In Foster City, a Swamp Sparrow was in the brush along the fence on the west side of Lakeside Drive before the Mariner's Point Driving Range off of East Third Avenue. At the Ravenswood Salt Ponds on 3/7 among ( 309 ) Greater Yellowlegs were ( 24 ) Lesser Yellowlegs.
Ron ThornĀ Ā
Date: 3/11/26 7:07 pm From: Christopher Hayward via groups.io <p_t_nymph...> Subject: [pen-bird] Clay-colored Sparrow, Johnston House, Half Moon bay, 3/11/26
Hi All,
Today as Malia and I were birding around the Johnston House in Half Moon Bay, a pale sparrow popped on to a power line near a willow thicket, I barely got my Binoculars on it before it flew back down into the thicket, as I called out Clay-colored Malia had just a split second look before it dropped down.
We then spent about 40 minutes wandering around the willows before Malia spotted it again on the south side of the thicket, it got on the ground at one point giving decent looks. Bit of a surprise, but after closely studying our photos the bird is molting so almost certainly a bird that has been wintering here.
This is the location of the thicket and where I first saw the bird, 37.45132, -122.42309.
Checklist with photos on our ebird list link below.
Date: 3/11/26 6:50 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Pigeon Pt. seawatch 3/10
A 10-15 mph northwest wind, I decided to head out for a seawatch at Pigeon Point. The first two hours,Ā a nice movement of Brown Pelicans, Red-throated Loons and gulls headednorth. I departed for a short time and came back for an additional hour of seawatching, but the numbers of birds passing by had dropped to low numbers. Here is a partial list of birdsthat were noted. The first noted movement of Brant with ( 122 ), Surf Scoter ( 475 ), Red-breasted Merganser ( 2 ), Northern Fulmar ( 1) and have been at a low. In with basic-plumagedRed-throated Loons were the first ones in alternate-plumaged I have noted northbound. Northbound shorebirds were ( 7 ) Long-billed Curlews and ( 4 ) Whimbrels. ( 3 ) Red Phalaropestogether were noted about halfway out to the horizon. Gulls passing by were mostly made up of California and Herring. ( 900 ) Common Murres were noted. A returning Pigeon Guillemotwas on the rocks below the lighthouse.Ā
Ron ThornĀ Ā
Date: 3/9/26 5:36 pm From: San Mateo County Bird Alliance via groups.io <office...> Subject: [pen-bird] Thurs March 12 Wildlife of South Africa š
*This Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 pm Zoom*
*Wildlife of South Africa* A wildlife safari to Kruger National Park has been on Donna's bucket list since her father went there in 1974 and raved about it. It did not disappoint. The program will be mostly birds and mammals from the Cape Town region and Kruger National Park, with a few other animals and flowers thrown in for good measure. These photos were all taken by Donna during her Fall 2025 trip to South Africa.
Donna Pomeroy has a BS in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University. She has been a birder since high school and a photographer even longer. Now retired, she spends much of her time photographing wildlife and volunteering for SMCBA and for many ongoing community science projects. Don't miss this stunning presentation! Register: https://bit.ly/3MOpzp9
Date: 3/3/26 11:42 pm From: cossypha via groups.io <leonard.janetl...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Song ID Help - Bewick's Wren?
Not a mockingbird?
On Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 5:42āÆPM Kent Forward via groups.io <kforward=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Good Afternoon Birders,
>
> Most of the day Monday from somewhere back in the willows behind our house
> a quite complex and amazing song was heard. I couldn't help thinking of
> Bewick's Wren because of their many variations of complex vocalizations,
> but I've never heard one quite so elaborate with these amazing bends and
> pitches! Perhaps the Miles Davis of Bewick's Wrens? I tried running it
> through Merlin / BirdNet as well, and they're stumped. So thought it would
> be worth running by the group for thoughts on the ID from the good ear
> birders in our community. The best audio I could get is in this eBird
> checklist, there's a bit of sound from our fountain but it's fairly clear:
>
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305461066 >
> A few other birding highlights from today included a FOS (and about a
> month early!) Black-headed Grosbeak in our feeder today:
>
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305658410 >
> And I was pleasantly surprised to encounter the continuing over-wintering
> Black-and-white Warbler at Frenchman's Creek Park:
>
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305732886 >
> Starting to feel like spring out there!
>
> Happy birding,
> Kent Forward
> El Granada
>
>
> --
Janet L. Leonard
Date: 3/3/26 5:42 pm From: Kent Forward via groups.io <kforward...> Subject: [pen-bird] Song ID Help - Bewick's Wren?
Good Afternoon Birders,
Most of the day Monday from somewhere back in the willows behind our house a quite complex and amazing song was heard. I couldn't help thinking of Bewick's Wren because of their many variations of complex vocalizations, but I've never heard one quite so elaborate with these amazing bends and pitches! Perhaps the Miles Davis of Bewick's Wrens? I tried running it through Merlin / BirdNet as well, and they're stumped. So thought it would be worth running by the group for thoughts on the ID from the good ear birders in our community. The best audio I could get is in this eBird checklist, there's a bit of sound from our fountain but it's fairly clear:
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305461066 A few other birding highlights from today included a FOS (and about a month early!) Black-headed Grosbeak in our feeder today:
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305658410 And I was pleasantly surprised to encounter the continuing over-wintering Black-and-white Warbler at Frenchman's Creek Park:
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305732886 Starting to feel like spring out there!
Happy birding,Kent ForwardEl Granada
Date: 3/2/26 3:33 pm From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay...> Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Coyote Point Worm-eating Warbler
Sorry for my less than adequate directions - the bird was NORTH of the previous spot, just west of the parking area, approximately here: 37.589501, -122.320189BUT, I did not see the bird again after my initial sighting despite about 20 minutes of back and forth searching.
