Date: 10/11/26 10:06 am From: Chris M. via groups.io <chrismac...> Subject: [pen-bird] Big Sit today
Come and join us at Pescadero Marsh today (till 3 pm) for the Big Sit. Even better, pledge an amount per species recorded - anything, small or large, will help to fund the SMCBA's work - education, conservation, showing people how bird-wonderful our county is...
Date: 10/10/26 10:41 am From: San Mateo County Bird Alliance via groups.io <office...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Big Sit.
Hi Susie,
This year we'll be counting in Pescadero Marsh, and due to conditions, we will be setting up on the Butano Creek Trail that is accessible from the parking area along Pescadero Creek Road right after you turn off Hwy 1. If you have any other questions or have issues finding them tomorrow, please contact Nelle Lyons at <1tigger1nl...> or (650) 515-9052.
Date: 10/9/26 7:42 am From: Avis Boutell via groups.io <boutella...> Subject: [pen-bird] Painted Bunting on Pillar Point Bluff
Last night at 5:36 I looked out our kitchen window at birds feeding behind our house and saw a green bird. I took one clear photo before it disappeared into the bushes. It turns out it was an immature or female painted bunting--not a bird normally seen here. From what I read, the bunting's normal range is in south-central and south-eastern United States, wintering in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. I'll post again if I see it again today. Avis
Date: 10/8/26 8:28 pm From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Blackburnian, Magnolia, Prairie, etc.
Hi all,
Highlights from the past four days in San Mateo were an excellent peak fall assortment of eastern warblersBlackburnian, Magnolia, Prairie, Black-and-white, and Palmplus American Redstart, the county's second Painted Redstart, and the continuing invasion of montane birds including numerous Evening Grosbeaks.
On Monday 10/5, I covered the north coast from Mussel Rock to Montara and then skipped to Pescadero to dip on the Prothonotary Warbler found the previous day by Aidan Sinha. The north coast had no standout birds but had decent migrant numbers (e.g., 6 Yellow Warblers at Calera Ck, 5 Warbling Vireos over the course of the morning, etc.) and two Nashville Warblers were together at the Farallone Willows in Montara. Two Nuttall's Woodpeckers together at Pedro Pt were my first there and may (?) mark the southernmost point on the San Mateo coast where they are truly regular, though they are increasing across the board. Arriving at the Prothonotary spot, Jim Lomax and I encountered a group who had just seen the bird and who said encouraging things like "You'll see it." Of course, that meant that we did not see the bird! But a female-type American Redstart was a short distance downstream of where the Protho had been. Aidan Sinha reported a possible American Redstart here the previous day, presumably the same bird.
On Tuesday 10/6, I intended to bird from Weed Farms to San Gregorio. Weed Farms and Pie Ranch were both active with above-average numbers of Western Meadowlark, as has been my experience elsewhere this season too (but pipits seem to be in low numbers in San Mateo, at least). At Costanoa, a dull Palm Warbler was my first at that site and my first this season. Shortly after seeing the Palm Warbler, I put my binoculars on something moving in a willow and saw a Painted Redstart looking back at me. After recovering from being flabbergasted enough to manage some identifiable photos, I sprinted to Costanoa Lodge to get the word out and then spent the rest of the time I had trying to refind the bird with others. Unfortunately I only saw it once after the initial sighting, with Richard Jeffers but before most chasers arrived. Further details, notes, and photos are on eBird.
On the way back to the east side of the mountains for classes in the afternoon, I dodged construction on Hwy 84 by taking Gazos to Cloverdale to Pescadero Ck Rd to Alpine Rd. The next day, Al DeMartini had Pinyon Jays on Alpine Rd. I did not have any Pinyon Jays, but the continuing concentration of Evening Grosbeaks on upper Gazos Ck was an amazing spectacle. All seemed to be Type 1 from the Pacific Northwest, not the call type breeding in the Sierra Nevada. At a location on Gazos with at least 2530 Evening Grosbeaks, I also had two female Pheucticus grosbeaks, one Black-headed and the other perhaps a Rose-breasted (and probably the same possible Rosebeak I had here on 9/29), but they were again uncooperative and I was also distracted by the glorious male Evening Grosbeaks, which were much more interesting. But if anyone wants three "grosbeak" species at once (although Evening is of course a finch and is taxonomically distant from Rose-breasted and Black-headed, despite the shared name), this might be your chance...
On Wednesday 10/7, I covered the south-central coast from Pescadero Ck to Pilarcitos Ck. Pescadero Marsh was blanketed in ground fog so I started instead at the Bianchi property, which has a pumpkin patch and other nice agricultural land (accessed with permission, but the pumpkin patch is open to the public from 105). A calling Evening Grosbeak was west across Cloverdale Rd from the Bianchi farm. Because of the thick low fog all over the immediate coast, I checked willow patches in eastern Pescadero that I sometimes skip. At the end of Goulson St, a beautiful Blackburnian Warbler was high in the cottonwoods, giving buzzy flight calls like a Yellow Warbler, before working its way down into the Pescadero Ck riparian to feed. Halfway down Goulson a flock in a different patch of riparian had a Black-and-white Warbler. Maybe I should not skip these parts of Pescadero! I was excited to see that a new community park will open on the vacant lot where Cdric Duhalde found a Blue Grosbeak a few years ago, offering more access to that chunk of creek. Two Nashville Warblers were at the Ovenbird spot on the west side of town. This is a really great year for Nashvilles; I think these were my sixth and seventh so far this season in the county, while most years by this date I have had 02. Working all the accessible patches on San Gregorio Ck, Tunitas Ck, and their feeder creeks, the only good flocks I located were on Tunitas Ck well upstream. In one of the best flocks along Tunitas, at the dip, there was a nice Magnolia Warbler. The rest of the day was rather slow except for the piece of Pilarcitos Ck near Repetto's pumpkin patch where a waterthrush was a few weeks ago; that spot had a Western Flycatcher, two Yellows, and many other migrants. In general I struggled to find migrants on the immediate coast on this day, with all the concentrations being pretty well inland. All day I had only 5ish Yellows, 1 Western Fly, no Warbling Vireos, no uncommon western migrants besides the Nashvilles in Pescadero and one Black-throated Gray on upper Tunitas, etc.
On Thursday 10/8, I birded from Pillar Point to Miramar in the morning, covering the last chunk of the coast north of Ano that I had not done this week. For the most part it was quite slow. A flock along San Vicente Ck accessed from Ember Ridge had a Warbling Vireo and a Yellow Warbler; another Yellow Warbler was at the Emergency Willows. Checking the East Miramar Willows, a Prairie Warbler was working the low vegetation around the lone alder. This was only my second rarity here, after a Tennessee with Alex Castelein a couple years ago, over about 2530 checks in fall, so it was especially fun to see. I like constructing routes made largely of stops where you can hope for a vagrant roughly once every 1020 visits, but including well more than 20 such sites, so on the whole you still end up (on average) with the odds in your favor.
In addition to all the other irruptive movements documented this year, there has been a modest movement of Golden-crowned Kinglets into the lowlands over the last week, including two at Princeton Willows today. Cassin's Finches have reached SF, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz, and should certainly be gettable along Skyline in San Mateo this week! And southern Oregon and northern Nevada had reports of Blue Jay in the past few days as well.
An awesome week of peak season in an awesome county! Enjoy the last couple weeks of fall!
Date: 10/7/26 4:23 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [pen-bird] 2nd Hand Report of Pinyon Jays 10/7/2026
I just received a phone call from Al DeMartini. This morning, just before sunrise, along Alpine Road near Heritage Grove Al heard and saw a minimum of (18) Pinyon Jays on the move.
First, photos, video, audio, and other details and comments are on eBird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S399897142. A Palm Warbler is also at this spot and others had a Tennessee here later in the day as well.
