Point.Â
Ron Thorn, Leonie Batkin Â
Date: 10/28/25 8:58 pm From: Ann Hepenstal via groups.io <annhep...> Subject: [pen-bird] Christmas Bird Count - volunteer with the Palo Alto Count Circle
Join the Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count on Monday Dec 15th!
The Palo Alto Count Circle encompasses territories both in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, ranging from the bayshore through suburbia to the foothills with their grasslands and woodlands. See a map of the Count Circle here.  Monday Dec 15To volunteer or get more information, send an email to <paloaltocbc...>
The annual Christmas Bird Count (held around Christmas-time, but not on Dec 25th!) is a fun and meaningful way to contribute to one of the longest-running community science projects in North America. We can find a place on CBC teams for all levels of birders, from beginners to experts--but of course, we especially need people skilled in identifying birds. Â
 Learn more about the CBC and the 4 counts sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance at the webpage:  https://scvbirdalliance.org/christmas-bird-count (That webpage also has info on 3 workshops we're offering to help participants get started in CBC and to gain confidence in it.)
And.. the San Mateo Bird Alliance sponsors 2 Count Circles--
  Crystal Springs - Saturday, December 20, 2025
Date: 10/28/25 9:57 am From: Christopher Hayward via groups.io <p_t_nymph...> Subject: [pen-bird] Snow Bunting, Mirada Surf Park Beach, 10/28/25
Hi All,
This morning I was able to re-find the Snow Bunting reported on eBird yesterday afternoon.
The bird was seen at the base of the bluff here. 37.49897, -122.46707.
It was not shy, although this beach gets a lot of dog walkers, it would fly up to the low cliffs when spooked but would come right back down to the beach.
Most of the time it liked to feed in washed up kelp near the base of the bluff, hopefully it sticks around.
Date: 10/21/25 5:01 pm From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Blue-headed Vireo, Magnolias, etc.
Hi all,
Highlights from the past two weeks or so have included a Blue-headed Vireo, two Magnolia Warblers, a new Black-and-white, an American Redstart, and a few Nashvilles and such.
On 10/8, I birded the north coast from Pacifica to Moss Beach for part of the morning. Migrant numbers overall were lower than expected. A Magnolia Warbler was at Calera Ck, near the area used by Cedric Duhalde's wintering bird a couple years ago. Chris Hayward and Caitlin Chock relocated it later in the day and they had a Nashville at the same site as well.
On 10/14, I birded the south coast through the morning and early afternoon. At Pie Ranch, near Ano Nuevo State Park, I found an apparent Blue-headed Vireo in the large redwood and walnut trees at the base of the enclosed garden area. The bird was present for the rest of the day, mostly demolishing tent caterpillars in the same large walnut, and was photographed by many observers. My photos and a discussion of this individual's identification are on eBird. To me it appears to be a pretty good Blue-headed Vireo, and that has been the unanimous consensus among those to whom I have circulated photos, but additional input is always welcome. The identification of this species complex is challenging and San Mateo's three previous possible records of Blue-headed Vireo have been associated with identification controversies. All occurred during the period when this species was reviewed by the CBRC, and none was accepted (two were rejected and one not submitted): the 1998 and 2001 birds were borderline individuals that may have been Blue-headeds, but were not accepted as such on CBRC review, and the 2012 bird was reported as a Blue-headed by a careful observer, but another very careful and knowledgeable observer relocated what was presumably the same individual the next day and concluded that it was a bright Cassin's. This one did not even make it to the CBRC, though it is accepted in eBird. Many thanks to Ron Thorn for kindly providing details related to prior Blue-headed Vireo records in the county. The Pie Ranch bird is evidently the first record for the county that seems not to be compromised by concerns related to identification, although it is certainly possible that some of the previous records may have been legitimate.