It will take patience (and luck) to see this striking bird.
Richard BradusSan Francisco
On Monday, March 2, 2026 at 03:07:20 PM PST, Kathleen Visel <k.visel...> wrote:
Thereās a couple of us here looking. If youāre able to, could you try to share the GPS again?
> On Mar 2, 2026, at 2:54āÆPM, Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay...> wrote:
>
> ļ»æJust got a brief but clear view of the WEWA east of the prior location (just a bit north of the path off the parking lot toward Curiosity- canāt get maps to cooperate for a location). Too quick for photoš«
>
> Richard Bradus
> San Francisco
> Please excuse typos and such
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/2/26 2:54 pm From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay...> Subject: [pen-bird] Coyote Point Worm-eating Warbler
Just got a brief but clear view of the WEWA east of the prior location (just a bit north of the path off the parking lot toward Curiosity- canāt get maps to cooperate for a location). Too quick for photoš«
Richard Bradus
San Francisco
Please excuse typos and such
Date: 3/2/26 9:56 am From: maliadances via groups.io <maliadances...> Subject: [pen-bird] San Mateo County Cumulative Year-list Report for --- February 2026
*Greetings Pen-birders,*
First, a VEGA GULL (6) that was reported by Aaron Sun and Paige Liu in January needed some additional time to consider as this is a tricky identification. Good photos from Aaron and Paige as well as others who also saw the bird , helped determine the ID. The addition of the Vega Gull brought the end of January totals to 222. San Mateo County birders found a total of 8 species that were new for the year by the end of February. This brings the total species observed by the end of the second month to 230. 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 February, their finders and locations where found:*
Scoping Bair Island from the Radio Rd. levee, Ron Thorn spotted a SHORT-EARED OWL (3) that had been flushed when a Northern Harrier passed low overhead. Joshua Stacy re-encountered, āaā/āTheā Pescadero BARRED OWL (6) near the Memorial Park area once again. This owl was first reported by Joshua in 2021 and has been recorded every year since, on eBird, with the exception of 2023. As far as we know, this is one individual owl. While out owling, Chris Hayward found a COMMON POORWILL (4) along Gazos Creek Rd. During a Moss Beach seawatch Ron Thorn observed a PIGEON GUILLEMOT (2) and Ron also observed the first NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS (2) for the year at a bayside location. Marty Freeland and Chris Henry found a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (3) at Gazos Creek Beach. Malia DeFelice and Chris Hayward discovered a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (6) at Venice Beach. While conducting a Snowy Plover survey, Leslie Flint found and photographed a HORNED LARK (4), also at Venice 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 donāt use eBird or Pen-bird, you can always email Malia directly. Thank you!
If you have questions or comments regarding this report, or if we missed something,
Date: 3/1/26 7:51 am From: Ronald- Thorn via groups.io <Tronthorn...> Subject: [pen-bird] Recent sightings in February
On the 23rd, while scoping Bair Island from the levee at the end of Radio Road late morning, I watched a Short-eared Owl flushed up, as a Northern Harrier passed low overhead.Bair Island is a known location for wintering Short-eared Owls. The 26th, I did a seawatch from Moss Beach. Very low numbers of birds on the ocean except for a number ofCommon Murres passing by.Ā A single Rhinoceros Auklet trailing Common Murres. The first arrival I have noted was a Pigeon Guillemot flying south. During a low tide at CoyotePoint County Park, a high for the point were ( 64 ) Red Knots. Out on the bay, there were ( 16 )Ā Red-throated Loons. The average number for Red-throated Loons for this timeĀ of the year moving into the bay off of Coyote Point. Early arrivals along the bayside were Orange-crowned Warblers on the 20th and Rough-winged Swallows the 24th.
Ron Thorn
Date: 2/24/26 1:06 pm From: Ralph via groups.io <sharks_hockey_maniac...> Subject: [pen-bird] Barred Owl RFI
John Harris and I may be heading over to SM County for some birding this weekend and one of our targets would be the Barred Owl at Memorial Park. It would be a state bird for John and a lifer for me. If anyone could give me some specifics about where to look (off-list, of course) it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.
P.S., We're also interested in the Screech and Saw-whet Owls that Bob Toleno reported on ebird a couple days ago.
--
Happy birding, and, as always, may the light be with you,
Ralph Baker, Riverbank, CA
Date: 2/21/26 1:26 pm From: Leslie Flint via groups.io <lflint...> Subject: [pen-bird] Royal Tern at Gazos Beach this morning
Hi all,
I went to Gazos beach this morning hoping to see the Kittiwake reported by Marty Freeland yesterday. The gull flock was not visible from the parking lot so I walked down he trail a bit and saw that there were gulls on the north side of the beach and the Royal Tern was back on the beach among them. No Kittiwake however. I should note that the trail is in bad shape towards the lower portion. Deep water and mud and little areas to sidestep that. Hereās some photos from my eBird list.
Date: 2/15/26 12:48 pm From: Christopher Hayward via groups.io <p_t_nymph...> Subject: [pen-bird] Lesser Black-backed Gull continues, Pilarcitos Creek Mouth, 2/15/26
Hi All,
This morning while checking through the fairly small gull flock on the beach at Pilarcitos Creek Mouth, the Lesser Black-backed Gull that Malia and I photographed yesterday flew in off the ocean. I did not see the Royal Tern that I saw briefly here yesterday, but good chance it's still in the area, after checking my photos it appears to be the same Tern found on the Ano Nuevo cbc and later seen at Gazos Creek State Beach.
Worth noting the gulls were not really visible from the bluff this morning, but right on the ocean edge, so best to get down on the beach to look for the LBBG.
Photos fromĀ yesterday and today links below.