PLEASE be very mindful about access at this location. The riparian along Whitehouse Ck, where the Painted Redstart was, is the private property of Costanoa Resort. Birders are permitted to access the riparian IF we park in the main parking lot, not in pullouts along the private road, and walk back down to the creek. This was confirmed today by Costanoa management. There is a store and a restaurant at Costanoa Resort that are open to the public and that is why birders can access this site (the management hopes we will make purchases at the restaurant or store), so consider visiting them and buying something if you are here. It is important to keep management favorably disposed toward birders so that we do not lose access to this awesome location. Thanks to Caitlin Chock for helping get access details out while I was trying to send satellite texts from the stakeout with very poor reception.
Some quick additional details about the bird: After I found it just before 9:30, I left to reach cell service and get the word out. After returning and trying to relocate it for an hour, Richard Jeffers and I heard it calling a short distance upstream from the original spot and Richard spotted it in an alder. We got good but brief views before it vanished again into the riparian. I think Tom Duncan may have seen it briefly a couple hours later, but other than that it was not detected again today despite much effort, as far as I know. It disappears into the riparian and (likely) into the stands of tall Eucalyptus and other exotic trees, much of which is more or less inaccessible, and clearly it does not call very often, although it called repeatedly (and spontaneously) for several minutes around 10:30 when it was seen for the second time.
Although it was missed for much of the day today, it is certainly possible that the bird may be present tomorrow (plenty of previous fall migrants in NorCal have stayed multiple days). If you chase, again, please be very careful to park in the main lot and stay out of the way of resort staff and guests.
Good birding,
Marty Freeland
________________________________
From: <peninsula-birding...> <peninsula-birding...> on behalf of Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...>
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 9:41 AM
To: 'Peninsula Birding' <peninsula-birding...>
Subject: [pen-bird] PAINTED REDSTART
This morning, the adult male Eurasian Wigeon in eclipse plumage was still among American Wigeons at the pump house on the Nob Hill Pond in Redwood Shores. At midday,I did a short skywatch looking for raptors at home in Redwood Shores. There were the expected Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. A nice surprise wasa light-morph adult Swainson's Hawk southbound low overhead. Yesterday in South San Francisco, a Brewer's Sparrow was with several Savannah Sparrows along the SanFrancisco Bay Trail near the footbridge. Access to the trail was from the end of Colma Creek Service Road off of Harbor Way and Littlefield Avenue.
Ron Thorn
Date: 10/5/26 5:38 pm From: San Mateo County Bird Alliance via groups.io <office...> Subject: [pen-bird] Thur. Oct. 8 Endemics w/ Alvaro Jaramillo
*Thursday, October 8, 7:00 pm - Zoom*
*Endemic Birds of the US and Canada - Alvaro Jaramillo*
When birders travel abroad, they are always interested in seeing the “endemic” birds. These are birds that cannot be found elsewhere; they are special to the country or region visited. Even if you are not a world lister, endemics are appealing as they are birds that are specialized to a small sector of the world in many cases. They are sometimes also threatened or endangered. What I find fascinating is that most birders in the US have not asked the question, “What are the endemics of the US?” How about the specialties in Canada? This talk covers these endemics and gives viewers an idea of which birds are truly special in the ABA birding area. Which ones can't be found anywhere else on Earth? *REGISTER:* https://bit.ly/4rtV9IN
*CA Endemic: Yellow-billed Magpie, Photo Credit: Donna Pomeroy*
Date: 10/4/26 7:45 pm From: Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> Subject: [pen-bird] South SM Coast birding today
Hi all,
Today my dad and I headed to the southern San Mateo coast, largely focusing on riparian areas searching for passerines. We started late but were still quite successful!
The major highlights of the day were at least 2 and likely more Evening Grosbeaks at Gazos Creek, a Prothonotary Warbler at Butano Creek in Pescadero, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Seaside School Road.
The Evening Grosbeaks at Gazos were initally seen along the road perched up in alders, with at least 2 present here. I later had at least 1 more perched up in a pine well above the road. I suspect many more were present in the area but only confirmed 2 at once. Others later on did have more in the area. It did seem in the cases that I observed the birds that they were moving down the canyon and towards the coast, although I am not sure if a single group moving around was involved or if multiple flocks were passing through the area. This year has seen a large irruption of montane species into California, including nutcrackers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and others, so Evening Grosbeak is definitely a species to be watching for both at Gazos and elsewhere in the county.
The Prothonotary Warbler was seen initally with a flock along the trail leading along Butano Creek in Pescadero, before soon leaving. I later did see it foraging fairly low around the creek while I was leaving the area. Others were able to relocate it as well later in the day. This spot overall is one of my personal favorites on the south coast, as it was also the site for multiple American Redstarts earlier in the season. I may have briefly had one today as well, though my sighting was brief and I had only poor looks. Overall at Butano birds are fairly low and somewhat closer, though the dense vegetation can make viewing more difficult at times. Still it is a site with high potential and definitely worth a check when visiting the south coast.
The Chestnut-sided Warbler was seen two times in flocks at two separate points along Seaside School Road. This spot is another great site to check on the south coast, with birds being fairly low, easier to view, and usually around fairly late in the day when birding can often be less active.
Besides the rarities the day was still fairly birdy with flocks present at many sites, though nothing else major of note. Many of these flocks had a winter feel to them, being composed mainly of chickadees and Townsend's Warblers. Overall it was a great day out in a very productive area of the coast, definitely an area worth spending time in and an area I will be visiting in the future. Happy fall birding!
Date: 10/4/26 11:23 am From: Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop...> Subject: [pen-bird] BLACK & WHITE WARBLER in Colma
Yesterday morning(10/3/26) I spent a couple hours wandering through the tombstones at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.Most of the bird activity was just east of the mausoleum, mainly consisting of an influx of Yellow-Rumped Warblers,with at least 30 birds present.A BLACK & WHITE WARBLER was crawling up the trunk of an old holly and a NASHVILLE WARBLER was foraging in the canopy of the same tree.Aside from a handful of Townsend's Warblers these were the only migrants I located.
Peter J. Metropulos
Date: 10/1/26 4:49 pm From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Blackpoll Warbler at the Nob Hill Pond
A Blackpoll Warbler was at the Nob Hill Pond in Redwood Shores. It was associating with other warblers at the northwest corner of the pond. Other migrants were a Western Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, ( 4 ) Northern Yellow Warblers and ( 7 ) Yellow-rumped Warblers. A stop at Coyote Point County Park did not havemuch in a way of migrants. ( 2 ) Chipping Sparrows were among a large group of House Finches.
Ron Thorn
Want more Grosbeak content? Sierra Foothills Audubon has a
spectrogram-rich public talk on Evening Grosbeaks, by UC Davis biologist
Thomas Hahn, on our YouTube channel.
Jul 19, 2025
This public talk – “Evening Grosbeaks of the Sierra Nevada and the West” –
was presented on June 25, 2025, at the monthly meeting of the Sierra
Foothills Audubon Society, in Nevada City, California. About the Talk
Evening Grosbeaks are showy finches of the sub-family Carduelinae—a group
that includes many familiar western songbirds such as goldfinches, house
finches, crossbills, rosy-finches and siskins. Their white, black and gold
plumage makes them stand out at a feeder or along the gravelly side of the
road as you drive into the Sierra. About the Speaker Thomas Hahn, Ph.D., is
a field biologist who has been studying western finches since he was a
graduate student at the University of Washington in the late 1980s and
early 90s. He is a professor at University of California, Davis, in the
Department of Neurology, Physiology and Behavior. His research interests
include environmental regulation of avian annual cycles of behavior,
physiology and morphology, and behavioral and physiological responses of
birds to unpredictable environmental events. He is an authority on avian
communication, especially use of heterospecific mimicry in song, and
learned non-song vocalizations.
Sylvia
YouTube editor for Sierra Foothills Audubon
> *From:* <peninsula-birding...> <peninsula-birding...> *On
> Behalf Of *Alvaro Jaramillo via groups.io
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 30, 2026 5:19 AM
> *To:* <kforward...>; 'Peninsula Birding' <peninsula-birding...>
> >
> *Subject:* Re: [pen-bird] Evening Grosbeaks at Purisima Creek Redwoods
> OSP 9/29
>
>
>
> Kent
>
>
>
> Looking at the spectrograms, it looks like this is a type 1 Evening
> Grosbeak. You could change the ID to that specifically. This is a
> population from the Pacific Northwest and BC/Alberta. Not the type you have
> in the Cascades/Sierra. This is interesting as it suggests that the
> “montane invasion” birds may be coming from various different places, so
> what is affecting Evening Grosbeaks may not be the same thing as what is
> influencing Pinyon Jays.