A quick note on access to Pie Ranch: this site is a private working ranch and birders are graciously permitted to access the lower part of it by the management. A map of which areas are accessible is on a large sign just NE of the farmstand. It is okay to bird these areas even when the farmstand is closed; if the farmstand is open, it would be a good idea to buy something when you visit. The owners and employees are all very nice and welcoming. Let's keep it that way! Pie Ranch is an excellent spot for sparrows and has great potential for things like Dickcissel and Painted Bunting; there is also some riparian at the southwest end and it is the most coastal site in the county where Nuttall's and Acorn woodpeckers breed, to my knowledge, excepting the corner of Pacifica that has beachfront resident Nuttall's like SF does. I like Pie Ranch a lot, but never in a million years would it have been my guess for where our first well-credentialed Blue-headed Vireo would turn up!!
Over the rest of the day numbers of Neotropical migrants were low, more or less as expected for this date. A Western Flycatcher on Gazos Creek was getting late. Also on Gazos was a White-throated Sparrow high in an alder, a Nashville Warbler at the base of the road, and a Western Tanager that Kent Forward pointed out. A large flock on Pescadero Creek contained a Warbling Vireo, also getting late.
On 10/17, I birded the north coast from Mussel Rock to Miramontes Ck. I was again impressed by the high numbers of migrants at Mussel Rock, which included 3–4 gray-headed Orange-crowned Warblers, 2 Black-throated Gray Warblers, and a rather late Swainson's Thrush. At the Farallone Willows in Montara, a Magnolia Warbler was with a flock that also included a Nashville. Magnolia is always one of my favorite eastern warblers to see in the county. Another Swainson's Thrush was in the Etheldore Willows. Later, an American Redstart was at Princeton Willows, near where Logan Kahle and I had one on 9/23 and where I had one on 9/30. Whether one, two, or three birds are involved in these three records is uncertain. I thought the first two looked subtly different from one another in the field, but this is not really borne out by photographs and the third one looks fairly similar too. So it may all be one bird, either with a prolonged but not quite unprecedented 24+ day stopover, or perhaps settling in to winter. In the evening, one each of Wilson's, Yellow, and Nashville warblers were on Arroyo Leon between the Mariners Church parking lot and the patch just downstream of Main St.
On 10/19, after surveys at TomKat Ranch I birded the south coast from the Ano Nuevo area north to Purisima Ck for part of the afternoon, joined by Chris Henry and Kevin (Haoning) Gong. A late Western Flycatcher was at Pie Ranch and a Black-and-white Warbler along Stage Rd. just north of Pescadero, first spotted by Kevin, was the 5th noted in the county this fall. The Loggerhead Shrike first reported by Troy Pittock was still on Purisima Ck Rd near the intersection with Verde Rd.
On 10/20, at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma I was very surprised to see the same female Common Yellowthroat high in the same Eucalyptus stand as on 10/1. That is a strange enough situation to see a migrant in as a one-off, but to stay in the area and apparently use the same tall trees for 19+ days is most unexpected. A Pacific Wren was in the shrubbery around the Holy Cross flower farm.
On 10/21, more surveys at TomKat Ranch had 2 Hermit Warblers and a new Loggerhead Shrike, the county's third this season. Another Nashville Warbler was along Pilarcitos Ck near the westernmost pumpkin patch on Hwy 92. In checks of many other spots on the central coast on 10/19 and 10/21, I had no Neotropical migrants whatsoever. So far, numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets feel somewhat above average and numbers of most other common passerine winterers feel about par for the course.
Date: 10/21/25 10:06 am From: Leonie Batkin via groups.io <leonie.batkin23...> Subject: [pen-bird] Nashville Warbler-Sem Lane and out of area note
The NASHVILLE WARBLER found by Jari Toivanen yesterday continues at Sem Lane. Ron first spotted it in the fennel a few feet south of the blue bin it later flew towards the patch at the end of the lane.
Great find Jari!
Out of area note: we went to Santa Cruz Island this weekend to see the Island Scrub-Jay. Can’t believe it took us so long to do this. It was a fabulous experience! The Santa Barbara channel was rocking with birds, dolphins and a whale! If you’d like more info email me directly.