>
>
>
> Find out more here:
>
> https://ebird.org/news/evening-grosbeak-call-types-of-north-america >
>
>
> map of types here:
>
>
> https://blog.aba.org/2012/12/five-species-of-evening-grosbeakslets-find-out-together.html >
>
>
> Alvaro Jaramillo
>
> <alvaro...>
>
> www.alvarosadventures.com
>
>
>
> *From:* <peninsula-birding...> <peninsula-birding...> *On
> Behalf Of *Kent Forward via groups.io
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:22 PM
> *To:* Peninsula Birding <peninsula-birding...>
> *Subject:* [pen-bird] Evening Grosbeaks at Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP
> 9/29
>
>
>
> Today while birding the riparian area of lower Purisima I heard Evening
> Grosbeaks! I wasn't able to obtain a visual. I have been studying the
> vocalizations of some of the rarer birds partaking in the current large
> irruption of montane birds to our area so when I heard these vocalizations
> it reminded me of Evening Grosbeak, so I got Merlin going and it concurred,
> and also I got feedback from several skilled ear-birders in the affirmative
> for Evening Grosbeak! This was in the lower parking lot at 37.437585,
> -122.370610
>
>
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S397598170 >
>
>
> Happy migration and montane irruption birding!
>
> Kent Forward
>
> El Granada
>
>
Date: 10/1/26 11:38 am From: john tsortos via groups.io <jtsortos99...> Subject: [pen-bird] Pacific Wren, Pacific Shores
Hello all,
I found a Pacific Wren outside my office this morning along Westpoint
Slough. It was seen hopping around in the wind tunnel between two buildings
at these coordinates:
(37.5139981, -122.1995605)
I’ve never seen a Pacific Wren out here, so this was a nice surprise.
Date: 10/1/26 11:27 am From: pauldonahue9 via groups.io <charadrius1...> Subject: [pen-bird] Pillar Point
Dear birders,
After seeing an eBird checklist from September 28th, Teresa Wood and I went down to Pillar Point yesterday morning to look for the Lark Bunting and White-winged Dove. We missed both of those birds, but when we walked down to the edge of the harbor for a look, we saw a suspicious-looking backlit small gull on the water very close to shore. When we got closer, I realized it was a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, a bird I had not realized was being reported there. An injured/sick male Surf Scoter was also along the beach nearby.
I then had the all too common Pillar Point birding experience. While I was photographing the gull, a dog and off-leash dog owner approached from the east. The dog, repeatedly charging into the water, flushed the gull far out into the harbor. At the same time, two more dogs and their off-leash owner approached from the west. Those dogs charged the scoter, driving it into the water, then, joined by the first dog, all three jumped into the water and swam after the duck, driving it farther out into the harbor.
As with the last time at Pillar Point that I saw dogs chasing birds, I had very nasty words with both off-leash owners - an extremely unpleasant experience. There are lots of birds at Pillar Point, and lots of rarities show up there, but I’m afraid it’s going to have to be a very rare bird to get me back to the place.
from Google AI
Dog leash laws apply everywhere throughout Pillar Point Harbor and its surrounding property, parking lots, and nearby coastal bluffs.
Key Harbor Leash Regulations
Mandatory Leashes: San Mateo County and the harbor area require dogs to be securely leashed at all times. There are no designated off-leash zones or voice-control areas within the harbor or at adjacent
Wildlife and Environmental Protection: Because the harbor and adjacent coastline function as a sensitive marine sanctuary protecting nesting seabirds and local wildlife, off-leash violations or wildlife harassment carry severe penalties and fines up to $10,000
Leash Length: Leashes must generally be restricted to a maximum length of 6 feet (and 4 feet or less if visiting or parked in specific zones like the harbor's RV park areas).
Clean-Up Rules: Owners must clean up and bag all pet waste, disposing of it promptly in provided garbage bins.
Paul Donahue
959 Anza Drive
Pacifica, California 94044 USA
(650) 738-0429
<charadrius1...>
Date: 10/1/26 10:17 am From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Prairie, Blackpoll, Magnolia, etc.
Hi all,
Highlights from coverage of the San Mateo coast on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in peak fall included a great assortment of eastern passerines. There was one each of Prairie, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Tennessee, and Blackpoll warblers, plus Northern Parula, plus a Red-eyed Vireo. The inflection points in the Yellow/Townsend's and Swainson's/Hermit ratios both passed between 9/24 and 9/28 or so, about on schedule.
On Sunday 9/27 I started at Ano Nuevo with Chris Henry, Michael Long, Kaiting Huang, and Tino Castillo before birding Santa Cruz for the rest of the day. We had a highish overcast and light NW winds. A Prairie Warbler was at Ano Nuevo in pines not far from the elephant seal entry kiosk, perhaps the first record for Ano other than an old wintering (CBC) record for the flower farm? Although numbers of Yellow Warbler were down by 80% from the previous week, we still had a decent assortment of western migrants, including a female Black-throated Gray Warbler.
(We then spent the next nine hours in Santa Cruz County without any vagrants, because Santa Cruz is not nearly as awesome a county as San Mateo is.)
On Tuesday 9/29 I covered the south coast from Pie Ranch to San Gregorio. It was sunny for most of the day with moderate NW winds becoming quite strong by around 3 pm. A Cackling Goose was with Canadas at the mouth of Gazos Ck in the early morning; it may be an earlyish arrival (folks in HMB had flyover flocks on the same day) or it may be the individual that summered in northern Santa Cruz Co., at Waddell and elsewhere, and that was reported at least once or twice in southern San Mateo. A Red-breasted Sapsucker at Pie Ranch had a very bright whitish bridle and may have had some Red-naped ancestry, but was not (I don't think) an F1 hybrid. On Gazos Ck Rd, a flock around a half-mile up the road had a HY Red-eyed Vireo, the third I have seen this year in the county, and another flock around where last year's Canada Warbler was included a Rose-breasted/Black-headed grosbeak. My views were mostly dorsal and it may have been either, although its maxilla was light pink and in brief looks at the underside it appeared perhaps more consistent with Rose-breasted to me. Checking the bottlebrushes in Pescadero at the junction of Pescadero Ck Rd and Butano Ck Cutoff, I heard a "half a Yellow Warbler chip" (Ethan Monk's apt term for the category of chip like a Yellow, but cleaner and less husky, that a number of eastern warblers fall into) and pished out a male Northern Parula. At Water Lane, a Nashville Warbler was with a large flock. I had Warbling Vireos at 9 spots with a total of at least 16 individuals, perhaps more, and remarkably only one Wilson's Warbler (at the Butano Ck bridge).
On Wednesday 9/30 I birded the central coast from Pescadero Marsh to Montara with light NW wind and clear skies until a low marine layer rolled in around 4 PM. The ardeid show at North Pond in Pescadero Marsh continues to be impressive, with 30+ Great Egrets and 20+ each of Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets. Seems like a great setup for San Mateo's first Tricolored Heron or similar! A Nashville Warbler was at the dip on Tunitas Creek Road. Stopping at various creek accesses (Church St, Johnston St, Main St, Mariners Church, Oak Ave, etc) in Half Moon Bay around noon, I found a large flock behind the Mariners Church and had Magnolia and Chestnut-sided warblers in the flock in quick succession. A double-vagrant flock is always an awesome experience and this one was especially so, as I had gone the whole morning of arguably the very peak date of fall without a vagrant and these were my first good birds at this patch after a year or so of checks. At Sweetwood CG, a Tennessee Warbler was high in the Eucalyptus. Checking Princeton Willows as low afternoon fog was rolling in, I could not locate any flocks but heard another eastern-type chip and tracked down the calling bird, which was a bright Blackpoll Warbler, for excellent views. I think that puts the county at 3 Blackpolls to 4 Blackburnians so far this fall. At the Farallone Willows in Montara, there was another Nashville Warbler. This species is also having a strong showing this fall on the coast. I had only 6 Warbling Vireos on this day and had 3 Wilson's Warblers. Numbers of Orange-crowned Warbler and Western Flycatcher were very strong on both days.
Details, coordinates, photos, etc., are on eBird as always.
There has been a superbly well documented move of Clark’s Nutcrackers to areas where they are not regularly found, including the central coast. But also as far east as Minnesota, check out eBird and restrict to Aug-Nov for current year to see the extent of records.
Looking at the spectrograms, it looks like this is a type 1 Evening Grosbeak. You could change the ID to that specifically. This is a population from the Pacific Northwest and BC/Alberta. Not the type you have in the Cascades/Sierra. This is interesting as it suggests that the “montane invasion” birds may be coming from various different places, so what is affecting Evening Grosbeaks may not be the same thing as what is influencing Pinyon Jays.
From: <peninsula-birding...> <mailto:<peninsula-birding...> <peninsula-birding...> <mailto:<peninsula-birding...> > On Behalf Of Kent Forward via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:22 PM
To: Peninsula Birding <peninsula-birding...> <mailto:<peninsula-birding...> >
Subject: [pen-bird] Evening Grosbeaks at Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP 9/29
Today while birding the riparian area of lower Purisima I heard Evening Grosbeaks! I wasn't able to obtain a visual. I have been studying the vocalizations of some of the rarer birds partaking in the current large irruption of montane birds to our area so when I heard these vocalizations it reminded me of Evening Grosbeak, so I got Merlin going and it concurred, and also I got feedback from several skilled ear-birders in the affirmative for Evening Grosbeak! This was in the lower parking lot at 37.437585, -122.370610
Date: 9/30/26 2:52 pm From: Kent Forward via groups.io <kforward...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Crystal Springs and Año Nuevo CBCs
Hi Chris! I can only do Crystal Springs CBC this year. I ran into Marj the other day and we were wondering if her, Ryan and myself could do Rancho again?Thanks!Kent
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 1:45 PM, Chris M. via groups.io <chrismac...> wrote:
Hi Birders,
I’m writing to invite you to participate this year in eitheror both of San Mateo County’s CBCs
Crystal Springs CBC - Saturday, December 19, 2026
Año Nuevo CBC - Saturday, January 2, 2027
All CBCs are a citizen-science endeavor with the primarygoal of counting all individuals of each species of bird detected in a 10mile diameter circle on a single day.
The Crystal Springs count circle stretches from theBay to the Coast and from Burlingame in the north to Redwood City inthe south. Año Nuevo includes the coast and up to Sam McDonald Park andfrom a piece of Big Basin to San Gregorio Road. The counts include alltypes of habitats and terrain - some require lots of hiking, some coverareas with lots of redwoods but few birds, some mean you have to know yourshorebirds well, some are flat, some strenuous, some urban, with most openspace - there is something for everyone.
I’d like to invite you to participate this year. We need alllevels of experience, from beginners willing to be tabulators and spotters, tothose of you with experience, whether you have counted with us in the past ornot.
We will soon have a signup form on the San Mateo County BirdAlliance website: https://smcbirdalliance.org/CBC.html. Please sign up on this form as it’smore reliable than an email I might misplace.
However, if you have already contacted me, there’s no needto sign up again. Check the website in the next few days.
If you want more information, please feel free tocontact me directly at <cbc...>
Date: 9/30/26 12:45 pm From: Chris M. via groups.io <chrismac...> Subject: [pen-bird] Crystal Springs and Año Nuevo CBCs
Hi Birders,
I’m writing to invite you to participate this year in either or both of San
Mateo County’s CBCs
*Crystal Springs CBC - Saturday, December 19, 2026*
*Año Nuevo CBC - Saturday, January 2, 2027*
All CBCs are a citizen-science endeavor with the primary goal of counting
all individuals of each species of bird detected in a 10 mile diameter
circle on a single day.
The *Crystal Springs *count circle stretches from the Bay to the Coast and
from Burlingame in the north to Redwood City in the south. *Año Nuevo*
includes the coast and up to Sam McDonald Park and from a piece of Big
Basin to San Gregorio Road. The counts include all types of habitats and
terrain - some require lots of hiking, some cover areas with lots of
redwoods but few birds, some mean you have to know your shorebirds well,
some are flat, some strenuous, some urban, with most open space - there is
something for everyone.
I’d like to invite you to participate this year. We need all levels of
experience, from beginners willing to be tabulators and spotters, to those
of you with experience, whether you have counted with us in the past or
not.
Date: 9/30/26 11:53 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Clay-colored Sparrow at the Nob Hill Pond
This morning, there was a Clay-colored Sparrow at the Nob Hill Pond in Redwood Shores. It was foraging on the ground among the low Sweet Fennel along the publicaccess trail just past the corner house. It was flushed a number of times, and did fly off towards the direction of the pump house. There were ( 5 ) Blue-winged Tealand a record high number for the pond ( 43 ) Cinnamon Teal. Some of the Cinnamon Teal were along Phelps Slough. Early this morning during a skywatch from home in Redwood Shores, a group of ( 41 ) Vaux's Swifts were southbound. There has not been much in the diversity of migrants along the bayside. Orange-crowned andWilson's Warblers have been way below average. Where the opposite, Western Flycatcher has been way above average. Coming in second place has been ChippingSparrow.
Ron Thorn
Date: 9/30/26 5:18 am From: Alvaro Jaramillo via groups.io <chucao...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Evening Grosbeaks at Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP 9/29
Kent
Looking at the spectrograms, it looks like this is a type 1 Evening Grosbeak. You could change the ID to that specifically. This is a population from the Pacific Northwest and BC/Alberta. Not the type you have in the Cascades/Sierra. This is interesting as it suggests that the “montane invasion” birds may be coming from various different places, so what is affecting Evening Grosbeaks may not be the same thing as what is influencing Pinyon Jays.
From: <peninsula-birding...> <peninsula-birding...> On Behalf Of Kent Forward via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:22 PM
To: Peninsula Birding <peninsula-birding...>
Subject: [pen-bird] Evening Grosbeaks at Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP 9/29
Today while birding the riparian area of lower Purisima I heard Evening Grosbeaks! I wasn't able to obtain a visual. I have been studying the vocalizations of some of the rarer birds partaking in the current large irruption of montane birds to our area so when I heard these vocalizations it reminded me of Evening Grosbeak, so I got Merlin going and it concurred, and also I got feedback from several skilled ear-birders in the affirmative for Evening Grosbeak! This was in the lower parking lot at 37.437585, -122.370610
Date: 9/29/26 8:21 pm From: Kent Forward via groups.io <kforward...> Subject: [pen-bird] Evening Grosbeaks at Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP 9/29
Today while birding the riparian area of lower Purisima I heard Evening Grosbeaks! I wasn't able to obtain a visual. I have been studying the vocalizations of some of the rarer birds partaking in the current large irruption of montane birds to our area so when I heard these vocalizations it reminded me of Evening Grosbeak, so I got Merlin going and it concurred, and also I got feedback from several skilled ear-birders in the affirmative for Evening Grosbeak! This was in the lower parking lot at 37.437585, -122.370610
Date: 9/28/26 2:58 pm From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Eurasian Wigeon, Common Tern
This morning at the Nob Hill Pond in Redwood Shores, there was a male Eurasian Wigeon in eclipse plumage. Maybe a returning one? Arrival last fall on the pond wasSeptember 10th. Yesterday, Leonie and I noted a Common Tern among Forster's Terns on the bay mudflats off the mouth of Colma Creek in South San Francisco.
Ron Thorn, Leonie Batkin
Date: 9/26/26 5:03 pm From: lebeck777 via groups.io <lebeck777...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Wunderlich Park?
I revisited my location from two days ago. It is on the Bear Gulch trail at approximate GPS location 37.410384, -122.264329. Looking downslope from there today, I saw at least three trees with sapsucker holes. From which bird and how recently, I can't say. I didn't see any woodpeckers today, but the trails are much busier on weekends, so I will try again next week. The area between this trail location and the stable is the area where I saw the bird.
A red-breasted sapsucker would be more likely, I know...
Date: 9/25/26 11:37 am From: maliadances via groups.io <maliadances...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Wunderlich Park
Hi Laurie,It would be helpful if you could put a gps location out there so folks could go to the spot where you had your observation. Perhaps someone could then re-find and photograph the bird. From looking at eBird data for all time in the month of September, there are only a few records along the Central Valley and eastward to the Sierra's/Cascades for this species. There are zero records to the west of those areas in North America for the month of September for all time for California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. So for what it's worth, that is how rare a record of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is for this location and time of year.
Hopefully you or someone else can re-find and document this bird. I believe anything can happen in the bird world. However as Carl Sagan once said, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".
Malia DeFeliceeBIrd-San Mateo County
On Friday, September 25, 2026 at 09:51:47 AM PDT, lebeck777 via groups.io <lebeck777...> wrote:
Yes, I understand this is not an expected sighting! But I have seen many sapsuckers before and I am certain of that much.... but I didn't get enough of a look at the back side to say there was no red on the nape. I didn't see any evidence of such, though. The only camera I had with me was an old iPhone. Although I was actively birding, my primary objective was just to take a hike, and it was in the heat of the afternoon, not prime birding time. I saw the bird when I was descending on the Bear Gulch trail, getting almost within sighting distance of the stables, above the junction with the Loop trail. I had a clear and sustained profile view of this bird, and it was definitely a sapsucker. Unmistakeable white stripe along the wing edge, bright red on the throat and top of the head. I do feel the belly was pale yellow. The bird was too far away for my iPhone to even have a shot at a photo. I tried to get looks from a different angle, but the bird flew to another tree and was partially hidden. Eventually it flew upslope a bit farther away. This is a huge forested area, so I don't expect that it will be easy to find this bird again, but I hope someone else does. I might keep looking (I docent at the carriage room museum so I visit Wunderlich regularly). Laurie
Date: 9/25/26 9:51 am From: lebeck777 via groups.io <lebeck777...> Subject: [pen-bird] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Wunderlich Park
Yes, I understand this is not an expected sighting! But I have seen many sapsuckers before and I am certain of that much.... but I didn't get enough of a look at the back side to say there was no red on the nape. I didn't see any evidence of such, though.
The only camera I had with me was an old iPhone. Although I was actively birding, my primary objective was just to take a hike, and it was in the heat of the afternoon, not prime birding time.
I saw the bird when I was descending on the Bear Gulch trail, getting almost within sighting distance of the stables, above the junction with the Loop trail. I had a clear and sustained profile view of this bird, and it was definitely a sapsucker. Unmistakeable white stripe along the wing edge, bright red on the throat and top of the head. I do feel the belly was pale yellow. The bird was too far away for my iPhone to even have a shot at a photo. I tried to get looks from a different angle, but the bird flew to another tree and was partially hidden. Eventually it flew upslope a bit farther away.
This is a huge forested area, so I don't expect that it will be easy to find this bird again, but I hope someone else does. I might keep looking (I docent at the carriage room museum so I visit Wunderlich regularly).
Date: 9/24/26 9:06 pm From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Red-eyed Vireo, Blackpoll, Redstart, etc.
Hi all,
I birded parts of the San Mateo coast yesterday (9/23) and Monday (9/21), as well as Santa Cruz Co. on 9/21 and 9/22. Highlights from San Mateo included Red-eyed Vireo, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, and Willow Flycatcher, and from Santa Cruz included Blackburnian Warbler, 2 Tennessee Warblers, 2 Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Northern Waterthrush. (Santa Cruz notes might be relevant context for San Mateo birders and I can't get Google Groups to work to send them to the MBB listserv, so they are tacked onto the end of this email.)
On 9/23 I birded the north coast from Pillar Point to Mussel Rock Park until 1 pm. Morris was on the inner breakwater at Pillar Point at dawn. Patchy fog burned off almost everywhere by midday and winds were light and mostly from the west. Migrant numbers were reasonably good all day. At Princeton Willows a female-type American Redstart was in a small flock along the road to Mavericks and a large flock on the back side of the willow patch (near the new construction by the mobile home park) contained seven warbler species (1 MacGillivray's, 2 Yellow-rumps, 1 yellowthroat, 2 Orange-crowns, 2 Wilson's, 56 Townsend's, 68 Yellows). Another MacGillivray's was at the Farallone Willows in Montara. At lower San Pedro Ck the flock closest to the parking area had a Cassin's Vireo and a beautiful HY Red-eyed Vireo. I was surprised to find only one flock along the length of Calera Ck and even more surprised that it contained no Yellow Warblers. A Western Wood-Pewee was at Mori Pt and a Willow Flycatcher, quite scarce in San Mateo and especially so coastally, was in the interior willow basin at Mussel Rock Park. Mussel Rock is a great location for Willow Flycatcher and this has been a good year for them in the county, with this being the 8th individual. In some falls there are just 13! Driving out of Mussel Rock Park I heard a flock and pulled over to check it. I was happy to see a nice HY Blackpoll Warbler, my first in Pacifica and a species that has become much less regular in the county. Other locations I checked included Denniston Ck, Fitzgerald MR, San Vicente Ck at Etheldore, Sunshine Valley Rd riparian (both ends), and Pedro Pt.
On 9/21 I started at Ano Nuevo under a high overcast and light NW winds, where excellent numbers of common western migrants included more than 30 Yellow Warblers, 68 Western Flycatchers, and so on. A pulse of Yellow-rumped Warblers was also evident. An Acorn Woodpecker immediately south of Ano Nuevo was likely from this species' most coastal outpost in the county less than a quarter-mile to the northeast, but it was the first time I have seen one at the actual seashore in San Mateo. At least three Black-vented Shearwaters offshore were visible from the same spot. For the rest of the day I birded Santa Cruz, where migrant numbers were not that great (probably because all the migrants were in San Mateo!) and it got very windy by noon or so. A Tennessee Warbler was west of the highway in Davenport. Otherwise nearly all of the flocks I located contained 05 migrants in total until I got to the vicinity of Natural Bridges, where there were two Chestnut-sided Warblers (with different flocks) at Antonelli Pond and a dull Blackburnian Warbler with a large flock in a small willow patch northeast of Delaware x NB Dr. San Mateo has now had 3 Blackburnians so far this fall and 2 Blackpolls, while Santa Cruz has had 2 Blackburnians and 0 Blackpolls: it will be interesting to see how these ratios end up by the end of the season!
On 9/22 I birded southern Santa Cruz until 1 pm under a high overcast south of Aptos and with NW winds becoming quite strong by noon or so; migrant numbers were good except on the Pajaro River itself, which was very slow. Two Pectoral Sandpipers were together at College Lake and the eucs behind the church had at least 20 Yellow Warblers. There was a cooperative Northern Waterthrush on upper Struve Slough that spent some time in coast live oaks across the trail from the wetland. I think a waterthrush in coast live oak is a first for me! Stopping at willow patches along San Andreas Rd, a Townsend's Warbler with a pigment-deficient pinkish-yellow bill was at Crestview Dr and another Tennessee Warbler was at San Andreas Rd x Altivo Ave. A Cassin's Vireo was at Hidden Beach CP.
Many of the Orange-crowned Warblers I have seen in the Bay Area this season have been dusky dullish birds with smudging on the undertail coverts, often lacking the bright greenish tones typical of lutescens, and it sounds as though others have had similar experiences in San Francisco and elsewhere. However, few if any have been bona fide sordida. To be claimed as sordida it's not enough for a bird to be duller than the typical lutescens; it should really tick all the boxes. (These subspecies also differ in size, bill structure, call, etc., not just undertail covert pattern.) Range expansions by both lutescens and sordida in SoCal, where sordida breeds not just on the Channel Islands but also on the mainland in sympatry with lutescens, have probably increased the frequency of intergradation substantially in recent years, and that may be a plausible origin for all these dusky birds we are seeing, but it's hard to be certain. Likewise, there have been a few gray-headed Orange-crowns (orestera/celata) around, although I have not seen not nearly as many so far as I had in the past two falls by this date. Another cautionary note on identifying these subspecies is that Orange-crowned Warblers may be sexually dichromatic with respect to head color (with females showing grayer heads), though opinions vary on this. Anyway, good photos and detailed notes are helpful if trying to identify Orange-crowns to subspecies, and regardless the coarse Orange-crowned Warbler label sans subspecies is very often the best option.
Date: 9/24/26 6:14 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat and other migrants 9/22
Yesterday saw the arrival of migrants along the bayside. At Coyote Point County Park, there was a Chestnut-sided Warbler in the grove of Eucalyptus Trees along the publicaccess trail that leads down to the freshwater marsh. Other migrants at the point were a Northern Flicker, ( 2 ) Western Wood-Pewees, Western Warbling Vireo, AmericanPipit with a large group of House Finches in a field above the museum, ( 5 ) Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatch NOT OFTEN noted along the bay at the point,( 7 ) Northern Yellow Warblers and ( 12 ) White-crowned Sparrows. On the bay mudflats, the first arrival I have noted was an adult Herring Gull. In Foster City along part of theSan Francisco Bay Trail were a Say's Phoebe, Western Flycatcher, ( 5 ) Yellow-rumped Warblers, ( 4 ) Northern Yellow Warblers, ( 2 ) Chipping Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrow,( 8 ) White-crowned Sparrows and a Western Tanager. At the Nob Hill Pond in Redwood Shores, a Yellow-breasted Chat popped into view at the northwest corner of thepond., There were also ( 3 ) Northern Yellow Warblers and a Townsend's Warbler.
Ron Thorn
Date: 9/23/26 11:35 am From: pauldonahue9 via groups.io <charadrius1...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Common murres
On September 21st I counted 8 dead Common Murres and 1 dead Brandt’s Cormorant along Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica. I have walked this beach regularly for years, and that is by far the most Common Murres I’ve found dead on the beach.
Paul Donahue
Pacifica

Paul K. Donahue
artist - naturalist - photographer
959 Anza Drive
Pacifica, California 94044 USA
(650) 738-0429
<charadrius1...>
Date: 9/22/26 5:38 pm From: maliadances via groups.io <maliadances...> Subject: [pen-bird] San Mateo County Cumulative Year-list Report for --- August 2026
*Greetings Pen-birders,*
San Mateo County birders confirmed a total of 8 species that were new for the year by the end of August. This brings the total species confirmed by the end of the eighth month to 309.. 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 2026 *, plus* *all monthly reports going back to 2009.*
*Here are the new birds for August, their finders and locations where found:*
Scott and Linda Terrill found BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (5) at Pomponio State Beach. Ron Thorn observed one SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (4) while birding the Belmont Slough area. ARCTIC TERN (2) and BULLER’S SHEARWATER (2) were spotted during an Alvaro’s Adventures pelagic trip offshore. Ryan Mense captured video of a NAZCA BOOBY (6) during a seawatch at Pigeon Point. Ryan also reported WHITE-FACED IBIS (5) at Pescadero Marsh. While birding the Butano Creek riparian area near Pescadero Rd. Aidan Sinha photographed a WILLOW FLYCATCHER (5). During a visit to Sem Ln. in Belmont, Ron Thorn found a BREWER’S SPARROW (4)
*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
*Alvaro’s Adventures runs offshore pelagic trips* *now through November,* with many seabird, whale and sea-life finding trips out of Half Moon Bay and other ports. Alvaro’s pelagic schedule here: https://www.alvarosadventures.com/pelagic-dates-2026.html
*California’s First Statewide Breeding Bird Atlas* *-* This landmark effort is being led by *California Bird Atlas* ( https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/ ) ( CBA), an independent nonprofit, in collaboration with state agencies, thousands of volunteers, and dozens of partner organizations. All birders are now officially invited to join the project by visiting the new *California Bird Atlas eBird website* ( https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home ). Simply click “ *Join Project* ” ( or “Log in to Join Project”) and you will automatically be able to contribute checklists to the Atlas project. The Atlas is fully integrated with the eBird mobile app. If you submit checklists on mobile, this *Quick Start Tutorial video* ( https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8Z3kbqiO9rw ) provides a brief overview.
*To stay informed of the latest local 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: 9/22/26 1:22 pm From: Alvaro Jaramillo via groups.io <chucao...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Common murres
Diane
Just to clarify the temperature issues are warm water temperatures. Warm water holds less food, and less oxygen. The temperatures on shore, on land, do not really have any bearing on the food on the ocean. Although sometimes it can feel warmer in Half Moon Bay when the water temperature is warm.
From: <peninsula-birding...> <peninsula-birding...> On Behalf Of Diane McCoy via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 3:54 PM
To: <jtaggart8...>
Cc: <peninsula-birding...>
Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Common murres
Walking our dog on Poplar beach in half Moon Bay last week on Wednesday morning I saw five Common Murre bodies and I think we saw one gull one as well. I did a little research online to see and they did give different reasons, including their food source becoming impacted by temperature variations, and the week before had been that really hot weather in the Bay Area and even over on the coast.
On Sep 22, 2026, at 12:22 PM, James via groups.io <jtaggart8...> <mailto:<jtaggart8...> > wrote:
Walking Tunirltas Creek on Friday and notice a number of dead birds on the beach. I believe some were cormorant but there were also several of what appeared to be common murres. I don't think I have seen them around Half Moon Bay so notbsure of the ID - any thoughts on why they might be dying in that area? Bodies were intact.
Date: 9/22/26 12:22 pm From: James via groups.io <jtaggart8...> Subject: [pen-bird] Common murres
Walking Tunirltas Creek on Friday and notice a number of dead birds on the beach. I believe some were cormorant but there were also several of what appeared to be common murres. I don't think I have seen them around Half Moon Bay so notbsure of the ID - any thoughts on why they might be dying in that area? Bodies were intact.
On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 8:36 PM Kris via groups.io <grlbordr=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hi Karen,
>
> Murres do seem to be having an unusually rough time this month...
>
>
> https://www.birdrescue.org/uptick-in-starving-in-common-murres-raises-concern/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUevPlwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWljdFB1N0tRenpHWmZCMHpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXCmXvZeB9XLUXpP6h394YrBNzEcLii8pIKUWcwEEMGNx57ZqCFpWgaa6esA_aem_Oz-EefnzVuYr4sm3XWXGeQ >
> My best,
> Kris
>
> On Monday, September 21, 2026 at 05:47:15 PM PDT, Dominik Mosur via
> groups.io <dominikmosur...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> I’ve heard there is compelling evidence that this summer there may be a
> bigger die off of seabirds than usual of our coast. However based on my
> experience of walking ocean beach for many years finding dead birds
> including murres late summer/early fall is normal.
>
> Consider that there are several hundred thousand murres nesting on the
> Farallones. Some mortality is to be expected and at least a few of these
> will wash up.
>
> Dominik
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 17:35 Karen DeMello via groups.io <karen.demello=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> Peter's recent post inspired me to stop by Half Moon Bay State Beach just
> before noon today. It was a treat to see 5 Snowy Plovers on the beach.
>
> What was a surprise were the 5 dead Common Murres on the beach. Is this
> normal? It's rare that I get to the coast, though I don't remember ever
> seeing so many dead birds there before. Side note: If anyone is interested
> in dead bird photos let me know, I took several.
>
> Thanks,
> Karen DeMello
> Mountain View
>
> On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop=
> <pacbell.net...> wrote:
>
> This morning(September 18) I walked Half Moon Bay from Kelley Avenue north
> to Pilarcitos Creek.
> A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was feeding in the marshy estuary at the creek mouth
> along with a handful of other shorebirds.
> An AMERICAN AVOCET flying north along the beach was a much rarer bird
> along the coast than the Pectoral.
> I counted 28 SNOWY PLOVERS on the beach.
> Walking back to the parking lot I noticed a line of large,skinny,black
> birds flying low over the water,heading north. There were so many
> cormorants flying back and forth I imagined that's what they were but I
> gave them a look anyway. I'm glad I did look closely because the flock was
> of WHITE-FACED IBIS, about 20 birds in all.
>
> Peter J.Metropulos
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/21/26 10:33 pm From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay...> Subject: [pen-bird] Venice Beach in the mists - shearwater spectacle
The last full day of summer so, of course, it was dank and drizzly along the coast at Venice Beach/Pilarcitos Creek mouth. While that may have put a damper on human visits, it didn't stop the continuing rarities or the amazing shearwater spectacle!
The juvenile Baird's Sandpiper and the Pectoral Sandpiper continue their seemingly non-stop foraging along the creek outflow, accompanied this afternoon by a few other shorebirds including a similarly industrious Long-billed Dowitcher. Masses of gulls and peeps huddled on the beach. The real action was over the ocean, where there were thousands of Sooty Shearwaters resting not too far out and additional thousands streaming steadily by southward. Some looked different (a few Pink-footed perhaps?) and there were at least two smaller Black-vented clearly visible briefly in the mix (but dedication required to view given the heavy drizzle). As I have not ventured on any pelagics, these were a real treat for me to see from the shore. Adding to the fun were a possible Common Tern, and a Parasitic Jaeger briefly harassing an Elegant Tern.
I need to do more sea-watching! And I encourage those of you who have not seen this spectacle to go out to the shore (hopefully under drier conditions) to witness this amazing mass movement of seabirds. Forget the troubles of the world and enjoy this wonder of nature!
Richard BradusSan Francisco
Hi Karen,
I’ve heard there is compelling evidence that this summer there may be a bigger die off of seabirds than usual of our coast. However based on my experience of walking ocean beach for many years finding dead birds including murres late summer/early fall is normal.
Consider that there are several hundred thousand murres nesting on the Farallones. Some mortality is to be expected and at least a few of these will wash up.
Dominik
On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 17:35 Karen DeMello via groups.io <karen.demello...> wrote:
Peter's recent post inspired me to stop by Half Moon Bay State Beach just before noon today. It was a treat to see 5 Snowy Plovers on the beach.
What was a surprise were the 5 dead Common Murres on the beach. Is this normal? It's rare that I get to the coast, though I don't remember ever seeing so many dead birds there before. Side note: If anyone is interested in dead bird photos let me know, I took several.
Thanks,Karen DeMello
Mountain View
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop...> wrote:
This morning(September 18) I walked Half Moon Bay from Kelley Avenue north to Pilarcitos Creek.A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was feeding in the marshy estuary at the creek mouth along with a handful of other shorebirds.An AMERICAN AVOCET flying north along the beach was a much rarer bird along the coast than the Pectoral.I counted 28 SNOWY PLOVERS on the beach.Walking back to the parking lot I noticed a line of large,skinny,black birds flying low over the water,heading north. There were so many cormorants flying back and forth I imagined that's what they were but I gave them a look anyway. I'm glad I did look closely because the flock was of WHITE-FACED IBIS, about 20 birds in all.
Peter J.Metropulos
Date: 9/21/26 6:57 pm From: Naomi Goodman via groups.io <nlgoodman...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] HALF MOON BAY State Beach - question
There were at least 30 dead seabirds on San Gregorio Beach on Saturday during the Coastal Cleanup. I lost count after a while. Mostly Red-throated loons, but some Common Murres and shearwaters. This is much more than you would expect from natural attrition. The local wildlife rescue centers are overwhelmed.
Date: 9/21/26 5:47 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] HALF MOON BAY State Beach - question
Hi Karen,
I’ve heard there is compelling evidence that this summer there may be a
bigger die off of seabirds than usual of our coast. However based on my
experience of walking ocean beach for many years finding dead birds
including murres late summer/early fall is normal.
Consider that there are several hundred thousand murres nesting on the
Farallones. Some mortality is to be expected and at least a few of these
will wash up.
Dominik
On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 17:35 Karen DeMello via groups.io <karen.demello=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Peter's recent post inspired me to stop by Half Moon Bay State Beach just
> before noon today. It was a treat to see 5 Snowy Plovers on the beach.
>
> What was a surprise were the 5 dead Common Murres on the beach. Is this
> normal? It's rare that I get to the coast, though I don't remember ever
> seeing so many dead birds there before. Side note: If anyone is interested
> in dead bird photos let me know, I took several.
>
> Thanks,
> Karen DeMello
> Mountain View
>
> On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop=
> <pacbell.net...> wrote:
>
>> This morning(September 18) I walked Half Moon Bay from Kelley Avenue
>> north to Pilarcitos Creek.
>> A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was feeding in the marshy estuary at the creek
>> mouth along with a handful of other shorebirds.
>> An AMERICAN AVOCET flying north along the beach was a much rarer bird
>> along the coast than the Pectoral.
>> I counted 28 SNOWY PLOVERS on the beach.
>> Walking back to the parking lot I noticed a line of large,skinny,black
>> birds flying low over the water,heading north. There were so many
>> cormorants flying back and forth I imagined that's what they were but I
>> gave them a look anyway. I'm glad I did look closely because the flock was
>> of WHITE-FACED IBIS, about 20 birds in all.
>>
>> Peter J.Metropulos
>>
>>
>
>
Date: 9/21/26 5:35 pm From: Karen DeMello via groups.io <karen.demello...> Subject: [pen-bird] HALF MOON BAY State Beach - question
Peter's recent post inspired me to stop by Half Moon Bay State Beach just
before noon today. It was a treat to see 5 Snowy Plovers on the beach.
What was a surprise were the 5 dead Common Murres on the beach. Is this
normal? It's rare that I get to the coast, though I don't remember ever
seeing so many dead birds there before. Side note: If anyone is interested
in dead bird photos let me know, I took several.
Thanks,
Karen DeMello
Mountain View
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop=
<pacbell.net...> wrote:
> This morning(September 18) I walked Half Moon Bay from Kelley Avenue north
> to Pilarcitos Creek.
> A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was feeding in the marshy estuary at the creek mouth
> along with a handful of other shorebirds.
> An AMERICAN AVOCET flying north along the beach was a much rarer bird
> along the coast than the Pectoral.
> I counted 28 SNOWY PLOVERS on the beach.
> Walking back to the parking lot I noticed a line of large,skinny,black
> birds flying low over the water,heading north. There were so many
> cormorants flying back and forth I imagined that's what they were but I
> gave them a look anyway. I'm glad I did look closely because the flock was
> of WHITE-FACED IBIS, about 20 birds in all.
>
> Peter J.Metropulos
>
>
>
Date: 9/21/26 5:10 pm From: Cricket via groups.io <Walkmonkey...> Subject: [pen-bird] Black tern at Pillar Point
1. Going through photos from a walk along the harbor trail at Pillar
Point last evening I found what appears to be a BLACK TERN (see photos
below). I took the photos from roughly 37.4975413, -122.4958165 facing
toward the harbor. I haven’t been back to try and track down the bird.
Date: 9/21/26 1:42 pm From: James via groups.io <jtaggart8...> Subject: [pen-bird] Don Horsely County Park / Tunitas Creek
Several years ago I did a Surfrider beach cleanup at Tunitas Creek, a place fampus for partying. It was a trashy mess. Fast forward to the other day when I visited the newly created county park there. It is really nice.
From the bluff I could see shore birds so made my way down to the beach and found very large numbers of Heermann's Gulls, a migratory species - 90 - 95% of the population nest on one tiny island in the Gulf of California. They migrate in reverse, south to north. Typical Western Gull for comparison.
Date: 9/19/26 3:06 pm From: Marty Freeland via groups.io <martinf3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent notes: Tennessees, Chestnut, and N. Waterthrush
Hi all,
After returning from Japan earlier in the week I spent Thursday, part of Friday morning, and part of Saturday morning birding the San Mateo coast. Highlights included singles of Am. Redstart, Chestnut-sided, and N. Waterthrush, plus two Tennessees. Migrant numbers were lower than expected at this date, with the exception of invading Red-breasted Nuthatches.
On Thursday I birded from Ano Nuevo to Tunitas with Logan Kahle, Cedric Duhalde, and Michael Long. An adult male American Redstart was at Butano Ck, presumably a continuing bird found by Aidan Sinha in late August. Michael Long spotted a Chestnut-sided Warbler in a flock on lower Gazos Ck and we heard a calling grosbeak that sounded very much like Rose-breasted at The Dip. We ran into Andrew Rush who mentioned that he had seen the grosbeak and that it was a male Rose-breasted. Stopping to scan feeding activity close inshore between Pomponio and San Gregorio, we had at least 710 Black-vented Shearwaters, part of this species' major northward movement related to exceptionally warm water this year. A couple Western Tanagers were on Tunitas. Across the board passerine migrant numbers were rather low. Warbling Vireos were well represented, unlike most of last fall, but most common migrants and especially Wilson's Warblers were quite sparse. Red-breasted Nuthatches were at virtually every spot.
On Friday I had only a couple hours free to bird in the morning, but migrant numbers were considerably higher. I covered Miramar to central Half Moon Bay, birding Frenchman's Ck, Sweetwood, East Miramar Willows, Hermosa Willows, West Miramar Willows, Kehoe x Pilarcitos Willows, and Chesterfield access to Pilarcitos Ck. A Tennessee Warbler was at the east end of Frenchman's Ck Pk and another was in the East Miramar Willows. A Nashville and a Black-throated Gray Warbler were together in the West Miramar Willows (the Dusky-capped Fly spot). A Nuttall's Woodpecker at Chesterfield was rare on the coast away from Pacifica. Red-breasted Nuthatches were again at every stop and numbers of common migrants were reasonably good too, with 35 each of Yellow and Townsend's warblers in most flocks, 12 Western Flycatchers and Warbling Vireos also in most flocks, and a couple other scattered western migrants like the Nashville, B-t Gray, a tanager at Sweetwood, a pewee at Hermosa Willows, etc.
On Saturday I started by trying for Clark's Nutcrackers along Skyline. Looking for vantages clear of the fog I set up at an overlook just south of Windy Hill across from Williams Sisters. A bunch of other folks joined, including Chris Hayward, Malia DeFelice, Caitlin Chock, Alvaro Jaramillo, Eli Gross, Liam Murphy, Michael Long, and others. A fair amount of movement was evident, with numbers of Vaux's Swift and Violet-green Swallow, a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a singing Golden-crowned Sparrow, a Hermit Thrush, and flyover Lawrence's Goldfinches. Within an hour Eli spotted a Clark's Nutcracker moving west or southwest along a ridgeline south of our vantage point. After a while longer Caitlin and I went to bird Half Moon Bay and folks at the skywatch spot had an additional nutcracker and a Lewis's Woodpecker. Migrant numbers in southern Half Moon Bay were fairly low again and we only had a couple Red-breasted Nuthatches, but a cooperative Northern Waterthrush was along upper Pilarcitos Ck at the access point behind the lowest produce stand.
The incursion of nutcrackers we are seeing currently is truly phenomenal, with 15ish in Santa Clara/Santa Cruz, 3 in San Mateo, ~30 (?) in SF, 13 in Solano, 3 in Contra Costa, 1 offshore in Mendocino, and counts as high as 1200 in Santa Barbara and further afield. Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, Pinyon Jay, interior (nelsoni group) White-breasted Nuthatch, and perhaps other things, are also irrupting to various degrees. The last time Pinyon Jays reached the county was in the 2003 irruption, when David Suddjian had one on a ridge above Butano. That would be the holy grail this year! Details, photos, coordinates etc. are on eBird or will be soon for all these recent birds.
Date: 9/19/26 1:20 pm From: Leonie Batkin via groups.io <Lbatkin111...> Subject: [pen-bird] Warbler flock at Cypress Lawn-Blackburnian and Blackpoll Warblers
In addition to the Clark's Nutcracker from earlier today there was a nice warbler flock at Cypress Lawn. In with Yellow's, Townsend's and Tennessee was a male Blackburnian and a Blackpoll Warbler which was seen when we went back for a second look at the flock. This fast-moving flock ranged from the Cypress Lawn entry/exit road, section K, over to the property boundary with Holy Cross Cemetery.
Ron ThornLeonie Batkin
PS we will enter our records once eBirds cooperates
Date: 9/19/26 11:59 am From: douglas brown via groups.io <dduggy3...> Subject: [pen-bird] Painted Redstart
Found on the San Bruno Mountain Saddle Trail, 37.698926 / - 122.435211. Clearly seen on the trail, 2 feet off of the ground. Black with dark red belly and wide white wing stripe.sang a short warbly song
Date: 9/19/26 9:25 am From: Leonie Batkin via groups.io <Lbatkin111...> Subject: [pen-bird] Clark’s Nutcracker Cypress Lawn Cemetery
There was just a Clark’s Nutcracker fly over Cypress Lawn Cemetery! Also, Red-breasted Nuthatch present.
Also, Tennessee Warbler here, Western Tanagers, other warblers. Scattered not in usual northeast.
Date: 9/18/26 2:29 pm From: Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop...> Subject: [pen-bird] HALF MOON BAY State Beach: PECTORAL SANDPIPER & WHITE-FACED IBIS
This morning(September 18) I walked Half Moon Bay from Kelley Avenue north to Pilarcitos Creek.A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was feeding in the marshy estuary at the creek mouth along with a handful of other shorebirds.An AMERICAN AVOCET flying north along the beach was a much rarer bird along the coast than the Pectoral.I counted 28 SNOWY PLOVERS on the beach.Walking back to the parking lot I noticed a line of large,skinny,black birds flying low over the water,heading north. There were so many cormorants flying back and forth I imagined that's what they were but I gave them a look anyway. I'm glad I did look closely because the flock was of WHITE-FACED IBIS, about 20 birds in all.
Peter J.Metropulos
Date: 9/15/26 1:02 pm From: Kent Forward via groups.io <kforward...> Subject: [pen-bird] Nazca Booby - Pigeon Point Lighthouse 9/15/26
Just a quick note to PenBird since I hadn't seen it posted here yet, but Alvaro Jaramillo passed along a report from Barry Lyon and Brennan Mulrooney and their group of an immature Nazca Booby perching on building by the lighthouse that is currently housing the Fresnel lens during repairs! It was still there preening when I left a short while ago. Got some great looks, video and photos here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393218239 Good birding,Kent ForwardEl Granada
Date: 9/14/26 12:06 pm From: maliadances via groups.io <maliadances...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Heermann's gull at Coyote Point
Hi Ross, I would say Heermann's Gull are very casual to rare on the San Mateo County Bayside. If San Mateo had more geographically refined filters, I would probably set "the bayside filter" to flag Heermann's Gull for more details. But we only have one countywide filter to work with and we need to set it to accommodate coastal numbers. Santa Clara can set their countywide filter to flag for more details as they do not have a coastline. Your photo is only the 4th photo ever taken of Heermann's Gull on the bayside in San Mateo County on eBird for all time. Thank you for uploading your photo of the Heermann's Gull to your eBird checklist!Malia
On Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 08:29:34 PM PDT, Ross Millikan via groups.io <rmillika...> wrote:
Date: 9/13/26 10:53 am From: Peter Metropulos via groups.io <pjmetrop...> Subject: [pen-bird] SEABIRD FEEDING FRENZY at Ano Nuevo State Park
On September 11, I witnessed a massive concentration of seabirds while scoping at Ano Nuevo State Park. Positioned on the bluff near the pond I scanned the bay between the island and the Santa Cruz County line.SOOTY SHEARWATERS were streaming north at a rate of hundreds-per-minute. I gave up counting after I reached 20,000 birds. More birds were arriving from the south and settled in to land on the water along with several thousand BRANDT'S CORMORANTS. I arrived at an estimate of 100,000 Sooty Shearwaters. I managed to pick out one PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER among them.Adding to the spectacle were: COMMON MURRE, 2800; MARBLED MURRELET,25; ELEGANT TERN, 1125; COMMON TERN,1.
On the pond were was an early drake RING-NECKED DUCK, and 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS were feeding with swallows.Later,at PESCADERO STATE BEACH, I saw a WANDERING TATTLER on the rocks near the creek mouth.
